I've done some timing hanging under the wing... Was having a blast until I had a pretty good crash on a boat tow and nailed a big stump during a SIV clinic. It's certainly a type of flying that will force you to become intimately familiar with micro meteorology and air stability. There's nothing quite like it though...amazing.

Back when I had my Powered parachute. Top Speed 26mph... 46 hp.. 3.0 hrs of flight time on 6 gallons. Ever done a touch and go off a bail of hay? Had alot of fun in this beast. My Avid can land almost as short and cruises at 80. Lots more fun!

Zane wrote: ...during a SIV clinic. It's certainly a type of flying that will force you to become intimately familiar with micro meteorology and air stability. There's nothing quite like it though...amazing.

I did an SIV clinic over Lake Geneva. I'll never forget it. I ended up inside my canopy once.

Flying from Castejon de Sos in the morning, an hour and a half to get over the border into France over Pico Aneto to Bagneres, a good French dinner, and back to Aragon to sleep and do it again the next day is an experience as unique as any you can have while flying.

Very cool video.

Kind of takes peeping Tom to a new level!

It's great to read that some of the other pilots here also have enjoyed my favorite kind of flying, too.
Not to dis the sailplane flying, or the many happy hours in our C170B... but hang gliding is still the "flyingest flying" I've ever done. Had a HG flight of almost two hours a couple of weeks ago, and I'm still grinning about it.
I fly with paraglider pilots often, and they still scare me. Smooth coastal lift seems most wise for them to me; but they have some amazing records in serious mountain sites, too. Guess I'm gettin' old and ...cautious.
Hope I can always lift the hang glider and run off the mtn. with it. Even a sled ride is cool!
Modern hang gliders have really progressed, too. This summer a champion HG pilot flew 475 Great Circle Miles!! (11 hr. flight)