Hang glider take off

Hang start
Winch launch
UL-tow, ready for launch
UL-towing behind a trike
Because hang gliders do not have a separate drive, they can not start like aircraft under its own power from a plane’s runway.

Hang startup

At the start the pilot runs down the slope with the device accelerating until it bears the wings and lifts off the ground. Then he goes into the characteristic of hang glider’s reclining position. For a successful launch, the pilot from the air needs a speed of 30km cross/h.

This helps the slope so that the required launch velocity can be easily achieved. A moderate wind is therefore helpful for the tailwind during the launch. To facilitate the ground run over rough terrain, many flying site launch pads need to be created.

Winch launch

This launch technique of hang gliding is like a kite on a string being pulled up. At the highest point the pilot releases the rope with a handle, and continues to fly free. The height, at which the pilot is tripped and actual flight takes place, is a few hundred meters. In this way, they can also be started in lowland areas without mountains. There are two variants of the wind starts.

The first time the rope is completely rolled out at the beginning and then collected stationary. An alternative is to start with one mounted in the rear of a car. A suitable mechanism is sufficient to train the rope, and hang gliders can rise higher.

In an emergency, if there is a risk that the rope can pull the hang glider to the ground, the rope can be cut. In a special spread in Australia, the towing vehicle has a large platform on which stands the pilot and first runs. He takes off as soon as the towing vehicle is fast enough.

UL-Schlepp

This variant is similar to when the hang glider is pulled on a relatively short rope (60m for single seaters, 80m at two seaters) behind a motorized aircraft in the air. At the desired altitude a hang glider, like the wind, separates the connection to the tow rope and continues to fly free.

The sluggish airplane may not be faster than the speed limit of hang glider. Therefore particularly slow ultra light aircraft will be used, which derives from the name of this start up.

During the actual start of the team, the pilot is usually in a three-wheeled trolley, which remains behind after lift-off on the ground. With this somewhat more complex start up one can smoothly reach heights of 1000 to 2000m above ground. In addition, a skilled pilot towing the hang glider can move directly into a thermal updraft.

Balloon

To start a flight at high altitudes, the hang glider must be in an assembled condition with a balloon to be drawn vertically upwards. After the hang glider is swapped in, he quickly transforms the event into a forward flight, and can then launch into a wide glide. This very complex and expensive start up type was chosen for its spectacular course records for a flight across the Channel.