News

John Dickenson, inventor of the modern hang-glider, died on July 5, 2023. His funeral will be held on August 25 in Mona Vale, NSW, Australia. John was the holder of the highest FAI award, the FAI Gold Air Medal.

A Short Story of Hang Gliding

Hang gliding began with Otto Lilienthal in 1891. The German engineer completed over 2000 flights. His gliders were very complex and difficult to build or repair, with a control system that proved inadequate to deal with turbulence. Lilienthal died following a crash; still, he proved that flying was possible.

Hiromi Furukawa (JPN), hot air balloon pilot and CIA PMR & Officials Subcommittee member shares an update from the WatchMeFly & Balloon Live project.

When meeting Maryla Boutineau, you find a thoughtful, warm person with a peaceful nature. Yet as you flick through the pages of her two volumes of ‘Les Femmes dans les Nuages’ (The Women in the Clouds) which tell the stories of the many women who contributed to the development of aviation, your mind boggles at the ferocious graft that she has thrown her mind and body into over the past three years, and you start to realise the passion that lies behind the calm exterior.

Twenty-five planes representing 12 nations are revving their engines at the Mȃcon-Charnay aerodrome in France ready for the 23rd FAI World Rally Flying Championships. The well-known teams of Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania and Slovakia will be joined by reigning champions South Africa, Germany, Spain and Portugal, with a warm welcome being extended to China and Italy.