Control and concentration at the 1st FAI World Paramotor Endurance Championships
Estimated Speed, Constant Speed, Bowling Landings, Snakes… The strategic skills of the pilots taking on these tasks at the 1st FAI World Paramotor Endurance Championships have been put to the test in the first days of the competition at Manston Airport, Kent, UK.
The control and concentration demonstrated by the pilots has been impressive across both the foot launch and trike classes (PF1 and PL1).
Joining the teams who waved the flags of 17 countries at the Opening Ceremony, was the Mayor of Ramsgate, Pat Moore (pictured below with the German Team). FAI was represented by Agust Gudmundsson, Jury Member (and member of the FAI Executive Board) and Wolfgang Lintl, President of the FAI Microlight and Paramotor Commission.
Team Germany pictured with the Mayor of Ramsgate at the Opening Ceremony. Image: GermanyParamotor
Despite some inclement weather at the end of the ceremony, the first competition day went ahead under clear skies, with all teams commencing with the first set of navigation tasks. The 5-hour take off window was used to good effect, with some pilots managing distances of almost 400km and enjoying the English countryside with views of the sea beyond the coastline.
A pilot's eye view. Image credit: ParamotorGermany
The second day was influenced by increasing wind, which challenged pilots attempting the precision ‘bowling’ task. After taking off and gaining height, pilots had to switch off their engine and glide for a minimum of 45 seconds, then try to hit ten 1 metre ‘skittles’ in a row with their leg before touching the ground (see header image). Only the top three in each category managed to get a full count of ten skittles.
A pilot undertaking one of the competition tasks. Credit: Wolfgang Lintl
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Header image: Wolfgang Lintl
