With the visit of pilots Eliseo Nogueras Jr. and Richard McDuffie from Rhode Island, and Ken Arciola from New York, we enjoyed three action-packed days of flying. They’ve visited the island before, and it’s always great to see how Puerto Rico continues to become an ideal destination for pilots looking to trade winter cold for our beautiful, warm climate. These were three epic days of flying, and each day brought its own story. Let’s take it step by step…
Tuesday, January 06, 2026 – Isabela
Due to the Three Kings Day festivities, we didn’t gather in Isabela after 11:00 AM. This time, conditions were challenging. The wind and nearby cloud cover looked threatening, with winds ranging between 18 and 22 mph. Luis took the opportunity to deliver some spare parts for Eliseo’s SkyMax paramotor.
It was possible to fly, so, we are going to try it… In Richard’s case, he rented a paramotor from Luis Ruiz for his flights (left-hand throttle), along with a fast Sky Z Blade paraglider to keep up with the high speeds. This was necessary since Eliseo was flying a Dudek Warp, Ken an Apco F1, and Luis with his beloved Sky Zorro —all high-performance paragliders well-suited for strong wind conditions. In the end, all pilots were able to fly without major issues.
Wednesday, January 07, 2026 – Isabela to Arecibo and Back…
Once again, we met at Villa Pesquera in Isabela, but this time the flying conditions were ideal. Earlier in the morning. With such perfect conditions, Eliseo, Ken, and Richard headed out on a cross-country flight all the way to Arecibo and back. After gaining altitude, they flew past Quebradillas and its cliffs, then over Camuy and Hatillo, before turning back toward Isabela, looping around near the movie theaters in Arecibo. They captured some excellent video footage, a few of which we’re sharing below.
Besides, Luis Ruiz took advantage of the calm air to provide training to student Javier Cordero.
Thursday, January 08, 2026 – Las Criollas Beach, Barceloneta
This time, we changed locations. We decided to meet early in the morning at Las Criollas Beach in Barceloneta.
Once again, flying conditions were excellent, allowing us to fly out to visit the Columbus statue in Arecibo. From there, we turned back, passed over Barceloneta, reached Manatí, and flew along Esperanza Beach and Mar Chiquita.
In the case of Ken, Eliseo, and Richard, they continued flying all the way to Vega Baja, where they turned back toward Barceloneta. Over these three days of adventure, they flew the entire coastline from Isabela to Vega Baja.
Impressive—and that’s what it’s all about!!!
Photos…
