Flying in
HAWAII BY JAMES ALAGGIO
I Paraglider and glider pilot James Alaggio lives in Hawaii. His day job is as a Boeing 767 pilot for Hawaiian Airlines, a position he took so that he could live his soaring dreams. Hawaii offers unexpected opportunities for some great soaring as James explains. You won’t make any great distance flights, but height gains are common and the flying in the islands is very scenic. It would make the ideal winter holiday destination for Kiwi gliding families, offering something for everyone. 42
May–July 2018
’m from New Jersey, United States. I had my first glider flight at age 13 and have been in love with soaring with the birds ever since. I started flying in a 1946 Schweizer 2-22 and did my first solo 5-hour flight in a Schweizer 1-26 just outside of New York Airspace with Boeing 747s flying under me. All I wanted to do, and all I still want to do, is soar efficiently like migrating raptors. Those birds, especially the hawks, inspired me to start cross-country soaring and seeking how to most efficiently harness the incredible energy of the sky. I worked at the gliderport every summer and weekend day and flew at every opportunity. I was lucky enough to have received considerable training from local sailplane racing mentors and from the U.S. Junior World Soaring team flying Duo Discus’. At 17 years old, I realised I had to build my life so that one day I would be able to immerse myself in soaring. I worked every day to make my dream job a reality. Fast forward 13 years and I am honoured today to be a Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 767 pilot. In Hawaii, the endless trade winds produce predictable ridge lift almost every day of the year. I have personally flown a 56 kilometre paraglider flight in the laminar lift ahead of the 3,000 feet mountain range which conveniently sits perpendicular to the prevailing trade winds. Along with the ridge lift, we have great little thermals and occasionally phenomenal local wave, recorded as high as 38,700 feet by Dave Bigelow. Many Hawaiian wave exploration flights have taken glider pilots well over 20,000 feet on cross-country flights in excess of 100 kilometres. There have been conditions recorded that would enable a 500 kilometre crossing of the entire state – however logistical challenges have prevented such attempts. The optimal conditions for wave require
