Hang gliding explained: how a hang glider flies, the FAI classes, and the differences with tandem paragliding in Tenerife.
Hang gliding and paragliding are often confused. Both are free flight without an engine, but the aircraft are very different.
What is a hang glider?
A hang glider has a rigid frame, usually aluminium, covered with fabric in a triangular "delta" shape. The pilot hangs in a harness under the wing and steers by shifting their weight with a control bar.
How do you fly a hang glider?
Hang gliders take off by running down a slope or from a ramp, and they fly faster than a paraglider. They need more training and more space to land.
FAI categories
- Class 1: flexible-wing hang gliders, controlled by weight shift — the classic "delta".
- Class 2: rigid-wing hang gliders, with the pilot still hanging under the wing, but with movable control surfaces.
And the paraglider?
A paraglider has no rigid structure: the wing is made of fabric and lines, inflated by the air. It is lighter, slower and lands in a much smaller space, which makes tandem flights easy for beginners. That's why it is the best way to fly over Tenerife for the first time.
