We’ve got the inside scoop on the most unique hang gliding Oahu offers: powered hang gliding!
If you’re visiting Oahu and looking for a view from above, you may think a helicopter ride, traditional hang glider, or parasail may be your only options. Not true!
You have another option that combines the speed of a motor with the exhilaration of a hang glider: the powered Oahu hang glider.
What is Powered Hang Gliding?
Powered hang gliders (commonly called trikes) are essentially very light aircraft with weight-shift controls. This means you control the flight path through the sky by shifting the weight of the pod (the part in which you sit).
The aircraft are FAA-approved and typically carry two passengers (usually an instructor and a student). And they go fast! They cruise at about 70 mph to 100 mph and have an open cockpit. So, if you’re thinking about participating, keep in mind you’ll have the “wind in your hair” feeling during flight!
Where to Go Powered Hang Gliding on Oahu
On Oahu, one company currently offers powered hang glider lessons: Paradise Air. It is located at Dillingham Airfield in Waialua. Here’s what we know about their unique Oahu hang gliding experience:
Paradise Air prides itself on its safety, instructor experience, and aircraft quality. The company glides on AirBorne trikes, all of which they purchased directly from the manufacturer. The company has taken more than 12,000 first-timers flying.
Denise Sanders, who owns and operates Paradise Air with her husband, Tom, told Hawaii Aloha Travel: “Established in 2003, with over 10,000 hours flying trikes in Hawaii, all with a perfect safety record, it’s easy to see why Paradise Air is the #1 rated aerial activity on Oahu.”
Your High-Flying Guides
Now a little about the Oahu hang gliding instructors: Tom and Denise are both FAA-certified Sport Pilot Flight Instructors. In addition, Denise is an FAA-certified Light Sport Repairman for Weight Shift Control and Fixed-wing aircraft. She makes sure the fleet is in tip-top shape, and she’s a private pilot Certified Flight Instructor for Weight Shift (trikes). They are also active skydivers, BASE jumpers and hang glider pilots.
Paradise Air offers 30-minute introductory flight lessons with the option to add on flight photos or video.
Other Hawaii Hang Gliding Options
Though Paradise Air is the only powered hang gliding company on Oahu, there is another option on Maui: Hang Gliding Maui. It’s been in business since 1990 and now offers rides on its powered Airborne trike.
If you’re more drawn to old-fashioned (engine-less) hang gliding, Oahu and Maui both have multiple options for you. Contact Hawaii Aloha Travel for help booking the hang gliding experience that’s best for you!
Powered hang gliding is a fun way to soar above Oahu and enjoy the island’s beautiful North Shore landscape. So, you may want to add “flight lesson” to your Hawaii vacation to-do list!
