Paragliding
British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association logo

British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association

news
skywings news

Skywings News

Skywings On-line Magazine

Skywings news stories are available for the following publication years:

If you're looking for news stories published before January 2016, please visit the Skywings News Archive.

Skywings news stories published in all non archived years are displayed below.

News stories published in the years listed above can also be searched by post date or headline (title).
To search by post date, please enter the month and year numerically as mm-yyyy (eg. 03-2016).

or and

There are 420 news stories for all non archived years in our database.

Displaying page 36 out of 53

[ Top ] - [ Prev ] - [ Next ] - [ Bottom ]

Skywings News - all non archived years

Immediate Urgent Warning: Innsbruck area

To ALL pilots flying in the Tirol, Bavarian Alps and Südtirol (Northern Italy)

Due to a meeting of EU Ministers, temporary restricted airspace, radius 30 nautical miles, will be established around Innsbruck. The restriction runs from 07:00 local time on July 12th to 20:00 local time on from July 13th.

The restriction prohibits all civil aircraft operating in VFR including hang gliding paragliding and parachute jumping operations. Aircraft violating the regulations will be intercepted by military aircraft.

Ambulance flights, rescue flights, flights within disaster operations and Police UAVs are of course exempt. Further details, in English and including a map, can be found on the Austro Control website.

Posted: 5 July 2018
By: Paul Dancey

The Lakes Charity Classic

A reminder that the 2018 Lakes Charity Classic runs at the Grasmere Showground on July 14th - 15th.

As well as the competition itself, the ever-popular coaching groups will run on both days. Alternative bad-weather tasks are planned, plus plenty of free activities and lots to do for non-flying family and friends. The site includes an indoor bar, toilets and showers, plus wi-fi and good phone coverage.

On-site camping is available (fees are extra) and there's local accommodation nearby. Flying activities are also planned for the Friday and Monday. Full details are available on the Cumbria Soaring Club website. The LCC sells out quickly - don't delay!

Posted: 8 June 2018
By: Paul Dancey

Reckless paramotoring

Not for the first time, multiple reports are coming in regarding reckless paramotor flying around nature reserves, SSSIs and wetland habitats such as inland reservoirs. Many of these reports mention persistent nuisance and extremely low flying.

This time of year is particularly sensitive as most bird species are breeding and can be easily frightened into leaving their nests. Power pilots are reminded that the RSPB and other nature reserve operators are extremely well organised and their members own powerful binoculars and very good cameras. In addition, quite apart from any nuisance aspect and complaints, a bird strike over a reservoir could be awkward.

Flying in such a manner is of questionable legality; the CAA's current enthusiasm for prosecuting leisure pilots should be noted. If you are paramotoring in such a manner, please desist. If you know people who fly like this, please educate them as to the recklessness of their actions. It is a shame that paramotoring will be judged by the thoughtless actions of a few, but that is the way it works!

Posted: 8 June 2018
By: Paul Dancey

David Cook anniversary

David Cook Piloting a modified Volmer VJ 23E hang glider Copyright Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester / SSPL. Creative Commons BY-NC-SAMay 9th marked the 40th anniversary of David Cook's pioneering 1978 cross-channel flight on a modified Volmer VJ 23E hang glider.

Despite a modest 9hp engine - less than half the power used by Blériot's on his 1909 crossing - David achieved the seemingly impossible, touching down near Calais after over an hour in the air to be told by a startled local, "All English people are crazy!"
Duckhams-sponsored Volmer VJ 23E hang glider Copyright Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester / SSPL. Creative Commons BY-NC-SA
David's Duckhams-sponsored machine is displayed at Manchester's Museum of Science and Industry (well worth a visit in its own right). He went on to design the remarkable Shadow microlight - nearly 400 built - and returned briefly to foot launched flying in 2013 to test fly Andrius Rudd's home-built VJ-23E.

David was also one of the very first east coast hang glider pilots, at the core of a group who pioneered the East Anglian cliffs and dunes back in 1974. We are ever in his debt.

Posted: 8 June 2018
By: Paul Dancey

Mid-Wales sites reminder

The Mid Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club would like to respectfully remind all pilots that although the area has many tantalising and attractive-looking hills, we do not have permission to fly them all.

Before flying any hill that may not appear in the site guide please contact the Club. There are many reasons why flyable-looking hills are not Open sites, including the fact that the hill may be under negotiation, or that the landowner requests that people don't fly there but has given the Club permission to fly other hills owned by them.

Just turning up and flying jeopardises any current and possible future arrangements the Club may have.

Posted: 29 April 2018
By: Paul Dancey

BVHGR raffle

British Vintage Hang Gliding Rally 20181000 tickets are available for the 2018 British Vintage Hang Gliding Rally raffle. BVHGR Chairman Steve Pionk hopes to be able to raise up to £2,000 for the Alzheimer's Society.

The many valuable prizes include a week's accommodation at FlyStAndre, taster flying experiences with four different free flight and microlight schools, flying clothing from Avian and Simon Murphy, £50 worth of Morrisons vouchers and a bumper bottle of Prosecco - the list is getting longer by the day.

Tickets cost £2 each on the British Vintage Hang Gliding Rally website or at the BVHGR, hosted by Parafest at Llanbedr on July 27th - 29th.

Posted: 27 April 2018
By: Paul Dancey

The Lakes Charity Classic

A reminder that the 2018 Lakes Charity Classic runs at the Grasmere Showground on July 14th - 15th. As well as the competition itself, the ever-popular coaching groups will run on both days.

Alternative bad-weather tasks are planned, plus plenty of free activities and lots to do for non-flying family and friends. On-site camping is available (fees are extra) and there's local accommodation nearby.

Flying activities are also planned for the Friday and Monday. Full details are available on the Cumbria Soaring Club website. The LCC sells out quickly - don't delay!

Posted: 27 April 2018
By: Paul Dancey

Alex's 6 Peak Challenge

Alex Colbeck - 6 Peak ChallengeDales Club adventurer Alex Colbeck has set himself a new challenge, a UK first.

His brainchild is the 6 Peak Challenge: climb and fly from the well-known 'three peaks' of Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon and the the three Yorkshire peaks of Ingleborough, Whernside and Pen-Y-Ghent. All this inside of 24 hours!

Starting at Ben Nevis, using Niviuk equipment, Alex plans to take in Scafell Pike before tackling the Yorkshire peaks, finishing at Snowdon. The challenge will involve 15,000ft and 17 miles of climbing and around 11 hours of driving - achievable on paper but never done before. Already in training, he hopes to attack the challenge this month as soon as a weather window opens.

He is planning to raise money for the British Tinnitus Association and Yorkshire Air Ambulance; to help him reach his £1,000 target please visit the Six Peaks in 24hrs website.

Posted: 27 April 2018
By: Paul Dancey

last updated: 19 March 2025

Skywings News Feed

Displaying page 36 out of 53

[ Top ] - [ Prev ] - [ Next ] - [ Bottom ]

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.

BHPA Pilot Handbook
Skywings Magazine Online
Download the BHPA Elementary Training Guide
Submit an Incident Report
Information for visiting overseas hang glider and paraglider pilots
Events & Competitions Calendar
Information for UK hang glider and paraglider pilots who want to fly abroad

© British Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association 2004 - 2025