'Fast' is Relative

ANN Correspondent John Ballantyne has let us know that powered paragliders are getting faster all the time. Now, it's quite likely that one has broken the elusive "25 mph barrier." The 36-year-old Marentic [or Marentie], who has been flying PPGs since just 2000, first claimed fame by winning the Slovakian national PPG championships in 2001, and hasn't looked back since.

FAI has received the following Class R (Microlights) record claim:

• Claim number 7884:
• Sub-class RPF1 (Microlights: Paraglider Control / Foot-launched / Flown with one pilot)
• Type of record: Speed over a straight 15/25 km course
• Course/location: Moravske Toplice (Slovenia)
• Performance: 40.46 km/h
• Pilot: Igor MARENTIC (Slovenia)
• Powered Paraglider: Airsystems Swing Arcus L [canopy] & Solo 220 [engine]
• Date: 08.08.2003
• Current record: NEW

The FAI notes:

The details shown above are provisional. When all the evidence required has been received and checked, the exact figures will be established and the record ratified (if appropriate).

That's not bad, for something that's powered by an engine about the size of a cell phone.

[Rumors that this settled a bar bet with a kid on a pogo stick are not confirmed --ed.]

FMI: www.fai.org/records