Newport Beach in Orange County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Hang Gliding

Photographed by Craig Baker (CC0), February 16, 2018

1. Hang Gliding Marker

Inscription.
On this site, May 23, 1971, with a gathering of enthusiasts for personal human flight, began the worldwide sport of Hang Gliding.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is May 23, 1971.

Location. 33° 37.088′ N, 117° 51.182′ W. Marker is in Newport Beach, California, in Orange County. It can be reached from San Miguel Drive 0.3 miles north of Port Sutton Drive, on the right when traveling north. Located in San Miguel Park, south of the basketball court. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2200 San Miguel Dr, Newport Beach CA 92660, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles

and in the Peninsular Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles

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of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Original Disneyland Bandstand (approx. 0.9 miles away); Third National Jamboree (approx. 1.4 miles away); Roger Seitz (approx. 1.4 miles away); Nakayoshi - Good Friends (approx. 1.4 miles away); Site of 3rd National Boy Scout Jamboree (approx. 1.7 miles away); El Camino Real (approx. 1.8 miles away); Goldenrod Footbridge (approx. 1.9 miles away); Rex Brandt/Blue Sky (approx. 1.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Newport Beach.

Regarding Hang Gliding. A dozen Hang Glider pilots gathered here in 1971 to fly and celebrate the 123rd birthday of pioneer flyer Otto Lilienthal. Over 500 spectators attended. News media coverage of the event popularized the new sport.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Dockweiler Hang Gliding Center is the current location of the annual Otto Lilienthal celebration.

Also see . . . Newspaper article, and home movies of the event. (Submitted on February 18, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.)

Additional keywords. Flying, aviation

Photographed by Craig Baker, February 16, 2018

2. Hang Gliding Marker

Photographed by Craig Baker, February 16, 2018

3. Hang Gliding Marker

Looking back at the basketball court, parking lot, and street.

Photographed by Craig Baker, February 16, 2018

4. Hang Gliding Marker

The residential neighborhood in the background is on the hill where pilots flew in 1971 before the homes were built.

1895

5. Otto Lilienthal flying in Germany, in 1895.

Modern Hang Glider image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, May 27, 2018

6. Modern Hang Glider

At the 47th anniversary Otto Lilienthal Meet, at Dockweiler Hang Gliding Center in Playa Del Rey, CA

Credits. This page was last revised on August 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 18, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 862 times since then and 52 times this year. Last updated on October 23, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on February 18, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.