October
2008
Building
on our six highly successful trips, we are once more off to that
most reliable and mellow thermal paradise, the green and luscious
Indian Himalayan foothills.
We
fly
into Amritsar in northern India, so only a 6 hour transfer to Bir
after a quick look at the Golden Temple.
Each
year pilots with levels of experience ranging from absolutely zero
hours since qualifying to near Skygods come with us... We always
leave with experienced pilots. Most break all their personal bests
there and everyone always wants to go again!
Session 1 – late evening 4/10/08 to 19/10/08
Session 2 – late evening 18/10/08 to 02/11/08
Both sessions will accommodate new and experienced pilots, however,
session one is aimed at learning and improving thermalling skills
while session two is aimed at XC and altitude flying. The first
session is likely to have mellower conditions. Non-flying activities
include shopping in Dharmsala, hot springs, 1000 year old temples
and fantastic trekking opportunities. We plan to take a trip to
the high altitude launch at Solang and Manali in the middle of both
trips to help reduce 'flown-out pilot syndrome' which occurs with
two weeks incessant paragliding :-)
One of the benefits of our very high instructor to student ratio
is that we can ensure the best possible experience for any level
of pilot: For the recently qualified and/or low airtime pilot, you
can expect to become a competent XC pilot, able to identify and
use thermal lift to cover serious distances and then land safely
in a field of your choosing, perhaps even occasionally the main
landing field! Look upon out-landings as an opportunity to meet
plenty of new friends and have an amazing travel experience and
you won't go far wrong.
For the more experienced pilot who can already thermal well and
is seeking some quality instruction in the awesome scenery and benign
thermals of this classic XC paradise, we'll be aiming to improve
your skills by guided XC flying every day, perhaps including some
of the more dramatic high altitude routes.
What's included for 2008: Bed and breakfast, lunch if we're on the
ground and evening meals, collection and return from Amritsar airport
to Bir, transport to launch and retrieval from XC, though you will
usually find that local buses/taxis are so cheap and quick that
it's not worth being retrieved, and anyway the adventure makes it
worthwhile!
The cost of all this is £1175 for each session, plus flights
(currently £550). Those with a more leisurely schedule could
opt for both trips for £2000 including free accommodation
for the days in between.
Please make a deposit payment of £300 to AIRTRIPS as soon
as possible. Payment of the balance will be required six weeks before
departure. Once you have booked you will receive a pack with details
of everything you need to know, through from visas and injections,
to equipment and pre-trip get together.
This year we are again getting direct flights from Heathrow to Amritsar
with Jet Airways. We do ask that you get the same flights as everyone
else to simplify transfers - otherwise you may have to use public
transport to get to Bir! This could mean 16 hour plus bus journeys,
you have been warned! Alternatively of course, you could take flights
that bracket ours and meet us at the airport.
We have a DVD from an earlier trip to give you a taste of the adventure.
If you would like a copy please let me know.
If you are interested, call me on 01273 858108 for more details.
It will be Deshera while we are there so we need to book flights
before they fill up!
Photo
Album
You'll
want to have:
- Helmet,
Glider & Harness
- Reserve
- Vario
- 2m
radio
- GPS
- that you can see while flying!
- EPIRB
- from any chandlers or we can supply you ~£140
- Medevac
insurance
- Flying
suit
- Sense
of adventure
- (lease
purchase can be arranged for everything except the last item)
If
you are interested, call 0044 (0)1273 858 108 for details. | 
