Types of hang glider

During flight sports ‘hang glider’ distinction is essentially between so-called fixed-wing aircraft and the traditional dragon and Flexis (called this because of the flexible surface).

Classic Dragon

These flexible aircraft are made of polyester cloth and pipes made of aluminum or carbon fiber reinforced plastic. The head sails are curved battens in a lift-producing form, an existing sailing with a double bottom surface is stretched by straight slats. The nose angle can be changed by means of a pulley (variable geometry of some devices from the pilot during flight), to reach for the thermals when flying and the sliding optimal flight characteristics (the change of sail tension and profile).

To transport it works (like the dragon) like an umbrella, but here the battens must be removed before collapsing. The rig will remain on the frame, leaving a 5-6m long roll, which is usually transported on the car roof. If needed, you can shorten the length to about 4 meters. Some special models allow a further folding of the linkage. You can reach 2m length and the dragons can be worn like a backpack for mountain climbing.

Tower Wireless hang glider

A further development of classical towerless dragons are dragons. The difference between these aircraft to the classic dragon is that the tension is missing above the wing with the associated tower. The resulting reduced air resistance has a positive effect on the glide and the forward speed. The function of the lack of tension is taken over by a self-supporting structure made of aluminum or carbon fiber. The security within the meaning of flight performance is assured by internal or innenabgespannte Schränkungsanschläge.

Fixed-wing aircraft
Rigid hang glider

For fixed-wing aircraft, the wing is not held by the cloth tension between the wings in the form of tubes, but is stable on its own. The stiff leg necessary for this often consists of fiber composites. This design feature allows a higher aspect ratio of the wing. The control of these aircraft is carried out by spoilers on the wing upper surface, the brakes on one side are there if needed.

Some fixed-wing aircraft also have ailerons, which affect similarly to the lift of each wing. Unlike the gliders, there will be spoilers and ailerons which will not move with a joystick, but through cables from the control bar to the wing, which are stretched when the pilot pushes aside. In this way, it is necessary to initiate curve movements, very similar to the weight control of flexible hang-gliders.

The glide and handling on the ground between the traditional fixed-wing kites and gliders is located. They have the advantage over flexible hang gliders as being a much better glide, but they are cumbersome to handle during transportation to the starting point.

Glide

The hang-gliders glide ratio is between about 10 and 15 for the flexible version and 16 – 19 for the fixed-wing aircraft. This means that in calm air a hang glider can glide at a height of 100m. For such a sports, in comparison with paraglider pilots in similar classes, a requirement of about twice as high a glide ratio is needed, but is well below that of gliders.