First Flight: Gal Bar-or

Gal sent me his first flight story. Send me yours. Here's Gal's…

My first solo flight was very much like that day in France, I think it was 1987 or 88, when I ran up to the bungee jumping rig, thinking I was getting in line, but in fact I was first and every one else was just watching! Before I knew what was happening, I was on top of a 150' crane, with a French guy yelling "Go! Go!" In my ears...

Well, my first paragliding flights were like that - I met someone from a Santa Barbara outfit out at their training hill; he showed me how to get in a harness, and then how to build a wall. At that point, he helped me pull into a reverse launch, turn around, and then he pushed me towards the rapidly dropping edge... I remember being shocked at the paraglider lifting me off the ground, and before I knew what was happening, I was airborne, with the instructor yelling directions at me from the top of the hill... I got up around 100', and then did a running flare/landing at the bottom - boy I was hooked! I went ahead and did 8 more of the same, with both forward and reverse launches! By the time the day was done, I was exhausted, but the feeling of that first take-off never left my body.