Flying with the ‘John Crows’

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4 Jul/2009: Dale’s 1st foot launch from Caymanas hill
Dale Stephenson started paragliding groundschool and groundhandling about three months ago and has been very consistent. He is the first P1 paragliding student to foot launch from the newly created Caymanas ‘training hill’. Conditions are a bit challenging for a beginner, but Dale launches himself after a few failed attempts into the void. His brand new Airwave wing gently forgives small piloting errors and gets him safely to the landing site on the polo field.
Congrats, Dale, well done! We look forward to more exiting flights.
Click for his video.

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13 Apr/2009: First flight from new Caymanas training hill
Finally the day of truth has come. On Easter Monday Anna Kay, Dale and Jurgen hiked down the rugged path from the top to the new launch site (200 ft ASL). Conditions are a bit cross but seem launchable. Even though the site still needs some work to be suitable for beginner training, Jurgen insists to try a test flight to proof that the site is worth it. AK and Dale hold their breath when he takes off to land two minutes later 150 ft below at the huge polo field.

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23 Mar/2009: New training hill at Caymanas polo field
During the last few weeks we went on various scouting trips (by foot and by paramotor) to explore the hill adjacent to the Caymanas Polo field which we normally use for towing.The hill is 300 ft high and covered by thick bush - inaccessible without a machete!
We hired two local ‘bushmen’ to help us clearing a spot half way up which we considered appropriate for beginner launching. Works have not been finished, but we are excited to do a test flight soon.
We are grateful to Johnny Hamilton and his father for giving us permission to use their property.

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28 Jun/2008: Scooter-tow test run successful
For months we have been talking about building a scooter-tow - a stationary winch constructed from an old scooter engine by transforming the rear rim into a winch drum to tow paragliders up into the air. VON’s Japanese Imports generously donated the scooter engine and most of the metal work was carried out by welder Anthony Franklyn and JHA Associates.
We will use this cool machine to train paraglider pilots. Towing is a safe and controlled way for students to get airtime and practice their landings.

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30 May/2008: Visit at Airwave (AT)
On our trip to Europe we visit the Airwave Headquarters near Innsbruck (AT) to stock-up on equipment. Even though Airwave does not produce in Austria, they have a spacious repair shop and quite a large stock of equipment to choose from.
Thanks guys for the great reception on a late Friday afternoon and all your assistance.
Jurgen poses with Airwave staff (from left) Klaus Wurzer (accounts), Markus Villinger (owner) and Martin Gostner (quality control) in their workshop

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23 Mar/2008: Visiting pilot Dr. Hubert Meier
Our good old friend from Germany, Hubert, visits Jamaica for a week. Originally, he did not have plans to fly with us. But when he saw our launch site he simply could not resist the temptation to fly in warm air, just dressed with a T-shirt. He borrowed some gear and a bicycle helmet and between rain showers ‘Dr. Hoobs’ confidently took off in his own signature forward launch style for a sled ride to the LZ. On his last day he got a better sample of flying from Skyline: buoyant air and plenty thermals. We wish him many happy landings.

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31 Mar/2007: Visiting pilot Pedro Tirado
We met Pedro from Puerto Rico a few weeks ago at the Ozone XC Challenge in Dominican Republic. He had planned a trip to Jamaica for the Cricket World Cup and was glad to learn that somebody does share his free flight passion here. (Pedro, was obviously more interested in flying than in cricket!) However, the weather gods were upset and opened the sky for an early rainy season. Nevertheless, on his last day, conditions were favorable and he was able to fly with us 6 km across to Constant Spring Golf Course.

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5-10 Feb/2007: OZONE Caribbean XC Challenge 2007
Anna Kay & Jurgen participate in this low-stress cross country competition event in the Dominican Republic. The organisers seek to promote distance flying and attracted 100 pilots from all over the world: UK, France, Italy, Germany, USA, Canada, Brazil, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Jamaica and others. 5 out of 6 days were flyable and AK came 2nd in the DHV1 category, while Jurgen made it to a 13th in the DHV1-2 category. It was a wonderful experience and they both look forward to participate again (see extensive article on ojovolador.com website).

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31 Jan/2007: Red Bull delegation checking paragliding in Jamaica
Red bulls Carlos, Haze, Joanna, Mitch, Andre and Logan visit the Skyline launch site. There is a chance that Red Bull may sponsor some training by bringing in a US instructor as they would like to see more paragliding happening in Jamaica. We sent them our wish list reaching from scooter towing to equipment and instruction.

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22 Oct/2006: Jurgen flies his paramotor
Jurgen got himself a paramotor from Aerolight in Florida a few weeks ago. Given his paragliding experience he managed to fly his engine on the first day of training and now launched his new toy under perfect light wind conditions from the lawns of UWI Mona bowl for a maiden flight in Jamaica.
“I’m not defecting from paragliding to paramotoring, but paramotoring will add some flying days when conditions are not soarable. Peter, the other paramotor pilot in Kingston (Mar/03 Legacy) was only waiting for me to join him in the fun.“, Jurgen reckons.

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5/Mar/2006: First XC gaggle to CS golf course
All three local pilots (Eladio, Anna Kay & Jurgen) take advantage of good lift and easterly winds to set off for their first ‘gaggle task‘ to Constant Spring Golf Club. The trip was an exciting first for AK and especially paragliding newbie Eladio, who decided to go with the flow and leave the Hope Gardens LZ to scratch at lower altitude.
All three made it to ‘goal’. Having disappeared for short moments in cu clouds, AK reckons: “I had so much altitude, I could have flown much further.“

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Mar/2006: Visiting pilot from Lithuania Violeta Grigoraitiene
Violeta, the charming General Secretary of the Lithuanian Hang Gliding and Paragliding Sport Federation and organizer of the Accuracy Landing PWC in that country, gives us the honor and pleasure to fly with her for a day while on vacation in Jamaica. Accuracy landing is actually carried out in February on a frozen lake near the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. What a treat it was for Violeta to fly in a T-shirt at cloud base over Kingston! “We had a wonderful time together and hope that other pilots from the cold will follow suit”.

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28 Aug/2005: Eladio’s first flight from Skyline
Eladio Walker, a Jamaican aero sport veteran with an aerobatics history (he built and flew a Pitts Special) received his P2 license only a few weeks ago from a school in UT/USA. Eladio takes the first opportunity to successfully launch his new paraglider from SKYLINE in what turns out quite strong conditions! Only a few months ago, he was still fantasizing of hangliding, but then quickly changed his mind when he realised that landing space would be a problem for hangliders.
Congratulations, Eladio! We are glad to have you among us and would love to welcome more people like you to join the Skyline free flying enthusiasts.

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Nov/2004: Visiting pilots Arun Moorthy and Vijai Akasapu
Two P2 pilots and their friend Sreedhar Mukkamalla (not yet a pilot!), visit Jamaica for the first time. These three born Indians are friends from college days and travel together to a new place every year. They reside and work in the USA as IT specialists - of course!
We hope you enjoyed flying with us, as much as scuba diving in the turquoise Caribbean Sea and Jamaica’s beach life.
It was really great to meet you guys and spend some time together!

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8/7/2004: Visiting pilot David Chong
Jamaican born P2 pilot from Los Angeles, who normally flies at Torrey Pines, CA, visits his island home for a week and helps us to explore a new training hill site at Walker’s Wood, south of Ocho Rios. David is actually the first one to fly from this 80ft low grassy bunny hill, where we will do future PG beginner training. Without much hesitation he launched himself the next day on his maiden flight from Skyline. Congratulations, David, and we look forward to flying with you in the future.

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18/6/2004: Visiting pilot Domingo Garcia
Domingo, paraglider pilot from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, comes for a few days to Jamaica for business and brings his flying gear to test our Skyline site. Unfortunately, northerly winds barely allowed him to launch for a short ’sled ride’ down to the Hope Gardens. Domingo is a real PG enthusiast and we had a great time together. We look forward to seeing him again in Jamaica!

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29 May/2004: First XC flight by local paraglider pilot
Jurgen takes off from Skyline for a gentle Saturday afternoon flight and decides at 3,300 ft MSL due to good lift and easterly winds, to leave the landing site at Hope Gardens and go along the Liguanea ridge for the first time a 6 km distance to the lawns of Constant Spring golf course. Half an hour later a proud Jurgen states: “Piece of cake - on such a day, anybody can do it.“

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1 Jan /2004: Happy New Year
The Daily Gleaner, a local newspaper, writes for the 1st time about paragliding and even puts a photo on its front page. Feature story of pilot Anna Kay in the FLAIR supplement. This is what our small paragliding community needed. from now on, nobody can say: “I have never heard of paragliding in Jamaica.”

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26 Jul /2003: Keith’s first flight from Skyline
Keith Wiggins, BHPA club pilot from UK, for the time being residing in Kingston, launched for his maiden flight from Skyline after having brushed-up his skills for a week in France this summer. Keith tried to soar the ridge and landed safely at Hope Gardens after his 1st flight. Congratulations, Keith, and many more successful flights!

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20 Mar /2003: Visiting pilot Marek Stolorz
Marek from Poland visits Kingston to soar with us at Skyline: “The Hope Gardens park is the most beautiful site, I have ever landed in”, he states.

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28 Feb/2003: Peter’s first paramotor flight in Jamaica
Peter Wilson-Kelly got a ‘quick’ introduction into free powered flight when he bought his paramotor in Florida. He successfully flies for the first time at the Caymanas Polo Club.

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27 Feb /2003: Roger Barber visits Jamaica again
During his second visit to Jamaica, Roger flies 24 km XC from Skyline to Broadgate (south of Annotto Bay) to establish a new Jamaican distance record! Congratulations, Roger!
On his first visit in March 2002, he flies to Mavis Bank (Blue Mountains) and is the only pilot to perform a hillside/top landing at Skyline.

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Feb /2001: XC expert Claus Vischer (DE) explores new flying sites in JM
Together with local pilots, Claus explores three potential flying sites in Tryall (St. Elizabeth), Free Hill (St. Ann) and Skyline (St. Andrew).
During his three week stay he also set the first record for X-country flying in Jamaica (approx. 20km out and back). Thanks, Claus for your invaluable assistance.

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