Lesson 1:  The Joys of Low-Altitude Hang Gliding

 (from Feb 1992, Huntsville, AL)

Lesson 1 takes place on a small practice hill.  One starts out running with a hang glider on one's back at the flat field at the bottom.  This allows him/her to learn how it feels and how to handle the glider.  As one's handling proficiency increases, he/she gradually starts running from farther and farther up the hill.  One can achieve higher and higher speeds.  At first, the glider produces only enough lift to lift the glider.  This makes it easier to run.  As more speed is attained the glider produces more and more lift, tugging on the pilot's harness more and more until the pilot is lifted off the ground.  Once the pilot is off the ground, he is unable to produce forward thrust to keep himself airborne.  On an even, shallow slope, this would result in something similar to moonwalking.  In order to maintain flight, the pilot must keep the nose of the glider pointed downward at an angle to maintain the speed necessary for flight.  That is the theory. 

 The training hill, at least to the elevation I ascended to, is, in theory, of adequate slope to allow most pilots to achieve and maintain flight, yet flat enough so that no great height is achieved.  In theory the curve of the should closely mimic that of the flight path (see fig. 1). 

I'm a little heavier than a good many of the past trainees (and probably a good many trains).  Too much muscle, you know.  My glide path is, therefore, a little steeper.  What this means is it intersects the ground again sooner than a lighter person.  Much sooner.  (See figure 2)

Instead of paralleling the ground four feet above it, I paralleled the curve of the ground by about six inches.

Now just about any open field in Alabama is pasture land.  Cows, apparently lots and lots of cows, graze on this field.  Are you catching my meaning?  The field is littered with thousands of semi-ellipsoid speed bumps.  Some of which tower a foot above the surface.  And since I was flying at only six inches above the ground, I don't clear these territorial markings.  Thank God the harness covered my chest.  I was completely in the air for about fifty feet and plowing through the patties for around 250 feet.  Over and over again.  If I could have attached a mowing deck to my stomach, I could have been a lawn service!  My entire frontside was covered in brown "paste."  It could have been worse.  I mean, better hitting something soft than rocks or tree stumps.

Eventually I was getting far enough up the hill so that only my knees, shins and feet were slaloming the manure moguls. 

 In spite of all this, Lesson 1 was terrific fun.  The mountains are beautiful, the real pilots are an interesting bunch and it is so good to get back to nature every now and then.  I highly recommend it.