General

            We are based at Barton Aerodrome, Eccles, Manchester.  Affiliated to the British Hang-Gliding and Paragliding Association, our operation is mainly towing paragliders, using either a vehicle, or a  winch. We are a well established and active club. We currently operate on the airfield itself, from 0700 - 0900, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays.

             We meet in the main car park before 0700, organize and fly. When we've finished for the day, we retire to breakfast & chat. The best start to your day you can imagine. Most other people might well be just getting out of their pit! Civilised.

           We are active through the year, although our operation at Barton must of necessity cease through the winter months (night-time flying isn't all it's cracked up to be!). We've tried launching using boats, but it didn't quite work out.

We are the only tow operation in the North West. Wouldn't mind being wrong on that, but we're not.

Fed up of parawaiting on that wind-blown hill? Blown out? Have to climb back down again? When we're blown out, we just drive off the field! Want to use the loo? No looking for hedges for us... we have a proper WC. Excellent for our ladies.

Please note: It has come to the attention of this webmaster, that some pilots are keeping some tall tales to themselves. This will no longer be tolerated! A wet sponge, and a good 12v battery await the next club member found guilty of this atrocious behaviour! Tales (here's two) to me please (includes a certain treehugger, AND a certain power line inspector).

• Like someone whose name begins with Glen getting the Landrover stuck on grass, on flat ground...
• Like someone whose name begins with Dave, trying to fix some roofing tiles...
• Like someone whose name I'm not divulging, getting a very low snap (50'), and leaving a hole in the strip with his body. OK, that was me, I'll get the story up soon, with recommendations to try to avoid that in future.
• Like two muppets, who, in a fit of desperation for recognition (couldn't get the spot all year!), flew with 1) a kilt and 2) a sari, both flying their respective flags. Images to follow.

Qualified (CP & above) hill pilots:

We are able to offer conversion to tow. Current cost is £80 (plus flight fees on top), with free membership for the first year to our club (BPC). You must be a fully paid up member of the BHPA. We are not a commercial concern, all we need is...
	YOU!

History

Founded 1st January 1973, we are one of the founding paragliding clubs in the world. Our members are from the North West of England.  We operate as a verified school under the governing body of The British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association. (BHPA).

Our club was founded by the late Wilf Shaw who lived in Bollington (Near Macclesfield), hence our name.

Club officials:

Bollington Club President & Chairman:  Brian Shaw.

We have a number of well know instructors, including Glenn Stockton (CFI), Brian Shaw, Neil Slinger, Mark Hobson, all of whom are senior instructors and who have been paragliding since its inception in the late sixties. Walter Neumark. was a big influence on us, here's an interesting article.

Fame and Fortune:

We've had an article on us many years ago in Playboy, of all rags!

Our social sec. has just (Nov 2007) done a daytime interview with Becky Want, on BBC Radio Manchester

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Remember - if your feet were meant to be on the ground all your life, you would have been given roots instead of feet!

Small print:

We reserve the right to alter, amend or otherwise change at any time any aspect of the terms and conditions of our operation. Safety and enjoyment are our prime concern.

©Bollington PC 2/2002