DFC: Max flys a combat in Crimea, Ukraine

location: mont Klementjeva Koktebel

Crimea Ukraine

I arrived in Kiev and was greeted by a local pilot Julia, then investigated Kiev. Later we met up with some of the local pilots for chili vodka and other delicacies. The next day, we checked out one of the local flying sites with a pilot named Victor, who later showed me around the Aeros factory.

I booked a ticket on the night train into the Crimea region- a 1000km haul which took 13 hours. Fun fun with no one on board speaking English! Sign language always works... most of the time.

So arriving in morning I then went on a trolly bus, a small 2 hour drive to the flying site 'Klementjeva Koktebel'. There was a small runway for towing, a north side and south side for dynamic and towing 500ft above ground. I was told it's the best school for hang gliding and paragliding in eastern Europe. There was a hang gliding bar and separated of course, a paragliding bar. I stayed at the hang gliding bar which also made fantastic food. There also was a hanger so no need to derig- just a 1 minute walk to launch, what more do you want?

The first day was low cloud base maybe 60 meters above takeoff. We still had a blast racing around the 3km ridge like mad men and women, a bit of acro, some low flying and safe landing.

Then Micheal invited me to check out their training methods, fun fun.

After that we had two days of bad weather, checking out Feodosia with some students.

Finally good weather! I pulled the borrowed combat L 09 out of the hanger and we flew slalom around the paragliders.