IHPA
FreeFlight Official magazine of the Irish Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association
IN THIS
ISSUE
SUMMER 2014
Ager 2013 Paul Hogan wistfully remembers two weeks of flying • Ground Handling Sarah Mc Laughlin on how ground handling helped with her confidence and competence • Site Guide Great Sugar Loaf, West • ihpa.ie An overview of features and functions of new website • Pilot Profile Fred Lahiff • Fly SAFE John Welch looks at first aid kits • Hike & Fly It is possible to Vol-Biv in Ireland • Algodonales 2014 Dara Hogan joined the Munster Kestrels annual spring pilgrimage
Content Log Book
6
Site Guide
7
Just off the N11, the Great Sugar Loaf is a excellent site to fly.
Ager 2013
8
Paul Hogan wistfully remembers two weeks in Ă ger, Spain last August.
IHPA Pilot
12
Q&A with Fred Lahiff
Hike & Fly
13
David May finds out from Rafal, Franek and Jacek that yes, it is possible to VolBiv in Ireland.
Algodonales 2014
20
Dara Hogan joined the Munster Kestrels on their annual spring pilgrimage to Algodonales.
Fly Safe
23
John Welch tells us about what kind of First Aid Kit you should have if thinking of a trip aboard this year.
ALL NEW ihpa.ie
28
An outline of some of the key features and functions of the new website.
Ground Handling
32
Sarah Mc Laughlin on how ground handling helped with her confidence and competence.
IHPA Sponsors 2014
38
THE EDITOR David May E-mail: freeflight@ihpa.ie DESIGN & PRODUCTION Design Focus, The Warehouse, 26A Mount Eden Road, Dublin 4. www.designfocus.ie Free Flight Magazine is published by the Irish 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 Irish Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, their Council, Officers or Editor. The Editor reserves the right to edit contributions.
Contact Send your articles, jokes, comments, sketches, suggestions etc to:
freeflight@ihpa.ie
FREEFLIGHT SUMMER 2014
FROM THE
editor
Summer already! Initially we hoped to get this edition out in springtime and I had already prepared the usual warning for that time of year, you know, spring thermals and rusty ol' pilots waking up from their winter hibernation. But as it turned out we've skipped a whole season. Of course this is not to say we should not continue to be careful, it's all too easy to become complacent. So how has the year been so far? And in particular, how has it been for YOU? We'd love to get your feedback - let us know what you've been doing, the ups and downs, trips you've been on, new adventures, equipment and in particular, photos. With the advent of the sportscam it is increasingly difficult to find photos any more: good quality, high definition photos. Screenshots taken from video are a poor substitute. Here's a quick summary of the year so far since our last edition. I went on a SIV course over the winter and thoroughly enjoyed it. My advice to anyone considering taking a SIV course would be 'Yes, absolutely do'. I'll certainly be taking another. At the end of March we had the IHPA AGM in Templemore. One of the best in years and many thanks to all who attended. A big welcome to our new Committee members there was a veritable stampede this year when we asked for volunteers with at least 2 names being thrown into the pot. And of course, a huge thank you to the outgoing committee members. Flying wise, there has been some excellent XCs recorded so far and some new names have appeared on the leaderboard. In particular, I was very happy to see Connemara finally getting the attention it deserved with the superb XCs recorded in May. The Inagh Valley to Croagh Patrick route has not yet been conquered but I believe it is now only a matter of time. There's also a small but growing vol-biv scene in Ireland - see the article inside. And of course there's lots of new equipment coming on the market and you can spend hours poring over specs and test data and reviews. Comparing one item to another though has always proved difficult, especially when considering wings and, given that we do not live in a perfect world where we get to test fly before we buy, I've come across a website that you may find interesting: Dust Of The Universe (www.dustoftheuniverse.com). Finally, I hope you enjoy this edition of Free Flight and we look forward to hearing from you with any feedback, suggestions etc. Fly free, fly safe...
PAGE 3
IHPA
H T Laghta Hill, Co. Mayo Jacek Chodanowski SHOT
LogBook Don’t forget your VHF Mt Leinster When was the last time you brought your VHF two way radio with you when flying. It’s safe to say that here in Ireland a lot of pilots have got out of the habit of flying with their VHF radios. When used with a helmet mounted speaker & microphone and a ‘Push-to-Talk’ switch they can become as essential as any thermal tracking GPS and Vario. Indeed the reason for so many of us not using them is possiblely because so many of us are not using them! We wouldn’t think of planning a flying day without our mobiles so why not think the same way about our VHFs. Imagine arriving on the hill and calling up the pilot in the air to see what conditions are like or from the comfort of your car see if anyone is on the hill and if it is worth hiking up. Two way radios are especially important in emergency or rescue situations as quick and easy communication between pilots on the ground or in the air is essential. Remember to refrain from using your VHF unnecessarily as you will be on an open frequency shared with others. Pilots should restrict themselves to using the narrow range of frequencies between 143.750 and 143.950.
Lough Bray - nesting bird restrictions The Wicklow National Parks Authority have asked if pilots could give the birds nesting in the cliffs at the back of the lakes more space when flying, they are worried about paragliders disturbing them. Both the upper and lower lakes at Lough Bray's are nesting areas for Peregrine Falcon and Raven and fall under the Wicklow Mountains Special Protection Area for Birds. The Authority need to enforce methods to protect them during the breeding season between March and August annually so please stay a bit further away from cliffs when next flying.
Weather Station undergoing major refit after four years of faithful service Our weather station on Mt. Leinster has been taken down for a major refit after four years of faithful service. Gerry Kennedy yomped up the hill in April to retrieve it and has sent it off to Poland for a well deserved refit. At Christmas (remember the storms) the weather station recorded a sustained wind speed of 89.9mph shortly before the anemometer died completely! The fact that the rest of the weather station and its mounting hardware survived intact is testament to both the engineering of the weather station and the extremely robust mounting that Gerry and Tom organized and installed. The boys at Warun, in Poland, have reported back that some of the elements have to be totally replaced. They think that they were destroyed by salt spray coming from the Irish Sea, an incredible distance of 37 kms, and have never observed anything like this on their stations installed inland. They plan to replace all the decayed parts and anodize mechanics to give it a good protection. They will also replace electronics for the new improved version with lower power consumption, new battery and new sensors.
PAGE 6
IRISH HANG GLIDING AND PARAGLIDING ASSOCIATION
SiteGuide
FREEFLIGHT SUMMER 2014
Great Sugar Loaf (west)
Wind Direction: N
Kilmacanoge, Co. Wicklow Only 35 mins from Dublin and just off the N11, the Great Sugar Loaf is a excellent site to fly in a WSW - SW direction.
W
E
Park in the Sugar Loaf ’s south car park (A) but be aware of leaving any valuables in your car as they can be broken into. Take off is on the West Shoulder (B) where the ground is rocky with a light covering of heather and care is needed with lines and footing. Good ground handling skills is advised as ground is unforgiving to gliders that land back down after unsuccessful inflations.
S
General Information:
Once in the air gain height in front of the shoulder (approx 50m) before attempting to connect with the upper ridge and summit (C). Also wind either side of the cone can suffer from venturi so take care not to get parked at the edge of the lift band and possiblely being pushed back into the lee of the ridge.
GOOGLE MAPS
Good thermal flying (on the right day) can be found out in front of the ridge but the airspace above a flooded quarry beside the Roundwood Road (R755) to the west (D) can, in certain conditions, be turbulent and may require a lot active flying.
Landing:
Landing options are good with lots of areas free of gorse out in front of the ridge (E). There are also plenty of fields (F) to choose from but consider some may have livestock or crops in them. Also a lot of the fields are closed off with barbed wire so be careful with your glider when exiting.
R755
B C
NII
D E
Car Park
F
A Exit 9
IRISH HANG GLIDING AND PARAGLIDING ASSOCIATION
CLICK HERE
GPS COORDINATES: Take off: 53.153871, -6.152706 53.144683, -6.154251
ELEVATION: Take off: 420m. Landing:
320m.
TAKE OFF: You can take off on the West Shoulder. LANDING:
You can land in the flat area anywhere between the base of the ridge and car park.
GETTING THERE:
Travel south on N11, take Exit 9 at Glen of the Downs and follow the Red Lane up to the Sugar Loaf’s South Car Park.
WEATHER/ Avoid either side of the HAZARDS: cone as it can suffer from venturi. Airspace above flooded quarry can, in certain conditions, be turbulent. Possible wave effect on strong days from hills to the west.
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Soaring, Sun and...
...super fun!
FREEFLIGHT SUMMER 2014
Paul Hogan wistfully remembers two weeks of flying, flying and more flying in Áger, Spain last August.
I
t has been a long winter. In paragliding terms, it has felt like an eternity. This afternoon I took the time to give my gear a good thorough once over (If I’m honest, more so because I think I had forgotten what it looked like!). While airing out my harness, I came across the last of the Spanish crickets – a reminder of two fantastic weeks in Áger last August. I am relatively new to paragliding. A lifelong aviation nut, it was always something that I was interested in from a very young age. In 2010, I made contact with Fred Lahiff and began my training. After three years and plenty of equally fun and frustrating days on the home training slopes, in August 2013, Fred organised for a group trip to Áger, Catalunya, for some of his students. I arrived in Áger on the 18th of August, and as I rounded the hill into the valley beneath Montsec, I nearly crashed the car distracted by the swarm of gliders circling the ridge. I had found my playground and it was time to play. Before the end of the day, Fred had me up at take-off. At an altitude of 1600m, approximately one vertical kilometre above the village of Áger, this felt like a giant leap up from the mushy slopes of Lacken and Lough Bray. My first takeoff was nervy, but once up and soaring I knew it was going to be a great couple of weeks, weather permitting.
And thankfully the weather did not let us down. In my ten days there, I flew every day, racking up a total of 17 flights of between 15 minutes and an hour. Similarly, other students racked up hours in the air – a testament to the suitability of Áger as a safe bet in August and September. Away from the flying, Áger is a gem in the mountains of Catalunya. A quaint little village, it provides as a relaxing base for any paragliding holiday – even for the non-flying family and friends who may tag along. There are a few options for accommodation, from camping to apartments. Costs are also quite cheap; the only real cost being the rental car for the couple of weeks – a necessity for the drive from Barcelona airport and the drives to and from take-off. A long winter indeed – seven months since my wing was in the air over Áger. I am looking forward to a busy summer exercising my new found thermalling skills over the Irish landscape… We live in hope! ■ A special thank you to Fred and Sarah from Paraglide Adventure for organising the trip. www.paraglideadventure.com
PAGE 9
IHPA
H T Cloudbase Dave Tweedie SHOT
IHPA PILOT What’s Your Q&A Bump Tolerance*...
In each issue of FreeFlight we invite an IHPA Pilot to answer some questions about themselves and their flying and this issue Fred Lahiff does us the honors.
Bump Tolerance: An acquired ability to fly in and withstand rough thermic air.
*
How long have you been flying?
What is the best flying site you have flown abroad?
In June 2014 it will be 35 years, hard to believe. I flew hang gliders first for many years and then took up paragliding in 1990. So I’ve been around long enough to see both disciplines develop here in Ireland.
On a hang glider it has to be the Owens Valley in California. I was lucky enough to be part of a group trip there in 1981. Take off varied from 8000 ft to 12000 ft. We made height gains of between 10000 ft to 13694 ft (13694 ft was a world record for IHGA member Ian Kibblewhite) and flew at altitudes between 18000 ft to 20000 ft.
What made you decide to take up flying? I had seen some early pioneering hang gliding flights on TV that caught my attention so I contacted the then fledgling IHGA and enrolled on a weekend course. I started on a Saturday and bought my first hang glider on the Sunday for £150 which I then proceeded to crash on the Monday, this pattern of short flights followed by broken aluminium continued for many weeks and months until with the help of more experienced pilots I eventually started to improve and progress. What is your best memory?
Name:
Fred Lahiff
Type of Pilot:
Paragliding/ Hang Gliding
Rating:
PP5 /SP5 CFI with paraglideadventure.com
Started Flying: June 1979 Airtime:
1000+ hours
It has to be the many friends I’ve made through flying and the laugh’s we have had together.
Glider:
Independence Geronimo LTF/EN B
What is your worse memory?
Harness:
Independence Matador
Being on the hill when friends have been seriously injured or worse. Not nice, but thankfully the good memories vastly outnumber the bad. What’s your current glider? Currently I fly an Independence Geronimo LTF/EN B. It has a very good performance for its class and as I spend a lot of days teaching I don’t need a higher end glider Have you experienced any other types of Flying? I have had a few flights in a microlight and a sailplane but they never really appealed to me as much as hang gliding or paragliding.
PAGE 12
It was a long time ago but for me the shear scale of the mountains (4000meters +) and the flying there still resonates down the years. On a paraglider Ager in Spain holds a special place in my heart. I first flew there in the early 1980’s. I got married there in 1993 and I have returned there most years since, ostensibly to fly and run some training courses but in reality I have just been looking for a loop hole – I’m still looking What is your favourite Irish flying site? Well Lacken, Co Wicklow is where I first saw somebody flying a hang glider and it’s where I spend a lot of training days. It seems to have its own micro meteorological climate and it can be stunningly beautiful so I guess its Lacken. What’s your bump tolerance? For me personally flying in very turbulent air is only ever justified if it’s a means to an end, if you can gain height and get away from the hill and fly XC then fine, but ridge soaring in very turbulent air is not my thing. Do you see yourself continuing to fly in the future? I plan to keep flying as long as I am fit enough and it still remains enjoyable. It would still be nice to fly a 100k on a paraglider in Ireland and then when I am sure that the baton of irresponsibility has been successfully passed on to a new generation, I plan to pass away peacefully in my own bed. Aged 95 yrs. Shot by a jealous husband. ■
IRISH HANG GLIDING AND PARAGLIDING ASSOCIATION
David May finds out from Rafal, Franek and Jacek that yes, it is possible to Vol-Biv in Ireland.
W
ith the new flying season come new possibilities. Each time we step into the air there is something new, a new site perhaps or conditions we are not familiar with. It could be a sky full of promise for a great XC or a chance to try out some new equipment. Perhaps this is our maiden voyage, fresh out of flight school or the first after an extended absence. Whatever the case, the new brings with it a sense of excitement and adventure and the hope of new experiences and challenges. So have you ever thought of Vol-Biv in Ireland? It seems a natural extension of the freedom our sport can bring: hike and fly, camp where you land and fly again the next day. Spend some time in the open with the possibility of finding beautiful new places - some of them never flown before.
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Not surprisingly a few of our friends had this very idea to try something new for the 2014. Rafal Obora was one of them and I asked him about it. In preparation, to reduce the weight of his flying kit, he bought a new lightweight harness (Ozone Ozium) – bringing his total flying gear to a cool 11kg. Add another 3kg for some lightweight camping gear and the complete pack came to an amazing 14kg. (I’ve listed all the items in Rafal’s kit at the end of this article). And if 14kg is still too much for you, there is even lighter equipment available, at a higher price of course. Soon it was time to try it all out and on April 14, together with Rafal Vega, Franek Baron and Jacek Chodanowski, he hiked into the east side of the Comeraghs and set up camp. “The first evening was unforgettable by the fire, some beer and conversation until late, then
IRISH HANG GLIDING AND PARAGLIDING ASSOCIATION
FREEFLIGHT SUMMER 2014
an early morning wake-up call with all the birds singing. We had a quick breakfast, packed up and were off again for another 1.5 - 2hr hike up to the North East and take off. It certainly wasn’t ‘easy’ as the hiking can be quite physical at times but it was just so rewarding to be out in the middle of such beautiful countryside, and once in the air the view made it all worthwhile”. Encouraged by the success of the trip to the Comeraghs, in May Rafal was joined once again by Rafal Vega and Franek Baron and
also this time by Mario Jachimowicz to spend 2 days fly-camping on Magic Mountain in Wales. “Landing after a day’s flying to set up tent and sit around a camp fire in the company of friends - and a beer of course – what a great feeling”. So where to next I asked? “The Alps of course, in June for 1 week”. Let’s wish them the best of luck in their next adventure. ■ See next page for list of items in Rafal’s kit.
FREEFLIGHT SUMMER 2014
List of items in Rafal’s kit. Flying Kit Wing Delta 2 ML Harness Ozium M Helmet Lublin Macpara Reserve Ozone Angel 110 90L Backpack Zippy GPS/Vario Radio
5.30kg 2.60kg 0.28kg 1.70kg 0.90kg 0.09kg 0.25kg
Camping Kit Trekking Pole Black Diamond Ultra Distance 0.32kg 1 Person Tent (Camp Minima SL1) 0.96 kg Camp Essential Mat 0.30kg Sleeping Bag (Saleva 800) 0.80kg Titan cup (MSR) 0.01kg Gas-jet (MSR) 0.09kg Gas bottle (100ml) 0.20kg Total Weight 13.80kg
Irish 100km 2014 XC Challenge Win a new U-Turn Rescue System by becoming the first IHPA member to fly 100km in Ireland!
The Irish 100 U-TURNs XC Challenge is a new initiative, founded to encourage more pilots to improve their flying skills in Ireland – we Challenge you to fly further! By becoming the first IHPA paraglider pilot to log a 100km flight on one of the International XC contest websites (XContest, Leonardo) you will win a U-Turn new rescue System. The challenge is sponsored and monitored by U-Turn. Have fun going XC!
For further details contact Dorin at: borodescud@gmail.com PAGE 16
IRISH HANG GLIDING AND PARAGLIDING ASSOCIATION
IHPA
H T Ă ger, Spain Paul Hogan SHOT
IHPA
H T Sugar Loaf, Co. Wicklow Uli Burger SHOT
Algodonales
with the Munster Kestrels
FREEFLIGHT SUMMER 2014
2014
Dara Hogan joined the Munster Kestrels on their annual spring pilgrimage to Algodonales and tells us how they all got on.
A
lgodonales was a great start to the 2014 flying season. We were privileged to join Gilbert McGlennon (our esteemed leader), Kevin Bickerdyke (Gilbert’s #2), Tony Taylor and Carol Ward, Fred Littler and Clive Mills (from the UK), Stephen Hynes and Karen Higgins and Steve Long. Most were signed up to Johan and Jackie’s site-guiding service which was excellent. Tony, Carol, Mary and I travelled separately and we each hired a car in Malaga. Tony’s back hadn’t healed since his prang in Nepal so he was driving Carol and he also kindly brought me up the mountain most days. Separately, Johan also brought me up the mountain (even though I wasn’t his customer) and this was most helpful. I would strongly recommend Johan’s site-guiding service. Mary and I could only get away for a week but many of the others were there when we arrived on 9th April and a few were staying on when we left on 16th April. Mary and I stayed with Julie Edwards at Casa la Parra and it was exceptional. Many of the others were staying in accommodation arranged by Johan in town. Mary had a great non-flying week which included hill-walking on Lijar and a cheese-making day with Julie. We also had a great day in nearby Ronda. Michel and Catherine were also staying at Casa la Parra so I brought Michel flying in my hire-car while Mary and Catherine went walking on Lijar. I had five good flights during the week but neither I nor any of the others flew any serious distances (as far as I know). It was my first time to fly Valle de Abdalajis and I was consciously breaking the “one new thing at a time” rule by having my first flight on my new Advance Epsilon 7-30 from a new site. Having seen one or two scary take-offs by good pilots I waited until nearly 5pm to fly. It was a lovely flight and we had brilliant briefings from Johan who is an excellent instructor. The Epsilon 7-30 is faster and more agile than my previous Epsilon 5-31 and I was really enjoying it. I videoed a number of the take-offs including one very tricky takeoff. That pilot was lucky to get away safely but I’m not permitted to put it up on YouTube in case his beloved sees it so he shall remain anonymous for now! There was a serious issue as the wind came up very quickly and soon it was too turbulent for me (and for others). I still wonder if it was a classic valley wind? I was high over the upper landing field where others had landed and I watched them coping with the conditions – some were going backwards (at slow speeds). I wanted to go on to the lower landing field (where my car was parked) but the valley wind ruled that out. I flew into wind and made finals on full bar but every time I let off I was failing to penetrate. I felt that the safest option was to remain stable on full bar and to risk a collapse as I was too low to spiral and big-ears would have dropped me into rotor and the trees behind that landing field. Eventually I made a nearvertical landing on full bar which was risky and I was glad to get the glider down without a drag. We also flew from Lijar SE and SW take-offs. I made a show of
PAGE 21
FREEFLIGHT SUMMER 2014
myself on the Monday by crashing on take-off from the SE and ending up in the bushes. The thermal I thought that I was flying in disappeared after 20 seconds and before I knew it I was running through the bushes. Luckily, only my pride was injured. My only defence is that I wasn’t the only one to go into the bushes that tricky morning. Thanks to Tony for helping me to untangle my lines (see pic). On the last day Gilbert radioed us from the air to say that he was flying to the Venta (AKA the pub) for lunch and beer. We started to follow him until he radioed from the ground to say that he had landed safely but that the pub was closed! Damned Spanish siesta. One change this year was the availability of iced beers and snacks in the landing field from a local man with a van. This was most refreshing! The après-fly activity was most enjoyable as we worked our way
PAGE 22
around the many excellent pubs and restaurants in Algo. It was so lovely to be dining under the open skies in the main street in April. The prices of the food, wine and beer were extraordinary value and it makes you realise how high the cost of living is in Ireland. The wide variety of seafood was truly enticing (as were the great breakfasts at Casa la Parra). Great credit to Carol who was building airtime with expert advice from Tony. She kept up with the rest of us despite her low relatively airtime. Thanks to Johan and Tony Taylor for their invaluable assistance at take-off and for the many lifts. Thanks also to Tony Conway of UHPC who was also most obliging at take-off. Lastly, thanks to Gilbert who at, at 71 years of age, set a high standard for the rest of us to follow. This is an annual trip and I know that the Munster Kestrels would welcome any other pilots who would care to join them in Algo. I strongly recommend it! ■
IRISH HANG GLIDING AND PARAGLIDING ASSOCIATION
FlySAFE
First Aid and Medi Kits John Welch, CFI Flight Culture, tells us about what kind of First Aid Kit you should have if thinking of a trip aboard this year. With last summer having been such a wash out, more and more of us are looking at heading abroad. We all hope to have a great time and to avoid injury but a little bit of prior planning could save you an awful lot of trouble. So, let's start right at the beginning. Whenever you go out you should take a basic first aid kit which includes an of assortment plasters, a couple of antiseptic wipes, a couple of blister pads, some paracetamol and some cetirizine (hay fever treatment). You can easily slip all of that in your pocket and is useful even to people with no First aid training. At this point I just want to say, if you haven't had first aid training you really should. Courses are run locally are inexpensive, fun and you could end up saving someone’s life. Once you've completed a basic first aid course, you'll want to expand your first aid kit. For use in Ireland, the UK and developed countries with easy access to medical treatment you can still put everything you need in a small pouch that will fit into your pocket. IRISH HANG GLIDING AND PARAGLIDING ASSOCIATION
The problems start when you're travelling somewhere with limited or no medical facilities. If this is what you're planning you should consider travelling as part of a group because there are many scenarios where you need the help of several other people. The only good way this will work is with specialist training. You'll need to learn how to treat injuries and illnesses using a range of prescription medications (antibiotics, pain killers and more). You might even consider taking a more advanced course that includes training in suturing wounds, giving injections and using intravenous fluids. These courses are open to everyone and you can complete a basic one in 2 days. Once your level of training is appropriate you're ready to start putting together your med pack and you're going to need to put some thought into it. On the following page are some basic suggestions offered by Barry Roberts, Commercial director of Wilderness Medical Training.
PAGE 23
FREEFLIGHT SPRING 2014
Suggestions for Medi Kit Take the minimum necessary to deal with the broadest array of potential problems. Ensure that each team member has a personal supply of paracetamol and blister pads and an adequate supply of personal prescribed medications. It may be a requirement to have a comprehensive base camp kit and smaller, basic portable kits for satellite teams. You can improvise splints and stretchers but not medications or sterile equipment. You may need supplies to cope with the following: Environment – altitude drugs, sea sickness Eyes – local anesthetic drops, antibiotic drops, spare glasses for contact wearers Infection – antibiotics to treat dental, chest, gut and skin infections (oral antibiotics treat simple bacterial infections or can buy time in more serious infections), oral rehydration sachets Teeth – emergency filling kit Skin – blister pads and tape, cling film for burns (can also be used to splint), sutures, steristrips, Superglue, iodine, local anesthetic, antihistamines Sickness and pain – prochlorperazine can control nausea and vomiting (thus reducing dehydration) and simple analgesics (e.g. paracetamol with ibuprofen) taken regularly are effective for significant pain. Forget about getting hold of controlled drugs like morphine. Protection – gloves Sterile pack – containing needles, scalpel, syringes, forceps, scissors, cannulae, suture holders, dressings Don’t advertise your medical kit at borders, police check posts and customs. Medicines are valuable in poor countries and some countries don’t take kindly to travellers carrying valium, codeine based drugs and needles. Packing it in a bright red bag with a cross on it is asking for trouble. Take official looking copies of the contents list and the prescription authorization to purchase POMs (prescription only medications). Don’t wait until the week you depart to start thinking about getting hold of POMs. Not all doctors are going to be enthusiastic about taking responsibility for providing you with the relevant prescriptions if you don’t have appropriate training. I've completed “far from help” and “Advanced Medicine” courses with Wilderness Medical Training and have used this training in a remote part of the Baja peninsula. If you are travelling to somewhere remote or even if you are just interested in expanding your medical skills and knowledge I really recommend that you consider one these courses. ■ For more information see: http://wildernessmedicaltraining.co.uk/ John Welch, CFI Flight Culture, www.flightculture.co.uk
Learn to
Paraglide in Ireland
Discover Discover tthe he excitement excitement and and passion passion of of paragliding paragliding and and pursue one of man’s ultimate dreams, to fly like a bird! Learning to fly a paraglider can be great fun and isn‘t as difficult or daunting as you might think. Training begins on a gentle slope, learning to take off and land. Initially we do some ground handling which allows you to learn the basic controls followed by gentle flights from low down on the hill and extending higher up the slope as your ability and confidence grows. Paraglide Adventure is Ireland’s oldest established paragliding school and currently the only full time training facility in the country. This means that we are available to teach whenever the wind and weather are suitable and not just on weekends.
Áger, Á ger, Spain Spain 2014 2014 Paraglide Adventure will be running it’s annual foreign course this year in Áger, Spain from 18th - 28th August. Suitable for low airtime pilots who are looking to complete some tasks, flight requirements from a previous course to gain an IHPA rating or who just need to work on their techniques and log some airtime. Call C all for for further further details. details. View a short video of Paraglide Adventure’s 2013 trip to Áger
For more information on paragliding and our main flying sites contact us at.
paraglideadventure.com 1144 Saint S a i n t Patrick’s Pa t r i c k s Road, R o a d , Drumcondra, D r u m c o n d r a , Dublin D u b l i n 9. 9 . T 0011 8303884 8 3 0 3 8 8 4 M 087 0 8 7 2589245 2 5 8 9 2 4 5 E fred@paraglideadventure.com fred@paraglideadventure.com
IHPA
H T Slieve Gallion Dave Tweedie SHOT
ALL NEW
ihpa.ie
This year, as a major development and a lot of very hard work by Philip Lardner, the IHPA has launched it’s new web site that has been designed to become the hub of communication between pilots around the country. Below we outline some of the key features and functions of the new site and we invite all members to log on and have fun!
Home Tab The Home tab contains several general information treads to choose from: About the IHPA: Info on the association, how itʼs organised and its affiliations. Join the IHPA: Reasons for joining, visiting pilots, new members and renewals. Insurance: Outlining home and abroad insurance requirements Flight Safety: Quick references to rules of the road, rating systems, club coaches, low airtime pilots, restricted flying sites and log books. Hall of Fame.
IHPA Forum All online communication can be viewed at a glance with our dedicated Forum. To start you off you will be automatically subscribed to both the Hang Gliding, Paragliding and the Buy & Sell forums. You can view and change your forum subscriptions by going to your 'My Profile' page and clicking on the ForumsSubscriptions tabs or by clicking on the Subscribe / Unsubscribe buttons within the forums themselves. Regardless of your forum subscriptions, you should automatically receive email updates to any topic you start or post to. Other Forums listed are: UHPC Mailing list, HangGliding.org, ParaglidingForum.com and Ireland PPG.
PAGE 28
Events Tab A list of national & international events and upcoming Irish bank holidays.
IRISH HANG GLIDING AND PARAGLIDING ASSOCIATION
Weather Tab The association始s extensive weather page provides info from various forecasting services, current conditions from a list of weather stations, radar and satellite views and, unique to IHPA members, our all Ireland RASP Service. Watch Greg Hamerton explain how to find good flying weather using a RASP weather forecasting system.
Competitions Tab General information on requirements for entering competitions and link to IHPA Leonardo League page.
Contact Tab Keep in touch with fellow members via email or phone (if available). Use the filter option to identify pilots more easily via nationality, interest or discipline
Profile Tab Your profile page lets you review all your pilot information and keep it up to date. Also view your last 10 forum entries and manage your subscriptions.
IHPA Membership Registering you membership on the new website is a once-off process. To renew all you have to do is upload your up to date insurance document and pay the subs on-line (the website will send out automatic reminders before the end of the membership year). You can then download and print your new and up to date membership card. If you have already paid your membership fee, thank you, but have yet to register please take a moment to view our How to Register video and at your earliest convenience register your membership.
IRISH HANG GLIDING AND PARAGLIDING ASSOCIATION
Membership Card: Click the Membership tab on your profile page to download a PDF and print a copy of your Membership Card. PAGE 29
IHPA
H T Parawaiting, Laghta Dave May SHOT
Good Old...
Ground Handling
FREEFLIGHT SUMMER 2014
Sarah Mc Laughlin, a native of Donegal, tells us about learning to paraglide and how ground handling helped with her confidence and competence.
W
hen I decided I wanted to try Paragliding, I thought that taking those first steps would be the hardest. I had passed up the chance to learn flying Microlights at the age of 17 when my dad was encouraging me to – I was too busy, training was too far away, I will do it after I learn to drive. In fact I didn’t have the courage to do it then. Many years later when starting Paragliding training, I was prepared to keep going and persist 'til the end of basic training to do something I had always dreamed of: to fly above the hills of Donegal. In fact, as soon as I was within the school environment I felt that I was within a close knit group of friends right from the start. The support and understanding during training, not to mention the craic when not flyable, made the time just fly by. Of course there were the highs and lows, the tears and tantrums - and that was just my instructor! In the beginning I couldn’t appreciate all the decisions that were
being made on my behalf and there was frustration at not being able to fly when I wanted because of the weather. I remember drilling my instructor with endless questions about the weather, flying tips, his flying experiences, advice on getting started all of which he answered enthusiastically. Living in London, I was lucky to be able to go along to monthly meetings of fellow flyers of all levels of experience to talk about our latest exploits and future plans. But several things really kept me motivated and wanting to progress. The sheer enthusiasm from my instructors on their thrill of flying after all these years and on their willingness and patience as I fluffed up a take-off yet again, had another load of questions or just moaned about the weather. In the downtime between training days on the hill I spent hours reading training manuals, watching videos, but mostly read forums and online material. I tried to learn as much as I could this way and was glad to know that my PAGE 33
FREEFLIGHT AUTUMN 2013
instructor would still be there to answer questions when I just couldn’t seem to get it or if I heard conflicting information. I was glad of the contacts I made during training. I clearly remember my first few times to go out ground handling by myself. I had a wing to practice with and it just didn’t want to go above my head. It took forever to even sort the lines out and I would stand there either on a nil wind day feeling very self-conscious and clueless, or on too-windy days with the wing thrashing about and ending up in a matted ball unable to inflate(luckily for me) to be taken home and sorted out there. I would think at times that I wasn’t making any progress at all and that I wasn’t going to get it and felt like quitting. On the odd occasion an unwitting family member would come along to witness this spectacle and would be monumentally unimpressed and I would lose a listening ear for my great new passion. Despite all this I noticed gradual improvements if I kept on at it. Another lucky event was meeting people who had more experience or were club coaches and were able to come out with me for ground handling practice. Having someone else there and with only a few words of encouragement and advice (of something my instructor had only told me 100 times already!) seemed to sort the issue out and things would start to happen with my wing. It felt great to feel PAGE 34
the wing coming under my control bit by bit. All the little disparate bits of information that floated around in my head were starting to come together and make sense the more I handled my wing. I would aim to get to my local park for a few hours every weekend even in the winter which I really enjoyed – I would soon warm up nicely with my harness on and with my back to the wind. I was starting to feel gradually more at one with this, at first, alien wing and so began to relax and things really started to fall into place. Inevitably, on completing my basic training with the school, I knew I’d be starting over again. I didn’t live near my training school and so would have to strike out to new pastures if I wanted to fly regularly. One thing I learned early on is that the Paragliding community is extremely welcoming and supportive. People will go out of their way to help you and most clubs will have at least one club coach who will selflessly take time to coax and encourage you in those first tentative steps away from the school. They are the bridge that will lead you into confident flight as you try to apply what you learned under tuition with timely and gentle reminders of your checks to complete, the hazards to avoid and gazillions of other useful pointers, tips and important bits of info.
IRISH HANG GLIDING AND PARAGLIDING ASSOCIATION
FREEFLIGHT SUMMER 2014
that I put in between visits to the hill, the more benefit I get from my next trip there. However as I sit here and try to make sense of the seemingly random weather charts that look like a child has been let loose with coloured pens and ink pots a thought strikes me... perhaps it's time to ring my instructor for a wee chat! ■ However as I meet new people around the sites, at events or meetings I often hear “Well done on completing your basic training” and then I’ll hear “There is so much to learn with Paragliding. A pilot who has just completed basic training knows nothing”. This is meant both as a warning and as encouragement. I should not think that I know everything about flying now that I have left formal tuition but also that I am just on the beginner slopes of a fantastical journey of learning and discovering just how magical Paragliding can be and, best of all, we are all here to help you every step of the way. There must be something special in a sport that makes people trek up mountains with heavy backpacks, pore over and chat endlessly on weather stats, drive for hours for even the chance of flying. All along I have found that the more reading, watching and practice
IRISH HANG GLIDING AND PARAGLIDING ASSOCIATION
Editor’s Note: I met Sarah in Lanzarote back in November 2010 where she was completing her CP with Flight Culture UK, a Dorset based BHPA school that also organizes a number of trips abroad each year. I joined the group looking to escape the Irish Winter blues and with relatively cheap Ryan Air flights from Dublin, Lanzarote was high on my list of potential flying destinations so late in the year. It’s a small, volcanic island, long and narrow with quite a surreal landscape. And what it lacks in size it more than makes up for with some amazing soaring sites such as the spectacular Famara Ridge, a 40km out and return cliff run. Just check it out on YouTube.
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IHPA NEWS
2014 SPONSORS IHPA would like to thank our many sponsors. Apart from the wonderful prizes for our 2014 AGM, we have also received merchandise from a number of other manufacturers and what’s more, we have secured discounts on certain items of equipment. Finally together with Up and U-Turn we are continuing our 2 amazing XC Challenges for 2014. All available to IHPA members only. So read on...
Merchandise Gifts Good news for those of you who might be looking for some new equipment. Thanks to the efforts of our Competition Officer Dorin Borodescu, we have managed to secure some great items from the following:
World Leaders in the Design and Manufacture of Paragliders, Harnesses, Parachute Reserve Systems, Power Wings and Accessories for the Pilot
Flying Holiday Discount
Allez Up
;A><=I >CHIGJB:CIH LARAGNE, FRANCE 15% Discount to IHPA Pilotsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Group Bookings Allez Up is run by Dave and Rachel who have a long track record of running flying holidays in the area. They know how to get you into the air and grade the trip to your flying limits. The accommodation itself is comfortable and clean and able to accommodate up to 12 easily. The surroundings are calm and relaxing and included a pool to ease the aches after a day flying. The views from the veranda included a fantastic old castle, Le Mison. Lovely to sit out with a cool drink, chat about the days flying and watch the shadows flicker across the castle as the sun set. Nearby sites were easy access and included the locally famous Le Chabre, Aspres and other regulars like Bergies, Buc and Sederon. www.allez-up.com
For further details contact Dorin Borodescu at: borodescud@gmail.com
A I R B O R N E
S E N S AT I O N S
The 150km Win an UP Harness of your choice* by becoming the first person to fly 150km** in Ireland The Irish UP XC Challenge is a new initiative, founded to encourage more pilots to fly further in Ireland - the potential is there, now we just need the pilots to step up to the task! By becoming the first IHPA paraglider pilot to log a 150km+** flight on one of the International XC contest websites (XContest, Leonardo) you will win a UP harness of your own choice*. The challenge is sponsored by UP International (www.up-paragliders.com) in conjunction with UP UK/Green Dragons, and monitored by Green Dragons. (www.greendragons.co.uk) Have fun going XC! *Harness must be from the UP range current at the time of flight completion, and in stock at the UP HQ in Germany. **With the Irish XC rules this amounts to 150km on A and B wings, 165km on C wings, and 180km on D wings. No limitations in regards to brand.
For further details contact Dorin Borodescu at: borodescud@gmail.com
Flying in Umbria The heart of Italy.
Flytaly is a dedicated paragliding company based in the beautiful mountains of Umbria in central Italy. A stunning 18th century manor house will be your home for the duration of your trip and they provide all transport so there is no need for the added cost of a hire car. Every effort is made to ensure that you get the most airtime out of your holiday and each day ends with a 4-course meal, prepared by talented chefs using the finest locally sourced ingredients.
Accommodation and catering included in your stay â&#x20AC;˘ Family holidays for flyers and non-flyers alike
IHPA
H T Achill Dara Hogan SHOT