Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2022 i Cross Country

There were 193 Category 2 competitions in 2021, with a total of 62 safety incidents reported across them all, according to data collected by CIVL last year. Of those 62 incidents, 29 had no injury to the pilot (10 HG / 19 PG). Of the rest, 23 incidents suffered minor injuries like bruises and ‘small fractures’ (12 HG / 12 PG); nine incidents had serious injuries (1 HG / 9 PG); and there was one fatality (PG). There were 10 mid-air collisions (5 HG / 5 PG). Eighteen pilots deployed their reserves (all PG). Of the 32 injuries, 13 required hospital treatment, and five underwent serious operations. All of the injured pilots recovered. According to the report, which was authored by Mitch Shipley and Elena Filonova and presented at the…

Most paragliders sold on the market today are equipped, as standard, with swivels on the brake handles. These swivels, which are the connection between the brake line and the brake handle, are there to stop the brake lines getting twisted up during flying. Twisted brake lines can actually be a safety issue, because the more twists you have on the brake lines the shorter the lines get. Shorter brake lines make it easier to stall your paraglider and can also stop your glider recovering properly from a spin, stall or deep stall. As pilot-induced stalls are probably the number one safety issue on paragliders, you can imagine that this is really a very important factor in paragliding safety. At my company, BGD, we fit swivels on nearly all our gliders…

A silver ribbon threads its way through a wide emerald valley. Each bend accompanied by an oxbow lake, shimmering in lush pastureland. I look back up and to the east, the High Country sits under towering cauliflower clouds about to release more moisture into this already saturated system. Australia is different this season. The drought has broken, the fires are quenched and green growth abounds. The human world has also undergone profound changes this summer. The river below marks the state boundary and for much of the past year crossing the river was a torturous process of internet declarations, border passes and traffic jams at checkpoints. Now Australia has begun to open up and I’ve traversed the eastern seaboard, heading south to fly – the west remains in desert seclusion.…

We fly the coolest craft, and have probably the most freedom in all of aviation, but that requires commensurate responsibility. A recent catastrophic collision between an aeroplane and a paramotor in the USA gives us reason to consider our place in the aviation food chain. Flying high Typically, flying high is pretty safe. There are no wires to hit, we maintain many landing options, and navigation is easy. But it puts us up where aeroplanes fly. Mid-air collisions are extremely rare but we are growing in number, making such a calamity that much more likely. While that doesn’t increase anyone’s individual risk, it sure does raise the stakes for our sport. Nothing would energise prohibition-prone politicians more than a paramotor taking down an airliner. In the accident, which happened at…

Icaro’s new EN-A is also designed to be safe and easy for training, and for pilots to enjoy long after school. It’s made from Porcher Skytex 38 and STA15, a lighter mix of fabrics than the original Pica. Icaro say the sail comes up very easily without overshooting, making launch super easy. In the air they say it feels compact and has pleasant, easy handling. A simple line layout with just two main lines on each side means big ears are big and effective, and Icaro say it has a wide speed range for its class, which is peace of mind in case the wind picks up. icaro-paraliders.com…

The latest iteration of Advance’s lightweight high-B heralds a new design philosophy for the brand. DLS stands for Durable Lightweight Structure and Advance say the Iota DLS is as robust and durable as a standard-weight wing. They analysed the stress in different areas, and used this to work out the best mix of light and conventional materials, and the ideal geometric shapes for the diagonals, tension bands and rib crossports, for durability. The smallest, 21m2, Iota DLS weighs 3.9kg and because it has no upper C-wires it packs small too. First deliveries are expected in April. advance.swiss…

Ozone say the Zeno 2 will likely be available to order by the time these words hit print. In the first days of February, Ozone R&D Team member Honorin Hamard flew the Zeno 2 to victory at the British Open in Colombia which is a rare achievement for an EN-D wing in against CCC wings in competition. Russ Ogden says the Zeno 2’s glide performance is equal to the Enzo 3’s. Despite this, Ozone say their primary goal was to preserve the Zeno’s comfort and ease of use. It retains the same cell count and AR and they say it has better passive safety and improved response to front and side collapses. flyozone.com…

I’ve been flying tandem hike-and-fly for a while with my family and our sportier friends. And while there are now plenty of options for light tandem wings that will fit in a day sack, the problem has been finding suitable tandem harnesses that are just as light and compact Of course, you could choose the simple hike-and-fly harnesses that any pilot flying hike-and-fly tandem will undoubtedly already have. But the big problem then is what to do about a reserve? If going solo you would just strap on a front-mounted reserve, but this isn’t really an option on a tandem. Advance have a string harness with a built-in reserve compartment, but that means buying a new harness. Kortel have a tandem reserve-container that attaches to their Karver harness, but that…

Steve Ham is well known as an illustrator throughout the free-flight world. A hang glider pilot turned paraglider pilot, he has lived and worked as a guide in Piedrahita, Spain for 20 years. A recent poster commission saw him researching the history of free flight in Brazil – p28 Rob Davis started paragliding in 1992 and has been learning ever since. “Fascinating, like sailing with an extra dimension.” A former GP his favourite site is the one he can walk to from home – “Leckhampton, England is an excellent springboard for XC flying.” He writes about XC analysis on p36 Bastienne Wentzel is the author of Paragliding: The Beginner’s Guide and a science writer. From the Netherlands, and keen to improve her acro skills she jumped at the chance to go on a…

A change in the rules around how 'folding lines' can be used in certification means manufacturers can now certify two-line paragliders as EN C – rather than getting an automatic D. The change, which was confirmed at the end of January when the EN Norm that covers paraglider certification was updated, opens the door to a whole new generation of two-line sports class EN-C gliders. Under the old rules, any glider that had to use folding lines to get through the certification process was certified EN D, regardless of how the glider recovered. (Folding lines are an extra set of lines attached to the leading edge of the paraglider that are solely there to allow the pilot to induce collapses, necessary for certification. It is very difficult to induce consistent…

The Hike & Fly Guide to Central Switzerland is a new book created and published by three Swiss pilot/climber/hikers, Julian Fürsinger, Jonas Käppeli and Dani Perret. It features almost 80 different hike-and-fly routes in the central Swiss Alps (south of Lucerne, centred around Engelberg), from easy morning hikes to epic north faces that require alpine mountaineering skills. As well as the route descriptions, published in both German and English, there are maps, route information – time needed, height gain, best time of year for the route and any dangers – and photos. At 800g and 320 pages it is not designed to be carried, rather it is inspiration to leaf through at your leisure. One for the coffee table if you live in or spend a lot of time in…

It’s official: 2021 was one of the planet’s seven hottest years since records began, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) declared. The year was about 1.11°C above pre-industrial levels – the seventh year in a row that the average global temperature rise edged over 1°C. The WMO report echoes two separate official US analyses released that found 2021 was the sixth hottest year on record, tied with 2018. For many of us in Australia and overseas, however, 2021 may have felt generally colder and rainier than usual. This is because of the effect of back-to-back La Niña events, a natural phenomenon that brings cooler, rainier weather in our region. The fact 2021 was among the world’s hottest years despite these cooling forces shows just how strong the long-term warming trend is.…

New Skywalk wing colours Skywalk have redesigned the colour schemes of the Mescal 6 (EN A) and Arak Air (lightweight EN B), to bring them in line with the recently released Chili 5 and forthcoming new wings. skywalk.info GoPro Enduro battery The 1720mAh lithium ion Enduro battery for the Hero10 Black + Hero9 Black has up to 40% longer life and works in temperatures down to -10C. It also charges up to 13% faster than standard GoPro batteries. RRP €24.99. gopro.com PPGSmoke strobe system PPGSmoke have redesigned their paramotor strobe system. The 54x54x24mm unit includes one master and two wingtip strobes. It’s twice as bright, half the size and has two or three times the range of the previous version.  ppgsmoke.com…

Like the two wings above, Dudek’s new school-and-beyond EN-A is suitable for training, but intended for much more. It is winch approved and also available with paramotor risers. Changes from the Nemo 4 include a more roll stable profile for better handling and a new internal structure with better load distribution. A change to narrow Dyneema for the A and B lines has improved performance, but because they are well loaded these lines don’t suffer shrinkage, which can be an issue with Dyneema. There will be five sizes (20m² to 31m²) and three colours. dudek.eu…

AirDesign officially unveiled the Volt 4 at the Stubai online testival in mid-February, and believe it’s the first EN-C two-liner to hit the market. The brand say they have been working on it for a long time, but until folding lines were allowed to test EN-C wings it was not possible to complete it. Despite the advances in performance the two-line technology brings, AD say the glider is designed for the same set of pilots as the Volt 3, and is no more demanding to fly. “The glider is made to match the needs of the pilot, not the other way around.” ad-gliders.com…

The Exos 2 is Sky’s new lightweight EN-C paraglider. It’s a cross-country wing and is designed to offer the optimal balance of stabilty, feel and performance. Sky say the Exos 2 would be a good wing for a pilot stepping up from the B category. It has 65 cells and an aspect ratio of 6.4 (to compare, Ozone’s Delta 4 is 6.05 and AirDesign’s new Volt 4 is 6.5, both also EN C). It is made from Porcher Skytex 27 on both top and bottom surfaces, reinforced with 32 on the leading edge, and comes in at 3.45kg for the M size. It will be available in four sizes S, M, L and XL, and four colours. sky-cz.com…

This is the third version of Gin’s lightweight glider for two, the Yeti Tandem. The first was released more than a decade ago in one size, 37m2. Today the Yeti Tandem 3 comes in two sizes, 37m2 and 41m2. The extra size was added in June 2020 and, following a year lost to the pandemic, this is the one we were sent to try last year. The 37 weighs 4.8kg and has a weight range of 90kg to 190kg, a big advantage if you want to fly with young children, but still capable of carrying heavier loads for hike-and-fly. The 41 weighs just 600g more at 5.4kg and has a weight range of 120kg to 208kg. Paired with Neo’s Reserve Backpack and a couple of string harnesses either size makes…

Neo were the first to introduce a lightweight harness with thigh-high geometery when they launched the original String back in 2013. This is the third version and while the basic geometry stays much the same the materials and cut of the harness have evolved to reduce weight and provide more comfort. The harness comes in a compact drawstring bag, which easily fits in your hand. Getting the harness out it looks suitably high-tech, being made mainly in white ripstop Dyneema cloth – Neo’s trademark. At first glance, contrasting suspension points in black look like the only structural additions. Look closer though and you will see that the structure of the harness is made from grey flat webbing. This is made from high modulus polyethalene (HMPE), which has a very high…

Fomo, the fear of missing out, is not new – you may know it as keeping up with the Joneses. It is the idea (or fear) that there may be something (or something better) going on without you. In recent years Fomo has become a well-studied psychological phenomenon. Those studies show that this mindset leads to higher levels of anxiety and depression across all age groups. Part of the pervasiveness of Fomo is the growth of social media; we can now know for sure that we are missing out just by glancing at our phones. We’ve all had those days when we are at work but it is perfect for flying and everyone is sending it cross country. Remember that day in June 2019, when everyone top-landed Mont Blanc? I…

I’m a sports coach from Doha, Qatar and flying is my passion. I’m the first woman from Qatar to register and own a microlight aircraft. As well as the microlight I fly a paramotor and a paraglider. I am learning to fly a fixed-wing ultralight and I plan to obtain my gyrocopter licence. Before flying I was on the national handball team. I studied physical education and sports science. Now I work with the Aspetar sports medicine hospital in Doha, which provides medical services for many top athletes in Qatar, including the FIFA World Cup later this year. My first tandem paraglider flight was in Corsica, France in 2008. I got hooked on the feeling of being airborne, the different perspective and being in the air. I wanted to do…

25 YEARS AGO XC49 (Mar 1997): Sherry Thevenot reported on a huge air sports event in the Tunisian desert. “Our group included about 140 people: 21 microlights, 24 paramotors, numerous jeeps, 18 quads and seven hot air balloons.” Most travelled from Europe by sea. “The crossing was an expedition in itself.” The basic schedule involved pilots flying, ground crew following in buggies and jeeps. On day one, “After a brief lesson I sped off with a dozen other quads and quickly got a feel for off-piste riding. Occasionally I would wave to a paramotor overhead.” That feeling evaporated however as night fell and her quad broke down. “The silence was deafening. I felt very stupid.” That is, until a saviour arrived. “Sixty-five-year-old Marie Therese pulled up with her cigarette, GPS…

From the very beginnings of my flying career back in 2004 through to at least my first Red Bull X-Alps campaign in 2015 I never thought too deeply about the ‘why’ of flying. There was no mystery. It was epic and I couldn’t get enough. That seemed like a sufficient reason to pursue it like a fiend. But over the past few years I find myself asking the question of why more and more. I feel guilty about the selfishness of it all. It’s expensive. It’s time consuming. It takes me away from my family. It’s dangerous. I pose this question ‘why’ frequently on the podcast, because I find the question genuinely fascinating. And important. For professional pilots the answer is pretty easy – it’s their job. But what about…

1. Climbing Move towards people who are climbing faster. All pilots are pieces of information about the airflow. Keep a good lookout and move into the climb. Visualise the thermal, search for the best lift but only for a few seconds each way, then circle around. Always follow the energy, it gets you higher and gives you more options. 2. Gliding Your position in your harness is important, as is how you lean. For the optimal angle of pod don’t have your feet too low. Keep your pod under tension and aim for minimal creasing. Wrinkly neoprene is not good. 3. Taking good lines Visualise where you are going, maintain good body position, be as efficient as possible and slow down in lift. 4. Self-assess Review your flights and mistakes.…

The Aya 2 is Sky’s new “mid-to-high-end EN-A” glider, designed to offer “truly usable performance to novice and intermediate pilots looking for top passive safety”. With 37 cells and an aspect ratio of 4.69 Sky say it has excellent passive safety and pitch stability. This is packaged with progressive and precise handling, so it is fun to fly. Sky say it glides well into wind and cores thermals efficiently, making it perfectly cross-country capable. It’s made from Dominico Dokdo N30 (38g/m2) and will be available in sizes XS (50-72kg) to XL (105-130kg) in six colours. sky-cz.com…

The Kode P is Niviuk’s new lightweight hike-and-fly wing. It is made in 16m2 to 26m2 sizes, all of which are certified EN A except the smallest, which is EN B. It’s based on the Klimber 2P, optimised for weight, comfort and safety, and is the wing Tanguy Renaud-Goud broke the hike-and-fly world record on in 2021. Niviuk say all sizes are easy to launch with intuitive and fun handling. It’s made from Dominico Dokdo 25 and weighs between 1.8kg and 2.8kg. Standard colours are Spicy (green) and Acid (red). It comes in either a 45l or 75l Kargo rucksack. niviuk.com…

Neo Protect neckwarmers Neo’s Protect neckwarmers will keep you warm at cloudbase, and they also have built-in anti-Covid particle fiters, certified by the French Ministry of Defence (DGA) to UNS1 standards. They are available in a range of designs. flyneo.com TopMeteo convergence maps TopMeteo now has maps showing areas of convergence. They are currently available only for Africa (Namibia, South Africa and Botswana) but if successful, TopMeteo say they will also be developed for Europe and the US. TopMeteo.com Aero XC app updated The Aero XC weather app has been updated, and now has more detailed pressure isobars and better instability information. It’s available for free download on Google Play for Android devices. aeroxc.com / play.google.com…

Woody Valley’s new lightweight reversible harness weighs 1.98kg in M including the reversible rucksack, which is detachable. It is aimed at adventurous hike-and-flyers and designed to be comfortable for long hikes and long flights. Safety features include a self-inflating airbag, inbuilt reserve pocket and Recco reflector. The two-step speed bar has an elastic keeper you can hook your foot into, and it has in-flight accessible pockets. The rucksack is a roll-top with a compression zip. The Crest is available in four sizes. The smaller two have 55l rucksacks, the larger two are 70l. woodyvalley.eu…