No. 410 JUNE 2023 The magazine of the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association2 SKYWINGS JUNE 2023 I have been competing worldwide for 39 years, often with the privilege of help from these sources. Sponsorship and funding has allowed me to achieve great success and many personal achievements: a Royal Aero Club silver medal; ranking No. 1 in the FAI paragliding Accuracy WPRS, and several individual and team FAI Gold, Silver and Bronze medals. As well as being sponsored as an individual pilot or team member, my business, Green Dragons Airsports, has been a key player for many years, offering sponsorship to pilots, teams and events. And as a member of BHPA comps panels have spent a lot of time discussing sponsorship with competition pilots. I’ve also spent useful time looking at sponsorship and funding successes with BHPA Comps Directors Bill Bell and Jenny Buck. In the past the BHPA and its clubs have run big events which have needed a huge amount of funding. During the 1980s and ‘90s I worked on BHPA Exec with Dave Wootton and Merv Turner, and with other BHPA schools, running Association promotions at national events at Earls Court, London Olympia and Birmingham NEC. We learnt that such exposure was great PR and attracted a lot of people to the sport. But long hours on their feet sometimes saw people not enjoying the job. This is understandable – we are outside people, not salesmen; we are pilots! We can sell what we love doing, but after a day or two it can take its toll! Nevertheless sponsorship opportunities are out there, and we should take advantage of them when we can. I have realised that it’s time to share my experience as both recipient and provider of sponsorship and to offer my support to anyone wishing to raise sponsorship funding, or to any company wishing to sponsor a pilot or a team. I would also like to form a BHPA sponsorship working group. I understand that competitions are not for everyone. However I cannot thank the competition environment enough for all that it has done for my flying abilities over the years. Competition has taught me to understand my personal skill sets fast, allowing me to consistently review my skills. And competition teaches patience, to know when to listen to those more experienced, and to find ways to safely push yourself to new levels. Many of these skills I have been able to apply to other areas in life. Why sponsorship? Why do competitions, and those competing, need sponsorship? Because competitions can no longer be funded just by entry fees and the goodwill of family and friends to provide a good, safe competition. To have the right number of marshals, medical cover, facilities, support, memorabilia and much more requires additional funds. Funds are also needed to help train the BHPA national teams and run training camps. For many competitors and teams, the cost of training and competing will always mean compromises. Competitors and teams who attract and work with sponsors will be able to train more, compete more, and ultimately reach the final goal of winning. What are sponsors looking for? Organisations will sponsor pilots and competitions as an alternative form of advertising, to create awareness of their brand or a specific product. The key to successful sponsorship is engagement between the competition, or pilot, and the sponsor’s brand. It’s important to manage expectations by finding out exactly what sponsors hope to accomplish. An agreement that outlines what will be offered is important, to ensure both parties are clear. Some competitions may have specific packages, e.g. Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze levels of sponsorship; others prefer to work with sponsors directly to come up with solutions tailored to their goals. Does sponsorship have an expiry date? Yes and no! It may be agreed that a particular sponsorship package is for one year, or one specific competition or series. However individual pilot sponsorship may be different. If someone has sponsored me once in my life, I have always continued to promote their services above and beyond the scope of our agreement. This has often helped me, years later, when I have needed their services, and it demonstrates my commitment to future sponsors I may be trying to attract. If we get sponsorship will BHPA competitions funding be cut? I would suggest no, because I believe that the BHPA sees a comps panel working hard to raise funds as a positive, and will invest to promote the sport in the long term. How can we be more effective at attracting sponsors? There are two ways to look at BHPA competitions promotions, sponsorship funding and marketing. We can employ a Sponsorships and Promotions Officer to address the issue, or we can recruit a dedicated team from the different comps panels to concentrate on sponsorship and promotion. My suggestion is that we have just one person from each BHPA discipline to form a working group under the BHPA Competitions Director. A team could work under such headings as trophies, T-shirts, merchandise, radios, trackers, launches, flights to overseas competitions and FAI sanction fees. In the past we have been able to attract big sponsors such as Foster’s Lager, the Abbey National Building Society, the Daily Telegraph, Citroën and Jeep. It would be great to reassemble a co-ordinated team that could bring back big organisations keen to sponsor airsports. To summarise, I am keen to hear from anyone wishing to help form a BHPA sponsorship group. If the various competitions panels worked together we could put together a very appealing sponsorship package. We could even bring other airsports on board and create a working group for sponsorship and funding for national airsports teams and national events. Please contact me on 01883 652666, 07860 875567 attitude Going for Gold! - seeking sponsorship and funding ANDY SHAW, LONGTIME COMPETITOR AND ORGANISER Over the years, sponsorship and funding has been of great assistance to BHPA pilots, teams and events. This support has been achieved by various means: commercial input, Sports Council funding and RAeC Trust Bursaries, even funding by Army Cadet, Scout and University clubs. Photo: Myrianthe Ewington 4 SKYWINGS JUNE 2023 regulars reviews features 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 Gin’s new bobbly-leading-edge Bonanza 3 under test in the Dolomites Photo: Gin Gliders THIS PAGE Alan Webb looking down on Old Harry Rocks, Studland, Dorset, on April 8th. Photo: Alan Webb 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 August issue must be submitted to the Skywings office by Friday June 30th. Letters for the July Airmail pages should arrive no later than Friday June 16th. Advertisement bookings for the July edition must arrive by Monday June 12th. Copy and classified bookings no later than the following Monday June 19th. JUNE 2023 SKYWINGS 56 SKYWINGS JUNE 2023 news Another Raptors challenge Last year the RAF Regiment’s Raptors paramotor team took on a month of non-stop flying to circumnavigate the UK coastline; now they are preparing for another challenge. For Exercise Paramotor Challenge 30 they will fly over 200 miles from Catterick to Honington, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the RAF Regiment moving to their current base in Suffolk. Their route south will also take in Belton Park near Grantham, the Regiment’s original pre-1946 depot. In late July or early August, Sqn Ldr Tim Taylor (pictured, left) and Flt Lt Mike O’Hara will launch from Catterick, site of the old Regimental depot, to fly to RAF Honington, their present home, in two days. Tim commands 2623 Sqn at Honington; Mike is deputy commander of RAF Waddington’s 2503 Squadron. They will be supported on the ground by Flt Lt Jimmy Martin. The two experienced pilots started out in paragliding before progressing to paramotoring at Wingland’s UFly4Fun school. Paramotor Challenge 30 is intended to highlight the work of the RAF Benevolent Fund and the Regiment’s Centurion Fund, supporting serving personnel and the veteran community. We’ll be carrying further details of their progress in these pages. Meanwhile, if you’re on the route from Catterick to Suffolk via Belton Park in the summer, look up and wave! Popham report ‘Popham’ is shorthand for the annual Microlight Trade Show, held this year on April 29th-30th. It’s usually at Popham airfield in Hampshire, close to Basingstoke and the M3. A microlight fair wouldn’t have offered much for free flyers in the past, but the continued expansion of the sub-70 and SSDR markets has seen a number of new manufacturers and models enter the market. There’s significant interest for the power section of the BHPA there now. Microlite Aviation produces the Fly (pictured in foreground), a bespoke sub-70 trike for use with Avian (background) and Aeros wings, and will soon offer a similar machine for SSDR work. Engine options include Vittorazi Moster, EOS 150, the Corsair range and Air Conception’s Nitro and Revolution. Anglo-Indian manufacturer Ace Aviation displayed the Spirit (sub) 70 and SSDR Touch, also with a number of engines. They have a complete range of trikes too but the two-seaters aren’t UK certified. Avian were prominent on the Microlite stand with several wings on display. Tim Swait has been embracing new technologies to reduce the number of prototypes required to perfect a production sail. His latest trike wing, the RioT-13, has been CFD-modelled and then detailed on a 3D CAD system. The process allows 3D sail segments to be translated into flat panels to produce the right curves (sail shape) when they are stitched together. It has led to a number of visible improvements, especially in shaping the leading edge around the LE tube and spanwise. Avian wings have been used on Flylight’s Peabee and Adam trikes and the Airplay Snake. There are also trike versions of the Fly, Rio 2 15/17 and Puma. Most of the rest of the show embraced the expansion of the microlight category to 600kg maximum weight. The sub-70s and SSDRs were a beacon of affordable aviation in a row of aircraft with six-figure price tags. [Report & photo: Steve Uzochukwu] Flyeo upgrades Flyeo have moved into new premises at Doussard. Their attractive new space includes two chalets for teaching, areas to relax and to repack reserves, and a shop. They have also upgraded their SIV Learning Management System, a program that allows them to manage your course, provide an introduction video and outline what you’ll learn. It includes tests to check out a pilot’s understanding, principles of how they teach SIV, key theory and training that can be done in advance, goal- setting and so on. Videos from the day’s work in the air are uploaded to a course channel, allowing students to download and share their clips and study their post- flight instructor reviews. Women’s flying meet-up The women’s Telegram group are organising a women’s flying meet, hosted by the South East Wales club, on July 15-16th. ‘Anyone from any club is welcome to attend,’ writes Rhian Ebrey, ‘and if the weather is good we will go flying. If not, we will still go ahead, whether that’s a hike or something else – to be confirmed later.’ The idea is to bring the female pilot community together, and to have a great time whatever the weather. South East Wales have offered access to all their sites, with a liaison officer in place for their more sensitive locations. Camping is available at the Pyscodlyn Caravan Park – book through their website mention that you’re part of the women’s flying weekend. There’s no need to book for the meet-up itself, just turn up. To join the women’s Telegram group email The photo shows Naomi Fox at Hay Bluff last August, about to fly her new wing while CP training with Ali Andrews’ Crickhowell Paragliding school [Photo: Henry George Creative]JUNE 2023 SKYWINGS 7 BHPA member Richard Barber was recently shown round the new premises by Malin Lobb. ‘Flyeo’s new place is remarkable,’ he says. ‘They have always been leaders in SIV, and the new set-up takes them to the next level. I was struck by the new big-screen simulator, used to practice manoeuvres to see what works and what doesn’t. It can be paused at any moment to make coaching points. And a mobile big screen allows immediate video analysis on landing. I have no commercial interest here, I’m just super impressed!’ Flyeo are Kirsty becomes female pilots’ rep In response to the small numbers of female pilots representing the UK at international competitions, Kirsty Cameron has offered to help rectify the situation. As Comps Panel’s female pilots’ representative, she plans to encourage, support and mentor female pilots, with a goal of getting them onto podiums in five years. Kirsty, our most successful female competition pilot, has represented the UK in seven FAI Category 1 competitions. Currently in retirement from competition flying, she is now chasing distance records at home and overseas. She will be advising the Comps Panel as well as working with individual pilots. Icarus Cup update As reported earlier, the 2023 Icarus Cup will take place from June 24th to July 2nd at Manston Airport, where a 2.7km runway offers ample space for HPA operations. The absence of other flying activity (except the BOPC) should lead to more airtime, and perhaps fewer 3am starts! At least six HPAs are expected to compete. These will include both Aerocycles (301 pictured), Betterfly and SUHPA’s Super Lazarus, plus new contender La Dash, fielded by Bordeaux University. Super Lazarus has received significant upgrades since last year’s first successful flights, The teams are keen to welcome new pilots with flying experience – and the ability to pedal at a sustained 350W for 30 seconds! The BHPFC is also keen to welcome volunteer marshalls; if you’re interested, get in touch with them are welcome. Full details are Chris Williams update Chris Williams’ St Valentine’s Day downfall article (April Skywings) generated many positive comments from those who hadn’t already heard his story. In March a meeting with his rescuers was featured on the local evening BBC TV news. There has also been a nice twist to Chris’s fundraising efforts. Within eight days of launching an appeal he had reached his initial goal – to pay for the ‘ticket’ for his rescue by Wiltshire Air Ambulance – by raising the £3,000 cost. In April Chris set himself the challenge of walking a mile a day to focus people’s minds on his recovery. Although it sounds like a bad idea for someone with a broken pelvis, it is exactly what his physios wanted him to do. Having reached his target, he received a donation from Judy Leden, challenging him to go for a further £3,000 to put another rescue ‘in the bank’. The target figure was reached on April 23rd and the total now stands at £7,100. In March Chris had run a Zoom talk for for local paragliding clubs, recording it to allow those who missed it it to catch up. This in- depth analysis of what happened, and his theories of how it could have been avoided, has had over 14,000 views worldwide and generated comments from as far afield as Chile and Australia. He has even had a fellow paraglider pilot join him on his daily walks – in Chicago! ‘The main thing,’ says Chris, ‘is that many pilots have seen my accident as something that could easily have happened to them. I wasn’t messing about on a hot wing in unsuitable conditions, and it has served as a useful wake-up call for many.’ BHPA overseas insurance reminder All members are reminded of the terms under which they are covered by BHPA insurance when flying abroad. Full time UK- resident members flying within BHPA rules are covered by the Association’s 3rd-party insurance for a maximum of 120 days when travelling abroad (excluding USA and Canada) on a temporary basis, i.e. on holiday. This does not mean 120 flying days, it means days out of the UK, even if you only get one day’s flying during that period. The intention is to limit our insurers’ exposure to flying outside the UK. Some members have thought it possible to circumvent this limit by playing with dates, or providing a UK address at which they were not truly full-time resident. In these days of date-stamped passports such ploys will inevitably be exposed and cover declined. No BHPA cover is available to those temporarily or permanently resident abroad, except British Team members who have paid an additional sum for an FAI Sporting Licence to be covered whilst resident in Europe. In brief Overseas comp insurance. It will be welcome news to travelling comp pilots that an insurance provider has entered the market to provide paragliding-specific travel insurance covering competition flying. Campbell Irvine Ltd provide Lloyds-backed European and Worldwide travel insurance for pilots participating in paragliding comps, and already arrange such cover for a few British pilots. Their underwriters are made fully aware that pilots are entering a competition, and welcome enquiries from BHPA members. proposal form, which will require details of travel dates, countries to be visited and details of the competition entered, including a link to the comp website. NYSC app. In the interest of maintaining goodwill at the Model Ridge, their main site, the North Yorks Sailwing Club have a new Android app to ensure members and visiting pilots are aware of the site rules. Designed by Peter Finnis, it offers club membership and provides directions and take-off locations. Sites rules for all NYSC sites are listed, and emergency procedures. Find it at the Google Play App Store: NYSC Paragliding. BHPA 500 Club WIN CASH PRIZES AND HELP THE ASSOCIATION! April winners Chris Wood £131.00 John Blofield £65.50 Graham Shand £32.75 Henry Hookings £19.65 Paul Treadwell £16.38 James Styles £16.38 Alison Darling £13.10 Alison Darling £13.10 Ann Matterson £9.83 Patrick Bryne £9.83 BHPA £327.48 If by the time you read this you have not received your cheque, please contact me on 07802 525099. Marc Asquith 8 SKYWINGS JUNE 2023 news My gratitude must go to Marc Asquith as he stands down after 17 years (in two separate stints), and I am thankful he remains close by for his enduring expertise. I am assured that, with the willingness of the Exec and BHPA staff, I will survive in post slightly longer than our most recent female PM … here’s hoping! It is important to acknowledge the contributions of individuals like Marc, and the whole of Exec who volunteer their time and expertise to the organisation. Their legacy serves as a reminder of the impact that one person can have with a team, and the importance of recognising their efforts. As Chair it is important to promote collaboration and respect among all members regardless of discipline; hang gliding, paragliding, accuracy and paramotoring – flying is flying. As a member who has flown both hang gliders and paragliders (and a bit of sailplane), the advances in technology, wing design and safety in the last 30 years continue to drive all disciplines forward, but it is the people that make our sport. Whether an instructor, club pilot, coach, competition pilot, organiser, retrieve driver or club committee member, everyone plays a part in this sport that has been integral to my life since I first went tandem with my dad at the age of eight. In my day job in the Royal Navy, the core values of the Service align with my position as Chair: loyalty, integrity and commitment come to mind. I am dedicated to continuing the excellent work of those that have gone before me; fostering an environment where everyone’s ideas and contributions are valued. I am looking forward to serving as your Chair, formally taking over at the June Exec meeting; give me a few months and I’ll report back more fully. For all of you who have taught and mentored me along the way, this is your fault. But to the two men of free flying I knew the longest, my father Rod and Simon Murphy – if they’ re watching from up there, I hope to make them proud. Cdr Jenny Buck ARRC Jenny Buck takes over the BHPA helm As a member of the BHPA since 1989, it is an honour to have been elected to the position of Chair of the Association. Serving on Exec for the past two years has enlightened me to the often-complicated behind-the- scenes wranglings of the organisation I have long been served by. The Office staff and Technical team, combined with Exec, are committed to their respective tasks and, as Joe reported from the AGM, are truly a band of brothers and sisters. I am excited about the opportunity to work with such a dedicated group, and committed to ensuring that our efforts are productive and representative of the membership’s needs.JUNE 2023 SKYWINGS 9 book review BHPA Pilot Handbook By Mark Dale The BHPA Pilot Handbook evolved from the long-time practice of a special Training Edition of Skywings, gathering together established wisdom and some already-published articles. In 2000 this became one element of a substantial body of work by then BHPA Senior Tech Officer Mark Dale. The original book soon became a useful complement to the advice given by Instructors and Coaches. By the third edition in 2008 it had become accepted as an indispensable manual for all those moving through Club Pilot to attain Pilot level. It went on through successive reprints to sell over 14,000 copies. A fourth major revision in 2023 might seem long overdue. I learn that continual uncertainty about the shape and extent of UK airlaw in the run-up to, and aftermath of, Brexit had forced repeated postponement of the project. Nevertheless it is surprising how much of the information and advice has remained secure. Although several sections have been substantially rewritten, the latest version is a revision rather than a brand new magnum opus. But it is bang up to date and completely accurate on current Air Law. Some individual sections are aimed specifically at hang glider or paraglider pilots, but there is much that is common to both – and indeed all – air users. Paragliding is a sport where physics is most relevant, and we all know ye cannae change it; the sections on launching, landing and flying techniques are largely unaltered, yet still fit well with practical training. But the world – and the Handbook – have moved on too: emergency parachutes have become square, AFNOR and ACPUL have graciously bowed out, B-line stalling comes with reservations. Despite Brexit, Air Law remains largely consistent with common sense, and Meteorology – physics again! – has stayed very near unchanged. The dangers of self-induced impairment now include psychoactive drugs; GPS smartphones are everywhere and cameras are not; electronic conspicuity is very much current. All are addressed within. The illustrations, by Colin and Louis Fargher and Dave Barber, continue to be excellent and informative, and enhance each section. A glossary, list of abbreviations and index make finding things very accessible, so dipping in and out is easy. Any omissions to quibble over? Perhaps more on pod harnesses for paraglider pilots, which are working their way down the pilot ladder, I wondered. But in fact, and to the author’s credit, over-sophisticating sections are beyond the intended scope of this work. This is intended to be the book that every hang glider or paraglider CP should own, relevant to and building on their base knowledge as they progress into the great and joyful world of recreational flying, XC flight and even competitions. I read the Pilot Handbook from end to end. I was left feeling that if all the pilots around me had done the same I would be much more comfortable in the air. It should be a compulsory read for all those progressing beyond CP as a first book buy; better still – I would give it to everyone starting training. As you start to leave the shelter of your school, or the vigilant care of your Coach, the Pilot Handbook should be your guide. It recommends itself. [Bill Morris] The BHPA Pilot Handbook (4th Edition) by Mark Dale, 140 x 210mm hardback, 300 pages, ISBN: 978-0-9538468-3-2, is available from the good bookshops and many BHPA schools.Next >