FlyStanwell anniversary event set to lift everyone's spirits

The sky’s no limit for the area’s hang-gliding and paragliding enthusiasts as they prepare to celebrate 50 years of flights from Bald Hill and landings at Stanwell Park.

FlyStanwell (aka the Stanwell Park Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club) has organised a special event to be staged from noon on October 17 in the main park of Stanwell Park Beach, including activities on the lawns and at the Beach Kiosk. 

The festival will feature historical hang-glider displays, memorabilia, an information tent (where people can chat with hang-gliders), merchandise, as well as invited VIPs from the glory days of hang-gliding.

Club safety manager and anniversary committee member Vancho Bonevski says the event is “a way to celebrate the history of the area and the flying history of Bald Hill in particular” but also to encourage a new generation of people to take up the sport. 

He says the club is hoping “for around 200 to 400 people to attend”.

The presence of “living legends” will be a big drawcard.

“We’re trying to get as many of the original pioneering members to attend the event as VIPs: people who were the first to launch, people who broke records, people who created new designs.

“We're trying to get the first female who flew from the hill, the first people to form the club, all that sort of thing.”

The anniversary will have something for everyone, Vancho says.

“We're going to have a glider display section where we've got a list of nine gliders from all the different eras and we've had plaques made up for them…

“We're also going to have interviews and some short speeches as well.”

Vancho, who lives in Stanwell Park, has been hang-gliding since 2011 and has clocked up “officially recorded flights in the thousands” but reckons he has easily logged 400 or 500 hours a year of flying time.

He says Bald Hill is “internationally recognised” as one of the world’s best hang-gliding and paragliding destinations.

“We get so many summertime international pilots visiting here. The summer season, the peak season for flying, is just about to kick off and all the competitions held between October and March and visiting pilots from all around the world – Europe, South America, Canada – they all come around for the competitions, and most of them will stop by Bald Hill just for that scenic flight along the coast.”

FlyStanwell needs help getting a marquee for the event, so if any local businesses are able to help financially or have a large enough marquee, email Vancho (vancho1@bigpond.com).

The FlyStanwell 50th anniversary event will be held from noon on October 17 in the main park of Stanwell Park Beach.