Powered hang gliding with Skyrideusa in beautiful central Fl
Like Riding a Harley in the Sky
Like Riding a Harley in the Sky
Like Riding a Harley in the Sky
Enjoy the excitement of flying a “motorcycle in the sky”. Actually, riding a motor cycle doesn't come anywhere close to the sensations and freedom of riding in an open cockpit of the powered hang glider trike with virtually unobstructed views, calving through the skies in three dimensions.
Take a Friend for a Ride
Like Riding a Harley in the Sky
Like Riding a Harley in the Sky
First time? Take a Discovery flight and leave your worries behind, clear your mind by living in the moment and experiencing the thrill and amazing sensations of flight with an experience instructor, or learn to fly and take a friend for a ride.
Bring the Family
Like Riding a Harley in the Sky
Bring the Family
Bring the Family and enjoy the activities and surroundings at Wilotree Park where there are walking/cycling trails through woodlands and a beautiful lake. Visitors can sit back and relax and watch the action from the huge deck overlooking this wonderful 150 acre property.
our location
Wilotee Park - Sheets Field (FA42)
SkyRideUSA is located at Wilotree Park
6548 Groveland Airport Road, Groveland, Florida 34736
For reference we are just 32 miles west Orlando Florida 2 miles south of HW50 in Groveland.
Facilities and Activities at Wilotree Park
Accommodation
- All forms of Camping
- Guest Rooms
Activities
- Paradise Air Sports Hang Gliding
- Walking
- Cycling
- Nature
- Relaxing
For details checkout:
Why Fly with SkyRideUSA
FAA Certified Flight Instructor
Safety First Approach
Extensive Trike and Hang Gliding Experience (26 Years)
State of the Art SLSA P&M Rotax 912S Trike
Beautiful 150 acre lush country setting
Family friendly and positive environment with various other activities.
Menu / Price List
Introductory Flights
No experience necessary. Flights with an experienced FAA instructor who will provide a safety briefing and instruction prior to and during the flight. You will have an opportunity to steer the trike through the sky under supervision, and the instructor will take care of of the take off and landing. Optional Video Package to remember and share your flight $35.00.
Discovery Flight – 30 minutes
$150
Discover the world from above with virtually unrestricted views from the open cockpit and experience the thrill and exhilaration of flight as we climb out over the central Florida countryside.
Mile High Flight (5280ft) – 45 minutes
$180
Same as the Discovery Flight with the addition of climbing to 5000' and flying a mile high in an open cockpit - come and enjoy this amazing experience.
See the World from 10,000ft – 60 minutes
$200
We'll head to the north to explore the south end of Lake Harris and then head towards the edge of the green swamp preserve climbing to 10,000' where, depending on weather conditions you'll be able to see the Florida coast lines. We'll then power back to idle and be in a simulated glide, just like a hang glider, with you at the flight controls.
Training
Flight Training and ground school.
Flight Training in SkyRideUSA Trike
$200.00
Training provided in a SLSA P&M QuikR 912S Trike with GT-450 Wing - Price per hour.
Flight Training in Student Owned Trike
$150.00
Student owned trike must have all current documentation, training bars, rear steering, throttle and kill switches easily accessible from rear seat.
Price per hour.
Travel cost to be agreed for travel to and from student's trike location.
Ground School
$50.00
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Maintenance and Inspection
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Annual Condition Inspections for Light Sport Aircraft
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The time to complete an Annual Condition Inspection depends on the condition and complexity of the aircraft and the completeness of maintenance records, therefore estimate prices can be quoted on a case by case basis.
Pre-Buy Inspections
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Pre-buy advice and pre-buy inspections include a complete visual inspection of the aircraft similar to an annual condition inspection, including running the engine and performing a compression test a review of the aircraft log books and written report of all findings. If the trike is not set up, with the owner’s permission I will set up the wing to perform the inspection. I can also perform a Betts Test of the sail with the owner's permission.
Repairs and Inspections
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Sail Off Inspections and Wing Repair service. Prices for inspections depend on the wing type as there are various levels of complexities and repair services depends on the severity of the damage. Also offered is general trike repairs and maintenance.
Hang Gliding - Free Flying
Services to the hang gliding community
Cross Country Mentoring (Hang Gliding)
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New to cross country flying or want to learn to fly longer and further? Fly side by side with an experience cross country pilot and receive in-flight coaching to improve your skills and exceed your personal best flights.
Aerotow Plane (Tug) and Pilot Services
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Tow Planes (Dragonflies and Trikes) and Pilots can be available for hang gliding tow events around the USA if there are a sufficient number of pilots to cover the costs. Please call do discuss your event.
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Contact Us
Better yet, see us in person!
We love our customers, so feel free to visit during normal business hours.
Hours
Open today | 08:00 am – 05:00 pm |
about SkyrideUSa instructor
QUALIFICATIONS/RATINGS AND EXPERIENCE
Summary of Experience
Flying Hang Gliders since 1995
Flying Trikes since 1999
FAA Certificates
FAA Private Pilot Certificate Airplane
FAA Private Pilot Certificate WSC (Trikes)
FAA Certified Flight Instructor WSC (Trikes)
FAA Light Sport Repairman Maintenance (WSC- Airplane-Glider)
USHPA (United Stated Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association) Ratings
H5 Master Rating (Hang Gliding)
Advance Instructor and Tandem Instructor (Hang Gliding)
Numerous Special Skills
General History/Experience Details
Started hang gliding in UK in early 1995, flew king posted gliders for ten years before transitioning to topless gliders in the US in 2005, held an advanced hang glider rating for over 13 years and at the time of writing had flown over 70 different sites in nine different countries. I have completed countless cross country soaring flights of over 50 miles including straight line, out and returns and triangle tasks, numerous flights over 100 miles, several flights over 130 miles, many flights over 150 miles and a few over 175 miles plus flights up to and over 200 miles and a personal best distance flight of 239 miles in July 2022.
I am proactive in promoting and representing hang gliding and coaching pilots of all levels and hold USHPA H-5 (Master Rated Pilot), Tandem and Advanced Instructor ratings and in 2012 received a USHPA (United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association) Commendation for contributions to the sport.
Additionally, since 2006 I have provided aerotow towing services and tow planes to numerous national and international events including competitions, the WRE (World Record Encampment) and other notable projects.
Began flying WSC Trikes in early 1999 in Indonesia and in 2002 obtained a Private Pilot License PPL (M) from the CAA in the UK and in 2007 was the first of a handful of pilots in the USA to obtain a Private Pilot Certificate for Weight Shift Control when the FAA implemented the Light Sport rules and later obtained a FAA CFI (Federal Aviation Authority Certified Flight Instructor) rating for WSC.
Details of Experience
Began hang gliding in the UK I started hang gliding in early 1995 at a local school (Lejair) in Fransham Norfolk in the UK. All training was by static winch foot launch as were all subsequent flights with the local club NHGPC (Norfolk Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club) that operated at the same site as the school. I obtained my aerotow rating with Lejair shortly after getting my CP (Club Pilot) rating. We were also fortunately to have several coastal sites within 50miles from home which I flew frequently with the club over the years.
I was employed by a major international oilfield service company for over 35 years which provided an opportunity to work in various locations overseas, often on a commuter basis and also served in several permanent overseas assignments, so my home base was the UK until 1997 when we moved to Australia. I was an intermediate rated hang glider pilot at that time under the BHPA (British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association) and the HGFA (Hang Gliding Federation of Australia) program. From day one in Australia I was an active member of the Eastern Victoria Hang Gliding Club and the Western Victoria Hang Gliding Club and while my primary job always took priority I flew most weekends other than when I had work commitments. All hang gliding flights except when attending a static line towing clinic with Dynamic Flight in the flatlands at Birchip, were at mountain or coastal hill flying sites.
In early 1999 I relocated to Jakarta Indonesia where I served in a regional level assignments which took me to several locations throughout Asia. During the first week there we discovered Lido Airfield 70kms South of Jakarta. I learned to fly trikes at Lido with a true master trike and hang glider pilot, Harry Agung. This is when I bought my first trike, the Airborne Edge-X Trike. I was also flying a Mosquito Powered Harness at the time with my Airborne Shark-144. I flew hang gliders (foot launch aerotowing) frequently and went on a number of cross county flights with several other trikes during the 18 months we were there. I also made a trip to Central Java to fly hang gliders at a mountain site.
My next assignment took us to Malaysia where we stayed for just under a year. There were no free flyers there and I wasn't able to fly my trike there so I did static line towing on weekends (the one day off I managed to squeeze in between work) along a local beach. While conditions were not conducive to soaring flight, these flights helped me maintain launching and landing skills and somewhat satisfied my thirst for flight until we moved back to the UK late 2001.
I resumed flying with the Norfolk Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club on my return to the UK as well as participating in flying trips to France, Spain and Lanzarote and obtained my BHPA hang glider “Pilot” rating (equivalent to H-4 advanced rating) in 2002. The British CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) did not recognize my Indonesian trike license (certificate) so in 2002 I went through the training process with a local Microlight (Trike) flight school and obtained my UK PPL-M (M=Microlights). In mid 2003 I bought a Pegasus 462 Tug and obtained my tug rating (formal training program for tug pilots in the UK) and I worked with Lejair to help train a dozen or so hang glider pilots in the local Norfolk Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club to obtain their aerotow rating. A few months later I was offered a job transfer to Houston where we've lived since January-2004.
I joined HGH (Hang Glide Houston) which changed its name to HGT (Hang Glide Texas) and a member of HHPA (Houston Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association within a few weeks of our arrival and have been actively flying hang gliders and serving the club as a tug pilot since that time. I also flew hang gliders and tugged (tug pilot) quite a bit with THGS (Texas Hang Gliding Society) at Hearne and have also winch towed extensively over the years there with HHPA. I have flown numerous times at our local coastal site, Quintana which was 45 minutes from home. I have supported events such as local club trips and Ballunar Festival at NASA Johnson Space Center where I have flown hang gliders and tugged (aerotowed hang gliders) numerous times over the years. Additionally I have made several flying trips to various sites such as multiple trips to various sites in California, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and a trip to Mexico.
I first started flying in hang gliding competitions in 2005 after attending a competition clinic at Quest Air in April 2005 hosted by several top world class pilots. I bought a race tuned Moyes LiteSpeed 4S in mid-2005 and flew at Big Spring Nationals that summer which started my quest to fly cross country. This is when my XC flying improved significantly and by 2006 I started having flights of over 50 miles.
When the FAA introduced the Light Sport Rules in 2007 I was among a few pilots in Texas to earn my FAA Private Pilot Certificate - WSC (Trikes). I have served HGT extensively as a tug pilot at national and international hang gliding competitions including several times in Big Spring (national competitions, the pre-worlds and world championships), Americus Georgia, Quest Air Florida, Race & Rally (Race Florida to Georgia) and Santa Cruz Flats Race in Arizona, plus I have served Cowboy Up Hang Gliding in Wharton Texas as tow pilot and tandem pilot.
We relocated to France at the end of 2008 for a 12 month assignment at my employer’s international training center. Durting my time in France I participated in a mountain flying clinic in Laragne with Judy Leden (three times world champion and altitude record holder) and Chris Dawes. I also had several hang gliding trips to Chamonix and actively aerotowed with a local club, Canard Sauvage located east of Paris and occasionally towed hang gliders with the club trike. I also flew hang gliders in the UK several times during 2009 as it was a relatively easy commute between Paris and the UK. We returned to Houston January-2010.
I hold a USHPA H-5 (Hang Gliding Master Rating), Tandem Instructor and Advanced Instructor ratings as well as most of the USHPA special skills and received a USHPA Safe Pilot Award.
In summary, I have an extensive amount of trike (Weight Shift Control) flying experience both towing hang gliders and recreational flying including multiple XC flights in Indonesia, in Texas, during the Race&Rally (Cross Country Hang Gliding Competition) plus a thousand mile flight from Venice Florida to Columbus Texas. I have also flown several long cross country flights on a Moyes Dragonfly (Light Sport Airplane) including several flights between Big Spring and Wharton Texas and have also flown Dragonflies at several national hang gliding competitions. I assisted Cowboy Up Hang Gliding when called upon to tow solo and tandem hang gliders at Wharton Texas. Furthermore I provided my Dragonfly and Trike to assist Jonny Durand (worlds number-1 hang gliding pilot) with a joint project in Zapata Texas between Red Bull USA and The Weather Channel to create an hour long documentary “Wind Rider: World Record Attempt” first aired 24-July-2016 plus additional footage aired on the Red Bull channel.
Events & FAQ's
Coming events
February - Hosting the Lake County Balloon Festival
March - Hosting XC-101 (Hang Gliding Cross Country Flying Clinic
April - National Hang Gliding and Hang Gliding World Championship Events
FAQs - Section Under Construction
Is there a weight limit?
Yes, the maximum weight for a Passenger/Student is 240lbs.
What is a Trike or Powered Hang Glider?
Powered hang glider, or more precisely FAA Weight Shift Controlled Light Sport Aircraft, commonly known as “Trikes” and sometimes called “Ultralights” provide the experience and feeling of flying a motor cycle in the sky. The wing is based on a hang glider design but capable of much greater load capacity and has the same simple control principles making it very intuitive to fly. The trike buggy with two seats and the engine is suspended from the hang glider style wing.
Why do people refer to these aircraft as Ultralights?
FAA Weight Shift Controlled (WSC) Light Sport Aircraft (Trikes) evolved from ultralights.
The FAA defines the rules for Ultralights in 14 CFR 103 https://ecfr.io/Title-14/cfr103_main, which essentially states that the powered ultralight must weigh less than 254lbs, have a single seat and capacity for no more than 5 gallons of fuel.
Ultralights are relatively inexpensive and fun. The weight limitation of Ultralights restricts the airframe size and engine power options, the single seat means no passengers allowed and the 5 gallons of fuel means limited range. There are other restrictions and rules but Ultralights provide the least FAA regulated form of flying.
Light Sport Aircraft can weigh up to 1320lbs excluding floats and safety equipment, do not have a fuel limitation and can carry a passenger so they are more versatile and because of the heavier weight, design loads and speed, Light Sport Aircraft can typically operate in a broader range of weather conditions.
Prior to flying a Weight Shift Controlled Ultralight is strongly recommended to learn to fly with an Instructor in a WSC Light Sport Aircraft.
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