Like an eclipse, it covered the sun and then gradually glided away. With no second thought, a nearby old village bloke quickly short back, ?it's a sign, it's a sign, didn't I tell you, it's definitely a sign?. That wasn't a sign. That was an American Pilot, Caril Ridley, conducting a high altitude flight test using a hang glider in India. Since that day, December of 1974, and today, February 2007, the industry has grown tremendously.
Some people might like to call it an air sport, but then the people who've been there know that it takes more than air to get you up there. However, hang gliding definitely is a recreational and competitive sport at the same time.
Although hang gliding is quite similar to paragliding, yet its craft is a bit complicated. The craft is controlled by shifting the body weight of the pilot who is suspended hanging attached to the frame of the wing. The craft is much lighter compared to its cousins and much cheaper too. Its body consist an aluminum/ composite framed fabric wing.
This outdoor sport is quite popular in the Western United States and California and its popularity covers all the corners of the world. There are many sport and outdoor recreational companies that offer training and tandem flights for inexperienced to have their majestic adventure in a safe-mode.
Hang gliding is done by suspending an individual from the wing of the craft in a harness that is attached to the frame of the wing for safety and stability. For maneuvering, there is a control bar provided for the pilot, with which he can turn right, left, lift and descend. The maneuvering is done in accordance with the prevailing wind conditions. While landing, the craft is stalled because of which the pilot can land safely on his feet.
The craft can be easily transported because it can be dismantled and pack into a smaller compact form. Once on location, it can be reassembled and the pilot can strap back in the harness system. The pilot has to take a running start for the craft to get enough lift and once that's done, hang gliding begins. Once the craft is in air, it is kept in forward motion by the gravitational pull. In addition to this, the pilot can take advantage of the wind currents to stay aloft. The glider is pulled in the upward direction by the pilot that allows the pilot to float back to the ground.
Though hang gliding has a fare share of its fans, yet the fatal accidents remain its arch enemy. The craft, by its self, is a fairly safe and sturdy construction but the outside condition and inexperience of the pilot can turn it into a coffin. Otto Liliethal, the ?glider king? of Germany and the pioneer of human aviation, himself was clamed by fatal glider crash.
Hang gliding has a tendency to be dangerous and for that matter should be practiced in under proper assistance and supervision. There are many outdoor adventure clubs and companies that help in training and certification of hang gliders; they make a good reference for an accredited training school. Along with good training, a good knowledge of weather and geographic conditions is required. It shouldn't be practiced in an unsafe environment.
Many countries have imposed restrictions that allow hang gliding in certain specific areas. Along with that the pilot would have to sign in a log book and prove his credentials. Such designated places have a landing zone so that the bystanders are not harmed. Although hang gliding can be carried out almost anywhere, yet staying in such designated areas help minimizing the risk.
Human beings have always had a fascination with the ability to fly. While it isn't something that we are naturally capable of doing, but there has been numerous efforts. One of these is the sport of hang gliding. It is arguably one of the most extreme sports out there. It provides what many say is the ultimate rush. Running off of a cliff and feeling the wind pick up your glider is an experience that many people miss out on, but one that is unmatched by any other feeling. The glider is the most important part of hang gliding. If you have a proper glider then it can be an amazing experience, but poor gliders have given hang gliding its reputation for being the most dangerous of all the extreme sports. If you plan to hang glide sometime in the future, you will definitely want to do whatever it takes to make sure that you have a proper glider. Make sure that you buy from a reliable manufacturer that adheres to all of the guidelines published by all of the safety groups. Every time you go hang gliding, inspect the entire contraption to make sure that it has not been compromised. Hang gliding can be a simple sport, or a very complex sport. While it doesn't take much to strap yourself to a glider and jump off of a hill, you can also get into a much more technical side of the sport. Various factors will contribute towards a much more successful glide. These factors include wind speeds and direction, as well as ?thermals?. If you are able to effectively judge the thermals, flights can last for miles and reach thousands of feet in altitude. Rather than just gliding to the ground, your flight will be constantly going down, then up again. Some professional gliders have achieved flight distances of over 400 miles. When you make the leap and start to actually glide, you can't just sit back and enjoy the flight. If you don't pay attention to what you are doing, you could end up in the wrong place, or even start falling at a dangerous speed. While you are gliding, you have to adjust your weight in order to change your direction and your wind resistance. Often, first time fliers will end up hundreds of yards from the intended landing point. If this happens to you, don't be discouraged ? it takes a few runs to be able to pick up on the subtle techniques. Unfortunately, hang gliding isn't something where you can simply buy the equipment and start doing it. If you are trying it for the first time, then you will probably have to find a private instructor who can take you out to a good area and coach you through it. This will help you to learn the technique from an expert as well as provide insight into the proper safety precautions that you will require. Experts will know how to judge the condition of a glider, as well as all of your safety gear. While hang gliding is most popularly practiced by jumping off of hills or cliffs, there are other ways that it can be accomplished. Someone can hang glide on a perfectly flat area by being pulled along the ground at high speeds. Alternatively, some people hang glide by being pulled by an aircraft. Both of these techniques require immense skill in the art of hang gliding, and will definitely not be suitable for someone who is a beginner. But where there are thermals, there will always be the opportunity to break free into the sky and hang gliding is the best option available.
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