Learn to fly at British Columbia's only Hang Gliding School

Why should I learn at the Freedom Flight Park?

• Lumby is one of the best places in Canada for free flight.
• We provide certified instructors, modern equipment including special training gliders, harnesses, reserve parachutes, radios & helmets.
• The flight park boasts a massive, flat landing zone with a 2000' grass runway and taxiways.
• You can learn at your own pace.  We do not require you to sign up for a 5 or 10 days in a row course schedule as we know people have busy lives and the weather does not always cooperate.  However, immersive courses 

• Between lessons, sit and relax in our Pilot's Lounge, an outdoor covered deck with couches, WiFi, barbecue & fridge and watch all of the flying activity: paragliders & hang gliders landing, powered trikes and occasionally even small planes taking off and landing.
• After your course, we will not "kick you out of the nest".  Some schools function like a production line factory and try to pump students through as fast as possible.  With us, you become part of our flying family and you're always welcome back, without having to always open your wallet.

• We won't mind if you purchase equipment from other vendors, it's a free market and that is your prerogative.
• Our site has hosted the Canadian Hang Gliding Nationals multiple times, with the last event in 2015...it must be a great place to fly!

• Check us out on TripAdvisor and see what people have said about their experiences.

• It's just a damn fun place!
  

Hang Gliding Ratings

Hang gliding ratings are governed by the Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association of Canada (HPAC) and if you are a resident of Canada, you will need to obtain the H2 rating in order to be able to fly without the supervision of an instructor.  The ratings are as follows:

• H1 - Beginner
• H2 - Novice
• H3 - Intermediate
• H4 - Advanced

• Intro Lesson - Training Hill
• H1 - Beginner
• H2 - Novice
• Check Out/Certification

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You have decided that hang gliding interests you but you don't want to commit to a full course yet...then a training hill introduction lesson is what you want. 

This is a 2- 3 hour immersion to the sport by learning how the glider works and learning to control our large, special purpose training glider (the Condor) on the ground, learning to launch and land while enjoying short solo flights from our on site training hill. ​

This course will allow you to get a better understanding of the details involved and with this understanding, clarify whether the desire is there to commit to achieving a beginner or novice rating.

Note: The cost of the introduction course is deducted from your H1 or H2 course should you decide to continue on with your certification.

Cost: $200 

The aim of this course is to learn and taste the basics of free flight and to learn to consistently launch, fly and land a hang glider with confidence from our on site training hill in light wind conditions.

You begin with a 2-4 sessions on the training hill for your takeoff training.  Next you will take 1 or 2 motorized trike flights and once you are at altitude, the instructor will allow you to take the controls and you will learn the basics of flying a hang glider.  At some point in the course there will be a ground school class to round out your understanding and knowledge of the sport. 

If you look closely, you can see the tow line pulling the hang gliding student

Finally you will do at least a couple of towing sessions.  A towing rig is situated at one end of the runway with a line connected to you at the other end.  Initially you will "moon walk", only flying 10-15 feet off of the deck.  Eventually you will be flying 50-100 feet high and releasing the tow line to come in and land.  This is an important piece of the puzzle: your landing training.  

You can choose to take this course at your own pace as we normally charge by the lesson.  The number of lessons will depend on the student's ability, physical fitness, currency (how often between lessons) and other factors.  Here are the typically  number of lessons:Expect the total cost of the lessons to obtain your H1 rating to be around $1500-2400. 

If you are in good physical condition and the weather is favorable, you can complete all the necessary lessons in 3-7 days of full immersion, high intensity training.  Ideally for this situation you camp near the Freedom Flight Park to soak in the flying atmosphere and glean knowledge from experienced pilots while hanging around the campfire in the evening.

• Training Hill:  2-4 sessions
• Motorized Tandem Trike Flights: 1-3
• Towing: 2-5 sessions​
• Classroom: 1 lesson (approx. 3 hours)

Training Hill

• • ​This is a realistic simulation of a real launch with a little taste of flight and the landing.
  • A large part of your initial training will be learning to run down a small slope with a large training glider.  
  • If done properly, you can experience your first baby flights lasting 5-7 seconds and 5-10 feet above the ground.
  • Essentially you are learning the "launching" part of hang gliding.
  • Most students require 2-4 sessions depending on their endurance and speed of picking up the necessary skills.

Motorized Trike Training Flights

The student (in the back) taking the controls.

• After showing competency on the training hill, you will take one or two flights with the senior instructor for a 20-30 minute motorized trike flight.
• The controls are similar to that of a hang glider so you will learning how to maneuver the wing in flight. 
• Most students do 1 or 2 flights.

​​Cost: $200/flight

Towing

• ​​With the aid of a scooter tow system, you will be pulled down a level grass runway.  
• At first you will only go up 10 feet, but later you will be towed up around a hundred feet. 
• You will be equipped with radio so that you can hear the instructor's guidance.
• Here the main focus is your control of the glider in launching, flying and landing.
• Most students require 3-5 towing sessions.

The scooter tow system

Cost: $200/session

Ground Theory & the H1 Test

• ​Throughout the course, as you are learning these practical skills, your instructor will be infusing you with theoretical knowledge about hang gliding, the equipment, free flight, meteorology and other related flying topics.
• To tie it all together and ensure there are no knowledge gaps, we will hold one or two classroom sessions.
• Once the student feel prepared enough, they can write the H1 test from HPAC.

How some of our hang gliding students study...

Cost: $50​​​

  You will be on your way to soaring with the ravens, hawks and eagles!  
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Cost: Aprox~$1600 -$2400 + tax

Prerequisite:  H1 Beginner Rating

Now you are ready for your first high flight.  Once you complete this course, you can fly without the presence of an instructor.  You will have a solid foundation about hang gliding to move onto your intermediate rating with confidence.

In order to meet HPAC's criteria, you must perform 10 high flights (500 feet or more of vertical) and a number of smaller flights, most of which you will have completed in your H1 course.  You may need to take an additional training hill, towing session or powered trike flight should it be deemed that you require a little brushing up on your skills.

​For your high flights you will have an instructor to help you up on launch and another one in the landing field to guide you in via a radio if necessary.   Congratulations!  You have experienced being a bird!!!

There is additional ground schooling and an H2 test set by HPAC that you must pass as part of the certification.

Price depends on previous experience, students age, physical fitness and time between lessons.  Expect the course to cost around $1600.

Cost: $150/High Flight if with other students
$200/High Flight if private
Less $50 if using your own equipment
Ground School:  $100
Total Course Cost:  ~$1600 + tax 

Have you recently moved to Canada and you need to be certified by HPAC but have been flying for years?  Or you haven't flown for years and need to recertify?  Perhaps you're ready to obtain your H3 or H4 rating and just need to be checked out and write the test.

Well we can help you get your rating.  Some ground school can prepare you for the appropriate HPAC test, with an emphasis on Canadian specific topics such as air regulations.  After confirming your ability to kite, launch, fly and land appropriately for your skill level and with the successful passing of the test, you will obtain your rating from HPAC.

Cost: Varies, please call for prices

• Classes run from May to October.
• All equipment is provided.
• You must be in decent physical condition, 16 years old minimum and 220 lbs maximum.​​
• Course discounts available with new equipment purchases.

Text or Call: (250) 307 7553
​Email: FreedomFlightPark@gmail.com