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There are 451 news stories for all non archived years in our database.
Displaying page 32 out of 57
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On Sunday October 27th a pilot and passenger flying a Supair Sora 2 42m experienced the rupture in flight of several A line attachment points. The pilot threw his reserve and there were no injuries. The incident occurred a month after a similar occurrence with the same model. Investigations led by Air Turquoise have given no indication of a structural flaw but Supair intend to investigate further.
While the investigation is underway Supair ask that all pilots stop using the Sora 2 size 42. They will search for a resolution as rapidly as possible and report their conclusions. The full safety warning can be downloaded from the Manufacturers & Importers Safety Notices page on this website.
Posted: 20 November 2019
By: J. Schofield
Saunton in North Devon was flown in October by two pilots from the North Devon Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club, writes Stuart Hall, NDHPC Chairman. This was an agreed arrangement as part of celebrations to mark the AONB Relay.
The club seeks to make it clear that flying at Saunton is not allowed; they have been in communication with the landowners for several years in a bid to gain trust and permission to fly it. At present the answer remains no, and whilst they are working hard to build a relationship it is likely to be a long way off.
With that in mind it is imperative that no one makes any attempt to fly this site. Doing so would instantly jeopardise the years of hard work the club members have put in, and permission would probably never be gained.
North Devon welcomes visiting pilots and Woolacombe is an excellent location to fly, but please do not try and fly at Saunton. Please contact NDHPC if further information is required.
Posted: 18 October 2019
By: J. Schofield
After successful events at Tolmin and St Jean in the last two years, Bruce Goldsmith and his team are to take the BGD Weightless event south for the winter - the 2020 event will be at Roldanillo in Colombia in January. Colombia's well-structured and friendly environment will allow the BGD team to build an event ideal for fledgling XC pilots through to seasoned competition hands. The timing and location will also allow pilots to fly when otherwise grounded by the UK and European weather.
Roldanillo will then immediately host the Colombian Nationals and the British Open, offering an opportunity for dedicated improvers to sign up for all three comps. Flights from the UK typically cost around £500-600 return; accommodation is typically £10-15 per night; food is good and inexpensive. The event runs from January 4th (registration) to January 10th; the other events will be held in the following two weeks. More details can be found on the BGD Weightless website.
Posted: 7 October 2019
By: J. Schofield
At 07:27 on Saturday September 14th Skywings designer Colin Fargher and his son Louis set off on an Air Creation Skypper trike from one of the most easterly airfields in France, heading for the furthest airfield in the west. Their aim - to traverse the entire country and set a new tandem flexwing microlight (RWL2) non-stop world record.
The distance from their home in Vesoul, near Besancon, to Quimper in Finisterre is around 780km. Colin's machine is powered, uniquely, by an aerial version of the frugal three-cylinder four-stroke engine fitted to the Toyoya Aygo city car. With an auxiliary tank boosting fuel capacity to 72 litres it has a still-air range of ten hours and around 850km. An earlier test flight had already yielded 400km in 4.6 hours, averaging 85km/h. The existing record record had been set at 749.8km by German pilot Hans-Ulrich Dörr in 2017.
'Arriving at the Bretonne peninsula with 20 litres of fuel remaining and 100km to go, we were pretty sure of our prize and could soon see the Atlantic,' reported Colin. 'Crossing beautiful Bretonne bays and beaches on our final approach was a special moment. I called up the airfield at Plobannalec, just 3km from the ocean, to hear the jubilant voice of proprietor Claude Bouhannic, delighted to welcome a fellow Celt to his airfield. We had been in the air for just under eight hours'
Posted: 7 October 2019
By: J. Schofield
The 2020 BHPA AGM will be held at Lilleshall National Sports Centre, Shropshire, on the afternoon of Saturday March 7th. The meeting will follow the BHPA Trainers Conference that runs from Friday 6th until Saturday morning at the same venue.
As well as the Election of Officers, the current Exec will report on their activities and members will be able to cross-examine them on their achievements. Any BHPA member thinking about seeking nomination for election should contact Chairman Marc Asquith or another Exec member to find out what's involved. The closing date for nominations will be November 30th.
Posted: 27 September 2019
By: J Schofield
35 bursaries were awarded in July by the Royal Aero Club Trust, enabling young air sports enthusiasts to advance their existing qualifications. In recent years the number of awards has increased following a decision to widen the eligible age range and the introduction of follow-on bursaries.
This year's recipients included two light aircraft pilots, ten glider pilots and ten skydivers ... but only one paraglider pilot - Oliver McCourty of Green Dragons. Any young flier or would-be flier reading this should take note: these bursaries represent free money for young pilots to progress their flying. The awards are of up to £1,000, the age range is from 14 to 21, and the closing date for next year's applications is March 31st.
Full details of the rules and application forms can be found on the Royal Aero Club Trust website. Applications must be submitted through a sponsoring organisation (eg the BHPA).
Posted: 27 August 2019
By: J. Schofield
The rules for free flying in the Dolomites have been further expanded to include the compulsory carriage of a red smoke bomb, available from the sports shop in Canazei. Recommended, but not compulsory, is installing the free 'Where ARE U' app on your phone (Android and OS available). The smoke bomb is to be activated in case of accident; if you see red smoke when flying, leave the area so as not to impede helicopter access.
Posted: 27 August 2019
By: J. Schofield
Human powered aircraft took to the sky again in July at the 2019 BHPFC Rally at Lasham airfield. Competing for the Icarus Cup this year were 2013 champions Betterfly and three-time winners Airglow and Aerocycle. The competition offers points for short field, grass field and landing accuracy events, as well as longer duration and agility tasks including slalom and turns around a triangle.
The final results saw Team Aerocycle ahead win from Airglow and Betterfly. Kit Buchanan was the individual winner after an Aerocycle 301 flight that began with a 500m slalom and completed all three corners of a triangle (first time ever by a UK pilot), with a final duration of 6m:17s, the longest-ever duration flown in Icarus Cup competition. Jesse van Kuijk also set new Dutch duration and distance records on Aerocycle 301 (pictured).
The 2019 Icarus Cup was the most successful BHPFC competition ever. Year on year the competition heats up and scores continue to rise; teams learn better ways to strategise and complete the tasks, and pilots achieve ever-greater athletic and piloting efforts and accomplish longer and higher-scoring tasks
If you are a keen cyclist, engineer, aviation enthusiast or pilot, a student wishing to add meaningful experience to their CV or someone intrigued by what the club does, e-mail the BHPFC.
Posted: 27 August 2019
By: J. Schofield
last updated: 30 July 2026
Displaying page 32 out of 57
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