Two days of many stories and adventures. Excellent weather, which was very well used by the pilots and school students who were able to arrive.
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 – Excellent Weather at Isabela…
We met in the afternoon at Villa Pesquera Isabela. Luis Ruiz had coordinated Demo flights with Luis and his wife Génesis who were arriving from Florida, USA, to live their flight experiences.
Also arriving were the school’s students, Efrain Guzmán, from San Sebastián, and Miguel Orona from Isabela. If all went well with the weather, there was a chance they would go flying. Also present were the pilots Alberto Sabah and Sammy Badillo. Also, Iván Torres arrived at “the “El Farallon” Cliff to do some Free Flight in the area.
At around 1 PM, the wind was coming in from the NNW at an intensity of 8 mph, Luis Ruiz took the opportunity to fly with Luis from Florida. He was celebrating his birthday on the air!. While the flight was taking place, we were able to appreciate Iván‘s Free Flight along with another pilot who achieved good altitude in the Farallon area. In fact, they managed to reach our flight area.
Unexpectedly, after 2:30 PM, the winds began to decrease in intensity, and the wind direction also moved from NNW to NW, which made takeoffs more difficult, and also Ivan need to finish his Free Flights on the mountain. So, the flight plans of the students, Efrain and Miguel need to be postponed. They kept polishing their ground skills with paragliders.
Thursday, March 21, 2024… First “Base Jump” of a Sky Diver using a Paramotor in Puerto Rico!!!
About two weeks ago, Skydiving Instructor, Josh Perry, who works for Sky Dive Puerto Rico, asked us about the possibility of performing a “Base Jump” in Skydiving using one of our paramotors. The idea materialized, and today is the perfect day to try it. The Paramotor pilot who would take Josh up for his jump is Edgardo Rivera, who although we had never done this feat, is always ready for any challenge that is presented to him.
The weather was ideal, with light winds from the North, but at the same time very light for takeoff, and that because Josh weighed over 200+ pounds. This would put a major challenge to the plans. Not only for the takeoff, but the adjustments that would have to be made in the Tandem Bar need to be evaluate, because we are not sure how it would react when Josh gets out in Free Fall.
In the meantime we were waiting for the conditions to improve, Edgardo took the opportunity to fly at altitude to acclimatize to the flight. At the same time, the pilots Alberto Sabah and Luis Ruiz were flying around the area. The weather was just perfect.
The Base Jump moment…
With better wind conditions and after the required instructions, Edgardo and Josh managed to take off. It was a difficult Take Off and also gaining altitude was difficult, as expected.
This was the first time that we try this feat, and for next time, we will make some corrections to the balance point. Josh was not comfortable, but he indicated to Edgardo to continue gaining height.
Due to the geometry created in the balance of the Paramotor, and Josh’s weight, it was difficult to gain altitude. With hard work in the Paramotor, they reached about 800 to 1,000 ft and finally we heard when Edgardo took power off the Paramotor and a few seconds later Josh released from the harness of the Paramotor!!!
–>>The view from Josh Perry 360 Camera!!!<<–
In a matter of about two seconds of falling, Josh‘s parachute opened and made him fly for a few minutes before landing. A little far from where we were, but everything was fine and he was very happy to have accomplished the feat!!! Josh Perry and Edgardo Rivera, the First Base Jump in a Paramotor in Puerto Rico!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! (The Video from Josh while falling and then flying will be added soon to this story).
Extra flights in the Afternoon…
A little later, Luis Ruiz would go for a fly with his little son Noah Enrique, and later with Emma Feiler, Josh’s girlfriend, who really enjoyed the beautiful coasts of the town of Isabela.
Note… Regarding Josh Perry and the Base Jump, it was agreed together with Edgardo Rivera to do it again, possibly this coming Sunday, with better conditions for takeoff and gaining height, and of course, better corrections to the balance point of the Tandem bar. Stay Tuned…
Photos…
