Hang Gliding Instruction
It's tougher to find hang gliding instruction these days. Paragliding, just because of its ease and convenience, draws more students. But that's not to say hang gliding is dying -- far from it.
There are first-rate hang gliding instructors hereabouts, set with all the knowledge and facilities to take you from a Hang-1 (beginner) rating through Hang-5 (Master). Most have courses designed to get a new pilot up to Hang-2, the first level at which one may fly unsupervised. But there's no need to stop there.
San Francisco Hang Gliding Center
Call for appointment: (510) 528-2300
http://www.sfhanggliding.com
There are only about 100 certified tandem glider pilots in the US. Five of them work at the SF Hang Gliding Center, an operation specializing in tandem Hang- and paragliding. It's perfect if you want to find out what flying is like, but you're not ready to drop cash on bunny-hill instruction. Instead, you can come to the SFHGC, and they'll strap you into a glider with a qualified pilot and fly you from a 2,000-foot ridge on Mt. Tamalpias clear down to Stinson Beach. It's a hell of a flight. The Center flies 7 days a week. Call for appointment.
Tandem Flights
$249.99 Mon-Fri (Includes video)
Weekends and holidays are an additional $25
Specials
Single's Day package,$349. Includes lesson, video, t-shirt, dinner.
Mission Soaring Center
1116 Wrigley Way
Milpitas, CA 95035
E-mail: mschg@aol.com
Phone: (408) 262-1055
Website: www.hang-gliding.com
When it comes to hang gliding, the Mission Soaring Center is pretty much the place to go in the immediate Bay Area. Owner Pat Denevan has been on the forefront of the sport for over 25 years, and much of his work helped the United States hang gliding Association develop its safety standards and instruction methods. So it's safe to say he's a good guy to learn from, as are the other instructors he's hand picked). The lessons are held on-site at Hollister Training Hill, and all the necessary equipment is provided by the MSC. They've got a virtual-reality flight simulator, too. Cool!
Individual Lessons
Single Lesson: $140.00
Lesson Packages
New Pilot Package: $600.00 (5-session course geared toward a P-2 rating)
Western Hang Gliders
Reservation Road at Marina State Beach
Marina, CA 93933
Phone: (408) 384-2622
Website: www.westernhanggliders.org
If you're going to learn to fly, the Monterey Coast is not a bad place to do it. Western Hang Gliders is a family-owned flight school specializing in, well, everything. They do paragliding. They also do hang gliding and powered ultralights. Marina State Beach is their training site -- right in their backyard, so there's no hassle for set-up or transportation. Tandem and instructor training available.
Individual Lessons
Beginning Course: $98.00
Lesson Packages
Beginning: $269.00 (3 lessons, 1 beginning + 2 advanced)
Fledgeling: $534.00 (6 lessons)
Master: $799.00 (10 lessons)
Eagle: $1645.00 (unlimited lessons)
Other Flights
Tandem Flight: $150.00
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