Paragliding Instruction, Big Island of Hawaii. 808 895 9772

Hawaii weather
Paragliding Lessons in Hawaii:
If you like natural beauty,wilderness,wild life,paragliding or hang gliding and if you prefer a low key approach to paragliding and hang gliding combined with an unmatched safety record Pu'u Loa, located at the base of Mauna Kea is the place.
No tree landings here. A 4 wd is required.
Wilderness camping at Pu'u Loa available.
All equipment included.

Most consistent training site in Hawaii.
Here you learn about all the good stuff:
Turbulence, sink, high altitude flying,thermals,high wind handling,cross wind launches, top landings. We'll make a good pilot out of you, someone who can handle almost all conditions anywhere in the world.
Welcome to Fly Hawaii, Hawaii's leading hang gliding paramotoring and paragliding school. We offer a complete range of services catering to all levels of pilot proficiency. Achim Hagemann was the first paragliding pilot/instructor on the Big Island starting in 1994 after 16 years as a certified hang gliding and paragliding instructor in Santa Barbara,Ca.

As part of our expansion plans we are currently developing a full service hang gliding/paragliding and paramotoring training and recreational flight facility at the foothills of Mauna Kea.Pu'u Loa Flight Park.
Step1
Consult your instructor before you purchase paragliding gear. Your instructor can choose the gear that fits your ability level and needs.
Step2
Know the costs. Paragliding is an expensive sport. A reliable, basic paraglider can cost $2500 on average. A good open-face helmet--an essential piece of paragliding gear--can range in price from $150 to $250. Another gear staple is a back up parachute. The average price for a back up parachute is $500.
Step3
Buy a paraglider after you gain experience paragliding. Different styles of paragliders are made for the beginner and the advanced flier. Your instructor can help you pick the paraglider that is right for your flying style.
Step4
Choose an open-face helmet that doesn't obstruct vision or hearing. Ensure it fits comfortably, yet snugly on the head with little movement.
Step5
Pick a paragliding harness that has foam backing to protect your back from injury. An airbag backing is a good alternative if foam is not available.
Step6
Get paragliding apparel that protects your body while in flight and when you land. A flight suit is essential to maintain proper body temperature while in flight. Sturdy boots protect the ankle from the impact of landing. Gloves keep the hands safe from line burns when you brake. Choose thin gloves that give you a good grip on the line but allow you to maintain tactile awareness.

Favorite flights:
Cerro Gordo
Gunther, White Mountains
Horseshoe,
Yosemite National Park,
Glacier Point
Telluride, 18000 f.
Ngorongoro Crater Tanzania,
Serengeti National ParkMerango National Park, Tanzania
St. John, Virgin Islands,
John’s Folly
Haleakala Hawaii
Mauna Kea
Kuhboden Switzerland
Wilcox, Santa Barbara,Ca.
Eliminator
Coronet Peak NZ
Tegelberg, winter flight, Mad King Ludwig Castle


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Paragliding Instruction Big Island of Hawaii

Student's first flight off Pu'u Loa


Two-day Introduction to Paragliding, you’ll start on the ground, boning up on basic wind and weather strategies, the physics of gliding, and maneuvering your canopy. Then it’s a solo jog off the "bunny hill," where you’ll catch 100 feet of glide before touching down on the grass. Day two includes training with an expert coach, then your first solo endeavor: a 300-foot-high, quarter-mile soar. We can get a guy and in 6 hours he is fully up and flying.End Game: Earning a P1 rating—the first hurdle in obtaining your paragliding license.Info: $395 (instruction only), year-round
Contact: Achim Hagemann 808 895 9772
flyaglider@yahoo.com

First flight

Paragliding Instruction, Mauna Kea, Hawaii. Achim Hagemann

Paragliding Instruction, Paragliding School, Paragliding Equipment Big Island of Hawaii
Achim Hagemann 808 895 9772
Pu’u Loa, Big Island of Hawaii is open now, you must be a member of the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Assoc.(USHPA) and the Big Island Soaring Assoc. and be on our list with the Department of Hawaiian Homeland.
Contact: 808 895 9772
Visiting Pilot Info for Pu’u Loa, Hawaii.
Make sure you know your operating limitations, IF you are a Novice you are not supposed to flyanything more than 200 f per m thermals 12-15 mph max and a gust differential of 5 mph
Pu’u Loa routinely exceeds that on top by 1030 am.
NEVER GO OUT THERE ALONE AND DO NOT FLY WITHOUT DIRECT SUPERVISION OF AN INSTRUCTOR UNTIL YOU ARE NOVICE RATED.
About me:
It has been my privilege to be involved in the development of paragliding on the Big Island of Hawaii from the very beginning.

Fly Hawaii is the oldest school in Hawaii, I moved my school from Santa Barbara to the Big Island in 1994 and have been teaching paragliding and hang gliding ever since.
I moved to Hawaii in 1994 after 15 years as a full time United States Hang Gliding Assoc. hang gliding and paragliding instructor in Santa Barbara Ca.
Imagine being a paragliding pilot/instructor coming to the Big Island, looking at Mauna Kea and discovering the great flying potential of this island and nobody was flying paragliders.
I had found my paragliding Shangri La.
It turned out to be a very exciting time pioneering new sites like Shadow Mountain and SW Launch,signing off the first group of paragliding students and developing Pu’u Loa as a training hill. I claim a perfect safety record as an instructor at Pu’u Loa since 1994 with the highest number of students taught.
Mauna Kea is potentially one of the premier hang gliding and paragliding flying sites in the world and our official club training hills are the best and most scenic in the State of Hawaii thanks to the support of the Department of Hawaiian Homelands and a lot of pilots making it all work out.
Check out the picture gallery for a view of our truly special flying and training sites
Finally:

The sport is relatively new in the U.S. There are about 4000 paragliding pilots in the U.S. compared to several hundred thousand around the world. Countries like the U.K, France, Germany all have 10’s of thousands of pilots each and a much more advanced system in training and product development. Pretty much all of the state of the art gear comes from Europe.

Ratings:
Advanced rated hang gliding pilot with turbulence, cliff and cross country sign off
Beginner and Advanced hang gliding instructor
Certified HG School USHGA
Advanced rated PG pilot APA 1988
3 times certified paragliding instructor United States Hang Gliding Assoc. for a total of 15 years as a certified hang gliding /paragliding instructor.

Favorite flights:
Eliminator in my Wills Wing SST. Cerro Gordo. Gunther,( UP Condor) White Mountains. Horseshoe. Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park, Big Sur Plaskett Creek. Telluride, toplanding my Duck 180 at Ngorongoro Crater Tanzania, Serengeti National Park. Merango National Park,Tanzania. St.John, U.S Virgin Islands, John’s Folly, Haleakala, Hawaii. Shadow Mountain,Mauna Kea, Hawaii. Kuhboden Switzerland. Tegelberg, winter flight, Wilcox, Santa Barbara, Ca.La Cumbre. Rincon, Coronet Peak, Christchurch NZ.