Description
Join our four pilots as they fly their squadron of Ultralights on an aerial odyssey. The weight-shift trike (powered-hang gliding) cross-country odyssey starts near beautiful Lake Tahoe, continues down the snow-capped High Sierra Mountains to Death Valley, then back through the Nevada Desert and Sierras to return to Lake Tahoe. Experience the thrill and exhilaration of soaring free. Discover how air treking is within your reach.
Accompany four light sport aircraft pilots flying for six days covering 1400 air miles. You land at 16 different locations including airports, dry lakebeds, and roads. From the "Top" - Mount Whitney, the highest point in the Continental USA, to the "Bottom" - Death Valley, the lowest point in the Continental USA, thus the name "Top to Bottom" was born.
You are in the pilot seat throughout this journey of a lifetime with acoomplished pilots Paul Hamilton, and the "Hawaiian Flying Team" of Gerry Charlebois, Andy Doughty, and Armin Engert. A moving map shows you exactly where you are during the complete voyange and hearing actual air-to-air communications add to the full experience.
Includes plenty of inspiring cross-country flying with remarkable in-air footage accompanied by a great soundtrack. Tips and insights on planning and execution, help you learn how to successfully complete a cross-country adventure of your own.
Producer Comments
"After filming sport flying many places in the world, I wanted to fly a great adventure in my own back yard. In choosing a team to join me, I needed pilots who were experienced mountain pilots, proficient at thermalling. Gerry Charlebois and his Hawaiian Flyers were perfect candidates," said Producer Paul Hamilton. "I had flown with them before and know each one was up to the challenge. "Gerry is a long time hang glider pilot, an accomplished sport aviation photographer, and flies thousands of hours a year for his flight school, Birds in Paradise in Kauai, Hawaii. We flew together in the making of two other Adventure Productions videos, "Starting Triking" and "Monumental Triking". Another first-rate pilot, Andy Doughty, who also flew during the making of "Monumental Triking", helped capture some great air-to-air footage. Armin Engert, a veteran hang glider pilot and highly skilled trike pilot with his flight school, Hang Gliding Maui in Maui, Hawaii added his valuable talents to round out the group."
Pilot Comments
"This trip route had extremes in many ways. Extreme variations in temperature and altitude were one of the challenges of the trip. Over the High Sierras at altitudes above 15,000 feet it was below freezing, in the deserts of Death Valley, California it was over 100 degrees F," said Gerry Charlebois, who lives in the Hawaii tropics. "But it sure was fun to fly in the high mountains again. Just like the old hang gliding days of riding the updrafts."
Film Crew Comments
"With the combined talents of all the pilots and the great weather, we were able to finish the trip on schedule, despite all of the challenging situations we experienced," said Loretta Hamilton, Camerawoman for Adventure Productions. "We could not have achieved this feat without the efforts of our exceptional ground crew. They were right there with surface information, repairs, and fuel."
Experience the thrill and exhilaration for yourself.
Edition details
Area of Interest100% Ultralight / Triking / Powered Hang Gliding
Main Feature TRT 48 Minutes
Format DVD
ISBN 1-9297595-48-3
Special DVD Features
Scene Selection
Movie Trailers
Digitally Mastered
Interactive Menus
English Digital Audio
Producer Paul Hamilton
APCB405DVD
DVD Version $39.95
