No. 403 NOVEMBER 2022 The magazine of the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association2 SKYWINGS NOVEMBER 2022 attitude Over the past few years I have tried to remove the word “can’t” from my vocabulary. A combination of divorce, the pandemic, and engaging with a wide range of adventure literature made me realise that I was too often held back by a fear of the unknown and a lack of imagination. Having expanded my horizons and reaped the benefits, I’d encourage you to stop thinking about why you can’t do X or Y, and instead think about the conditions necessary to make possible whatever it might be. Whether you choose to execute it is a different question; working out how you can is in itself a fun exercise, for me anyway. This approach has been kind to me this summer and facilitated an incredible series of flying adventures. The flying was fun but the mischief, the very real chance that it could end in disappointment, as is too often the case with free flying, made the experiences what they were. It started off when I was offered a room staying with a fantastic couple, Jeremy and Lucy Heath, for a week in Chamonix whilst my boss was also WFH in Morzine. It made sense for us to catch up in person, but nigh-on impossible to get between the locations without a car … unless you had a paraglider and a favourable forecast. Waking up on the proffered day, I did an hour’s work before packing my laptop and heading for the Brévent to fly a route I’d never attempted before. The weather gods were on my side despite a couple of nervous moments – seeing the pilots stuck on take-off under the inversion at Samoëns was not a good sign! Fortunately I managed to make the crux move, and not long afterwards I was spiralling down into the landing field at Morzine. My appetite whetted, I spied an excellent forecast for the following weekend and proposed, via the club committee, a BCC round at Combe Gibbet. Only to be told that my godmother was staying at my mother’s by Poole harbour, and if in the country I was expected to make an appearance. Bugger! In theory had I returned from France to see them, albeit planning to do so via a circuitous airborne route around Bournemouth airspace and, if the sea breeze played ball, possibly onto the beach at Sandbanks. A few dicey low saves, a sea- breeze facilitated run along Ballard Down, an open-top bus ride from Swanage later and I was there! The following weekend’s forecast was for easterlies, with lighter winds and record-breaking cloudbase predicted for the Sunday. The only snag being a train strike on Saturday that would make retrieves almost impossible. Embracing the challenge, I hopped on one of the last trains to Pewsey on Friday evening and walked 5km to Martinsell, an unofficial site in the Thames Valley area that makes Sharpenhoe appear friendly! I wild-camped in my bivvy bag in the woods behind take-off and planned to fly to Malvern ready for Big Sunday. What could possibly go wrong?! The morning brought an improved forecast, via the fantastic daily briefing from Lasham, and the realisation that my plan might be achievable! I was then joined by local pilot Ella Proffitt and a couple of Polish pilots who turned up. After climbing out, Ella and I bumped into a frustrating inversion at 3000ft, giving us almost no leeway to fly crosswind between climbs as we were pushed towards Bristol airspace. I got lucky and was able to punch through the inversion, which facilitated a change in direction. As I made my way north the conditions improved and small cumulus started to appear. The wind slackened and the inversion cleared, allowing climbs to above 8000ft in convergence near Stroud. Further north I could see pilots flying Malvern. Landing on the hill there I met Ben Seddon-Harvey, who very kindly offered me his spare room for the night and a lift back to the hill on Sunday! Pumped full of adrenaline, I struggled to sleep. Having used my last peetube condom, I couldn’t risk properly hydrating if I wanted to do a big flight. By the morning I was in a shabby state, but buoyed by a brief exchange with Guy Anderson, who suggested trying his recent speed record triangle (congratulations!) in reverse. I adapted it to stay away from airspace as much as possible – who knew FL75 would ever be a problem? – and headed off. At the Beacon we met Steve Ashley and Tom Wycherley (who provided me a condom – thank you), and Ella joined us too. My 112km FAI triangle plan was summarily dismissed as too optimistic, given how late it was. In truth, idleness is the only thing that stopped me amending it to something less ambitious. After an hour of exhaustion-based incompetence, I finally managed to climb out at 13:50 with Matt Fiddes, who did an incredible job of staying synchronised with me as we climbed straight to over 6500ft! Sadly he headed off towards Worcester while I, with minimal expectations, set off to attempt my triangle. The first leg was easy going, the second not so much. I couldn’t connect with any decent climbs, and by the time I got to Kidderminster I had given up hope of getting back … only to find a climb that took me to 9500ft over my second turnpoint at 17:30. With no realistic hope of making it back to Malvern I headed for Worcester, only to find myself on a convergence line. To top it off, I bimbled into a blue thermal that took me back to 6500ft, and the chance of connecting with the last decent-looking cloud east of Worcester. Only losing 2000ft on that 10km into-wind glide, I made it to the cloud, then up and back to the hill, with an easy retrieve thanks to Ella, who drove me to Swindon station (thank you). A lot of the above was luck and imagination, but it is no coincidence that my best flight was the one that was planned with Guy Anderson’s help. If you look at the XC League, you’ll notice there are cabals of good pilots who fly together and push themselves onto greater things. Getting your own groups together, ideally with a mix of personalities, is a good way to make better decisions. It’s more fun, and when it doesn’t work you have more fun on the retrieves, and can laugh about your stupidity in the pub afterwards. Who’s holding you back? RICHARD BARBER, TVHGC CHAIRMAN Photo: Jonn y Fo x4 SKYWINGS NOVEMBER 2022 regulars regulars features NOVEMBER 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 Luc Armant and Ozone Zeno 2 above Gourdon, Provence, France. Photo: Olivier Laugero THIS PAGE Pete Montgomery and Falcon 4 behind the Malvern group tug at Defford Photo: Peter Montgomery 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 January issue must be submitted to the Skywings office by Friday December 2nd. Letters for the December Airmail pages should arrive no later than Friday November 18th. Advertisement bookings for the December edition must arrive by Saturday 12th November. Copy and classified bookings no later than the following Friday November 18th6 SKYWINGS NOVEMBER 2022 news Tom Cruise boosts speed-flying’s rep Much fuss up north this summer, where filming for the next Mission: Impossible has been going on for some time. Global cultural icon Tom Cruise, a stunt team and two helicopters have been involved in speed flying the Lake District for some weeks. There have been many local sightings of TC being choppered up to High Crag before speed-flying down to Buttermere below. Many passing walkers have been able to chat and have their picture taken. ‘He was nice and polite and really humble,’ said one. ‘He apologised for the noise of the helicopters and asked if we were alright. He was making sure everybody who wanted to got their photos with him.’ TC is well known for doing his own stunt work including, now, speed flying. As might be expected, local expert Gordie Oliver is in the loop as TC’s stunt crew are all regulars at the Buttermere Bash. Gordie has been helping his friends out with local permissions and smoothing the way with farmers, etc. The M:I team, led by stunt co-ordinator Wade Eastwood, includes French speed flier Valentine Delluc (see From Avoriaz with Love – a recent prizewinner at St Hilaire – on YouTube) and New Zealand speed flier and cameraman Malachi Templeton. The canopies involved are specially-made Ozone Rapido 3 speed- flying wings without any identifying marks. The two helicopters were involved in repeated return trips to launch and in filming the descents, for which a cumbersome gimballed, gyro-stabilised speed flying camera rig was also used, worn by Malachi. Some footage taken by passers-by also seemed to include free-fall rigs with deployment drogues trailing. Already an accomplished paraglider pilot, having trained in Morzine in 2019, TC was reported to have undergone further speed-flying training last year at a school at Val d’Isère where Valentine Delluc is an instructor. More than this we don’t know. A call to Wade Eastwood merely elicited the information that everything was covered by NDAs and the team weren’t allowed to say anything to anyone on pain of instant death. However we can reveal that TC was in the area last year putting the finishing touches to Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1, due for release in July next year. The filming in July and August of this year, and again later in September, is part of Dead Reckoning Part 2, the film for which an entire express steam locomotive was thrown off a Peak District cliff last year. Dead Reckoning Part 2 is due for release in 2024. We expect that both films will generate positive publicity for paragliding, speed flying, the Lake District and, of course, Ozone. Hats off to all involved! Including Tom Cruise, who has cemented his reputation locally as a very nice bloke. [Photo: Gage Skidmore] Coupe Icare The festival, at St. Hilaire from September 20th-25th, was longer and bigger than in previous years, following cancellation in 2020 and a much smaller festival in 2021. A two-day ‘testival’ element has been added to the trade fair, film festival and flying fancy dress components. The weather was good, the late summer/early autumn inversion breaking to give appreciable height gains, allowing gliders to be properly tested. There was strong demand to fly the market’s only two-line EN C glider, Air Design’s Volt 4. Niviuk were able to show their Artik R two-liner in action; wings in this category from Phi and Sol may also fly this year. Several other manufacturers have gliders that should appear at Thermik, Stübai or Kössen in 2023. That’s the gains on the festival, but there is one significant loss – the iconic funicular railway that ran from close to the Lumbin landing field to less than 150m from take-off. Opened in 1924, it was very close to its centenary when forced to close last winter by a sequence of heavy snowfall, avalanches, rock falls, torrential rain and mudslides. It will remain shut at least until 2024. The Expo covers two big marquees and includes everything, from clothing through wings to engines and paramotor trikes. It’s a great place to try almost every harness on the market, of which there were a fair few new types. There isn’t space to cover all the fantastic products, but I’ve picked a couple of stand-out ones. The first is a parachute ejector system. It’s compatible with almost every harness, requires no physical modification and retains the traditional deployment method as a fallback. The heart of the system is an airbag and CO2 canister. The airbag sits at the opposite end of the reserve container from the exit, occupying imperceptible space. The ejector handle completes a circuit, triggering a very small pyrotechnic to breach the CO2 cylinder. The airbag inflates, ejecting the parachute at 10m/s. The reserve container is held shut by weak links rather than the standard Nylon wires; the ejector handle can be placed anywhere within reason for easy access. The standard reserve handle remains in place. Tests have been done in flight, and on the DHV centrifuge at up to 4G. More info The second is the new Ellipse sub-70. UK prices are not finalised but the trike is €7,600 and the wing is €4,900, both with French VAT included. The trike is a version of the Alizé already used in their SSDR, and the wing is the Squall in the 14.5m2 size. Further developments to the Alizé in the SSDR role have led to a NOVEMBER 2022 SKYWINGS 7 touring version with panniers, a lower-cost version with a two- stroke rather than four-stroke engine, and a larger instrument panel with a one-minute on/off option without tools. The Coupe Icare is also the stage for big announcements and we had two of note for our area of the sport. The first was a new world paragliding competition series based on sport-class racing. The intention is to hold a number of events across all continents at FAI Category 2 level, with one basic criterion – gliders must be certified at EN C or below. Airtribune is partnering with XCMag to run the series, with a European bias for the startup next year. The comps will be stand-alone events, with an overall annual winner decided by a points formula. The series is aimed at pilots who want to fly up to international level without requiring a competition glider. Mike Campbell-Jones announced a new venture he is part of, to catalogue and help preserve the biodiversity of plant species. The intention is to access remote forest areas, initially in South America, with minimal impact using 4x4s and paramotors. Mike (and Pascal C-J) intend to mobilise thousands of paramotor pilots worldwide. They will assist in the collection of seeds and plant specimens for cataloguing, preservation and research by partner organisations like RBG at Kew. Of specific interest is the harnessing of fog to trap moisture and allow crop cultivation in arid areas. More information This year saw a British entrant in the film festival, The Nepal Traverse Diary. Directed and edited by Martin Cray, it’s about Tosh Mackintosh’s solo vol-biv journey across Nepal. The film contains epic flying; after the weather turns against him Tosh is forced to fly through the foothills of the Himalayas, opening up a fantastic human interaction story. The film was very well received and both Tosh and Martin spoke on stage after the showing. They saw the screening as a test for audience engagement in the human aspects of the story and were very pleased with the reaction. It’s 25 years since I went to my first Coupe Icare, and this year was the 49th one. I bumped into Pat Holmes from UK Airsports, who has been attending them since the 1980s; we both would love to be at the 50th one. [Report by Steve Uzochukwu] BHPA AGM The Association’s 2023 AGM will take place at Loughborough University on February 25th. This is the moment to learn what the Association’s many volunteers and its small but effective staff are doing on your behalf, and to make suggestions as to its future direction. All members are welcome to attend; the meeting can also be accessed online via the BHPA Facebook page If you think you might want to join the Exec team steering the Association but are unsure of what is involved, contact any Exec member for details (or Chairman Marc Asquith: 01625 860446/ be received at the BHPA Office by Monday November 28th; contact them for a form. Election papers will appear in the January issue of this magazine Nominations are also sought for BHPA Merit Awards. Don’t hesitate to nominate someone you fly or work with who has put commendable effort into the sport over a number of years. Citations for these must arrive at the BHPA Office by Friday December 30th. Certificates will be presented at the AGM or other suitable occasion. The AGM venue will be at Loughborough University’s Holywell Park Conference Centre, LE11 3GR. There is accommodation nearby; contact them for details. PWC Gochang Superb organisation, assisted by Gin Seok Song, led to a brilliant Korean comp in early October. With only three tasks but a lot of off-hill cultural action, the comp ended on a high with a banquet of local cuisine. Clear winner was Macedonia’s Martin Jovanoski (Boomerang 12), from Czech Jan Jares (Enzo 3) and local pilot Seyong Jung (Boomerang 12). Martin also won the first PWC 2022 round in Turkey. Violeta Jimenez (Enzo 3) led the ladies, from local Hyunhee Kim (DaVinci Opera) and fellow-American Galen Kirkpatrick (Enzo 3). Hungary’s Richárd Gabrieli (Zeno 2, 12th) was the highest placed newcomer in a very competitive field. Brits Julian Robinson (Gin Leopard) and Idris Birch (Enzo 3) finished 43rd and 58th. Full report next month. In brief Winter H&F course. December in southern Spain offers good flying conditions and favourable temperatures for hiking. FlySpain are running an entry-level H&F course that includes daily briefs, navigation and route choice, equipment and packing, safety equipment and safe strategies. Routes will vary in difficulty – the choice is yours. Dates are December 3rd - 10th; details are XC in Colombia (January 28th - February 11th), and a ‘Mentor Plus’ XC fortnight, also in Colombia (February 18th – March 4th). Paragliding fatality. It is with regret that we report the death of BHPA member Frank Lally, 59, in a paragliding accident at Oludeniz in Turkey on October 3rd. A BHPA Formal Investigation has been convened to investigate the circumstances of the accident and a report will appear in due course. We offer our sympathies to Frank’s family and friends. news BHPA 500 Club WIN CASH PRIZES AND HELP THE ASSOCIATION! September winners David Moy £128.00 Ann Matterson £64.00 John Edwards £32.00 Richard Sheppard £19.20 Stephen Flint £16.00 Nigel Waller £16.00 Colin Bamber £12.80 John Blofield £12.80 Rajdeep Patgiri £9.60 Dave Ward £9.60 BHPA £320.00 If by the time you read this you have not received your cheque, please contact me on 01625 860446. Marc Asquith You might ask what this body does and why, following Brexit, the UK continues to have any involvement? When it acts unanimously the EHPU can be very powerful. Not so long ago it forced CIVL to accept the Competition class of paragliders rather than the unrestricted (and demonstrably unsafe) Open class. As a result, after a season of flying competitions on EN D Class gliders, CIVL created the CCC class, an outcome acceptable both to the National Governing Bodies (including the BHPA) and CIVL. EHPU is the only voice we have that is listened to by EASA, the pan-EU version of the CAA. Air sports are represented at EASA by Europe Airsports (EAS), and EHPU has a seat at the EAS table where we are a strong and powerful voice. EAS has become sensitive to our requests for representation and is now very active on our behalf. The new threat is drones: Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Both EASA and the CAA are working on how to provide airspace use and collision-avoidance systems for all of General Aviation, of which we are a part. The CAA have been offering a subsidy to almost anyone who buys an EC device because they want to make them mandatory in due course. EASA is currently working on the basis that UAV operators have to be able to see and avoid a wide range of EC devices. The onus should be on the UAVs to avoid them, and EASA is looking at requiring UAV operators to be able to see ADS-B, Flarm, and GPS systems such as SafeSky. In Europe no one country can go it alone. We do not believe that, even after Brexit, the UK can adopt its own unique standard. It is therefore likely that the CAA will adopt something similar to European news EHPU PRESIDENT MARC ASQUITH REPORTS The European Hang Gliding and Paragliding Union, of which the BHPA is a significant member, exists to promote and protect hang gliding and paragliding in Europe. It is an independent, self-governing, non-profit association that consults with all relevant regulatory authorities in Europe for the benefit of our sports. Private Sites, exceptional accommodation, and fantastic BHPA instructors. Professionalism at its best! One Paragliding Centre for all your flying needs: CP completion BHPA Hill & Pilot tasks Low airtime holidays XC & Hike n Fly and much much more. Don't stay grounded over winter … +34 651 331 008NOVEMBER 2022 SKYWINGS 9 whatever EASA adopts. In fact the CAA is rushing ahead much faster than EASA and hope that they can set the standard for the rest of Europe. Our membership and involvement with EHPU is crucial now, and for the foreseeable future. The EHPU AGM The EHPU Presidency normally runs for one year from each February AGM, a date chosen to precede the annual CIVL Plenary. Presidents are nominated by the member states in alphabetical order. However the Covid pandemic delayed the 2021 AGM, which would have seen the conclusion of the Swiss Presidency, until September when the UK took over. In consultation with the national delegates, the EHPU Management Committee agreed to return to the February date; as a result both the Swiss and UK Presidencies have lasted around 18 months each. The UK-hosted EHPU AGM is scheduled for Saturday February 11th 2023 (the last UK AGM was in Edinburgh in 2003). The BHPA will host the meeting at the Lakeside Hotel & Spa in Newby Bridge at the foot of Lake Windermere. Arguably, hang gliding is pretty much 50 years old. The BHGA was formed in December 1974, and the sport had been going for two or three years before then. Paragliding is more confusing, but 50 years is not unreasonable. And it is pretty much 30 years since the foundation of the BHPA. Thus the 2023 EHPU AGM occurs at a number of significant anniversaries. At the end of each EHPU AGM we hold a dinner, and this year we plan to celebrate the various anniversaries. We have invited all the previous Chairmen of the BHGA and BAPC, together with those of the BHPA, to come as our guests. We have also invited some early exponents of our sports. We hope to see many old friends reunited for the first time in many years. The dinner is preceded by some local musical entertainment, and we have been lucky enough to secure Kathryn Tickell, a world renowned performer on the Northumbrian Pipes. The dinner will conclude with a guided whisky-tasting session from Angus Pinkerton. Dress is, of course, informal. In addition to the past Chairmen and the old stagers, there will be some places open to members. We expect the price to be around £35 per head. Booking will be through the BHPA office. LATE NEWS: GBAR 2023! As the last tug landed at last year’s Great British Aerotow Revival, the ask was ‘Will we do it again?’ Aerotow clubs around the country have put their hands up confirming tugs, tuggies and tow equipment, and the guys who run Deenethorpe airfield have said a big ‘Yes’, with the promise of additional facilities. So, YES! We will run the second Great British Aerotow Revival – GBAR ll. Planning is at an early stage. However we will be returning to Deenethorpe in Northamptonshire during the second half of May 2023 to hold an aerotow hang gliding event. Don’t miss out if you are not yet aerotow rated. Why not contact a local aerotow club and use the dull days between now and May to train and practise? More information will be provided in next month’s Skywings – until then, don’t book anything else for that time! Registration will open in December. Get ready for some frisky flying under Northamptonshire skies! [Tony Smith] Next >