IDNtribune.com – Picture this: dozens of colorful paragliders dancing in the sky, with a vast expanse of blue ocean beneath them as far as the eye can see. On either side, clay-soiled hills stretch out. The sensation is nothing short of extraordinary.

Lombok, in West Nusa Tenggara, renowned for its stunning natural beauty, now offers an unforgettable aerial tourism experience through tandem paragliding over the skies of Skylancing.

Unlike traditional beach outings, lake visits, or mountain forest hikes, tandem paragliding allows you to enjoy God’s magnificent creations from breathtaking heights.

What is Tandem Paragliding?

Tandem paragliding is a method where two people fly together using one large parachute. An experienced pilot controls the parachute, while the passenger, who usually has no flying experience, enjoys the thrill of the flight safely and comfortably. This allows anyone, including beginners, to experience the freedom of flying without intensive training. You can feel the sensation of being a paragliding co-pilot in a safe and comfortable manner.

Aerial Tourism Sensation at Skylancing Lombok

Skylancing Lombok is one of the best places in Indonesia to experience tandem paragliding. This location offers incredibly beautiful natural scenery with a vast blue ocean, green hills, and clear skies. From the heights, you can see the stunning panorama of Lombok, feel the refreshing breeze, and enjoy tranquil moments that can only be found in the air.

Flying over Skylancing gives you spectacular views of the blue ocean and mesmerizing clay-soiled hills. The colorful parachutes decorating the sky enhance the beauty of the scenery.

With guidance from experienced pilots, tandem paragliding becomes a safe activity for anyone. The equipment used also adheres to international safety standards.

Tandem flying also gives you the opportunity to take amazing photos from high above, creating memories that will last forever. The allure of paragliding in Lombok is recognized by both local and international tourists.

Group Captain Veerayuth Didyasarin, a former member of The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), acknowledged the superiority of paragliding in Skylancing, Lombok. According to him, among all the places he has visited, Lombok offers spectacular charm.

“Beautiful nature combined with enjoyable paragliding is simply spectacular,” he said to Times Indonesia on Thursday (July 11, 2024), at the Paragliding Accuracy World Cup (PGAWC) 2024 arena, SkyLancing, Central Lombok, NTB.

Uglesa Jondsic, a paragliding pilot from Serbia, Southeast Europe, shared the same sentiment.

“This is my third time coming to Lombok, and now to SkyLancing. I admit this is the best place in my flying experience. The stable wind speed and beautiful natural scenery are truly extraordinary,” said Jondsic, who is one of the judges at the PGAWC 2024.

To enjoy tandem paragliding, you can spend between Rp600,000 to Rp1 million. It’s a fair price for a safe, comfortable aerial tourism experience offering breathtaking natural vistas.

So, if you’re curious, this is definitely something to try. Don’t worry about safety, as tandem pilots are certified. Not just any paragliding pilot can take a tandem flight; they must be certified.

“Don’t worry, we apply strict safety standards here. Not just anyone can take a tandem flight. We must have licenses through intensive training,” said Rizky Dharmawan, a tandem pilot at SkyLancing.

The History of Paragliding in Indonesia

After being introduced globally in the 1960s and 1970s from the development of freefall parachutes, this extreme sport began spreading worldwide. In Indonesia, it was introduced in the late 1980s or early 1990s.

In 1988, a French photographer sent a Paragliding Parachute to Lody Korua as a reward for accompanying the French Expedition Team to Seram Island. After being stored for a long time, the parachute was lent to (the late) Dudy Arief Wahyudi, who then took it to Yogyakarta.

Armed with this parachute, (the late) Dudy and Gendon Subandono tried it autodidactically, studying the manual book, marking the development of paragliding in Indonesia. The Drakkar Everest parachute became the first parachute used for many to learn.

Initially, paragliding was known as mountain jumping. The Merapi Mountain Jump Group founded in Yogyakarta marked the presence of this aeronautical sport community. Another French tourist, Bernard Fode (the late), settled in Bali in 1990 and started paragliding activities at Timbis Beach, Bali.

In the early 1990s, paragliding began gaining wider attention. High-potential flying locations like Puncak, Mount Salak, and Batu became favorite spots for paragliding enthusiasts. The Indonesian Paragliding Association (API) was formed to regulate and promote this sport in Indonesia.

Since then, many paragliding clubs have emerged in various regions, and Indonesia started sending athletes to international competitions. Indonesian paragliding also became known for its breathtaking natural beauty, attracting many paragliding pilots from around the world to fly here. One of the launch sites that later hosted world championships is SkyLancing Lombok.

Today, paragliding in Indonesia has developed rapidly since its introduction in the early 1990s. With various stunning flying locations and a growing community, paragliding has become one of the favorite aeronautical sports in Indonesia. Tandem flying plays a crucial role in introducing paragliding to the wider public and providing a safe and enjoyable flying experience.