Thrill-seeker on a wing and a prayer; A DAY IN THE LIFE... Hang-glider Billy Reed.(Features)

From: Sunday Mirror (London, England) | Date: August 9, 1998 | Copyright information

BILLY Reed is flying high these days thanks to his 20ft wings. The computer analyst is a fanatical hang-glider who spends almost all his spare time swooping over the hills of Ireland.

He can get up to speeds of 80 miles per hour with a good wind behind him and hopes to break the Northern Irish distance record of 47 miles one of these days.

The 32-year-old said: "Hang-gliding is pure escapism into another dimension. It can be a complete bore for those involved with people who hang-glide but are not involved in the sport themselves.

"We tend to rabbit on all the time ...

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