BIF is the birders acronym for Birds in Flight. It is a desired shot by many a bird photographer. Flying on non-conventional aircraft has always been (and still is), in my bucket list. Am not really that interested in para sailing or similar activities because what I really wanted was to take in the scenery and take photos. A hot air balloon, a chopper, or one of those early planes (think Wright Brothers), is more preferable. When the Helicopter Tours opened in Coron in 2018, I made sure to try it. I was able to take photos but the glass window created reflection which ruined many of the photos.
Then sometime in 2019, a new tour service was launched in Coron that got me really excited. This was the Coron Ultralight Plane. The aircraft to be used didn't have any walls or glass windows (so no reflection) and it was going to fly at a lower altitude than the chopper. For photography, this was a better set up. I was looking forward to trying and was already dreaming of flying over Coron Island, and other areas. However, a delay in their permitting documents prevented full commercial operations. Then Covid arrived and forced everything related to tourism to shut down. I did have an invitation from Eric Tan, the man behind this endeavor, to join one of the test flights. But our schedules never meshed.
A photo I took in 2019 when we attended the blessing of the facilities at Pali Airstrip
Fast forward to September 2022. Eric briefly considered restarting the business and did some trial flights and he asked if I wanted to join one. But of course!!! So on September 28, 2022, (yes, I know this post is nearly a year delayed!), I went to the airfield in Sitio Pali, Bgy Poblacion 6, to take flight.
At the Pali Airstrip
Our flight path took us over the Dipulao area, then over Uson Island near the area of Royal Island, followed by several rounds around the town, then we swung over the Lajala, Siete Pecados, and Balisungan areas. I wanted to fly over Coron Island, specifically, Twin Lagoon, Kayangan, and Barracuda, but we ran low of fuel. Hopefully I get another chance. Sharing some of the photos I was able to take (this is in the same sequence that I shot them)
Dipulao area showing TAG Resort, parts of Fernvale, PSU, the National Highway. Upper right corner shows the future site of the Public Market and where the Municipal Evacuation Center stands. Lower right corner shows the roof of the Coliseum under construction and a portion of the mountain that was quarried and used for reclamation. The upper portion of the photo shows the part of the bay in Dipulao/Pinamalayan
A houseboat somewhere near Malpok, if my bearings were correct
Portions of Bgy Poblacion 1 & 2.
A portion of Bgy Tagumpay. Photo shows Two Seasons Bayside Hotel, Sunlight Hotel, Tagumpay Elem School.
Bgy Poblacion 1, specifically the area where Darayonan is. Can you see it?
The first phase of the reclamation.
CYC Beach/island
Balinsasayaw Reef
Siete Pecados Marine Protected Area
The summit of Mt Tundarala. We were somewhere over Balisungan when I took this shot.
When the aircraft turned, I caught a glimpse of the town from somewhere over Mt Tapyas. The photo shows a big portion of the second phase of the reclamation.
As the aircraft turned, Eric spotted a small tuft of cloud and decided to fly right through it.
About to enter the cloud (photo was taken by a Go Pro attached to the wing support of the aircraft.
Inside the cloud, ang lamig! Brrrr....
Emerging from the cloud, sarap!
Eric gave me a you tube video of the test flights they did last year. Unfortunately, I couldn't load said video in this platform. To view, copy and paste the link to your browser. My flight is at the 2:50 mark, if you want to forward the video.
Overall, it was an exhilirating experience that I would surely want to to again. I still want to fly over Coron Island and see the all the lakes and lagoons from the air. A flight over Mt Tundarala is also on my list. Looking forward to the day that Coron Ultralight will be fully and regularly operating.
Thank you for this experience Mr Eric Tan!
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