The weekend of January 20-21 was a good one for the Spanish community of powered paragliding. The leaders of the National League 2006, Juanjo Garcia in foot-launched paramotoring and Daniel Crespo in para-trike, met in the area of Lanzahita, Avila (home place of Theflyingeye) to try and beat some world records in both modalities of motorized flight. The result was four new world marks of speed (two each pilot) that add to the latest successes of Spanish sportsmen: let’s remember that Ramon Morillas closed 2006 with 4 officially recognized records.

It was Daniel’s idea; he had tried and set his first record of speed in November and was only a bit short of 60km/h over a straight course of 15-25 km. He wanted to reach over 60 k/h and also try to break other world marks together with an outstanding pilot in foot-launched PPG, Juanjo, whom he invited for the Challenge. Preparations included taking the coordinates of possible turnpoints on the previous weeks, studying maps, preparing the equipment and instruments, and calling the witnesses.

Finally, on Saturday at noon the pilots took off to try the record of speed over a triangle of 50 km. Using their gliders’ trimmers open and speed systems at maximum, Juanjo (Dudek Reaction / Hirth engine) "smashed" the previous record with an average speed of 65.5 km/h while Daniel (Ozone Viper - Airfer WR200) reached 61.6 km/h, two new world records. In the evening they would try to push the mark of speed over triangle of 100 km, but a thick fog that covered more than 20 kilometres of the course forced them to quit for safety reasons.
Sunday, after a foggy morning, was a good day for flying and the pilots decided to try the record of speed over a straight course of 15-25 km. For this record the course must be flown twice, out and return, to obtain an average speed in which the wind factor has no relevance. At around 3 pm both pilots started the course with only a few minutes of difference, and completed it at average speeds of 62.4 km/h Juanjo, and 63.2 k/h Daniel, two more new world records!

The 4 new top achievements with paramotors are now to be ratified by the International Aeronautic Federation (FAI), if all the proofs submitted by the athletes are correct. The process may take from 3 to 6 months. In any case, there are two very satisfied pilots with their flights and performance registered during the weekend, and they have promised to try new feats soon. Congratulations!