Cross Country Magazine

"Could you sell me a couple of kangaroos?" "Sir, this is a hang gliding place. We teach people to fly." I had this conversation at the Wallaby Ranch when I answered the phone for the busy flight instructors. Indeed a Wallaby farm would have been unusual in this location, in the middle of Florida! One gets more than a few hops at this hang gliding heaven, where thoroughbred hang glider pilots, not marsupials, get pampered, reared, raised and set free.
Located 20 minutes from Orlando, the Wallaby ranch lies on 200 acres of private land right by the Florida ridge. The sunshine state of the USA is flat as a pancake except for this small ridge running N/S through the center of the peninsula, causing the Florida convergence. This is where the sea breezes coming from the east and west coasts meet and produce great flying conditions.
Malcom Jones, developer and owner of Wallaby ranch, has been a hang glider pilot since the very beginning of the boat - towing operations in the early 70's. Originally a water skier, he jumped into hang gliding with both feet and went off to win a number of competitions. He was hired by Disney World (8 miles away) to set up towing operations for aerial ballets to celebrate their 20th anniversary. Ever since, he's been a special events consultant for this type of show, but his latest endeavor is the development of his flight park.
After buying the farm in 1992, he got power lines buried, buildings renovated, instructors and tug pilots hired and started the biggest aerotowing operation and school in the USA. He now has the assistance of tandem instructor David Glover, and tug pilots Rhett Radford and Austin Collins, among others who help out in various ways. They stick to a conservative instruction program and towing method, generated from years of experience with a variety of techniques. Wallaby is the first and biggest full-time aerotowing school in the US.

AEROTOW FOR ALL LEVELS 
Aerotowing instruction produces amazing results. The fear factor is reduced by working tandem with an instructor over the expansive flat terrain with no obstacles, and the motivation factor is kept up by the amount of actual flying being done. After the pilot solos off tow, learning to foot launch and land is facilitated by the in-air feel for the glider. After witnessing this first hand, I have no doubt that aerotowing instruction holds the future of hang gliding.
The Wallaby Ranch proved this by rating the youngest (13 yr.) and the oldest (74 yr.) pilots in the US in the past few months. Another amazing individual is Michelle Cook, a paraplegic who learned to fly at the ranch after the horse-riding accident, and has now about 20 solo flights by aerotow.
There are all the necessary amenities at the ranch: 4 tugs (3 Dragonflies and a Cosmos trike) tow hang gliders on demand, and even a Superfloater (ultralight sailplane).
You don't even have to travel with your glider and harness to fly since 30 rental gliders, in excellent condition, of all sizes, makes, models and classifications are at your disposal. All wings are stored in 'glider condos', huge PVC tubes giving full protection even to your own. Over 100 local pilots take advantage of this storage method to avoid glider transport and wear.
There are multiple towing strips an a grass field suitable for takeoff in any wind direction. Currently, the best distance flown from the Ranch is 100.3 miles. By the way, thousands of $$ are offered for breaking various XC records. The convergence conditions favor record-breaking flights toward the N/NW and the Ranch will even provide retrieval if necessary.

FLIGHT PARKS ARE FOR FAMILIES
Climbing wall, trampoline, swimming pool, mega-bungee-swing, bikes, all terrain vehicles, motorcycles and golf carts for transportation or exploration, camp grounds...the flight park is not just for pilots. Also there are the conveniences of nearby Orlando airport, motels, restaurants, etc. The beauty of such a place is that the whole family can enjoy a stay. And considering AIDS (Aviation-Induced Divorce Syndrome) today, that is something to consider.
Never has a hang gliding operation combined a serious hang gliding school so well with a resort area. As our sport grows older and our concerns for safety, longevity, children, etc. increase, Wallaby Ranch has found a unique combination of fun factors that will most likely be attractive and prosperous in the future.