Other Questions About Hang Gliding & Warren Windsports

Is hang gliding dangerous?

Modern hang glider designs are tested and certified safe. Like any activity (mountain biking, sailing, etc...), participants can put themselves into added risk when they do not respect their own skill level, equipment, or the weather conditions.

Can you travel overseas with your hang glider?

Yes!  Curt has done it about 20 times (and counting).

You have 3 choices:

1) Short-pack it (~14.5 feet) and check it on as luggage (sometimes pole-vaults)!  Ask Curt about which airlines is currently providing the most support. This is our favorite way to travel.

2) Ship it, Air-cargo, in a box from your dealer. This is more expensive and takes longer, BUT everything is insured, and you can load up the box if you want.

3) Take your harness, and rent a glider from a school or dealer.

Do you offer kitesurfing or kite boarding in Wollongong?

Kitesurfing is another love, but we are not offering kitesurfing instruction in Wollongong at this stage. At the moment, Curt is focusing all energy and time into further development of hang gliding projects of Warren Windsports.  Feel free to contact us for more info on Kitesurfing in the Illawarra area.

How does a 'hang gliding competition' work?

It’s like a 3-dimensional Sailing race. The pilots race a course in the sky, which may be a triangular course or an “out and back”, or maybe a straight “race to goal”. Pilots are scored on how fast they fly the course, or how far they went if they did not finish the course. Global Positioning Systems (GPS’s) are used to navigate and as track logs of each pilot. GPS’s also give each pilot a synchronized time.

What maintenance is required for a hang glider? How long do they last?

Minimal maintenance is needed. The sail is a high performance material called Dacron. The wires are stainless steel. And the tubing is aluminium. A casual pilot could have a glider for 20 years. A very active pilot could keep a glider for ten years. Air junkies, that fly ALL the time, just get a new sail for the frame every few years.

How high can you go in a hang glider?

Thousands of feet high! Curt has been 14,500 feet in Australia and 16,500 feet in the USA.
-If in a "thermal" (warm rising air), you can go as high as the clouds!
And when soaring the "ridge lift" on a mountain, it will depend on the shape/size of the mountain and the direction/strength of the wind.
Our tandem hang gliding flights at Stanwell Tops often take us to altitudes hundreds of feet higher than the launch site of Bald Hill.
At Hill 60, of Port Kembla, we often double the altitude of the lookout/launch site.

How far can you go in a hang glider?

The world record is currently 701 kilometers.
Curt's personal best is 416 kilometers which took place in Texas, USA.

How long can you stay up in the air when hang gliding?

The world record is about 36 hours…. Solo-pilots at Stanwell quite often stay up for a few hours, flying up and down the coast. –Wollongong and back. Curt's longest duration is 9.5 hours!

How much does a hang glider weigh?

23-33 kilograms. Beginner gliders are lighter than high performance wings

Copyright © 2012 Warren Windsports Hang Gliding Adventures & Gear NSW . Tandem Hang Gliding and Fly Solo Lessons Bald Hill New South Wales
Hanggliding at Stanwell Park - Illawarra Region, NSW South Coast Sydney Australia