Paragliders from around the world have been getting a birds-eye view of the region.
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The annual Manilla XC camp has attracted a record number of pilots with over 190 representing a record 18 nations taking to the skies.
The event, which caters for all levels of pilots, is the only “open distance” high level international paragliding competition, with pilots trying to fly as far as possible.
They use rising currents of warm air called “thermals” to provide lift to heights of up to 3000m, and by finding a number a number of thermals can fly long distances.
Romanian pilot Todor Dorobantu was the best of the first two days of the camp with a 201km flight.
Landing just after sunset on Sunday, after almost eight hours in the sky, Dorobantu’s journey took him from Mt Borah south over the Liverpool Ranges into the Hunter Valley and then east towards the Barrington Tops National Park.
Pilots flew in split directions with conditions in the air a mix between slow patient climbs to very strong elevators all the way to the cloudbase at 2800-3000m.
The most popular route was towards Manilla and Bendemeer and into the Northern Tablelands, with pilots taking advantage of a tail wind.
Others elected to go down past Lake Keepit and over the Breeza Plains.
Dorobantu was the only to fly more than 150km with Xavier Girin the next best with 149km.
Brandon O’Donnell was the best of the Australian competitors clocking a distance of 128km.
Saturday greeted pilots with morning winds swirling in the lower levels starting from north to north-west and then south-west with south-east winds up higher.
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Heading north towards Bingara, those who left early and were patient for the first hour were rewarded with classic conditions under some forming convergence clouds, with the top pilots ending up north of Warialda.
The later starters got caught in some light rain and could only manage 40-50kms.
Guilbert Stephan clocked the furthest distance of the day flying 164km. Behind him was a trio of Aussies: Airie Merlin (157km), Tim Marshall (151km) and Jan Bennewitz (140km).
The camp continues through to Saturday.
