At last...the best of Sunday night TV is back! It's the legendary TV show that's been popular with audiences for decades, and the longest running weekly prime-time series in television history. The winner of numerous awards, including seven Emmys, it's The Wonderful World of Disney!

Climb aboard and soar skyward towards everyone's dream to fly. THE BOY WHO FLEW WITH CONDORS is the true-life adventure of Chris Jury, a California teenager who goes from admiring the endangered condors' flight to sailing sky-high with them. Inspired by his new friends, a sailplane instructor, a NASA test pilot and a budding glider pilot, he risks it all for airborne thrills. But to earn his wings, he'll have to navigate a dangerous storm. Will he come through with flying colors? Find out in an exciting story sure to bring out the spirit of adventure in the entire family!

Starring (as themselves): Christopher Jury, Margaret Birsner, Fred W. Harris (gliding instructor), Milton O. Thompson (NASA test pilot)

Based On The Story "The Sail Plane Story" By Ken Nelson
Teleplay By Homer McCoy
Narrated by Leslie Nielsen
Filmed in Tehachapi, California

Full Details on the Disney web site - with short video previews

Review by Paul Remde
The story follows a teenage boy as he gets into soaring and progresses through his Gold and Diamond badges.  There are many memorable scenes (see below).  It is fun to watch Chris learn to fly and dive into cross-country flight and badge flying while being mentored by his flight instructor.  I especially enjoyed the 2-22 landing in a duck pond, and the auto-launch behind an old jalopy.  It was also interesting watching the winch launches, ridge running and beach landings at Torrey Pines.  I also enjoyed having Walt Disney introduce soaring and hear Leslie Nielsen as the narrator.  This was filmed in 1967 when a Schweizer 1-26 was a "high performance model".  It sure looks like fun to me!  I remember watching this film when young.  It sparked my first interest in soaring.  It is great to see it again.  I have recently had many soaring pilots tell me that "this film got me started in soaring".  The film appeals to so many different types of people.  It is good for kids to watch, it is great for Schweizer 1-26 enthusiasts, and for those that love watching classic gliders soaring over the cliffs at Torrey Pines.

Scenes from The Boy Who Flew with Condors Click on the images below to view larger versions. Margaret Birsner does an off-field landing in a Schweizer 1-26 Margaret Birsner in a Schweizer 1-26 Ridge Running at Torrey Pines Aerotow from the beach at Torrey Pines ends with the 1-26 in the surf. Chris taking flying lessons in a Schweizer 2-22 with Fred Harris in the back seat. Chris gets "baptized" after his 1st solo flight. Water landing in a 2-22 Chris goes for his Gold Badge in this "high performance model" (Schweizer 1-26). Golf course landing - sneaking up on an unsuspecting putter NASA Test Pilot Milt Thompson gives a quick tour of Edwards Air Force Base including this X-15 "hypersonic glider". Lunar Landing Research Vehicle (LLRV) "Flying Bedstead" NASA M2-F1 "Flying Bathtub", Note the Schweizer tow ring and tow hook on it. Fred Harris, Chris and Margaret discussing plans for Chris' "Diamond C" flight Chris flying for his Diamond C Badge in a Schweizer 1-26.  The goal is Bishop. Difficulty near thunderstorm. "Altitude gone, visibility gone, situation... deadly" ...but then... a condor... Schweizer 1-26 flying with a condor Schweizer 1-26 over Mono Lake Landing near Mono Lake Auto-launch behind an old jalopy Arrival at sunset Chris and Margaret flying their 1-26s over clouds Walt Disney with condor and sailplane