Running Into The Sky

Rating:
Summary: Flying high with Running Into the Sky
Review: Even though I'm not a paraglider pilot, I really enjoyed this book! I've always been fascinated by paragliders, but could never find a book about what it's like to fly them. There are plenty of "how to" books on the subject, but I'm not really interested in the details of selecting a wing or an engine. I just want to know about the experience!

Fortunately, Chris Wolf keeps the nitty gritty technical jargon to a minimum in his book. Wolf advertises his book as "What it's REALLY like to fly a powered paraglider". That's exactly what he delivers. He tells the reader what happened to him when he decided to learn to fly a powered paraglider and why he stays with the sport. The details are very entertaining to anyone who has an interest in aviation or wants to experience the thrill of flying through paragliding. Even if you're not a paraglider pilot, some of the stories in the book are hilarious! (I loved "The Great Ostrich Ping Pong Ball Drop".) Some of his adventures are downright scary!

I also liked the fact that Wolf is completely honest. He tell the reader about his crashes and mistakes, along with his triumphs. This is a refreshing change from many of the "sanitized" aviation books, where the author never seems to makes a mistake or makes a bad judgment call. Wolf gives the reader the benefit of his mistakes.

This book has a real "You Are There" feel to it. If you want to know what it's really like to put on a wing and an engine and fly like a bird, this is the book you should read. If you are considering the sport, you need to read this book. I highly recommended it!