Hang gliding schools teach foot-launched flying from training hills and beaches, then from mountains or by tow. In the US the FAA does not certify hang glider pilots; ratings come from USHPA, a private association, through schools and instructors.
How to read this page
Every fact comes from the school's own public page, linked beside it with the date we checked it. Where a school does not print a date for its prices, the prices are treated as current and the rate-date line says "Not listed by the school". Where a school does not say something, the page says "Not listed by the school". Prices change often and taxes, fees and gear are usually extra, so confirm with the school before you book.
6 schools in 4 states. This list is not complete.
We found no hang gliding school based in Tennessee. Lookout Mountain Flight Park, listed under Georgia, is in Rising Fawn, in the Chattanooga area.
Jump to: California (3) · Florida (1) · Georgia (1) · North Carolina (1)
California
NorCal Hang Gliding
Location: Milpitas, California Location source ↗ · checked Oct 29, 2026
Training, as the school describes it: Hillside hang gliding lessons at Ed Levin Park, solo only (the school says it does no tandem flying)
Rate date printed by the school: Not listed by the school
The class page also shows higher crossed-out regular prices; the figures here are the current prices it shows.
Fly Away Hang Gliding
Location: Santa Barbara, California Location source ↗ · checked Oct 29, 2026
Training, as the school describes it: Hang gliding lessons on a 200-foot training hill at Elings Park, and an H2 Novice rating course
Rate date printed by the school: Not listed by the school
The school says single-day lessons are credited toward the package and it does not accept credit cards.
Windsports
Location: Sylmar and Playa del Rey, California Location source ↗ · checked Oct 29, 2026
Training, as the school describes it: Beach lessons toward the USHPA Hang 1 rating, then advanced beach lessons, mountain tandems and mountain solos toward Hang 2
Rate date printed by the school: Not listed by the school
Training sites listed by the school: Sylmar Flight Park and Dockweiler Beach. The school says most students need about 5 lessons for Hang 1 but it cannot guarantee that.
Florida
Wallaby Ranch Flight Park
Location: Orlando area, Florida Location source ↗ · checked Oct 29, 2026
Training, as the school describes it: Aerotow hang gliding: tandem instruction flights and lesson packages
Rate date printed by the school: Not listed by the school
The school says lesson fees include tows, ground school, equipment, a training manual and a log book.
Georgia
Lookout Mountain Flight Park
Location: Rising Fawn, Georgia Location source ↗ · checked Oct 29, 2026
Training, as the school describes it: Hang gliding training hills, instructional tandems and packages toward the USHPA Hang 1 and Hang 2 ratings, plus an aerotow package
Rate date printed by the school: Not listed by the school
Rising Fawn is in Georgia, in the Chattanooga, Tennessee area, so it is listed here for Tennessee readers too. The school says lessons are good for two years from purchase and training-hill lessons carry a $50 surcharge if you are the only student that day.
North Carolina
Kitty Hawk Kites
Location: Nags Head, North Carolina Location source ↗ · checked Oct 29, 2026
Training, as the school describes it: Beginner dune hang gliding lessons at Jockey's Ridge State Park
Rate date printed by the school: Not listed by the school
The school adds a 6% online convenience fee to online bookings and says prices are subject to change.
Hang gliding schools with the training and prices each school publishes on its own page. Last checked Oct 29, 2026.
Rules and ratings for hang gliding
These points are in our own words; the linked source pages are the official word. Rules change, so confirm the details with the FAA and with the school before you train.
- No FAA pilot certificate. The FAA says you do not need a pilot certificate to fly an ultralight vehicle, but ultralights still have to follow the FAA's operating rules in 14 CFR Part 103.Source: FAA FAQ on flying ultralights (page shows no date) ↗ · checked Oct 29, 2026
- Not regulated by the FAA for training. The FAA's advisory circular on ultralights counts gliders as unpowered vehicles and says the FAA's rules on aircraft certification, pilot certification and registration do not apply to ultralight vehicles. An unpowered ultralight must weigh less than 155 pounds and carry one person. So the FAA does not certify hang glider pilots or set their training; that is left to schools, instructors and USHPA.Source: FAA Advisory Circular 103-7, The Ultralight Vehicle (dated Jan 30, 1984) ↗ · checked Oct 29, 2026
- Ratings come from USHPA, not the FAA. USHPA, a private member association, runs its own pilot rating program for hang gliding and paragliding, including the novice H2 rating. These ratings are not FAA certificates.Source: USHPA public ratings page (page shows no date) ↗ · checked Oct 29, 2026
- Find more schools. USHPA's public finder lists schools and instructors by area. Schools listed there are not checked by BlockTime.Source: USHPA public school finder (page shows no date) ↗ · checked Oct 29, 2026
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