Dan Buchanan

Dan Buchanan of Minden, Nevada flies some of the quieter aircraft on the air show circuit... A smooth, silent tow launched hang glider and also a quiet, agile motorized wing for remote performances that are not over runways. He flies in complete counterpoint to most other air show professionals in the business and this great hearted entertainer always throws in a few surprises during each performance.

Dan was a custom-home builder with an avocational love of flying until 1981, when he became paraplegic due to consecutive sporting accidents. Losing his ability to walk, he returned to college to pursue a career in mechanical engineering.

Despite his handicap Dan returned to flying just a year later and since then, his tenacity and adventurous spirit has allowed him to accrue more than 2,400 hours of flight time in hang gliders; soaring above the ocean cliffs of the Pacific Coast in 3-6 hour flights or thermal soaring as high as 18,000 feet over the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains.

During his graceful descent, smoke and streamers trail behind, punctuated with brilliant flashes, streaming showers and dazzling streaks of custom designed daylight pyrotechnics...and, he does it in the dark! To witness the full glory of his dazzling pyrotechnics performance, be sure to catch one of his spectacular night shows. Dan is also a licensed pyro-technician. He designs and installs all of the special effects on the wing himself.

For more information on Dan: http://users.ap.net/~danb

"The World's Largest Family-Owned, Public-Use Airport"