Once every year or two, I have a peculiar and memorable dream while I sleep. I am quite sure I’m not alone among pilots—and likely among mere mortals as well—in occasionally dreaming that I’m flying. I don’t mean flying in an aircraft or manipulating the controls—although I have those dreams too. I mean bird dreams, minus the molting and the worm diet—just pure, joyful, unadulterated flight, wheeling over the earth with absolute freedom, borne on unseen wings.
Taking Wing: To Fly like an Eagle
Key Takeaways:
- The author, an airline pilot, fulfills a lifelong dream of bird-like flight by trying tandem hang gliding in Rio de Janeiro during a layover.
- Despite a terrifying launch, the actual flight is described as exhilarating, surprisingly stable, and naturally controlled by weight-shifting, perfectly replicating his recurring "bird dreams."
- The brief but memorable hang gliding experience, particularly the sensation of wind and lift, reinforces his passion for soaring and prompts him to commit to getting a traditional glider rating.
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