Powered Paragliders to Set Record for Leukemia and Cancer

{mosimage}Remy Swaab, the founder of the Panama Paramotor Association, along with a team of 7 flyers who will be joining him from around the world are getting ready to set a world record for Powered Paragliders in Panama. The team is planning to fly from the Atlantic Ocean t the Pacific, over the Panama Canal.    {mosgooglecenter}   I had the privilege to talk to Remy and his mother about the event over a strawberry smoothie at Crepes and Waffles in Albrook Mall in Panama City. A partner in a software development firm called NexorOne  and an extreme sport enthusiast, Remy got his introduction to Powered Paragliding 2 years ago by his friend Tony Lusby. “Powered paragliding is an unregulated sport that is relatively new on the scene”, says Remy, “there’s no such thing as certified instructors or teachers. You learn flyer to flyer. Tony and I are the only powered paragliders flying in Panama right now”.   With a keen eye for opportunity and an ambitious drive for excellence, Remy realized that Panama held a unique situation for a spectacular possibility - a record breaking ocean-to-ocean flight. To bring the dream into reality, Remy started the monumental job of obtaining permission and organizing the details of what has come to be called The Flight For Life. All proceeds raised from the event will go to the benefit of Panama’s beloved charity, FANLYC - Foundation of Friends of the Children with Leukemia and Cancer.  

To make the flight a possibility, Remy’s team would have to fly over the narrowest part of Panama, which meant flying over the restricted airspace of the Panama Canal. Gaining authority for this to happen was not an easy task. “The Canal Authority granted us a one-time authority to fly at a minimum altitude of 500 feet. This is something that will never be given again. We have to fly on M ay  3 or 4th. If the flight doesn’t happen on those dates, it will be impossible.”{mosimage}

Permission also had to be gained from the AAC, which is  the  body that controls the air space in Panama – the equivalent of the FAA in  the US. “ Because on the day of the event, planes going out of Albrook airport  during that time will  have to be rerouted”.

To find the optimal time for the flight’s success, the flyers analyzed 10 years of meteorological data. “Wind is crucial that day. Heavy winds will push us too fast, making it dangerous, while head winds will slow us down, preventing us from finishing. Our window of opportunity with permissions and weather is Saturday and Sunday only”.

If everything goes as planned, Remy and the Flight for Life Team will take off from Sherman’s Airforce Base and fly 80 kilometers over the Panama Canal in 2 hours. The flyers will  use up from ¾  of their full tank of fuel,  depending on the winds, giving

them  hopefully  just enough fuel to complete the journey. To be entered in the world record, flyers must make the trip from one ocean to the other without stopping.

“The first half of the flight is over the Gatun lake, which is full of tree stumps right under the water or just sticking out. Should we get into trouble, boats cannot go outside the canal channel to rescue us.  We would have to depend on the ultra lights, who are not allowed to fly over the canal. To be rescued, the flyer would have to land close to a rail track, where an ultra light pilot can get to. Failure in this half is not optional, it would be terminal. The lake (as well as   the Panama Canal )  is filled with huge crocodiles. In fact the permission from the Panama Canal authority makes  a point to mention the crocodiles and  other  dangers we take responsibility to face”. View Flight for life Plan & permissons .

Should the flyers need to stop for fuel, a half way team will be waiting in Gamboa. “Any flyer who stops will not be part of the record, but will have the honor of being there”.

“I invited people who I consider to be the top flyers in the world”, says Remy. The eight flyers pooled their finances to pay for the expenses of this event, which included assistants, camera crew, hotels, flights, ground transportation to name a few. “We want all the sponsorship funds to go to FANLYC. We fly for the honor of the occasion”.

The day of the event will be announced over the radio in Panama. Spectators will be able to view the flyers pass through from the Miraflores locks.

The Flight For Life flyers are:

    Andreas Kolb (Germany) 
    Jeff Goin (USA)
    Jeff Hamann (USA)
    Leon Massa (Australia)
    Michael O'Daniel (USA)
    Philip Russman (USA)
    Remy Swaab (Panama)
    Tony Lusby (New Zealand)

To support the The Flight For Life team, donations can be made by paypal here:
http://www.vueloporlavida.org/typo/index.php?id=6#null

From Panama, donations can be sent to:

   Deposits:

      Banco General
      Beneficiary: FANLYC
      Account type: Current Account
      Account Number: 03-17-01-000558-3

   Check made out to:

      "Fundación Amigos del Niño con Leucemia y Cáncer"

       And let us know by email where to pick it up: info@vueloporlavida.org

   Credit Card

   The FANLYC offices are located:

       Calle 33, Avenida México
       On the Ave. Balboa
       Panama Rep. of Panama

If you make your donation directly to FANLYC, please advice by email info@vueloporlavida.org , so your name may be entered in the donators list on the event's website.