HOME AHPC
Club Coaches
Some club members have revealed a belief that the
AHPC operates somewhat exclusively for the established pilots and doesn’t offer
much help to members (particularly PG pilots) who may be fresh from training
school or who have been out of the ‘scene’ for some time. Which is a shame, and certainly not how the
club wishes to be perceived. The AHPC
has 5 experienced coaches (along with a couple of “nearly coaches”) who
regularly fly club sites and are more than willing to help out. You want to go
flying? Simply get in touch with one of
the coaches below, either the day before or at around 9:00am on the day you are
thinking of heading out, and find out what’s going on! They may be an ugly bunch but are reasonably
helpful and amiable (and get friendlier with the more beer you buy them…).
Matt Church – PG
Photo here Photo here
Experience: 700 hours (PG). Used to be the youngster of the club when I started flying in 1998,
but seem to be more middle-aged now. Flown all the sites and can be found on
the hill most days for half the year.
Other times I'm either flying abroad (all welcome to join me) or working
offshore (occasionally). I'll talk to
any paraglider pilot that walks on the hill and will even hold on to the nose
wire of a hang glider. Note: I have a
girlfriend called Lu who can be bribed with alcohol to act as recovery driver
Availability:
Anytime, anywhere.
Contact: 01224 724076 (home), 07740 593788 (mob), fly_matt@tiscali.co.uk
Bob Dunthorn - HG
Photo here
Experience: 1500 hours on HGs plus 100 hours
gliding. Soon due to celebrate 250
years as a club member! An extensive
knowledge of the club sites. Experienced
in the coaching of HG pilots but only
familiar with the basics of paragliding.
Availability:
Weekends and midweek.
Contact: 01224 326095 (home)
07719 720912 (mob)
Richard Grundy - PG
Experienced: and available. Very good with the girls, as
proved when doing his Instructor course with Green Dragons in 2002. Either
offshore earning a wedge or taking his dog for a walk on the banks of the Dee in Aberdeen.
Contact: See his mobile (home)
07796 120706 (mob)
richgrundy7@aol.com
Geoff May – HG / PG
Photo here
Experience: 500 hours (HG), 10 hours (PG). Member of the club since 1993, familiar with
all the sites. I haven’t flow PGs for
sometime now and wouldn’t feel comfortable discussing some finer points of para
flying but would be happy to help with site and weather briefings, etc. All pilots are more than welcome to come
along.
Availability:
Moved to Houston, Texas, USA in July
2004.
Contact: email only at the moment
For his paragliding
skills click here: Geoff_PG
John Newton – PG / HG
Photo here
Experience: Member of club since ’93, flying
paragliders since ‘89 (about 350 hours) and hang gliders since 2001 (about 15
hours). Still the proud owner a at least one pink glider, not having crashed
for a while. Usually on the hill most weekends. At present I’m concentrating on
hang gliding for my own flying, to get experience, but still fly paras when
conditions suit. Coaching for paras
only.
Availability:
Weekends.
Contact: 01224 648387 (home), 07788 451492
(mobile) - best thing is to phone night before to see what’s happening.
jnewt@globalnet.co.uk
Ian Smith - HG
Photo here
Experience: 650 hours (HG), 5 minutes (PG). Can be found on the hill most flyable days
when onshore and I’m more than happy to go flying with other club members
(unless you’re a free-loading b**tard like Eric…).
Availability:
Midweek and weekends, depending on
3-on/3-off rota.
Contact: 01224 639437 (home)
07801 444053 (mob)
Julian Robinson - PG
Experience: 160 hours PG. Have flown a large number of
hills all round Scotland. Enjoys exploring new places to fly, particularly
around the West Coast. Just done the club coach course so keen to put all I
learnt into practice. Currently holds longest flight by an AHPC para with TWO 151km flights at the XCeara comp in Brasil in Nov 2005.
Availability:
Weekends and evenings in summer.
Especially if it involves driving.
Contact: 01224 572866 (home)
07776 426268 (mob)
j_m_rob@tiscali.co.uk
Russ Thompson – PG
Experience: Quite a lot of hours (PG). Recently moved up here from Englandshire, is
a Senior Coach and there'll be more details once I know them. Flies a blue Edel
Response.
Availability:
Weekends.
Contact: (home), 07989 850264 (mob), russ.thompson@centrilift.com
Others
Due To Be Coaches Soon:
Simon Lucas - PG
Experience:
250 hours PG , about 1 minute
swimming. Sometimes manage to get out of bed and will help anybody off if it
means I don’t have to fly!!
Availability:
Weekends and evenings in summer.
Except Sunday mornings when I’m ringing the bells.
Contact:
01224 634899 (home)
07979 035345 (mob)
simon-alex@salucas.wanadoo.co.uk