Aspen 3 28 Certified

The Aspen 3 should be ready by the end of January 2009. Rumours are that the 28 has just passed certification Cen C

2 NEW WORLD RECORDS

On Sunday 14th December, Nevil Hulett flew the first ever 500km flight on a paraglider from Copperton in South Africa. He also broke the Distance to Goal record at 402km. The flight took 7 hours 40 mins at an amazing average of 65kph.

The forecast was for perfect zone close to the trough line with a 15,000-18,000ft cloud base and 5m/s thermals and strong winds from the WNW.

James Braid reports:-

The conditions were really strong, high clouds, strong winds, strong thermals, just the stuff one needs. Unfortunately, only a handful of pilots in the world can handle that kind of flying.”

Other pilots choose not to fly as it was 'technically blown out'.

Congratulations to Nevil. It is great to see the Record back in South Africa!

For more news see ParaglidingForum and FlyGirls Website

STOP PRESS Nevil has downloaded the flight log here. 503.6km straight line using WGS84 Ellipsoid!! (One airspace bust to resolve before ratification - Airway W81 and , um, landing in another country!)


On the same day a group of Atos pilots who have been at a record encampment at Postmasburg to the North West had some great flights. The longest was Toni Raumauf who flew 527km (but his flight goes through Kimberley and Blomfontein CTR's, lets hope that Neville's flight is deemed legal)

Big Distances in South Africa

South African Gradient importer, James Braid, reports that flights of 342 and 321km were made from Groblershoop (100km SE of Uppington) on 1st December. The day started perfectly but high level cirrus later in the day shut things down. The pilots landed near Colsburg with one pilot climbing at a sustained 10m/s along the way.

Longest flight of the 2008/2009 season so far

Martin Gorayski flies 371.9 km from Quixada and leads the FAI World XC Online Contest and the World XContest

Gradient Aspen 3 Proto goes well in South Africa

Congratulations to Ondrej Dupal (Gradient Director) who put the Gradient Aspen 3 proto through its paces winning 2 tasks at the De Aar Pre-Xc Open. The glider should be ready by March 2009.

The competition was won by Nevil Hulett (Mac Para Magus 6) with Adam Dolezal 3rd (Gradient Avax XC2 - 2nd Serial), Jon Pio 4th (Gradient Aspen 2 - 1st Sports), Ondrej Dupal 5th (Gradient Aspen 3), Damian Sykes 6th (Gradient Aspen 2 - 2nd Sports) and ... Des Pansi 8th (1st Female).

The competition was marred by the death of competitor Wojciech Siudek from Poland. It looks like he died from Impact Trauma after hitting or turning low to avoid power lines 160km down route. Our sympathies go out to his family and friends.

New South African Ladies Open Distance Record

Congratulations to Des Pansi who has just set a new South African Ladies Distance Record at the pre XC Open at De Aar. Ondrej Dupal won the first day with a flight via 3 turnpoints of 247.6km on a prototype Aspen 3, Adam Dolezal was 2nd with 238.7km (Gradient Avax XC2) and Des was 3rd with 210.1km also on an XC2. Clean sweep for Gradient! The weather forecast is looking great for the next few days. Have a look at that cloud base to the north!

Fly Pics

I have just set up a Picasa Account and will be adding web albums in due course.

Link to South African flights

Here

Very Cool Speed Flying Video - Dave Edwards in New Zealand

Big Distances in Brazil

Pilots at the XC International Meeting have been logging some impressive flights. On 2/11, Spanish pilot Lary Pino flew 298.8km in 8 hrs 24 mins and on 7/11 Swiss pilot Simon Brulisauer flew 282.85km on a Gradient XC in 8 hours both from Quixada. Simon is currently leading the 2009 World XC Contest . Also check out Leonardo.

The 500km chase continues

Pilots all over the world are on the hunt for the first 500km flight on a Paraglider. In Brazil, the amazingly successful Sol Northeast Expedition which broke the World Open Distance Record last year with 461.2km has started. Also in Brazil, the XCeara Free Fly XC International Meet runs from 1st -21st November, and the XCeara 2008 Cross Country Classic from the 22nd-30th. In South Africa, Des and Arnold are hosting the Pre-XC Open event in De Aar from 15th Nov -22nd Nov. FlyGirl has a list of registered pilots and their gliders. The most favoured wings.... Gradient of course! Two Slovenians ?! are teaming up with South African Gradient importer, James Braid, for another record attempt from 28th Nov to 16th Dec.


The ENSO cycle is still neutral and is forecast to stay that way into early 2009 so watch this space!

Gradient Avax XC 2 wins the British Paragliding XC League

Richard Westgate (Me!) wins the British Paragliding XC League flying an Avax XC2 24.

Despite one of the worst summers on record, I managed 4 flights over 100km in June and July which was enough to win the 2008 XC League. (606.7km from 6 flights).

Congratulations also to Burkitt Rudd (Avax SR7) in 4th (445.4km) and Tim Guilford (Bi Golden!) in 5th (437.6km).

Looking ahead to record breaking in South Africa

More evidence that we need a strong El Nino for 500km record breaking weather conditions in South Africa. The attached article clearly shows a correlation between El Nino and less rain and higher average November and December temperatures. ENSO is currently neutral and predictions are that we may have to wait until 2009 for an El Nino to develop.

In the meantime, a massive thank you to Gradient for building a special Bi Golden Tandem with unsheathed lines and a new speed system to join the race for the first paragliding 500km.

I will post photographs later...

Cris Miles flying a Gradient Avax XC2 wins the BPC

Congratulations to Cris Miles for winning the 2008 British Paragliding Cup aboard his Avax XC2. The Cup was plagued by bad weather this year with only 5 valid tasks. Congratulations also to Tony Spirling (3rd Avax XC2), David Thomsom (6th Avax XC2) and to Ruth Churchill Dower (8th Aspen 2 and 2nd best female)


1 MILES, Cris (Gradient Wings / Stay High) Avax Xc 2 1902
2 SANDWITH, Martin (Gin / UKAirsports / Aerofix ) 1720
3 SPIRLING, Tony Avax Xc 2 1658

European Distance Record smashed on a Gradient Avax XC2

Czech pilot, Karel Vejchodsky has just flown 332.6 from Nove Sady, flying west into Germany.

'I could manage to fly very fast as very nice cloudstreets formed in first 2/3 of the distance. In the end of flight after crossing CZ/Germany borders I flew in sweet cloudless themals. The wind was not strong but conditions allowed me to push speedbar between clouds almost constantly. I am still surprised with performance of Avax XC2, great to know it is possible to fly big distances with today´s serial class gliders. I am so happy! '

World Record conditions in Texas

David Prentice reports on PG Forum:

I have been torturing myslef here in the NW by watching the radar sat loop of the conditions in south Texas, and i saw that today was setting up to be epic and it was. The good cloud streets finally set up all the way to the New Mexico border, unfortunately there was not a single PG pilot there to give it a go. We are up in Washington waiting for the Chelan X-C open. But there were several HG pilots who were in Zapata and late news is that Dustin Martin flew 410 miles landing north of Big Spring TX, just 23 miles short of the HG world record. Gary Osaba may have set a new world record for light sailplane class flying 483 miles. Usually these record days come in sets of two or three where sometimes each day gets slightly better. David Prentice The Strong La Nina over the winter has become neutral, obviously a global pattern that is benefiting Texas at the moment. Good luck guys.

370km on a Deck Chair!

Phil Bibby reports that our World Record Tandem distance has been bettered by a guy on a sunlounger !!!

Last Saturday Ken Couch, emulating icon Larry Walters, flew a garden deckchair from Bend; Oregon to Cambridge; Idaho, a distance of 370 Km!

'I feel gutted ! We need to respond, I feel perhaps, 400Km on a Double Bed might be a suitable repost !'

CNN News

He's at it again! Yesterday he took off at 06.00hrs PST in an attempt to extend his PB. You can track his flight here.

Oh well, I guess we will have to accept defeat on this one!

Glide Comparisons

An interesting table produced by Pierre-Jean Borniche comparing Paraglider Max L/D from Magazine Tests. It shows that the Gradient Avax XC2 is the top performer in its class.

Weather improving in Texas

David Prentice reports that the weather is getting better for World Record Chasing in Texas. Watch this space. Update 26/06 too blue over Zapata but much better conditiosn to the east.

German Magazine 'Fly & Glide' tests the Gradient Avax XC2

Another positive test result for the Gradient Avax XC2, this time from 'Fly & Glide' Magazine.

'a wing with exceptional stability and performance'.

Test report from Fly and Glide 7/2008 (in German)

SimplyGradient to import R'SpeedConcept 'Speed Flying' Wings

We are now also importers for R'SpeedConcept (Leaders in Speed) wings, the 13m2 Basik, 11.5m2 Kobra, 10m2 Interceptor and 8.5m2 Predator. Designed by Serge Collin with Mendo Veljanovski, these are some of the best speed riding wings on the market with excellent build quality and proven competition performance (David Eyraud: 2nd Big Mountain, 3rd Parallel Slalom).

For more information contact us on +44 (0) 7974 208076 in the UK or email rich@born2fly.co.uk and see our new blog at http://rspeedconcept.blogspot.com.







For more information on this exciting new sport see the Paragliding Forum Speed Riding section
and the Speed Flying Website.

Gradient Aspen almost takes the Scottish Distance Record Again!

STOP PRESS

24/July/2008

Regretably, due to an airspace infringement at Otterburn Danger Area, this flight will no longer count towards the 2008 XC League and the official Scottish Distance Record reverts back to David Thomson with 123.9km.




Congratulations to Julian Robinson who flew from Tinto to Ryal on 14th June to extend the Scottish Distance record to 124.9km. The flight was fast, taking less than 5 hours with a maximum altitude of 5800ft. Julian now leads the British Paragliding XC League with 442.1km from 6 flights. His first 100km flight in the UK was an impressive 104.2km on 5th May from Beinn Toaig to Strathcarron, across the Highlands. Both flights can been seen on the XC League (XCL Table) here.

The previous record of 123.9km was set by David Thomson on his Gradient Aspen on 10th April 2006 from Dungavel to the east coast in an even more impressive 3hrs and 50mins. David is currently 4th in the league and has recently switched to the Avax XC2, so Julian may have to watch his back!

New Gradient Lightweight Glider

Introducing the Montana - the new light weight glider from GRADIENT, successor of the legendary Delite. Last year, the first prototypes of the new glider were tested in South Africa and Australia. The Montana has 40 cells and, although it uses similar materials, is 400 grams lighter than the Delite. With somewhat thinner risers the new gliders is perfect for climbers and travellers. The Montana comes in 3 sizes (24 m ², 26m ² and 28m ²) with a weight range from 65 kg to 110 kg. The 28 Montana has already EN certification as well as the German LTF 1-2. Sizes 26 and 24 will follow in the next days.

The 500km quest moves to Texas

The 2008 WRE is planned for July 16th through July 30th. Pilots who want to try for long flights, personal bests, or World Records should contact the WRE organizer, Gary Osoba at <wosoba>.

Dave Prentice's World Record Chase (WRC) is set from 10th to 28th June also from Zapata. Check out his blog.

The Drought Monitor is showing a very dry area where it was wet last year. This is the area where the driest conditions are needed. Watch this space!

Acro Video from Adam Ingram

Gradient sponsored pilot Adam Ingram has just sent me the following video of him on a training session in Turkey. Have a look at his web site, Anti-Gravity.

Aspen 2 Photos

Tandem World Record holder, Phil Bibby, bumped into professional Photo Journalist Mark Walker on top of the Wrekin last month. He took some great pics of his Gradient Aspen 2

more pictures can be found at :-

http://www.redbackphotography.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=128



Direct email for Mark is :- mailto:shooter@redbackphotography.com

Gleitschirm Magazine reviews the Gradient XC2

Gradient Catalogue updated

You can download the new Gradient Catalogue here
and a glider summary poster here.

Landing a Wing Suit

Ok, here is something even crazier....they are now going to try to land one!
and Loic Jean Albert, the 'flying dude' over Verbier and other videos.

Sick, Cool or Crazy?!

I've been meaning to post this for a while. Thanks to eternalglide.blogspot.com for the link. Probably the limit of adrenalin sports; for the time being!

My first flight of XC 2

Bournemouth Cliffs looking West with Boscombe pier in the foreground and Bournemouth pier in the distance.

Dodge the Crane!

I had my first flight of the year and my first on the XC2 today; a quick soar up and down Bournemouth cliffs (UK) before an approaching warm front with rain and strengthening winds stopped play. First impressions; amazingly agile for a high aspect ratio wing, with well coordinated turn behaviour, progressive feel to the brakes and a very good glide. I felt at home on it straight away... roll on the 2008 season!

Gradient Acro Pilot wins again

Gradient report that Antoine Montant (Fr) flying the Gradient Seven acro wing has won the New Zealand International Aerobatic Comp.

Congratuations

1 Antoine Montant (FRA)
2 Felix Rodriguez (SPA)
3 Jonathan Barbe (FRA)

Keep an eye out for British acro pilot Adam Ingram who is also flying a Gradient Seven this year.

Paul MacCready on TED

If you haven't come across TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) before, it is an invitation-only event where the world's leading thinkers and doers gather to find inspiration. Here, the legendery Paul MacCready talks about human powered flight and much more...