When you're a paragliding pilot (or just a traveler in a paragliding tandem), you have the privilege to experience great adventures, traveling, challenges and viewing beautiful sights.
Paragliding Easter Europe
There are many regions all over the world with beautiful and extraordinary sights, and eastern part of Europe is one of them; besides many beautiful landing sites, Eastern Europe is blessed with great weather conditions for paragliding; winds are not too strong, usually in the period from April till September, and climate is moderate. Therefore, it is very attractive to paragliding pilots from all over the world. Paragliding in Eastern Europe is an amazing experience, according to many testimonials.
Paragliding in Eastern Europe's biggest country, Russia, is so advanced and well accepted, that it is now being implemented in the army.
For the first time in the history of the pacific fleet, special saboteur fight unit used the ultra light aircraft for experimental tryouts in the coast, and all under the supervision of the pacific fleet captain - Roman Martov.
"As part of the experiment, we made a search for saboteurs in the South Coast with the use of ultra-light aircraft, paragliders, and motor kites that are specifically designed for this purpose in the coastal aero - club," said the military official.
According to him, the use of these aircraft significantly increases the efficiency of terrain scouting from the air.
In fact, paragliding is so popular in Russia that even a Russian band recorded a song and a video while paragliding. A four-member band from Novosibirsk, Siberia, called The Street Fiddlers, recorded a song and video while being high in the clouds.
The occasion for it was celebration of Russian Air Fleet day; while paragliding, The Street Fiddlers were performing well-known aviators' march called "Higher, higher and higher" (Russian: "Всё выше, выше, и выше").
The band members were paragliding in turns, each playing his or hers part; then, they created a video clip that can now be found on YouTube.
On their official webpage on Russia's social network Vkontakte, which is the Russian version of Facebook, the band left the link to a video and wrote: "The video is dedicated to all those addicted to the sky".
What is interesting is that, although there are five members of The Street Fiddlers, only four of them were paragliding since the fifth member couldn't overcome his fear of flying.
In Russia, you can enroll in a paragliding school even if you are a novice. In the end of the course, you will be getting international certification level 2.
The schools are focused on teaching primary skills which are extremely important regarding safety, safe takeoff, and landing.
The course itself doesn't last too long, and soon enough you get to have short solo flights.
Russia has great weather conditions and high mountain peaks, and that means you get to spend a lot of time in the air in just one flight.
Weather conditions guarantee you to finish your course in just two weeks, maybe even less.
In the beginning of the course, first two days are spent on the ground, where you're overcoming theory and safe takeoff.
In order to become a certified paragliding pilot (able to fly solo), there is usually a 16-day course.
Information about paragliding school
Duration of the course: 14 days, and 2 days extra in case of bad weather conditions or something else. There is a possibility to stretch the course up to 5 weeks, taking 3 lessons per week, which means the course itself would last a month.
If you are not a fan or flying solo or just don't have the time to enroll in a paragliding school, you can always choose tandem paragliding flight. This frees you from having to learn how to control the paraglider. Your instructor and certified professional will take care of everything, and your only obligation is to enjoy this experience!
This year Armenia will be the host of the Russian Cup for the second time, and will receive pilots from all over the world.
Just like the last year's, this year's competition will be held by Sky Club and Armen Sakisyan. The event is reserved to be held from 11-19th of July in Buzhakan, the village in Kotayk province of Armenia. Buzhakan has about 40 square kilometers of paragliding area and 1820 meter elevation.
Information about entering Russian Open Cup
In order to enter the competition, paragliding pilots must own FAI license with a stamp for 2016. Pilots are selected by rating. Every participant is getting a smartphone with air tribute application or spot tracker.
Entry fee is 130 euros and it includes the following:
- Transportation from the headquarters to the takeoff site,
- Lunch
- t-shirt
- flight map
- local mobile SIM card.
In the case of an undesirable weather, transportations to the local sights will be organized.
There are two competing categories, based on the aspect ratio:
Fan class - for participants with paragliding aircrafts which have wings with an aspect ratio less than 6.0
Takeoff site is situated at an altitude of around 2800 meters above sea level.
All participants will get to know the area before the competition itself, flying in tandem. The flight lasts about 20 minutes, and photographing and taking video is allowed during the tour.
During the tour, it is desirable that participants wear sportswear, sunglasses, and hat.
Paragliding sites in Russia
The following list is showing areas with paragliding sites:
The best period of the year for paragliding in Russia is from May till September. During that time the temperature is acceptable for air sports, measuring 20-25 degrees (Celsius).
There is a probability of rain in June and July, but August and September are usually the sunniest months, with more that 60 percent days without rain. Even some of these sights are situated on high mountains, the snow is not present - only in the altitude that is too high from takeoff.
Belarusian Paragliding Accuracy Cup
The Belarusian Paragliding Accuracy Cup will take place in Gomel, Belarus, which is the newest paragliding site added to the existing list. The Cup will be held from April the 8th to April the 10th 2016. Since the registration is open and there are no registration conditions, everybody is free to apply.
The takeoff place is about 30 kilometers far from Gomel, South West Belarus. This launch used to be a military airfield.
The terrain is ideal for this type of event since it's plane and the climate also suits air sports.
The best period of the year to fly here is from April till September.
Paragliding sites in Belarus
The following list is showing areas with paragliding sites:
Minsk region:
Paragliding and other air sports are a developed kind of sport in this part Eastern Europe. There are a lot of sites (as shown in the list below). One of the oldest sites is on the mount Klementeyev.
Mount Klementeyev or Uzun Syrt Rangy is a beautiful wonder of nature, shaped and curved in a way that the winds can create perfect aerodynamics throughout the whole year; this makes it a great site for every paragliding enthusiast.
Paragliding sites in Ukraine
The following list is showing areas with paragliding sites:
Paragliding in this part of Eastern Europe is so popular and a loved sport that they even have a day devoted to paragliding since 2010, so-called Paragliding Day. The event was held in region Kirde-Eesti.
One Non-governmental organization, paragliding club wanted to organize the event which would be interesting from paragliders from all over Estonia, but for locals as well. The goal was to introduce local people to this air sport, and also to attract tourists. The goal was to introduce local people to this air sport, spread awareness about it, and also to attract tourists, which would help the development of this area.
They got the support to promote this event in the form of advertisement in regional publications and on local radio, which greatly helped to plan successful Paragliding Day; 12 pilots were participating and 15 were competing.
Paragliding sites in Estonia
The following list is showing areas with paragliding sites:
According to some testimonials on an internet, paragliding in Riga is an amazing experience; the local paragliding club staff is really pleasant, the course and flights are really affordable.
The course is divided into two parts - the practical, and theoretical part.
The practical part is organized at the Airport of Rumbula, and the presence of an instructor is mandatory.
Course - part 1:
Lecture 1 and 2: Theory
Lecture 3: A practical lesson on the reserve parachute
Practical training on a grounded paraglider, until necessary skills, are improved in order to start flying on your own
two tandem flights with the instructor
12 solo flights
Course - part 2:
Lectures 4 and 5: The theory of meteorology, mid-air situations, Latvian airspace usage regulations, aerodynamics, etc.
22 solo flights (exercises that involve pitch control, rotations - light spiral, wingovers, precision landing, landing with ears, use of the accelerator, etc.)
Paragliding sites in Latvia
The following list is showing areas with paragliding sites:
Lithuanian paragliding union is organizing annual paragliding camp, which will be held in training camp Nida from February 20th to 28th in 2016. Everybody is welcome, and besides the opportunity for experienced pilots to practice in new fields, there are also specially designed programs for people who are new to paragliding world.
Paragliding sites in Lithuania
The following list is showing areas with paragliding sites:
1.Alytus Region
2. Kaunas Region
3. Klaipeda Region
4. Mariampole Region
5. Silenai, kryzius
6. Utena Region
7. Valkininkai
8. Vilnius Region
Paragliding in Eastern Europe's smallest country, Moldova, is as equally fun an amazing experience as in other, bigger countries, thanks to moderate climate and thermal flows.
Paragliding Sports Federation of the Republic of Moldova was established in 2003, and united in its composition are clubs and solo pilots.
Since 2005, Paragliding Sports Federation of the Republic of Moldova is involved in international association kinds of air sports (FAI), and already has a roll to hold the authority and control all kinds of air sports in the Republic of Moldova.
The Federation is focusing on sports development, it's tracking personal achievements of solo pilots, tracking group achievements of paragliding clubs all over Moldova, and also taking care of licensing pilots and checking their validity.
Paragliding Sports Federation of the Republic of Moldova is also a main organizer and holder of sporting events regarding air sports.
Also, the Federation is issuing registration for all new members and paragliding pilots, such as FAI license, IPPI card, and quality certificates.
IPPI card was introduced in 1992 and since then all national organizations and pilots all over the world must have it in order to have recognized license.
Standards were formed, and all countries are rating and categorizing by them.
Paragliding sites in Moldova
The following list is showing areas with paragliding sites:
If you're a passionate traveler, paragliding enthusiast or a licensed pilot, paragliding in Eastern Europe is something you shouldn't miss.
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