My First Flight at 18: A Turning Point That Changed My Perspective on Life

On weekends, we often prefer to write short flash stories about people who, in our opinion, know how to live. Let’s not be misunderstood! Everyone lives in their own way, but Aleksandar Gačevski is one of the rare group of people who choose to inject a lot of adrenaline into their lives.

Aleksandar says that since the day he first started flying, things have changed. His first flight was at just 18 years old. Today, his biggest challenge is flying over terrains he has never visited before.

According to him, Macedonia is ideal for practicing and developing this sport. Plenty of sunshine, moderate winds, solid road infrastructure, and of course, beautiful landscapes.

The club 2Glide, in which Aleksandar is a member, organizes tandem paragliding flights from April to September. Anyone interested, whether an individual or a group, can sign up to experience Macedonia from above. Aleksandar says that the best days for flying are the days when you feel like doing it. Every season has its own advantages and disadvantages. However, he highly recommends flying with a paraglider from spring to autumn, when the days are long and the cumulus clouds are often high.

The flights organized by 2Glide are usually held at locations with the most suitable weather conditions, but also at locations of the tourist's choice, provided the weather allows it.

Aleksandar flies both alone and with others. When he's competing, he flies with many other pilots, which he finds quite inspiring. He says that the cross-country flights they do with the group are very interesting and exciting.

In his flying career, Aleksandar has gone through many interesting situations. He says they have organized birthday surprises and even proposals in the clouds. He adds that over many villages in Macedonia, children would watch him in awe, unsure of what was going on, but after landing, they would communicate with him from a distance.

For Aleksandar, this is a hobby, but considering the competitions he has participated in, it can also be said that it is a partial profession for him.

He has competed in many contests in Macedonia, as well as European championships and World Cups. He says that he has a desire to continue this trend in the coming years.