he newest way to tow hang gliders is Aero Towing with a powered aircraft.   The advantages of this towing type is that there is less stress on the glider than a ground tow system and the ultralight can tow you up until you hit a rising thermal air current.   You then release the rope and circle in the updraft and extend your flight.  Thermal flights can last as long as the hot Texas sun beats down on the land below.   This type of towing also lends itself well to training through the use of Tandem Flights.    In this type of training,  a student flies as a passenger along with a very experienced instructor.   This one on one  instruction has many advantages over the solo learning style of the hang glider on a training hill.   It can cost more to do mostly tandems.    One Texas Flight Training service using this method is Austin Air Sports at the Hearne Airport.   The following report is a reprint from the November 1999 NTHGA Newsletter.

I received this letter and pictures from Kristi Kreger , (Daughter of long time member and super pilot Don and Tammy Kreger) and it did my heart good to hear positive news about a new fledgling pilot's first experiencing the magic that only a first flight can give and sometimes we grow callused to as we build hours and miles in the logbook.   Kudos' also to Steve Burns and family at Austin Airsports in Hearne in his continued efforts to providing world class service to the pilots and soon to be pilots of Region 11.   I want to Thank Kristi for sharing her experience with us and personally wish her God's speed in her flying future.… Editor

I had waited for 10 years, now I was going to fly !!  I have always wanted to because I have watched my dad and other pilots hang glide and it looked like it was a lot of fun.  When my dad said I might be able to fly,  I felt real excited and when we got to Hearne and he said I could fly,  I felt something more than excited.   I felt like I was achieving a goal I've had for a long, long time.
I tried to sit in the shade and relax and just think about it while I was waiting.  But who wants to just sit there and think about it.  So, I found myself out on the runway watching the other pilots hook-up and take off.

Continued on next page --  Click here

Previous Page          Index Page       Next Page        email Editor