BOB REITER
When I started flying hang gliders in 1982, Wally Anderson was already an old timer with more hours logged than most pilots will get in a lifetime of flying. When I decided to try paragliding in 1987, Wally was the instructor I wanted.
If you are just learning to fly a hang glider or paraglider, you are at the beginning of a wonderful adventure. Picking the right instructor is important not just for the piloting skills you will learn, but for the introduction into the flying community. It’s a group of people sharing the thrills of soaring with the camaraderie of like-minded friends.
Wally’s concern for his students is evident on the training hill and off. Safety is always at the forefront of his teaching. Patience, a sense of humor and a willingness to see the student as an individual who needs to learn at his or her own pace puts Merlin Flight School at the top of the list.
Give it a try, and be prepared for the time of your life!
MIKE GALVIN
Wally Anderson gave my wife and me our first paragliding lessons in October 1995. As beginner pilots we knew nothing about selecting a flight school. We chose Wally’s school on the basis of his friendly, no-pressure explanation of the training program and his obvious competence. We were hooked from day one and now fly every chance we get.
Today, as advance-rated pilots, we know we made the best choice. Wally has more flying and teaching experience than any other instructor in the area. He has the rare ability to adjust his teaching style to the needs of the individual student. His “critters” are known for their sound piloting skills and emphasis on safety.
And last, but not least, Merlin Flight School has the best training hill in the Bay Area.
KIM GALVIN
Forty something, flying for three years, advanced rated pilot, legal administrator, working in San Francisco and living in the East Bay, active in the Bay Area Paragliding Association.
I would recommend Wally Anderson’s Merlin Flight School to any new pilot for the following reasons:
- His “free flight” experience goes back to the early days of hang gliding and he was one of the first paragliding pilots in the Bay Area. He has seen it all and he shares his wealth of knowledge and experience with his students.
- Wally likes to teach as much as he likes to fly. Unlike other paragliding instructors, his commitment to his school and his students is full-time.
- Wally teaches on a very personal level. My husband (a gutsy, ex-Marine with a private pilot’s license) and I (a risk-adverse, uncoordinated wimp) trained together. Wally was able to provide Mike with the highly technical details he required and give me the extra patience I needed at the same time.
- Paragliding has made a significant change in my life and I owe it all to Wally. As advanced pilots, we have had the opportunity to work with other instructors, all of whom have helped to improve our skills. However, I believe that Wally is the only one who could have brought me along from square one. His patience and support gave me the confidence and desire to keep going whenever I got discouraged.
- “Once a critter, always a critter.” That’s Wally’s creed. Even after signing you off, Wally looks after you and continues to provide valuable ongoing training, support and advise.
He is the best!
PAUL BONIFACIO
I’m an intermediate-rated pilot and have been flying for over 3 years. I still believe that I made the right choice after seeing other Bay Area pilots fly that were taught at other schools.
I feel that Wally puts an extra personal touch into his teaching which stems from his personality and his many years of experience in hanggliding and paragliding. He’s the best at teaching the basics, as well as the more advanced skills that are needed as you progress. I feel I can always go back to Wally for flying advice, ask about equipment, or new flying sites and get the best and most accurate information available.
Most importantly, safety comes first at Merlin. I would recommend Wally to anyone interested in foot-launched flight.
