This past weekend once again saw Paradise Hang Gliding, Inc. in action in the skies above Charlotte Harbor, Florida. With a load of guests from Wisconsin and Ft. Myers, The towboat Reel High had a full load, and with the calm winds, certainly had her work cut out for her.But the water was glassy and the blue boat did her work, getting several 1500′ altitude flights above impressive numbers of rays and considerable boat traffic. As always, Capt. Travis and mate MaryAnn did a great job of running the equipment and entertaining the guests.

Chuck and Jamie were not the types to want the typical placid tourist ride, so their instructional flight consisted largely of how to put a hang glider into a steep dive and then whip it up into some 60 degree banked turns. A couple of rapid roll reversals and tight spirals had them squealing. Indeed, if gliders could talk, I think the big Falcon 3 Tandem would have been giving us some Yee-Haws too…! The only downside to those flights is that they are over with all too soon….

Their nephew Stepehan had been a bit skeptical and wanted to see a flight or two before taking the leap himself. Steve, due to an unfortunate childhood auto accident, has some challenging disabilities. With very limited use of his left leg and almost no use of his left arm, his spirit af adventure is still quite intact. Once he made the decision to fly, the crew of PHG was determined to do whatever it would take to make it a reality for this fine young man.

It took a bit of doing to assist him onto the flight deck and into the harness, but soon we had him all cozy and wasted no time getting the glider into the sky. As we lifted off, the boatload of relatives erupted into cheers and waves as we climbed up and away. The surface of the water was like a mirror and full of 4′ rays, truly quite a sight. During the flight, we shared a very pleasant conversation during which he told me that he thought many of his friends would not believe him when he told the story.

All of us at Paradise Hang Gliding felt humbled, grateful, and honored to have helped Steve, and we hope that it was as unforgettable for him as it was for us.

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Well, the so-called high season is almost upon us once again, and here at Paradise Hang Gliding, Inc. we are more ready than ever to provide the tandem hang gliding fun for those folks from the cold climates here on their Florida vacation.

We are happy to announce the addition of a new place to operate our boat towed hang gliding operation, as well as another great surprise. Charlotte Harbor is a beautiful spot, and offers all of the customer conveniences of our other sites in Collier and Lee Counties. The beauty of this location is that the harbor is shallow and sheltered. When the good winds we like for tandem flights start whipping up big waves on the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Charlotte Harbor will have only moderate chop, perfect for what we like to do…!

Our boarding point, situated at the beautiful new Laishley Municipal Marina in Punta Gorda, has plenty to offer with lots of parking, restrooms, shops and restaurants within easy walking distance. Check out their website at http://www.laishleymarina.com

As a complimentary surprise for our guests, we are very excited to announce that we have the added attraction of operating alongside of Tim Coons’ Fabulous Affair. This vessel is a 63′ powered catamaran houseboat built for ocean-going duty, and has all the conveniences one could ever want for a day on the harbor. Currently being re-fitted as a liveaboard dive vessel and party charter boat, the Fabulous Affair is fully operational as a support vessel. Food & drink, restrooms, showers, a jacuzzi, and a large sundeck make this the perfect way to relax while waiting for your tandem hang glider flight, or swapping stories, photos and video afterward. We are sure that our guests will enjoy being aboard this fine vessel almost as much as we do.

Guests view while waiting for their tandem flight aboard the Fabulous Affair

The Fabulous Affair, upon completion of its upcoming USCG Certification, will soon be available for groups of up to 50 passengers for a variety of charters such as parties, weddings, sunset cruises, dive trips, etc. For further information please contact Tim at Fabulous Services, LLC (941)204-4102 or Scot at Paradise Hang Gliding, Inc. (239)293-2891

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