No. 399 JULY 2022 The magazine of the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association2 SKYWINGS JULY 2022 EN A, B and D class wings tested under the amended standard are largely unaffected, although it’s worth noting that the method EN test pilots use to induce test collapses has been adjusted. However the significant change comes to the C class. Manufacturers can put a wing forward for testing in the EN C class fitted with ‘folding lines’ to initiate the standard’s asymmetric and symmetric collapse tests. Prior to this amendment, any wing that needed folding lines for the tests was automatically classified EN D. At the time of writing at least one manufacturer has a new EN C wing on the market that takes advantage of this amendment. Given the interest, other manufacturers will undoubtedly follow suit. Why folding lines? The need for folding lines results from manufacturers designing gliders whose line layouts prevent the EN test collapses being made in the normal way described in the standard. These line arrangements have most commonly been found on high performance paragliders, particularly those known as ‘two-liners’. Two-liner gliders have been around for several years and most of the major manufacturers have one in their range. Two-liners usually have two risers per side. Unlike a traditional setup, where the front riser is connected only to lines from the leading edge, the front riser of a two-liner picks up the lines from the A and B attachment points on the wing’s bottom surface. The rear riser picks up the lines further back along the chord. This rear riser often incorporates handles as an alternative means of control to the traditional brakes attached to the trailing edge. Two-liner gliders are designed to be flown actively using the speed bar to race; correct use of these handles can have a competitive advantage at higher speeds. Historically, two-liner EN D gliders have high aspect ratios, many cells, complex spanwise reinforcement, extreme shark- nose leading edge profiles and rods along the chord to enhance structural rigidity and collapse-resistance at high speed. They are designed to be solid in flight, but when they do misbehave, collapses and other departures from normal flight can be very dynamic. Like traditional (non-two- liner) EN D class gliders, two-liner EN Ds are intended for highly-experienced pilots who can precisely pilot their wings in turbulent air, and who have mastered the various SIV skills. Be aware With the introduction of two-liners in the EN C class, much of the technology used on D class two-liners will find its way into these new C wings. The BHPA FSC anticipates a lot of interest from pilots considering moving from their EN B to a two-liner EN C. For pilots wishing to take advantage of the performance of two-liners with rear riser handles, it is important to be aware that they will need to adapt their piloting skills to embrace control inputs made with B handles, as well as the normal paraglider controls. This should initially be practised in calm air, as vigorous or deep B handle input may bring about a stall. Depending on the line layout, big ears may be initiated by outer lines on the rear riser rather than the front, so consult the manufacturer’s user guide before attempting this manoeuvre. Remember that most two-liners can only be intentionally collapsed for training purposes with additional folding lines, and this may tempt you to stop practising collapses. However, every glider can collapse and training is important and should still be practised, for example during SIV/Advanced Glider Control training. In addition, the line layout will prevent B line rapid descents. When a glider is presented for testing under EN 926-2, the manufacturer must supply each production glider with an additional set of lines. These can be attached to tabs close to the leading edge for the purpose of inducing collapses in accordance with the standard. If you want to initiate collapses like the ones in the EN standard on an SIV/Advanced Glider Control course you will need to install the folding lines supplied by your glider’s manufacturer. In February this year the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) published an amendment to the Paraglider Flight Safety Characteristics Standard (EN 926-2)*. This brought about a small but potentially significant change to the way certain paragliders are tested. attitude EN C paragliders and folding lines MARK SHAW, BHPA TECHNICAL OFFICER Photo: Mik e K ung4 SKYWINGS JULY 2022 regulars regulars reviews features JULY 2022 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 lex Colbeck and AirG Products Emilie finish an acro run at Oludeniz, Turkey Photo Alex Colbeck THIS PAGE Flylight’s BivvyBee is put through its paces over Northamptonshire: Photo: Ben Ashman 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 All issues of Skywings magazine are now freely available DEADLINES News items and event/competition reports for the September issue must be submitted to the Skywings office by Friday August 5th. Letters for the August Airmail pages should arrive no later than Monday July 18th. Advertisement bookings for the July edition must arrive by Monday July 11th. Copy and classified bookings no later than Monday July 18th.6 SKYWINGS JULY 2022 news Carl falls just short at 264km With a good forecast coming true on May 28th, Carl Wallbank set an ambitious 285km goal from Llangollen to the very tip of Portland Bill in Dorset, bidding to exceed his own UK and FAI European defined distance record. Sadly, after six and a half hours in the air on his RX3.5, Carl was forced to land just north of Dorchester, only 20km short of his goal. ‘I only needed one more climb,’ he reported ruefully. ‘In the end pilot error won and ended my day.’ Carl’s route is a familiar one, roughly the same track as his 2012 open distance record and 2016 defined mark. More hang gliding at South Cerney The Jubilee weekend saw the third round of the Accuracy Cup, this year celebrating 50 years of free flying, take place at South Cerney. Hosts Arthur Bentley of Birdwings Airsports and Lee Bligh of Cloudbase Paragliding invited the Suffolk club to bring their winch, their pilots and their vast experience to augment the hang glider winching side. Sponsors Green Dragons, Thermal Chasers, XC Mag, PG Fry and Natterbox, and BHPA Accuracy, contributed generously to the event, bringing it up to the next level. The weather and Jubilee airspace curtailed some of the flying, but fun was had by all. The event saw new pilots coming into the sports, the continuing return of old pilots to the fold, and the first-ever hang glider XCs from the airfield. Neil Hammerton (pictured) flew like the 22 years since he last flew a hang glider was only yesterday, and newbies Tyron Paul and Jonathan Peck flew like old hands. Paul Martin came first in the sports class and spot competitions, Richard Hunt won the main class and Team Sundown (Tim Dotchin, Paul Martin and Martin Colclough) led the team scores. The concluding meet will take place at South Cerney from August 25th-29th, when it is hoped to increase the number of hang glider winch clubs attending. 100km+ x 6! Saturday May 28th turned up trumps for paragliding XC hounds too, with no less than six 100km+ flights made. Lawrence Lawton (Avon), James Chancellor (Southern), Jaroslav Polensky (Thames Valley) and Chris Hille all left Leckhampton to make 140, 125, 112 and 108km respectively towards Weymouth, Laurence maxing out his XC League points by declaring Weymouth as his goal. Meanwhile, 300 miles to the north, Richard Butterworth (Pennine) and Graham Tydeman (LLSC) made 144 and 114km into Cumbria from Tinto. In all 104 pilots entered 4,437 points into the XC league on the day. Four days later Richard Carter made 148km from Longstone Edge; three days after that some really big out-and- return and triangle flights were made in the Scottish Highlands, led by Julian Robinson (Aberdeen) with a 158km O/R. It’s all a bit late this year, but it’s happening! Icarus Cup – this month The British Human Powered Flying Club’s Icarus Cup will run again at Lasham airfield in Hampshire from July 23rd-31st. This annual week-long gathering represents the state of the art in human-powered flying. The niche discipline seems to have gained momentum over the last year and progress in the field is expected. Southampton University’s Lazarus reappeared last year and secured the RAeS Formula Flight prize; it has since been rebuilt and flown in yet another new guise, and David Barford’s Betterfly is also expected to return to the fray. There has also been activity in the Aerocyle camp (pictured), and there may be entirely new entries from further afield. Several new pilots made their first flights last year with the help of the flight simulator developed by Lewis Rawlinson and Alec Proudfoot; the early-morning event at Lasham is shaping up to be a breakthrough this year as HPAs slowly move forward to greater achievements. Marshalls are required to assist with the running of the event; if you’re interested in witnessing – and assisting – the evolution of human-powered flight contact Tony Prentice at Simon Murphy’s Flying Circus tel 01404 891685 Since announcing this on his Facebook page we’ve been inundated with comments and massages from hundreds of people. We are truly astounded by this, and had no idea that so many people held him in such high regard. I have a feeling he’d be pretty shocked too. We’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone who’s had any dealing with Simon Murphy’s Flying Circus over the years. Dad lived a life he was incredibly happy with, and with the exception of winning the lottery, I don’t think there was much more he wanted from it (and I think that would have just meant more karts and broken model aircraft in the shed). The Funeral will be held On Wednesday the 6th of July, 11am at Taunton Crematorium, (Wellington Rd, TA1 5NE). If you’d like more details, please send an email Tom and Charles (sons of the loveable hippy) x It's with enormously heavy hearts that we have to inform you all that Dad (Simon Murphy) lost his battle with cancer on the 12th of June, 2022. He passed on incredibly peacefully, surrounded by people who loved him, holding his son’s hand. SMFC will be reopening on the 11th of July in a limited capacity. We will be taking orders via the website and email. Once it’s gone, it’s gone! If there’s anything you need (or want) please email, and we’ll try to sort something. I’m considering putting the business up for sale when things are finalised. Thank you all! Charles.8 SKYWINGS JULY 2022 news Men in suits! The Royal Aero Club’s awards ceremony for 2021 took place at the RAF Club, Piccadilly, on May 17th. Trophies and awards were presented by Robert Courts MP, Minister for Aviation. Chief among the awards to BHPA members were Russ Ogden’s richly- deserved RAeC Gold Medal, and the British Paragliding Team’s equally well-earned Prince of Wales Cup. In attendance on the day were Russ, Jocky Sanderson, Seb Ospina and Martin Long, plus Mike Chilvers (Ann Welch Memorial Award) and Glenn Stockton (RAeC Certificate of Merit). Also present to support our chaps were Comps supremo Jenny Buck and BHPA Chairman Marc Asquith. Congratulations to all who were involved in these goings-on … Skywings’ Sense of Humour Panel thoroughly approves of Russ’s tie! RAeC bursary for Finley Redford In May the Royal Aero Club Trust announced 25 recipients of its 2022 bursaries for young pilots. Recent years have seen a significant increase in the number of awards, not least due to the Trust’s decision to widen the age range and introduce follow- on awards. Sole BHPA recipient this year is 17-year-old Finley Redford, a trainee paraglider pilot at Airworks in West Sussex. Finley has built many RC models and recently constructed an FPV quadcopter from component parts. Having seen paramotors flying near his home, he made his way to Airworks who started him on the road to paragliding. Persuading his part-time employer to increase his hours, Finley worked throughout last summer to save enough to start on his EP. His sights are now set on achieving CP with the bursary’s help. Longer term he is hoping to pursue an aeronautical engineering degree and a career in aircraft design. He also intends to progress towards XC flying and, eventually, competition. ‘I really appreciate the opportunity the bursary has provided,’ he says, ‘and I’m grateful for the helpfulness of instructors like Steve Purdie in supporting me.’ Other RAeC Trust bursaries were awarded to young glider pilots (5), skydivers (11) and others, as well as five advanced (continuation) bursaries. In the past few years 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. The bursary scheme represents, pretty much, free money at a time when you have little. If you are aged 14-21 (or up to 24 for follow-on bursaries) and want to progress in your discipline, take advantage of the RAeC scheme scheme. The closing date for the next application round is March 31st 2023. Full details and forms are at In brief X-Alps returns in 2023. Applications have opened for anyone who believes they’ve got what it takes to compete in the 2023 edition of ‘the world’s toughest adventure race’. You will need to be an extremely proficient mountain athlete, flying at least 200 hours a year in the mountains. Applications close on August 31st 2022; after a gruelling selection process the lineup will be announced in October. Details are at Simon Murphy. It was with huge sadness that we learnt, on Sunday June 12th, that south-west dealer and longtime Skywings supporter Simon Murphy had died peacefully after a long illness. While working in insurance in the City of London, Simon pursued a parallel career in karting and motor racing. He began flying in the mid-1970s and soon began selling flying kit. It was a move he described as financially foolish, but it was one he never regretted. Thus began The Flying Circus, based at Turfhouse in a remote Devon valley near Honiton. Simon’s home was also close to the disused Smeatharpe airfield, that in the wouldwas to become the towing base of the Devon and Somerset Condors. It was a club he flew with and supported throughout his flying career. The Flying Circus was never about units sold; always about brilliant customer service. ‘When you concentrate on enjoying life,’ ran Simon’s mantra, ‘everything becomes better and less stressful for all involved.’ He flew hang gliders and paragliders purely for enjoyment, but nevertheless held the Smeatharpe XC record for almost 25 years. Universally popular, revered by everyone he came into contact with and respected by customers across the world, Simon was perhaps the nicest, most stand-up bloke our sport has ever produced. BHPA 500 Club WIN CASH PRIZES AND HELP THE ASSOCIATION! May winners Guy Fitzgibbon £130.40 Donald Mapp £65.20 Elizabeth Delap £32.60 Adam Anthony £19.56 Chris Glasspool £16.30 Frank Ribbons £16.30 Scott Machin £13.04 Jonathan Greenwood £13.04 Stefan Smalley £9.78 Nigel Waller £9.78 BHPA £326.00 If by the time you read this you have not received your cheque, please contact me on 07802 525099. Marc AsquithAs Martin Baxter pointed out in his response, we represent only a very small proportion of the users of UK airspace, and we’re better off working together rather than against one another. Paramotoring is currently growing at a faster rate than paragliding; we need to encourage power pilots to become members, not to alienate them. This would mean more pilots completing a recognised course of training and obtaining a rating, and more clout when it comes to airspace and regulation, and we make ourselves a more attractive insurance prospect with reduced membership fees. Win, win, win. We’re all required to comply with SERA: the Standard European Rules of the Air and air law. Probably the most important rule is that pilots may not fly closer than 500ft to any person, vessel, vehicle or structure (this does not apply to an aircraft taking off or landing, or to gliders that are ridge-soaring). Anyone breaking these rules can be reported to the CAA, which has the authority to fine offenders and/or confiscate their equipment. Power pilots should have permission from the landowner for all take-offs and landings, and it’s good practice not to loiter in any one area for too long. If flying XC, the principle is ‘take-off and clear off’. Circuit flying requires careful planning and sensitivity towards the local population. It is unfortunate that the ‘500ft rule’ does not specify livestock; but if you are flying low enough to spook livestock, and in particular horses, then it’s obvious that you will be upsetting people. It is courteous to avoid hill soaring sites, which most BHPA clubs list on their websites. Whilst it might be very tempting to buzz your mates who are ‘parawaiting’, please remember that some hill soaring sites are sensitive, that the mutually-agreed rules probably don’t cover power, and that if lost, finding another suitable hill that faces into wind isn’t as easy as finding another flat field. Mountainous areas are well utilised by the military for low flying during the working week. For this reason, it isn’t sensible to fly down the middle of a valley below 1,000ft AGL. In my opinion BHPA pilots are responsible and courteous, but only about half of UK paramotor pilots are members on the BHPA. It’s unlikely that the non-members will read this article, but the power pilots amongst us do monitor various paramotor forums and social media, and offer advice and guidance where appropriate. Whilst it’s unlikely that a power pilot will join a hill club (why would you?), hill clubs have no authority over power pilots who are flying legally. If you experience a problem, try to resolve it calmly, politely explaining any local sensitivity, with a reminder of the ‘500ft rule’ if necessary. The aim of the game is to make friends rather than enemies. Julie Drake, BHPA Exec. Member and power pilot. [Attention is also drawn to the BHPA Code of Conduct for paramotor and other SPHG pilots, which can be found at Courteous flying In the June edition of Skywings there was an account of the problems faced by a local soaring club due to paramotors spooking a pony-trekking outfit. As both a paramotor and paragliding pilot I’ve experienced animosity first hand, and I’d like to offer a view from my perspective.Next >