How to start hang gliding? How to become a hang glider pilot?

Learn how to start hang gliding and train to become a hang glider pilot. This video will teach everything from where to find a hang gliding school to how to purchase your first hang glider.

Introduction 0:00
How much does hang gliding cost? 2:14
Do you need a pilot license? 7:04
How long does training take? 9:51
Step 1 - Find an instructor/school 13:56
Step 2 - Take a tandem flight 16:38
Step 3 - Be patient 18:16
Step 4 - Begin your lessons 21:22
Step 5 - Earn your Hang I pilot rating 24:38
Step 6 - Buy your first hang glider & harness 26:00
Step 7 - Keep practicing & training 30:49
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#HangGliding #HangGlider #LearningToFly #HangGlidingLessons #HangGlidingLife #HangGlidingEducation #HangGlidingLearning #HangGlidingTraining #HangGlidingTutorial #BeginnerHangGliding #LearnHangGliding #LearnToHangGlide #StartingHangGliding
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Written & Directed by Eric Muss-Barnes
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Music:
"Soar" by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0.

"Call To Adventure" by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0.
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Colophon:
SOFTWARE:
DaVinci Resolve 18
Insta360 Studio
HandBrake

HARDWARE:
Canon VIXIA HF G50 Camcorder
Insta360 ONE R Action Camera
Sennheiser MKE440 Shotgun Microphone
Sennheiser ew 112-p G3 Wireless Microphone
IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2
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Free non-profit educational public-service and online classroom curriculum.
Non-Commercial. No Advertising. No Solicitation for Donations.
Reference materials under Fair Use of Section 107 of United States Copyright Law.
Fair Use of copyrighted materials by teachers and educators is explicitly protected in United States Code, Title 17, Section 504, Subsection C, Paragraph 2.

[bobkuczewski]

The tone of this video series is highly inviting to potential new pilots. Well done. This is the kind of work that might save the sport of hang gliding. Thanks.

[alexmark]

The only thing I’d like to comment on is the cost. Since the cost is often the #1 issue for a potential pilot, I like to say that first year (training/equipment) will cost you as much as a new mountain bike $5-6K: training around $2k, glider (in decent condition) $2.5-3.5k and a used harness $300-800/w parachute.
My point is it’s relatively inexpensive to get into flying compare to other cool fun sports and especially aviation related ones.
Great video!

[Fan-hkpv]

I like the way you present this sport, honest, patient and friendly. Thank you!

[WizardNiu]

This is a very useful guide video for Hang gliding!!! and the guy in the video looks like a very kind person!

[nickcaci]

What a great intro to the world of Free Flight learning. Very well written and described. We as want a bees can take away with your expertise is well displayed. I was self taught in the early seventies and taught in the early decades and have always respected the teachers in this sport and take all knowledge into account to this day as I still fly. With your take always I will say that back not so long ago was the sail of old wing designs of the past even in good shape BUT not friendly flying performance up to today’s standards. I’ve always told them that cheap used purchase of older wings are not up to today’s safety standards.

[patf.]

Eric, I'm an H4 pilot. You've done a great job clarifying the details and passion needed for Hang gliding. Also, I enjoyed seeing the Andy Jackson LZ, where I spent 6 months between 2019 & 2022 flying and meeting so many great pilots and 50 hrs building the new shade structure. I'm amazed that we never met...maybe in the future. Thanks for taking the time to create this video.

[paulrieker]

Osmosis: A learning process which in parallel with to a stepped and planned program bring class/lessons into "mind repetition" and hanging out at take off and landing area. So much is reinforced by hanging out. You might use the the word "Osmosis", the absorption of environment, so it becomes "you".

[anuthabubba]

Built my own (early '70s) from bamboo, visqueen and duct tape. Test flew it on the Miss. River levee in N.E. Louisiana! Was generally loong 'moon walking' type steps. Also built/test flew an EasyRiser Kit and 'tested' it on The Levee. Eventually heard about the growing hanggliding activities in the Chattanooga area. Was working as a helicopter mechanic on a 7 days on/7 days off so drove up to check THAT out! Eventually got official training. Thanks to Dan & Randee, BJ, TOM and everyone else, I worked as a heli-mech on the Gulf coast of Louisiana. Wore out 2 new Celicas driving back and forth every 7 days.

[furigasa]

I think you should promote Low Altitude Beach Flights and teach people how to hoover - glide there. Been watching Hang Gliding Videos online for a while. The ones with the most views and reacts are the smooth low altitude Beach side hang glider hovering videos.

[paintfly]

Hey Eric, just want to say that this is a really fantastic video! One of our pilots here at LMFP shared it and I just watched it all the way through! I’ve been an instructor here for the last 21 years and this is something that we’ve needed forever!!! Thank you for taking the time and covering so much information! I will be sharing this with all my students from now on! If you find yourself out here on the East side of the country I’d love to buy you a beer! I live here in the LZ so I’m pretty easy to find!

[VTSifuSteve]

Excellent video. I had flown a bit way back in the mid 1970s and lately, at the tender age of 69, have been interested in taking up the sport again ....with proper training this time around.

Anyway, after watching this video a few weeks back I decided, "what the heck" and booked lessons with Windsports (at Dockweiler Beach) for both me and my wife. We drove all the way out from Phoenix had an absolute blast. And, in addition to Andy Beam and his great team of instructors, who did we run into? Eric!!! ...who was polishing his take-offs and landings on a WW Falcon 1. He really practices what he preaches.

[wrathalien]

top stuff fellas, we need videos like this to grow the community. Thank you !

[nickcaci]

…. an adamant … an excellent description of what it takes to be apart of this form of flight and it’s communities on our oldest form of flight.

[KeithMilton-rlmg]

Returning to hangliding after a 20 year rest. Great informative video to introduce Hangliding to new potential pilots.

[sukwonkim]

Your closing narration was very touching and awakened my passion for the flying.
Thanks Eric !

[Ayerstairs]

Great video. Tons of useful info for someone interested in getting into the sport. Thanks for posting!

[wgcjtc]

Very well presented. A thorough explanation of what it may take and specific steps to take to become a pilot. I used to fly in the army and would really be overjoyed to become a hang glider pilot and begin flying again. Thank you for sharing.

[yuqiulin]

Great job, thank you.
As a new pilot just finished DHV A certification, I fully agree every point in this video.
What a humble, sharing man!

[JoshuaWriter]

Great video. John Heiney's Hang Gliding school in San Diego, CA is awesome. He's a master pilot and world record holder, I'm a proud student of his. Highly recommended.

[soaringroadtrip]

This is very good! Thank you for your efforts in putting this together!