Course categories

Available Courses

• OHGS Logbook and Proficiencies Completed

  After EVERY lesson OHGS students fill out this logbook to track skill development,  weather experiences and address any proficiency strategy plans (outside training, vlsualization, prepartions) administrative requirements, equipment ordering for future training enhancements. This helps keeps the focus on the most orderly progression of training we can muster in the wild world of pacific northwest weather, irrregular schedules, longish equipment delivery times, personal training paces, meteor impacts, poison oak contamination, etc.

• Prerequisites for Success

  There are ten areas that all successful hang glider pilots begin to address at the beginning of their flying career. Most students are not ready to adopt the lifestyle requirements of avid pilots. They learn, through the requirements of the sport to make changes, in a gradual way till almost all the ten areas have been addressed. The only reason they do this is because they love flying very much, they have genuine commitment to perfecting the art form. This section will provide a grand strategy toward this end by providing checklists. Prerequisites

  

• OHGSuccess Curriculum - Step One

  These are the steps students need to take in order to get a achieve all the objectives of the Step one phase of the OHGSuccess curriculum. The number of lessons will vary between 4-6 depending on the student. The most important thing is have regular schedule of lessons even if its one consistent lesson a month. Also make sure you can run and sprint short multiple short distances with a long stride length (a little outside training really helps). If you make lesson availability a priority; and show some persistence and faith in yourself and the instructor's method of instilling fundamental ground running skills, you will get rewarded a more rapid progression later.  The ability to keep wings level, while not being entirely weight loaded in the glider  is a major milestone in flying proficiency. Things literally begin to take off when that happens!

• OHGSuccess Curriculum - Step Two

  These are the steps students need to take in order to get a achieve all the objectives of the Step Two phase of the OHGSuccess curriculum. The number of lessons will vary between 4-5 depending on the student. We have learned how to keep wings level and are solidly flying higher, but our sensitivity to airspeed needs to be honed, especially on landing. We must have a couple more launching tricks up our sleeve too. Our ability to ground handle must be solid. Also, we are beginning to depend more on flaring so require more effective body positioning. We are naturally becoming more aware of risks so we must, more formally study risk management in prepartion for the years of learning ahead of us. By the end of this step you will take official USHPA Hang One exam.

• OHGSuccess Curriculum - Step Three

  Now that we developed solid straight and level launching and landing skills, we will now concentrate on turning. Turning involves knowing the lag time in roll in response to effective weight shifts; understanding the consequences of loss of lift in turns; and safety ground clearance. You will be exposed to more wind and be able ground handle that much more efficiently.  We will practice a new kind of launch technique called the diving launch used on steeper ramps. The dive into round-out will be established so that ground skim is done in control and provides an opportunity for flaring. When you consistently judge the proper turnpoint to get on a landing line and spot then we can move onto to the next stage - the mountains.

• OHGSuccess Curriculum - Step Four

  This area will assist you in all the requirements of the Step Four phase of the OHGSuccess curriculum. You made it. You are well prepared for your first altitude flight. You will be introduced flying prone and parachute care, maintenance and emergency use. You will practice body and hand positioning during flight phases, perform slow and fast flight, 180 and 360 degree turns,how to perform safe soaring attempt passes with use of variometer and eyes, recognize weather conditions that match your skill level and practice those all important landing approaches. But, most importantly, you will learn patience as we wait for the perfect conditions for which you to soar. After this last phase, you will be qualified to be mentored or sponsored by veteren pilots for some months as you consolidate your safety habits.

• OHGS Rapid Ham Radio

  This course will provide the theoretical information of the FCC Ham radio test requirements in a graphical and conceptual way. This class must be followed up by study "Now You're Talking" and taking online practice exams. OHGS students may self enroll for full course priviledges. Others may log guest button using the password "guest"
  

  

• USHPA Business Band Radio Authorization

  This course defines the radios and radio frequency bands available for USHPA members and suggests a plan to attain authorizations and licenses. OHGS students may self enroll for full course privileges. Others may use the guest login button and password "guest"
  

  

• Weather Concepts for the Pacific Northwest

  This course will help you understand how the flying weather works in the Pacific Northwest. OHGS students may self enroll.

  

• Managing Risk in Free Flight

  This course will allow one to understand how risk in free flight can be managed.  OHGS students may self enroll for full privileges. Guests may login by clicking the "Guest User" button and typing "guest" in the password window.
  

  

• Choosing a Harness

  Issues in harness fitting, choice and operation

• First Glider

  Your first glider purchase is a critical decision because the characteristics of gliders can restrict or enhance the safety and progress of beginning pilots. This course will provide resources that will allow you calculate your best option for a glider including the long term usability in light increasing skill.

• Parachute Usage and Packing

  This course will present the theory and technique of parachute usage, care, and packing.

• History, Aerodynamics, Techniques and Communication

  In this first day lecture, you will be presented with all the information you will need for successful first day training hill practice in the context of history of the sport, the basic physical principals of flight, the incremental mastery of techniques and communication protocol. OHGS student may self enroll.

  

• Transition to the Flying Community

  It is very important to learn the etiquette and expectations of the landowners, FAA and free flight flying community. Find suitable mentors and sponsors for the first year is very important phase in your development. Almost half of graduates of gliding programs do not follow-through on their learning and avid flying for lack of support.

  

• Launch Techniques

  Control  versus Lift  determines the precise way in which we will launch. Not all launch sites are of moderate slope and wind speed. We have covered a basic and versitile launch form - the grape-vine hold to hook technique. This arm and hand positioning allows for the maxiimum pitch, roll and yaw control but also provides sensitivity to airspeed control pressures on the down-tubes. This provides a great envelope of applicability on various moderate slopes and winds. But, not all lanuches are moderate steepness, nor is the wind always straight in, or their slopes remain consistent. We cover advanced launching in this section. There will be great articles as well as videos demonstrating exercises and more challenging launches. OHGS students may self enroll. Visitors may pay for enrollment

  

• Landing Techniques

  This course will provide basic and advanced landing techniques and strategies. OHGS students may self enroll.