Deepest paramotoring (PPG) flight -Adi Buzan and Ionut Rites sets world record

SLANIC PRAHOVA, Romania -- Masters of sport, Adi Buzan and Ionut Rites flied by paramotor (PPG) in the mine Mihai of Slanic Prahova, at 140 meters depth, in a closed space-setting the world record for the deepest paramotoring (PPG) flight.

Ionut Rites says: “The flights took place normally, without incidents, these having the duration of some tenths of seconds, the flight duration being conditioned by the saline length.” (enlarge photo)
Adi Buzan: “The sensation lived by the sportsmen was the one of butterfly that flies in a jar without touching its walls. As well, another sensation was the one that the flight would have developed in a cathedral, sensation owed to the magnificent aspect of the saline and also to the sound reverberation generated by the engine.”

“The flight was a difficult one, especially for the saline width, moto-parapanta (a flight device for diving from a small height, a slope) having about 1/3 of the saline width), for the existing cables (seen from below but invisible during the flight), as well as the lack of air currents (of front wind), necessary for a safe and short take-off.”

Ionut Rites is 34 years old; he has 12 titles of national champion at parachutism and two world records: the millennium jump and the one from the time of the total eclipse in 1999.

Adi Buzan, the one who had the idea of setting this new world record for the deepest paramotoring (PPG) flight in saline, was a parachute testing pilot for 16 years.

Slanic Prahova saline is the biggest in Europe, but the "Mihai" hall – where the flights were realized, has only 35 m width, 80 meters height and 300 m length. The Old Mine is open to the public now, being used as a spa, amusement center and museum of the salt mining industry.
International contests of Indoor Model Aircraft Flying (Modellism) take place annually in the upper level (Mina Mihai) of the Old Mine.

Paramotor is a generic name for the propulsive portion of a powered paraglider ("PPG"). It consists of a frame that combines the motor, propeller, harness (with integrated seat) and cage. It provides two attachment points for the risers of a paraglider wing that allows for powered flight.

Pilots who fly these engage in paramotoring, also known as powered paragliding.

Powered paragliding, also known as paramotoring, is a form of ultralight aviation where the pilot wears a motor on his or her back (a paramotor) which provides enough thrust to take off using a paraglider wing. It can be launched in still air, and on level ground, by the pilot alone — no assistance is required.

In many countries, including the United States, powered paragliding is minimally regulated and requires no license. The ability to fly both low and slow safely, the 'open' feel, the low equipment and maintenance costs, and the portability are claimed to be this type of flying's greatest merits.