The joy of soaring like an eagle<\/p>\n
---------------------------------------------------------------------<\/p>\n
Young executives in Jakarta have turned their attention to
\nmore challenging sports in which to spend their spare time. They
\nneed more than just playing golf, tennis or squash.<\/p>\n
Speeding on jetskis, watching the blue sky in a glider,
\nparagliding from the Gunung Mas area in Puncak, whitewater
\nrafting in several rivers in Gunung Halimun West Java or playing
\npaintball war have become the latest trend.<\/p>\n
For some its the thrill of trying something new while for
\nothers these adventure sports are a relief from stress.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post's Ivy Susanti and Novan Iman Santosa look
\ninto this new trend.
\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Centuries ago Leonardo da Vinci shocked people
\nwith his statement that people could fly. His work and belief in
\nthis concept has encouraged people to find ways of how to fly.<\/p>\n
Nowadays, flying in the sky is no longer a dream. And you can
\ndo it right here in Greater Jakarta.<\/p>\n
There are numerous varieties of aerosports, all under the
\nsupervision of the Indonesian Aerosport Federation (FASI), --
\nparachuting, paragliding, parasailing, gantole, gliding, ultra
\nlight and aeromodelling.<\/p>\n
If you want to fly high like a bird, then it is time to try
\ngliding and paragliding (some call it hang-gliding) and fulfill
\nyour dream.<\/p>\n
Gliding is basically flying with a non-powered airplane or the
\nglider. To take off, it has to be towed by another airplane up to
\na certain altitude before being released to fly on its own.<\/p>\n
Paragliding is so called as it combines a parachute with
\ngliding by using a special type of parachute to enable the
\nparticipant to soar high.<\/p>\n
Both of these aerosports take full advantage of a thermal or
\nhot air to keep them aloft. The best time to do these sports is
\nduring the dry season when the sun shines brightly.<\/p>\n
The Pondok Cabe airfield in Ciputat has been the home for several
\naerosports, such as free-fall parachuting, glider, home-made
\nairplanes, trike and ultralight flying but many people would be
\nunaware of the airfields existence.<\/p>\n
Gliding basic<\/p>\n
Wiwin Anggono, a senior pilot who started flying in 1976, told
\nof the feeling of peace he has as well as the challenge he
\nexperiences when flying gliders.<\/p>\n
\"When flying gliders, we must fully utilize the atmospherics
\nto stay aloft. The challenge is how to find a thermal to keep us
\naloft. Once we take off, our altitude will determine the distance
\nwe can glide and you need the help of thermal for this,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"That's why it's important to have weather forecasts before
\ntaking off to get information such as cloud formation and ground
\nheating. Otherwise, we'll have to land soon\", he added.<\/p>\n
Another challenge is finding a safe place to land. That's why
\na glider pilot keeps looking down while flying.<\/p>\n
It is forbidden for glider pilots to enter cloud formations as
\nit is hazardous.<\/p>\n
\"When entering a cloud formation, you lose your visual
\norientation which is very dangerous. A further danger is that
\ncloud formations have suction power which glider craft are unable
\nto cope with or adjust to because it doesn't have an engine\",
\nWiwin said.<\/p>\n
Wiwin, while claiming to be a week-end pilot, holds the
\nnational record for cross country flying which he achieved at the
\n2000 National Games in East Java. He glided a distance of some
\n172 kilometers from Malang to Cepu. Gliding has been incorporated
\nin the Games since 1969 and also for a seventh time at the Games
\nin Surabaya.<\/p>\n
Another senior pilot, Bob Gondokusumo, said it does not take
\nmuch to be a glider pilot.<\/p>\n
\"All you need is perseverance and seriousness. There is no
\ncomplicated test at all as long as you have a healthy body.\"<\/p>\n
Bob, who operates a flying school, said that if students have
\na lesson every weekend, they can finish the course in three
\nmonths.<\/p>\n
Asked how much one has to pay, Bob merely said \"it is
\nexpensive.\"<\/p>\n
Modern glider costs some US$80,000, dual-seat trainer costs
\nbetween $100,000 and $125,000 while towing aircraft single-engine
\nHusky costs $100,000.<\/p>\n
Paragliding<\/p>\n
If you want direct contact with cold thin air, then you should
\ntry paragliding. One of the best places for this aerosport is at
\nthe Gunung Mas area in the Puncak resort, West Java.<\/p>\n
This area is also known for another aerosport: gantole.<\/p>\n
One of senior paragliders, Gendon Soebandono, said paragliders
\nare more like pilots than freefall parachutists.<\/p>\n
\"We enjoy every time we're in the sky, starting from when we
\ntake off. Unlike parachutists, we are trying to keep a loft as
\nlong as possible.\"<\/p>\n
\"In paragliding, the goal is to reach the farthest distance or
\nthe highest altitude with the help of a thermal\", he said.<\/p>\n
Another paraglider, Munir, said that when he was paragliding
\nin the air he felt closer to God.<\/p>\n
\"You put yourself in the hands of God because nature plays a
\ngreat role in paragliding. You'll realize how insignificant and
\nsmall you are as soon as you take off.\"<\/p>\n
\"But then when you land, you'll turn into your Dajjal
\n(demonic) same old self as usual,\" he said jokingly.<\/p>\n
Munir recounted an experience he had in 1998 when another
\nparaglider collided into his parachute. He was spiraling out of
\ncontrol for about 300 meters before being saved by a tree.<\/p>\n
There are so many good locations in Indonesia suitable for
\nparagliding, besides the one in the Puncak area.<\/p>\n
\"The Songgoriti area of Malang in East Java is another good
\nsite for paragliding as well as the Timbris area of Nusa Dua
\nBeach in Bali. In Timbris you can stay aloft from 9 a.m. until
\nabout 9 p.m. nonstop because the weather is very good there,\"
\nsaid Munir.<\/p>\n
\"And if you're hungry, you just have to come down and hover
\nclose enough to the ground so as your friends can give you a
\nsnack and then up you go again.\"<\/p>\n
Other good places include Parangtritis in Yogyakarta, Maninjau
\nLake in West Sumatra, Toba Lake in North Sumatra, and Palu in
\nSoutheast Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
It doesn't really take long to become a paraglider, said
\nGendon.<\/p>\n
\"New pilots can take eight days for their first training
\nsession and should do two days consecutively while the rest can
\nbe done anytime,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Ideally though a student should do the training for the eight
\nstraight days, which cost Rp 1.5 million.<\/p>\n
However, if you want to have your own parachute you have to
\npay more.<\/p>\n
\"And it's quite expensive. It costs some $2,000 to $3,000.\"
\nUp, up and away, see you in the clouds.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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