Learn
Flight instruction
The Flight School helps students build confidence through beginner, intermediate, and advanced hang gliding instruction.
About Kitty Hawk Kites
About Us
For generations of Outer Banks visitors, Kitty Hawk Kites has been a place to try something new, learn to fly, and make time outside feel unforgettable. Our Flight School remains central to that story as the oldest hang gliding school on the East Coast and the largest school of its kind in the world.
Kitty Hawk Kites is built around a simple idea: help people experience the Outer Banks from a new point of view. Whether that means taking a first hang gliding lesson, browsing for the perfect kite, or planning a day on the water, our team is here to make adventure feel welcoming and memorable.
The company’s roots are closely tied to flight, wind, sand, and the spirit of discovery that makes the Outer Banks such a special place to visit. Today, that same spirit guides the way we teach, serve guests, and share outdoor experiences with families, first-timers, and longtime visitors.
The Flight School
Where the dream of flight still comes first
The Kitty Hawk Kites Flight School is the oldest hang gliding school on the East Coast and the largest school of its kind in the world.
Our instructors provide beginning, intermediate, and advanced instruction for students who want to experience hang gliding in a place known for wind, dunes, and aviation history.
What we’re known for
Kitty Hawk Kites brings together outdoor recreation, instruction, retail, and local know-how so visitors can spend less time guessing and more time enjoying their trip.
- Hang gliding instruction for beginning, intermediate, and advanced students
- Kiteboarding lessons and gear for every skill level
- Kites, toys, apparel, gifts, and beach-ready gear
- Outdoor adventures and experiences that help visitors enjoy the Outer Banks such as kayaking, parasailing, dolphin tours and more
- A team focused on safe, friendly, and memorable guest experiences
Our experience
More ways to connect with the Outer Banks
From first flights to family shopping stops, Kitty Hawk Kites is designed to be part of the places and memories people return to year after year.
Explore
Outdoor adventures
Our adventure experiences make it easier for visitors to plan active, memorable days across the Outer Banks.
Shop
Kites, gifts, and gear
Kitty Hawk Kites retail locations bring together colorful kites, beach essentials, apparel, toys, and souvenirs for every kind of visitor.
A visitor-first approach
Every guest arrives with a different sense of adventure. Some are ready for a lesson on the dunes, some are looking for a family-friendly activity, and others simply want to take home a kite that reminds them of the beach.
Our goal is to meet people where they are, offer helpful guidance, and make the experience feel easy from the first question to the final memory.
Why the Outer Banks matters to our story
The Outer Banks is a natural place for wind sports, beach traditions, and once-in-a-lifetime vacation moments. Kitty Hawk Kites continues to draw inspiration from that landscape and from the region’s connection to flight.
That setting shapes the way we welcome guests: with practical local guidance, a love of the outdoors, and a belief that adventure should feel accessible.
FAQ
Good things to know about Kitty Hawk Kites
A quick overview for visitors learning more about who we are and what we do.
What is Kitty Hawk Kites best known for? +
Kitty Hawk Kites is a leading provider of outdoor adventures and watersports experiences on North Carolina’s Outer Banks.
Founded in 1974, Kitty Hawk Kites is one of the pioneers of hang gliding instruction in the United States and has introduced hundreds of thousands of visitors to flight and water sports. The company operates adventure experiences, lessons, guided tours, and specialty retail stores across the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Visitors can book activities such as hang gliding, kiteboarding, parasailing, dolphin tours, kayak tours, jet ski rentals, and fishing trips.
Do you work with beginners? +
Yes. The Flight School provides beginning, intermediate, and advanced hang gliding instruction, making it possible for students to learn at the level that fits their experience.
Is Kitty Hawk Kites only a flight school? +
No. In addition to flight instruction, Kitty Hawk Kites is also connected with Outer Banks adventures, retail locations, kites, gifts, gear, and visitor experiences.
Start planning
Ready to make your own Kitty Hawk Kites memory?
Browse adventures, visit a store, or reach out to our team for help choosing the right experience for your Outer Banks trip.