No. 392 DECEMBER 2021 The magazine of the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association2 SKYWINGS DECEMBER 2021 It took me 25 years to realise that paragliding was something I should consider doing, and it was really nothing more than a lucky accident when I finally gave it a try. Anyone who gets as far as booking themselves onto a beginner course has obviously given it some thought, and probably has some preconceived notions of what paragliding will do for them. For me, these notions were strongly tied to fathomable earth-based activities such as running and climbing. I figured that once I reached the top of a mountain, it would be nice to float down from it tied to a piece of fabric by some string. I had no idea of the profound sensations that flying a paraglider would offer me. The first inkling of what is to come when you take up paragliding arrives on day one of your beginner course. Your coach instructs you to grab the risers as you have been shown, lean forward and run with everything you’ve got along the gently downward sloping stretch of grass before you. The glider resists you at first, but eventually swings above you and flies obediently overhead, allowing you to run. As you accelerate, you begin to feel the lines pull progressively at the hang points on your harness and your heart leaps with excitement at the prospect of being lifted from the ground. Your coach is yelling at you to keep running and keep leaning your weight into the harness. Your ribs ache as you tilt yourself onto the straps attaching you to the glider overhead. As you reach the steepest part of the slope you feel it lift you completely from the ground. For a split second, you are suspended from the wing, supported completely by the air above you. You are flying. You go home and lie in bed that night, thinking about what has just happened, when you can fly again, how you can learn to fly higher and for longer, what you can fly off next and where you can fly to. Your experiences only deepen from there, as does your obsession. When you fly a paraglider, you can stretch out your hand and skim it through the air as though along the face of wave. You can feel pressure in the canopy pulling on you from above and you can swing yourself from the air like a monkey from the branch of a tree. You can feel the rising air of a thermal tugging at your wingtip as it passes you by to one side, beckoning you in. You can lean into its pull and surge up into its current, circling inside the upward- bound column of air all the way to the clouds. You can glide in the wake of birds and follow them to great heights, relying on their superior connection with the atmosphere and honing your own. When you touch down, you are simultaneously exhilarated and perfectly at peace, your worldview enriched by this exchange with the skies. I still dream about flying, but the difference is that now I am usually attached to my paraglider and the imagined sensations are more real and exciting than ever before. Many people dream of flying like a bird, but surprisingly few of us go out of our way to make that dream a reality. As babies, most of us start to explore our surroundings on our hands and knees after a couple of months of careful consideration, and with a bit of luck we eventually stand upright and walk. We run, we climb, we skip and jump, we interact with our environment in whatever way our bodies allow, and it is in physical interactions with the world around us that many of life’s most purely joyful moments can be found. I realised this early on in life, and as such, much of my spare time has been spent exploring new landscapes, hiking in the hills, running through forests and climbing up trees. Life-affirming moments for me have ranged from serene sunrise swims in the ocean to summiting mountains in the pouring rain and, most recently, my first experiences of free flight. attitude Dreaming of free flight ANDREW CULLEN, FLEDGLING PARAGLIDER PILOT Photo: Ivan Daly4 SKYWINGS DECEMBER 2021 regulars 2 attitude: Andrew Cullen 6 news 10 safety matters 12 comp lines 16 hang points 20 dead centre 24 pilot profile: Chris Williams 26 airmail 33 calendar of events 35 caption competition reviews 23 book review: Thermal Flying latest edition with new material – unrivalled! features 28 the Munro Challenge epic Scottish paramotor feat 32 it’s here – it’s definitely here! a paean to UK winter flyingDECEMBER 2021 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, e-mail: office@bhpa.co.uk THE EDITOR Joe Schofield, 39 London Road, Harleston, Norfolk IP20 9BH. Tel: 01379 855021. E-mail: skywings@bhpa.co.uk. COVER PHOTO: Wringing out Air Design’s UFO lightweight single-surface wing at the Penken, Zillertal Photo: Hannes Sandhofer/AirDesign THIS PAGE: Rhal Ssan and Moyes Xtralite SX above the the Gruppo del Catinaccio in Italy’s Dolomites – see page 16. Photo: Rhal Ssan 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: colin@skywingsmag.com Online: www.skywingsmag.com. SKYWINGS ONLINE The BHPA Exec have determined to remove password protections for a trial period of six months. All issues of Skywings magazine are now freely available at https://skywings.bhpa.co.uk DEADLINES News items and event/competition reports for the February issue must be submitted to the Skywings office by Friday December 31st. Letters for the January Airmail pages should arrive no later than Monday December 20th. Advertisement bookings for the January edition must arrive by Friday December 11th. Copy and classified bookings no later than Friday December 18th.6 SKYWINGS DECEMBER 2021 news New app-based EC solution SafeSky is a free app that can be used on any modern cellphone. It exchanges position data, via the mobile network and a ground-based server, with all aircraft using it. The application was released in March, initially in France and Belgium. It now has 17,000 registered users representing 14 different aircraft classes, and is available in eight languages in 40 countries. Its servers process 12 signal types to pass onto users including PilotAware, FANET, FLARM, OGN and ADS-B; it will issue a visual and aural alarm if conflict is detected. Offered primarily as a collision-avoidance tool, its ability to answer the compulsory-EC requirement that drone development is making inevitable is also being explored. EHPU has been asked by Europe Air Sports to prepare a proposal ensure that free fliers would be ‘seen’ by drones and other airspace users (binding regulation will be in force in the EU by 2023), and SafeSky believe their system could be a possible solution. If the answer to compulsory EC could be as simple as downloading the Safe sky app, subject to good-enough local coverage, it would represent a considerable breakthrough. However it’s unclear if its latency (i.e. built-in delay) will be good enough for a pilotless drone to dodge a free flier on a fast glide. Although Safe sky say there have been no issues regarding overloading local mobile infrastructure, the system is of course dependent on phone battery life. Full details of how it works are at www.safesky.app. SafeSky and the Belgian air traffic authority are jointly studying a safe and inexpensive solution to the drone/compulsory-EC issue based on the technology. Meanwhile, in October the DfT and CAA announced the convening of a ‘task force’ to develop and publish EC specifications to enable interoperability between airspace users. These will be aimed at providing guidance to all airspace users to facilitate the operation of commercial drone traffic. Interestingly, the CAA announcement says, ‘The adoption of EC specifications will not be mandated UK-wide … however, compliance with the established EC specifications will be required in mandatory airspace.’ Where are we? It is unclear at present, but pilotless drones are on their way without a doubt. For these to operate outside clearly- defined boundaries will need some kind of reliable EC to be adopted by all other air users. Whether this is via a mobile app, or an EC-equipped flight instrument or stand- alone SkyEcho-type device (remember the CAA have invested up to £2.5 million in encouraging UK GA pilots to acquire EC technology), the technical specs of this equipment is being drawn up as we speak ... by an alphabet soup of different agencies! The EC rebate scheme will remain open to applications until March 31st 2022. Idris joins Phi Idris Birch has been enjoying a very good year. Having won the paragliding XC league by a 200-point margin and been selected for the British World Championship team, he has now been snapped by Austrian manufacturer Phi to join their development team. ‘Idris is a radical test pilot and an advanced designer and technical expert,’ says Phi boss Hannes Papesh. ‘Apart from myself he is now Phi’s only 100% employee, and thus our upcoming anchor man for all kind of technical tasks.’ Phi is unusual in many ways, not least in having no marketing department and putting all their eggs into the development basket. They have just released the Sola, a lightweight low-EN A wing in five sizes (certificated at 18, 22 and 26m size with 20 and 24m pending). They are sufficiently confident of this wing that they have bought materials to build 400 of them and aim to step up to building 2000 paragliders this year. For more information contact sole importer Flybubble at crew@flybubble.com, 01273 812442 or https://flybubble.com. [Photo: Joe McCarthy] British Aerotow Revival! The first UK aerotow competition for more than half a decade, announced last month, now has a name – the British Aerotow Revival. The event will be held at the former US WWII bomber base at Deenethorpe, near Corby – away from busy airspace … and where the UK airmass starts to become continental! The meet director will be none other than hang gliding royalty Jamie Sheldon. The dates are May 7th-13th 2022; practice days will be scheduled from May 4th-6th for those who need to get current with aerotowing. Competition places will be strictly limited by the number of tugs available. The organisers aim to have five, in which case the event will be limited to 50 competitors – sign up early to avoid disappointment. Registration opens later this month; further details are at www.aerotowrevival.com. (Photo: Katy Cole)It may not be just your vario making those noises, it may be the clock ticking. It was a surprise when my normally excellent health took a turn for the worse at age 70. My “incurable” cancer (No, I’m not giving up!) was apparently caused by exposure to petrochemicals, and they say this can even be hereditary. My motor sport won’t have helped, but in WW2 my Dad ferried all sorts of aircraft with massively powerful engines. No Cat Converters back then – he just inhaled the exhaust fumes. Pat Murphy ferries a Corsair from N. Ireland to the mainland, 1944. Me in healthier times. I have been bouyed up by the kindness and caring of so many friends and customers, and with that in mind, here is my Christmas and New Year Message to you all: Take life by the scruff of the neck, have fun, and follow your dreams – starting now. With my health declining, I am busily phasing out all the heavier items I sell, making the business easier for me and Charles to manage. Our priority is our UK Distributorship for Charly helmets, and the Charly and Zoot accessory ranges. The website will soon have a section devoted to Clearance Lines – large and heavy items have to go, prices will be reduced. The Charly Vitesse is just arriving in five colours and a multitude of sizes. Weighing only 380 grams, it is a sure-fire winner. Visors are optional. Prices start at £138. 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 £230. 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 £165, and weight is only 660gm! The stylish Charly Loop costs £125, 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: www.turfhouse.com 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 £85. I stock all Charly Helmets optional accessories, too - visors and tinted visors. Find them all on the website www.turfhouse.com Charly Helmets Ups ‘n’ Downs!Accessories Forty-one years in the business - my extensive range allows you to choose what best suits your needs. Find lots more on the website: www.turfhouse.com The new Charly QR tandem karabiners are here! Paralocks are strong and light, and cost just £75 each. I also have a small stock of Quick-outs at £60 each Charly Pinlock alloy Karabiners: Weighs 80gm, certified to 25 Kn. £27.50 each. The Charly Snaplock Titanal Karabiner, weighs 75gm and certified to 30Kn. £23 each. Zoot headsets: Four models for open- and full-face helmets and various radios. Prices from £34.45. Zoot Radio outfits: A great radio and a choice of Zoot headsets for just £77! I stock various speaker/mics and antenna, too! Instruments from lots of manufacturers, new and used, priced from around £70. Hang glider wheels from £51.10 a pair, or £35 second hand. Zoot Camera Mounts £29.50. Zoot Pip-pins, three lengths from £10.75, and Zoot Caps at £2.75. Simon Murphy’s Flying Circus tel: 01404 891685 web: www.turfhouse.com email: simon@turfhouse.com Luppitt, Honiton, Devon, EX14 4SA news 8 SKYWINGS DECEMBER 2021 RAeC Trust bursary scheme The Royal Aero Club Trust has announced the start of the 2022 bursary awards scheme for young people. In the last four years the Trust has awarded over 140 bursaries to young pilots (aged 14 - 21) in a wide range of air sports. Over the years several young paraglider and hang glider pilots have benefited from the Trusts’s largesse to further their flying aims. If you are interested in developing proficiency in your discipline, please take advantage of the opportunities offered by the scheme. Several BHPA recipients have gone on to great things in their respective fields – a financial leg-up early in your career can have immeasurable positive effects. Pursuing flying can be expensive, and the RAeC Trust bursary scheme represents, pretty much, free money at a time when you don’t have much. Full details of the scheme and application forms are available at www.royalaeroclubtrust.org. The closing date for applications is March 31st 2022. Note that applicants can, in the case of a follow-on bursary, be aged up to 24. Nova pilots of the year Nova’s annual awards, to their team pilots who have rendered outstanding achievements to the brand, this year honoured Germany’s Andi Ziegler and Markus Kaup, and Austria’s Hans Tockner. Andi Ziegler has made six flights of more than 300km and Markus Kaup has contributed numerous videos tutorials; both are Sector pilots. Old hand Hans Tockner (Mentor) has, uniquely, won the Austrian Championships in all glider classes, and continues to compete. Austria’s Manuel Ploner (pictured), one of the driving forces of the Nova Climb & Fly team, was named Newcomer of the Year. Nova’s awards reflect commitment both to Nova and to the Pilots Team ethos; they are not exclusively about competition rankings. British Accuracy 50th anniversary To celebrate 50 years of accuracy flying in the UK in 2022, the BHPA Accuracy Panel have announced a British Accuracy Cup series. It will consist of four legs concluding with a super-final. Dates are: Round 1, April 15th-18th; Round 2, April 29th-May 2nd; Round 3, June 3rd-5th; Round 4, August 26th-29th. More information can be found at www.airtribune.com. Any enquiries or offers of help will be warmly received at britishaccuracycup@gmail.com. In brief XC league results. Steve Blackler came out on top of the 2021 national hang gliding XC league. This is the 4th time he has been top flexwing pilot, but on this occasion he was able outdistance the top Class 5 pilot, Nick Collins. Despite setting two out-and-return records this year, two- times XC League champion Carl Wallbank had to settle for second place, 100 points adrift of Steve’s tally of 1,169; Nick Collins was third. Steve also took the David Loxely trophy with a winch-launched flight of 94.5km. Idris Birch (see above) topped the 2021 paragliding XC league with 1,487 points, ahead of Alex Coltman and Trias Gkikopoulos. BHPA AGM. A final reminder that the 2022 AGM will take place at the Nottingham Belfry hotel on Saturday February 12th. The meeting is still intended as a face-to-face meeting; it will also be available online via the BHPA Facebook page. If the situation, or government advice, changes the meeting will become a Zoom-type gathering. Watch for late announcements on the BHPA website and Facebook pages. Colombia in February. Now that Colombia is off the government’s ‘red’ list, FlySpain are planning two trips in the new year to take advantage of balmy temperatures and relaxed thermic flying. They will fly into Cali for an XC tour of the country, taking in Piedechince, Roldanillo and another location, from January 23rd - February 6th. A second week, from February 10th - 24th, will involve more coaching and would suit newer pilots looking to make their first XCs. All holidays include accommodation, Flymaster tracking, retrieve, etc. For details go to www.flyspain.co.uk. BHPA 500 Club WIN CASH PRIZES AND HELP THE ASSOCIATION! October winners David Hayes £134.80 Henry Hookings £67.40 Brian Gittings £33.70 Merlin Crossingham £20.22 Nicholas Roberts £16.85 Charlie Winter £16.85 Shane Fitzpatrick £13.48 Ann Matterson £13.48 John Blofield £10.11 Darren Baldwin £10.11 BHPA £337.00 If by the time you read this you have not received your cheque, please contact me on 07802 525099. Marc Asquith The perfect time for hats It’s cold outside, but to the rescue comes Icaro with new coarse-knit beanie hats in different colours. ‘Warm and beautiful in the usual fresh Icaro look,’ it says here. Logoed baseball caps are also available. From UK importer Ascent Paragliding at https://ascentparagliding.co.uk, or go to https://icaro-paragliders.com/en. New Apco helmet Apco’s new EN966-certificated JetCom lightweight helmet has been designed for paramotor and free flight use. It features in-flight-adjustable air vents, an easy-to- operate Fidlock buckle, an adjustable head- retention system and removable (and washable) inner padding. As shipped it comes in paramotor spec. ready to accommodate Apco’s own PHD1 headset, but your dealer can fit replacement side straps with ear pads for pilots who don’t need a headset. Clear or tinted full and half visors are also available as options. Apco say that at less than 400g it’s the lightest paramotor-compatible helmet on the market. It’s available, supplied in a soft helmet bag, from Apco dealers everywhere, in two sizes and four vibrant colours. Details are at www.apcoaviation.com. product newsUFO tandem AirDesign’s superlight tandem has now achieved EN B certification. The single-surface wing, based on the UFO solo series, is made from double-coated Skytex fabric and features colour-coded unsheathed Aramid lines, Nitinol rods and mylar leading and trailing edge reinforcement. The 30.24m wing has an aspect ratio of 4.97:1 and weighs just 2.83kg. Weight range is 130-190kg all-up. Details are at https://ad-gliders.com, or contact nic@flyspain.co.uk web: www.flyspain.co.uk Icaro 2000’s Alto The Alto has been developed from Icaro’s Orbiter 2 lightweight intermediate hang glider. Designed by former world champions Manfred Ruhmer and Christian Ciech, the Alto offers good performance in an easy-to-handle glider. The M and L sizes now feature the Piuma’s central cross-tube assembly and leading edge junctions for better load distribution (an S size is on the stocks). The sail has numerous modifications including an altered planform with new wingtips, and a cleaner trailing edge. Details from Pete Montgomery at Fly Pure Air on 07789 556761, info@flypureair.co.uk, or go to www.flypureair.co.uk.Next >