Flyability Explained

Flyability
Founders:-->
Dissolved:-->
Type:Charitable organisation
Focus:Hang Gliding and Paragliding for Disabled People
Method:Equipment Loans, Training Scholarships
Languages:-->
Leader Title:Facebook
Leader Name:https://www.facebook.com/flyability/
Leader Title2:Twitter
Leader Name2:https://twitter.com/flyabilityuk
Leader Title3:YouTube
Leader Name3:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEYtFGvJz3iqxfsdH7GTgTA
Publication:-->
Parent Organisation:-->
Affiliations:British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association
Staff:0
Staff Year:2017
Volunteers:6[1]
Volunteers Year:2017
Registration Id:England and Wales: 1059197

Flyability is a UK based charity that works to help disabled people fly hang gliders and paragliders. It is the disability initiative of the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, the governing body of hang gliding and paragliding in the UK.[2]

Schools with close links to Flyability include Airways Airsports,[3] [4] EscapeXC [5] and Flying Frenzy [6]

History

Registered on 13 November 1996[7] by Steve Varden, John Crosbie, Pamela Hughes and Mark Hastings.[8] This followed an intensive period of organising and fundraising within the hang gliding and paragliding community.[9] [10]

Flyability works closely with British Disabled Flying Association (now Aerobility).[11] Flyability is one of the chosen charities of Access Unlimited.[12] Generous donations from the Lakes Charity Classic event allowed Flyability to expand into offering pilot scholarships[13] with continued financial support over the years.[14]

Flyability Activities

Equipment loans

Flyability loans out specialist equipment to BHPA schools for training disabled people. This includes a range of paragliding buggies including the Flychair,[15] the Swanton, the Chevron paragliding wheelchair and the Sanderson.[16] Flyability was involved in encouraging the development of some of these buggies and has passed some of their older buggies onto disabled flying organisations in other countries. One Sanderson buggy has even got as far as New Zealand where Making Trax and Infinity Paragliding use it.[17] [18]

Pilot Scholarships

Flyability offers scholarships for tandem flights and Elementary and Club Pilot training.[19]

Events

Flyability has a presence at a number of flying events around the UK. Recent events have included Farnborough 2016[20] and Flyer Live 2016[21] on the Aerobility stands. Flyability also attended and was a beneficiary of the Richard Westgate Memorial Fly-in in 2013[22]

Flyability and Aerobility ran a combined "Try Everything!" event in June 2016 offering flights for disabled people in hang gliders, microlights and aerobatic gliders and motor gliders.[23]

Media

Flyability and their activities are often reported in national, local and specialist press reports.

National

Local

Specialist

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About Us. Flyability. 13 May 2017.
  2. Web site: BHPA Flyability Information. BHPA. British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association. 13 May 2017.
  3. Web site: Disabled Hang Gliding. Airways Airswports Flyability. 13 May 2017. 11 September 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160911201728/http://airways-airsports.com/flying/hand-gliding/disabled-hang-gliding. dead.
  4. Derwin. Steve. The Darley Moor Project. BDFA Newsletter. Autumn 2002. 2. "Airways has been involved with 'Flyability' within the BHPA since its outset and received the 'Flyability Trophy' in 2001 from the BHPA for their efforts in supporting and promoting free flying for disabled people..
  5. Web site: Flyability Information. EscapeXC. 13 May 2017. 4 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160704134106/http://www.jockysanderson.com/escape/js2/index.php/courses/uk-courses/flyability.html. dead.
  6. Web site: FAQs. Flying Frenzy. 13 May 2017.
  7. Web site: Flyability Charity COmmission Information. Charity Commission. 13 May 2017.
  8. Book: Flyability Charity Registration. 25 January 1996. Charity Commission. 13.
  9. Hastings. Mark. Flyability News. Windsock, SHGC Magazine. April 1996. 18–19. 2017-05-16. 2017-10-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20171019112004/http://www.shgc.org.uk/windsock?m=windsock&v=1996&i=April%201996. dead.
  10. Haslett. Ian. When Hell Froze Over. Mach One. Jan–Feb 1999. 1. 9. 6–7.
  11. Web site: Friends and Supporters. Flyability Links. 13 May 2017.
  12. Web site: Charities. Access Unlimited. 13 May 2017. 27 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160127030105/http://accessunlimited-uk.com/chartities.htm. dead.
  13. Varden. Steve. LCC – Not just about 'US'. Cumbria Soaring Club Newsletter. October 2009. it was monies donated to Flyability from the 1996 Lakes Charity Classic that were used to conceive, begin and fund the first two historic Flyability pilot training scholarships..
  14. Rawlinson. Kate. Dales Do "the Lakes Charity Classic". Skywords. July 2012. 2–3. 16 May 2017.
  15. Web site: FlyChair. Flychair Paragliding buggy. 13 May 2017.
  16. Web site: Flyability Equipment. Flyability. 13 May 2017.
  17. Web site: The thrill-seeking tetraplegic refusing to live a boring life. 1 News Now. TV New Zealand. 15 May 2017.
  18. Web site: Our tours > Air. Making Trax. 15 May 2017. 6 April 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170406123803/http://www.makingtrax.co.nz/Our-Tours/Air/. dead.
  19. Web site: Flyability Scholarships. Flyability. 13 May 2017.
  20. Web site: Exhibitor listing. Farnborough 2016. 13 May 2017. 7 May 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170507225046/http://www.farnborough.com/trade/Content/FIA2016-Exhibitor-Listing. dead.
  21. Web site: Exhibitor listing. Flyer Live 2016. 13 May 2017.
  22. Web site: Richard Westgate Memorial Fly In. Facebook Event. 13 May 2017.
  23. News: MIG: Leek Post and Times. Flyability/Aerobility Disabled Flying - Try Everything!. 13 May 2017 . Leek Post and Times. June 13, 2016.
  24. News: Bushell. Mike. Mike Bushell flies high with aerotow hang-gliding. 15 May 2017. BBC Sport. 8 October 2010.
  25. News: Kineally. Patrick. Paragliding. 15 May 2017. Guardian. 29 September 2007.
  26. News: Young Wheelchair Users Try Paragliding. 16 May 2017. Guernsey Sports Commission. 24 November 2015. 26 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160126093128/http://guernseysports.com/2015/11/24/young-wheelchair-users-try-paragliding/. dead.
  27. News: Bolado. Catherine. Wheelchair users take to the skies thanks to a West Dorset paraglider. 16 May 2017. Dorset Echo. 29 August 2015.
  28. Ransome. George. 1st Solo. Skywings. January 2006. 44–45. 15 May 2017.
  29. Ransome. George. Bellezze. Paolo. Buggy Boot Camp. Skywings. December 2016. 38–40. 15 May 2017.
  30. Schofield. Joe. Flyability. BHPA Elementary Pilot Training Guide. 2016. 6. 15 May 2017.
  31. High Fliers. MS Matters. Sep–Oct 2013. 111. 6.

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