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BHPA Hang Gliding Coaches - can you help?

Hang Gliding Coaches are needed to support two new initiatives at the British Open Hang Gliding Series.

The Hang Gliding Comps Panel have introduced new BOS Challenge Weekends to run alongside the British Open Series events. The Challenge Weekends are designed to help Club Pilots, low air-timers and others who are lacking currency to build confidence. They are also open to those not interested in serious competition yet enjoy flying with others.

They also plan an End of Season Fly-in, to include as much flying as possible as well as an informal campsite-based social gathering on Saturday night, sharing stories, music and beers with some input from top comp pilots, weather permitting.

Coaches are needed to support the pilots at these events. Challenges aimed at improving flying skills through participation in ridge based tasks would be set depending on the pilots' level of experience. This could also include the development of competition skills and understanding of navigation. Ultimately the longer-term aim would be to encourage participants to consider joining the British Open Series in the future - or simply to encourage their continued participation in hang gliding.

Full details about the British Open Series, the BOS Challenge and our planned End of Season Fly-in can be found on the HG Comps website

The dates are:
Challenge Weekends:
10th and 11th June in the Yorkshire Dales
1st and 2nd July in mid-Wales

End of Season Fly-in:
9th - 11th September in the Yorkshire Dales

The Role of a Coach
The Hang Gliding Comps Panel are looking for BHPA coaches who can help on any or all of the dates above. Even if you can do one day that would help! Your role will be to develop the personal flying skills of 3 to 4 pilots, and assist them with learning about their instruments, harnesses and other equipment.

Some financial assistance is available towards expenses and anyone who offers coaching help for the weekend will have free entry to the BOS Competitions for the remaining days of the competition. For more information about Rewards for Coaches please visit the Coaches can you help page on the HG Comps website

If you are interested and would like more information please contact Kevin Gay 07794950856 or email kevin@candonorthyorks.co.uk

Posted: 6 March 2023
By: Paul Dancey

BHPA 2023 AGM

A final reminder that the Association's 2023 AGM will take place at Loughborough University's Holywell Park Conference Centre (LE11 3GR) on Saturday 25th February at 10.00am.

BHPA Exec members Marc Asquith, Jenny Buck, Paul Dancey and Tom Prideaux-Brune are standing for re-election, and BHPA members Brett Janaway and Steve Young are standing for election.

The AGM offers an opportunity to quiz Exec members on their achievements and on the future direction of the Association, and all members are welcome to attend. The meeting will also be streamed on the BHPA Facebook page.

The revised BHPA 2023 AGM pack is now available for download in the documents section of this web site. This is a full online copy of the document that will be distributed to those attending the AGM in person. It includes copies of the various reports that will be presented, together with formal notice of the meeting, details of members standing for election, and a proxy voting form.

Completed proxy voting forms can be scanned and emailed to office@bhpa.co.uk, but must be received at the office by 10am on Thursday 23rd February 2023.

Posted: 6 February 2023
By: Paul Dancey

French military activities: February/March 2023

A national combined-forces exercise involving a large number of military aircraft, including unmanned aircraft and parachuting activities, in all flight conditions and at all altitudes, necessitates the creation of numerous temporary restricted and dangerous areas in late February and early March.

The areas involved include the French Western Mediterranean coastline (Perpignan-Beziers-Montpelier), and further inland (in the area Carcassonne-Albi-Rodez-Millau) and several other locations, over the period February 20th - March 9th.

Any pilots planning to fly in the area should access the official notification SUP AIP 013/23 and run it through an online translator.

Best advice is not to seek to fly in southern France between the dates noted.

Posted: 31 January 2023
By: Paul Dancey

Russ Ogden MBE!

Russell Ogden MBE The government's New Year Honours List list in early January revealed the following: 'Member of the Order of the British Empire: Russell Ogden, Lead Designer and Test Pilot, Ozone Paragliding; Paragliding World Champion 2021/2022. For services to Paragliding.'

'It is a real honour,' said Russ, 'and I accept it on behalf of the British team and squad who have always had my back. The support and love I have received from far and wide is humbling.'

Posted: 10 January 2023
By: J. Schofield

Hang gliding calendar

Katy Tracey's 2023 hang gliding calendar Buyers of Katy Tracey's 2023 hang gliding calendar will be donating £5 to Prostate Cancer UK. The disease affects one in every eight men; in 2022 it claimed the lives of around 12,000 blokes including BHPA stalwarts Simon Murphy and Everard Cunion.

The calendar features 12 superb photographs in large (420 x 594mm) format, with lots of room to write comp dates. Available from Fly Pure Air at £18 including free UK shipping (overseas - email for a quote).

Posted: 2 January 2023
By: J. Schofield

Icarus Cup dates

Southampton University's Super Lazarus - photo: Jesse van Kuijk The 2023 Icarus Cup is now fixed for June 17th to 25th at Lasham airfield in Hampshire. Aerocycles 301 and 302 and Southampton University's Super Lazarus (pictured - photo: Jesse van Kuijk) will definitely attend, as will the Betterfly and Airglow teams.

The new machine from Bordeaux University, now very close to completion, may also compete. Details will appear on the The British Human Powered Flying Club website in due course.

Posted: 2 January 2023
By: J. Schofield

BHPA diversity project

BHPA Exec. have agreed to support BHPA member Rhian Ebrey in leading a new project aimed at increasing the number of young, female and Black and Asian Ethnic Minority pilots in the sport, and retaining these pilots once qualified.

Barriers to this wider participation are seen as partly financial, and partly a lack of minority visibility and peer support. Rhian will seek external funding from the National Lottery, North Yorkshire Sport and the UK Government's 'Outdoors for All' initiative, among other potential sources.

The intention is to provide a scholarship programme for young people of all genders and/or BAEM groups to complete their EP and CP training. Free training for one person to CP level would be accompanied by a new website and a social media campaign, to increase visibility and inspire others from such groups to start paragliding. 

Rhian, a recently-qualified pilot, has several years' experience in project management and has worked with local communities on social issues. She will be assisted by Active Edge CFI and former British Champion Dean Crosby, and by Alfie Bowen, professional web developer, former microlight pilot and newly-qualified paraglider pilot.

Posted: 2 January 2023
By: J. Schofield

BHPA Office & Shop

The BHPA office will close for Christmas at 12pm on Friday 23rd December and will reopen at 8.30am Tuesday 3rd January.

Whilst our online shop will remain open over the Christmas break, any orders placed whilst the office is closed for Christmas will not be processed or goods despatched until the office opens again on the 3 January 2023.

Posted: 13 December 2022
By: Paul Dancey

last updated: 18 September 2026

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