Amelia Earhart said, “You haven't seen a tree until you've seen its shadow from the sky.” Typically, I couldn't disagree with her more.
I am afraid of heights. Actually, make that petrified. When I was a kid, a family friend put me on his shoulders, told me to put my arms out and said, “Look! You're flying!” This did not amuse me. I grasped for dear life, dug my fingernails into the poor man's shoulders and squealed, “If this is flying, I never want to go on a plane!”
My general thoughts on heights and flying haven't changed much. So, when reader and hang-gliding aficionado Dan Arndt contacted The Insider and attempted to sell us on hang gliding at Morningside Flight Park in Charlestown, I was ready to call him crazy. However, since The Insider constantly strives to make its reporters feel as awkward and uncomfortable as possible, I knew I would be hang gliding in no time.
For those not familiar with the sport, a hang glider is an aircraft without a motor that can be launched either by foot from a hill or behind something such as a boat or another aircraft. The person in the glider flies by shifting his or her weight to alter the glider's center of gravity, control ling direction and speed. If this sounds scientific and confusing, then a tandem flight, where you're hooked into the hang glider with an instructor, is probably your best option.
I was paired with one of the best instructors America has to offer for my tandem flight. I'm not just being complimentary – my instructor, Steve Prepost, was named instructor of the year in 2008 by the United State Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association. He was nominated by students and other pilots, so I knew I was in safe hands. Furthermore, Steve's also one of the few instructors out there who makes teaching hang gliding a full-time, year-round gig. He hangs out at Morningside until the winter and then migrates down to sunny Florida to teach at the Wallaby Ranch flight park outside of Orlando. The man lives and breathes hang gliding.
After learning all about the man who would have my life in his hands, I felt a little better. But first, I got to watch two other people go up into the sky and I thought to myself, “Holy moly, that's high” and immediately began to feel queasy. I shared my fears with Steve. He explained that most people aren't afraid of heights, but rather they are afraid of falling.
“When we lay down in the harnesses, we are supported immediately from takeoff to landing so you never get that “falling feeling,” he said. “When the air is smooth, the flying sensation is smoother than any road you've driven down and when it's rough it reminds me of being in a boat on the ocean, except with an incredible view.”
I didn't quite buy what he said about it being as smooth as a car or boat ride, but he sounded sincere. Once I was harnessed and we were hooked up to the air plane by rope that would be towing us, I couldn't do much else except take a deep breath and tell myself to enjoy the ride.
The flight up felt a little rocky but Steve told me in advance that it would feel that way, so I didn't panic. After the initial launch, things began to mellow. Steve pointed out such views below us as the Connecticut River and the Green Mountains in Vermont. On a clear day we would have also seen the White Mountains, but on this particular morning it was a little cloudy.
Steve continued to chat amicably about hang gliding, the clouds around us and what we were seeing, which helped me focus more on enjoying the flight instead of pondering impending doom. Plus, he kept asking how I was feeling to made sure I wasn't secretly having a panic attack behind his back.
Typically, a tandem flight at Morningside brings you up to 2,500 feet, but today we were going to go up to approximately 3,300 feet. Katie, who came along for moral support and to take photos, was going to meet us in the sky by plane for a few ariel shots. To do this, the tow plane pilot, Rhett Radford, had to release us at a higher altitude so he would have enough time to fly back down, get Katie and come back.
Although we were released gently from the plane, I still gasped in terror, realizing that we were now on our own. Steve assured me “separation anxiety” was normal. Once my heart stopped attempting to leap out of my chest, I looked at the serene world below us. Everything looked so calm, quiet and beautiful. Things didn't seem so scary. He was right – since I didn't have the sensation of falling, I wasn't as afraid.
We glided along and waited for Katie and Rhett to return. When Katie finished doing her photography thing, Steve and I began the landing process. The way down was considerably more relaxing than the way up as we slowly glided toward land. With the wind in my face, I understood why Steve compared hang gliding to being on a boat. Once we landed, I looked up at the sky and couldn't believe I was ever up there.
Would I do it all over again? Absolutely. I suppose Miss Earhart was right all along, although I think a tree looks just as lovely from the ground, too.
How to get started:
I would suggest hang gliding to anyone who has been itching to do something daring but feels unsettled at the thought of doing something like skyping. A tandem flight at Morningside is $155, and the park also offers lessons starting at $125. Morningside is the only flight park in New England, which makes it a Concordian’s lone option unless you want to travel to New York.
Steve recommends scheduling your flight between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., before the wind gets strong from the midday thermals (the rising air caused by heating from below) or in the evening after 4 p.m. when the thermals mellow out.
For more information about Morningside Flight Park, 357 Morningside Lane, Charlestown, visit flymorningside.com or call 542-4416.
While you’re there:
As luck would have it, our stomachs were settled enough after our skyward jaunt that we could handle eating lunch. We asked Steve and Rhett for a couple of suggestions and settled on Ramunto’s, 71 Broad St., in Claremont. We split a giant delicious pizza. Seriously, you should eat there – your taste buds will thank you. Also, it was a nice way to relax after a busy, slightly harrowing morning, unless you count the bee sting Katie sustained afterward. (Why, bee, why?)
If you’re making a day of it, do some exploring in the Sunapee/New London area. Pretty lakes and cute downtowns await.
When you get a little closer to home, stop in at Beech Hill Farm, 107 Beech Hill Road, Hopkinton, for ice cream. While you’re there, say hello to the goats. They like to be petted.
