Unwind with the Wind

Enjoy the warm, relaxing breezes of late summer this Sunday when it’s National Ride the Wind Day.

The day commemorates the first sustained human-powered flight. On Aug. 23, 1977, the Gossamer Condor 2 won the first Kremer Prize, an award for people who pioneer flight powered by human muscle. Piloted by hang gliding enthusiast Bryan Allen, the Gossamer Condor 2 flew 2,172 meters at a blazing 11 MPH.

To celebrate the spirit of riding the wind and feeling the breeze in your hair, we’re sharing some products that give you the exhilaration of flying with the wind, even when you don’t actually leave the ground.

The bicycle is a long-respected means of human-powered transportation, and with help from a two-stroke gasoline engine and a para-wing, this trike becomes a flying ultralight aircraft. Designed to fly at low altitudes at speeds up to 25 MPH, the para-trike can take you up to 75 miles on a single tank of gas. On the ground, it operates like any conventional bicycle and fits in the trunk of your car.

Combining the principles of a skateboard and a Segway, The Electric Gyroboard Transporter is controlled entirely by subtle movements in a rider’s feet. Gyro sensors and accelerometers in both wheels detect pressure for acceleration and direction. It can travel up to four miles on a charge, at speeds up to 6 MPH.

You may dream of the unique gift of flight, and yet prefer to keep your feet planted firmly on the ground. In that case, this Cockpit Flight Simulator features the same controls found in actual aircraft. The included computer and Lockheed Martin flight simulator software will have you piloting anything from a Mooney Acclaim to a Boeing 747. A built-in sound system surrounds you in realistic audio and the 32″ high-def, wide-screen monitor displays geographically and topographically correct graphics.

Cooler days are just around the corner, so no matter what type of transportation you choose, do something that will let you feel the wind in your hair and savor the unique gifts of this beautiful, but fading, time of year.

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