1971 Ground Skimmer

BRITISH HANG GLIDING HISTORY THE MODERN FLEXWING

1981 Cross Country Flyer

Newsletter No 4 July 2009

Well I have to confess that the past few months have been quite hectic and full on, although very enjoyable. Both the B.H.P.A. and the B.M.A.A. gave me permission to scan and post many of their early magazines, i.e. the ‘Wings’ and ‘Flight Line’. This turned out to be a large task than I had first thought. However, I have to say that no British Hang Gliding web site would be complete without displaying these very famous and necessary magazines that tell the full story and growth of both our sports.

Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to thank both the B.H.P.A. and also the B.M.A.A. for granting this opportunity for me to almost complete my task. Which is to search out as much of our history as possible while many of our friends and early pioneers are still with us?

I would especially like to thank Mark Woodhams, who took the time and risk to send me his complete early hang gliding archive, to me here in Brisbane. I’m also quite relieved to be able to report that yesterday they arrived back safe and sound to Mark.  That will allow my stress levels to be lowered a little during the next few days.

On another subject, I would also like thank Don Liddard who has allowed me to use all of the hundreds of photos he has displayed on his website, <http;//www.flickr.com/photos/donliddard/> There are certainly a few gems to be found there and well worth a look.

I’m still looking for many of the early manufacturers leaflets that I’m hoping are still out there, these would be quite valuable for me to display and to help tell the story. In fact if have anything on the subject of the early hang gliding history in the UK, please get in touch and we can work something out getting them to me.

If you have an old hang glider in your garden shed and would like it to go to a good home, why not get in touch with Jason Board at the www.british-hang-gliding-museum.com I’m sure if it’s in reasonable condition he will take it off your hands. Both Jason and myself are working together to try and preserve our history for the generations to come.

Many thanks to all of you who have already sent me information, and if I’ve left your details out, please let me know and I’ll correct the situation for you.

And thanks for visiting this site.

Happy Flying

Terry Aspinall

July 2009

All the material on this site is subject to copyright Much of this material may only be reproduced with the written permission of the copyright holder