One of the participants in the 2015 Hang Glider World Championship!
A big veteran with over 35 years of hang history!

Introducing this time is a big veteran with more than 35 years of hang gliding history
Mr. Yoshikatsu Tonomura, the representative of Tono Air Hang Glider School.

hang gliding Wakayama

Tono Air Hang Glider School is located in Kinokawa City, about 30 minutes by car from Wakayama City, and is a land with abundant nature near mountains and rivers.
The flight flies from a mountain called Mt. Ryumon into the sky and lands on the banks of the Kino River. The office is very close to the landing site.

Tono Air hang gliding School Mr. Uchimura

Mr. Tonomura is still active as a hang glider player and instructor.
He has appeared as a tandem (two-seater) flight instructor on the Nissan Serena TV commercial broadcast in the fall of 2014.

Mr. Tonomura has participated in 11 world championships so far, and has won multiple medals in Japanese championships.
The room we visited was decorated with many medals and trophies.

What is a hang gliding ?

How do hang gliding compete - do not many people know of it?

Hang gliders have many tournaments, both domestically and internationally,
It seems that more and more people are competing for "how quickly they can reach the goal" when they reach the high level.
I also heard that the flight distance is as long as 300km.

As the name implies, hang gliders can glide, but they cannot climb on their own.
It seems that it is necessary to find an updraft and gain height in order to fly a long distance.
――That means you need to "read the wind" to keep flying for 300km.
You will find that it takes a lot of experience to participate in the competition and get into the top ranks.

By the way, I heard that the world's top players will fly 100 km in less than 2 hours.

About hang gliding School

Mr. Tonomura is not only one of the hang gliders, but also runs the school as an instructor.
Even on the day I visited this time, there was a person who came to learn hang gliding under Mr. Tonomura.

Hang gliding begins with learning takeoff, flight, and landing attitudes.
Compared to paragliders, which are often raised in pairs of hang gliders as one of the events to enjoy the sky, longer pre-training is required.
According to Mr. Tonomura, I heard that it would take 15 to 30 minutes just to give a lecture on the attitude of a simulated flight device.

However, when you fly into the sky, you can get a panoramic view of the surrounding scenery from a height that you wouldn't normally be able to enjoy.
It's also different from what you see from an airplane, because you actually feel the wind with your skin.
Those who come to the experience will be able to enjoy a special experience.

Cooperation with the bird human contest

Under Mr. Tonomura, I heard that the pilot of the bird-human contest will practice overnight.
The Bird-Human Contest is a competition to compete for flight distance and flight time with a self-made human-powered airplane.
Yomiuri TV is held every year, and it is familiar as a program.
I heard that Mr. Tonomura is also cooperating with the management of the bird-human contest.

On the day we visited, there were pilots who participated in the bird-human contest.
It's a "bicycle" from Hiroshima to Wakayama, and it's a tsuwamono that took "three days".
Just because you can come to the expedition even if it takes so much time, you can see the depth of trust in Mr. Tonomura.

After finishing the interview this time

After the interview was finished, Mr. Okamura's wife was treated with tempura of the wild plants and was delicious with the editor.

Impressed by the atmosphere of Tonoa people 's home atmosphere, we left Tono Air hang gliding School.

Mr. Tonomura also participated in the World Championships held in Mexico from February 28th to March 13th, 2015 as one of the representative players.
Mr. Tonomura is 62 years old (as of March 2015). It is said that he will continue to be active as a hang glider player.
I am grateful for the precious time I have had this time, and I would like to continue to support Mr. Tonomura.

If you do a hang gliding in Kansai

At the Tono Air Hang Glider School we visited this time, you can have a tandem (two-seater) experience.
It's a little over an hour away from Tennoji in Osaka, so it's a school that you can go on a day trip.
If you live in Kansai, why don't you visit it once?
Children can enjoy it like Serena's commercial, so it is recommended as an activity that you can experience with your family!

Tono Air hang gliding School (TonoAir)

Tono Air Hang Glider School can be reached from Osaka in 90 minutes by car or train + bus. It is located in Kinokawa Flight Park, the largest flight area in western Japan.
Many flyers also come from Keihanshin, Mie, Nara and Tottori.
Even if you are a beginner, you can rest assured that you and your instructor will fly from a 600m mountain (tandem flight). Please feel free to come.
If the weather conditions are good, you may be able to see the Kii Peninsula and Setouchi.

Click here for more information and plans for Tono Air Hang Glider School