Paragliders rule the skies at world's oldest free flight festival

26 Sept 2016 10:17 AM IST

Thousands are gliding through the French apls at the festival.

Hang gliders, paragliders, acrobatic sailplanes and hot air balloons from around the world gathered for the Icarus Cup (Photo: AP)
Kitted out like a dragon, a trumpet, or a car, some participants are aiming for victory at a costume contest (Photo: AP)
Paragliders perform synchronise aerobatic flight during the 43rd Icare Cup paragliding festival (Photo: AP)
Swiss pilot Yves Rossy, known as 'Jetman,' the first man in the world to fly a jet-fitted wing, thrilled the audience (Photo: AP)
The \"Coupe Icare\" dedicated to free flight, orchestrates all the various types of flying such as hang gliding, paragliding and acrobatic sailplaneing (Photo: AP)
Emergency services are on hand in case of accidents - and to watch out for suspicious packages (Photo: AP)
Motorized paragliders will race in an airborne slalom in one of the festival's events (Photo: AP)
They were celebrating its 43rd edition on the slopes of Saint Hilaire du Touvet (Photo: AP)

Hang gliders, paragliders, acrobatic sailplanes and hot air balloons from around the world gathered for the Icarus Cup (Photo: AP)

Thousands are gliding through the French apls at the festival.