Hang gliding vs. Wingsuit – Fun, Speed, and Safety Guides

Hang gliding and wingsuit flying are extreme air sports that have gained tremendous popularity. Hang gliding uses a non-motorized aircraft called a hang glider. On the other hand, wingsuit flying relies on utilizing a jumpsuit called a squirrel suit or birdman suit.

They are fun and challenging sports that push you to your limits. Both require you to be fully aware of your surroundings and increase your concentration. You need to undergo training and preparation before hanging glide or wingsuit fly.

Even though they are extreme air sports, hang gliding, and wingsuit flying have significant differences. Therefore, it is essential to know how unique each sport is.

Thus, here is our comprehensive guide about hang gliding and wingsuit flying. Here you will learn about the nature of each sport, speed requirement, training, and safety guide.

Hang gliding

1. Facts

Hang gliding is a recreational air sport that relies on a non-motorized aircraft. The pilot will be suspended from the airframe and control the aircraft or the hang glider. To remain airborne, the pilot must shift the bodyweight opposing the frame.

Hang gliding is challenging to learn but easy to master. The pilot must seek air currents that can run faster than the glider’s sink rate. Air currents can be in thermals, ridge lifts, and mountain waves.

The first step to hang gliding is launching the aircraft from a raised surface. It would be best if you ran down a slope so that the air could move across the wing at a speed of 15 to 25 miles per hour.

Initially, it would be best if you launched a glider from a hill, cliff, mountains, or raised terrain before you could soar. Then, with the help of air currents, you can steer the hang glider by shifting your weight correctly.

When you are soaring in the air, your weight pulls the glider back and forth. The air currents enable the hang glider to lift. It is a vital force that creates tension with gravity and makes the wing aloft.

The columns of hot air rising from the ground surface move upward and downward. The gravity allows the air to flow over the wing horizontally. You can also move up and down using thermal air currents.

You collide with air molecules creating frictional force or drag as you move across the air. Drag is crucial to make the glider move faster.

2. Equipment

Hang glider

A hang glider or the flexible wing is a complex structure that enables the pilot to soar through the air. Hang glider also comes in various sizes, depending on the pilot’s physique. The wing measures from 9 to 11 meters and weighs around 25kg to 40kg.

To be safe while using the flexible wing, it must have the following components:

• Aluminum tubes
• Leading-edge tubes
• Keel
• Crossbar
• Control bar
• Sail
• Kingpost
• Steel wires
• Nose wires
• Rear wires
• Front wires
• Landing wires
• Plastic battens

Safety equipment

• Goggles – most hang gliding goggles are similar to skiing and skydiving. Goggles protect the eyes from the speed, wind, and glare when in the air. It can also increase your visibility by sheltering your eyes from air elements. Goggles can also shield you from sunlight.
• A harness is a vital piece of equipment to ensure the pilot’s safety and functionality.

  It fastens the pilot to the glider and ensures that pilot can still move freely.

• Helmet – it protects the head of the pilot while gliding. You can either use an open-face or full-face helmet. The latter can give you better protection, especially in the eye area.

  It would help if you used a certified helmet by the European Committee for Standardization, the American Society for Testing Materials, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

• Reserve parachute – another safety piece of equipment is the reserve parachute. It must be lightweight, easy to pack, and fast to launch. It is usually connected to the hardness of the glider. If anything goes wrong, you can always rely on a reserve parachute.

Instrument

• Altimeter – keeps track of the glider’s altitude. Altimeter helps you determine if you are too high or too low and whether you must ascend or descend.
• Anemometer – is a tool that helps measure the wind speed and direction of the glider. Anemometers are great for beginners to track the wind direction.
• Variometer – it is also an essential device that measures air pressure. It records the air pressure repetitively. The tool also checks which direction the glider is going.
3. Speed range

Your speed depends on the aircraft or glider you use for the activity. A beginner wing can go as fast as 45mph. On the one hand, an advanced attachment can go more than 100mph. However, the distance and altitude great vary from pilot to pilot.

4. Safety Guide
• Support crew – whether you are a well-trained glider, never let yourself be alone when flying. You must have a unit on the site that is always on the lookout. The team will be there to help you in case something unfortunate happens.
• Always perform a pre-flight check – never hang glide without checking your equipment. It is crucial to inspect the glide and every kit you use for the flight. Ensure that you tighten loose fittings and check that the glider is secure and steady.
• Avoid bad weather – always keep yourself updated with the weather forecast. If there is a wrong prediction, cancel the flight and schedule when pleasant weather is. Stop launching the glider if the wind is too weak or too strong.
• Sprint properly during launch – launch is a fundamental process of hang gliding. You have to make sure that the slope you will launch does not obstruct. Run hard towards the edge of the hill, and establish good momentum.
5. Benefits
• Strengthen arm muscles – you need to use your arms to hang gliding. The glider puts a lot of stress on the components resulting in powerful arm muscles.
  

• Improves mental awareness – hang gliding requires attention and total concentration when in the sky. You need to be mentally aware to keep yourself safe during your flight. If you want to boost your mental awareness, you can choose to hang gliding as your sport.
  

• Reduces stress – hang gliding can help you get rid of mental stress. It can clear your mind and be mentally sharp when you start engaging in the sport.
  

Wingsuit

1. Facts

Wingsuit flying is another extreme air sport that uses a webbing sleeved jumpsuit. It is a variation of skydiving that requires a USPA C-License. Compared to other air sports, wingsuit flying is a relatively new sport.

It requires flyers to maneuver bodies around obstacles with the help of an aerodynamic flying suit. Wingsuit flying is a dangerous sport that takes months of training and practice.

Here are the things you must achieve before wingsuit flying:

• kydiving

Skydiving skill is an essential requirement for wingsuiting. You need to complete at least 200 jumps before advancing to the sport. It is also necessary to secure a USPA C-License.

• Knowledge about aerodynamics

You must undergo training and courses in preparation for wingsuit flying. It would be perfect if you knew the ins and outs of aerodynamics, so you can create the right level of lift and drag when you fly. You must also equip yourself with mountaineering skills in this sport.

• Physical and mental health

Flyers should be in sound mind and spirit before engaging in the sport. You must also be in the right shape and bodyweight to fly using a wingsuit.

2. Equipment
• Wingsuit

You cannot fly without a jumpsuit. With a jumpsuit, you can transform yourself into a giant wing where your body serves as a framework. The suit must have three wings or membranes that connect your arms and legs.

It also has membranous channels that allow the flow of air. The channels guarantee air circulation for a successful flying experience. A wingsuit comes in three categories – beginner wingsuit, average wingsuit, and advance wingsuit.

• Safety accessories

In addition to the wingsuit itself, a flyer should also wear several safety accessories. You must wear a helmet, rig, goggles, gloves, and reserve parachute. These will protect you from the wind, sun glare, and other disturbing elements.

• Tracking equipment

Like hang gliders, a wingsuit flyer also uses tracking devices like altimeters. The device can detect and display the altitude of the pilot. It can also record your jump data, flight time, deployment, and exit altitude.

3. Speed

The speed dramatically depends on the angle of the glide. If you fly at a downward angle, you have the potential to increase your speed. Typically, a wingsuiter uses a 3:1 glide ratio. Meaning you are traveling three feet horizontally for each foot of vertical fall. With this glide ratio, you can travel at a speed of 100mph.

As you progress, you can still achieve more incredible speed. Fraser Corsan made the fastest recorded speed for wingsuit flying. He obtained 246.60 mph in wingsuit flying.

4. Safety Guides

Wingsuit flying has a higher accident rate compared to other air sports. Before flying using a wingsuit, you must obtain the mastery and proficiency of skydiving.

It would be best to be an experienced skydiver and complete at least 200 freefall jumps. In this way, you have more in-depth aerial knowledge and experience. Then, you must sign-up for the First Wingsuit Jump Course.

After completing the course, you must equip yourself with the necessary gear. It is crucial to have a rig, helmet, goggles, reserve parachute, and tracking devices before flying.

5. Benefits
• Relief – wingsuit flying can relieve you from any stress you experience daily. Wingsuit flying will make you feel cleansed both physically and mentally. With the intensity of the sport, you need to put all your attention and keep your focus on flying.
• Challenges yourself – wingsuit flying is one of the most dangerous air sports today. It requires mental awareness, a sharp mind, and courage to succeed in the sport. When you overcome these challenges, you find yourself stronger and free.
• Physical and mental rejuvenation – wingsuit flying is a great way to rejuvenate your mind and body. During your training and preparation, you can already feel the adrenaline rush. It will make you feel excited and energetic at the same time.

Hang gliding and wingsuit flying differ from each other. We hope that with this helpful guide, you can now identify the differences between the two quickly with this guide. Each sport has specific equipment, training, and safety procedures.