This is a short video that Marcus King shot  with the GoPro when reviewing it for the magazine, see mini reviews issue 123. The files were downloaded and the video was quickly cut together, no image correction was applied to the video. Get the latest Flash Player to see this player. [Javascript required to view [...]

Air Turquoise SA reports it has been approved by the German authorities as a test centre for the inspection of aerial sports equipment. Paragliders (including tandems), harnesses, back protectors and reserves can now be tested and certified to LTF standards (what was known as DHV). This means the company can test and certify paragliding equipment [...]

A new paragliding record in India puts Debu Choudhury in the XC hotseat

Another date to note in your free flying calendar is 2 – 4 October 2009, when Free Flight Tegelberg is to be held. The first hang glider flight from Tegelberg, near Schwangau in Bavaria, Germany, back in 1973 was a historic moment for the sport, and 36 years on the area is to host a [...]

UP is introducing the new Ascent 2, an LTF 1/EN A glider aimed at a broad segment of paraglider pilots, right from fresh-out-of-school beginners to safety conscious weekend warriors and even recreational XC pilots. UP say the Ascent 2 is the logical step forward from the original Ascent. Based on the same Hybrid Synergy Airfoil [...]

Francois Bon has become France’s first ever speed riding champion following the championship in Samoens which ended 5 April.

Team 5′s Blue Mountain (MT) is certified LTF 1-2, and ready for demo. Team 5 say that this, the lightweight version of the Blue, is ideal for walking and remote journeys, or simply to save on excess baggage costs at the airport. It weighs in at 3.5 kg (XS) to 4 kg (M) size: XS, [...]

The village of Laragne Monteglin in the south of France is preparing itself to host the 17th World Hang Gliding Championships this summer. The event, which takes place from 20 June to 4 July, will see 130 pilots from 34 nations, representing the best pilots in the world, battling it out in the skies of [...]

The UK hang gliding comps committee are very keen to encourage new blood into the comp scene, and so the British Open series comp that is to be held in Crickhowell, SE Wales from 1 – 5 May will feature a new sports class, aimed at pilots who are new to or inexperienced in competitions. [...]

A new hotel in Oludeniz, Turkey, is offering the very special price of 5 GBP per person per night B&B for the month of May. In a great location only 20 minutes from the Blue Lagoon beach, The three star Tonoz Beach Hotel’s introductory offer could be hard to refuse. Contact recep.green@hotmail.com www.tonozbeach.net

Both versions (with and without cocoon) of Sol’s XC and competition harness, the CX2, have now been certified to both EN and LTF standards. See the link for its many features. www.solparagliders.com.br

The new UP Alpine reversible harness is designed for pilots who like to get themselves to launch on their own two feet. It has an airbag and weighs just 2.8kg.

Northern Italy’s Easter weekend comp (HG and PG) and exhibition, the Trofeo Monte Grappa, takes place in the beautiful town of Bassano, at the edge of the Dolomites.  It begins with registration on 8 April 2009 and then runs over the Easter weekend, finishing on 12 April. There will be a trade show as well [...]

Gin gliders are once again partnering Red Bull for the 2009 X-Alps event. With just over three months to go and with spring in the Alps seeing snowlines start to recede,  the athletes are fully ensconsed in their training regimes. Follow their progress in their online diaries, which can be seen at www.redbullxalps.com

During the Easter weekend’s Annecy Expo, organisers Paratroc will be holding a raffle. 12,000 Euros of prizes are up for grabs, including harnesses, reserves and items from the 2009 collections of Montana Vertical (helmets), Fly With Me (clothing) and Bertoni (sunglasses). www.paratroc.com www.annecy-parapente-expo.fr

The arrival of spring in Switzerland has meant that the L size of the Karma SP has finally been able to be certified, and has passed EN B “with flying colours”. The wing has also been shock and load tested for paramotor and small trike use to 170 kg, in S, M and L sizes [...]

Skywind.eu have created SkyLogger software to enable hang glider and paraglider pilots to capture flight information on an iPhone. Geodetic positions are captured during a flight, and elapsed time, distance to take off, current direction, ground speed and climb rate are displayed. Pilot number or other ID can be entered for competition use. On completion [...]

The twelve juniors selected by Nova to be on their elite team can now be recognised in the air by the striking colour design that their wings, (and theirs alone for the next two to three years) sport. So if you are overtaken by a dark orange Nova wing with wine-red zigzag and white leading [...]

Icaro’s new school glider, the Cyber 4, has been certified LTF 1 and EN A in all 3 sizes, covering in-flight weights of 65 to 130 kg. Icaro say it is easy to launch with pleasant handling, and will gently even out pilot mistakes and turbulence. The company say they have retained the best features [...]