Hang Gliding Hang Glider Hang Gliding

Hang gliding is both a recreational and competitive sport, closely related to paragliding and gliding (flying sailplanes). The sport uses a simple craft consisting of an aluminium or composite-framed fabric wing, with the pilot mounted on a harness, hanging from the wing frame and exercising control by shifting body weight. There are two classes of hang glider. A flexible wing hang glider has its flight controlled by a wing changing shape as the pilot shifts their weight. The second class is a rigid wing hang glider, where the flight is controlled by spoilers, typically on top of the wing. Modern hang gliding design was influenced by NASA technician Francis Rogallo in the late 1940s with his invention of the Flexkite. Subsequent development centred on several Australian designs including the Icarus rigid wing gliders during the 1970s-80s. Today there are several manufacturers of craft, including Aeros, Avian and Speedwings. Design aside, getting into the air in the first place is one of the most important parts of Hand Gliding. Launch techniques include foot-launching from a hill, tow-launching from a ground-based tow system, aerotowing (behind another powered aircraft), and powered harnesses. Other, more exotic launch techniques have also been used successfully, such as hot-air balloon drops for very high altitude launches. In flight, conditions can be either soarable or not soarable (flights in non-soarable conditions are referred to as "sled runs"). Soaring flight can be sustained through riding on thermal currents (caused by solar heating of surface air) or ridge lift (caused by wind rising over geographical features). Flights powered by ridge lift are generally confined to the vicinity of the ridge (which can be high and long in mountainous regions) or coastal cliff, while thermal flights can extend over great distances and reach thousands of feet in altitude over mountains or flatlands.

Hang Gliding has always been classed as a dangerous sport. This is largely due to the fact that in the early days of hang gliding most of the sport’s development occurred through the trial and error of its participants. Whilst the equipment nowadays is much more sophisticated and includes quick deploy parachutes, the greatest improvements in gliding safety have come via proper training from qualified instructors. Soar through the air like a bird - Use the Your Leisure Time Quick Search to find Hang Gliding schools and tuition in the UK.

Hang Gliding is both a recreational and competitive sport closely related to paragliding and gliding (flying sailplanes), but using a much simpler and less expensive craft consisting of an aluminum- or composite-framed fabric wing, with the pilot mounted on a harness hanging from the wing frame and exercising control by shifting body weight.

Broadly there are two classes of hang glider. A flexible wing hang glider, having flight controlled by a wing whose shape changes in virtue of the shifted weight of the pilot. The second class is a rigid wing hang glider, having flight controlled by spoilers, typically on top of the wing. In both flexible and rigid wings the pilot hangs below the wing without any additional fairing. There is also a subclass where the pilot sits within the wing by means of a fairing.

Modern hang gliding design was influenced by NASA technician Francis Rogallo in the late 1940s with his invention of the Flexkite. Subsequent development centred on several Australian designs including the Icarus rigid wing gliders during the 1970s-80s. Today there are several manufacturers including Aeros, Avian and Speedwings.

Launch techniques include foot-launching from a hill, tow-launching from a ground-based tow system, aerotowing (behind another powered aircraft), and powered harnesses. Other, more exotic launch techniques have also been used successfully, such as hot-air balloon drops for very high altitude launches. In flight, conditions can be either soarable or not soarable (flights in non-soarable conditions are referred to as "sled runs"). Soaring flight can be sustained generally through thermals (caused by solar heating of surface air) or ridge lift (caused by wind rising over geographical features).

Flights powered by ridge lift are generally confined to the vicinity of the ridge (which can be very high and long in mountainous regions) or coastal cliff, while thermal flights can extend over great distances and reach thousands of feet in altitude over mountains and flatlands.

Hang Gliding has always been classed as a dangerous sport. This is largely due to the fact that in the early days of hang gliding most development occurred through the trial and error of its participants. Whilst the equipment nowadays is much more sophisticated and includes quick deploy parachutes, the greatest improvements in gliding safety have come from proper training from qualified instructors. Use the Your Leisure Time Quick Search to find Hang Gliding schools and tuition in the UK .

Worldwide Hang Gliding Organisations

Hang Gliding and Paragliding Commission of FAI
United States Hang Gliding Association
British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association
Brazilian Hang Gliding Association
German Hanggliding Association (English)
Hang Gliding Federation of Australia
Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association of Canada

Featured web sites

Hang glider bible
The Oz Report - Worldwide Hang Gliding eZine and blog
Hang Glider History group(English)
Current hang gliding recordsHang Gliding Photos
Red Bull Vertigo : 1st FAI Hang Gliding and Paragliding World Acrobatic Championship 2006