The memorial dedicated to Richard P. Thompson overlooks the same valley where hang gliders once soared above the Allegheny River, preserving the memory of Brady’s Bend’s unique aviation history.
EAST BRADY, Pa. (EYT) – Today, visitors come to Brady’s Bend Overlook for the view.
Clarion County “Moments in History” is brought to you by the First United National Bank — The FUN Bank!
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They pull into the parking area, step to the stone wall and watch as the Allegheny River winds through the valley more than 500 feet below. In autumn, the hillsides burst into brilliant shades of red, orange and gold. During the summer, birds circle effortlessly on rising currents of warm air, barely flapping their wings as they glide above the forest.
Half a century ago, those birds weren’t alone.
For years, Brady’s Bend was one of Pennsylvania’s premier hang gliding destinations, drawing pilots from across the region who came not to admire the view from the overlook, but to soar above it.
Long before drones and action cameras captured aerial views, hang glider pilots were experiencing the Allegheny Valley from a perspective few others ever would. They carried colorful gliders from the parking lot to the edge of the overlook, carefully watching the wind before taking a short run toward open air.
To those unfamiliar with the sport, it looked impossible.
Instead of falling, the glider would catch the breeze, lifting the pilot into the sky. Within moments, they were floating hundreds of feet above the river, banking through invisible currents alongside the hawks that called the valley home.
Brady’s Bend quickly earned a reputation as one of the finest launch sites in Pennsylvania. Its elevation, open face overlooking the Allegheny River, and dependable ridge lift made it an ideal location for experienced pilots. On favorable weekends, the overlook attracted both flyers and spectators, with visitors gathering simply to watch the colorful wings drift across the valley.
It wasn’t unusual to see several gliders sharing the sky at once. To those on the ground, the flights appeared graceful and effortless. To the pilots, every launch demanded preparation, experience, and respect for the mountain.
The overlook became more than just a scenic stop. It became part of the state’s growing hang gliding community during the 1970s, when the sport was capturing the imagination of outdoor enthusiasts looking for a new kind of adventure.
For those who flew there, few experiences could compare.
That spirit is perhaps best captured by a plaque that still stands at Brady’s Bend today.
“You haven’t lived until you’ve looked down on a hawk.”
The words are etched beside the image of a hang glider, quietly overlooking the same valley where so many pilots once took flight.
The plaque honors Richard P. Thompson, who lost his life in a hang gliding accident at Brady’s Bend. Dedicated by the Daedalus Hang Glider Club in April 1977, it serves as a lasting reminder that while hang gliding offered unmatched freedom, it also demanded respect for the power and unpredictability of the wind.
Although the accident is only one chapter in Brady’s Bend’s history, it became part of the story that shaped the overlook’s future. As safety concerns grew and the sport continued to evolve, launches from Brady’s Bend eventually came to an end.
The skies above the overlook grew quiet once again.
That doesn’t mean hang gliding disappeared from western Pennsylvania.
Instead, the local flying community found a new home near Templeton, where pilots continue launching from a designated site that carries on the tradition once associated with Brady’s Bend. While the location changed, the passion for free flight remained the same, and members of the Daedalus Hang Glider Club continued fostering the sport for future generations.
Today, Brady’s Bend Overlook is remembered for its breathtaking scenery. Plenty of visitors stop each year to photograph the river, admire the changing seasons, or simply enjoy one of the most spectacular vistas in western Pennsylvania.
Most never realize they are standing where pilots once stepped into open air, trusting nothing more than aluminum tubing, sailcloth, and the wind beneath them.
The birds still circle over the valley, riding the same wind that once carried hang gliders high above the Allegheny River. The launches have ended, but the stories remain, passed down by those who remember when brightly colored gliders filled the sky.
A photo from Seybertown Road, across the Allegheny looking up to the overlook.
And tucked quietly beside the overlook is the bronze memorial to Richard P. Thompson, left by fellow pilots nearly 50 years ago. Its inscription still captures the feeling that drew so many people to Brady’s Bend in the first place.
“You haven’t lived until you’ve looked down on a hawk.”
For a generation of hang gliders, Brady’s Bend wasn’t simply one of Pennsylvania’s most beautiful overlooks. It was a place where ordinary people chased an extraordinary dream, soaring above the Allegheny Valley and seeing the world the way only the birds could.
Clarion County “Moments in History” is brought to you by First United National Bank — The FUN Bank!
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Stop at one of their offices in Fryburg, Clarion, New Bethlehem, Tionesta, Oil City, Franklin, or Cranberry and allow First United National Bank to make you one of their satisfied customers.
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