Every so often, we visit the flying site at Parque del Norte in Hatillo. On this occasion, several pilots had expressed their intention to fly there, and we gladly joined in. Parque del Norte allows us to soar along the coastal area of Camuy, with easy access by air to Arecibo and Sardinera Beach along the way.
Challenging Weather…
This time—just as on previous visits—the weather proved demanding. Early in the day, southeast winds made flying impossible. Later, when the wind finally shifted into a more favorable direction, it came in with strong intensity. Even so, we managed to get in the air and enjoy a day full of adventure.
Pilots and Families Showing Up…
- Pablo Cruz and his wife Millie
- Ricky González and his wife Ermelinda
- Luis Ruiz and his son Noah Enrique
- Wilkins Torres, his wife Brenda, and their son Wilkins Jr.
- Javier Cordero and his brother Iván
- Roberto Rodríguez and his wife Elba
- Pedro Gregory
- Nixon Porrata
- Reynel Fermaint
- Miguel Orona
- Pedro Agostini
- Nixon Porrata (who had already completed an early morning flight in Añasco)
Introductory Tandem Flights…
Luis Ruiz had several previously scheduled tandem flights to complete. We had to move quickly in the morning, as increasing wind speeds would have forced us to postpone them. Fortunately, we were able to complete flights for Zory, who was visiting from Florida, USA, and for her nephew Lestat, who lives in Puerto Rico with his mother, Angelenys. Angelenys’ flight, however, had to be postponed due to conditions. Here’s a brief glimpse into their adventure-filled experience.
Pablo made some Towing Flights…
It was great to welcome Pablo and Millie back, as work commitments had kept them away from recent activities. As you can imagine, young Noah took full advantage of their visit by arranging his traditional towing flights.
And it wasn’t just Noah—student pilot Reynel also received towing flights as part of his preparation for his upcoming first solo flight.
Pilots in the Air Despite Strong Winds…
Taking off was challenging—not so much the flying itself, but the takeoff and landing phases, which became complicated due to strong winds and limited maneuvering space.
On this occasion, Miguel Orona was unable to launch, as the wind conditions were too strong for his 26-meter wing. Wilkins Torres initially struggled as well, but with persistence, he managed to get airborne, along with Luis Ruiz and Pedro Agostini.
Later in the afternoon, Pedro attempted another flight. However, with winds exceeding 25 mph+ and beginning to shift onshore again, his flight lasted no more than five minutes. With that, we officially brought the day’s activities to a close.
