New BHPA Chairman
At the BHPA AGM in Nottingham on March 3rd Martin Heywood stepped down from the Chairman's role he has held for more than eight years.
Rising to the challenge is Marc Asquith, already BHPA Chairman for several years in the late '90s. Martin becomes Vice-Chairman and continues as Insurance Officer; Marc's BHPA Company Secretary role will be taken on by John Nash.
These changes ensure continuity and safe hands. Officers' reports reveal that the Association remains on an even keel. A small profit is predicted or the year and BHPA's ownership of its Leicester premises should give a greater return on reserves than in any bank.
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An uncontested Election of Officers returned Brett Janaway, Angus Pinkerton and Steve Walsh to the Exec and also former Exec member Ed Cunliffe. Ed takes the place of John Lawson who has stood down.
BHPA Communications Survey
This survey, which ran throughout March, has now ended.
Our thanks to everyone who took the time to participate in this survey.
John Dickenson honoured in US
Hang gliding pioneer John Dickenson was made an Honorary Life Member of the BHPA in 1993 and awarded an FAI Hang Gliding Diploma in 2012.
Now the USHPA has seen fit to confer a Presidential Citation on him in recognition of his achievements. The citation statement includes these words...
"The Dickenson wing's essential design features were so easily comprehended and absorbed with only a few minutes inspection that it was routinely copied by thousands with no special knowledge or skill, and often flown within a day of that first viewing. Because it was so simple, so easily copied at a cost of $100 to $300, and so user friendly, tens of thousands became pilots, in a great many cases with no training whatsoever. No other aircraft can make such a claim."
Share the Sky!
The Share the Sky campaign is a call to anyone involved in flying to help save the world's vultures by spreading the message of conservation.
The aim is to inspire and encourage the international flying community to participate in the global effort to protect vultures and prevent their extinction. The campaign was inspired by the success of Parahawking in promoting vulture conservation and raising funds for vital conservation projects in Nepal.
Parahawking raises several thousand $US annually through its tandem flying business; now they are asking other airsports-related businesses, clubs, associations, manufacturers, etc, to do the same. Funds will go directly towards vulture conservation projects run by local organizations. By joining the campaign you pledge to participate and contribute to the global conservation effort in whatever way you can, big or small.
For more information and to join the campaign go to www.share-the-sky.org.
Fly the Karakorum.. with John Silvester
Renowned high-mountain pioneer John Silvester has started a new venture, guiding in the big mountains of the Karakorum.
Teaming up with accomplished Himalayan pilot Brad Sander, John is going to take his experience and learning from guiding in Bir to the big mountains of Hunza in Pakistan.
"If you want to fly in the clearest air on the planet," he says, "and see up close the strong sun sparkling off untouched ice peaks, Hunza is the place."
For more information go to www.skyguides.co.uk. You can also contact John at silvflyskyhigh@mypostoffice.co.uk.
Pennine Parafest
The Pennine Soaring Club, top performers in the paragliding XC League, are organizing a "Parafest" on July 6th - 8th.
The Chipping Show Field, at the foot of Parlick in the Ribble Valley, has been booked for the occasion and offers space for several hundred tents at £9 per person per night. The location caters for all wind directions, with Longridge Fell five minutes away and Pendle just down the road.
The PSC is looking to source food, drink, music, family entertainment (and good weather) for lots of flying. There will be more information on the PSC website site and the club's Facebook page.
For details and offers of help, contact event coordinator Billy Maxwell on 07548 126499, e-mail billymiuaiga@aol.com.
Lakes Classic dates
The 22nd edition of the Lakes Charity Classic competition will take place on June 8 - 9th at Buttermere, Cumbria.
It is hoped that the Saturday night display will feature a leading acro pilot and a further attempt at the world record for the most speedwings airborne at once. The Saturday bash, with music all night, will be a ticket-only event.
Full details and registration are at www.cumbriasoaringclub.co.uk.
Winch towing in Denmark
The Fasterholt Hang Gliding and Paragliding Center is said to have some of the best facilities for towing and thermal flying in Northern Europe.
This year they will be manning their facility full-time from for certain weeks in May, June and August. These "All You Can Fly" weeks include towing, training, thermal and competition flying in the 100-euro fee, and if the weather is bad for towing they will take you to coastal sites for dune flying.
The facility has onsite camping and clubhouse accommodation with kitchen, TV, wi-fi, etc.
For details go to www.drageflyvning.dk or e-mail: allyoucanfly@drageflyvning.dk.
For further information about the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association and skywings magazine, please visit our about the BHPA and Skywings magazine pages on this website.
