So you want to fly? First, you need to answer a couple of questions.
Do you want to hang glide or paraglide? Hang gliding is where you lie down under a triangular shaped glider made of aluminium and sail cloth and control the hang glider by shifting your weight. Paragliding looks a little similar to skydiving where you sit in a harness under a canopy and control the paraglider by pulling on lines. They’re both a lot of fun!
Secondly are you looking to learn our sports or do you wish to go for a tandem flight? Our local school is Air-Sports which provides training and tandems for both and is run by Chief Flying Instructor Tony Barton.

Tandem flights are carried out at a time that suits both you and the weather and is just a matter of booking. 0412 607815 is Tony’s phone number to call for a tandem and he will book you in, they are $165.00 for a 20-30 minute depending on weather conditions.
To become a pilot yourself, you need to be a minimum of 15 years age, be moderately fit, and attend a training course. Courses usually start on the first Monday of the month and last a week, where by the end of it you will most likely be flying solo under the guidance of a qualified flying instructor. The cost of the course is around $1500.00 and is carried out on sand dunes and small hills where the hills are little and soft!

There is a theory component where you learn about how hang gliding and paragliding is safely carried out and it covers subjects such as safety, the weather, flying principles, flying rules and strategies and so on.

You don’t need a glider or equipment, Air Sports provide those for training, and it’s best not to get a glider or equipment until after the course as it’s very hard for new pilots to know what’s suitable, and gliders and equipment come in various different sizes and styles. You instructors are the best people to help when it comes to making choices for what is necessary and best when starting out.

If you have further questions please have a look at www.air-sports.com.au if you haven’t already, and give Tony a call. Pilots you see (before and after!) flying are also usually happy to share their thoughts on the sport too, so feel free to go up and say hi. Another good website to go to is www.safa.asn.au, it’s our national website.
 
Look forward to seeing you in the air!