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).
There are 420 news stories for all non archived years in our database.
Displaying page 9 out of 53
[ Top ] - [ Prev ] - [ Next ] - [ Bottom ]
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
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
An new paragliding competition series is coming, led by Airtribune's Brett Janaway. The Sports-Class Racing Series (SRS) is aimed at all competitive pilots except those who fly EN D and CCC gliders.
Among the features of the new series are a new, transparent scoring formula, faster scoring systems, the latest generation of trackers, and top-notch PR.
An annual Sports Class Champion will emerge after four or five competitive FAI Category 2 events between May and September. This year's four venues are all well-proven sites for challenging but achievable tasks. Each comp is free-standing; pilots do not have to attend them all. The series is supported by some of the sport's leading names including Ozone, XCMag, Flymaster and Naviter.
The organising team includes some equally-formidable names. Brett (pictured) has been organising competitions and events for 20 years and has developed the Airtribune network; his company FlyEvent rents trackers to paragliding events worldwide. Charles Norwood, dynamo chairman of British Paragliding Comps; Nicole Fedele, PWC and World Championship veteran, test pilot and record breaker; former PWCA scoring-systems genius Chris Trow and seasoned event administrator Magdalena Janaway represent serious firepower.
Would-be SRS entrants should note that you don't have to fly an EN C 2-liner. Pilots flying all kinds of EN A, B and C wings are encouraged to enter. The 2023 schedule is: May 7-13 (Kruševo), June 3-9 (St Jean Montclar), July 16-23 (Gemona) and September 10-16 (Pedro Bernardo).
Full details are available on the Sports-Class Racing Series website. Registration will open on Airtribune on December 1st.
Posted: 29 November 2022
By: J. Schofield
The second Great British Aerotow Revival event is on.
The competition will return to Deenethorpe airfield near Corby from May 13th-20th. For those who want to hone their skills and/or sample the site, set-up and practice days will be May 10th-12th.
Places will be strictly limited by the number of tugs available. Currently there are five tugs booked; competition places will be limited to 50 pilots across Class 1, Sport and Class 5.
Registration opens on December 15th - to avoid disappointment confirm your place by registering via the Airtribune Website.
[Photo by: Katy Tracey]
Posted: 29 November 2022
By: J. Schofield
The very organised British Paragliding Cup team plans two rounds in 2023 including an overseas leg. There will be a UK Round in the Yorkshire Dales from Thursday 20th - Sunday 23rd April (registration: Wednesday 19th), and a European Round at Sopot in Bulgaria from Sunday 27th August to Saturday 2nd September (registration: Saturday 26th). Details are here. Put these dates in your diary now!
Posted: 29 November 2022
By: J. Schofield
Out of respect for the late Queen, the BHPA Office will be closed on Monday 19 September 2022. We will reopen as usual at 8.30 on Tuesday 20 September 2022.
Posted: 13 September 2022
By: Paul Dancey
As a member Association of the Royal Aero Club, we join with the RAeC Chairman, David Monks, in expressing our sadness at the loss of a great monarch.
The Royal Aero Club of the United Kingdom
The Royal Aero Club of the United Kingdom would like to express great sadness at the passing of our Patron, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Our thoughts remain with the Royal Family at this very sad time.
David Monks Chairman
Posted: 8 September 2022
By: Paul Dancey
An Afghan female paraglider pilot, who flew for her country at the 2018 Asian games, has been in hiding since the fall of Kabul last year. From soaring the skies above Kabul she is now trapped in her house.
The 28-year-old, whose name we are unable to reveal, has been in regular touch with US journalist Erica Berenstein and other supportive friends since the fall of Kabul in August 2021. Together they have made plans to get the pilot and her sister, who suffers from glaucoma, out of the country.
This will involve assistance from NGOs and lawyers and financial help will be necessary. A Go Fund Me page has already achieved more than 10% of their target.
Please help if you can by donating here. No amount is too small.
Posted: 5 September 2022
By: J. Schofield
last updated: 19 March 2025
Displaying page 9 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.
