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What drives a pilot to leave the city pavement behind and push the absolute limits of mountain flight? In this episode of Weekends Live at Morningside, host Hayden Thomas catches up with Doug Dillon, a Brooklyn-based pilot who began his journey right at Morningside Flight Park. Doug has experienced an exceptionally rapid evolution in the freeflight community, ascending from a new student to the 2024 Tater Hill Open Champion. Fresh off an intensive training trip to Annecy, France—a mecca of the paragliding world—Doug breaks down his progression, testing uncertified lightweight wing prototypes, and an unexpected late-afternoon cross-country (XC) sprint that took him right to the edge of the Chamonix Valley with breathtaking views of Mont Blanc.
Driven by an obsession with "type 2 fun" and earning his flights through movement and exploration, Doug opens up about his growing collaboration with Czech manufacturer Mac Para. He also discusses his preparation for the upcoming 2026 X-Lost and X-Red Rocks hike-and-fly competitions, and how a serious accident following his Tater Hill victory completely reshaped his perspective on flight safety. Whether you are an advanced pilot chasing lines through the Alps or a student refining your wing control, Doug’s insights offer a masterclass in modern paragliding.
Main Topics Covered
The Meccas of Freeflight: Deep-diving into Annecy, France, and undertaking SIV safety training in rowdy Alpine conditions over the lake with flight instructor Fabian.
Mac Para Prototype Testing: Flight-testing an uncertified, high-aspect-ratio ($>7$), 3.2 kg lightweight wing prototype before its load certification in Italy.
The "Coyote in the Sky": Family dynamics in the air, coaching a fearless brother (Ben), and how a 34m² solo wing accommodates their father's 120 kg flying weight.
The Chamonix Sprint: A breakdown of a late-April evening flight from Plaine Joux, catching an 1,800m climb to cloud base (2,700m), and navigating past the Teeth of Lanfon to Passy, France.
From Winner to the Deck: Winning the 2024 Tater Hill Open on a Triple Seven Rook 4, followed by a humbling misjudged glide in 2025 resulting in mild spinal compression fractures.
Absorbing the Literature: How studying elite pilots via Gavin McClurg's Cloudbase Mayhem podcast and Advanced Paragliding book paved the path to competitive hike-and-fly events.
Key Takeaways
A Timid Pilot is a Dangerous Pilot: Peak safety requires a strict mental architecture; every single flight demands predefined choices and a coherent routing strategy.
The Evolution of the "Two-Liner": Navigating performance jumps safely—Doug skipped EN-C gliders entirely, transitioning quickly from high-end B wings to two-liner EN-D class wings.
Springtime Alpine Rowdiness: Flying in the Alps during April means navigating active, thermal-packed systems over frozen terrain, where 4m/s climbs fire as late as 6:30 PM.
The Humbling Nature of Flight: Paragliding offers an instant reality check; a pilot can be at the top of their game and still get caught by a basic environmental misreading.
Optional Launch, Mandatory Landing: Recognizing that every choice to set foot in the sky can be delayed if local cycles look sketchy or pilots are getting unexpectedly plucked at launch.
Connect with the Guest
Douglas Dillon: Hike-and-fly and cross-country paraglider pilot.
Instagram: @dougydillon
Connect with Hayden
Instagram: @entertheunknown.hayden
TikTok: @entertheunknown1
YouTube: @EnterTheUnknownwithHT
Spotify: Enter the Unknown with Hayden Thomas
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