I Opened My Wings to the Sky!

Every child dreams of something. My dream was to become a pilot. To fly, to be free, like birds in the sky... Thanks to this passion, in 1998, I ended up in the Aviation Club of Suleyman Demirel University. Being one of its founders, I completed my education and, years later, flew into the sky like a chick leaving the nest. But I did not stop there; I organized many clubs in Manisa. I am proud to have been able to contribute to this sport and its athletes by organizing the Paragliding Competition in Izmir in Odemish/Bozdag for three consecutive years on May 19, Atatürk Memorial Day, also called Youth and Sports Day.

Since each flight is different, the story of each one also varies. Hence the passion for this sport. Navigating from a hill without the aid of any aircraft; spreading the wings when ascending like birds, making a synchronized turn, and reaching the bottom of the clouds, from which you can see the area you are flying over; landing in a completely different place, meeting new people there and being a guest at their table... it gives one incredible amount adrenaline and pleasure.

They always ask me: "Are you not afraid?" It sounds funny, but I'm afraid of heights. I can't even look down from the fifth floor. But to fly, to feel that I have become one with my flight suit takes away all my fear of heights. I laugh at those who say, "Brother, with 7 ropes and a piece of nylon cloth, this is unreasonable," and I answer, "Reckless overtaking in a car without clearly seeing what is ahead is even more insane." Turbulence or other obstacles at 5000 meters teach me important things. Even when I am alone with many troubles in my life, I draw from the sky the strength to go against them courageously and cast aside fear.

Upon completion of the training and further development processes, you decide what kind of pilot you want to be. I used to be a reconnaissance pilot who flew on the weekends. Now I’m the first pilot who flew from Manisa to İzmir. To become a competition pilot, you must hold a P5 Experience Pilot license from THK. The exams also include a written part. You must meet the required flight times and, in lower class competitions or XC (Cross Country) flights, achieve the distances determined by THK. In addition, as a rule, you are required to undergo emergency training. I can say that the competition itself is also tough. Every day when you land at the airfield, you are taken to the judge of the competition commission, and you return your flight record. In paragliding competitions, you complete the task of flying according to the coordinates loaded into the GPS. Just like in football, if you can't cross the line, you can't score a goal, and the task is considered failed. These tasks are determined according to the weather and wind conditions on the day of the competition. That is how your pilot rating in Turkey and the rating of the National Team are revealed.

In 2013, I flew in the Paragliding World Cup in Brazil with the desire to go beyond the usual boundaries and see new places. I returned to my country with great experiences and memories. After this competition, I became interested in XC flying (Cross Country-Long Distance Flying). I strive to stay in the air longer, travel long distances, take off from one hill and fly to a different city, village, or town.

No matter how good the weather conditions are that day, in the end, it all depends on your piloting and luck. It reveals the importance of your experience and the duration of your flight. I remember very well that during my longest flight I covered a distance of 220 km from Ankara, Ayash to Konya in 5 and a half hours. What I do when I'm hungry or thirsty in the air is extremely curious. I usually take snacks with me on the flight, such as plain chocolate in quick-consumption tubes or cookies and bananas. I can easily drink water from a 2-liter water bottle in my flight gear (harness) without putting my hands in the air. There are also campsites at the places of flights and take-offs. I usually like to stay overnight in these areas. As you can see, I like to get in touch with nature both on the ground and in the air.

The Turkish record was updated last year, and Ankara, Ayash and Mersin, Mut, 368 km long, maintain their positions as new records. I think that in Turkey flying to maximum distances is possible due to weather, climate, and temperature conditions. Because the sun and thermal activity in the Northern Hemisphere are suitable for this. For example, such flights in Brazil can take about 10-11 hours and 500-550 kilometers. Departure from Denizli, Chameli towards Sivrihisar; departure from Ankara, Ayash towards Karaman; departures from Kahramanmaras, Narlı towards Mardin, Kızıltepe are considered within Turkey to be exciting adrenaline-filled trails, where XC distances are well calculated, and you can stay in the air for a long time. Fethiye, Oludeniz in Muğla is a unique temple for us because there is no other mountain and flying route in the world that rises as much as 2000 meters above sea level. Thousands of domestic and foreign pilots and tourists come to Oludeniz to fly. I recommend it to anyone interested to fly above this wonder of nature and enjoy its magnificent view.

Finally, there is absolutely no age limit for starting paragliding. If you have the enthusiasm and desire to take up this sport, I would like to announce that I am ready to refer you to my coaching friends nearby.

I end this article with my catchphrase.
May your wind be stable, your thermals be plentiful, and your landing be comfortable!

Hüseyin Afşin Oral

I have been with Borusan Cat for 7 years and I have been working as a Borusan Cat Sales Consultant. I love to travel and discover new places. I am a positive person. Being successful in my work is among my passions and I am also a person who likes to share my experiences. Leaving behind 24 years, I can say that my biggest hobby is paragliding.