A flight over Kitzbühel’s local mountain
In winter, one of the world’s most famous ski runs winds its way down the Hahnenkamm; in summer, it becomes a popular hiking trail. For those who wish to view it from the air on a clear summer’s day, there is a third option: a tandem flight.
Before take-off, an experienced tandem pilot gives a briefing – brief, calm and professional. The tandem harness is surprisingly easy to put on and sits comfortably. Whilst the pilot carefully spreads the roughly 40-square-metre canopy out on the meadow, spectators gather all around. Some pull out their mobile phones, others simply stand and watch. It is clear to see on the faces of one or two of them: they would swap places in a heartbeat.
High above Kitzbühel
At the pilot’s command, we’re off: a few quick steps down the slope, the glider tightens, catches the wind – and suddenly your feet are off the ground. Take-off is that unspectacular, that quick. A few seconds later, the mountain station is already a good distance below you.
Today the thermals are ideal – perfect conditions for staying aloft for a long time. For anyone who doesn’t know: thermals are updrafts that form when the sun heats the ground and the warm air rises. It is precisely these invisible columns that carry the glider higher and higher, rather than simply letting it glide down into the valley. You float weightlessly above the Hahnenkamm, whilst the landscape spreads out beneath you in all its splendour – a sight that leaves you speechless. Kitzbühel lies far below, looking tiny, and the view stretches all the way to the horizon.
What surprises many is that the wind feels much gentler up there than one would expect from the ground. In summer, you can usually leave your jacket in the car with confidence – even high above Kitzbühel it remains pleasantly warm, and the sun does the rest. All you hear is the soft creaking of the lines and, now and then, a word from the pilot behind you; otherwise, it is astonishingly quiet.
Then he announces a right-hand turn. The glider tilts to one side, the horizon shifts away, and for a moment your stomach speaks up – a bit like on a rollercoaster, only without the tracks. If you fancy it, you can have a few tighter turns afterwards. The selfie stick, which the pilot pulls out in every flight position, captures the moment: once from the front, once from the side, once with the valley basin in the background. You can take the photos home with you after landing for a small fee.
The landing
As we approach the landing site – often the Mockingwiese – the pilot gives the final instruction: keep your feet stretched out, stay seated; nobody needs to do anything. The paraglider touches down surprisingly gently, a few steps to coast to a halt, and that’s it. Whilst the pilot is already on his way back up the mountain, where the next guest is already waiting, your own pulse remains a little higher than usual for a while. What remains is gratitude – and the feeling of having seen Kitzbühel from a perspective that nobody will forget in a hurry.
Safe in the air
As relaxed as flying looks from the outside – there’s a long and intensive training programme behind it. Before a tandem pilot is allowed to take guests up, they must complete more than 200 tandem flights and undergo years of training. Those who simply wish to fly on their own, however, can take to the skies more quickly: around 40 flights plus the relevant training are sufficient to obtain a paragliding licence. The nearest flying schools are located in Westendorf and Kössen. Incidentally, tandem flights are offered all year round, in summer and winter alike – regular maintenance of the wings takes place behind the scenes without interruption.
