Update – 2nd April 2004

Patagonia

Chris and I have returned from Patagonia where we were filming “Flying with Condors” for a joint production with the BBC, Discovery, ZDF, ARTE, NHK and ORF.  The conditions were challenging with the expected gales and storms being replaced by an aggravating, three week long, stable high pressure system which resulted in no usable thermals and no condors for a lengthy period! 

We eventually moved into the high mountains where we found plenty of birds and some soarable conditions.  We flew both hang gliders and paragliders, carrying an elaborate system of on-board cameras. These were all pretty heavy as we were filming in High Definition.  We demolished one of the camera mounts on take off at Mount Tronador, and resorted to strapping the cameras to our helmets. This was great for filming the condors as they approached us and flew alongside. 

The wildlife cameraman will return to Patagonia to film the condors in July, to film them in winter conditions, after which the programme will be edited. The BBC expect to screen the film Jan/Feb 2005, though this may change. I will post the date here as soon as I know it. Screening dates for other TV channels are unknown but will not be before Autumn 2004.

 

 

Flying in the Alps


I will be coaching hang gliding and paragliding pilots wishing to improve their thermalling and cross country flying skills. They are run through Airways www.airways-airsports.com and are suitable for post-CPC pilots.
The next trip will be to Laragne in the French Alps in May 2004.

 

 

 


First Test Flight......500 years on!

This glider was designed by Leonardo da Vinci and was built 500 years after his death by Sky Sports Engineering in Bedfordshire. It was built using only materials that Leonardo would have had access to, and is a work of art. The cantilevered wing is made from spars of Italian black poplar, ribs of bamboo and sail made from linen coated with Shellac (extracted from beetles).  I had the privilege of being Leonardo’s test pilot.

 


 

Update 28th September 2002

Today Judy broke the World Tandem Aerotowing Altitude Record, flying tandem Fly 2 with Blue Peter presenter, Matt Baker. The microlight tug, a Pegasus Quantum 912 towed them for an hour up to a height of 11,020 feet.
The view was glorious with cumulus clouds below them - watch out for the full-length 30-minute Blue Peter special over Christmas/new year.