|
The Bir-Billing take-off is spectacularly located in the Indian Himalayas and is considered to
be one of the most awesome sites to fly in the world. The mountain range is approximately 100 km
long and has several 5500 metre peaks. It's not seldom that the thermals bring you up to 5000
metres, into the realm of the Himalayan vultures and eagles.
The area has dramatic XC potential, which so far very few pilots have actually discovered. Back
in 1992 Xavier Remond flew a 134 km out and return world record, on a glider which nowadays
would be considered antique!
For the adventurous pilot it is possible to do a 50 km XC flight from Billing to Manali
(see article 'The crossing' in Cross Country Magazine, dec-jan 02/03) crossing deserted valleys
and stunning Himalayan scenery along the way. A more usual option is the XC flight to Dharamshala
where the Dalai Lama might just be waiting for you with a cup of Yak butter tea....
In short, Bir-Billing has something to offer for everyone!
'I've never seen a competition where most pilots were concentrating as much on
taking photographs as the task at hand. The reason was the spectacular location of
Bir Billing in Himachal Pradesh where the competition was held.' -- Ian Blackmore
Do you want to know more about the flying possibilities?
Cross Country magazine, article 1
Cross Country magazine, article 2
See Fly & Glide January 2003, page 74
|
