Fly Hawaii Paragliding
Paragliding Instruction. Fly Hawaii Honolulu
Best safety record in Hawaii
Oldest school, since 1994 in Hawaii
 |
Call us for our next beginner class808 315 6213 |
Office Hours: Mo-Fr: 9am-5pm
flyhawaiihonolulu@gmail.com
Our Best Year Yet!
Paragliding Training Hawaii
|
 |
Student checking out new gear. |
Oahu
has great flying sites for intermediate and advanced rated pilots.
There are no beginner training hills for paragliding instruction on Oahu. It is often too windy for weeks on end or there is no wind or from the wrong direction. What a student really needs is a couple of hours of steady 8-15 mph every day for a couple of days in a row and he/she will progress much faster. Developing muscle memory is critical to safety. Big landing areas with no obstacles are essential for students. An easy take off site for a paragliding student is a gentle slope facing right into the light wind. Restricted landing areas that are very close to the highway and the ocean are special sign off skills for an intermediate pilot.
Beginner kiting classes take place on Oahu, but when it comes to do your flight training we go to the Big Island. Students
learn a lot faster, get more airtime and it is also safer due to the
better training sites and conditions. Students can pretty much fly every day throughout the year. We
train on a 500 ac. ranch with perfect training conditions for beginner paragliding students.
Students get free accommodation,
free airport pick up in Hilo, free high speed internet.There are no beginner training hills for paragliding instruction on Oahu. It is often too windy for weeks on end or there is no wind or from the wrong direction. What a student really needs is a couple of hours of steady 8-15 mph every day for a couple of days in a row and he/she will progress much faster. Developing muscle memory is critical to safety. Big landing areas with no obstacles are essential for students. An easy take off site for a paragliding student is a gentle slope facing right into the light wind. Restricted landing areas that are very close to the highway and the ocean are special sign off skills for an intermediate pilot.
Any instructor who lets students fly outside operating limitations opens himself up to a lot of liabilities. We had way too many fatalities and serious accidents here in Hawaii recently. Proper instruction is essential. The weather is much more consistent on the Big Island for paragliding lessons.
There is a substantial amount of training time and money required if you want to continue and become a paragliding pilot. Used gear costs about 2000.00 the beginner training class 895.00. The first couple of days you will stay on the school trainers but after that all paragliding pilots have their own gear, there is no way around it.
We also sell used gear at reasonable prices that come with a Paraglider Flight Test Report for peace of mind. So - if you want to do this right call the instructor from the oldest school in Hawaii with the best safety record.
5 day Beginner Level Class 895.00
 |
| Student checking out his new glider. |
Come down on a Monday and I'll have you soloing by Friday.
The USHPA, as a private membership organization, has no governmental authority, does not own any flying sites, does not negotiate nor enter into any permits for flying sites, does not control any flying sites or the flying that takes place at them. The sports of hang gliding and paragliding are not controlled by the USHPA; anyone that wishes can fly. (The only regulatory authority for flight in the United States is the Federal Aviation Administration.) However, we encourage all those who wish to fly, whether it be hang gliders, paragliders, or both, to join the USHPA as members, because together, as an Association, we can ensure the flying we enjoy today will be around tomorrow.
Paragliding Lessons
- On your first day of instruction we learn about the wing, the harness and reserve, simulate launches and landings on level ground and practice keeping the wing inflated and overhead. This will take a while, muscle memory is critical to safety, specially in a stressful situation of your first flights.Once that looks good we'll progress to the training hill for first flights.
The
weather is much more consistent on the Big Island for paragliding
lessons. Students can pretty much fly every day throughout the year.
Flight students get free accommodations, free airport pick up and high speed internet.
- Nice day on the training hill
- Paragliding in and out of clouds.
- Crater rim top landing, Pu'u Loa, Hawaii, Achim Hagemann
- South West Launch, Mauna Kea, Hawaii.
- Paragliding at 12000 f. Mauna Kea. Hawaii
- Mauna Kea Wave in a glider up to 30k.
- Mauna Kea Paragliding high altitude wilderness flying.
- Paragliding Instruction,Hawaii,watch Youtube video
- Consult your instructor before you purchase paragliding gear. Your instructor can choose the gear that fits your ability level and needs.
Step2
Know the costs. Paragliding is an expensive sport. A reliable, basic paraglider can cost $2500 on average. A good open-face helmet--an essential piece of paragliding gear--can range in price from $150 to $250. Another gear staple is a back up parachute. The average price for a back up parachute is $500.
Step3
Buy a paraglider after you gain experience paragliding. Different styles of paragliders are made for the beginner and the advanced flier. Your instructor can help you pick the paraglider that is right for your flying style.
Step4
Choose an open-face helmet that doesn't obstruct vision or hearing. Ensure it fits comfortably, yet snugly on the head with little movement.
Step5
Pick a paragliding harness that has foam backing to protect your back from injury. An airbag backing is a good alternative if foam is not available.
Step6
Get paragliding apparel that protects your body while in flight and when you land. A flight suit is essential to maintain proper body temperature while in flight. Sturdy boots protect the ankle from the impact of landing. Gloves keep the hands safe from line burns when you brake. Choose thin gloves that give you a good grip on the line but allow you to maintain tactile awareness.
What to bring: Boots are best, at least tennis shoes, sun tan lotion, camera, hat, long pants, long sleeve shirt, food, water.
Take a look at this video to learn about paragliding and kiting. This is the skill you want to start learning during your upcoming class. There are no safe training hills on Oahu for paragliding, so all the flight training takes place on the Big Island.
LOCATIONOahu's windward side in beautiful Oahu at the base of the spectacular Ko'olau Mountain Range
and the Big Island.Once you get your skill level up to Intermediate you can start flying Oahu, there are no safe paragliding training hills on Oahu, often the weather is bad for paragliding students for weeks on end due to the strong trade winds.
Paragliding Hawaii: Oahu
Flying in Paradise
Jeff Forrest, Yahoo! Contributor
Flying Sites
There are a number of flying sites on Oahu. However a couple of them tend to be flown more than others. This is due to the fact that the main lift flown on Oahu is "ridge" lift. Ridge lift, as opposed to "thermal" lift, is lift produced when horizontally traveling air is deflected upwards by an obstruction. On Oahu this obstruction is produced by the Ko'olau Mountain Range. The Ko'olaus run for approximately 37 miles on the eastern side of Oahu, with a maximum height of 3150 ft. They are perfectly positioned to deflect the prevailing 10-15 mph ENE trade winds, producing wonderfully consistent paragliding conditions. As long as you stay close enough to the ridge (not too close mind you) and in the lift band, you can virtually soar for as long as you desire.
Makapu'u
Makapu'u (pronounced Ma-ka-pu-u), is located at the most eastern end of the Ko'olaus, and is the Crown Jewel of Oahu paragliding. Magnificent ridges combined with numerous launches produce flying which is surpassed nowhere else in the world. The launches at Makapu'u can be advanced, as low as 75' over the beach on craggy, lava rock ledges. You should be at least a strong P2 (Novice Pilot), or P3 (Intermediate Pilot) to consider flying here. High winds combined with high pressure demand excellent kiting skills on launch. The numerous launches have their own names, "Crazy Man's", "Manic's", and "Cactus", just to name a few. Each launch works best in a specific wind speed and direction, giving numerous options for flying in a wide range of conditions. Cross country flights in excess of 30 miles (and back) have been made from here...so whether you want to "boat around", "throw-down" (acro), or "head down range", there is plenty to do.
Kahana Bay
Farther down range lies Kahana Bay. Also a ridge lift site, Kahana is slightly more sheltered from the prevailing trades. This allows it to be flown when the trades are stronger. When the direction is good, but the winds are too strong at Makapu'u, many pilots head to Kahana. Beginning pilots, P1's, often take their first high altitude flights here because of the relatively lush and inviting launches. There is "Low" launch, "Mid" launch, "High" and "North" launch to choose from. It is a spectacular view when you are flying at 1500' or more over the bay. On the exceptional day, with just the right amount of north in the wind, trips across the bay are possible, creating a memorable cross country experience. On most days, a pleasant cross country glide can be made heading north to favorite LZ's (landing zones) such as "Pounder's".
Nanakuli
On the rare days when the trades die, and the wind has gone L&V (light &variable) most island pilots are thinking of Nanakuli. Without a generalized wind direction, most ridge lift sites on the island stop working. It is time to start thinking about thermal flying. In the simplest terms, a thermal is a warm bubble of rising air. Certain areas of land, such as dark fields, tend to absorb heat more than others. When triggered by light wind and obstructions, they release, rising upwards. Thermal pilots look for these rising "bubbles" and circle within them, rising, as the air rises. Thermal flying is part science and part art and can be tricky, not to mention "bumpy" at times. Nanakuli, located on the west side of the island offers unlimited cross country potential for the thermal pilot who wants to challenge his flying skills.
Other Sites
There are many other sites on Oahu, some better for ridge lift, some for themalling, dependent on the current wind speed and direction. Some of these sites are Koko Crater, Koko Head, Lanikai, Dillingham, Diamond Head, Mariner's Ridge, and so on. If you are planning a paragliding trip to Oahu make sure you contact a local for advice.
Comments
Post a Comment