No. 431 MARCH 2025 The magazine of the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding AssociationAs a bit of background, I’ve clocked up 2500 hours flying paragliders over 29 years, with 200 hours logged last year, split between coastal flying, ridge soaring and XC. I ended 2024 63rd in the XC League with 68 flights entered. I fly EN C wings, including the Ozone Photon 2-liner which I reserve for potential XC days. Seeing me flying XC on a 2-liner with an open harness generates some curiosity from people. ‘Why aren’t you flying a pod?’ they ask. This article explains why. I fly in all conditions, from nil-wind thermic days to conditions most people regard as too strong and demanding. Nil-wind thermic days are some of my favourites. I’ll forward launch to try and join a thermalling raptor with about a 30% chance of success, and bunch up and walk up the hill when I fail. I also like kiting up the hill when conditions allow, and I do a fair amount of ground handling. Pod harnesses are not nice for kiting and ground handling, and can be maddening when walking back up the hill with it banging into your heels. I enjoy scratching close to the terrain, working weak lift to get back up. I want my feet down instantly if I need to land. I love the simplicity of my open harness, with just a reserve and two buckles to check. I can be in the air five minutes after arriving, having done all necessary pre-flight checks. I’m often in the air 15-20 minutes before my friends with their pods, doing whatever it is they’re doing to get them airborne. Sometimes I’m 5km down track by then. I always wear high-ankle-support mountaineering type boots which prevent sprained ankles and wet feet. It seems pods are incompatible with these. I have a single leg-mounted flight instrument. Being a bit long sighted, I cannot focus on a flight deck. My harness was designed for aerodynamics, comfort and maximum safety, with a 30g test rating and lots of protection. Safety is important to me in harness selection. Even though pods are undoubtedly warmer, I am still in the air in mid- winter, hours after most pod flyers have landed, complaining about the cold. I simply wear more clothes. I enjoy a bit of wagga now and then and crank the glider up to high bank angles in thermal cores. And I love doing a wingover-into-spiral dive every so often. I fly with a relatively wide-open chest setting and enjoy a lot of feedback from my setup. This is not to everyone’s taste I know, but many pods are deliberately highly damped, with comparatively bad roll authority. Flying is mostly in your head. Conditions on a strong spring XC can be highly demanding. I simply feel safer in my open harness. I’ve less chance of a riser twist, which I’ve seen going into horrific cascades whilst competition flying. The aerodynamic argument for pods, whilst real, is overstated. In real-world gaggles, cross-country flying, and low- level competitions like the BPCup and Chabre Open, I’m at no disadvantage whatsoever. Climbing well, finding lift and picking a good line are far more important. Finally, I simply like flying along with my legs down, with one ankle hooked into the speed system, rather than my legs out in front of me. There seems to be an expectation that as you get more experienced at paragliding you will get a pod. Also, that you need a pod to do well at XC flying. It simply isn’t true. I see many low-airtime pilots and club members who only ridge soar who fly pods. When asked why, the answer is generally, ‘They’re warmer,’ or, ‘I like the position.’ Fair enough … but they’re throwing away a lot. And, in my opinion, not getting much in return. 2 SKYWINGS MARCH 2025 Photo: Russell Wh yte attitude Why don’t I fly a pod SEAN STAINES, HIGHLY- EXPERIENCE COMPETITION AND XC PILOT 4 SKYWINGS MARCH 2025 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 Emi Carvalho orbiting at the Châteaux d’Œx Festival International de Ballons, Switzerland, in January Photo: Emi Carvalho THIS PAGE Reaching the coast at Seaton last June, still with 75km to go. See full story on page 28. Photo: Andy Brown 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 SKYWINGS ONLINE All issues of Skywings magazine are now freely available DEADLINES News items and event/competition reports for the May issue must be submitted to the Skywings office by Friday March 28th. Letters for the April Airmail pages should arrive no later than Monday March 17th. Advertisement bookings for the March edition must arrive by Tuesday March 11th. Copy and classified bookings no later than the following Tuesday March 18th.MARCH 2025 SKYWINGS 5 regulars regulars features 6 SKYWINGS MARCH 2025 news Kinga’s roadtrip – the movie! Paragliding in the UK has long been a predominantly male sport. So what happens when you invite Kinga Masztalerz – legendary paragliding adventurer, X-Alps athlete and one of the world’s leading women pilots – to chase the flying weather through England and Wales on a girls’ hike & fly roadtrip? Well, now you can see for yourself! The 17-minute SOAR – A Girls’ Paragliding Roadtrip premiered in November at Kendal Mountain Festival, the UK’s foremost adventure film festival. Crafted from nine hours of footage and 15 hours of audio, the film focuses on the joy and camaraderie so many of us feel in the sport at every level. It’s been reaching a global audience on KMF’s Mountain Player streaming service, and has been selected for further screenings including the London Mountain Festival. Now, with its release to YouTube, you can watch it from the comfort of your own home. SOAR follows nine women pilots, hearing what inspired them to get into the sport, what most delights them in flying and how they feel about the challenges it presents – against the backdrop of a hike & fly adventure. With only 7% of the UK’s paragliding pilots being female, it can be pretty off-putting to women looking in from the outside, no matter how welcoming the guys on the hill are. SOAR paints a picture of the women out there flying, raising their visibility and celebrating their integral part in the UK scene. This is particularly true within the dynamic hike & fly community, which has grown so very fast in recent years and engaged some of the most adventurous new pilots. Will the film help encourage women to try flying? Share it on your social feeds and with your non-flying friends and let’s find out. Picture the scene: it’s June in South East Wales, and these new-found friends head off to snag the most promising weather, including surprise showers at one site and burning-hot sunshine at another. The group rolls with it, camping out each night and finding flyable opportunities every day. SE Wales really delivers, with its pilot hospitality and epic sites, including Hay Bluff, Hundred House and Pandy. The second half of the film shifts focus to Cumbria, where more pilots join the gang at the Lakes Charity Classic, now also home to the seriously intense X-Lakes hike & fly challenge. It’s here that Kinga, Rosie Ireland, Inga Markelyte and Lucy Scott pull out the stops, pushing up into the hills in one of the toughest but friendliest events in UK paragliding. On the tops the wind is howling, and the competitors – now alone and picking out their optimal routes – are forced to hike 40, 50 or even 60km through sun and rain. On Day 2 the weather breaks, and epic Lakeland flying begins as they race through the mountains and back towards base. The delight and satisfaction of the competitors at the finish line is striking, with beers, hugs and laughter. Rosie points out, ‘Everyone’s here for the same reason – to go out and fly, and learn and get better.’ The girls’ roadtrip was born out of Dales pilot Rhian Ebrey’s Glide Gals diversity project and developed with John Westall. Cumbrian pilot and filmmaker John Hamlett captured it on film and saw SOAR through to distribution, and Bud Paterson pitched in with roadtrip support and drone filming. The project, run on a shoestring, couldn’t have been completed without the generous assistance of several clubs including Cumbria, SE Wales and the Dales. Particular thanks are due to Stuart Blackburn, a great supporter of the project who is now setting up the BHPA’s diversity programme. [Report: John Hamlett] Search YouTube for SOAR – A Girls’ Paragliding Roadtrip or visit Dan Jones secures world paramotor record On March 24th last year Dan Jones flew a non-stop 516.95km triangle on his Vittorazi Atom 80/Dudek Warp 2 outfit. Taking off at Spalding, he flew to Scackleton, north of York before turning for Lilleshall in Shropshire. More than ten hours after launching, Dan touched down again at Spalding to claim the FAI Distance-in-a- closed-circuit-without-landing record in the RPF1 class. Not bad in only 12 hours of daylight at that time of year. The only modification to his Bulldog paramotor was the addition of two extra fuel tanks. For a number of reasons Dan’s record claim was very slow to clear bureaucratic hurdles en route to CIMA, the FAI’s microlight commission. As a result his record was only ratified in January. His distance beat the previous mark of 504km, set in 2011 by Germany’s Peter Schultz. Interestingly, the female world record in this class has been held by Britain’s Karen Skinner at 309km since 2019. Since Dan’s flight, Switzerland’s Andy Aebi has claimed the distance record at an astonishing 883km, as yet unratified. Dan is no doubt already making plans. [Photo: Tracy Anderson] RAeC Trust bursary scheme Last call for the Royal Aero Club Trust’s 2024 Bursary Awards scheme for young people. In the past a number of young BHPA pilots have gone on to great things after receiving support from the scheme, one of whom later became European Paragliding Champion. A financial leg-up early in your career can have immeasurable positive effects. In the last few years the Trust has awarded over 200 bursaries to young pilots aged 14-21 (up to 24 in the case of a follow-on bursary) in a wide range of air sports. Kinga Masztalerz, Rhian Ebrey, Inga Markelyte and Emily Heap on the way up Hundred House AAdv lli venture l y n live your SIN SS‘‘MANMANSKY EDSIR SKY ybrid single sh THE SKINNGLE WERFWERFPO POTTOSOSM SHARK M acwith 20% double surfkin DMUND FUL IS FUL ec K EDSIR t pomos SHARKDMUND lyFe&ikH orerful single skin fw crShort T sttry flighounoss-cr hermalling T ly Fe &ikH MARCH 2025 SKYWINGS 7 The bursary scheme represents, pretty much, free training money at a time when you don’t have much. If you want to develop proficiency in your discipline, take advantage of the opportunities offered by the scheme. Last year there were no BHPA applicants. To all young BHPA fliers – you’ve got to be in it to win it. Act now! The closing date for 2024 applications is March 31st. Full details and application forms are at BHPA subs to rise The Association’s finances are projected to have returned to a modest surplus for the year ended 31st March 2025, resulting from cost reductions implemented by Exec and a small decrease in insurance costs. Nevertheless membership numbers have declined slightly and inflationary pressures continue. With effect from April 1st 2025 the headline BHPA individual Annual Adult Membership will increase by £5 to £174, just under 3%. Other annual memberships will be: Family, £159; Concessionary (under 21/over 67 and disabled), £154; and Non Flying unchanged at £62. Two-year membership will cost £299; Three-month membership £109; Adult Day membership £30, and the Rejoining fee payable on annual memberships will increase to £35. The Direct Debit discount remains at £7. Full details, including instructor and school rates, will appear next month. NZ safety site Groundbreaking work by the NZHGPA has led to an excellent safety-themed web resource under the title Fly Like a Bird – Think like a Pilot. Covering the flying environment, equipment and flight planning, it gathers in one place pretty much all known safety advice and wisdom, while linking to further internal and external sources. It’s aimed at all pilots from beginners upwards. Although New Zealand-focused, a great deal of its information and links translate perfectly to the UK environment. The NZHGPA are to be commended for generating a thoroughly useful and authoritative resource. Find it at In brief Magic Bash dates. The South-East Wales club have announced dates for this year’s Magic Bash at the Glanusk Estate in Crickhowell: the weekend of 11th-13th July. Similar to last year, the event will have live music, festival-style food and a licenced bar. All attendees will have access to the glorious sites of South East Wales, and alternative activities will be organised for non- flyers and non-flying days. Tickets will be on sale soon via Webcollect (members), or by contacting the club at Hike&Fly Worlds. Under the FAI’s new Hike&Fly Committee there are currently 30 Category 2 events in the 2025 international calendar, including the fabled Dragon Race in South East Wales in May. The new H&F WPRS ranking is led at present by Swiss pilot Noé Court, with top Brit Dougie Swanson-Low at 21st – one place behind Chrigel Maurer! Bids for the first H&F World Championships in 2027 closed in December; the winning bid will have been selected at the FAI Plenary in February. August Bassano/Slovenia XC trip. Sky Summits Paragliding will be running a two-centre trip to the ever-popular flying locations of Bassano and Kobarid, Slovenia from August 11th-23rd. Both weeks will be fully guided and include shared accommodation, airport transfers from Venice and mountain transport. Pilots are welcome to join in the entire trip, or select just one six-day segment of either Bassano or Slovenia. Further details are at Record week in Kenya. French tandem pair Michel and Blandine Macquet claimed four world paragliding records inside just over a week from Iten in Kenya at the end of January. Flying an Ozone Swift Max, they pushed the tandem O/R distance to 234km, the free O/R distance to 250km, the 100km O/R speed to 35.94km/h and the 25km triangle speed to 39.82km/h. A profitable week! Tajikistan Open. A long shot, this. Tajikistan Open Sky offers an international accuracy competition from April 26th-27th, and paragliding XC from April 25th-May 4th. Free camping accommodation and transport, plus sandwiches on comp days, are in the mix too. All this as guests of the Tajikistan Federation of Aviation Sports. For more information start here: Tow conversion opportunity. Rutland Airsports club will be running a tow conversion week from March 31st to April 6th. Groundschool and towing will take place on the North Luffenham airfield daily from 09:00 to 17:00, weather permitting. If you would like to get your paraglider tow rating before the season starts, this could be your opportunity. Candidates must be CP + 10 hours. Contact CFI Mick Roche for a slot RAeC Trust bursary scheme. Last call for the Royal Aero Club Trust’s 2024 Bursary Awards scheme for young people. In the past a number of young BHPA pilots have gone on to great things after receiving support from the scheme – one later became European Paragliding Champion. A financial leg-up early in your career can have immeasurable positive effects In the last few years the Trust has awarded over almost 200 bursaries to young pilots aged 14-21 (up to 24 in the case of a follow-on bursary) in a wide range of air sports. The bursary scheme represents, pretty much, free training money at a time when you don’t have much. If you want to develop proficiency in your discipline, take advantage of the opportunities offered by the scheme. Last year there were, sadly, no BHPA applicants. To all young BHPA fliers – you’ve got to be in it to win it. Act now! The closing date for 2024 applications is March 31st. Full details and application forms are at Green Dragons’ 50th! Green Dragons Airsports began the year by hosting its annual awards evening, this time also marking 50 years of the club. This social event is always a highlight for members, but the celebration of our half-century made the 2025 event extra special. Officially established by Les Shaw in 1974 during the early days of parascending, Green Dragons first flew Army cadets on round parachutes towed up behind Land Rovers. In the 1980s the club amalgamated with hang gliding schools to offer hang glider training. And in 1984 current CFI Andy Shaw qualified as an instructor to become, at 18, the youngest fully-qualified instructor in BAPC/BHPA history. 2024 marked his 40th year of teaching. The event was held at Green Dragons headquarters, Warren Barn Farm in Woldingham, Surrey. Over 80 club members were in attendance, along with special guests Bill Bell, BHPA Comps Director, and Jenny Buck, BHPA Chair. The evening began with Andy Shaw and Myrianthe Ewington presenting a history of the club and some of its milestones, including hosting the FAI Accuracy World Cup and European Cup in 2022. We then heard from the flying community (some via video message where they couldn’t attend in person) about what Green Dragons means to them. These included club members from the 1970s to the present, and pilots from all over the world. A recurring theme was recognition of the passion, enthusiasm and innovation Green Dragons brings to our sport. During the break for food there was a chance to look at photos and equipment charting 50 years of the club, and the development of parascending, hang gliding, paragliding and paramotoring. Also on show were some of the tools used to test and service gliders in the busy workshop, along with developments such as prototype electric hang glider motors and the parallel towing system. After dinner, awards were presented by Jenny Buck: • Leslie John Shaw Award (For dedication to Green Dragons): Fuller Partners, Church Farm Services • Tony (Stick) Eaton Award (Sports Personality of the Year): Justin Sid Rose • Harriet Quimby Award (Recognising females pushing airsports boundaries): Myrianthe Ewington • Thermal Chasers Pilot of the Year: Grzegorz Maciula • Best Newcomer: Tom Cordell • Most Improved: Dexter Bond • Recognition of Skydiving Development: Tyron Paul, Jamie Robe, Wayne Black • Recognition of competing at the World Paramotor Championships: Tyron Paul, Andy Shaw • Supporting Green Dragons Paramotor Team pilots: Myrianthe Ewington There was good representation from each of the flying groups at Green Dragons. These include powered hang gliding, paragliding, paramotoring and skydiving alongside the hang gliding and parascending roots. Andy Shaw’s great contribution as Senior Tow Coach at Rutland Airsports was recognised in a speech by Nigel Barker. Since 2006, Thermal Chasers has taken the club worldwide, with more pilots now getting more opportunities to fly all over the world and achieve personal bests. We look forward to seeing where the next 50 years of free flight takes us all. Report by Dexter Bond 8 SKYWINGS MARCH 2025 news BHPA 500 Club WIN CASH PRIZES AND HELP THE ASSOCIATION! January winners Gerald Nolan £134.20 David Eland £67.10 Kevin Bradly £33.55 Darren Stevens £20.13 John Casson £16.78 Steven Miller £16.78 William Seward £13.42 John Malone £13.42 Paul Perry £10.07 Ed Cleasby £10.07 BHPA £335.48 Winners will note that payments of the above sums have been made to the account from which they contribute to the 500 Club by standing order. In case of error, please contact Marc Asquith on 07802 525099. Bill Bell, Andy Shaw and Jenny Buck at Green Dragons’ 50th anniversary celebration Quick facts abo out the NG series: weight(m²) Surface g)(k Max load NG g)weight (kg)t (k G NG light The world´s leading rescue systems Use of high-qu• even at low spe g, g • Available in 3 s certified accord • New, innovative • Excellent sink r to a jump from • Very reliable op • Intelligent, light ality lightweight materials eeds gp sizes as NG and in the light versio ding to EN12491 e X-Flare concept for high efficien rates, each just over 5 m/s, equiva a height of about 1.3 m pening and extremely good pend tweight construction for fast open g, NG 140 Ser NG 120 Ser -geneous load distri --flares for homoX NG 100 Ser on NG light, ncy alent dulum stability nings, 33 1401,85rie 291201,6rie 25100rie1,45 1,49 5 1,3 18 6 concept. -Flare innovative X s to the , thankface -Nearly flat top sur 5 1, for fa ow L ast opening canopy height projected surface area bution across the large geneous load distri stability pendulum outlets for air defined Precisely Hang gliding Comps Panel update Fitting competitions around family and work commitments can be difficult. For 2025 we are trying to increase flexibility for BOS entry, with a range of options available for pilots who are unable to commit to the whole competition. Details of pricing, payment deadlines, flexibility and entry procedures can be found The competitions will consist of Class 1 and Class 5, with ‘Class 1 Sport’ replacing Club Class to align with FAI standard classes. Depending on entries, one or more events may be allocated FAI Category 2 status, allowing participants in all three classes to earn WPRS points. This will be confirmed a month or so before each event. As a small country with unreliable weather we often punch above our weight in international competitions. The BOS series pulls together our small community and provides opportunities for pilots of all abilities to develop their skills and learn from the best. In an effort to capitalise on this opportunity, we encourage all hang glider pilots who are looking to improve their skills to attend one or all of these events. Even if you don’t yet have the required rating to fly in the competition, you will still learn and get the chance to see what it’s all about. Dates and venues are as follows: BOS 1 (South Wales): Saturday May 10th - Tuesday May 13th. (Early Bird Registration deadline: March 29th). BOS 2 (Scotland)*: Saturday May 31st - Saturday June 7th (Early Bird Registration deadline: April 19th). BOS 3 (Mid Wales): Saturday September 6th - Tuesday 9th (Early Bird Registration deadline: July 26th). * BOS 2 results will decide the British Open Champion (Class 1). Pilot Development Pathway. Following our fantastic result in the 2023 World Championships, the Panel initiated a Pilot Development Programme for our elite pilots and those on the brink of becoming British team members. The aim is to provide a resource where pilots can learn from the more experienced, set competition-specific goals, receive feedback and, ultimately, progress to competition success. Responding to feedback from the 2024 BOS series, we have extended this to pilots of all levels. The new Pilot Development Pathway can be accessed by pilots of any rating or level of experience. The Pathway consists of five ‘layers’ corresponding with various stages of a pilot’s development, Layer 1 being ‘Foundation’ and Layer 5 ‘Elite’. Foundation layer tasks are intended to support recently-qualified pilots, similar to the PG Foundation model about to be re-introduced by the BHPA. The Pathway outlines areas of focus, support and expectations for the various layers of development, and how these relate to competition. Pilots can clearly see what steps to take to progress at their specific layer of development, and which events would be appropriate to their level of ability. The main thrust of the Pathway is to clarify the route into competition through progressive steps within a supportive pilot community. We will be making the Pathway and accompanying resources available via a central hub on the hgcomps website, and hope to share it with the UK’s remaining hang gliding schools. Comps Panel are also considering how best to support pilots who have yet to fly cross-country. The BOS series and the February XC Development Weekend will provide opportunities for pilots to learn more about this aspect of the sport, in line with BHPA XC flying guidance (see February Skywings). Further details about all of the above can be found at Report by Dave BarberNext >