Parahawking

Parahawking refers to the combination of paragliding and falconry. These birds of prey are trained by a falconer to fly together with paragliders. Both make use of the natural sources of thermal updraft.

Paragliding, hang - gliders and pilots have reported frequently on joint flights with wild raptors. But these are almost always random encounters and usually last only a few minutes. When Parahawking "his" pilot accompanies the bird often for several hours. And often flies on the side with a distance of a few meters.

History

Known for its many spectacular activities was the Italians Angelo d' Arrigio from Catania in Sicily, who flew with self -reared birds of prey kite and paraglider starting around 2001. The Englishman Scott Mason also leads since around 2001 in Nepal flights with self -reared vultures through. In Denmark, Louise Crandal moved in 2005 to a steppe eagle and flew with him.

In Europe, the Lenggrieser Falkner Paul Air is currently the only one who professionally performs this and goes out with his own birds into the air. Since the acquisition of his airplane ticket 2008, he trained some of his birds of prey specifically designed to accompany him in the air. Since late 2009, a golden eagle, red kite and a few hawks are trained to follow their falconers in the air. Supported by his team and the flight instructor and photographer Helmut Achatz succeeds now to let the Raptors end up alternately at two in the air umbrellas. Thermal flying with the eagles or Milan over several hours could already be done. It is possible to go as a passenger on a tandem paraglider with the big birds together in the air.

As a special highlight some birds are trained with a Full HD camera to fly on the back. This enables unique film footage in broadcast quality. Corresponding film productions are currently in the making and the first to show the perspective of " eagle-eyed " from the air. TV programs about and with trained birds of prey ran in different TV channels.