Adventure Expedition ‘PRADAKSHINA’: Circumnavigation of India by Indian Air Force Paramotors Team ‘SKYRIDERS’
Air Marshal MK Malik AVSM VSM, DG (Wks & Cer) Air HQ, on Thursday flagged off a unique Paramotor Expedition PRADAKSHINA of Air warriors team SKYRIDERS at Air Force Station Gurgaon. The Paramotor team is all set to embark on one of its kind adventure traversing more than 10,000 Kms on Paramotors. The expedition represents the true adventure spirit of Air Warriors of the Indian Air Force. As the name of the expedition, ‘PRADAKSHINA’ suggests, the expedition will cover most of the boundary of the nation.
The expedition will commence from Kalaikunda, West Bengal on 01 Feb 16. It will then follow the eastern Coast to Kanyakumari. The expedition will then turn north and fly along the western coast till Gujarat. It will then transit through desert of Rajasthan, fields of Punjab till foothills of Himalayas at Jammu. The route will then lead in southerly direction till New Delhi. The Expedition will then move along the eastern course transiting through Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and will culminate at KalaiKunda, west Bengal on 15 Mar 16.
On completion, the team will not only be setting a national record but will also be setting a new world record by breaking the current World Record of 9132 Kms. The expedition will carry the message ‘A SALUTE TO THE MARTYRS OF THE NATION’ to honour each and every uniformed soldier who has laid down his life while protecting his country.
The team consists of 14 Air Warriors including Paramotor Pilots, ground vehicles and supporting staff and is being led by Wg Cdr MPS Solanki from Directorate of Adventure, Indian Air Force.
Paramotor flying includes open cockpit flying where pilot is not protected and is exposed to the elements, during the expedition, the team will brave 10,000 Kms of difficult weather conditions, will cross different terrain ranging from mountains, coasts, forests and desert and will attempt to achieve standards that will not only remain unbeaten for years to come but will also place India on top of the world in field of aero sports.
