Had enough!

 FIRST FLIGHT PARAGLIDING SCHOOL CLOSED

Just a note to say that after 28 years' operation I have closed my paragliding school to new students from 1st March 2024.

I began hang gliding in 1974 and paragliding in 1990, then opened my paragliding school in 1996.  After 50 years of free flight and with the persistent bad weather that we are getting these days, it seems time for this old man to retire from instruction. I expect to be still available for coaching if required and the usual banter on the hill.

With thanks to all my former students and wishing them and pilots everywhere, fair winds and safe flying .

Back to some action

Occupied with students on rare flyable days.

22 June 2023 and 16 August 2023

No students available. I had a short semi-soaring flight on each day at Big Collin, gradually losing height in light wind and with standup landings. Overshot landing areas due to superior glide on the BGD Cure 2 and last minute lift from the lane.

Back to flying again

After a long layoff due to Covid restrictions and bad weather, paragliding has resumed.

 5 MARCH 2021

Two flights at Big Collin in the company of Ken McConnell. Cautious top to bottom on first flight then soaring with lift out by the farm before landing on tiptoe at the bottom. Very confidence building.

1 APRIL 2021

Big Collin again. Short semi-soaring flight with bottom landing. Superior glide meant landing area overshot!

 16 APRIL 2021

Two more flights at Big Collin mainly dodging other pilots in limited lift band. Landed at the bottom both times.

19 APRIL 2021

Ground handling at Big Collin with BGD Seed in blustery wind in landing area. More ground handling up the hill a bit followed by short flight with bottom landing.

21 APRIL 2021 and  22 APRIL 2021

More flights at Big Collin. Getting more used to this wing -  very stable and with superior glide.

Quick flight at Dungiven W

SATURDAY 11 JULY 2020

Good turnout of pilots at Dungiven W in mostly 14-16 mph wind. I had four CPN students out - Gerry Johnston, Gennady Lubarsky, Jamie Baker and Maris Lambergs. All four have their own gear. Congratulations to Jamie on getting all his tasks done for CPN rating. Before any training I had a short flight on Jamie's Ozone Mentor 3 S to demonstrate Big Ears, Asymmetric Tuck and Top Landing before he flew and successfully completed those tasks.

The other three got more of their CPN tasks done, including safely flying with others, before the wind died away and flying was abandoned.

.. and there's more!

TUESDAY 17 DECEMBER 2019

Arrived at Dungiven W just as the wind picked up. I had my first flight with Ian Cross and Steve Hill also airborne. During the flight, I pulled larger Big Ears which required pumping out. Flew to headlands N and S of takeoff. Steering light with weight shift and also using C risers or brakes. There appeared to be wave lift out in front of the hill - very smooth and steady lift. After 35mins and 900ft above takeoff and despite a good pair of gloves, I lost feeling in my fingers and came in for a top landing.

Second flight to Benbradagh as orographic cloud formed over takeoff but quickly cleared. Paul Cunningham, Mihai Lazar, Martin Bates, Donal Hamilton and Stevie Vogel also flew. Brian Dawson called by on his way to give site owner presents. I need to be less vigorous in reverse inflations in wind to stop the wing overtaking me. Tiptoe top landing after second flight too. I also need more practice in packing the wing which has 74 cells and multiple chord-length flexible rods. Very pleased with the handling, stability and performance of the Cure 2 so far.

More of the Cure 2

SUNDAY 15 DECEMBER 2019

Paul Cunningham had just landed as I arrived at Big Collin. I drove to S slope and had first flight from half way up in very light wind. Not enough lift so I landed after 5 mins. Walked to top for second flight and soared for 15mins in light lift, landing at the bottom.

Wing handles beautifully. Impressed by how it turns so easily and quickly with just weight shift. Approach to landing at full speed then steady flare from about 10ft results in a tiptoe landing every time.

New wing!

I have been neglecting this blog for a while - mainly because there has been little chance of any flying because of the weather and when it has been flyable I have been getting my students airborne. As a result, Maris Lambergs and Gennady Lubarsky have achieved EP and are on their way to CPN rating.

SUNDAY 1st DECEMBER 2019

After hanging around for a couple of hours at Magilligan in calm to light and variable direction wind we were rewarded when the wind picked up NW  and it became soarable. Maris got two excellent soaring flights with some CPN tasks accomplished and two excellent top landings - his first! What a happy chappie! Gennady and then Ian Ramsey were content to tame their respective wings by ground handling practice in the occasional gusty spells.

MONDAY 9th DECEMBER 2019

Having taken delivery of a new BGD Cure 2 demo wing a week before, at last I got a chance to take it out of the bag and fly it. Wind at Dungiven W was off a tad towards the SW as I laid out the glider back near the top landing area to check it and do some ground handling. The wind was 12-14mph and my first attempt at reverse inflation was unsuccessful as I did not make enough effort and did not get it beyond 45 degrees. The second attempt, I put a bit more effort into it and the wing rose overhead with only a small input on the brakes to stop a potential overshoot. I turned and as the wing felt so stable I  took three or four running steps forward and took off, clearing the low dike. A small lull caused a momentary touchdown and a couple of steps later I was climbing away from the hill.

Feedback from the wing through the harness was immediately apparent and might take a wee bit of getting used to. Turning is easily done with weight shift alone. I pulled Big Ears at one stage and was surprised to find that they popped straight out on release, without needing any control input. Gaining height, I noticed Donal Hamilton on his Niviuk Artik 4, who had been soaring the headland to the south then disappeared, was soaring a bit to the south of Boviel. After gaining some more height in what was mostly very smooth wind I headed over with the intention of joining up with Donal. Arriving together at the headland I noticed that I was considerably higher than Donal. I turned and flew back to the takeoff area as I noticed the wind was picking up. My groundspeed on the way back was 56mph! Approaching top landing, conditions were getting a bit choppy and, not sure about my first landing on the Cure 2, and not wishing to get dragged into the fence if things went wrong, I opted to land behind the top fence.

The landing was completely uneventful - on tiptoe and hauling down the C risers instantly collapsed the wing. Donal, who was unaware that I was the Cure pilot, had also noticed the rising wind and opted to land beside me. Packing up the Cure 2 was a bit of a nightmare in the increasing blustery wind but eventually managed. Windspeed back at the car when we returned was 23mph!

Looking forward to the next flyable day!