Back in the 1960s the first hang gliders were created by a pair of water skiers. They must have extremely bored simply by gliding on top of the water and started wondering what it would be like to fly above the water. After brainstorming a bit, they decided that they would hook themselves up to a couple of kites and get back on their water skis. As the boat began pulling them, the air caught the kite and there they were asoaring bove the water! Through much trial and error (and a few bumps and bruises!), the current form of hang gliders were developed and now they are being launched from mountains instead of just the water!
Paragliding began over in Europe with those daredevils who take pleasure in both the thrill of skydiving and jumping off cliffs. The first few attempts were nothing more than parachutes attached to the back of those jumping. There were a few modifications, which have led to the paragliders we have now. They must have thought somthing like, “I wonder if we can fly if we do this?” and paragliding was born. Like hang gliding, after a few trial and error designs (an once again the associated bumps and bruises), they have developed into what we use today.
The chief difference between hang gliding and paragliding is the configuration of the wings. The wings of a hang glider resemble a V-shape and are constructed with a frame that makes the wing structures firm as opposed to the paragliding wing structure, which is soft, and take on a more oval-shaped shape. An additional difference is that paragliding has a learning curve to it because its flight is done at slower speeds. A hang glider is heavier due to the solid structure of the wings and can weigh between 70-100 pounds. Paragliders can be carried in a large rucksack. Also, hang gliders have the speed but rely more on the environment than do paragliders.
Above and beyond the shape of the canopies, the structure is another difference between hang gliding and paragliding. The paragliding canopies are much thinner and consequently more susceptible to ultra violet rays which can devastate the canopy. The hang gliding canopy is constructed of sturdier material and is not as affected by the ultra violet rays.
The safety conditions between hang gliding and paragliding are mainly the same and normally the equipment is not the reason. The outlook of the pilot goes a long way towards safety. If the pilot is wild with no regard of the elements or the other pilots, then there will be safety issues. In most extreme sports, though you have individuals who are thought of as mavericks and simply refuse to go along with the perceived standards. There are times when this can lead to creativity and adventure and other times when taken to extremes it can be down right dangerous.
There are some things to consider before deciding whether to spend your hard earned money on hang gliding or paragliding. If you are a family person and want to bring the kids along for the exciting activity, you may find it a bit of a challenge. Consider this as you and your families are packing for this wonderful day trip and gathering supplies, remember the hang glider does not fold easily and is awkward both in setting up and dismantling. Once you are at your destination, will you be the one going to the top of the mountain or the entire family, will you be taking a tram or driving. Once you are there, will there also be a place for your family to relax and enjoy the launch? Or will they have to be shuffled back in the car to the place you are going to land? Now for the hang gliding enthusiast and their family, these considerations may appear small in contrast to the thrill of flying or supporting the family member ready to jump from the mountain.
Paragliding has the ability to be a bit more spontaneous in that you can toss (with respect and care of course) the paraglider in your vehicle or on the back of your motorcycle and go. You do not necessarily have to launch from a mountaintop... although many do.
In the end the choice is yours and is definitely dependent on your lifestyle. Certainly, whether you choose to enjoy either hang gliding or paragliding the experience will be unbelievable!
