Alejandro Isaza <> writes:

After following the Redbull Xalps paragliding race over the internet, I begun to think if a race similar to this one can be made with hang gliders and I see one possible way of doing it that I describe bellow:

Since hang gliders are much more difficult to carry, the race have to be different and be more of a “flying race” rather than a “walking and flying race”, even though some walking can be done or may be necessary.

As with paragliders the race consists of going from one place to another in the shortest time possible, either by flying or by walking, but:

1. To transport the glider while walking the pilot can use the help of others, his assistant or any other person to carry the glider, but the pilot must be one of the carriers of the glider at all times.

2. The pilot can use any means of transportation to get to the take off site whenever he chooses, but has to join the track of his flight with the previous tracks of flights done. This is by car, etc.

Let me explain with this example drawing I made, how the total track of the pilots should be joined either by flying or walking:

- On the first flight the pilot takes off from the A site and lands at place B (the red line is the track log of the pilot during flight). Here at B the pilot can use any means of transportation to get to his next take off site (the blue line shows the route of the pilot by car to his next take off place C – is not a track log and has no importance for the race).

- on his second flight, the pilot takes off from C site but must flight towards any point of his previous track log and cross it or touch it at any point (here touches J point) to link or join his new flight to the previous ones and be able to continue. He then lands in the mountain at point D.

- Pilots walks (uses the help of others to carry the glider) from point D for a good take off site to place E and from here flies to and lands at point F. Here, his walking track log does count , is a continuation of the previous flight track and is allowed (yellow line).

- next day and from point F the pilot chooses to do some distance by walking (really bad flying conditions) and walks to the G point, adding more distance to his track. At point G the pilot takes a car and drives to a new take off site H (blue line). Obviously the distance traveled by car does not count, so the pilot here has to fly back towards any point of his previous track log and cross it or touch it at any point (here touches G point which is a point in his walking track from the previous day) to join the tracks and be able to continue and finally lands at I point. And so on to the finish.

The total track for this pilot so far would be the one joined by the points a,j,d,e,f,g,i.

Note: If the pilot goes by car to a takeoff place and then have to walk, then the distance walked is not counted.

Even though the pilot can use a car to drive to the take off sites, it won’t be practical for him to take off very far ahead of his previous track because he must fly back and cross the previous track to validate his new distance traveled.

Because of the difficulty of carrying the gliders, the race would not be as continuous and probably the distance traveled will only be made during the daytime flights and whether the pilot sleeps over the entire night and wait for good conditions next day or walk and do some distance is up to him. Or the whole race could be limited to daylight time only.

Good GPS technology and rules are needed to determine when a pilot is flying, walking, resting or driving. Also pilots need to know well their GPS to be able to fly to intercept their previous tracks.

Since hang gliders need wider areas for landing, the routes and the course of the race has to be done over more appropriate terrain for hang gliders. Racing across the high peaks of the alps is not a good idea.

Today hang gliders are very heavy, so perhaps using lighter and easier to land hang gliders would be better. Still 2 persons carrying a hang glider can make the walking with it, more possible.

I think races can also be made with hang gliders, even if they are not as athletic.

Things have changed since the beginning of the sport but in the beginning ( when hang gliders where lighter) on some occasions pilots used to carry their gliders on they shoulders up the mountain for a good flight !!!! Sometimes they still do.

I don’t know if a race like this one can be made and awake enough interest in the pilots to give it a try, but I had to share the idea, and see what others think. But definitely, if done, It will be a hard race, with lots of adventures, great flying and fun for me to follow over the internet.

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