There are some people who don’t know about Quest Air. And then there are hang glider pilots. In March I made the trek to Quest\u00a0as an aspiring tandem pilot. My trip was a whirlwind visit. A red eye flight to arrive early, and then leaving late after only four\u00a0days. Despite the brevity, the weather cooperated and the trip proved\u00a0successful,\u00a0earning me a tandem rating.<\/p>\n
This is the Disney World of hang gliding, with a cast of characters to match and nonstop fun. While they may\u00a0not have Space Mountain or tea cups or Cinderella’s castle, pilots are entertained with\u00a0great flying, a Swiss Family Robinson like hangout, an alligator in the pond, and tug pilots who I swear forgot how to frown. Who needs a monorail? Who needs a rail at all?<\/p>\n
Sure wish I could have stayed longer. I will be back (and since I began writing this post I have).<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/annaeppink.com\/avianna\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/10404393_10152618078825974_1062057559978054221_n.jpg\")
<\/a>An awesome time with some awesome folk<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Cheers after some successful tandeming<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A Final Flight in San Diego (for a while)<\/strong><\/p>\n My last flight in San Diego could not have given me better memories of the place I love, and love to fly.\u00a0Flying from our most routine site, Horse, it was not long before we realized the day would be magical. Though it was still only March, conditions were beginning to turn on. The handful of\u00a0San Diego pilots came out to fly, plus\u00a0even some Crestline<\/a> friends made the trip down. Super wonderful to have more pilots than usual.<\/p>\n With our wings aloft in the cool spring air, the wind became our co-pilot. We gently climbed. We climbed some more. And then some more. Having left my vario at home, I had no idea how high we were. A\u00a0pilot with radio issues made it difficult to communicate. I think I could make out someone say 11,000. More than enough! I and two of the Crestline pilots committed to going over the back. In triangle formation the three of us, wing to wing, with noticeable smiles on each of our faces, drifted downwind toward Laguna Mountain.<\/p>\n Running into a headwind slowed our progress, but not until we had each traveled 20 miles or more. Some of us had firsts and personal bests. Touching down on the desert valley floor, I\u00a0soaked up my surroundings, my flight, and in a way said my goodbyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Non-Blue\u00a0Highways<\/strong><\/p>\n Dunlap, Fort Funston, Ed Levin, Mt. Tam, Inspo, Lookout Mountain (CO), Raven’s Roost, Tobacco Row.<\/p>\n Eight more sites added to my collection. North through California, a stopover in Boise, down through Utah and Colorado, then east to Virginia and up to Massachusetts. You can read more about my road trip on my earlier posts. Part 1<\/a>. Part 2<\/a>. Part 3<\/a>. Part 4<\/a>.<\/p>\n Such an incredible trip.<\/p>\n The return trip included much less flying, but much more family. And for that I’m thankful.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hang Glide New England \u2014\u00a0New Braintree, Massachusetts<\/strong><\/p>\n Miles away, on the opposite corner of the United States, my old life was far behind. I was a tandem pilot now.<\/p>\n Winding my way through the lush forests and rolling hills, after a month of driving I pull up to the hangars at the small airport in central Massachusetts. A couple Cessnas and other small aircraft line the runway, however it’s the Dragonfly toward the end of the runway that gets my attention.<\/p>\n “Set up your glider!” I’m told after less than a minute of arriving. I’m tired and need to relax, but pilot peer pressure can be fierce and the soaring pilots overhead beckon me skyward.<\/p>\n Pulling out my Sport 2 from my quiver, I’m soon aloft enjoying the great view from my new office. A corner windowed office has nothing on this\u00a0view. A gracefully wandering river borders the airport. To the west is\u00a0a large reservoir providing a great water scene and incredible sunsets. North is Mt. Monadnock one of the higher peaks nearby, and northeast is Mt. Wachusett. To the east sits Boston. On a clear day we can easily see the entire state and much of the surrounding ones. No matter how many flights I took, each one felt as if I was dreaming a spectacular dream.<\/p>\n The summer was one of cherished memories of great fun full of rewarding tandem flights, introducing many people to the sport, correcting the many misconceptions people have\u2014basically being an ambassador for hang gliding\u2014and teaching already experienced pilots to aerotow. I lived and breathed hang gliding. I lived.<\/p>\n A short selection of my wonderful experiences:<\/p>\n And of course I had many memorable tandems, including:<\/p>\n You could call us Hang Glide New Greenland<\/p><\/div>\n Sure, at times we may have seemed more like a flying circus, but it was my summer circus family.<\/p>\n Then, all too quickly, the month\u00a0was October and the season was winding down. One of the last mornings saw\u00a023 degrees on the thermometer, a sure sign it was time for this bird to migrate south for the winter.\u00a0I departed the first week of November, seeking both warmer climes and climbs (groan).<\/p>\n I can honestly say I will always look fondly at this summer experience. Absolutely no regrets. Many thanks to Rhett for taking a chance with me and teaching me the ins and outs of being a tandem pilot.<\/p>\n Home Sweet Home<\/strong><\/p>\n Finally after eight and a half months, mile signs to San Diego decreased to 0. Other than a short stopover in San Francisco to fly Funston, the return trip saw little flying, but included Thanksgiving with family. In April, I left San Diego with a slight fear of the unknown, and returned with great memories, new friends, a new glider, and a new harness too. What an incredible trip! And yet it felt so nice to be home once again. Until the next adventure…<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n
\n
<\/a>