Basejumper.com - archive

I have recently gotten into this sport & am stunned by how many similarities there are to BASE. I think having a BASE jumping background has really set me up for success in this new endeavor. Are there any other hang glider pilots on here?

That's awesome to hear, I've been thinking about it for a while now and I know it's just a matter of time before I get my hands on a hang glider.

How was your first flight?

First flights were only seconds long, they start you off just learning to run with the glider. Gradually you work your way up the hill & you fly a little longer & a little higher. My first flight from the top of the training hill was awesome!

Why the hell would anyone strap a kite to their back and jump off a perfectly good hill is beyond me

There is a fair bit of overlap here in the bay area. My HG friends got me into Skydiving + Base. HG or PG + Base, I can think of 5 of us at least out here without trying very hard.

grab a speedwing............though ive never tried hang glidiing, i can say that hike and flying a speedwing is WAY sicker..............most likely

Hang gliding is the shit! For foot launch flight, nothing beats the performance of hg'ing. The new gliders are getting over 15/1 glide and over 80 mph+ in a dive.
Good luck with your flying!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YatqkvAKAn0

Try doing that on a speed wing...

From everything I've seen of hang gliding it is the geriatrics transition sport. About a week ago I was up at Owens valley trying to do some hucking off a buddies PG at a popular hang gliding site. After waiting on winds for about an hour and realizing it wasn't going to happen we found it much more amusing to sit back drink beer and watch the stream of hospice escapees get off their HoverRounds put down their AARP updates and start to rig up while taking breaks to sing doo op and trade hard candies. Then the real fun started. With windsocks 20' apart blowing opposite directions we got to watch 3 guys with a collective age of 487 launch. the first two nearly pounded in as they hit the rotar off the first ridge both of which then gave up and just flew it out to the valley. Well old number 3 must of thought "gee whiz, I gotta get me some of that action" he launched hit turbulance 20' off the deck and pounded in ruining his 10,000 dollar glider. How he didn't break his hip and loose his dentures is above me.

Point being, If the idea behind HG is to reduce the social security deficit I completely get it. But as for me I'm going to leave those death traps too those who remember drinking broiler makers, riding on the bonnet of a model A and hunting with flintlock rifles.

impressive for a wing, ill admit, but with PG acro the way it is nowadays, that wasnt shit. and for me its all about groundrush anyways. though im totally incapable at my experience level of doing this, this is some sick speedflying...............

http://www.youtube.com/...c&feature=relmfu

try flying like that with a hang glider

you mean something like this ? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAiJsUXgknQ