About ACTHPA
The ACT Hang gliding and Paragliding Association (ACTHPA) is the club for all hang gliders, paragliders and their motorised forms in the region. The region is excellent for carbon-free flying and there are some great areas for motorised flight as well. We have many excellent sites, local paragliding instructors and an active pilot community. We maintain a number of launch sites, and wind talkers in the local area to help in deciding when and where to fly.
Flying in Canberra
If it is ‘on’ then you can pretty much guarantee that someone will be out flying. If you are planning to go for a fly at one of our sites, please post a message on our Telegram group so you can meet up with others. The wind talkers provide current wind speed and direction and records this information for the previous 12 hours. The weather resources page links to useful weather information.
If you are a visiting pilot, remember to contact one of the locals (best done through our Telegram group) prior to flying any site.
Learn to Fly
If you’re interested in learning to fly, take a look at the SAFA Schools page, and you could also join our Facebook group or come along to a club meeting to ask for recommendations.
Club Meetings
Club meetings are on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30pm at the Weston Creek Labor Club, COVID-willing.
Recent Flights Around Canberra
These are just a few of the recent flights by club members in the ACT region.
| Name | Site | Aircraft | Model | Distance | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shamsher Katoch | Spring Hill | Paraglider | Niviuk Hook 6 | 3.62km | 2025-06-29 |
| Reza Sayyah | Spring Hill | Paraglider | Niviuk Hook 6 | 3.83km | 2025-06-29 |
| Reza Sayyah | Spring Hill | Paraglider | Niviuk Hook 6 | 2.85km | 2025-06-29 |
| Shamsher Katoch | Spring Hill | Paraglider | Niviuk Hook 6 | 1.74km | 2025-06-28 |
| Phil Robinson | Spring Hill | Paraglider | Ozone Zeno 2 | 4.87km | 2025-06-28 |
| Reza Sayyah | Spring Hill | Paraglider | Niviuk Hook 6 | 3.11km | 2025-06-28 |
| Alex Chapman | Castle Hill | Paraglider | Bgd Cure 2 | 4.72km | 2025-06-28 |
| Shamsher Katoch | Spring Hill | Paraglider | Niviuk Hook 6 | 3.14km | 2025-06-28 |
| Reza Sayyah | Spring Hill | Paraglider | Niviuk Hook 6 | 3.42km | 2025-06-28 |
| Reza Sayyah | Spring Hill | Paraglider | Niviuk Hook 6 | 2.94km | 2025-06-28 |
| Ralph Weatherburn | Spring Hill | Paraglider | Niviuk Hook 5 | 1.23km | 2025-06-22 |
| Shamsher Katoch | Spring Hill | Paraglider | Niviuk Hook 6 | 1.66km | 2025-06-22 |
| Reza Sayyah | Spring Hill | Paraglider | Niviuk Hook 6 | 4.05km | 2025-06-22 |
| Ralph Weatherburn | Spring Hill | Paraglider | Niviuk Hook 5 | 3.24km | 2025-06-22 |
| Reza Sayyah | Spring Hill | Paraglider | Niviuk Hook 6 | 2.57km | 2025-06-22 |
| Reza Sayyah | Spring Hill | Paraglider | Niviuk Hook 6 | 3.16km | 2025-06-21 |
| Reza Sayyah | Spring Hill | Paraglider | Niviuk Hook 6 | 1.66km | 2025-06-21 |
| Reza Sayyah | Spring Hill | Paraglider | Niviuk Hook 6 | 1.36km | 2025-06-21 |
Longest Flights in the Canberra Region
These are some of the longest cross-country flights recorded in the Canberra region. Also see the site records page for records broken down by site and wing category.
| Name | Site | Aircraft | Model | Distance | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Igor Likhosherstov | Bowning | Paraglider | Niviuk Peak 3 | 188.80km | 2013-11-30 |
| Alex Chapman | Collector | Paraglider | Nova Mentor 4 | 188.18km | 2020-01-19 |
| Rafael Esquillaro | Lake George | Paraglider | Niviuk Icepeak 7 Pro | 183.23km | 2017-01-04 |
| Daniel Thuillier | Honeysuckle | Paraglider | Airdesign Rise 4 | 165.71km | 2020-12-10 |
| Lukas Vymetal | Bowning | Paraglider | Axis Venus 3 | 158.07km | 2013-11-30 |
| Daniel Thuillier | Collector | Paraglider | Ozone Zeno 2 | 142.70km | 2024-12-19 |
| Igor Likhosherstov | Bowning | Paraglider | Niviuk Peak 3 | 131.27km | 2015-03-15 |
| Lukas Vymetal | Bowning | Paraglider | Axis Venus 3 | 127.53km | 2013-12-01 |
| Alex Chapman | Collector | Paraglider | Bgd Cure 2 | 122.98km | 2023-01-21 |
| Lukas Vymetal | Bowning | Paraglider | Axis Venus 4 | 122.64km | 2015-02-22 |
| Stuart Mcelroy | Honeysuckle | Paraglider | Ozone Zeno 2 | 122.37km | 2025-04-02 |
| Jonathan Bishop | Collector | Paraglider | Ozone Lm 6 | 121.30km | 2019-12-08 |
| Stuart Mcelroy | Honeysuckle | Paraglider | Skywalk X-alps5 | 118.40km | 2022-12-17 |
| Igor Likhosherstov | Bowning | Paraglider | Niviuk Peak 3 | 117.64km | 2013-12-01 |
| Jonathan Bishop | Collector | Paraglider | Ozone Delta 3 | 116.52km | 2020-11-07 |
| Sam Rybak | Collector | Paraglider | Triple Seven Rook 2 | 113.94km | 2020-11-07 |
| Alex Chapman | Collector | Paraglider | Advance Sigma 10 | 113.52km | 2021-01-09 |
| Alex Chapman | Honeysuckle | Paraglider | Bgd Cure 2 | 110.88km | 2022-12-17 |
| Igor Likhosherstov | Bowning | Paraglider | Niviuk Peak 3 | 105.58km | 2014-02-22 |
| Lukas Vymetal | Bowning | Paraglider | Axis Venus 3 | 100.26km | 2013-11-17 |
Not the New Zealand Open 2022
Not The New Zealand Paragliding Open took place in February, with six Canberra pilots competing.
Flow Corryong Paragliding Open 2022
The Corryong Paragliding Open took place in February, with six Canberra pilots competing.
Bright Open 2022
For five days in early February the sky around the mountain town of Bright in country Victoria was filled with 80 paraglider pilots competing in the annual Bright Open.
ACTHPA Turnpoint Challenge 2021/22
The 2021/22 turnpoint challenge ran from 1 November 2021 until 31 August 2022.
Corryong PG Open 2021
The Corryong Paragliding Open took place in February, with nine Canberra pilots competing.
Bright Open 2021
The Bright Open was held early February. Eight Canberra pilots competed in three tasks.
Radio Policy Change
We have switched our standard frequency to SAFA1
November Club Meeting / Fly In
Our previous club meeting / fly-in was on Sunday November 15 at Spring Hill.
Jonathan Bishop and Sam Rybak fly over 100km from Collector to Murringo
On Saturday 7 November Jono and Sam launched their paragliders from Collector and flew together for over 100km, past Boorowa, finally landing near Murringo.
Tips for Flying Cross-Country from Collector
Alex Chapman gives us some tips for flying XC from the site just north of Canberra, at the northern end of Lake George.
October AGM / Fly In
We held our AGM on Saturday October 3rd at Spring Hill.
ACTHPA Turnpoint Challenge 2020
Our first annual turnpoint challenge will run from 1 October 2020 until 31 August 2021.
September Club Meeting / Fly In
Spring Hill turned on some great flying weather for our first combined club meeting and fly-in on Saturday September 5.
September Turnpoint Challenge
We held a trial turnpoint challenge during September.
Parachute Repack Night
The parachute repack night was held on Friday September 4.
2020 Corryong Easter Club Fly-in
The club trip to Corryong over the Easter long weekend has been cancelled.
Paragliding State of Origin
The Paragliding State of Origin has unfortunately been cancelled this year due to unforeseen pandemic.
March Club Meeting
Our previous club meeting was held on Tuesday 3 March at 7:30pm at the Weston Creek Labor Club. After our regular meeting we discussed ‘The Life Cycle of a Paraglider Pilot’.
Corryong PG Open 2020
The Corryong Paragliding Open took place in late February, with six Canberra pilots competing: Kari Ellis (3rd overall, 1st woman), Johno Quinn (1st in reynolds class), Cameron Lawrence, Alistair Dickie (2nd in fun class), Phil Robinson, and Alex Chapman.
Bright Open 2020
The Bright Open was held in early February. Three Canberra pilots competed.
Novice Experiences at the Manilla XC Camp
Alex Boiko reflects on his trip to the Manilla XC Camp as a novice pilot this year.
February Club Meeting
Our last club meeting was on Tuesday 4 February at 7:30pm at the Weston Creek Labor Club.
Manilla XC Camp 2020
Grum, Alex B and others took part in the 2020 Manilla XC Camp
How Not to Throw Your Reserve
Phil Lyng gave us a presentation on reserve parachutes (MS PowerPoint) at a recent club meeting.
Kari Ellis 3rd in World Championships
Canberra pilot Kari Ellis secured third place in the women’s category of the Paragliding World Championships held in Krushevo, Macedonia. She came 65th overall, racing the world’s best pilots over ten cross-country tasks of between 63km and 130km. Read all about her experience here.
Racing at the Paragliding World Championships 2019
Kari Ellis gives us a detailed breakdown of what it was like to fly in the world paragliding championships in Krushevo, Macedonia in 2019.
A Few Things about AIRSPACE
Phil Lyng gave us a presentation on Airspace (MS PowerPoint) at the February 2020 club meeting.
Flying in Canberra - a few tips
Barry Oliver gives us a guide to deciding where and when to fly, and how to fly Lake George in particular.
HOW TO THWART AN EAGLE ATTACKING
Wes Kilham gives us some sage advice on avoiding this common peril.