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 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. 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

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

Learn the overall learning strategy for the program and safety keys. Beginning assembly, care and storage and ground handling. Develop the ability to accelerate, keep wings level with a strong launch and dynamic corrections, earn a USHPA authorization for radio usage. Intro Lesson $130. $150.00 per lesson thereafer. Transport of glider and no flight limits (under fatique threshold) when bought in a package of three. $100 per lesson and ham radio clinic with full face helmet/installed headset/radio purchase and purchase of a package of lessons.

Step Two

Learn more advanced ground handling. 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. $130.00 per lesson. Transport of glider and no flight limits (under fatique threshold). $100 per lesson and risk management clinic with custom fitted harness/parachute purchase and purchase of step package.

Step Three

Learn how to make left and right turns; 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 flying proficiency and written hang II test. Transport of glider and no flight limits (under fatique threshold) when step package is bought. $130 per lesson. $100 per lesson and weather clinic with variometer purchase and step package.

Step Four

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 supervised high altitude flights; Learn how to make soar attempts 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. At least two high flights per lesson unless soaring is involved. $100 per lesson when you are able to use your vehicle (4 wheel drive) to transport the instructor and to all the escalating mountain sites and step package.

Cost Recap: $130 for ground school and first hill lesson (7-10 flights). $150 per lesson in first and fourth step. $130 per lesson in second and third step. Glider transport with Step Package purchase Equipment Purchase Step Package Plan - Flat $100 per lesson, free equipment usage clinics; access to OHGS Online(video reviews of your flying, interactive tests, etc); glider transport on the hill; and no flight limits under the fatique threshold with equipment purchase when a package of three lessons is bought. In other words, the full meal deal. Otherwise, $130 per lesson with equipment purchase.

The most successful students have a plan for the time and money. Taking lessons only when convienent wastes time, money and encourages instructor inattention. The no equipment purchase plan strongly recommends purchasing packages of lessons. This acts as a retainer for the instructor for when the weather is good for a lesson and focuses attention on your needs. Physical assistance and transport of glider is provided when step packages are bought. 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!