HGFA Skysailor Magazine

SKY SAILOR 19 May | June 2019 Starting with wing size choice, to line sorting, clipping in, big ears and speedbar, the Epsilon 9 is intuitive and simple to manage. The new automatic dust remove system even sweeps the wing interior while flying! The Epsilon 9 demonstrates a very successful combination of pitch and turn behaviour. Steering demands are answered directly and precisely. Its compact and stable canopy invites plenty of confidence from the beginning. Even in challenging conditions pilots can feel calm and content. Long life is assured thanks to a unique high quality light structure and the special choice of materials. Upper and lower surfaces are made of the normal strong European Porcher cloth. The Ripstop yarn in each strip is exactly aligned along the local tension vector – this maintains canopy shape over a long lifetime. The Epsilon 9 weighs almost as little as previous ‘light’ wings but with regular longevity.  The glider is up to 2kg lighter than others in its class and according to XC Mag, comes with the best backpack on the market – the Comfortpack3. Four new colour schemes with full custom colours are available. in five sizes (22,24,26,28,30) covering pilot ‘all up’ weights from 60 to 128kg with good overlaps – so everyone can find a size to suit. Each size has size matched risers and brake handles, thereby making handling easier for pilots of all heights. The Epsilon 9 is ideally suited to a variety of pilots – confident new pilot ex-school; as the next glider for those moving up from a EN-A; recreational ‘weekend’ pilots from older EN-As and Bs who desire the latest in the category; and pilots stepping down from higher levels wanting greater passive safety without compromising performance for XCs. See more at [www.advance.ch] . For Advance products and test flights contact: Godfrey Wenness on 02 6785 6545 or <godfrey@ flymanilla.com >. Manilla Paragliding Skywalk Salsa – New Cross Rescue Chute The Salsa is a state-of-the-art cruciform/cross reserve chute that, thanks to its design, has a very short deployment time and high pendular stability – two factors that can be crucial when it really matters. Large surfaces ensure a low rate of descent, and the symmetrical structure prevents system-related forward movement, making possible a stable descent with a pleasant landing. If you regulary pack your rescue equipment yourself, you will appreciate the simple packing method. The lines are stored in a separate compartment in the deployment bag, minimising the risk of tangles and optimising the opening process. Materials are durable and guarantee a long service life. The Salsa is available now, more at [www. skywalk.info/project/SALSA] . Skywalk Vale Bevan Taylor Bevan came onto the hang gliding scene in 2017 after learning to fly at Mike Duffy’s Leading Edge hang gliding school. by Richard Breyley B evan was a wheat/sheep farmer from Lake Grace and often flew with his mates from the Goldfields Dust Devils, Albany and South West Airsports Clubs. Bevan was also a local sporting hero, middle distance runner and premiership footballer. His past sporting prowess had taken its toll on his body, namely hips and knees. He found that hang gliding was not only a sport he loved, but also a sport he could participate in with his dodgy knees into middle age. Most of us first met Bevan at the 2017 WA State Comps. Bevan was a mad West Coast Eagles fan and this big burley farmer drove in and announced himself wearing West Coast kit into the Westonia Tavern (a Dockers bar). Bevan struggled during his first comp and did not get out of the paddock, but every night he walked into that bar with his booming smile. He really did love flying. Come 2018, and Bevan’s team, the South West Air Sports, won the completion outright. Bevan won the Novice trophy and came second in the Sport Class. Bevan had purchased a new winch and was ground towing to over 3,000ft AGL which left us aero-towers looking up at Above the wheat belt in 2018 Photo: Bevan Taylor this black and red eagle with envy at the end of our tows. Time for an upgrade and Bevan purchased a new Moyes Gecko, in West Coast Eagles colours of course. He took that glider and his wife, Maria, on a road trip to Corryong which is a tough trip for us flatlanders from WA. I never really had a chance to talk to him about this trip, but I’m sure they both had a great time. Bevan would have loved mountain flying, and unfortunately that is one thing we lack here in WA. When anybody met Bevan, the first thing they notice was his beaming ‘ear to ear’ smile. His smile portrayed not only his love of flying, but also his love of life and family. It turns out, his smile also masked some mental health issues. Bevan had been struggling with his ‘black dog’ in the past. Bevan was not afraid to seek help when it was required, and with the assistance of his close friends and family he had turned the corner and overcame his demons. His attitude and willingness to seek help should be an example to us all. Bevan passed away in a hang gliding accident at the WA Hang Gliding Comps in 2019. He will be sorely missed by his family, mates and hang gliding buddies. Salsa