Over the course of two intense days, Instructor Luis Ruiz pushed his students to their limits, sharpening their skills with one clear goal in mind: getting them closer to their first SOLO flight and building the foundation for their paramotor careers.
But let’s take it step by step…
Tuesday, April 07, 2026 — Perfect Conditions, Serious Progress
The day opened with flawless weather—exactly what every pilot hopes for. The students wasted no time taking advantage of it.
Luis worked closely with Shirley Hernández, Javier Crespo, Pedro Gregory, and Cesar Pungirum, focusing on precision, control, and confidence.
At one point during the morning, Javier Crespo launched for his third flight ever, assisted by Luis. And what a sight—it’s clear Javier is progressing fast. He’s eager to fly alongside the experienced team pilots already, but he understands that mastery comes step by step.
Meanwhile, Shirley Hernández had a breakthrough of her own. For the first time, she geared up with the paramotor on her back, going through a highly productive training session that brought her one step closer to her own flight.
To top it off, Luis gave her an unforgettable introductory flight along the coastline, taking full advantage of the smooth conditions.
Later in the day, with Shirley and young Noah Enrique getting closer to their own milestones, Luis tested on fly the ultra-light SkyMax EOS100 paramotor. Weighing just around 35 pounds, he flew it twice—once with a 29-meter wing and again with a 25-meter. The results? Better than expected. The machine proved reliable with the 215 pounds weight of Luis, and is now set for more action later in the week.
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Wednesday, April 08, 2026 — Cesar’s First SOLO… and a Surprise No One Saw Coming
Another perfect weather day. Another opportunity to fly.
This time, Luis was joined by fellow pilots Mario Muñiz and his wife Ivonne, Albert Cardona and his girlfriend Karol, Nixon Porrata, and longtime Team Kamikazes member Deron Freeman, who had just arrived from Connecticut.
Early in the morning, Nixon and Albert took off together, cruising through the skies. Soon after, Mario and Deron joined in, both showcasing impressive takeoffs and smooth landings.
But the real story of the day?
Cesar Pungirum.
The First SOLO Flight
Cesar had only arrived on the island five days earlier, on April 3rd. Since then, he had been in non-stop, intensive training—he only had 12 days total in the island. So, the mission was clear: make him the best pilot possible in that time.
Day after day, it was all about repetition, discipline, and learning the wing. He even completed a tandem intro flight with Luis where he handled the controls.
By Wednesday (Today)… everything pointed to one thing:
This was the day.
What Happened Next… No One Expected
Cesar prepared, turned into the wind… and launched. His first SOLO flight—after just five days of training.
But then things took an unexpected turn. Instead of leveling off, Cesar kept climbing… and climbing… and climbing.
Soon, he was thousands of feet up—so high that radio communication was lost. Tension hit the ground crew instantly. This wasn’t part of the plan. Students usually struggle to gain altitude… not overshoot it by that much.
Luis had never seen anything like it from a first-time solo pilot. And yet—Cesar looked completely in control.
Still, the situation was intense. Very intense.
The Outcome
Eventually, Cesar descended safely and executed a solid landing, following Luis’s guidance once communication was re-established.
When asked why he went so high, his answer surprised everyone:
He felt safer at altitude. And as a trained aviation pilot, he wanted to view the landing zone from a perspective he already understood.
Unexpected? Absolutely.
Dangerous? Potentially.
But in the end, everything turned out well—and it became a powerful learning moment for future flights and approaches.
A Perfect Ending — Sunset Flight Over Isabela
Later that day, Karol (Albert’s girlfriend) attempted to get back into flying, building on her previous experience. After some ground handling practice with the motor on her back, the team decided to postpone her flight for another week with more preparation.
To close the day, Luis and Albert took to the skies for a stunning sunset flight along the coast of Isabela. Flying low—often under 50 feet—they cruised smoothly over the shoreline with zero turbulence.
A perfect, peaceful ending to two unforgettable days of training, progress… and one story no one will forget anytime soon.
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