Hang Gliding and Paragliding for the Military

Have you ever wanted to spread your wings and fly for real? Hang gliding and paragliding are what you’re looking for.

Launching a hang glider at Point of the Mountain, Utah. Pilot/videographer: Ian Brubaker

Fly like a bird

Image title — Paraglider launch. Photo by Petar Loncar

Hang gliding and paragliding offer unlimited opportunities for adventure:

Travel and fly around the world
Develop a close camaraderie with a diverse community of people that love to fly
Compete in local, national, and world events
Hike and fly with your wing
Challenge personal, national, and world records

You can fly any way that appeals to you, from soaring thousands of feet over snowy peaks, to picking a direction and flying as far as you can, to floating peacefully above a sand dune next to the ocean...and more!

Both hang gliders and paragliders can be adapted to suit a range of disabilities, giving nearly anyone the chance to fly.

How can I learn to fly?

Hang gliding Kitty Hawk — Learning to hang glide at Kitty Hawk Kites in North Carolina.

You can think of hang gliding and paragliding as a little like skydiving, except instead of falling, you can stay up for hours or even fly hundreds of miles.

Anyone can try a tandem flight with a certified instructor. You can also do a training hill lesson, learning to control the glider on your own as you fly just a few feet above the ground.

Find a School or Instructor

Whenever you’re ready, take the next step and become a rated pilot. You’ll practice at low altitudes until you’re proficient at launching and landing, and do tandem flights with your instructor to prepare you to fly high.

As you progress in your training, you’ll earn ratings that will allow you to fly at a variety of sites all over the country. Find a school or instructor near you!

Hang gliding or paragliding?

Hang gliding and paragliding both provide the most accessible, least expensive way to get into aviation. If you can, we recommend trying a flight in each aircraft to discover which is the best fit for your flying style and goals.

A few of the similarities and differences:

Hang Gliding	Paragliding	Both
Fly in a prone position, giving the feeling of flying like a bird (seated is also a less common option)	Fly in a seated position	Launch from the top of a mountain, or from flat ground with a towing system
The wing folds up into an approximately 17-foot long tube for transport on the roof of a car (some schools and flying sites also offer glider storage)	The wing folds up into the size of a large backpack	Fold up your wing and take it home or traveling with you
Capable of flying in more turbulence and stronger wind conditions than paragliders	Limited to less turbulence and lighter wind conditions than hang gliders	Start on easy-to-fly gliders, then advance (if you wish) to higher-performance gliders that can fly greater distances
Requires larger landing fields than paragliders	Can land in smaller fields than hang gliders	Adaptive options make it possible for nearly anyone to fly
Metal airframe helps ensure that the wing keeps its shape in flight	Hike up mountains with your wing on your back, then fly from the top	Join a fantastic, supportive global community uniting people from all walks of life through their love of flying

Adaptive sport options

Adaptive launch — Joe Stone launching in Idaho. Photo by Zac Bunzey

You can still fly hang gliders and paragliders if you use a wheelchair or have other adaptive needs. You may need help to launch, but once you're in the air, you can get as high and fly as far (or farther!) as any other pilot.

Programs and schools like Project Airtime in Utah, Lookout Mountain Flight Park in Georgia, and Eagle Paragliding and the Uplift Union in California specialize in adaptive flying.

Get in touch with them to find out where you can take a tandem flight or to discuss particular training and equipment needs. They'll be happy to answer any questions you have and to help get you in the air.

USHPA also recently received a VA Adaptive Sport Grant to provide free introductory tandem flights and training up to an H2/P2 level for disabled veterans. We're excited to be able to offer this opportunity to veterans! Please click here for more information on the grant.

Get the magazine!

USHPA publishes a print magazine, USHPA Pilot, every 2 months with engaging stories, stunning photos, and flying and weather tips from the pilot community. It’s the best way to learn what being a pilot is all about.

Flip through the "new pilot" issue here:

Contact us to receive a complimentary magazine subscription for your military base, or view and download the magazine online.

Get in touch

Questions about the sports or about learning to fly as an active duty service member or veteran? Call or email USHPA’s membership coordinator, Galen Anderson, at [email protected] or (719) 632-8300 x207 anytime!