Everything you need to know about hang gliding

The great Leonardo da Vinci once said: “Once a flight is experienced, the eyes of man will be forever directed to the sky. A hang glider gives pilots an opportunity to experience this feeling. Nowadays, hang-gliding is a popular a sport. Competitions are held in different parts of the world, and hang gliding clubs and schools are open in every corner of the globe.

The glider

A hang glider is a flying machine, which consists of three duralumin pipes connected at the front point and forming a fan in the horizontal plane, with an angle of 90-140 degrees between the pipes. Between the tubes special dense and durable synthetic fabric is stretched. The two side tubes and the rear edge of the fabric form an almost triangular shape when viewed from above. In order to maintain the shape, smaller diameter auxiliary tubes and steel cables secure the main tubes.

The pilot is suspended on a rope behind the central tube in a certain place, close to the center of mass of the apparatus. Pilot uses his hands to hold on to a trapeze. This structure consists of three pipes that form a triangle with a horizontal base, fixed in the space by steel cables with a diameter of several millimeters.

The pilot controls the flight by moving his body relative to the point of suspension. Landing is performed on the feet. Modern hang gliders can reach high speed, varying form 28 to 130 kilometers per hour. The main advantage of a hang glider is the simplicity of design combined with its sufficient rigidity and ability to withstand high loads.

Types of hang gliders

Since hang gliding is available for people with different level of experience, several types of hang gliders are distinguished. The first type is mainly used by beginners. These hang gliders have a simpler construction and therefore, they weigh less. In addition, it is easier to operate them, which means that they are perfect for inexperienced pilots. Since their construction is not too heavy, there is a restriction concerning the pilot’s weight, which must not be more than 90 kilos.

The next type of hang gliders is perfect for tandems, i.e. pairs consisting of a pilot and a passenger. This aircraft is the best option for those who want fully concentrate on the nature and the sense of flying, because the passengers do not have to do anything. Since those hang gliders are able to bear withstand a lot of weight, they do not reach high speed. It is necessary to learn to fly on tandem hang gliders before moving on to the basic ones.

The next type of aircraft is the most popular. It requires certain experience. In comparison to the basic hang glider, this one is capable of reaching higher speed. Such models weigh more and therefore, are more difficult to operate. The maximum weight of a pilot is 100 kilos. Having learnt to use this aircraft, a pilot can move on to professional hang gliders that reach the highest speed. It is necessary to take a whole course with a professional instructor.

Equipment

A hang glider is a must-have for each pilot. If you are planning to practice this sport professionally, you’d better buy a hang glider of your own. It is important to choose a reliable  suspension system because this is what ensures the pilot’s safety. If you are planning to fly at the height of 50 meters or more, you should bring an extra parachute. No matter how high you will be flying, you must wear a helmet to protect you head in case of a falling. As for the clothes, you can choose anything you want. Yet, remember that it may be colder in the air than on the ground, so thermal underwear is a must for you.

Myths

There are many different myths about hang gliding. Are they true? Not really.

• “To take off, a hang-glider has to jump off a high mountain”. This way of taking-off is possible, but it is used very rarely. Usually it is used by mountaineers in order to quickly descend from a mountain peak. Hang-gliders start with their feet – they just run down the slope with the hang-glider and, having gained enough speed, take off from the ground. Gaining the necessary speed can be accomplished with the help of a tugboat – a motorized aircraft, or even a winch.
• Find the best odds for sports betting.
• “A hang glider is incapable of flying without wind”. This is not entirely true. Even if the weather is calm, a hang glider can cover a distance of 0.6-1.5 km. However, in order to soar for a long time and cover a long distance, hang-gliding requires air currents rising from the ground.
• “The pilot can only occupy a horizontal position when flying.” Yes, all hang glider harnesses are designed to keep the athlete’s body horizontal. This allows them to fly for a long time without any discomfort. But there are situations when an athlete takes an upright position. It is not as comfortable, but the design of the harness makes it possible.
• New predictions for soccer, tennis, hockey, basketball, etc. are created every hour.
• “Hang glider pilots must use a parachute in case of emergency”. Hang gliders are equipped with a parachute rescue system for pilots. They keep it in the backpack. But there is no need to unhook the glider completely – the rescue system should protect not only the pilot, but the glider as well. The main thing is to release the parachute in time.
• “There are no hang-gliding rules”. This is a misconception, because there are certain rules that must be followed by all pilots. Like motorists, experienced pilots keep an eye on the maneuvers of new arrivals and give way to them.
• Take a look at the freebets offered by the bookmaker.

History

Hang gliding was officially recognized as a sport in 1974. In fact, it appeared 34 years earlier. In 1940, the American Francis Rogallo made a kite for his children and, watching it in the air, he the idea of developing a flying machine on the same principle came to his mind. His developments were successful, and in 1951, the designer received a patent for the “kite of Rogallo” he had created.

In 1957, the kite participated in the NASA competition, devoted to constructing a machine that could bring spacecraft down to earth. At first, the invention was recognized as the best, it was called “Rogallo’s wing”, but after some tests it was abandoned. But in the late 60’s, the “Rogallo wing” attracted a lot of attention. Athletes modernized its design and began to use it for flights.

It is believed that the first flights on a hang glider were carried out in the USA, but it is wrong. The first to master the new glider were the Australians, adapting a smaller copy of the “Rogallo wing” – a water kite – to follow a boat in tow. They also added some new features to its design: a triangular control handle and a seat.

All in all, hang gliding is an exciting sport that gives people an opportunity to fly in the sky. This outdoor activity is available in almost all countries.