Hang Gliders Ride the Wind From Bliss to ‘Sheer Terror’

Charlestown — Norwich resident Jay Whitehair describes hang gliding like this: “I think of it as a roller coaster you can steer precisely that drops and rises for thousands of feet and you can ride it for hours on end.”

He also tells people that hang gliding provides “extended hours of blissful flying interrupted by moments of sheer terror.”

Whitehair is one of many who take advantage of the activities offered at Morningside Flight Park in Charlestown. He has flown on and off for the last 35 years, returning to Morningside recently to get recertified.

“When you fly, if you take a long break, it’s good to go back to the training hills,” Whitehair said. “We’re actually fortunate to have a place like Morningside right in our backyard.”

There has been an increase in people who want to learn how to paraglide, said Dillon Woods, who works at Morningside. “It’s part of the freedom of being in control,” Woods said. “Every flight you take is a solo flight. It’s that level of freedom associated with traveling, making your own decisions.”

That’s what appeals to Whitehair, as well.

“Most people think of hang gliding as an extreme sport, but I look at it as a kind of Zen,” he said. “To me, it’s the ultimate freedom. Flying is the ultimate freedom.”

And while flying may be intimidating at first, it is worth it.

“The first few lessons can be hard,” Woods said. “It’s a lot of new information to take in. Stick with it.”

Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221. Charles Hatcher can be reached at photo@vnews.com or 603-727-3230.