 |
How high can a hang
glider go? How far?
This depends a lot on the conditions in which it is flown, but
flights in excess of 300 miles in length and altitudes of well
over 20,000 ft. MSL have been recorded. More typically, pilots
in the summer frequently achieve altitudes of 5,000 to 10,000
ft AGL and fly for over 100 miles.
How do gliders gain altitude?
In addition to the horizontal wind we're accustomed to on the
ground, air moves vertically as well. If a glider encounters a
rising chunk of air, it will go up along with it. The whole trick
of soaring a hang glider (or any other glider for that matter)
is to figure out where the air is going up and then to get there.
While there are many sources of rising air or "lift",
the most commonly used by hang gliders are ridge lift and thermal
lift. Ridge lift occurs when horizontal wind hits an obstruction
(like a ridge, for instance) and is deflected upward. Thermal
lift occurs when terrain is heated by the sun and transfers this
heat to the surrounding air - which then rises.
Typically ridge lift exists in a "lift band" on the
windward side of a ridge and pilots get up by flying back and
forth through this band. Thermal lift on the other hand usually
starts at some local "trigger point" on the ground and
then rises as a column or bubble of air. To get up in a thermal,
pilots typically circle in this region of rising air.
How do you steer?
Hang gliders are controlled by shifting the pilot's weight with
respect to the glider. Pilots are suspended from a strap connected
to the glider's frame (hence the name "hang" glider).
By moving forward and backward and side to side at the end of
this strap, the pilot alters the center of gravity of the glider.
This then causes the glider to pitch or roll in the direction
of the pilot's motion and thus allows both speed control and turning.
Where can gliders launch and land?
Pretty much any slope that is relatively free from obstructions
is steeper than about 6 to 1 and faces into the wind can be used
to foot launch a hang glider. The pilot just runs down the slope
and takes off when the air speed reaches 15 to 20 mph. Alternatively,
when no hills are available, towing by trucks, stationary winches
and ultra light aircraft allows gliders to get into the air.
Where a hang glider can be landed depends somewhat on the skill
of the pilot. An experienced pilot should be able to put a glider
safely into any flat spot bigger than about 50 by 200 ft and clear
of obstructions. This area requirement can vary somewhat, though,
depending on wind conditions and the surrounding terrain.
Is lots of wind necessary to launch/fly/land?
Hang gliders can be launched, flown and landed in winds from zero
to about 30 mph safely. When winds get above about 40 mph, the
associated turbulence makes all aspects of flight substantially
less comfortable. Generally, ideal winds for launching and landing
are from 5 to 20 mph depending on the flying site. Wind speed
is less important in flight since the pilot controls the air speed
of the glider whatever the wind speed may be.
What is the temperature like during flight?
Hang gliders are flown in sub-zero conditions in the winter and
in the hottest deserts in the summer. Since the air temperature
typically falls by about 4 degrees (F) for every 1000 ft gain
in elevation, however, high altitude hang glider flights are frequently
cold. Pilots expecting to fly over about 12 - 14,000 ft in the
summer will generally wear warm clothing to protect against exposure.
Do pilots need to be of a certain age, gender, and weight
or size range?
Hang glider pilots range in age from teens to octogenarians. The
limits are more mental than physical. If someone is sufficiently
mature to make decisions significantly affecting their safety
and has sufficiently good reflexes to make such decisions promptly,
then they probably are of a reasonable age for flying.
Since flying depends more on balance and endurance than on brute
strength, woman and men make equally good pilots. While the fraction
varies regionally, about 10 - 15 % of the Hang glider pilots in
the US are women.
Do pilots need to be licensed to fly hang gliders?
Not really, but a program analogous to FAA licensing exists and
is administered by the USHGA (US Hang Gliding Association). This
program consists of a specific set of flying skills corresponding
to a series of pilot proficiency ratings (Beginner through Master)
each of which carries a set of recommended operating limitations.
Beginner rated pilots, for instance, should only fly from hills
under 100 ft in height in mild winds and under the guidance of
an instructor. While these ratings don't carry the force of law
in quite the same way as FAA pilot's licenses do, the majority
of flying sites in the US require that pilots hold some specific
USHGA rating to be allowed to fly solo.
How does a student go about learning
to fly?
In the USA, the USHGA certifies hang gliding instructors and schools.
One of the major reasons hang gliding is safer now than 20 years
ago is this certification program and all students should thus
learn from a certified instructor. All or our instructors are
USHGA certified.
The time required for training varies considerably with the student's
innate skills and with the type of training conditions. Typically,
though, a student will spend 5 - 10 lessons to obtain the Beginner
USHGA pilot rating - a process which generally takes from 3 to
6 months. At the end of this primary training process, the student
is usually flying from moderate altitudes (several hundred to
a few thousand ft) in relative mild conditions. Progression to
more difficult flying conditions continues under the supervision
of more experienced pilots or Observers/Advanced Instructors.
How safe are hang gliders?
Hang gliding can be a very safe sport! Gliders in the US are now
certified for airworthiness by the Hang Glider Manufacturers Assn.
(HGMA), so structural failures on recent equipment flown within
its placarded limits are a thing of the past. In addition, reserve
parachutes are used on all high altitude Hang glider flights now,
and provide a measure of safety in the rare instances of severe
glider damage or complete loss of control.
Also, hang gliding instruction has been standardized and most
students learn from certified instructors using a thorough, gradual
training program. So the days of untrained pilots trying unsafe
maneuvers at dangerous sites are also largely gone.
Safety is the number one priority with us, so you can feel confident
knowing that all measures are taken to ensure that you have
the
safest, most thrilling experience possible! Call us today at 1-800-226-1116
to arrange your hang gliding adventure!
|
