At my current rate it is going to take 4 years of regular flying to reach the "Advanced" Hang-4 rating.
My first thought was that seemed a tad long. Should the advanced rating that unlocks places like Torry and Yosemite take that long?
Then I considered the aphorism of my boy Hippocrates: (Ars longa, vita brevis..)
"Life is short, the skill is difficult to learn, opportunity fleeting, experience deceptive, judgment difficult." Maybe 4 years is the right length of time.
How many years should it take to reach H4?
Moderator: Chip
H4
I think my H4 was 3 1/2 years.
The most time consuming part was the 200 flights - the requirement is actually 250 flights but Joe Greblo will count up to 50 flights at the beach. Now, if you want to speed that along - just go to a place like Funston and knock off 25 "flights" in a single day. Another option is to go to Andy Jackson and use the "Big O Loop" and you could knock off 5 - 10 in a day. I was in no hurry to get my H4 so I choose not to intentionally take the fast route in accumulating my required number of flights. I have not yet flown a site that requires a H4 (Torrey, Yosemite, Sandia).
Besides the "black and white" requirements there is also the issue of true ability - are you REALLY a H4? The instructor signing off on a person's rating (H1, H2, H3, H4, H5) must ask themself - is this person really at that level. Until recently you could have "bought" your H4 at Torrey Pines but the USHPA finally put a stop to that BS. I personnally take pride in the fact that my H4 was approved by Joe Greblo.
The most time consuming part was the 200 flights - the requirement is actually 250 flights but Joe Greblo will count up to 50 flights at the beach. Now, if you want to speed that along - just go to a place like Funston and knock off 25 "flights" in a single day. Another option is to go to Andy Jackson and use the "Big O Loop" and you could knock off 5 - 10 in a day. I was in no hurry to get my H4 so I choose not to intentionally take the fast route in accumulating my required number of flights. I have not yet flown a site that requires a H4 (Torrey, Yosemite, Sandia).
Besides the "black and white" requirements there is also the issue of true ability - are you REALLY a H4? The instructor signing off on a person's rating (H1, H2, H3, H4, H5) must ask themself - is this person really at that level. Until recently you could have "bought" your H4 at Torrey Pines but the USHPA finally put a stop to that BS. I personnally take pride in the fact that my H4 was approved by Joe Greblo.
It took me six years. But I think you can't compare the skill needed to fly at Torrey or Yosemite to that of a hang 4 - those two sites have some unusual/political exceptions. Which I think is a shame.
Most of the other sites that I have flown around the USA are either hang 3 or below, and the very rare few, only hang 4 if they are indeed are very demanding in some aspect.
Most of the other sites that I have flown around the USA are either hang 3 or below, and the very rare few, only hang 4 if they are indeed are very demanding in some aspect.
If you fly only on the weekends...
Weather and the what not you average one flight per weekend 75 percent of the weekends. That is over 5 years needed! 200 flights sounds like too many. They should have a formula where some of the soaring hours and XC landings at different locations replace the needed flights. I feel a single landing at Kagel in the summer, around 2-3pm, should count more than a day at funston with 20 launches and landings.
One of these requirements one seems out of place and is not representative of skill and experience. I have them all easily meet except for that one.
a. 250 flights.
b. Must have made 5 flights at each of 5 different sites in Intermediate level
conditions, of which at least 3 were inland.
c. Must have logged a minimum of 80 flying days.
d. Must have at least 1, 1-hour flight.
e. Must have at least 1 30-minute flight in thermal lift without sustaining ridge lift.
f. Must have logged 75 hours total air time with no more than 25 of these hours to
be tandem. Of these 75 hours, 25 must be in thermal lift, with no more than 10 of
these 25 hours to be tandem
Weather and the what not you average one flight per weekend 75 percent of the weekends. That is over 5 years needed! 200 flights sounds like too many. They should have a formula where some of the soaring hours and XC landings at different locations replace the needed flights. I feel a single landing at Kagel in the summer, around 2-3pm, should count more than a day at funston with 20 launches and landings.
One of these requirements one seems out of place and is not representative of skill and experience. I have them all easily meet except for that one.
a. 250 flights.
b. Must have made 5 flights at each of 5 different sites in Intermediate level
conditions, of which at least 3 were inland.
c. Must have logged a minimum of 80 flying days.
d. Must have at least 1, 1-hour flight.
e. Must have at least 1 30-minute flight in thermal lift without sustaining ridge lift.
f. Must have logged 75 hours total air time with no more than 25 of these hours to
be tandem. Of these 75 hours, 25 must be in thermal lift, with no more than 10 of
these 25 hours to be tandem
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