Hi Jez,

I've done a bit of hang gliding back in 1981, once while I was out in Nevada for a few months. And later in the mid-80s I took up sky diving for awhile. That involved some very limited instruction, but not much. I've had a couple of flying lessons as well, but only in powered planes. I've never been in a real glider, though I would like some day to try it.

When I was sky diving, there was a surreal peace while coming down under a round canopy. It wasn't the same under a square canopy, or even under a hang glider. In both cases the wind speed produces significant wind noise. And of course small airplanes have tremendous engine noise. But under a round canopy, with only 10 mph wind speed (more or less), there is no wind noise to notice and the experience is very nearly ethereal. I imagine piloting a real glider, with an enclosed cockpit and no engine noise, to be very much like that.