Steps in learning how to fly a hang glider

With the dream of flying like the birds, by flying a hang glider we approach the sensation of liberty they have.  Incredible landscapes, flying cross country and climbing in thermals like one of them.  It’s magic.

From a mountain with a little slope, facing the wind, a little run, hanging from the glider by a carabiner, within the harness, we can make flights of various hours and kilometres.  It’s a dream we can reach, with determination and acquiring a few basic principles and putting them into practice with a hang gliding school you to can achieve it.

The lack of information about this beautiful sport deprives many people of this magical feeling of liberty.  With a simple telephone call you could clear up your doubts and come and see how easy and simple it is to fly.  FIND OUT NOW

A course has various phases which are:

1- Theory.  Why a hang glider flies, its handling, parts and rules.
Hanging from the centre of the sail in a harness and moving your body weight we are able to turn, change airspeed and stop the glider.
Rigging and various parts of the glider:  In a flat field, facing the wind and running wear generate an airflow over the glider, controlling the angle of attack we are able to stop it (with this we make a simulation of the take off phase, glider control and landing flare)

2- In a field with a certain gradient we work on what was learnt on the flat but each time with increasing glides with our feet of the ground and flaring the glider to stop it.



3.- Consolidating the second phase and making 90 degree turns and figures of eight.  The pilot also learns to place the hands on the control bar (previously on the A-frame uprights) and to go into the prone position.



4-High flights.  The instructor never lets the student go from one phase to another until he/she has demonstrated sufficient ability.  During the high flights the student is in contact with the instructor via a radio in case of potential problems.  The student always wears a helmet and harness supplied by the school, likewise the glider is supplied by the school.

Photos and text by Patxikuk Quintana Burguete,
Corneja from Navarra and hang gliding instructor.