Thunderchief Ridge

Modern hang gliders are difficult to rig incorrectly, but after returning from a flying expedition abroad for which he short-packed his glider, the author reassembled it incorrectly and failed to spot the mistake before his next flight.

[ Link to a picture of a Pegasus Quantum ]

Powered ultralights take many forms, including flexwing.

The advent of low cost composite structural materials has helped overcome some of the weight, complexity, and drag problems inherent in early rigids like the Icarus V. The Bright Star Swift heralded the return of high performance rigid (class 2) hang gliders in 1992.

An emergency parachute is no guarantee of safety. In June 1994 Wessex Club members Gerry Dignand and Neil Barnett, both experienced hang glider pilots, collided near cloud base over Ringwood during a cross country flight. Both carried parachutes but both were killed. One parachute failed to perform adequately, one harness broke.

If anything positive can be regarded as emerging from this tragedy, it is that lessons were learned. Today's harnesses and emergency parachutes are safer as a result.

The image linked to at left is larger than most on this web site, so it is slower to download.

How about a combined spacecraft / paraglider? See it on the next page.

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