The latest issue of Cross Country magazine is out now – and you can’t miss it. The amazing looking bird going eye-to-eye with you on the cover of the November/December issue is just a taste of what’s inside…
Birds of a Feather by Andy Pag is an indepth look at what’s going on inside the head of a soaring bird. Andy’s talked to falconers, parahawking tandem pilots and vulture and raptor experts around the world to find out how we can all learn from our feathered friends.
Flocking to a ski resort near you sometime soon will be gaggles of speedriders. This cross between skiing and paragliding is superfast and superfun. It’s also got a bit of a reputation. There is a safe way to learn, and that’s by heading back to school. We talk to the experts at Les Arcs Speed Riding to get the lowdown.
Sticking with the ice-is-nice theme, we head out into the hills in Switzerland for a hike-and-fly with a difference – overnighting in an igloo. Rule number one of igloo building? There is no igloo. Rule number two? First, build your igloo. Andy Busslinger and friends have a (snow)ball.
Rule number three of igloo building? If you can’t stand the cold, head south for the winter. Chile is a pilot’s paradise and this issue we have a step-by-step guide to flying this amazing country – from Iquique in the north to the Lake District in the south. Free-flying local Loreto Hurtado talks us through it.
Staying closer to (his) home Marcus King heads out to fly XC on an EN A in the southern French Alps. He makes it to St Andre, and can you wipe the grin off his face? No you can’t. Read this if you fancy a trip to the Alps sometime next year.
Also out in the French Alps is Bob Drury – we gave him a brand new Rush 4 to play with and told him not to come back until he’d either lost it or his car keys. One set of expensive car keys later…
Also on the reviews panel this issue is the Vista 3, the latest EN B from Apco Aviation. Marcus King took it out and about in strong conditions in France.
The rest of the issue is packed with need-to-know advice, techniques, news and knowledge, including:
Randi Ericksen from testing house Air Turquoise explains how the EN testing system has changed recently, and what it means for pilots.
We round up the A-class students from Planet Flying and the XContest 2014 season. Congratulations Monsieur Honorin Hamard and all the others.
Honza Rejmanek takes requests – a pilot asked us ‘What is cold air advection and what does it mean to me?’ And Honza replied. It’s not as complicated as it might sound.
Fresh back from a long weekend in the Dolomites Bruce Goldsmith explains why going hands-up on glide is almost always best.
Jon Chambers takes a moment to look back on his two seasons flying the Red Bull X-Alps – and explains how anyone can put the training techniques of an X-Alps pilot to good use. ‘Stretch your limits!’
We also carry all the latest news on new gear and new products.
Speak to the incredible Francois Ragolski, acro world cup champion and XC hound.
And talk to the amazing Fabio Barretto Fava from Brazil – our Naked Pilot this issue.
Plus we have all our usual mix of great photography and good writing – all in all the issue is packed.
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