Hang gliding is the most exciting way of getting airborne today and has turned the dreams if Icarus into reality. The weight shift steering is the closest feeling to being as free as a bird. The hang glider is without doubt the most versatile flying machine with free flight hill launching, truck towing, aero towing, or with the addition of a small power unit.

The sport of Hang gliding has progressed from its dare devil start to become one of the worlds best forms of sporting aviation. Pilots regularly fly at 5280ft from cloud to cloud for more than a hundred cross country miles in the UK. Why not sign up for one of our Hang gliding courses. You can start with the fun learning experience of the Taster day or a weekend course or if you are sure the sport is for you a 5 day Elementary pilot course. We at the DFC believe you can only learn the flying skills needed to fly from hills and mountains from a hill based UK flying school.

Teaching hang gliding requires experience born of years.  Don’t be misled if a school doesn’t have a wide range of hang gliding equipment, its own dedicated sites and a history of successful qualified people to club pilot standard. The DFC is one of the oldest established hang gliding schools in England . We teach in the hills of Derbyshire (with most of the Hang glider pilots in the North of the UK taught by us). We have the experience and the equipment to teach you to fly with the best instruction, dedicated training gliders and great sites facing all wind directions. Please note that the CAA requirement to be able to fly unsupervised in the UK or abroad is that you reach the BHPA Club Pilot level. By successfully completing EP and CP courses with the DFC you will be at that level.

 

Elementary pilot Course. 5 Days £450 (BHPA membership not included )

The EP course is designed to bring the complete beginner up to the accredited BHPA level of Elementary Pilot. At the end of the course the pilot should be capable of site selection, weather assessment, self launch and adequate flight planning to perform a flight with turns and a landing within a designated area.

We meet at our centre at 10am and start the day with an introductory talk. After this we sign you up as a member of the BHPA. This is obligatory as it gives you third party insurance. there are several membership options depending on your circumstances and aspirations. Current membership fees can be viewed by clicking fees page.

All Hang gliding equipment is supplied for the course; you just need to bring adequate clothing and good, ankle supporting footwear a packed lunch and drink. Even from early on day one you will be connected to the glider learning the basics of pre-flight checking and ground control. We then move to a slope where you will first defy gravity!

At DFC we like to keep the student to instructor ratio low to ensure a rapid, but above all, safe progression. At all times you will have contact with your instructor.

What is achieved on an EP course is obviously dependent on the weather and your level of fitness and ability, but you can expect to be making short exhilarating flights on the first day. progressing at your own pace to the freedom of the Sky.

The classroom work comprises of theory sessions on flight theory, meteorology and air law. Our ability to impart the essential  knowledge will be tested with your short multiple choice exam towards the end of the course.

By the end of the course you should have experienced the truly wonderful sensation of flying above the ground with the stunning scenery of the Peak District National Park laid out before you. Certainly, you will know whether you have the desire and ability to progress on to the CP course.

Once you have achieved EP level you are able with our guidance to purchase your first Hang glider on which you can complete your CP training.

5 Day Club Pilot Course £450 ( BHPA membership not included )

The CP course usually takes 5 days and progresses the EP holder onto soaring skills, often with flights of 15-20 minutes or more. Tandem flights are used for some tuition. Radios are used for communication between instructor and student at all times. We have found that in addition to week day and weekend training it helps CP progress if we make one evening per week available for CP tuition. The evening for CP training is chosen on a Monday to suit the weather

At the DFC we take great pride in producing pilots with a high skill level and a good attitude to embark on a long and safe flying career.

If you have committed to starting a CP course, then this normally means that you intend to take up the sport, so it makes sense to be using your own equipment for this. A new glider and harness will cost about £3,400 but used equipment is usually available from about £1,400. Buying your own equipment from the DFC has several advantages:

• You use the same wing each time you fly.
• We take the responsibility of matching you to the right flight equipment seriously.
• Your harness is adjusted correctly for you
• You begin your flying career, satisfied that your equipment is right for you and is correctly set up and adjusted.
• We are able to give a discount when you purchase your glider from us because as a school we do not have to invest in a wing for you to fly

You can hire all flight equipment from us. It may be possible to use your own flight equipment once it has been inspected and approved by us for your use in the school, The inspection fee is usually £150.

We are happy to talk to you about the best options for you. Including package deals with tuition and equipment.