Anybody ever try hang gliding?

**Buoy** · 03-19-2011 07:54 PM

As my friends here know, I'm now living on the side of a mountain.
I sit on my porch drinking my coffee, or beer after 12:00, and I see the hawks circling the sky over the desert, never flapping their wings, and just riding the air currents. It looks very cool, and I'm wondering if this is a place I could use a glider.
This is probably a stupid crazy idea, and I'll probably kill or seriously maim myself...
And, it's probably expensive (just what I need - another expensive hobby).
My next option is to buy a Helo (I have room to put a Helo pad on the roof) - but that would be a few years, and a bit more expensive

But, I could give guided flights of the mountain to offset the cost

**Shockwave** · 03-19-2011 08:20 PM

I still own a glider . Years ago when I was fearless (not too smart) I would be towed behind the Ski Boat . With 1300' of rope you could be pulled up to about 400' then release at the kite and glide down landing on the water .
My Kite has floats and I would wear trick skis . It was a blast . It required a very skilled driver of the boat to keep it safe .
Carl Heibert the guy that trained me took the sport to bigger levels .
Unfortunatly Carl had a freak bad crash in Pennsylvania that left him in a wheelchair . Spooked me enough to get into another sport .
Check out some of Carl's work

http://www.giftofwings.ca/lobby.htm

**JJ Apache** · 03-19-2011 08:24 PM

Omg, that sounds like fun, and it would be cool just to watch!

And of course it sounded dangerous...aren't All the fun things?

**MacGyver** · 03-19-2011 08:35 PM

How about an ultralight? You can keep riding the updrafts, but have the engine when you need it.

**Pete B** · 03-19-2011 09:04 PM

This is down in Lima , Peru. right next to the Pacific Ocean.

**Buoy** · 03-19-2011 10:24 PM

Great photos Pete!!

I have a cliff that drops off about 100-150 feet in my front yard.
Is that enough for me to catch lift?
The mountain goes up another 2500 foot, and is only 2000 ft away from me.
Are there any regulations or registraitions I need to fly one??
I'm just scratching the surface on this.
It was just a wild hair up the ... after watching the hawks...
Maybe I could do it too.

**JJ Apache** · 03-19-2011 10:26 PM

Very cool photos! Thanks.

**Pete B** · 03-19-2011 11:24 PM

If the birds can soar, why not, I think a couple of lessons and you would be good to go.
a work friend did the paraglide stuff in kuwait off of sand dunes, I would try a open area before jumping off a cliff. in the one pic the guy has asmall motor on the backpack. just some Ideas for you.

**Pete B** · 03-19-2011 11:26 PM

PS get a gopro helmet cam as well, so you can share your adventures!

**Donskihp** · 03-20-2011 08:45 AM

Buoy: My brother lives in Flagstaff AZ. not that terribly far from you. Hes been into Hang Gliding since the early 80s. I can put you in touch with him if your interested in Hang Gliding, he's always looking for an excuse to go flying.

**Ratickle** · 03-20-2011 09:54 AM

Tim's adventures, moving again........

This time up, up, and away......

100 to 150 would be cutting it a little close. But, if a warm wind was coming up the hill toward your house, you could probably do it no problem.....

Once you practice somewhere else with no houses to run into......

**fund razor** · 03-20-2011 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by Ratickle

Tim's adventures, moving again........

This time up, up, and away......

100 to 150 would be cutting it a little close. But, if a warm wind was coming up the hill toward your house, you could probably do it no problem.....

Once you practice somewhere else with no houses to run into......

He's not that heavy, and he has a built-in rudder.

**Ratickle** · 03-20-2011 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by fund razor

He's not that heavy, and he has a built-in rudder.

Not sure I want to know about this "rudder".

**fund razor** · 03-20-2011 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by Ratickle

Not sure I want to know about this "rudder".

I was thinking nose as the leading edge. Not sure I want to know what you were thinking.

**Bobcat** · 03-20-2011 01:21 PM

With all of the "Rudder" references I'm not sure whether we should move this thread to the porn section or the mechanics help section......

Please no lower unit jokes...

**Ratickle** · 03-20-2011 02:50 PM

Smashing into a cactus has to hurt more than running into a tree though......

**Buoy** · 03-20-2011 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by Donskihp

Buoy: My brother lives in Flagstaff AZ. not that terribly far from you. Hes been into Hang Gliding since the early 80s. I can put you in touch with him if your interested in Hang Gliding, he's always looking for an excuse to go flying.

Flag is about 2-1/2 hrs away, so not too bad.
Yeah, I'd love to talk to him - shoot me a pm with his e-mail, if you don't mind.
I'm really just at the investigative stage of this, and seeing what all is involved before deciding if this is something I really want to try.

Originally Posted by fund razor

He's not that heavy, and he has a built-in rudder.

Yeah, 5'11" all of 165#s
Watch it with the schnozz jokes...

Originally Posted by Ratickle

Smashing into a cactus has to hurt more than running into a tree though......

I have plenty of space, and not a lot of houses to the north of me (clear for about two acres) and then just sporadic houses. I'm not interested in tangling with any cactus!
I have one species of cactus all over my land that looks soft and fuzzy (have NO idea what kind it is yet), but, of course I felt the need to touch it and see if it was fuzzy...
That sumbitch jumped out and stuck to my hand like industrial velcro - left too spines in my finger and HURT LIKE HELL.
Note to self: Don't touch the F-in Cactus on the property.

**fund razor** · 03-20-2011 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by Buoy

Watch it with the schnozz jokes...

Sorry.

**Tony** · 03-21-2011 08:48 AM

Originally Posted by Buoy

Great photos Pete!!

I have a cliff that drops off about 100-150 feet in my front yard.
Is that enough for me to catch lift?
The mountain goes up another 2500 foot, and is only 2000 ft away from me.
Are there any regulations or registraitions I need to fly one??
I'm just scratching the surface on this.
It was just a wild hair up the ... after watching the hawks...
Maybe I could do it too.

A few of my relatives own Powered Parachutes or PPCs. Not the backpack style but go-cart style strapped to the chute. About 10 years ago I was ready to walk into the dealership and buy a new two seater. At the time you didnt need any liscnece or formal training, any special insurances or inspections. Two seaters were technically supposed to be used for training purposes only. Well I got to talking to a few guys who told me that the FAA was starting to crack down on the two seater/training reg and I had no desire to own a single seat bird so I dropped the idea. I have no idea whats involved with the backpack rigs other than I have seen several guys faceplant during takeoff and landing. Flying the PPCs anytime other than early morning and late evening takes a good bit of skill to deal with thermals considering your average flying altitude is 500 ft.

**Buoy** · 03-21-2011 05:48 PM

I was talking with someone recently about this, and they mentioned that if it's a two-person craft that you need to hold a pilots license - but, if it's single person no license is needed. I guess they figure if you're dumb enough to off yourself, they don't want you taking anyone with you without proper training.

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