Caribbean Hang Gliding 1987 - in the British Virgin Islands
954 views · Published 24 May 2018 · 21:22 · Indexed 11 October 2026
Channel: bill bullimore · 2018 · Sports
This is a professionally made video I commissioned when I lived for 20 years in the BVI and shows us hang gliding on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands in 1987. We were the first to fly there, with a core group of around 6 of us pioneering take off and soaring sites over a period of 10 years. The film was made over a 4 week period showing 4 or 5 different flights. You will see: Bill Bullimore (self) BVI resident - flying Airwave Magic IV 177, yellow leading edge white rear with BVI logo and message artworked on it. I flew this glider all over Europe promoting the tourism aspect of the BVI. Peter Sorrentino - BVI resident - flying Airwave Magic IV 166, blue leading edge. Peter S, Rufus vG and myself used a UK-based campervan for our European tours. Brice Daunay - visitor from France in white glider with light blue leading edge. Brice was very active on the scene and flew with us regularly. He is also flying a white/lt blue/dk blue Polaris. 'Ian' - SA visitor who was in the BVI at the time of making this film. Because he was a 'big feller', I lent him my big Wills Wing Raven 220 (earlier design, yellow with white tips) and an older stirrup type harness. We kept this glider for tandem flying. Doug Stewart - although not flying, Doug helps us on the carry-up and returns the pickup to the landing area. Film Chronology: We park at the base of Fort Charlotte at start the highly aerobic carry-up along a path through spiky plants and barbed wire fences. At the takeoff site we cool off in the trade wind and rig. You can see Wickhams Cay I (landing area) before the present development of government offices, shopping malls and cruise ship docks . A local farmer comes by for a friendly chat, then you see the dodgy 'in flight' camera attached to my tail tube, with some hefty dive weights on the nose to counter-balance. That made for some interesting handling! The camera owner clearly didn't trust his equipment to us, so insisted it was in a waterproof housing! You will see at 10:26 the lift dies away, Brice gets low and dumps sand ballast. Watch how close he came to the roof of a building on his landing. The in-flight shots show me penetrating out to the Fort Burt hill and soaring over Prospect Reef with Peter Sorrentino. In the background are Peter, Salt and Cooper Islands, with the charter yachts sailing in the Sir Francis Drake Channel below. At the landing area on Wickhams Cay, in Road Town, you see landing in sequence, Ian on approach (Raven) with the t/off, Fort Charlotte in the background, Brice landing (Polaris), then me (Magic IV). This film is dedicated to wonderful BVI flying friends, Dongo C, Peter S, Brice D, Rufus vG, Stevie C, Jack, Scott S, Joe B, Larry F, Eli B and the late Doug H. Hope you enjoyed.
