Another idea, and maybe a faster route is to consider heading to Northern Cali, to get your H1 & H2 rating. Spend few weeks there (approx 15 plus lesson days) and some schools might even provide lodging. The weather there is much more consistent with more training hills, and you might be able to get your H2 rating within couple week of accelerated intense training courses. Once you have your H-2 rating, you can start shopping around for your equipments (used or new). There are plenty of good used beginner gliders for sale which could save you a ton. Once you're set with the basics, you'll be able to fly a few H2 sites near Portland and Seattle. Myself and other local pilots will be happy to sponsor you to fly those sites when you've obtained your H2 rating.
I've few listed contacts below that'll provide all the info to help get you started.
Corvallis, OR
John Matylonek (541) 913 1339
Oregon Hang Gliding School here. Thanks for the information Rick. I point to you as a model hang glider pilot to emulate with all my students. I'd like to clarify the timing of training. One must differentiate the number of lesson days required to become basically competent - which is very consistent around the world (15 lesson days) - to the pace at which must take those 15 days to experience all the weather/site conditions one needs to be able handle different situations. The personal pace at which people need to address varying physical, intellectual and physical skills varies quite abit too. So, when money and time are not an issue then one guy will finish his hang two in 4 months (and that is the exception!) and another guy will take about 6 months (an average if he is available and money is not the issue) and many many take more than a one year. That is all okay. We all have different lifestyles. But, here is a good barometer. If it does take you more than a one year from the OHGS perspective, it's because you have decided to use a hodge podge of learning sources that did not consistently drive you forward to the end, or because something in your life distracted you to following the curriculum on regular, consistent basis. We are very blessed in the pacific northwest with the very best places to learn. Weather has nothing to do it because we are expected to fly this weather pattern not some foreign site. Your ability to read the weather and change your schedule according to it in the program of instruction readies you to do the same thing when you are an independent pilot. Becoming a pilot is more than just physical skills. It's also intellectual and emotional skills. Thanks for reading.
Eric Ollikainen
Glenoma, Washington
PM me for Eric contact
Oregon Hang Gliding School here. Thanks for the information Rick. I point to you as a model hang glider pilot to emulate with all my students. I'd like to clarify the timing of training. One must differentiate the number of lesson days required to become basically competent - which is very consistent around the world (15 lesson days) - to the pace at which must take those 15 days to experience all the weather/site conditions one needs to be able handle different situations. The personal pace at which people need to address varying physical, intellectual and physical skills varies quite abit too. So, when money and time are not an issue then one guy will finish his hang two in 4 months (and that is the exception!) and another guy will take about 6 months (an average if he is available and money is not the issue) and many many take more than a one year. That is all okay. We all have different lifestyles. But, here is a good barometer. If it does take you more than a one year from the OHGS perspective, it's because you have decided to use a hodge podge of learning sources that did not consistently drive you forward to the end, or because something in your life distracted you to following the curriculum on regular, consistent basis. We are very blessed in the pacific northwest with the very best places to learn. Weather has nothing to do it because we are expected to fly this weather pattern not some foreign site. Your ability to read the weather and change your schedule according to it in the program of instruction readies you to do the same thing when you are an independent pilot. Becoming a pilot is more than just physical skills. It's also intellectual and emotional skills. Thanks for reading.
Eric Ollikainen
Glenoma, Washington
PM me for Eric contact
Medford, OR
Jim Tibbs 541-772-2915
Missoula, MT
Paul Roys 406-203-2695
8 hrs drive from Seattle
Freedom Flight Park
Lumby BC
Randy Rauck 250 307 7553
6.5 hrs drive from Seattle
Freedom Flight Park
Lumby BC
Randy Rauck 250 307 7553
6.5 hrs drive from Seattle
Santa Barbara,CA
Willy Dydo (802) 558-6350
Mission Soaring center (Northern Calif)
Milpitas, CA 95035. Instructor & Owner
Pat Denevan (408) 262-1055
Hang Gliding Academy / Bay Area and Portland
Zac Majors (415)-715-4757
Windsports Hang Gliding (Southern Calif)
Sylmar, CA 91342. Instructor & Owner
Joe Greblo (818) 367-2430
Flying sites in Pacific Northwest:
http://pdxhanggliding.blogspot.com/2015/03/i-live-in-portlandor-and-do-fly.html
US Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association :
https://www.ushpa.org/page/learn-to-fly-overview
https://www.ushpa.org/page/how-do-i-learn-to-fly
Oregon Hang Gliding School here. Thanks for the information Rick. I point to you as a model hang glider pilot to emulate with all my students. I'd like to clarify the timing of training. One must differentiate the number of lesson days required to become basically competent - which is very consistent around the world (15 lesson days) - to the pace at which must take those 15 days to experience all the weather/site conditions one needs to be able handle different situations. The personal pace at which people need to address varying physical, intellectual and physical skills varies quite abit too. So, when money and time are not an issue then one guy will finish his hang two in 4 months (and that is the exception!) and another guy will take about 6 months (an average if he is available and money is not the issue) and many many take more than a one year. That is all okay. We all have different lifestyles. But, here is a good barometer. If it does take you more than a one year from the OHGS perspective, it's because you have decided to use a hodge podge of learning sources that did not consistently drive you forward to the end, or because something in your life distracted you to following the curriculum on regular, consistent basis. We are very blessed in the pacific northwest with the very best places to learn. Weather has nothing to do it because we are expected to fly this weather pattern not some foreign site. Your ability to read the weather and change your schedule according to it in the program of instruction readies you to do the same thing when you are an independent pilot. Becoming a pilot is more than just physical skills. It's also intellectual and emotional skills. Thanks for reading.
ReplyDeletein November 2017, i saw a hang glider in Oceanside OR. There was no frame in his glider, just a sail. what is that kind of setup called vs what i consider to be more of a traditional hang glider?
ReplyDeleteWhat you see wasn't a hang glider .They are "Paragliders" this link will tell you 4 Big Differences Between Paragliding And Hang-Gliding . https://flycapetown.co.za/blog/differences-paragliding-hang-gliding
DeleteI plan to go from start to finish without anything holding me back, using our UTV to get to the top of the hill as fast as possible for the most flights in the day and living in my Rockwood Camper the whole time. I have not selected an instructor yet so if there are any reading this feel free to write with details of your program.
Delete