USA: SAN DIEGO: BUDDY THE HANG GLIDING DOG

(1 Jul 1997) Natural Sound

Not many four-legged creatures can glide through the air.

But the sky's the limit for a California man and his dog who hang-glide together in San Diego.

APTV has pictures of soaring Buddy, one of a handful of American hang-gliding dogs.

William Kimball, a veteran hang-glider for 22 years, started flying with Buddy his two- year-old yellow Labrador when he was just a puppy.

Buddy is now an experienced pilot but had yet to fly at the renowned World Hang Gliding and Paragliding Races at the Torrey Pines Glider Port in San Diego.

The Glider Port is reserved for only experienced pilots and APTV was there for Buddy's maiden flight at Torrey Pines.

Out of the 75-hundred hang-gliders and 35-hundred para-gliders in the US, Buddy is one of a handful of flying dogs in America.

In his home-made harness stands on his owner's back where he wags his tail and can see the sights.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
'Buddy does everything else with me, We live in a condo, so he does not get much exercise, so I take him running with me all the time and today we went mountain bike riding together. So, it seemed kind of natural to take buddy along with me."
SUPER CAPTION: William Kimball, Dog's owner.

Kimball is used to having others on board when he hang-glides. He's a qualified tandem pilot so he's allowed to take non-pilots up with him.

Torrey Pines is renown for its world hang-gliding races. It has strict rules for who can fly and requires lots of experience before hang-gliders are airborne.

Less than 10 days ago Buddy made his first flight at Torrey Pines.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Today is his, Buddy's, first flight at Torrey Pines, it is like any pilot - take him out for the first time, a new sight, a new ground, a new territory. He probably was a little bit nervous - but once he got in the air you noticed his tail was wagging the whole time."
SUPER CAPTION: David Jebb, Co-owner Torrey Pines Glider Port.

While Bill and Buddy were relaxed and happy - those on the crowd were astonished.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
'I could not believe it ! It's just incredible. Would you let your dog up there? Not hardly !"
SUPER CAPTION: Fred Jeffers, Hang-glider spectator."

With Buddy following Bill's every move perhaps the next trick will be pooch as pilot.

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