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Skywings news stories posted online in Feb 2013 are displayed below.
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If you're looking for stories posted after December 2015, please visit our Skywings News page.
With a closing date of the 31 March, there's still just time to apply for a 2013 RAeC Trust bursary. These are awarded annually, aimed at facilitating young fliers to advance their existing qualifications to the next level.
The bursaries include the Peter Cruddas Foundation Scholarship worth up to £1,000, and several other awards of up to £750. Last year saw a record total of over £11,000 allocated. Applicants must be UK citizens; training and flying must be conducted at UK clubs or training establishments. Applications must arrive at the Trust by March 31st 2013 and should be submitted through a sponsoring organisation (eg the BHPA).
Recent winners have included BHPA members Idris Birch and Katie Lawrence, and William Lawrence who is using his award to continue his paraglider training. Those interested in applying a bursary for 2013 should visit the Royal Aero Club website.
Posted: 11 February 2013
Brits take Bronze at Forbes Worlds!
After ten tasks ranging from 127 to 240km, brilliant teamwork by Team GB secured third place and a Bronze medal in the hang gliding World Championships at Forbes, New South Wales in January.
A re-energised Manfred Ruhmer took the individual title for the fourth time ahead of Alex Ploner and Filippo Oppici. Italy took the Gold medal and the USA Silver, led by ex-pat Brit Robin Hamilton. Grant Crossingham finished 6th overall, an individual British pilot‘s highest placing since Gordon Rigg finished 5th at Monte Cucco in 1999.
Kathleen Rigg secured second ladies place behind Corinna Schweigershausen; Gordon Rigg was 15th overall, Gary Wirdnam 17th and Carl Wallbank 19th. These stupendous results were made possible by exceptional team flying and superb backup on the ground from team manager Ben Philpott and Steve Gale.
Full story and results are at www.pressbhgc.blogspot.co.uk/.
Posted: 22 January 2013
UK takes 7th place in the Paragliding Super Final
The UK has taken seventh place at the Paragliding World Cup Superfinal at Roldanillo, Colombia, ahead of Germany and the US.
Russel Ogdon took third place overall, after a brilliant comeback from a bombed first task, and Guy Anderson was second amongst the Brits and 27th overall.
Full results are available at http://pwca.org/results/results/.
Posted: 28 January 2013
Launching this year in Meduno, Italy on May 18th, the Wide Open is a new fun competition aimed at pilots to whom an enjoyable week‘s flying means more than FAI points.
"Less bravado and more friendly achievable tasks", say organisers Brett Janaway and Toby Colombé. The Wide Open is for those new to competitions, or who simply want to fly with friends, meet fellow XC pilots and improve their skills in a relaxed atmosphere. The one-week event will include briefings and debriefs, lectures by experienced pilots and many prizes including a brand-new wing and two paragliding holidays.
With numerous barbecues and parties planned, event also promises to be a social experience to remember. Meduno has been chosen for its huge, grassy launch, plentiful land-out options and reliable conditions.
For full details and to reserve your place see the Wide Open website at www.flywideopen.org. Expect places to fill fast.
Posted: 22 January 2013
A rise in BHPA membership fees of approximately the same rate as current inflation has been agreed by the BHPA Exec.
Annual Flying membership increases by £3 to £95 (the £7 discount for Direct Debit payers remains unchanged). Family membership increases by £3 to £85, and Under 21/Over 60s membership increases by £3 to £75; most other membership types increase in proportion.
In order to help the schools, who have suffered a very difficult year with the weather, schools registration and instructor supplement fees remain unchanged. The new rates will come into force on 1 April 2013.
Post Updated: 22 January 2013
In January Mark Leavesley spent a day parahawking at the Long Mynd with Freddy, a Peregrine Falcon. The bird is owned by Nigel Hawkins of Hawkins Falconry, who has been working closely with Mark to develop the UK‘s first tandem parahawking team; together they plan to offer tandem parahawking flights this summer.
Nigel has been flying with his hawks for the past two years and has now formed a partnership with Mark to bring tandem parahawking flight to a wider audience. The pair have already created a stir in local circles with both press and TV taking an interest.
Details are at www.leavesleyaviation.com and at www.hawkinsfalconry.co.uk.
Posted: 22 January 2013
The BHPA‘s Facebook page has had a makeover and is building interest. It‘s a useful point of contact for those outside the Association as well as those within. It is planned to make this more rapid-moving and relevant. Take a look at http://tinyurl.com/bk9q6jo.
Posted: 22 January 2013
Flylight sell 100th sub-115kg trike!
Shortly after dropping in at the Flylight stand at the NEC in December, John Kendall visited their Sywell premises to order a new DragonLite sub-115kg single-seat microlight.
John‘s machine is a fixed-undercarriage trike with a 30hp Simonini Mini 2 Evo engine, married to a Fox16T wing. This represents Flylight‘s 100th order since they embarked on the sub-115kg route four years ago, a considerable milestone.
Posted: 22 January 2013
The Annual General Meeting of the BHPA will be held on Saturday March 2rd 2013 at the Belfry Hotel, Nottingham, NG8 6PY,starting at 11am.
Last year‘s event, co-located with the BGA AGM, seemed to work well and the same format is to be repeated this year. It is hoped that members will take the time to turn up to hear how the BHPA Exec has been working on their behalf, to quiz Exec members on their record and put forward ideas for the future direction of the Association. Voting papers and details of candidates will appear in the February issue of Skywings.
Topics for discussion at the members‘ forum, held directly after the AGM, should be notified to the BHPA Chairman by February 1st. Voting papers and details of candidates, and the BHPA Treasurer‘s Report, will appear in the February issue of Skywings. The Belfry is adjacent to Junction 26 of the M1.
The AGM will include the election of the Association's Executive Committee (Exec), from which three current members (Marc Asquith, John Nash and John Welch) will be standing down and seeking re-election. A fourth member, Sites Officer Steve Walsh, has resigned.
Nominations are sought for BHPA Awards of Merit. These are presented to BHPA members to acknowledge conspicuous service to a club or clubs, or to competitions. If someone in your environment has put their heart and soul into the good of the sport for many years, please consider writing a citation for them for a BHPA Merit Award. Citations should be sent to the BHPA Office by January 31st 2012; awards will be presented at the BHPA AGM or other suitable occasion.
Post Updated: 20 December 2012
Further information about the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association and skywings magazine can be found on the about the BHPA and Skywings magazine pages on this website.
