[krizz9]

My epic search for a hang glider continues and I've decided the first thing I should nail down is whether to get a single or double surface. From what I've been reading the single surface is easier to fly, but lower performance. I'm wondering what you all think would be best for someone in my situation.

I'm 5'8,170lb and will probably have time to fly a couple weekends a month max. I am an H2 and have had 4 launches off the mountain at lookout so far, no soaring yet but I look forward to it. I was a fast learner on the hills and feel very comfortable in the air, so I feel like I would pick up on how to fly the double surface pretty quickly. Then again, given my infrequent flying, single surface may be best since I hear it is easier to set up and take down (how much easier by the way?)

Anyway, given my current experience and estimated flying time, what would you buy?

[dave hopkins]

and what planet are you from?

dave

[macsux]

I bought a sport 2 for my first glider, which I was flying at about 2hrs of airtime after coming off training on falcons and definitely don't regret the decision. So are 2 of my buddies. Something like a sport 2 isn't much harder to fly then a falcon, and offers significantly more room to grow then a single surface imo. I would say if you're not challenged with any aspects of flying a falcon (or similar) aka you're landings are solid, and you can fly faster then trim without issues get a sport 2 or equivalent.

I would love to have a second wing a falcon tho to play on the beach and on small hills. They are fun to play with.

[J ball]

[FormerFF]

Living in Atlanta, if you will be flying weekends only and have commitments for any of them, I'd get a Falcon. If you were a local or had lots of schedule flexibility, you could ramp up your skills at a reasonable rate on a Horizon or Sting. You'll find that not every weekend you're available will be flyable, and many that are flyable aren't soarable, so you'll probably fly less often than you think. When you have to take breaks you have to relearn a little every time, and the Falcon's the right tool for that job.

[mrcc]

SIMPLE stick to a single & build up hours. There is no rush to move to a double. Fly safety & enjoy the sport for many of years. Any how you haven't told us how many hours you got ? LAY YOUR CARDS ON THE TABLE

[noman3]

[mrcc]

You should certainly stick to your single, & if get the opportunity to fly a topless.
ARE YOU PREPARED FOR THIS ,THINGS HAPPEN VERY FAST ARE PREPARE FOR IT. Some how I don't think so !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[AIRTHUG]

Everyone knows that a single surface glider is the best place for a new pilot to be...

But every new pilot thinks they're "special" or there's some reason that doesn't apply to them.

Hang gliding has been around a while now, with lots of people learning the hard way. Don't debate the lessons learned over time... or you just might suffer the same fate.

Hang gliding is dangerous, don'tcha know...

[noman3]

[jjcote]

One reason to not be reluctant to get a SS glider: they hold their resale value better than anything else. There are always people eager to buy a second- or third-hand Falcon, whereas more advanced wings become obsolete. So with a SS glider, you won't be stuck -- if you decide that you want to sell it and move on to something else, that will be easy. Or you may decide to get another glider and keep the SS one as well.

I have heard people express regret for moving to a DS too soon, sometimes because they felt that it slowed their progress, sometimes because they got broken arms. But I've never heard anyone say that they started with a SS glider and they felt that it was a bad move.

[J Fritsche]

This has been debated on this forum before, like ad nauseum.

If you're really only going to be able to fly a couple times/month max, get a single-surface. Flying that infrequently, it's doubtful that you'll get into the types of flying or the conditions that benefit from double-surface (aerobatics, cross-country, competition, high winds that make penetration an issue). If you're just going to boat around within glide of the primary LZ, doing so in a ds really isn't any more fun.

But otherwise, I'm one of the few that believe that there are a few very acceptable ds gliders for beginners. I was lucky to be able to borrow or rent ss gliders for my first 20-30 hours. Then my first purchase was an intermediate-rated ds, and the transition was pretty smooth. I've ended up living in an area where ss gliders' limitations can be serious disadvantages...there are some long glides to LZs and high-wind flying is pretty common. Ss gliders do not "shine" around here, and new pilots dump them as soon as possible.

[Wonder Boy]

[Rotor]

You would be crazy to miss years on a single surface glider first
You still gonna love it even after you out grow it and not want to sell it......Ya its that good

[krizz9]

Thanks for the feedback. I think I was secretly hoping that SS would be the overall opinion. I learned on the Falcon 170 and have already developed an attachment to it. Going to Lookout Mountain this weekend and may come back with a brand new Falcon 3

[red]

[Windlord]

What ever your choice, Try, before you buy!

[CHassan]

Just like everyone says "don't try to learn on your own", they also say "get a SS to start."
It may or may not be the best answer for the individual, but then again we don't actually know the individual. In that case the safest thing to say is "get a single surface."


Of course if that is what you wanted all along, why ask?

Whatever you get, keep your head in it or bad things happen.

[Dan Harding]

[fakeDecoy]

Don't listen to them. Get a DS topless. You'll be wanting one in a few months anyway. That way you don't have to deal with the keel breaking all the time like SS gliders are prone to.