Hang gliding is a form of aviation that is enjoyed by many people around the world as a recreational and competitive sport. The history of hang gliding has origins in the birth of aviation itself. There are two basic forms of hang gliders, flex wings and rigid wings. As the name implies, rigid-wing gliders are stiff and offer better aerodynamics than the flex-wing glider.

During the last part of the nineteenth century, a German engineer made over 2,000 successful flights on weight shift hang gliders. His name was Otto Lilienthal. The notes he kept of those experimental flights were a major source of inspiration for early aviation pioneers. Then in May 1971 the Otto Lilienthal Anniversary Meet was held in California. This event attracted enthusiasts from all over the country and really caught the public‘s imagination. One of the heroes of the day was Tom Dickinson, who managed to stay aloft in free flight for 15 seconds, covering a distance of over 300 ft. The meet attracted over 50 pilots and is regarded by many as the real starting point of hang gliding as we know it today.