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Home » Travel » Outer Banks Hang Gliding Adventure

Outer Banks Hang Gliding Adventure

By: Liz  /  Published: March 2, 2020  /  Updated: June 8, 2020  /   Leave a comment

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If you love adventure, add an Outer Banks hang gliding experience at Jockey’s Ridge to your bucket list! I tried it for the first time last summer and it was incredible! Kitty Hawk Kites operates the largest hang gliding school in the country in the OBX, making it the perfect place to try hang gliding for the first time.

It might sound scary, but it really wasn’t. Granted, I’m not afraid of heights, so I was excited, not scared, but here’s the thing… beginners don’t really go that high. In fact, the instructors are holding onto ropes attached to the glider so you don’t have to worry!

Hang gliding in the Outer Banks was all types of fun just above the dunes. I promise you it’s not like when I went hang gliding in the mountains (which was also amazing but I was way, way up in the sky).

Outer Banks hang glidingThis story was inspired by a media trip I took to the Outer Banks. All opinions and experiences are my own.

Outer Banks Hang Gliding at Jockey’s Ridge

Prospective fliers meet at the Kitty Hawk Kites gliding school inside Jockey’s Ridge State Park. The year-round winds over the tall dunes make for perfect flying conditions. It’s so cool knowing you’re gliding in the same skies Orville and Wilbur Wright flew in for their early aviation experiments.

You’ll start out with a quick story chronicling the invention of the hang glider by Francis Rogallo. His first prototype glider wing was made from his wife’s floral kitchen curtains.

father of hang gliding Francis Rogallo

Then the instructor explains how your hang gliding experience will go and you’ll watch a safety video.

You’ll learn how to clip into the harness, stand in a velociraptor stance at take-off, make small directional adjustments in the air and land on your feet.

There’s a lot to take in, and you might worry you’ll forget something important, but the instructors are literally by your side the entire time telling you exactly what you need to do and when, so don’t worry. 

instruction at Kitty Hawk Hang Gliding School

Velociraptor stance

After the training, we walked out to the dunes and up to the top of the dune we’d be launching from. Our lead instructor flew the glider for a demonstration and then we were up.

walking to hang gliding launch site

view of Jockey's Ridge Stae Park

I was the first to go in my group and we ran through a list of safety checks to ensure I was harnessed and positioned properly. The checks are performed before every flight.

I got in my velociraptor stance and got ready to run. 

dinosaur stance for hang gliding in dunes

We were lucky that the winds were great that day and I only had to take one or two steps before the wind lifted me up in the air. 

first hang gliding flight at Jockey's Ridge

It’s all over pretty quickly but it’s SO much fun!

Jockey's Ridge hang gliding first flight

I even managed to stick my landing on the first try.

landing when hang gliding

Immediately after my first flight, I walked right back up the dune to take a second flight.

Everyone goes twice in the beginning to encourage muscle memory, then fliers alternate a flight at a time.

headed up the dune to hang glide
In most cases, each person will take five flights, but I was really lucky there were just two of us in our group so we each took eight flights!

As my confidence and skill level improved, they began to let me go a little higher each time. Of course, I’m sure the wind had something to do with it too but I like to think I was improving and earning sky time rewards. 😉

I think the below pic shows me at my highest and you can see I’m tethered the entire time so it’s a completely controlled flight.

hang gliding in OBX with Kitty Hawk Kites

I absolutely loved going hang gliding in the Outer Banks and I totally recommend it!

the thrill of hang gliding in the Outer Banks

The instructors are incredibly well-trained, kind and encouraging even after having to run the glider back up the dune between every flight. They never stopped smiling and laughing with us.

If you’re the tipping kind (and they definitely deserve it), plan ahead and bring something to thank them. 

A group of people standing on top of a sandy beach with hang glider

Our fabulous instructors: Ryan on right, Charlie on left.

Watch me in action during my OBX hang gliding experience. So much fun!

After your Outer Banks hang gliding experience has ended, you’ll have the option of purchasing a video package with corresponding still images and it will be delivered to you via email in a couple of days. I’m so glad I bought mine!

You’ll also receive a flight certificate and documentation with date, location, glider type and flight conditions in case you decide to continue your training.

Kitty Hawk Kites Hang Gliding School

Know Before You Go:

Wear light, comfortable, stretchy clothes so you can move easily and run. I don’t recommend shorts because the harness loops can ride up and make it uncomfortable. I wore stretch ankle leggings and it was perfect. 

The sand can get ridiculously hot so wear sneakers and socks (or sand socks). 

Bring several bottles of water per person. You’ll go through it… believe me. There’s no shade out there and if you don’t have water, bring cash to purchase water from the vending machine. 

Wear sunscreen and if your eyes are light-sensitive, wear sunglasses. The glare off the dunes can be intense.

You can bring a backpack with you to carry your water and phone and leave it by the launch point on the dunes. 


Kitty Hawk Kites Hang Gliding School

302 Carolista Dr, Nags Head, NC 27959

Visit the website for more info and to book a reservation.

me between hang gliding runs

One of my favorite things about living in North Carolina is being so close to the Outer Banks and having the chance to do things like go hang gliding at Jockey’s Ridge.

Every time I visit North Carolina’s beautiful barrier islands, I check off a few more must do’s from the official Outer Banks Bucket List (see and print it here), and other than eating local seafood (I hate seafood, sorry), I’m gonna check off all the things to do in the OBX, baby. And maybe even add some of my own extras!

For more info on the Outer Banks, visit OuterBanks.org

Pin this post to Pinterest!

Outer Banks Hang Gliding at Jockey's Ridge

Check out my other posts about The Outer Banks:

Vacation Planning Tips for the Outer Banks 

Where To Stay in the Outer Banks

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge

Roanoke Island Festival Park

Bodie Island Lighthouse

Horseback Riding on the Beach

Related topics
North Carolina Traveladventure hang gliding Jockey's Ridge State Park Kitty Hawk Hang Gliding OBX Outer Banks sand dunes South

About Liz

Liz is a midwestern mom gone southern (accent in transition). She lives in North Carolina and loves cooking, baking, traveling, movies, crafts, hot and cold tea, wine, pizza and the occasional nap. She also revels in the fact she's a crazy cat lady.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alissa A Apel says

    March 3, 2020 at 9:03 pm

    I don’t know how I’d do. I’m not the best with moving heights. But you look like you had a blast. A huge smile on your face.

    Reply
  2. Ginny says

    March 2, 2020 at 3:52 pm

    So glad you had a great experience. Thank you for writing such a lovely article. My son, Ryan (white shirt) was your instructor he truly loves the sport and loves passing on his passion to others.

    Reply
    • Liz says

      March 2, 2020 at 7:04 pm

      He was the absolute BEST instructor. I’m so grateful he was there that day! I wanted to mention him by name but I couldn’t remember the name of his co-worker so I felt bad and didn’t include it. If you happen to know his name, let me know and I’ll put them both in the article. I hope YOU have had the chance to get out there and go hang gliding in the Outer Banks too!

      Reply
      • Ginny says

        March 2, 2020 at 11:53 pm

        Hi Liz, Yes, I had the wonderful experience of hang gliding on the dunes with Ryan as my instructor. It was truly an experience I will never forget! The instructors you had were Ryan Salvo and Charlie Trossbach. Ryan is currently the president of the Virginia Tech hang gliding club. Thank you again and I am so happy you had such a great experience.

        Reply

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I’m the founder of Eat Move Make and a North Carolina mom of two humans and six cats. I love to cook, bake, craft and travel. I’m also addicted to tea (but not sweet tea).

When I’m not creating something in my kitchen, and since my kids are now adults, I’m all about my bucket list of travel destinations and adventures.

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