There are a lot of seniors who go into their retirement years with a bucket list. These are the things they want to learn, do, see, and experience. For some adventurous seniors there is nothing more exciting than the idea of soaring over the landscape armed with nothing more than a set of wings, a harness, and the power of the wind. For them the hang gliding North Carolina instructors offer is a dream come true.
You would not get in a car with a driver that was unlicensed and inexperienced. In the same way, you should not consider gliding in tandem with, or taking instruction from, just anybody. There are some schools that train their own instructors.
If finding the best qualified instructor interests you, you should ask what certifications the instructors have. The United States recognizes two certification programs. Instructors can get certified through the United States Hang Gliding Association or the Parachuting Association.
Take your safety seriously. Sailing through the air may not seem like a risky undertaking. While it is relatively safe, and thousands of people do it every year without mishap, you need to listen to the instructions carefully. Lessons are given in controlled environments in order to minimize the risks, and if you have any concerns, this is the time to voice them. If something about your equipment, helmet, or harness seems wrong to you, say something.
Group lessons have a lot of advantages. The primary being the fact that group lessons are cheaper than private ones. There will be more questions asked and answered in a group situation than when there is only one student. You'll be able to see what other members of the group do wrong, and right, and learn from them. Group activities are almost always more fun than those done alone.
Take the instructor's advice not to look down. This will probably go against your natural instincts when you're running down a hill, gathering enough speed to get airborne. Looking down at the ground will be hard, but it is the wrong strategy to take. After you are airborne, the horizon should be your focus. If you start looking down at this point, you'll have a drop in altitude and be forced to make adjustments.
You want to relax as much as you don't want to look down. Soaring over the earth should be fun. If you tense up, your shoulders and arms will end up throwing you off. It will get a lot more difficult to fly safely. Relaxing gives you a chance to feel how the wind is flowing and work with it instead of trying to control it.
Go sailing before the weather gets too hot or too cold. You will enjoy the experience a lot more if you aren't up in the air freezing to death or dehydrating from the heat. You need the right kind of wind to have a safe trip. It should be a calm, clear day.
You would not get in a car with a driver that was unlicensed and inexperienced. In the same way, you should not consider gliding in tandem with, or taking instruction from, just anybody. There are some schools that train their own instructors.
If finding the best qualified instructor interests you, you should ask what certifications the instructors have. The United States recognizes two certification programs. Instructors can get certified through the United States Hang Gliding Association or the Parachuting Association.
Take your safety seriously. Sailing through the air may not seem like a risky undertaking. While it is relatively safe, and thousands of people do it every year without mishap, you need to listen to the instructions carefully. Lessons are given in controlled environments in order to minimize the risks, and if you have any concerns, this is the time to voice them. If something about your equipment, helmet, or harness seems wrong to you, say something.
Group lessons have a lot of advantages. The primary being the fact that group lessons are cheaper than private ones. There will be more questions asked and answered in a group situation than when there is only one student. You'll be able to see what other members of the group do wrong, and right, and learn from them. Group activities are almost always more fun than those done alone.
Take the instructor's advice not to look down. This will probably go against your natural instincts when you're running down a hill, gathering enough speed to get airborne. Looking down at the ground will be hard, but it is the wrong strategy to take. After you are airborne, the horizon should be your focus. If you start looking down at this point, you'll have a drop in altitude and be forced to make adjustments.
You want to relax as much as you don't want to look down. Soaring over the earth should be fun. If you tense up, your shoulders and arms will end up throwing you off. It will get a lot more difficult to fly safely. Relaxing gives you a chance to feel how the wind is flowing and work with it instead of trying to control it.
Go sailing before the weather gets too hot or too cold. You will enjoy the experience a lot more if you aren't up in the air freezing to death or dehydrating from the heat. You need the right kind of wind to have a safe trip. It should be a calm, clear day.
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