The hang gliding spectacular started as a “fly-in” to share information among the Outer Banks hang gliding community, but has become more than just a competition — it's a reunion for the Vaughn family.
Kitty Hawk native Billy Vaughn, co-manager of the Kitty Hawk Kites Flight School, got hooked on hang gliding at 19 years old.
His oldest son, Willie Vaughn, has followed in his footsteps, founding his own hang gliding school, Appalachian Airsports, out of Lenoir, North Carolina.
Willie and his younger brother Michael were surrounded by hang gliding growing up, and have been participating in the annual Hang Gliding Spectacular for as long as they can remember.
The 2026 Spectacular was both a chance for them to compete against and reconnect with their family and the greater hang gliding community they grew up with.
In the face of fear and danger, the strong bonds formed within this tight-knit community make every pilot feel part of the family.
