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Hang Gliding
Hang gliding is both recreational and competitive. Although it started out as simply gliding down small hills
on low performance kites, hang gliding has evolved the ability to soar for hours, gain thousands of feet of
altitude in thermal updrafts, and fly cross country over large distances. 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.
There are five classes of hang glider:
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The 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.
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Class 1: Hang gliders having a rigid primary structure with pilot weight-shift as the sole method of control, and
which are able to demonstrate consistent ability to safely take-off and land in nil-wind conditions. Subsidiary
controls affecting trim and/or drag are permitted, but only if they operate symmetrically.
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Class 2: Hang gliders having a rigid primary structure with movable aerodynamic surfaces as the primary
method of control, and which are able to demonstrate consistent ability to safely take-off and land in nil-wind
conditions.
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Class 3: Hang gliders having no rigid primary structure (paragliders), and which are able to demonstrate
consistent ability to safely take-off and land in nil-wind conditions. This class is not considered further in this
sub-section.
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Class 4: Hang gliders that are unable to demonstrate consistent ability to safely take-off and/or land in nilwind
conditions, but otherwise are capable of being launched and landed by the use of the pilots legs.
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Class 5: Hang gliders having a rigid primary structure with movable aerodynamic surfaces as the primary
method of control in the roll axis and which are able to demonstrate consistent ability to safely take-off and
land in nil-wind conditions. No pilot fairings are permitted. No pilot surrounding structures are permitted,
apart from a harness and control frame.
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