While Hang Gliding is almost certainly the least expensive form of aviation, it still requires some expenditures. Tom Sterner offers this suggestion:
Something to keep in mind if one is money strapped.
Most instructors do not have a problem with on lookers, at least if you stay out of the way. I hung out frequently listening to the instructor train people, to the point I eventually voluntarily worked for my training. You can learn just as much watching people make mistakes, and listen to debriefs of the instructor.
As I worked for the airfield more and more, the more aka: free training I got.
After watching beginners make mistakes, it came to me much faster how to avoid making the same mistakes.
After investing my time I ended up getting trained as a reward for the work I had done.
This is not going to happen everywhere but making relationships with instructors and proving that you want to be apart of the growth and development of the sport, this will get you much further than thinking about doing it or even blaming someone else for your non involvement in the sport.
Tom Sterner (Tizeagle)