Mastering the Art

Hang gliders can fly at speeds of up to 90 miles per hour (145 kilometers per hour), and they can encounter some rough weather conditions. They also can be tricky to fly. For these reasons, trainee pilots learn basic hang gliding skills on the ground and during brief “hops” into the air. Pilots in training will often

О A well-positioned platform sticking out from a hill also makes a good launching pad for a hang glider.

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PARAGLIDERS

A paraglider flies in a way similar to a hang glider. The difference is that a paraglider looks more like a parachute and has no rigid frame. The pilot sits in a seat harness

suspended beneath the canopy. The term paraglider was first used by aviation scien­tists in the 1960s. The sport paraglider was developed in the 1970s by French enthusi­asts, who were inspired by new, advanced parachute designs. French pilots made paragliding popular, and France still has the largest number of paragliders.

The paraglider is easy to pack and light enough to be carried, which is useful when a flight ends with the pilot landing miles away from the takeoff area. The paraglider trainee can learn most skills in the air.

The aircraft is easy to launch and fly in light winds, but it does not glide as well as a hang glider. For this reason, it usually cannot fly such long distances, although some paragliders have flown as far as 250 miles (400 kilometers).

fly tandem (two at a time) with an expe­rienced instructor.

The United States Hang Gliding Association provides licenses to hang glider pilots. This official body also issues certificates to instructors and enforces safety regulations that all pilots are expected to observe. Hang gliding is often thought to be a risky sport by peo­ple not involved in it. Although modern materials are both light and strong, a hang glider is a flimsy airplane that is
easily damaged. Accidents can happen, often as a result of unpredictable wind currents or weather changes. Hang glid­er pilots can carry a parachute in their harnesses for emergencies.

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SEE ALSO:

• Air and Atmosphere • Bird

• Glider • Global Positioning System

• Lilienthal, Otto • Wing

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