SAFA Skysailor Magazine

SKY SAILOR 3 July | August 2020 T ribal Flight was first established in 2005 as an online website to promote the sport of paragliding and paramotoring. Working with local instructors, they wanted to create a friendlier, safer environment, while also making it more accessible for students from the western region of Queensland. “I started flying hang gliders in 1989, but now fly paragliders, powered and wheel powered PG. Our training areas are mostly in the Lockyer Valley as it is one of the most amazing places to fly, with the most flyable days of anywhere I know,” he said. “The reliable conditions allow us to fly most days, the weather forecasting being very predictable. Our main facilities are part of the local club ‘Surf ’n’ Turf Flyers’ and the landowner, Daniel Hutchins, play an integral roll in growing the sport. The manicured turf farm really spoils our students, the wide-open spaces help provide a safe training environment. The fact that Daniel Hutchins and his family offer their land for our use has made paragliding and paramotoring so much more available to many, which has enabled our sport to grow. Every flight is different, but being able to give students the experience of the views that the birds take for granted is a special feeling.” Tribal Flight started with a German pilot describ- ing nine pilots ridge soaring at a very small site as ‘a tribe of them flying’. He later talked Matt into stocking some products he was involved with and the Tribal Flight website took off. The school concentrates on instruction in para- gliding, paramotoring and wheelbase, developing the right course and equipment for their students. “Tribal Flight’s involvement with Bob Bauer and Discovery Paramotors has been an amazing journey. Getting a chance to R&D, test fly and manufacture our own brand with one if the nicest fellas in the sport has been life changing,” said Matt. “It’s been really amazing to build a network, a tribe of pilots, globally who are highly regarded in the industry.” Matt, who has also flown the Morning Glory, said that he has more exciting plans for the flying school as well as expanding the PPG scene in Australia. “The wings are getting better and better every year with increased safety making the sport more accessible,” he said. “The inception of some smart equipment and di- versification in training methods has allowed a lot more people to fly. The growing PPG scene will see pilots having to deal with more complaints from the public and having to find more places to fly. “The Covid virus stopped our plans for a bigger trip early this year, but we will wait and see where we are in September. Maybe we’ll have to resume with shorter adventures to some planned locations if Covid is limiting our travels.” A tribe of us flying Taking a bird’s eye view of the world is the very reason Toowoomba pilot, Matt Fox first took flight, and inspiring others to see the world from the same vantage point is his number one passion.