Airsports Paragliding

28/03/2022

19/02/2022

Airsports Paragliding is 30 years today.

We started out as Purple Haze Paragliding on this day in 1992 when paragliding was in its infancy. In the early days it was a bit like the wild west where ignorance was bliss. Early flights were normally short on uncertified potentially dangerous equipment. Well time has certainly moved on and we now have a well controlled sport with flights of hundreds of kilometres on safe certified equipment.
The school started as a bet and something to do when not flying, surfing, biking etc.
The first year we had very limited equipment and just one other instructor. The second year paragliding was booming and we struggled to keep pace with the increase in business. By 1994 we had several instructors, masses of equipment and running paragliding trips abroad. In 1997 we invested in large premises at Shoreham Airport containing a fully stocked shop, office and lecture rooms, we were also running regular holidays and two full time tandems. Wow we were now a large successful business, great or was it? oh dear no time for flying, surfing etc so the decision to down size was made.
Over the next 10 years we had restructured the school several times resulting in a small scale personalised operation specialising in courses for customers wishing to become paragliding pilots.

Our web site says “we guarantee paragliding will change your life” and over the years we have taught thousands of people to paraglide and could write a book about the amazing characters we have met from all walks of life, you know who you are!
It has been a privilege to fly all over the world teaching everyone from weekend to top world class pilots.

What a journey what an amazing crazy journey but the adventure is not over yet with a younger generation now taking the helm.

“To get out of bed every morning and feel you are on holiday well life doesn’t get any better.”

Finally I would just like to thank the many friends who have been involved in the School especially Guy, Laurie, and Max.

18/08/2021

The 48th Coupe Icare at St Hilaire is still going ahead on the 14th - 19th September despite COVID restrictions. Check it out here https://www.coupe-icare.org/GB_home.html See you there!

An event for the general public in St Hilaire du Touvet, Lumbin, dedicated to free flight, the Coupe Icare puts all the aerial disciplines: paragliding, hang gliding, paramotor… on stage.

17/06/2021

Inspiration from passed student Ralph Mason who completed his second 100km flight last Saturday. This time flying from Combe Gibbet and landing just past Steyning.

"A couple of pics as I passed the bowl on my way"

Thanks Ralph for sharing this and well done.

14/06/2021

Wow it was hot on Sunday but great days teaching in great conditions.

13/04/2021

GREAT NEWS we are now open for training.
Its cold up on the hill but summer is on its way .

17/03/2021

This time last year we were having a great time in Morocco with a group hoping to finish Club Pilot.
Then the 1st lockdown was announced.
At first it didn't seem so bad as the group were happy to stay and just fly every day until it was all over.
The mood changed when we were told no flying and you have to go back to the UK.
Most flights back had been cancelled and the situation was looking bad.
After a day or so we just managed to get a rescue flight although some flyers from the same hotel were not so lucky.
Morocco is a lovely place ideal for finishing Club Pilot and beyond with fantastic weather, food and people.
Looking back it was a bit of an adventure with a great group.
Can’t wait for our next trip in November.

28/02/2021

State of the art at the time, no reserve, motor bike helmet and mauve boots.
Bought this for the Jazzy pattern on the back, more aero dynamic, and it had a seat plate.
Had to wait a while for pockets to arrive as spending more than 5 minutes airborne meant you required somewhere to carry your sandwiches
Oh yes the good old days!

15/02/2021

Very early on we would take students for a microlight flight as part of their training.
Our friend the late Kelvin Wilson, attending to the engine in the photo, was one of the UKs top microlight instructors and organized flights from the airfield at Edburton West Sussex.
Kelvin with his friend Gerry Breen were also the first people to fly hang gliders from the summit of Angel Falls, the world’s highest waterfall, in Venezuela.

15/02/2021

Possibly 1990 at Steyning I think we were forced into wearing those flying suits.
Eddie Bilous, standing third from the right, ran Free Flight Hang Gliding from the mid 80s and shared the site with Airsports (formerly Purple Haze Paragliding) until 1994.

09/02/2021

Well there is not a lot of Paragliding during lockdown so we have been sorting through some old photos.
Over the past 30 years we have taught thousands of students, some starting in their teens having a family and returning to Paragliding when the kids left home.
We will post some photos over the next few weeks and if you recognise yourself or were there please let us know.

To start off here are some Photos of a trip to Southern Spain in early 1997.

06/07/2020

Thanks to Adrian for another great video showing him Paragliding in Nepal in March. We will be running a trip early next year for Airsports students with Club Pilot plus 10 hours.