Ground launching, hard to learn?? Where to learn??

[guineapiggie101 0]

Been seeing pics of people doing that, on my Facebook. Looks like fun and (from what I was told) doesn't need a license. How does one learn to do that? Are there lessons one can take??

[shropshire 0]

As a paraglider pilot, I would say YES get lessons... seek out a Paragliding or Speed flying club .. OR Write a Will




P.S hospitals (and worse!!) are populated with folks who naively think "How hard can it be"

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[beth0b 0]

Duane Hall, manager of Square 1 in Perris is who I would look to, since it looks like you might be in that area.

speedflysports.com

I've never done one, never taken any of his courses, but from what I've heard he's excellent.

[Squeak 17]

There's a fair bit of running involve chick, are you up for that?

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[guineapiggie101 0]

Thanks for the suggestion. I will check it out.

Squeak, the running does concern me a bit, but it looks like fun.

Just curious, does ground launching require that you have good knowledge of landings, similar to skydiving???

[potatoman 0]

LOL. Any landing you can walk away from......

YES IT DOES.

It is like anything that flies, you need to be able to land it safely to be able to do it again.

You have the right to your opinion, and I have the right to tell you how Fu***** stupid it is.
Davelepka - "This isn't an x-box, or a Chevy truck forum"
Whatever you do, don't listen to ChrisD.

[CanuckInUSA 0]

I was one of the first Ground Launching students back in November of 2004 when Jim Slaton and Duane Hall opened up their Ground Launching school near Bakersfield CA. It was a total blast, but it is a very physical activity with a high level of danger. Even the beginner slope Jim and Duane taught us the basics on was capable of messing you up if you made a big mistake. Ground Launching is a blast, but you need to make sure you are a good skydiving canopy pilot who can fly their rear risers before you ever take to the hills. It's like extreme downhill skiing, only more intense and more dangerous. But what a rush.

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

guineapiggie101

Just curious, does ground launching require that you have good knowledge of landings, similar to skydiving???

Yes. You have to land each time you are in the air. It doesn't matter if you get in the air by leaving a plane or by launching from the ground.

Because you are close to the ground most of the time when you ground launch, the potential for ground-induced turbulence is present for much (all?) of the flight.

Given your history, I would suggest you not do this.

Really.

It's dangerous.

You might look into paragliding. Bigger canopies, more focused on long-duration flight, less intense, less dangerous.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[yoink 321]

guineapiggie101

Just curious, does ground launching require that you have good knowledge of landings, similar to skydiving???

Better - Much, much better than are required in skydiving.

Landing on a DZ is easy. It's usually a nice big open space with minimal shit on the ground and into the wind.

In GL, chances are you'll be landing among rocks and stones and on uneven surfaces both into and cross wind. There's every chance that you misjudge your first flights and have to land early and with little warning when you start trying to stay close to the ground.

Having a solid set of flying skills BEFORE entering that environment is a really good idea.