HGFA Skysailor Magazine

32 SKY SAILOR September | October 2018 S eated flying is firmly entrenched in the history of hang gliding, but isn’t it funny how history can repeat. While today’s pilot demographic statistics point to the possibility of a slow, dwindling death for flex-wing flying, they may instead mark the beginning of a new historic chapter, and herald a fresh resurgence of modern accessible leisure hang gliding. The transition bit Having recently gone through an injury-induced transition to seated hang gliding, I can personally attest to the barriers it holds for the modern hang glider pilot. First questions are about what to do: ➲ Modify your glider or add handles? ➲ Get a paraglider harness? ➲ Add a spreader bar? ➲ Are there control issues? ➲ Existing equipment suppliers? Since I fit the average 50-something hang glider pilot age demographic, my transitioning experience made me wonder about other ‘less handy’ pilots and the future of hang gliding itself. I’d guess many older hang glider pilots have stopped flying due to pain/injury issues related to flying prone. This trend is likely to continue in the near and somewhat bleak looking future. Certainly for me, going seated offered an alternative to fewer, shorter, more painful flights, and likely added another 30 years of enjoyable flying (and purchasing glider equipment) to my life. Aside from the potential benefits of pilot retention, seated flying offers much better visibility (therefore increased safety), and generally affords a very pleasant and different perspective compared to flying prone. It’s actually pretty cool! Yet it wasn’t easy getting there, mostly due to a lack of commercially-available equipment. Unfortunately, most glider manufacturers didn’t seem receptive to the idea of seated hang gliding at all, except for those few who also make custom wings. Custom gliders are typically rigged for seated flight with shorter, rearward-raked downtubes and different length side/front/rear wires – but a lot of people wouldn’t want a new custom glider, or one that’s limited to seated flying only. Nor would many have the cash, space or patience for something like Goat or Bug styled ‘airchairs’. There are other good ideas around, like head support systems, the Wills Wing’s EasyFlyer and the Fenison Fly Bar system, etc, but all had their issues for my requirements. I wanted to use my own glider and keep it standard for a good many reasons. Much against everyone’s advice, I fabricated some handles, got a spreader bar and launched with tightly crossed fingers in a PG harness. It worked, but only with some unwelcome compromises. When the PG harness arrived, I found the idea of bumper bar style protection on a flying harness to be a curious and amusing thing, but in truth, the It was with some trepidation that I stood on launch for the first time, wearing little more than a paraglider harness whilst grappling with my backyard-fabricated control frame bars – yet filled with optimism and hope at the idea of extending my flying life by a good 20 or 30 years by being able to fly in a reclined position. Then, reality reared its ugly head. But by now I can assure you, there is one very bright light at the end of this tunnel. And a turning point for hang gliding may well be at hand, time will tell. by Nic Welbourn Upright Prone Supine Going Seated: A History in Motion Suprone