02/05/2020
Over the Tolima volcano, where the Gods fly
In February 2019, on the occasion of my paramotor courses for advanced level pilots, I went to the city of Cali in Colombia, a place I have known for years and where I have very good flying friends.
Once finished the teaching and outreach activities, I decided to start flying in the mountain areas near the city of Cali and prepare my equipment for the high altitude PPG challenges.
On this occasion I was carrying a standard Vittorazi Moster 185 Plus engine without any improvement, considering the lack of atmospheric pressure that so much influences us in motor flying above 3000 meters.
For years I have been passionate about flying in the mountains for pleasure and have tried to set world altitude records, which I have managed to break on several occasions.
In this case the challenge was to try to fly over the Tolima volcano in the central Colombian mountain range, near the municipality of Ibagué within the Los Nevados National Natural Park, with several twin peaks like the Snowy of Ruiz in the same landscape.
The first step we took was to identify the take-off area and choose the day of the overflight attempt. This volcano has 5215 meters of altitude and even if in my experience it is apparently not too high, the challenge was served because normally the winds tend to blow strong and the temperatures at that altitude are usually very low. On the other hand, the adventure started when I was already in Colombia, so we had to improvise our cold protection equipment.
In two hours of flight I was able to overcome the 5900 meters of altitude, getting very close to the volcanic cone and the summit.
Being a place that the pre-Columbian natives have as sacred, I preferred not to fly over it and the mere fact of being very close seemed to me sufficient and respectful, even in those places, with mountains so high near the Pacific Ocean and surrounded by forests in the lower part of the continent.
The weather conditions are difficult and very changeable storms can form in a few minutes, with strong winds that require very precise piloting and a constant display of the dangers at all times.
My engine behaved very well, at no time did I stop giving myself enough thrust to keep climbing; at a certain point I stopped climbing because the intensity of the wind came at a time when I could not return. At that moment I went down to the take-off field on the west side of the valley, flying about three hours with 13 liters of fuel without any problem or mishap.
I like to bet on my flights but with confidence so the Moster 185 Plus is my favorite engine for these challenges.
It is not easy to describe the view that one has in those moments: different snowy peaks with their volcanic cone that contrast the white of ice and snow with the dark tones of lava, the large masses of clouds at different heights combed by the wind and in the background the exuberant vegetation of that wonderful country.
If there is a paradise for the paramotor pilot, for me it is exactly what you experience in those moments when, with such a small and peculiar aircraft, you have the world at your feet.
