Hang Gliding - FAQ - What's needed?
Logbooks are a great idea. If you ever had air under your feet, it is NOT too early to start a logbook. Even Scooter Towing lessons count, pilot... Most places do not recognize Hang Gliding as official pilot airtime, but informally, real pilots will. A "legal" logbook (as in respectable by experts) would be any journal-class notebook, with the pages sewed in (not stapled, or made with single sheets). I'd suggest a hard cover version, because that book will take a beating. You probably do not want something as large as a library book; make it a convenient size. Any fair office supply shop should have something good for you.
Everybody can make the logbook entries which they see fit: document the conditions, site, launch altitude, altitude gain, distance, and whatever else is important about that flight. I would only suggest adding one extra entry; working from the back of the book, you could make a list of the pilots flying with you, as you meet each one. Each pilot's entry can be their name and contact information. The logbook could have a note added for each particular flight, "Flying With..." and the references to your Pilot's List, such as #5, #11, #14, et c. Remembering who flew with me on any certain day keeps that day clearly in my mind. Having their contact information can be helpful to plan the next expedition, and even in everyday life. I am always happy to meet new friends, but the ones which I met a decade or two back are still very important to me.
If you're like me, this contact list will soon be of great personal value to you, and maybe for life. The friends that you meet at HG flying sites can form fellowships that last a lifetime. For me, the memories of pilots in the air with me can make each flight stand out as a particular day, and helps me to re-live those great days, even as I add more such days in the future. I believe that you will highly value their names in the future, as I do.
Serous maintenance for any hang glider should be done only by
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