NZHGPA Airborn #217 February 2021 by NZ HGPA

Issue 217; February, March, April 2021

Auckland Southern & Hawkes Bay Paragliding Comps Radio Replacement

7.50 Including GST

9 771170 992006

HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING

any pilots visit flying sites outside their own region. To ensure that you don’t jeopardise arrangements between land owners and local flyers you must ALWAYS check with local pilots BEFORE flying. That way you won’t upset land owners or pilots, you will be shown all the best sites and will be welcome back. We don’t publish site names and locations

NORTHLAND H.G.P.C. C/- Guntram Gross 1 Brook Road Whangarei Email: Skywalk@hotmail.co.nz www.facebook.com/ NorthlandHangGlidingandParaglidingClub/ Pres, Airsp; Shane Gross...............09 436 0268 Sec/Treas; Guntram Gross.............09 436 0268 HGSO; Herman Ahrens..................09 432 9333 PGSO; Wolfgang Harder................09 403 7594 PG; Mike Ferguson..........mferg066@gmail.com AUCKLAND H.G.P.C. PO Box 47813 Ponsonby, Auckland 1144 Email: info@cloudbase.org.nz www.cloudbase.org.nz Pres: Stefan Sebregts .................021 266 1287 Sec: Adrian Merrall...................... 021 249 3999 Treas: Malcolm Dawson...............021 052 1568 HGSO: Fraser Bull .......................027 801 4044 Airsp: Leslie Graham .....................09 579 6485 Steve Price ....................................021 781 828 Eva Keim .......................................09 446 0051 Sean Oliver Hang Gliding............... 027 670 8301 Skywings Paragliding ....................09 570 5757 Wings And Waves Paragliding ......09 446 0020 WAIKATO H.G.P.C. Inc. C/- Ian Manton PO Box 131,

TARANAKI FREE FLYERS C/- Dennis Green 38 Kaitake Rd, RD4, New Plymouth Pres, Airsp, Sec/Treas, PGSO; John Morgan ...................................................... 021 726 183 HGSO; Dave Austin....................021 0283 6797 BAY OF PLENTY H.G.P.C. C/- Neville Goodwin, 304b Papamoa Beach Road, Papamoa Beach, Papamoa, 3118 Email: bophangparaclub@gmail.com www.facebook.com/BOPHangGlidingParagliding Pres: Kevin Wylie..........................027 321 1107 Sec: Neville Goodwin.......................... 027 465 3637 PGSO: Mark McIntyre........................021 337 595 HGSO: James Low.......................021 102 5004 Airsp: Rhys Akers.........................021 177 7563 Sites: Dave Shaw...........................07 575 9560 Kiwi Air.........................................021 1046 208 Mount Paragliding........................027 249 2702 WELLINGTON H.G.P.C. PO Box 9824 Marion Square Wellington 6141 www.whgpc.nz Email: info@whgpc.org.nz Pres: Matthew Williams................027 552 5205 Sec/Treas: Grant Firth................... 021 422 698 HGSO: Grant Tatham...................027 636 3491 PGSO: Irwin Imhoff........................ 22 087 2173 Airsp: Ian Miller ............................022 176 8205 Comms; Warren Fitzgerald..........027 511 1599

Matamata 3440 Email: ian@imatec.co.nz Pres: Mark McDonald...................020 444 9995 Sec/Treas: ................ Ian Manton 027 546 2832 PGSO: Bruce Vickerman .............027 498 9941 HGSO: Rick Hawkeswood.............07 868 6250 Airsp: Neil Howe.............................07 304 9631 HAWKES BAY H.G.P.C. Inc. 30 Kaweka Place Havelock North 4130 Email: hbhgpc@gmail.com www.soarhawkesbay.co.nz Pres, Arron Chesterman ............021 0248 4730 Treas: Nick Webster .....................027 494 9032 PGSO: Ken Beach........................021 191 6388 HGSO: Ross MacKay...................027 285 4195 Sites; Euan Talbot ........................022 048 7673 Airsp: Shaun Gilbert.....................022 477 8804

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KEY Pres; .............................................. President

Sec; ............................ Secretary/Treasurer PGSO; ............. Paragliding Safety Officer HGSO; .......... Hang Gliding Safety Officer CFI;...........................Chief Flying Instructor Airsp;.................................Airspace Officer

CANTERBURY H.G.P.C. Inc. C/- Paul Conaghan 34 Mounter Ave Christchurch 8051 Email: chgpc.exec@gmail.com www.chgpc.org.nz Pres: Colin Hogg..........................021 249 9599 Sec/Treas; Paul Conaghan ..........022 414 7377 PGSO; Stuart Mackintosh..........020 4021 3344 HGSO; Warren Simonsen.............021 183 2126 Sites PG; Ondrej Wieden............020 4158 8152 Sites HG; Don Payne....................027 432 7884 Website; Stephen O’Shaughnessy.03 326 7373 Airsp; Ryan Scarlett......................022 045 7254 Canty HG School; Bill Degen.......021 247 2676 Cloudbase Paragliding.................027 532 4874 Nimbus Paragliding......................027 432 4874 ParaPro.........................................0800 548 323 AORANGI H.G.C. C/- Tom Knewstubb PO Box 5976 Dunedin Pres, Airsp; Kevin McManus........021 134 0463 Sec, HGSO; Tom Knewstubb (wk) 027 289 6103 PGSO: Lisa Bradley......................021 156 3256 SOUTHERN H.G.P.C. C/_ Tim Brown, 142 Dalefield Rd, RD1, Queenstown 9371 Email: admin@southernclub.co.nz www.southernclub.co.nz Pres; Tim Brown...........................021 182 4243 Sec: Paula Race...........................027 855 8448 Treas: Kat Cerna.........................021 0291 0851 PGSO: Blake Round.....................027 367 7679 HGSO: Pete Helliwell .................021 0284 5170 Sites: Cathal McLoughlin...........021 024 00350 Events: Chris Shaw......................021 051 2905 IT/Web: Daniel Diaz Rizo.................................... Airsp: Chris Streat........................027 485 6236 Craig Smith...................................027 343 3537 Louis Tapper....................................................... Benjamin Kellet.............................021 232 7217 Dean Orton.....................................021 612 998 Coronet Peak Tandem PG & HG..0800 467 325 Skytrek Hang Gliding & Paragliding.0800 759 873 Extreme Air Paragliding School....021 156 3256 Infinity Paragliding School..............021 981 855 Paraventures Paragliding...............021 809 275 G Force Tandem Paragliding..........03 441 8581

Photo; Bill Degen

Sec; Jonathan McIlvenny.............021 133 7019

MARLBOROUGH H.G.P.C. C/- Cody Pickles 1188 Waihopai Valley Road, RD 6, Blenheim Email: codypicklesj@gmail.com Pres: Daniel Francis .....................027 823 7292 Sec: Cody Pickles ........................027491 2730 Treas: Lindsay Smith....................027 850 6368 PGSO: Julie Bousquet.................027 340 0718 HGSO: John Urlich..03 5771024, 027 302 5629 Overall Site Manager; Mark Davies.021 0273 3977 Airsp: Daniel Francis.....................027 823 7292

TASMAN H.G.P.C. C/- Frog Twissell 186A Nile Street, Nelson 7010 Email: thgpgclub@gmail.com Pres; Peter Allison..........................021 350 066 Sec; Frog Twissell.........................021 228 2121 Treas; Brian Erasmus .....................03 545 1003 PGSO; Greg Benjamin....................03 545 1543 PGSO; Pete Polansky ...................03 528 7374 HGSO; John King..........................03 548 8263 Site Owners; Tim Percival .............03 548 7397 Sites; Kevin Rooke.........................021 762 769 Airsp; Claus Petry.........................021 250 4836 Nelson Paragliding.........................03 544 1182 Hang Gliding NZ.............................021 762 769

Hang gliders speck out over Magic Mountain during an Omarama XC Classic

PGSO: Reuben Muir.......................09 446 0020

because flying sites have been lost by visiting flyers who have upset land owners. To assist travelling pilots, people wishing to learn to fly or to contact hang gliding and paragliding clubs, here is a list of people who can help you. Those on the list or wishing to be listed, should contact their Club Secretaries who should keep Airborn and the NZHGPA website updated of changes of contact details.

ISSN 1170-9928

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Magazine of the NEW Zealand Hang Gliding & Paragliding Assn. Inc. Published every three months for hang gliding and paragliding enthusiasts in

N.Z.H.G.P.A. INC., C/- PO Box 131, Matamata 3440, New Zealand www.nzhgpa.org.nz

Administrator

Ian Manton, C/- PO Box 131, Matamata 3440, 027 202 1806, admin@nzhgpa.org.nz

New Zealand and abroad ● Subscription is by membership of NZHGPA (a

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flyer and foreign subscriptions please contact the NZHGPA Administrator for

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Email:

Duncan Macnab, 027 624 6434, president@nzhgpa.org.nz Ian Manton, 027 546 2832, vice-president@nzhgpa.org.nz

Executive Members

Kyla MacDonald 021 056 2320 kylamacdonald@gmail.com Carlos Palmer, 027 487 7654, hg.operations@nzhgpa.org.nz Grant Tatham, 06 379 7322, 027 636 3491, hg.training@nzhgpa.org.nz Blake Round, 027 367 7679, pg.operations@nzhgpa.org.nz Glen Ogilvie, 021 684 146, nelg@linuxsolutions.co.nz Kevin McManus 021 134 0463 kamdfc@gmail.com Ian Manton, 027 546 2832, pg.training@nzhgpa.org.nz Duncan Macnab, 027 624 6434, president@nzhgpa.org.nz

Operations TEAM Chief Executive Officer

Nick Taber, 021 420 742, ceo@nzhgpa.org.nz

Operations Manager

Carlos Palmer, 027 487 7654, operations@nzhgpa.org.nz Training Manager

Blake Round, 027 367 7679, training@nzhgpa.org.nz

Internal Auditor

Kris Ericksen, 021 116 4558, safety@nzhgpa.org.nz

National Safety Officer

Dean Straker, 021 547 511, safety@nzhgpa.org.nz

National Airspace Officer

Rhys Akers, 021 177 7563, airspace@nzhgpa.org.nz

Chief Medical Advisor

Dr Sam Bartholomew, C/o NZHGPA administrator, admin@nzhgpa.org.nz

Paragliding Competition Committee

Timothy Brown (Chair), 03 442 5319, 021 182 4243, NZHGPAPCC@googlegroups.com Dave Washer, Toni Skerrett

Hang Gliding Competition Committee

Dennis Thorpe, (Chair), 021 112 1622, dennis_thorpe@hotmail.com Matt Barlow, Tom Mulder

NZHGPA Book Store

Ian Manton 027 202 1806, admin@nzhgpa.org.nz

In This Issue... Southern Fun Paragliding Comp.................................................4 Auckland Paragliding Regionals Round 2..................................8 Hawkes Bay Regional Paragliding Comp................................12 Replacing Radios with Cellphones for Teaching ....................16 Understanding RASP.................................................................17

Editing, Graphics; AeroDesign, Bill Degen Printing; The Caxton Press

Please send advertisements, photos and articles to the editor:

President

Airborn Magazine

99A Panorama Road Christchurch 8081 New Zealand

aero@xtra.co.nz

Paragliding Beginners Guide Review.......................................18 Executive Reports, Safety Checks...........................................20 Events..........................................................................................23 Cross Country Championship Tables.............................. 22 & 24 Classified Advertisements.........................................................26 FRONT COVER: Pilots at Te Mata Peak, Hawke’s Bay Regionals. Photo Kris Ericksen

Next issue deadline: 30 March 2021 A

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Southern Fun Paragliding Competition

27th - 30th December 2020 By Tim Brown

t’s been just a few days since the end of the “Southern Fun NZ 2020” paragliding competition on the South Island and I’m gearing up now to go on holiday with my wife for a road trip around the far north. I take these few moments to write of another successful ‘Southern Fun’ competition.

Preparation was started much earlier this year and it made for a less stressful lead up. Of note was that a formal ATC NOTAM was issued some months ago and we received questions from the Wanaka Airport User Group and the Wanaka Airport Management team as to how we would best notify other airspace users. This year a simple procedure was created and paraglider pilots were encouraged to use airband radios. I’ve not yet received any feedback but it was good to develop a better relationship with fellow air users as this has been a big issue in the past. Treble Cone management has recently changed and the new

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Above; Jesse Dhue launches into his first season of competition flying

Photo; Melanie Heather

team appears to a little more accommodating of our paragliding operations, but once again, land-owner issues, particularly along the Matukituki Road, proved to be difficult as we were told “do not land” on those properties. Tasking was therefore adjusted so as to keep pilots away from any possibility of violating those property

Above; Crossing to Mt Roy on task 2 Photo; Sanae Noguchi owners’ concerns. Assisting me in the event preparation again was Louis Tapper, who does a lot of the IT side of things and had also been doing a lot of ‘reconnaissance’ flights to new sites over the last few months. This year we thought we’d try a newly investigated, in fact an old site that hadn’t been used in many years, site above the Waikerkeri Valley Road just north of Clyde which would allow us to fly well

Left; Overall winners l-r; Aaron Chesterman (3rd, Richard Castro (1st), Louis Tapper (2nd) Photo; Louis Tapper

Darren Hassett loving flying a task at one of his local sites in Clyde Photo; Melanie Heather

north towards St Bathans and out over the vast Central Otago plains north of Alexandra. Darren Hassett and Paula Race did some great work in co-ordinating permission and access for that site at the towers near “Leaning Rock”. Nick Aubrey, at KaiPapa’s restaurant in Wanaka kindly allowed us to use his upstairs rooms as a pre-competition briefing which was a little ‘squeezy’ for the 60 pilots that registered on the first day but a fine venue all the same. A big thank- you to Nick for accommodating us. Kai’s has been a stalwart for a ‘gettogether’ and de-facto HQ for many, many competitions in the past. I understand that Nick has requested a tandem flight and I’m sure one of our local pilots can oblige. As is usual with New Zealand competitions, everyone watches the weather closely in the lead up to the event. This year the ‘Southern Fun’ was preceded the weekend before by an Auckland League competition so many pilots noted the fine weather forecast for the South and made their way down to join us “Southern Softies’. It had rained, in fact snowed, in the mountains in the days prior to the competition but the 27th -30th December was indicating fine, in fact, almost perfect flying conditions. The first day dawned, registration was completed and the task committee of Louis Tapper, Aaron Chesterman and Mal Haskins was chosen. It was decided to go to the new site at ‘Leaning Rock’ as a very light easterly was forecast with good lapse rates. There was some delay as the numerous keys and access protocols were sorted but then we all set off to meet just outside Clyde to rendezvous for car-pooling, especially as gates had to be locked once we had passed. The competitors set off and were rewarded with a stunning new huge grassy site at the towers but the wind was indicating a little on the top end. An 80km triangle task was set to take us north towards St Bathans then out into the ‘flats,’ where a forecast convergence line was expected to set up, and then back towards launch. The top pilots launched first and it soon became evident that the conditions weren’t quite as ‘supreme’ as were expected. It was now quite windy. In fact, some pilots

Richard Castro and Louis Tapper reach goal at Glendhu Bay and place 1st and 2nd respectively Photo; Melanie Heather

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elected not to launch, then, when you did get airborne it was quite turbulent and the thermals were poorly formed and leaning well back. It was really difficult to get any reasonable height but many pilots pushed off none-theless but to no avail as there were a lot of bomb-outs or short flights of just a few kilometers. A daring few kept to the high ground

Left; Womens category winners l-r; Nina Harrat (2nd), Jessica Green (1st), Eva Keim (3rd) Left lower; Sports Class winners l-r; Mal Haskins (2nd), Jan Necas (1st), Aaron Ford (3rd) Below; Aaron Chesterman & Rebecca Rae dining in Wanaka Photos; Louis Tapper

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and set off towards the north, where conditions became easier, but only Richard Castro, on an Enzo3, was able to make it all the way around back to goal. Louis Tapper and Jan Necas made some fine efforts but landed well short also. It was not a high-scoring task but great fun to go to a new site and get to fly in some funky air! Day 2 turned out to be a ‘cracker’. It was hot and light winds were forecast. Treble Cone was chosen as the launch. Normal protocols were followed and the 55km task set for a 1300 start. To keep the pilots well away from the northern parts of the Matukituki Road, a small ‘cats-cradle’ was first set near launch and then a long leg east out towards Roys Peak, across to the Criffels (Mt Barker) and on to Tarras.

Left; Rob Boyle leaps into Task 1 Photo; Melanie Heather Right; Arriving at Glendhu Bay goal Photo; Melanie Heather

What a great flight! Blue skies, lots of lift (not too strong), some challenging crossings, then some tricky saves on the Criffels and a long final glide and race to Tarras. Twenty-seven pilots made goal. Richard Castro won the day followed closely by Louis Tapper, both on Enzos, then Mark Hardman and Aaron Chesterman. Of note, however, was Nina Harrap, on a Gin Carrera, in her first competition, who made goal exactly one hour after the winner to also claim her personal best distance flight. Well done Nina! A BBQ at Ealy Point had been planned and a good crowd turned up in fine weather for fine fare. It’s always nice to have a social event other than flying to promote competition camaraderie. The 29th December, and final day, was blue and fine but with increasing northerlies forecast as a cold front approached. The pilots congregated at Treble Cone once again and a 37 km ‘cats-cradle’ task was set with a landing at Glendhu Bay. My flight instrument looked a bit busy and confusing at launch with all the turnpoints but it sorted itself out as the flight progressed. Some pilots managed to get high prior to start and others ended up low and scratching along the lower slopes. As usual, the ‘elevator’ on End Peak proved a blessing but there was some lifty and rough-ish air around, so much so, that some pilots elected to give the task away and land in spite of reports from up the valley and, as we could see, out on the lake, that the wind was fine. Rob Boyle took a ‘hell-of-acollapse’ close to the ground at End Peak, elected to give it away and landed safely at bombout. Many pilots continued however and were rewarded by a great flight and well earned drinks at the new “Glendhu Bike” bar on the Motutapu Road near goal. I think this will prove to be a regular goal and venue for future competitions. How great it is to be able to, in turn, support the local businesses that support our sport. Tracks were hastily up-loaded and scored to ‘Highcloud’, then a brief closing ceremony and prize giving was held at Glendhu Bike. A special thanks also to ‘Kawarau Bridge’ and ‘The Ledge’ Bungy for their kind donation of $800 of vouchers. As usual, results can be viewed on the ‘Highcloud’ scoring platform. Richard Castro won the

competition from Louis Tapper and Aaron Chesterman. For the girls, it was Jessica Green who took top honours, then Rebecca Rae and Nina Harrap who once again made goal on that third task. Jessica also appears to be a new up-and-coming star as she has only been flying for about three years. When the final results were tallied and submitted to the NZPRS this ‘Southern Fun’ competition generated more points than both the last two National competitions. It is certainly becoming the ‘must do’ competition on the New Zealand calender. I think we can thank the fine southern weather and great southern flying environment for that! Are we really the ‘Southern Softies’?!!! As at January 1st, Southern pilots account for five of the top ten places on the NZPRS.  It is truly a very special place to fly.  Congratulations to the winners and thank you to all that competed and assisted. In a way you all did!

Right; Loads of turnpoints in the cats cradle task at Treble Cone

Photo; Louis Tapper

Right; The BBQ after Task 2 Photo; Louis Tapper

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Auckland Regional Competition

Robbo Robinson reports on Round 2

News Bulletin, Covid 19 infection!

or any Aucklander a news headline like this can announce an unknown future for the weeks ahead. With the Auckland Regional Paragliding Competition on the following weekend it was news 40 pilots and others involved in the comps organising committee did not want to hear.

Above; Soaring at Moirs More so, a good percentage of the pilots were from out of town including a number from the South Island with increased costs. A few pilots ventured out to Moirs Hill on the Friday pre comp weekend “just in case” the event was cancelled and all got to fly but Jacinda said they had it all under control and no increased alert levels were required. GREAT! Johnny and Kyla had pre booked this event in the comp calendar months ago and with it being the first in the season it was well over subscribed. I don’t know how they predicted the weather so far out but it turned out to be near perfect with both days being comp task-able and good flights achieved by all. Meeting at the Puhoi Pub at 10am, coffees were consumed and friendships rekindled the mandatory safety brief was carried out by Johnny. This was an opportunity to reflect on events that had occurred this year and the opportunity to participate in a one minute of silence to remember James Johnston who passed away after a flying accident

Left; Mascots and lucky charms get together

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in the United States, a sobering moment. The decision was made by the Task Committee to fly from Moirs Hill, close to Puhoi Pub approx. 45 minutes north of Central Auckland. This site is one of the most flown inland thermic sites for local pilots. Equal distance from both the West and East coasts the scenery is spectacular from take off and if you are fortunate to rise further into the sky it is beautiful with the Hauraki Gulf Islands to the east and Kiapara Harbour to the west for all to view.

Day one Task one was set heading North with a goal at Mangawhai Heads some 42kms in distance with a turn point east over Matakana (a local pub suck spot). A race to goal with 15 minute start gates to help ease congestion over take off. With the majority of pilots getting away on the first wave, the latter had issues with the wind picking up on take off and stories of spending an hour flying in front of take off before getting away were common with a few pilots. With airspace opened up to 4500ft

Right; Task board on Day 1

Above; The trophies; Left: Auckland Regional Paragliding Champion (Louis Tapper) Right: Auckland Fun Class Champion (Nick Buhaets)

Above; Pilots getting high on day 1 Right; On the convergence at 4500ft over Warkworth GPS Moirs still can be a tricky spot to get away from and find your second and essential thermal. Timing and ‘luck’ play a factor at times with many pilots not getting “lucky” and not finding the crucial second thermal. But some pilots are ‘luckier’ than others with many reaching the first turn point but then finding a Northerly headwind and decking it at Matakana (pub suck?). A small few with great flying skills and better ‘luck’ pushed on with three reaching goal. Louis Tapper won the task for the day and well deserved as it would have been very technical flying the second part of the course into a head wind. For more results please refer to Highcloud. With the East and West Coast so close together this area generates great convergence which unfortunately 9 pilots (24% of pilots) found out to their detriment by exceeding the GPS Airspace of 4500ft, but not barometric altitude of 4500ft. Some by no more than a few feet but as the current rules state, these pilot lost all their distance points for there flight. A couple of stories emerged that evening back at Puhoi Pub where pilots unloaded their adventures for the day. Two in particular need repeating. As I wrote earlier the mixing air and convergence at this

Below; Task briefing at launch

site can give a pilot the occasional scare. One such pilot was Rhys Akers who decided to carry out his own SIV course not far from launch and confessed looking at his reserve handle three times during the event but also his altimeter and had “time” to sort his bundle of washing above him out, however he decided enough was enough and landed shortly after. More amazing was Graham Surrey who while trying to stop a massive surge forward and frontal collapse extended his reach and his shoulder “popped out”. He then reset the shoulder in flight and carried on with the task, although he did remove himself from the second days task due to “soreness”. Hope you feel better by now!

Day two Task two turned out to be very similar to day one but with more westerly wind expected. A return to Moirs was made and with the task committee seeing an opportunity to break the Auckland site record an open task of 100kms was set. Advertised at the task briefing as the “longest task set in New Zealand” everyone was excited but a few of the experienced Auckland pilots viewing the Westerly winds increasing later on in the day and no record breaking convergence up the centre of the island north around Whangarei

Airspace knew it would be hard for the ‘guns’ to take the record. With the launch open, the air quickly became a wonderful spectacle of colour, the occasional call out by pilots concerned with gaggle flying conditions (wings getting too close) was heard from the ground but then all of a sudden a large upwards force propelled them to altitude and the launch was cleared and quiet once more. To the North of Moirs is the local town of Warkworth, beyond that a dividing range of pine forest and bush stretches out across your path, crossing this range usually requires a 3000ft start point, without the central convergence (it was more to the east) pilots got caught out low and either scratched over these low hills or landed near Warkworth. Some scratched along east but still could not cross the divide but a few made it over with some local pilots heading towards the east coastline where you could see the convergence building, knowing that Mangawhai Heads was achievable in the current conditions. For other pilots crossing the divide to the west, a blue hole appeared to greet them. Not ideal. The task was

won by Jeff Ripley who flew over the center of the divide then went east to catch the coastal convergence (local knowledge) then on to Mangawhai Heads closely followed by Evan Lamberton and me! (0 points for me though, yep! Convergence suck airspace issues). The coastal flight above the white sands south of Mangawhai is outstanding and even though not 100kms the task set in distance was just as much fun. I recommend landing at the 18th hole at the local golf club where a beer is promptly

Right; Johnny Hopper

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pushed into your hand before getting out of your harness.

Final Results

Above; Convergence at Moirs Hill is influenced by proximity to the Hauraki Gulf to the east...

Fun Class Winner - Nick Buhaets Female Winner – Kinga Masztalerz Auckland Overall Champion Louis Tapper; The trophy leaves Auckland for the first time ever! Full results in Highcloud at http:// xc.highcloud.net/task_overview. html?comPk=304 For the first comp of the season Auckland had lucked in with great flyable weather and it was a fun event (as is every one of Johnny and Kyla’s comps). It was great to rekindle friendships, everyone was so friendly, helping each other out. As an Auckland Club member myself I would like to thank those from out of town for attending the event especially the South Islanders! This event did raise some points for discussion, in particular how do newer pilots get the opportunity to compete seeing as all comps, local and national are so over subscribed. Luckily for this comp, all the new pilots who signed up (and didn’t then cancel) got a place... nobody actually missed out at all, the wait list was empty by the start of the comp. Food for thought! Enjoy the photos these were donated by several people at the event, they know who they are. Thanks for a wonderful weekends flying.

Below; ...and the West Coast and Kaipara Harbour to the west

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Above; Pilots climbing out on the second day

Auckland Regionals I Jesse Dhue Gives a New Pilots View t was a standard Thursday evening lap up Coronet Peak for a sleddie while driving up Nico said, “yea I’m going up to Auckland for the competition this weekend,” that sparked an idea and a response that went something like, “You reckon I could enter?”

Sure enough that night Johnny Hopper had accepted my entry, on the back of an endorsement from Nico that I was up for it, I was buying flights and on a plane the next day. Being a pilot at a competition is usually enough to make you anxious. Add onto that to the stresses of it being your first competition, you have only been flying a total of 6 months, it’s a new site far away from home and the terrain that you are used to flying and knowing everyone on launch is far more experienced than you are. Am I supposed to be here? If you are lucky like I have been since I started flying you will have been encouraged by some of the best people to get involved, so as you stand there at briefing trying to put in your second ever task into your instrument and stressing about whether you have done it correctly, you know you wouldn’t have it any other way. Driving out to Hoppers Happy Hens I am certain that I remarked multiple times on the fact that there were no mountains in sight, safe to say I was a little disappointed when we rocked up on Dill’s Hill for the first task looking at the 500ft elevation difference between the launch and the bomb out paddock. Usually I have at least 2500 ft to make mistakes and try to correct them... not today. Being set up and ensuring you are

prepared would be one thing that I would recommend everyone be on top of prior to entry. Make sure you know how to enter waypoints and airspace files and set a task as this will make the day much easier, however there are always people around that are willing to lend a hand if you need it. My only real plan for day one was to not be the first to bomb out, easily done if you are patient which I am not usually. I managed to harness all the patience I had, and launched at the best opportunity there was all day, within a minute of all the competitors who made it to goal. Many had already bombed out. I hadn’t yet. As soon as I was airborne all the somewhat overwhelming feelings disappeared so now I had to make the best of the opportunity I had. The conditions were tricky to say the least, super overcast with tiny breaks in the clouds just enough to get a cycle or two going. As I moved around launch trying to obey all right Above; Ridge soaring in thermic wind cycles for the guys of way rules (which I had refreshed lower in height, before hopefully breaking into the in the car with Nico on the way to thermal above Moirs Hill with the guys above briefing) I found myself There is a lot of benefits to new climbing above launch, I pilots flying in competitions. If you are couldn’t believe it, trying able to handle the crowded airspace to observe what the and gaggle above launch, you can other pilots were doing now start to learn and observe from I followed them into the pilots with a much greater bank of best pockets of lift, but experience than you. Why is he flying as I cruised back and there? That guy over there is climbing forth in front of launch far quicker than I am, or the opposite, I had noticed I was don’t go over there it looks sinky as. potentially getting in the After you bomb out the first few way of pilots launching. times jump in the car and go follow Not wanting to cause the guys who got away from the hill. inconvenience I didn’t They always love it when you rock turn back in front of up with cold drinks and a ride back launch in order to follow and in return are always happy to the pilots who had now share their flight, how and why they started really climbing, did what they did and even give you instead I headed to a few pointers. They may not know where someone had who you were or what wing you were previously had a good flying but they will be able to share climb. I couldn’t find on the things specific to the day and it, but eventually found conditions. myself in the paddock Thermaling overhead at Moirs Hill I bombed out both days with a before going on glide along side multiple total of 26 minutes flying combined. I other pilots. went from Queenstown to Auckland So I packed up hiked up the hill for the two of the shortest sled rides and went on retrieve. I have done to date; people may Day two rolled around with the wonder why I wasted my time and same morning routine, wake up, money. But the experience of flying ensure I had everything sorted and in a gaggle, flying new sites, the devices charged etc, a stop in at opportunity to push myself out of the Puhoi general store for food my comfort zones and learn from and briefing then on to the launch some of the most experienced site. Task briefing showed an 80km pilots in the country alongside the goal. My longest flight to date was social aspect that comes with flying 17 km so I knew I wasn’t making it in a competition were enough to to goal but I also knew that wasn’t rope me in. The experience that I why I was here. gained from being involved in this competition better prepares me for Left; Programming the task my next competition the Southern into instruments for task Fun. Wish me luck. one

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Hawkes Bay Regional Paragli Comp 2021

he comp kicked of on Thursday 7 January 2021 at Burma Road south of Hastings. Unfortunately thick clouds meant no thermal activity, but there was a gentle breeze up the face, so a spot landing competition was organised. 1st equal were Aaron Chesterman and Mal Haskins, 2nd was Elliot Revell-Nash. Day two was cancelled due to thunderstorms forecast for the afternoon. Day three we headed to Turiri, which is south of Waipukurau. We arrived onto the tops shrouded in cloud, so we engaged in a long session of parawaiting. Eventually conditions improved sufficiently for pilots to take to the skies, but the furthest that anyone got was about 13km congratulation to Steven Christophers. Day four: we assembled in Havelock North in a light drizzle and then headed up Te Mata Peak. Eventually the clouds broke and a sunny day ensued. A large number of paragliders then entertained a large number of people on the top of the peak for before thermals plucked about half the field skywards and along the course line. Aaron Chesterman made the greatest distance of 36.2km and was only a few kilometres short of landing in his home paddock. (https://xc.highcloud.net/ tracklog_map.html?trackid)958&comP k07&tasPk38) The reserve day was triggered for the

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Above, Getting up at on the cliffs at Te Mata Peak Right; launching at Te Mata Peak Below; Mandatory briefing at HQ (Nick Websters house)

iding By Kris Ericksen

Right; Flying the convergence from Te Mata

Above, Aarons track for task 2 in dark blue Above right; Bex Rae on glide from Te Mata Right; Soaring at Turiri

Monday and remaining pilots headed out to Burma Road again. However, after an extended period of parawaiting in the hot Hawkes Bay sun it was cancelled due to strong winds on launch. Reference links: Race results: http://xc.highcloud.net/ task_overview.html?comPk07 Airtribune: https://airtribune.com/ hawkes-bay-regional-2021/info Task 1: Turiri - https://xc.highcloud.net/ task_result.html?comPk07&tasPk37 Task 2: Te Mata Peak - https:// xc.highcloud.net/task_result. html?comPk07&tasPk38

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Skyfloaters

The improved FUN2 by

The slow speed ability of paragliding combined with the safety in CORD 329 kms/205 turbulence, extra top speed (as much as 75kph+) and the glide WORLD RE an miles Dist ce con performance (10:1) of hang gliding. Straub flying Fal Skyfloaters are light and responsive without being unstable, with By Davis Texas ata Zap complete control authority. They launch easily; even in no wind and from land so slowly that flare timing is barely necessary, you can just run 1st = at 2013 e!! or even walk to stop! www.airborne.com.au Craigieburn Leagu The superior control, manoeuvrability and climb ability make it easy Convert your old Fun to a Fun2 with the new Sail to soar above everybody, they have a great glide and a good dive FALCON 4 Retro kit. Everything supplied. See the review at speed to get out of trouble. They are extremely light and can be www.willswing.com www.hgpg.co.nz rigged in 5 minutes or less! They easily last 10 years or more. Fun, Falcon are the most versatile, enjoyable and Perfex skyfloaters use genuine 7075 alloy tube for superior glide and popular hang gliders by far in NZ. performance and strength as well as lightest weight. As well as being The Falcon 4 has improved handling and performance with full mylar the best first glider, their superior performance in sink rate and climb leading edge inserts and optional short pack to approx 2m. The new ability makes them suitable for more advanced flying too. They can enhancements allow pilots to downsize to a lighter, even easier handling circle in half the space a conventional performance glider needs, size than before. 4 sizes including Tandem. so you can get up in tiny thermals or light lift when others are forced to land! Pilots using skyfloaters for cross country regularly score top Falcon, Perfex and Lightfex can shortpack down to approx 6ft (2m). positions in major competitions. Tandem skyfloaters are also available. Perfex and Funfex feature no tools shortpacking & assembly. Strong, 7075 frame and battens, Perfex & Funfex have SHV & DHV certification. The AirBorne Fun and Wills Wing Falcon are similar with USHGMA certification. 7075 airframes for strength and light weight (19 - 23kg). The updated Wills Wing Alpha is the ultimate beginner & training glider They can be flown prone (or seated with paraglider harness). They with super low flying speed and amazing soaring ability.

SKYFLOATERS combine the best features of hang gliding & paragliding; Stress free total control for learner flying and real performance for cross country, recreational, dune soaring or just plain fun flying without hassles

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Sting 3 has a lighter, stronger 7075 airframe, better glide & speed range, lighter pitch for towing, but keeps www.airborne.com.au the super low stall speed and control for climbing. Speedbar, aerofoil uprights, VG, PX matrix leading edge & lever tip battens are standard. Higher performance & ease of use for the advancing pilot. 154 & 168 sizes. Motorharness ready with pull out keel end and very low minimum flying speed for light or nil wind launches. Mylar Race option. DHV certified.

Accessories

Training, XC or pneumatic wheels (or with VG hub), Hand fairings, Hook knifes, Parachute swivels, bridles, Instrument brackets, Tow bridle kits, Tow releases etc.

AUTOLOCK HG Carabiners No forgetting to screw up the gate. No exposed threads to damage hangloops. Stainless or plated steel 30-35 kN all with webbing lock ring.

Used Gliders

All traded gliders are strip checked, test flown and trimmed so you know they are safe and fly perfectly. Ring or email for current stocks.

Glider Spares

NZ’s largest stock of Wills Wing, Airborne Windsports, Finsterwalder and Enterprise Wings spares. Wires and tubes made to specifications. Round, aerofoil and rubber backed uprights, Quick-pins, etc

T3 XC & comp wing with international comp wins. Improved on the World Record T2C with amazing control and even better performance. Featuring bearing tips, new carbon raked tips, leading edge and insert options, carbon Review at; ades re-enforced battens and carbon T2 to T3 Upgr https://issuu.com/us_hang_gliding_ le ab ail paragliding/docs/pilot2001_issuu/28 now av aerofoil keel. Carbon outer leading edges, aero speedbar, sprogs. Custom colours are standard. 136, 144 & 154 sizes. T3

U2 for performance and XC www.willswing.com ability without the extra weight, battens and stiffer handling of topless wings. It has a kingpost but no lufflines, using topless style inner sprogs. Choice of aerofoils and aerofoil basebar. Mylar and window sail options. Best value in its class. 145 SPORT 3 (above) has improved glide (29kg) ,160 (31kg) sizes, and handling, black airframe, raked tips All USHGMA Certified. and mylar sail options. 170,155 &135 sizes.

Hang Glider Harnesses

The best Italian harnesses from Woody Valley. Aerodynamic, stylish and tough. Models for racing to recreational. The ultimate race harness TENAX 4 with tilt control options and removable skin. FLEX2 AERO and Flex2 ACRO (right) has the Tenax footcone and upper body construction, with strengthened risers & independent back supports. A faired aerodynamic harness that’s lighter, more flexible, gives easier landings and a more convenient packed size.

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AeroDesign APRON The most comfortable and practical harness for training and dune flying. Unrestricted vertical/prone transitions, strong webbing and cordura fabric for maximum strength and durability, parachute container, stash pocket, storage, plus autolocking carabiner, stirrup and instructions included.

DROGUE CHUTES www.willswing.com/accessories/drogue-chute/ Turn your race wing’s glide into a skyfloater’s for small landing areas. The PDA and short bridle with swivel gives the smallest, safest and easiest to use drogue. At low speed it has little effect, but speed up and your height disappears with little excess speed to burn off. The safest and most versatile drogue system.

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The Best Gear at the Best Price

Read the true wind speed so you can tell how strong or gusty it really is, indicating turbulence or whether it is safe or soarable. Essential for safe flying. WeatherFlow Wind Meter A compact, accurate, affordable wind meter that plugs into your Apple or Android device showing wind gust, lull & average plus direction using the device’s GPS. Share by SMS, email, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Vine etc. Reads in meters/sec, miles/hour, knots, kilometers/hour, & beaufort. Range 1 m/s (3.6kph) to 56 m/s (201.6 kmh).

New Stock DIAMOND cross Hang glider models come with UV and abrasion protected bridle. Optional swivel. Up to half the packed size and weight of conventional HG reserves. 125, 160 and 220kg sizes.

EMERGENCY PARACHUTES • Fast, reliable, opening. • Reduced weight & pack size due to high strength material and Dyneema lines. The reduced size and weight is especially useful for tandems and hang gliders. • Optional steering PG (can be retro fitted). • Extremely low sink rates by horizontal travel of the cruciform canopy in diagonal direction. • Sizes for 100, 125 and 160kg. Tandems 160 and 220kg. • Pendulum-free smooth descent. • 12 month packing cycle due to pack system design and construction. • Inner container with stowed lines makes deployment easier and minimises risk of tangling. Check out videos at; http://finsterwalder-

Revolution

OUDIE 4; GPS/alti/vario/nav. Sunlight readable colour touchscreen works with gloves. World maps, airspace & 3D terrain installed & kpt updated, wind, thermal assistant, task & triangle optimiser, glide, terrain, IGC tracklogs, micro SDHC, customisable display & audio, 12 hour battery life. In Basic or Full comp / XC versions. OUDIE 5 is same but with integrated Fanet+ & Flarm. In stock now. OUDIE 4 BLADE All the above built into a slim instrument pod for HG. Airspeed pitot built in. Fanet+ & Flarm. Mounts for aerofoil basebars or uprights.

Aerodynamic helmets with 96% field of vision & strong, light kevlar/aramid reenforced shell weighing just 650gms to save your neck muscles. Shock absorbing EPS liner for maximum brain protection. Breathable inner fabric. Scratch resistant colours including metallics, matt & carbon. Sizes 53 - 62 cm head circumference. EN966 certified for hg & pg. No Limit has faired back and optional polycarbonate visor for wind protection & aerodynamics, gives 100% UV protection and is anti-reflective, anti-fog & antiscratch. lours and Range of co stock http://finsterwalder-charly.de/en.html in s size

HALL compact (11.5cm) ‘Small Hall’ is the best priced airspeed meter available. Simple and accurate. Brackets for hang or para. Never needs batteries!

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Wind meters

Hyper; pocket size with advanced features makes it ideal for daily flying including hike-and-fly. It helps navigate simple routes, around complex airspace and also record all details of your flight. Pocket size (107x70x18mm), Lightweight (135gm), Sunlight-readable color LCD touch display, Wifi & Bluetooth connectivity, Airspace, Hike-and-fly mode. ELEMENT; Element TRACK has 3D GPS track recording, USB downloads. Wind, All you need for comps & XC. Element SPEED has GPS wind direction & speed for soaring & XC. Easy to operate, affordable & practical. Element ALTO; Robust, reliable & simple alti/vario with GPS alti, 250 hour battery life. Switch on and fly!

PG Front Chute Container; Mounted where you can see, reach & deploy fastest with either hand. Less drag & the instrument flight deck is where you see it best, also it zips off as a protective carry bag.

Choose the right instrument at; www.naviter.com/

by Many accidents happen close to the ground, so a fast, reliable opening is most important. The ‘Revolution’ dual canopy, pulled down apex system opens fast & reliably. Leading German manufacturer Charly makes the Revolution double canopy PDA reserves. Many NZ pilots have been saved by their reserves; even with deployments below 50ft!! which shows how fast these really do work. Paraglider models fit built in harness containers or front mount cockpit containers. Hang glider model fits most harnesses and comes with a UV shielded bridle. An optional swivel can be included. Reserve models for for Tandem to lightweight Vol Biv. Tested to DHV certification and proven. Fly with confidence knowing you have

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QUICK OUT carabiner 4000 kp break load, Can be released under load. With safety lock. Valuable for windy landings.

SPECIALs, Limited Stock IQ SONIC; Mini-vario (audio only) Ideal as a back-up or combine with an alti-watch. Small, light, simple; just switch on and go.

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Phone 021 247-2676 (021 AIRBORN), a.h. 03 326-6411 email aero@xtra.co.nz

post 99A Panorama Road, Christchurch 8081

Stop Teaching with Radios! N

Evolve your Instruction by Instinct Windsports o. I am not encouraging instructors to DECREASE communication with their students... but there is something much better out there.

I have only been teaching hang gliding since 2010 but I am so glad to not be “burdened” with old, outdated methods and equipment. Sure, tons of people have taught and been taught with older gear successfully over the decades but I hope any instructor (of any skill) will be open to improving their methods and improving their gear. I used radios from the onset of instructing. I was on a budget when I started this school so I used US$15 FRS (family band radios) - they were brutal! They worked fine at launch but the range and clarity were too unreliable. I then switched to inexpensive (US$30) Baofeng 2m HAM radios; WAY better range, way better rechargeable batteries... but still had the issues with; • where to mount them close to the pilots’ ears? • once they got flying, could they actually hear? • would the radio fall off? • I teach via scooter tow, so the student would hear the engine running and distort what they hear. • it is push-to-talk so I have my hands full with winch operating. • radios would time-out on some models if you held the button too long. • DAMNED wind noise... • and the big one... it is only one-way communication. The student pilot can’t talk back (feasibly). • licensing... you legally need to have an amateur radio license to transmit using them... students listening in isn’t a problem. But try to use your radio etiquette while teaching!! The evolution started being an issue when we were step-towing where communication is critical. We used wired headsets to our cell phone so the pilot could talk to the winch operator. Problems with that; • DAMNED wind noise!!! Ground communication was fine but as soon as the pilot launched, the winch operator couldn’t hear the pilot’s commands. • the wire... once again, fine on the ground but once the pilot started moving, more often than not, the wire would pull the ear pieces out of their ears. So much for the pilot hearing the winch operator (we still used leg signals). • DAMNED wind noise! (can you see a pattern here...) We added a windscreen to the mic... sometimes it would work but many pilots would show up

16 A i r b o r n

unprepared and try flying without a wind-screen... taking their safety into their own hands... they learned when they would have to release prematurely when they couldn’t communicate with the winch operator. • wired headsets were cheap (US$10)... but they would get destroyed quickly in this nasty environment. I had to buy tons of cheap ones to keep on hand as they were getting pulled apart. The obvious solution... BLUETOOTH!!! Duh - everyone has bluetooth on their mobiles these days and unlimited talk and long-distance on their plans so that no-one minds using their phones... heaven forbid use them to TALK!! Now the pilot and student can stash their phones away in the harness... no more wires. We played around with a couple of solutions but finding cheap US$30 bluetooth headsets that worked with helmets wasn’t easy. People tried using the cheap ones that people walk around the streets with but try putting that in a helmet - especially a full-face hang gliding helmet - the earpiece would kill your ear and you would have no access to the buttons. There are some cheap and slim bluetooth solutions that slip inside the helmet nicely. The action button is on the boom of the mic so accessible to the pilot but the issue of the DAMNED wind noise still persisted. When pilots opted for these cheap bluetooth headsets, the issue of the winch operator or instructor hearing wind noise was deafening. And the pilot would also hear the winch engine running as well.

THE Solution I finally found THE solution and have been using these for the past five years. I am not the pushy type but regret not advertising to the hang gliding community more because they truly have improved my instructing. The word got out to a couple of other local schools naturally and am pleased that they improved their methods and started using them as well. I import them in batches and sell them our site. They are made for motorcyclists and are IDEAL!!! and only US$56. • they come with very slim earpieces (replacements/spares are US$18) that slip into any full-face helmet nicely. Very similar to the 2m radio headsets we fly with. • for open-face helmets, the ear-pieces velcro to the helmet nicely. • comes with a boom mic - easily attached with velcro to open or fullfaced helmets. The foam windscreen works nicely too. • USB rechargeable with batteries that last a LONG time. • detachable module that sticks via velcro on the outside of the helmet.

• nice big buttons to press while flying (if need be), even with gloves on.

Improved Safety

The key parts that have improved the safety of our teaching are; • not using a radio frees my hands up to operate the winch and cut a tow line should I ever need to. • TWO-WAY communication with my student. I get feedback FROM the student during a flight. The quality is so clear, I can hear their breathing to detect if they are stressing out! I can also hear their vario and can help them figure out thermalling. • it is cell based, so I can’t say that calls don’t get dropped, as they do. But a quick long-press of the button from my end can redial and if the student has their cell phone bluetooth’s setting to auto-answer, it will reconnect without the student doing anything. The KEY feature for improved communication though is that these have electronic NOISE CANCELLATION. I can’t stress enough how important this is. From the winch-operator’s end, it cuts out the winch noise that the pilot hears. Our big winch uses a diesel engine - it eliminates that 100%. From the pilot’s end, it cuts out ALL wind noise so the winch-operator/instructor hears NONE of it. They are SOOO quiet, we often have to ask each other if they are still there!! We now REQUIRE our step-towing pilots to use them as communication is critical. We have spare ear pieces as well as we leave them attached to student helmets and they just plug in one of our bluetooth modules when they arrive for training. Most pilots buy their own later on and we do aerotow training with them on as well - the tug pilot can talk to the pilot. We can even call each other while airborne and work on thermalling.

Improved Efficiency It is also UBER efficient training with them on all students. Our time out training is valuable with our short Canadian season and it being a part-time endeavour - we need to make the most of all sessions. With having an open-mic, we have full conversations and can be very discriminating on style/positioning/ process at every step of the process. We keep our flight planning simple with students, but there are often times that we can add tasks during a flight if the opportunity arises. Something I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing over the radio as, with these headsets, I can get verbal confirmation back from the student. Students can ask questions at ANY time which improves their comfort level immensely. I have had some one-on-one sessions where we have done a single phone call for the entire session and have done 13 circuit tows in 1 hour 15 minutes

and talked and critiqued the flights the entire time... all while I was driving a dirt bike to do the line retrieval - with crystal clear, no background noise to get in the way. I have a simple ear-protector with one of these mounted too. We also do conference calls with them when we are teaching new winch operators so they can hear what a conversation sounds like while towing while watching the winch operator. Or when a pilot is learning to step-tow, they can do the same. They hear 100% of both sides of the talk. We just get them to mute their mic so they can’t interfere. The other cool feature that they have is an intercom feature. You can pair them with others and, without using cell phones, you get all the same features as above. The specs say it works with a 2km range but it does get staticy after about 600m - still clear talking, just some background static. So I wouldn’t recommend instructors using the intercom feature if sending students off of a high mountain launch and expect great communication right down to the LZ. This year, they came out with the third generation of them. I don’t see any feature/quality difference between the two versions - we have been using the v3 all this season. They are just in a sleek new case. They even do the intercom pairing with the v2 just fine. We import them in bulk and try to have some stock available. Hopefully you will support our business by buying from us. We don’t mark them up much and our prices are in line with other online resellers and every buck helps keep our hang gliding school going! I have 5 units in use for teaching as we put one on each student out at that session so we can easily call each student between flights. So they are a bit of investment but they have certainly paid for themselves in spades... if not for the added safety but for the added efficiency getting our students through their training faster and with higher confidence. These headsets are available from https://instinct.pro/collections/instinctmade/products/bluetooth-cell-headsetfor-hang-gliding-helmets-v3

Understanding RASP Thermal Updraft Velocity & Buoyancy/Shear Ratio

f you are only going to look at only one forecast on the RASP site to decide whether or not to go thermal flying then the “go to” forecast is the Thermal Updraft Velocity & Buoyancy/ Shear Ratio forecast, which is the first forecast listed on the RASP website.

These forecast maps have two components displayed: Thermal Updraft Velocity and the Buoyancy/ Shear Ratio. Thermal Updraft Velocity - this is displayed in different colours and is the average dry thermal updraft strength near mid-boundary layer height. You will need to subtract glider descent rate to get average vario reading for cloudless thermals. Updraft strengths will be stronger than this forecast if convective clouds are present, since cloud condensation adds buoyancy aloft (i.e. “cloudsuck”). The scale for this forecast is fixed (other forecasts in RASP can have variable scales) at

Part 2 By Kris Ericksen

The NZHGPA funds 50% of the costs of the NZ RASP website: http://rasp.nz. This is a regular series explaining how to interpret and use the different forecasts that are available.

Left; the RASP forecast and Right; tracklogs of flights in the Hawke’s Bay area on 5 January 2021 Mark Hardman 43.40km

100 feet per minute increments. 200 fpm is about one metre per second, so if the forecast is displaying orange the thermals will be going up at between 600 and 700 fpm or about three metres per second, and you will be going up at about two metres per second. (PG & HG descend relative to the air that they are in at about one metre per second in level flight). Buoyancy/Shear Ratio (B/S) - this is displayed by a density of stipples, and this is where thermals may be broken up by vertical wind shear

(i.e. wind changing with height). The lower the B/S ratio the more unworkable thermals become and the higher the density of stipples. However, hang gliders and paragliders can soar with smaller B/S values than can sailplanes (which the RASP site was originally constructed for). If convective clouds are present, the actual B/S ratio (and therefore usable lift) will be larger than calculated due to the neglect of “cloudsuck”. The Thermal Updraft Velocity & Buoyancy/Shear Ratio forecast displayed is for midday on 5 January 2021. On this day three pilots had 40km plus flights in Hawke’s Bay. So, when you see maps like this showing lots of orange and no stipples in your favourite flying region tell the boss that you have urgent commitments!

Barry Sayer 40.26km

Leighton Joll 40.12km

Was Ader’s Eole the World’s First Powered Aircraft? O

n 9 October 1890, French engineer Clement Ader’s Eole (Avion I) aircraft took off from the grounds of Chateau d’Armainvilliers near Paris for a distance of approximately 50 metres and a height of around 20 centimetres. The performance is generally accepted by historians despite not being officially recorded. Ader claimed that it took place in front of witnesses and recounted the experience in a book that he published several years later.

Heavier-than-air aviation This flight leads some to consider Eole as the first-ever aeroplane. However, others don’t share this view, arguing that the machine, despite carrying a man and having risen above the ground with its own power (steam), didn’t provide any means for the pilot to control the direction of the flight. Whatever the opinion one may have, one cannot deny that the Eole machine is a fascinating piece of engineering that counts as one of the many attempts made throughout the 19th century to develop heavierthan-air aviation.

Eole Avion III (public domain)

Inspired by bats Developed between 1882 and 1889, Eole was named after the Greek God of the Winds, Aeolus. Like a giant bat, it had two wings of 14 meters each that could be articulated by a wooden structure covered by silk. The pilot was situated at the back of the aircraft. Contrary to many early flying machines, Eole was not designed to flap its wings, but was powered by steam, which drove a four-blade propeller made of bamboo at the front of the aircraft. The entire aircraft, pilot included, weighed 300kg.

Avion prototypes In the following years Ader developed and improved Eole Avion I by building Zephyr and Aquilon. The three machines are called Avion from the Latin word avis (bird), which became the French word for airplane. Eole’s flight in 1890 drew the

interest of the French army, which ordered a more powerful aircraft, thus Clement Ader leading to the construction of Zephyr (Avion II) and Aquilon (Avion III). The test flights of Avion III were made in 1897 and succeeded in leaving the ground several times. However, the results weren’t convincing enough for the French Ministry of War, which ceased financing Ader, forcing him to abandon the development of his prototypes.

life. Beside the heavier-than-air aircraft Avion, for which he is mainly known for, he made several (sometimes surprising) inventions in various fields. To name a few: he invented a telephonic distribution system called Theatrophone, allowing subscribers to listen to opera performances over the telephone, technical improvements to the velocipede, and a train-track-laying machine that was used for many years. He also worked on different types of motors and on the development and production of automobiles. - FAI

1890 Eole patent drawings

A man of many talents An engineer by education, Clement Ader (1841–1925) enjoyed a long and eventful

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Paragliding The Beginner’s Guide

his 2020 book release from Cross Country is a guide to flying paragliders coauthored by assistant instructor Bastienne Wentzel, who is also a science writer and magazine editor and by Ed Ewing, journalist and editor of Cross Country magazine who also has instruction training. Both have extensive experience flying paragliders all over the world. The book started as a dutch paragliding instruction book by Bastienne Wentzel, which was a best seller in the Netherlands. With Ed Ewing’s and other instructors collaboration, it has evolved into the most up-to-date English language paragliding guide available. Though mainly aimed at paraglider pilots of up to 100 hours, I’m sure more experienced pilots will benefit too. It’s printed in full colour with 320 pages of text, quality diagrams and excellent photos that we’ve come to expect from Cross Country publications. The cover is ‘semi-hard’ which provides better protection than paperback without adding bulk. Each section is colour coded so you can easily locate the subject you want by simply looking at the page edge. Chapters are listed at the beginning and it has a substantial index at the back. Overall it’s concisely and clearly written, with relevant anecdotes and tips in sidebars along with more detailed explanations with clear diagrams or photos as required. Each page spread seems to have just the right amount of information, diagrams and photos to make it easy to absorb the information without it getting too complex. Each section also ends with a list of further references for more information. Some flying techniques are shown in multiple image photographs which best show actual flight trajectories. The book does have advertising

18 A i r b o r n

but only at the end of the book so they are not intrusive, plus they have great flying photos. Topics covered are: • Paragliding history, a quick run down of key developments in paragliding since 1978’s first ‘parapentes’. • Equipment, which is right up to date; wings, harnesses, reserves, helmets, instruments etc, also advice on gear suitability, EN ratings and equipment maintenance. • Basic skills and techniques such as preparation, launching, flying and landing, also recommending YouTube and digital sources for further advice. • Aerodynamics, with plenty of sidebars and diagrams to help you understand how it applies. • Weather, from the overall atmosphere to local effects including moisture, temperature and of course clouds (with photos). Weather systems and forecasting. • A d v a n c e d f l y i n g c o v e r s turbulence, thermalling, windy launches, descent techniques, SIV courses, incident recoveries and emergency management. • Rules and regulations covers basic ridge rules through to airspace with reference to different countries and their licences. • Navigation includes using maps, GPS and airspace. The latest instruments, technology, apps and functions are explained. Paragliding training around the world follows similar principles, and this book follows the broad teaching curricula of the BHPA (UK), USHPA (USA) and other national paragliding organisations, including Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. The book breaks down some of the unique things pilots will need to know depending on where they live. The book is recommended by instructors such as Jocky Sanderson and would be of great help to anyone learning to fly paragliders. Buy Paragliding The Beginners Guide at free-flight retailers, Amazon or xcmag.com/shop The price is £23.95 plus shipping £2.95 (currently about NZ$51.27).

Emergency Repair Kit With the ‘Save my flight’ kit a broken line no longer ends a flight. Contest has put together a set equipped with high-quality materials from well-known manufacturers. The kit weighs 195 grams so can be easily carried. It enables easy patch repairs and line splicing. The emergency line is unsheathed Aramid and if the line replaced is different material, so it will wear or stretch at a different rate so should be a temporary repair only and replaced with the correct matching line as soon as possible. The kit consists of 37 individual parts and contains the following: - 1 x Cordura tactical bag with various fastening options, - 1 x pair of scissors 13cm, - 1 x line lock tool 7mm and 9mm width across flats, - 10m spitting line 8000-230 natural one side spliced (main line), - 5m splice line 8000-90 natural one side prespliced (gallery line), - 1 x splice needle, large, 16 gauge, - 1 x needle - 1 x thread for sewing on the splice line, - 6 x rip stop adhesive sails 30 mm round - white, - 6 x rip stop adhesive sails 50 mm round - white, - 1 x uncut rip stop 14 × 11 adhesive sail (other colors can be purchased), - 1 x “REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT” pendant, - 3 x storage tubes, - 1 x permanent marker, - 10 x EPDM O-rings, - 1 x instructions for splicing a line. Buy it at; www.kontest.eu/shop/produkt/save-my-flight-repair-kit-reparaturset-fuer-dasgleitschirmfliegen/

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Executive Repor ts Selected Accident & Incident Summaries from 17 October 2020 to 1 January 2021 Selected Accident & Incident Summaries During this reporting period from the 17 October 2020 to 1 Jan 2021, there were 21 incidents or accidents, tragically this included a paramotor fatality. The list is to large to publish in Airborn, so we will focus on an event that highlights the importance of a good pre flight check routine, that may just prevent injury or save your life. On the same day, at different locations, we had a hang glider pilot and a paraglider pilot forget to clip in properly, both managed to hang on and land safely unhurt. I thank the pilots for submitting the following reports highlighting the importance of a good pre-flight check. Be extra careful if you change your equipment set up, or borrow your mates flying gear to try it out. Have a pre-flight check routine covering from top to toe and physically tug on all attachment points or clip in buckles, if interrupted or distracted during your pre flight checks, then start again from the beginning; top to toe and physically check, check, check. Date: 17/10/20, Region: Wellington, Type: Near Miss, Aircraft: Hang glider Flight without legs in leg straps from approx 100ft grass hill. I was helping others on a training hill for the afternoon, including helping them with glider recovery, take-offs, hang checks and leg strap checks. I then decided to have some spot landing practice. I used the clubs training glider and harness, not my normal glider and harness. 1st two flights went well. On 3rd (final) flight I changed into a different harness to give original one to a trainee. I climbed through the top of it and did not put legs into leg loops. At take-off point, checked carabiner and lay prone for a hang check. I did a fast strong run into a slight breeze. Once airborne I knew immediately that my legs were not supported. I was not slipping and felt supported around my underarms. I was not scared but was aware of the situation I was in, and knew that I had to stay calm, handle the glider well in flight and in turns, and then to land properly. I kept a firm grip on the uprights, kept my forearms at 90 degrees to my body

and elbows in at my sides. This did mean I was flying faster than trim, but that was better than flying too slow. I could not really push out or alter my pitch during flight. On final into wind I was flying fast, good landing, running it in though as I couldn’t flare. Embarrassed, shouldn’t have happened but lesson learned, I hope others can learn from my mistake. Date: 17/10/20, Region: Southern, Type: Near Miss, Aircraft: Paraglider Pilot Account I was not accustomed to leaving my harness connected to the wing and not accustomed to using a front mount reserve. When I slipped into the harness I thought I had fed my feet though the leg straps but in fact was only feeding them behind the reserve. When it came to the pre-flight checks I looked down but vision of the leg straps was blocked by the reserve, instead of pulling on the leg straps to check them I just thought through the feeding in process and assumed they were connected. When the launch procedure commenced, I was airborne before I realised something was wrong. Calling STOP STOP STOP immediately would have reduced my exposure to falling at height. Connecting the chest strap was what saved me from falling through the bottom of the harness. Tow Operator Account The Pilot got himself set up. I assisted attaching the tow bridle, the pilot instructed the Winch operator he was ready and the tow launch commenced. The pilot had not done up his leg straps nor done an adequate pre flight check. I believe his leg straps had been missed due to the use of a front mount rescue and a change in his usual procedure of stepping in and out of the leg straps without undoing them. He launched and got approx 50-80 ft off the ground hanging from his arms in the harness, he never called ‘stop’ on the launch. Once I spotted something wasn’t right I called for the tow to be stopped. The winch operator dropped tension, the pilot could have landed safely with the line attached but chose to detach from the tow and then proceeded to a safe landing.

How to report an accident or incident What to report? You must report as soon as practical anything that is defined as an “Accident” by CAA rules. That is anything that caused significant damage or serious injuries while the aircraft is being used. Club safety officers and other pilots can help out here by reporting even basic information about an accident for pilots that are unable to do it themselves. We also want reports for incidents or accidents that aren’t so serious. The biggest benefit comes from the reporting of the smaller incidents and near misses. How small? Well, if good luck is all that saved you from an accident then it’s probably worth reporting. Your personal details will be kept confidential.

How? To make a report go to the NZHGPA website and click on ”Safety”. www.nzhgpa.org. nz/safety Then the button to hit for starting your report looks like this;

Your description of what happened is the most important part and makes up the majority of the reports we publish but other details are used to help with statistics that show trends so please complete as much as you can. Please include the location so we can send the report to the local safety officer and the club president for any follow up they need to do. Don’t worry, our policy is that we do not use the reports to lay blame or for any disciplinary action. They are for safety and learning. Finally if you want to see other reports then click on this button;

Helmet Clip Warning

Harness Plastic Buckles

Test your knowledge on VFR

A recent Incident Report submitted by a member highlighted an issue previously covered in BHPA SkyWings pages: catching paraglider lines on the ‘goggle clip’ at the back of a helmet. In this instance a number of lines had snagged and been damaged whilst the pilot was ground handling. The pilot removed the goggle clip by releasing the bolt used to fix it in place, only to find that the metal bolt casing, set into the helmet’s shell, protruded well beyond the surface of the shell. The lines that came into contact with the bolt casing had been damaged by its sharp metal edge. Paraglider pilots who have removed the goggle clip from their helmets are advised to check for any sharp metal edges standing proud of the shell that could possibly snag lines and/or damage them. - BHPA SkyWings

in the September 2020 Skywings we reported on the care and maintenance of paraglidlng harnesses. Following that article, some speedflyers have used the BHPA IR system to report the failure of plastic buckles on some older reversible and lightweight types of paragliding harnesses during dynamic flight. Several harness manufacturers incorporated these buckles for back support, usually with a structural/security webbing backup in case the plastic buckle should fail. Although these met the EN standard for strength at the time, they will now have been in use fur a number of years and exposed to considerable wear. Pilots using these types of harness are recommended to pay particular attention to any plastic parts when making periodic inspections, and consider retiring them in line with manufacturers’ recommendations. - BHPA SkyWings

Many clubs are encouraging their members to update and check their knowledge of VFR rules by having a go at the online test. We think that’s a great idea. Try it yourself. It’s free. On the NZHGPA website http://nzhgpanotices.blogspot.com Go to the “Test your knowledge on VFR” article and; • Access the online exam at www. c l a s s m a r k e r. c o m / o n l i n e - t e s t / start/?quiz=k345e8d4f7f8c5b7 and use the current password “vfr2020”. The password may change at some stage but if it does we’ll let you know. • If you don’t pass on the first go don’t be disappointed, you can have another go after 24 hours. In the mean time maybe read the new VFR guide at https://drive.google. com/file/d/1RVvGv0EY7Gz3YKRMj6ASZVA_ yRFC8wFH/view. The guide is also available on the NZHGPA website (in the OPM and Forms area).

Safety Checks

20 A i r b o r n

CEO Update on the AIRS Reporting System The summaries printed in Airborn are a selection taken from members reports via the online NZHGPA Accident Incident Reporting System (AIRS), found on the NZHGPA website at http://www.nzhgpa.org.nz/safety Please note the paper Form OPMF7 AIRS created duplication and a barrier to reporting in a timely manner and so has been removed, all reporting is now done online. Please refer to the NZHGPA OPM for further information on incident and accident reporting procedures. All incident and accident reports are automatically sent to the CAA under the pilot protection of a Just Culture, explained by CAA as: “If an aviation participant reports their involvement in an incident or Rules omission/ breach in a complete, accurate and timely fashion then the CAA will apply Just Culture principles in its response. Where there’s no self-reporting, or there is evidence of repeated at-risk behaviours or recklessness, then the protections of Just Culture will not apply.” A Just Culture is not about trying to catch pilots out or appoint blame, but learn from mistakes and try to identify trends through procedural or system failures, so others may avoid the same incidents and accidents. There is no embarrassment in reporting, asking for further assistance or simply chatting it over with your club safety Officer or a flying buddy, or if you prefer more centrally in confidence with Nick the CEO. It is appreciated that not everyone wants to return to flight after an accident, but if you do, then the NZHGPA is here to help work through what’s happened and assist where we can to get you airborne again. If your wellbeing has been affected as a pilot or as a witness to an accident, then there is some useful information on the CAA Website for family and friends after an accident at; https://www.aviation.govt.nz/safety/safetyreporting/for-family-and-friends-after-anaccident/ . The NZHGPA in collaboration with CAA, is currently reviewing a better and more meaningful incident and accident reporting process relevant to our sport of hang gliding and paragliding and has recently sent four senior pilots on the CAA Safety Officer and Accident Occurrence Courses, plus appointed a NZHGPA National Safety Officer. The AIRS review will take time, but it is a start to making the sport safer for us through the sharing of knowledge and helping each other overcome difficulties after an accident.

NZ Comp Organiser’s Responsibilities It is the Comp Organiser’s responsibility to; 1. Obtain a list of current members from the Administrator. 2. Ensure every competition entrant is a current NZHGPA member. 3. Sign up any non-members. Any competitors found to be non-members will be listed and scored as ‘disqualified’.

NZHGPA Membership Benefits Presidents New Year 2021 comment Hello to you all and Happy New Year. CAA have just reissued the NZHGPA with our Part 149 Aviation Recreation Certificate. Believe it or not you couldn’t fly without it being in place. Sounds easy doesn’t it – the NZHGPA simply applies for a Certificate and then it gets issued! - but the reality is very different. CAA do a full audit on the NZHGPA – taking up a lot of our CEO, Training manager, Auditor, and Admins time, they go through our OPM with a toothcomb, ask a lot of questions – all of which have to be answered and then they charge us $7,739 for their time. Thanks to Nick, Blake, Kris and Ian for a lot of hard work to get that through. It raises an interesting question because one of the recurring questions that crops up is the question as to why you need the NZHGPA and what you get for your licence money. It is actually really good that the answer to the question is not immediately apparent, because it means that the NZHGPA and officialdom/bureaucracy is not intruding overly on you in how you enjoy your flying. If you think about the world we live in you will know that it is a politically correct, Health & Safety conscious world, where people wear hard hats, high vis gear, face masks and you need to sign in to worksites and do a course to learn how to tie your shoe laces, yet licensed NZHGPA pilots can still self-authorise launches from most places, file no flight plan, fly most places, land most places and not have to do a flight report. It’s called free flying! But don’t make the mistake of thinking that happens by accident or that it is a licence to behave carelessly because it isn’t. There is a huge amount of work going on in the background that enables us to function and our Part 149 licence is only a part of it. In the past few months there has been a lot of work done by Nick, Blake, Kris and Ian on sorting out Health and Safety matters, Insurance matters and various legal questions about the status of the NZHGPA as well as new and updated training manuals and new exams being worked on. It is all important stuff that we could not and we would not be allowed to function as a recreational organisation in the aviation sector without it. It is a wonder that we can still enjoy the freedoms that we do and there has been a lot of work done in the background to make it happen. The freedom we have to fly free has been kept because we have had a lot of hard yards being done over many years by our CEO’s, Admin’s, Exec’s and many other volunteers who have contributed. Recently it has been really important to clarify that the NZHGPA is a non for profit organisation run by contractors and volunteers. It has been critical to ensure with respect to Health and Safety regimes that the NZHGPA was not a PCBU (Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking) and neither are any of the clubs or competitions or training organised by them. We have had to redo our OPM, CEO, Admin and Training manager contracts to reflect that and we will have Constitutional change remits at our next AGM – all helping to very clearly clarify that, in case of challenge. Along with that clarification we have been able to extend our insurance to cover Club office holders, competition organisers and Volunteer instructors as they give their time and energy to helping people and the clubs. It is not a simple undertaking and there was an extensive 17 page NZHGPA legal and insurance review document emailed out to all members at the beginning of December. Some members want lots of detail, others want no detail – but anything you do where there is legal liability then you can be sure that there is a lot of fine print, legalese and it all needs to be read and understood by someone, because if it hits the fan that is what guides what happens. So there goes, a little bit of an insight into some of what goes on behind the scenes and why you pay a licence fee. It does always surprise me just how some people resist it and have to be chased – actually paying your licence fee is one of the few legal requirements that is needed to free fly and it does help keep the machine working. Thanks to all those people who have renewed their licences. It is an interesting question – when do we communicate? how often? what about? how? and in how much depth? – we have some people who say don’t send any stuff to us or if you have to, not more than 6 bullet points - and we can see that only about 50% of the emails we send out are read and yet we also have others who are details focused and want to know everything. So I guess it is a balance but remember if there are things you want to know all it takes is an email or a phone call and we are happy to talk. Well that’s enough from me at the moment. It is flying season and I have to go. Fly high, fly far and fly safe - above all enjoying the wonder of free flight. Cheers, Duncan, President@NZHGPA.org.nz 027 624-6434

Here at the NZHGPA we believe that in addition to the $5 million Public Liability insurance and being covered under CAA compliance to legally fly in NZ, that your membership should come with a few more extra perks. Checkout these fantastic offers from our NZHGPA sponsors, making your money go further on your flying adventures or simply a family holiday. From travel by ferry, car or campervan in NZ or Australia, to accomodation, vehicle repair and discounted first aid courses, the NZHGPA has got you covered. Visit the NZHGPA Membership Benefits page under Members Area at: https://member.nzhgpa. org.nz/sys/website/?pageId=18169 More deals to follow, so watch this space.

Promo code: NZHGPA Special: 15% off rental daily rate Locations: JUCY NZ & JUCY AU Travel dates: 21 Jan - 30 Nov Blackout dates: 01 Dec - 20 Jan T&Cs: • Must use promo code when booking (website or email) • Offer and vehicle subject to availability • Standard JUCY Terms and Conditions apply • Offer may not be used in conjunction with any other JUCY offer Promo code: NZHGPA Special: 15% off nightly rate Locations: JUCY Snooze NZ Stay: Any dates T&Cs: • Must use promo code when booking (website or email) • Offer and vehicle subject to availability • Standard JUCY Terms and Conditions apply • Offer may not be used in conjunction with any other JUCY offer

10% off at Kiwi Holiday Parks across New Zealand Book directly with local Kiwi Holiday Park quoting NZHGPA and must produce your NZHGPA Membership at the reception desk on arrival. To find your local Kiwi Holiday Park and book direct with that park visit: www.kiwiholidavparks.com/ We look forward to seeing you.

Tyres Products Services Special: 17.5% off Tyres Promo code: NZHGPA • • • • • •

Oil Changes: 10%

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Have a go at a club photo competition All NZHGPA clubs are eligible to enter a set of their club’s top shots to the Federated Mountain Clubs photo competition, with thousands of $ in prizes up for grabs. Southern Club has been doing this for the past 3 years via their Facebook group, and it has proven a fun and popular event for the end of the flying season. There’s a templated set of rules and instructions for how to do it on the FMC blog; www. wilderlife.nz/easyonlinephotocomp Entries close 15 September for clubs. - Dan Clearwater

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April 1st - March 31st. Sponsored by Wings & Waves

April 1st 2020 to March 31st 2021 Top scores as shown on XContest on 22/1/2021 Pilot, flight date/time

Site

Distance

Points

Total 689.24 p.

531.04 p.

402.73 p.

376.16 p.

335.45 p.

318.69 p.

292.61 p.

235.82 p.

235.78 p.

234.84 p.

227.12 p.

215.21 p.

188.90 p.

188.89 p.

188.63 p.

187.60 p.

186.77 p.

186.43 p.

Pilot, flight date/time

Site

Distance

Points

Mal Haskins [Mal.Haskins] 1 01.12.20 11:29 Treble Cone 60.43 km 60.43 p. 2 14.01.21 13:31 Treble Cone 47.90 km 59.88 p. 3 28.12.20 12:07 Treble Cone 47.21 km 59.01 p. Rob Gillard [Rob_Gillard] 1 16.01.21 13:08 Alan’s Hill 55.37 km 69.21 p. 2 30.12.20 12:53 Kaimai 45.67 km 57.09 p. 3 13.11.20 13:22 Kaimai 52.55 km 52.56 p. Ondrej Wieden [Ondraw] 1 28.12.20 12:24 Treble Cone 85.12 km 85.12 p. 2 12.11.20 12:09 Mt Cheeseman 58.74 km 58.74 p. 3 31.12.20 11:51 Treble Cone 31.57 km 31.57 p. Kinga Masztalerz [Kinga]♀ 1 03.11.20 13:09 ? 57.05 km 71.31 p. 2 02.11.20 13:42 ? 53.37 km 66.71 p. 3 29.10.20 13:13 Treble Cone 27.19 km 33.99 p. Aaron Ford [Aaronf] 1 11.09.20 11:31 Roys Peak 58.29 km 58.29 p. 2 12.01.21 13:43 Coronet Peak 46.55 km 58.19 p. 3 22.08.20 11:42 Roys Peak 36.72 km 55.08 p. Bryan Moore [Bryanmoore] 1 19.11.20 12:53 Kidd’s Bush 53.60 km 67.00 p. 2 28.10.20 12:48 Treble Cone 43.27 km 64.91 p. 3 09.11.20 12:19 Treble Cone 34.96 km 34.96 p. Jeff Ripley [Jeff-Ripley] 1 20.12.20 13:06 Moirs Hill 45.73 km 57.16 p. 2 15.11.20 12:28 Moirs Hill 45.06 km 56.33 p. 3 06.01.21 12:31 Moirs Hill 39.03 km 48.79 p. Aaron Chesterman [Azzasurfs] 1 28.12.20 12:13 Treble Cone 61.55 km 61.55 p. 2 23.11.20 13:07 Mid Dome 39.93 km 49.91 p. 3 05.01.21 11:31 Te Mata Peak 39.74 km 49.68 p. Barry Sayer [Bazza] 1 16.01.21 10:38 Te Mata Peak 48.69 km 60.85 p. 2 05.01.21 11:25 Te Mata Peak 46.47 km 58.09 p. 3 06.01.21 12:00 Te Mata Peak 40.26 km 40.26 p. Chris Connolly [Infinity] 1 28.12.20 12:23 Treble Cone 47.67 km 59.59 p. 2 11.01.21 12:14 Treble Cone 29.62 km 44.43 p. 3 30.12.20 12:52 Treble Cone 32.86 km 32.86 p. Timothy Shoultz [Timbob] 1 14.01.21 12:24 Coronet Peak 98.44 km 98.44 p. 2 12.01.21 15:29 Stone Peak 21.65 km 21.65 p. 3 13.01.21 13:04 Treble Cone 15.15 km 15.15 p. Simon Craddock [Cradds] 1 20.12.20 14:13 Moirs Hill 45.63 km 57.04 p. 2 19.12.20 14:23 Dills Hill 32.16 km 40.20 p. 3 14.11.20 12:37 Moirs Hill 36.02 km 36.01 p. Rob Boyle [Bobbyroyal] 1 28.12.20 12:07 Treble Cone 47.28 km 59.10 p. 2 29.11.20 12:18 Roys Peak 31.77 km 47.66 p. 3 29.12.20 11:54 Treble Cone 13.03 km 26.06 p. Ross Gallagher [Redwings] 1 28.12.20 12:16 Treble Cone 47.45 km 59.31 p. 2 16.01.21 13:21 Paeroas 44.79 km 44.79 p. 3 14.12.20 13:06 Kaimai 20.97 km 26.21 p. Andy Spierer [Aspierer] 1 23.11.20 13:42 Kaimai 31.79 km 63.58 p. 2 14.12.20 13:19 Kaimai 34.07 km 42.59 p. 3 15.12.20 13:05 Kaimai 21.72 km 21.72 p. Elliot Revell-Nash [Elliot_Rn] 1 30.12.20 12:50 Kaimai 39.62 km 49.53 p. 2 19.12.20 14:27 Dills Hill 32.10 km 40.13 p. 3 10.01.21 12:31 Te Mata Peak 22.33 km 33.50 p. Joshua Short [Hsoj45] 1 14.01.21 12:06 Coronet Peak 61.59 km 61.59 p. 2 15.01.21 15:05 ? 28.88 km 36.10 p. 3 28.12.20 12:22 Treble Cone 25.14 km 25.14 p. Bruno Metz [Tigroun] 1 28.12.20 12:35 Treble Cone 59.55 km 59.55 p. 2 15.11.20 12:37 Moirs Hill 27.93 km 34.93 p. 3 29.12.20 12:06 Treble Cone 13.99 km 27.98 p.

The web site for scoring and uploading your track logs is XContest at: www.xcontest.org/newzealand/ranking-xc-championship/

22 A i r b o r n

Total 179.32 p.

178.86 p.

175.43 p.

172.01 p.

171.56 p.

166.87 p.

162.28 p.

161.14 p.

159.20 p.

136.88 p.

135.24 p.

133.25 p.

132.82 p.

130.31 p.

127.89 p.

123.16 p.

122.83 p.

122.46 p.

Photo: Ross Gray

Louis Tapper [Yakernz] 1 15.01.21 12:15 Coronet Peak 172.16 km 344.32 p. 2 14.01.21 11:55 Coronet Peak 114.27 km 228.54 p. 3 23.10.20 11:04 Treble Cone 93.11 km 116.38 p. Ben Kellett [Benjamin.Kellett] 1 28.12.20 11:37 Coronet Peak 103.19 km 206.38 p. 2 14.12.20 11:23 Ahuriri Dingle 136.06 km 170.08 p. 3 29.11.20 12:18 Treble Cone 77.29 km 154.58 p. Tomas Balik [Balda] 1 23.11.20 12:34 ? 68.72 km 137.46 p. 2 11.11.20 12:21 ? 108.78 km 135.98 p. 3 19.11.20 11:56 ? 103.43 km 129.29 p. Nicolas Sand [Nicosan] 1 18.11.20 11:56 Coronet Peak 111.17 km 138.96 p. 2 01.12.20 12:13 Speed Peak 98.84 km 123.55 p. 3 19.11.20 12:36 ? 113.65 km 113.65 p. Jan Necas [Pompidy] 1 14.01.21 12:03 Ohau skifield 67.26 km 134.52 p. 2 12.11.20 13:29 Pakituhi 77.19 km 115.79 p. 3 27.12.20 13:19 Leaning Rock 85.14 km 85.14 p. Stew Karstens [Nelpara] 1 07.09.20 12:19 Barnicoat 78.68 km 118.02 p. 2 12.01.21 11:18 Inwoods 89.18 km 111.48 p. 3 17.08.20 11:57 Barnicoat 59.46 km 89.19 p. Petr Poboril [Peca] 1 14.01.21 12:03 Ohau skifield 114.56 km 143.20 p. 2 14.12.20 13:18 Coronet Peak 72.44 km 90.55 p. 3 28.12.20 12:36 Treble Cone 47.09 km 58.86 p. Nick Taber [Macparanz] 1 12.01.21 11:40 Inwoods 90.75 km 113.44 p. 2 20.09.20 11:01 Barnicoat 58.56 km 73.20 p. 3 22.10.20 12:16 Inwoods 49.18 km 49.18 p. Tim Brown [Timbrown] 1 02.11.20 12:44 Coronet Peak 63.12 km 126.22 p. 2 28.12.20 12:22 Treble Cone 47.22 km 59.03 p. 3 22.10.20 12:25 Coronet Peak 40.42 km 50.53 p. Rob Hughes-Games [Robhughes-Games] 1 11.11.20 12:20 Mt Cheeseman 105.08 km 131.35 p. 2 28.12.20 12:21 Treble Cone 49.00 km 61.25 p. 3 30.12.20 12:19 Treble Cone 42.24 km 42.24 p. Warrick Boustred [Waz24] 1 30.11.20 13:00 Treble Cone 88.85 km 88.85 p. 2 03.11.20 13:04 Roys Peak 39.61 km 79.22 p. 3 28.12.20 12:27 Treble Cone 47.24 km 59.05 p. Thomas Rold [Thomasrold] 1 25.11.20 12:05 Clyde Dam 89.78 km 112.23 p. 2 11.11.20 12:17 speed peak 52.98 km 52.98 p. 3 29.11.20 13:50 Treble Cone 25.00 km 50.00 p. Mark Hardman [Mhardman] 1 05.01.21 11:19 Te Mata Peak 82.60 km 82.60 p. 2 28.12.20 12:03 Treble Cone 46.99 km 58.74 p. 3 14.11.20 12:25 Moirs Hill 38.05 km 47.56 p. Clemence Cadario [Clemc] ♀ 1 29.11.20 12:29 Treble Cone 50.33 km 75.50 p. 2 25.11.20 12:07 Clyde 55.16 km 68.95 p. 3 19.11.20 11:26 Speed peak 44.45 km 44.44 p. Doug Patterson [Dougpatterson] 1 19.11.20 12:01 Coronet Peak 63.10 km 78.88 p. 2 03.11.20 12:02 Treble Cone 36.84 km 55.26 p. 3 28.12.20 12:17 Treble Cone 54.49 km 54.49 p. Mark Macdonald [Brick] 1 14.12.20 13:42 Kaimai 55.70 km 69.63 p. 2 15.12.20 13:20 Kaimai 33.53 km 67.06 p. 3 13.11.20 13:21 Kaimai 50.91 km 50.91 p. Bradley Franks [Bradleyfranks] 1 15.12.20 12:43 Parachute Rocks 78.42 km 98.03 p. 2 28.12.20 12:13 Treble Cone 47.97 km 59.96 p. 3 07.12.20 10:39 Barnicoat 14.39 km 28.78 p. Leo Chelle [Leochelle] 1 13.01.21 13:02 ? 53.16 km 66.45 p. 2 12.01.21 14:07 ? 60.92 km 60.92 p. 3 28.12.20 12:00 Treble Cone 47.25 km 59.06 p.

EVENTS Paragliding Competition Committee Write Up

t seems I’m writing several articles for this edition of ‘Airborn’. It’s a rainy day, a very rainy day, and I’m at home preparing also for a road trip with my wife ‘up north’ in the New Year. We’re well into the flying season and except for a delay to the Second Auckland league competition due to weather all the competitions are going to plan. Johnny Hoppers’ ‘First Auckland’ event was a great success by all accounts. Perhaps he has written an article. There were two good tasks but a lot of controversy about the new airspace rules. Several competitors, but not the national champions, broke airspace, if even by a small amount. Every competition I have done over the last several years have had Competition Specific Rules, which over-ride the NZHGPA Rules, which have stipulated that airspace would be dictated by ‘GPS altitude with no tolerance’, and this competition was no different except that it is now in the General NZHGPA Competition Rules! And yet there was a lot of controversy. It is good airmanship, prior to participating in an event, to read and understand the rules by which that event is being conducted. How many of you read the Comp. Specific Rules, or even the update on the National Rules prior to an event? How many of you read the ‘Airtribune’ Preparation Blogs and the Safety Plans etc? These are all important documents that are published for your benefit. The Second Auckland event was delayed a weekend due to weather which resulted in a reduced attendance but a good fun competition none-the-less. The ‘Southern Fun’ competition was also recently completed in Wanaka and by all accounts was a great competition. I really think that the weather and the environment was a major player in that assessment! Three successful tasks were completed and there is an article in this magazine that describes that event. The ‘Southern Fun’ competitions are proving to be the ‘must do’ competitions in the New Zealand calender as it has, in the past, generated more points than the Nationals and this year the ‘Southern Fun’ was no different with three tasks and close to 60 pilots in fine weather. The competition scored a hefty 69 points on the NZPRS for the winner and will therefore make a significant contribution to the

World rankings when they are next published. Besides the leaders: Richard Castro, Louis Tapper and Aaron Chesterman, there were some notable performances at that competition especially by the girls by the way of Jessica Green, who won the ‘Ladies’ category and she has only been flying for about three years and also Nina Harrap, a Queenstown local, who is new to competition and who made goal on two out of three tasks. She also flew her personal best distance on task 2. Well done to you both. There has certainly been a shake-up in the NZPRS order after all these events. The PCC didn’t write an article for the last edition of ‘Airborn’ and so we’ve made no mention of the demise of James Johnston who sadly came to grief whilst flying in Nevada earlier this season. Though James didn’t fly often in New Zealand he did represent us in numerous world competitions and has played a major part in enabling New Zealand to achieve the international status that it has in the World rankings. The PCC is deeply sorry for his loss and acknowledge his passing in gratitude. Please make the effort to read of his accident report. There are lessons there for all of us. Perhaps that is just a small parting gift that he has left us and we can honour him by reading of his experience. Looking ahead, Aaron Chesterman is conducting his first Hawkes Bay regional event next week (7th January). It has been well subscribed to and, after the ‘Southern Fun’ event, I understand that he has received a lot of late applications to what is proving to be a very sought after event. Best wishes to Aaron. It seems that pilots are beginning to appreciate the experience and fun of flying competition. Long may it continue. Happy New Year. - Tim Brown

Covid-19 and Events

Due to the changeable Covid-19 virus situation, some events and competitions may be cancelled or postponed. Check with event organisers or their online notification system, to confirm if events are still being held before booking travel and accommodation. It will be worth checking again immediately prior to the event.

NZ Paragliding Nationals 2021 Tasman region from 20 February to 27 February. The Headquarters will be based at the Mapua Leisure Park (https://goo.gl/maps/ NEcEzsEM46PY1Fne8). Mapua is a seaside village about 20 minutes from Nelson. Registration via AirTribune will open on Saturday 1st August at 10:00. The Airtribune site has been published and is available for viewing but bare in mind that it is a work in progress but will be ready for registrations by that date. At this stage the comp is limited to 80 pilots but if there is overwhelming demand consideration will be given,in consultation with the PCC, to increase that number to 100. There will be 40 places allocated to the top ranking WPRS and NZPRS pilots. We are obliged under FAI rules to offer 20 places for international pilots up until two months before the start of the competition. However with the current situation with COVID-19 we doubt there will be much interest from pilots from overseas apart from the ones already here in New Zealand and we look forward to their participation. Other than that it is a first in first served basis with the two organisers making the final decision (and no we are not open to bribes). The Leisure Park covers an extensive area with many secluded spaces. Let Google be your friend. There is, at this stage, plentiful and varied accommodation at the Leisure Park (nelsonholiday.co.nz) but it would pay to get in early.

There are nearby alternative basic camping grounds but not bookable. We would encourage you to be at the Park. And yes the rumours are true in that from February to March the Mapua Leisure Park is a clothing optional location. But don’t let that faze you as there are very limited areas in the where that is permitted. - Peter Allison and Lyn Watkins (your on-location organisers)

Hang Gliding Nationals 2021

Mt Murchison Photo: Dennis Thorpe

Murchison, Saturday 30 January to Saturday 6 February 2021 Matt Barlow Phone 022 153 7965 email nat.matt3@gmail.com

Wanaka Hike & Fly With support of NZHGPA and Southern Club Kinga Masztalerz is organising the 1st hike & fly race this summer (6-7 March 2021) It’s designed to be challenging both for high end athletes and less experienced pilots with not much thermalling experience. Two day race in the stunning Southern Alps with a flexible formula suitable both for high level athletes and leisure pilots who want to learn and socialise with fellow hike & fly enthusiasts. Applications are now open, 1st come 1st served so apply now :-) Live tracking. Tips and recommendations on the website: www.wanakahikefly.nz FB: https://facebook.com/wanakahikefly/ IG: @wanakahikefly

Omarama Hang Gliding Cross Country Classic

Saturday 6 February to Sunday 14 February 2021 lying near Omarama is spectacular; expect to fly to 9 or 10,000ft and an easy 20km to over 100km depending on your skill and luck. Beat your Personal Best; height, distance High at Ohau, on the way to Mt Cook (centre distance) Photo: Bill Degen etc, move up the XC Champs table, or maybe fly to Mt Cook! Accommodation; free camping, cabins, This summer, Monday 8th is the public caravans, motels and luxury hotels and this holiday so even if you are working, that’s still year no overseas tourists! The gliding airfield 5 days that you can fly. campground welcomes hang glider pilots and This time of year gets the most flyable days has weather briefings at 10am each day. with the least strong winds and turbulence, THE MISSION; Fly open distance, in any so gives the most XC flying opportunities. direction from any site in the Omarama area. Last year wasn’t epic but we still had good Enter any number of flights. flying in relatively stable weather with good Required; Advanced rating with mountain/ thermalling and even a smooth wave day that XC skills. Pilots with lower skill ratings may fly allowed a long flight around the Mackenzie. if under supervision if conditions are suitable. It is usually hot, sometimes windy and strong Printed site briefings are available. thermals but landing areas are massive and The track up Magic Mountain is limited the event is stress free; there’s no queues to 4WDs with low ratio gearing for safe or waiting. descents or brakes will burn out. To maintain Fly the whole week, just the weekends or the track we ask pilots for a donation but the just the days you want, when you want. It’s competition is free. up to you, only your best 3 flights count. You For more information, site briefings etc; decide if, when and where to fly and a few contact Bill Degen at aero@xtra.co.nz or check unlucky flights won’t ruin your score. www.hgpg.co.nz for updates.

i r b o r n

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HHAA NN GG gglli idding i ng CC hh aa mmpions p i o n sh hips ips

January 1st to December 31st

gain the past Spring and early Summer have often been windy, stable or even raining, but a few keen pilots have shown that great flights are available for those who keep on trying.

The 2020 entry deadline is nearly here so the results shown are probably it for 2020. Some recent entries were from Tom Mulder at Coronet Peak, Matt Barlow also from Coronet, plus Magic Mountain & Mt Cheeseman and Rick Hawkeswood got another long flight at the Kaimais. Eddie Pearson’s flight from Little River to Allandale is shown in a photo on page 27. Cross country flying forces you to understand the weather and improve your skills. The way to get those big cross country flights is to keep trying so you are flying fit when that good day comes up. You just need to be flying at the right place and the right time when conditions turn epic. Oddly it’s often it’s the ordinary looking days that unexpectedly turn out best, and it’s those who are out flying on those days are those that get to take advantage of it. Some pilots often say they can’t get a driver, but one way is to form a small group and draw straws on a daily driving roster. This means you get a good driver with a greater understanding of how things work and each pilot gets a rest day too. The 2020 XC Champs has started so let’s get some good flights this summer! TO ENTER... It’s free and simple; fly anywhere in New Zealand before midnight on 31st December, email or post in your flight details (and tracklog if you have one) before 30 days has passed and you’re entered. Enter as many flights as you like. Your shorter flights are automatically replaced by your longer ones. Only your longest four flights are scored. For each flight entry, please supply; • Your name, email address and contact phone number. • Flight date, take-off/release place, landing place, and flight distance in kilometres and 10ths. • Tracklog file from a GPS that can be read by GPSDump, such as an IGC file. Best is a kml file optimised by GPSDump. • If you don’t have a GPS tracklog, then also supply; Start and landing witness/s name & contact details. A GPS instrument has many advantages for XC flying, but for pilots who don’t have GPS, you can still enter the NZ HG XC Champs without one, you just need to provide those take-off and landing witnesses contact details. SCORING The pilot with the best total of four flights is the NZ Hang Gliding Cross Country Champion for that year and gets first choice of any prizes followed by pilots with second and third best totals. The pilot with the longest single flight gets fourth choice, then prizes go from fourth best total onwards. Flights for each years XC Champs must be flown between 1 January and 31st December and entered within 30 days. This ends one contest while pilots have good weather and starts the next contest while everyone’s still keen and able. Distances are measured using GPSDump which is free software that comes in Windows, Mac and other versions. It it reads GPS tracklogs from just about any instrument. It works out the best start and finish points for you so that you get the maximum

24 A i r b o r n

The 2020 Cross-Country Championships Table so far...

Name

Flight 1

Flight 2

Flight 3

Flight 4

Total kms

Sebastian Katz 139.6 110.9 108.7 56.2

415.4

Matt Barlow 171.0 107.0 90.1 8.7

376.8

Rick Hawkeswood 109.2 107.2 69.7 34.3

320.3

Bill Degen 26.9 26.4 53.3 Tom Mulder

51.3

Eddie Pearson

24.4

The 2021 Cross-Country Championships Table so far...

Name

Flight 1

Flight 2

Flight 3

Flight 4

Total kms

Rick Hawkeswood 81.4 34.8 28.6 144.8 Bill Degen

21.1

distance from the 2 furtherest points on your flight. It also works out if the flight fits any other FAI criteria such as out and return, triangle etc. It also enables export for viewing in Google Earth in 3D. Download GPSDump at; www.gethome.no/stein.sorensen Airtribune Live tracking For those who want quicker retrieves, get the Airtribune App for Android devices. Airtribune will track your flight and your retrieve driver can look you up on their smartphone to see exactly where you are. It is limited to cell coverage areas but apparently satellite trackers like Spot work with it too. It’s easy on the phone battery though it may pay to have a backup power bank as well. Note that Airtribune doesn’t calculate FAI Open Distance from the 2 furtherest points of your flight. You still need a tracklog for that as explained in the entry section. The Apple IOS version hasn’t been updated for a few years and currently only works at Airtribune contests. Rules You must be a paid up NZHGPA member during all flights or you don’t score. Entries must be postmarked or emailed within 30 days of the flight or don’t score. This helps ensure accuracy and prevents pilots holding back flights until the end, so we all to know how everyone’s doing. Please DON’T phone, txt, or tell me in the pub, all entries must be in writing (email preferred) with all flight details (and GPS tracklog if using remote launch and/or landings), or do not score. Don’t assume that because someone else was there or you were in a competition that your flight has been entered. It is each pilots’ responsibility to declare and enter full details of their own flight entries. Measure your flights in kilometres and 10ths of km, straight line from take-off to landing. Or for often a few more kms, optimised flight distances with a Remote Start and/or Remote Finish are welcome, if you send in a valid GPS tracklog. Aerotow launched xc flights are permitted, but your release altitude must be less than 5% of the flight distance (current FAI ruling) or does not score. This prevents super high tows followed by a downwind glide from scoring against pilots thermalling for xc. The flight scores from tow release position (not tow take-off) and verification can be witnessed by the tug pilot, or confirmed with known landmark photo or GPS tracklog.

21.1

Out & return, triangle or multiple turnpoint distances are not eligible, however if a enough pilots enter them, I’ll table them as well. Out & return and triangle flights often don’t require the long pickups of the best xc flights, so pilots can look at this option if drivers or time are a problem. Note: If you don’t follow the rules by providing all relevant flight details, (including valid tracklog for remote start or finish flights) within 30 days of the flight, you DO NOT SCORE. GLIDER CLASSES Same as FAI rules. Flex wings including kingpostless gliders are Class 1. Rigid wings such as the Atos are Class 5 and Swifts are Class 2 or Class 5 without the pilot fairing. If enough are entered, we have a special class for pilots flying skyfloater gliders such as such as the Fun, Falcon, Malibu etc. 30% double surface gliders such as Buzz, Gyro, Mars, Target, Ventura etc can be flown in this class too. As long as it has exposed crossbars. Don’t forget to point it out on your entry if you have an exposed crossbar glider or rigid wing. You can enter in as many classes as you like. Skyfloater flights can be entered in a separate class and/or included in your Class 1 score, whichever you prefer. Classes can be scored separately if multiple entries are received. Meanwhile they will appear in the table above. Let me know if your flight is a site record too. ONLINE RESULTS Results are posted as they come in at www.hgpg. co.nz and linked to the NZHGPA website at www. nzhgpa.org.nz/competitions/hg-competitions/ hang-gliding-cross-country-championships and first updated at; www.hgpg.co.nz/nz-hg-xc-champs. html Online scoring? Not yet, but if you have a 3D GPS you can enter any of the online contests as well. If you do this, just let me know by emailing me a link to your online entry and I’ll copy the data to the NZ HG XC Champs. It should have all we need to enter your flight. SEND YOUR ENTRY TO; aero@xtra.co.nz (Please write “XC Entry” in the header and please keep your entry separate from other emails) or post entries to; NZ Hang Gliding XC Champs, Bill Degen, 99A Panorama Road, Christchurch 8081

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i r b o r n

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Learn to Fly

■ Paid up NZHGPA members may run one advertisement per classification for free in each issue ■ Please email or post your advertisement to the editor, quoting your NZHGPA PIN number ■ Commercial operators, dealers, and non-members must enclose payment of $0.50c per word with their advertisement ■ Advertisements are deleted for next issue unless repeat request received ■ include your email address for the online issue ■ Buyers are advised that all used hang gliders and paragliders are highly recommended to have a full check as well as a new WOF check when sold ■ It is dangerous to fly a glider or with equipment that is above your rated ability ■ PARAGLIDERS GRADIENT Aspen 4 paraglider. Colour: Gold, Size: 30, Rating: ENC, Weight range: 84 to 109kg, Year of mnfr: 2012, Owners: 2, hours flown: 120, Condition: excellent, Package: offering with complete kit, Harness: Avasport, Reserve: Apco Mayday 22, Charly Insider helmet: large, Variometer: Brauniger AV Classic, GPS; Garmin 12XL, Radio equipment. HYT 5Watt/boom mic remote PTT, Instrument cockpit. Woody Valley, Bags; concertina glider bag drawstring bag, Shoulder carry bag. Great safety without compromising performance. Thermals with the best. Suit newer pilot wanting to upgrade or existing intermediate pilot. Owner leaving NZ permanently. Will consider splitting package. A replacement Aspen 4 wing alone today is NZ$5,600. A real bargain for the right pilot. Price $1100 ono. Call Mike 021 798 872. mike@knightspg.com REBEL DHV2, Gin L, Harness Skywalk Cult L, Reserve parachute, All excellent condition, Never crashed, $1000 ono, + an extra glider for ground handling. Phone Paul 027 412 4474 Email: pauljamesnz69@hotmail.com PHI Gliders - www.phi-air.com - the revolution continues. Hannes Papesh and Mike Kung create the latest revelations in gliders - Maestro new high B is here. Symphonia - high B performance certified EN A. Also, the EN A Sonata and light weight Viola. Tenor and Tenor light, class B gliders with better than class performance and handling. Exclusively from SkyWings - email alan@skywings.co.nz NEW PHI Allegro - EN C - out now: -) https://phi-air.com/project/allegro/ PHI Sonata 12 & lightweight version Viola are proving to be our new best miniwings - lots of sizes, unbeatable flight qualities - check our website and contact us for special introductory offers - alan@skywings.co.nz or www.skywings.co.nz MAESTRO is out - the PHI Maestro from Hannes Papesh is here and leads the high B class. Finally a perfect handling feel and C performance is available in the B class - exceeding all expectations - ask anyone who is flying one - contact SkyWings for unbeatable introductory prices - alan@skywings.co.nz NOVA Paragliders - www.nova.eu - exclusively by SkyWings - www.skywings.co.nz email alan@skywings.co.nz SPEEDFLYING specialists - and dozens of great XC wings - happy to trade - all kinds of harnesses in stock as well - www.skywings.co.nz or alan@skywings.co.nz MOTOR Paragliding PARAMOTORING - exclusive Miniplane and PAP motors - SkyWings for courses and equipment - www.skywings.co.nz or alan@skywings.co.nz

HANG GLIDERS U2 160. Dacron sail, Mylar/Hydranet LE/TE, speed battens and raked tips. 2012, great condition, has flown approx 300 hours. email - skyriderag@gmail.com, phone 027 670 8301 KIWI 170 mint/new condition. Manufactured mid 90’s unused. Test flown - Good Nov/ Intermediate first 70% double surface lower aspect ratio glider, No VG new WOF, $2000. email - skyriderag@gmail.com KIWI Flyer 170, US 6061 tubing, low hours (has been in storage), great condition, full strip check and trim, phone 021 247 2676 email aero@xtra.co.nz MOYES Gecko 155, technora sail, carbon sprogs, approx 30 hours, $7500.00, Phone 027 670 8301, Email: skyriderag@gmail.com T2C 144; fully optioned, with transparent ODLO/Technora upper and lower, speed battens, raked tips, black uprights, faired carbon keel stinger, keel fairing etc. Choice of carbon or alloy aero speedbar. First at 2019, 2020 Omarama XC Classic & 2nd in XC Champs. Had some great XC flights but never had a bad landing. Maintained perfectly, flys great and in excellent condition with low hours. Suit advanced pilot. Review and pix at www. hgpg.co.nz/page/458644 Phone 021 247 2676 or email aero@xtra.co.nz 1991 Rumour 14.5m, Intermediate/advanced double surface. Airframe and sail in good condition, has Insignia cloth repairs to its leading edge mylar due to delamination. Spare upright, test flown, WOF, $1500. email - skyriderag@gmail.com, phone 027 670 8301 MOYES Litesport 4 (149 sq ft) for sale. DOM 2004. Airframe really good but sail is worn but serviceable. Mainly white sail with kevlar leading and trailing edge. White and mid blue lower surface. Recently purchased but too small for me. Comes with manual, batten profiles and spare uprights. Will be sold with new WOF. $1200. Contact John King at 027 751 3192 RESERVE PARACHUTES RANGE of reserve parachutes for hang gliding and paragliding including the tried and trusted Revolution, Second Chance and now the compact DiamondCross in optional steerable PG versions and HG version. Bridles, Front containers, Maillons, Swivels, Hook knives etc, in stock at HG & PG Supplies, Phone 021 247 2676 or email aero@xtra.co.nz INSTRUMENTS OUDIE 5 and Blade models in stock. Amazing full featured GPS/alti/vario/flight computer, with colour mapping and airspace which automatically updates. Phone 021 247 2676 or email aero@xtra.co.nz ACCESSORIES Helmets, No Limit (visor option), Insider, Loop (visor option), Breeze (adjustable size), range of colours & sizes in stock, phone 021 247 2676 email aero@xtra.co.nz EMPLOYMENT CORONET Peak Tandems Ltd, Queenstown, are looking for tandem hang gliding and paragliding pilots. Call 021 220 5932

Want a better magazine?

Airborn needs your articles and photos. We’d like to read about your flights, frights, sites, experiences and techniques. Anything that’s of interest , educating or enthusing to pilots is especially welcome. Airborn can’t afford to pay you but does post contributors a complimentary copy which you should receive a day or so before everyone else. Just email your text to; aero@xtra.co.nz or put it on CD, DVD, Zip, Flash drive or even floppy disk. Most text programs such as Microsoft Word (Windows or Mac) are fine but photos in MS Word files have reduced resolution, so please supply photo files in highest resolution separately. If it’s not digital, clean printed copy helps, or if you hand write, please write neatly on one side of the paper only. INCLUDE photos, of the people, place or gliders involved and one of yourself to make the article more interesting. We print in full colour and with digital photo editing, it’s amazing what we can do to enhance ordinary snapshots. Black and white or colour prints are fine. Digital images should be the original high resolution. Contact me for solutions for emailing large files such as multiple large image files. Photos for the cover should be eye-catching, colourful, sharp, and high resolution. You can also send transparencies or prints for scanning. Anything marked with a return address will be returned along with your complimentary copy. Help promote or make our sport safer, and Airborn will present your contribution in the best way possible.

26 A i r b o r n

FLIGHT PIX CLOUD PIX

Eddie Pearson had a great day flying from Little River to Allandale recently. His photo shows the Christchurch Port Hills and Lyttelton Harbour to the middle and right.

THE COUNTRY CODE We are all dependent on good relations with the farmers who own the land we fly from. Here are some guidelines to ensure that you and other pilots will be able to continue to fly. ALWAYS CHECK with local pilots before flying at new sites. ALWAYS ask permission to fly unless you are absolutely certain that the owner allows use of the site without asking. CHECK AGAIN at Springtime as most farms have pregnant and newborn stock that can easily be frightened and injured.

DO NOT show displeasure or abuse an owner if permission is refused. This could hamper getting permission in the future. ALWAYS GET PERMISSION to take a vehicle onto a property. Ensure that vehicles without gliders are not taken onto the property. Put all gliders on one car rather than have a convoy crossing the property. If stock is near, drive slowly. LEAVE GATES as you find them, gates may be closed to keep stock in or open to allow stock to feed. Ensure that all pilots and drivers understand. USE STILES and gates where ever possible, if you must cross a fence,

cross at a post or strainer post. AVOID hay standing or cut unless permission has been given to cross it. AVOID landing in paddocks containing crops or stock. Carefully move off crops to avoid damage. DO NOT LIGHT FIRES at any time. DO NOT SMOKE during fire risk times. DO NOT TAKE DOGS onto any farm or property. DO NOT disturb plants or machinery, move around it. LEAVE NO RUBBISH.

Everything you need • Ready to fly – no complex technical setup • Extremely responsive & accurate Vario assisted by inertial sensors • Sunlight readable LCD with Touch panel optimised for gloves • Long lasting battery with quick charger • Vector maps for the whole world pre-installed (towns, roads, rivers, lakes etc.) • Airspace for most of the world installed with free updates • Software fully supports Competition and XC Pilots • Easy and free software updates • In-flight FAI Triangle Assistant • Customizable screens & data fields • Barometric and GPS altimeters • Multiple wing profiles • Thermal Assistant • Wind Assistant • IGC tracklogs • Lightweight • Perfect size • Available in Full or upgradeable Basic versions • Integrated Flarm & Fanet option • Wind, wave, convergence forecasts option

BLADE hang glider version with pitot airspeed naviter.com/blade

naviter.com/oudie http://www.naviter.com/oudie-4/ aero@xtra.co.nz aero@xtra.co.nz

03 326 6411 021 247 2676

nzparagliding.com info@skywings.co.nz Ph 0274 98 2345

phi-air.com

NZHGPA Airborn #217 February 2021

Articles inside

Executive Reports, Safety Checks

Events

Classified Advertisements

Paragliding Beginners Guide Review

Hawkes Bay Regional Paragliding Comp

Auckland Paragliding Regionals Round 2

Replacing Radios with Cellphones for Teaching

Southern Fun Paragliding Comp