Welcome to Central Texas hang gliding! If you already have a pilot rating and are interested in learning more about hang gliding and paragliding opportunities in the Lone Start state, you have come to the right place. Here you will find forums to help you with questions regarding local flying sites, conditions, renting equipment, places to stay, flying guides, tours, fly-ins and much more. If you are looking for a good deal on new or used equipment, you will want to check out our classified listings, which are also located in the forums. We also do our best to list information on hang gliding clubs through out Texas.
Austin Free Flight Association (AFFA) makes our resources available to out-of-state pilots and foreign national pilots at a great discount. For pilots who prefer to foot launch, Packsaddle Mountain offers a south facing launch (H1/P1 and above) and a north east facing launch (H3/P3 and above). For those with a tow launch rating, AFFA also has a towable rig and a nearby location in wide open fields. Use of these resources does require joining AFFA (a relatively small fee) and paying the daily use fee, which is printed on the current year's application. It will also require a current local member to join you, so you will want to use the forums to cooridinate your visit, or contact an officer for assistance.
Texas offers incredible flying opportunities as exemplified by Manfred Ruhmer's world record for longest free flight out of Zapata, Texas (435.3 miles / 700.6 km ) in 2001 followed by Mike Barber's even longer distance of (437 miles / 704 km ) in 2002.
Each year, Texas hosts a world record encampment based out of the Mexico / Texas border city of Zapata, attracting the best paraglider and hang glider pilots in the world for their shot at history. On the other side of the state, Big Spring has become a destination for major hang gliding competions, including the United States Hang Gliding Championship and the World Hang Gliding Competition. You don't, however, have to be in search of a world record or even personal best to enjoy flying in Texas. Our clubs and instructors offer a variety of launch methods, conditions, and locations for just about any type of flying experience you wish to experience. Get in the air via a foot launch, scooter tow, platform launch, trailer tow, aerotow, or even boat tow. Soar all day on a constant ridge lift or sky out on a passing thermal. Enjoy the laminar wind flow during a sunset flight or take a white knuckle ride to the clouds in the middle of the day. Fly over prairies, grasslands, forests, desert mountains, hill country ridges, spacious lakes, winding rivers, or an extensive coastline.
Whatever type of free flight you wish to experience, you can find it here in Texas!
