The Ultimate In Unique Gifts

You know that question, the one that goes, "What dothing to do and so if you die horribly it is no one's fault
you get the person who has everything?" Have youbut your own.
ever considered that the answer might be a hangIt may interest you to know that the first person in
glider ride? They're a bit on the upper end of therecorded history to fly a hang glider was a German
budget range but you can be relatively sure that theengineer, Otto Lilienthal. He published all of his research
experience will be a unique one and well worth thein 1889 and had a great influence on later designers.
expense.Hang gliding has a reputation for being an unsafe sport.
Most hang gliding schools offer gift vouchers forIt doesn't help that even its inventor, Otto Lilienthal, died
lessons or tandem flights. Gift vouchers can also bein a glider crash after gliding for only 5 years. In fact
bought from various online gift sites offering unique giftthat's probably where all the trouble started. Modern
experiences or action adventure gifts. If you get ahang gliders are far sturdier than those of even a
tandem flight in the UK, your instructor should becouple of decades ago, thanks to modern materials
qualified with the British Hang Gliding and Paraglidingand the high standards of the various hang gliding
Association (BHPA). You will get a full briefing on thebodies around the world. They are, however, still
equipment involved and safety precautions. Dependinglightweight and easily damaged if not taken care of
on the school you might be towed to the requisiteproperly.
height, of around 2000 feet, by a microlight and thenIn an effort to reduce the inherent danger involved in
you are let go and are free to soar as the wind takeshang gliding, there has been a huge effort to improve
you.pilot training. In early days most learning was done
There are, of course, a few rules and guidelines thatthrough trial and error, leaving not much room for error,
must be followed. The minimum age for a hang gliderat least not for the one making the mistake. Plenty
is 16 and the maximum weight is 95 kilograms. If youcould be learned vicariously, however, and through this,
are over 40 you will need to be declared fit by youreffective training techniques and programmes have
medical practitioner before you will be allowed to takebeen developed for pilots to become better
to the air. The weather needs to be suitable for hangacquainted with the dangers and pitfalls of flying. Great
gliding, if it's not and the weather is too bad to go up,emphasis is also placed on instilling the discipline not to
your flight will be re-booked for another day. It isfly when the weather conditions are not conducive to
recommended that you wear flat-soled shoes andhang gliding. As an extra precaution, pilots carry
bring a jersey in case you get cold as you get higher.parachutes with them when they fly, which carries
In winter you should bring gloves and in summer sunthem and their glider safely down in case of
block and a hat are essential. Sunglasses areemergency. Pilots also wear helmets and carry other
recommended all year round. Do not drink alcoholsafety items for any foreseeable mishap.
before you fly, even if you need it to clam yourAs you can see, hang gliding is the perfect gift. It may
nerves, they will not let you up if you are on your earnot exactly be as safe as houses but it's exciting and
or can melt wallpaper with the fumes on your breath.anything that's exciting is going to carry an element of
You will be asked to sign a form agreeing to abide bydanger. If you want safe, buy a chess board, but make
all the rules and regulations and also to ensure that yousure that no one swallows the pieces.
recognise that hang gliding is a potentially dangerous