Learn To Fly

Did you ever have a dream where you were flying? I have, many times, I have dreamed of running and jumping into the air then rising up higher and higher, flying with just my body and mind. I had the idea that I had to concentrate on believing that I could really fly to get off the ground and to maintain flight. This dream became a reality the first time I ran down a hill with a hang glider strapped to my back and my feet left the ground. I relive that moment every time I launch a hang glider or para glider even now 29 years later, the thrill is still there. Taking a few steps with a paraglider over your head and gently lifting off the earth is in my opinion the closest feeling to that dream flight. The glider is up and out of sight and you have no visible means of support, very dream like. This is the feeling when training with the tow system on flat ground.You pull the glider up into the air and as you move forward the tow operator begins to pull you into the air, as if by magic you rise up a few feet and glide along effortlessly until the tow slows and you gently touch down. This is repeated with a little more height added each time, so that after several tows you are climbing up to 30 feet and feeling very comfortable. Practicing gentle turns and perfecting the flair for landing will take up the remainder of the lesson. The next couple of lessons will build on these basic skills, adding to your comfort level in a step by step process, with the emphasis on fun!

A special offer to Hang 4 pilots

In a effort to introduce advanced pilots to paragliding I am offering a free intro lessson with the scooter tow, call for details on this oportunity to experince flying a paraglider.

Gene's new ZULU

I was out at the hill today in PV test flying Gene's new Zulu Gin glider. Conditions were slightly challenging as there was very little wind, like almost nothing. I was with Juan Carlos a new friend who was eager to demo a Nova Tattoo L. After an hour of waiting we gave it up and started to walk away, but as it sometimes goes the wind picked up a little and we turned around. I quickly pulled out the Zulu and pulled it up in 2-3 mph reversed, turned and began to run on our flat take off, still running as I torpedoed down the steep slope, into the air. The Zulu made this all very easy, the latest generation gliders like the Zulu make you look good in tough conditions. Learn more about the Zulu here :http://www.gingliders.com/products/zulu.phphttp Call me at 310 488-0060 to order your new Zulu or any other Gin, Advance, Nova products.

Scooter Towing

Scooter Towing a para glider is an easy and efficient way to learn to para glide. It is done in a large open flat field using a Honda scooter modified to be a winch with several thousand feet of thin line on a special spool in place of the rear wheel. The line is run out to a pulley at the far end of the field and brought back to the scooter. This allows the tow operator instructor to be very close to the student about to be towed, making it easy to communicate and see the student. The very first tows introduce the student to short low flights, 8 to 10 feet high. As skills increase the tows get longer and higher, the student repeats success and gets comfortable with turns and flair timing to land.

John G. Para Towing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvkDdYtH5Kostationary winch is located at the other end of the field with an operator in radio contact with the student and the launch assistant. When the student and launch assistant indicate they are ready the tow operator begins to pull on the line. With a progressive increase of tension on the line the student pulls up the para glider and moves forward running till airborne. This is a smooth transition from being on the ground to being in the air and the feeling is dream like, a truly wonderful experience.

Hang Glider pilots make good paraglider pilots

I had the opportunity to dabble in paragliding while I was employed as a hang glider test pilot for U.P. in Utah in the early 90's. The equipment was all right there for the using and I was surrounded by some of the best paragliding pilots of the day. The Point of The Mt. was our test and R&D site and a great spot to try out this new way to get off the ground when I needed a break from "work". I thought it was simple at first pull it up over your head turn around and walk off the hill. Need to turn, just pull down on a break handle till it turns, need to stop pull down on both at the same time all the way till you touch down, simple. I only flew when the conditions weren't conducive to testing or R.&D. so I didn't get into any trouble, lucky I guess. I say lucky because like a lot of other pilots of that time I though that I already knew enough about foot launched flight to just jump into a paraglider and do just fine. Then I noticed that a lot of hang glider/paragliding pilots were getting hurt paragliding, some of them were very accomplished hang glider pilots! I slowed way down, I decided that applying my judgment about flight conditions I learned from years of hang gliding wouldn't work, I had to start all over. Developing sensitive active flying skills, flying in smooth conditions on stable gliders and getting good instruction is the way to make a safe transition to flying bags.

Scooter Towing in LA

Scooter towing is a whole new way to have too much fun. I have used several tow systems over the years with hang gliders and paragliders. Pay out winches are super fun for hang gliding and paragliding but you have to have a driver and an observer and a lot of room, aero tow is great for hang gliders if you have the tow plane, too fast for paragliders, so lets see oh yea the simple scooter tow. Stop the car in an open soccer sized field, pull out the glider and harness, drop the bag chute and stand on it as you put on the harness and he drives to the end of the field and gets on the scooter and waits for a bow from the pilot and takes up the slack, then you are in the air, sweet!

Paragliding Lessons

Bill and Teresa Hall completing an equipment orientation class.

Introduction to paragliding lessons are now available. Call Bill Hall to reserve a time for you and to find out more about our training program.

Los Angeles Paragliding gliders for sale

I have the NOVA Tattoo, an intermediate , mellow DHV2 glider in size M and L , color Yellow at a super low price. Call for details. Check it out on the NOVA site and call us if you are looking for a deal. You can reach Bill at 310/488-0060.http://www4.nova-wings.com/real/tattoo.ram

Los Angeles Paragliding

This weekend we christened our new scooter tow! Bill Hall, a paragliding pilot for 15 years and hang gliding pilot since 1978, taught paragliding with Chris Santacroce, of Super Fly. Fun was had by all as 8 of us flew with the assistance of the scooter tow. Each of us were at different levels. It was Teresa's first flight ever, John's second flight, hangglider pilot John's first time to 360 in a paraglider, Hadi's first flight with a scooter tow, and some P4 and master pilot ratings had their fun too. The flights went all the way from 40 feet high up to 700 feet, with Chris throwing down with a helicopter spin at the top after release, a spiral dive right to the deck and a nice relaxed landing and a big grin on his face, like it was his first time. A big thank you to Chris for all the high energy instruction and enthusiasm!


The first day we did 17 tows in 4 hours and the second day 12 in 3 hours! . As the wind changed directions all we had to do was turn the scooter tow. The scooter tow was built by Bill Hall. It's already proven its worth in just one weekend of towing. L.A. is a great area for paragliding with several sites really close and many more within a two hour drive, but we did not have a close training hill, till now.