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A former soldier remaining paralyzed from a skydiving incident previous yr is a single of a handful of people who have realized to paraglide on their individual with Task Airtime. 

Right before becoming introduced to the Utah-primarily based adaptive paragliding software, Brenden Doyle experienced expended about 9 many years in the U.S. Army. 

In January 2020, he was left paralyzed from the midsection down soon after a landing incident. 7 months later, he begun flying with Chris Santacroce and his staff, who have put in the final 6 several years helping a array of persons arrive at new heights. 

Brenden Doyle trains to paraglide on his very own with Project Airtime
(Nicole Mickelson)

The nonprofit takes folks with unique requires, people today with brain and spinal wire accidents or other health problems, their caregivers, the aged and veterans paragliding for free. 

Santacroce advised FOX News that they are looking for any person who just “requires a boost” or is inclined to “increase to the event.” 

At the beginning of his journey with the nonprofit, Doyle begun traveling tandem, as most Venture Airtime participants do. But Doyle failed to just want to sit together for the journey. He preferred much more. 

Brenden Doyle trains to paraglide on his own with Project Airtime

Brenden Doyle trains to paraglide on his own with Undertaking Airtime
(Nicole Mickelson)

“When I got injured, a large amount of my independence was stripped from me. To be capable to do the factors I love myself is way greater than just staying along for the ride,” Doyle explained to Fox Information. 

Usually, a pilot and passenger get strapped in and fly for around 20 to 30 minutes “depending on how substantially enjoyment they are having,” Santacroce said, adding that “some men and women are rather happy to go for 15 minutes.” 

He is even experienced a handful of participants – like Doyle – that have gone on to fly solo above the a long time.  

Santacroce produced the program 6 years in the past, but he is been a complete-time paragliding expert for virtually three a long time. For 13 yrs, he was also a Crimson Bull athlete where he showcased absolutely free-traveling athletics. 

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More than 10 a long time ago, Santacroce wounded his spinal wire while trying a single of his tricks, landing him in a wheelchair for a pair of months. 

Project Airtime, a adaptive paragliding program, offers free flying sessions to dozens of people in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Project Airtime, a adaptive paragliding application, presents cost-free traveling classes to dozens of individuals in Salt Lake Town, Utah. 
(Nicole Mickelson)

“I usually did this trick exactly where you type of drag your wingtip on the floor and then straighten up and land,” he said. “And 1 working day I just was out traveling [and] I bought it wrong.” 

Paying out time in the wheelchair adjusted his standpoint on lifestyle. 

Project Airtime, a adaptive paragliding program, offers free flying sessions to dozens of people in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Challenge Airtime, a adaptive paragliding application, features cost-free flying sessions to dozens of men and women in Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah. 
(Nicole Mickelson)

In gentle of having a “2nd possibility,” he recalled inquiring himself a single quite essential query: “What am I intended to be accomplishing with my life?” 

“The solution was very apparent,” he said. 

When Santacroce isn’t functioning Tremendous Fly paragliding, which offers equipment profits, paragliding classes, excursions and clinics, he dedicates his time to Job Airtime, reminding all those, that no make a difference what, they can even now “have a radical working experience.” 

Project Airtime, a adaptive paragliding program, offers free flying sessions to dozens of people in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Project Airtime, a adaptive paragliding system, delivers absolutely free traveling classes to dozens of people today in Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah. 

Project Airtime does about 80 flights a yr at its location in Salt Lake Town, Utah, 40 of which are for the men and women who sign up and a further 40 are for their caregivers, Santacroce reported.  

They also have chairs close to the place, in Seattle Bend, Oregon and Austin, Texas.

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Santacroce says it is really the most effective issue he has ever done. For his members, nevertheless, it implies infinitely much more. 

Project Airtime, a adaptive paragliding program, offers free flying sessions to dozens of people in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Venture Airtime, a adaptive paragliding application, gives no cost traveling periods to dozens of people today in Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah. 
(Nicole Mickelson)

They “just want to have independence and they want to be ready to go after this stuff and not be at a downside,” Santacroce said. 

And when they’re in the air, “they’re at zero downside in comparison to the future guy,” he included. 

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In reality, it can even truly feel liberating for all those who expend a lot of their time in a wheelchair.

“They get to depart that chair at minimum at the rear of. And that isn’t going to materialize very normally,” he claimed. “So they obtain them selves rather at relieve and they obtain by themselves in the grips of a brand name new expertise.” 

For a ton of folks, “they are inclined to forget about their disability completely,” he added.