I've had lessons at three different schools. First with Morningside Flight Park in NH; then with Kittyhawk in NC; and finally with Mission Soaring. I enjoyed all of it, but I have to say that the professionalism, quality of instruction and safety at Mission Soaring is outstanding. Pat, Eric and team have tons of experience and know exactly the right thing to say to help students progress *safely* through each stage of learning. The community of pilots at Tres Pinos is amazing and supportive. Experienced graduates often return to take advantage of the unique combination of consistently flyable conditions and expert help with any lingering bad habits. At Tres Pinos you can make friends that will gladly help you at every stage... from your first flights and landings to your graduation to coastal and mountain flying. This is a great place to learn to soar but also to practice humility and grit along the way. read more

Mission Soaring Center - That's me soaring over the training hill. - Flight Instruction Near Me - Milpitas, California

Holy poo that was fun! My buddies and I had our first hang gliding lesson with Mission a couple weeks ago. Since the Milpitas office was closed during Memorial Day week, we didn't have to do the one hour orientation in Milpitas (although most people normally do). They instead sent us the packet with the waivers and directions to the Hollister site via mail. We called the instructor when we arrived and he drove us up through some dried up grassy hills with his truck. There were 4 of us (two per hang glider) and one instructor, which meant that we got plenty of attention, each did 7-8 jumps off the hill each& got 8 ft of air at the end of the day- yea we no beginners yo! I must admit I was scared, but with each jump, the instructor ran beside us and reminded us of what to do (e.g. to steer left/right/up/down). He also reminded me to breathe& relax each time before I took off. Breathing is important! We spent a good 4.5 hours that day on that hill. For $160/per person, this lesson was about $40/hr which in my opinion is much cheaper than sky-diving or tandem hang-gliding. We put away the hang-gliders just as the sun set. Exhausted &hungry, we walked back to the truck ready for the long drive home. To our surprise, our instructor pull out a huge cooler and handed us some beers. "My students always get beer!" He smiled. Already dehydrated from the sun, the beer hit me fast. And then like he can read my mind, he hands me a soda and Iaughs. read more

While initially confused because we were told to come to Milpitas and upon arrival in Milpitas told that the lesson would actually be in Hollister, I had a great experience here. The hills just outside Hollister are great for learning to hang-glide, and our instructor Dave Yount was very nice and helpful in his instructions. We accomplished a lot more in the 4 or so hour lesson than I expected, and his encouragement and clear guidance were definitely extremely useful. I would highly recommend this place to anyone who wants to take one (or multiple) beginning hang-gliding lessons. It is pricey (though I don't know how much other places compare), but worth the cost. If you go on a hot day though, bring more water than you think you need. You basically are sitting in the sun waiting your turn to glide most of the afternoon, so it gets pretty scorching. And don't wear white shorts lest you fall down :) read more

In my twenties, I was all about adventure and fun activities. This was one to check off of my to do list. Took the one day classwork then scheduled a weekend day to fly in the dunes of Davenport. I guess I must have still had my tiara on because I didn't realize at the time of sign up and during the coursework that you practice on the sand dunes and not only that but you have to CARRY YOUR glider up the sand dunes after gliding down....now that wasn't fun. If I would have known then what I know now, I would have hired a glider sherpa to carry the glider back up the dunes for me. Fighting the sand and wind uphill with a huge kite attached to you, isn't fun and exhausting. Thankfully I stayed overnight at the Davenport Inn http://www.yelp.com/biz/vDhO6QIgTzZHxDG9H087Mw and slept well that night...it was a great experience though. read more

After signing up for lessons we had a change of heart, buyers remorse, and decided we just couldn't afford a new, expensive sport. We called more than 24hrs prior to the lesson to cancel. They refused to refund any of our $360 even though we have never used any of their service. A partial refund (we never should have signed up) may have been acceptable but they took the entire $360, we got nothing. Now we have to take them to small claims to try to get it back. My advice do not write them a check for lessons ahead of time. Only pay them when recieving the actual lesson. read more

So i got this trubate deal for my first hanggliding lesson and thought... I'm not going to be really hanggliding all that much for the rest of my life... I should probably just do the tandem thing first. first of all, i hate their VM system. BUT, when I emailed them, they were ALWAYS responsive AND they answered EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY QUESTIONS directly and thoroughly. They were HAPPY to upgrade my deal and the instructor was super friendly! Ben Dunn was so nice and talked me through everything. He's been flying for 20 years and it seems he hasn't lost his enthusiam for it. I liked that he wasn't pushy, he seemed genuinely interested in flying and making my experience a great one. you know how some people just want to get it over with? like, here's your time, now be off? all business? not ben. he didn't care how long we were in the air. i absolutely was thrilled about that. and how calm and real he was. when we were in the air, he pointed out things below and was really engaging. But not so much where i wanted to scream shut up at any time. Now that i've flown, I'm thinking that I should've just kept my lesson. I MAY end up flying ALL the time. GREAT SERVICE! FRIENDLY PEOPLE! THANKS!!! read more

I did my first hang gliding lesson last Saturday, 7/3, in Hollister with Mission Soaring and had an absolute blast! The entire crew were friendly and professional--an absolute joy to deal with. From being greeted by Megan in the store to meeting Pat the owner during orientation to getting training by Arturo out in the hills of Hollister. Arturo provided excellent instructions and was witty and helpful. Minus a star for price and location. To to be fair, I don't have anything to compare this with. I just know that $160/lesson is a tad bit steep for my budget ATM and Hollister is a bit far for my lazy butt to drive to on a Saturday morning. And yes, they did explain to me that Hollister provided the ideal location for beginners. I can still whine, damnit. I'm looking forward to taking more lessons and eventually getting my Soar 1 and 2 as budget and time permits. Hang gliding definitely a bucket list item of mine. read more

I had definitely a very memorable experience with them. It was so good that I came back as soon as I recovered from my first crash there, when I hit the ground due to some unexpected crosswinds. They give some instructions and screen motivational video in Milpitas and then you need to drive somewhere near Hollister to do the actual, hands-on training. The training site is perfect - bare hills that are not too steep. I didn't expect to fly much during my first time there, but I was pleasantly surprised being able to take off and soar over the ground. It's an awesome feeling when you run down the hill, your steps become bigger and bigger, and finally - you fly! Dave was a perfect instructor. I am giving four stars, since other instructors there don't live up to his standards. read more

If I could give Pat and all of his instructors 100 stars I would. This is by far the most professional group of instructors I have ever had the pleasure of dealing with. They are low key and mellow and help you out at your own pace. This was a new adventure for my husband and I and we were very pleased with how well we were taught and how quickly we learned. We are currently continuing our hang gliding lessons with Pat in Hollister and plan to continue on after our first 5 lessons. read more

Mission Soaring Center - My husband I on our first lesson - Flight Instruction Near Me - Milpitas, California

5 stars for my instructor Dave YOUNT!!!! This guy not let you get down on yourself if you have a rough landing or two. Super relaxed, totally pro. He's getting a gnarly workout running up and down that hill too, bravo! Hurts me to do it, because I really did have a great time, but I have to deduct stars for a bad policy that left me feeling like I was getting swindled: When my first lesson got cancelled halfway through because of strong unexpected winds, I was not offered a partial refund or the option to reschedule a half-lesson. I was told that my only option would be to book another full lesson. So my choices were to pay them even MORE money or watch them take my $80 and run. I think it's a stretch to call the whole business a scam like the previous reviewer, but policies like that definitely feel scammy. I work in this same industry (outdoor rec. guide/instructor, small business) and we would NEVER make our clients pay if we canceled for weather. It's absolutely contrary to the industry standard. The person I discussed this with on the phone was polite overall, although not particularly apologetic. That having been said, I booked the 2nd lesson and a 3rd lesson a year later when I brought my boyfriend here for our anniversary, so the experience itself was excellent thanks to the expertise and patience of Dave Yount! If it were in my budget to return, I would, but I sure hope that the policies become a bit more customer-friendly in the future. Rock on Dave!!! read more

First of all, the training hill is not in Milpitas. We got up way early in the morning to go to Milpitas to take a hang gliding lesson only to find out we needed to drive another hour and a half to go to this place south of Hollister CA. The staff offered no excuse why we were sent to one place only to get back in the car and drive all the way past Hollister. My girlfriend and I paid for two lessons each but after watching another student break his arm we decided not to go back. When we asked for a refund for the lesson we didn't take, they said they don't give refunds only store credit. Very unprofessional! No one should have to pay for anything they don't receive. That's just poor business practices. Bottom line is, if you have good insurance go for it but don't give this business any of your money until you get the product or service you are paying for! Next time we will check the filtered reviews better, we are not the first ones they have ripped-off. Vicky read more

Breathtaking. Exquisite. The most wonderful day of my life. I am honored to have gotten to take my first few little flights with Dave, whose wise tutelage and steady hand made all the difference. Running into the air with wings on my back was not half as terrifying as I had predicted, and that was solely due to Dave's excellent instruction. We also visited the Milpitas location beforehand to meet Pat and Becky, and they shared some excellent stories and context with us. Overall, Mission Soaring Center could not have provided us with a more excellent experience, and we are looking forward to returning many times in the future. read more

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My husband and I have now had two lessons with Mission Soaring in Hollister, CA. We've had Mike as our instructor both times and absolutely fell in love with hang-gliding. The price is steep but it's 4 hours of flying fun and learning about the gliders. It's a bit physically demanding as you have to run down the hill, and then push the glider back up the hill. (Not super demanding, just be aware.) Here's my blog write up on our experience, along with some videos: http://www.margaretonthego.com/2013/05/hang-gliding.html read more

I went here with my siblings and cousins. We were split into 2 groups with Dave and Big Dave. Long story short - we had a BLAST! Big Dave was my instructor and he was awesome. His instructions were simple - Light grasp and took at the horizon. I took it all in and I was able to fly my first run down the hill! By my last run, I soared higher than anyone that day. I enjoyed it epicly and definitely recommend it as a unique and amazing time!! read more

My family had an amazing time out in Tres Piños with Pat and Dave. We had 13 people go up for the tandem ride with Dave and it was really great fun. They were professional and kind, guiding everyone through the process. We went up about a thousand feet and then floated around and back down for a nice landing. My dad had a blast for his 80th birthday! Would totally do it again. read more

I received solo lessons as a birthday present and it was the most fun. The instructor, Michael, was awesome and made it simple to learn. If it's an adventure on your bucket list, you should cross it off here! read more

My Biggest Complaint - Business Professionalism: Pat has a history of overcharging actual students for equipment. If you are buying your first hang glider-harness-etc, you have been warned. The owner also has been known to put people on gliders that they are not ready for in hopes of getting a sale, and people have been injured as a result. The "spotless" safety record touted by the school does not reflect reality. Tandem Flights: Going for a tandem ride is a fantastic experience. It is in line with a tandem skydive and very little is expected of the student. The flight will typically be 5-20 minutes, the view will be amazing, and the ride can be very exciting. The learning opportunities are limited as you are not piloting the craft yourself. I would also be remiss if I did not mention that commercial tandem activity is legally prohibited at certain flying sites. The Fellow Feathers of Ft. Funston for example has a use agreement with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area or GGNRA that expressly prohibits any tandem instructor or organization from charging for a tandem flight. The pilot can be fined, and it puts the flying site at risk for qualified pilots. Ask where the flight will be prior to payment. Mt. Tam is open to commercial activity, Ft. Funston is not and club officers could prohibit your flight. Taking Lessons: If you would like the experience of controlling the craft and ultimately being responsible for your safety (let me say that again, being responsible for your own safety) then a lesson is the way to go. You will learn some basics about the sport, you will work solo or in small groups with an instructor. Most people will experience some limited (1ft to 8ft off the ground) but very real flight under their own power. This will be a very magical moment in your life. Some injuries can occur here, but all of the Mission Soaring instructors I have met have been diligent in minimizing this risk at this point in student progression. Early Students vs. Long Term Student Progression: Mission Soaring does a good to excellent job in taking people off the street and turning them into beginner and early intermediate pilots. Your ability to progress through these early stages will be very dependent on your motivation, maturity, and to a certain extent your inherent athletic ability. Mission Soaring is also one of the few places I know about that actually does road trips to beginner-intermediate sites with its more advanced students. Long term progression in the sport however is not something that Mission Soaring excels at, or necessarily should. At a certain point in your training the "bunny hill" at Hollister is no longer helping you develop the skills you need to be an intermediate-advanced pilot. The Mission Soaring Center solution to this is to use a winch to tow students and their aircraft up to ~600 feet in the air. Obviously they have a progression of skills and tasks that help you transition from a 50-60 foot "bunny hill" to the 600 feet above the ground that I mentioned. I believe that the methodology and staged progression is well thought out. I believe that all the instructors are genuinely interested in helping students progress in a safe and controlled manner. I do not believe however that the RISKS ASSOCIATED with this TOWING OPERATION are realistically described to students. This method of instruction does allow for very rapid skills progression and advancement through the time and number of flights requirements for an intermediate rating. I have personally used this system to make this progression. The potential for grave injury however is much higher than most students realize. I have been involved as a student, and personally witnessed flights where the student impacted the ground at a high rate of speed which could have resulted in serious injury. My assertion is that towing removes some degree of flight control from the pilot and that this puts inexperienced pilots in harms way. Towing removes the pilot's ability to control the speed and at times the direction of the aircraft. The towing lines are contact with the control frame in a way that exerts pressure on the controls and are providing pitch and roll inputs to the aircraft which do not originate from the pilot. This can result in loss of control of the aircraft at any time including those in which a student could not be reasonably expected to recover prior to impacting the ground. Beginning-Intermediate pilots would be well advised to seek independent guidance from advanced pilots outside of the school prior to engaging in any towing. AllenJ H4-AT FL ST AWCL CL FSL RLF TUR X-C read more

I came here several years back now (with my mom, as a family bonding experience!) and we both had a great time. We had probably around 4 lessons. It was immediately practical and immersive, getting us some immediate gliding time on the first day. Granted, it was on the bunny hill... but 10' of elevation makes you feel like you are king/queen of the world when you fly for the first time... all 30 seconds of it ;) I did that hill many times on the first day, and though there was effectively no real elevation I had an absolute blast. Generally speaking, some things you may not know about hang gliding (and I use skydiving for comparison for a few of these many people assume they are similar). 1. Hang gliding is fundamentally different from skydiving. Skydiving is an "extreme sport". In my opinion, hang gliding is not. It's the opposite. It's meditative, calm, and peaceful. It is obviously exciting as hell when you first start, but what you are building toward is having the skill to soar around. Consider: skydiving you are falling very very fast, and then you pull your chute and it's over. Adrenaline city. Skydiving you launch (adrenaline, granted) but then you relax into it and just float around enjoying feeling like a bird... this leads into my next point 2. Skydiving is a very fast experience. You can't really prolong it. Hang gliding (once you are Hang 2 or Hang 3 rated) can last... indefinitely. My teacher sometimes stays up for 10 hours at a time when he goes out! 3. Skydiving doesn't really go anywhere. It's not a method of travel. Hang gliding is. If you're good, you can use ridge lift, follow mountain ranges, and travel very long distances... you can literally travel hundreds of miles. 4. A glider and gear is expensive, but once you have equipment then from that point forward it's basically free. Hang gliding is the cheapest way to fly. It's a self-regulated sport so you don't need to go to special places or get permission to launch from anywhere. You don't need a chair lift or a plane ride. You don't need to pay for access to places where you can launch from (some you might a little, like national parks... but it's almost a negligible expense). Compare that with skydiving where you pay for the plane ride at the very least, even if you stuff your own chute. Or compare it with piloting a private plane... even assuming you buy the plane (which is much much more expensive than a glider), you still need to continuously pay for a place to store your plane, gas each time you go out etc. Or if you don't own, you must rent the plane every time. Once you actually have your glider, you do need to pay for gas for your car if you're driving yourself up to the launch point, but that's it. It's an order of magnitude less expensive than most of the other flying sports it gets compared to (sky diving and piloting a private plane). 5. Hang gliding is VERY, VERY SAFE (compared to what you probably think). Back in the 70s and 80s, it was not. People were flying in things that should not have been allowed off the ground. Nowadays, hang gliding companies use aeronautical engineers to design their gliders, and there are a ton of safety features built in. The wings will start to shake and vibrate long before the stall point for example, giving you tactile feedback that is impossible to ignore. All that said, of course there is an element of danger. But honestly it's probably more dangerous bicycling through San Francisco than it is being on a modern glider with proper protective gear. I've been dying to go back for some time now... once you get your Hang 1 it is expected that you get your own glider. That's a bit pricey... so I've been saving up and biding my time. I absolutely feel like this is a sport I want to do the rest of my life. When I return, it will be to Mission Soaring Center for sure! read more

When one of my friends asked me to go hang gliding, I thought it would be a ton of fun, and something new to experience... Everything went fine until the day of our class when we showed up for our lesson.. After being out there for over an hour, the wind picked up and our instructor ended up canceling the class due to high wind! I was so bummed, since it felt like we pretty much wasted our whole Saturday, and since this was a one time thing for me with no plans of coming back out again, I thought I'll just get a refund... and this is where it all went down hill... After 4 phone calls and one email\, no one from Mission Soaring Company contacted me back, and by the time I finally got through and talked to the owner, he informed me that there's no way he's going to give me a refund, and I should either come back within two years, give the lesson to someone else, or go on Craig's list and sell it!! He insisted that I was informed of this "policy" when I paid for my lesson over the phone because somebody had checked some box on some list, and since this is their process it must be right! Well not only was I never told of this "weather cancelation" (written or verbal) policy, this was the very first time I was hearing about it!! The owner was kind of a jerk... I can understand the company not giving refunds if I had canceled, but I showed up on the right day at the right time, and they're the ones that ended up canceling due to high winds... I feel I was scammed out of my money... I will never go back or recommend this place to anyone I know... The owner was extremely rude and unprofessional in handling this situation, and not the kind of person I want to give my business to. I already wasted a day, and are not willing to waste another day especially since they may cancel on me again... Total rip off if... read more

Anyone lucky enough to be living anywhere near Pat's whop is exactly that: lucky. There are not a lot of hang gliding schools with shops for equipment and instruction. They have taken great care of me through my training hill and tow lessons and helped me get great equipment: some used, some new. Bryan in the shop tailored my used harness to better fit me and improved both aerodynamics and comfort. He did this while I waited. Can't beat that service! Its this sort of comfort that has made me a loyal customer of Mission. I can't wait for my next lesson! read more

As the year comes to an end, I wanted to end on something a little different (for my 300th review too! :D). For one of my friend's birthdays, we decided to go hang gliding. Hang gliding has long been on my "bucket list," and I was excited (and a tad nervous) to go. The meeting spot was a tad unusual, you meet at a gate and then there is a bumpy truck ride to the spot where you take off -- I felt a little nauseous at the end of the mile long ride (there are cows that get in the way and the roads aren't paved well so it takes awhile!). As we got there though, everyone who worked there (Ryan who drove us from the meeting point to the take-off spot and set us up, and Dave who was the instructor / hang glide operator) was so kind and made us feel really comfortable and safe. They assured us that any problems would be very unlikely, and I felt like I could completely trust them. The set up took longer than I expected so each person going took awhile (getting people into the glider, having the tow line ready, etc.), but I patiently waited my turn. Dave even let us borrow one of his spare jackets because it was pretty cold especially going up. The experience of hang gliding was amazing. It really feels flying! In fact, while we were up there, I turned to Dave and said, "It feels like I'm flying!" and he replied, "You are!" The view, though mainly of Hollister, was still beautiful with the hills and the sun starting to set -- it really was a great day for flying. During the flight, Dave let me take over the steering for awhile and that was a bit nerve-wracking but really cool! The ride seemed both long and short, and when we reached the ground, I wished I could go again. Mission Soaring Center was a perfect choice for a first time tandem hang glide. I'm not sure if I would try to fly on my own, but I would totally go on another tandem hang glide ride again!! Thanks to Dave and Ryan for making the experience fun and stress-free! read more

So much fun! Everyone in the shop is helpful and nice. Very safe and patient instructors. definately worth the $

I started taking lessons from Mission Soaring back in 2004 and it was probably the best single thing I ever did for myself after the age of 40. I am an inactive private pilot who hasn't flown much due to the expense and the fact that it really felt more like operating a machine than actually flying. Hang gliding is different from that. Some guys go hang gliding for the adrenaline rush (whoohoo!) and it is thrilling but the kind of flying I prefer is where you can just boat around for hours and feel nothing but relaxed. I did that for an hour or so yesterday at the coast. Fortunately, I happen to live near Mission Soaring. I probably would never have been able to start "real" flying if it weren't for a school and a shop like this being accessible. Pat has it organized an structured like a business and a school and I do well with that. He has a collection of instructors, all different in some way, a regular site and a system of ground school and teaching that reliably turns out successful students with the minimal amount of risk. There are wags in the area who derisively refer to it as the "puppy mill" but I can tell you there a lot of puppies out there including me who are perfectly happy with that. Your alternatives are to either a) go out of the region to another school or b) go to one of the independent instructors working the area. Check the USHPA web site and you can find all of them. I know many of the guys in the area and they are all excellent pilots who all have different teaching styles. Regardless of that if I had it to do all over again I would have done the Mission Soaring route if for no other reason than the sense of organization and stability it brings. So go by the shop and check it out. They are easy to talk to there and they have videos that give a pretty good idea of what to expect. read more

What a cool school-- all their instructors are USHGA certified, and they even have a hang-gliding simulator.

I just got back after my first hand gliding session and loved it !!! Dave is an excellent instructor very methodical, patient and encouraging. It was a fantastic day to for hand gliding. Everything looked beautiful....it was perfect!! Looking forward to my next session. read more

I chose the adventure package - with 3 hours of ground to air training + tandems. Pat, Jonathan and Dave are extraordinary people & flyers! I did it with my bff for my 50th birthday, felt so natural, got up immediately & stuck my landings too. The tandem was nothing less than a spiritual awakening: I was human-less; just one of the elements. I highly recommend the drive to this fantastic learning & soaring place! read more

This place is a scam. I got tickets for me and my friend, and weren't able to even find the location. I called in a few days prior to make the appointment..the employee instructed that the location can't be pulled up by a map..so I did as the guy instructed..he said to follow the directions on the website that were provided. Did that and plugged in those directions into my gps system. Followed their directions to the nail..2 hour drive there, to the middle of no where..no cell service...waiting for the instructor to show up. The service they provided was horrible. The location that the directions brought us to was in the middle of nowhere..no call service. To top it off, we waited for an hour...they didn't tell us what to look for on location and didn't even have a number that we could call to contact and get us headed in the right direction. I politely called them back a week after during their business hours and politely asked for a refund. The manager was rude, ignorant, and extremely condescending--absolutely no refunds were given. I ultimately went to Wells Fargo fraud department and disputed my transaction--they deemed it as a scam and I received my full refund on that transaction. read more

I had a great flight on Sunday, 8/11. It was my first; I went tandem with an experienced pilot. I plan to go again, in tandem. I might consider the classes, but they're all the way down in Milpitas, which is tough for an eastbay person. How about another center, close to Mt. Diablo? This was a 60th birthday gift to myself; ten years ago it was sky diving. Guess I need a thrill every decade to recharge batteries. Highly recommended. read more

Took my girlfriend here for her birthday. Great experience, epic time. Note that you don't go soaring off cliffs your first lesson. I got about six feet off the ground on a few occasions, and after my first taste, I really wished I WAS soaring off cliffs! Please note the grassy fields are a real problem for people with bad allergies, at certain times of the year. read more

Had a great time with mission soaring center. Stacey was great and helped me make sure that everything was set up. I'd advise bringing gloves, a hat and a coat because it can get cold out there! The instructor (Dave) was fantastic and made my first hang gliding experience really enjoyable. I'd suggest getting both the tandem and hillside training flights. They were both fun! read more

Pat & Dave were absolutely Awesome! We were celebrating our dads 80th birthday and we all went flying! I now know how it feels to be a bird! The view was spectacular! I would do it again and the Spring flowers and fields were breath taking! It was an Amazing experience Thank you read more

I started learning to hang-glide with Pat at Mission Soaring Center about a year and a half ago and it has been one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life. I earned my H3 Rating in 9 months, which is pretty fast, and enabled me to fly at most sites. Most importantly, I've received excellent instruction with an abundant emphasis on safety. I have now flown at more than 6 sites including Fort Funston, Mt Tam, Lake McClure, Via De Bravo, Marina Beach, and Ed Levin all without major mishaps...and I'm loving every minute of it! There is nothing like soaring thousands of feet up feeling confident in your ability to handle the conditions when launching, thermaling, and landing. Pat has been involved in hang-gliding from the inception of the sport and has been a great source of knowledge and instruction to help me attain my flying objectives. Highly recommend Pat and Mission Soaring Center. read more

Had my first lesson today. Dave was the instructor. He was really good about structuring the lessons in such a way that I never felt out of control or unsafe. At the same time I had more intense fun than I've had in quite a while. It's a good combination. :-) read more

You cant go wrong with them. We had booked a tandem flight with Mission Soaring Center and absolutely loved it. It was very safe and amazing experience. read more

I just got back from my first lesson. I had so much fun! Dave was an amazing instructor; so calm, reassuring, and confidence-inspiring. Jeff, an apprentice instructor, was also fantastic. Nothing but encouragement from them both all day long. I highly recommend flying with Mission based on this experience. I'm hooked! read more

Wow that was great fun. To me hang gliding was something that you only see in a magazine. When I went to Pat's shop I realized that it is something I could do too. read more

Great guys and super fun and addictive experience. It was my birthday, and Dave was a generous tandem co-pilot. I felt super safe and got to fly the glider myself! Also just nice people. Would highly recommend them. You can also do skydiving at the same spot if that's of interest. read more

I've taken lessons from Mission sporadically for a few years and am finally commiting to more frequent ones to get my Hang 1. All of the instructors have a lot of experience and are fun to hang out with. You can't go wrong and the teaching pace helps you safely progress with confidence. Eric F. always makes me feel at ease; helping me attain my best flights! read more

I actually gave a low rating before due to some communication problem that I had with Mission Soaring Center at Tres Pinos, for one of the class that I booked. Actually I got a call from them and did apologized for the problem. That was really good and added to that the first class that I had with Dave was very good. I am updating my reviews with 4 stars. read more

I took my first lesson with Mission Soaring almost 1 year ago out at their Tres Pinos site. That first lesson was great and I progressed to get my Beginner rating (H-1). I continued to learn, getting my Novice rating (H-2) and recently, my intermediate rating (H-3). It has been a fantastic year and I have thoroughly enjoyed learning to hang glide from the excellent instructors (Thank you Harold, Dave, and Pat). I highly recommend Mission Soaring to get started in hang gliding. How lucky we are to be able to fly. read more