The Early Days of Hang Gliding - Classic Footage from the 1970s

This 6 1/2 minute collection of clips is a small sample pulled from hours of Super 8 film shot by Burke's father in the 70s. See where it all began in this entertaining footage that takes you back to some of the early days of hang gliding and the beginning of a unique career.
Divided into three sections you'll see classic moments of Burke learning to fly, some of his early competitions plus beautiful footage of tandems, trandems and great in the air footage of Burke and his dog, Curtis, the world's first hang gliding dog.

[@bend1951]

This brings back memories. My late brother started on a rogallo, then a Delta 6D, then a Proair. I always enjoyed watching him fly. His wife left him and he quit flying to get her back.

[@BurkeEwing]

Thanks for sharing your story.

[@dave9351]

Excellent combination of music to flying footage ! Loved the pooch as well

[@rebecca42mun]

The Solesbee family has so many good memories hang gliding there. I was only 10 and i drove the dune buggy up and down the hill. So much fun!

[@BurkeEwing]

That is awesome!

[@davidmasland5627]

We were flying in 75 in Pennsylvania soaring the ridge and valley system we have . I flew until 1995 and quit too old . But i still remember the old days. Hell I still have my old Comet.

[@BurkeEwing]

That’s awesome. It’s always the good old days that really stays with us forever. That’s cool you flew in Pennsylvania. I flew there at Bradys Ben I think it was called. The three rivers in the area.

[@Feature-Tube]

Thanks for the flashback. I was from the little old town of Coalinga, California. I bought my 2nd hang glider, a Ha-19?. from Pacific Gull, in San Clemente. I forgot the owner's name, nut he took me to Trabuco Canyon to test fly it. :ittle did I know I was going to where all the pro's. like you flew. I took a flight off of the 500 ft? hill? Took off, and landed ok. The owner had some type of military vehicle to get the hang gilders to the top of the hill. Pacific Gull; also had a test pilot that day flying a new "Alpine" hang glider. I was blown away by his flying! Later on a few years, in Ventura, I asked a friend if they knew anywherte I could fly. My friend's girlfriend said she had a freind who flew hang gliders, and would ask him. When I heard his name, I was blown away... Mike Arrambide! I am sure I don't have to tell you who that is. Anyway, the next day we took off from the 2000 ft or so peak, in Ventura. Mike took off, and like a pro was flying all over above the beach! Me, being a rookie, was staring at the power lines which were right abover, and before the freeway. I had to abandon ship, and landed safely, but not on the beach, lol. What an adventure it was to fly in Southern California. Of course, I remember your name from all the hang gliding magazines.

[@BurkeEwing]

Thanks and wow you had some great experiences flying and I so remember when I use to fly the Arrambide brothers off that site that they owned in Rincon. I always wanted plenty of altitude going over the power lines and it was such a beautiful area to fly. I loved escape country as well. Great memories and thanks for sharing with me. 🦅🌈😎👍

[@carsonc1272]

I was born in 75... Learned to hang glide in 95. It's neat to see the evolution of the hang glider over the years. It's the most amazing sport that nobody does anymore.

[@BurkeEwing]

It is truly the most amazing feeling up in the air.

[@WilderNW]

This was awesome! Thanks for letting me forget the world for a few minutes.

[@BurkeEwing]

Thanks for your kind words. 😊

[@Paiadakine]

Nice story, your dog Curtis lived a long life. I love the videos of Torrey, looks so much different now and less crowded.

[@BurkeEwing]

Thanks so much!!!👍

[@richardtattoli5400]

I shot a home movie of you and your dog flying at Torrey Pines when I was a teen. I thought your butterfly sail design was incredible and it inspired me to build my first hang glider... The Bamboo Butterfly! Not a great idea, but had fun. Thanks for sharing

[@chesleywebber1047]

Hey Burke, did you fly on the Mike Douglas Show when they filmed in 75 I think. I sat up early that morning and was the first off. We had to dive off the cliff because the winds hadn't picked up yet and then land on the beach. I didn't know at the time that Blacks beach was a nude beach. Made my day twice over!

[@jwm239]

...Wow, quite a montage...Curtis, Soaring the 'Pines, and those bulls-eye 'landings'! (ouch). FOrty-seven yeares of flight...that's a LOT of thermals, cliff soaring, hook-ins, preflight checks, etc., !

[@BurkeEwing]

Thanks so much.The good old days and still flying is so much fun.

[@davehibbs9111]

I remember those days we'll 75'-78 I can even remember the 70's feeling! Completely different than today...

[@BurkeEwing]

Dave Hibbs Thanks so much and those were the days

[@VC-xt7es]

I loved watching my Boyfriend fly off of Woodrat Mtn .in June of 1980 . All the Hang Gliders would land on there property. I loved watching all the different Hang Gliders landing .

[@danilocarno]

...Is for me a nostalgy movie, my first fly was in march 1975 in Switzerland. Tankyou Burke.

[@rogeriolopes6297]

Awesome!

[@experttrolltrollingdirty2062]

Absolutely brilliant mate the bit about your dog tho, wow heart melting.. absolutely brilliant.

[@BurkeEwing]

Thanks mate

[@FlyingFelix1]

Thank you for sharing, beautiful footage! I must have been a HG pilot in my former life, was born again in '77 and finally got back to flying in 2012 :) Loving it! Footage like this is very close to my heart, I always watch with fascination and feel as if I used to be there :) All the best and many more wonderful flights, Felix.

[@BurkeEwing]

FelixFlying Thank You so much. The 70’s were Amazing and Magical in the air. It still is to this day.

[@LiteTouchFilms]

I remember those days. Fun flying with you, Burke

[@BurkeEwing]

Those were the days. It was great flying with you as well.

[@user-cw1nq1bv2l]

Yes! Cantamar with my Cirrus 3 with Burke Ewing!!

[@BurkeEwing]

What a great time that was. 🦅

[@robstorms]

Thanks for sharing; what a treat !!

[@obxfishing1800]

I just love this video!

[@Robbo1966]

brilliant footage, hope to see more soon!!

[@BurkeEwing]

That’s great.They’re all so colorful and fun to watch

[@QuadographyAustralia1965]

What a lovely video, those were the day's, thanks for sharing your great memories. Jason.

[@BurkeEwing]

Thanks. I feel the same way and fly whenever I get the chance.

[@timmay301]

absolutely awesome. last flying day of the season this friday

[@jwm239]

Glorious! Wonderful to see such footage, and with mellow tunes and exuberant narration!

[@BurkeEwing]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@notchboy]

Thanks Burke for sharing that. I grew up in Poway in the 70's and had no idea that this was part of my neighborhood, culture of what was SoCal at the time! I cant tell you how many times I went by Blacks Beach-Torrey Pines and just thought - oh thats just where the hang gliders go off at. Not knowing that - yeah! thats where it went off! Thanks again.

[@mitchellmcaleer2969]

at 6:00, that's the spirit, and a long way from single suspension harness topless gliders.

[@BurkeEwing]

Yep but the magic of flying stays the same

[@BurkeEwing]

Thanks Paul. Glad you enjoyed it and more is coming.

[@fatboycrash]

This is a GREAT clip. Just makes me want to go flying, now. Leave the house, stuff, job, the whole catastrophe behind and just go flying.

[@rentatrip1videos]

Thanks Burke , Now we are over 40 years "out" from our beginnings , Be safe , stay well. God Bless you in the year 2014... Keep Flying for the rest of us !

[@BurkeEwing]

@Rickstern5 Wow, what a blast from the past! I remember how much fun Curtis and I always had when we'd come to visit but I'm a little foggy on names and faces. I do remember hanging with you guys but would love to see some photos to put a face with the name. Thank you so much for all the kind words. Those were some of the best times of my life still to this day. Glad to hear you are all doing well. We're planning a trip to that area next year, so we'll have to plan a visit. Thanks again, Burke

[@hanggliderrider]

Awesome video! I competed with you in the International Championships at Pico Mountain, Killington, Vermont , back in 1978. I flew a Sky Sports Sirocco ! Thanks for sharing your video! I really like the old nostalgic stuff. Thanks!

[@jeffchicknhock]

Hey Burke, I loved the film. We haven't talked for a few years and it sounds like things are good. I also have lots of super 8 footage from my early days (from 1975-1978) and a lot of Escape Country when I worked there as the instructor. Have a great Christmas and drop me a line. Jeff Anderson

[@BurkeEwing]

jeffchicknhock Thanks.I would love to see some of your footage. Do you have it on a digital format or do you have it up on you tube. The 70's were so awesome to be flying. It was one of the best time of my life.

[@bobkuczewski613]

I started hang gliding in 1978 after 3 years of parachuting in the Army. What? You can actually go ... UP?? Thanks for sharing a great slice of history.

[@davidmasland5627]

Did I meet you at High Rock in Maryland back in the day I flew a Cirus 5 then went to an olympus. Your name rings a serious bell?

[@5280ftprmi]

Hi Burke, Thanks for the memories. I followed the same path around the same time period. Starting with a homemade hanglider built with polyetheline plastic, hose clamps, and bamboo I flew off some of the beach bluffs near cardiff. (my picture appearead in the san diego union with 4 photos and the caption "kite becomes tent in 4 easy steps...after sevral sucessful flights it finally collapsed!) I then contacted Jim Russing who flew a boat tow for sea world and he told be about a group of flyers comming down to torrey pines that weekend so I watched in awe as they accended and decended like on an invisible elevator. I found that a guy named Bob Skinner was selling Eipper gliders out of his garage over on Adams ave. I called him and after watching him do a demo off of Cowles Mtn I bought a simple white glider from him. It included lessons at Cantamar while mine was being built. From there we flew several hills around San Diego culminating at Elsinore. By then I was flying my own hang glider. After that I, like you flew most of the mountain sites around San Diego. San Miguel,(Bob had a friend who had a key to the road up there), Palamor, and of course Torrey Pines. I remember watching you fly back then and I have a question. I remember someone telling me about a flight you and Bob something (Wills?) made off of San Jacinto where there was a Times reporter who was going to go up in an airplane and take pictures but the winds were too strong. When you got tired of waiting up there you went ahead and jumped. I hear it was one hell of a ride! I would like to hear about that one. Thanks again, Tom (I flew a white kite and althogh I flew prone my legs hung down all the time.) I went on to obtain a flight instructor certificate and taught flying at Montgomery field after that, but I always missed hang gliding.

[@penrynbigbird]

great footage - fond memories...

[@BurkeEwing]

H5-Phil Thanks it was such an amazing time .

[@penrynbigbird]

Yes indeed!! When flying like a bird became a reality. A dream come true for sure...

[@BurkeEwing]

H5-Phil you bet it really was magical and harmonizing with Mother Nature I always say there is nothing like it and that's forever.

[@BurkeEwing]

@tweetingsparrow Thanks. Would love to see your videos of 70's flying in New Zealand. What and where do or did you fly? Maybe we can put something together one day. Cheers, Burke

[@jonathanlee728]

I learned to fly at Santa Cruz then the hill above marineland of the pacific. Yes I also flew a standard Ragallo wing. I took to it like a bird just fledging. Still on my bucket list to do again maybe at kittyhawk this Spring or summer.

[@BurkeEwing]

That’s great Jonathan. It’s such an amazing feeling to fly like a bird. Kitty Hawk would definitely be a fun place to go and fly. They have an annual meet every year. Thanks for sharing. 👍

[@terrycarter4459]

Me too The excitement was out of this world.

[@gregorydahl]

That 180 deree tur to hit the bullseye is my favorite right now . At around 2:55 on the timer

[@BurkeEwing]

Thanks Gregory. Those were the good old days. 😎👍

[@user-cw1nq1bv2l]

Got my hang 3 in the wills wing butterfly I got from you Burke at big black!

[@BurkeEwing]

That was a smaller glider and not sure what model. It was beautiful.

[@johnmorrisnyagado6364]

Motivating

[@donaldgregg9250]

I totally get what this was about in the 1970's, I recall seeing some people trying this out off a hillside in the Kansas City area, I believe it was near Swope Park. I still think about what this would be like, and knowing as a child that this was something totally new. Still hoping to get the chance to try out some training some day...

[@pagodadr]

Me Too, in New England Great Fun. Orig member of the Ellenville, NY site😎

[@nathanduckeorth806]

Wow that's really cool didn't know hang gliding started in the early 70s

[@BurkeEwing]

Yes an actually 1968 they were towing behind a boat which eventually got to foot launch. Thanks 😊

[@estevaocunha5302]

In the early years of hang gliding they were very rudimentary. The maximum flight time was 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the wind. That was the reason why later they started to manufacture hang gliders with wider and longer wings so that they could stay in the air longer. Not only to stay in the air longer, but also to gain more speed. But they are undoubtedly wonderful images from the early years of hang gliding. And imagine the prices then? Today here in Germany, just last month, if I wanted to get a used hang glider for free, I just had to go get it. For free,... I just didn't pick her up because I don't have a car!

[@donaldgore1052]

Had friends in the US Coast guard..Mark Edwards, Bob Fisher, Gordon dupree..Sarted Hanglinding in Hawaii..few months later were flying off the top of Makapuu Point. 2000 ft. straight down ..scary Stuff!!!

[@wylchyl]

...I stared flying at Escape Country in 1975. Got my Hang 1 from Mike someone, who moved to Hawaii)I heard). . Bought my first glider in 76 - been hooked ever since, but now it's paragliding.

[@charlesirby9222]

Do you remember flying over at Elsinore and trying to hit the bull that was painted on al old military tarp staked out in the LZ almost every weekend? That 'was' my tarp until I left it there accidentally one weekend. I thought for sure I'd spot it again somewhere as we flew almost every site in SO. Cal., but…funny, I never did find it!

[@jwm239]

...I first saw hang gliders during a 1970s Labrador Mountain (NY) Fly-In...then I took up the sport 30 years later - at 45 years young - and flew earlier today...

[@kevinolague4618]

I built a Jack Lamby " Hang Loose" back in 73-74 great times

[@BurkeEwing]

That’s great. Those were the days.

[@user-qe5fo9bl5y]

Thanks Burke,super...

[@DavethePilot]

Good Piece there Burke, Next time you're in San Diego at Torrey, CALL ME, lets get together.

[@donaldgregg9250]

I would like to try this some day...

[@BurkeEwing]

Yes it’s the best.

[@donaldgregg9250]

@@BurkeEwing may be a matter of time, money and opportunity, but mostly do I have the guts for a mountain takeoff, but I know I would try the hillside training, hopefully some day 😀

[@BurkeEwing]

@Rickstern5 No one knows where Jim is these days, but I reconnected with Eileen last year. She's in Hawaii these days, happy and doing well. Keep in touch, Burke

[@user-cw1nq1bv2l]

Remember the half way house in Mexico Cantamar?

[@BurkeEwing]

You bet. That place was awesome.

[@jamesallen9751]

Per chance do you remember my brother William (Bill) Allen photographer during the period?

[@BurkeEwing]

Hey James I’m a little bit foggy on remembering everything back in the 70’s but I would definitely recognize a face. That I have memories of, so do you have an early 70’s picture of him? Does he remember me as well? Let’s see.

[@user-cw1nq1bv2l]

I want to get back into hanggliding but only have my Price harness left.😢

[@BurkeEwing]

Great!!! Where are you located.

[@user-cw1nq1bv2l]

@@BurkeEwing I live in oceanside by the pier across from train station. Does your phone Number end in 4134? I'm a hang 3 but it's been 30 years since flying

[@BurkeEwing]

@@user-cw1nq1bv2l yes

[@BurkeEwing]

@TheDantheman1995 The first two are Tom Petty and the instrumental at the end is a song I wrote called "It's Alright."

[@cdnskydog]

Hi Burke: Great old stuff. I am going through our old photos and I see you in my first collection to digital. You can see them on facebook - skydogsports or on youtube - cdnskydog. I am still flying also and mostly aertowing in Florida and Canada. Google skydogsports for more photos. Best wishes, Bob Grant

[@BurkeEwing]

Thanks. Your videos are great to Watch. I’m plan on flying Torrey in a little bit. It’s awesome your still flying. I know it never gets old only we do.lol cheers 👍😀

[@cdnskydog]

Yep, I am 75 now.

[@foodini]

Flare-a-chute.

[@obxfishing1800]

2:31 OMG! Huge balls! AWSOME!

[@carilridley4656]

Psychotic butterfly to human bird; Wonderful recollections of first flights, I also had some super 8 in slow motion a real kick; bamboo, visqueen and double faced tape "low-and-slow" in Washington State, like demented butterflies we took to the skies, it was 1970 leading to ever greater competencies with more than a few crashes, broken spars, bumps, tumbles and bruises unmentioned, leading to the advent of aluminium the doors opened, ripstop nylon, better helmets and prone harness. As time and experienced progressed I built the first hang glider in New Delhi to become known as "The Human Bird of India", my first flights covered by a flurry of historians, media and press, an astrologer timing the precise moment my feet left the ground, villagers gathering in the valley below, children let out of school, cameras rolling at the Maharajas ancient lookout station just outside the pink city of Jaipur where superstitious people ran in fear as I approached. Legends were woven harkening back to Vedic scriptures, of flying rings in the sky But It was during my fourth flight at Sonar Hot Springs when my keel stitching caught on a bush at takeoff, zipping my tail fabric, gone, sending me plummeting over the cliff to crash into the only bush on a rocky hillside, indeed I made history on the subcontinent that fateful day and set it back twenty years, that was 1974 as the Indian press offered high praise, as India became a winner in the big aviation race, it was like a moon shot for their country as Russia had not yet made their first hang glider flight, Yes a little cover-up goes along way and history gets written on the wings of success and hard earned progress, not too mention so many unreported failures! The Human Bird, Caril Ridley [e-mail]

[@BurkeEwing]

Caril Ridley Thanks so much and it sounds like you felt the amazing energy back then.

[@carilridley4656]

@@BurkeEwing I still feel it everyday from my 42nd floor balcony, looking out over Singapore I so want to take wing, identify with the eagles and pretend alas without a wing!

[@BurkeEwing]

Caril Ridley It looks like you have a wonderful view and can feel the freedom it gives flying above the earth. It’s awesome.

[@Mrbfgray]

2:19 that's gotta be tip in the dirt.

[@thermalascension]

🌬️👍

[@robmoney8250]

LOVE THIS MADE ME WANNA STRIVE FOR WHAT I WANT TO DO WHICH IS DO BIRN OUTS ! SOON ILL BE PIONERR OF BURN OUT LOL JK

[@kobelarry]

I started flying in 1975

[@BurkeEwing]

Wow that’s great. It’s really cool to meet you. Do you still fly?

[@kobelarry]

No I do not but every time I watch video I sure do want to.

[@BurkeEwing]

kobelarry Well I still fly and it never gets old. The magic is always there.

[@butchblakesley6239]

does the name Herman Rice ring a bell anyone ?

[@steveweston6807]

Purple and blue. Looks like my ol eipper HG. ?????Steve Weston

[@StarfieldRailway]

This is great, but you should have played 70s music.

[@annn.3615]

🧡✈️🩵