When Jim Eskildsen was asked why he wanted to fly his motorized hang glider from Tempe to Tucson, he said because "nobody's done it before." The Tempe resident also thought it would be fun and might set a distance record. On March 11, 1978, he set off and headed south for the 100-mile flight. He planned on a 3.5-hour trip and 4.5 gallons of gas. But a 10- to 12-mph headwind slowed him down, requiring a refueling stop in Rillito. That stop cost him 15 minutes and added an extra half-gallon of gas. Unfortunately, when he almost crash landed near Mission Road and "A" Mountain, he had not set a distance record. A Florida man had already gone 100 miles, but, it was pointed out, that man had a tailwind!
JOSE GALVEZ / ARIZONA DAILY STAR 1978