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With granite slabs the size of Texas jutting straight up out of the ground, it was a challenge just to keep the car on the road as we manuevered to the helicopter pad for our first scouting flight in the Dolomites of Italy.

Tucked into the northeast corner of the country, the area is a favorite of Italian tourists and extreme sports fanatics alike. And for good reason. The lighting, terrain, and obstacles in the Dolomites create appealing challenges for hikers, backpackers, skiers, climbers - and, of course, the PD Factory Team.

Scouting for expedition flights is like planning for your life - because that's exactly what you are doing. How to plan a flight over jagged peaks, across rocky canyons, into deep crevasses, and around snow-covered tree tops and boulders big enough to stop a tank is no small feat. It takes a birds-eye view from the helicopter to seek out appropriate flight paths. Three dimensional topographical maps help us visualize the routes worth flying. But equally important is the topography of the landing zones. And the only way to see that is the hard way: walking, climbing and scrambling through passes and valleys. As we swoop across the landscape at 60 mph+ only 5-10 feet off the deck, we're seeking the landing areas that we collectively committed to; areas as big as a football field or sometimes as small as a backyard.

The big lessons are in proper planning. Exceeding landing speeds, being a few degrees off heading, or a couple of meters off target can force a bailout or crash while avoiding boulders, forests, and granite walls. Crash we did, some smarter than others. Wrenched shoulders and a cracked rib are painful lessons in pushing the envelope.

"Think of the danger while things are going smoothly." That was the message from a fortune cookie I opened only days before embarking on the expedition... Coincidence, maybe. Important lesson learned, definitely. - Jonathan Tagle

Here are some shots to enjoy as we begin seeking out the unchartered possibilities of human flight.

The PD Factory Team would like to thank Emanuele Bielli from 90 Percent Magazine, Florian Hofer, Ascan and Prisca di Trockner, and Mirco, Gabriel and the rest of the flight crew at Elikos Helicopter Services.

The PD Factory Team would also like to extend a special "Thank You" to Carey Whitley of Sky Systems USA, Nancy Tremblay of Ouragan Suits, Martin Tilley of Asylum Designs, and Jon Devore and Jenn Drews of Rare Dynamic, for going beyond the call of duty to help us prepare for our expeditions to France and Italy. These expeditions often require specialized equipment for extreme environments. Each of these individuals and their companies came through for us in the clutch to ensure that we were properly equipped, enabling us to be completely confident in our gear and focused on our mission.

Thanks for your support.

Up and coming swoopers listened intently to PD Factory Team member, Jay Moledzki, as he shared his canopy piloting skills at the recent CPC meet in Sebastian, Florida. The group consisted of 15 of the south's most active, amateur competition pilots. Since the meet was not held over a pond, Moledzki focused his coaching on safety considerations for each of the three events; Speed, Distance and Accuracy.

The persistent winds in Sebastian made for a challenging day, but also inspired many to rise to the occasion and show that a little wind couldn't stop them. By the day's end, all six rounds were completed with no injuries to report. The results...

1st - John Zuliani (Velocity)
2nd - Tom Dellibac (VX)
3rd - Keith McBeth (Velocity)

This was the second event this year to use the new "weight control" system, which was implemented primarily for safety. The new system seems to have the approval of the competitors and the judges.

Congratulations to all the participants (95% of life is showing up) and thanks to PD, Skydive Sebatian, the judges and most of all Chris Hayes for organizing the event.

The PD Factory Team will be sending out several newsletters to recap our adventures in Europe during the summer of 2006. All the highlights and competition results will be posted in the following issues of the PD Factory Team Newsletter.