No. 375 JULY 2020 The magazine of the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association2 SKYWINGS JULY 2020 attitude The lockdown in England has been substantially lifted and there is talk of the two-metre social distancing rule being reduced to one metre. Wales and Scotland are following, a few weeks behind England. The English BHPA schools are getting back to business, and with luck the rest of the UK will soon follow. We are getting very close to the situation where we simplify BHPA advice on flying to just this: ‘Comply with any restrictions in the country where you live.’ That will certainly make my life much easier. I can only thank the ironic nature of the fates that the pandemic should happen just as my term of office as Chairman draws to a close. It certainly has had one interesting side effect: my blandishments to possible successors that being Chairman takes up, at most, about an hour a day have been shown up for the outright lies they were! The stresses and strains of the pandemic have revealed in sharp relief the variety of behaviours that our fellow humans can demonstrate. On the one hand, I continue to be shocked by the terrible behaviour of day trippers to our open areas such as the Lake District and the Peak District. I suspect that because Wales and Scotland are inaccessible to English day trippers, these National Parks have borne the brunt: inconsiderate parking, littering, moorland fires caused through carelessness. It has been a sad reflection on human nature. In contrast, there have been many unsung heroes who have gone beyond the call of duty. We are all aware of the NHS workers and our bin-men, etc. but I would like to place on record the extreme diligence and hard work of the BHPA employees who we have not furloughed. Our admin function is normally operated with two full-time staff and three part- timers. Steph and Michelle have worked full time from home throughout the lockdown, sending out and processing in the region of 500 renewal notices every month. They have had teams of family members stuffing envelopes whilst sitting in front of the TV most evenings, and in the daytime they have dealt with the routine enquiries. The Skywings team have similarly had their noses to the grindstone, with Joe in particular trying to keep an interesting and exciting magazine arriving on our doorsteps when no one had any flying stories to tell! Finally, our Technical team has been reduced to Mark Shaw, who won’t let on that he has been drowning with the workload, but we know that he has valiantly fought his corner and kept the Tech side afloat. Thank you to all our staff for going beyond the call of duty. And that takes me to my final message. April’s membership numbers fell off a cliff. May’s were slightly better, but not much. Our only source of income is membership fees. If we are to keep all our staff on board and not face redundancy situations as the furlough scheme comes to an end, we need everyone to renew as and when their membership falls due. Our staff, who have given their all, deserve fair treatment from all of us as their collective employers. Please keep your membership up to date and we will all make it through to sunlit uplands. Your Association Needs You! MARC ASQUITH, BHPA CHAIRMAN This has been one of the most traumatic periods that our sports have ever experienced, arguably worse even than the 2001 Foot and Mouth shutdown. At least then the majority of the economy was able to keep going. However, it does look like the end is in sight. Photo: Andy Shaw4 SKYWINGS JULY 2020 regulars regulars features JULY 2020 SKYWINGS 5 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 Richard Sheppard and Aeros Combat 13.2 GT over Malvern on Sunday May 30th Photo: Richard Sheppard THIS PAGE RJ Macaulay gets the summer started at Harting Photo: Russell Winter 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 Email: SKYWINGS ONLINE Go For the July issue enter the username Jul_2020 and the case- sensitive password 92V#u$L7 For the August issue enter the username Aug_2020 and the case-sensitive password Vx&83#tL DEADLINES News items and event/competition reports for the September issue must be submitted to the Skywings office by Friday July 31st. Letters for the August Airmail pages should arrive no later than Friday July 17th. Advertisement bookings for the August edition must arrive by Friday July 10th. Copy and classified bookings no later than Friday July 17th.6 SKYWINGS JULY 2020 news Wayne Seeley On June 2nd southern paragliding XC star Wayne Seeley, 40, died following a collision with power cables when landing out at Eastington near Stroud, not far from his home. A significant member of the XCLent club but an Avon pilot at heart, Wayne was one of our sport’s great personalities. Son of hang glider pilot Barry Seeley, Wayne had been flying since he was 15. Learning his craft from Richard Westgate, Graham Steel and others, he went on to log nearly 50 100km flights, many from the XCLent winch and his home site of Frocester. In the last few years he had been consistently near the very top of the paragliding XC league. Many pilots who knew or had been helped to improve by Wayne will join us in offering our sympathies to his friends and family, not least his partner Leanna. A BHPA Formal Inquiry will report in due course. [See also an appreci- ation Longest European flight this year On May 21st Ukrainian paraglider pilot Bogdan Baziuk flew 353.3km across the flatlands of Ukraine – the longest flight to date in Europe this season. Bogdan, a Nova dealer, made the flight at an average speed of over 46km/h on an EN C Sector. Bogdan already holds the European straight-distance record at 429km, set in 2015. Is 500km possible in Europe? Are the flatlands over Ukraine, Belarus and Poland about to become the new Brazil? Aerofix changes hands The UK’s leading paragliding service and repair workshop was recently bought by the team running the business, supported by local pilot Paul Summers. The new owners include manager Cassy Fitzharris and Paul’s son James, both pilots, who have have been run- ning Aerofix for some time. In 2015 John Warden bought Aerofix and relocated it to Bradwell in the Peak District. Laser line measurement was soon introduced, and a new online system for booking servicing and ordering replacement lines. ‘I hadn’t been expecting to sell at this stage,’ said John, ‘but last year I had to reduce my involvement for personal reasons. Cassy and James soon showed that they no longer needed my input in the same way. Selling Aerofix to them and James’ father became a logical step. I’ve enjoyed supporting the paragliding community The flying season finally begins Although XC flying was only possible under exacting conditions, BHPA members have been able to take to the skies again since late May. The Cambridge Aerotow Group got airborne on May 20th, with some pilots up for over three hours under a 6000ft cloudbase. Andy Hollidge and Richard Hunt flew together – separated by at least a wingspan – for over an hour and a half before landing back at Sutton Meadows. A fascinating Dorama record of their flights is conditions prevailed at Malvern on May 30th. Pilots were staying local and the bottom landing was reported as looking like a scene from the 1980s! The photo (right) was taken by Katy Cole at Mercury on May 30th. The release from lockdown has not been without significant trauma; a number of serious incidents and helicopter evacuations in May and two fatalities in early June, and many other scrapes and near-misses. Please be mindful of everyone’s lack of practice and the increased risk attendant to flying in crowded skies. It’s an old saw but very true: aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous. But to an even greater degree than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity or neglect. The ‘No XC’ request was simply common sense – even a husband-and-wife retrieve would involve driving somewhere for none of the purposes allowed in the official guidelines. The UK paragliding and hang gliding XC Leagues have been closed since the middle of March and remain so as we go to press. In the light of the English Government’s amended guidelines of June 4th, BHPA advice has changed to this degree only: you can fly XC – in England – only if you have an outlanding retrieve arranged with some- one from your own household in a private car. XC in Scotland and Wales remains prohibited by their national rules. It is also not permitted to fly XC from England into Scotland or Wales. It is possible that all this will have changed again by the time you read this. Restrictions already vary from nation to nation and club to club, and may be altered at short notice. Please refer to club and BHPA web- sites for the latest updates before flying. We continue to caution all members to ‘make haste slowly’ and to abide by the social distancing rules and handwashing requirements. Aerofix: Team Aerofix (L-R): John Warden, Paul Summers, Cassy Fitzharris and James Summers2020 has been weird, but at least I am succeeding in selling off lots of stock. I hesitate to say this, but even my superb personal Moyes Litespeed RX3.5 would be sold if the right person came along. I’m not asking much for it, and if you can’t afford it, then buy my RS3.5 and Jezzer can fly the This really clean Firebird Spider in the medium size is only £525 ono, and I have a very similar large one at £375. Check out my range of paragliders - all superb and I’m open to sensible offers! I have a nice range of hang gliding harnesses, including this medium-sized Woody Valley Cosmic. Also, I’ve just received a medium Tenax, as owned by former British Champion Mike Stephens … Pargliding harnesses, too! This Suppair Hybrid reversible airbag harness is rather special, but is only £275! Medium size. Photos of kit that I have for sale are boring, but this one is a bit different. This is the Charly reserve that I delpoyed in Verbier a few years ago. It was sold on a while back, but will always be special to me, having almost certainly saved my life. Read the account in the articles section of my website! If you are flying without a reserve, please don’t! Call me and we can sort something for not a lot of money. This is an unusual one - an Apco Bi Tandem HG reserve that is twelve years old, but has hardly ever been flown. A new one is around £900, so this is a snip at £299 ono! Even less expensive is this U-Turn Protect 3 for paragliders with a max. AUW of 140kg. £99 is a snip for a tidy reserve, but I have lots of others that you might I’m also clearing out my stocks of instruments - new and used. This is an ancient Davron 300+ which still have a firm following. £99, works fine, but the needle needs adjustment. I have Renschler, Ascent, Oudie and Skytraxx Look at the website for the latest situation. I should also mention that I have a very nice selection of intermediate hang gliders for pilots wanting fun. This Pulse medium is probably sold….but it is worth checking the website, just in Slimming Down! Charly Helmets The aerodynamic Charly NO Limits is available as an open - or a full-face helmet. The pressure-formed aerodynamic Kevlar- reinforced fibreglass shells are renowned for their quietness, and come in four colours and four sizes, starting at £225. A clear visor comes as standard with optional Tinted visors available. The Charly Insider is probably the top-selling free flight helmet of all time. The Kevlar-reinforced fibreglass shell is fully-lined, and I stock eleven colours and six sizes from XS to XXL! Prices start at £158, and weight is only 660gm! The stylish Charly Loop costs £120, weighs around 505gm and comes with a helmet bag included. There are three sizes and six colours: Gloss White, Matt Blue, Matt Black, Matt Red, Matt Orange and Nova Silver – see them all on my website: The Charly Ace has a polycarbonate shell and comes in four sizes, with a choice of Gloss White, Matt Red, Matt Black or Carbon-look. Weight is around 560gm, and prices start at £84. The Charly Breeze has a swoopy polycarbonate shell, comes in four sizes in either White or Matt Black - with contrasting removable ear covers to suit different seasons. There is also a version in two adjustable sizes for commercial operators schools and tandem. It weighs about 480gm, and costs £87. I stock all the Charly helmets optional accessories, too! The Ace, Breeze and Loop will all accept the optional visor, available in Grey, Yellow, Orange and Mirror finishes. Prices start at £28 per visor, with the fixing screw set costing another Simon Murphy’s Flying Circus Luppitt, Honiton, Devon, EX14 4SA tel: 01404 891685 8 SKYWINGS JULY 2020 news over the last five years and I’m confident that they will continue the exceptional service that has become our hallmark.’ John’s expertise will be retained in an advisory capacity. Paul’s involvement with Aerofix will include oversight as company director; he has a number of other business interests. ‘Paragliding is a passion I share with James and with my brother Martin,’ he says. ‘As a customer I’ve seen James, Cassy and Aerofix develop over recent years. The opportunity to become directly involved was too good to miss.’ For further details contact Cassy or James on 01433 627195 or Comps calendar crumbles! The European Hang Gliding Championships, scheduled for July 5th - 18th at Sigillo, Italy have been postponed to 2022; the European Paragliding Championships scheduled for July 19th - August 1st at Nis, Serbia have been postponed to August 23rd 2020; the World Paragliding Aerobatic Championships scheduled for August 6th - 14th at Trasaghis, Italy have been postponed to 2021; and the Paragliding Accuracy European Championships, scheduled for Sibiu, Romania from August 28th - September 5th, have been postponed to 2022. These are just the headlines from a decimated competition calendar. The British paragliding championships at Grand Bornand was cancelled and UK hang gliding has cancelled BOS 1 and 2; BOS 3 (Mid Wales, August 22nd - 26th) is uncertain. The Ozone Chabre Challenge is postponed to 2021, as is July’s Gin Wide Open at Ager. Organisers’ websites are the best source for information any comps that you had hoped to fly in. For FAI comps Rod Buck Hang gliding stalwart and Wendy Windblows inventor Rod Buck died on June 19th, aged 71. A key figure in the Derbyshire club from the early days, Rod was the first to build a reliable electronic weather station and the first to offer a subscription service covering multiple sites. Eventually eclipsed by internet sources, for two decades Wendy was the UK's go-to weather resource with up 25 local stations. A man of strong views and strong constitution, Rod survived several serious accidents in his day job. His work for the DSC and the greater sport was substantial and sustained; he was twice club chairman and looked after many new pilots on Lanzarote trips. He was recently awarded the RAeC Certificate of Merit. We offer our condolences to Rod's family and friends. An appreciation will appear in the August issue. In brief Paramotor fatality. On June 2nd paramotor pilot Bill Kerr, 77, died after crashing on a hillside near Greenock in Inverclyde. Although not a BHPA member for many years, Bill was a well-known and respected pilot in Scotland. A retired farmer, he was responsible for developing what became known as the ALC system, subsequently perfected by Dudek, for steering reflex wings at fast trim speeds using an extra wingtip brake line. Subject to instruction by the Procurator Fiscal, a BHPA Formal Inquiry will investigate the circumstances of the accident and a report will appear in due course. We offer our sympathies to Bill’s family and friends. Winter flying in Morocco. After having to cancel their March trip to Morocco, Sunsoar plan to return to Mirleft in December. For relaxed coastal soaring, beach ground-handling and the option of a BHPA dual pilot course, go to Brian Harrison. It is with regret that we report the passing, on June 4th, of hang gliding and microlight pioneer Brian Harrison. Primarily remembered as a manufacturer and innovator, Brian was also a pretty good instructor; alongside Gustav Fischnaller’s Cairnwell school Brian was largely responsible for the growth of hang gliding in Scotland in the 1970s and 80s. [See also p9.] Skywings online. The online version of this issue can be found at username Jul_2019 and the case-sensitive password tu95#F3w. For the August issue enter the username Aug_2019 and the case-sensitive password Vx&83#tL. Magazines with a cover date over six months old can be viewed online or downloaded without the need to log in. Fortunately, since mid-May, the restrictions on paramotoring have been lifted. Flying sites have begun to reopen and the weather is hold- ing out for a great summer. This alleviates our primary concern, that pilots might not have had enough flying in advance of the cham- pionship to be sufficiently current and in training to fly safely. On this basis we are now committed to holding the British Open para- motor championships in 2020 if at all possible. By ‘if at all possible’ we mean that under cur- rent (late May) guidelines a gathering of people in our usual championship format would not be permitted. However we remain hopeful that lockdown restrictions will continue to be lifted, and that by our proposed mid-August dates – 13th-16th – such events will be allowed, possibly still with appropriate social distanc- ing measures to be observed. We are in a fortunate position with our usual site; with little upfront infrastructure investment required we can hold our plans in place until the last possible moment. Recognising that pilots will need some advance notice, we announce here and now that we will make the final go/no-go announcement, in consultation with the BHPA, on July 31st. Until then, assume it’s a go! We say to pilots now: please save the dates, and look forward to a great chance to get out there and enjoy some fantastic XC flying at the championship. In the meantime, for training tips, we have added a new “how to” section to the PPGComps website. We will be building this as a comp training resource over the coming months – please check it out at We hope to see you all in August. British Paramotor Competitions Committee British Open paramotor championships PARAMOTOR COMPS TASK DIRECTOR BARNEY TOWNSEND ANNOUNCES DATES 2020 has been a challenging year for flying so far. Of course the Law of Sod dictated that we missed out on some spectacular weather during the lockdown period during the sunniest spring on record. With sporting events cancelled left right and centre, and amidst continued uncertainty on how restrictions will be lifted in the following months, the competitions committee have considered if, and how, we can hold a national paramotor championship event this year. Photo: Fr ances Elizabeth V aldesIn his youth Brian played cricket for Scotland, did National Service in the RAF and was heavily involved in motor sports. In 1975 he started training new pilots on Birdman Grasshoppers at Eaglesham near Glasgow. Scotkites then began building the Firefly – an evolution of the Standard Rogallo with a battened sail – and trained pilots to fly them at the much bigger hill at Tinto. In 1976, sponsored by Cutty Sark whisky, Brian attended the first world hang glider meet at Kössen. Noting that the American gliders outperformed European ones, he soon began importing the Cirrus 3 from Electra Flyer in New Mexico, later licence- building their Cirrus 5, Olympus, Nimbus and Dove models. Scotkites were soon to become Eurowing, exporting hundreds of gliders worldwide from a new factory in East Kilbride. When Electra Flyer put a Soarmaster engine on a Cirrus 5 glider Brian became an early convert to microlighting. He imported their Eagle microlight and later collaborated with Californian designer Craig Catto to develop the CP16 flying wing and later the Goldwing, a canard machine with fibreglass-on-foam wings. Eurowing exported the Goldwing widely as a kit. A plan to develop a two-seat version fell through, leading Brian to sell the company’s assets to CFM who had begun manufacturing David Cook’s hugely-successful Shadow microlight in the early 1980s. Brian went on to join David in Suffolk as production manager; he also became the BMAA’s first Safety Officer, a very necessary post that he held for many years. Brian spent some time in the wind turbine industry and later became a producer of kit cars. In 2005 he returned to flying, assisting a Polish company in developing a lightweight self- launching sailplane marketed by his last business, X-C Aviation. Some will recall that he turned up to reminisce with other pioneers at the inaugural BVHGR rally in September 2016. Intense, fiercely intelligent and highly articulate, Brian Harrison was a larger-than-life character who influenced the lives of many hundreds of fellow enthusiasts in car racing, kit building, hang gliding and microlighting. He was a key figure in the growth of hang gliding in Scotland in the 1970s and was hugely respected by the Scottish flying community; one of his Cirrus 3 gliders is now displayed at the Scottish Museum of Flight. Brian was was also an accomplished jazz drummer who invented, patented and manufactured his own composite sticks. He leaves two sons, Martin and Kenneth. [JS] Brian Harrison 1937 - 2020 Brian, a hang gliding pioneer and key figure in the development of microloghting, died on June 4th in the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice, Glasgow, after a long illness. Photo: Alan Mof fat/ ASM1 Photogr aph yNext >