Hang Gliding in California
Company: Accelerated Flight Systems Advanced Paragliding Airjunkies Paragliding Angle of Attack Hang Gliding California Hang Gliding Chandelle San Francisco Hang Gliding School Crestline Soaring Society Eagle Wings Hang Gliding School Fly Above All Paragliding Fly Away Hang Gliding Hang Gliding Academy Hang Gliding Fort Funston High Adventure Hang Gliding Inland Paraflite John Heiney Merlin Flight School Mission Soaring Center Murrietas Ultralight Flying Natural Flying Sacramento Hang Gliding San Diego Hang Gliding Center San Francisco Hang Gliding Center Skytimes Paragliding Torrey Pines Gliderport Trike Buggy Ultimate High Aviation Western Hang Gliders Wills Wing Inc. Windsports Soaring Center Wings of RogalloLaunch Area: Alternator Bates Big Sur Black Mountain Blackhawk Burney Mountain Copper Mountian Dockweiler State Beach Dunlap, California Eliminator Elings Park Elk Elsinore Flynn’s Launch Fort Funston Garlock, California Glacier Point Launch Gunther Hat Creek Rim Horse Canyon Indian Valley Laguna Mountain Lake McClure Lee Vining Mountain Little Black Marina State Beach Mattole McGee Mission Ridge Mount Diablo Mount Hull/Lake Pillsbury Mount Tamalpais Mussel Rock Sequoia Highlands Shelter Cove Sick Rock St. John Mountain Sugar Hill Launch Sweet Water Sylmar, California Table Bluff Tollhouse, California Waddell Creek Walt’s Point |
Location: Solana Beach, California Moraga, California Encinitas, California Modesto, California San Francisco, California San Rafael, California San Bernardino, California San Marcos, California Santa Barbara, California Santa Barbara, California Santa Barbara, California San Francisco, California San Bernadino, California Victorville, California San Marcos, California San Francisco, California Milpitas, California Murrieta, California Morgan Hill, California Sacramento, California San Diego, California Milpitas, California Bolinas, California La Jolla, California Santa Barbara, California Poway, California Marina, California Orange, California Sylmar, California Milpitas, CaliforniaLocation: Santa Barbara, California Santa Barbara, California Central Coast The Owens Valley Apple Valley, California Hat Creek, California Lee Vining, California Los Angeles, California Dunlap, California Santa Barbara, California Santa Barbara, California Mendocino County, California Lake Elsinore, California The Owens Valley San Francisco, California Garlock, California Yosemite Valley The Owens Valley Hat Creek, California San Diego, California Greenville, California San Diego, California Whatchacallit County, California Lee Vining, California San Diego, California Marina, California Humboldt County, California The Owens Valley Fremont, California Walnut Creek, California Mendocino County, California Marin County, California Daly City, California Dunlap, California Mendocino County, California Porterville, California Humboldt County, California Sugar Hill, California Bridgeport, California Sylmar, California Eureka, California Tollhouse, California Swanton, California The Owens Valley |
Hang Gliding Company: | Website: | Address / Location: |
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Accelerated Flight Systems |
No Website Found |
Address: 435 S Cedros Ave #31 Solana Beach, California 92075 |
Advanced Paragliding |
Google+ Advanced Paragliding |
|
Airjunkies Paragliding |
No Website Found |
Address: 253 Rodney Avenue Encinitas, California 92024 |
Angle of Attack Hang Gliding |
No Website Found |
Address: 5300 Claus Road Riverbank, California 95367 |
California Hang Gliding |
www.californiahg.com |
Location: Several locations on the coastline near San Francisco |
Chandelle San Francisco Hang Gliding School |
No Website Found |
Location: 1595 E. Francisco Blvd. San Rafael, California 94901 |
Crestline Soaring Society |
www.crestlinesoaring.org |
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 9052 San Bernardino, California 92427 |
Eagle Wings Hang Gliding School |
No Website Found |
Address: 2175 Rockhoff Rd. Escondido, California 92026-1125 |
Fly Above All Paragliding |
www.flyaboveall.com |
Address: 2550 Cliff Drive Santa Barbara, California 93109 |
Fly Away Hang Gliding |
www.flyawayhanggliding.com |
Address: P.O. Box 3274 Santa Barbara, California 93130 |
Hang Gliding Academy |
www.hangglidingacademy.com |
|
Hang Glide Fort Funston |
www.flyfunston.org |
|
High Adventure Hang Gliding |
www.flytandem.com |
Location: Andy Jackson Airpark |
Inland Paraflite |
www.paraplane.com |
Address: 17100 Bear Valley Road Victorville, California 92395 |
John Heiney |
www.johnheiney.com |
Mailing Address: Box 2819 San Marcos, California 92079 |
Merlin Flight School |
www.merlinflightschool.com |
Location: San Rafael, California 94901 |
Mission Soaring Center |
www.hang-gliding.com |
Address: 1116 Wrigley Way Milpitas, California 95035 |
Murrietas Ultralight Flying |
No Website Found |
Address: 23999 Hayes Ave Murrieta, California 92562 |
Natural Flying |
No Website Found |
Address: 17506 Hoot Owl Way Morgan Hill, California 95037 |
Sacramento Hang Gliding |
www.sachanggliding.com |
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 594 Sloughhouse, California 95683 |
San Diego Hang Gliding Center |
No Website Found |
Address: 7908 La Mesa Boulevard La Mesa, California 91942 |
San Francisco Hang Gliding Center |
www.sfhanggliding.com |
Address: 116 Wrigleyway Milpitas, California |
Skytimes Paragliding |
No Website Found |
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 687 Bolinas, California 94924 |
Torrey Pines Gliderport |
www.sandiegofreeflight.com |
Address: 2800 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive La Jolla, California 92037 |
Trike Buggy |
www.trikebuggy.com |
Address: 315 Meigs Rd. Suite A374 Santa Barbara, California 93109 |
Ultimate High Aviation |
No Website Found |
Address: 15050 Pomerado Rd. Poway, California 92064 |
Western Hang Gliders |
www.barbarasdreams.com |
Location: Highway 1 at Reservation Road Marina, California 93933 |
Wills Wing Inc. |
www.willswing.com |
Address: 500 West Blueridge Avenue Orange, California 92865 |
Windsports Soaring Center |
www.windsports.com |
Address: 12623 Gridley Street Sylmar, California 91342 |
Wings of Rogallo |
www.wingsofrogallo.org |
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 361885 Milpitas, California 95036-1885 |
Hang gliding is a thrilling air sport that involves flying a lightweight, non-motorized glider known as a hang glider. Pilots launch from elevated terrains, such as hills or mountains, and use air currents to gain altitude and glide through the sky.
The glider consists of a rigid frame covered with a durable fabric, forming a wing-like structure. Pilots control the glider by shifting their body weight and using a control bar, which allows for maneuverability in the air.
Hang gliding can be done solo or in tandem with an instructor. It requires a combination of skill, knowledge of weather conditions, and understanding of aerodynamics. Pilots often seek out thermals—rising columns of warm air—to extend their flight time and gain altitude.
It's an exhilarating way to experience the beauty of nature from a unique perspective, but safety precautions and proper training are essential.
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Hang gliding requires specific equipment to ensure safety and performance. Here are the main components:
Hang Glider: The core piece of equipment, typically made of a lightweight frame (often aluminum or carbon fiber) covered with durable fabric. The design allows for both lift and maneuverability.
Control Bar: A horizontal bar that pilots use to control the glider by shifting their weight. It connects to the glider's wing and helps with steering.
Harness: Pilots wear a harness that attaches them to the glider. It provides comfort and security, allowing for effective weight shifting.
Helmet: A protective helmet is essential to safeguard against head injuries during launch, flight, or landing.
Variometer: An instrument that measures the rate of climb or descent, helping pilots find thermals and manage their altitude.
Radio: Many pilots use radios for communication, especially during tandem flights or when flying in controlled airspace.
Gloves and Boots: Specialized gloves can improve grip on the control bar, and sturdy footwear provides support during takeoff and landing.
Safety Gear: This may include a reserve parachute, knee pads, and additional protective clothing depending on the flying environment.
Proper equipment, along with training and safety protocols, is crucial for an enjoyable and safe hang gliding experience.
Below are a couple of books to get you started or to continue your hang gliding journey, please see the links (to Amazon):
Hang Gliding For Beginner Pilots
The BHPA Pilot Handbook: The Complete Guide to Paraglider and Hang Glider Training and Advancement by Mark Dale
Hang Gliding in Dunlap, California
Tandem Hang Gliding with Hang Glide Fort Funston
Hang Gliding at Glacier Point Launch in Yosemite National Park
A short bio-pic about Zac “Zippy” Majors
Cinema 5D Hang Gliding With Zac Majors “Flying Zippy”
Choose a state for hang gliding:
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