PWCA Sopot, Bulgaria
- Details
The World Cup takes place in Sopot, Bulgaria, 19/08/2018 - 25/08/2018.
Taking part, Helmut Eichholzer who won the last World Cup held at Sopot in 2008 and Jurij Vidic, hoping to make it two World Cup victories in a row, having won the most recent World Cup, in Gemona, Italy.
Top Bulgarian pilot, and ex European Champion, Yassen Savov, who knows this area very well, will definitely be one to watch and keep up with if you can, along with young British Pilot and 2018 European Champion, Theo Warden.
Two other outstanding young ones to try and keep up with: Loïs Goutagny, 4th in Bright, Australia and Simon Mettetal, 4th in Baixo Guandu, Brazil (his first ever World Cup).
World Cup winners in waiting, who will be trying to outsmart and out experience the youngsters are former British Champions Alex Coltman, Guy Anderson and Craig Morgan.
From the far, far north there are two very colourful characters who took their first Super Final (2017) by storm. Hans Kristjan Gudmundsson, won task 5 hands down. Jouni Makkonen, for whom the Super Final was his first ever World Cup and who has won the Bright Open, in Australia, every year since Finnish pilots were allowed to compete, will also be worth keeping an eye on in Sopot.
Also taking part from the famous paragliding family Lambert: Baptiste Lambert and Dad Cyril Lambert.
Felipe Rezende will be flying the Flow Paragliders RFC XCRacer.
Also on an RFC wing is Michal Sneiberg flying the UP Proto.
Don’t forget to keep up with all the action via the live Commentary and tracking and watch some amazing footage and pilot interviews on World Cup TV at pwca.org
Photo: Yassen Savov
The EAPR testing house stops German LTF certifications
- Details
The EAPR testing house will not be carrying out any more German LTF certifications. The reason: five years after their first DAkkS accreditations they would have to redo all their audits and reports.
The anticipated cost: about 50,000 €, according to its Managing director, Guido Reusch who is also Secretary of the Paragliding Manufacturers Association, the PMA.
Despite a high volume of work over the last few years, the EAPR estimates this to be too high an investment, and so they will no longer be providing the famous LTF certification from the 1st of August 2018.
It’s ironical in a way because it was the EAPR which actively participated in the testing houses becoming governed by the DAkkS.
However, as LTF certification remains obligatory in Germany, which is one of the biggest markets in Europe, the manufacturers will no doubt go to the DHV or Alain Zoller’s Air Turquoise.
Aérotest, the FFVL’s testing house, could also benefit because, according to its framework, the accreditation of this federal testing house should be recognised at a European level, without having to go via a German certification body, such as the DAkkS.
Alain Zoller from Air Turquoise will be faced with the same situation as the EAPR in 2020: should he invest this amount or not?
For the moment, all hopes of using the EN norms instead of LTF in all European countries, including recalcitrant Germany, haven’t come to fruition.
In the worst case scenario, the DHV’s monopoly could be rekindled. They have already decided to invest in the DAkkS for their 2019 audits.
Guido Reusch’s EAPR will continue to test according to EN norms. The testing house also offers manufacturers advice and material tests.
Cocooning
- Details
Amongst other subjects, in this issue, we made an interesting observation: cocoon harnesses (especially the lightweight ones), are taking off in force, and rightly so: they bring performance and precision piloting, as well as comfort…
We are the Rovers Norvège
Video: Trailer Norway
Weather
PRE-WORLD CUP in Cerdagne
News : Et en + c’est vrai
Supertestival kössen
Aspect ratio
Test : Phi Symphonia
Cocooning
Supair Strike
Neo Stay Up
Harness test Nearbird Genesis
Paramotor World Championship in Thailand.
EN, TC136/WG6: Flying norms
A concrete example: the harness
And of course you can also read it on one of our exclusive applications: Free Aero Magazine
Power WOMAN MARIE MATEOS
- Details
Paramotor champion Marie Mateos, photographed by Louis Garnier, talked to us briefly about engines, equipment and what it takes mentally...
Apco NRG XC II
- Details
17.5 m²! That’s all I was allowed to try of this little slalom racing machine. Slalom? And that’s not all it’s good for! The letters ‘XC’ figure in its full name, and we’re going to see why.
SWING ARCUS RS & RS LITE
- Details
Over the last few months, Philippe Lami has flown the Swing Arcus RS regularly, in both the classic and the lightweight version. He has also used it in school. Here’s his initial assessment.
TEST RESTUBE SPORT
- Details
For pilots who are looking for a lighter, more compact solution than a real life jacket: the Restube Sport is a floatation aid, which fits into a little pocket attached to the waist belt.
WARNING TRAPS IN THE WATER
- Details
Water, especially the sea, is great to fly over but can also be a trap. Some reminders and solutions…
Readability
- Details
Anin-flight necessity:being able to see at a glance all the importanti nformation displayed...
The XC-Tracer family is getting bigger.
- Details
The XC-Tracer instruments are pioneers in integrating sensors such as the accelerometer and gyrometer so that they can detect the slightest thermal.