WINGSPORTS
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WINGSPORTS
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Hang gliding with Wingsports.
Most prospective hang gliding students have very little idea as to what is involved in learning to fly a hang glider, but if you have the right mixture of unbridled dedication and a lot of spare time for flying, you cannot look past our unique training program. Over 10 years, Wingsports has continually modified this training program and the result is a methodology of immediate high flying tandem training combined with the use of high-tech tow launch training followed by mountain flying in both coastal and inland environments. This method has consistently turned out a very high standard of pilot. The use of extensive early stage tandem training allows our instructors to gradually and safely hand over the skills and responsibilities prior to your first high solo flights. This also provides a large amount of airtime, both in tandem and solo, throughout the course.
Restricted Licence Course The restricted licence will take 9 days in most cases. The format of a course of 9 days is described below. It is possible that some students may take more time, and of course not necessarily everyone will see a course all the way through. Each student will find his or her own level of safe performance.
I n the classroom you will be introduced to the theoretical fundamentals of aerodynamics and the basic operation of a hang glider using a simulated hang glider. The major practical tasks in the first 2 days are to learn to assemble and check the glider and learn to take off and land, while on flat ground or a very slight slope, where you will be able to run with the glider without actually becoming airborne. We will refine these skills constantly as the days progress. In the second day you will start some tandem flying tasks in our powered hang glider (microlite). This craft enables us to give you extended high flight practice so that you can learn to steer without having to be on your own.
T andem flight techniques enable us to rapidly accelerate to a higher task level in a totally controlled manner, which allows the student to feel totally safe and at ease. You will be airborne in our dual seater microlite comfortably in place behind our chief instructor who will at times have control over the aircraft while being able to gradually pass responsibility of steering the glider over to you. Flights are long and high! In a day you will typically perform 2 or 3 flights, each one of duration about ½ an hour and be at an altitude of between 1000 and 2000 feet. From this point we consolidate your skills so far with more specific tandem and other exercises linked with appropriate theory sessions in our briefing room. After having made replica tandem flights of you first solo flight you will be close to flying this flight on your own!!By this stage most students will be ready for first solo flights, however flying is an unusual activity and not every one will progress at the same pace and have the same level of aptitude. At this stage some will safely be able to make the decision either to do some additional corrective training or can easily transfer to a paragliding course without losing much time. It can be that you are better suited to paragliding and you will achieve the same end result. It is our experience that specifically in hang gliding there cannot be a guarantee that every student will be suited to gaining a licence as is generally the case in paragliding. At this stage we will have a fair idea as to your suitability. Pride does not count for much when your safety is at stake and it is our policy not to take risks with someone who has not shown himself capable of SAFELY performing a solo flight.
These will normally be days of high solo flights. Your first flight from our beautiful high site, Marriners Lookout, is a flight you will never forget! Over the next two days or so, you will progress from basic first high glides to slightly more complex tasks that will be explained daily in the morning classroom theory sessions. When rapid-fire repetition is required to consolidate take off and landing skills, we prefer to use our towing system to achieve these flights.
We are now looking forward to flying solo in prolonged soaring flight – to launch from a mountain and stay up in lifting air, for a long time – usually an hour or more! Along with the appropriate theory sessions, you will learn the finer points of flying prone, landing approach circuit work and correct placement in order to maintain height. At first your soaring flights will be radio assisted to help you to use the lift efficiently. Ultimately, when you are ready to graduate as a restricted pilot, you will perform the entire flight on your own. During these days, the structure is not rigid, as each person progresses at his or her own pace. Some students may require more days. Many of our students have flown with eagles in their soaring flights. We are never in a hurry – to fly un-powered with wedge tailed eagles is worth waiting for! This is the stuff that childhood dreams are made of. A new restricted pilot is now able to enter the flying community and to fly in the company of other pilots at first. At this stage we will integrate you into the flying world via clubs and ex-students of ours who you will meet through our school. Our ex-students are always welcome to fly around us at any time and generally they do. This is a great place to fly!! For a comparison of hang gliding with paragliding see Making the best choice.
Customer Support: hans@wingsports.com.au |
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