Need more of a thrill? Off the dunes, hang gliders can experience mile high thrills at a number of different schools and launching locations along the Outer Banks.įor novice gliders who need an experienced instructor on hand, tandem hang gliding lessons are offered at the Currituck County Airport in Jarvisburg, just a few miles north of the Wright Memorial Bridge. While most adult lessons require that riders weigh at least 100 lbs., special kids lessons are also available for younger riders under 100 lbs. off the ground, and can travel as far as 100 yards. During these solo trips, gliders can soar anywhere from 5 ft. Then it's off to the Jockey's Ridge dunes via a scenic walkway that borders the park to get a handle on the wind conditions, get strapped into the safety harness, and to start solo trips across the tops of the tall sandy mountains. Novices and visitors can also experience the thrill simply by taking a lesson from a licensed and experienced hang gliding school and/or trainer, like neighboring Kitty Hawk Kites.Ī typical lesson will last three hours or so and a third of the time is typically dedicated to ground training and safety. In order to take the plunge, riders will need both a US National Park Permit as well as a United States Hang Gliding Association (USHGA) rating. A hang gliding flight launched from the top of these dunes offers amazing views of both the Roanoke Sound and Atlantic Ocean, and as a result, hang gliders have launched from Jockey's Ridge for well over 40 years. The tall sand dunes of Jockey's Ridge comprise the tallest natural dune system on the East Coast, ranging from 80 ft.
Jockey's Ridge State Park - Overwhelmingly, the most popular location for hang gliding expeditions occurs at Jockey's Ridge State Park in Nags Head. Adventure seekers can find tandem rides up to 5000 feet, launched via tow plane from Currituck County Airport or the Cotton Gin in Jarvisbrg. Tow launch sites - With a nearly constant and steady breeze blowing across the barrier islands, the Outer Banks has great conditions in several locations. The same wind and climate conditions that attracted the Wright Brothers, the migrating birds, and sports enthusiasts like daredevil Kiteboarders also lures Hang Gliders to the Outer Banks, for sky-hide rides and unparalleled ocean to sound views. Visitors can also experience the Outer Banks' inherent love of all things aerial by taking flight themselves with a day of Hang Gliding. Flight takes many forms on the Outer Banks, from the thousands of migratory birds that travel along these barrier islands to and from their winter destinations, to aviation pioneers like the Wright Brothers who launched the world's first airplane off the sand dunes of Kill Devil Hills.
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