Oregon Hang Gliding School

Category:	School
Address:	5575 SW SW Plumley St, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA
Phone:	+1 541-913-1339
Site:	oregonhanggliding.com
Rating:	4.8

Location

Photos 4

Reviews 6

Bryan Hughes

I have had such an amazing experience learning to Hang Glide from John. I am 100% convinced that I could not have gotten better instruction anywhere else, and in a sport with so many variables, good instruction and guidance is what keeps it safe. I live nearly 7 hours away from where John teaches, so naturally I tried calling every instructor that lived closer- to the ones that I actually got in contact with (which were very few) I was either told they werent teaching anymore, or was given the run around and told to ask them again at a different time. It wasnt until one of them had the kindness to recommend John to me that I decided to call him. After waiting over 4 months on these other instructors, John was able to schedule me a lesson within a week after my first call to him. Johns instruction is far beyond anyone elses that I could have gotten- he developed a fully online curriculum that walks students through the academics of hang gliding (remember this is learning how to fly, not how to play tennis), and makes it a point to teach all of his students in all the different methods and conditions that they will be presented with throughout their flying careers (training hill, pulley system, foot launch, high wind, low wind, smooth air, turbulent air) so that they will know how to effectively handle each one. John is also one of the most generous and kindest individuals Ive ever met. Hell join in the laborious work of carrying the glider back up the training hill for you when your tired, use his whole day to wait for conditions to be right for your flight if need be, and drive all over Oregon at whatever time fits your schedule to get a lesson in for you. Because of the distance, I would always stay through the weekends for lessons- I probably saved nearly a thousand dollars on lodging and food because John would let me sleep for free at any of his three locations and would always cook up and share dinner after a long day out training, and breakfasts before wed head out in the morning for the next days lesson. Oregon Hang Gliding School is by far the best place there is if you want to learn and fully grasp how to hang glide. Just give John a call and youll be flying with the rest of us in no time!

A Private User

Im a student in the Oregon Hang Gliding School. So far I have had seven days of lessons. John, my instructor, is an outstanding communicator, and his commitment to his students and to this sport is commendable. He is passionate about teaching, and has a very structured and methodical approach to his instruction. My instructor takes the time to explain how the glider flies, and prepares you for what you will feel when you get airborne. He has a no-nonsense style, but he really cares about keeping you safe and facilitating your progress. The OHGS website has formidable amount of information, which is truly the only one of its kind. In fact, OHGS is unique in that so far, my lessons have been one-on-one, so the student gets a lot of personal attention. OHGS is one of the very, very few ACTIVE hang gliding schools in the Pacific Northwest, and will accommodate the students schedules, often on very short notice. Oregon is a great place to learn, our Summer lessons have been out at Cape Kiwanda, on a sand dune right by the ocean, although OHGS has other sites reserved during other times of the year. I find hang gliding cool because theres a lot of science and theory combined with practical application, and my instructor is an expert in both areas. Oh, yeah, and he lugs the glider back up the hill for you. Make no mistake, this is not a bowling or golf lesson. You will be mentally and physically tired at the end of the day...although most of the calories burned will be from exhilaration.

Kazem Shah

When it comes to talk about hang gliding people tend to have some doubt about it and sometimes they call you crazy.!!!!!! But I feel in one word “they are crazy” to miss the most amazing feeling and share the sky with birds. There is nothing absolutely scary about it and it’s not crazy at all. Flying over a beautiful landscape is not crazier than driving a car in heavy traffic on the ugliest landscape eveeeeeeeeeeeeeeer. If you don’t believe on flying why not you try it and I will ask you how you feel after.!!! You remember the day you started riding a car for first day. “How it felt like?!!!” How it feels now?!!! Do you believe in yourself now?!!! It’s the same with hang gliding. And by the way it’s not like driving school, it’s much more professional, once you start learning hang gliding it’s a very step by step and careful process and nothing will happen to you; especially if you are starting it in a very good school. I learn how to do this in Oregon hang gliding school and I will %100 recommend this school to anyone wants to join the club. John is the best instructor for hang gliding and you will not find any one better in entire U.S.A

david pendzick

There is only one way to learn this sport safely, John & Oregon Hang Gliding School (OHGS) are the only way to go. John is the only hang gliding school with a fully integrated online syllabus that provides vital knowledge of weather & techniques for flying sites all over Oregon. Johns curriculum teaches students to become lifetime hang glider pilots with comprehensive, in-depth instruction for flying different training sites in the Willamette Valley as well as on the Oregon Coast. With the multitude of training sites & the acquired knowledge gained through experiencing different flying conditions in different places, the transition to more experienced Mountain flying sites all over Oregon, Washington & California is seamless. OHGS demographic encompasses the entire Pacific Northwest & John has plenty of places to stay, from the bunk house in Pacific City to his couch in Corvallis, he definitely goes the extra mile to ensure that his students are comfortable & have a place to sleep at the end of a long day of training. I would highly recommend OHGS to anyone interested in pursuing foot launched aviation.

A Private User

The quality of instruction at the OHGS is outstanding. John takes special care to tailor his instruction to meet the individual needs of his students. He takes into account the human desires, emotions and motivations that his students go through during the learning process and explains how these things affect safety. He also teaches how these same human issues will play a roll in ALL a pilots decisions throughout their flying career. Safety is John’s highest priority and he does a great job of teaching his pilots to make their own risk assessments. Hang gliding instruction is John’s primary business and thus the consistency, regularity and availability of his instruction is outstanding. I was able to take lessons every single day I had available. In fact, the weather and my pesky employer were the only limiting factors to my progress. John has also developed a great website with articles, videos, presentations and other high-tech tools to keep his students learning while they are away from the training hill. I can’t overstate how great the instruction is at the Oregon Hang Gliding School.

A Private User

I have been a student of Oregon Hang Gliding School for a few years now, throughout college. John is always available whenever I was for a lesson, which was critical for a busy student. He has a myriad of online teaching materials for when youre not actually out there, as well as specific training equipment to make learning while you are there easy. Electronic simulators, scooter tows, and a Willis Wing Condor instructional glider all facilitate learning in as many situations as can possibly be accommodated safely. Safety is a huge priority for John, and his decisions definitely err on the side of caution. This is important in a sport where its easy to be overconfident and ignorant of complex situations. By being cautious and exploring only one new variable at a time, which is a big part of the OHGS method, I learned consistently and safely. Finally, I want to emphasize how much effort goes into every lesson. For the money, OHGS is the best value for sure. The lessons are very comprehensive.