No. 362 JUNE 2019 The magazine of the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association2 SKYWINGS JUNE 2019 THE BHPA LTD 8 Merus Court, Meridian Business Park, Leicester LE19 1RJ. Tel: 0116 289 4316. Skywings magazine is published monthly by the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association Ltd to inform, educate and entertain those in the sports of Paragliding and Hang Gliding. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, their Council, Officers or Editor. The Editor and publisher accept no responsibility for any supposed defects in the goods, services and practices represented or advertised in this magazine. The Editor reserves the right to edit contributions. ISSN 0951-5712 SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DELIVERY ENQUIRIES Tel: 0116 289 4316, THE EDITOR Joe Schofield, 39 London Road, Harleston, Norfolk IP20 9BH. Tel: 01379 855021. COVER PHOTO Brian Cork flies Ozone’s Swift 5 at Ka’ena Point, Oahu, in the Hawaiian Islands. Photo: Jorge Atramiz THIS PAGE Warwick Lister-Kaye, high over the Red Cuillins on Skye this Spring – see Pilot Profile on P 14 Photo: Kieran Campbell DESIGN & PRODUCTION Fargher Design Ltd. Killane House, Ballaugh, Isle of Man, IM7 5BD. PRINT & DISTRIBUTION Newman Thomson Ltd, One Jubilee Rd, Victoria Ind. Est, Burgess Hill, RH15 9TL. ADVERTISING Tel: 07624 413737 SKYWINGS ONLINE Go issue enter the username Jun_2019 and the case-sensitive password %fsjVT8 For the July issue enter the username Jul_2019 and the case- sensitive password tu95#F3w DEADLINES News items and event/competition reports for the August 2019 issue must be submitted to the Skywings office by Monday July 1st. Letters for the July Airmail page should arrive no later than Monday June 17th. Advertisement bookings for the July edition must arrive by Tuesday June 11th. Copy and classified bookings no later than Tuesday June 18th. regulars regulars reviews features attitude 4 SKYWINGS JUNE 2019 If that is so, how is it that our club has suffered numerous incidents in the last year involving injuries, some of which could potentially have been life-changing? We have had pilots dragged across take-off areas where children and other members of the public are walking. Pilots have suffered collapses and violent reactions in rotor and been smashed into cliffs. Others have found themselves flying fast downwind between the cliff top and the beach, with only boulders or the sea to land in if they don’t find lift. Some have landed in bushes and briars. Others have put sites at risk by flying too close to the public or to nesting birds. Due to the unacceptable number of incidents, I would like to bring a number of issues to readers’ notice. • In our club (as with all others), we have pilots who have made thousands of take- offs and landings. This can make conditions appear much better than they usually are. • If you manage to launch in strong winds, are you sure you have the necessary skills to avoid being blown back into areas of rotor behind the cliffs? • The areas effected by rotor move around depending on wind speed and direction. • The cliffs are constantly changing due to coastal erosion. This alters the locations where turbulence from spurs running down the cliff is formed, and can change the place where take-offs and landings are safest. • You need speed when launching from the cliff to avoid a loss of height just after take-off. • All sites have their own set of rules and guidance should be sought. For example, the beach at one part of the coast we fly from is used on a regular basis for exploding bombs. Another is an important bird sanctuary which at certain times should be avoided. As rescue helicopters often use coastal sites for training, the Coastguard need to be notified of every occasion that we are flying the coast. • Clubs have experienced coaches who are willing to help. Please use them. I am sorry if those involved feel uncomfortable reading this, but I thank those who have been honest with themselves, and us, about why things might have gone so wrong. I find it hard to accept that visiting pilots will spend thousands on equipment, and large amounts on fuel, but don’t want to part with a few quid to access the wealth of information available, and to avoid unwanted conflicts at sites where landowners insist on flyers being club members. We want to encourage the use of our sites, while constantly been mindful of the safety of both pilots and members of the public. Please help us to help you. The Sir George Cayley Sailwing Club charges just £15 for the first year’s membership, and £10 thereafter. Please do us the courtesy of joining before you arrive, and access the wealth of experience our coaches are more than happy to provide. As a result of our warm welcome and the helpfulness of our coaches, several pilots from other areas have recently joined the club and enjoyed some nice flying at the coast. Photo: Anthon y Moore How many times have you heard it said? Coastal flying is the gentlest, easiest flying to be had. Floating effortlessly over sunny beaches, taking in the wonderful views, enjoying the glassy-smooth air without a care in the world. Coastal flying etiquette ANDY BERZINS, CHIEF COACH AND CLUB SAFETY OFFICER, SIR GEORGE CAYLEY CLUBFloppy, Flexy or Rigid? I normally fly flex-wing hang gliders, but also paragliders when circumstances permit. I sell them all, because they each provide hours of flying fun. This photo proves that I practise what I preach: Secondhand Moyes Malibu 2, Charly crash helmet, Charly mirror visor, Vonblon harness, two Renschler varios, Zoot wheels and barmitts and SMFC speedarms. You could be up there, too! I sell Skyman, and other brands of new paragliders, plus a good range of used ones. This gorgeous small Firebird Eagle 2 is a good example of why people love their FBs! Years of life left, cheap as chips at £550: I’ve got some great intermediate hang gliders, too. This gorgeous Wills Wing Sport 2 is a medium size at £1395, but I also have a WW Eagle that is rather cheaper. Other makes, I sell quite a lot of ground handling kit, so this medium Airwave Jive (£150) is ideal - tasty enough to be flown, but modern gliders are so much better…. I also stock groundhandling harnesses from about £75 up. If you are looking for a rigid wing, you won’t find much better value than this Stratos - an Icaro sail on an Atos frame and in great condition - only £2350! High performance flexies include a very cheap large Aeros Stealth KPL, an almost as-new Avian Evo and there are always Litespeeds at This Gin Sprint Evo in the medium size is cheap - just £295 would buy it, and it is very clean indeed! We’re not all made of money, so why not look at this, and other total bargains, on my website? I have new hang glider harnesses in stock, from Vonblon and Fillo. I also have a range of used harnesses, which includes this WV Tenax in a large size at £775, and a medium sized MR version at only £295. I can get most makes of harness, but stock Skyman all the time. I also have secondhand harnesses to suit all pockets, with this very smart Suppair Evolution coming in at just £199! Ideal for a new pilot. I love to stock unusual items, like this storage tube for a hang glider. 6m long and complete with end covers, it will solve somebody’s storage problems for the princely sum of £135, so won’t be here for long. The car, glider and house are not included! See what is available now: Me and my Cure (literally)! I LOVE flying! Reserves 2019 It makes sense to buy your reserve parachute from me. I’ve been selling reserves for over 40 years, and have myself had a successful real-life deployment. I am UK distributor for reserves from Charly, Skyman and Independence. My brands have sold tens of thousands, and have hundreds of successful deployments to their credit. My own deployment was beneath a Charly Revolution 1, and I regard that reserve as my best ever investment – it probably saved my life. Read the full account on my website, or just ask me about I also make a point of holding stock of second hand reserves, because not everyone can afford new, My experience suggests that it is wise to always fly with a reserve installed in your harness! Charly 2nd Chance from £399 Charly Revolution, from £505. Charly Clou 2 from £620 Independence Annular Evo, from £545 Charly Diamond Cross, from £699 Skyman Ultra Cross, from 1kg and £825 This is the Charly Revolution 1 that probably saved my life - it was that very reserve! tel: 01404 891685 Turfhouse, Luppitt, Honiton, Devon, EX14 4SA 6 SKYWINGS JUNE 2019 news On April 12th Giles Fowler and Paul Mockford touched down at RAF Halton, Bucks, having flown their paramotors over more than 40 current and former RAF airfields in the previous two days. The flight was to raise funds for the Royal Air Forces Association, the long-established charity that provides welfare support to the ‘RAF Family’. Together they covered more than 265 miles in ten hours of flying, so far raising more than £2500 for the RAFA. The flight was split over six legs, starting from the former Bomber Command airfield at RAF Goxhill in Lincolnshire. Support throughout the flight – fuel, necessary spares, supplies, etc – was provided by fellow paramotorists Katie Pagett and Andy Greaves. Their route took them over Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, overnighting at Sywell Aerodrome before the final legs covering Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire. The flight covered a number of historic wartime and post-war bases including Elsham Wolds, Hemswell, Scampton, Swinderby, Waddington, Digby, Cranwell, Cottesmore and Wittering, before the final landing at the legendary RAF Halton, originally established as No. 1 School of Technical Training in 1919, where Paul Mockford’s father runs the RAFA Branch. You can still contribute to their fundraising at Parafest It’s now just a few weeks until Parafest 2019 fills the air with music … and the sky with deregulated aircraft. The event (July 11th - 14th) promises to be a fantastic weekend away at the biggest pilot social in the UK, and the only trade show in the country. Many free-flying sites are just a short drive away, and for power pilots the venue is close enough to the coast to benefit from the smooth sea breeze. Four days of flying and four nights of camping or vanning, three days of festival fun, two days of live music and entertainment, and one fantastic event for the whole family. Kids come free and dogs are welcome. Caersws in North Wales has good road links from everywhere in the UK. Tickets are selling fast at will not be available on the gate. See the website and for details. Florida Pre-Words Four tasks at US Nationals and Pre- World Championships at Florida’s Quest Air in April saw wins for Jonny Durand (Moyes RX4) and Corinna Schwiegershausen (RX3). The fourth task was an epic 247km elapsed-time race won by Mexico’s Rodolfo Gotes. Representing the UK, Andy Hollidge finished 8th, Richard Lovelace 12th and Malcolm Brown 28th, all flying Wills Wing T3s. Eric Grabowski (Gecko 155) beat 28 other pilots to become Sports Class champion. Full results are at In brief Yael smashes triangle record. On May 1st Swiss star Yael Margelisch set a new female free-distance-around-a-triangle world record, pushing her Ozone Enzo 3 to 263.7km, handsomely exceeding Michaela Brandstätter’s 2016 mark of 221km. Yael started and finished her flight at St Hilaire du Touvet. Skywings online. The online version of this issue can be found at and the case-sensitive password %fsjVT8. For the July issue enter the username Jul_2019 and the case-sensitive password tu95#F3w. Magazines with a cover date over six months old can be viewed online or downloaded without the need to log in. RAFA40 team succeeds Welsh land-access shake-up In April the Welsh Government announced proposals for significant changes to rights- of-way legislation. These are wide ranging and include measures to ensure dogs are kept on leads around livestock, to give farmers more flexibility in managing their land, and to grant horse riders, cyclists and others – including free flyers – the freedom to use many footpaths. Currently, recreational users can access only 20 per cent of the rights-of-way network. Open-access land such as expanses of moorlands – e.g. the Berwyn mountains – will also see certain restrictions lifted, including for hang gliding and paragliding. Organised games and camping will still be largely prohibited without prior permission. The Welsh Government had originally proposed to open up its rights of way in 2017, to widespread public support. Some minor changes are likely to happen fairly quickly; in the longer term an independent access reform group will consider more significant changes. Note that these changes are proposals only; until new freedoms are formally notified there are no changes to land access in Wales. The announcement is a positive statement, but there's some way to go yet. news 8 SKYWINGS JUNE 2019 On Sunday 21 April Jake Herbert broke the site record for Hawkswick in the Yorkshire Dales with a flight of 166km, landing at Belford near Holy Island after five hours in the air. This is his account of the flight … ‘We arrive, Chris Fountain and I, at Hawkswick. It’s looking good, with gliders in the air. A perfect launch and we are off. First thermal is a good one. It’s blue and the air feels the same as yesterday. That’s a good thing. Yippee! ‘Off I go, flying slowly, Chris is catching up. Nothing to be found over Buckden Pike. Quick – over the valley to the south-facing slopes. Maybe I went too early? Bang … up I go. Chris is catching up and we get high, wingtip to wingtip. Giggles all round. Radio chatter announces it’s not so great on Staggs Fell, but it’s good here. ‘Over Wensleydale, Grommit. At Nappa Scar Chris goes left a bit - what’s he doing? Finding the climb; up he goes – and over I go. We’re up and off into Swaledale, lined up for goal in Northumberland. But that’s hours away and we’ve got to cross Moordor first. ‘We split up a bit; I commit to the moors and Chris takes it easy. I regret pushing on, but then – boom, up from the boonies near Tan Hill. I can see the walkers on the Pennine way. Over the A66 and reservoirs mark the way. Getting a bit low in no-man’s-land, I take a slow climb. Chris is catching up again and I can hear a gaggle on its way from Staggs. I could do with some company – it’s blue and lonely out here. ‘In Teesdale now, over Middleton. The south-facing moors have got to work. Over I go. Find the darkest bowly-est bit. Sweaty palms – big walk out here. Where is it? Seriously, guys. Boom! Hoovered up … best climb of the day. The Zeno is writhing around, chuntering at me and somehow holding it together. I’m hanging on … easy girl! Thanks Ozone. Over here, Chris! If only I could use the radio right now. First cloud of the day is above me. 6600ft now – wow! It’s warm. Remember I have jelly babies. Yum! Chris has landed … I’m all alone. ‘I’m off. Airspace to think about. It’s going to work but will be tight. Climb again over Stanhope, Tyne valley ahead. Keep high. Squeak round the airspace where the clouds are. Tyne valley is lush green, not what I need. No more dry, dark, angry moors. Find a quarry and some scrub and get the climb. Goal is on! 11:1 and a 25km/h tailwind. I’m off! ‘Out of the Tyne valley and back into forest and moor. It’s rough and getting windier – better take care. Thermals are rough but height is my friend and up I go. A thermal in the Cheviots … how very rare! Quick left turn and get goal, then off downwind. 70km/h at trim! Too windy for the hills – I’ll go to the flats. ‘Still windy and I’m getting low. I don’t like the look of the high ground ahead … find a landing. Actually I’ve got some forward speed, and I’m climbing. OK, go on then, back to four grand. Sorry mate more work to do yet. Over the last moor and I can see the sea, Holy Island and the Farnes. Hello Mr Puffin and Mr Seal. Castles, Viking invasions … it’s all there. Soak it all up mate – you’ll soon be down. ‘Time to land. No sea breeze … find a massive field … come down vertically. Smooth, feet on the earth. Good job! ‘Gary Stenhouse picks me up in the van (thanks!). Into Newcastle, pissed-up partygoers looking at the sweaty weird guy with the big pack. East Coast main line back to Leeds and home by 10. Nice cup of tea – thanks Morag. 165km across the north with some fabric and string. Is this for real?’ Jerry passed away on April 16th following a period of illness. He joined the BHPA in October 1995 and learned to paraglide at Parapente Services, passing his CP (Hill) rating in September 1998, his Tow rating with Chris Dawes at Airways in May 2000 and his Pilot exam with Paul Allmark in September 2001. Soon after this he joined the North Wales Hang and Paragliding Club. Jerry took over as club chairman from ‘Doctor Bill’ Seward in 2003. His previous experience as a BSAC officer in the diving sports community made him ideal for the role, especially during the period when a fluid mix of paragliders and hang gliders gave rise to a conflict of interests and needs between the two activities. Jerry handled this and every other duty with the polite diplomacy and the organisational skills which quickly became his trademark. Within the club he acquired a nickname reflecting his ‘Hello, I’m Jerry the Chairman’ greeting to visitors to our sites, spoken with a distinctive warm and polished voice and followed by an offer of guidance or assistance. His skills kept the club running well year after year. He also took on the role of social secretary and became a superb organiser of club events, regularly providing a wide spectrum of flying- related speakers. He also produced the club’s newsletter and singlehandedly organised the annual parachute repack. Clubs need strong and enthusiastic committees, led by someone who can both hold down the role and enthuse others to do their bit, and Jerry was exactly that. Despite over ten years in the job, no-one wanted to take over from him as his would be such a hard act to follow. His contribution to the club and the sport was recognised in 2013 when he was awarded the BHPA Merit Award. His flying took him to several countries. On a trip with club members to Olu Deniz he threw himself into an SIV course run by Jocky Sanderson. He also threw himself into the water, emerging unflustered to enjoy the rest of the course and, as ever, writing it all up for the club newsletter. He also appeared regularly on the hills of North Wales and the surrounding area, always full of enthusiasm and energy. His last flight – at the age of 82 – was a short XC on July 5th last year from Llangollen, his favourite site. Jerry was an ambassador and for the sport and for the North Wales club. He will be remembered, and greatly missed, by all those lucky enough to have known him and could call him a friend. The North Wales Club Hawkswick record falls Jerry Hazzard 1936 - 2019Next >