The glider is controlled by moving the pilot to the center of gravity of the wing. The pilot hangs under the glider through a sling (so it is also called "hang gliding"), driving the end of this sling to move in four directions, so as to change the center of gravity of the whole glider. In this way, the glider will pitch forward and backward or tilt left and right according to the pilot's idea, and the flying speed and direction of the glider will be controlled through these actions.
How high (far) can a glider fly?
This largely depends on the flight conditions of the glider at that time. The current flight record is 480 kilometers at the farthest and 6000 meters at the highest. The above records have been confirmed by FAA. Specifically, in summer, it is generally possible to fly to the western United States 1500 meters to 3,000 meters, and the flying distance can exceed 160 kilometers.
How long can a flight last?
It also depends on the flight conditions at that time. Flying at high altitude usually takes several hours. When the weather is fine, pilots don't need to land before sunset.
Where should the take-off and landing site of gliding wing be chosen?
Generally speaking, any windward slope with fewer obstacles and a slope greater than 6: 1 can be used as a take-off site. When the wind speed is between 25-32 km/h, the pilot can take off as long as he runs down the hill. Where there is no hillside, trucks, winches or light aircraft can be used to take off.
The criteria for choosing the landing point of gliders vary with the pilot's flying skills. Experienced pilots should be able to land safely on the flat ground of 15x20 without obstacles. Of course, this requirement will change with the wind speed and surrounding environment at that time.
Is gliding flight safe?
Like any air movement, gliding can lead to danger if you are not careful. In other words, gliding is a fairly safe sport. Gliders made in the United States now need to pass the airworthiness certification of HGMA (Glider Manufacturers Association) before they can be sold. Therefore, as long as they are used within the flight indicators published by the manufacturers, these gliders will never have structural damage. In addition, all high-altitude paragliding flights use backup parachutes, so even if the paraglider is seriously damaged or completely out of control, the personal safety of the pilot can be guaranteed.
In addition, the gliding flight code is improving day by day, and most students are guided by qualified coaches and practice step by step. So the unsafe drills conducted by untrained people in dangerous places in the past have basically become history.
Despite this, pilots will still make such and such misjudgments, and Blue Sky will never forgive these mistakes. In the United States, among every 65,438+00,000 glider pilots, 5 to 65,438+00 people have serious flight accidents every year, and about 50 to 65,438+000 people have been injured and need medical treatment. The vast majority of pilots are safe throughout their sports career and basically have not suffered major trauma.
Is it necessary to have strong winds when taking off, gliding and landing?
Gliding wings can take off, glide and land safely at the wind speed of 0 to 50 km/h. When the wind speed exceeds 65 km/h, the airflow becomes chaotic and irregular, and all types of flights begin to become uncomfortable. Generally speaking, the best wind speed for takeoff and landing is 8-32km/h (related to site conditions). When the glider takes off, the wind speed becomes less important because the pilot can already control the airspeed of the glider.
How does the glider rise?
In nature, there are not only horizontal winds, but also vertical winds blowing from the ground to the sky. If the glider encounters this updraft, it will rise with it. The basic rule of gliding wing (and any other aircraft that uses updraft) is to find updraft and fly into it. There are many reasons for updraft, and the most common ones are ridge airflow and hot airflow. When the horizontal wind hits an obstacle (here, the ridge), it is forced to rush upward, which is the ridge airflow. When the ground (water surface) in a certain place is heated by the sun and conducts the heat to the nearby air, the hot air rises and forms a hot airflow.
Generally speaking, the ridge airflow is distributed in a belt along the mountain range, and pilots shuttle back and forth in it. The hot air flow starts from a certain point on the ground and rises in the form of columns or hot bubbles, and the pilot spirals up in this area.
What is the temperature change in flight?
Gliding wings can fly in winter when the temperature is as low as MINUS several degrees, or in desert areas where the sun is scorching. For every 300 meters, the temperature will drop by 4 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, pilots must endure lower temperatures when flying at high altitude. In summer, if you plan to fly above 3600-4200m, you need to wear warm clothes to avoid freezing.
Are there any special physical requirements for hang gliding?
Almost everyone can hang gliding. If you can jog with a weight of 23-32kg, you can learn to glide. Of course, you don't need special strength to fly, because your weight is borne by the sling, not your arm. However, long-term flight in bad weather requires more stable endurance. Pilots can gradually improve this endurance by learning step by step.
Are there any restrictions on the age, sex, weight and height of pilots?
People who hang gliding range from teenagers to eighties. This sport needs more psychology than physiology. If a person's mind is mature enough to make a correct judgment on events related to his life safety and make an appropriate response, it can be said that he has reached the age suitable for flying.
Flying mainly depends on balance and endurance, not brute force like Li Yuanba. So both men and women can become excellent pilots. Of course, the gender ratio varies from place to place. In the United States, about 10%- 15% of glider pilots are women.
The weight of the pilot is not very important either. The key is that they must use an umbrella that suits their body shape. Heavier pilots need big umbrellas, while lighter pilots need small umbrellas. The average weight of glider pilots is about 40 to 1 10 kg. It is not easy for people whose weight is not within this range to find an umbrella that suits them. Of course, people who are particularly fat can use specially designed double umbrellas. There is no necessary relationship between height and flying ability. Of course, the general umbrella is designed for people who are 1.5-2.0 meters tall. For people whose height is not within this range, umbrellas and saddles should be properly modified.
Do I need a license to fly hang gliding?
Not necessarily. However, the United States has a license similar to the FAA license, which is issued by USHGAK (American Gliding Association). The level of license plate is determined by the pilot's flying skills and proficiency (from primary to advanced) under the prescribed operating procedures, and their flying range is limited accordingly. For example, an entry-level pilot can only fly down a hillside less than 30 meters in the breeze and must be trained by a coach. Although these restrictions are not as legally binding as FAA pilot licenses, most airports in the United States require participants to hold designated USHGA flight licenses.
How should I start learning to fly gliding?
USHGA regularly evaluates gliding instructors and schools. The safety of flying gliders has reached a new height in the past 20 years because USHGA stipulates that all students must practice under the guidance of qualified coaches. You can call (7 19) 632-8300 to ask USHGA for the list of qualified schools.
The training time required depends on the talent and training conditions of the trainees. Most people need to take 5- 10 classes, and it takes 3-6 months to get the first two levels of flight license-entry level and primary license. At the end of the training, students should be able to fly in the breeze in the air from 100 meters to 1000 meters. At this time, accompanied by a coach or a senior inspector, the drill can be carried out in a poor flight environment.
How much does it cost?
If the school learns to glide and buys a whole set of new equipment at retail price, the total cost may be as high as more than 5,000 dollars. If you buy second-hand equipment, it may cost more than 1000 dollars. However, when buying second-hand umbrellas, you must ask experienced pilots who are familiar with umbrellas to conduct a comprehensive and detailed inspection. The following is a list of possible expenses:
Training tuition (junior): USD 400-USD 65438+USD 0000 (USD, the same below).
Glider for training: USD 400-USD 65,438+USD 0,500 (old) and USD 2,000-USD 3,500 (new)
Saddle: 50-300 USD (old) $ 150-600 USD (new)
Spare umbrella: 200-300 USD (old) and 350-400 USD (new)
Helmet: $ 80-300 (new)
Fortunately, you can buy these devices in bulk. At the beginning, general training schools will provide training umbrellas, but after this stage, students are expected to buy their own umbrellas. For flights below 100 meters, the backup umbrella is of little use, so it is not necessary to buy it before the initial stage.
In China, you may need to prepare various expenses according to the following list:
Tuition: 1500 yuan
Paragliding: 20,000-50,000 yuan
Saddle: 3000-5000 yuan
Backup umbrella: 3500-7000 yuan