A lot of active seniors enter retirement with a long bucket list. These are some experiences they want to have, places they want to see, and things they want to do. One thing on the bucket list of many is gliding over the countryside with nothing more than a harness, a set of wings, and a steady, bracing wind. For these individuals hang gliding North Carolina's landscape is their idea of a dream come true.
You would not agree to be a passenger in a car with an inexperienced, unlicensed driver. Even more important you should not agree to go gliding, or take instructions on it, with just anyone. A lot of schools do their own training of instructors.
This is fine, but to ensure that you're in the hands of the most qualified instructors, you should ask what their certifications are. The United States has two main certification programs. They are the United States Hang Gliding Association Certification and the Parachuting Association Certification.
Safety must be your number one concern. Soaring over the ground might not seem especially risky. There are thousands of people doing it each year safely and without mishap, but it's still important to heed the instructions. In order to minimize the risks, instructors give lessons in controlled environments. If you have questions, this is the time to ask them. If you notice something unusual about your harness, helmet, or other equipment, you need to say something.
Group lessons have a lot of advantages. The primary being the fact that group lessons are cheaper than private ones. There will be more questions asked and answered in a group situation than when there is only one student. You'll be able to see what other members of the group do wrong, and right, and learn from them. Group activities are almost always more fun than those done alone.
You have to remember not to look down. Instructors tell students to go against their instincts when they are running down the hill, gathering speed to take off. It may be hard not to look at the ground, but that is the absolute wrong thing to do. Once you're in the air, you have to keep your eyes focused on the horizon. If you look down, you will drop in altitude and have to make an adjustment.
Do relax and enjoy yourself. Soaring above the landscape is supposed to be exhilarating. If you tense up, your arms and shoulders will throw you off balance. That make it harder to fly in safety. When you're relaxed, you can feel how the wind is working and flowing. You will be able to gauge the best way to control your wings. When you're tense you tend to fight the wind instead of going with it.
It should not be too cold or too hot when you go gliding. The experience will be a lot more enjoyable when you don't feel like you are going to freeze to death or get dehydrated from the heat. A safe trip requires the right kind of wind and a clear sky.
You would not agree to be a passenger in a car with an inexperienced, unlicensed driver. Even more important you should not agree to go gliding, or take instructions on it, with just anyone. A lot of schools do their own training of instructors.
This is fine, but to ensure that you're in the hands of the most qualified instructors, you should ask what their certifications are. The United States has two main certification programs. They are the United States Hang Gliding Association Certification and the Parachuting Association Certification.
Safety must be your number one concern. Soaring over the ground might not seem especially risky. There are thousands of people doing it each year safely and without mishap, but it's still important to heed the instructions. In order to minimize the risks, instructors give lessons in controlled environments. If you have questions, this is the time to ask them. If you notice something unusual about your harness, helmet, or other equipment, you need to say something.
Group lessons have a lot of advantages. The primary being the fact that group lessons are cheaper than private ones. There will be more questions asked and answered in a group situation than when there is only one student. You'll be able to see what other members of the group do wrong, and right, and learn from them. Group activities are almost always more fun than those done alone.
You have to remember not to look down. Instructors tell students to go against their instincts when they are running down the hill, gathering speed to take off. It may be hard not to look at the ground, but that is the absolute wrong thing to do. Once you're in the air, you have to keep your eyes focused on the horizon. If you look down, you will drop in altitude and have to make an adjustment.
Do relax and enjoy yourself. Soaring above the landscape is supposed to be exhilarating. If you tense up, your arms and shoulders will throw you off balance. That make it harder to fly in safety. When you're relaxed, you can feel how the wind is working and flowing. You will be able to gauge the best way to control your wings. When you're tense you tend to fight the wind instead of going with it.
It should not be too cold or too hot when you go gliding. The experience will be a lot more enjoyable when you don't feel like you are going to freeze to death or get dehydrated from the heat. A safe trip requires the right kind of wind and a clear sky.
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