There are many ways to get an introduction. Most schools take advantage of a blend of technology and natural resources. Here in Oregon we have an abundance of beautiful natural resources to fly. The following video provides a good overview. If you are still not sure what hang gliding is all about, taking a five hour introductory lesson provides the most fun and best overview of the sport. It includes a very interesting groundschool on how a hang glider flies and teaches the basics of assembly, launch and ground skimming on the lower slopes of the dune. The student gets to practice first in a simulator. You are then assisted and supervised in 7-12 actual flights that begin in ground skims. Your feet leave the ground 3 to 5 feet and you can begin to practice straight and level flight. Be careful though, its hard to just have one lesson! You might as well pay for three day weekend camp lesson that has no flight limits. Check the Schedule for camp availability. Cost $130.00 per person Group Rate (4 or more) $100.00 per person

If you weigh 160 lbs or less, you may get a solo tandem experience. First, you take a solo lesson. This teaches you the basics of launch and landing and crucial safety factors involved in tandem flight. If the wind is right, you then experience mulitiple lower alitude tandems or one higher alitude tandem. Since tandems require precise conditions for safety, we may not be able to fulfill the tandem portion on the same day, but you will be contacted when the conditions are right. Flexibility in scheduling is required. But anything worthwhile takes some effort and desire. Cost: $220.00

For USHPA rated members wanting to review the latest launch and landing techniques or current students under a USHPA instructor wishing to augment their current supervision. These interactive presentations are a mixture of slide show, real video and animations that will help you understand, visualize and practice all the basic hang gliding competencies. The instructional material here is without equal anywhere in the world. You will be able to upload your own video of yourself so we can troubleshoot particular problems and make solutions. Select the thumbnail demo at the left.

Example classes include: Ground School, Flight Simulator Work, Transport-Assembly-Preflight, Ground Handling, First Ground Runs First Run-out Flights, Bar Pressures Feeling and Active Grip, Crosswinds and Gradients, Flared Landings.

Register on the form to the left

Cost: $15.00 ea/month

The following presentation is 30 minutes long! But it just might get you to the point of performing the Coastal Boogie and Stay Alive. A text summary follows on this page

Lessons build on the introductory lesson material above using United States Hang Gliding Association competency standards. Ground school is integrated into the lesson before and after dune and hill and training. Mountain flying skills are introduced after solid low alitude Hang II skills are attained. Each lesson-day averages 7-12 flights. 14 lesson-days are usually required to gain the necessary proficiency to become an independent mountain or tow pilot. Since equipment is akin to feathers on a bird, and your performance reflects upon the program, only recommended equipment with modern handling characteristics and fitted will be associated with the program. No exceptions. Paced personal equipment purchase that synchronizes with advanced lessons is highly recommended and assures the best results. Statistically, students following this route, spend less money and time, make less mistakes, have the smoothest entry and acceptance among the advanced flying community. Please resist the temptation to attain equipment without communicating with the instructor.

Over 40 flight proficiences in four steps are learned in series. Each package of 3 lessons is purchased seperately during the program. Lesson step package can be applied to single day lessons and camps. Beware that sporadic lessons require constant review and relearning. Taking regularly scheduled lessons saves money!

Each step teaches Hang I, Hang II and Mountain and/or tow skills in sequence. Radio communication, video review, parachute course and tandem instruction is used in training. The cost of the training is significantly decreased because of the student's time and financial committment and subsequent increase in effective learning. A Step Card is given each student to help track progress. There are a number of lessons on one side of the card and list of proficiences on the other side. As you take a lesson, your proficiences are checked off.

This training program is comprised of four 3 day-lesson training camps. The goal of the program is to create and independent and self reliant hang glider pilot. Thus, personal equipment purchase, which enhances the instructional environment, and will be used for for the major part of a hang gliding career, is integral to the success of the program. However, there is a slightly more expensive track for those not wishing to purchase equipment. Time between camps can used to study for the written examinations. This creates the most effective learning pace. It is designed for timely completion and least amount of expense, yet allowing for weather and flying site variability - crucial experiences for real flying skill. Longer camps are possible but require careful pacing during the week. Sporadic lessons wastes time, money and effort in reviewing previous material. The program is based on incentives to perform the program recommendations for smooth and reliable entry into the sport. The most successful students are able to purchase for their glider at the onset of the program and then able to purchase the rest of the skills sets and equipment piecemeal in the next five months. Longer camp students are required to purchase their helmet radio communication systems immediately, since its needed after the third lesson.

General Schedule

The lesson schedule is dictated by weather events. Therefore, email and twitter notifications are sent a couple days before the lesson opportunity. When more than two or three days of consecutive good weather is available, students are strongly recommended to take the opportunity progress quickly through a step and then return home for book and online study. Arranging your lifestyle to be spontaneous and flexible during the training program helps immensely. The other successful scheduling strategy is being unvarying in your committment to take a lesson on regular, consistent basis no matter the weather conditions. This makes probabilities work for you. The worst strategy is take lessons on your arbitrary convienence counting on the probability that wind conditions will be perfect. Generally, lessons are held at the inland training grounds Fall through Late Spring. Summertime lessons are held at Cape Kiwanda, Pacific City, Oregon. A scheduling contract is strongly recommended for steady progress in learning.

Step One

Develop strong launch, on-course flying, vary airpseed within limits and landing skills in straight flight from the 50-100 foot level, earn a HAM radio license and the pass the written hang I test. $130.00 per lesson. No flight limits when bought in a package of three. $100 per lesson and ham radio clinic with full face helmet/installed headset/radio purchase.

Step Two

Learn how to handle more wind/altitude, hone the active grip, vary lift versus control technique, increase airspeed variance, coordinate turns, and fly in a prone (horizontal position, to land on a target, and the written hang II test. $150.00 per lesson. No flight limits when bought in a package of three. $100 per lesson and parachute packing clinic with custom fitted harness/parachute purchase.

Step Three

Learn how to fly prone, recognize when you must make an approach on a landing field through video and inflight radio instruction, coaching and use of your variometer, assess mountain conditions and general meterology, learn how to pack and throw your emergency parachute, practice 3 supervised high altitude flights $130.00 per lesson. No flight limits when bought in a package of three. $100 per lesson and weather clinic with variometer purchase

Step Four

Learn how to soar by extending your flight by using natural lift, learn towing from flat ground, become more confident with different mountain launch sites. Mentors from the established flying community are assigned to assure your continuing success after graduation and attained Hang II rating. $150.00 per lesson. No flight limits when bought in a package of three. $100 per lesson when you are able to use your vehicle (4 wheel drive) to transport the instructor and to get to all escalating mountain sites .

Cost Recap: $130 per lesson (7-10 flights) in first and third step. $150 per lesson in second and fourth step. $100 per lesson and free clinics with equipment purchase. No flight limits when lesson purchased as a step of three lessons. Assigned mentors with successful completion of program recommendations.