“It’s hard to get your head around the fact that all the migratory swans in the world are in this one delta in Russia. The people there aren’t wealthy, and it’s still a community where a lot of hunting happens for food.” Sacha Dench is preparing to fly 7000km with swans on their migratory route […] …read more
Niviuk Peak 4 (EN D) review
“Many pilots are searching for that elusive sweet-spot between a typical three-liner and a competition two-line CCC glider. “The Peak 4 could well be your answer,” writes Pat Dower, who finds Niviuk’s latest D a delight, and a totally different kind of wing from the Peak 3, which Cross Country’s review team was not wild […] …read more
Cross Country 171: July 2016
“Always go for a beer with your friends after a long day’s flying,” advises big-distance flyer Mike Cavanagh. It can be so illuminating to learn from other pilots’ thoughts and experiences, which can be wildly different from your own, and Issue 171 is like the most vibrant, detailed post-flight conversation you could ever hope […] …read more
Allen Weynberg: Cracking 100km in Australia
After 20 years, Allen Weynberg cracks his first 100 km – the seemingly elusive milestone for so many of us. “I release from the tow-line straight into the fight. You can feel the buoyancy of the morning air, the promise of lively lift, but this day’s not easy. “Turn tighter, and then finally, the glorious […] …read more
Honza Rejmanek: The Miso Soup Connection
“Sometimes on final approach it’s possible to find yourself gliding along a really buoyant line low down. The irony is that sometimes strong lift low down can be the result of two descending batches of sinking air hitting the ground and colliding,” writes meteorologist Honza Rejmanek. “This collision boundary is a convergence curtain”. Honza explains […] …read more
Become an Independence team pilot
Become an Independence team pilot and get a big discount on the new EN-B Geronimo². Independence are recruiting team pilots. Successful applicants will be offered the Geronimo² at just €1999. Applications should be sent by email, to info@independence.aero. All Geronimo² pilots, whether team pilots or not, are eligible to win prizes for kilometres flown. Flights should be submitted to XContest and […] …read more
From Utah to Colorado
On June 8th, OZONE’s Cody Mittanck (@codymittanck) flew, on his Enzo 2, a daring route above the South West desert of the US. Cody took off from near Yuta Lake in Utah and landed, after 318 km, in the South West of Colorado.
In Cody’s words:
“Utah canyon country is one of the most scenic and isolated places in the lower 48. For a couple of years now we have been trying to explore new lines through it. Yesterday we had conditions that looked promising and we went for a bold line right over the heart of it, flying over deep sandstone trenches cut from torrents of flashfloods and monolithic spires that tower over a harsh and unforgiving desert. There is nothing like being low in places like this, hanging on to a thermal, trying not to think about the consequences of landing out. We focused intently on virga as it tracked across our path, thinking many moves ahead in order to be in a safe position and avoid the gust fronts on the surface below. In the end the energy in the sky dissipated. I climbed in light and smooth lift to 3,000 meters above the desert floor and …read more
Source:: Ozone Paragliders
Swing release Twin RS tandem paraglider
Swing’s latest tandem paraglider, the Twin RS, will be available from the end of June 2016. The RS stands for RAST, or Ram Air Section Technology, and Swing say the Twin RS is the first tandem to use the technology which aids launch behaviour and reduces the risk of collapses in turbulent air. The other features […] …read more
Free Aero tests the Kougar 2
Free Aero tests the Kougar 2 …read more
Source:: Niviuk
Across the North Cascade Mountains
June 4th saw a group of courageous pilots dive deep into the North Cascade Mountains for the first ever crossing on a paraglider. While the 90km flight isn’t that grand on the world stage, the flight covered large portions of unlandable terrain, valleys filled with 200 foot old growth trees, a national park that is illegal to land in, and the potential for a 2-3 day hike out.
A total of 6 pilots completed the crossing all recounting their experience as “unforgettable” and “the most spectacular scenery I have ever seen”. The main gaggle of four pilots flew the route together, David Milroy flying an Enzo 2, Noah Briller on a LM5, Evan Bouchier on an M6, and Matt Senior flying an Alpina 2. Roy Morris and Joshua Hockett also completed the 5 hour epic, flying different lines by themselves fueled by the fact that they had friends leading the charge and that landing was not an option.
Congrats from all the team at OZONE for such an amazing flight!
(Thanks to our good friend Matty Senior for the report and photos)
Source:: Ozone Paragliders