This article discusses the sport of
paragliding in
Armenia
Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ''Ox ...
.
History
First flights were held by the members of “Small Aviation Club of Armenia” in 1996. ''Armenian Paragliding Sport Federation'' was founded in 2008. Paragliding has been taking up popularity in
Armenia
Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ''Ox ...
since then.
Currently ''AERO CLUB Armenia''
and ''Sky club''
are most active.
In 2015 and 2016 Russian Open Cup was carried out in Armenia and qualified as pre-world cup competition.
Armenian pilots often keep in touch via their Facebook group.
Weather
Country has favorable landscape and weather conditions for both cross-country and tandem flights. With some 300 sunny days per year and diverse micro-climate regions tourists have good chances to catch good flyable weather conditions.
Flying season in Armenia is quite long with most flights being taken between May and November.
Launch spots
Main launch spots are:
* Hatis mountain near city of
Abovyan
* Teghenis mountain
* hills in the area of
Aparan
Aparan (Armenian: ), is a town and urban municipal community in Armenia, located in the Aragatsotn Province, about 50 kilometers northwest of the capital Yerevan. As of the 2011 census, the population of the town was 6,451. As per the 2016 offic ...
town
* hills near town of
Vedi
Vedi ( hy, Վեդի), is a town and urban municipal community in the Ararat Province of Armenia, located along the Vedi River, south of the capital Yerevan, and southeast of the provincial centre Artashat. According to the 2011 census, the pop ...
* hills close to
Tsovagyugh village, near
Lake Sevan.
All of above mentioned are accessible by car and except for Tsovagyugh site are good for cross-country flights.
Armenian pilots often hike and fly also from other mountains (e.g. Armaghan, Arteni and Artanish) too.
Further launch spots are hills above village of
Yenokavan and Mount
Gutan (Guthanasar).
Tandem flights
Experienced trainers offer paragliding courses and tandem flights.
Since 2017 paramotor courses and tandem flights are offered too.
Tandem flights are mostly offered at launch spots near
Tsovaghugh at lake Sevan and Mount Hatis close to Yerevan. Depending on the weather conditions the duration of tandem flights can up to 20 minutes.
There is a hostel "Glide" in Yerevan, where foreign pilots come together and where the owner is a paragliding pilot.
Practical use
In Armenia paramotor flights are helping out in archeological surveys.
See also
*
Tourism in Armenia
Tourism in Armenia has been a key sector to the Armenian economy since the 1990s when tourist numbers exceeded half a million people visiting the country every year (mostly ethnic Armenians from the Diaspora). The Armenian Ministry of Economy repo ...
*
Geography of Armenia
Armenia is a landlocked country in West Asia, situated in the Transcaucasus region of the South Caucasus, bordered on the north and east by Georgia and Azerbaijan and on the south and west by Iran, Azerbaijan's exclave Nakhchivan, and Turkey.
...
*
Mountains of Armenia A view of Mount Aragats.
Armenia a land of rugged mountains and extinct volcanoes, its highest point is Mount Aragats, 13,435 ft (4,095 m).
Mountain ranges
# Javakheti mountain range
# Armeno-Georgian mountain range
# Bazum mountain range, sp ...
References
{{Reflist
Paragliding