Hang Gliding Lessons UK

What to do at the weekend, What's on at the weekend?

Hang Gliding

Hang gliding is fairly modern although looking at some of the very first attempts to fly; those incredible flying contraptions aren't too far away from a hang glider….in appearance.

We need only look back to the 1970s to see the inception of hang gliding and how it has developed into a relatively safe sport thanks to aluminium, carbon-fibre and high-tech sail fabrics.

What is hang gliding?
Those people we see suspended from their hang gliders by a special harness are pilots; they launch themselves from hills into the wind, by winches on flat ground or by being towed aloft from an airfield behind a microlight. The main objective is to remain airborne in lifting currents of air. You might be forgiven for thinking that pilots run off a cliff, fly a little and float gently to the ground. The UK record for flying a hang glider over a long distance is currently over 250km and for altitude the heady heights of 16,000ft.

The pilot launches the hang glider by running to accelerate it to the right speed for flight, then when airborne, the pilot relaxes into the comfortable harness whilst controlling the glider by moving their weight in relation to the control bar.

"Circling up to cloud base on a summer's day and setting course on a long cross-country flight over patchwork fields is one of the wonders of the modern world. Landing out after a long flight using only the natural power of the atmosphere and your accumulated knowledge of the sky gives a hang glider pilot an unsurpassed feeling of accomplishment.

Hang gliding has joys in store outside of the challenge of cross-country flying. In the long summer evenings pilots often congregate after work to soar a nearby hill, united in the pursuit of an hour or two's soaring in the face life's pressures - and the setting sun.

To be aloft on the breeze seems to them a rare privilege made more precious by the fact that so few of the teeming millions seem to know about it. It's not really a secret; come along and share it with us! " …. The British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association

Do you fancy some of that? If you have around £5000 you can buy a top of the range competition hang glider but for around half that you can buy a sports machine and much less for a second hand hang glider.

If you want a full training course in hang gliding, expect to pay about £1000; costs are cheaper for shorter hang gliding courses. As a pilot you'll need some accessories and clothing that will be introduced to you during your hang gliding lessons.

It takes about ten days of decent flyable weather to train to 'Club Pilot' level, although two-day 'taster' courses by The British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association and a limited Elementary Pilot certificate is also available.

Your instructor will show you how to rig and inspect the glider before you have your first short flight down a gentle slope. First flights in tow training are conducted using a very gentle winch pull, keeping you close to the ground.

For the first day or two the glider will be restrained by tether ropes until you become adept at steering and controlling airspeed by moving your weight. You'll then graduate to higher and longer flights, and when the weather's not so good retire to the classroom to learn basic flight theory, meteorology and air law.

Towards the end of the course you'll progress on to a more sophisticated glider than the first one you first flew, and subject to a good assessment from your instructor and a pass in the simple exam you'll receive your Club Pilot rating, allowing you to fly on club sites and begin your progress to more and more rewarding flying.

For more information on learning to fly, finding a training school, BHPA membership & insurance etc. see http://www.bhpa.co.uk