North Shore Nirvana, from Above

Aug 23, 2009

Steve Wood is a down to earth fellow who places a high value on the solitude that comes with heading off the beaten path. Raised in the hamlet of Hutton, North Somerset, England, “Woody” landed on Oahu during an around-the-world sojourn in 1997. While taking a leisurely drive along coastal Kamehameha Highway, the adventure lover instantly fell for the island’s mellow North Shore.

Woody was so smitten, in fact, that he made this laid back area his new home. He eventually combined his passion for flying with his thirst for creativity by joining Honolulu Soaring at Dillingham Airfield in 2002. Woody became president and co-owner two years later of the company better known as The Original Glider Rides.

Since 1970, The Original Glider Rides has combined the thrill of soaring with the natural beauty of Oahu’s North Shore via scenic air tours and flight training. Woody noted that what sets these engine-free gliders apart from other aircraft is the in-flight silence.

“It’s one of the safest forms of aviation available to the recreational passenger simply because there are so few mechanical parts in a sailplane,” said Woody. “There are no noisy engines and no giant blades whining. It’s just the quiet air whispering over the wings of the aircraft.”

So setting my apprehensions on the back burner, I finally braved up last year and took off with Woody to see the North Shore from a different perspective. I’m so hooked with every aspect of gliding that I’ve been up several more times since.

Those of us who have experienced this magic multiple times are clear on one very important thing. This is a rare rush that’s completely different with each encounter.

I have to chalk up my flight last week as the best one yet, thanks to the timing at the tail end of whale season. It always pumps my adrenaline as the tow plane lifts us from the ground into the wild blue wonder. Once we’re at the right elevation, Woody hits the release and we’re on our own.

It was a pristine day where we glided along the Waianae Mountain Range beyond Kaena Point and caught an amazing Leeward Oahu view that crept up the coast from Yokohama to Makaha and beyond. And then there were the whales, frolicking offshore as if to get in their last hurrah before returning north for the summer.

According to Woody, gliding is a flying purist’s dream. And the area’s northeast tradewinds create some of the best drafts in the world. Visibility from the cockpit is far superior from any other aircraft since every seat is a window seat. And safety reigns supreme. Children as young as three can fly, while many guests are over 70 years old.

The Original Glider Rides offers 10-minute Scenic flights for $79 single and $128 double, 15-minute hands-on Mini Lessons for $115 and 15-minute Acrobatic Flights for $165 single. Flights up to 60 minutes can be booked, and a combination of all three of the above can also be arranged at a starting rate of $185 for 15 minutes.

My next flight? With Woody’s encouragement, I’m considering the ultimate aerobatic ride with a gusty Loop-D-Loop maneuver. The brave strap on a parachute, climb into an aerobatic glider and hold on tight for the ride of their life.

Woody explained that this one covers it all. “We can pull G’s, float in zero gravity, do a Loop-D-Loop, roll wing-tip to wing-tip, draw clover leafs in the sky, pull straight up vertically into a hammer-head stall, and then fall off into a vertical dive — straight down,” he said as my enthusiasm wavered.

Woody topped off his description with that fact that at two positive G’s, wing-overs are the mellowest maneuvers on the entire aerobatic ride. As an afterthought, I may rethink this.

In the end, the flight is actually tailored to the passenger’s comfort level. Your pilot can perform nonstop no-holds-barred aerobatics or take a more gentle approach, performing one maneuver at a time to check your nerves and willingness for more before continuing.

Even if opting for the same mellow flight every time, I’m always certain I will always be safe and the flight will unfold to new thrills. How can it miss when I’m soaking in a bird’s eye view of Oahu’s gorgeous North Shore?

For more information on the Original Glider Rides or to book a flight, visit www.honolulusoaring.com or call 808-637-0207.

A freelance writer based between Honolulu and San Diego, Dawna specializes in destinations and adventures in the Hawaiian Islands, Mexico, the South Pacific and Western United States. Her stories have appeared in publications that include The New York Times, Global Traveler USA, San Francisco Magazine, Los Angeles Magazine, Smart Meetings, Family Fun, Hemispheres, Outside and Travel Agent Magazine. She is a frequent contributor to TravelAge West, a bi-weekly magazine targeting retail travel agents and wholesalers in the Western United States. An avid marathon runner and photographer, Dawna is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers. Visit www.dawnarobertson.com