More than 100 multi-coloured paragliders filled the sky over Indonesia’s Bali island yesterday, as they set a new world record for the largest number of gliders flying at the same time.
They set off from rugged clifftops in the south of the resort island and flew high into the azure sky, floating over the sea, Hindu temples and red-roofed villages.
About 120 paragliders took part, more than the 99 involved in the previous world record, which was also set in Bali in 2009.“The site here is perfect, and the circumstances,” said Frits Brink, from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), the governing body for air sports, including paragliding.
“It’s a brilliant thing.”
Paragliding involves foot-launched gliders, with the pilot sitting in a harness attached to a wing usually made of fabric.
Paragliders don’t have engines but are still capable of flying over hundreds of kilometres for many hours, although shorter flights are more common.
The new record followed the FAI’s general conference this week in Bali.