When on Oahu in early November with friends, we did many activities. The glider ride was definitely the highlight and most unique of all. It is very professional. I was not scared and it is not scary. The pilot is in the back seat talking to you the whole way. He gets a feel on how you are doing, You don't use headsets because there is no roar of an engine. Just peaceful, quiet gliding over the beautiful mountains and ocean below.

I am a powered-airplane pilot who wanted some glider time in one of the most beautiful locations for it: North Shore, Oahu. These folks are professional yet fun, organized yet casual. I flew with "Tall Don," who is indeed tall, even barefoot (he flew barefoot! :-). Fantastic ride, can't beat the views, and Don is a patient instructor (I should know: I'm an instructor too!)

Best of all, out of an already great experience: we were having so much fun playing in the thermals that Don extended my ride for about another 10-14 minutes! (Free of charge, of course) in fact, we came down only because his "office" telephoned to tell him to get back down! Someone with that many flight hours who still wants to play in the air-that's just great.

Take a glider ride. You won't be disappointed!!

My first morning in Hawaii I got up and headed to Dillingham to soar. I'd booked a 30 minute sight seeing tour as I was over the weight limit for the acrobatic flight. For some reason they're apprehensive about flying 360 degree loops with the equivalent of a human refrigerator aboard the sailplane. Go figure.

That being said, it was an incredible experience riding thermals like a freight elevator up the side of the beautiful and ancient Waianae mountains. My pilot was Big Don who was an engaging conversationalist and he was very accommodating when I asked if we could do some minor maneuvers. Basically, we'd stall where he'd pitch the nose up and bleed off airspeed until we stopped, then slide backwards, point the nose straight down and bank on the wingtip at the bottom of the dive. At the top of the stall, negative four g's and at the bottom of the dive we'd be pulling six g's. To say it was exhilarating is to play it down. It wasn't my first experience with this maneuver so no change of underwear was required.

The scenery was stunning, overlooking the North Shore and the mountains. The staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful and the experience was well worth the money.

I did make a video of the experience and posted in on Youtube to the tune of The Neville Brothers version of Fly Like an Eagle. It's not the best quality, but you get a sense of the experience. You can find it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuCRUY78fiM

I went with David on a 15 minute [seemed alot longer] aerobatic glider ride and loved every minute of it! Smooth takeoff and landing and in between...WOW, nothing like loops and wingovers to get your heart pumping [took me 2 hours to come off my high]. David was great, talking me through every maneuver while keeping things light with jokes and pointing out sites. The flight was not in anyway violent or jolting and the loops were not as bad as most of the roller coasters I have been on, so don't let anything stop you from doing this FANTASTIC flight. My total cost was $162 and was worth every penny.