Hang Gliding and Paragliding Volume 44 / Issue 2: February 2014 | Page 24

tions are too big, they’ll let the other one know, and it will
prompt a discussion.
Paula: I’m not sure how much of my lack of risk-acceptance
is because I’m female, or because I don’t feel experienced at
paragliding, or because my local site is in the Owens Valley.
I flew hang gliders for nearly 20 years and and accepted the
risks on those wings more than on a paragliding wing, which
seems more affected by apparently random conditions.
Are there challenges to flying as a couple?
Wayne: Flying is just another one of the fun activities that
we like to do. We usually fly together, but are happy to let the
other fly separately. Sometimes one will land to get the car,
while the other goes XC.
Paula: Who looks after the dog? As long as both are
sensitive to the other, it’s great if we can share the experience.
I probably wouldn’t fly for three hours if he bombed out—
unless conditions were really good.
What advice would you give to other flying couples?
Wayne: Respect the other’s different view of what they’d
like to get out of the sport. Don’t push the other partner to
always want the same thing you do.
Paula: Only fly if you really want to, not because your
partner does. Make your own decisions.

Billy ♥ Milly
Billy Purden and Milly Wallace (aka Bimilly)met at Point of
the Mountain in 2006 at a party in one of those cool back-

yards that border the North side. Two-and-a-half years later,
Milly started taking paragliding lessons, and their friendship
progressed. They say they’ve “been inseparable ever since” and
I believe it. They couldn’t even keep their names and answers
separate!
Does flying enhance your relationship?
Bimilly: Yes. We are “paraholics,” and we weight-shift driving in the car, so dating a pilot was a necessity. The hours of
parawaiting and flying vacations don’t go so well with a nonpilot partner. We both can’t commit to plans, because what if
it is flyable?
Do you share advice with each other?
Bimilly: Billy has been flying 13-14 years, while I’m a
newbie. He swooped me into his flock as I got my P-2 signoff
and has been my personal instructor. I have the most knowledge a pilot can have at my level.
We are both hardheaded people and have bumped heads
only a few times on launches in over three years. We always
communicate and grow stronger afterwards. He admitted
he sometimes tells feedback to a fellow pilot to relay to me,
because I just need a different voice for a minute.
Do you accept risk differently?
Bimilly: Billy is willing to accept more risk, but he has the
experience and skill set to do it safely. When neither of us is
flying, it’s because we agree that the conditions are unsafe.
Are there challenges to flying as a couple?
Bimilly: Who is driving the truck down? Also, Milly needs

ABOVE Wayne and Paula Sayer. OPPOSITE Billy Purden and Milly Wallace fly side-by-side in Valle de Bravo.

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