When I lived in Calif, there was a hang gliding club right up the road. They'd go up to the mountains just above us, and come down where we were at about 3,000 ft elevation. Went over our farm all the time.

Every once in awhile, you'd see/hear a medical helicopter coming in over there to airlift a bad landing out.

I wouldn't do this for any money in the world, way too scary

as pictured here. They started out doing hang-gliding. Always looked like fun, but being brave enough to try it the first time....