About These Photos
- Pictures with a © symbol were taken by me
- Some photos are from the late 1980s/early 1990s - apologies for the quality
- Click on images to view full size in lightbox
- Some external links may no longer be active
June 1989: Hang Gliding EPS
Hang Gliding EPS (Elementary Pilot Standard) with High Adventure ("Specialist tuition in Skysport") on the Isle of Wight.
For the whole week of Hang Gliding training the group were been encouraged, by the High Adventure team, to try this new sport of Paragliding - only a few could be tempted...
The training gliders were essentially Rogallo "Sail Wing" like Hang Gliders, see the photo.
July 1989: Sailplane - Glider Pilot
A week of training at Derbyshire & Lancashire Gliding Club, Camphill, Great Hucklow in the Derbyshire Peak National Park.
April 1990: Parachute Training #1
Two day introduction to static line parachuting at Peterborough Parachute Centre, Sibson Airfield, Peterborough.
May 1990: Paragliding EP
Paragliding EP (Elementary Pilot), training week with Sky Systems (then at Old Shoreham Road), Brighton.
[Apologies for the poor quality of the photo - a whole batch of photos for this period were damaged. This is the best.]
June 1990: Stunt Flight Above Blackpool
First prize in quiz arranged by SPICE (Sad, but true! SPICE is still around). Aerobatic flights over Blackpool can also be arranged with Comed Group (where G-BJXA is still registered).
Somewhere in this period I also tried a Microlight flight (also c/o SPICE), but have no record of the flight.
July 1990: Further Parachute Training #2
More jumps at Halfpenny Green Parachute Centre (now Hereford Parachute Club), The Airfield, Bobbington, nr Stourbridge. Really wanted to move to the controllable square canopy parachutes, but the progression route was far too slow...
August 1990: Post EP Paragliding
With Bill Morris (with his then school Midflight) at Mam Tor in Derby.
Completed my first top landing. Essentially, I panicked as I was completing my third beat along the ridge, a thermal had encouraged about 15 local pilots to take to the air. I decided to landed quickly, teeth first, on the top of the hill...
1991: BHGA Membership
My BHGA (British Hang Gliding Assoc. - now BHPA the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association) membership card from 1991.
The joint Hang Gliding/Paragliding card of 1991
1990/1: Sussex College of Hang Gliding
"Canopies or chutes range from 220 to 360sq feet, in rot-proof nylon in beautiful colours. They float or descend at 250 to 300 feet per minute, at speeds of 8-15 mph through the air (very slow over the ground)." - so, nothing much has changed here...
Note: I never flew with the Sussex Floaters Paragliding (well, certainly NOT with the term "floaters" in the title...)
