BY BETH FEINSTEIN-BARTL

Getting that longed-for ocean view from West Broward might seem unusual -- unless you spread your wings and fly high above the treetops.

The opportunity for expansive sightseeing is one of the reasons members of the Power Paragators glide through the air from their launching spot at Vista View Park in Davie.

The club hosts its powered paragliding activities on weekend mornings at the county park at 4001 SW 142nd Ave. A field created specially for the sport was installed in 2003.

Since its founding in 2002, the Power Paragators have flown from backyards, beaches and parking lots, among other places. But Vista View is one of the highest spots in Broward. The park's paragliding field sits atop man-made hills that rise 53 to 75 feet above the 160-acre site, which was once a landfill, said Mike Brown, the club's president.

''It's flat land,'' Brown said. ``Because it's so open, it allows for pure wind. The best part is stepping from the ground and into the air.''

The group is a chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association. Its roster is a list of more than 50 enthusiasts who come from varied professional backgrounds. Most are men, the youngest is 13, and the oldest is 79, said Brown, a systems analyst with the Broward School District.

What brings them all together is their love of what some refer to as ''the ultimate high'' -- being able to sail through the skies without the encumbrance of an airplane.

''Paragliding is basically a backpack with an engine, a propeller and a parachute-like glider,'' said Brown, of Miramar. ``You put your equipment in the back of your car and 10 minutes later, you're up in the air.''

Paragliders at Vista View usually soar to 1,300 feet. A pilot's license is not required to participate, said Brown, who is also a major in the U.S. Air Force Reserves.

But training is a must. Novices can expect to pay around $7,000 for instruction and equipment, said Dave Cole, the club's vice president.

Cole, owner of an education software company, has turned his love of paragliding into a family activity. His sons Taylor, 15, and Trevor, 20, are also members of the group.

Cole, of Pembroke Pines, said he is licensed to fly helicopters and private aircraft. Paragliding is a way to get his sons involved in aviation, he said.

''It's a lot of fun,'' said Taylor Cole, a paraglider for two years.

Club member Chris Bowles, owner of a paragliding distribution business, regularly flies at Vista View with his wife, Tammy. He said there haven't been any accidents at the park.

''You can see the skylines of Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood and as far as Miami,'' said Bowles, of Southwest Ranches.

David Eiglarsh, a Realtor from Weston, said he puts on his iPod, takes a breath, de-stresses and enjoys the view. ''It's very relaxing,'' he said.

Eiglarsh and fellow members will be airborne more often now that the field's hours have been expanded. An extra slot from 3 p.m. to sunset every Wednesday was added at the end of January.

Being up in the air is one of the group's best means of promoting the hobby. Barry Malik, who owns a Corvette repair shop in South Miami and lives in Southwest Ranches, said he discovered the field at Vista View after seeing several of the group's members flying overhead.

''It's the closest thing to having your own wings,'' he said.

For information, call 954-370-3792.