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By BillyTheKid90
#403565
Hey Guys and Girls,

I am new to the forum.

I live about 30minutes away from Lookout Flight Park in Trenton, GA. I have been around flying my entire life but have recently wanted to get into Hang Gliders. I am a rather large fellow... 6' 275LBS. It looks like I would end up needing a tandem wing to have the weight capability for me. Is there such a wing for beginners? I have searched around on the inter webs and have found the North Wing Freedom 220, but don't want to get into something that I can't learn and train on.

Thanks for any advice and input!
The New Guy
User avatar
By remmoore
#403566
The Falcon 225 has long been the standard training/beginner glider for us big pilots. You can get a good used one pretty inexpensively, and it will likely hold it's value until you sell it to the next guy. There are a reasonable number of options for big pilots, on up through the skill levels, but no need to think about that right now.

RM
User avatar
By red
#403567
Billy,

Welcome to the sandbox! 8) Be among friends here.

Very similar but stronger than the big Falcon is the Falcon Tandem. It's one more option in the big glider choices. Been flying HG for decades, and lately I bought a Falcon Tandem for myself, on the light days. Nobody ever out-grows a Falcon, but their ego might.

Ask if the HG schools there have the gliders needed for the big guys. Flying a too-small glider can be a busy experience, especially in HG lessons. The right sized glider for you will be much more reasonable, for learning.

Just one old HG instructor to anybody listening, I strongly recommend this "HG ground school," before and even during HG lessons. You can DIY with any reasonably experienced pilot helping with the printout, using any ragged-out old HG.

http://www.hanggliding.org/wiki/Soaring ... imulator_:
.
User avatar
By BillyTheKid90
#403568
Thanks for the input. I have emailed the guys at Lookout mountain about how they train with bigger guys. I also checkout the Falcons that were mentioned. I am leaning toward a tandem at this point. It seems that I will be pushing the edge on weight if I go with a smaller wing.
By Roadrunner71
#403569
I'm a Pilot who's first Glider was a 225 Wills Wing Falcon. I was weighing oh about 275 Lbs. back then. I had a really good time flying my Falcon. Yes my Falcon did not have much of a Glide, in Fact it's glide sucked. But in a Thermal, It was a Climb monster.

I had a lot of fun flying that Falcon.
By Roadrunner71
#403573
Billy: Let Me know when you are interested in getting your second Wing. I will let you know which King-Posted Double Surface Glider "IS THE CHOICE FOR A LARGE PILOT TO GET".
By Landry
#403590
I learned on a Falcon 225. Then switched over to a Freedom 190. (hook-in weight up to 290lbs., although I have flown it at 310lbs.) I also now fly a Predator 158. In no way would I recommend a Falcon 225 over a Freedom 190. Get a Freedom and never look back. Further, the Freedom offers a VG option that you can add later, or buy outright. It comes with a VG adjustment on the keel, but NEVER move that! If you want to adjust the VG, then get the VG option at initial purchase, or after the fact. I recommend when purchasing.

The Freedom is a high aspect ratio SS glider. It is an amazing glider compared to a Falcon 225. Not even close. I've not flow other Falcon's, so I cannot comment on experience. I will say, that the Predator 158 with VG off, does not seem to be much more of a handful than flying my Freedom, and it is FAST!
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By BillyTheKid90
#403592
Thanks guys for the replies! I have emailed LMFP to see what they do for training for heavier pilots. I am also trying to lose some lbs to be able to take a tandem or two. I am a ways off from getting a glider I just really enjoy doing my research and not go off one persons opinion. (especially when they are the local distributor in my area)
User avatar
By red
#403593
BillyTheKid90 wrote: Tue May 29, 2018 9:53 amI am a ways off from getting a glider I just really enjoy doing my research and not go off one persons opinion. (especially when they are the local distributor in my area)
Campers,

We have a WINNAH! :thumbsup:
By Jmcbrstnie23
#413139
This is good information but who does training for people in the 250-275lbs range?

I have been looking at this for a long time 1994 and the limit was 225 then and sadly I was above that. I am in reasonable shape I do workout.

Looking for advice.
User avatar
By remmoore
#413140
I’ve been flying at 250+ lbs for decades I would start with a Falcon 2 or 3 225 as your first glider. If you eventually want more performance, get a Sport 2 175 or a Sport 3 170. I’ve been mentoring a newer pilot who’s even larger than me and he’s doing great progressing with these wings. The best performance large pilots can get is with rigid wings, but that’s a ways off…

RM
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User avatar
By remmoore
#413141
BillyTheKid90 wrote: Tue May 29, 2018 9:53 am I am also trying to lose some lbs to be able to take a tandem or two.
Don’t bother with the tandem rides. Even if you somehow find someone to do it with you, it’s totally unnecessary for training, and a waste of resources.
By Roadrunner
#413143
Hello Mew Guy:

Well My First Glider was a 225 Falcon. My Second Glider was a One Fifty-Eight Predator. I remember saying to John how since i made the transition to Flying Your One Fifty-Eight Predator. Whacks went away with My Falcon. Talk about a Glider that can Land! My Predator is the best landing Glider that I know of. On top of that it has as My Friend Zack said, "It has a Tremendous sink rate". On My last Flight on My Predator, I weighed 298 Pounds. I experimented. Flying with adding Water as Ballast back when I was a Hang Two up at the Flying Site Lake McClure up in the Foothills of the Sierras. My Hook-in weight got as high as 340 Pounds. I had nice No - Step Landings.

It is such a shame that Predators are no longer being produced. The Sail Maker Who made the Sails has gone AWOL. Yes d--- Cheeney stopped Making the Sails. What a shame this reality is.