The trick to flying, as Douglas Adams pointed out, is to throw yourself at the ground and miss. We can't do that forever, but the use of ground effect should allow us to throw ourselves down hills and avoid hitting the ground until after we reach the bottom.

A pair of wings will be attached to your back, large enough to exploit ground effect and enable you to glide down the hill. Attached to your knees will be a pair of wheels/skids in order to slow to a stop after reaching the bottom of the hill - coming down even a small hill should provide be enough to accelerate one to over 30 miles per hour.
-- Selky, Apr 08 2017

Surely you've all seen this one by now. https://www.youtube...watch?v=TWfph3iNC-k
Sail, indeed. [RayfordSteele, Apr 10 2017]

So, a kind of hang ekranoplan?
-- Wrongfellow, Apr 08 2017


Hmm. A great many firt attempts at hang gliding are effectively this.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Apr 08 2017


Of Course at "The Hill" you'd have all the rising hot air from Senate and Congress you might need to stay aloft . ( You would need to schedule your gliding times to match the debate schedule. )
-- popbottle, Apr 08 2017


A uniform, even slope would be best; an inactive* volcanic cone would serve. However, the ash is uncomfortably abrasive so serious protective clothing would be required, and wheels wouldn't work - skids would be better.

*An active cone would probably be a bit too exciting, even for the most ardent thrill-seeker.
-- 8th of 7, Apr 09 2017


You'll basically spend a day or so doing this while training for a paragliding license. I would presume the same for hang-gliding, although I'm not so sure about those death machines.

Not so sure there's a big ground effect at play, not until you have a good Anabatic wind in your favour.

Frankly, a paraglider wing is simpler, safer (well, kinda), and more easily transportable than a big rigid wing anyway.
-- Custardguts, Apr 09 2017


Wingsuit video anyone?
-- RayfordSteele, Apr 10 2017



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