Frequently Asked Questions - General
The ultimate soaring game is Condor Soaring Simulator, which is actually a sailplane (glider) game, but can teach a great deal about soaring to hang glider pilots. Micro Flight is also a good simulator.
One we've really enjoyed is FlightClub - it's a free java game online. It's actually quite realistic for cross-country (XC) flying.
Find it here
Yes. If you're signed off to tow, we'll tow you as high as we can. Tow heights are anywhere from 500' to 3000' depending on the winds and are $10 a tow.
You have to have your HPAC insurance.
We have what is likely the best hydraulic winch in world and it is custom built for towing hang gliders and paragliders. Both Mark and Ryan are advanced paraglider pilots, but we are focusing more on hang gliding training at the moment as we feel it is a much better choice for flying in Ontario. Please contact us to find out more about towing paragliders.
If you are an experienced PG tow operator, we'd be keen on hearing from you.
To be able to tow on our winch you would need HPAC insurance. Cost of a tow is $10 per tow.
"Depends". :) (seriously...that is an option)
It's not easy, but possible to perform the 'aerial-whiz'. But it's best to follow your parents' age-old advice, "go before we leave".
In decent soaring conditions we can go cross-country. You find a thermal and climb in it as high as you can and then venture off in search of your next thermal. You can't see them so this is where experience comes into play.
The World Record for distance covered in a single flight is just over 700km's! It took him over 10 hours to do it...no landings, no pit-stops. This happened in Texas.
The Canadian record is 330km achieved in Alberta. The Ontario record is 202km.
As long as you can find lift, you can stay up as long as you want.
Thermal lift is obviously dependent on heat so it's limited to day-light hours but ridge-lift can continue on indefinitely. Ridge-lift is when the wind blows up the side of a hillside and deflects the air vertically - the hang glider gets in that and up it goes! A long time ago a pilot in Hawaii stayed airborne 30 hours by riding the sea-breeze coming in. He would adjust his speed and hover close to the ground and people on the ground would hand him drinks and something to eat.
We have a state-of-the-art tension controlled hydraulic winch, in addition to a 'scooter-tow' which is the industry standard method of instruction to introduce people to getting in the air...even with no prior instruction.
The scooter is ideal for pulling a trainer glider into the air and keep it at only a few feet off the ground. The trainer glider is a state-of-the-art, modern, super-easy-to-fly glider designed for first timers to fly. It's light and easy to handle, flies incredibly slow and very difficult to turn - perfect for first-timers. Coupled with your certified, experienced instructor operating the winch ready to release tow pressure at a moment's notice, it's a very controlled environment.
It really is fun to float along the ground....even veteran hang glider pilots enjoy taking a scooter tow. They never had it this easy when they learned!
Please check out our contact us page for our current flying site information: http://instinct.pro/contact
We also post our location with an interactive map for customized driving directions on every session we schedule.
Minors (under the age of 18) need parental consent. It usually more of a question of weight and maturity.
