[6Dasher]

Hi everyone.

I have a history of getting into "extreme" sports, lol, for lack of a better description. Historically I have surfed, skateboarded, snowboarded, wakeboarded,etc etc. I usually get involved at the competition level. I consider myself a VERY coordinated individual. I am also a meticulous type and like to tinker in my garage,/home machine shop. I think this sport is right for me.

I recently was at a sandwich shop with some friends and I saw a picture of a hang-glider on a wall. The picture was a still of a guy probably flying a few thousand feet up and I thought to myself wow that looks fun I should give that a try. So on to some google and youtube searches. HOLY BLEEP!!!!!! This isnt "gliding," it is freaking flying!!! It looks awesome. I can't believe I wasn't aware of this sport until now. Please someone tell me that this IS indeed as awesome as it looks!

Right now I have my first 5 lessons booked up with a local instructor who is also a wills wing dealer that seems to have a great reputation. I am anxious to start. Any advice for a complete noob is appreciated. What an awesome looking sport this is!

[tom emery]

If you take up this endevour, be prepared to live it. It will consume you. You will wake up in the morning thinking of flying. You will go to this website looking for videos. You will film yourself and amaze your wife. You will drive hours to the fly for minutes. You have been warned!!!
On the practicle side, save the your money. Buy a Wills Wing Falcon III. Get the a used harness. Buy a vario. Build a rack on your car.
This will be the most intended sport you have ever done. Savor it.

[snowbird]

Just read this blog! You can get advice by the shovelfull!

Look up Red's advice at www.xmission.com. Lots of meat. Great advice.
Buy Dennis Pagens book.

Good luck!

[tom emery]

"Intense", not intended. Damn smart phone.

[red]

[BRP]

Get on here and find YOUR local pilots and volunteer to drive for them. Gets you way ahead in your lessons when you can watch and listen to others doing it!


Your new friends then become your mentors when you get past your lessons stage, and will keep you safe as you gain experience!

[Windlord]

Outstanding! Got your lessons booked and you're off to a good start.
This sport requires patience, a lot of patience. The reward is well worth it.
Forget about the competition portion of the sport for quite awhile. This is going to require your full attention in the beginning,
Not to mention your full attention all of the time. This is not a sport, but a lifestyle.
Good luck on your lessons and be prepared to work hard. Keep us posted.

[FlyingFelix]

I've actually planned on doing the hang gliding thing all my life! Finally this is the year I got all of my funds together to go all the way: school, buy all the equipment necessary and time to do so. I have learned the hard way that PATIENCE is something I didn't plan on - dozens of scheduled lessons cancelled because of lackof perfect wather - as a beginner it all has to be perfect so you learn how it all should feel like. I already got to solo and now am in the process of getting my H2 though it took over two and a half to do so - I was planning a a couple of weeks (keep in mind I was dedicated and had all the time...if only the weather cooperated...). Anyway, i should be up in the air at my choosing soon :-)

[Windlord]

[6Dasher]

hey guys ive been reading a lot of the posts and doing research. some terms and acronyms i'm a little confused on, perhaps someone could define for me:

kingspost

topless glider

bar pressure

PIO

AOA

aspect ratio



thank you.

[flybop]

Welcome aboard 6Dasher! As others have said, once bitten this hang gliding gets under your skin, in your blood, and will have you looking up at birds, analyizing every hill and walking into the wind with your arms spread out.

Good luck with your training and get some video to post.

As for the acronyms and terminology: Get Denise Pagen's book, "Hang Gliding Training Manual".

Be careful when watching videos online. There are many good ones, but there are plenty that show bad technique.

If you are from Nor Cal there is one more acronym that you need to be aware of... NOMAN.

[red]

[6Dasher]

noman???


I just still can't even believe that I was not aware of what hang gliding really is...I thought it was maybe 30 second long glides or something, u know like what you see the beginners doing on the bunny hill. The term "hang-gliding" is deceptive. looks more to me like "hang-flying like an eagle". I can't wait! I havent been excited to try out something new like this for quite some time....if ever.

[DBrose]

stick with it, be warned it will take up lot of time and money.
a future candidate for AIDS (Aviation Induced Divorce Syndrome)
its a superhuman sport!

[Fletcher]

You've all been OWNED !!!!!!
Look at his name Dasher?
His friends are named things like Donner and Rudolph.
This dude has been flying every Christmas, and doing some awesome XC too!

[6Dasher]

[Paul H]

XC = Cross Country
It's flying from one place to another instead of just gliding down to a LZ that's near your takeoff point.

[liftlover]

Where are your lessons going to be at I live right by ed levin. I go there to drink my coffee every morning and watch to newbees fly. Hope to see you out there soon.
Bob

[6Dasher]

hi bob

im in the sacramento area. the place im going is actually in sloughhouse (south of sacramento) and is called sac hang gliding. the owner is george hamilton who also does the instruction i believe. he is apparently a class 5 rated instructor (from what i have read this is the highest possible rating) I spoke to him personally several times on the phone and I am paid for my first 5 lessons and my first will be on wednesday if my schedule allows (i work a lot and my work schedule is unpredictable at best). He is also a wills wing and north wing dealer, so everything seems as if this is a good place to start learning.

[J Fritsche]

I've heard a million people state how awesome HGing must be and how they'd love to do it. After learning the amount of money, effort, and time involved, a few of those people have taken a lesson. A very few of those who have taken a lesson immediately knew that it was something they just had to do and ultimately became solid solo pilots. You sound like one of the few that will do whatever it takes to do this thing.
Be forewarned that learning to fly via foot-launched training hill instruction in the western US is probably the longest, hardest, most frustrating, most physically demanding, and most expensive way to learn.
Really get out there and meet and drive for the flying community around you. You'll learn a lot and get a lot of guidance and mentoring that will benefit you greatly once you get to H2, and you'll get leads on used equipment.
Now go for it! Good luck!