No. 439 NOVEMBER 2025 The magazine of the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association I am an organisational psychologist who works on safety and performance. That lens came with me to the hill. Early- onset Parkinson’s adds a little stiffness and fatigue, which means I must be honest about margins. It took two years to earn Club Pilot. When Rob at FlySpain handed me the ticket it felt like a milestone. In reality it was the start of learning how to manage risk for myself. Alicante in January was ambition vs capacity. I went there with high hopes of building hours. Santa Pola was the prize – a broad, stunning, beach cliff-soaring site. The day before I arrived, the wind turned. Santa Pola was out. Instead, I found myself on postage- stamp launches, surrounded by experienced Germans and locals who knew the place inside out. It’s easy to think, ‘They’re flying, so I can too.’ In psychology we call that social proof, but on the hill it just feels like peer pressure with wings. Their confidence came from years of procedural and situational knowledge. Mine didn’t. The real task was to dig into my own ‘emotional dashboard’ and separate nerves from genuine caution. Was this fear holding me back, or wisdom telling me to stand down? Seven days later I had ten minutes in the logbook – about €150 per minute. Bargain. The lesson was that ambition must be calibrated to capacity, and that resisting the pull of the crowd is part of safe decision-making. Then to Mundesley on the Norfolk coast and the zero-hour days, resisting sunk cost. Back in the UK the pattern emerged. Early starts, long drives, short windows. Many days ended with no flights logged. To family and friends it looked like failure. In truth it was active risk management. Mundesley captures it. I drove out, and found the launch after 74 three-point turns. I took a thorough site brief. A low- airtimer zipped along the ridge yelling, ‘There’s so much lift I can’t get down!’ A weather front slid past and it looked promising. Then the wind dropped. No safe launch, no top-to-bottom, no flight. After you’ve driven two hours, lugged the kit, and traded a family day, the urge to fly anyway is strong. Psychologists call that sunk cost, but really it’s just that stubborn voice saying, ‘Make it worth it.’ The discipline is to see waiting as an active decision, not a waste. What I banked that day was reconnaissance, relationships, and a clearer model of the site. Zero-hour days aren’t empty. They are judgements made in the name of safety. Dunstable by year’s end was the social safety net. By August I had settled into my local site, about an hour from my home in Northampton. On paper it is intimidating. Climb too high and you’re in Luton Airport’s controlled airspace, a serious offence. Drift left and you’re over the zoo, behind is a golf course, and ahead is the gliding club. The cognitive load is heavy: lots of variables for one pilot to hold. Sometimes it feels like the only safe option is to stay in your car. I can sheepishly admit to spending an hour being cut out of bracken right next to the landing field, all done in good humour by fellow pilots. With so many hazards in play, decision fatigue creeps in. That’s why Dunstable’s culture matters. Coaches offer nudges, red ribbons cluster, and conversations lighten the load. More eyes, more experience, less strain on your own judgement. Being coachable, and looping back with, ‘Thanks, that worked. What else have you got?’ builds the evidence base I now draw on. So what has one year in red ribbon taught me? That paragliding is a long game. Building airtime in the first year is not the real goal – it is about building a balanced scorecard: judgement, patience, and community alongside the hours. Ambition balanced with realism, waiting reframed as progress, and community as a safety net all matter more than logged time. There’s an old line that God likes to laugh at a plan. In our world it should be updated: the weather gods like to laugh at a paraglider’s plan. The part we control is our judgement. We have to keep showing up, keep explaining to the family why we drove 200 miles to watch clouds, and keep developing the muscle memory not just of handling, launching and flying a glider, but also of self-awareness and active, thoughtful risk management. 2 SKYWINGS NOVEMBER 2025 Battitude Events key: D hang gliding C paragliding E accuracy F powered flying G human powered flying A all disciplines DECEMBER 2025 13 A SHPF Chuck & Repack Leith, Edinburgh JANUARY 2026 9 - 16 C Sports Class Racing Series Gin Edition Roldanillo, Colombia FEBRUARY 2026 8 A TVHGC Big Fat Repack Aldershot, Hampshire 11 - 17 C British Winter Open Roldanillo, Colombia 28 A BHPA Annual General Meeting BHPA Leicester MAY 2026 16 - 17 C Dragon Hike and Fly Abergavenny, Powys JUNE 2026 6 - 7 C Dragon Hike and Fly (fallback date) Crickhowell, Powys 21 C X-Pyr Hike and Fly Race (start) Hondarribia, Spain JULY 2026 25 - 1 Aug C Niviuk Fly Wide Open Krusevo, North Macedonia calendar of events Please double-check with the organisers that any event is going ahead – entry in the calendar is no guarantee. Red ribbon realities: learning to manage risk ANDREW WHYATT-SAMES, DEVELOPING PILOT I’ve always been the beginner’s luck guy. BMX, skateboarding, surfing – first attempt and I was away. Paragliding has been different. Ripstop and string may look simple, but aside from raising teenagers this has been the most challenging and humbling thing I’ve ever done, a constant exercise in judgement under uncertainty.4 SKYWINGS NOVEMBER 2025 regulars features NOVEMBER 2025 SKYWINGS 5 THE BHPA LTD 8 Merus Court, Meridian Business Park, Leicester LE19 1RJ. Tel: 0116 289 4316. SKYWINGS MAGAZINE is 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, THE EDITOR Joe Schofield, 39 London Road, Harleston, Norfolk IP20 9BH. Tel: 01379 855021. E-mail: COVER PHOTO Markus Grundhammer wrings out the Skyman XC 3 Photo: Markus Grundhammer THIS PAGE Steve Young and Atos VR+ above Dellach im Drautal in Austria Photo: Steve Young 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: SKYWINGS ONLINE All issues of Skywings magazine are now freely available at DEADLINES News items and event/competition reports for the January issue must be submitted to the Skywings office by Friday November 28th. Letters for the December Airmail pages should arrive no later than Monday November 17th. Advertisement bookings for the November edition must arrive by Monday November 10th. Copy and classified bookings no later than the following Monday November 17th.6 SKYWINGS NOVEMBER 2025 Bnews Airborne invasion 14 paramotor pilots, not all BHPA members, gathered at Hurst View campsite near Lymington on Saturday September 27th, intent on crossing the Solent to spend the weekend on the Isle of Wight. The ‘Paracamp’ adventure had been long in the planning, but clouds and drizzling rain held up the pilots’ departure for several hours. Eventually 11 paramotors and trikes launched, cruising over open water at above 2000ft, then passing Osborne House and Golden Hill fort before touching down at Sandown. The airfield there, run by former BHPA member Dan Subhani, had laid on an epic feast in their honour; the subsequent evening developed into a German-style celebration of flying, friendship, and adventure. The operation faced several challenges apart from the weather. As the team departed on Sunday morning Ricky Frost sustained a line break. Around noon a sudden rainstorm appeared, forcing the pilots down before they had left the island. All, that is, but Graeme ‘Top Gun’ Baxter, who outran the storm, strapped a spare wing to his tandem trike and returned with it, allowing Ricky to fly back to the mainland in perfect post-storm conditions. The escapade had been planned as a celebration of paramotor camaraderie between foot-launch and trike pilots, and between those who have followed BHPA, APPI and self-taught routes to competence. ‘What unfolded was a blend of patience, bravery, and exhilaration,’ said spokesman Michael Collins, as we witnessed breathtaking views reserved only for the sky’s privileged few. Big thanks to Dan at Sandown, the Hurst View campsite and Anthony ‘Ant-Man’ Shaw, John Wood and Jay Wheeler for planning and PR. Also to Phil Edwards for admin and safety support and Jason Rush (pictured) for finding the campsite.’ The Paracamp idea is ongoing, with further excursions to interesting locations planned. Rodney crosses the channel The same weekend saw a reported 50 paramotor pilots cross the English Channel in company with Robert Frankham, himself flying a stripped-out Reliant van in the style of a certain 1980s TV comedy, attached to a powerchute-type chassis with Rotax power. The armada flew, soon after dawn, from Wissant near Calais, landing just behind the Dover’s white cliffs, just a mile or two from where Louis Blériot had touched down in 1909. Paragliding World Champs: Brits 4th The skies above Castelo, Espírito Santo, Brazil, were alive with colour in early September as 130 of the world’s best XC racing pilots went head to head in the 19th FAI World Paragliding Championships. Excellent conditions allowed fast racing, and a couple of challenging days really tested the field. Team GB – Seb Ospina, Russ Ogden, Dylan Mansley and Magda Janaway, guided by Team Leader Richard Meek – faced an eleven-day test of tactics and stamina. Eight gruelling tasks from 59 to 72km pushed pilots to their limits, with two tasks stopped as the regular strong winds became unsafe for tasking. The British team rose to the occasion. With disciplined flying and expert decision-making they clinched 4th place in the nations ranking. Russ Ogden delivered a stand-out performance to take 5th place individually, and Seb Ospina followed closely in 8th. But the French were in magnificent form, dominating the championship as Baptiste Lambert and Honorin Hamard swept to 1st and 2nd places. Constance Mettetal claimed the women’s crown and France secured the coveted team title. Yet the week was not without heartbreak. Task 5 saw a tragic accident at the goal field. Belgian pilot Bram Declerq received immediate medical care from the French team doctor before being transported to hospital, but passed away a week later. The British team joins the entire paragliding community in offering its deepest condolences to Bram’s family, friends and teammates. From fierce competition to profound loss, Castelo 2025 will be remembered as a championship of soaring highs and sobering lows; a testament to the courage, camaraderie and passion at the heart of our sport. [Report: Richard Meek] CALL THE SPECIALISTS 0800 5999 101 FOR BHPA MEMBERS life insurance EST 1989 Run by Pilots for Pilots We Fly What You Fly! Protect Your Family, Mortgage or Business 205 SkywingParamotors skyscraper ad 0125-297x104.indd 1 NOVEMBER 2025 SKYWINGS 7 CIVL war? There are waves if not a storm warning at CIVL following the death of Bram Declercq at the recent Worlds in Brazil. In late September France’s FFVL called on the CIVL bureau to resign. Their concern centres on, inter alia, event management, poor medical coverage and a claimed failure to act on pilot level calls. It is suggested that these issues stem from the Bureau’s decision to relocate the event at a late stage, after the Brazilian NAC withdrew support for the local organisation which had run the 2024 Pre-Worlds. Many pilots at the recent Championships have been vocal on these issues and some withdrew from the comp on safety grounds. Safety in our sport has resurfaced as a hot topic following three other fatalities in FAI and non-FAI comps. Steve Penfold died following an incident at the hang gliding Worlds in July; in August, Cengiz Kalyoncu died at the Aksaray PWC, and Portuguese champion Eduardo Lagoa died in practice ahead of the Paramotor World Championships in France. Although these tragedies raise valid concerns, it is idle to speculate on their individual causes at this stage. Nevertheless the incidents are a background to the present crisis. BHPA Comps Panels are monitoring the issues and will study formal reports from team captains; they will refrain from any precipitate reaction to the inevitable online commentary. It is hoped that these issues can be discussed without rancour at the CIVL plenary in March. Dissatisfaction with the CIVL bureau is not new. The recent fatalities have raised the temperature somewhat, but it’s important that safety in the sport is discussed with care. There are many contingent issues, of which local medical infrastructure, emergency cover and response times, task setting, launch procedures, goal locations, glider certification and policing are just some. CIVL’s on-the-spot organisation is also under the spotlight, not least the cost of official representation at comps. [October 16th] Tri-Nations Trophy A record 61 athletes took part this in year’s Tri-Nations Hike and Fly Trophy, the most competitive to date. The field was stronger and deeper than ever, adding greater weight to Keith Paterson’s remarkable retention of the trophy. ‘Keith’s successful defence of his title,’ writes 2023 winner John Westall, ‘demonstrated consistent strength across the season’s toughest challenges. Third place in the Dragon in May was followed by an impressive second place in the X-Lakes in June.’ The X-Scotia, intended third leg of the series, was proposed on several dates, but despite best efforts did not go ahead. ‘Nevertheless,’ says John, ‘the competition between pilots was fierce, with endurance, navigation and tactical flying tested as never before. For those who dream of joining the next generation of champions, there is no better time to start thinking about it. If you want to become the British Hike and Fly Champion, set your sights on 2026. The mountains are waiting and the skies will decide the rest!’ [Photo: John Westall] TVHGC Big Fat Repack 2026 Your emergency parachute is your last line of defence when things go wrong in the air. But it will only save you if it’s in good condition, properly packed and you know how to use it. The Thames Valley Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club’s Big Fat Repack is a hands-on day to deploy, inspect, and repack your parachute under expert supervision, whilst having a great day with fellow pilots. At Aldershot Garrison Sports Centre on Sunday February 8th you’ll be able to practice a live deployment using a zipline, repack your reserve with guidance from BHPA-licensed packers, and spot potential issues with your harness or deployment system before they become dangerous. Learn how to keep your parachute reliable, including when to repack and when to replace it. Whether you’re a new pilot or have years of flying experience, the BFR will boost your confidence and safety skills. Watch last year’s highlights, get full details and book your place now at and will fill up fast — don’t leave it too late! RAeC Trust Bursary scheme is open The 2026 RAeC Trust Bursary Scheme opened for applications on November 1st. It offers valuable bursaries of up to £500 for young people in all types of air sports including paragliding and hang gliding. In short, if you’re a British citizen aged 14-21 and permanently resident in the UK, and could use financial help to progress your free-flying career, you should apply. Over the years a number of BHPA members have benefited from these awards to take their flying to the next level. Some pilots have even qualified for a second ‘Advanced’ bursary, for which the upper age limit is 24. To all young pilots: don’t hesitate – go to today. Also on Facebook and Instagram. More ACP consultation The CAA has launched further consultation on their proposed changes to the UK’s airspace change process. The ACP process, introduced in 2018, has since been reviewed and updated, most recently in January 2024. A new review is now required following the introduction of the Airspace Design Service (UKADS) – see July Skywings. ‘As UKADS has been established to improve how airspace changes are designed and delivered, the process must ensure it can operate efficiently and effectively,’ says the CAA. The review is also an opportunity to ‘… identify further ways it can be streamlined.’ They seek views from as On 17th July Steve Penfold was competing in the World Hang-Gliding Championships at Àger, Spain, as part of the British team. His flight ended tragically, with Steve hitting a mountainside near the goal. He sustained severe head injuries and sadly passed away on 25th August. A key figure in British hang-gliding, Steve competed at the highest level, including the 2005 Blériot Cup where he was the top hang gliding scorer, the European Championships in 2018 and 2022, and the World Championships in 2023 and 2025. In 2023, during the Worlds in Macedonia, he was part of the team that won Silver and was later awarded the Royal Aero Club’s Prince of Wales Cup. Over his 27-year flying career Steve participated in numerous competitions such as the British Open Series, national Championships and the Àger Open. Àger was special to him; he had achieved second and third places there in previous years. Beyond competing, Steve contributed significantly to the sport, serving on the hang gliding competitions panel for over 12 years. He organised events and managed finances, and was instrumental in establishing the 2025 joint British and Italian National Championships, a project he nurtured for some years. Outside hang gliding, Steve flew a light aircraft, enjoyed playing squash and was a Rugby Union referee. His dedication to rugby was evident; after his passing Yorkshire clubs held a minute’s silence in his honour. Educated as an engineer in the 1990s, Steve served as a Captain in the Army’s Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers. After military service in Iraq, Bosnia and Kosovo he studied law. He went on to become a partner at a law firm in Leeds, where he was described by his boss as ‘irreplaceable’. Known for his ability to simplify complex issues, Steve brought calm and clarity in difficult situations. He was also known for his warm humour, bright smile and love for animals. He cared especially for cats, adopting a stray in Àger and rescuing an abandoned kitten in Macedonia. Steve is survived by his partner Stef, parents Martin and Sandra, sister Jo and twin brother Andy. He will be sorely missed by us all. [Darren Brown] 8 SKYWINGS NOVEMBER 2025 Bnews Steve Penfold 1974-2025 Photo: Josh Coombs Quick facts abo out the NG series: weight(m²) Surface g)(k Max load NG g)weight (kg)t (k G NG light The world´s leading rescue systems Use of high-qu• even at low spe g, g • Available in 3 s certified accord • New, innovative • Excellent sink r to a jump from • Very reliable op • Intelligent, light ality lightweight materials eeds gp sizes as NG and in the light versio ding to EN12491 e X-Flare concept for high efficien rates, each just over 5 m/s, equiva a height of about 1.3 m pening and extremely good pend tweight construction for fast open g, NG 140 Ser NG 120 Ser -geneous load distri --flares for homoX NG 100 Ser on NG light, ncy alent dulum stability nings, 33 1401,85rie 291201,6rie 25100rie1,45 1,49 5 1,3 18 6 concept. -Flare innovative X s to the , thankface -Nearly flat top sur 5 1, for fa ow L ast opening canopy height projected surface area bution across the large geneous load distri stability pendulum outlets for air defined Precisely wide a range of stakeholders as possible. See the proposals and submit responses online at The consultation closes on December 18th. In brief BHPA AGM final dates. The 2026 Annual General Meeting will be held at the Association’s Leicester Office on Saturday February 28th. There will be at least three vacancies on the Exec team. Nominations to stand for election to Exec must be received at the BHPA Office no later than Friday November 28th; contact a form. Nominations for BHPA Merit Awards, and topics for discussion at the AGM, should be emailed by the same date. Barney Townsend steps down. At the Paramotor Comps Panel meeting in September Barney Townsend stepped down as Chair. He will remain on the panel as an adviser. Andy Phillips was elected unopposed to replace him. Andy Shaw stepped down as Sponsorship Officer to be replaced by Blaise Brogan; John Pavitt steps up as Chief Marshall. Ric Womersley will direct the 2026 BOPC. X-Pyr 2026. Next year’s X-Pyr will begin on June 21st at Hondarribia on Spain’s Biscay coast. Athletes will traverse the length of the Pyrenees to El Port de la Selva on the Mediterranean using only paragliding and hiking. Applications are open now and close on December 31st. Rules, logistics, route information, mandatory gear and safety policies will appear in due course. For further information or to register your interest, Chile records. It's that time of year. First records to fall in the down-south big-XC season are the World and South American free out-and-return distance marks, claimed by Costa Rica's Zion Susanno from Iquique at 329.6km on October 13th. This flight exceeds Clément Latour and Tomaž Erzen's 311km record set in 2023. BHPA 500 Club WIN CASH PRIZES AND HELP THE ASSOCIATION! September winners Keith Eaton £133.80 Tom Hardie £66.90 John Wreford £33.45 Kevin Bradly £20.07 Richard Clark £16.73 David Mantle £16.73 Michael Carter å£13.38 Conal Cunningham £13.38 Nicholas Simmons £10.04 Stefan Smalley £10.04 BHPA £334.48 Winners will note that payments of the above sums have been made to the account from which they contribute to the 500 Club by standing order. In case of error, please contact Marc Asquith on 07802 525099. BHPA courses Nov 15-16 Club Coach Thames V. 07795 047872 Nov 19-20 BHPA EPS (repacker) Lilleshall 0116 289 4316 Dec 06-07 Club Coach Wessex Jan 17-18 Club Coach Derbyshire 07966 229963 Feb 14-15 Club Coach TBC 0116 289 4316 Mar 28-29 Club Coach Sky Surfing 07799 197345 BHPA club parachute repacking sessions Dec 13 SHPF Chuck & Repack Edinburgh Feb 8 TV Big Fat Repack Aldershot Next >