Anyone Hang glide?

[Zipp0 1]

I was thinking about trying it. Fun?

There is a prime launch spot within 2 hours of me, and I have watched there a few times. It looks damn fun.

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Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down.

[vpozzoli 0]

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I was thinking about trying it. Fun?

There is a prime launch spot within 2 hours of me, and I have watched there a few times. It looks damn fun.

Used to.
Is it fun: definitely.
Does it give you an adrenaline rush: yep, but not as much as skydiving.
It also helps you stay fit: just dragging the kit around is its own workout, that's one of the reasons why lots of pilots eventually moved to paragliding.
Now that I'm older I moved to actual saiplane flying, that's as much fun and then some, but definitely more expensive
I'd say definitely worth a try if you want to try out some gliding without forking out too much dough right away.
Cheers,


Vale

[Zipp0 1]

I like the paragliding idea, but it seems more expensive to get into.

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Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down.

[vpozzoli 0]

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I like the paragliding idea, but it seems more expensive to get into.

Are you sure about that? I've been out of the loop a bit but back then a basic paraglider cost less than a basic hang glider.
Just from the point of the amount of materials used that would make sense, but it's definitely possible that with the shift to more expensive fabrics and designs for the sake of performance paragliders are now on the expensive end of the spectrum.
Personally I'm not a very big fan of paragliding, performance is unsatisfactory (unless you become the next world champ and can afford to go fliyng in Namibia!) and the shit can hit the proverbial fan pretty easily especially if the weather is tricky.
Think low speed, low wing loading, collapsible wing, no landing gear

But maybe I'm just too much of an old fart
A hang glider is clunkier and more difficult to carry around, but once airborne it will give you way better performance and with it an increase in safety margin you might come to appreciate one day
Cheers,

Vale

[Zipp0 1]

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Are you sure about that?

Just my initial assessment after looking at gear prices. A used beginner glider is absolutely more affordable than any new parablider.

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Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down.

[squirrel 0]

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I was thinking about trying it. Fun?

There is a prime launch spot within 2 hours of me, and I have watched there a few times. It looks damn fun.

well i sort of hang glide...but only when i shut down the motor...you can still fly this as an ultralight if you get one that is 254 lbs or less, 5 gal of fuel or less and some other limits...other wise you will have to be sport pilot rated in the future.

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Where is Darwin when you need him?

[Zipp0 1]

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Is it fun: definitely.
Does it give you an adrenaline rush: yep, but not as much as skydiving.

Tell me this doesn't look like a rush:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=rvqqBfRwJPM&mode=related&search=

It looks to have about the same margin of error as a swoop - maybe less.

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Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down.

[vpozzoli 0]

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Is it fun: definitely.
Does it give you an adrenaline rush: yep, but not as much as skydiving.

Tell me this doesn't look like a rush:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=rvqqBfRwJPM&mode=related&search=

It looks to have about the same margin of error as a swoop - maybe less.

Cool, but not as dangerous as you may think.
With a glider you can build up a lot of speed (i.e. energy) without actually throwing yourself almost straight at the ground.
BTW I had no idea hang gliders could land on an actual airport in the US. In Europe they'd probably shoot you down with a well aimed Stinger
Anyways godd luck with whatever you decide to try and be safe!

Cheers,

Vale

[vpozzoli 0]

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well i sort of hang glide...but only when i shut down the motor...you can still fly this as an ultralight if you get one that is 254 lbs or less, 5 gal of fuel or less and some other limits...other wise you will have to be sport pilot rated in the future.

Powered fligth is for pussies!



Vale

[Shawndiver 0]

Damn fun is right!
I've been flying hang gliders and paragliders for a little over a decade and love them both. Paragliding has some initial advantages...

You will be flying your first day of training, not running around on flat ground learning how to keep the nose down, not jackrabbiting your launch (step, jog, run!) and it doesn't weigh 65 pounds carrying up the training hill. Everything you learn about weather, soaring technique, thermaling, cross country, etc. also applies to hang gliding, and you don't have to have space in your garage and special racks for your vehicle to carry it around. Make sure you get the proper instruction, even though it is a canopy, it is completely different from a skydiving canopy, and some of the things you can do on a skydiving rig without even thinking about it can kill you on a paraglider.

Hang gliders have some definite advantages in performance, handle turbulence better and are much better for that "Superman on his way to Lois Lane" feeling as opposed to flying barkolounger feeling in paragliding. Be careful purchasing an inexpensive glider, often they are old technology with narrow flare windows and interesting, ah, "performance quirks".

I generally recommend starting on paragliders as there is a much better chance that you will stick with it, and then, if you are looking for a perfomance upgrade, move on to hang gliders. Or better yet, fly both! I love the versatility of flying both, what ever fits the conditions and my mood.

Enjoy!

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[piisfish 140]

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some of the things you can do on a skydiving rig without even thinking about it can kill you on a paraglider.

front riser approach anyone ?

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM