Target Skysports
Encyclopedia
Target Skysports is a BPA
affiliated parachuting centre and skydiving drop zone at Hibaldstow
, in North Lincolnshire
.
, a former satellite fighter airfield for RAF Kirton in Lindsey
and first opened in May 1941. 255 and 253 Squadrons were based their during the war and the airfield acted as a satellite of RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey. Later on it changed its role to fulfil a training role before eventually closing in May 1945.
Skydive Hibaldstow has its origins from several early parachuting clubs dating back to the 1960's. These included Lincoln Pathfinders, Leeds Bradford Parachute club and Doncaster Parachute club. Doncaster Parachute Club started in the early 1980's. The operation then moved in 1992 to its present location due to the industrial development, with the runway being dug up and replaced with warehousing.
In addition to the many events held at the parachute centre, they are also well known as a centre for team training. Teams preparing for the National Championships jump at Hibaldstow because they can make high numbers of decents in a short space of time. This is facilitated by an efficient manifesting system, fast climbing aircraft and back-to-back jumps.
Back-to-back jumping is where a skydiver or team can make high volumes of jumps by owning more than one set of equipment. After landing from the 1st jump, they hand their equipment to qualified parachuter packers and meet the same aircraft with a 2nd set of equipment as it lands on the runway.
2009 saw the 4-way, 8-way and VFS disciplines all completed in a single day totalling some 143 take-offs by the fleet of 3 aircraft. This year in 2010, saw another UK record of 54 formation skydiving 4-way teams and 3 VFS teams attend on the first weekend. It is also believed that proportionate to the number of skydivers and dropzones, the UK has the largest national championships event in the world.
, Accelerated Freefall
(AFF) and Tandem skydiving
courses to the public all year long. As part of this, they own a selection of student equipment and parachutes for hire.
- July 2003. Stephen died following a jump and an investigation discovered his parachute lines had been deliberately cut, but no suspect has been identified and suicide has been considered unlikely.
British Parachute Association
British Parachute Association is the National Governing Body for Sport Parachuting in the United Kingdom.-Overview:The BPA was founded in 1961 to organise, govern and further the advancement of sport parachuting within the UK ....
affiliated parachuting centre and skydiving drop zone at Hibaldstow
Hibaldstow
Hibaldstow is a village and civil parish on the B1206, south of Brigg and the M180, in North Lincolnshire, England. The deserted medieval village of Gainsthorpe is situated nearby.-History:...
, in North Lincolnshire
North Lincolnshire
North Lincolnshire is a unitary authority area in the region of Yorkshire and the Humber in England. For ceremonial purposes it is part of Lincolnshire....
.
History
The airfield is the former RAF HibaldstowRAF Hibaldstow
RAF Hibaldstow, near Hibaldstow, Lincolnshire, was built with greater things in mind, but it only became a satellite airfield for RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey in 1941. When the runways were constructed, some of the hardcore was made from material taken from demolished bungalows on the site.- History :The...
, a former satellite fighter airfield for RAF Kirton in Lindsey
RAF Kirton in Lindsey
RAF Kirton in Lindsey is a Royal Air Force airfield in Lincolnshire. The field is located 15 miles north of Lincoln.It hosts No.1 Air Control Centre , the RAF’s only deployable ground-based early warning and air control radar unit, parented by RAF Scampton.-First World War:The Royal Flying Corps...
and first opened in May 1941. 255 and 253 Squadrons were based their during the war and the airfield acted as a satellite of RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey. Later on it changed its role to fulfil a training role before eventually closing in May 1945.
Skydive Hibaldstow has its origins from several early parachuting clubs dating back to the 1960's. These included Lincoln Pathfinders, Leeds Bradford Parachute club and Doncaster Parachute club. Doncaster Parachute Club started in the early 1980's. The operation then moved in 1992 to its present location due to the industrial development, with the runway being dug up and replaced with warehousing.
Events and Training
Skydiving at Target Skysports has always supported experienced qualified skydivers. Not only are they host to the National Championships each year, but they also hold a wide range of events including:- An annual 28-way formation skydiving sequential competition
- A dropzone formation skydiving bigway record attempt. In 2007 this was set at 50, and in 2009 the record was increased to a 60-way formation.
- BPA Coaching roadshows for freefly and formation skydiving
- Canopy coaching, canopy formation and bigway weekends
- The European Skydiving League finals were held for the first time at Hibaldstow in 2009
- The annual Halloween 10-way Speed Frostbite Friendly competition
- Host of the UK Skydiving League competition which act as a regional grand-prix type event
- Safety and packing days
- Instructor courses
In addition to the many events held at the parachute centre, they are also well known as a centre for team training. Teams preparing for the National Championships jump at Hibaldstow because they can make high numbers of decents in a short space of time. This is facilitated by an efficient manifesting system, fast climbing aircraft and back-to-back jumps.
Back-to-back jumping is where a skydiver or team can make high volumes of jumps by owning more than one set of equipment. After landing from the 1st jump, they hand their equipment to qualified parachuter packers and meet the same aircraft with a 2nd set of equipment as it lands on the runway.
National Championships
The National Championships were first held at Hibaldstow in 1996. Since then they have continued to host this prestigious competition ever year except one. The disciplines which are held include 4-way and 8-way formation skydiving, freefly, freestyle, skysurfing, speed skydiving and VFS (vertical formation skydiving). Two weekends (Saturday to Monday) are set aside every August, with the events being split equally between them.2009 saw the 4-way, 8-way and VFS disciplines all completed in a single day totalling some 143 take-offs by the fleet of 3 aircraft. This year in 2010, saw another UK record of 54 formation skydiving 4-way teams and 3 VFS teams attend on the first weekend. It is also believed that proportionate to the number of skydivers and dropzones, the UK has the largest national championships event in the world.
Courses and Equipment
The centre offers RAPS (Static Line)Ram Air Progression System
RAPS or Ram Air Progression System is a parachuting training system designed to take a student from beginner to the FAI A License using square ram air canopies.-System:...
, Accelerated Freefall
Accelerated Freefall
Accelerated freefall is a method of skydiving training. This method of skydiving training is called "accelerated" because the progression is the fastest way to experience solo freefall, normally from 10,000 to 15,000 feet "Above Ground Level"...
(AFF) and Tandem skydiving
Tandem skydiving
Tandem skydiving or tandem parachuting refers to a type of skydiving where a student skydiver is connected via a harness to a tandem instructor. The instructor guides the student through the whole jump from exit through freefall, piloting the canopy, and landing. The student needs only minimal...
courses to the public all year long. As part of this, they own a selection of student equipment and parachutes for hire.
Fleet
| Aircraft | Passengers | Registration | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dornier Do28 G-92 | n/a | n/a |  |
|
| SMG Turbo Finist | n/a | n/a |  |
|
| Piper Alpha PA32 Piper Cherokee Six -External links:* *... |
n/a | n/a | n/a |
Records
- 28th August 2011 - A group of 28 of the best UK freeflyers set a record for the largest freefly formation. This was organised by the British VFS team, the Bad Lieutenants and beat the previous record of a 22-man formation set in 2010 at the same dropzone.
- 13th August 2011 - The dropzone hosts the largest Open National Skydiving Championships in the world and some 55 4-way teams take part.
- 10th July 2011 - A UK record of 130 charity tandem skydivers jumped in a single day. They were raising money for Khalsa Aid. This surpasses a similar record set at the same dropzone in 2010.
- 22nd May 2011 - The first every UK women's headdown record was set at the dropzone consisting of 8 jumpers flying in a headdown formation and was organised by Anna Howerski and Catriona Adam.
Deaths
Stephen HilderStephen Hilder
Stephen Hilder was a 20-year-old Officer Cadet at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom in Shrivenham, Wiltshire, England. On 4 July 2003, Hilder fell to his death when, during a skydive, both his main and reserve parachutes failed.- Investigation :...
- July 2003. Stephen died following a jump and an investigation discovered his parachute lines had been deliberately cut, but no suspect has been identified and suicide has been considered unlikely.
External links
- skydiving.co.uk - Official website
- skydivingchampionships.com - National Championships website