The British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association is the Governing Body for hang gliding and paragliding in the UK.
BHPA Registered Schools are monitored for safety, the quality of the training they offer, and the equipment they use, and their instructors are licensed by the Association.
Hang gliders are unpowered wings that can be launched from hills or winches, or launched by being towed aloft behind a microlight aircraft.
A hang glider can be turned into a powered hang glider by using a specially designed hang glider harness fitted with lightweight 2-stroke engine.
Paragliders are unpowered wings that can be launched from hills or winches.
A paramotor or powered paraglider (PPG) consists of a small motor driving a propeller, worn like a backpack under a paraglider wing.
Parascending pilots fly canopies that are towed into the air by a Land Rover or winch before gliding back down to land.
A powered hang glider consists of a light weight motor driving a propeller that is fitted to a specially designed hang glider harness, in which the pilot is suspended under a hang gliding wing.
A paramotor or powered paraglider (PPG) consists of a small motor driving a propeller, worn like a backpack under a paraglider wing.
It is also possible to use human power to take off from level ground and fly specially constructed ultra light weight aircraft.
Speed flying is a sport based on the principles of paragliding, but using a specially designed wing to fly fast hill descents.
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