C a r p e  D i e m

MY first african PPG Experience

published December 2006 on

www.ppg.co.za

The African PPG Experience - Frank Menger, Germany, December 2006

This year in November I visited Tony Gibson at Grassland to do some PPG flights with him over Africa. Originally my home base is in Heidelberg, Germany close to Frankfurt. There my wing is a Sting from Powerplay, because I can do both with it: hang paragliding and PPG. In addition I have a French Adventure engine.

I must say that it was not my first visit to South Africa. The first time I was already 1984 for the skydiving world cup in Sun City and afterwards on the Hercules C130 Boogie in Phalaborwa. The last years I came down for paragliding only. I flew in the Cape at Bambi´s and here out at “the Dam”. You can say that the African sky is already quite familiar to me and it was clear that I had to explore it one day by PPG. So looked over Internet for some contacts and came on Tony’s PPG.CO.ZA homepage which made immediately a very professional and well organized impression on me. After the initial contact I agreed with him that I will only bring along my Sting and that he can borrow me a Snap100 engine during the time of my stay.

After my arrival, when I met Tony and his kind family for the first time, I was immediately inspired of his specialized knowledge about PPG. Then I knew that with him I am in the best hands to get into the African PPG scene.

During the first days it was quite rainy but then when I came out to Grassland for the first time I was impressed from this nice huge field to start. Tony instructed me very well in the engine and the equipment and made me attentive also on the height we are starting of. I thought, well if I do need to start in Germany maximally a 10 meters run on 0 wind, so it can t take more  than 20 meters in this height. I WAS TOTALLY WRONG! It became the longest run of my life!! It must have been more than one kilometer.  After taking off I was so out of breath that it took several minutes before I was able to slip in the seat. Also unusual was the starting angle. In Germany I start within an angle of approximately 30 degrees here it was maximum 10 degrees. I thought there must be something wrong with the Sting because I had the impression it doesn’t want to fly at all. But once in air it was great. I flew some rounds over Grassland, until Tony started, then I just followed him. The landscape over Africa was fantastic and we flew together a beautiful triangle towards the Dam, past to a quarry and over a car racing course.

The next days were again rainy. But on Saturday Tony called and said: Let’s go flying! I was surprised, because in Rietondale where I stayed were dark clouds all around. Nevertheless I drove to Grassland and oh miracles there were perfect conditions. Many pilots were already in the air so I prepared myself too and started. It was a great flight during an amazing African sunset light. Till to the moment as, within 5 minutes, a gust storm arose and we all only flew backwards. I did not know the area so I made my decision to land immediately. Underneath I saw a green meadow next to the street and I took it. Although there were heavy gusts and it was quite bumpy I must say that I felt always safe under my Sting. He never had the tendency to collapse or do any funny things. Also the landing in the gusts was not a problem. If these gusts wouldn’t have caught me just at the moment I landed und pulled me a few meters through some sharp rocks, which I haven’t realized from above, it would have been a quite normal flight. But so I needed some stitches in the hospital and the scars will always remind me on it. Afterwards I was told, that this was the first time that the pilots were surprised in such a way by a storm and it gave nevertheless several hurt ones and one pilot even broke his wrist. So it was not a normal flight at all.

Well shit happens but what can one learn out of that? Tony asked which was the best reaction in this moment? Stay In the air, land immediately or fly with the wind to a safer place? Actually we had everything and I think each pilot made in this moment the correct decision for himself. I think the problem caused already on the decision to start. I never would have been started in Germany if there are thick clouds and a thunderstorm 20 Km away. The weather is, beside the pilot, the largest source of danger for any airborne sport. Well, I must say it is much easier with the weather in Germany. We have either bad weather for weeks or it is good for weeks. In any case it does not change so fast. Anyway it was another positive experience and although I couldn’t fly as much as I expected it was great. Like this I had more time to party. At the end I would like to thank all PPG pilots for the friendly admission into the PPG scene, especially Tony, Alison and above all also their daughter Jade. I am already looking forward to my next visit. Hopefully for the PPG trip to Durban.