How Hang Gliding Works

This episode takes Josh and Chuck on a thrilling journey through the history and physics of hang gliding, from its unexpected origins with NASA engineer Francis Rogalow in the 1940s to how it became a major extreme sport in the 1970s. They explore how hang gliders actually work, covering everything from the basic aluminum tube design to the counterintuitive physics of lift and drag, and they explain how pilots stay aloft for hours by catching thermal and ridge lift. Whether you're curious about the daredevils who literally jump off cliffs, the tandem lessons offered on North Carolina sand dunes, or even the wild Kansas dudes who used pickup trucks to launch themselves into the sky, this episode delivers fascinating insights into one of history's most beautifully simple flying machines.