FOOTLAUNCH

 

 

Next club meeting; Wed 9th Feb 8:00pm at The Plume will be a talk/slide show by Chris Sturdy on flying at Annecy and cross-country routes around the area.

 

A reserve chute repack session will be held in Upton village hall on Sat 12 March from 3pm to 7pm.

 

EMERGENCY (RESERVE) PARACHUTE PAYLOAD: DHV CERTIFIED CANOPIES  http://www.bhpa.co.uk/members/safety/advisory/documents/sa008.122004.pdf

 

The DHV have issued a recommendation that pilots using DHV certified emergency parachutes should

ensure that their maximum take-off weight never exceeds 75% of the parachute's certified maximum

payload. (This means that if the emergency parachute has a certified maximum payload of say 114kg, it is

only recommended for use with a maximum of 85kg payload.)

 

This is as a result of a DHV study of injury rates arising during the use of emergency parachutes. They

examined all the reported incidents where emergency parachutes had been used by DHV pilots in 2003, and

after stripping out all of those where the pilot's fall had been arrested by trees, found that the eleven incidents

left showed a clear trend: pilot injury (generally serious) occurred in all those events where the load was

greater than 78% of the DHV certified parachute's maximum payload.

 

The DHV emergency parachute standard uses a 6.8m/s descent rate as the criteria. This is considerably in

excess of the BHPA 5.5m/s recommendation (which is also used for the CEN 12491 standard). The high rate

of injury uncovered in Germany should be no surprise to those following the FSC's carefully researched

advice on parachute sizes and acceptable descent rates.

 

If your emergency parachute is a DHV certified type, check to find the maximum certified payload and ensure

that your total weight in flight does not exceed 75% of this figure. (The DHV are planning to list all DHV

certified emergency parachutes and their certified max. payloads on their website: www.dhv.de.)

(Nb. Reducing the max. payload by 25% should, by calculation, reduce the descent rate to approx 5.8 m/s.

Members are reminded that comprehensive advice on emergency parachutes is contained in the BHPA Pilot

Handbook.)

 

APCO Fiesta 2 Deep Stall

Two accidents have occurred involving Apco Fiesta 2 PGs entering deep stall during tow launches. Investigations are ongoing, and pilots of these gliders are advised to take extreme care during tow launches. Standard tow procedures must be followed: do not apply any brake other than minimum left or right to maintain alignment with the line.

 

FLYING DIARY

A great weekend away in Cornwall was had on the 29/30 Jan. Nick Collins says “Wow ! What a great weekend; flyable both days, all day ( for HG anyway). Flew two very interesting new sites and had a go at a comp too! Probably the best attended, most new sites club trip ever. Twenty five plus hang gliders on the hill! Just like the 80 s!!  Many thanks too John and Di for fixing the weekend date and choosing the B AND B. “

There are some photos on the website but you have to have a look at this video clip of Nick (it's a bit big at 14MB, Chris is trying to get a smaller version):

http://malvern-hang.org.uk/movies/Carbis_movie_Nick_Landing.AVI

The last week of January saw flying at Westbury almost every day in the run of N’ly 
winds. Let’s hope the year carries on as good when real weather arrives.
 
Points to note for flying Paragliders in high winds (30+mph).

 

{{Alternate title:  Goodbye, cruel world, I’m leaving you today, borrowed from Roger Waters, ex Pink Floyd member}}

 

1.       Before leaving home write a will, but more importantly, get your canopy out of its bag and tie a knot in each of your outer _A_ lines, so that the line is approx two feet shorter than normal.  This ensures permanent _Big Ears_, a vital part of the equation.

 

2.       One more essential modification must also be made to the glider.  This is simply to tie the biggest _bull-dog_ clip you can find to one of your _A_ risers with a short lanyard.

 

3.       When you get to the site, preferably a vertical cliff, do not lay out your canopy as normal. Get it out of the bag and put your harness on. Don’t waste time on a pre-flight check - it really isn’t going to matter.  Bunch the canopy up as you do when walking with it, i.e. _mushroom_ it.  Bunch it in tighter than normal.

 

4.       The launch method is somewhat different from any normal practice that you may have used in the past, but is easily mastered. Simply run with the bunched up canopy as fast as you can at the cliff edge and jump off.

 

5.       The moment you are airborne, and certainly before you hit the bottom, throw the canopy away from you. And, hey presto, you are flying!!!

 

6.       The canopy may actually inflate properly and sort itself out before you land (hit) at the bottom, in which case you will probably go up at quite a rate of knots.  Do not worry about this.  The knots tied in the _A_ lines will pay dividends at this stage.

 

7.       You will also definitely be going backwards at a fairly steady rate.  Normally you would worry about this.  But if you miss the top of the cliff, this is where the bull-dog clip comes into play.  Grab both of your risers in your hands and twist yourself round 180degrees so you are facing the _wrong_ way.  The trailing edge of your canopy is now the leading edge and vice versa.  Take the bull dog clip in one hand whilst holding the risers together in the other and plonk it over the twisted risers to hold them in place.  Do not worry about the brakes whilst doing this - you aren’t going to need them anyway. Also, you will not be able to do much steering like this, but, hey, who cares - you’re flying, when no-one else is, so that’s got to be good!!!  Finding very few (if any) other gliders in the air, you also have the added bonus of not worrying about mid-air collisions.  Enjoy those empty skies, while you still can.

 

8.       As your flight continues, behind the cliff, you will encounter rotor.  Do not worry about this, though it will cause you to land whether you intended to or not.  Whatever you do, do not look up at the canopy - the sight you see will frighten you and distract you at this critical stage of the flight. Console yourself with the fact that at least by facing the way you are going, you can see which house you are going to hit (assuming you try this first at a safe site like B*****). In any case, be prepared for a PLF or SASSE*.  One small point of etiquette to remember: if you SASSE your way in through somebody’s bedroom window, make sure you look the other way; we don’t want paraglider pilots to all be branded as pervies.

 

9.       If, by some miracle, it looks like you are going to make it over the first row of houses, remember you score bonus points for taking out a chimney pot with your foot as you pass over the roof. The added excitement of this is, of course, the danger of scoring negative points for getting caught up on a TV aerial.

 

10.   If you don’t break both legs on landing, repeat steps 4 to 9 until you do, ‘cos it would probably be the best thing for you in the long run!!!  Happy landings!!!

 

11.   One final point to note: do not worry if it is raining when flying in these conditions.  In fact, it is beneficial: the rain helps wash away the blood.

 

 * SASSE - SAS Style Entry. (Boots first)

 

 

Airtopia demo weekends, for lots of fab new toys coming to a hill near you…

 

Ozone…who must have been working overtime to produce so many new DHV 1/2wings!

 

UP…..very tasty new trango 2 for the fast and furious DHV 2/3

 

Airwave…..new DHV 2 Mustang….

 

Gin and Gradient wings also available, tried and tested designs already proven last season.

Also a wide range of harnesses to try…

 

If you are considering changing wings or part ex, please call with details of experience, all up flying weight, current wing, and what your interest may be……

This is not a free for all! We will aim to try and get pilots to fly two or three different wings in the catorgory of there choice by prior arrangement.

 

Dates as follows;

 

Weekend of 5th and 6th of March  maybe Friday or Monday also if it looks good.

 

Weekend of 12th- 13th of March, also maybe Friday and Monday if it looks good.

 

Sites will be any Avon, S E Wales or condors open sites, decision made the evening before or on the day. 

 

Email  HYPERLINK "mailto:robin@airtopia.com"robin@airtopia.com

 Or Tel        01453 827202

 

 

Subject: BCC pg 2005
From: Martin and Amy Stanton 
Date: Wed, 15 Dec 2004 
 
Sorry for the silence, things are a tad mad at the moment. Amy and I will be 
coordinating the BCC for 2005, and all relevant bits have been handed to us by 
Patrick. We have just about finished the base of the new website (www.flybcc.co.uk 
not up yet), and also finalizing our proposals for the new set of rules. These will
 of course be open to revue, and will be checked by the BHPA before we go forward.
 Don't get too worried about the changes, on the whole we are trying to just 
simplify the whole thing as far as possible, as well as take it back to its roots a 
little more (fly for fun etc.).
 
Our plan is to launch the new site at the end of January, along with the new proposed 
set of rules and entrance forms. The format is set to change a little, in terms of 
having more rounds followed by a final (no Semi). This is to give us a better window 
to hold a final, and also to try and encourage more rounds, which are really the 
heart of the BCC.
 
We also need to complete the 2004 final, which we are proposing for the Easter 
weekend.
 
As you noted Avon are very keen to help out. And I'm sure they will do their bit to
 get things going. I have given up captaincy of the Avon team so that I can have a 
more impartial view, and devote more time to the overall organization.
 
As for your help, it will certainly be welcome, as will that of all the clubs that 
want to take part. We will do our bit by providing a central framework, but it is 
going to be down to you guys to hold the rounds.
 
Cheers
Martin
 
Ps. Let's all start praying for some nice weather, and a cracking years flying.
 
Pps. Any proposals for improvements would be of use, so that we can get them in now.
 
Ppps. One task you could all start, is to help us build a list of suitable sites to 
hold rounds. I know the SW pretty well, but the rest of country I don't know that 
well. So if you could offer up club sites that can be used that would be great. 
Ideally we need site name, location and grid, directions even better.

 

        

Go4it 2005

 

 

Rules

1.    UK flights only.
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 Kms as a

       check. Flights will be scored to nearest 100m.
6.    Defined flights (BHPA rules) Coordinates for turn points in addition. Double 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 (previously 3 miles).

 

ADVERTS:

 

Harley Sirocco (medium) 75-95kg. Very good condition, little used. ACPUL 12A rated.  £150

At that price ideal for winter flying or for ground handling practice. 01452 500806

 

Roof Bars – to fit car with gutters, free.

HG Ladder Rack – wooden ladder with foam padding, free.

Contact Tim Crow 01452 500806

 

 

 

       AIRTOPIA       

 

                                                                                            

 

Demo long weekends set for 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th March or

11th, 12th, 13th or 14th of March.

 

Ozone, Airwave, Gin, Up and Gradient.

If you are interested in trying new wings please give us a call…lots of new toys to try before buying.

 

Montenegro Holidays in September and October.

Prices from £250 - Flights for under £100!

 

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 Vision classic M         90-105kg      £495.00

Trekking Sunbeam         95-110kg      £550.00

Sky Fides  L                    95-110kg      £450.00

Gradient Bliss L              95-120kg      £900:00

Nova XRay  M                 85-105kg      £550:00

Nova Xact  M                   85-105kg      £850:00

Gradient Golden L          95-115kg       £995.00

Firebird Matrix  L            95-115kg      £ 600.00         

 
Call Robin tel 01453 827202

Mobile           07973 844449

www.airtopia.com   robin@airtopia.com