“The sky is big and hang gliders are hard to see – we separate so fast. Things are getting desolate. Then solid sink, really solid sink … the ground is coming up fast.” Gordon Rigg describes the experience of flying the longest hang competition task ever – 367km to goal. To read ‘367km to Walgett’, […] …read more
Category: para news
How to Talk to Non-Pilots: By Tom Payne and Steve Ham
“Don’t say… well, anything about flying!” Tom Payne gives us his guide on how to talk to a range of non-flyers, including your long-suffering family. Illustrations, as ever, are by the remarkable Steve Ham. To read ‘How to Talk to Non-Pilots’, check out issue 168 …read more
On review: Swing Nexus, EN C
“Looking up as you carve into a thermal, the comp-like tips add that little frisson of excitement”, writes Marcus King of the Swing Nexus – one of the fastest EN-C class wings we’ve yet tested, with unique rear-riser control technology to boot. To read the review of the Swing Nexus, check out issue 168 …read more
And Now For Tajikistan: Exploring the Pamirs
“Ragged cliffs eroded into wild shapes below us, while thick brown meltwater churned the river. There was no road to see, nor any sign of civilisation…” Ueli Neuenschwanfer and Thomas Ruesch describe their exploration deep into the Pamirs. “Maps were poor … the former KGB officers less than enthusiastic … the scenery impossible…” it’s an […] …read more
On Speed: By Tim-Patrick Meyer
“Rear riser control gives you the maximum amount of information and the maximum control with the minimum input,” says Russell Ogden in a long article on gliding efficiently. Tim-Patrick Meyer breaks down the differences between two-line and three-line control and interviews Bernie Pessl, Ulrich Prinz and Armin Harich on the principles of McCready theory, among other […] …read more
Pierre Bouilloux: ‘It’s out of this world’
With his Gallic nose, quiet nature and penchant for long, solo vol-bivouac trips, there was something very bird-like about Pierre Bouilloux. He was wise, too. “If you’re ever stressed, go and stand with your back against a tree, and rest your worries against it,” he once told me. “It’s seen far more than you’ll ever […] …read more
Cross Country 168: April 2016
Cross Country 168, April 2016 is out now. Here’s what’s in the issue, from remembering Pierre Bouilloux to paragliding through the wilds of Tajikistan… With his Gallic nose, quiet nature and penchant for long, solo vol-bivouac trips, there was something very bird-like about Pierre Bouilloux. He was wise, too. “If you’re ever stressed, go and […] …read more
GIN granted CCC exemption after factory closed down
GIN have requested a temporary change in the rules to the new CCC regulations for Cat 1 paragliding comps because their factory in North Korea has been closed down. In a notice issued on 7 March 2016, CIVL said that GIN, which make the Boomerang 10 comp wing, had asked for an exemption to the […] …read more
Cross Country April 2016: The Never-ending Journey
What makes a good flight? Is it flying further than you’ve flown before? Flying a new site? Flying an old one with new friends, or a new one with old friends? Is it heading off alone through the wilderness, or is it soaring the beach and waving at the people below? All of these and […] …read more
Ice, Climb, Fly – Adventure in Scotland
Buachaille Etive Mòr is one of the most recognisable mountains in Scotland. Recently, our friends Mark Robson and Bren Reid climbed the North Buttress for a hike, climb, and fly with ultralight gear. Here’s their brief report and a nice video they put together of the day. Thanks for sharing your adventure guys! Cheers, from all the team.
Glad you liked the video – it was only shot using our mobile phones as an afterthought!
The route we did was North Buttress (West Route) Grade IV 4 – one of the great classic climbs on Buachaille Etive Mor in Glencoe. Conditions were perfect – light winds, blue skies and fantastic bomber neve.
Climbers/ Pilots – Bren Reid flying an Ozone Ultralite 2 16 and Mark Robson flying an Ultralite 3 19.
Bren sensibly chose to use his helmet to contain his crampons in his rucksack whilst airborne… “Because I’m more scared of landing on them than of flying without a helmet”. Needless to say, the landing with a rucksack full of climbing hardware was much smoother for me with the UL19.
Ascent, from car to summit took us a leisurely 5 hrs. The descent straight back to the car park an …read more
Source:: Ozone Paragliders