Monday, September 01, 2008

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.

11 comments:

FM said...

Hi my friends!!!!! Nice blog! Visit my blog. I'm Italian's pilot by hang gliding. Regard

Bankarow said...

Hello Shola,
This is Bankole. Can you please update me, are you still going on with this project?

pls email me.

Thanks

Shola said...

Bankole, my Hang Gliding project is currently on hold due to some personal circumstances, but this flying adventure is something I'd really like to do, so the dream is still alive.

My hope and Plans are that I can resume hang giding late this year or early 2010.

Thanks for your comments.

A said...

Hello Shola!

I'm very interested in your project. I'm an art student studying in London and would like to talk to you about possibly documentating your journey and preperations in some way.

If you could email me It would be greatly appreciated!

Anonymous said...

It is extremely interesting for me to read this post. Thank you for it. I like such topics and everything connected to this matter. I definitely want to read a bit more on that blog soon.

Anonymous said...

Remarkable idea

Anonymous said...

Keep on posting such themes. I like to read stories like this. Just add more pics :)

bruno coutinho said...

Dude, have you tried Hang Gliding in Rio de janeiro?? Check this out - http://hang-gliding.rioadventures.com/

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Luca Silvestri said...

I want to do the same, I have 70 hours flight with hang glider and I have a mosquito that I have never flew.

Steve Carter said...

Did you ever get to do this? I use to paraglide and always wanted to learn to fly hang gliders. Would be intrigued to know if you did an dhow you got on! :) Steve (Devon, UK)