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History

Kitty Hawk Kites, Inc. was founded in 1974 by John Harris, a pioneer in hang gliding, to provide instruction, products, and service to the burgeoning new sport. In the late 1980s, Kitty Hawk Kites expanded into what is now it's three main businesses; providing hang gliding instruction to students and instructors through it's Flight School; selling aviation and outdoor clothing as well as kites and toys through it's retail outlets; and providing adventure recreation activities.

The Flight School

The KHK Flight School is the oldest hang gliding school on the east coast of the USA and the largest school of its kind in the world. It provides beginning, intermediate, and advanced instruction to students as well as instructors in foot-launched and tandem hang gliding. Since its inception, the Flight School has provided instruction to well over 300,000 students and, with upwards of 35 instructors during the summer months, continues to instruct over 10,000 students every year. The Flight School provides rating certifications to students meeting United States Hang Gliding Association (USHGA) published standards.

Located on North Carolina's Outer Banks, the KHK Flight School provides foot-launched instruction from Jockey's Ridge State Park (the tallest natural sand dune system in the Eastern United States) and tandem instruction from the nearby Currituck County Airport and Currituck Sound. In tandem training the student and instructor fly together on a large glider pulled aloft with an ultralight aircraft.

Adventure Recreational Activities

Kitty Hawk Kites offers many recreational activities. In addition to our Dune Hang Gliding Lessons, there is now Kiteboarding, Tandem Hang Gliding, Ultralight Hang Gliding Instruction, guided Kayak Eco-Tours, Parasailing, Rock Wall Climbing, Dolphin Jet Boat Tours, Aero Tours, Surfing, Wakeboarding and Water Skiing.

Hang gliding on the dunes of Jockey's Ridge State Park is the original Kitty Hawk Kites experience. There's no easier way to learn to fly. Kiteboarding is proving to be an exhilarating and rapidly growing sport. Check out our brand new kiteboarding resort in Rodanthe. If you really want to touch the sky and get a one-of-a-kind view of the Outer Banks, try tandem hang gliding. Ultralight instruction is by request only, so don't hesitate to ask. For a more peaceful but no less picturesque adventure, experience one of our guided kayak eco-tours which explore the unique ecosystems and natural history of the Outer Banks. Parasailing is a summer-time favorite for kids, families, and couples alike. Wall climbing is a popular activity at our Nags Head, Corolla, and Hatteras stores. A jet boat tour will send you cruising across the sound while the wind and water do their finest to your hair. There's no better way to see the coastline than doing an aero tour in our open cockpit bi-plane. If the beach is where you want to be, make sure you get a surf lesson from our friendly instructors while you're there. And don't forget to cap off your OBX experience by wakeboarding or water skiing on the calm waters of the sound in Duck.

Kitty Hawk Kites Retail Facilities

The original Kitty Hawk Kites store is across from Jockey's Ridge State Park in Nags Head. This is the company's largest retail store. The 8,042 square foot retail facility is home to the Flight Deck (aviation clothing), Carolina Outdoors (outdoor clothing), stunt and recreational kite products, windsocks, and toys. The Flight Deck and Carolina Outdoors specialize in high quality clothing products focused around aviation and the outdoor environment. Our Kayak Store, located next door to our main facility in Nags Head, offers kayak sales, accessories, and rentals. Next door, a Life is Good store provides your favorite Life is Good items.

In 2009, Kitty Hawk Kites is proud to be opening our newest and largest facility ever, Waves Village! Located in Rodanthe, this brand new building is home to our Kiteboarding department and houses today's best kiteboarding gear. Along with world-class instructors, this location has some of the most ideal winds and waters for kiteboarding. With several other retail shops in the same facility, Waves Village is truly a one-stop shop. A top floor restaurant features a rare view of the sun setting below the horizon on the east coast--it's one view you won't want to miss.

Kitty Hawk Kites has several additional facilities along North Carolina's Outer Banks. In addition to our main store in Nags Head, across from Jockey's Ridge State Park (mp 12.5), we now have stores in Corolla (3), Duck (2), Manteo, South Nags Head, Waves, Avon, Hatteras, and Ocracoke.