SAFA Skysailor Magazine

22 SKY SAILOR September-October-November | SPRING 2026 What kind of flying do you enjoy most now? I really enjoy flying with a group of friends. When you’re all connected on radio, com- municating properly and trying to work together as a team, that’s great fun. I still enjoy competitions, although I’m not as competitive as I used to be. These days, I probably enjoy them as much for the community and friendships as for the competition itself. At the other end of the spectrum, I also enjoy hiking up a little local site, flying for 10 minutes, then heading home. I enjoy hike-and-fly and cross-country, and I’ve just bought myself a lightweight wing. Sometimes I’ll fly on my own and disap- pear off on a little mission; other days it’s all about flying with friends. I’ve never been particularly attracted to speed flying. It’s just not me. Give me hike-and-fly, cross-country or a good day sharing the air with friends and I’m happy. You’ve flown through several generations of equipment. How has your approach to risk changed? Early on, you don’t know what you don’t know. You take risks you’re not even aware of, and you can be completely, delusionally optimistic. Luck can play a huge part when you’re learning. My mindset is very different now. I’m more conservative and I don’t feel I have to fly just because it’s possible. If it’s marginal, I don’t fly. There’s always tomorrow. The equipment has changed enormously too. Modern gliders are much more solid than the early ones. The old wings seemed Meet SAFA’s CEO: Gavin Hanlon