Rui Long has always had an overwhelming passion for flying which has pushed him to the extreme and nearly cost him his life when, in 1987, he used a hang glider of his own invention. In 1998 he met Gilles Santantonio, then the trainer of Chinese pilots,and discovered the thrill of flying on a twin hang glider. Since thenhe has built two,and now he works by himself.He has lost touch with his family and his wife and children have left him. After explorative flights over the Guilin mountain with G. Santantonio and Xe Xiao Wei,henow goes fromone village to another and beggs for money aftera demonstration of hang gliding.For just one flight he earns two or three times his monthly salary as an engineer. Rui Long's popularity among the Chinese public is extraordinary. This man of the sky has become a national hero, a symbol of intelligence, courage and freedom.