US Hang Gliding, Inc
About Us
US Hang Gliding Inc. was founded in the summer of 2013. Even though we are a relatively new company our experience is not. Our team is committed to making you the best possible hang gliding pilot that you can be in a safe and fun environment. Here at USHG we have a wide range of ways to teach you how to fly hang gliders with a combination of aero tow tandems, scooter towing, and hill lessons. At our home in New York, we are limited to fair weather seasons from late spring April to late fall October. We believe that we have come up with the best way to teach hang gliding to each and every individual student, maximizing your results on your flying skills and minimizing the physical demands needed for solo flying. We tailor each of your lessons for your needs and wants vs what we need or want from you. With the level of instruction that you will receive at USHG, you will notice that you'll have a much easier time learning to fly. You will also see faster and safer results while we are continually working on your flying skills as you progress through our program and USHPA guidelines per rating. Some of those skills would include launching, landing, flying, by either aero/ static/ or scooter tow and or by foot launching. There are many more other skills needed to master all of it of course, but these are just some of the basics. With everything that we have access to here, we can take you from day one of not knowing a bit about aviation and or flying hang gliders, all the way up to flying in the national's or world's competition's.
Meet the Team
"Fly-n-Bryon" Estes
Flight School Manager / Owner
Flying has always been a part of my life. I currently spend my time teaching new students how to fly hang gliders safely. In 2010 I received the national award for Instructor of the Year given by USHPA. Please view my current ratings here. I'm a second generation hang glider pilot. I owe my dad for getting me involved in all forms of aviation at a very young age. I started hang gliding when I was just 14 years old. I learned to fly from Tek Flight in Winstead, CT (now closed) in the late part of 98' to early 99'. I took my first mountain flight on July 4th of 2000. The picture to the right was art done that year in the Ellenville landing zone.
My first mountain flight was on a Wills Wing Falcon 1 170 and it was a rush to take those first few steps till you get airborne. My first real soaring flight was a little more than an extended sled ride (15 min or less) at Leather Hill in Wingdale, NY (also now closed to my knowledge). It was a very small hill, with the launch at about only 450 ft or so, and I did just over 3 hours of soaring over this tiny hill. When I came into land, my arms were so tired that I couldn't flare very well, but I was back on the ground again safely. I continued flying progressed through the higher performance gliders ranging from the WW Sport E 167, WW Ultra Sport 147, WW RamAir 155, WW Talon 2 154. I'm currently flying the RamAir, Talon 160, and Falcon 3 Tandem 230, depending on flying conditions. Before starting hang gliding I was also on a path of learning to fly ultralights, with the intent of being a tug pilot. Sadly, sport pilot put an end to that for me. As I continued to hone my HG skills over the next few years, I then started working for Fly High Hang Gliding Inc. in spring 08' with my basic instructor rating. I now have my advanced and tandem instructor ratings which I achieved in 2012. If you like to know more please feel free to call or email me, calls or texts are preferred. Come on out and meet us and or take a tandem or solo lesson. I look forward to meeting you and getting you flying as safely and quickly as possible.
Bill Estes Tug Pilot / Owner
I have a real passion for what I do. I built my first hang glider when I was just 16 years old from wooden hand rail moldings, 8 mil sheet plastic, duct tape, and some other hardware items. Aviation is in my blood and I have passed that on to my son. I spent 20 years in the Air Force, 18 years skydiving and I have been towing hang gliders for over 11 years now. I have over 42 years of experience in the aviation industry. If you are looking for an experienced pilot/ mechanic, you are in the right place. You can view my USHPA ratings here.
