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Name: | Martin Havel |
| Glider: | Niviuk Icepeak 8 | |
| Flying For: | 5 years | |
| AU Rank: | 18 | |
| WPRS: | 628 |
1. Where do you mostly fly?
Canungra.
2. Which pilots most influenced you?
Jockey Sanderson for being an accessible global educator and great SIV instructor. Ivan Anissimov for always looking over my shoulder and for the help and assistance with my competition and xc flying from my very beginnings. Jason Turner for the email chats. Dave Gibbs for small talks on the hill. Brian Webb for the mentoring, xc and competition clinic. Christian Maurer for showing us what can be done when you plug all the puzzles together in right order. Che Golus for being a great pilot and for his simple explanations of complex concepts. Gareth Carter for demonstrating that you don’t have to be a para-bum to become an Australian Champion. Garth Camac, Alex Yaschenko, Kari Ellis and Brooke Whatnall for proving what can be done in 5 years or less if you pay attention and make the effort.
3. Where and what was your most memorable flying experience, best flight ever?
Solo flight in Manilla flying 80+ km next to Hanka (wife) and few other mates and landing all together after a long glassy glide in to the late afternoon.
4. What is your favourite flying site in your State?
Beechmont in summer, Mt Tamborine in winter.
5. What is your favourite site in Australia?
Bright.
6. What is your favourite site in World?
Annecy, for being great place to fly, family friendly and for being close to Chamonix.
7. What is you favourite item in your flying kit and why?
The glider, Niviuk IcePeak 8. It is an absolute masterpiece in terms of design, technology and engineering.
8. What do you believe to be your strongest flying skill?
Patience.
9. What do you believe to be your weak link?
Being reluctant to keep pushing on, slow speed to fly.
10. What equipment do you use, Harness, Instruments, etc?
Glider: Niviuk IcePeak 8
Harness: Advance Impress 3
Instruments: Flymaster B1 NAV, KOBO XC Soar, SPOT
Reserves: Beamer 3 Light, Supair X-tralite
Radio: ICOM 41s
11. Best comp task you’ve flown so far, the most memorable?
Disentis (Switzerland), last task of pre-PWC 2014. Flying at 3,700 m over the high alpine mountains, crossing the valleys, flying next to the sheer rock faces, flying over the snow covered areas in the middle of European summer, the view was just breathtaking. Being up there in the cloud base overlooking North Alps on one side and South Alps on the other with snow covered peaks. I was just sitting there thinking how amazing this paragliding is and how lucky we are to be able to experience something like this. I still remember wishing that everybody could do this and experience this amazing feeling of flying high over the European Alps. And to top it up I’ve made a goal.
12. Why do you fly?
The feeling of freedom while flying like a bird, climbing up in the thermal all the way to the cloud base, the view from up there is just spectacular. It’s pretty magical what can be done with piece of fabric and few lines.
13. What are your personal flying goals?
Fly from Beechmont to Manilla and have a dinner and cold beer with Godfrey Wenness.
14. What tips can you give to newcomers to the sport?
Practice, practice, practise. As a new pilot, concentrate on the airtime not the distance. Talk to the experienced guys. In your early days do the comps for the right reasons that is to learn and have fun not to win. Do the SIV and keep it current. Mistakes are your greatest opportunity to learn, found out the way to appreciate them.