Pal Takats is one of the most successful paraglider aerobatic (acro) pilots to have ever graced the sport. Born in Hungary in 1985 he started to fly paragliders aged just 16, By the age of 20 he had completed his first 100km cross country flight.

He quickly moved into flying aerobatics, and became a leading light in the quickly developing scene during the mid-2000s. He developed several new manoeuvres, including the Esfera, Misty to Heli, Cork, Joker and Booster. He was the first pilot to perform the extreme Infinite Tumble with a second pilot as passenger.

Also at home in the adventure racing scene, and competition XC world, he says the most appealing thing about paragliding is “the adventure”. 

Competition highlights in acro competition include silver medal in the Acrobatics World Cup in 2007 (solo and synchro), and silver medal in the Acrobatics World Cup 2010. He won gold in both solo and synchro in the Acrobatics World Cup 2011.

He also ranked number one in the Acrobatics World Ranking in 2011 and 2012. Outside acro, he has flown more than 300km in Chile, competed in two Red Bull X-Alps adventure races, and starred in and produced several films and documentaries about the sport.

Personal website
www.paltakats.com

Photo: Harald Tauderer