GOLDEN, Colo. -- If you've driven through Golden, you've likely seen hang gliders and paragliders sailing through the sky.

7NEWS anchor Mike Landess agreed to to give it a try with tandem pilot Kelly Davis' company Colorado Paragliding.

Davis started in the field of aviation in 1975 washing planes at a small airport on the Front Range. He started paragliding in 1990 on an extended trip through Europe. He eventually became a paragliding instructor. When Davis wants to fly more than one person at a time, he often teams up with tandem pilot Tim Meehan, one of four pilots who fly for Colorado Paragliding.

On the day Mike flew in July, newlyweds Katie and Pete Torstensen from California were scheduled to fly first. First they signed the paperwork, got fitted for their helmets, then they headed up Lookout Mountain Road to Mount Zion. It's easy to pick out Mount Zion in the foothills, it's the one with the big white M for School of Mines. That's the launch point.

Davis and Meehan drove up the road, then hiked with the Torstensens to the launch spot. After setting up the paragliders and receiving the necessary instruction, it's a short run down to the hill and then up, up and away.

Depending on the wind conditions, the flight can be 8 minutes, or 14 minutes or longer.

The Torstensens said they had a great time and recommended Mike take the leap. So it was his turn to get fitted for a helmet, sign the release forms and go for a drive up the mountain. On top, the team hiked to their launch spot and got set up. Mike was reminded to make sure he was ready to run at takeoff time. When there's no more ground under your feet, flyers tug on a seat-like material under them and relax for the rest of the ride.

Just before Mike took off, his cell phone rang. It was his wife checking on him. Fortunately, Mike was ready to go and promised he'd call her back after the landing.

Within minutes, Mike was airborne. Soaring back and forth past the M on Mount Zion, enjoying views of the Front Range and then coming down in the landing zone, right next to Highway 6 in Golden.

Mike said, "It's breathtaking and over much too soon." Then he called his wife to tell her he was fine.

Tandem rides are $150. To learn more about Kelly Davis and Colorado Paragliding, visit Davis' Colorado paragliding Web site.