AIR FORCE ADVENTURE EXPEDITION ‘PRADAKSHINA’
CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF INDIA BY INDIAN AIR FORCE
PARAMOTOR TEAM ‘SKYRIDERS’
The Paramotor team ‘SKYRIDERS’ of Indian Air Force embarked on one of its kind adventure which includes flying for more than 10,000 kms on Paramotors. The expedition represents the true adventure spirit of each and every Air Warrior of Indian Air Force. As the name of the expedition, ‘PRADAKSHINA’ suggests, the expedition will cover most of the boundary of the nation.
On 01 Mar 16, the team of Skyriders comprising of team leader Wing Commander MPS Solanki from Directorate of Air Force Adventure and Sqn Ldr Ankur Yadav landed at the Airforce Training Team at NDA. They will take halt at NDA for one day before leaving for Aurangabad tomorrow. Air Vice Marshal SP Wagle, VM, Deputy Commandant and Chief Instructor at NDA interacted with the team at length on their mission.
The expedition commenced from Kalaikunda Airbase in West Bengal on 03 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 the dessert 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.
Paramotor is an ultra-light flying machine, in which a pilot carries the motor at back with a para glider overhead. The engine is of 150 to 230 cc. The cruse speed is 50 km per hour. Paramotor requires small place to takeoff and landing. In the expedition, the team will use two types of Paramotor viz. Trike and Foot launch. Paramotor flying includes open cockpit flying where the pilot is not protected and is exposed to the elements. During the expedition, the team will brave 10,000 km of difficult weather conditions.
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 9133 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.
