By Cameron Beltran, Lauren Justice and Cooper Loftin
“For once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return.”
-Leonardo Da Vinci
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a… reckless daredevil jumping from a cliff?
Cheesy? Maybe. But these daredevils are hang gliding enthusiasts on a hunt for the thrill and can be seen any time soaring through the sky in the valley.
Believe it or not, people do this for fun. Adrenaline chasers come from all over to experience Chattanooga’s scenic views in the Lookout Valley from thousands of feet high while they hang glide.
The views of the Scenic City alone are more than enough reason to jump.
Jordan Stratton of Lookout Mountain Flight Park says, “Hang gliding isn’t that hard to learn”. Anyone can do it without experience, all they need to bring is confidence. Controlling the hang glider is all about body weight. A shift to the left, you’ll go left. A shift to the right, you’ll go right. “Pretty basic stuff”, says Stratton.
The initial fear is reasonable, you are jumping out into the sky. Stratton reassured that hang gliding safety has come a long way since the frequent accidents of the 1970s. “We do hang checks and you yourself check that your harness is on properly.” He noted that a hang glider is stronger than an aircraft, which is enough reassurance for anyone terrified of heights. “They’re incredibly strong and durable.”
Wing Man Weekend competition is a chance for new pilots to compete with experienced pilots with their skills. Anyone can come watch. The company also does a sort of show on holidays like Independence Day and Halloween.
“I really love seeing how high I can get. My longest flight is 4 and a half hours, back and forth over Chattanooga.” Passion for the flight is what drives the instructors. Going to work never feels like work. “There’s nothing like flying over the mountain.”
We live in a crazy, fun world full of opportunities to break out of the comfort zone. Hang gliding is safe, fun, and an experience unlike any other. Don’t be afraid to jump!