FOOTLAUNCHApril
!!!CAA set to ban all footlaunched aircraft!!! *
So it’s the 5th
of April as I write this and what a sky we had today! Some had it better than
others – Mr Collins cruised around the Herefordshire/Gloucestershire border at
6500’ I took some pictures of some nice clouds from zero feet – maybe Nicks in
one of them (Ahem… the photo not the cloud). Thanks for the ‘review’ Nick. Seriously, I think all glider reviews should
be like this. Succinct and with feeling. Most are just
bloody boring.
Thanks again to the
ever-reliable TC and the effervescent NC for the input towards this Footlaunch.
Safe flying,
Richard.
Next club meeting; on Wed 12th
April at The Pheasant,
* April Fool!
SAFETY MATTERS and other stuffAirspeed is life affirming – fly slowly and you’ll still hit the ground too fast
Safety Officers Bit
“Y’all go safely
now y’hear!”
Glider Review
The aesthetic
Furled in its Dacron shroud my wing waits,
like fossilised pterosaur, for life.
Unlike any wing I’ve owned before, the VR
enters a new synthesis. More reptilian than bird, more carbon than alloy; I rig
as if crafting a life form.
The aesthetic of this wing takes my breath
away. Its limbs cant in angled polyhedral, each tip graced by shark like fin;
albatross in its span, pterodactyl in its form. Not quite perfect, not quite a
pure fluid whole, but an emergence from nature’s laws and human ingenuity
creates a wing, animal in semblance and material, machine-like in its ruthless
efficiency.
Brutal days of winter pan out to spring,
and in the few stolen moments of flight so far I have entered a new world. A wing so easy to fly, unmatched in its performance; prehistoric
modern in its pterosaur bird fusion. I wait as another grey morning
rolls in.
Achaean prehistory swirls my subconscious
as buzzard calls pierce the air. This wing is not just about numbers; it is
about a journey, a vision, a form.
Nick Collins. March 2006
Dear Doreen,
This month its Handbags and slip knots that your granddad had to sweat
to buy you. What a silly song! Ask her anything – yes anything!
Dear Doreen,
On Saturday I witnessed a
bad case of child abuse by a well-known pilot to his young son. I don’t know
what to do about it. It appeared to me that this parent forcefully threw his
handbag (I still do not feel comfortable with men with handbags!!!!!) at the
child. Should I inform the BHPA or some other authority?
A concerned
mother.
Dear concerned mother. The editor told me that I
need not reply to this if I found it too upsetting (in fact he practically
pleaded with me!) How well known is this pilot? I think you should maybe have a
quiet word and tell him to use a rucksack. I can understand just how concerned
you are with this fashion feux pas. Forcing his son to be around a handbag
toting man is abuse beyond measure. Forget the BHPA – But I would tell the
BHPAG (British Hangbagging Parents Awarenessness Group) anyway, just for good
measure.
I hope this helps, Doreen.
Dear Doren,
I am haveing problems with my speedbar. Evry tim I put my feet on it the not slips and I can’t mak my
parglider go fast. I tried superglue but then the hole
contraptiun just seezed up! Im at the end off my tether! Can you help?
Yours, Lesley Rants
Dear Lesley,
My expertise is in affairs of the heart and mind. I know
nothing about knots and bits of string! And anyway, are you sure that a
paraglider can be made to go fast at all? Luckily I know lots of sailors and
I’ve been in touch with my good friend Shamus Gaffertape who has stepped in to
help. Over to you Shamus:
Ahoy there Lesley!
A knot I’ve always used
for tying stuff is the double hitch cow hoop. It is an easy knot to learn and
once mastered can be done with a hand tied behind your back or your eyes shut
(but not both at the same time).
Take a coil of heavy
rope of unequal length. Hold the long end in your left palm and secure to your
palm with your loose thumb. Take the short side and form a movable triangle in
your right hand. Slip the triangle base onto the index finger of the left hand
and pull the excess point through towards your left elbow. Now allow the weight
of the rope to sag onto the floor and catch this with the
heal of either foot. You will now see that the shape resembles a cow
hoop – hence the name! With your other foot flip the cow hoop part up and catch
it in your mouth then with your tongue push it through the gap you have formed
between the hands and pull tight eversoquick before it looses its shape. There
you are, a slip-proof double cow hitch hoop. Practice
this over a rainy weekend and you’ll be doing it in a few seconds in no time at
all.
I hope this helps (?), Doreen.
Historical photos
Where do you think you’re going Sunny Jim?
World News Angelo
D’Arrigo
Famed
hang glider adventurer Angelo D’Arrigo dies in air accident in southern
D'Arrigo, 44, died at an airshow in Comiso,
With the looks and indeed activities of an aerial
vagabond, D’Arrigo
seemed most at home in the sky, among his fellow high-fliers. In
2001, he guided a migratory eagle over the Sahara desert and the Mediterranean
Sea via hang-glider, completing the first "free flight
In 2003, d'Arrigo, flying a mosquito-powered Atos
as part of a Russian ornithology project, "guided" a flock of
endangered western Siberian cranes, born in captivity, for 3,400 miles to show
them the species' traditional migratory route from the Arctic Circle, across
Siberia to the shores of the Caspian Sea. He and they flew up to 120 miles for
six hours each day, d'Arrigo sharing thermals with the birds. He also chose
their overnight resting places.
He was also known for his flights over some of
the world's tallest peaks. In 2004, D'Arrigo stunned climbers on
This January
he also broke his own altitude record, set on the Everest trip, by flying to
9,100m over
It seems absurd that after all these adventures
he died as a passenger during a simple, seemingly innocent, flight at a local
airfield.
QinetiQ, Europe's (and Malvern’s) largest science
and technology organization, has completed the first flight trials of Zephyr
- a High-Altitude, Long-Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that has a 12
meter (39 ft) wingspan but weighs just 27 kilograms (59 pounds).
The trials took place at the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, USA. Two
aircraft were flown for four and a half and six hours respectively, the maximum
flight times permitted under range restrictions. The maximum altitude attained
was 27,000 feet above sea level.
The ultra-light aircraft is solar-electric
powered, autonomous and is designed to fly at altitudes as high as 132,000ft
(25 miles/40km), above normal commercial air-lanes and most weather. The
platform is capable of continuous operation through the use of solar power and
low drag aerodynamics. The combination of solar panels on the upper wing
surface and rechargeable batteries allows Zephyr to be flown for durations of
many weeks and even months. United Solar Ovonic’s lightweight solar cells have
been incorporated into the Zephyr which is powered by approximately 1 kW of
United Solar’s lightweight thin film PV.
QinetiQ believes that stratospheric platforms will rapidly become commercially viable and revolutionize future communications. High altitude platforms of this sort could provide a cheaper alternative to satellites in remote areas and developing countries. They can also enable observation of natural disasters and humanitarian crises.
Anyone remember that solar powered all- flying
wing UAV with about 8 motors on it? I wonder what became of that one?
Ed.
Comps
LAKES CHARITY CLASSIC 2006
Arrangements
are now in place for the Cumbria Soaring Club to run the 2006 LCC.
The
dates are Friday 16th / Saturday 17th June 2006 with the venue being at the
North Lakes Camping and Caravan Park - nr Bewaldeth (minimum donation for entry
to the event £25 - excluding camping / accomodation fees - all donations go to
charity).
Details
of the event can be obtained from Malcolm Grout - see below.
The
event will be based on GPS scoring -
you will need a GPS to enter the event and to score on tasks.
Entries are
being processed by MALCOLM GROUT
(Tel:
07891 916 305)
(E
mail: groutm@cockermouth.cumbria.sch.uk) or write to
him at
12, The Nook, Gt Broughton,
The
competition will be on the A comp / B comp format
(A
Comp DHV 2 and above gliders (and/or 'Experienced Pilots')
(B
Comp DHV 1 and 1/2 gliders)
Places
will be limited to 40 per group (total 80 pilots - NO ENTRIES ON THE DAY WILL
BE ACCEPTED)
The
Saturday evening will have a 'BASH' up on Bewaldeth - If you came to last years bash you have a good idea what to expect. If you did
not come to last years bash then this year is the time to make amends!!
Many
thanks - hope to see you there.
Simon
Raven
CSC
Club Contact
The British Paragliding Cup
will be running five rounds again this
season, sponsored by
Ozone
Flybubble / Windtech
Snowdon Gliders / Gradient
Leavseley Aviation
Surface to Air Merchandise / Skywalk
UK Airsports / Gin & Airwave
All providing prizes for task winners, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and top female.
The venues and dates are:
Dales / Lakes BPC 28th April to 1st May.
Snowdonia BPC 13th to 14th May.
Borders / Tinto BPC 26th to 29th May.
South
Event registration will be via the website at www.bpcup.co.uk.
We're
hoping that several will be FAI cat 2 rated so don't forget to renew
your comp licences this year. Registration for each venue will be
running from the night before and we'd prefer you to try and make that
since it leaves more time on the first day for the flying.
This message will be going out in the March edition of Skywings but we'd
appreciate if you could forward these dates to your respective club
magazines / websites / mates so that we can open the website
registration earlier than March. This will also be circulated to XC mag,
PG Comps website, Paraglidingforum and euro pg lists. If I've missed
anything out let me know.
Here's hoping for a fairer spread of weather this year.
Regards
Richard & Pete
Humour. These will make you sigh.
A neutron goes into a bar and
asks the bartender, "How much for a beer?" The bartender replies,
"For you, no charge."
*************************************
A man entered a local paper's
pun contest, sending in 10 different puns, in the hope that at least one would
win, Unfortunately no pun in 10 did.
***************************************
Did you hear about the
Buddhist who refused his dentist's Novocain during root canal work? He wanted
to transcend dental medication.
Go4IT
A clean sheet - still! Anyone?
LATEST NEWS. READ THIS AND
In order to encourage more entries into the ‘Go for it’ League it was decided that on entering (free entry) a flight for the league the pilot will automatically enter a raffle for a £50 cash prize.
Pilots will get a Raffle ticket for each entry into the League, but the maximum number of tickets to be held by any one person is to be THREE.
The Raffle will be drawn at the Christmas Meal.
Entries to Tim Crow to be in within one month of the flight.
Rules
1.
2. No infringement of airspace.
3. Must have Pilot rating or be under instruction from one on
the day.
4. Flights between 01/12/04 to 30/11/05.
5. Co-ordinates for T/O and landing required plus distance
from point to point in Km as a
check.
Flights will be scored to nearest 100m.
6. Defined flights (BHPA rules, see below) Coordinates for
turn points in addition. Bonus
distance
awarded provided 60% of flight outside ridge lift.
7. Stone’s throw award for smallest flight submitted (or
known about) provided
distance 5km or greater.
Go4IT
Flight Types
Open Distance
(score = distance)
Open Distance flights do not have any
turnpoints. Open distance flights will score the straight-line distance from
the start point to the end point.
Dog-Leg (DL)
score = distance
Dog-Leg flights are open distance flights with a
single turnpoint. The turnpoint does not need to be declared beforehand. The
turnpoint is permitted when pilots are forced to make a substantial change in
direction.
Out and Return
(OR) score = distance x 2 when the majority of the flight is out of ridge lift.
Out and Return flights commence at a start
point, go round a single turnpoint, and return to the original start point. The
coordinates of the start point and finish point are therefore identical. The
start/finish point may be different to the actual launch/landing points but the
flight distance is only measured from the start, to the turnpoint and back.
FAI Triangle (T)
score = distance x 3 when the majority of the flight is out of ridge lift.
An FAI Triangle is one which satisfies the FAI’s
28% Rule (shortest side must be greater than, or equal to, 28% of the distance
flown). To fly a triangle you must round three turnpoints, and return to the
original start point. The coordinates of the start point and goal are therefore
identical and for declared triangles and local records, must be one of the
turnpoints. The start/goal point may be different to the actual launch/landing
points.
Special Rule to
encourage pilots to attempt triangle flights
Note that for non-declared triangles, using GPS
verification, you can fly a loop and you will be scored the best triangle which
can be fitted inside it. Your track log points must cross to complete the loop.
This means you don’t have to start and finish at a turnpoint but may start
midway along a leg. This is to encourage pilots to try triangle flights.
Flat Triangle
(FT) score = distance x 2
A Flat Triangle is a triangular flight as above,
except that it does not conform to the FAI 28% rule. Completed Flat Triangle
flights score the distance multiplied by 2 when the majority of the flight is
out of ridge lift.
Failed Triangle
(score = distance)
A Failed Triangle is an attempt at a triangular
flight in which the pilot fails to make it back to the start point. Failed Triangles
score the total distance from the start, around up to two turnpoints and back
towards the finish point.
ADVERTS
Buy
quality prints on the web! Want some high quality flying shots on your wall? Have a look at www.mooncoinphotography.co.uk
. Site is currently being sorted and
will be updated with newer stuff throughout the year so keep your eye on it.
For Sale – Alinco 2m radio,
Kenwood 2m radio, chargers and manuals, ¼ wave aerial, headset (Icom plug),
various PTT adapters (Icom), fingerless leather palmed gloves, and a Clarion
radio/cassette car stereo (boxed).
Best or only offer secures all or any of it!
Tim Crow 01452 500806
For Sale
Airwave Magic 4 155. Excellent condition. Rarely flown over the last ten years. Spare set of Airwave
aerofoil uprights. Yellow and white. Flies very nicely.
£250 Tel Rich 01684 892415 rich@mooncoin.fslife.co.uk
I appear to be missing some copies of
skywings I was wondering if anyone had the following they didn't want anymore?
Aug 79; May 81; Aug 89; Mar and Oct 91
Thanks, Frank samm@lawstroud.freeserve.co.uk
Gradient
Want to fly faster than anyone else on the ridge? 211 km from just 6 UK XC's
last year. Excellent
sink. Ace wing for power (V. fast and 'turns on a sixpence').
3 Years old. Aerofix servicing.
Changing to the higher weight range 30 version. Very good condition. Richard.
Price £895.00 ono Email Aspen@richardpearce.co.uk
Phone Number 07798 906158
For
Sup-Air Moovy PG harness medium size - red and
black Complete with removeable reserve bag and back pad. Too large for shriveling
owner!
£120 ono
Tel Brian Pilcher 01684 560827
For Sale
Keller Sport Hang Gliding Harness. £100 ono. Contact Tony Lauricella.
|
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Gradient
Demo weekend.
Sat 25th-26th
March
Aspen 2 Aspen 2 or
If you are interested in
trying new wings please call…
Full….full….full…hoorah.
Special deals on Trango 2 dhv
2-3 for XC league pilots.
For
map and directions please go to WWW.AIRTOPIA.COM
Second hand
canopies
All canopies are serviced prior to sale, lines and sail and stitching are all checked. Prices reflect the age of design and the amount of life we believe is left in the wing. .
UP Trango 2 M ex demo 85-105kg £1,150:00
Up
trango 1 M 85-105kg £500:00
Ozone
Vulcan M 80-100kg £500:00
Gradient
Bliss L 95-120kg £750:00
Gradient
Topas L 85-110kg £300:00 mint!
Airwave Sport 1 S 65-85kg £500:00 VGC
Call Robin tel 01453 827202
Mobile 07973 844449