Hang gliding across the UK

The beginning of my hang gliding adventure.



My name is Shola Ogunlokun, I am married with children, and I'm about to embark on a hang gliding adventure which is probably going to be the hardest challenge of my lifetime.

I was born in London, but left the UK when I was in primary school, spending the next couple of years growing up and studying in Nigeria. I returned to London in 1991 and since then I have been confined to the rigours of metropolitan living.

In January 2005, I decided that I would like to fly across the UK in a hang glider, meeting the local people along the way. The only quirk being I've never flown a hang glider before!

So my challenge is to learn to fly a hang glider and then fly a doodlebug hang glider from Land's End to John O'Groats!

The challenge is on!

Why?
1. This will be the achivement of a life long dream.
2. I want to encourage people from my ethnic background (Afro-Carribean) to take a risk and pursue their dreams.
3. I want to tour the UK, and meet the real people along the way.

Am I mad?

No. I have done some research into hang gliding, and I believe that this challenge is possible. I am not trying to break any records, will not do anything stupid and will only attempt to make the journey once the required training has been completed.
This website will chart my progress through various milestones of the challenge, as a detailed hang glider blog. If you have any questions or comments, please make contact by leaving a comment.

If you would like to know more about hang gliding, then visit The British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association.

Paramotor Tip to Tip 2008

Land's End to John O'Groats by Paramotor

This is just a note to wish the 6 paraglider pilots currently attempting to fly across britain in paramotors all the best with their adventure.

Tip to Tip 2008 is attempting to raise money for 2 charities The forces children's trust and some regional air ambulances.

The 6 motorised paraglider pilots took off on Jul 29 2008 from Land's End, and are currently battling the UK weather in a bid to accomplish their flying tasks.

When I do finally get round to planning my own hang glider flying adventure, I'd have a chat with these paraglider pilots to gain from their experience of their planning this event.

More details about the motorised paraglider flight from Lands End to John O'Groats can be found at www.tiptotip.co.uk

Hang Glider Airfield visit one Year on.

Exactly a year ago I had my last hang glider flight, and this last weekend I visited the Suffolk Coastal Floaters Hang Gliding club airfield in Mendlesham to see some hang gliding launches and remind me of the dream of flying across the UK in a doodlebug powered hang glider.


I didn't participate in any hang glider flying as I haven't flown for over a year due to the various reasons, I mentioned in my last hang glider blog post, and I knew my flying skills would be current enough for me to deal with hang glider safely in the conditions of a warm june afternoon.

I stayed around to watch a few hang glider tow launches, renewed my hang gliding club membership, as I could be returning to flying in the autumn when conditions are milder, and hopefully I've sorted out all outstanding personal issues.

Here is a video of some hang gliding activities from my visit to the Mendlesham airfield.

The hang gliding dream lives on

The year 2007 has come and gone, and I didn't do much as far as my hang gliding flying challenge is concerned.

There were many obstacles that I had to overcome in the year, but unfortunately this really meant that I had to put my hang gliding dream on the backburner.

The year started off with family commitments stopping me getting out to the airfield, and I only managed to have one day of hang glider flying in June 2007. Later on in the year other things cropped up that meant I had to completely abandon any thoughts of hang gliding while I sorted things out.

I am still committed to making this challenge one day, and I'm praying that things will turn round soon so that I can get back on track.

In the meantime I wish all of you my hang glider flying adventure supporters the best for the year 2008.



More reading
The beginning of my hang gliding adventure.