2003.07.25 Hang Gliding Lesson #1
On Friday, July 25th, 2003 I took my very first introductory Hang Gliding lesson with my friend Wyatt at Windsports Hang Glider Training Park located on Dockweiler Beach (just below LAX). This was the first time I had ever launched off a hill strapped into a hang glider. It was blast! We each flew 15 times. I can't wait to continue training to earn my Hang 2 hang glider license and beyond.



HGlesson1.mov (6.6Mb)
Some short movie clips I took with a digital camera in movie mode of today's flying.

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Windsports brochure (front). Windsports brochure (back). A snackbar/grill located on the opposite end of the parking lot.
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Dockweiler Beach. Wyatt orders up some lunch. Jetliners taking off from LAX in the distance.
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Lots of volleyball nets! A lifeguard shack. Handicap access maze to the beach!
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Wyatt having lunch. Hang Gliding instructor Andy Beem and Wyatt at the Windsports table. The Windsports Dockweiler Beach office.
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Andy goes over the things a new student hang glider pilot must master to achieve a Hang1 license. One of 6 pages of "release of liability" forms one must sign before beginning lessons. The initial lesson has students flying a very large and floaty glider like this Wills Wing Condor 330 model.
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Wyatt getting instruction before walking off the hill. Wyatt is airborne!
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Flying an imaginary line towards the orange windsock and blue trash can. Stefano takes his turn.
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Andy shoes how the experts can soar the 25ft hill effortlessly. Soaring back and forth along the hill. Coming in for a landing.
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Stefano Wyatt Wyatt on another flight.
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Flying the glider up the hill.
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Stefano soars toward the orange windsock. Stefano landing. Stefano walking the glider back to the hill.
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Flying the glider up the hill. Andy does some more soaring along the hill.
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Stefano ready to launch.
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Wyatt takes another flight.
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Another flight for Stef.
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Packing up the glider. Here we are removing the ribs.
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Another Hang Glider pilot shows up this his personal glider to soar the beach. Windsports Student Training Manual.
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Hang Gliding for Beginner Pilots book by Peter Cheney.
Back cover.

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