There is no doubt that outdoor recreational opportunities are one of the biggest draws of choosing North Carolina as a vacation destination. Even the locals will tell you that when you visit Lenoir & the NC foothills, you’ll have no issues finding ways to enjoy this amazing area. What you might not have thought about is that you don’t have to spend all your time on the ground. You can soar like an eagle above the amazing sights, too!
Imagine fishing or kayaking along the Catawba River after having seen it from the sky during a tandem hang gliding experience. Imagine hiking, camping, or enjoying off-roading in areas you saw from the sky. Or perhaps do it the other way around so you can spot which areas you might want to experience on foot.
The hang gliding experience with Thermal Valley Hang Gliding involves a tandem flight with an experienced USHPA-Certified instructor. The flight begins by being towed by the Dragonfly to the desired altitude where the glider is released into free flight. Your instructor will give you ample opportunity to handle the flight, if you desire, taking over when it’s time to land. The length of your hang gliding flight depends on the starting altitude. The standard flight lasts between 8 and 12 minutes. You get roughly 5 additional minutes for each 500-foot altitude increase you request.
Hang gliding is an experience you’ll never forget. However, if you want to memorialize the experience forever, consider purchasing an HD video of your flight. Thermal Valley also offers hang gliding training, refresher training, and other services.