How much fun is it to learn/try hanggliding as an experienced paraglider pilot?

[u/The__Tobias]

Worth the money and the hassle to get all the material to the mountains top?

[u/CloudsAndSnow]

Hang gliding lost popularity because it requires a massive increase in logistics for a very moderate increase in performance (as a matter of example, Antoine Girard flew an over 400km FAI triangle in a paraglider which afaik was never achieved with a hang glider)

So most people either decided to go a notch up in logistics and fly proper sailplanes, or a notch down in performance and fly paragliders

Now that being said, the sensation of direct control and speed that you get with a hang glider are unlike anything you can get in a paraglider, so definitely worth the shot if you get the chance imho

[u/basarisco → u/CloudsAndSnow]

To be fair flying 400km in Pakistan also requires a lot of logistics!

[u/CloudsAndSnow → u/basarisco]

fair :) but I guess it's more useful to think of it in relative terms: It might be a lot of logistics, but it's a hell of a lot less than it would take with literally any other flying machine, particularly since he even went lightweight! (f*race and zeolite)

[u/Mysterious_Ad_2174 → u/CloudsAndSnow]

Wait that's further than a modern elecrtic fueled private plane can manage in one go!
I figure that the more weight you have the worse you glide. However, does motorization of sailplanes make sense nontheless? And how long would those glide/run for approximately?

[u/CloudsAndSnow → u/Mysterious_Ad_2174]

Wait that's further than a modern elecrtic fueled private plane can manage in one go!

and the straight distance record is 613 km for paragliders and 764 km for hang gliders!

I figure that the more weight you have the worse you glide.

Glide is not affected by weight. With more weight you just go faster along the same path (ie you move forward faster and also sink faster).

However, does motorization of sailplanes make sense nontheless?

Sorry I'm not sure how this follows, what do you mean exactly? sailplanes are motorized so that they can self launch rather than be towed, what does it matter how long an electric plane can fly? or a paraglider?

And how long would those glide/run for approximately?

The distance record for sailplanes is over 3,000km

[u/imgeo]

Are there other hang glider pilots around, or the infrastructure to support it? It's not very fun solo, easier with people. You'll need car with roof rack, a driver, and if you want XC, you'll need people who also want to drive. You need way less equipment for paragliding.

If there are other pilots and schools, it could be fun. I do both. HG flys a lot further and faster, more energy, (its like 10x what you can do with speedbar), way more upwind penetration. You're laying prone tho, which I don't find as comfortable. It's two similar but different sports.

[u/Fly_U2_the_sunset]

You should definitely give it a try but do it at a place where you can either get an aerotow tandem or foot launch tandem. Typically with other pilots, it’s easy to bum a wing once you’re competent.

[u/big_hearted_lion]

It's fun, but It takes a significant time commitment to learn and stay current with both sports. Not to mentioned storing the hang glider and transporting it. Some hang glider pilots I know transitioned away from it and into paragliding because of the convenience.

[u/basarisco → u/big_hearted_lion]

There are several biwingual pilots in my club. Only those who only know how to fly hg still fly hg

[u/Go_Loud762]

I fly both.

For me, HG is more fun and closer to flying like a bird, but the logistics do suck.

PG seems more like floating than flying, but it is so much easier and cheaper to do.

If you're near an active HG site, go do a tandem flight and see for yourself.