Recent News

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16 JUN 11 - JERRY THWAITES AND RAF TEAM ARE CHAMPIONS. Jerry Thwaites is the new Inter Services Paragliding Champion, retaining the Crown for the RAF and leading the RAF Team to success as Inter Services Paragliding Champions after a hard fought competition in Wales. Despite the inclement weather a good day at Tal-y-bont was enough for a result to be declared. It was a light blue one-two with first time Champs pilot Tom Garner performing extremely well to secure the runners up spot. Dave Neal narrowly missed out on third place but helped to ensure that the Team Prize was comfortably brought home. Thanks must also deservedly go to Oli Fisher for organising such an enjoyable and successful event.

07 MAY 11 - Ex TRIGLAV CLIMB SUCCESS. James Brown and the RAF Team have returned from the Joint Services Sports Tour to Slovenia. After an unseasonably poor start to the weather those taking part enjoyed a good last few days with some spectular flights up and down to the Italian border in friendly competition with other Service and Slovenian fliers. The Soca Valley once again proved to be an excellent training ground for novice and open class pilots alike. It is hoped that this experience can be put to good use at the forthcoming Inter Service Championships.

24 APR 11 - COMBINED SERVICES TEAM OPENS BCC ACCOUNT. The Combined Services PG Team has secured its first points in the 2011 BCC after a busy day at Hundred House Farm in Mid Wales with team captain Ali Andrews leading the way followed closely by Oil Fisher from the RAF. However, both were eclipsed by up and coming Navy pilot Dan Starsmore who top scored for the day with an impressive 25km in challenging conditions. The next BCC Rounds are scheduled for the Royal Wedding/May Day Bank Holiday weekend, once again in SE Wales. For more information and to register your interest please email the Joint Services Yahoo Group.

21 MAR 11 - BCC ROUNDS CALLED. The first Advance British Clubs Challenge Rounds of 2011 have been announced. In the Abergavenny the SE Wales Club has called rounds over the Easter Weekend (22-24 Apr) and the Royal Wedding Weekend (29 Apr-01 May). The RAF Team has secured places in both sets of rounds as members of the Combined Services Team. It should be possible to arrange accn at JSHPC if pilots are interested in staying for the duration of either weekend. To register your interest please contact Ollie FIsher via the Yahoo Group.

10 FEB 11 - 2011 CALENDAR PUBLISHED. The 2011 calendar of events line up has been ratified by the RAF Sports Board; for more details see the Events Page and look out for emails from the RAFHPA Yahoo Group.

24 DEC 10 - MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR. It's almost the end of what has been a very successful year for the RAFHPA in a number of imortant areas. Success at the Inter Services HG and PG Champs for Norm Potts and Jim Haskins set the backdrop for competition success both in the UK and overseas. In addition RAFHPA took part in some memorable sports tours and expeditions which allowed pilots of all experience levels to improve their flying skills and take in some breathtaking scenery at the same time. Let's hope that 2011 is a similarly successful year.

25 NOV 10 - JAMES BROWN TO THE RESCUE. RAFHPA Secretary and PG pilot James Brown has found himself in the News following his crucial internvention which saved a Swiss PG pilot's life out in Morocco. Full details of the story can be found at the following link. Very well done James.

30 OCT 10 - LARAGNE LEAP A SUCCESS. Jerry Thwaites and team have returned from a very successful tour to Laragne where they enjoyed flying on all but one day of their Haute Alps adventure. Given the setting, the amenities and the suitability for all experience levels it is very likely the RAFHPA will return to the Chabre region in Autumn 2011 for a repeat tour. Further details will be released on this website and the RAFHPA Yahoo Group in due course.

15 AUG 10 - RAF TEAM FINISHES THIRD IN 2010 BCC. The weather had the final say at the BCC Final held in Shropshire over the weekend of 14-15 Aug 10. As a result the final league standings were used to determine the competition's winner. The Malvern Club was therefore declared the 2010 Champions with Avon second and the RAF Team in a very close third place. This was a wonderful result for the RAF Team in its first full year of competition in the national event. Congratulations must go to all RAF Team pilots who took part in the numerous rounds throughout the season. A full report can be viewed here and is expected to be published in the RAF News on 27 Aug 10.

30 JUL 10 - RAFHPA AUTUMN SPORTS TOUR ANNOUNCED. The RAFHPA's Autumn Sports Tour will be held in Laragne, Southern France during the period 16-23 Oct 10. The tour will be hosted by Allez-Up in the Haute Alps Region. The tour will be open to all RAFHPA members (CP+10 minimum experience) and will focus on XC flying against Army, Navy and local teams in the normally excellent conditions enjoyed at this time of year. For further details and to book your place please contact Jerry Thwaites via expeditions@rafhpa.com.

15 JUL 10 - RAF TEAM QUALIFIES FOR BCC FINAL. The League stage of the BCC is over and the RAF Team has finished in an impressive third place to make the cut for the Final which will hosted by the Long Mynd Soaring Club and is due to be held in mid August. The top six teams will compete over both days of the Final to determine the 2010 BCC Champions. Many congratulations to all those who have taken part in the numerous rounds this season and have competed most professionally to put the Team in this strong position.

18 JUN 10 - JIM HASKINS IS NEW PG CHAMPION. Jim Haskins has been crowned as the new RAF and Inter Services Paragliding Champion after a hard fought competition in Wales. Many congratulations to Jim for his high quality and consistent flying which allowed him to top the leaderboard. It was a light blue one-two with Jerry Thwaites continuing his success from the recent Ozone Open to secure second place. Despite excellent performances from RAF Team Captain Sean Simmons and newcomer Oli Fisher the Army narrowly secured the Team Prize. However, it was an excellent week of enjoyable competition and free flying in the long days that holding the event in June allows. Have a look at some of the photographs of the event on this website. and on the Yahoo Group..

11 JUN 10 - OZONE OPEN SUCCESS FOR JERRY THWAITES. Jerry Thwaites arrived at the Inter Service PG Championships with a highly credible third place to his name in the hugely popular Ozone Open challenge based out of La Chabre, Laragne in the French Haute Alps. Jerry fought off international talent flying the latest of wings to secure a podium finish which saw him finish ahead of Alpine Ascent's Gavin Foster who also enjoyed a Top 10 spot. With a 2011 Ozone Open already being planned it's highly probable that the Services will be competing in larger numbers next year in an attempt to build on Jerry's success.

12 APR 10 - BCC UNDERWAY. The 2010 Airwave British Clubs Challenge is finally underway. Both the RAF and Army Teams entered the round called in SE Wales on Sat 10 Apr 10. With a light easterly flow, clear skies and a slight inversion under the high pressure that dominated the UK, the field headed to Pandy and enjoyed a full day's flying for novice and sky god alike. The RAF Team scored a healthy number of points to get the season off to a good start with the promise of more to come.

02 MAR 10 - Ex FAMARA GLIDE BLOG. A daily record of events from Ex FAMARA GLIDE will be published via the RAFHPA and JSHPG Yahoo Groups. Day 1 went well and all the RAF pilots enjoyed flying a site only 10 min drive from the accn in Puerto del Carmen. Look out for more infomation and pictures on the Yahoo Group.

01 MAR 10 - Ex FAMARA GLIDE UNDERWAY. The RAF Team has started its journey to Lanzarote to compete against the Army, Navy and local teams for as part of the Spring Sports Tour. A day by day account will be published via the RAFHPA Yahoo Group. Let's hope they have better weather than the UK has enjoyed for the past few weeks!

14 FEB 10 - RAFHPA EQUIPMENT. A quick reminder to all members that RAFHPA paragliding and hang gliding equipment can be loaned from the Association without charge by members holding 5 RAF Sports Lottery tickets. For further details please contact MAT Brown via equipment@rafhpa.com.

02 FEB 10 - Ex SHROPSHIRE WINGS. Roy Dade has confirmed that he is organising a follow up to last year's successful spring meet at Nesscliffe Camp in Shropshire. The event will run from 5-18 May 10 with pilots able to drop in and out as required. As per last year Roy is hoping to secure a big name to give an evening lecture and to offer guidance on the hill. The event will also encompass a confirmed BCC Round at the Long Mynd over the weekend of 8-9 May. Further details will be released on this site as soon as they are available.

18 JAN 10 - LANZAROTE SPORTS TOUR - PLACES AVAILABLE. Although the closing date for applications to Ex FAMARA GLIDE has passed, surplus capacity in the accn and transport means that there are still places available for pilots interested in attending. For more information please contact Matt Tandy via treasurer@rafhpa.com as soon as possible.

06 DEC 09 - SPRING SPORTS TOUR - CHANGE OF VENUE. Due to 2 fatal PG accidents last month in Morocco involving UK pilots we have had to suspend the plans for Ex ATLAS ADVENTURE 10A which was scheduled for Mar 2010. However, an alternative destination is being sought and is most likely to be one of the Canary Islands. Proposed dates are 1-12 Mar 10 and pilots should be able to fly in and out within reason during that period to suit their indiviual circumstances. If you'd like to attend please contact Matt Tandy via treasurer@rafhpa.com or email the Yahoo Group as soon as possible.

25 OCT 09 - EX ATLAS ADVENTURE 09B SUCCESSFUL - FOLLOW UP EVENT CONFIRMED. Jerry Thwaites and team have returned from a successful 8-day Sports Tour to the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. With a pair of North African tours chalked up this year the Association is looking to capitalise on the experiences gained and run a large Morocco Traing Camp in Feb/Mar next year with places for up to 10 pilots or more if the demand is there. If you are interested in attending what promises to be a high quality event please send an email to the RAFHPA Yahoo Group or direct to Jerry via expeditions@rafhpa.com as soon as possible.

16 OCT 09 - DATES FOR 2010 HG AND PG CHAMPS ANNOUNCED. The 2010 Inter Service HG and PG Championships will be held in back to back weeks from 6-11 Jun 10 (HG) and 12-18 Jun 10 (PG). This should provide an opportunity for the whole of the Services free flying community to meet up at JSHPC as well as allow pilots who compete in both disciplines to enter both competitions. There have also been changes to the entry criteria for the PG Open Class. Further details are available from your team captains.

12 SEP 09 - JERRY THWAITES IS RAF CHAMPION - BUT ARMY TAKE TOP HONOURS. The PG Champs are over and it feels like winter is on the way already. However, last week the sun did shine in Wales for the last 3 days of the Inter Service Paragliding Champs and in challenging conditions Jerry Thwaites earned third place in the Open Class behind Army Pilots Simon Green and Andy Rudd; he was awarded the title of RAF Champion in the process. The RAF Team was beaten into third place behind the Army and Navy. On a brighter note, new pilot Oli Fisher from Brize Norton flew extremely well to come in as RAF runner up and was awarded most improved pilot by Comp Director, Gavin Foster.

03 SEP 09 - PG CHAMPS ARE HERE. The 2009 PG Champs are almost upon us with the RAF Team under as much pressure as England were to regain the Ashes! The Army have held the coverted Inter Service Champions Team prize for too long (although 2007 was by default due to the weather). With the RAF fielding a strong team on paper could this be the year to reclaim what is rightfully theirs? Good luck to all those taking part.

08 AUG 09 - TREMBLERS FOR SI GREEN. Renowned Army PG Pilot Simon Green has logged a fabulous flight on the Joint Services XC League which virtually guarantees him the XC Prize for 2009. His 111km flight via a turnpoint from Llangorse, in the Black Moutains to Little Rollright in the West Midlands on 8 Aug 09 was a truly outstanding effort from which he will throughly deserve to bring home the trophy. Many congratulations to Si.

22 JUL 09 - RAFHPA LANDS ACTIVE FRONT COVER. The RAFHPA features heavily in the Summer Edition of RAF Active Magazine. A classy photo from Ex GOLD STANDARD, the Nepal Expedition led by Matt Cooper, graces the front cover with a detailed article written by Jim Haskins featruring on the inside pages together with a comprehensive entry in 'What's On'. Congratulations were received from the editorial team for putting together such a fine article. Much kudos to all involved.

07 JUN 09 - EX ATLAS ADVENTURE NEW DATES. The sports tour to Morocco scheduled for Nov has been brought forward to Oct due a change in competition dates. This means that some pilots who were due to attend the tour are now unable to make the new dates and leaves slots available for other interested members. If you would like to know more please email Matt Tandy via membership@rafhpa.com as soon as possible.

30 MAY 09 - BCC ROUND IN MALVERNS. A strong Easterly wind thwarted what were otherwise excellent conditions in the Malverns yesterday with both the Sat and Sun rounds being cancelled on safety grounds within half an hour of the rendezvous at The Kettle Sings car park. It was a good day for the hang glider community who arrived in numbers and soon started climbing out in an epic looking sky. Indeed the previous day 6 paragliders flew from the Malverns to Aberdovey on the Welsh Coast, some 120km. It just goes to show that in free flying as in many things, timing is everything.

14 MAY 09 - BCC ROUND IN NORTH WALES AND SHROPSHIRE WINGS CANCELLED. The weather has had the last laugh this weekend. A particularly gloomy forecast has led us to cancel the BCC Round the RAFHPA called in North Wales to coincide with the second weekend of Ex SHROPSHIRE WINGS which has also been called off.

11 MAY 09 - BCC ROUND IN NORTH WALES. The RAFHPA has called a BCC Round in North Wales on the weekend of 16-17 May 09 to coincide with Ex SHROPSHIRE WINGS. The North Wales Club has generously given us permission to use their sites which are based on the range of hills to the Northwest of Oswestry and Llangollen. Further details will be sent out on both RAFHPA and JSHPG Yahoo Groups later this week. Travel Authority (standard reference), accn at Nescliffe Camp and retrieve vehicles are all available for the weekend courtesy of the Shropshire training event. Pilots who'd like to attend and who haven't previously registered for Ex SHROPSHIRE WINGS are requested to let Matt Tandy know as soon as possible via membership@rafhpa.com with their details.

10 MAY 09 - SPRING FLYING. It's May already and Spring has definitely sprung with RAF free fliers making the best of good flying conditions to get some airtime over the last couple of weekends. The BCC Round in SE Wales saw a good day at Nant-y-Moel on 2 May and Norm Potts flew on most days of the HG Open Round which was also in SE Wales. Ex SHROPSHIRE WINGS kicked off this week and the team up there had to wait until the weekend to get some quality flying on the Long Mynd and down in the Malverns with some decent XC distances being achieved. Meanwhile an RAF split team had a good day on Mercury with every Advance glider you can think of airborne at the same time. Daily updates from the team based at Nescliffe Camp are being posted on the JSHPG Yahoo Group.

26 APR 09 - BCC ROUNDS MAY DAY BANK HOLIDAY. The Avon Club has called BCC Rounds in SE Wales over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend and the RAF Team will be taking part. Further details will be available via the RAFHPA Yahoo Group nearer the time. However, if you'd like to take part and if you think accn at the JSHPC would be useful please register you interest, again using the Yahoo Group, as soon as possible.

23 APR 09 - MOROCCO SPORTS TOUR NOV 2009. Dates are firming up for the proposed Morocco Sports Tour later this year. The RAFHPA is planning to coincide the date of the tour with a Moroccan XC Competition which is due to take place over the period 11-17 Nov 09. Pilots interested in taking part should contact Matt Tandy via matt@rafhpa.com with their details.

17 APR 09 - BCC ROUND LATEST. The Joint Services Team has been withdrawn from the Shropshire Rounds but the good news is that the weather is set fair for a BCC Round in SE Wales on Sun 19 Apr 09. Meet at the Waitrose Car Park in Abergavenny at 1030. The forecast is looking like a classic Pandy day out so bring your GPS and air chart. You might just need them!

15 APR 09 - BCC ROUND IN SHROPSHIRE. The next BCC Round is scheduled to be hosted by the Long Mynd Club on their local sites during the weekend of 18-19 Apr 09. Roy Dade from the Army HPA has secured accn and transport at Nesscliffe Camp to support the Joint Services Team. The standard Travel Authority will be available for RAF pilots wishing to take part.

13 APR 09 - BCC UPDATE. Pete Gallagher of the JSHPC put the first points on the board for the Joint Services Team during the BCC Round in SE Wales held over the Easter Weekend. On the Saturday light winds and punchy spring thermals made for some challenging flying but Pete was able to keep his wing above his head and fly from Taly-y-bont to Merthyr. With our duck now broken its time to keep up the pace and help haul the team into the top 6 so that we can compete in the final which will be help in The Long Mynd area on 1-2 Aug 09.

29 MAR 09 - BCC EASTER WEEKEND. The Avon Club has called BCC Rounds in SE Wales for the whole of the Easter Weekend (Fri 10 - Sun 13 Apr 09). If you'd like to get involved please email your interest via the RAFHPA Yahoo Group.

28 MAR 09 - Ex FLYING FEZ CONCLUDES SUCCESSFULLY. The Moroccan Team arrived safely back in the UK yesterday and they finished their adventure on a high with a superb day of Atlas Mountain thermalling. Those pilots who needed it also completed their Pilot Rating exams and all involved confirmed that they'd highly recommend Morocco to fellow free fliers. To that end the RAFHPA is looking to run a follow up Morocco Sports Tour later this year (Oct/Nov). If you're interested in principal in attending Ex FLYING FEZ 09B please contact Matt Tandy via matt@rafhpa.com with your details.

22 MAR 09 - MOROCCO TOUR UPDATE. Ex FLYING FEZ 09A is underway in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco. The team arrived with high expectations only to have to dodge CBs on Day 1. However, since then things have improved somewhat and the XC competition training against a combined Franco-Dutch-Moroccan team has begun. Chris Williams was the best placed RAFHPA pilot in fourth position after the first leg but there is still much to play for!

22 MAR 09 - BCC ROUND GOES TO AVON TEAM. The Avon A Team took the honours in the opening round of the BCC held in SE Wales on 21 Mar 09. The marginal conditions allowed most pilots to get airborne but very few to get away from the Blorenge. Matt Cooper and Phil Day represented the RAF within the Joint Services Team and its hoped that the Services will put in a strong performance this year to get back to the winning ways of 2004-5. All Club Pilot or higher rated pilots are welcome to compete in the BCC. If you'd like more information please contact the Chairman via chairman@rafhpa.com with your details.

19 MAR 09 - FIRST BCC ROUND OF 2009. The first BCC Round of 2009 has been called by the SE Wales Club for the weekdend of 21-22 Mar 09. The Joint Services have submitted a team and all RAF pilots who are Club Pilot rated or better are welcome to attend. Full details will be relased via the Chat Group as they become available. The BCC is a friendly competition between UK clubs with an emphasis firmly on learning the ropes of XC flying. Travel authority has been granted by the RAF Sports Board and the details can be found in the following link.

10 MAR 09 - NEPAL EXPED RETURNS. The Nepal Team are safely back in the UK and it sounds like they've had a proper adventure. Articles are being drafted for the RAF News and RAF Active magazine to tell the wider Air Force of their exploits. It's hoped to get some of their pictures uploaded onto both the Yahoo Group and this website very soon.

27 FEB 09 - NEPAL EXPED UPDATES. Matt Cooper and team arrived in Nepal earlier this week and have been keeping us up to date with regular blogs via the Yahoo Group. So far the exped has been a resounding success and we can look forward to a full report upon their return which is due to be published in the next edition of RAF Active magazine. If you're not registered for the RAFHPA Chat Group but think you should be then please email Matt Tandy via membership@rafhpa.com.

10 JAN 09 - NESSCLIFFE SPRING MEET. Roy Dade has set a date for a UK Spring Meet as 7-19 May 09. The base will be Nesscliffe Camp in Shropshire with the aim to fly the superb sites in the area including the Long Mynd (W-WNW), Llangollen (NW-N), Long Mountain Mountain (NNW - N) and Corndon (NNW - SE) to name but a few. The meet includes 2 long weekends and the bit between during what is normally a very flyable time. A combi-van will be available to retrieve the inevitable XC'ers. The meet is open to Army, RAF and Navy pilots. More details to follow via the Chat Groups but please email Roy direct on roydade@hotmail.com. if you are interested in attending.

01 JAN 09 - SPRING TRAINING CAMP - MOROCCO. The RAFHPA is planning a training camp to Morocco in late March. Morocco is famed for its reliable spring weather and provides everything from coastal soaring to excellent XC potential in the Atlas Mountains. We have approached Toby Colombe of Passion Paragliding with a view to block booking the course for the week commencing 13 Mar 09 or 20 Mar 09 depending on personnel availability. If you would like to be a part of this venture please send your details and availability Matt Tandy via membership@rafhpa.com.. All experience levels will be considered. Deadline for replies is COP 9 Jan 09.

07 DEC 08 - BHPA SAFETY NOTICE. The Chairman of the BHPA Flying & Safety Committee has released a Safety Notice relating to 360 degree turns and nose-down spiral dives. The notice can be viewed at the following link.

30 NOV 08 - COMMITTEE MEETING 12 DEC 08. The next RAFHPA Committee meeting is scheduled to take place at RAF Benson on Fri 12 Dec 08. For further details and to submit agenda items or to pass on apologies please contact Matt Tandy via membership@rafhpa.com. Non Committe members are also welcome to attend and are requested to contact the Chairman to confirm their attendance.

12 SEP 08 - BAVARIA PG SYMPOSIUM JOINING INSTRUCTIONS. The Joining Instructions for the forthcoming Bavaria Paragliding Symposium can be downloaded from the following link.

06 SEP 08 - PARAGLIDING CHAMPS WASHED OUT. The weather had the last laugh as the Paragliding Champs were totally washed out by a spell of unseasonably poor weather. The week became more of a social event with a fabulous dinner attended by Richard Westagte as guest speaker. For full details on the weeks' events see the blog at the following link.

23 AUG 08 - PARAGLDING CHAMPS. The Inter Service Paragliding Champs are almost upon us. If you'd like to take part but haven't yet registered then there's still time. Contact Gordon Blackley the Competitions Member via competitions@rafhpa.com with your details.

22 JUL 08 - BAVARIA EXPEDITION 13-23 OCT 08. The Association is planning an expedition to Bavaria to coincide with the Paragliding Symposium being run by the ATCPW at Wertach during the period 13-23 Oct 08. The basic plan will be to deploy to Wertach and to join in with relevant symposium activities (presentations, lectures, training and flying), and in addition to conduct some of our own coaching and training including tandem instruction.

01 JUL 08 - OZONE CHABRE OPEN REPORT. Sean Simmons, Paragliding Member for the RAFHPA, recently attended the Ozone Chabre Open as part of the Joint Service Team. Sean's excellent report on the event can be found at the following link.

26 JUN 08 - INTER SERVICE PG CHAMPS ADMIN ORDER. The Admin Order for the forthcoming Inter Service PG Champs has been released. All members who wish to attend are encouraged to read the order then complete and return Annex A to the Competitions Member. The file can be downloaded from the Yahoo Group.

29 MAY 08 - NORTH FACE 1/4 ZIP FLEECE. The Treasurer would like to remind all members that the RAFHPA now has a lightweight ¼ zip fleece available to pilots to complement the t-shirt, jacket and flying suit that are also currently stocked. For full details see the Gear Page.

25 MAY 08 - TANDEM WEEKEND 4-6 JUL 08. A Novice Tandem Weekend is being planned to take place in SE Wales during the period 4-6 JUN 08. Although the event is aimed primarily at those wishing to have a taste of the sport for the first time it is open to all personnel. If you're interested in taking part contact Sean Simmons, the Paragliding Member via paragliding@rafhpa.com.

16 MAY 08 - TRAINING WEEKEND 31 MAY - 1 JUN 08. The next training weekend will take place at JSHPC Crickhowell on 31 May and 1 Jun 08. This coaching weekend is designed to suit individuals training requirements prior to competing in the Joint Service champs later in the year. Anyone intending to participate in this event should contact Trev Preece via development@rafhpa.com to disscus individual training requirements. New members who do not wish to compete in the champs are also welcome. All members, especially club coaches are invited to attend to assist with the running of the weekend.

14 MAY 08 - Funeral of MAJOR ALEX BLAKE. The Funeral for Alex Blake will be held at St Helen's Church, Abingdon on 19 May 08 at 1245 hrs. All are welcome to attend. The funeral will followed by a wake in the Officers' Mess at Vauxhall Barracks, Didcot. Dress is Service Dress with medals and black armbands for officers and warrant officers. The family has requested that there be no floral tributes but there will be a collection for nominated charities including Winston's Wish, William and Grace Trust, Army Benevolent Fund and Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

02 MAY 08 - MAJOR ALEX BLAKE. On Wed 30 Apr 08, Major Alex Blake, Secretary of the Army HPA, was killed whilst paragliding in Spain. A Board of Inquiry has been convened. Alex will be sorely missed on the hill where his trademark smile and boundless enthusiasm would brighten up the murkiest of days on Merthyr. Our thoughts are with his wife Vicki and children Tom and Lola.

14 APR 08 - COMMITTEE MEETING 12 MAY 08. The next RAFHPA Committee meeting is scheduled to take place at RAF Brize Norton on Mon 12 May 08. For further details and to submit agenda items or to pass on apologies please contact the Secretary via secretary@rafhpa.com. Non Committe members are also welcome to attend and are requested to contact the Secretary to confirm their attendance.

10 JAN 08 - COMMITTEE MEETING DATE AND VENUE CHANGE. Please note that the Committee Meeting scheduled for 14 Jan 08 has been postponed until 28 Jan 08. The venue has also changed and is now RAF Brize Norton. For further details and to submit agenda items or to pass on apologies please contact the Secretary via secretary@rafhpa.com. Non Committe members are also welcome to attend and are requested to contact the Secretary to confirm their attendance.

02 JAN 08 - RAFHPA FORUM CLOSED. All members should note that the RAFHPA Forum has been closed down TFN. This was in response to the question that was posed to all members in Summer 2007 asking them if they preferred the Forum or Chat Group. The Chat Group came out on top. If you are not signed up to the Yahoo Chat Group please follow the link on the Membership Page.

01 JAN 08 - We would like to wish a Happy New Year to all of our members. We can only hope that 2008 is a productive year with weather suitable for all types of free flying.

30 DEC 07 - The JSHPC courses schedule for 2008-09 has been published and is available to download here. To those of you who are CP qualified (and that should be all Association members) please take note of the post CP courses on the new schedule. The rest of the Association's calendar should soon fall into place around this framework and details will be released on this site as soon as possible.

19 NOV 07 - The previous news item was based on an email that it now seems was somewhat misleading. The aforementioned sites in SE Wales are not closed to HG and PG activity but have restricted vehicle access. This is no different to previous policy but it is being rigidly enforced. Failure to comply may well result in more restrictive measures that do have an impact on flying. If you don't know what the rules are for each site then you shouldn't be flying there. Please ask before you go.

16 NOV 07 - Please note that the Association has recieved word that several sites in SE Wales have been closed by the land owner to all HG and PG activity. These sites are MERTHYR COMMON, FOCHRIW and BEDLINOG. Please do not fly these sites until further information is received from the SE Wales Club who are working to resolve the situation.

15 OCT 07 - At today's Committee Meeting amongst other items, the events programme for 2008 was discussed. Although the full details are still to be finalised it looks like we have another great year in prospect with events suitable for all levels of experience but with a slant towards squad development and of course enjoyment. First up is likely to be an Easter training event followed later in the Summer by a expedition or sports tour to the South of France. Throughout the year there will also be BCC rounds, membership tailored training weekends and XC courses. If you would like to help out with the planning of any of the events as well as taking part please contact the Chairman to offer your services. Remember that this is your Association and your input is vital in ensuring that the RAFHPA delivers the events that offer the most benefit to the membership.

06 OCT 07 - The next RAFHPA Committee meeting will take place at JSHPC Crickhowell, on Monday 15 October 2007 at 1000 hrs. Non Committee members are welcome to attend and are requested to contact the Chairman to confirm their attendance.

08 SEP 07 - The Army sweep the board at the UK Paragliding Champs. Andy Rudd is the new Joint Services Paragliding Champion and a strong Army Team were clear winners after a week of good weather and some excellent flying. An understrength RAF Team performed well to earn second place and a special mention must go to Rob Kerslake. Rob, in his final outing for the Light Blue became the new RAF Champion and was unlucky to finish in fourth place overall.

02 SEP 07 - The Inter Service UK Paragliding Championships are upon us. If you are unable to attend but would like to keep up to date with what's happening look out for the blog which will be published on the RAFHPA Forum and through the JSHPA Yahoo Group.

23 AUG 07 - All paraglider pilots attending the forthcoming Inter Service Championships are reminded to bring their GPS and the appropriate upload cable for connection to a PC.

01 AUG 07 - All paraglider pilots who wish to attend the Advanced Flying Week which preceeds the UK Paragliding Chamionships are required to apply via the standard JSAT form which can be found in JSP419. The week is being run as Pilot Intermediate Course (PIP) 1.5. You can download the JSP from the RAF Intranet or via the AHPA Links page which can be found here.

26 JUL 07- RAFHPA makes the RAF News (20 July 2007 edition) with an article on the Alpine Paragliding Championships. Well worth a read if you can lay your hands on a copy.

06 JUL 07 - The next RAFHPA Committe Meeting will be held on Friday 27 Jul 07 at JSHPC Crickhowell. Further details to follow from the Secretary. Agenda items are requested for submission as soon as possible via secretary@rafhpa.com. Non committee members may also request to attend the meeting through the Secretary.

05 JUL 07 - Ex SARANGKOT TIGER Cancelled. The proposed Army Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association sponsored expedition to Nepal in Jan 08 has been called off. An insufficient number of pilots were able to make a firm commitment. On that basis Alex Blake was unable to continue with planning.

29 JUN 07 - Minutes for Committee Meeting of 04 Apr 07 available to view on the Minutes page.

21 JUN 07 - Exped Leaders Course for HG and PG pilots announced by OC JSHPC. Volunteers for the course, which is planned to run in Oct-Nov 07, should contact Maggie at JSHPC (01873 810386) and send a copy of their flying CV. For full details please see the topic in the Forum.

16 JUN 07 - URGENT REQUEST FOR DRIVERS - UK PG CHAMPS. All members are asked to trawl their units for suitable personnel to act as retrieve drivers for the forthcoming Inter Service UK Paraglding Champs which take place during the first week in Sep. Drivers must be 21, and hold a UK license with a minibus endorsement. Drivers will be required for the whole competition, including the weekends before and after. Expenses will be covered (with the exception of beer). In addition, we will offer all drivers the opportunity to 'have a go' though tandem flying. This is usually a great experience. Please contact Sean Simmons on 95233 8707, 020 8833 8707, 07717 267891 or via secretary@rafhpa.com.

15 JUN 07 - Senior Service success at Crickhowell as Rob Dowdell is crowned Joint Services Hang Gliding Champion and the Royal Navy also walk away with the team prize. Commiserations to our RAF team. Following on from their success in Slovenia it seems that the Navy has had a good year all round. Maybe the floppies can start to turn the tide at the Paragliding Champs in Sep.

13 JUN 07 - Both the AHPA and JSHPC have recently announced details of expeditions to Nepal which will be run in Jan/Feb 08. For further details please see the messages posted in the Forum.

12 JUN 07 - The DIN for the 2007 UK Inter Service Hang Gliding Championships has been released and is available to download from the Events Page.

10 JUN 07 - The 2007 UK Inter Service Hang Gliding Champs begin this week. Good Luck to the RAF Team. We look forward to reporting your progress during the week.

01 JUN 07 - RAFHPA Committee Changes. With Paul Mahony's imminent departure from the RAF, the Association is about to get a new Chairman. Please keep an eye on these pages for further details. A group email and Forum message will be released when all is in readiness for the changeover. Also, please note that the contact number for the Equipment Member has recently changed. Details on the Committee Page.

10 MAY 07 - Paul Mahony is the RAF Alpine Paragliding Individual Champion once again. On his last outing for the RAF, Paul narrowly missed out on becoming Joint Service Champion after a hard fought battle with Rory Lynch from the Royal Navy. We wish Paul well for the future and life outside of the mob. The inexperienced team fought well but was similarly pushed into second place by the Royal Navy. So, there's work to be done and the UK Championships are just under four months away!

28 APR 07 - The 2007 Alpine Paragliding Champs have begun. For the latest news please check the RAFHPA Forum or the JSPGPILOTS Yahoo Group.

18 APR 07 - The Application Form for entry to the Inter Service UK Hang Gliding Champs is available to download from the Events page of this website. The Champs are running during the period 11-15 Jun 07.

18 JAN 07 - Please visit the Forum to see the topic about Mode S Transponders and to sign up on the No 10 E-Petition.

24 DEC 06 - Festive wishes go to all our members and fellow airmen/airwomen. We hope to see you all out on the hill in 2007.

03 DEC 06 - We apologise for the lack of updates to the website over the past couple of months. Our host server locked us out due to an error on their part. We hope to play catch up over the coming weeks.

05 OCT 06 - The Warning Order for the 2007 Inter Service Alpine Chapmionships in Slovenia has been issued. If you are interested please contact Paul Mahony via chairman@rafhpa.com.

24 SEP 06 - There are now 25 registered users of the RAFHPA Forum. This is a fantastic response in just 7 days and there have already been some useful discussion points raised. The website is also starting to take shape. If you feel inspired by all this and would like to write an article or have any images that you'd like to share then please submit them to the webmaster via webmaster@rafhpa.com.

17 SEP 06 - RAFHPA members are encouraged to register and use the brand new Forum even though this website is still undergoing construction, there's more to follow so keep calling back......

12 SEP 06 - The decorators are in !! The RAFHPA is having a makeover. Please bear with us while the site is being totally re-designed.

11 SEP 06 - RAFHPA members are requested to send articles and images for inclusion on this website to Matt Tandy.