Spanish acro pilot Horacio Llorens takes paragliding to the next level by flying beneath the Northern Lights, creating a visually breathtaking and unforgettable adventure in Arctic Norway.
Paragliding Through the Aurora: Horacio Llorens’ Unforgettable Flight Under the Northern Lights
Witnessing the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, is a dream for many, but for Spanish acrobatic paraglider Horacio Llorens, it was more than just a dream—it became an airborne reality. In one of the most surreal and awe-inspiring adventures of his career, Llorens soared through Arctic skies illuminated by shimmering green light, creating a moment few will ever experience.
“The Northern Lights have fascinated humans for millennia. People used to believe it was magic,” Llorens told Red Bull. “When you look up, it feels like they’re right in front of you—just a few hundred meters away. But they’re actually 15,000 meters above your head.”
Launching near Tromsø, Norway, Llorens had to contend with punishing -15°C temperatures on the ground. Dressed in a wetsuit designed to protect against freezing water and wearing battery-heated gloves, he strapped himself into a paramotor and ascended into the Arctic night, aiming to fly among the celestial waves of the Aurora.
The flight wasn’t easy. Cold-weather paragliding poses significant risks. Llorens needed a powerful engine to both lift him high and give him control in unpredictable conditions. “I made sure to use a strong paramotor—200cc—to help me climb or get out of trouble fast,” he explained.
Safety was paramount. Since most of his route passed over frigid water, the wetsuit could buy him up to 20 minutes for rescue in case of emergency—much more than the two or three minutes he’d have without it. His gloves weren’t just for comfort; they were essential for maintaining the precise hand movements needed to operate the throttle. To make his flight visible for filming anThe flight required careful preparation, including government approval from Sweden, but in the end, everything aligned. What followed was a stunning visual feat—a lone paraglider dancing among the Northern Lights.
Looking back, Llorens called it one of the most extraordinary adventures of his already thrill-filled career. “It was pure magic,” he said. “A once-in-a-lifetime moment that I’ll carry with me forever.”
