Resources
A growing collection of hopefully useful information & items of freeflight interest! Please let us know if you spot inaccuracies or broken links & if you would like to suggest anything to be added. It might be tidied as it grows but for now, it is what it is! NB We cannot police external links, hence you visit these at your own risk and we suggest with appropriate Internet Security software for protection.
MAGAZINES, ARTICLES, PODCASTS
DHV Flying Together Hang gliders and paragliders (Especially useful for all pilots who fly the Long Mynd site to read)
Dust of the Universe (Ziad Bassil – extremely useful and free wing comparisons)
Judiths Blog (a collection of podcasts & other resources)
Skywings (BHPA) Online (for the moment Skywings magazine is free to access online)
GUIDANCE
BHPA_Rules for Individual Flying Members 10 2021
British Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association (BHPA)
Flyability (Making hang gliding & paragliding accessible to disabled people)
FURTHER TRAINING (POST CP)
BHPA Pilot Development Structure (PDS)
CAA Skyway Code (for PG/HG there is much in here you don’t need but still a great learning resource e.g. airspace & meteorology)
BHPA Pilot rating Information and Mock Exam
BHPA Elementary Training Guide (A worthwhile refresher for any level!)
LINKS – SAFETY
NOTAM Info (indicates NOTAMS on a map with bells and whistles if you explore it)
CANP (see bottom of page for full details – alerts the RAF to where we are flying and additionally a NOTAM to general aviation)
Emergency SMS (pre register to send emergency 999 text messages should you not be able to make a voice call)
LINKS – WEATHER
RASP (the place for detailed flying weather forecasts)
Met Office – Understanding Weather
Met Office – How to read synoptic weather charts
LINKS – XC
UK XC League (Paragliding – a national league incorporating club leagues)
UK Sports Class XC League (Paragliding – flights from the national league but leisure & sports class wings only)
UKNXCL League (Hang gliding)
XC Retrieve [ XC Retrieve guide ] (a clever system using an online map and Telegram to indicate where you have landed and to ask if anyone is able to help with your retrieve)
Fly XC (a brilliant website to plan flights or view tracklogs that can show default airspace, worth exploring all its features)
LINKS – FUN
Ayvri (was Doarama – play your flights back over a Google Earth terrain)
LINKS – OTHER
CAA Electronic-Conspicuity Rebate – Ends 31 March 2023 (or when funds are gone!) [up to £250 rebate off a Flarm instrument, not to be sniffed at!]
APPS
Telegram (messaging App used by clubs and retrieve groups)
FlySkyHy (most popular iPhone flight navigation app)
XC Track (likely the most popular Android alternative to FlySkyHy)
SafeSky ( SafeSky is a mobile application that allows you to visualise the sky users around you)
XC Guide (XC Guide helps pilots and retrieve drivers track each other)
Tracker (Richard Hunt’s Tracker – simple tracking in variable network conditions using text messages or data)
what3words (an easy way to pinpoint your location, increasingly adopted by emergency services)
UK XC COMPETITIONS – PARAGLIDING
British Paragliding Competitions – website for all the official BHPA UK paragliding competitions including those listed below
British Club Challenge (BCC) – UK based entry level paragliding competition for CP and higher rated pilots with emphasis on fun, safety & learning in a mentored environment
British Paragliding Cup (BP Cup) – mostly UK based next stage up from the BCC for P rated and higher pilots, an ideal introduction to more serious racing
British Open – UK’s top level competition flown in Europe, the British paragliding championships and selection of the UK paragliding team
UK XC League links are listed above
UK XC COMPETITIONS – HANG GLIDING
British Hang Gliding Competitions – website for all the official BHPA UK paragliding competitions including those listed below
British Open Series (BOS) – A flexible and accessible series of UK based national hang gliding competitions
British Nationals – UK’s top level hang gliding competition flown in Europe
UK XC League links are listed above
UK HIKE AND FLY
X-Lakes (Lake District)
Dragon Hike & Fly (South Wales)
X-Eryri (Snowdonia)
X-Scotia (Scotland)
X-Dales (Yorkshire Dales)
3 Peaks Challenge (SE Wales)
UK ACCURACY
EASY ACCESS EUROPEAN COMPETITIONS
BGD Weightless
YOUTUBE CHANNELS
Fly With Greg (coaching video’s, some free)
Jean-Baptiste CHANDELIER (usually short, top quality showcasing video’s)
Marc Leavesley (local flying videos including a coaching series)
Tim Pentreath (some great XC’s put into well made videos with commentary describing the decision making)
WORTH A WATCH – WORLDWIDE
Birdman of the Karakoram: a Himalayan paragliding adventure
Hanuman Airlines: Fly Over Everest
WORTH A WATCH – LMSC SITES FREEFLIGHT VIDEOS
Long Mynd
Steve Young on his Atos
Corndon
Crazy Corndon
(others to be added!)
CANP
Many of our sites are in areas used for training by low flying military aircraft. Submitting a CANP on time will alert military aircrew and additionally generate a NOTAM for civil aircraft and will thus identify where Hang Glider/Paraglider activity is likely to be occurring for the day – keeping you and others safe. It’s easier than ever to submit using this excellent website with club sites already listed (try it first with the ‘try sending a test’ option) or use the freephone NOTAM service on 0800 515544!
https://canp.logans.me.uk/
Details on what it is and how it works are here: https://canp.logans.me.uk/about.html