Help Building A Very Simple Hang Glider
Hey Guys,
Before anyone says this isn't safe, the glider is not going to be used for actual glides. A friend and I have been wanting to make something that will just float us to the bottom of small hills around our homes. Nothing that will achieve any major altitude. I was wondering if anyone had any designs for one of these? Also we are wanting to make it as cheap as possible, so what materials would you recommend for the frame as well as the fabric material? Starting off small with something simple to float down hills with, then someday I hope to build my own actual plane. Thanks for the help!
Ryan
Building a simple hang glider ...
Ryan: I understand your desire for flight, and really want you to succeed. A short flying career and a long time in a wheelchair or pine box is defintiely not what you have in mind ...
Ask any pilot: the most dangerous phases of flying any aircraft are taking off and landing - you are proposing that because you will be conducting your entire flight in this "low to the ground" phase that you will be safer. Please think this over.
I am a pilot, and hang-glider pilot. I want you to get into both activities safely and survive to enjoy them for your whole life. It does none of us any good if you injure or kill yourself.
If you are low on funds, you can buy a used hang-glider for as little as 1,000 (less than that is likely junk). But you will almost certainly get hurt if you try it without some training. There are many hang-gliding schools around the country (even here in Canada), just find one and invest in some lessons.
Building an airchair is also an option, but will cost you as much or likely a little more than a used hang glider - and again, getting some training is very important.
If you are really low on funds, then I suggest you look for work with a hang-gliding business or airport, volunteer your services in exchange for flight time or lessons. Or use this as motivation to find a job or a second job, and save your $ for flying.
Please read-up on the history of hang-gliding on wikipedia. Please note the number of the early pioneers who died learning how to make safe gliders. You could search the web for plans (popular mechanics even published some), build a bamboo and polyethylene plastic wing like the pioneers - but you may very well learn a hard lesson that has already been learned.