Feeling as free as a bird
John Lang believes hang gliding is the closest a human being can get to actually feeling what it is like being a bird. The president of the Cairns Hang Gliding Club, who has only been gliding for about 12 months, says it is not unusual, too, for him to encounter avian friends while flying on breezes, high above the Far North’s rainforests and beaches. “You get up there, and you get a sea eagle or an osprey flying alongside you, and that’s truly amazing,” he said.
JOHN Lang believes hang gliding is the closest a human being can get to actually feeling what it is like being a bird.
The president of the Cairns Hang Gliding Club, who has only been gliding for about 12 months, says it is not unusual, too, for him to encounter avian friends while flying on breezes, high above the Far North’s rainforests and beaches.
“You get up there, and you get a sea eagle or an osprey flying alongside you, and that’s truly amazing,” he said. “And they do. “They see something up in the air and they investigate.
“Or if you get enough altitude, you look down and see a flock of cockatoos or something, flying underneath.”
Hang gliding, whether tandem or solo, involves a pilot being suspended in a harness below a rigid wing, which is usually an aluminium frame covered in a synthetic sail cloth.
The hang glider itself is a certified aircraft, is extremely strong in the air, and can handle heavy loads.
Those travelling between Cairns and Port Douglas will often see hang gliders taking off from Rex Lookout at Wangetti, regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful hang gliding sites.
Mr Lang said the elevated coastal location was the perfect launching pad for pilots and passengers of all skill levels to experience one of the most amazing outdoor activities in the region.
“It’s exhilarating to be airborne and to be so free and open,” he said.
“To be in the elements is just an incredible feeling.
“Once you gain a bit of altitude, you can look north, all the way up through to the Daintree.
“If you get up high enough, you can look back out across the range, towards Black Mountain and Mareeba and all of that.
“You can look south to Gordonvale. It’s just incredible.”
Mr Lang said hang gliding was a very safe activity with very low statistics recorded for serious incidents, particularly at Rex Lookout.
“For anyone who hasn’t been up to Rex to fly, or anyone who hasn’t flown in a while, we recommend that they get the guidance of one of the site officers – one of our more experienced pilots who fly there every week,” he said.
“They’ll make sure that you’re prepared, talk you through some of the basics, make sure you’re familiar with the site and what to look out for.
“There’s a lot of safety measures in place.”
To get involved in hang gliding, visit Cairns Hang Gliding Club’s website (www.cairnshangglidingclub.org) and contact a flight instructor.
A 30-minute flight will cost about $150.