The magazine of the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association No. 341 September 2017THE BHPA LTD 8 Merus Court, Meridian Business Park, Leicester LE191RJ. Tel: 0116 289 4316, fax: 0116 289 8741.Skywings magazine is published monthly by the British HangGliding and Paragliding Association Ltd to inform, educate andentertain those in the sports of Paragliding and Hang Gliding. Theviews expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of theBritish Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, their Council,Officers or Editor. The Editor and publisher accept no responsibilityfor any supposed defects in the goods, services and practicesrepresented or advertised in this magazine. The Editor reserves theright to edit contributions. ISSN 0951-5712SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DELIVERY ENQUIRIES Tel: 0116 289 4316,e-mail: THE EDITOR Joe Schofield, 39 London Road, Harleston, Norfolk IP209BH. Tel: 01379 855021. E-mail: COVER PHOTO Mark Lamport demonstrates new trainers and Tescosocks at Firle in May Photo: Steve Gee THIS PAGE Ian Makinson and superb evening sky over Bradwell,Derbyshire in July Photo: Geoffrey ShekDESIGN & 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: 020 7193 9133 Email: Online: SKYWINGS ONLINE Go to For the September issue enter the username September_2017 andthe case-sensitive password yG_2#9For the October issue enter the username October_2017 and thecase-sensitive password aUZ!N8DEADLINES News items and event/competition reports for theNovember 2017 issue must be submitted to the Skywings office byFriday September 29th. Letters for the October Airmail pageshould arrive no later than Monday September 18th.Advertisement bookings for the October edition of Skywings mustarrive by Monday 11th September. Copy and classified bookings nolater than Monday 18th September.contents2 SEPTEMBER regulars regulars reviews features 4 SEPTEMBER Why do you compete? Andrew williAms, XC And Competition pilotThe Ozone Chabre Open in 2016 was myfirst taste of competition. I was veryconcerned before going that it wouldsomehow spoil the sport for me, that toallow a competitive spirit interfere with thebeauty of flight would detract from thewonder of it all. I had quite the oppositeexperience: it made me utterly focussed onmaking the most of the conditions –squeezing all my knowledge of airflow andefficient flying and making tacticaldecisions while flying. I loved it. When competition starts to become a littlemore serious and you are striving toimprove and move on up the ranks therecomes a dark side. There is the endlessanalysis of the mistakes you have made –you analyse the data and the decisions andit becomes much more about the goal andmuch less about the beauty.During the task you rarely stop to enjoy theview or even register the sun glinting offthe lake. Instead it is total concentration tooptimise the climb, take the right line,maximise glide, push hard and keep youreye on the leading edge – squeezing out theextra km/h to make it in seconds before theother guy. This goes on for between oneand a half and six hours. It is exhausting.However it has undoubtedly accelerated mylearning. With the sky marked before youby many gliders you can truly see what theair is doing and you learn. You see what ispossible – it pushes your flying envelope, itpushes your skill with the glider and itforces you to really hone your skills and tosee where you need to improve.When exploring the idea of competition Ispent some pensive time over a couple ofcurries with a close friend and PWC pilot.‘Do you like being stressed?’ he asked. Thiskind of confused me. ‘No-one does,’ Ithought, but he was spot-on. There is acertain tension that forces you to beexacting, a heightened state of awareness. Imet with him and other British pilotsduring a recent PWC. They all had a certainlook about them – exhausted, elated, bright,engaged, alive. I so wanted to be a part of it.When I heard about his accident and thedetails of how it happened, I consideredburning all my kit and turning my backon this activity altogether. Therein lies along yarn, best shared over a good bottleof whisky. For now, I choose to take therisk in the air, to feel alive and tocontinue this exploration. Part of the reason I give myself permissionis that I feel I still have the sense to land, ornot bother taking off, if it feels wrong to me.Every time I leave the house for the bus tolaunch, I give my Mrs and my little girl akiss, and in silence promise myself everytime I fly that I will stay true to my innercoward should his voice arise. Many pilots do not go to competitions tocompete, they go because it is a well-organised cheap XC trip, albeit withoutradio guidance and coaching. They go tofly in new areas that they have nounderstanding of, they fly with ‘safety innumbers’, and it is often a chance to catchup with old friends.Competition flying is not for everyone. Butperhaps, if you are considering it, I havegiven you more food for thought.When I started flying it was to simply get up there, to experience something extraordinary and possibly save myknees from the walk down off the hill. Shortly afterwards the magical idea of flying cross country became theultimate goal. To explore from an incredible perspective, to be engrossed, surrounded by and totally immersed inthe energies and flow of the air over new and varying landscapes.Photo: Martin Scheelcall: 01404 Turfhouse, Luppitt, Honiton, Devon, EX14 4SA. Email: I’m not long back from a great hang gliding trip to Austria and Italy,where my Moyes Litespeed gave me some memorable views. One ofthe best was this smooth 5500’ climb out of an approach to thebottom landing field at Monte Cucco. I’d been up for a few hours andcould have done with an ice cream, but you just can’t ignore thermalslike that one!By the time you read this I should behome again after another trip – thistime paragliding in Slovenia. I’m in abit of a quandary, having just sold mytrusty Skyman Cross Country. Whichof my demo gliders should I take? If Ican clock up a bit of flying on the BGDCure, I’ll probably take that, but willthe UK weather help out? Find outmore on my blog: One brilliant thing about Turfhouse – it is stacked-out with all sortsof gliders, and the selection changes regularly. By the time you readthis I may have an interesting rigid wing for you to look at, but at thistime of year gliders tend to be going out rather than coming in. Checkout the latest situation on the website, or just call me for a chat:Going slightly off-topic, I’m expecting a Hawker Hurricane to arrivesoon. Not a real one, just an r/c model, but it looks great. Everyonehas Spitfires, but if you want something a bit different….. Almostready to fly, allow an hour or two for final assembly, and away you go– all for under £170! And talking of different, I actually sell quite alot of vintage hang gliders and kit, and have(probably) the second largest collection inthe country. So my interest was sparked upwhen I was offered this Reploggle Barographfrom the days when instruments were fragile.It is clockwork, and still seems to work justfine. How on earth would you value this? Well, make me an offer.You’ll find loads of interesting stuff on my website, but most of it isfar more modern and useful. Just arrived is this as-new medium-sized paragliding harness, a Suppair Evo-top, which is complete andready to go. Ideal for a beginner, it is only £299 – about half theprice of a new harness! And, talking of as-new andmedium sized, I have thisamazing Keller High-Tec 2 hanggliding harness. If I told you itwas brand new you wouldbelieve me. Complete with allthe original components, readyto go flying. How much? Ireckon it must be worth £500,so let’s say £450 for a veryquick sale. Truth is, I want itmyself: My mate Mark Turner bought one of the very last Firebird Eagle 2paragliders from me, but hasn’t been able to fly it much. To make upfor the lack of flying he took it to the world-renowned coastal site atTorrey Pines and had a ball! I always like to hear that my customersare having memorable flights.My local flying has been fun lately, too. Had a pleasant bimble up anddown the coast on the Cure recently, and found it very impressive. Itwill be better again when I put the right-size harness on it! Betwixt and BetweenFor 2017 I am stocking Charly, Apco and Independence reserves, so asto give my retail and trade customers the maximum choice.These brands have sold tens of thousands of reserves, and have manyhundreds of successful deployments to their credit. When all is saidand done, that is what counts! My own deployment was beneath a Charly Revolution, and I regard thatreserve as having saved my life - it was probably my best everinvestment. Read the full account on my website, or just ask me aboutit! Charly Second Chance from £399 Charly Revolution, from £480.Apco Mayday HG from £415Charly Clou2 from £490 Independence Annular Evo, from £545The NEW CharlyDiamond Cross,from £670Reserves 20176 SEPTEMBER Some readers may remember the YouTubefootage of a paramotor pilot, flying atextremely low altitude along the Brightonshoreline on the day of the BrightonMarathon in April. The CAA had beenalready been alerted as it appeared hehad taken off from within the ShorehamATZ. The pilot in question (not a BHPAmember) was later tracked down by theBHPA and local paramotor pilots andinterviewed under caution by the CAA’sEnforcement Branch. Taken aback by thevolume of evidence presented, the pilot issaid to have apologised to all concernedand, with a view to furthering hisairmanship, has since requested furthertraining. Respect is due to all in theparamotor community involved inengineering this positive outcome from apotential PR disaster.Microlight pilotprosecutedOn January 20th Manchester ATC spottedan unknown aircraft entering theManchester Control Zone (CTR). Theaircraft, later identified as a Quik GT450microlight, remained inside the CTR for 25minutes. ATC tried to contact the pilot byradio without success. Arrivals intoManchester were suspended and 15aircraft were delayed. The pilot, RobertBawn, 64, from Chester, eventually cameforward following an appeal forinformation by Manchester ATC. On July20th Bawn pleaded guilty at ManchesterMagistrates’ Court to flying within class Dcontrolled airspace without ATC clearance,in contravention of the ANO 2016. He wasfined £1,675 and ordered to pay CAA costsof £750. Bawn’s aircraft had no radio andhe was not carrying any paper charts orelectronic navigation aids. After theverdict CAA Principal Airspace RegulatorRob Gratton said, ‘Yet another example ofa pilot being unprepared for a flight. It isessential all pilots undertake proper pre-flight planning by carefully plotting theirentire journey. Backup charts should becarried and, where possible, airspacealerting tools.’Opportunity:Airspace SupportConsultantThe GA Alliance (GAA) are seeking anAirspace Support Consultant to providecontracted, paid project support to memberorganisations through the GAA airspaceteam. The job involves proactive awareness,research and analysis of strategic and localairspace issues, and developing, withothers, potential solutions and guidance tomember associations.Brighton ‘Marathon Man’ sees the lightIn May 1975, at the 5th annual Otto Lilienthal Hang Glider Meet atPismo Beach in California, a dayglo-orange WW2-surplusamphibious vehicle was used to ferry pilots and gliders over a mileto the 450ft Guadalupe Dune flying site. Hang gliding history buffand avid modeller Everard Cunion has recreated the event inminiature using scratch-built model gliders and a 1/76th-scaleAirfix kit of the DUKW amphibian. The DUKW is 12.5cm in lengthand the hang gliders – made of toothpicks, tissue paper, wire andthread – are just 8cm long. Those interested in how Everardachieved this feat of miniaturisation should go toWeird … but wonderful!Continued on page 8The successful applicant will have a well-developed understanding of UK airspaceoperations and good knowledge of airspacedevelopments and the relevant legislativeframework. They must be flexible andcommitted, with strong verbal and writtencommunication skills, and able to preparehigh-quality submissions.Applications, marked ‘GAA AirspaceContractor’, should go to Pete Stratten,Secretary, GAA, 8 Merus Court, Leicester LE191RJ by September 9th 2017. For details go toThe GAA was formed in 2004 to provide aco-ordinated response to UK regulatoryissues, working on behalf of the 72,000-oddmembers of the BBAC, BGA, BHPA, BMAA,BPA, HCGB, LAA and the RAeC.New airspaceinfringementawareness coursePilots who infringe UK airspace may beasked to attend a new safety awarenesscourse developed by the CAA and GASCo.Where appropriate, pilots who haveinfringed controlled or notified airspacewill be asked to undertake the GASCo-delivered course as part of any licensingaction. The CAA will examine the pilot’sactions and note whether they haveinfringed airspace before. GASCo head MikeO’Donoghue says, ‘We are told that thenational speed awareness course used fordrivers has proved very successful. Welooked at its key elements and developedan engaging and educational version forpilots.’ Courses will be run regularlythroughout the country; attendees will pay£200 to cover GASCo’s expenses.Airspace infringements continue to occur ata high rate in the UK with over 1,000reported in 2016. CAA advice applicable tofree fliers is to undertake effective pre-flightplanning, use an airspace alerting deviceand be aware of the danger of becomingdistracted. Although it’s doubtful that aBHPA member without a CAA-issued licencecould be compelled to attend such a course,the development is indicative of the degreeto which the CAA is addressing theinfringment issue.BHPA AGM 2018As reported last month, the BHPA’s 2018Annual General Meeting will be held atNottingham’s Belfry Hotel (adjacent toJunction 26 of the M1) on Saturday February17th, in tandem with the BGA AGM andtrade exhibition.The meeting will include the election ofofficers to the BHPA Executive Committee,officers’ reports and a members’ discussionforum. At this early stage, any BHPAmember considering seeking nominationfor election should contact Chairman MarcAsquith or another Exec member to find outwhat’s involved. Nomination forms will beavailable from the BHPA Office; anynominations will need to be sent to BHPALeicester to arrive before November 30th. Nominations are also sought for BHPAAwards of Merit, acknowledging a member’sconspicuous service to a club or clubs,competitions or free flying in general. Ifsomeone you know has put their very bestefforts into the good of the sport over anumber of years, please consider writing acitation for them for a BHPA Merit Awardand send it to the BHPA Office by December31st. Certificates will be presented at theAGM or other suitable occasion.In briefPara-Trike insurance reminder. In the lightof the recent exemption allowingparamotors which are not foot launched tobe flown without the need for a pilot’slicence (see June Skywings), pilots of suchcraft should note that aircraft flying underthis exemption must still be insured inaccordance with the European aircraftinsurance regulation (EC) 785/2004 as theyare not by covered by the exclusion within(EC) 785/2004 for foot-launched aircraft.BHPA members with a paragliding powerrating are, of course, already covered. TheCAA reserves the right to inspectdocumentation and verify insurance for thepurpose of establishing compliance.Advance nominated for design award. TheGerman Design Council has nominatedAdvance’s ‘All Mountain’ series for excellentproduct design in the 2018 German DesignAwards. The colour schemes of the series –the Pi 2 light wing, Easiness 2 harness andthe Strapless ultralight harness – weredesigned by the Brunner Mettler agency. In2014 Advance’s Sigma 9, also colour-designed by Brunner Mettler, achieved aSwiss design award.8 SEPTEMBER 2017 newsBHPA 500 ClubWin cash prizes and help the Association! July winnersIrene Carson £131.40Dave Cox £65.70Richard Holland £32.85Ann Matterson £19.71Stephen Allen £16.43Richard Holland £16.43David Molden £13.14John Wreford £13.14Andrew Brownlee £9.86Michael Angus Riley £9.86BHPA £328.48If by the time you read this you have notreceived your cheque, please contact meon 07802 525099.Marc AsquithEarly arrivals were rewardedwith an unexpected eveningflight as a weather windowopened. Then came the rain,concentrating the throng intothe welcoming confines of theGrasmere pavilion where, incombination with Cumbria’sfinest ale, a noisy andcongenial fug was achieved.The atmosphere next morningwas slightly moreintrospective due to low cloudand driving rain … and theafter-effects of Cumbria’sfinest. Indoor activity includeda masterclass in competitiontasking and instrumentationfrom Richard Bungay. This wasfollowed by the wet-weatherprogramme, essentially thefair-weather programmewithout gliders. The optionswere a gruelling Hard Task –yomping 13km around thesummits tagging competitioncylinders –and a Soft Task(yeah, right!) around the valley.Over 30 pilots headed into thedriven mist, impressinginstigator Ed Cleasby (‘Ithought we’d get about three’).Nick Somerville’s winning timeof 2 hours 52 min wasremarkable. At the other endof the spectrum a waterlogged– but jolly – group of Geordiestrudged in after 6 hours.Another page in the legendthat is the LCC! Hot showers,excellent food, war stories,beer and music prepared pilotsfor the challenges to come.Day 2 dawned bright but toobreezy for comfort. A and Bcomps headed for Clough Head,intending to fly separate tasksdown the Helvellyn ridge for aspectacular glide to goal atGrasmere. Strong conditionson launch forced a rethink. Anew task involved turnpointsand a goal at the Cloughlanding field, but althoughsome pilots were quicklyairborne the conditionsprevented any penetratingupwind to the start cylinder. Afurther rethink led to asimpler max-distance taskaround three turnpoints togoal. With the wind easing, thesky was soon full up tocloudbase, several of theleading pilots, including first-placed placed Richard Meekand Paolo Bellezze (picturedoverleaf), taking in Helvellynas part of their tour. The planned B task was alsoover-ambitious and somepilots were reluctant to launchas the wind picked up. DirectorBrian Doub reverted to astraightforward elapsed-timetask, rewarding the greatestdistance out from the Cloughstart cylinder before returningto goal in the landing field. Inthe circumstances JohnWestall’s winning flight of9.9km showed impressiveendurance and bottle!Meanwhile, the Coachinggroup, a vital third element ofthe LCC, were enjoying severalhours of coastal soaring atLowca. Whilst the strong windmade for some educationallaunches, the smoothconditions ensured the pilotsgot much useful airtime andcoachee Lydia Brooker wasawarded a new helmet for herimpressive airmanship.Then came the real challenge,certainly for scorer-in-chiefBarty Bartram. How to score acombination of trekking andflying when most paraglidingtracking/recording devicescan’t deal with a walking track– when a ‘pilot’ paused the‘flight’ was ended and thetrack disappeared! Many hourswere spent untangling thetracks, but in the end a faireroutcome was to make theawards for separatecompetitions.The extraordinary generosityof our sponsors in donatingover £2,000 worth of prizesensured enough for all,justifying the long wait forresults. The LCC team areFriday July 14th. Clouds were gathering, the wind wasincreasing and the forecast was dire. Yet morale washigh amongst the 2017 LCC organisers, for despite theportents pilots were already massing at the Grasmereshowground. That some 90% of the expected pilotentry, from as far as Sussex and Somerset, committedto the occasion demonstrated great confidence in theLCC’s track record of delivering a great event whateverthe weather. Lakes Charity Classic SEPTEMBER 2017 9Paragliding equipment since 1990PARAGLIDERSACCESSORIESRESCUE PARACHUTES HARNESSESGERONIMO2 EN BAIR TAXIEVO CROSSMatador AlpinCONTAINER ‚MULTI‘Next >