WOMEN’S PARAGLIDING

20/02/2016

horizontal break

CCC gliders

Delegates vote for 90kg

It looks like at the CIVL Plenary meeting, delegates have passed their vote on a number of important subjects, notably the manufacturing and testing of the CC class or “CCC”.

It has been agreed that CCC gliders will be scaled using the XS size and maximum take-off weight of 90kg in order to pass certification. All other sizes will use linear scaling from this XS size to produce other gliders in this class.

Existing gliders are not affected by the new standard and their configuration will stay the same, and it is unlikely that there will be further scaling down from the mandatory XS size, however in the event that a manufacturer wishes to do so, this will now be possible.

The new certification standard will open doors for other paraglider manufacturers to produce competition wings, as well as enable lighter, smaller competition pilots to fly CCC class gliders.  In the past the lighter pilots and indeed female competititors have been deprived from flying a comp wing because of sometimes having to carry up to 33kg of ballast.

There will be many happy faces amongst the manufacturers and the competition pilot community. CIVL will be no doubt be releasing a full report soon.

horizontal break
 

13/02/2016

horizontal break

BREAKING NEWS

Glider manufacturer Gin Gliders is deprived of its production unit due to political unrest

Political tension between North and South Korea means the manufacturer, Gin Paragliders, must abandon its activity on the major production site of Kaesong, the “inter-Korean” economic zone

Kaesong is geographically situated in North Korea but accepts South Korea’s trade. In 2004 the opening of the shared zone symbolised a reconciliation between the North and the South, however it was discovered later that salaries earned from the North were chanelled to provide financing for nuclear programmes.  

News from Arirang on the political decision

“Some days after the North Korean firing of long-range missiles and just one month after the fourth nuclear tests, South Korea defended the decision to close the inter-Korean industrial complex in Kaesong, claiming that the North Korean capital of Pyongyang had syphoned off some 70% of its North Korean workers wages to fund its nuclear missiles program.  The site had 124 South Korean companies employing  53,000 North Koreans.”*

This decision has an effect of the paragliding market because Gin Paragliders have their primary manufacturing unit there, and therefore lose their production site, its qualified workers, the machines, stock references and raw materials. Gin Paragliders has an alternative factory in China which will in the meantime take on the Kaesong production.  Gin Paragliders apologises in advance for delays in delivery.

* Source: Europe 1

Extracts from Gin Paragliders’ news to distributors

“As of the 11th February 2016, it has been confirmed that our factory will be closed.  All raw materials, machines and stock will be abandoned.  We have been authorised to cross the frontier to collect any equipment we are able to transport from our factory.  This definitive closure will affect our entire production because the manufacturing of all our products is from the Kaesong factory.   Fortunately, we are able to continue manufacturing to a maximum capacity in our Chinese factory where production will commence in the near future as soon as we have recovered our equipment…

This political situation has seriously effected our company.  We would like to apologise in advance for the inconvenience caused due to late deliveries and for the lack of information available with regards to future production…We are in the process of negotiating the necessary compensation and support from our government and reiterate that your satisfaction is our priority…”

horizontal break
 

14/02/2016

horizontal break

RECORD

Kirsten Seeto makes goal and FAI World Record history at Kiwi Open

Kirsten Seeto, female paragliding pilot and well-known author of recent buzz-article “Competing without a Penis“, makes FAI World Record history by being the first of two female pilots to have completed the longest FAI World Record Distance Competition Race to Goal in the history of paragliding. The second female pilot in goal and just before task deadline was Japanese pilot, Nao Takada.

Meet Director Mark Hardman set a 214km task from Mount Borah to North Star on the 6th task day of the Kiwi Open in Manilla, Australia,   By reaching goal, Kirsten also broke her personal best distance record and was amongst only 32 other pilots to complete the task.  Conditions were said to have produced some solid climbs of 4-5m/s to almost 3000m altitude, and with a 30km wind at the upper levels some of the competitor’s final glides were achievable from 30km out!

If you have read Kirsten’s recent article which talks about being a female pilot in a male-dominated sport, you will understand how her obvious mental approach played an important role in keeping her focused for the 6+hr flight.

Huge congratulations go to Kirsten from the team at Rock the Outdoor !

For full Kiwi Open competition results, click here

(Photo credits: Kris Eriksen and Kirsten Seeto)

horizontal break
 

UP Paragliders say that their new UP Kibo is a mid ENB wing which sits comfortably between the Makalu 4 (ENB-) and the Summit XC3 (ENB+), offering similar qualities of passive safety awarded to an ENA wing, but with a notable step up in terms of performance.

The Kibo is destined for leisure pilots who already feel comfortable flying in thermic conditions but who are looking to extend their experience to cross-country flying whilst remaining within the safety area of an ENB wing.

Available In four sizes the Kibo is available ranging from PTV 65-130kg.

horizontal break

READ MORE

– See product description from UP Paragliders

horizontal break
Sign up

Keep up to date with the latest news and videos, stories and tutorials. Sign up in 1 mn max!

 
1 … 9 10 11 12 13 … 42