The first crossing of the Aeolian Islands by Marco Busetta
All 3 Aeolian islands in a single paraglider flight!
The pilot Marco Busetta lives in Paterno, Sicily. A geologist by profession, he also is a tandem pilot and instructor in the paragliding school SCUOLA DI VOLO ETNA FLY. A regular flyer on the island of Vulcano, he had an idea lurking in his head for several years: that of joining the 3 Aeolian Islands in a paraglider flight … He did it with his OZONE Enzo 2 on the 2nd of June 2016. Here is the video he has just upload to his Vimeo account.
Where did this idea to fly over the islands of Vulcano, Lipari and Salina come from?
For several years, Marco had a dream: to link the Aeolian Islands (situated off the northern coast of Sicily) by a single paraglider flight . A project hitherto unthinkable for most. “The magic and beauty of these islands and their undeniable charm were my inspiration for this flight, which would be quite modest in terms of distance but terribly romantic. ”
Nowadays, this project appeared more realistic to him, should the weather conditions be favourable, due to the higher performance of new paraglider wings. “I knew that there should be favourable updraughts in order to climb to altitudes of over 1000 meters. With a light wind to help climb up to cloud base on each island, I could safely cross over the sea which separates the islands from each other”.
On the 2nd of June, 2016, all the right conditions were united
Marco took off from the site of Monte Saraceno on the island of Vulcano (altitude 490 m). After reaching an altitude of 870m., he glided for the 5 kms. to Pilari Island , flying over the sea for the first time for approximately 1 km. Upon reaching the island, he gained 500 m of altitude on the volcano’s slope which brought him to an altitude of 1180m to start his second glide of more than 10 kms. to reach the island of Salina, with a crossing over the sea of more than 4 kms. Marco thus completed a one hour flight, a distance of more than 20 kms. of which 5kms. over the sea.
His dream is now realised and Marco is preparing for the “Superfinale” in Brazil which begins on January 18, 2017.
Translate by Dan Hawkins for ROCK TH EOUTDOOR
Take-off Monte Saraceno
Go straight to Salina
