Dune Hang Gliding with Kitty Hawk Kites

First in Flight

North Carolina was first in flight, don’t let anyone (especially your friends from Ohio) tell you differently! On December 17, 1903 brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first controlled flight of powered aircraft at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. From there they continued to make discoveries and advancements that would change aviation, and the world, forever. Years later, the Outer Banks are still world renowned for their hang gliding, parasailing, and kite flying. When we were invited to visit OBX to experience Dune Hang Gliding with Kitty Hawk Kites, I knew I had to channel my inner Wilbur and hit the dunes!

Kitty Hawk Kites gives you wings

Kitty Hawk Kites has been helping people learn to fly since 1974 having the largest hang-gliding school in the world. They accommodate students ages 4 and older, regardless of physical fitness or abilities. If you have the desire to fly, then they will make it happen! I chose the “Dune Hang Gliding” package, which takes place at their training facility in Jockey’s Ridge State Park. This is a great spot to learn because the dunes provide adequate height, and the sand makes a soft cushion for any crash landings. Which I can assure you I had my fair share of.

The lesson starts with ground school, where you go over the fundamentals of gliding. This includes your equipment, kite, terminology, control inputs, as well as launching, flying, and landing techniques. Each class pairs five students with one instructor, so they are ready to answer any questions that you might have. Megan told me she would have happily joined me if we stayed on the ground the whole time.

Get To Know
GET TO KNOW: The Outer Banks with an Air Boat Adventure

[PAID CONTENT] Here’s another great way to experience The Outer Banks before and after the rush of tourist season is upon us – get ready ladies to put your hair up! Airboat, anyone?

Megan, founder of NC Eat & Play and her son Cameron on an airboat with Outer Banks Adventures.

One of our favorite experiences we’ve had in The Outer Banks recently was an airboat tour with Outer Banks Adventures. You can see from this picture just how cool Cameron thought it was out there on the water.


Thanks to owner, Jamie Moore, we were taken to see Bodie Island Lighthouse from a new perspective, dolphin seeing, unique small islands, and seashells. There is no better way to see all of this while having the thrill of a lifetime speeding over the waters. It was so much fun!


Outer Banks Adventures offers tour packages in hourly increments of 1 to 2 hours, paddle boarding, and sailing tours. If you’re traveling to the Outer Banks, this is a definite addition to your Outer Banks bucket list!!

Time to fly!

After you’ve passed ground school you can move on to flight school, and the real fun begins! Travel the 200-yard walkway through the sand to the base of the dunes, and then climb to the top as the instructor carries the glider. If you’re like me, you will probably have already forgotten everything from ground school. But no need to worry, that’s what the instructors are for. They will help make sure your harness is set up correctly, and give tips and advice as needed. They also can hold on to each wing with tethers in case you gain too much altitude or need to be directed back on course.  Flights could be anywhere from 30 to 100+ yards while gliding 5 to 15 feet above sand. That may not sound like a lot, but steering behind the glider is amazingly exhilarating.

My first flight ended in a crash landing. I pulled the bar in instead of pushing out, which caused me to go into a nosedive. I guess I was too used to video game controls. I came out unscathed, besides a face full of sand and a bruised ego. Each time however I got more and more comfortable and the last few flights I was landing on my feet. It was an awesome feeling soaring through the sky, watching as the sand passed beneath me. I originally thought I would want to be higher in the air, but after feeling the power of the glider behind the wind decided that 15 feet above the ground was high enough for my first time.

The standard beginner lesson includes five flights, but my instructor was cool and hooked me up with a few more. The whole process takes about 3 hours, which flies by (pun intended). By the end I was exhausted and sore, but proud of what I was able to accomplish as Meg and Dean cheered me on from atop the dunes. You can find more information and pricing options on their website: https://www.kittyhawk.com/adventures/hang-gliding/hang-gliding-lessons/

Kitty Hawk Kites provides a unique OBX experience

If you’re looking for an OBX adventure that is different from your normal beach activities, look no further than Kitty Hawk Kites! My hang-gliding experience was just the right mixture of thrills and adrenaline while still being safe. No matter your age, size, or skill, they will accommodate your needs. I gained a newfound respect for the Wright Brothers and what they managed to do over 100 years ago and had a blast while doing it.

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