The United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association ''(USHPA)'' is a

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

supporting foot-launched soaring flight in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. It began in 1971 as the

Southern California Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and Cultural area, cultural region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. It includes the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the second most po ...

Hang Gliding Hang gliding is an air sport or recreational activity in which a pilot flies a light, non-motorised foot-launched heavier-than-air aircraft called a hang glider. Most modern hang gliders are made of an aluminium alloy or composite frame covered ...

Association and became national in scope by the mid-1970s. When

paragliding Paragliding is the recreational and competitive adventure sport of flying paragliders: lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched glider aircraft with no rigid primary structure. The pilot sits in a harness or lies supine in a cocoon-like 'po ...

became popular in the U.S., the American Paragliding Association was formed. That eventually merged into the USHPA (then called the U.S. Hang Gliding Association). In 2006, paragliding was added to the organization name to reflect its growing contingent of paraglider pilot members. USHPA is the

Fédération Aéronautique Internationale The (; FAI; en, World Air Sports Federation) is the world governing body for air sports, and also stewards definitions regarding human spaceflight. It was founded on 14 October 1905, and is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland. It maintai ...

recognized body representing motorless

hang gliding Hang gliding is an air sport or recreational activity in which a pilot flies a light, non-motorised foot-launched heavier-than-air aircraft called a hang glider. Most modern hang gliders are made of an aluminium alloy or composite frame covered ...

and

competition and records in the United States. The organization provides a

pilot An aircraft pilot or aviator is a person who controls the flight of an aircraft by operating its directional flight controls. Some other aircrew members, such as navigators or flight engineers, are also considered aviators, because they a ...

proficiency program for foot-launched soaring pilots and instructors. It is available at the organization's website.

External links

{{Portal bar, Aviation, United States
USHPA - The US Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association Website
Non-profit organizations based in the United States Hang gliding Paragliding 1971 in aviation USHPA founded. Aviation history of the United States