Flying To McDonald's On My Paraglider

You might have seen Tucker Gott's classic video where he flies his paramotor to McDonald's. My daughter asked me if I could fly there on my paraglider (ie. without an engine).
Of course, I said! Any time. Some time. Maybe. Err. Here we go!
Check out my Catch A Cloud video
• I caught a cloud ... a...
Check out Tucker Gott's original on
• Flying To McDonald's O...
0:00 Paramotors vs paragliders
1:55 Launching my paraglider
4:48 McDonald's on the horizon
7:24 Sunshine and thermals!
9:00 At Cloudbase with my friends
11:03 Hamerton hollow
13:05 A break in the clouds
14:21 Landing at McDonald's
17:17 Behind the scenes
#mcdonalds #paramotor #paraglider #flywithgreg
Music licenced from Audiio:
Lie2Me (Chill Winston ft Haley Ahonen)
A World Stood Still (Drew Elliott)
Shade of Blue (Drew Elliott)
Take the Rest of My Life Off (The Runaway Club)
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[@AMJB100000000]

That sky cleared up extremely fast 😂😂 must have ridge soared until the next day haha

[@tobias.muenchen]

Yes 😢 That storyline seems to be too good - to be true!! May he should share his igc file to validate 😬😬😬🪂🪂🪂

[@paulbishop7399]

Take that Tucker! We dont need no Viterazzi :) Love it

[@Johnny-fm6hy]

Love it. You're my favorite of all the paragliding related youtubers. Always learning something from you, and it never about some outlandish attention seeking stunt for the views. Been a big fan for many years. Thank you for the awesome videos!

[@FlyWithGreg]

'some outlandish attention seeking stunt for the views' ... and then he goes and flies to mcdonalds! 🙂but it seemed like a worthy challenge on a pretty sub-epic day. I kept it deliberately long so the folk who were hoping to just whizz over to mickyD lose interest. If you've got the patience to sit through 19 minutes of beeping video, you have the patience for paragliding!

[@JohnnyFaber]

@@FlyWithGreg I started paragliding a few years back due largely to your videos. I have been enjoying it immensely 🙏👍

[@TheParamike]

Tucker Gott. This is real paragliding, but I too love motoring around. Cheers to either way of flying.

[@onewheelisbetterthan2]

Last year I taught myself to ride a 32 inch unicycle.... This year I'm getting me a set up to do some souring at the beach or maybe in the mountains I've seen places where people do this and I will do it. It's adorable for some quality gear. Eventually I'd love to do cross country. But I'm nervous flying over the mountains. I've seen snow falling upward near the cliffs and knife edge. That updraft was moving. It's all so exciting. It's almost like surfing or sailing. I can't wait.

[@debozebever]

Landed my soarplane once near a McDonald’s after a XC flight in France. Best 3h wait for the pickupcrew! Brings back memories Greg! Thanks!

[@marcfm5435]

air is grumpy, clouds are lumpy, flying is funky :) So cool, absolutely love your videos! Made me get down my glider from the attic. Time to fly again 😃

[@alexhatfield2987]

You always inspire me to turn my fantasy into reality and take up the sport. Your tutorials are excellent. You explain your preparation, your reading of the land and the air, and you technique, so well.

[@barrywebber100]

Thanks Greg, that was one of your most brilliant and engaging clips I have yet seen. The 360 camera footage was fantastic and the way you presented to the camera was entertaining and saturated with positive thinking and feelgood connectivity! I was going to say as you tucked in to your triple cheese burger "now how do you get back?" when you asked the same question! I'm hoping to take paramotoring training this summer, but gosh! Paragliding is so natural, peaceful and at one with nature and the environment that it's hard to look beyond it as a wonderful sport! I think you are a superb pilot, trainer, and a great person! Thanks again for posting. 🙂

[@FlyWithGreg]

Thanks Barry! You can do both! You'll get a lot of easy airtime with paramotoring, but I'd recommend getting proficient with paragliding first to build a really good foundation. Depends on where you are and what sites you have in easy reach.

[@BaikalFly]

I am very grateful to you for making paragliding more understandable, yes, it is pure physics and meteorology, but still I perceive the flight as a miracle that is now available to everyone

[@christianbahr6776]

What a perfect video to show to my non flying friends and family. This explains it so perfectly, thanks Greg.

[@FlyWithGreg]

if they can sit through 19 minutes of beeping and going in circles, they have the patience for paragliding! :-)

[@RokPisekGozdar]

Milion stars for you! Thanks!

[@mikebreen2890]

Jeez, the memories!

[@SeeCoryRun]

Greg, you are the man, I love it! Great video as always and this one was extra fun!

[@sandrainthesky1011]

Absolutely super Greg!! One of your best videos ever and an inspiration to us all to persevere!

[@MrJoel9679]

On the second flight we all know you didn’t want to land! We appreciate your sacrifices.

[@FlyWithGreg]

I'd already been flying since dawn that day (from Devils dyke again) so was kinda happy to have a quick break!

[@MrJoel9679]

@@FlyWithGreg McDonalds just needs to setup a towline to get pilots back in the air. That or the McShuttle.

[@SkyHikerMike]

Free flight is definitely more of a challenge, and I give PG much respect. But I love my butter smooth sunrise flights, and my low cruising. Can’t give it up! Flying is Magic!

[@Robbo1966]

Great vlog, thanks for sharing and your honesty, i did wonder how you got back up into glorious sunshine from that low ridge. Many thanks

[@crashnburnband]

Nice one Greg. Good to see you putting the positive vibes out there.

[@Pellegrino809]

Great video 😁, looking forward to the next one.

[@ziadwakim4114]

Great inspiring video like always Greg. I leaned a lot from you. The only bad side is that at the end of the video, instead of hitting the hill, i went to Mc Donald’s and had a burger 😂😂😂😂 Been years since i visited one. They owe you this one😂 Truly you are the master of paragliding videos. You always make us beginners fall in love with the difficulties of the sport and you always keep us encouraged. Thanks Greg.

[@adamraheemalsofi7139]

Love the spirit in this video. Not making it according to plan is what paragliding is about. Forcing you to take a longe walk is meant to be so that you get muscles for the next hike and fly trip 😅

[@IAmOftenWrong]

Hey Greg. Loving your work on KZbin but this one in particular brought back so many memories. I used to fly extensively in Sussex a few years ago and I actually made this very flight on one of my first escapes from the Dyke. I wasn't aiming for the golden arches but that's where I ended up! Seeing that view and hearing that beep really made my day. Loved the twist at the end although I did think that was one hell of a change of conditions midway. Of course, that can happen near the Sussex coast but rarely for the better unless you're good with the Sea Breeze. I did finally crack my 50km using it but I still ran out of land eventually. I remember watching you leaving the hill so many times and wondering where you'd end up. I must have thermalled with you occasionally but the skies are busy down south and you were usually gone from sight in what seemed like no time at all. Still, I really wish I could be up there with you again. This video was close enough though mate. Thanks Richard

[@FlyWithGreg]

Thanks for joining me on another adventure Richard!

[@DeniusZZR]

Awesome!!! Greg, you're the best!

[@comsol2008]

I recognize that that ridge. Been stuck there a a couple of times during XCs sometimes I get up others its a hike to the bus stop. Spotted my purple Allegro at the start of the video so I think I recall which day that was. Good job getting as far as you did on that day.

[@FlyWithGreg]

I spared the audience the 2 hours of ridge soaring I did in that silly bowl. An agonising slow death, while the presenter tried to Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life, dada, dadadadadadaa.

[@TheSavacc]

Awesome work. Loved the video. 👍

[@FlyingSlater]

Great video, Greg! I really dug it, especially for The Real Story ending, which all of us experiment so often!😄 But, hey, life on a paraglider tastes sweeter anyway!!!

[@michaelrcolton]

I've been flying for years, but always safely in the ridge lift around the local hill, always landing at the designated landing zone. Recently, for the first time I pushed out beyond that, knowing I'd have to figure out a place to land when the time came and hike back. I pulled it off and it was exhilarating! Like a real adventure (albeit, a small one). I'm definitely going to be doing more of that! Great video Greg!

[@FlyWithGreg]

it's such an addictive (random) adventure, because you mostly can't plan it so you enter a different mental space .. the unplanned space, the come-what-may space, it's kinda cool to find that in the modern world.

[@michaelrcolton]

@@FlyWithGreg Well said. Thanks again!

[@paramotortheory]

Fun video. Two thumbs up!

[@jackmetcalfe2247]

Great attitude

[@dimikaydoesthings]

A tad more involved then with a paramotor, but the burger at the end is definitely that bit sweeter ! Great video as always Greg

[@HELLOPATTAYA]

Lol. You went down mid video 😂 at least you are honest. Cool video.

[@edwinlooy6551]

Haha, Did this too last year. I didn't really plan it tho. I was just cruising along and saw this McDonalds and i decided i had some real appetite for burger😂

[@chrsfrwll]

Class 👏

[@Hemersonr]

positive mindset!!! pacience!!!! well done mate

[@Ph1lIvey]

I was so suprised, that the sky cleared up that fast 😁

[@WBtimhawk]

Such a legend

[@derekweir1020]

Brilliant 🤟🤟

[@mattpepper1143]

😂😂😂well done for fessing up.. I was going to call bull 💩 on that one 🤣🤣

[@FlyWithGreg]

failure is a good thing, it qualifies your success!

[@mattpepper1143]

@@FlyWithGreg if it was easy, everyone would be doing it...

[@guilhermeb7615]

You deserve a viral video Greg! Cheers!

[@FlyWithGreg]

once everyone has the paragliding bug, we can let the AI run the economy and the robots do the work!

[@alexrands2580]

Truth!

[@mamatuja]

The only difference is you have to eat the bloody French fries in the parking lot.😂😂😂😂😂

[@obc3095]

Sooo glad you did the reality check.....I was calling BS at the miraculous turn of events.....a gray british sky never has that type of turnaround...at least not that quickly.

[@FlyWithGreg]

You have to believe the sun might miraculously come out in Britain or you'll never bother going out to fly :-)

[@alexrands2580]

What you can't make pizza on your paraglider? Meh. Somebody's raised the bar for sensational worthless flying tricks. Gotta catch up Greg. Haha. Love your videos! Keep it up!

[@FlyWithGreg]

it might be worth it for a laugh, to see if I can forward launch off a 50m hill with all that junk strapped on the front of me :-)

[@todoxe]

Honestly, the sudden change in the video from one moment to another seemed very strange to me, that is, from a super cloudy day to a clearly sunnier one, ummm, two totally different days. and at the end of the video everything fell into place.

[@MikeyFirst]

Great video! Are you being sponsored by McDonald's? 😂

[@FlyWithGreg]

Haha, no then I'd have to say the food was good!

[@karlcam7802]

I think what is needed is a winch to tow up and fly back to launch.

[@Masteroftee]

Phenomen of flying to mcdonalds is reaction of people saw u landing there

[@FlyWithGreg]

this is 2023, so people were like 'oh a paraglider vlogging about flying to mcdonalds' then went back to scrolling on their phones

[@mattbaker1683]

Bloody brilliant, and one way to adjust your wing loading! 😂 I have just started out, got my wing yesterday and have a harness and reserve waiting up north. Can't wait to get my CP and get up in the air. Out of interest (UK only) where is the best spot in your opinion?

[@FlyWithGreg]

the best spot is where the good airmass happens to be ... so you have to drive and chase it in the UK. North Wales and Lakes are pretty epic. down south where I am is more reliable (except this week, which is blown out all week. Oh, and last week. and that other week ... paragliding will drive you mad!)

[@jonathansummerfield8390]

awesome greg - but mc donalds .. :D common haha

[@turkeyphant]

It's not 20 km away. The Hollingbury McDonald's is super close and relatively easy from DDK.

[@jeffroberts6428]

Didn’t even need a motor!

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Greg this could go viral like Tucker's video - I feel you need to trim it down and have a better thumbnail (like you standing in front of the McDonald's sign with your glider above you, basically ground handling it). Right now it's too technical/in depth, it needs to be more fast-foody and digestible for people with no interest whatsoever in paragliding (at least until watching the video). Also would recommend trying out the AI Voice Isolation in DaVinci Resolve - it will clean up the in flight sound a lot (and you can play with the strength of the effect). Thanks as always for the videos!

[@FlyWithGreg]

Thanks for the suggestions! I suppose i'm not so focused on 'viral' because it's made for people with the patience to enjoy paragliding ... my core audience. The thumbnail you suggested is already in A/B testing, so we'll see! Thx for voice isolation tip, i'll try that. Vario beep is unfortunately hard to mute.. the instrument volume was too loud

[@bubstacrini8851]

I have learned so much about paragliding watching your videos Greg! Isn't there a better burger place, nearby? What about the fish&chip van or some decent pub food?

[@haukewalden2840]

Because "Flying to some arbitrary burger shop nobody has ever heard of on my paraglider." doesn't make a very catchy title for a video that tries to ride on the popularity of a well-known other video. :)

[@FlyWithGreg]

that, and flying to an easily reachable pub (um, the launch site) isn't a challenge. I try to find things that are deliberately hard to do, so there's some motivation to do them, and some learning from failure.

[@airgaborpara3824]

After this mcdonnalds advert Greg will be able to buy a new Omega xalps ULS made of dyneema 15gr/,m2 with gold layer on it! :D

[@FlyWithGreg]

Haha! But if I'd been paid for advertising I would have had to say the burger was good ...

[@airgaborpara3824]

@@FlyWithGreg haha, true. For the first view of the video the low save was so so suspicious :D Great , funny editing!!!

[@martinsulek1139]

Just realized how hungry I am.

[@rickardjonsson4526]

Beautiful video! I have to ask why do you get thermals when theres overcast?

[@FlyWithGreg]

enough UV comes through, you just need some surface warming, which heats the air above it. Thermals run off small temperature differences, they don't need to be hot.

[@FlyingFredo]

Well done 🍔🍔🍔😅

[@GeeBird88]

I hope Mcdonalds will be giving you some free meals for all of that publicity!

[@RoofAndAMeal4UsAll]

Thoroughly enjoyable!

[@mark675]

Well its easier with an engine but atleast you dont have to carry 40kgs around once youve landed 😂

[@ressikman]

What is that fin behind you?

[@hendsonyu5167]

Hi, Greg! I’m glad you get rid of police chasing, haha. What is your wing in this film?

[@FlyWithGreg]

omega xalps 3, an ultralight EN D wing, but you can fly anything to do this 'feat' :-)

[@stevenmellet5555]

Greg, you need to come home, man. We only fly to pubs, 'cos fast food is bad for you. Hey Joes does Belgian beer, and 301 is a good landing spot.

[@FlyWithGreg]

it wasn't fast food, it took hours! I fly much further in SA, because the pubs are further apart :-)

[@BaSiC47]

Never been a Fan of their junkfood. You are what you eat. But a cool idea anyway.

[@jurgenwilhelm1472]

How did you clip your insta at the weightless harness? Greets

[@FlyWithGreg]

a short selfie stick, tied with a rubber strap to the side harness strap and to the carabiner. Then it's easy to extend it forwards and retract it as needed.

[@jurgenwilhelm1472]

@@FlyWithGreg oh cool 😬👌🏼thank you

[@freddypi6857]

Do you have a Video about your CameraSetup? 😍

[@FlyWithGreg]

flywithgreg.com/programs/paraglider-filming-guide

[@steveshovlar994]

Tucker today baked a pizza on his paramotor. Beat that 😂

[@FlyWithGreg]

flying in a pizza oven?

[@handlebullshit]

Spotland on the roof.

[@FlyWithGreg]

ahah, I missed an opportunity ... but the police were already there!

[@airgaborpara3824]

Next episode about: How to do 200Km xc to IKEA.

[@andydonaldson]

What happens when the wind stops?

[@FlyWithGreg]

you have to blow the wing up from underneath using a special breathing technique :-) nah, you just keep gliding at 20mph, it's an aircraft, it isn't supported by the wind, it's supported by its own movement through the air. Wind against the hill just helps you avoid landing.

[@MrVilentrethenmerth]

But McDonald's? Wasn't there a more valuable prize in the area? :P

[@steilspiralenSven]

Isnt it Bad if the glider falls on the Front? 15:24

[@flyingsi5701]

Now need a inflight oven to cook pizza in flight?

[@FlyWithGreg]

Lol! Yes I saw that, I draw the line at things that will break me if they land on me

[@alexisarsenopoulos]

Cheaky… 😮

[@armandlivet]

Are you working for MacDonald now ?😮

[@FlyWithGreg]

LOL! No, then I'd have to say the burger was good :-) it's just more well known than 'I flew to Mrs Thatchers garden pub'.

[@WallStreet30]

🔥🪂

[@wenigdabei]

Ich habe beschlossen, Paragliding auszuprobieren, weil Gehen zum McDonald's so mainstream ist

[@lnhislmage]

Can poor people get into paragliding or would they pretty much have to sell one of their children to get started?

[@mendi1122]

lol. why not switching to paramotor?

[@FlyWithGreg]

because then my videos would be too short

[@haukewalden2840]

That's like asking a marathon-runner "Lol! Why didn´t you take the bus?"

[@AMJB100000000]

Paramotors aren’t as good.. most of us love using the updrafts of air to go places not a noisey motor strapped to our selfs which provides mostly no challenge in the air

[@Ruben-pv9qp]

Great video, only a more click-baity thumbnail away from going viral...

[@CoIoneIPanic]

I don't know how anyone can be a paragliding pilot and support the idea of "powered" paragliding. Instead of only using the power of the wind you strap a horrendously noisy and dirty two stroke engine to you butt and go around making a filthy racket in areas where the peace and quiet of paragliding has been earned with skill and patience.😢😢

[@benparadude2028]

I would have to pass on Mickey Ds……🤢🤮

[@michroz]

...and now just strap on and fly back to your car you left on the start point... like Tucker did...