How Hang Gliders Stay in the Air

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They don't just glide. Hang gliders can stay in the air for hours. Here's how.
This video is part of a series that includes how to make and fly small gliders on waves of air using the same principle that makes the big ones fly. With practice you can even make them fly with only your hands levitating them. goo.gl/FS1qgB
More DIY science projects at goo.gl/qAXzlg

[@sotirpopov3937]

...the Gentlemen with the Falcon, at mark 5:00 executed absolute perfect landing technique, real pleasure watching it!

[@flatfour7506]

Well done, best I’ve ever seen. Great explanation, Tom. I bet your a teacher. The whole show was so easy to watch and engrossing. Thank you.

[@mudpitboarder]

Great video introducing hang gliding. My wife has been thinking about learning, so this video was great for her to see what it is all about.

[@JeffJeno1000]

Wow, it never daqwned on me til watching this well versed vid... birds actually enjoy flying too. Thanks for sharing, best HG vid I've seen yet.

[@sciencetoymaker]

The video talked about two kinds of lift. You mentioned ridge lift, but there is also thermal lift--pockets of warmer air rising. Even with neither, you would still be able to glide down, not drop out of the sky.

[@herukhankhan9933]

Traffic ke liye bahut behtarin sadhan

[@dredger9mm]

Irish/Virginia music kicks ass with this video!

[@craigkaschan4822]

Thanks mate very educational always wanted to do it but never got around to it thanks again from Aus

[@MrMungus1]

Yes you could. I am 6'5" but the same weight. I have been flying since 1974. You will have to find a large area glider. Mine is 185 sq ft. You will however have to work hard to get there though the training is very physical but is worth the effort. Training gliders in schools will make your landing and take off speeds higher but it can be done.

[@tjp-dy3dy]

Kitty Hawk is a pretty darn good place for a first flight. :)

[@Helios8170]

I heard Rook Island was a good place, too. That is, if you can make it past the pirates...

[@mark675]

that must be one of the best feelings ever!

[@elisabethbrunet4091]

Thanks for the vidéo. Thanks for lesson . Nice flight

[@Mr-Curious]

Once you get to the first person view in the video i was thinking WOW seems wild must be a very special feeling flying an airplane just can`t beat

[@maxbello704]

:p loving how smooth the landings look pretty remarkable.

[@leadingedge4865]

A frame, king post luff lines..and all that goes with Hang Glider was refreshed by the video clip....even one could remember the vegetation smell, the neighboring vulture soaring in company, and going past the SPOT of spot landing.....good many some clips can revive the sport of Hang glider as its successor Paragliding has been....

[@Ayerstairs]

Awesome video! Great job Tom!

[@sciencetoymaker]

There are wheels so you don't stop too suddenly even if you trip and fall during landing. I think you're about as safe while flying as you are driving to the site.

[@StellarChi]

Awesome Cheerful Video !

[@joshc7865]

Would someone who has a fear of heights be able to do learn this? And how should they start?

[@rickmaddy3133]

Most people have a fear of falling, not actually a fear of heights (it's a subtle but important difference). I've launched my hang glider from a 2,000' cliff with no worries but I wouldn't go near the edge of that cliff before hand. The difference is that once I'm connected to my glider and preparing to launch, I know I'm not going to fall. Please know that when you learn to hang glide, in most cases you start out on flat ground. As you progress you move onto a small hill. Initially you don't get more than a few feet off of the ground. You work your way up to getting higher and higher.

[@joshc7865]

Rick Maddy awesome thanks, I’ve got a tandem booked in a few weeks, I’ll see how much I enjoy this & then decide to do lessons

[@starkenhof]

super gefilmt! gruß aus Bozen (Dolomiten)

[@willieboy8798]

guten tag, wie gehts!

[@arcane2152]

Thanks for sharing

[@jcmecatronica]

Amazing 👏

[@aceTL87]

you first started in kittyhawk NC? I LIVE IN NC!!! im somewhat afraid of heights but this looks to fun to pass up. im definately going to try this once it gets warmer.

[@willieboy8798]

the music is as good as watching the gliding

[@ariusarad01]

Of course you can. Need to do it with a larger size wing, properly sized for your weight. Otherwise with a regular size wing you need strong wind at take off and landing! Cause you'll fly much faster than you can run! With the appropriate speed anything can fly!

[@theRobinKessinger]

who are the musicians? I enjoyed them as much as the video.

[@sciencetoymaker]

It's a fantastic group called Fieldstone. The information is almost at the end of the video--8:35. Last I heard, their fiddle player had finished school and gone south. They had a couple of reunions over the holidays, but I haven't heard anything for a year of two.

[@theRobinKessinger]

well they are great. the fiddler reminds me of Jenny Allinder from Saint Albans wv

[@Greggee100]

if ya take an amputee and produce wind gust to produce acceleration and movement to aid in just a "simple step"just think the possibilities of being able to produce the same wind thrust in a hand glider which has far more to work with throughoutthe frame to expand the range throughout the sky....really push it ya could fly cross country?

[@sciencetoymaker]

@fortysixfish I'm not the expert but I saw some big guys soaring very well. Slater

[@livehappy3415]

I *LIKE* it. I _LOVE_ it.

[@MrLupold]

Nice Video!

[@HKHasty]

this is the coolest thing ever

[@sfbluestar]

Under what circumstance would you decide to use the parachute, and how would you get out of all those ropes that are on your body?

[@kajlauritzen9765]

sfbluestar The parachute is for mergency only. The bridle from the parachute is connected to the harness, so pilot and hangglider descend together.

[@lockhack]

As Kaj said they are for emergencies. Typically if there is damage to the pilot or glider. A good example is there was a guy who got caught in the updraft into a cumulonimbus cloud. He was violently tumbled inside due to the air current; this tumbling broke one of his wings. Once he fell below the cloud and was clear of the strong updraft he deployed his parachute and made a safe landing. Also if you enter into a tumble after a stall and pick up too much momentum to be able to steer or correct you would deploy then to stop the tumble and save yourself and glider.

[@alb.dersame]

lockhack What a Great description ! This is the first time even watching "Anything" about hang gliders ! All my life I've been beyond Fascinated with flying ! This may sound crazy, but I've been having Countless dreams of being able to fly in my dreams ! I just tense up a little ( in my dream) and I start going up ! The standing position then changes to the Superman position ( if you will) It's like I can control my dream at that point ! Some were so "Realistic" that I never wanted the dream to end ! In the vivid dreams, I can look down on the tree tops going by ! One was me flying over a lake at night ! The moon was reflecting off the water as I was rushing overhead ! Ok, so aside from the (time for the Straight jacket, and rubber room talk) I like to fly drones ( toy grade is all I can do so far) hence the dreams ! My dream of dreams, is to hang glide ! Free fall parachuting is a Pipe dream ! I would be one of those guy's who wouldn't hesitate to jump ! Anyway, I live N.E. of Detroit on Lake St. Clair, Michigan ! I'm wondering how I would go about trying this ? Can I make my Own ? I want to feel the sensation of going even 10 ft off the ground Just Once before I die ! After watching this video, there is no way to describe my excitement ! Just to leave the ground would be a Rush of a Lifetime ! I know I could google where there may be places to go here in Michigan ! But until I can afford it ? It will remain a dream ! Do you know if I could buy some tarp and some rods or something ( just to get up a few feet ?) Is there any way to make some contraption just for kicks ? We have another gale warning for tomorrow around here ! I was thinking how Cool it would be to have something, "Anything" to get up in the air a little ! If I never do anything like the Pro's ? I would be Ecstatic even if only for a few seconds just to leave the ground ! I know this must sound crazy, but there's "Got" to be a way to try Something "Anything" just Once ! Thanks for your time ..

[@lockhack]

Al B. Dersame, it is indeed possible to build your own that works in stout wind and a hill, I have seen someone do it here on KZbin. That said I do not recommend doing something like that unless you have some training first and definitely if you do not know how to calculate wing loading, lift, structural integrity, stall speed, etc.... There were many deaths in the early days of hang gliding because all designs were experimental. Due to this Experimental design is best not tinkered with without knowledge of glider design and flight experience. If you want to test the waters I would ask around the local flight parks or shops and see if a training facility offers training Hill or introductory experience offers. My first introductory experience was about $200 and included ground school, 5 training hill flights, and a tandem instructional flight starting with an aerotow up to 1,800 ft where the cable is released and I got some instructor led hands on during the glide back. This is the path I strongly recommend if you are looking for cheaper they may have a training hill only package. In your area I would contact Traverse City Hang Gliders and ask who trains in the area and talk to the people with the Greenpoint Flyers Association. As I am unfamiliar with your area they could send you in the right direction in your area for what you are after.

[@lockhack]

As I like to tell people suggesting what you are, let's say you somehow find all your materials for free build your glider and you have miscalculated center of gravity, center of lift, an unexpected gust comes up, a wing stall occurs, the wing breaks, there is a hard landing etc.. and you sustain a relatively minor injury such as broken wrist or foot, a deep laceration, or a concussion occurs you will have spent enough in doctor/hospital bills that you could have had the flight with a formal trainer or even trained up to your hang 2 + certification. Now imagine the injury is worse and you may end up dead, disabled, or spending enough in medical that you could have been trained and purchased a good used setup. In my opinion building your own is not worth the risk for a newcomer with a low budget.

[@ArnoldsDesign]

Hyner view. Been there many times. Usually I'm the only one there.

[@sciencetoymaker]

@Mikutovskis I can't put URLs in these comments, but I did a Google search for Lithuania (your country) hand gliding and found the Lithuanian Hanggliding and Paragliding Sports Federation. Slater

[@shivrajvishnu]

Good One.

[@melissaboggs4014]

How do you know so many things

[@sciencetoymaker]

@jwm239 I really enjoyed your videos of learning on the gentle slopes. Can you make one or more as video responses? Or people can just click on your channel. Slater

[@rootpage666]

may I ask how far did you travel when you were in the air for 5.5 hours?

[@จักรวาลชาแนล]

Good

[@Mikutovskis]

Where can I find more information (how to build, learn and ofcource prices), because I'd like to begin that pleasure. Thank you!

[@allgoo19]

Thanks for the info. :)

[@boymugnaadventure2967]

New subscriber sir... Can i ask what kind of fbric is being use by the wing?

[@sciencetoymaker]

Good question! The wing fabric is polyethylene terephthalate, better know as Dacron. It is also used for sailboats. There is a good article here www.madehow.com/Volume-5/Hang-Glider.html

[@boymugnaadventure2967]

@@sciencetoymaker thanks sir.... How about the ribs sir.? It is solid? Or hallow?

[@boymugnaadventure2967]

Im trying to make my diy wing... Hope it gonna work...

[@sp4jx7]

yes,

[@jokobagus8526]

How to find termal flow

[@darkels5837]

Are there any micro hang gliders?

[@fortysixfish]

Hi, I'm 6'3 280 lbs. Would I be able to hang glide? Awesome video, thanks for sharing!

[@Darkdevil1584]

ya ever start?

[@MrMungus1]

NO not technically (speaking from UK) however you will almost certainly be unable to buy a glider from anyone. The reason is that Hang Gliding is Phyisically very difficult to get into unless you find out the right way to do it. For this reason most people would give up long before they could get into trouble. so the only people who ended up flying them were determined and or worked it out. You would almost certainly be unable to find anywhere to fly it without joining the local club and BHGA

[@aaronthomas8834]

Was this filmed in North Georgia near Hiawasee?

[@sciencetoymaker]

No, although it might have been geographically similar. It was all taped at Hyner State Park in north-central Pennsylvania. The giant stone lookout was was made by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression.

[@منوعاتكلشي-ز7ي]

How much this

[@BLACKCOOLIE1]

Beautiful, can you teach me to do that?

[@felixhaarman8327]

I think no

[@matfly4832]

It FLIES!!!

[@sohrabkhaok]

How can I get in the gulf countries?

[@holytrashify]

beautiful country, where is it?

[@sciencetoymaker]

+Holy Trash North Central Pennsylvania

[@allgoo19]

Staying in the air for 5 1/2 hours without going bathroom? That's pretty amazing! ^_^

[@Vrael1022]

7:37 no joke, but im sure that if a people off my aerodynamics module saw that part of the vid, more of them would have passed it. (we had a question about circulating air over hill)

[@carlosbastos326]

muito bom encanta

[@guljee11]

oh, lucky guys enjoy it. I can only watch. very expensive for me to buy. I leave in high mountainous area.

[@trumeptrai5893]

You still have for sale boss man..?

[@yucekaracagil]

can you find thermal spots on lakes? I want to fly through a lake

[@sciencetoymaker]

+Indigo I think that bodies of water create cool spots.

[@yucekaracagil]

does that mean you can still gain altitude on water?

[@sciencetoymaker]

+Indigo If thermals are not being created over the water, then altitude gain would be difficult there. But I am not an expert; I was interviewing experts. Perhaps a hang glider pilot could weigh in with an opinion here.

[@JanPBtest]

+Indigo Usually, no. Water _edge_ can act as a thermal trigger though. Meaning: thermals are a bit like honey, they may stick to the ground until something "cuts them off". That something is usually a physical barrier (a tree line, say), or something moving on the ground, or a sudden cold patch, like a lake or a snow line, etc.

[@sciencetoymaker]

+JanPBtest Fascinating!

[@gamingwarehouse8554]

Hangglider how much? Price

[@MrMungus1]

Actually you are usually working so hard you de hydrate to some extent so it isn't a problem. But in an emergency it is quite possible to go in the air. For girls its more of a give away. Sunburn on the back of your neck is the worst gotch I have had and now always use a motorcycle balaclava for that reason.

[@thangamajig]

Why do people not put engines ans propellers on the trailing boom ?

[@ZioStalin]

They've done it.

[@markmulvany1941]

What flying site is this?

[@sciencetoymaker]

Hyner State Park, North-Central Pennsylvania

[@TheMasterChuy]

wow

[@robosergTV]

do the gliders inflate like paragliders do?

[@sciencetoymaker]

Not that I have seen. They get their shape from the rigidity of the frame. Some ultralight planes have foam inserts in the front to help with shaping the airfoil.

[@travelstory7584]

Price?

[@lizalomocso7697]

How i wish i can fly using hangglider☺

[@wrengaming1519]

Are you an adult? Do you have a few thousand lying around? Go pay for lessons and learn

[@rlowle1228]

I know the answer to that question. But your demo never gave away the answer.

[@JeffJeno1000]

dawned!!

[@619fateh]

yo i need subtitles cause i wanna build 1 and cant understand wat ur saying subtitles plzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[@arturossolas6232]

unhampered travel during covid pandemic

[@mizzyfrm9176]

2:30

[@classiczu3bi]

I like to try it..like to be a falcon

[@ujjalsidea3986]

Hallo

[@SahramMSahri]

Bagemana sih kerangkanya dibuat

[@sciencetoymaker]

tabung epoksi serat karbon carbon fiber epoxy tubes

[@georgesheffield1580]

I hava an ANTI GRAVITY switch / mechanism on my hang glider . It makes this funny beeping soung when it is defying gravity and i circle and go up. The i point the nose downwind and fly to Kansas or NEW MEXICO 😏

[@sciencetoymaker]

Hilarious!

[@เคนสปอร์ตเปลี่ยนความคิดชีวิตมี]

where do you live

[@sciencetoymaker]

Hyner Mountain and State Park are in North Central Pennsylvania.

[@MrMungus1]

Ran out of words. Without your BHGA (or whatever they call themselves this week) sticker and info from the local clubs site guide you wouldn't get onto any sites that were safe without a Farmer sending you away. All the flying sites are usually very hard won and the clubs protect them very well. There is no substitute for talking to people who know what they are doing. It will quite possibly save your life. So no Licence actually req. It also costs a fraction of any other way to fly costs

[@brightspark4817]

fannys having wheels on there gliders

[@Abdullah-tk9cs]

How much does this plane cost? I want to buy one from Iraq and I want to buy one. If I do not buy, I will make one and risk my life for the pleasure of flying.

[@sciencetoymaker]

I don't know how much they cost--but not cheap. There is also the training. In the 1970s people were making their own out of bamboo or aluminum poles and plastic sheeting. Although modern hang gliders are statistically pretty safe now, the homemade ones were quite dangerous. I am aware of several deaths.

[@modelrc9500]

2000 dollars usually فارقان الموسى

[@pandaland1]

The same way mario glides with his cape

[@willieboy8798]

I use my underwear! llooll

[@flybeep1661]

Yeah but how does lift happen? He doesn't explain that. How does it stay in the air....lift. Yeah duh of course. But simply explained in flight above and below the wing there's an air pressure differential. Below the wing is a higher pressure than the above the wing. Air flows from high pressure to low pressure and this is what creates lift and makes you fly. Not a hang glider....but a very experience skydiver. THis is basic knowledge to any skydiver.

[@josemromero6409]

How much will you sale one for me

[@yadadi4438]

Would you say hang gliding is DANGOUROS

[@sciencetoymaker]

Obviously if you or I went up in tandem with somebody, our hearts would be thumping. But statistically, hang glider pilots are hundreds of times more likely to be injured or die in a road accident coming to the flying venue, than they are actually flying. There were over 30,000 traffic fatalities in the U.S. alone last year, but we are used to that carnage that our perception of comparative risks is skewed.

[@kevinshort3943]

Hoodie "Socal Wiffle League not really, since even if you start falling, you'll fall slowly, unlike an aeroplane, which would fall quite fast" Sorry to disappoint you, but if you have a structural failure you WILL plummet like the proverbial house brick :( That's why you carry a reserve parachute. "Socal Wiffle League Would you say hang gliding is DANGOUROS" If you only fly in perfect conditions , get the training and listen to advice, then no, not really. But if you push your luck in marginal conditions, then yes it's dangerous!

[@willieboy8798]

no more so than my next door neighbor after he has been drinking....llooll

[@roshansubah2646]

You can fly hours and hours with £78 only.

[@daudikanjanda3772]

i can fly this machine

[@Sureshkumar-uo3zv]

sir hindi me bataye bihar

[@ipanema7777777]

Music + flight =Bad choice.

[@lucaballa7]

Who is here from school?

[@caderbavahmuhammadsiddick384]

👍💜🧡❤️💚💙♥️🪂🪂

[@augustuscaesar1104]

I would seize it for lake of air worthiness as it has no Aircraft warning lights

[@itsjustme4026]

I think paraglider is better

[@carlosbastos326]

muito bom encanta