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Hang Gliding
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Hang gliding is probably closer to most people’s dream of flight than any other sort of aviation. One trots forward a few3aces into the wind on some hill or cliff top, the feet are lifte clear of the ground and the legs tucked up, and one floats. One’s earliest flights are likely to be clumsy hops, often ending in a tumble, but soon you are skimming down the slopes to a gentle, stand-up landing, and before long it becomes possible to execute smooth turns and then to soar in the upward blowing wind in front of the steeper hills. Control in most cases is by means of a simple trapeze-like bar. The bar itself is fixed firmly to the glider, the pilot pushes or pulls it to move his own body weight, sideways for turning, back and forth for control of pitch. A simple, but strong harness secures pilot to aircraft, and usually, for the longer flights, there is a seat or at least some provision for stretching out horizontally into a comfortable position, also thereby reducing air resistance.
Hang gliding originated in Germany with Lilienthal, and was revived in the early 1920s on the Wasserkuppe. Gliders then were. classified into three main types, Sitzgleiter (in or. on which the pilot sat), Leiggleiter (on which the pilot lay flat) and Hangegleiter (from which he hung, legs dangling). Further classification was into Eindecker (monoplane), Doppeldecker (biplane) and sometimes Drei, Fier and Funfdecker. In the early days, Willi Pelzner, who still lives in Germany, had much success with his Doppeldecker Hangegleiter, but soon it was established that the Eindecker Sitzgleiter could be made much larger, faster and more efficient, so about 1924 the hang glider was forgotten.
It was rediscovered when t-rancis Rogallo invented the sail wing which now bears his name. Something had un doubtedly been lost when sailplane soaring moved into the technically complex region in which it has remained ever since. The Rogallo offered a cheap, simple and fairly safe aerial sport which quickly attracted large numbers of people who otherwise would probably never have thought of flying at all. The Rogallo wing remains in general use for training and it can be soared if conditions are,·ust right. Not enough wind, and it glides down to the foot o the slope. Too much, and it gets blown backwards and forced down behind or on top of the hill. Certain modifications have been introduced to make the type safer. For example, with the simple Rogallo, in gusty weather the pilot may be pitched forward, his weight causing the glider to dive, and he may not be quick enough to push himself back to bring the_oose up again. The sail then can deflate and he may dive to the ground or even become inverted. Special stabilising devices such as apex sails and auxiliary controls have been used to prevent such accidents.
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