Speedfly Junkies

A new skydiving magazine called “Closing Loop” is due out in the next month or so. Featured in the mag is 2 page spread on speed flying. The article is based on a personal account of one of my flights, the preparation, feelings and thoughts. Also a brief history, current situation and the future of speed flying here in the UK and elsewhere are discussed. Im quite excited about my article in this magazine as it will be viewed by a new skydiving audience and might bring new people to the sport.

Here is the link to the Closing Loop web site that is under construction:

www.closingloop.com

Short article about speed flying at the Lakes Charity Classic 2008 and Speed flying pilot profile.

Just click the relevant link to view the file:

Speaking with pilots on the hill there is clearly a misunderstanding of the many terms used to describe the use of these small speed wings. This is understandable as the sport is new and exact terminology is still not set in stone. Below is how i and many speedflyers and speedriders see the definitions:

Speed flying:

Foot launching a speedwing. Descending a hill or mountain side with high ground speed and sink rate.

Speed riding:

SKi launching a speedwing. Descending a hill or mountain side with high ground speed and sink rate.

High wind soaring:

Soaring a small canopy of any size in winds to high to soar a regular paraglider. This is not speedflying even though a speedwing is typically used.

I have just returned from a great weekend up in the Lake District having met some great people and had some great speed flying runs! 2500ft top to bottom with a chopper ride to launch is something you don’t forget! Check out the videos on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/0eden0.

Speedflying is gaining in popularity and displays like this can only help. An article on the event is due in the August edition of Skywings mag!

Safe speeding all,
Dan

Speedfly Junkies is having a facelift. Please hang tight, it’ll all be finished soon!

Its good to see a club accepting Speedflying and high wind soaring for what it could be if given the chance to develop. The two disciplines are not for all pilots but the Avon club committee has shown forward thinking in its decition. Below is a quote from the minutes taken at the committee meeting:

“Speed flying – The committee discussed the new sport of speed flying. In line with the BHPA’s thinking, it decided that speed flying is simply another free-flight discipline that the club should accommodate. Speed-flying wings have flying characteristics that differ from those of hang gliders and paragliders, but the differences are no greater than the differences between hang gliders and paragliders. A parallel was drawn with the early days of paragliding when the subject of combined hang-gliding and paragliding clubs was debated.

The committee therefore decided to welcome speed flyers into the club. As with all of the club’s members, speed flyers will be expected to comply with the BHPA’s rules and guidance, to comply with the club’s rules and guidance, to show good airmanship and consideration, and to comply with the rules of any site they fly.”

Speedfly Junkies becomes Speedride Junkies for one week in LaPlagne, what a difference snow makes! Article on page 9 and 10 also pilots response to local clubs view on speedflying. Here is a copy:

dragonfly_issue_3_feb_2008

Check out pages 3 and 4 of the November 2007 edition of DragonFly magazine for the local paragliding clubs response to this new sport. Under the BHPA system Speed flying is categorised as Sub20m2 paragliding. Here is a copy:

dragonfly_issue_2_nov_2007

I’m happy to announce the BHPA is now able to cover the new sport of Speed flying/Speed gliding under their new glider rating system. Now any wing under 20m2, certified or not, will be classed as a “Sub 20m2 Paraglider”. Providing the member holds a CP rating or above they can apply for a Sub 20m2 paraglider rating covering them for third party liability insurance. The form is here:

Sub20m2 rating application form