Hugh Miller interviews paragliding legend John Silvester in this archive article from 2008. At the time of the interview John was preparing to head off to the Karakoram for a unique tandem vol-biv adventure – the film of that trip became the legendary Birdman of the Karakoram
I’ve wanted to interview John for ages. Two reasons. Back in 1995, when I was 18, John gave me a ride around the European World Cup circuit in his knackered old Renault Master campervan, and became something of an uncle to me. My parents drove me to a rendezvous point on the way to Dover and patiently waited for John to show up. He’d bought the van for £300, and it’d already seen him round four seasons before he lumbered into the Essex services (at midnight – no road tax – less chance of getting done by the police).
Flymaster are launching their new SD series of instruments, which incorporate an SD card offering extra data memory for added features. The new-look bodies are shock absorbent, with “almost unbreakable” displays, according to Flymaster. The instruments are available in varying degrees of complexity, from the basic Vario SD model for new pilots, rising all the […]Read more
The classic XCertina Bag from Cross Country has been updated. The new Mark IV model features a new larger sock, a new riser pocket, a two-way opening zip and a better compression strap. The XCertina Bag was one of the original concertina folding paraglider bags, and is designed to keep your paramotor wing in good […]Read more