Q&A with Tony Armstrong, of HangglideOz

How did you get into hanggliding?

I played rugby league for Wests, Canterbury, Cronulla and the Steelers before a knee injury ended my career in the 1980s. I was always an avid surfer, however, after perforating my ear drum I needed to find another sport. I had watched hangglider pilots flying at Bald Hill … It was like surfing the sky.

So I decided to buy a hangglider and went through the process of teaching myself how to fly. In those days hang gliding schools did not exist.

What do you love about it?

The freedom, serenity, and no one can drop in on you! The feeling of pure flight is truly exhilarating.

Biggest challenges about the sport?

The weather, without a doubt.

What’s good hanggliding weather?

Optimal conditions for hang gliding at Stanwell Park are South East winds at around 15 knots. No rain!

Strangest thing that’s happened on a flight?

Bird strikes, a few marriage proposals, which all ended successfully. There have been a few people in compromising positions on beaches and in bushland, thinking no one is flying above. I had one magical experience with a white-bellied sea eagle who hitched a ride during one of my tandem flights at Bald Hill.

Contact HangglideOz on 0417 939 200, www.hangglideoz.com.au

This article is an extract from the Flame's South Coaster guide (published December 2020, $19.99 in our online store, with free local delivery)