I just want to fly

"The desire to reach for the sky runs deep in our human psyche." ~Cesar Pelli

This must explain my recently developing intense desire to fly. Well, more to the point, I want to learn how to paraglide. I don't know how I missed this, paragliding is truly amazing! It seems to be one of the closest forms of flight man has ever developed to mimic that of birds. Not in a mechanical or structural sense but more so in the action of leaving the ground at will and gliding through the air and riding thermal columns of air. All on little more than a cleverly designs wing made of fabric and some rope.

If you know me, then you know that's a rather strange notion for me to have. This is because I have a tremendous fear of flying. More accurately, I have a fear of flying in airplanes. Truthfully, I'm not even sure that's entirely accurate. It is the big commercial jetliners that freak me out the most. There is something about not being able to see where I'm going I find most unnerving. I've flown twice on a commercial jet and in both instances the flight were rough. Turbulence, and I'm not talking about a bit of shaking about but those moments where it feel like the bottom falls out and the thing just drops...terrifying! Then there was the landing in heavy cross winds. Here's a good example, but this still can't relate what it's like being in the jet looking out your window feeling pretty sure you're about to die. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X_7Xt2ga-s&feature=PlayList&p=95A6145B4A67E4F6&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=3


I think these thoughts of flying have come to the foreground of my mind due to my recent exposure the the Steam Punk Subculture. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampunk Some of the imagery and mythology of the subculture revolves around the airship-blimp-zeppelin forms of flight. There are some wonderful short stories at http://www.steampunkmagazine.com/ with plots featuring characters flying these beautiful and elaborately designer airships. 

I'm pretty sure that's why I first began to look into hot air ballooning. http://www.hotairballooning.com/  For me, the peacefulness that must come from floating through the sky coasting along with the wind must be an awesome experience and something I still want to try someday.  It is however fairly expensive running $350 for and hour and a half ride for me an my wife, financially for me it is still to far out of reach for the regularity I hope to fly. Another problem for me is the need for a ground crew when piloting a balloon. It's that reason that one aspect of hot air ballooning is still very fascinating to me, it's that of the Cloud hoppers

http://www.cloudhopper.org/ This appeals to me the most because you can be all alone. Just you, your balloon and endless skies. But even at their smaller size, cloud hoppers can run well over $10,000. >insert buzzer sound here!<

After trolling the net looking up info on ballooning I stumbled upon some videos of paragliding on youtube  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33nP5Rm0cu8   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgurmswIYBw and was instantly hooked! I've certainly wanted to experience many different things before but not like this. I can think of nothing more exhilarating; nothing more fulfilling; not more freeing than paragliding. And at $250 for an into class and an entire glider set not costing more than a few thousand dollars, it is by far the most economically friendly option to boot! I was also pleased to find there are certified instructors operating a school only 2 hours away from here.  http://www.atlantaparagliding.com/

In my dreams it's as if the journey has already begun. Now I've only to prepare myself for the dream to become reality. Will once be enough or will it be as wonderful as I imagine. Will it become the life long passion I feel it very well could be.

 "When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return." ~Leonardo Da Vinci