- Thu Feb 07, 2019 10:40 am
#406420
I've been an active hang glider pilot for 14 years. I've had amazing flights in wonderful places...the Owens, the desert, the Sequatchie...lots of great sites. It's all been amazing. It's time for me to move to paragliders. I thought I would fly both PG and HG, but I don't see that happening. What are your thoughts on flying both?
I first tried paragliders about 9 years ago, flew a bit, soared a bit, got a few hours, but decided it wasn't for me. I recently started flying paragliders again with instruction from Dave Hanning at Flying Camp in the Sequatchie Valley. After my first lesson, I was completely sold. New wings are so vastly improved over the paragliders of even a few years ago. The school wing I'm flying is better than the PG wing I first learned on in every way. The convenience of the paraglider is hard to beat. I've been able to get more soaring hours in a few lessons than in a couple of months of hang gliding...my first mountain solo was a 30 min thermal and ridge flight....after landing, I stuffed the wing, went back to the top, and did it again for a 45 min flight...without instruments and not really trying hard. Flew five flights that day...would never do that with a hang glider...too much trouble.
I do recognize the limitations of the PG, especially in stronger conditions...but I really don't want to fly in high winds and totally ripping days anyhow...been there, done that, close calls, never again.
What are your thoughts on flying both PG and HG? Unfortunately bi-wingual does not work for me like I thought it would.
Some of the skills transfer, such as soaring, but many do not...and much of the muscle memory is actually detrimental between the two aircraft in my mind. I think it's detrimental to fly both while learning to fly PG..so many new skills to learn. So...it's over to paragliders exclusively for a while. Time and money wise, I can only do one at a time too...I'm not flying both in one day.
BTW - I'm completely amazed that I can't sell a complete beginner HG package, with good gear, for LESS than what local schools are selling older model wings like the Falcon 1 alone for. That sure says something about hang gliding's future. Is mine an older wing? Sure...but Falcon 2 is a completely legitimate beginner wing in every way. Harness and reserve are models that are still in production. Can't seem to sell it, right here in the heart of east coast hang gliding. WTF?
So...that sadly said, someone buy my HG gear!!!! The Falcon 2/Z5 harness/LARA reserve package is $2000...that's a steal. I'm not going to fly it for a long time, if ever. If I go back to HG, I'll just buy new stuff (if anyone still makes it).
Classified AD: https://www.hanggliding.org/advert/pack ... d-reserve/
I first tried paragliders about 9 years ago, flew a bit, soared a bit, got a few hours, but decided it wasn't for me. I recently started flying paragliders again with instruction from Dave Hanning at Flying Camp in the Sequatchie Valley. After my first lesson, I was completely sold. New wings are so vastly improved over the paragliders of even a few years ago. The school wing I'm flying is better than the PG wing I first learned on in every way. The convenience of the paraglider is hard to beat. I've been able to get more soaring hours in a few lessons than in a couple of months of hang gliding...my first mountain solo was a 30 min thermal and ridge flight....after landing, I stuffed the wing, went back to the top, and did it again for a 45 min flight...without instruments and not really trying hard. Flew five flights that day...would never do that with a hang glider...too much trouble.
I do recognize the limitations of the PG, especially in stronger conditions...but I really don't want to fly in high winds and totally ripping days anyhow...been there, done that, close calls, never again.
What are your thoughts on flying both PG and HG? Unfortunately bi-wingual does not work for me like I thought it would.
Some of the skills transfer, such as soaring, but many do not...and much of the muscle memory is actually detrimental between the two aircraft in my mind. I think it's detrimental to fly both while learning to fly PG..so many new skills to learn. So...it's over to paragliders exclusively for a while. Time and money wise, I can only do one at a time too...I'm not flying both in one day.
BTW - I'm completely amazed that I can't sell a complete beginner HG package, with good gear, for LESS than what local schools are selling older model wings like the Falcon 1 alone for. That sure says something about hang gliding's future. Is mine an older wing? Sure...but Falcon 2 is a completely legitimate beginner wing in every way. Harness and reserve are models that are still in production. Can't seem to sell it, right here in the heart of east coast hang gliding. WTF?
So...that sadly said, someone buy my HG gear!!!! The Falcon 2/Z5 harness/LARA reserve package is $2000...that's a steal. I'm not going to fly it for a long time, if ever. If I go back to HG, I'll just buy new stuff (if anyone still makes it).
Classified AD: https://www.hanggliding.org/advert/pack ... d-reserve/