The site is ideal for unpowered flight; the prevailing wind sweeping across the plain from the west forms an updraft when it hits the mountains, making the ridge ideal for launching gliders. The open expanse of fields, heated by the sun, creates strong thermals--currents of rising hot air--which experienced glider pilots use to reach heights of up to 1,500 meters. On a good day, it's not unusual to see pilots work their way rapidly up to the cloud base.
In fact, Saichia is not only the best gliding site in Taiwan, it's also rated by experienced flyers as one of the best in Asia. Both local and visiting foreign pilots rave about its reliable flying conditions and lack of obstacles such as power lines and buildings.
The scenery is another draw to visitors. The launch site, at 413 meters above sea level, offers a panoramic view across the Pingtung plain. Two large rivers snake across the flatlands, cutting through the vivid green groves of mango trees and betelnut palms--the two main crops of the area.
The air sports park was created by the Pingtung county government in 1987. Although a few adventurous pilots had discovered the site and had been launching off the Saichia ridge before this, the local authorities had the foresight to realize the potential for sports-orientated tourism previously untapped in Taiwan.
An International Attraction
Along with the Taiwan-based pilots who trek from all over the island to fly at the site, gliding enthusiasts from all over the world are coming to Saichia as it becomes better known. Some Hong Kong residents, with only limited places to fly at home, make day trips to the site; flying into Kaohsiung airport, they reckon they can be gliding within three hours of leaving home.
Tourists from Taiwan's second largest city, Kaohsiung, 50 kilometers to the west, also flock out to the area on weekends. The launch and landing sites are popular picnic areas for spectators, and a gaggle of vendors selling food and drinks set up stalls at both places.
The sports park itself consists of three main facilities: The launch site on top of a ridge on the edge of the mountain range, a landing zone about 2,000 meters to the west on the plain, and an office-accommodation-resort complex at the foot of the mountains called Saichia Paradise.
The launch site has a large car park, toilet facilities, and a small temple where pilots can pray for safe flights or new altitude records. Gliders are launched from an asphalt apron which allows room for up to three simultaneous takeoffs and is equipped with a windsock. Ropes are laid down the mountainside to facilitate the rescue of those who fluff their takeoffs and land in the trees on the slope.
The landing zone is one of the features most remarked upon by visiting pilots. Those used to urban Taiwan's scarcity of real estate are surprised that an area about the size of two football fields is designated purely as a place to land gliders. The grass area is very difficult to miss from the air, although novice pilots still sometimes manage to land in the short mango trees surrounding the field. Being a rural area, there are also plenty of alternative places to land in the event of a problem.
The Saichia Paradise resort was purpose-built for visiting pilots, although many ordinary tourists stay in the complex or use its camping and barbecue facilities. The main building is designed in the shape of a hang glider when viewed from above and serves as headquarters and control center when competitions are held at the site. The complex has both dormitories and several air conditioned semi-private rooms, with accommodation starting from NT$200 per night. The center is often full during summer weekends, though, as high schools and colleges take groups of students to stay there while on field trips.
The nearest village to the air park is Santimen, a relatively unspoiled aborigine settlement whose residents belong to the Paiwan tribe. A few kilometers down the road is the larger village of Shuimen, where reasonably priced hotel accommodation is available. In fact, many pilots choose to stay in this pleasant little town, as it boasts a large number of restaurants and convenience stores and is an ideal place to stock up on supplies. Just outside Shuimen is the Machia Aboriginal Culture Park, a tourist attraction which features displays of aboriginal culture and dance shows.
To Soar With Eagles
Near the park are two ultralight aircraft landing strips. From here, local pilots give pleasure flights in their lightweight airplanes powered by small two-stroke engines. These trips start from about NT$800 for a short flight; the pilots will even take up sky divers for NT$1,200 although the little planes can reach only around 4,000 feet.
But the main focus of the air sports park is unpowered flight. Two types of aircraft are used: hang gliders and paragliders. A hang glider consists of a fabric wing stretched across a delta-shaped tubular frame. It is controlled by pulling and pushing on a control bar which hangs in front of the pilot.
A paraglider is basically a parachute, but instead of opening the canopy after jumping out of an airplane, the pilot gets the chute inflated in the wind and then runs off a mountain. Paragliders are controlled by pulling on handles attached to lines which pull down the trailing edges of the canopy and turn the glider left or right.
Hang gliders are faster and more maneuverable than paragliders, but have to be transported on the roof of a car, paragliders fold up into medium-sized backpacks and are far more convenient.
But whatever type of aircraft is used, leaping off the mountain ridge is a daunting prospect. This doesn't prevent hundreds of people trying the sport every year, though. Local schools arrange tandem paraglider flights for visitors interested in sampling a glide or just seeking thrills. Groups from clubs and organizations all over the island regularly come to Saichia, and their members take turns making short flights with qualified instructors.
These flights are organized by local gliding schools, one of which is run by Kaohsiung resident Bob Chavez. He originally trained at the U.S. Special Forces parachute school and served in Vietnam before retiring in Taiwan, and so is well qualified to talk about gliding. He says that the sport is very safe as long as pilots have proper training and take necessary precautions.
One of the most important precautions is to keep an eye on the weather. Being unpowered and relatively flimsy, gliders have to avoid rough winds like the plague. Some pilots get so wrapped up in the enjoyment of flying, though, that they miss the signs of approaching trouble.
Chavez tells how he was at the landing zone one day when he spotted a paraglider pilot flying alone with a squall approaching him. The pilot tried to spiral down in a series of 360 degree turns but the vortex caused by air being pushed upwards in front of the squall was too strong and he was sucked up into the storm and disappeared. Two hours later, the storm spat out the glider and its pilot--miraculously, still flying--over Pingtung city, more than 30 kilometers away. When Chavez talked to him later, the pilot described conditions inside the storm as incredibly violent, with the canopy constantly collapsing and re-inflating as pilot and glider where subjected to a series of express elevator rides up and down inside the storm cell.
Another young pilot, who insisted on taking off even as lightning was flickering across the plain (he said he wanted to dry his canopy from an earlier wet flight), was immediately sucked into a vortex. He landed several hours later with his clothes frozen solid, so high had the storm taken him.
But with care, most glider flights are not only safe but also serene experiences. Swooping on currents of air hundreds of feet above spectacular scenery with only the gentle sound of the wind in the rigging lines must be one of the best ways to relax after the hectic bustle of metropolitan Taiwan. But even for non-flyers, this uncrowded area with its friendly aboriginal inhabitants is one of the most pleasant places on the island.
Paragliding courses at Saichia start from NT$6,000 and are usually conducted on weekdays when the site is less crowded. Bob Chavez of the Blue Sky paragliding school is always happy to help both learners and experienced pilots who want to visit the site. The school also arranges tandem flights (with an instructor) for groups or individuals. Call or fax Blue Sky at (07) 731-3442.