Airborne offspring

Until last year, children taking hang-gliding lessons at Kitty Hawk Kites in North Carolina had to weigh at least 80 pounds, which put their age around 12. Now, thanks to new equipment, ‘‘any kid who can understand basic control commands can learn to glide,’’ said marketing director Wes Gutekunst. ‘‘The instructors are holding on to the harness, but the kids are gliding.’’ Callan Lakings, 5, and his sister, Oonagh, 7, of Alexandria, Va., recently experienced that thrill during a three-hour session on the sand dunes of Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head. ‘‘They really felt like they were flying,’’ said their father, James. ‘‘When you’re only 4 feet tall, suddenly to be 12 or 15 feet off the ground means a lot. They were ecstatic.’’ Milepost 12 on Highway 158 Bypass, Nags Head, N.C., 877-359-8447, www.kittyhawk.com, three-hour classes $99; summer only
DIANE DANIEL