Gliding equipment is finding a growing market as more people than ever are getting into hang gliding and paragliding sports. Early hang gliders were only able to go a short distance after foot-launching off a cliff. But modern hang gliders have flown up to 430 miles, have climbed to more than 20,000 ft., are able to fly for hours at a time and can fly nearly 100 mph. Some hang gliders are even equipped with avionics.

Paragliding is a flying sport, popular for recreation and competition. A paraglider is a free-flying, foot-launched aircraft. The pilot is suspended below a fabric wing by a harness. There are vents in the front of the wing, so that its shape is established as air passes into the wing.

Paragliders are often favored for their soft landings. Powered and non-powered glider equipment is the least expensive means to achieve your dream of flying. Consider the following gliding equipment basics if you're in the market for air gliding equipment:

1. Learn more about the sport of hang gliding.

2. Try your hand at paragliding.

3. Go for a powered hang glider or powered paraglider to achieve greater distances.

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Invest in the thrill of owning and operating a hang glider

Hang gliders are the least expensive of the options and provide superior performance and safety compared to the paragliders. When approaching a dangerous cloud, they enable you to steer clear of it more easily. Hang gliders are generally superior to paragliders in terms of performance, durability, maintaining control in strong weather conditions and price.

I recommend: Kitty Hawk Kites has been teaching people to hang glide since 1974. Read all about hang gliding and make a reservation for a hang gliding lesson. The United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (USHPA) is the regulating body for the hang gliding and paragliding sports and offers news, events and information about various chapters in the hang gliding and paragliding community.

Buy a paraglider for easier landings and easier transport

Modern paragliders are made of only fabric and lines, but are certified to strict standards, making them safe and more stable and giving them greater performance than in the past. Though hang gliders edge out paragliders on performance, paragliders have it over hang gliders on ease of landings, setup/break down and storage/transport.

I recommend: US Paragliding offers complete training in paragliding and powered paragliding and even provides a copy of the syllabus online. Fly Above All provides a lot of background information about paragliding and offers lessons in paragliding in the Santa Barbara area.

Try your hand at powered hang gliding or powered paragliding

Powered hang glider kit and powered paraglider kit makers have brought the possibility of flight to the average person with these inexpensive flying machines.

I recommend: Paradise Air Hawaii offers exciting powered hang glider rides on the north shore of Oahu. Their website also answers many of the questions you might have. Click on the Photos and Videos link and watch an excellent video they've put together. American Paragliding offers training on powered paragliding and has videos online so you can see how exciting this sport is.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  One of the most important differences between hang gliders and paragliders is that hang gliders have a great deal of spin resistance due to the internal frame creating washout at the wing tips. Thus it is very difficult to go into a dangerous spin with a hang glider. Paragliders, on the other hand, have no built-in spin resistance and spins are more likely.

Air gliding is a popular sport that attracts adventurous people and requires durable and high-quality gliding equipment.

There are two main types of air gliding: hang gliding and paragliding. Hang gliding equipment includes a glider, shaped by a rigid aluminum frame and a harness, with the pilot lying prone and shifting body weight in order to change direction. Paragliding utilizes a fabric wing and a harness, with the pilot sitting supine and attached by a series of strings.

Both hang gliding and paragliding have become competitive sports and are popular recreational activities around the world. If you are opening a hang gliding or paragliding school or a resort that will offer either or both sports, you must have the proper equipment and provide the proper training on safety procedures.

For your business to be successful, you will have to:

1. Be knowledgeable about brands, styles, new technology, and fit of air gliding equipment
2. Offer a wide range of hang gliding and paragliding equipment
3. Provide training for beginners as well as instruction in the newest techniques, technology and equipment for advanced pilots

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Hang gliders need a durable and easy-to-use hang glider and harness

Hang gliders should be lightweight, simple to setup and pack up, easy to launch and land and exhilarating to fly. Gliders should also fit the type of flying the pilot has in mind, whether it be sand dune flying, inland XC flying or floating off coastal cliffs.

I recommend: Moyes Delta Gliders Pty. offers a world-class selection of hang gliders, harnesses and accessories. Wills Wing Inc. manufactures a series of high-performance hang gliders, harnesses, and other accessories. They also have a wealth of instructional and safety information and a list of schools by area. North Wing Design carries not only some high-performance hang gliders, harnesses, and other hang gliding equipment, but also a motorized trike. Avian is one of the top manufacturers of hang gliders and hang gliding equipment.

Lightweight and reliable paragliding equipment is vital to maximize a pilot's performance

Paragliders will demand durable, high-performance paragliders, harnesses and safety equipment that will fit every class from beginners to competitive gliders. Provide an impressive range of brands and styles that will fit every customer's specifications.

I recommend: Aeros Company designs and manufactures a series of cutting-edge paragliders, speedgliders, trikes and kites. Nova International carries a line of well-designed and highly respected paragliders and paragliding equipment. Another top manufacturer of paragliding equipment, Firebird, offers easy-to-use paragliders, harnesses, and safety equipment.

Pilots demand a wide range of high quality safety glider equipment

Helmets, goggles, emergency reserve parachutes, and instruments like variometers and GPS are key to a safe gliding experience. Offer a range of easy-to-use products that will ensure a pilot's safety and peace of mind.

I recommend: Advance AG is not only a top manufacturer of paragliders and harnesses, but also carries emergency reserve parachutes, flight instruments and other paragliding accessories. Another paraglider manufacturer, Mac Para Technology, offers helmets as well as emergency parachutes and rescue equipment kits. Blue Sky Avionics produces top-quality flight instruments for hang gliding and paragliding.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Hang gliders have their first experience on a tandem flight with a certified instructor. Your business should provide tandem flights and subsequent training for these beginners to encourage business.
• •  Although there is not a law requiring official certification to operate a hang glider, most approved launch sites require a certification by the United States Hang Gliding Association (USHGA). Be ready to provide comprehensive training to prospective pilots or refer them to qualified training centers.
• •  Paragliding is also a self-regulated sport under the auspices of the United States Hang Gliding Association (USHGA). Like hang gliding, pilots and instructors adhere to the policies and guidelines of the USHGA. Local flying regulations may require the pilot to have certain USHGA certified ratings, such as Intermediate (Para 3) in order to fly a particular site. When selling equipment, a responsible dealer will always require some proof of certification.

Gliding equipment, including paragliders, hang gliders and powered versions of each offer a very inexpensive way to be able to enjoy the thrill of flying. Gliding aircraft (powered and non-powered) that weigh under 254 lbs. and accommodate only one person are called ultralight aircraft by the FAA and do not require licensing. Ones heavier than 254 lbs. or that accommodate two passengers are considered light sport aircraft and require licensing by the FAA, including 20 hours of flight instruction and 15 hours of ground school.

Although the FAA does not require flight and ground training for piloting ultralight aircraft, the U.S. Hang Glider Assn. (USHGA) has established certification guidelines that do not carry the weight of the law, but are adhered to by most hang gliding and paragliding sites. If you're considering getting involved in flying glider equipment, let the following information on gliding equipment education and training be a guide.

1. Get advanced paraglider training after basic solo certification by attending an advanced skills clinic.

2. Obtain certification to solo-fly hang gliders. Then you can pursue advanced training clinics.

3. Attend training and get a solo license to fly powered hang gliders.

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Attend or provide a paragliding clinic for advanced paragliding training beyond the basics

Once a paraglider pilot has passed the basic training and has become certified for solo flying, he or she can attend clinics that cover more advanced skills in flying paragliding equipment, such as thermaling, cross-country flying and SIV maneuvering. SIV is a European acronym for Simulation d'Incident Vol, meaning Simulated Incidence in Flight.

I recommend: Eagle Paragliding provides eight paragliding clinics offering advanced paragliding training, e.g. continued thermal training, advanced pilot certification, maneuvering clinics and cross country clinics. FlyAboveAll also offers a wide array of advanced paragliding training clinics including a master's level clinic by some of the best pilots in the sport of paragliding. Both schools also provide basic paragliding certification classes.

Become a certified hang glider pilot

USHGA certifications exist to help make sure that newbie hang glider pilots don't take greater risks than what their knowledge and experience will allow for. They also help to make sure that hang glider pilots receive a complete and approved course of instruction. There are three levels: Beginner, Novice, and Master. As with paragliding, this can be followed by attending advanced skills clinics.

I recommend: Kitty Hawk Kites offers USHGA certifications, including Gliding I, Aero-Tow Hang Gliding I and Aero-Tow Hang Gliding II. The first two are beginner ratings, while the latter is a novice rating. Soaring Sports offers training and the certifications such as Beginner Rating Foot Launch, Beginner Rating Tow Launch and Beginner Rating Tandem.

Get certified and take to the skies with a powered hang glider (trike)

Powered hang gliding equipment, or trikes, are intuitive, simple and safe to fly. For maximum portability, buy a powered hang glider kit. Trikes quickly and easily fold up into a small package that you can easily transport and store conveniently. Training is available for trike flying, though at higher cost ($3,500 - $4,000) due to the increased complexity.

I recommend: Albatross Flying Systems has certified instructors that give a natural progression of training on powered hang glider piloting, starting with a simulator. After you master all required skills, you then move on to flying. They provide training on their own version, the TrikeBuggy. UFLYTrikes is another great place to learn how to fly powered hang gliders safely, with a training syllabus adhering fully to all applicable regulations. First they provide an introductory flight followed by ground training and finally flight training. You receive your solo certification at the end of the course.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  A hang glider wing can weigh more than 100 lbs. You can make handling it a one-person operation by investing in a wing dolly. A canoe dolly from a canoe or kayak distributor can also be used.

Adding hang gliding and paragliding equipment to the inventory of your sporting goods store can increase your customer base. Since the price you pay for the goods directly impacts the price at which you will have to sell the items, it is vital to purchase equipment that gives you and your customers the most bang for the buck.

When you are preparing your budget to absorb the cost of adding this equipment to your inventory, consider the following gliding equipment pricing and costs guidelines:

1. Think about safety first.

2. Figure out the cost of hang gliding equipment.

3. Add in the cost of paragliding equipment.

4. Make some extra cash by offering competitively priced lessons.

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Include funds for hang gliding and paragliding safety equipment

Safety should be your first concern when looking for paragliding and hang gliding equipment. Harnesses and helmets are a must for these sports.

I recommend: Aero Light sells air gliding equipment for safety. Paragliding equipment and glider equipment, such as helmets start at under $50 from this company. Peak to Peak Paragliding sells gliding harnesses starting at under $900.

Consider the cost of hang gliding equipment

The cost of hang gliders depends largely upon the style of the hang glider. Ultra light models are generally more expensive than traditional models. If you want to conserve money, consider purchasing a used hang glider from a reputable dealer that inspects the hang gliders before offering them for sale.

I recommend: Kitty Hawk Kites sells hang gliding equipment. You can expect to pay at least $1,100 for a used hang glider or at least $3,500 for a new hang glider. BlueSky Virginia Hang Gliding sells new and used hang gliders. Prices start at under $1,000 per hang glider.

Check out paragliding equipment price points

Paragliding equipment prices vary greatly according to the type of glider you need. Powered paragliders, tandem paragliders and competition paragliders are usually more expensive than hobby paragliders.

I recommend: Eagle Paragliding sells numerous types of paraglider models. Lightweight paragliding equipment starts at around $2,900, while tandem units start at around $4,000 and competition gliders start at around $4,300. You can find paragliders at U-Turn. Prices start at around $1,800 from this company.

Know the average cost of hang gliding instructional courses

If you are planning on offering hang gliding and paragliding courses, you should check out the competition to ensure that you are charging competitive rates.

I recommend: For a beginner flight course for hang gliding, Hang Glide Wisconsin charges around $1,200. The price includes equipment for the course, 12 lessons, a textbook, flight log and class based lessons. For additional training sessions, it charges $85 per lesson. Aerial Paragliding offers two-day instructional courses $350 to $425, depending on the days of instruction. Certification courses start at around $1,500; however, an equipment credit is offered.