[mobes]

Hi I'm new here and am just learning about hang gliding. I have my first lesson next week at Andy Jackson Airpark and I'm really excited about it. I'm pushing 50, but have wanted to do this since I was a kid. Anyway, I'm wondering what to do in the meantime. I got a book, Hang Gliding for Beginner Pilots, and am reading that as fast as possible (I know that will only tell me so much). I'm trying to learn about possible gliders to buy later on, harnesses, and stuff like that. So my question is, what should I do in the meantime - any suggestions?

[Redbeard]

welcome to the fun!!! Rob will get you lined out and help you with many of the decisions you will need to make regarding equipment purchases...until then about all you can do is read, read, read, and maybe watch some videos!

[mobes]

[Wingspan34]

Hey mobes,

Some exercise to prepare for the training hill would be a good idea. Unless your all ready above average, fitness wise.

Do some good stretching before lessons, and if you push things too hard and feel any pain - STOP - and tell your instructor. Minor injuries lead to major injuries.

Biking and kayaking are great forms of hang gliding-complimentary exercise. Combined they can improve balance and can increase upper (kayaking) and lower (biking) body strength and endurance.

Good luck! Oh, and welcome!

[noman]

just remember that glider flys all by itself.always alway always have air blowing by your ears while in the air,no air is bad,ur stalled,oh ya never jump, in this sport. A light touch on the control bar is paramount!.



ROB IS THE BEST TEACHER I HAVE SEEN,IF HE FLYS DOWN WITH A BEER ITS UNSHAKEN AND COLD FROM SO MUCH ALTITUDE!!!!!!!!!!.


Relax and enjoy this drug called hanggliding!.

[mtpilot]

You are not too old to starting a great adventure.Use your age and wisdom
to learn safely and gradually. You will learn lots of stuff by hanging out with
pilots and driving for them especially xc.Don't worry about buying a glider now.
In time you will know which one is best, Welcome to the sport.

[red]

Mobes,

Welcome to the HG forum. Drag up a lawn-chair, roast a hot dog at the camp-fire, and drinks are in the big cooler by the green tent. Don't be shy, if you have any questions. This is a friendly and helpful crew. Be among friends here.

The best thing to do, before lessons? Go and watch HG lessons, and if possible, bag a decent HG pilot to watch with you, and comment on the flights. Binoculars can help, if you like. Nobody ever learned to ride a bike from a book, although a book can be a great help, once you are beyond the basics. Take a long walk, or a short run, every other day, just don't over-do it. More information on my web page, linked below.

[knumbknuts]

Hi Mobes,

There are a bucket load of us here who fly at Andy Jackson. Welcome here, welcome there, give us a heads up when you will be out there and keep us apprised of your progress.

That's a good book to start with.

You are about the median age of pilots.

[mobes]

Thanks for the nice welcome all of you. I appreciate the tips.

I was thinking about going out to AJ today just to watch. If you see a tall slim older guy walking around like he doesn't know what he's doing - that's me.

[peanuts]

perhaps for the next few days, while driving around in your car, place your hands on the bottom of the steering wheel, palms down, and drive around like this some. after you begin your lessons, the reasoning for this will become obvious.

[oden]

From someone who is taking H1 lessons right now that is also pretty much your same body size I'll give a couple of pointers/things to think about.

Think like a lady. Ladies love everyone to see their boobs. Even while walking around your house get used to sticking your chest out. I still can't believe I had no trouble on day one and haven't been able to do it again since. Talk about beginners luck. Popping the chest makes getting in the air so much easier.

As for gliders. I have been on both a 170 and 195. The 195 makes more sense and it's what I'll end up using after the lessons are over but I prefer the 170 right now for one reason...it's smaller and I have to work it harder to get in the air. Working harder will also give more of a chance to make mistakes. I would much rather be making the mistakes now rather than making them later when they count a lot more. Give yourself the chance to make the mistakes when conditions are easy that way you have the problems solved when the conditions become more difficult/challenging. Taking the easy way out never works in the long run. Sooner or later it always comes back to bite you no matter what you are doing.

Hope you have better luck with weather than I have had thus far. Granted all the pilots here in New England this summer have did nothing but complain about the weather. This past week has provided the most flyable days of the entire summer thus far. Between rain and bad wind direction everything has pretty much been shut down all summer long. Granted for beginners everything still is pretty much shut down. I can go to bed one night with the forecast for good winds for the next day and wake up the following morning and the forecast has changed...what else is new.