powered hang gliding

Hang gliding is an air sport. It is both recreational and competitive. The sport is closely related to paragliding and gliding (flying sailplanes) but using a much simpler and less expensive craft consisting of an aluminum- or composite-framed fabric wing, with the pilot mounted on a harness hanging from the wing frame and exercising control by shifting body weight.

Classes

There are three classes of hang glider. A flexible wing hang glider, having flight controlled by a wing whose shape changes in virtue of the shifted weight of the pilot. This is not a paraglider. The second class is a rigid wing hang glider, having flight controlled by spoilers, typically on top of the wing. hang hang pic both powered hang.

In both flexible and rigid wings the pilot hangs below the wing without any additional fairing. A third class of hang gliders exists (officially called Sub-Class O-2 by the FAI) where the pilot is integrated into the wing by means of a fairing. This offers the best performance and is the most expensive. All types of hang gliders can be foot-launched, while landing some class-2 hang gliders is only possible on wheels.

History

Overview

The early experiments with gliding flight were made throughout the late 19th century by pioneers such as Otto Lilienthal. These early craft would now be considered hang gliders.