January. The N.H.G.A. release their No3 edition of the 'Flypaper' magazine. Including an article with advice on making and retro-fitting a king-post. The article starts of by saying that any handy man can do it.
January. Ken Messenger flies for over one and a half hours.
January. An article by Mark Saville and Adrian Barnes appeared in the second edition of the 'Sailwing' magazine announces that for the time being, Hang Gliders were forbidden to use one of the best hills on the Marlborough Downs.
January. The N.H.G.A. 'Flypaper' No 3 magazine publishes a letter that describes a recent problem Len Gabriels had with wires on his glider. Another reason why the H.G.M.F. commissioned Miles Handley to draw up a 'Safety Codes Standard'.
January. Report of two fatalities appear in the No3 “Flypaper” - Tim Proctor of London and Sam Best of Beaminster. Subsequent reports stated that Tim was flying a Flexi-Flyer and crashed while attempting to land back on top of the hill after his first 8 minute soaring flight at Truleigh Hill, Sussex. While Sam aged 46 from Beaminster in Dorset, was an inexperienced pilot and recent new member of the NHGA. Sam took off flying a Wasp 229B in a light easterly wind from the S.W. bowl of South Eggardon Hill, Dorset (800ft), subsequently developing a stall and crash landed in a nearby field.
21st January. Gerry Breen being sponsored by the RAF set a new type of record by being the first to deliver the Royal Mail. Later along with a friend he made the first dual flight from the summit of Mt Snowdon. This lead to Gerry leaving the RAF and setting up his own hang gliding company called “Custom Kites”. Going on to also start up the Welsh Hang Gliding Center’s at Crickhowell and Ruthin.
February. The N.H.G.A. release its No4 edition of their Flypaper magazine.
17th February. Gerry Breen and Dave Willis fly from Ben Nevis (4,406ft) in Scotland. They took off at 1.10pm and set a new altitude record for the UK. An article appeared in the second edition of the B.K.S.A. Sailwing magazine.
February. Andrew Hill who was only 10 years old at the time, flew a McBroom Arion at Wittenham Clumps. The glider was a 50% scaled down model made from a set of Geoff' McBroom's plans with no king post. It had a 10ft leading edge and a very small 'A' frame. Andrew tells me he first became interested in hang gliding after seeing the famous 'Whicker's World' television episode from California (would love to see that again), Gerry Breen with his polythene glider at Uffington and Ken Messenger on the kids' show, 'Magpie'. After seeing Gerry I rushed home from Uffington, cut up my brother's tent and made a bamboo glider to jump off the garage roof. We built the small Arion glider (mentioned above) soon after which I'd fly from the school playground after hours. I also joined the League age 16. Andrew is the son of Roy Hill, who went on to become president of the BHGA for a few years.
During the very early years of Hang Gliding in the UK two clubs sprung up and almost devided the country. The 'National Hang Gliding Association' served the Eastern side of Southern England and was run by John James (aka John Haynes). While the 'British Kite Soaring Association' served the Western side of Southern England and was run by Dick Bickel. At times when flyers got together it was like East versus West.
National Hang Gliding Associations membership application form belonging to Greg Stokes
John James, Secretary of N.H.G.A. crashes due to a flying wire failure, breaking a leg.
Tommy Beckett flying a McBroom Arion become the first person in Northern Ireland to fly a hang glider.
March. The N.H.G.A. releases their No5 Flypaper magazine.
During the early part of 1974 its reported that Terry Haynes became the first in the UK to fly a prone harness. Photos and article.
March. The B.K.S.A. releases its second edition of 'Sailwings'. The editor remarks that he has not heard from many members claiming to have soared for 5 minutes or more.
March. Brian Harrison flies a “Cutty Sark” sponsored Hawk (Birdman Sports) at the World Championships, at Kossen in Austria. Ken Messenger also flies in the Championships.
March. Andrew Hill at only 11 years of age takes up the sport and becomes the youngest pilot to date. Along with his Father (Roy Hill) they acquired an 'Arion' set of plans from Geoff McBroom and built a half scale model. By May that same year Andrew was claiming 47 second of flight.
Easter. Chris Corston flying a Wasp 229 makes his very first flight from Mill Hill.
Easter. Saturday 13th and Sunday the 14th the B.K.S.A. held its first official meeting in Wales.
April. The N.H.G.A. release their No6 Flypaper magazine.
April. Brian Gaskin designed the new front cover of the No 6 April edition of 'Flypaper'. The magazine also ran an article from John James that at that time they had 1600 members in the N.H.G.A. Expecting the membership to reach 2000 by July. It also included an article from Miles Handley about the safety aspect of building a glider and to the using of the correct tubing. Mile's reveals that he had checked out a glider that was known as the 'Dragonfly' which was constructed using plastic tubing in order to keep its weight down. Miles remarks that it was about 19 times more flexible, but had only one third the strength he felt was required. He went on to tell any pilot who had purchased one, to return it immediately and to also demand a full refund on the grounds that it was not a safe glider to fly.
13th-14th April (Easter). B.K.S.A. holds its first official meeting in Wales. The Saturday was blown out with 50mph winds. However, during the Sunday the winds dropped and several flights of over 2 hours were recorded. With Gerry Breen flying one of his Custom Hang Gliders staying aloft for an incredible 2hr-27mins.
Easter time. Rob Haynes, Gerry Breen and Tony Beresford all log record-breaking flights of over 2 hours on a trip to Wales, at Hay Bluff. The weekend was reported in 'Flight International's' April 24th's edition and later in the May issue of 'Flypaper'. Here is Tonys account of how he saw the day unfold. Also in this issue, a report that the N.H.G.A. arranges the first HG accident insurance policy via Reggie Spooner’s company, covering its paid up members to the tune of £100,000.
Gerry Breen streaks first while flying.
Bertie Kennedy becomes the second person in Northern ireland to fly, using Tommy Becketts McBroom Airon glider.
Douglas Richards from Fillingsworth Newcastle injured himself while learning to fly. After an official inquiry it was found that he was learning on and unforgiving site with gusty winds and that he was only a novice pilot and could not cope with the conditions at the time.
Critchley Hughes becomes the English dealer for the American Seagull 3.
April. Announcement of Stella Artois event to be held at Steyning Bowl, Sussex on 13-14 July.
April. Mark Woodhams flying a Wasp 229B3 he bought directly from the Haynes brothers made his first. flight.
May. The N.H.G.A. release the No7 edition of their Flypaper magazine
May. John Stephenson from Tee-Side reports a flight from the top of Ben Nevis (3000ft), with ground support by five members of the SAS and other helpers.
Tony Prentice and his brother Derek build and fly their latest glider that was sposored by 'Trumans Brewery'. (View Footage---Video1---Video2---Video3)
8th May. Britain's first fueled Balloon launch (84,000cu-ft), was by Ken Messenger flying a 'Birdman Sports' Albatross, releasing at 2,500ft that produced a 10 mile flight.
9th May. An article by Philip Jarrett and David Kent appeared in the 'Flight International' magazine, describing the very early history of hang gliding, and of how it caught on in the UK during the early 1970's.
June. The N.H.G.A. release their No8 edition of the Flypaper magazine
June. The NHGA magazine 'Flypaper' No 8 publishes an article from Miles Handley about his safety concerns with all hang gliders being built by both manufactures and home builders. It also goes on to mention that 3 new clubs had been established around the county. 'The Captain Birds Eye Flying Circus' run by V.R. Sweet. The 'Warickshire Sailwing Club' run by D Squires and from Anglesey North Wales the 'W.Y.L.F.A. Kite Gliding Club' run by J.K. Carr. While Colin Hawkes get permission from the Duke of Devonshire to fly from Beamsley Beacon in Yorkshire.
6th June. Don Liddard was fly's his Wasp 229 at Holly Hill Kent. (Photos from Don)
June. The B.K.S.A introduced an accident report form for all its members.
A selection of photos taken by Don Liddard during 1974.
During 1974 Geoff McBroom recommended that kingposts should be fitted to all hang gliders. Therefore, it's possible that the Argus was perhaps the first British production glider to be sold with a kingpost. Geoff send a letter to all his customers containing drawing and details of how to fit a kingpost to all gliders purchased from him, without one. An article also appeared in the fourth edition of Sailwings the B.K.S.A. offical magazine notifying people of the changes.
Andy Billingham joins Geoff Mcbrooms team as their official test pilot, a job he under took for 5 year. To read an extract for his latest book of what it was like Please Click here.
July. The N.H.G.A. release the No 9 edition of their Flypaper magazine.
13th July. Vol 2 No12 of Hang Glider Weekly an American magazine by Joe Faust mentions a few things that happened in the UK.
July. Johnny Carr took delivery of his first hang glider, a curved boom Wasp CB with a 240sq-ft sail. A month later he entered his first competition at Cam Long Down near Stroud, Gloucester. To his surprise he won the big glider class and was 3rd overall. He had only entered the competition so he could meet other pilots who were enjoying this exciting new sport, but now he was hooked on competition as well.
McBroom Sailwings brought out the Argus, which was a new design, based on two years of experience with the Arion. It incorporated many changes, in particular to the sail, which had a revised profile. The Argus was made in two sizes, the 230sq-ft model being suitable for pilots of 10st. The Argus had a sail area of 235sq-ft, with a leading edge of 18ft, plus it was top rigged, price in kit form was £140.00 plus VAT. However, a kit with drilled tubes was £155.00 plus VAT. It was also supplied ready to fly.
Birdman Sports updated their Grass Hopper by adding a kingpost and renamed it the Hawk. Dave Raymond who doubled for Roger Daltry in Ken Russell’s rock opera film “Tommy” flew an all white sailed Hawk. It had a leading edge measuring 17ft-2in, a 17ft-5in keel, with a span of 23ft and a nose angle of 90 degrees. The boom length was 17ft 6in with a sail area of 208sq-ft and its sail was made from top quality Terylene with a double zigzag stitch. It sold for £225 + VAT. There was also a smaller version with a boom length of 13ft 6in and a nominal sail area of 118sq-ft.
Brian Harrison from Paisley in Scotland takes delivery of a Birdman Sports Grass Hopper and sold several in Scotland for what he described as downhill plummeting, while in England it was still known as Ground Skimming. Although Len Gabriels tells me that in the Pennines area they were also commonly known as Rag Wings.
Birdman Sports brought out the Albatross it being the second production glider for the Birdman Company. The Boom length was 19ft 6in with a nominal sail area of 240sq-ft made of top quality Terylene with a zigzag stitch. Costing £250 +VAT, which at that time was 25% being classed as a luxury item, although I’ve often wondered why? (And I know because I had to pay it). As well as the Albartross and the Hawk the company was also selling the Merlin with a boom length of 17ft 6in and a sail area of 208sq-ft. It was also sold with a King post as standard, while its sail was of heavy duty nylon with a zigzag stitch. It sold for £150 + VAT in kit form.
The Hiway factory brought out a standard hang glider in 4 different sizes, the 200, 220, 240 and 260; each of these was either rigged for seated or prone flight. The small size had a sail area 200sq-ft.
Waspair brought out three new gliders, the C4, C5 and the CB240. The C4 had a Terylene sail and the design incorporated separate leading edge pockets. It also had an anodised control bar with a high class finish that was suitable for seated or prone flying position. The C4 was produced in 3 sizes, 241, 221 and 201. The medium C4 had a Sail area of 221sq-ft, with a leading edge measuring 18ft 4in, and a nose angle 80 degrees, the root chord/keel was18ft 4in, and the span was 24ft 5in, with a 4 degree billow. The C5 had a cylindrical leading edge and a deep scallop sail and a 3.7-degree billow. This glider is the first Waspair model fitted with deflexers. The CB240’s leading edges were carefully designed to incorporate the high-efficiency cylindrical concept. The cones produced by this configuration had their center lines running through the leading edges rather than the nose of the aircraft, this increases the effective lifting area of the wing surface, reduces optimum flying speed and minimising movement of the center of pressure. Additionally the design incorporated a significant degree of washout at the wing tips, which greatly enhances roll and pitch control. This slow flying and stable hang glider had an excellent L/D ratio, without the control difficulties associated with either cylindrical or high aspect ratio conical gliders. Sustained soaring flights could be achieved with this glider in the kind of light winds that conventional gliders are unable to exploit. Six CB 240s were hand built for the 1975 World Championships held in Kossen, Austria. A few copies were also produced during '75, although these first generation gliders were by then obsolete. It had a 19ft leading edge and a nose angle of 108%. The sail area was 240sq-ft with a wingspan of 30ft. Its chord and keel was 18ft-11in and it weighed in at 47lbs.
Kestrel Kites a Dorset manufacturer brought out their first glider and called it the Windover 2 using a ripstop nylon chevron design. It had a leading edge of 17ft 5in, and a span of 24ft. The keel was 16ft 3in and it had a nose angle of 80 degrees.
Sussex Delta Sailwings designed a light weight hang glider calling it the Ridge Rider. It utilised the Rogallo Sailwing principle, and had been developed from three earlier models of varying size and geometry, and was judged to give the best compromise between the slower sinking speed of the large sailwings and the good maneuverability obtained with a small machine. Its leading edge was 20ft 4in, and keel was 19ft 8in. The span was 28ft 8in, with a nose angle of 90 degrees. The price of the Ridge Rider complete with flying harness and carrying bag was £225.00 plus £18.00 VAT.
12th/13/14 July. The Stella Artois event was held at Steyning Bowl, one of the first of its kind and was organised by the ‘National Hang Gliding Association’ (run by the Haynes brothers). Andrew Hill (age 11) flew during this event, but not as a competitor. At the time he was flying one of Gerry Breens 'Butterfly's' Its also noted that the event was not open to B.K.S.A. members to enter. Offical Program from Mark Woodhams.
Steyning Bowl results were as follows
Class 1 (up to 17’ LOA) Mike Brown from Tee Side flying a McBroom Arion
Class 2 (17’-19’ LOA) Brian Wood of Bromley flying a Wasp 229
Class 3 (over 19’ & curved boom machines) Robin Haynes of London flying a Wasp 240CB
Although I believe Brian Woods was crowned the British Hang Gliding Champion of 1974
On the Sunday after the competition at Steyning Bowl had finished, Brian Gaskin gave a demonstration flying a parachute he had designed himself that could be towed up by a car, and amazed a few people who witnessed the event. Brian must be one of the first to play around with what we now call a parawing.
Tommy Beckett the first person in Northern Ireland to fly and close friend Bertie Kennedy along with families, tents and gliders on the roof of their cars drive from Northern Ireland to take part in the Steyning Bowl event.
Dale’s Hang Gliding Club is formed.
Sky Surfing Hang Gliding Club is formed.
Southern Hang Glider Club is formed.
21st July The Fourth Selsey Birdman completion sponsored by the Royal Air Force Association took place, its included because a few of the very early hang gliding pioneers were competitor. Names like Gerry Breen, David Cook, Tony Prentice and Nick Regan.
July. Tim Proctor died while Hang Gliding.
July. Sam Best died while Hang Gliding.
August. The N.H.G.A. release their No10 Flypaper magazine.
24th-26 August. First British HG Championships take place at Cam Long Down. Cup winner were: Class I: Tony Hockney (Arion),Class II: Brian Woods (Wasp), Class III: Johnny Carr (Wasp). Tasks had been a mixture of spot landings, distance and (a new departure), slaloms - using an optical device based on an idea by Dave Tait - to ensure that the turn points were cleared by competing pilots.
The Peak HGC is formed. Announcement made by David Smith.
Bob Mackay becomes the new Editor of the “Flypaper” and is responsible for the November edition. His editorial refers to the backstage moves under way to set up a proper democratic organising body for the rapidly-growing sport.
August. First hints of controversy between the NHGA and BKSA become public with the publication in “Flypaper” of a long letter from Ken Messenger and an acerbic response from John James.
Ken Messenger brings out the very first coloured hang gliding brochure (flick-page), displaying all the 'Birdman Sports' gliders. Being Published by Brian Harrison from Scotland.
September. The N.H.G.A. release their No11 Flypaper magazine.
Click on photo!! Can you name him?
September. The world endurance record is set by American Harvey Melcher off the cliffs at Waimanalo, in Hawaii, with a time of 10hr 47min.
September: A long article from Anne Welch urging the development of a proper pilot training system for hang gliding appears.
Upon his return to Northern Ireland Bertie Kennedy Purchases a 'Waspair 229B3 and sets up an agency for 'Waspair'.
September. Brian Woods of the SHGC flew for over 3 hours at Beachy Head, flying a Wasp 229.
October. The N.H.G.A. relelase their No12 Flypaper magazine.
October. The newly formed Southern Hang Gliding club launched it's club magazine known as 'Windsock'.
October. The British Hang Glider Manufacturers Federation released the very first 'Provisional Safety Standard' booklet, that was produced by Miles Handley The booklet was available to all manufactures and home builders.
With the release of the Manufacturers Provisional Safety Standard above. A Quote from Tony Prentice fits in here, and I hope its appreciated, as safety became a big issue after we lost several good friends during those early years. Quote "When building my first aluminium glider I did not have a swagging tool. Working on communications we used "U" links which I adapted as cable eyes. Then wire was wrapped around the cable ends and passed between the cables at intervals which locked it preventing any slip. The whole thing was then soldered making it secure. When Miles inspected it at a meeting ( possibly Steyning ) he nearly had a fit and refused to allow me to enter the competition. I still believe the termination was perfectly ok but there were people using U clamps which did slip which may have happened to John James ( if memory serves?). After that I bought a Nicropress tool which was quicker than my wired /soldered terminations. On subsequent testing the cable broke before the terminations gave way.I think the Safety Standard booklet was then sent to me by Miles to show what was required to enter any further competitions". Unquote.
October also saw the compulsory introduction of fitting king posts to all hang gliders manufactured in the United Kingdom.
Andrew Hill (still aged 10) flying a 'Breen Butterfly' with 14ft leading edge and a king post. Made his first soaring flight at Rhossili of 1 hour and 20 minutes. He reports that he spent most of the time trying to get down during a 30 mph gale. He also notched up his first 360's on this glider.
5th October. Brian Woods sets a new British record of 8 hours 26 minutes at Rhossilli on the Gower Peninsula in Wales, flying a Wasp229. This was also the day Tony Beresford helped create a legend, when he airlifted food and drink in a basket to Brian while flying above him and lowering the basket on a line. He then swung the basket until it went under the nose of Brian’s glider so he could grab the basket. It’s also folk law that the can of coke in the basket had been well shaken before being placed in the basket. Also flying at the time was Robin Haynes with a badly torn sail patched up with gaff tape. (What would we do without it?) It was also reported that during the day a gale blew, but it did not stop the flyers. Brian also gave his account of what happened that day in an article that appeared in the October No 12 edition of the N.H.G.A.'s 'Flypaper'. While a smaller article recording the event also appeared in the 'Flight International' magazine on the 24th October.
Brian Gaskin was also at Rossilli that day and also has a story of his own to tell via a letter he sent me
On the same day at this site three other flyers had potentially serious incidents prompting a stern letter from the Rhossili Coastguard and a frosty response from the National Trust, whose land had been used. After a lot of work by interested parties, notably Chris Corston, Brian Gaskin and Bob Mckay, the situation was smoothed over and flying was allowed to continue.
Brian Milton attributes Brian Woods record breaking flight on the 5th October as to him becoming involved in hang gliding, quote" It was Brian Woods record flight at Rhossili on October 5, 1974 that brought me into hang gliding. I was a BBC Radio reporter working for Radio London, and constantly looking for stories about London, and Brian lived in Bromley, which counted. I asked Brian to be interviewed about that record, he came into the studio, and I told him afterwards that if he taught me to fly I would do a half hour radio programme about hang gliding. He agreed, told Robin Haynes, and I went down to the Devil's Dyke within a couple of weeks. There I recorded the material for a half hour radio programme, the culmination of which I was thrown twice off the Devil's Dyke, and expected to learn how to fly in the minute before I hit the ground. I bought a hang glider, a B3-229, within the next couple of days, broadcast my programme on BBC Radio London, and a long feature for BBC Radio 4 on the same Saturday I went down to Rhossili with Brian Woods and Eric Short. Johnny Carr was also there. I made eight flights over three days, the last one soaring the hill and the cliff, and was hooked. Oddly, my first child was born 9 months later. My former wife says there's no connection, but I have my doubts.
Unquote.
November. N.H.G.A. release their No 13 Flypaper magazine.
HG clubs mentioned in the November issue of "Flypaper"are:
North Yorks Sailwing Club: membership 45. Treasurer: W.McGregor
Condor HGC: Membership 16, no further details
North East Sky Surfers: starting up. Treasurer Peter Winship.
Scottish Sailwing Society: Membership 12, no further details.
Southern HGC: Membership 99. Secretary Jill Handley.
Avon Rogallo Club: Membership 25, Secretary Brenda Wells.
Dunstable HGC: Membership 30, Secretary D.F. Yule.
Kestrel Kites, based in Poole (who had previously made surfboards) started building hang gliders and also founded the Wessex Hang Gliding Club.
December. The Mercian H/G Club release its December Newsletter.
8th December. 164 flyers from all over the United Kingdom attended a meeting chaired by Anne Welch, a well respected aviation personality that was held in Coventry to discuss and form what was to become known as The British Hang Glider Association. This meeting also saw the winding up of the NHGA and the BKSA [National Hang Gliding Association and the British Kite Skiing Association). Their respective magazines, which were called the Flypaper, and the Sailwing, were merged into one magazine called “Wings”. A committee was then voted in and ended up being a who’s who of the most well known of the early hang glider pilots and pioneers in the UK. Namely Martin Hunt (Chairman), Chris Corston (Secretary), Mick Hayes (Treasurer), Miles Handley (Technical safety officer), Jeremy Fack (Flying training officer) and Nick Regan (Editor) and Dave Tait as co-editor. The area representatives were Jim Haig (Scotland), David Weeks (North), David Miller (Midlands and Pennines), Chris Maidment (Southwest including Hants and Berks), Bob Mackay (Wales including Monmouth and Hereford), John Amor (South Midlands and East Anglia) and Mark Woodhams (London and the Southeast). Later at a subsequent meeting the Scottish pilots broke away from the BHGA because they thought they could obtain favorable grants from the Scottish Sports Council by going it alone.
Anne Welch had been associated with the aviation world for most of her life and was respected by everybody. She was also a founding member of the London Gliding Club based at Dunstable.
12th December. The B.H.G.A. is already being inundated with membership applications forms, even though the ink was still wet from the signing of the historic agreement and formation of the BHGA in Coventry just a few days earlier on the 8th December. Mark Woodhams was issued with No 54.
