Flight planning and training in West Cork and Kerry with Sacha Dench. Flight of the Swans

Oisin and Sacha, both undertaking expeditions by paramotor, taking very different routes and with different objectives, have most of the same issues in common!  An intensive (and exhausting) weekend of fantastic flying in the stunning backdrop of West Cork and Kerry, was combined with sessions on gear, planning, software, navigation hardware etc.  

As Sacha says..."Meeting fellow adventurers is always great and when you are pushing the boundaries of what is considered ‘normal’ it is really helpful to share ideas. But where do you meet someone who is planning an expedition over challenging terrain in a paramotor…?"

We practiced takeoff and landings in unfamiliar settings and different wind conditions.  We tried different wings and other equipment. Means of carrying equipment on a foot-launched craft were discussed! Equipment to be carried, Navigation hardware/ software apps etc.. Experiments were conducted in the use of Bluetooth communications in the air for interpilot communications, phone contact, and voice activated equipment for hands free operation and other technologies.

Fantastic opportunity, and much learnt.

Sacha's trip, 'The Flight of the Swans' will begin at the Bewick’s summer breeding grounds of high arctic Russia.
Taking to the skies in September, Sacha and the expedition team will set out on a voyage lasting as long as ten weeks, covering a distance of over 7,000 km, at altitudes as low as 100 metres.
Once they’ve safely navigated the vast Russian tundra – and its polar bears – Sacha and the team will continue to track the swans’ progress through Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium and France.

Information on Sacha's planed trip can be found here:  https://fots.wwt.org.uk/

Route planning for the Island hopping first few expeditions.

Flying Kerry near Barrow, Fenit/Tralee.

Plenty of early starts and late nights flying!  Not much sleep over the few days!

Sacha was joined by Jessica Pearson, who took photos and video of the flights.