Flights will start about ¼ of the way up the training hill and you will slowly work your way up the hill, taking longer and higher flights as your skills improve. The glider will fly best when you relax and let the glider do what it was designed to do: FLY. This will become easier as the lesson progresses and you are able to become airborne for a longer period of time. Be patient with the winds and fly only when the conditions are good and after the instructor tells you it is safe. Some days, weather conditions don’t cooperate and flying can’t take place at all. On these days, wind checks, (similar to rain checks) are available and you can return to do the flying part of your course when conditions allow.
There is an old saying that goes like this: THERE ARE OLD PILOTS AND THERE ARE BOLD PILOTS, BUT THERE ARE NO OLD BOLD PILOTS. Be patient, remember, SAFETY and GOOD JUDGEMENT are the primary factors here. Once you have completed the first day of instruction, (the hardest day) you will have a good idea of what HANG GLIDING is all about.
What’s next?
Mountain Wings offers two complete training programs, the Intro day lesson and the Eagle package that help you advance to the Novice level. If you have already signed up for either of the programs, you are off to a great start. As you approach the Novice level rating, you will be preparing to do some higher altitude flying. At this point, you should start thinking about buying your own equipment. Your instructor can guide you and provide literature to help you select the right Hang Glider for your needs. MOUNTAIN WINGS carries both new and used equipment and are dealers for virtually every product available for Hang Gliding. Demo gliders are available for those serious qualified students who are interested in test-flying prior to making a purchase.
Being a Hang Glider pilot requires that you have your own equipment. One of the advantages of having your own glider early on in your training is that you will be familiarizing yourself with the glider and harness in which you will be doing your higher altitude flights. Students with their own equipment always advance more quickly.
A Hang Glider won’t fit in your elevator? We offer glider storage for apartment-dwellers and for those who wish to protect their gliders from the wear and tear of road travel.
The governing body for Hang Gliding is the UNITED STATES HANG GLIDING and Paragliding ASSOCIATION. (USHPA) This is the organization that keeps our sport from becoming directly regulated by the F.A.A., making Hang Gliding the most accessible form of recreational flight available. A USHGA membership provides you with liability insurance, a monthly issue of Hang Gliding magazine and the eligibility to become a rated pilot.
HANG 1 – Beginner HANG 2 – Novice,
HANG 3 – Intermediate HANG 4 - Advanced and MASTER
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