US Hawks Hang Gliding Association

Has anyone designed one? That can be built for a few hundred bucks for puddle jumping? Plans anywhere?

That's what keeps me out of the sport. I can't find used hang gliders anywhere on craigslist (in the southeast - we lack ridge lift, beaches, and mountains), and for what they are, they seem obscenely expensive...

Some guys try at home. It seems like the hang glider crowd that actually has experience in hang gliding could design something safer... or have... from way back when... to build at home.... for running off a grassy hill and floating for a few hundred feet. Something more steerable than a Hang Loose, or non-weight shift rogollo that will get you hurt (that's what I told this guy below, he needs to add weight shift to his build):

https://www.instructables.com/id/Rogollo-Hang-Gilder/#CNN5APSJPN3L8KB

Not a million different designs, just one, the absolute simplest design, that could be made out of commonly available materials, is easy to build, cheap to build, straight forward to build for the average garage mechanic, has very forgiving flight and stall characteristics, and is easy to control.

Something must of come out of that big hang glider ridge lift beach boom in the 70's.... that would fit the bill.

I myself prefer restoring vs. building for scratch - in that case, where could I find my first used, cheap as dirt almost free 70's hang glider out of someone's garage? It doesn't need to be high performance, just something to start with, to get my feet off the ground that could be run off a hill or towed behind a motorboat or flown in a head wind. Is there a good place I don't know of where they are listed for sale?

It's a good question.

There has been an effort to keep any kinds of hang gliders out of the hands of those without "proper" training. It can be debated how much of this is for safety and much to line the pockets of instructors.

While I tend to think that there's a lot of corruption in USHPA's system, I would still recommend finding a good instructor to learn from. There can be more dangers in hang gliding than even a private pilot might suspect. It's always possible to learn on your own, but that route can also end in serious injury or death.

I know that's not a direct answer, but it's still important to keep in mind. I'll think about a better answer, but until then, you might check out Red's site:

https://user.xmission.com/~red/

If you've done much reading of our hot topics, you'll note some political disagreements with Red. Don't let that dissuade you. He has good information on his site, and if he's not too mad at us, he'll probably answer any of your questions here on the forum.

Also, Frank Colver has been working on developing a new glider. He was originally calling it a 'basic trainer", but I think he's given it the name "Puffin" more recently. I don't know if it's "minimalistic", but I do think he intends to make the plans freely available. You can find that topic here under this title:

      Hang Glider Basic trainer thoughts

Joe Faust is also working on designs that can be easily "short-packed" to 5 feet or less. He'd like the size to be compatible with public transit (especially busses). Joe has an eye for the beauty of simplicity, so you might follow his work as well. You can find that topic with this title:

      The 5 ft-packed-HG Movement

Please keep us posted!!!

Bob Kuczewski wrote:It's a good question. I'll think about a better answer, but until then, you might check out Red's site

https://user.xmission.com/~red/

If you've done much reading of our hot topics, you'll note some political disagreements with Red. Don't let that dissuade you. He has good information on his site, and if he's not too mad at us, he'll probably answer any of your questions here on the forum.
Also, Frank Colver . . . Joe Faust . . . so you might follow his work as well.

Choppergirl,

I'm not mad at Bob, or anybody else. Sometimes people overstep the bounds, that's all.

Anyway, I really wish there was a simple and cheap AIRWORTHY design for the DIY crew. You would have almost every HG pilot there with you, if so; nobody I know likes spending so much on a flying machine. I wrote a section on my web page about one way that it is possible, with a good chance of success, but the pieces will still cost much more than a good used hang glider. Nobody wants to see you go and bet your life that the reserve HG parachute will open properly, either.

As for puddle jumping, your dreams of flying will take you beyond that aspect within weeks, if not days. D.A.M.H.I.K. If you ever do find some ancient HG plans, in every case you will spend more on the raw materials than a good used HG costs, and the results will be disappointing.

Please do not buy any hang glider that is on Craig's list, unless an experienced HG instructor inspects it first. Those old things are almost always junk, with a sun-rotten sail, and missing some pieces that you can not buy now. A decent HG can sometimes be had for US$1000 and maybe less, but you can't buy bedsheets at the car dealer. You may have to travel, to obtain your dreams. My fast glider came to me from almost 1000 miles away, inspected by a local HG tech near the seller, on top of a HG pilot's truck that I did not know well. We are really a big family that (mostly) looks out for each other.

Local HG clubs will be your best bets on good and affordable used gear.