No. 448AUGUST 2026 The magazine of the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding AssociationB attitude 2 SKYWINGS AUGUST 2026 Exec have talked a lot recently about where the BHPA needs to go next. But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, we need to be honest about where we are now. For me, the thread running through all of it is pretty simple: how we keep the Association stable, useful and moving in the right direction. That sounds straightforward enough, but in practice it means making some clear choices about what matters most, where we put our energy, and what we need to sort now rather than later. One of the big things we need to get better at is risk. Not because anyone wants more process for the sake of it, but because we need a better grip of where we’re exposed, what needs attention, and where we’re carrying risk without really meaning to. Put bluntly, we need to understand the things that could trip us up and deal with them properly. That same thinking sits behind the website work. With the legendary Paul Dancey stepping down after 28 years, the immediate issue wasn’t to design the perfect long-term answer. It was to make sure we did something sensible now, keep things steady, and start improving how the BHPA presents itself. It’s a first step, not the finished product. It won’t fix everything on day one, but it gets us moving and gives people something better to see when they look at us. After that, we can take a more considered view about what needs modernising, what needs protecting, and where it’s actually worth investing. The website is only one bit of the wider picture. On its own it won’t transform participation or solve membership issues, but it does give us a clearer front door for members, prospective pilots and anyone else looking in. We also need to do a better job of raising the profile of the sport. That includes working more closely with the BGA and BMAA. We’re not the same, but we do face some of the same issues around visibility, access and bringing new people in. There’s value in being smarter about how we show the bigger picture of recreational and competitive flying in the UK. The same goes for social media. We need to be where people actually are, and we need to show the sport properly. There’s no shortage of great flying, committed people and good stories across the Association. We just haven’t always told them well enough. We also need to keep backing our schools. For most people, that’s where the sport starts, and those early experiences matter. If we want people to come in and stay, supporting schools properly is one of the most practical things we can do. And we are already seeing some benefit from getting out there more. Events like Popham may not lead straight to new memberships, but they do help people see us, understand what we do, and take us seriously. There are some positive signs internally as well. We’ve had new people join the Executive, bringing different experience from across business, schools, competition, paramotoring and aviation more broadly. That matters, because if we want this to be sustainable, we need the right mix of people, capacity and continuity around the table. It’s also worth saying plainly that the BHPA has relied for a long time on the goodwill and hard work of a relatively small number of people. That says a lot about their commitment, but it also leaves us exposed if we’re not careful. If we want the Association to keep working well as a business, then we need to modernise some of how we operate and be more deliberate about continuity and structure. At the same time, we need to stay rooted in why we’re here in the first place: to act in the interests of members and the long-term health of the sport. The potential bursary scheme funded through a bequest is a good example of that kind of thinking. It’s a practical way of investing in future competition pilots and helping the next generation into the sport. In the end, it comes back to a fairly simple question: what does the Association need to look like if it’s still going to work properly in five or ten years’ time? I don’t think there’s one magic answer. But I do think the direction is obvious enough: get a better grip of risk, make sensible decisions about where effort and money go, raise our profile, and strengthen the basics. None of that is flashy, but it does matter. Because keeping the Association strong probably won’t come from one big dramatic change. It will come from making better decisions, at the right time, and steadily getting the important things right. That’s what we’re trying to do. Keeping us airborne JENNY BUCK, BHPA CHAIR Photo: Jenny Buck regulars 2 attitude: Jenny Buck 6 news 10 pilot profile: Lee Tryhorn 12 comp lines 16 hang points 20 dead centre 22 propellerhead 24 airmail 32 calendar of events 35 caption competition features 26 everyone has a plan … analysis of a parachute deployment 28 fly the wing you love! guiding on a B is the way to go 30 to fly, or not to fly? the Moustache conundrum 4 SKYWINGS AUGUST 2026THE BHPA LTD 8 Merus Court, Meridian Business Park, Leicester LE19 1RJ. Tel: 0116 289 4316. SKYWINGS MAGAZINEis published monthly by the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association Ltd to inform, educate and entertain those in the sports of Paragliding and Hang Gliding. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, their Council, Officers or Editor. The Editor and publisher accept no responsibility for any supposed defects in the goods, services and practices represented or advertised in this magazine. The Editor reserves the right to edit contributions. ISSN 0951-5712 SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DELIVERY ENQUIRIES Tel: 0116 289 4316, e-mail: office@bhpa.co.uk THE EDITOR Joe Schofield, 39 London Road, Harleston, Norfolk IP20 9BH. Tel: 01379 855021. E-mail: skywings@bhpa.co.uk. COVER PHOTO Steve Young and Atos VR+ above the western end of the Weissensee, in Austria’s Drautal Photo: Steve Young THIS PAGEBusy sky at Westbury White Horse in March. Photo: Andrew Holt DESIGN & PRODUCTION Fargher Design Ltd. Killane House, Ballaugh, Isle of Man, IM7 5BD. PRINT & DISTRIBUTION Newman Thomson Ltd, One Jubilee Rd, Victoria Ind. Est, Burgess Hill, RH15 9TL. ADVERTISING Tel: 07624 413737 Email: ads@skywingsmag.com Online: www.skywingsmag.com. SKYWINGS ONLINE All issues of Skywings magazine are now freely available at https://www.skywingsmag.co.uk. DEADLINESNews items and event/competition reports for the October issue must be submitted to the Skywings office by Friday August 28th. Letters for the September Airmail pages should arrive no later than Monday August 17th. Advertisement bookings for the August 2026 edition must arrive by Monday August 10th. Copy and classified bookings no later than the following Monday August 17th. AUGUST 2026SKYWINGS 5B news 6 SKYWINGS AUGUST 2026 Maurer wins X-Pyr again X-Pyr 2026 ended at El Port de la Selva, Catalunya on June 27th with a record-breaking time, the biggest-ever field and the greatest number of female competitors in a high-level H&F race. Switzerland’s Chrigel Maurer secured his 5th X-Pyr victory in just 79 hours, ahead of German rookie Markus Anders and fellow Swiss Lars Meerstetter. Top woman, and first female competitor ever to cross the goal line, was Germany’s Elisa Deutschmann (pictured). Of the six female competitors, three made it to the Med. The race, run since 2012, had begun on June 21st at Hondarribia on the Atlantic coast; its 529km route was traversed in abnormal high temperatures and under record 4,000m cloudbases. Sole Brit Idris Birch reached goal in 23rd place, 24 hours behind the leaders. Of the 36 pilots in goal, 15 were flying Ozone’s Zeolite and six were on Skywalk’s X-Alps 6. Full details and results at https://x-pyr.com. [Photo: Ágata Dominguez/Christine Berghold/Loritz Lopez] BHPA AGM The 2027 Annual General Meeting of the BHPA will be held at the Association’s Leicester Office on Saturday January 23rd, at 11am. Members will be able to observe and put questions online via a GoTo meeting link. It is anticipated that those receiving awards will attend in person. Any member who thinks they might want to join Exec must contact Chair Jenny Buck (jennifer- buck@bhpa.co.uk) for further information as to what’s involved. Nominations to stand for election to Exec must be received at the BHPA Office no later than 4pm on Friday October 30th; contact office@bhpa.co.uk for a form. Nominations are also sought for the Association’s Merit Awards. If you know someone who has put commendable effort into the sport over a number of years, please nominate them. Citations for these should arrive at the Office by Friday November 13th. Any member wishing to raise a discussion topic or a formal Proposal for the AGM should email details to the Office by the same date. Andy McDonald co-opted to Exec The BHPA Exec’s Competition portfolio has long been in Bill Bell’s safe hands. Bill, seeking an easier life, eventually handed the position on to Jenny Buck, Meet Director at many BOS and hang gliding Nationals events, when she joined Exec in 2021. Jenny becoming Chair in 2023 landed the Comps role back in Bill’s lap. At a BHPA Exec meeting in June Andy McDonald was co- opted to take over the competitions post. Andy, a competition pilot, has been a meet head, club chairman, senior coach and member of FSC. A former Army helicopter pilot, more recently a civilian instructor and examiner, he now works in drone technology and aviation training. As the FSCs Airspace Officer, a position he will now relinquish, he attends the NATMAC airspace management advisory body. Bill will hand over the Comps assignment in due course; Andy will stand for formal election to Exec in 2027. MIND paramotor trip Ant Shaw and Nick Durham’s fundraising site is now live. In May next year the pair will begin a 1200-mile journey from Scotland to France, raising money for the mental-health charity MIND. The expedition is part of a wider project to raise awareness of MIND and its work. More than a dozen paramotor firms and clubs are already on board, with more expected. Their final destination is Combiers near Angoulême, HQ of Paramotor France. The pair will land nearby to meet members of local paramotor clubs, led by former world champion Pascal Vallée, who will escort them on the final leg into Combiers. A community event with live music and food, plus pilots, friends and families, will celebrate their arrival and their contribution to MIND. To donate or become a sponsor, go to https://fly4mind.co.uk. Forbes Flatlands dates The legendary Forbes hang gliding event has been brought forward to run from Monday December 28th until Tuesday January 5th. Registration is open now at www.forbesflatlands.com. The Category 2 event now includes a Sport Class. Booking early, especially accommodation, is recommended. It’s Christmas, high summer and … how good is Forbes? The event has had to be rescheduled to accommodate an Elvis impersonators’ event! More apologies Ever wondered why stuff doesn’t appear in the Skywings calendar when it should? It’s because the people who run these comps don’t see fit to inform us. Thus the Grand Bornand SRS was pushed back from June 27th to July 18th and no-one bothered to tell us. And the British-Czech Hang Gliding Championships ran at Laragne from July 4th, but no-one bothered to let us know. Please try harder! In brief Members email addresses. All BHPA members are reminded that the email address in their membership record held by the office must be unique, not one that is shared with any other BHPA member. Cases have come to light of individual members sharing addresses with other members. This will only lead to poor communication and missed emails, and you will not be able to setup a digital membership card account. If your email address is shared, please advise the office of a single unique address ASAP. Forbes Team Challenge. Moyes’ hang gliding team comp starts at Forbes – springtime! – on October 8th. It’s another opportunity for less-experienced pilots to push their boundaries. Teams, balanced across experience levels, are each led by a seasoned leader. The idea is to build comp skills in a relaxed format with camaraderie to the fore. See the report in January 2025 Skywings, and/or go to https://tinyurl.com/h238xu5k. AUGUST 2026SKYWINGS 7 Adv li vnur n liv e y ou r SIN SS‘‘MANMANSKY EDSIR SKY ybrid single sh THE SKINNGLE WERFWERFPO POTTOSOSM SHARK M acwith20%doublesurfkin DMUND FUL IS FUL ec K EDSIR t pomos SHARKDMUND lyFe&ikH orerful single skin fw crShort T www sttry flighounoss-cr hermalling T ly Fe &ik oo.skyman..w H aer European accuracy record. Following her results at Alicante, Vlore, Obiliq (Kosovo) and Prilep, Kosovo’s Lisjeta Thaqi has been able to claim the previously-unset European female record for consecutive accuracy landings scoring 5cm or less. Over 24 rounds Lisjeta recorded a total score of 56cm. The general world record, set by Malaysia’s Aisyah Zafirah in February, stands at 55cm over 25 consecutive rounds. AirDesign move again. Fresh from their January move from Innsbruck to Wolfenschiessen in Switzerland, AirDesign moved again in June. What appears to have moved – down the valley to the foot of St Hilaire – is their sales and marketing office, EU stock warehouse and R&D department, from where all test work will be carried out. AD’s HQ remains in Switzerland. SRS podcasts. The SRS Podcast series, insider guide to the sharp end of sports-class racing, is proving very popular. The Bassano episode, produced by Riley Ferre, is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts: www.buzzsprout.com/2596569/episodes/19336277 BHPA sites database SITES OFFICER MARTIN BAXTER DETAILS NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN DECONFLICTION Throughout the UK, flying sites are negotiated and controlled by clubs and schools. Whilst the BHPA maintains a list of sites, primarily to establish a single point of contact, we have always regarded this information as confidential. It has only been shared for a specific purpose – for example to de-conflict with military low flying aircraft. Advances in technology have caused us to review this policy. The increasing use of drones represents a significant threat to our activity, and attempting to maintain a degree of secrecy in the age of tracklogs, livetracking, unofficial apps and social media is becoming increasingly futile. Indeed many clubs and schools have already released their site information to the CANP for free fliers’ utility, putting it straight into the public domain. The BHPA Executive has decided that, in this instance, flight safety takes precedence over confidentiality. To that end we have agreed to share the data contained in the BHPA sites database with the UK national Aeronautical Information Service (AIS). It is likely that they will then publish this information in their UK Publication (AIP) as open source documents, bringing us into line with most other aviation organisations. We recognise that this is a significant change of policy, and therefore clubs and schools were given the opportunity to by Jun 30th. With the deadline has now passed, the response has been generally supportive, with only one request for data not to be shared. The BHPA is not intending to produce a National Sites Guide, and clubs and schools still have the freedom to publish sites information as they see fit. We also plan to initiate a longer term project to record the soaring area (without thermal activity) associated with each flying site, probably in the form of a 3D polygon. Whilst the exact format hasn’t yet been developed, it is likely that clubs and schools will be invited to submit their own data via a webform. The aim is to produce a freely available graphical display of all our local flying areas. None of the above is about de-confliction in flight; we still rely on CANP in the vicinity of sites, and on see-and-avoid and the Rules of the Air when flying, supplemented by various forms of EC. This is about planning: making drone operators and developers aware of our local flying areas so that they have every opportunity to either avoid us completely, or enter into consultation with local representatives. I hope you will agree that this is in everybody’s best interests.8 SKYWINGS AUGUST 2026 B news Ron Richardson 1954-2026 ‘Rocket Ron’ Richardson, former British hang gliding team member and founder of Davron, died from natural causes in May. A long-standing member of the Southern Club, Ron was at the forefront of competition flying in the 1990s and early 2000s. He started flying hang gliders in 1981, going on to compete in the League before becoming a regular member of the British Team. He was one of the few British pilots to win a World Championship task. He also came close to becoming British Champion in 2000 and 2002, the runner-up on both occasions. Ron worked for Thames Water as an electronics engineer, designing control panels for the automated chlorination of the water supply. At the same time he started Davron, his flight instrument business, enlisting the help of family and friends in assembly and distribution. These instruments became widely used by pilots during the 1980s and 90s. He retired from Thames Water in his late 30s to devote more time to hang gliding. To support this new lifestyle he and his wife Val started a self-build business, together building and selling many houses. One of these, at St-André-les-Alpes, became an open house for flying friends to visit and stay. Ron played a key role in setting up the Southern Club aerotow operation, his drive and enthusiasm ensuring its success. He learned to fly a microlight and obtained his tug licence to help with the towing. He was also very much behind Avian’s first topless glider, contributing much work in his spare time to help develop the glider. His passion for flying and determined attitude made him a role model for many aspiring competition pilots. He would offer guidance and advice, often making it seem obvious: rig near the front, take off early, and pull the bar in when conditions are good. Flying fast was something Ron developed a reputation for, hence the ‘Rocket’ nickname, but he didn’t always know when to slow down. His passion wasn’t hindered by injury; after breaking his wrist playing a pub game in Australia, he modified the cast so it could be removed in order to continue flying. In 2003 Ron suffered a serious accident whilst flying for the British team at the World Championships in Brazil. Val travelled out to bring him home, and following surgery and a long recovery he returned to hang gliding to compete in the 2005 World Championships at Hay, Australia, with Val as team manager. Later in life Ron was diagnosed with prostate cancer, requiring complicated surgery due to the plates inserted following his accident in Brazil. In typical Ron fashion, he won the battle and was given the all-clear a few years ago. His work rate was extraordinary for one man; he always seemed to be building or fixing something. Through hang gliding and his Davron business Ron made many friends around the world, and was an inspiration on the hill. Our thoughts are with his wife Val, sons Jay and Lee, and their five grandchildren. [Dave Matthews] Len Hull 1947-2026 Loving new things, new ideas and the outdoors, Len was able to combine all these things when he began hang gliding in 1976. A founder member of the Sheffield Hang Gliding Club (now Derbyshire Soaring Club), he spent a lot of time securing flying sites, working alongside characters like Rod Buck (Wendy Windblows), and Steve Hudson who taught many of the local pilots to fly. When the miners’ strike severely affected his motor sales business, Len sold up, moved to the Peak District and bought Cressbrook Hall. This allowed him to focus completely on hang gliding; he would be out flying whenever the weather allowed, or fixing the roof when it wasn’t. He loved competing, and flew successfully for the British team on many occasions in Europe, Australia and South America. Len went on to manage British pilots at European and World Championships, and in 1984 was a member of the team presented to HM Queen Elizabeth in recognition of their recent successes. Soon after the collapse of the Soviet Union Len struck up a great friendship with the Hungarians, travelling there frequently to fly and compete, and welcoming them when they travelled to the UK. He became a major dealer for Airwave and various other products. His sales skills were legendary; pilots were often invited back to the Hall to see the latest products, racks of gliders stored deep in the cellars alongside a workshop which could fix anything. Len’s very direct approach didn’t suit everyone, but he was very supportive of new pilots and encouraged them to go cross- country or compete as soon as they were ready. He really enjoyed flying with his sons and saw those days as the best of times. Len was an early adopter of paragliding, flying an Airwave Voodoo and encouraging hang glider pilots to have a go at this new variation. He enjoyed experimenting with crossover activities, modifying his hang glider to take a paraglider harness to fly supine, which became his signature look. Other experiments included putting a paramotor engine on his back and racing his sons up the drive on push-bikes. Or maybe he made his sons try it first … my memory is a little fuzzy! Len had amazing support for his flying adventures from his wife Bobby, and together they were a big part of the local Cressbrook community. Their children, Harriet, Joe, Sam, Louise, Ben, Michelle and Tim, were required to do their part around the house and were a hardy bunch, with the kitchen the only really warm room in the house. If anyone, family or visitors, complained they were met with a cry of ‘Put a sweater on, or do some work! Len Hull was full of energy, a life-force and an ox of a man; also an entrepreneur, an innovator, an all-round enthusiast for life, and someone who made things happen. He stopped flying in 2003 after a series of hang glider and paraglider accidents. Although he could no longer fly he retained a strong interest in the sport. He died peacefully in May; his was a life well lived. [Mike Stephens]Kössen, close to the German border in the Austrian Tyrol, offers a wide, flat valley floor and a cable car to the take-offs above. A perfect environment for trying out paragliders and other kit. There’s accommodation in town, a campsite very close to the landing field, and more hotel/B&B options just over the border. In 1976 local pioneer Sepp Himberger organised the first, unofficial, world hang gliding championships here. He started Flugschule Kössen the same year; later becoming an early convert to paragliding. Among Sepp’s pioneering ventures was the Super Paragliding Testival each June, now in its 13th iteration. Currently run by Leander Dagn, Flugschule Kössen collaborates with the local club to organise the event, supported by the tourist board and local government. In Austria such events need permission. Regulation is strict, insisting, for example, on confirming that all pilots have landed safely at the end of the day. The organisers’ response is a phone app combining weather briefings, site information and a take- off/landing sign-out, plus a record of pilots’ flights and the gliders they borrowed. Exhibition stands, LZ and packing areas are situated in a large field next to the legendary Fliegerbar on the edge of town. After borrowing a glider it’s a 200m walk to the cable car for the launches 2,500ft above. Take-offs are marshalled; after preparing and clipping in you hit ‘Start’ on the app, enter the reserved area (where you’re helped with laying out) and launch. Good climbs aren’t hard to find. Like all alpine flying, there’s less in the valley but you can still climb from further out. There are defined circuits for different landing directions, and you pack up in a designated area having signed in as landed. This year’s exhibition had 28 manufacturers with gliders, instruments and harnesses to try and some reserves on display. Exchange the glider you’ve borrowed for another and repeat! I was able to compare mid B, high B and low-end C gliders to help inform my next purchase. The quick turnaround, access to people with in-depth knowledge of the equipment and its adjustment, and the opportunity to try instruments in strong sunlight, make the experience hard to match if you’re looking to buy new gear. This year the weather was kind and we flew all four days. News snippets include a new Elixir high-end C from Mac Para, and Naviter suggesting their instruments may soon be able to handle three protocols simultaneously. Nearbirds’ new Vyra harness [July Skywings] was on demonstration; its electronically-controlled pump inflates the fairing to the correct pressure for altitude, speed and temperature. For the hardcore flyer, everything from breakfast through to your evening meal and drinks is available at the Fliegerbar. Evening acro displays end the day whilst you sip beer and eat currywurst. By Friday, the second day, 570 pilots had been involved, the authorities setting a maximum of 350 a day. Kössen was my second testival this year. My appreciation of glider progress, the products on offer, what the gliders feel like and what I’d like to buy, has been sharply focused. Flying up to four gliders in a day makes it easy to cover your shortlist. If you’re thinking of attending a testival, Kössen is the benchmark against which to judge the rest. Report by Steve Uzochukwu rusni ME ceanr SREMB loiy PnbuR ,ylmiaFruoYtcteorP I • sselnl Ialc P iittririC nIef C Li EHLTLAC stloirPosft sse o ininsuBroegatgroM noitceot Premocn ecanrusn s STSILACIEPS dnouttcejbusstcudore pcnarusnlilA ocgnyifl TSE 0 5080 EHLTLAC airetiry ctilibigilsererusnding anitirwred uk.o.crevo 9819T 109 199 STSILACIEPS AUGUST 2026SKYWINGS 9 Super Paragliding TestivalNext >