A quick page to answer some of the common HG questions. Questions we've all had...

Some basic facts:

• You can start with no gear (HG schools have everything you need)
• A good used hang glider is around $2-$3k
• You have a parachute as a back up
• Modern hang gliders have tons of safety features built in
• You will usually learn to fly on shallow slopes, so your feet are close to the ground, but the flights are hundreds of yards long
• Most people will be able to fly on shallow slopes on their first class
• You can go from your first lesson to a mountain launch in 3-6 months
• Ratings for hang gliders are H0-H4, with H0 being brand new pilots
• There are different ways that HG's are usually flown: Mountain launches, coastal launches, winching or towing to altitude, thermal flying, cross-country flying and more
• Almost every weekend pilots fly different sites around California, and contact each other to go in groups, or to meet up at the sites

So, what do I do to get started?

• If you want to see what classes are like before you sign up, classes are usually happening at Ed Levin Park in Milpitas, on weekends at 8am. You can watch from behind the fence and talk to instructors
• Purchase an intro class with one of the flight schools, Mission Soaring, Bay Area Hang Gliding, or California Hang Gliding