All hang gliding experiences are an experience and a "lesson". A first experience is as fun as it is educational. So, its an end in itself, ,without
any need to go on, but still having been well worth the effort. Most people love the "family" lesson, where everyone, including the kids, participate as a team, in learning the
basics of launching and landing a hang glider. Its a blast to feel your bare feet rise off the dune under your own power with the instructor,
running along aside you making sure you are safe. So, its a holistic experience with a little bit of entertaining interactive
classroom work (that parents love because it generalizes the principles of learning to anything the kids may want to try),
a little simulator work and then finally going out to the beach practicing with a real hang glider.
Its a very methodical baby step process that everyone enjoys - once your attention has been rewarded by the feeling of floating
down the beach or small hill at height of four feet.
The experience usually begins at 10 am in Pacific City, Newport or the Corvallis Airport and runs to around 3:00 pm.
If - and only if - there is enough wind and you weigh under 160 lbs, we can perform a small tandem (only available on the coast). We use the very same
glider we assembled for the solo part of the lesson. We just add on extra fee to the solo part because of the extra effort and time.
We can now hike to the top of the dune for a little higher flight, with you knowing something so you can actually assist in a much safer tandem flight.
So now, you really have a good feeling for what the sport is all about. Its all fun and educational.
We highly recommending picking a date and perhaps even better a range of dates so we can choose the best wind, paying for the lesson day via
the paypal system, so I can put you on the official google calendar that will remind you and me of our upcoming lesson.
If after the fun introductory lesson you want to become a "rated" pilot, successful training requires approximately 15 lesson days as defined by the Hang II rating set forth by
the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association. This works out to approximately 10 flights
per lesson day. A lesson is defined by 7-12 flights since repetition is
what matters to skill development. At this point, a student is akin to a new driver on a busy highway -
- there is basic skill but limited judgment regarding very complex high altitude situations. Thus, lessons 11-14
teaches the strategic and judgment skills required for safe and practical recreational hang gliding. That is the minimum
skill for a new pilot to be accepted for continuing mentorship by the community of experienced and avid pilots.
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