Tunbridge will spend eight weeks in Europe, where he will contest the elite class-one world titles from June 15 to July 4 before entering three other international events in Spain and France.

A self-employed vehicle repairer, Tunbridge has been hang gliding competitively for the past 10 years and last year finished 23rd in the class-five world titles for rigid-wing craft.

The 44-year-old said the five-strong Australian team would push for a podium finish in the overall world title standings but his own goals differed.

"My aim at the world championships really is to go there and fly safely, have fun, enjoy the competition and do as well as I possibly can," Tunbridge said.

Flying at altitudes of up to 10,000 feet and top speeds of 120kmh, Tunbridge said the cross-country format of the world titles tested pilot endurance and meteorological expertise as well as general flying ability.

"Each day we have to complete a task and that could be between 80 and 200-plus kilometres," he said.

"Those tasks could include flying through turnpoints, and competitors get judged on distance and time."

Tunbridge is no stranger to elite competition.

He was a champion kayaker in the mid-80s before turning his hand to hang gliding. In 1985, he won the K1 state title as well as claiming the Australian crown and World Cup silver with a teammate in the K2 event.