Eddie Gray, Profile

Born in Tokyo 1954 to a Japanese mother and Australian father. Moved to Melbourne in 1956.

I first became aware of hang gliding at high school after some friends bought one, then totaled it on the first week end, but not until the three of them received bloodied knees arms and faces. I was into dirt bikes at the time but wanted a go at flying. My chance came in 1977 in England. I answered a learn to Hang glide advert. Over the next few months when ever time, money and weather were favorable, I was there running down the hill and trudging back up. Carrying a hang glider. I had no idea that Australia was at the cutting edge of development both in equipment and technique. It was exciting but with the effort and perceived danger outweighing the flying I put my time into other things.

I met Andrew Polidano in 1994. At the local aero modeling club. My son was given a remote controlled and I was to get him started with lessons etc. I was interested in areo modeling having done a bit of control line flying at school but Radio control was a little out of reach then. Modern electronics had changed that and father and son took to it with gusto. Andrew and I became firm friends. It was with this renewed 'aero' interest that I began noticing the local hang gliding scene. The gliders were staying up and soaring rather than 'billy-carting' from top to bottom. On closer inspection the gliders were high tech wings. Andrew and I decided to sign up for a course share a glider and some of the expense. Little knowing that once hooked it would become all consuming for time and funds.

I did my first tandem on new years day 1996 at Lennox Head. I had been itching to be in a hang glider again but my previous experience didn't involve a very experienced pilot harnessed beside, this time I was able to stay up and carve turns, swoop low and get high. I was hooked. Paragliding followed on a few years later. Andrew had started flying the ‘floppies’, I was still skeptical but eventually gave it a go. I enjoyed the simplicity and convenience but I stuck to hang gliding until an incident at Mt Buffalo left me without a hang glider to fly. So with PG kit handy I concentrated on flying my paraglider. Andrew encouraged me to take up backpack motoring. It was more fun than it has a right to be.

Last year Andrew taught me to fly his Flyke. A new and fun addition to my flying experience. I flew it in an air display as part of the opening ceremony of the world paragliding competition. I bought one and started planning to fly 1000km to the 10th annual powered paragliding and hang gliding convention. Andrew thought he had better come along to keep me safe and give me company. So the adventure had begun. Planning and preparing has been alot tougher than I expected. Sourcing and making special bits of the kit has been rewarding. It's the toughest flight I’ve undertaken. There are so many unknowns with route, weather and equipment. Going unsupported by ground crew adds a tingly edge of danger and freedom and the need for resourcefulness. I'm looking forward to it.