Some skyfloaters, especially those with exposed crosstubes, resemble hang gliders of the late 1970s. However, the technology used -- in terms of aeroelastic and structural design, computer aided manufacture, and modern materials -- result in performance, handling, and safety that 1970s hang glider pilots could only dream of.

Their disadvantage compared to topless hang gliders and older high performance hang gliders (with top rigging) is a poorer glide ratio and lower top speed.

Flying supine or seated using a paraglider harness or a purpose-made hang glider harness eases the transition for paraglider pilots seeking higher performance. And flying legs-first is safer in an unplanned or 'sub optimal' landing than flying head-first. Moreover, the new style of flying supine inside the control frame affords additional protection in a hard landing.

During a hang gliding group expedition to France in 1997, the author noticed that a Discovery (the most spectacular of the skyfloaters) was always the first into the air after the lone paraglider of our group. It also flew higher than everybody else most of the time and stayed up longer. While I used my TRX’s shallow glide and speed to range farther afield than the Discovery, and accomplished a straight-in approach to a landing on the base-bar wheels in a thermic tailwind, I wrenched a shoulder in that landing. A new performance intermediate or skyfloater is at the top of my shopping list.

At half the cost of a high performance flexwing (that weighs half again as much), many hang glider pilots are turning to the new lightweights.