Full Day Introductory Lesson

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 an Introductory Full Day lesson provides the most fun and best overview of the sport. It includes an abbreviated 90 minute groundschool on how a hang glider flies and provides practice in a simulator. You then learn the basics of assembly, launch and ground skimming on the flat ground. You are then assisted and supervised in 7-12 actual flights using tow technology or a natural training hill that begin in ground skims. Your feet leave the ground 3 to 5 feet and you can begin to practice straight and level flight and may get higher depending on the conditions. The process is incremental, methodical and fun. 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

Learning how to hang glide takes some time and effort so those that prepare by taking a 4 hour interactive and physically active ground school often do much better when a full day lesson is taken. It is especially designed for students that have been thinking about hang gliding for a long while and now feel they have the time and money to actually make their dreams come true. It provides the time to go over all the details of learning this sport, technically and physically, and puts it all in perspective. This ground school provides a good overview, with 1) Interactive powerpoint lecture. 2) Work in a analog simulator 3) Setup of glider and learning ground handling and beginning launches. It provides real skills and it MAY be possible to feel light on one's feet or even fly, like many have done. Of course the less one weighs and the more wind makes that more likely. But this cannot be guaranteed. In fact, this is a good option for kids since the power to weight ratio for them is especially favorable. It provides them the opportunity to learn a little basic nature and science knowledge that will be directly applied. If the weather is really bad we'll use an electronic simulator, but since a full day hill lesson is the next step they will really shine when the slope, opportunity of extra effort, determination and time to make higher flying that much much more likely. The location for this class is the Corvallis Municipal Airport where our infrastructure can support the professionalism of the effort. Cost: $99.00

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.

William Gasparek, FAA certified sailplane instructor says;

"Ask any conscientious instructor and he will tell you that learning to manipulate the controls of an aircraft only takes a few hours. The difficult part is training the student to think about every aspect of the flight with safety and situational awareness in mind. I fly paragliders and am learning to fly hang gliders. I am appalled that the majority of instructors simply teach how to fly the hang glider. In many cases, the academic knowledge that is taught is little more than test prep for the USHPA written tests. So far, John's on-line flight training is the only course I have found that teaches all aspects of how to actually fly safely. I strongly encourage all HG students, HG pilots and HG instructors to take advantage of his on-line training regardless of where you fly. It could save your life."

Example classes include: Ground School, Flight Simulator Work, Transport-Assembly-Preflight, Ground Handling and Kiting, First Ground Runs First Run-out Flights, Bar Pressures Feeling and Active Grip, Crosswinds and Gradients, Flared Landings, Risk Managment. The USHPA and Ham Radio courses are free!

Register on the form to the left

Cost: $15.00 ea/month for full access to this material

Have you and your instructor join us at: OHGSOnline Choose the login button and use the password "guest"

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

Step Lessons build on the introductory lesson material above using United States Hang Gliding Association minimum competency standards and using OHGS extended competency standards (OHGSOnline material and practical local skill sets). Ground school is integrated into the lesson before and after dune and hill and training. Mountain II flying skills are introduced after solid low alitude pre hang II skills are attained on hills and tow. Each day averages 7-12 flights. 14-15 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 otherwise you will not get the full benefits of the program.

Don't believe us. Please read the reviews of the program here: http://g.co/maps/gx2sw

Over 40 flight proficiences in four steps - Click Here! are learned in series and are suppported by an extensive instructional infrastructure of privately leases training hills, fields, tow park, hangars, electronic simulators bunk houses, and massage therapists. A noncommitted first introductory lesson is great fun! and is where we start. Thereafter, decisions to pursue the sport or not is made. Each Lesson Step is purchased seperately during the program and costs $500 nonrefunable and nonremibursable if you fall off the planet and don't take lessons. So, taking regularly scheduled lessons saves money!

Each step teaches wings leveling, straight and level flight, turnning flight and mountain flight respectively in sequence. Each step has many detailed proficiencies outlined on the the following page. in four steps - Click Here!. Radio communication, video review, tow training, 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 days on one side of the card and list of proficiences on the other side. As you take a step day, your proficiences are checked off. There is nothing mystical about the skill sets but it takes a level of desire, priority and effort to attain them.

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 of at least one lesson a month is strongly recommended with 3 day multiple day "camps" being the optimium for steady progress in learning.

Introductory Discovery Decision Making Orientation Lesson

This one day full orientation includes a groud school, flight simulator, assembly/disassembly of glider, flat ground launching, hill launching and landing. This is great fun for everyone! And yes, its really hang gliding - just at the level appropriate for anyone that does not know anything. If you like this lesson then you will like the second session-day, third session-day and so forth. After this lesson you will be psyched to make the committment to the Milestone Lessons. Cost: $130.00

Step One Milestone Lesson - Wings Level | 3 days

This first milestone is huge. If one can keep wings level at all times in various conditions while standing, running or ground handling nothing physically prevents one from becoming a hang glider pilot. However, we also learn the overall learning strategy for the program, safety techniques and fundamentals of launch and landing. Beginning assembly, care and storage and ground handling. Kiting skills. Develop the ability to accelerate, keep wings level with a strong launch and dynamic corrections, understanding and performance of inertial trade-offs (what the heck is that? Thats why you are taking lessons) and hit a spot with reliabilty and consistency, earning a USHPA authorization for radio usage and become physically comfortable with the helmet, set-up and operation is important to increase the effectiveness of each practice session. Cost: $300 with no extra charge for two extra day practice sessions if takes more than three days. However, the last session must have been taken within the last month otherwise day session practice charge applies. We are committed to your success if you show focus and committment. The purchase of the Kevlar full face helmet, dual band radio and installed headset is required to get this discounted price. Perks: Ground transport assistance of glider and no flight repetition limits (under fatique threshold and sharing of glider), A USHPA radio authorization clinic and ham radio clinic, and Bunk and Breakfast

Step Two Milestone Lesson - Straight and Level Flight | 3 days

Learn more advanced ground handling in different terrain effects. Learn how to fly straight and level and vary pitch in various wind conditions. Learn to vary landing techniques based on conditions. Pass the USHPA hang one flying proficiency and written test. Cost $300.00 Nonrefundable and nonreimbursible if a lesson is not taken each month. If takes more than three lessons to achieve this then no charge for two extra lessons as long as your last lesson was within the last month. Otherwise we charge a fee for each day to achieve this. We reward focus, effort and committment. Equipment: Purchase custom fitted harness/parachute and wind gauge Perks: Ground transport of glider and no flight repetition limits (under fatique threshold and sharing of glider), Bunk and breakfast Congratulations you are a Hang One rated!

Step Three Milestone Lesson - Turning Flight | 3 days

Learn how to manuveur left and right with critical judgment; learn how to expertly carry your kite and carry your glider for later close terrain soaring; low foot-launch towing, 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 using the electronic simulator and then the hill or tow; to land on a target; learn how to pack and throw your emergency parachute and then take the flying hang II proficiency test and the written hang II test. $300.00 nonrefundable. If takes more than five lessons to achieve this than no charge for extra sessons as long as your last lesson was within the last month and recommended equipment is purchased. Otherwise we charge a fee for each day to achieve this. We reward focus, effort and committment. Equipment: Glider deposit and parachute purchase. Perks: Free weekday clinics, glider leveling and sharing assistance on carries up the hill and to the tow line and no flight limits (under fatique threshold and sharing of glider. weather clinic with glider purchase and step package three. Bunk and breakfast

Step Four Milestone Lesson - First Altitude Manuveuring and Flight Plans | 3 days

Recognize how to make an approach on a landing field and use of your variometer; assess mountain conditions and general meterology; learn how to pack and throw your emergency parachute; practice 3 or more supervised high altitude flights; learn higher towing from flat ground; At least two high flights per lesson unless soaring is involved. $300 nonrefundable plus mountain usage fee. If takes more than three lessons to achieve this than no charge for extra lessons as long as your last lesson was within the last month and recommended equipment is bought. We reward focus, effort and committment. Equipment: Variometer purchase

Step Five Milestone Lesson - High Altitude Soaring | 3 days

Learn how to make soar attempts by extending your flight by using natural lift but recognize the limits and still land safely, learn higher 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. At least two high flights per session unless soaring is involved. Congratulations! You are Hang II rated. $300 nonrefundable plus mountain usage fee. If takes more than five lessons to achieve this than no charge for extra lessons as long as your last lesson was within the last month. We reward focus, effort and committment. Equipment: Variometer purchase

Cost Recap: Five Milestone Step Lessons are reguired that last from 3 days each on average each costing $300 with recommended equipment purchase in each step.

Our expenses are fixed, so if it takes you three or five days it doesn't matter to us! At the end it all averages out to 84 hours investment in time, physical and technical assistance, sophisticated instructional infrastructure on the part of OHGS to make your dreams come true. This plan allows us to concentrate on the learning not bean counting - because our expenses are covered. This actually makes us better instructors because the package of lessons acts as a retainer allowing us to make infrastructure improvements, publish new educational materials and expand your flying opportunities. Your buy-in says, "Please be available for me when the weather is good and do not look for another job". You need our stability to make your dream come true. The no equipment plan is 40% more with more responsibility for ground handling during the lessons and non of the glider carrying assistance, equipment clinics and hospitality perks.

The cost of the lesson portion of the program when equipment is bought is $1200 with equipment purchase otherwise it is $2225.00. But, you get far more than a $1050 in savings when you enroll in the premium program. You become a "friend of the school" much like highly regarded donors to a worthy cause helping to sustain a service. So, general school pet priviledges apply, glider carrying assistance, hospitality services (bunk and breakfast), radio clinics, parachute packing clinics, weather, cell-phone support, long term support, intermediate glider loans when purchasing your future advanced glider, gifts just keep coming at you. In other words, the full meal deal, our full support and gladness in going all out for your professional efforts in this very challenging endeavor. Otherwise, each session day costs $150.00

Payment Timing and Financing

The most successful students have a plan for the time and money. We strongly recommend a scheduling contract and decide on a 3 month, 6 month or year long training time to get in the 14-15 day-sessions. Taking day-sessons only when convienent wastes time, money and encourages instructor inattention, lack of empathy, and forgetfulness of your abilities. The 3 month equipment plan requires 50% of total equipment and instructional costs upfront. 6 month plan requires 33.3% of total equipment and instructional costs upfront. The year plan reguires 12.5% upfront. Most people start at 12.5% and quickly find the remaining 20.8% to get on the six month plan. That is how addicting flying like a bird is!

With buy-in you recieve free room and hospitalities to make your stay gregarious, comfortable and inexpensive. With completion of the program, mentors are assigned to you and you receive continuing long term cell phone and equipment support.

Hang gliding is the most cost effective way for fantastic flying pleasure, especially in comparison to general aviation. Only slighty more cost than a private pilots license, you get all your instruction AND your aircraft without the having to pay $100 rental per hour to fly. In hang gliding, once you have your instruction and equipment, the costs are simply the fuel to get to a site and your yearly USHPA membership fee.

Financing your program - all the equipment and instruction - can best be done by choosing the lowest interest rating card you can find. The following link provides an application for a card that best suits your financial history. If you use the card only for hang gliding the monthly payment is $150.00 - an amount entirely in the realm of most people.

If you are still confused why we don't pay for each day session. Please see more information at the following link:

Why we do it this way