Adventure Sports Podcast Ep. 1255: The Art of Hang Gliding Revisited with Scott Wise
Oct 16, 2026
Scott Wise, a hang-gliding pilot with 44 years of experience, traces the sport from homemade bamboo wings to modern aircraft. He recalls his first flight, compares hang gliders with paragliders, and explores thermal soaring, variometers, glide ratios, and cross-country adventure. He also shares a cautionary high-altitude flight and practical guidance for learning safely.
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Why Beginners Start On Tiny Hills
- Formal ground school taught Curt Linville how the wing and lift worked before he progressed into flight practice.
- Mount Peter’s small training hill let beginners build confidence gradually instead of launching from dangerous heights.
The First Thirty Feet Felt Amazing
- Curt Linville’s first successful flight lifted his feet only slightly and carried him about 30 feet.
- Even at one or two feet above the grass, he immediately felt the astonishing freedom of flight.
Hang Gliding Is A Bicycle In The Sky
- Hang gliding feels less like piloting an aircraft and more like riding a silent bicycle through the sky.
- The apparent silence is relative: a pilot still hears roughly 25 miles per hour of wind rushing past the ears.