Flood, nice to see some lighter stuff.

Hang gliding, legally you do not need any licenses to fly, training is STRONGLY recommended. There is nothing to legally stop you taking the wing, and yourself to the top of a hill and jumping off it, many have done so with somewhat predictable results.

I think the certification (CAA) is weight limited, 150kg (maybe lower) as far as I am aware, a condition also being foot-launching, not necessarily landing though. Most hang gliders will start to fly at around 12 knots, some faster, some slower.
The next ‘weight-break’ being micolight/SLA at 450kg (coupled with stall speed). Foot-launched powered hang gliders and paragliders come under the jurisdiction of the BMAA(insurance…), if you chose to go the proper route and live longer than your first flight…

An EPC (Elementary Pilots Certificate) is the first step at around £500 it usually last between 3 and 5 days. Basic training with around 50/60 hill launches and top to bottom, no soaring. An Air law exam is also done at this point along with basic Meteorology. Buy a wing, £500-2500+.

A CPC (Club Pilot Certificate) comes next, with a move into soaring, thermal and ridge, 3 days usually and costing about the same at £500.
Note certificate, not license.

There are two types of harness in hang gliding, supine (feet forward) and prone (lying down). General guide to experince is 50hrs of hang gliding, then go for the power. You do need to know Air law, it’s just as applicable to hang gliding as any other user of the air. A ‘Doodlebug’ power pack will set you back around £3000 new, £1500 secondhand.
You can have all your training and be flying your own aircraft for £3000ish… Fly from your back garden if its big enough…

All you need then is a field the size of a football pitch and the landowners permission, a full tank (about an hours flying) of fuel and off you go. You are not allowed to overfly built up areas.
Surprisingly enough altitudes of 10,000feet have been achieved in these little things.

The jet powered ‘Doodlebugs’ are derivatives of the piston model. As far as I’m aware the ‘guys in the shed’ got bored one day and built the first one for a laugh, because they could. The jet engines are the same as those used by the R/C modelling crew, around 20lbs thrust with a TBO of 30/50hrs, unless the mainbearing(s) go before that.

Hang gliding with or without power is great fun and its not difficult, so long as your about average fitness and commonsense.

*For the benefit of one of our members: You cannot do air-taxi, drop parachutists, Duty-free, or do crop-dusting from it, even if you’re only being paid for the ‘flight planning’. You can carry a camera:-) *
*sarcasm mode off*

Nick.