Enjoy the most beautiful mountain hang & paragliding XC flights, guided by english, french and german speaking experienced pilots while you tour COLOMBIA for ten adventurous, unforgetable days. December thru march. NEUSA: " ... soaring with eagles for hours in sight of beautilful woods and lake ... " BOGOTA: " ... like few have ever seen her: s I ow I y " HONDA: " Watch the magestic Rio Magdalena unravel in front of you as you fly off the eastern cordillera" ROLDANILLO: "Start at 6.000 feet altitude, 55°F. mountain vegetation and fauna; watch the greenery and wildlife change as you glide to 1800 feet and 80°F' CALJ: "Warm climate, hot people, blue skies, smooth flying" Write, Fax or Phone for complete information to:
DELAIR Attn: Mauricio Giraldo P.O. Box 91872 Bogota, COLOMBIA
SOUTH AMERICA Fax 1571 J 255 5184 ff 1571 J 257 8270 15711 61 0 2867
r1 I I ~ Extremel)' Low Altitude
~I.fir~ Parachute System Applied Air Research NO SLIP RUBBER BUSHINGS PREVENTS BASE TUBE ABRASION WHEN USED ALONE
introduces its line of Rocket Deployed Recovery Systems for hang gliding, paragliding and ultralight pilots. ELAPS delivers the fastest deployment with the highest reliability.
PROTECT YOU AND YOUR GLIDER A must for dealers with demo gliders. German made, thousands flying in Europe. Sold to major dealers in U.S. and Canada. ONLY
1 YEAR GUARANTEE • SNAP ON/SNAP OFF ANYTIME, ANYWHERE • AFFORDABLE/HIGH QUALITY • RUGGED & DEPENDABLE • 7" DIA. x 2W' WIDTH EXTREMELY LIGHTWEIGHT STORE IN GLIDER BAG OR HARNESS
$4500 PER PAIR (specify 1" or 11/s" base bar) SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO:
MORNINGSIDE HANG GLIDERS ~ RFD 2 BOX 109, CLAREMONT, NH 03743 (603) 542-4416 ~ CANADIAN ORDERS ADD $3.00 DEALERS WELCOME
For information write or call Applied Air Research.
ELAPS Mk 18 - $7 50/ HAPS Mk 22 - S900 ElAPS Mk 20 - $ 810 HAPS RDS-30 Rocket - $ 475
APPUED
ffi
The ELAPS systems are designed by David Aguilar, the original designer of rocket deployment and PDA canopy designs for Ultralight and Hang Glider recovery systems. ELAPS is available with the uniqueAvmax-drag PDA canopies or convert your current chest mounted hand-deployed 'chute with the ELAPS add-on kit.
AIRA2R
RESEARCH International
720 Olive Dr., Suite Y PO Box 366 Davis, CA 95616 Phone 916,753-4850 Fax 916,753-4830
Contact one of these dealers in your area. Lookout Mountain Flight Park Rt. 2, Box 215-H Rising Fawn, GA 30738 Attn: Matt Taber (404) 398-3433
Air Time of San Francisco 3620 Wawona Street San Francisco, CA 94116 Attn: Jeff Greenbaum (415) 759-1177
Mountain Wings 150 Canal Street Ellenville, NY 12428 Attn: Greg Black (914) 647-3377
Expert Flight 1704 Redwood Avenue Baltimore, MD 21234 Attn: Danny Brotto (301) 583-3765
True Flight Concepts Windrider Wind Sports, Inc. 13185 Gladstone Ave. P.O. Box 17675 Sylmar, CA 91352 Salt Lake City, UT 84117 Attn: Don Quackenbush (818) 367-6050 Attn: Kevin Stowe (801) 272-6908 Muller Hang Gliding, LTD. RR2 Cochrane, Alberta CANADA TOL OWO Attn: Willie Muller (403) 932-6760
High Adventure 4231 Sepulveda San Bernardino, CA 92404 Attn: Rob McKenzie (714) 883-8488
Mission Soaring lll6 Wrigley Way Milpitas, CA 95035 Attn: Pat Denovan (408) 262-1055
Austin Air Sports 1712 Waterston Austin TX 78703 Attn: Steve Burns (512) 474-1669
Get to know the When you fly the XTR you'll discover a glider with a lot of eXTRas. This glider has advanced glider performance with intermediate handling characteristics. The XTR has an even better 1../D than we had hoped. The VG throw is short and easy to operate like the TRX. In order to provide a more connected feel for ground handling with the VG off, we developed a side wire compensator that keeps the side wires tight when the glider is on the ground. It has also resulted in a more connected feel in the air. The pitch pressures on the XTR are very consistent throughout the range. They never become excessive like some intermediate gliders.
The XTR has an aluminum frame, a graphite king post and safe edge down tubes. The XTR is equipped with standard UP glider features such as battens made of 7075 aluminum, a speed bar, a king post hang system, and clear plastic wing tips. The static balance, dependable handling and easy landing characteristics of the XTR are unsurpassed. The predictable flying characteristics of the XTR will instill confidence while delivering the performance that you demand. The XTR is everything you've been wanting in a flex wing glider and a loteXTRa.
Ul:I futemational
4054 West 2825 North• Mountain Green, Utah 84050 • (801) 876-2211
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••wh ••tn:•• n:.h.ifih:.lfiihlh••*-••··········•hh..........................,fa.........................***** OTHER OPTIONAL MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS: ALTERNATE MAGAZINE MAILING SERVICE: (Airmail & 1st Class) _ _Send me Information VISA CARD INFORMATION: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __Send me Information PARTICIPANT ACCIDENT/I'HEFI' OF GLIDER INSURANCE: ...... __ Send me Information NAA MEMBERSHIP ($22.00 annual dues includes FAI license) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $_ _ _ __
**************************************************************************************************************** QHABGIS M):':: __}4astefCa.fd VISA ($2.0b lfandling fe~-. cti}h/ch~flc/M.Q. payrii¢111:s excluded)$""'--"-'----"--'---'--
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INSURANCE INFORMATION The cost of the insurance is included in the full membership fees with the member as additional insured. USHGA provides a Combined Single Limit Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability Master Policy in the amount of $1,000,000 per claim which covers all recreational flying. USHGA's insurance is valid ONLY while flying in the U.S., U.S. Properties and CANADA. *Foreign payments must be in U.S. F1JNDS drawn on a U.S. BANK.
USHGA, PO BOX 8300, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 8()()33 (719) 632-8300 FAX (719) 632-o417
(USPS 017-970-20)
Features
Columns
16 1992 Hang Gliding Organization Directory
14 Tow Lines Accident comments by Chris Gagliano. Circuit towing by Brad Lindsay.
Help us keep it up to date.
19 USHGA Reports 20 Flight From Haleakala hy Jim Shaw
photo hy Jackie Walton
A winter getaway to hang gliding paradise.
Page 20
49 Accident Reports
22 My First HundredMiler
hy Doug Hildreth Fatality update. Insights into a tandem accident by Dan Buchanan. Hook-in failure warning device by Henry Bocssl.
hv Jim Rowan A long-held dream realized.
25 Pilot Report: PacAir's Double Vision by G. W. Meadov1·.1·
Final results of the l 992 USHGA Board of Directors election. NAA meeting report by Dennis Pagen.
61 Regional News Page 25
A look at Pacific Airwave's massive tandem machine.
News from the Rogue Valley HGA in Oregon. Region VII news by Roel Hauser.
63 Product Lines hy Dan Johnson
30 On The Road With The Rocke teer
XTR. Double Vision, APCO, instruments and more.
article cmcl photos hy John Heiner An eastern U.S. hang gliding tour.
Departments
36 The CG-1000 Harness hy Rodger Hoyt
Page 36
Rodger reviews the original CG shifter. COVER: Ji111 Shaw over Aspen Mountain, Colo-
40 Foreign Soarin' The Austrian Alps © 1992 hy Dennis Pagen Land of unlimited flying sites.
43 The Tortoise And The Hare hy Davis Stmuh More on speeds to fly.
JANUARY 1992
rado. Photo by Ji111 Shaw.
CENTERSPREAD: John Heiney performs at the Opa Locka airport, Florida. Photo by John Heiney.
DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES IN PUBLICATIONS: The 111aterial presented here is published a\ part of an information disscminalion service for USHGA members. The USHGA 111akes no warranties or representations and assumes no liability concerning the validity of any advice. opinion or recommendation expressed in the material. All individuals relying upon the material do so at their own risk. Copyright CO I LJ92 United States Hang Gliding Association. Inc. All rights reserved to /-/a11g Gliding and individual contributors.
7 JO 12 28 46 52 58 58
Airmail Update Far-Flung Flights Calendar of Events Ratings Classified Advertising Index to Advertisers Stolen Wings
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Subscriptions: $24/year U.S. $36 Canada - $44 overseas Back Issues: $5 .00 each - all back issues (4) $14 (both include postage)
South Jordan, Utah 84065 Bus 801-254-7455 • Fax 801-254-7701
•NewsoftheAPA • Techniques • Safety • New Products • Glider Reviews • Competition News • European Undate •Who's Who • Facts & Figures
f11/I Color Md/dZJite
Gil Dodgen, Editor/Art Director John Heiney, Leroy Grannis Photographers Harry Martin, Illustrator Dennis Pagen, Rodger Hoyt, Staff Writers Tim Rinker, Design Consultant
Office Staff Jerry Bruning, Executive Director Greg Huller, Ratings & JCP's Cindy Evans, Member Services PJ More, Special Projects & Competitions Stu Clark, Insurance & Member Services Jeff Elgart, Marketing & Advertising
USHGA Officers and Executive Committee: Gregg Lawless, President Paul Voight, Vice President Russ Locke, Secretary Dan Johnson, Treasurer
REGION 1: Gene Matthews. REGION 2: Lynda Nelson, Russ Locke, Connie Bowen. REGION 3: Joe Greblo, Sandy King, Gregg Lawless. REGION 4: Mark Mocho, Glen Nicolet. REGION 5: Mike King. REGION 6: Ron Kenney. REGION 7: Rod Hauser. REGION 8: Randy Adams. REGION 9: Pete Lehmann, Jeff Sims. REGION 10: Matt Taber, Rick Jacob. REGION11: Jeff Hunt. REGION 12: Paul Voight, Paul Riker!. DIRECTORS AT LARGE: Dan Johnson, Jerry Forburger, Jan Johnson, Dennis Pagen. HONORARY DIRECTORS: Ken Brown, Lisa Tate, Jim Zeiset, Doug Hildreth, G.W. Meadows, Tom Kreyche, Mike Meier, Rob Kells, Fred Stockwell, Terry Reynolds.
The United States Hang Gliding Association Inc. is a division of the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) which is the official representative of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAJ), of the world governing body for sport aviation. The NAA, which represents the U.S. at FAI meetings, has delegated to the USHGA supervision of FAJ-related hang gliding activities such as record attempts and competition sanctions.
HANG GLIDING magazine is published for hang gliding sport enthusiasts to create further interest in the sport, by a means of open communication and to advance hang gliding methods and safety. Contributions are welcome. Anyone is invited to contribute articles, photos, and illustrations concerning hang gliding activities. If the material is to be returned, a stamped, selfaddressed return envelope must be enclosed. Notification must be made of submission to other hang gliding publications. HANG GLIDING magazine reserves the right to edit contributions where necessary. The Association and publication do not assume responsibility for the material or opinions of contributors. HANG GLIDING editorial offices: 6950 Aragon Circle, Suite 6, Buena Park, CA 90620 (714) 994-3050. HANG GLIDING (USPS 017-970) is published monthly by the United States Hang Gliding Association, Inc., 559 E. Pikes Peak Ave., Suite 101, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903 (719) 632-8300. FAX (719) 632-6417. Second-class postage is paid at Colorado Springs, CO and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: SEND CHANGE OF ADDRESS TO: HANG GLIDING, P.O. BOX 8300, Colorado Springs, 80933-8300.
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The USHGA is a member-controlled educational and scientific organization dedicated to exploring all facets of ultralight flight. Membership is open to anyone interested in this realm of flight. Dues for full membership are $49.00 per year {of which $15 goes to the publication of Hang Gliding), ($55 Canada & Mexico, $60 foreign); subscription rates only are $35.00 ($40 Canada & Mexico, $50 foreign). Changes of address should be sent six weeks in advance, including name, USHGA number, previous and new address, and a mailing label from a recent issue. JANUARY 1992
Volume 22, Issue No. I
AIRMAIL MORE ON GRAPHITE Dear Editor, Some important facts about carbon graphite structures should be addressed before it can be said that its use in hang gliders is good and safe. In a recent article Dennis Pagen stated that "most graphite comes pre-impregnated with resin." This in itself calls for some extreme quality control measures since prepregs require strict storage conditions such as being kept refrigerated until needed. When removed from refrigeration the product must be allowed to come up to room temperature before the package is opened. If the entire package is not used, the time out of the refrigerator must be recorded, and after a specified time the material must be tested. If the package is opened prior to reaching room temperature, condensation may form on the material which will render it scrap. The material must be tested when it comes from the manufacturer to make sure it has not been exposed to heat and moisture which also would render it scrap. The layup and autoclave curing processes must be controlled to exact tolerances. These processes should be certified by those performing them and should be made available to the purchaser of the glider. While carbon graphite may not corrode like aluminum, it does deteriorate in other ways. Any area where the fibers are exposed, a scratch, crack, void in the resin, or the edge of a hole will allow moisture to be absorbed by the resin and cause destruction of the resin and delamination. This has the same effect as corrosion: a weak and deteriorating structure. Another area of deterioration is caused by UV which attacks the resin, which can erode, leaving exposed fibers and allowing moisture to enter. When you drill a carbon graphite structural member and install a fastener you have a cathode and an anode. All you need is moisture and you have a battery; galvanic reaction starts immediately. Aircraft hardware is cadmium plated and is near the bottom of the list of compatible materials (zinc is worse; titanium is best). The use of plastic or mylar tape as a barrier material is not 100% effective, but is a necessity and should be inspected at regular intervals. The final concern is damage tolerance.
When a composite structure fails due to overload, it usually does so catastrophically instead of collapsing like an aluminum tube. If an aluminum tube has been overstressed in bending it will show stress marks in the finish, or may exhibit a permanent bend or fracture. Not so with composites. If a composite structure is overloaded it may suffer internal damage such as broken fibers and cracked resin, and not show any outward signs of damage. It will usually spring back to its original shape and look OK. Usually the only way to detect internal damage is by some form of nondestructive test such as radiographic or x-ray inspection. Sometimes a coin-tap test will reveal internal damage. A note of caution. You cannot repair an autoclave-cured prepreg structure by covering the damage with some material and epoxy. If it's damaged it's scrap. If an aluminum sleeve is used on a carbon graphite tube, a barrier must be used and inspected regularly. If the tube and sleeve are drilled and a fastener installed, you have a potential corrosion problem since graphite fibers are now exposed to moisture. Dean Whisler Lake Elsinore, CA
Response to Mr. Whisler's Letter to the Editor UP International applauds Mr. Whisler for his interest in pilot safety and glider integrity. Since UP is ctmently the only manufacturer using graphite in a current production glider, we welcome the opportunity to discuss some of the properties of graphite-epoxy materials. To begin with, we must clarify that the portion of Mr. Whisler's letter which deals with pre-impregnated graphite material (prepreg) is interesting but irrelevant to UP, since the graphite-epoxy parts on UP gliders are not fabricated using pre-preg materials. The remainder of Mr. Whisler's letter deals with four basic areas of concern: l) moisture absorption, 2) exposure to ultraviolet light, 3) galvanic reaction, and 4) damage tolerance. A significant amount of very sophisticated, well-funded testing of graphite-epoxy materials has been conducted over the years. Our information is based on the research and
7
AIRMAIL testing results available from several sources, including internal studies, studies performed by our suppliers, and published test results conducted by independent laboratories. 1) Moisture Absorption. A significant amount of testing has been conducted to determine the effects of moisture on graphiteepoxy materials. Under normal conditions, six to l O years are required for the moisture content to reach an ambient steady state in graphite-epoxy. Therefore, most tests use techniques of exposing the materials to rapid and radical changes in moisture and temperature variation below freezing and above the boiling point to accelerate the process. One such test was performed by ChiHung Shen and George S. Springer, at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan. For our type of laminate the test concludes, "The moisture content of the composite material has only a small effect on the ultimate tensile strength. At moisture contents below l %, the effects of moisture seems to be negligible." They go on to conclude, "Moisture absorption relieves curing stresses, and increases both limit and ultimate strengths." Other test results have concluded that moisture absorption may cause a slight degradation of strength in some graphiteepoxy configurations. However, a glider manufactured to HGMA certification standards has an additional level of safety margins built into the design. The graphiteepoxy spars used on UP gliders are not built to minimize weight, as is the norm for graphite construction. They are designed to keep weight at an acceptable level, while designing a product that maximizes strength without making a glider that is too stiff to handle. As a more practical example, UP's composite supplier (a manufacturer certified to fabricate defense hardware), uses a similar process to that used for our glider spars in making cooling tower drive shafts that spin 30-foot fan blades. These shafts have operated in a severe environment of 90% to 100% humidity at temperatures of 150° to 180° F for over 15 years without failure. 2) Ultraviolet Light. While graphiteepoxy structures are UV sensitive, they are not as sensitive as many other items on your
8
glider, including the sail cloth, nylon straps and rope. It should be noted that the forward leading edges, rear leading edges, and cross bars are not in direct sunlight since they are inside the double surface. However, the resins used in the graphite-epoxy spars on UP gliders have a UV inhibitor added, which very significantly reduces the effect of UV on the materials. UV inhibitors of this kind have been used successfully in graphite-epoxy materials for years. 3) Galvani!:_ Reaction. Galvanic reaction is a chemical reaction which must be taken into consideration. Like rust, the rate of this galvanic reaction varies widely depending primarily on the presence of moisture. All of the aluminum sleeves on the UP gliders are anodized and bonded with a high-performance, heat cured, aerospace grade adhesive with properties well suited for this application. Proper surface preparation and application of the adhesive can provide a suitable barrier to galvanic reaction. These specific areas of contact are also "over-built" by 50% compared to the rest of the spar. Other metal parts which come in contact with the graphite-epoxy, like the control bar hardware, are subject to galvanic reaction. However, since space tolerances are greater, the likelihood of trapped moisture between the metal and graphite are significantly reduced. The rate of galvanic reaction of these parts will vary depending on regional humidity, care in storing, and other factors. The reaction rate, even under the worst conditions, appears to be slow. More frequent than normal replacement of fasteners and hardware will not be necessary. An annual inspection for corrosion (white powdery deposits on the aluminum) should be made. If corrosion is present, the metal parts should be inspected thoroughly for integrity and replaced if necessary. This same procedure should be followed on aluminum gliders also, since they have many areas where dissimilar metals come into contact and the potential for galvanic corrosion exists. 4) Damage Tolerance. Hang glider tubular spars are designed to withstand the maximum design loads plus an additional margin for safety. To verify that a UP glider can indeed withstand the designed "G" loads, truck testing is performed as a part of the
HGMA glider certification process. However, like aluminum, graphite-epoxy materials can be damaged, which will reduce (or eliminate) the safety margins built into the frame. If your glider impacts an immovable object, a thorough inspection is in order. However, damage to a graphite-epoxy spar is normally more noticeable on the inside of the tube than on the outside. Therefore, pulling the sail off the frame may not be necessary. This allows for more frequent inspections, which is, in itself, an important advantage. Most dealers can relate to performing annual glider inspections and finding damage to frames that pilots were not aware of clue to the hassle of pulling a sail off the frame. Damage to a UP graphite spar is almost always visible 011 the inside of the tube. When damage is so slight that it is not visible on the inside, the overall reduction in strength appears to be slight. UP spars are mirror smooth on the inside. Therefore, damaged areas show up readily as broken fibers, bulges or areas that have a different appearance than the rest of the inside of the tube. If you suspect damage, do not fly the glider, even if it means sending it back to the dealer or manufacturer for testing. Under no circumstances should pilots or dealers attempt to repair graphite parts. This would be similar to trying to weld a damaged area on your aluminum glider. By using graphite-epoxy materials, UP is plowing new ground. While these new materials have the potential to take hang gliding beyond current design limits, it would be wrong if their use were not questioned. We thank Mr. Whisler and others who have expressed concerns and asked questions in the name of pilot safety. To pioneer the future of carbon-graphite materials we are conducting ongoing test programs with a wellrespected university. By doing so we hope to provide more answers to our questions concerning future application of graphiteepoxy and other composite materials for use in hang gliding. We are committed to the sport of hang gliding and, as pilots, we share the concern that comes with using new methods and new materials. However, if new materials had not been explored in the past-the same way we are exploring graphite-epoxy materials
HANG GLIDING
AIRMAIL today-we'd still be flying the sand dunes in bamboo and plastic gliders. UP International Mountain Green, UT
ABOUT A FRIEND Dear Editor, I have a friend I need to tell you about. His name is David Thomason and for the last three years he has elevated his love and his life to the wonderful experience we all know as flying. Flying to Dave is a passion. David is a hang gliding instructor-one of the best. He has helped his students develop the desire to be safe, to always expand their skills to the best of their ability, and, best of all, I think he has taught them to keep dreaming. To make a fun but long story short we met three years ago and started what is now known as Silent Flight Hang Gliding in Mt. Shasta, CA. Our third year saw the creation of Lakeview's July 4th celebration and an opening to a lot of airshows: in Chico and Reclcling, CA and Medford and Klamath Falls, OR. Each show brought a better understanding of hang gliding to the FAA and the general public. Average attendance was around 35,000+ per show. Dave has clone a tremendous amount to make our sport look as good as it can truly be, to air bosses, FAA and our LZ owners, the general public and, as he calls them, earthling people. He has answered thousands and thousands of wuffo questions with all the enthusiasm of a child. Tandem is David's miclclle name. He has flown various county officials, achieved FAA waivers, airport waivers-some of those things we all thought were not possible. This is the best I can do for my friend now; he needs to know that you know him and understand and feel his love for you, his fellow pilots, and his love for our sport. Please send a hug of strength and a blessing for his passenger Jan Jeffery. Thank you to everyone for the help with funding, warm phone calls and your love of flight. Bless you all, love life to the fullest and Go Fly! Candice Smith, Elizabeth and Sky High
JANUARY 1992
OUR SITES/THEIR SITES Dear Editor, I have been following the "hang glider/ paraglicler" issue with great concern for some time now, and would like to respond to Jules Gilpatrick's letter in the December issue. I totally agree that administrators of public lands (or any other landowners) should not be burclenecl with "our" bickering over who should and should not be using these sites. This is a sure way to jeopardize sites that have already been established. However, 1 think "Our Site/Their Site" should be expressed as "Our Form of Flight/Their Form of Flight.'' I don't believe that the majority of hang glider pilots mind sharing the air or sites with paraglicler pilots or anyone else. Personally, and for the great number of pilots I know, the problem arises when something like what took place in Australia occurs. The actions of an irresponsible paraglicler pilot caused hang gliding visiting fees to increase. Shouldn't paragliding visiting fees increase insteacl 9 What about the paragliclers launching midweek in Yosemite9 Will the paragliding population be affected, or will the consequences be felt by hang glider pilots as well? If a hang glider pilot was to jeopardize a site, is it fair that paragliclers not be allowed to fly there, or should the hang gliding community be looked at? Maybe the separation of the two would enable such conclusions to be reached. The APA has been initiated, we have Parng/iding, The Maga:ine, we have helped to institute a pilot proficiency program with them, etc. Isn't it time we sit back for a while and see if they can pull it off on their own? Mike McCluskey Fremont, CA
WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM Dear Editor, In my travels around the country as a UP representative competing on and promoting UP gliders, I've run across a very common question asked by pilots from various skill levels. I find this question somewhat surprising but still understandable. They ask: "Tony, does your glider really perform and handle as good as you say it
does, and do you fly it because you know it's the best. or clo you have to say that and fly it because UP pays you to promote their gliders?" Well, here's my answer: Yes, I am very clevotecl to UP and it is my job to promote their goods. However, I fly a glider that best fits my needs as a competitor and a recreational flyer. I also understand that pilots have different flying styles. What qua)ities I like in a glider might not be exactly what my buddy likes in one. That's why he flies a different manufacturer's glider. Competition between glider manufacturers is very essential to the safe and rapid growth of our sport. Without it there would not be new designs that handle better, fly faster and Janel more easily. My advice when considering a new wing is to fly as many different gliders as possible and don't take anyone's word. Keep in mind that the whole goal is to make the sport of hang gliding as safe, fun and easily accessible as possible for all those who would love to fly as much as we do. Next time you find yourself hanging out in the LZ joking about who makes the best glicler,just remember, we're all on the same team with the same goal, so have fun and fly what performs the best for you. Tony Barton
HARNESS GOOF Dear Editor, Recently the scourge of all writersglaring errors in print-was visited upon me. In the review of the Morningside Glide Ratio Contest I stated that Jay Gianforte won flying an Airstrearn harness. In fact, Jay flew his CG- I 000 harness, the design with which he pioneered shifting center-of-gravity barnesses. Jay should be recognized for his innovative design and his flying skills. I should be forgiven since I had to drive half the night and write all morning to make the magazine deadline after the meet. My apologies to Jay, Bill Bennett (manufacturer of the Airstream) and any innocent bystander whom I may have confused. Dennis Pagen
9
UPDATE USHGA OPTIONAL INSURANCE PROGRAMS, PARTICIPANT ACCIDENT & THEFT OF GLIDER, CANCELLED Effective January I, 1992, the above insurance programs will no longer be offered to USHGA members. The Theft of Glider insurance carrier has provided USHGA with 30 clays written notice that it intends to discontinue accepting applications for this coverage clue to claims activity and adverse selection. The Participant Accident insurance carrier has imposed administrative changes to our original agreement which arc unacceptable to the USHGA. Therefore, applications can no longer be accepted. We regret the cancellation of the optional membership insurance programs as well as any inconvenience caused.
UP INTERNATIONAL CONSUMER ADVISORY
7,':: ,: _·:::, .·
A recent situation alerted us to the possibility of inadvertent nose wire detachment during truck towing. If the truck towing "nose line" is routed between the two nose cables it has the possibility of pulling forward on the "D" ring that attaches to the nose wire fitting. If a pilot were to improperly route this "nose line" and install the nose cone so as to activate the spring-loaded nose latch, the
10
situation could cause the lower wires to detach. Always make sure that the nose cone is installed properly. A recommended routing of the towing "nose line" will insure that no line is trapped between the two lower nose cables. This short line can be left on the glider at all times. See the included diagram. In view of the fact that this problem has occurred with the gliders of at least one other manufacturer, UP will be installing a nose tiedown line on all UP gliders that can double as an attachment point for towing. We suggest that "INSPECT NOSE WIRE CATCH" be added to the pre-launch checklist for platform launch towing operations. Contact UP if you have any questions.
ATTENTION ALL TOW PILOTS! The October I 991 BOD meeting produced a drastic change in the administration of the Towing program. Currently, any Instructor or Observer can issue a TOW rating. In some cases, the individual pilot can even issue the rating to himself/herself. As of Janua1y J5, 1992 the requirements for a signing official for a TOW rating will change. The Towing committee has developed a list of Tow Supervisors which includes the following: Jerry Forburger (HI), G.W Meadows (NC), Paul Voight (NY), Ron Kenney (KS), Mike Haley (UT), Rod Hauser (WI), Alan Chuculate (AK), Roger Coxon (NC). These Tow Supervisors will in turn appoint Tow Administrators. The Tow Supervisors and Tow Administrators will be the ONLY people qualified to issue a TOW rating. Please note that the rating of Tow Supervisor and Tow Administrator will not appear on the USHGA membership card. If you currently hold a TOW rating, you will not have to be retested. If you are interested in serving as a Tow Administrator, please contact one of the above-mentioned Tow Supervisors and express your interest, as they are the only people who can appoint a Tow Administrator. If you would like to know where the nearest Tow Administrator or Tow Supervisor is located, simply contact USHGA headquarters and we will be happy to assist you. Please ask for Greg (719) 632-8300.
GERMAN CALENDARS Windsport Wildbad is pleased to announce their beautiful, four-color 1992 hang gliding and paragliding calendars, for 28 deutschcmark each (+5 DM shipping). If interested, please submit the above amount via Eurocheck or money order to Kreissparkasse Wildbacl. Send to: Winclsport, Engenstrasse 7, D-7547 Wilclbacl, Germany. Be sure to specify a hang gliding or paragliding calendar.
KHK WINS TRAVEL AWARD Kitty Hawk Kites of Nags Head, NC, the world's largest hang gliding school, has won North Carolina's highest travel award. Presented by the Travel Council of North Carolina, the G. Lynn Nisbet Travel Award recognizes outstanding contributions a business has made to develop the travel industry in North Carolina. The I 991 award was presented at the Travel Council's annual convention in Hickory, NC on Nov. 4, 1991. Kitty Hawk Kites and its founder John Harris have promoted hang gliding since 1974, and consequently have also benefitted travel and tourism for the coastal region where the company is based. Located at the famed Jockey's Ridge sand dune, Kitty Hawk Kites has drawn international attention to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. More than I 0,000 students per year are taught to fly at Kitty Hawk Kites. Harris was the first person to fly Grandfather Mountain, and received worldwide attention for North Carolina when he flew there in 1974. The award was a clock which runs on changes in atmospheric pressure. For more information contact: Nancy Mc Williams, Kitty Hawk Kites (919) 441-4124 or Sharon Perry, Travel Council of North Carolina (919) 787-5181.
NEW ELLENVILLE REGULATIONS As of Jan. l, I 992, the SNYHGPA will no longer be holding a lease for the Ellenville Mountain, NY site, and flying fees can be paid directly to Mountain Wings. Whether or not SNYHGPA will be regulating the site has yet to be determined. Fees are as follows: Annual: $50 before Feb. I, l 992, $65 after. Annual clues entitle you to a full year of flying plus camping HANG GLIDING
privilegc:s. Day pass: $5.00 pc:r day. Flying at Ellenville requires thal yot1 be a current USIIGJ\ mernbt:r, hold a lli\NG Ill rating and f'ly with a parachute in a certified glider. llang II pilots can f'ly with the supervision or an observer/instructor. Camping is $5/night f'or anyone without an annual pass. The camping fee is payable in advance and is required of any guests or anyone with a day pass who will be camping. The camping foe entitles you to the use or the camping area as well as the swimming urea and the fire pits. Any pilot flying after .Tan. I, l 992 without a full or valid day pass will be fined, suspended or banned rrom the site. Contact: Mot1ntain Wings, 150 Canal St., Ellenville, NY 12428.
1992 EUROPEAN HANG GLIDING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN NORW AV
The region offers some or the most beautiful scenery in southern Norway, and apart from being a hang gliding "Mecca" the also offers s1mm1cr alpine skiing on the glaciers and rafting on the rivers. The hang gliding season in (iudhrandsdalen starts in early April when the snow to melt in the valleys. This offers great conditions for thermals with cloud b;1scs ranging from 1,800 to 3,000 meters. Wave soaring is also often possible when the wind is from west- -the waves being generated on the coast and repeated by the mountains between the west coast and Ciudbrandsdalcn. During May more of the high altitude launches becomes snow J'n;c and available for hang gliding. Vole in is normally opened in micl-May. Throughout the summer thermal activity remains strong, but never dangerous. The organizers or the 1992 Championships welcome all nations and their pilots to in May and June 1992. We also recommend the site for vacation pilots who will combine the good rlying conditions with a nice v;1cation in a beautiful district.
/Jv Jon Valrn-Sendstad, Meer /)irecror Comae/: Nmwegim1 J\ero Club, l'.O. Box 3869, /Jl/cviil liage/Jy, 0805 Oslo 8 NONWJ\ Y tel. (02) 690311 FJ\X (02) 695942.
HANG GLIDING RECOGNIZED Prom Mny 27.lt1ne 11, I <)92 will host the European llang Ciliding Championships.Vi'1g/1 is a well known site for all Nordic pilots, and many others around the world, for its good clinrntc and excellent flying conditions. Vi\g/I is located approximately :l20 km north or Oslo and I 10 km north of Lillchmnmer in a side-valley to Gudbrandsd;i!en. There are good landing areas along all the task routes and retrieval is easy. The flying sites at and around V£1gi\ arc many, and offer launches in most wind directions. The mmt popular is Vole and Salknappt:n just above Vi'igi\mo village. This is the National I Jang Gliding Center of Norway, and was the site oJ'the 1985 Furopean Championships as well as numerous Norwegian and Nordic Championships.
j ANUARY l 992
The importance or hang gliding in the town or Wawarsing, NY (home or Ellenville Mountain flying site) became the topic at a board meeting. when it was requested by Joe Nova!, a local resident, that the name of the public road leading to the LZ and to Mountain Wings Hang Gliding Center be chnngcd. Joe felt that the name "Hang Cilider Road" was more appmpriale than the old name and would make the site easier to J'incl, not only for pilots but also for the general public who might be looking to become more familiar with hang gliding. The town board agreed. No one was opposed even though it meant changing the road name on maps, property tax accounts, etc. The new sign post is t'.asy to spot and leaves no doubt as to what you'll rind when you turn dowu Hang Glider Road. Thanks .Joe.
EAST COAST JIANG GLIDER SHOWCASE J\pril 25 and 26, 1992 is the weekend scheduled for the Pirsl J\nnual Hast Coast Glider Showcase at Fllenville Mtn. flight park. Featured will be the wares or major hang glider manul'acturcrs (l'aci\ir, Scedwings, Wills Wing, UP International) as well as numerous companies that produce hang gliding accessories. Come take a test flight on whatever you've wanted to try out, or familiari1,e yourselrwith what's available in the accessories department: varios, harnesses, parachutes, etc. Those interested in promoting products at the event may contact: focg Black (914) (147-3377.
GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS! I .ct ·s go to Japan and compete in the next Women's World Championship in 19931 After competing in the second Women's World Meet in J\ustria, I came to the conclusion that there arc a lot or HOT women pilots out there. Most or them f'ly better than most pilots in general I So we have to get serious and organized now in order to do well in such an event. This is what we gotta do. Firsl, learn lo love sushi. Second, pla11 to compete in ot least one mr1jor competition in the /992 smso11. Third, fly your buns ofT from now till then. Fomth, learn as 111uch about competitive flying as you can. Fifth, let someone know or your intentions to participate (such as me or a member of the world team commiltee). Some or the things that need to start happening now are: J'uncJ .. raising efforts, flying together as a team, and to vote 011 a team leader. Let's not wail until the last minute. l know there me a lot or HOT U.S. women pilots just waiting to get out there and kick butt in the next Women's Worlds. By the way, there is a good chance that the 1995 Women's Worlds will be here in the Owens Valley. We can win it ifwe act NOW' Contact: Kari Castle, 2298 Backerville, Bishop, CJ\ 93514(619) 872-2087.
II
XT 165 SPECS
NEW MOYES GLIDER 011 Sept cm her 17, I 99 I a new
I 65 sq. fl. 115° 30 rt. 140-260 lbs. 65 lbs.
glider was certified, the XT 165. The XT I 65 is the latl:sl i111crrnedin1c glider from Moyes, and is designed lo appeal to new pilots as well as advanced pilots who want a run-to-fly glidl:r. According to the manufacturer the glitkr is confidence .. inspiring in 1urh11lenl air and is easy to set up. It has seven main rills, rom undcrsurf'acc ribs and one nose batten.
25 mph 40 mph
lnlcrrncdiatc $1,140
FOR FUN •.. , ., .....
OVER 150 '""'··'·"""
Pilot: Date:
Pilot: Date: From: To:
Distance: Glider: Time
Sticlve Refsell July 5th 1991 Hobbs, 35 miles North of Clovis, NM 155 Miles
IV
m:ins.
Pilot:
Date: Wlnd: Frorn:
Glider:
Time
On September 3rd Rob Keyes flew 102 miles on his TRX 160 to break the Florida State cross countty open distance record. On November 14th Rob broke his own record by llying I04 miles, also in his TRX 160. He completed his flight in 3 hours and 15 minutes and never got above 3000 feet AGL. Rob slated, "[ slowed the glider down to 18mph and just Hew along in the lift. I didn't thermal except for a few wide turns. I was amazed at how I could climb while going straight. I've never experienced that on any other flight." Three days later, November 17th, Mike Barber broke Rob's record by flying 11 l miles on his TRX 140. llis flight took 5 1/2 hours. Mike broke the state record by flying his last three miles over water to land on "Pinc Island", a small island on Lake Okeechobee.
4054 Wes! 2825 N011h • Mountain Green, Utah 84050
(801) 876-221 J
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HANG GLIDING
HANG GLIDING FOR BEGINNER PILOTS ThC' Officii1l PHghl Tri1ining M,mui11 of the United Sti1tes H:ing Gliding Associi1tion by Peter pu/J/islicd ln; Mnfl Tnber
Book Review by !'cw years ago Mat\ Taber, of I .ookout Mountain Flight Park fame, proposed a1 a lJSHGJ\ board meeting tha1 we publish a statc-of--the-ml flight !mining manual. Although there have been a number of books aimed at beginner pilots published over the years, there has nevc:r been one or those truly professional, Madison Avenue-type books that arc found in other popular sports. The projl;et was approved, and after years of' effort and revision our sport has a really slick, con1prchcnsivc, impressive training manual. Although Matt Taber took on the; rcsponsibili1ies or publishing 1he book, i1 was authored by Canadian journalist and hang glider pilot PctGr ChGney. His crelkntials arc imprGssivG. I-le is not only cxperiGnccxl in hang gliding (having taken up the sport in 1976), but ha;, also l'lown sailplanes and powered aircrnl't. He has a Canadian Honors Degree in journalism and has been nominated for a Canadian national newspaper award. lk works as a reporter/writer for the Toronto Still'.
Ji\Nlli\RY ] 992
Dodgen
Peter not only wrote the book (with lots or J'ccdback from instructors around the country), but designed, typcsGt and illus1ratcd it on desktop publishing equiprnGnt (with help from CathcrinG Pike and Patrick Corrigan). I remember Peter calling me up a couple of years ago to ask my advice on cksktop hardware and sol'twarc. 1-fc promptly went out and taught himself' to use all this stuff (Aldus Freehand, MS Word, Quark XPress) and produced the book. I shudder when I think of the massivG amount of work that Peter must have put into this niagnum opus. The book bGgins with "A Look at the Sport of Hang Gliding." I was immediately impressed with the Gxccllcnt writing, bu! even more impressed with the: fact that the author had captured and was conveying the passion, thrill and inspiration that most hang glickr pilots Gxpcricncc. OnG is immGdialGly struck by tl1G totally prol<:ssional layout and as well as the copious and beautiful photogrnphy. It would ,ilmost be worth buying the book as a hang gliding pictorial
llang G!iding.fi1r Beginn('r l'ilots is divided into l l sections: nine didactic chapters, the introduction mentioned above, and a of hang gliding terms. The instructional chapters cover, in this order: the wing and why it works, flight skills to the beginner level, night skills lo thG novice level, flying conditions, hang gliding equipment, more about the principles or flight, prGparing for high altiluclc flight, getting started in soaring, and things every pilot should know (like handling GmcrgcnciGs, the law, hypoxia, etiquette, etc.). The book is beautifully organized, and makes continuous use of' stale-of-the-art, twocolor desktop illustrations. Peter has obviously bGen studying the latest in desktop "communications" tGchniqucs, because he uses them gGnGrously: drop-shadow s'1dcbar l'light and safety tips, photography, quotGs f'rom the pros and thG like. Any complaints? Not rGally. Some or the photos of the pros (which accompany their quotes, and which were no doubt submitted by them) arc not loo good photographically. And there arc a number ol' weird typos here and there. (Peter explained that much or this was the rGsttlt of' font incompatibilities during the final high-resolution imagcsGtlcr olllput.) In any event, these minor cosmetic blemislws should be corrected when the book is reprinted in the near future. All things considered, this book represents thG first truly professional f'Jigbt training manual for our sport. It not only estHblishcs a new standard for books to come, but is a big hrGakthrough for our public imngc.1111
• Always t11ere when you need ttl!lm • Warm, comfortable, durable, slide across control bar • Instant bare hand dexterity for chute, camera Quality construction, %-in. nylon inside and out • Available in red or blacl, S, M, or L $32.50
TOW LINES Accident Comments -Guidelines Needed by Chris Gagliano This article has been submitted lo the USHGA membership because of a request made back in May of 1989 (see "Plea For Belter Accident Reporting" by Doug Hildreth). Doug's request was prompted by a few accident reports submitted to the USHGA that were so vague that they provided little information from which Doug or anyone else could reach a rational conclusion. I'm sure Doug really doesn't like to receive and analyze accident reports, and his request for better reporting is important if we want to become better pilots and crew. I would like to make a few observations about the accident reported at Big Spring Airport in the October issue of Hang Gliding. (NOTE: This article specijically addresses issues related to payout winch platform launch towing. It may or may 1101 apply to other types of towing currently in use.) Whenever I hear of an accident that may relate to the type of flying I participate in, I look at three possible factors that may have contributed. They are as follows: I) Equipment and Procedures 2) Training/Experience and Skills 3) Conditions and Crew
Equipment and Procedures Karen was flying a Magic IV 155 (recommended hook-in weight 115-215 lbs.). I personally fly a Magic IV 166 and consider the Magic IV a very stable glider while under tow. I'm not sure what harness or release the pilot was using, but since this was Karen's second tow of the clay I assume the harness and tow bridle did not contribute to the accident. The tow system in use has had hundreds of safe tows logged and had been used earlier in the day without problems. Again, the low system, I doubt, contributed to the accident. The type of safety link in use was given in the original two-page report but was not included in the accident report published in HG. I was curious about the safety link strength so I had three samples tested to
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failure. The safety link failure occurred on an average at approximately 350 lbs. This is about 75% above the breaking strength recommended by the tow system manufacturer. As reported in the published accident report, Karen called for additional tow pressure. Using the numerous figures given in the official two-page accident report, I calculated that the tow line force was almost 40% higher than the manufacturer's recommended setting.
Training/Experience and Skill Karen was an advanced pilot with thermal and cross-country experience. Because Karen had only been exposed to towing shortly before the accident, she may have lacked complete knowledge of towing safety concepts and procedures, but we can assume she had sufficient skills to learn how to tow.
eliminated when towing with an excessive amount of line tension and an excessively strong safety link. In my opinion, all tow pilots. instructors, operators and drivers should know that correct line tension is maintained by allowing the winch to spool out additional tow line when the glider experiences a positive aerodynamic load. This is how a payout winch functions! If for some reason the tow line force increases beyond a I G load (i.e., surface gust, thermal lift, or excessive hydraulic brake pressure combined with excessive tow vehicle speed), the safety link should fail. These two features-winch payout and safety link failure-are specifically designed to prevent the angle of attack, airspeed, rate of turn (lock-out), load factor from exceeding the abilities of the pilot to maintain control of the glider. It is my opinion that if you are towing with excessive line tension and are using a safety link that is stronger than the combined weight of you and your glider (] G), you are increasing the odds that the safety link will not fail at a time you wish it would. I understand that the tow line can be your friend, but also understand that excessive line tension can cause control problems.
Conditions and Crew Having flown at the Big Spring Airport in mid July, the previous year, I know from personal experience (clue to a lot of exposed concrete) strong thermals, sink and turbulence can be expected almost any time of the day, especially at lower altitudes. Winds were reported 5-15 mph, which indicates thermal gusts were present. I have towed at about 30 different sites, and in my opinion the midday turbulence I experienced at Big Spring. the previous year, (went negative on tow for three to four seconds) was probably the most severe I have encountered and should be well respected. The tow driver was very experienced with the tow rig and was operating the winch in accordance with instruction provided by the owner and by direct requests from the pilot.
Conclusion Information contained in the original accident report, along with observing a few local flyers, confirms what I had suspected. A lot of tow pilots do not realize that the safety features of a payout winch are completely
There are now schools, clubs and individual pilots that teach towing, although there is no USHGA rating for equipment, gliders, tow instructors or tow drivers. The "Towing Study Guide" published in a recent issue of HG is not endorsed by the USHGA Executive Committee, the Safety and Training Committee, or the Towing Committee, and in my opinion, falls short of true insight for safe towing. Baek in July of 1985, the Safety and Training Committee created and published the "USHGA AEROTOWING GUIDELINES." In my opinion, this got the word out on basic aerotowing procedures. At this time, I suggest that the Safety and Training Committee create a platform-launch guide and possibly a foot-launch towing guide patterned after the USHGA-endorsed Aerotowing Guide. To get this project started, I sent a marked-up copy of the old Aerotowing Guide, with my input to all the members of both the Towing Committee and Safety and Training Committee. I encourage anyone else HANG GLIDING
TOW LINES interested in a USHGA endorsed platformlaunch towing guide or a foot-launch towing guide to do the same. It i·eally doesn't matter which committee publishes the guidelines as long as it gets published before the l 992 Dying season kicks in. If anyone would like a copy of my input, you can obtain one by contacting me directly at: Chris Gagliano, 7010 Mark St., San Antonio, Texas 78218. •
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Preva!llng winds
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Circuit Towing
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By Brad Lindsay
\ I I
Lis
is in response to Dan Leahy's question in this column (Dec. '9 l ), regarding towing in a circle. Yes, it is possible. I have done circuit towing on dry lake beds (El Mirage) and on a triangle-shaped track we cut in the desert. One can expect to peg the fun meter doing it, but circuit towing has several safety considerations which need to be addressed. l J It is dangerous to consider this type of towing without a winch operator. There is a constant likelihood that the tow line will get caught on a wing tip as the tow vehicle makes downwind turns. This can complicate your day. A spotter is necessary. 2) Be certain the driver knows exactly where he is turning and lwH·fast he can expect to drive on the downwind legs. The winch operator calls all commands regarding vehicle speed, and clear communication between driver and operator is essential. At times we have reached speeds of 55 mph on downwind legsl 3) As the pilot. you should fly ··outside'· on the curves before approaching them~ much like skiing behind a boat only in three dimensions. Line angles will change dramatically at times so be aware of your position and be prepared to make quick roll changes. Watch the line l 00 feet clown. not the truck. Also, timing is the key to making clean turns. When done correctly. it can be as smooth as water skiing. 4) IMPORTAI\'T: If the line ever contacts the ground at any time during a circuit tow, stop the truck. abort the tow. This is the signal for the pilot to release (assuming you are not using radios). Gradients, sink, gusts or a combination of these can precipiJANUARY 1992
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tate a "bagged line.·· Further, if at any time you find yourself flying past the line, release. I have had my highest, longest-duration and most rewarding tow flights doing a successful circuit tow. The circuit tow track design below has worked well for us in conditions not exceeding IS mph. l) The tow starts halfway down the longest upwind leg of the triangle. This makes the first turn easier. As he approaches the first turn the pilot flies away from the turn in an effort to limit the amount of slack as the truck turns downwind. As additional laps are completed. the line slack problem is not as critical. 2) This is the most critical turn in the tow. The truck is heading downwind with a slack line and the pilot must watch the line closely and adjust his direction so as to keep the line from getting too "bagged." As the distance between the basetube and the winch increases. the line will get tight and the pilot will feel line tension and start climbing. It is
important that the direction of/light be 1rithi11 10 to 20 degrees of the toll' line before this occurs. 3) Same as the first turn. The pilot flies outside on the corner, keeping tension on the line. From this point on he no longer will be following the truck, concentrating on keeping the line tight. 4) Again, the line will want to slack at this corner ( on the first lap), so the pilot must keep it tight by adjusting the direction of flight. SJ The pilot follows the clotted line as a flight path after the first lap. l have found 1,000-1,200 feet can be gained per lap. A predetermined release position should be discussed with the tow technician before launching. This will make the rewind easier. A good line angle (55-60 degrees relative to the horizon) is necessary to make circuit towing work. If tl1e line angle becomes less than 45 degrees, any gains are lost in the corners and the pilot winds up "trolling·' behind the trnck. •
15
Hang Gliding Organization Directory Send additions, deletions and changes to: USHGA, PO Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933 (719) 632-8300 NAME
CONTACT
ADDRESS
CITY
PHONE
.... Fairbanks .... .. Fairbanks. .... Palmer ...
.. AK .... AK .. AK
99708 .. 99709 .. 99645
. .... (907) 455-6379 .. .. (907) 474-0658 .. ... (907) 745-8255
.. Huntsville .
.. AL
35801 .
.. .. (205) 539-8686
.. .... Batesville ... ...... Atkins ...
..AR ...AR
72501 ................ (501) 793-2007 72823 . (501) 641-1902
.. ............ AZ . ............. AZ .. .. AZ ...AZ . .. AZ ... AZ . AZ .. AZ
.. ... (602) 527-0659 86002 . ... (602) 938-9550 85304 ... .. .......... (602) 493-1216 85022 85022 .. ... (602) 863-9909 85022 .. ... (602) 863-9909 85283 .. ............ (602) 897-7121 85751 . . .......... (602) 292-1136 85711 . . ... (602) 790-3507
.... PO Box 5580 ....... ........ Balboa Island ..... CA Hang Gliding Promotions.... ...... Max Pachenko .CA ...... Bishop. .... 5201 Westridge Rd RR 2 .. .... Kevin Klinefelter. Owens Valley Soaring ....... Cameron Park . .. .. CA Pilots Supply .. ..... 3362 Bow Mar Court. .... Bret Hilliker . ..... Paul Sussman . .. ... l Skyline Drive .. ............... Daly City .. ..CA Skyline Soaring . .. .... Del Mar. ... CA Accelerated Flight Systems . .. .... Fred Lawley ....................... PO Box 1226. ....... Dunlap.. ... CA Dunlap Flight Park ..................... Dm·e Bowen ....................... PO Box 13 .. Fremont.. .. .............. CA DODECA . ... Karl Myrenne.. .. ..... PO Box 1383 Hang Gliding Hanger .... Dan or Tim Fleming. .. .... 1446 North Van Ness ......................... Fresno... ....... CA Scedwings .. .......... Bob Trampenau ................... 41 Aero Camino ......... .. Goleta .. .... CA Toney Pines Flight Park ..... Bill Bennett. .. ..... 2800 Toney Pines Scenic D1 ...... La Jolla... .. .. CA .. ..... 33274 Baldwin Blvd ........................... Lake Elsinore ... ... CA Ultralight Soaring Soliwarc . .. .. Eric Raymond .. Windgypsy. .. .. Paul Burns.... .. ... 33041 Walls Street ...... Lake Elsinore... ...CA Action Soaring Center ...... ..... Barnie Hanke.. . ...... 1689 Armstrong Road .... Lodi . ... CA Western Hang Gliders .................. Jim Johns. .. PO Box 828 ........ . ............... Marina. .. ............ CA Mission Soaring Center. .. ......... Par Dene van ...................... 1116 \Vrigley \Vay . . Milpitas ... .............. CA Natural Flying... .. ... Jim Woodward ........... 17506 Hoot Owl Way . Morgan Hill. .. ............ CA Silent Flight Hang Gliding.. . .... David Thomason. . .... PO Box 1206. . ...... Mt.Shasta ........... CA Thermal-Quick Release Biner ...... Robert Kalember .......... 19431-41 Bus Ctr Drive .. Northridge ..................... CA Chandelle HG Center .... Andy Whitehill.... .. .. 488 Manor Plaza.. .... ..... .......... .. Pacifica/S.F. .. CA Upward Bound . .. .... Scott Smith PO Rox 1175 .............. .. Palm Desert .... CA Albatross Aeronautics ..... Colin Perry . .. ..... PO Box 1473 ...... .. Palo Alto . ... CA Ultimate Hi Aviation ........ Roger Chase . .. ... 13009 Acton Avenue ..... Poway... ... CA Hang Gliding Connection.. .. .... Phil Sergent. .. .... 1887 O'Conner Avenue... Redding... .. ... CA Southland Hang Gliding.. ..... Dnvid Engel... . .... 12120 Severn Way . ......... Riverside . ... . ... CA Natllral High HG School .............. Deb Renshaw-Armenta ..... PO Box 361 ... ..... ..... ......... . ... Running Spgs. .. .. CA Pacific Airwave ...... .. .... J.M. Bernasconi .................. PO Box 4384 . .. ..... Salinas. .. .. CA Dragonwing Sail Repair. .. ... John La Torre. .. .. PO Box 665 I ....... Salinas. .. .................... CA High Adventure........ .. ... Rob McKenzie .................. 4231 Sepulveda . . ..... San Bernardino . .. .. CA Pine Crest Air Park ... .................... Juanita Jackson.... .... 147 \V Glen fair Lane.... . .......... San Bernardino .............. CA John Heiney Photographer. .. ........ 105 \\' Cordoba Avenue . . San Clemente . .. CA H.G. Center of San Diego .. .. ... John Ryan. .. ..... 4206-K Sorrento Valley Blvd.. .. San Diego. .. ............ CA Airtime of San Francisco ...... ....... Jeff Greenbaum .......... ........ 3620 \Vmvona Street... .. San Francisco. .. ........ CA Compact Wings Paragliding ........ Cary Mendes . .. .... 127 I Avd Floribuncla.. .. .... San Jacinto .. CA Hang Flight Systems ...... Dan Skadal . .. .... l 202-M E Walnut. .. ........ Santa Ana... .. ....... CA High Energy Sports ...................... Betty Pfeiffer. .. ............... 2236 W 2nd Street . . . .. Santa Ana. .. .. CA .. ........ Meier-Kells-Pearson .......... l 208-H E Walnut.... .. .......... Santa Ana ........... CA Wills Wing Inc . Foot-Launched Flight Services ..... Robert Brown. .. .. PO Box 22343 .... .. ....................... Santa Barbara.. .. CA HG Emporium ... . ..... Ken deRussy . .. .... 613 N Mil pas Street ...... Santa Barbara... .. .. CA Roberts Glider Instr. .. ........ Gilbert Roberts. . . . ........... 3340 Cliff Drive . . ....... Santa Barbara ................. CA SB HG Center/Air Tech . . ......... Achim Hageman ................. 29 State Street. .. Santa Barbara. . CA Cloudbasc Instruments .......... Russ Douglas ...................... 2464 El Camino Real #513 ....... Santa Clara. ... CA Tructlight Concepts.. .......... Quackenbush/Spinelli . ..... 13185 Gladstone Avenue . . ...... Sylmar. ... CA Tahoe-Sierra Wave Flyers..... . .... Craig Beck-Pres . .. ... PO Box 79 ... .. ........................... Tahoe Vista . .. CA . ......... l 6145 Victory Blvd... .. Van Nuys . .. ........ CA Wimlsports Soaring Center .......... Joe Grebin . .. ..... 13155 Snow Flower Drive.. . ..... Waterford. . .............. CA Ultratlight Hang Gliding . .......... Will Brown..
92662.. ... (714) 835-5654 93514 ............. (619) 387-2673 95682 ... (916) 677-4953 94015 .... 1415) 994-8215 92014 ... .. 1619) 481-7400 93621 . . .......... (209) 338-2422 94538 ... (415) 490-4385 93728 ..... (209) 264-7627 93117. . ......... (805) 968-7070 92037. . ...... (619) 452-3202 92330 .............. (714) 678-393 l 92530 .............. (714) 678-5418 95242.. .. ......... (209) 368-9665 93933 ... . ... (408) 384-2622 95035 ... ...(408) 262-1055 95037.. ... (408) 779-7976 96067 ............. (9 I 6) 938-2061 91324 ... . ... (818) 701-7983 94044 ................ (415) 359-6800 92261 ... ...(619) 322-9214 94302 ..... (408) 438-0480 92064 ................ (619) 748-1739 96002. ... (916) 241-6974 92503 ..... (714) 734-0622 92382... .. .. (714) 867-7961 93912 ... ... (408) 422-2299 93912 ... ... (408) 754-1055 92404 ................. (714) 883-8488 92407. . ... (714) 882-4803 92672.. ..... (714)361-0169 92121. ... (619) 450-9008 94116 ................ (415) 759-1177 92583.. . .... (714) 654-8559 92701.. .. ....... (714) 542-7444 92703 ..... (714)972-8186 ..... (714) 547-1344 92701. ..... (805) 966-2962 93121 ... (805) 965-3733 93103 .. . 93109 .. . ... (805) 682-1088 ... (805) 962-8999 93101 .. 95051 .. .......... (408) 263-1548 ...... (818) 367-6050 91342 .. ...... (916) 583-6136 95732 .. 91406 .. .. ......... (8l8J 988-011 I ... (209) 874-1795 95386 .. .
.. Alan Chuculate .. Adventure Wings ... T &L Sales & Service .. .. ........ Lyndon Thomas. Alaska Sky Sailors Assn ............... Jim Egger-Pres ... .
.. .... PO Box 83305 .. .... 2689 Grebe Road .. HC02 Box 7334E
Cloudbasc Corporation ..
..... Robert Patterson .................. 106 Southside Square
Ozark Mtn. Hang Gliders . Sail Wings Hang Gliding
.. .. Jim Steele . ... Larry Haney .
..... 21 Vilot Street . ....... PO Box 321 .
.. .. Stan Mish ... PO Box 22369 .. ...................... Flagstaff . Glendale. Bob Thompson . .. .. 4319 W Larkspur. ...... Phoenix . .... Bill Holmes ........................ 2237 E Karen Drive .. ....... Phoenix . ..... Brad Lindsay. ....... 954 E Paradise Lane ...... Phoenix . .... Brad Lindsay ....................... 954 E Paradise Lane .. . . ...... Tempe. Arizona \VinUsports .. .. ... Doug Gordon .................... 1327 E Bell De Mai. .... Tucson .. Parnpente USA ...... Dana McMillin .................... PO Box 30773 . ............. Tucson .. Arizona Airfoils .. . ..................... Eric Smith.... .. ... 5306 E 18th Street.
Bandito Action Sports . Desert Hang Gliders . Sky Sails of Arizona HG Adventmes ... Reel Altitude ...
16
STATE/ZIP
HANG GLJDJNG
NAME
CONTACT
ADDRESS
CITY
STATE/ZIP
__________ co Colorado Wind Park__ _ ----- Jim Elwell ___ ---------- __ 5226 S Pitkin Court _ --------- Aurora _ __________ co Ball Variorneters _ ------ Mark Ferguson _ ____ -------- 6595 Odell Place Ste C ___ ---------Boulder_ __________ co LID Enterprises _ ------ Cindy Drozda _ ---------- __ 5000 Butte# 183 _ ----------------------Boulder_ _________ co Boulder Flight _ ------ Scott Westfall_ ------------- IOI Meadow Look Way _ --------Boulder __ Leading Edge Air Foils__ ------------- 331 14th St Dept HG_ _ --------- Colorado Spgs _ __________ co Eagle's Nest___ ______ Ron & Sheena Wilkinson ____ PO Box 25985 ___ --------- Colorado Spgs _ __________ co __________ co --------- Conifer _ Rocky Mountain Glider Co _ _____ Terry & Chris Reynolds_ __ PO Box 28 l _ __________ co SKY Climbers _ ------ Circ Toepel_ ------ ------ 29007 Richmond Hill Road__ --------- Conifer _ __________ co ---------- __ PO Box 213 _ -------- Crested Butte __ Peak Performance Paragliding ------ Steve Byers _ Front Range Hang Gliders.. ...... Bob Faris . ............. 1621 \Vagon Tongue Drive . ......... Ft. Collins .. ......... co __________ co Colorado H_G_ Center_ _____ George Greer_ ------------- PO Box 1423 _ --------Golden_ __________ co Golden Wings_ ------ Ludwig Goppenhammer ----- l l 03 Washington__ ---------Golden __ _________ co Pendulum Sports_ ______ Jim Zeise!__ ___ --------- 13154 County Road 140 __ ________ Salida_
80015 _ 80301 80301 _ 80304 -80904 -80936 -80433 _ 80433 _ 81224 -80521 _ 80402 -80401 81201
PHONE ------------ (303) 680-6443 ----- ------ (303) 530-4940 ____________ (303) 440-3579 ------------ (303) 444-5455 ------------ (7 l 9 J 632-4959 ------------ (719) 594-0498 ____________ (303) 331-2841 ------- ---- (303) 670-0301 ____________ (3031349-596] ---------- _(303) 482-5754 ------------ (303) 278-9566
------------ (303) 278-7181 ------------ (719) 539-3900
Tek Flight Products _
------ Ben & Alegra Davidson ______ Colebrook Stage _
--------Winsted_
----------CT
06098 _ ------------ (203) 379-1668
Valley forge Hang Gliding.
...... Steve Schaeffer
......... \Vi1mington .
__________ DE
19805 -- ........... (302) 652-6426
MAP of Gainesville __ ivliami Hang Gilding ..
...... James Tindle .
----- Mike Plesko,·ich __ ------------- I 031 NE 20th Avenue __ ............ 2...J.12 I\ ivliami A venue .. .
......... Gainesville . ......... iv1iami.
__________ FL __________ FL
32609 -- ____________ (904) 376-4367 --- (305) 962-6968 33137 --
Hang Gliding Heaven . Southern Air Time Inc ... Lookout Mtn_ Flight Park_ Cloudbase _ Hawaii Lani Hang Gliding . Traclewimls Hang Gliding . Sport A,-iation Hawaii_ iVlaui Soaring Supplies .
------ Frances Tut \Voodrurt --------- PO Box 1470 _ ----- D_ Lawton/M_ Wagner -------- 2-175 Pruett Road _ ------ Matt Taber___ ___ RR 2 Box 215-H _ ------ Chris Smith _ ------------- RR l Box 237 __ ______ Jeffery Hoff_ ------------- 73-4228 Lo Joa Way ------ Lani Akiona__ ------ ------ 380-H Haleloa Place_ _____ Hill Fulton ___ ------------- -16-389 Nahewai Street __ _ ________ RR 2 Box 780 __ ...... David Darling ..
_________ Clayton_ ________ Duluth_
__________ GA __________ QA __________ GA __________ GA ----------HI ---------- HI __________ HJ __________ HI
30525 -30136 -30738 -30757 -96740 -96821 967-14 _ 96790 --
------------ (808) 396-8557 ------------ (808) 235-6307 ----------- (808) 878-1 ?.71
Treasure Valley H_G_ Magic Valley Sky Sails _
...... :vlikc and Lisa King . ........... 11716 FaiIYiew . ______ Frank Gillette _ ------------ RR I Box 1680
________ Hurley_
········ _JD ___ ID ······
83704 -83118 --
___________ (208) 376-7914 ___________ (208) 654-2615
Spectrum Hang Gliding.
------ Angelo Mantas_ ------ Dan Hartowicz _ ------ Larry Capps _ ______ Larry Capps_ ----- Brad Kushner
.. ....... Chicago .
__________ IL
60614 __ ___________ (312)929-1547 60018 _ ------------ (708) 699-8545 62948 -- ___________ (618) 942-5317 62948 -- ____________ (618) 9-12-5317 60085 -- ····· __ --- (708 I 360-070()
High Expecta1ions HG . Air \Vear Sports. On-Linc Tow Syslems ..
Raven Sky Sport~ .
------------- 17 6th A\'enue __ _
------------- 1733 W Altgeld _ ------------ -JOU Touhy Lot 76 _ -------- ____ -103 S 28th Street _ ------- _____ 403 S 28th Street _ __ --------- JOO N Green Bay Rd# 105 _
........ Rising Fawn . ________ \VildwoocJ __ ......... Kailua-Kona. ________ Honolulu __ _
-------- Kaneohe __ ------- Kula __ ....... Boise .
........ Des Plaines.
. ...... __ \L
........ Herrin .. ........ Herrin. ....... \Vaukegan .
..... ____ IL __________ IL __________ lL
Airborne Sails of Indiana .
....... Hamn\Ond .. ------ John Mitchel_ ------------ 6741 Columbia A,-cnue ·-______ Richard Sacher ____________________ 6 Syh-,111 Lane __ .......... ......... Jeffcrsorl\'illc ..
_________ \N __________ IN
Kcntuckiana Soming ..
...... James Kelley .
--------Jeffersonville __
Prairie Hang Gliders
..... Ron Kenney.
Aeolus H_G_ Inc_ iv1ass. l'vlotorizccl \Vest.
...... Dan Craig ....
------------ HO-l I 782-9908
------------ (-104) 476-5-146 ____________ (404) 398-3541 ------------ (-104) 820-?.568 . .......... (808 J 325-7 586
___________ (219)845-2856
.......... IN
46324 __ 47130 -47130 --
----------- (812) 288-6597 ___________ ,812) 288-7111
________ Elkhart_
_________ KS
67950 --
--- -------t316) 697-2577
....... Groton. _______ Springfield _
_________ MA __________ ,JA
01450 -0110-l __
----------- (508) 448-521-l ____ (413) 736-2426
GrcaL Lakes Hang Gliding.. . ..... Jay Darling. ------------ 9746 Karen Court _ Pro Hang Glider~. .... >!orm Lesnow. ............ 569 \V Annabelle. 1'.-lichigan Snaring Supplies . . Doug Custer .................... RR I Box 294-C . Ron I lurst's 1-1.G. Safari~.. ...... Ron Hmst . ........... 2...J-5 \V Michigan A\'enue .. Tr.ll"erse City HG/Paragliding-· ____ Bill Fiter _ ------------------- _1509 E 8th Street _
........ Bridgman. -------- Hazel Park_ --------Honor_ -------- Jackson _ ........ Traverse City..
--- ------ ,fl _-------- Ml ---------- Ml _ _______ Ml .......... lv\l
-19106 -48030 --19640 -49201 49684 --
----------- (616)-165-5859 ---------- (3131 399-9-133 ----------- (616) 882-4744
Sport Soaring Center. . Ballistic Recovery Sys Inc .
........ Eagan . ------ _South St. Paul_
.......... i\·fN ---------- MN
55122 .. 55075 __
.. ........ (612) 688-8218 ----------- 16 l?.1 457-7491
........ Fort Benton .
--------- MT __________ MT __________ MT __________ MT
59H?. __ ------------ (406) 622-5677 5990 I _ ---------- 14061 755-3932 5990 I _ ___________ 1406 l 755-6841
JJ Mitchel _
. ........... 30~3 ivk1\rthur Drive .
------- PO Hox 785 _ ------------ ,lartin, Pond Rd Box 7-l-l _ ............ 162 Bowle~ Park.
. .... Pat Caulfield .. ..... Dan Johnson.
.... 2074 Vienna Lane .. ------- _____ 1845-HG Henry A,c _
Rim- City Hang Glidc,s __ ..... Roger Lockwood. ------------ PO Hox 23-l _ _____ Robert Hubbard _ ............. 250 Creston Road . Glacier Sky-Sailing . \Vest \Vind Ad,·enture Sport~ . ..... Craig Althcn. ------------ I025 Whitefish Stg_ Rd __ _ ___________ 812 Kemp#?. ___ _ fa\co Flying Co. ...... Lee ~v1etzgar . 1-"ly America/Corolla Flight _ _____ Greg De Wolf_ ------------ PO Box 1021 The Huzzard Club __ ----- T.Bryant/D_Smith _ ------------ 12-16 Cedar Roe, Road ___ _ Killy Hawk Kites Inc ___ _ ..... John Harris ... ------------ PO 13nx 1839 _
Sidewinder Tow Systems.
..... Hugh A. :vlartin . _____ Hob Hlaclky
t'...Jorningsidc Flight Park ..
..... Jeff Nicolay.
Feather Free Flight Acccs .
Airhead \Virnbport-; ..
Delta \Ving of Ruidu:-.u ..
JANUARY 1992
.. ..... Lenoir.
__________ NC __________ NC
........ Nags Head.
------- __ NC
........ Hasting-" ..
__________ NE
-------- Killy Hawk __
5980 I _
----------- (406) 542-6617
27949 --
___________ (919) 261-6166
28645 -27959 --
----------- (704 l 758-9331 ----------- (919)-141-4124
_________ NE
6890 I _
----------- (402) -163-6255
........ Kearney .
688-17 _
---------- (308) 236-5892
_______ lffD 2 13ox I09 __
.. ..... Claremont ..
__________ NH
03743 _____________ (603) 542--1416
..... Scott \\'i,c ....
----------- 198 llia\\"alha Bll"ll _
________ OaUaml _
---------- NJ
07436 __
------------ }900 Van Buren "IE _ ___ 9500 Palomas ,\1e NE ____ _ --- ---- _____ PO 13o.x 2599 _
........ Albuquerque ..
__________ NM
87110__
__________ (505) 884-6851
. Chuck \Vood". ---- Riker Da,-i, _
........ Albuquerque .. ...... Ruidoso.
_--------NM .......... N~·1
87109 _ 883-lS
----------- 1505) 821-85-14 ........... 1505)2)7-287:I
The Airn·ork-; ... Up O\'er New Mexico Jnc .
........ 939 S Hastings A \·cnue ... ----------- 217 E 23rd Street _
-------- Kalispell __ ________ Kalispell __ ........ ivlissoula ..
----------- (616) 922-?.84-l
_--------- (20 I l 337-9411
17
NAME
CONTACT
...... Ray Leonard. ..... Karl Earnhart .. ...... Paul Hamilton .
Adventure Sports Hang Gliding Inc ..... . Adventure Video .
Second Chantz Recov. Sys ........... John Dunham .
ADDRESS .. 3680 Research Way #6 ... ....... 849 Shrubbery Lane . .. 10950 Silver Knolls Blvd . ............. PO Box I 267 l .
STATE/ZIP
CITY .............. Carson City . .... Las Vegas
.. Reno. . .......... Reno ..
.. NV ...... NV ..................... NV .......... NV
. ...... Paul Yarnall.... ............ 2440 Brickyard Road .. .. ...... Canandaigua ................... Chittenango . .... Jay Gianforte . ....... RR. I 73 ... . . ......... Cragsmoor . Thermal Up Inc . ....... Tom Aguero... ............. PO Box 347 .. ....................... Deposit. . .. Bob Murphy. .... 15 Dean Street .. Ultralight Flight Systems . .......... Ellenville. Mountain Wings Inc. ....... Greg Black .......................... 150 Canal Street .. . .. 5957 E Seneca Turnpike .. Jamesville .. McNett Harness Co . ...... Eric McNett ... . ... Mohawk. Susquehanna Flight Park. ..Dan Guido ... . ..... 35 Catherine Street .... 28 Woodlyn Way .......... Peter Fournia .. Penfield . Aedal Adventures ...... Pine Bush ... Paul Voight .... RR 2 Box 561 ... Fly High Hang Gliding Inc Wings and Wheels ..
Center of Gravity Harness ...
North Coast H.G .. Skyward Enterprises ..
....... Mike Del Signore ............... 1916 W 75th Street .. ........ 2259 S Smithville Road .. ...... i\1ario Manzo ......
Glider Wings . Oklahoma Airwave .
...... Stephen Michalik ............... 450 l North Villa .. . ... Scott Greenawalt . ....... l 1325 #D North May
....... NY ... NY .. NY . .. NY . ....... NY .. NY ..... NY .NY ......... NY
. ............ Cleveland ...................... OH ...... OH ...... Dayton .. ....... Oklahoma City . ..... Oklahoma City .
....... OK ...... OK
89706 .. ·········· (702) 883-7070 891 IO. ..... (702) 452-5554 89506 .. ......... (702) 972-3518 89510 ................. (702) 829-2077 14425 .. ··········· (716) 394-8651 ..(315) 687-3724 13037 .. 12420 .. ·········· (914) 647-3489 .. (607) 467-3110 13754 .. 12428 . .............. 800 525-7850 13078 .. ........... (315)492-1020 . ... (315) 866-6153 13407 . .. (716) 377-0535 14526 .. . ...... (914) 744-3317 12566 44102 .. 45420
.......... (216)631-1144 ....... (513) 256-3888
73112 ...
..... (405) 943-5484 .... (405) 751-3460
73120 ·····
Hang Gliding School of Oregon ... David Raybourn .... . .... 14 I 85 SW Yearling Court . .. Beaverton . .. OR So. Oregon Hang Gliding ..... Wesley Roberts . . ........... 1406 Schutzwohl Lane. .......... Grants Pass ..................... OR Airtime Oregon .... ...... Tom Sapienza. ............ 91409 Place Lane .... . ..... Junction City . ........ OR Light Flight ....... Bill Arras. ....................... 7843 SW 77th Street.. .......... Redmond. ......... OR .. 28700 SW Ladd Hill Road ............... Sherwood . .. OR Airtime Hang Gliders Oregon Airwave Gliders .... .... Russell Tworoger .... l l 7 l l SW Jamaica..... ...... Wilsonville ...... OR
97005. ·········· (503) 223-7448 97527 ......... (503) 479-6733 97448 ............... (503) 998-1220 97756 ................. 1503) 389-8739 97140 .............. (503) 625-7650 97070 ................ /503) 682-5612
............. PA ........... 150 N Bethlehem Pke #A302 ............ Ambler ..... . ...... Jeff Frelin . ...... Pittsburgh . ..... PA ...... Jeff Hostler ........................ 224 Rodi in . .... PA .......... State College .. .... Richard Cobb ..................... 623 W Foster A venue. .. PA ....... Bill Umstattd. .. 733 Stoke Road .... .. Villanova ..
(215) 643-4782 19002. ..... (412) 697-4477 15235 .. (814) 867-8529 16801. 19085 .. ............ (215) 527-1687
Aero Sail .... ....... Dennis Van Dam . ............ 1617 W 40th Street . . ........... Chattanooga ................... TN Crystal Air Sports Motel ............... Chuck & Shari Toth . .... 4328 Cummings Highway . . ... Chattanooga . ... .... TN Microflight Products Inc.. . 5825 Lee Highway . ..................... Chattanooga . .. TN Sequatchie Valley Soaring . ....... Cliff Whitney . . ........... RR 2 Box 80. ............ Dunlap.. ............ TN .... Knoxville ..... TN Systems Technology lnc ... Chris Pyle... ...... PO Box 7203 . . .. Phil Vance.. ... 382 Washington Avenue .... Memphis. .... TN Memphis Air Sports. . ..... Bruce Hawk-Pres . . ....... 25 l N Boyd's Creek Road ....... Sevierville ........ TN Hawk AirSports Inc.
37409.. .......... (615) 821-5945 37419... ..(615) 821-2546 37422 .. .. (615) 855-4015 37327. . ......... (615) 949-230 I 37921 ............... (615)531-8045 38 l 05 .. ... ... (90 l) 526-0790 37862 ................ (615) 453-1035
....... TX ..TX ........ TX ......... TX ..TX ........ TX ........ TX ..... TX
75002 ............... (214) 727-3588 78703. . ........... (512) 474-1669 78751 ................. (512) 467-2529 78727 ................. (512) 832-0516 78613. ........... (512) 259-1726 77092 ............... (713) 956-6147 . ........ (713) 728-4146 77096 .. 77055 .... ..... (713) 973-9546
Valley Forge Hang Gliding Mountain Top Recreation .. Wind Drifter Sky High School of HG
Kite Enterprises .. Dave Broyles. . ..... 21 l Ellis Street . Austin Airsports .. ...... 1712 Waterston .. Red River Aircraft. ............... Jeff Hunt .............................. 48 l I Red River Street .. Hill Country Paragliding Inc. .... Marie Osowski .... ...... PO Box 200644 . Ultimate Sports of Austin .............. Phil Wiseman ...................... PO Box l 122 Total Air Sports. ..... Mark DeMarino ... ........ 6354 Limestone . Lindsay Ruddock Instr . ...... Bob Fisher. ..... l l 003 Oasis . Texas Paragliding Inc. . ... Charles Fontenot . ...... 1437 Waseca ..
...... Allen .. ........... Austin.
....... Austin .. .
..... Austin ... . ........ Cedar Park ... ........ Houston.
...... Houston. .... Houston ...
Cloud Nine Sports . ..... Jonzy . ........ 1695 South 50 West.. . ....... Bountiful . ...... UT Wasatch Wings.. .. Gordon Pollock. . . . .. 2534 E Murray Holladay Rd .............. Holladay/SLC . .. .. UT ............. Morgan .. UT Hall Brothers .............................. Larry Hall . . ............. PO Box 77 l .. UT UP International. ............ 4054 W 2825 N; Mtn Green .............. Morgan Cty Airpt .. Charlie Baughman . . 13077 South 3600 West . . .............. Riverton .... .............. UT Vulture Gliders Windrider Wind Spo11s ........ Kevin Stowe ... ............. PO Box 17675 .......... Salt Lake City . ... .. UT Silver Wings Inc Allegheny Gliders Inc
Air Magic .... Eagle Air Sports
.. Neil Roland ...
..... Jim E. Bowman Jr .
84010 ..... 84117. 84050 .. 84050 ..... 84065 84117.
..... (801) 295-6813 ... (801)277-1042 .. (80 l) 829-3232 ..(801) 876-2211 .... (801) 254-6141 .. (80 l) 272-6908
.. Arlington. ........ Newport News .
.... VA ........ VA
22205 ····· ..... (703) 533-1965 23606 ................ (804) 930-0356
...... Bellevue . Ellensburg . . Kelso. . .. Seattle .. . ...... Seattle .. . ....... Spanaway. ......... Spokane.
....... WA .. WA WA .... WA . .... WA .... WA ..WA
98004 .. ········· (206) 454-1989 ... (509) 925-5565 98926 ... 98626 ·········· (206) 423-7627 .... (206) 523-2436 98115 ····· 98107.. . .... (206) GOSKYH! 98387.. . ... (206) 847-4595 99204 ................ (509) 458-4444
............ LaCrosse .
. ... WI
54603 ...
.... 778 Pass Creek Road ........................ Parkman ..
.. WY
82838
........... 6032 N 20th Street ....... John Middleton ................ Dave Deming ...................... 136 Parker Avenue .
. ....... 9314 SE Shoreland Drive Cascade Soaring ............... Tom & Lori Johns. North American Paragliding . . ... Mike Eberle. .. PO Box 4 . ... Mike Wonser. 2134 Holcomb Loop Road . Cowlitz Hang Gliding Big Bird Wings ... L.W. Fitzpatrick. ... 1203 NE 82nd .. Parapente US/Thermal Tours . .... Mark Chirico ...... 2442 NW Market St Box 31 . NW Moyes/La Mouette .... . .. Tina & Larry Jorgensen ...... 22808 65th Ave E .. Spokane Aircraft ................... Larry Strom .. . ......... W 3208 4th
18
PHONE
. 1915 Wood ...
. (608) 781-6113 ......... (307) 655-9848 HANG GLIDING
USHGA REPORTS
1992 Regional Director Election Final Results
0
n a national basis, 1,232 ballots were cast for eligible candidates out of a total membership of 8,319. The response rate was 14.8 percent compared to 13.5 percent for last year. Three regions did not elect Regional Directors in this election. Here is a percentage breakdown of the ballots cast for candidates by Region: Region 2 Region 3 Region 4 Region 5 Region 6 Region 9 Region 10 Region 11 Region 12
21.7% 30.2% 14.8% 2.6% 1.4% 7.8% 9.1% 6.2% 6.2%
The following incumbent Directors were re-elected to serve their regions: Region 2 Region 3 Region 5 Region 6 Region 9 Region 10 Region 12
Russ Locke Gregg Lawless Mike King Ron Kenney Pete Lehmann Matt Taber Paul Voight
The following nominees were elected as Directors in their respective Regions: Region 2 Region 3 Region 4 Region 11
The following USHGA members received votes in the 1992 Directors election:
Lynda Nelson Joe Greblo Glen Nicolet (Write-in) Jeff Hunt
NAA Meeting Report by Dennis Fagen
REGION 2 R LOCKE LNELSON D FREEMAN BREITER GEGGEN K BROWN D BUCHANAN RCHIN J CROSLEY PGADD J JOHNS R LEONARD JMOTT DTHOMASON DYOUNT
REGIONJ J GREBLO G LAWLESS B BEi\NETT J FORBURGER TBOYSE J LASSER K BAIER D HATTEN J HEINEY L KAISER J KERRY D SKADAL
REGION4 GNJCOLET JZEISET GCHENY MMOCHO LSHARP R WILKINSON
REGIONS M KING J BOWMAN FGILLETIE LMETZGAR K WIMBERG
REGION6 R KENNEY M DELSIGNORE RMILLMAN
REGION9 P LEHMANN
REGION JO MTABER RJACOB C WHITNEY JR C BOWEN B BURRIL RCOXON DKINCHLOE
REGION II J HUNT D BROYLES H STEVENS
REGION 12 PVOIGHT J KOLYNICH
JANUARY 1992
This
report covers the recent NAA meeting (November 19, 1991) and communication with the FAA. The purpose of the NAA meeting was to cover recent NAA business and present each or the nine NAA divisions to captains of the industry and other aviation interests who regularly contribute to the NAA coffers. In attendance were Adm. James Busey, head of the FAA: Dr. Martin Harwit, the director of the National Air and Space Museum: Vice Adm. Dunleavy of the Navy: an Air Force representative, and officers from US Air, Lockheed. Northrop, Boeing and so forth. The USHGA acquitted itself well with a seven-minute video highlighting hang gliding and paragliding. Jerry Bruning gave a video tour of the office and we included excerpts from the USHGA commercial and the Wills Wing paragliding tape. A big hit was the USHGA calendar, and Dr. Harwit is going to contact the bookstore at the museum to see if they will carry it. We should follow this up
ourselves. I feel we gained political mileage in general from our ten minutes in the limelight. I described the capabilities and requirements of our gliders as well as other matters, and I think we impressed the powers that be. These matters are hard to judge, but remaining in the political stew will eventually help us I am sure. The NAA meetings are usually a tempest in a teapot, but this one appeared to provide us more direct benefit. Turning to FAA matters, I again visited the office and talked to Bill Cook, the new Part 103 specialist. He stated in unequivocal terms that paragliclers are ultralights and all the rules and considerations apply. I will be writing a summary for the APA. My sources of information also indicate that the new Part 103 should be available for comment by next June, and that the FAA is taking great pains to avoid changing the rulings for hang gliders.•
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by Jirn Shaw photos by Jackie Walton
I'm ready to go back. The cold season has settled into the region, most or the roads arc snow secured ···lots or work rewarded with little more than a sled ride. Winter in Colorado makes n1e think ol' my recent visit to Maui and the great hospitality of Dave Darling and friends. l had the trip to Hawaii planned anyway, but threw in the harness, helmet and gadgetry just in case I managed to find some lime, the weather cooperated, Dave had some: time and a glider I could rent, drivers could be found, and the island dicln 't sink. Insurmountable odds to some rc:prc:sc:nt just a normal flying day to others. Dave's kindness prcvailc:d, and the equipment, time, siti.: brid'ing, and landing .. wind expert came together before I could unpack. J\111 had to ckal with was the weather -only a little hurricane:- -and it was at least (JOO miles away from the Big Island. Now I have been up some good-sized hills, but none had the shc:cr grandeur or the vertical of Haleakala. The launch is around the 10,000foot level .. which is a low launch forth is Colorndo pilot --but rarely do I land al the ocean for an af'tcr night dip. The drive up is fairly spectacular, starting with the vast cane fields, meld-
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into llw verdant grec:n pasture lands cover .. most or the volcano. Pilots arc used to all kinds or hazards on hang gliding roads. This wide, paved highway scc:1m:d to lack any, until the first hoard or ycllow .. clad, screaming wheel maniacs appeared around the hairpin. For a large l'ec, groups or tourists arc driven to the summit, given rain gear and a bike, and sc:nl coasting lo the shore:. Brakes were apparently an option not many chose 10 includ(:. The grc:cn of the pastures gave way to the black rock oft he fire and the cotton-while oft he ever-present upslope clouds. The ranger said that the top or the mountain had been hidden in mist for the past three days. My luck was holding and I was looking into the magniricc:nt vastness of the crater, blue sky above and pie .. turc-pcrfc:cl clouds surrounding the: void. J\ blowout was a dd'initc possibi I ity this morning, but the drive and the landscape were well worth thi.: trip. Between the gale developing and the fact that I could not sec the road through the fog, my hopes or were diminishing. Clouds wc:rc getting thick below. story l had heard
about Hawaii containc:d the words "sled ride" and "whiteout," and it appeari.:d that the sled would he: a Suzuki car and this was the while:. Halrway through my daydream or I 0,000 rcet or staring at a spinning compass, the clouds yielded to brilliant sunlight, blue white caps, and the launch point. J\ few more minutes and the clouds also relinquished a car, two glidc:rs and Dave. The wind was still strong, around mph, but we decided that it was well within limits; the, clouds wc:re holding oil for us, and day light was wasting. Now, looking at this setup are,1 soon convinces anyone that the price of a rental glider is more than worth it. Even being careful, l can't sec a glider lasting more than a coupk or years in this environment of abrnsivc sand and lava roek. Unl'orlunatcly, Dave's glider lasted consi(krahly less tlwn that. J\ moment's lapse and a gust put it on its hack with a broken keel. Arter a momc!ll or silence, last rites and a fow colorful expletives, Dave turned his efforts to gL:lling my glider ready for a great night. Compass check, radio on, hooked in, hang chc:ck, a good rnn-1 was airborne over the magic or Hawaii. I IANC 0.JD!NC:
The autlmr launches from the famous Hawaiian volcano.
A right turn put me on the lava ridge reaching toward McKenna Beach which was my final destination ror ll1l~ day. l n the distance in front of me was another island, a definite line on the sea pointing directly to it. To the left of the line the ocean was violent with whitecaps, to the right, calm. Now I may be a stupid mountain pilot, but it didn't take me long to recog11i1:e a
A V!HIS v11di«>DJt,ro,r, I Jang gliding in paradise! Makapuu llaleakala The incredible Kaaawa Valley [ntroducing. paragliding to the islands. From 1he producer of Flit/and Flying, Mo1mt,1111s !fig-hand TBLLUR!DE! }AN\JARY '1992
sht:ar line. Ofcourst: the string of puffy cumulus helped. /\ hit or turbulence greeted me on the way through the slwar at .'5,000 reet above the blue or the Pacific, nothing hut smooth and up on the other side. About two miles past the shore convinced me that an intc:r--island hop would ht: more than possible, hut the retrieval would be a
bitch. The way back was slower, flying into the fringe of the hurricane winds, hut the Iii'! was constant so I drif'ted hack toward launch and enjoyed the incredible view. The clouds were building but were not threatcning--no immi .. ncnt whiteout for this kid. You could fly the shear back toward launch several miles inland, explore quite a way upwind inlo the whitecap territory, play up the face oft he clouds, orjusl hang out ancl sightsee. Such sort and gentle lift is always a treat, hut to have the visual buffet of Maui under me was beyond compare. I love to fly and the smooth lif"t was incredible, but I had no one to play with. After an hour and :1 halrl decided to challenge myself and sec if I could manage to gel down. I also noticed a cloud layer pushing in and, being unfamiliar with the area and fresh out of guides, I decided it was time to go pursue a serious tan. A mile or two on the calm side or the shear I managed to rind some air which was buoyant hut stil I enough to al low a descent. I had plenty of time to explore the coast, finally picking my way (0 .. ward beautil'ul MeKcnna. Dave's delightl'ul friend Paula provided the wind detection source and a hit ol' crowd control. As it was, the beach was busy enough lo w:irrant a landing close to the water line. This is not the easiest landing you will ever attempt. The wind is steady enough, but there are those lovely, barely .. clacl targt,ts to fixate on. Well, it wasn't a sled ride, no FAR violations for lFR flying, no hang dangling in prehis toric equipment. Just a wonderful time. Thank you Dave and Paula. Thank you .Jackie for the photo work and the trip. Tired or winler already? Maui Soaring might he the ticket. Ill
Ai rtimc in the islands! /I,, wai't,1!1 Ji'ly1n I is a professionally produced video showing some of the most fun flying ym/ ve seen yet. Exciting aerial footage puts you in the control bar at the infamous box launch at Makapuu and running down the side of a volcano on Maui. You'll soar tropical jungle ridges at cloudbase, over turquoise watern and white sand beaches, and tow up in the smoothest lift anywhere. All tapes now just ca. (CA res. add state tax) plus $3 shipping. PALISI•'.CAM U.S. ca. plus $6 overseas shipping.
Order from: Robert Reiter 800 Heinz Ave. #9 Berkeley, CA 94710 1(510)649-8111 21
The author launches from Horneshoe Meadows in the Owens Valley, CA.
by Jim Rowan
finally done what I'd dreamed about- doing for over ten years. Being hungry for something can give you motivafion you never knew you had. I l can also make you try things you probably shouldn l but challenging our limitations is one reason ·we all fly. 1
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started hang gliding late in 1979 when l drove from Decatur, llli nois to San Diego, Cali-fornia, and then on to Cantamar, Mexico, with my friend Kent Olson_ I'd never seen a hang glider up to that point. Kent had taken a couple ol'lcssons and purchased a glider from Northern Sun Hang Gliders in Minneapolis, Minnesota and knew just enough about flying to be :1 danger to us both. We struck a bargain; we'd take my trnck, and ovtcr the course of the next month we'd learn to l'ly togethtcr using his glider. After all, we had Dennis Pagcn's books, and with Kent's vast knowledge surely we could teach ourselves lo fly. Miraculously, we survived our month in Mexico and California learning to fly and crash (although I did manage to break my arrn in Kansas on the way home after a stall on launch). 111 retrospect, it was actually a pretty good lime to get into hang gliding. Gliders were certified and the body of' knowledge about flying had increased exponentially from the early days, then, a mere handful of years prior. It had been a couple or years since Jerry Katz, in the Owens Valley, had flown the first hundredmiler and no one had flown that far since. Today, a I00-milcrin tlw Owens is only an avl:rngc good flight. Thcrtc arc several other western sites where this distance is exceeded regularly, and such a rlight would hardly raise an eyebrow amongst the local pilot population.
In the East, however, passing the century mark is still consilkrcd an except ion al foal and one to which most of' the hard-core X-C pilots aspire, but which fow realize. After years of' being a frustrated eastern X-C pilot, I decided lo try to get mine the easier way-by heading west, young man. My new wife, Kim. and I headed west this past .July on our honeymoon with our primary destination being I ,one Pinc, California and the Owens Valley. I'd been to the Owens on a couple of previous occasions trying for that long !'light, but my success rate had only been marginally better trian my eastern aUcmpts, which isn't saying much. This time I'd gone all out in my preparation: state-of-the-art cquipment~--WW HP AT 1.58, Lindsay-Ruddock flight deck, two--mcter radios, 4WD Toyota van, kcvlar f'ull-f'acc helmet-and my own personal driver/helper who, after a couple or years or hanging around sites and pilots, had become quite knowledgeable about flying. Of' COllJ'SC, I had to marry her to ensure her continued support, and now she wants to rty, so I may be relegated to the driver/helper support role in the not too distant future. Onr first slop was Whiskey Peak, Wyo-ming, but on our ride up the mountain we called on the radio and discovered Kevin Christophcrson was already on top breaking down due lo the strong southwesterly winds. HANC C1m1Nc
The Wyoming pilots have a reputation for being strong-wind flyers, so I knew ifit was blowing too hard for him it was way strong for my tastes. We clicl an about face and continued on our journey westward. Our next stop was Slide Mtn., Nevada where we visited briefly with Neil Dirst, an old flying buddy from back east who'd relocated where the flying was more consistent. I had the first flight of my vacation at Slide, where the conditions were marginally soarable. I got to 10,500', which was just high enough to see Lake Tahoe over the back of the mountain. Seeing the surrounding Sierra Nevaclas reflected on the azure surface of the lake was worthy of a picture postcard, and it wouldn't be the last time during our trip I wished !'cl loaclecl film in my camera or that it was easier to get to. I made a halfhearted attempt atX-C, flying south clown Route 395, but quickly bombed out once I got away from the mountain. At least I was closer to our ultimate goal, the Owens Valley. We arrived in Lone Pine early that evening and set up shop in the Dow Villa Hotel. With its swimming pool and hot tub, the Dow provides a nice diversion to the various other activities which occur in the surrounding desert and mountain environments. There is a plethora of campgrounds in the area, however, being on a honeymoon, even a hang gliding honeymoon, requires certain concessions toward luxury in order to keep the new wife pampered and happy. My first flight from Horseshoe the following day netted me an hour and a half in airtime, but after scratching up to I 0,500' in weak lift I left launch only to be drilled crossing Wanoga Peak, and by the time I made Langley I was down to 7,400'. I eventually headed out for a landing at Lake Diaz after bobbing up and clown between 7,500' and 8,500' in the vicinity of the postage stamp LZ which is just around the corner from launch. It was a fun flight but certainly nothing to brag about, and I chocked it up as a warm-up flight for bigger things yet to come (I hoped). Thursday, July 4, dawned bright and early for us. This was primarily the result of flying from an east-facing launch with Ii mi tecl setup, especially one as popular as Horseshoe. We arrived on top at 8: 15 AM, to find 30 gliders being set up and the available space rapidly dwindling. I quickly unloaded my diver and claimed a bit of turf toward the back of the pack, where I proceeded to leisurely assemble my wing, knowing it would be some time before I would be able to fling myself into space. JANUARY 1992
I finally launched my HP AT at 11 :40 AM, which is rather late by Horseshoe standards. The air was rife with gliders, some high, some low, and many on their way north up the Sierra range. I flew across the saddle to the right of launch hoping the resident house thermal would send me on my way, however, I only encountered zero sink and a gaggle of gliders bumping heads trying to maintain. After a couple of turns without gain, I got tired of dodging the crowd and moved on down the far spine where I tried working some gnarly turbulence which I hoped was a thermal and not a rotor rolling across the spine. It allowed me to gain a few hundred feet which was just enough to dive back across the saddle. To my dismay, the gaggle I' cl left on the saddle was climbing out in mass, but when I dove in underneath them, I found nothing but sink. I was quickly forced to fly back down the far spine where the sinkman seemed to be awaiting my arrival. He chased me to the end of the canyon where I tried to hang out on the edge of the valley. I was clown below 8,000' and listening to George Stebbins report over the radio that he was at 13,500' and starting north. I'd known George from back east and had run into him at launch by coincidence, so we agreed to fly on the same radio channel. To say I was unhappy with my present state of affairs would be an understatement. About the time I'd made up my mind to fly north across the mouth of the canyon toward the postage stamp LZ, I caught a workable thermal which eventually got me to I 2,500' drifting up the center of the canyon. It wasn't especially strong, but it was going up and that's where I wanted to go. By this time I could see several gliders above and below me strung out up ahead to the north. There were still people on launch, although the crowd had thinned considerably. I started north, cruising as far as Langley Peak where I worked one to 15,000' before moving on to Lone Pine Peak where I found a thermal waiting which I took to 14,000'. Now this was more like it! Hang gliding Owens Valley style. I shot across Whitney Portal taking in a splendid view of Mt. Whitney which sits slightly further back in the Sierras. Climbing it would be awesome, but it couldn't come close to this perspective. When I reached the far side of the portal, I paused briefly to work some spotty lift, but after several turns I was no higher, so I proceeded on toward Mt. Williams (14,375'), which is almost as high as Mt. Whitney ( 14,494').
I quickly lost most of my hard-won altitude as 1 flew past Mt. Williams, and it looked like I'd be landing in the foothills in front of Kersarge Pass. I was clown to 8,500' and radioing Kim to head in toward the mountains from Independence where she was waiting, when I found a thermal which took me to 13,000'. I crossed Kersarge Pass and Onion Valley about even with the top and was able to stay relatively high all the way to Mt. Tinnemaha. There were still other gliders out ahead of me and I would occasionally scramble over to where I'd see them working lift. These thermal markers provided not only lift indicators, but also confidence boosters which kept me moving on down the range. This is one advantage to flying on a crowded holiday weekend. I reached Mt. Tinnemaha with 1 1,500' to find two other gliders in the nearby vicinity. Together we started a slow climb which eventually got me to 16,700', a few hundred feet above the others. I watched as one pilot started out across the valley and I quickly followed suit with the other not far behind. The time was 2:00 PM.
We fanned out slightly with my track taking me directly toward and then over Crater Mountain. I stayed above the other two all the way out but we were all in tremendous sink. My sink alarm stayed on so long I thought perhaps my batteries were fritzing out. I crossed over Crater Mountain, Highway 395, and was on the south side of Big Pine before I heard the blessed sound of silence. I was clown to 8,500' and had lost track of the other two gliders which had appeared to be sinking even faster than I was when last I saw them back about Highway 395. l continued on toward Black Mountain and was clown to 7,000' coming into Black, which sits on the east side of the valley at the southern encl of the White Mountains. I radioed Kim that it looked like I'd be landing at Big Ears, the CalTech radio telescope at the base of Black Mountain. I reasoned that 50 miles was better than my previous best flight in the Owens, and there was always tomorrow. I also began to notice how thirsty I'd become, having brought drinking water for when I landed, but none to drink in flight. I was scoping possible LZ's when I caught the nicest thermal of the clay in front of the west face al Black. It rocketed me skyward at I, 100 feet per minute. It was big. smooth, and soon delivered me to 15,000' directly over the top of Black. George had made White Mountain up 23
ahead and warned me of the big sink he'd encountered when leaving Black earlier. J\s l was climbing over Black, I spied one or the gliders I'd left Tinnemaha with, very low in Weslgard Pass south of'Black, and scratching Lo stay up. He only looked to be a few hundred Ccet off the deck with nary an LZ in rcach--at least not one I'd want to land in. I wished him luck and continued on my way northward. The sink was lurking in wait just beyond Black as promised, and I had to start casing out toward the valley as I sank below the nwin spine of'the Whites. l would work lift occasionally as I flew past Bishop, but most everything seemed unworkable and quite punchy at times. I also began to notice some type of film over my sunglasses which was making it increasingly difficult to sec clearly. I tried wiping it off without success, so I peered over the top of the lenses, only to discover it wasn't my after all. It was my eyes that seemed to he filming over, perhaps due to hypoxia or dehydration, or a combination of the two. I do know, I'd never been so thirsty in all my lifo. It looked like I'd be landing at Laws as I was forced to move 0111 over the foothills at the edge or the valley. Kim was there waiting with a cooler of cold beverages, although she was beginning to wilt in the I 07 degree desert heat. llaving dressed for high altitude, l was also Cceling the effects of the heat as I got lower. .Inst as I announced my intention to land, I eaught a blooper thermal off the last foothill which was up about I 00 J'prn and dri !'ting north. I was below 7,000' and part ofmc wanted to land in the worse sort of way, but I hung with it as I dril"tcd past and below Gunte;r launch. I sent Kim on lo Chalfont as I made it baek to 13,000', but then quickly found myself back over the foothills at 7,000' and on my way out to land. I asked Kim about wind direction on the ground and advised I w:1s on my way, when, once again, I found a blooper thermal over the last foothill in front or Piute launeh which eventually got me to I 4,000' in front of" White Mountain Peal<. A-1,-T-l-T l J.. ]) .. J\, that's how I s1x,ll relief from the heat. I found anotht,r thermal shortly after fly ing past White Mountain which I worked up to 16,500'. Cruising north directly over the !'cl Iisar Flats, I paused briefly to admire the view :111d work another thermal to 17,500'. The last kw thermals had been in the 400--800 J'pm range and it now dawned on me, I probably had my first lnmdrcd-rniler pretty well sewn up. I'd had so many imminent landings thus far in the flight, I
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Jim's Hang V driver and wife, Kim.
was afraid to admit I had it made. Kirn was still sitting hack at White Mountain Ranch where I'd sent her while I was climbing in front or Piute, so I advised her to start ror Janie's, as I was reasonably certain I could rall that far from my present altitude. I dolphin fkw over the remainder or the Pellisar between 17,000' · 17,500' the rest Flats of" the way to the end or the range. I crossed Boundary Peak with I 7,200' and was treated to a little pounding as if the Whites were saying, "So long.'· I started scanning Montgomery Pass for .Janie's. The pass was in shadow from a large cloud which showed virga, but didn't appear overdeveloped to the poi11t of concern. I looked and looked but was unable to spot Janie's which I'd sec11 from the ground, but never from 17,000'. I had a pilot on the ground there trying to describe what to look for, but with my blurred vision, I just couldn't sec what he was deseribing. Besides, I was still at 17,000' and just couldn't imagine burning off that much altitude (over I 0,000') to land :11 a pl:1ce I couldn't even see. I skirted the outside edge or the cloud which had formed oil the north end or the Whites and over Montgomery Pass. Initially, I was maintaining in 1cro sink, but it quickly turned into sink, although I was well away from the J\s I passed cast of the cloud and over tht: top or the pass toward Basalt. I was down to 9,000'. The sinkrrnm had turned me
loose and the air seemed quite smooth. It was after 6:00 I'M and I could hear George over the radio telling his driver, Sharon Carr, he was about to la11d near Mina. I was still 3,000' over the groundjust north of Basalt, but I' djust about nm out or gas, and now my concern was how or where to land while being unable to sec anything but vague shapes and colors. I Clew a rew miles up the highway toward Mina until I spotted a wide place alo11gside the road that appeared level and without obstructions, at least in my failing eyesight. Kim was making a high--speed dash across the pass since I'd advised I needed her help like never before. She arrived underneath me while I still had about 1,500' left to play with and she indicated there were no power lines along the highway. We did have a slight communication breakdown in trying to decide which was the bestlooking place to land, hut after she gave me the wind direction (light south), I pulled oil an excellent approach to land in a wide pull-off right beside the road. I ended my flight with a no-step landing, hut on my knees, at 6:40 PM. It had taken me seven hours to fly 110 miles. I could barely see or even stand up, but I'd finally clone what I'd clrc:1med about doing for over ten years. Being hungry for something can you molivation you never knew you had. It can also make you try things you probably shouldn't, hut challeng-· ing our limitations is one reason we: all fly. In retrospect, I should have had water I could get to in flight and an oxygen system. I had planned on pulling out of everything at 16,000' to avoid hypoxia, or at least to minimize its effects, but after being low and sweltering so many times, I chose to get high and stay high. I never l'clt like I was hypoxic--no headache, no slurred spcc,ch, no bfo;scd--out feelings or euphoria, etc., hut my blurred vision was a pos-· sible indicator. I still think dehydration may have had something to do with it, but l guess I'll ncvt:r n:ally know for sure. J\nd finally, I'd like to thank Wills Wing for making a glider whieh allowed me to ftill"ill a dream. The l IP J\ T has extremely light bar pressure and I don't believe I could have stayed in the air for seven hours in rowdy Owens Valley conditions on any other glider. With the performance of all bladcwings currently on the market n:lativcly eq11al, the handling J"aetor looms and thi,., is whc,n: the J\T really shines. J\lso, to my beautiful wik, Kim, who baked in the desert heat for me: I couldn't have done it without you. Thank you! 111111
l lANC CurnNc:
G.W. and Jan Meadows over the marshlands of Currituck County, NC. The author recommends that all tandem flights be performed with wheels on the glider.
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I I the early '80s, Pacific Windcraft introduced their premier glider- -the Vision. It was a glider that reversed the then current trend or gliders that were hard to fly and land. J\ few years later, the second glider in the Vision series was introduced. Tht: I isprit was still an easy glider to fly with quite rc:spcclabk performance.
JJ\NlJJ\RY 1992
by
I I I I fl
W Meadows
The third in the Vision family was the Eclipse. The I iclipse was a good glider, bul exhibited some undesirable hand! ing characteristics. The next glider produced by (now) Pa-
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ciric /\irwave was the Mark IV. This particular glider design has been one of the best-selling beginner/intermediate gliders ever produced. J\11 flying eharacleristics arc straightforward and landing is just as it should he. This report is about Pacific J\irwave's Vision .. class glider for I wo--tlie Double Vision.
arlo !he control bar, kingposl, keel and front sections. The use or this high leading strength, very thin w,111 tubing allows l'or a very rigid airrrame thal is lightweighl. Batlcns on this glider arc also made oft he 7075 which means that tliey c;m go for many moons without the nGed for re.cambering. THE SAIL The sai I is ri nely tailored 11pon the ,iirframc, The main body is co111prised of' 4.4·rnrncc sailcloth with ''warp" clolh rl'inJ'orcemcnts in the high stress areas, The leading L:dge cloth is tri lam jusl as is J'o11nd on prncticaiiy all gliders currc111ly being nHmufactured. Overall the s.1il is very well done.
Planform view of the massive glider.
For a couple or years. many prorcssional landcni pilots, including me. had been the ll:ading glider manufacturers to cm11c up with a tandem glider to be used ;1s an instructional tool. hir yGars, the only tandem glidcravailablc on Iill: nrnrket lkw like an anvil witli 1:ilw;1ys found mysclrco1111m,11ting to my t.111dcrn sludcnts thal flying would lie much easier when wen, in their own glitkr. I re,1lly got tired of ;1pologizi11g for the way the glider lkw. and ii was downright emharrnssing to he constanlly grnnting out loud d11ri11g a tandem thermal rtighl. Well, lwls off to l'aciric J\irw;1vc ror lislening to the cry or lht· gliding professional. They've tkveloped an lightweight and e;1sy·IO·rly tandem glider lhal has improved the qualily or tandem instruction. SETIJP This s setup proced11re is very forward a11djust h;1ppens to he the raslest glider in !he ind11stry. 1,'irsl. you unzip the bag, ,11lach the hasetubc to the same clean cont roi h,1r hardware rittings that c,111 he round 011 l'ac/\ir's intcrmedinll'. glider, the Fonnul;1, ;111d their top or·the.Jinc hig.11 perl'ornrnncc ship, the K2. 1,'Jip lhc glider over onto the control frmnc. remove ihc am! vclcro tics, spread !he (!he kingposl pops up on its own) and stuff eight curved battens Then tension !he glider's crossbar by pulling the restraint cable (rro111 lhc 26
rear) and it in the nicely machined al111ni1rnm fitting on the rear or !he kecL J\f'tcr installing the slrnighHip battens, the nose wire and thl: nose cone, the glider is ready to pre· fiighl. This entire sclup procGdure c;m be per formed in a Jillie over rive minull:S with prac· lice. This glider is a true pleasure when il comes lo setup allli breakdown. HAIWWARE The Double Vision utilizes the same hardware that J>ao\ir 11scs on ils other gliders. l·'rom thc control b;ir ri11ings to !he nose wire attachmcnl. nothing has been sp,ircd when it comes to sup· plying the best hardware for this glider, The l'ilti11gs on the glider also utili!.cs hall front and rc;ir flying wires which not only adds lo the ckanliness or the hardware, bu! is as strong or stronger th,1n rcg11lar nico--pressc;d The cables on this glider me st;mdard :l/ milks except !'or 1hc side flying wires which arc I/8" which is the normal "tandem si1:c. The comes with ro11nd downtuhcs. The streiimlined kingpost is hinged to the keel ;md folds down cleanly with 110 flopping around during the breakdown/setup procedure.
THE AIRFIV\ME The Dou hie Vision utilizes state,or.. thc·-arl 7075· airrrarnc members. T6aluminum in its Tlw. only parts ol' the which arc 1101 7075
FLYING THE WING First, 1rnusl take a J'cw rnomcnls to kt you know how much I've /'Jown this glider so you'll know that my observations arc not from just a few flighls over a period or a J'ew weeks, To d,1te, I have I, I00 f'iights on the J)ouhle Vision, 8(12 or which were tandem. /\!though I liavc foot· lmmchcd it. !he nwjority or my l'iights were platform launch tow l'iights. l,AUNCIHNG The rirsl three l'iights I had on the Double Vision were with Pac/\ir's president Ken Brown. lie had brought it lo San Diego to do some glider cvaiua1io11s with some or the tandem pilots in the ,m:a. Those llm.:e flights I will never forget (,md I'm sure Ken won't either). We r;1cked up scverni homs or airtinh: that w..:ckcnd. neither or us crazy about playing the p,1ssengcr role, so corn1rnmd or lh,: glider must have changed ;1ho11t a dozen li111cs pL:r l'light. Those landrn1 pilots out there who have never been the passen· ger during J;111nch and landing, should del'i nitcly jump at the ch;mce. Il really shows you how your stllliL:nts reel (helpless) and their view during lmmch ;111d landing (highly obstructed). The first thing I noticed about the Do11hlc Vision's i'lying charnctcristics was the fact that it seemed to want to rly sooner than other tande111 )!iiders I've rlown. Part or this may he h111 I think the majority thcdiffercncc in or it eo111cs from the airfoil design. It's nice lo h;1vc that glider oil your shoulders and ;11 your harness lines as e,irly in the tandem launch n111 as possible. During the l:rnnch, the glider remained very prcdiclahk, hut anolhcr great thing was tlrnt I didn't have to right to keep the nose at the dcsi1·ed attitude. To be IHrncsl, launching tandc111 011 lhl: Double Vision is very [ lANl. C1.1111NC:
nn1ch like launching in your r:1voritc rccr1:a1ion;il glider except \here's annlill,r person running right beside or you. l give ii high scores in thL'. launching dep,irl" mcnl.
FLYING Boy oh Boy' This glider rlies greal 1anclc111. No longer do I have to make excuses lo 111y sludents as 10 why it's so hard for lhcrn to turn :1 glider while we're flying. The Double Vision's roll pressmc is very close to the roll press1ircs on some of the firs! Clean, adjustable pullback cable and retainer hardware. gliders they're likely to own. As an inslruelor who 1n:1kes his living rlying tandem, lei me saytlwl ho11om end of the mam1f'acturcr' s recommended the elrnracterislics this gliclercxhihits have made weight rnngc is too low and should be closer to rny job much easier. I can have !he most frail of students that while loaded pounds. I'm not me all over the sky while in complete control. lightly the glider is unstable or inherently dangerous, the pitch pressures just go very light The pitch pressures on this glider, while flying which can he very bad with students, since they tandem, are of the medium/light variety.There's rlenty enough pressure ror the student 10 reel need pronounced bar pressure while they're trim and normal pressures during !'light, howlearning to fly. ever. there's not so much that thl: pilot doesn't LANDING have cornplctG control over airspeed while on I ,anding characteristics represent the only hlcrn· final. This was a1101hcr thing I found extremely ish on an otherwise perfect glider; however, 10 my liking. With other tandem gliders I ncvl:r fcl11ha1 I could keep enough flying speed while since you must land on practically every J'lighl on final. The pitch pressures were intolerable. you take, it is something that must be considNol so with the Double Vision. Adding the ered. great pitch prcssmcs to !he marvelous roll pres"" When the glider was in its tkbut conrigurn1 ion, the flare timing had lo be absolu1ely s11rcs c;quals excellent confidence during your perfect. !r you flared 100 late, the glider would final approach. I 11111s1 say a few words :ibont /'lying the end up on the wheels just as any glider would. ff you flared loo early, not only would the glider solo. J\s I had mentioned earlier, the climhout some, hut lry as you may, you couldn't glider u1ilizcs stiff leading edges to get some or l'lying characteristics. While this makes keep lhc nose up for the glider to parachute to a nice landing. J\Jkr some complaints were rethe glider fly great in the tandem conrigurntion, ceived, Pac Air did some work on the glider and \he pitch pressures arc much too light when the glider is not loaded enongh lo produce the made it much better. Basically what 1hcy did was to add a longer crossbar restraint cable, desired ,1rnmml of washout. I do al leas! one test !'light after selling the glider up each day and which elTcctively added a litllc more washout. I'm able lo pull the bar to my knees and hold it This reduces the arnoun1 the glider wants to there in a steep dive inddinilely with very lillk climb irflared too early. By also rotating the tips up, lhc glider will not want to continue lo fly al effort. I hook in close to 200 pounds. By i!dding the lips during the J'larc. which will allow you to another 85 pounds or so, the glider washes out more and the pilch pressures become normal. ! parachute the more eflcctively ii' necessary. By 1m1king lhL,se two simple changes they feel that the instruclorwho looks al lhis glider as sol'tencd the glider's flare requirements to an n big singlc-surl'.1cc glider is making a very bad mistake. This glider should not he l'lown alone acceptable (hut still nllt perfect) level. In gen" era!, the problem with its landing is lhat the by students and should only be flown alone by gl idcr rctnins l:ncrgy a little too well. !\gain, this very experienced pilots. My opinion is tlwl the JJ\NlJJ\RY I 992.
is due to those sl ilT lcadi ng edges.
PACKING THE GLIDER AWAY The glider breaks down very quickly in a normal manner. PacAir has included three pads (sewn to the cover hag) which protect thcglidcrwcll l'rom wear. One goes on top of'thc kingposl, one nround the 1Dp ol'the control bar apex, and the other around the control bar corner fittings and the crosslx1r rcs1rni111 hard~ ware on the keel. To store the battens away, PacAir has used the same storage system that they introduced on lhc l •ormula. Sewn internally into the ''nose'' end or the cover is a ,.ippcred comrar1rncn1 that holds the battens nicely. So basically, once you 'vc set the glider up, all yon have to keep track of' is the glider bag and the vclcro tics. It's nice not to have a bunch of loose pads to worry aboul losing.
SUMMARY Well, basically what we have here is the hes1 prof<:ssionnl tool that has been made available to the prorcssional hang gliding instnictor in many years. The glider is very well made :ind except /'or its flare timing characlcristics, Clics incnxlihly well in the tandem mode. PaeJ\ir has p11t a lot or thought ,rnd R&D i11to this project. The attention to small details makes the glider a pleasure, So il'you're looking lo buy a tandem glider, check with your local PacAir dealer !'or a test ride. ll'you're looking lo learn how to hang glide through tandem instruction, then look for a tandem instructor who uses a Double Vision as his teaching tool. You'll be glad you didl 111111
DOUBLE VISION SPl(CS Wing Span Weig/JI Pay/o(I(/ J\specl Ratio
36 n. 62 lbs. 220420 lbs. (i.1
30% Standard Frnturcs: J\irfoil Kingpost Prc-rlighl adjustment for vriricd wing loading Tri lam leading edge 4.4 ounce trniling edge
i)ou/Jle S111j'r1ce
2.7
CALENDAR OF EVENTS Calendar of events items WILL NOT be listed if only tentative. Please include exact information (event, date, contact name and phone number). Items should be received no later six weeks prior to the event. We request two months lead time for regional and national meets.
Feb. 9-15: New Zealand Paragliding Championships, Canterbury in the South Island. Contact: NZ Paragliding Championships, Warren Trethewey, Old Tai Tapu Road, RD2, Christchurch, New Zealand tel. 03-296-848 FAX 03-296786.
Platillon Peak in Guarico state. Entry $150 U.S. includes transportation and retrieval. $2,000 first place prize. Contact: Luis Aulestia, Final calle 3-B, Edif. Cantabria, piso 2, La Urbina, Caracas 1070, Venezuela. tel. (58)-22420644/2426311 FAX (58)-2-2427374.
Jan. 4-5 & 18-19: Towing and landing clinic (Hang II-IV). Learn to tow, spot landing practice, rating sign-off and more. Contact: Action Soaring Center (209) 368-9665 - Lodi, CA.
Feb. 21-23: Tandem boat towing clinic with Paul Voight and Miami Hang Gliding. Contact: James Tindle (305) 573-8978.
April 13-19: (April 20 rain elate) ToITey Pines World Paragliding Race, Torrey Pines Flight Park, La Jolla, CA. Contact: Joe Bill Henry (619) 452-3202.
Jan. 6-16: Tow launch hang gliding and paragliding competition, Forbes, New South Wales, Australia. Entry $150 Australian, $130 before Nov. 30, '91. Contact: Len Paton, Boganol, Henry Lawson Way, Forbes, NSW 2871 - tel. 068 537220 FAX 068 524181. Jan. 11-12: Basic & Advanced Instructor Certification Program. Contact: Cascade Soaring (206) 454-1989. Jan. 18-26: Australian Open HG Championships, Tumut, NSW. Ten sites, triangle and out-and-return. Contact: Ian Jarman, HGFA, P.O. Box 558, Tumut, NSW 2720. Jan. 18-31: New Zealand Hang Gliding Championships, Wellington (the capital). Flying from Mt. Climie, 2,850' in the Timutaka range. Tasks: elapsed time races to goal via turnpoints or open distance. Camping and hotels. Contact: P.O. Box 13-238, Johnsonville, Wellington, New Zealand.
Feb. 28-March 1: Tandem Clinic, $150. March 6-7: Basic ICP, $150. March 89: Advanced ICP, $150. June 19-21: Wild, Wild West Regionals, $90. Contact: Adventure Sports (702) 8837070. March 5-7: National convention of the Soaring Society of America. Charlotte, NC. Seminars, glider exhibits, socializing. Contact: SSA (505) 392-1177. March 19-22: (23 rain elate) Torrey Pines Windsprints, Torrey Pines Flight Park, La Jolla, CA. Contact: Joe Bill Henry (619) 452-3202. March 22-29: Venezuela '92 International Hang Gliding Championship (March 1421 paragliders), celebrating the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America. Sites: La Victoria near Caracas and
April 24-May 3: International Mexican Open, Guanajuato. Contact: Aero Dinamica, Reforma 30 piso 3, Col. Centro G.P. 06040, Mexico D.F. tel. (525) 379-2140 FAX (525) 370-6243. April 25-26: Mountain Wings Glider Showcase at Ellenville, NY flying site. Interested manufacturers and distributors invited. Camping, towing. Contact: Mtn. Wings, 150 Canal St., Ellenville, NY 12428 (914) 647-3377. May 27-June 11: 8th European Hang Gliding Championships, Vaga, Norway. U.S. team and pilots welcomed. Preliminary entries before March l, 1992, final entries before April 15. Contact: Norwegian Aero Club, HG-EM 1992, P.O. Box 3869, Ulleval Hageby, N-0805 Oslo 8 NORWAY.
I· v.HEN THE LZ LOOKS OUT OF REACH MAKE EVERYJ'OOt~· . WITH A ROBERTS DIGITAl. ALTl . . AND LET OUR SUPERQUICK VARIO Flf;O THA
.
TO GEV(OUlllEFIE, IF YOO HAPPEN TQ' WE.CAN UBUAJW FiX IT BEFORE HExtW 0
Feb. 7-8: Towing Clinic, Seattle, WA. Contact: Cascade Soaring (206) 4541989. Feb. 7-9: Para/hang glider tow clinics, Phoenix, AZ. Just bring hamess/vario or paraglider. Intro to SMARTOW winch, circuit towing. $350 includes transportation to site and lunch. Contact: Reel Altitude (602) 863-9909. Feb. 9: FAA Northwest Aviation Trade Show and Conference, Tacoma, WA. Contact: Cascade Soaring (206) 4541989.
28
HANG GLIDING
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s choice) $2 handling kc
r
dd
1s the story or two hang gliding professionals Oil the road in the eastern US/\. Tony Barton and I won our respect i vc clrnn1 pionships this yGar (cross-coulltry and ,1crobatics) so thG hang glidGr company we represent clc· cidcd to st:nd us on a "t:ham· pionship" dt:1110 tom. !king reasonably gregarious people we knew this would he run, so we accepted our assignmGnt gladly. Our first stop was at the home or Hazel Heiney or Huntley, Illinois wlwrc we were treated to a homL:· cooked meal and a good night's sleep. ThL: next mornsince I la,.el did not wish to try out a new hang glider, Tony and I were on the road with homemade apple turnovers and oatmeal cookies. Thanks Mom. Upon om arrival in the East we stayed at the home or Dennis and Claire Pagcn in Bcllcl'ontc, Pennsylvania where we ate J\mish eggs for breakfast. I did not know chickens could choose a reli gion. We were disappointed that we could not stay rorthe llyner View Ox Roast J,1y. In, but we were scheduled ror Ellenville 011 the weekend. The eastern U.S. is a bcautirul place to be in autumn, and we had an excellent stay with (,reg a11d Judy Black of'Mountain Wings in Fllenvillc, New York. They have one or the finest hang gliding shops we havl; sec11, and it is close to a great, l'orcst covered 111ountain flying site. (;reg, Judy and friend Tony Corelli dccickd it would be in the best intc:rest of' their business and hang gliding in general to own the l'lying site, so they bought the launch and LZ with training hill' No more worries about bci11g throw11 out. It is a great setup.
'.lO
The members of the New York f'lying community arc friendly and serious party f'olks. We saw first-hand and vilko evidence. We had a run time f'lying with ]•rank Valenza, llarpo I ,a Versa, Kim Sun, Mike Jackson, Dave Damon, Jerry Felice, Eddie Royal, Liza Marshal and
others, many or whom en .. joyed l'lights on our demo TRX's. We saw Paul Voight lwrrnoniously paragliding with the hang gliders, and heard talcs (and saw video) or outrageous LZ parties that go on all sunm1er. This looks like the place to be f'or fun l'lying. 011 our way to Tennessee wG stopped at the Home of Tony's grandmother l ,ola Webb in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia. Mrs. Webb cooked us a fine meal and supplied us with two jars of' her homemade apple butter (yum). J\l'ter a visit with family members and the local newspaper reporter (we made the front page) we were southbound on the interstate. We spent the night at my friend Terry Bohlcber's house in Morristown, Ten· ncssec. Tony repaired the malfunctioning toilet tank asthauks roragoodnight sleep. In the morning we paid a visit to Bruce Hawk al Hawk J\irsports, an ex" ccllcnt !'light park in Sevierville with a man .. made 360° training hill. Brncc gave us a hag or freshly harvested goober peas I During our stay in the Sequatchie Valley we were made to feel "at home" al Cliff Whitney's spacious cl iff-siclc geodesic dome house near the llcnson' s Gap launch. The Tennessee Tt'lol: Toppers own the launch area with Oil site clubhouse I Cliff and Rick Jacob's own Sequatchie Valley Soaring Supply. lt is one or the most scenically located hang gliding shops in the world. They have two primo new buildings with condos, bunkhouse and plans for more pilot acco11rn1odations. J\11 oi'this is just a short walk through the trees from the famous lien son's
I IANC GurnNc
landing, and the glider ancl pilot were uninjured
Gap rndial ramp, which is owned and main tainccl by the TTI', a11otl1cr great group or fun-
rcspo11siblc glider folks. SVS also plans a cluh-rormal towi11g opcralion lo commence when their new Bailey-Moyes aero-tow systc111 arrives. Tony l'Jew in lhc Sl:qtrnlchic Valley Team Chalkngc, an cxcellcnl lc,m1ing nwct in which ;111 cxpcricncc:d X C racer is learned with begin ning compctiticrn pilots. It w,1s a cross-country acrobatics contest fur Tony "Rocketnrnn" Barton who w,1s seen looping the 140 TRX as he raced. Wanowski's "Clinchers" team won the meet. J\ trip to I lcnson's is always a good time. even irtlic wcatlic:r should be bad. The TIT arc known f'or their great cook-m11 parlies. We had a great tirne rlying with all the visiti11g and local pilots including Curly and Katie Dunn, Steve and K,11hy r .cc, Phil l larper and J\nnc I Jorgan (all husband and wife flying teams), Clark 1hirlow, Phil Proctor (pro-pilot who hang glides for fun and doubles as acnHug pilot) and oth· crs. many or whom took the opportunity to clerno our 140's. I saw three friends from Chicago: (,reg and Audrey Fischcr(two more nwl· rimonial flyers) and Brad Kushner who had his students and a pro-video crew with him. At J ,ookout Mountain Flight !'ark in Ucor· gia we found a thriving population of beginning and intermediate pilots Ia talcnll:d group or advanced rlycrs too). I enjoyed the excitement ofrirsl mountain flights on their !'aces. It is obvious th,1t Mall and Robin T,1ber arc introducing many new people to the spml of hangglidi11g. They own the launch a11d J ,Z, with
Tennessee.
There is a good flying community on lop of' Lookout Mountain. Thanks to Tundra Ridge and Kathy Laible for a place lo stay. Dave Curry let me stay in his "Living House." J think they call it that because termites arc all that hold it up. Surprisingly, there is a great Mexican rcstau rant at the base of the mountain in Chaltanooga. TN called Cancun. Real Mexicans work there so the J'ood is dynalllite, and the waiters know the pilots. J\mong the nice people yon can expect to sec ;11 Lookout arc Christian Thorsen (who kt me take possession oJ'his truck !'or rive days) Joanne Reynolds, Buzz Chalmers. Ricky Rojas, Tony Sandige. John 1°:gle, Jamie Alexander and Creg "Thermal King" Heckman. We were in the I ,ookout/Sequatchie an,a during a period or 40+ consecutive soarnblc days, During our ICl-day stay we provided demo TRX 140's and 160's to many pilots and were rewarded with smiling faces and "great l'light" stories in the LZ's. J Jowevcr, on our last day there a pilot dragged a tip off the Whitwell cl ill launch. As he disappeared into the treetops we
an exccllenl. full-service hang gliding facility on top, and big LI'. with swimming pool and camping. They also plan an aero- towing opcrat ion out or their landing area. We heard ,1 story from Mall about a pilot who was clc1110-rlying a TRX. On his landing ,1pproach he stabbed a tip into the ground. The carbon fiber leading edge bowed incredibly, springing the pilot/glider back into the air like a pole vaulter. Ile then sclllcd back in for a safe
heard branches snapping for whal seemed like 10 seconds as he fcll 1hro11gh the 80 foot trees. We heme! a very loud "crack," then ;1 final loud "crack," then silence. J\s Tony and I, and several others dashed to find our way clown the cliff, we heard the report that the pilot was OK' What a relieJ'that was. Several 111c111bers of the Basharn family who livG at the launch and allow pilots to set up on their l.1wn, volunteered to show us the way
ABOVJ·:: Soaring beautiful mlcnvillc, New York. BET.OW: In lhe sky over Lookoul Mountain,
(contin11es .. J
]AN\JARY '\992
JI
clown. They helped us fold the glider and carry it down a tortuous slope to a road. That is Southern hospitality! Ostensibly the energy-absorbing quality of the carbon fiber spars saved the pilot from injury. The fall through the forest canopy rolled the glider 90° causing the wing tip to impact the ground first. The sequential failure of the rear leading edge and then the front leading edge decelerated the pilot to a relatively soft touchdown 150 feet below launch. Lesson: The pilot allowed himself to be distracted by unwanted and unneeded launch assistants (the wind was light). Then he ran off without paying proper attention to angle of attack and level wings. I think he is privileged to have experienced such a thing without being hurt. You cannot buy a ride like that. We left Chattanooga on Monday and had until Friday to reach Miami, so we decided to accept my friends Sue and Willie Lee's offer to spend a clay towing in North Carolina. Willie is a rare bird. He is a member of the World
Flyers on our way to Miami, and try for a day of aero towing with Bobby Bailey's new tug, the Dragonfly. We caught Bobby just back from a trip to Australia where he is setting up to manufacture his tug in a joint venture with Moyes. We wish Bobby the best for the future of aero towing. Bobby Bailey, Campbell Bowen, Malcolm Jones, Sugar Man and the others took us to their towing cow pasture. Tony and I set up a 140 and a 160, and I took the first tow (my first aero tow). It was easy the way they do it. The unique design of the tug makes it perfect for the low speed needed to tow hang gliders; moreover, the launch dolly precludes foot-launch ground speed problems if the wind should switch tail during launch. My first flight was a different experience in that Bobby stuck me a couple "K" above the inversion. This allowed me to loop clown in dead smooth air, and then thermal soar once I broke into the unstable layer below. It is remarkable how well the dolly rolls
Champion Golden Knights Army competition skydiving team, and he flies a TRX. Willie earns his living skydiving for the Army, but says he enjoys his hang gliding much more. Willie has his own tow rig built on a '64 Ford Galaxy 500 (stylin'). It's unique in that it uses compressed air to operate the brake. Willie and his friend Craig Girrarcl (also a Golden Knight) have their own private tow road, an abandoned crop-dusting strip one mile from home! It's short but sweet, yielding 800- to 1,000-foot tows, and they soar regularly. Tony and I set up a 140 and took turns with local pilots Dave and Brad Kincheloe (father and son) and John Spruncl. Brad is looking good on the aerobatics. Practice high Brad. I mounted a camera on Willie's glider, and Willie and Tony took photo flights on it. Tony spent an extended period circling with a hawk, and we all had a fun clay towing and wanging. Willie and Sue made us feel very welcome in their home. Our next plan was to look up the Draggin'
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34
HANG GLIDING
over 1he rough surface 0!'1he pasture. It looks lik,, the sal'e and sane way lo aero tow. Then: is just one question in 111y mind: ls it bl:ttcrto roll on the dolly, and take the chance or hi1ting a cow pie with a wheel, splattering cow crnp on your sail, or tn nm launch, and risk sll:pping in a major meadow rnurrin and track it into your harness') We had a fun day or avialing with these good rolks. Malcolm Jones gr;1ciou:,ly ol'fcrccl us a place to stay !'or the night. Ill: told us s1orks 01'1hc old days ol'h,mg gliding when he and Sunset launch al Lookout Mountain, TN. Tom Pcghiny flew gliders l'or a cor poratc sponsor. Today Malcolm has Lock a Airport, a 1'1111-on mi I itary dernonstrat ion organi,.cd and l'lil,s in ,1 hang gliding show at type show l'caturing the Blue Angles, Navy Epcott Center in Wall Disney World. I ,cap Frogs, Coors Silver Bullet and many mi]i. Next it was off to om rinal destination, Miami. On the way Tony wanted to canoe into t:ll'y and Coast CJuard flying and static displays. the Everglades and look for alligatms. I said, We decided that rlying in the air show would be more fun than hunting alligators, so we joined "Sounds like t'im." We looked at the map and drovl, right through the area marked "EverThis happening group of flyers did ;1 great ;md glades," hut we nt,vcr saw any job or organizing (mostly by Henry Stiri,.) and ce.1·1:11nlv 110 alligators. We were too cool to stop flying hcf'orc a gathering or 20,000 aviation at a tourist lrnp ;1llig,1tor ranch. Sometimes cool fans. They towed ,1bo11t seven gliders per day people do not gel to sec alligators. We though! we were to demo gliders in with fourtrncks, including Scotty Hubbard, .Jim LaCotchc, Mikt, Barber, Rob Kayes and Bill Miami f'or .lames Tindle or Miami llang Ci lid· As it t11rncd out, most or the pilots were Von Ohlen. Saturday was soarahlc, so we: all thcrmallcd participating in the Miami Air Show at Opa
JANUARY ]992
up artcnclcasc. Everyone it clown in front or the crowd near the end or our40·rninutc window. Tony and I did loops with smoke. The ropt: broke as Frank Foti towed, hut he found tht: lif't and thermal led up with the rest I This was a nearly perrcct hang gliding demo. James Tindle, President or the South I ,.Jorida Free Flight Asso, ciation saw much interest at his booth and simulator. l lc docs tandem instruction 011 the Atlantic Ocean at Miami. We heard the description or an cxccllcnl tow boat with hydraulic platl'orm !'or Ii !'ting a "rtoatcd" glider out or the water. We heard about "condo soaring" from Jeff fames who discovered it l O years ago. But, Tony and l had prior eorn111it111cnts that required our departure, after the weekend. Wt: congratulate Roh Kayes, who has been hang gliding only three years, for his l 02-milc state distance record on his TRX. Rob is also tandem rated. We thank Rob ror inviting us into his ho1m: and showing us some or Miami. The locals wanted 11s to stay and play, but we had to motor into the sunset. I know I have J'mgo1tc11 the names or many rinc people we cneounterc:d on this trip. But you know who yon arc, and remember, "We never met a pilot we didn't like." Ill
I
by Rodger Ifoyl how irnportanl is a hang harness'/ Whee-doggies, Jethro; l'.VC!l a hillbilly knows it's 1l1e harness that puts the in "hang gliding'" J\ harness' sole f'nnction, it may first appear, is simply lo suspend the pi lot in a task adequately accomplished by the 111ost rudimenlary knee hanger or models, This fnct might prompt beginning pilols with limited finances to dismiss the expensive amenities or today's cl itc harnesses as extravagant, Bui as any experienced pilot can attest, a quality harness isn '1 a a
36
Flights or several hours require the utmost in comfort lo avert pilot fat streamliued profiles arc necessary lo enhance glider performance; even effective glider control depends 011 the proper body positioning provided by a good harness. Today's remarkable cross-country flights would he impossible without the streamlining, comfort, control--and afforded by modern, sophisticated harnesses. With this premise in mind, let's examine one of the current supcrlrnrncsses, the CG-
1000.
DESIGN AND DEVEi ,OPMENT When Lhe CG-" I 000 was introduced to the hang gliding world in 1985, it appeared too good lo he true. J\ professional-looking full·color ad depicted a male""model type (conspicuously devoid or helmet), soaring through some inter stellar locale, ensconced in a harness as unhclicvahly sleek as a '56 Studebaker .. with a pointy tail lo match. Such voyeuristic visions through the windows ol'this magazine titillated pilot curiosity, hut ii wasn't until Dennis Pagan gave this innovativc design a "thumbs up" in a cursory evaluation that the cc;" I 000 gained HANC Cr mrNc
CLOCKWISE FROM UPPER LEJ,T: The "key to the whole no tangling. Replaceable skid system prevents suspension line. Outer strap is
national credibility. The CG- I 000 had, in actuality, been a regional success in upstate New York for some time. ll was there, in the era when multi-line, open-back harnesses were the hot setup, that pilots Jay Gianforte and Mark Clark first con· ceived their revolutionary design. "At that time Comets were out," recalls "and we thought they'd made the ultimate glider. The only way to improve performance was to reduce drag on the pilot." Mark drafted a picture of' the ideal harnesS···-tolal ly enclosed and sporting just a single suspension line. The burden fell on Jay to fulfill his concept. It took nearly a year to devise a method of suspending the pilot with only one line. Jay finally hit on what he ealls, "the key to the whole thing," thcCG .. J 000' s internal aluminum frame. Jay fabricated a prototype harness and, " ... cv .. eryonc who saw it wanted one," he says. He began production and the rest is history. Nowa-
1992
"the internal aluminum frame. Ten G's didn't faze it. Zipper pull detail; no frayed tails, one of CG's minute attention lo detail. enclosing the main the parachute bridle.
days however, Jay has discontinued those slick ads; word-of-mouth referrals and repeal customers keep him busy full-time.
CONSTRUCTJON Paramount for any hang gliding harness is safety. The CC}- I 000 is loaded with enough safety features to provide more peace of mind than monogamy. A continuous internal network of 6000-pouncl webbing envelops the pilot in a mesh of security· ··reassuring if you ever be·· come detached J'rom your glider and must perform a terminal velocity chute deployment. The main snspension line is enclosed in an outer backup line that also protects the main line and parachute bridle from UV and abrasion. Bomb hay .. stylc leg doors arc velero-attached for emergency escape in case of a recalcitrant zipper. Last hut not least is the internal frame which has reportedly prevented several injuries by bracing pilots' backs and absorbing impacts. Inci-
dentally, thcCG-1 OOO's frame has been h1hora-· tory load--tested to 10 G's without damage. Another significant safety advantage of. fcred by the CG-1000 is simplicity of hook-in. The single suspension line makes the proeedu re virtually foolproof, eliminating the "cat's cradle" of tangles common with multi-line harnesses. The CG- I 000 boasts one or the smoothest leg door zipper arrangements imaginable. Separate opening and closing lines feature an nious retraction system that automatically keeps all slack line drawn inside the harness lining. This prevents loose zipper lines from dangling and potentially tangling. The CG- l 000 has also demonstrated that it significantly improves landings for most pilots. Although your first few approaches may seem as awkward as a gooncy hircl on NyQuil, you'll soon discover that the CG· I000 holds you high and forward for optimum flare
37
ABOVI•: and RICIIT: Joseph Bova demonstrates the full range of CC travel.
COMFORT There was a time when il seemed hang gliding harnesses wen: designed by sadistic chiropractors. Not so today. For many pilots, especially those wl10se flights me I 00+ miles long and rive or ten hours in durntion, comfort is a primary criterion. In a variation or the "tastes great less filling'' debate, do pilots purchase CCJ.- JOOO's hl:causc they're stn:amlinl:d, or lxcausc they're comfy'' B0111. Although uriginally designed with streamlining in mind, the CG 1000 was round lo be exln:rncly coml'ortahle -a Sl'.rcndipitous byprncluct oCits wide internal frame ,1Jleviati11g the drc:1decl "suspension line squee1.c" (not as e111harrassing ,is "visible pm1ty Ii m:" hut cons id erably more debilitating). To assure precise fit, each CG I 000 11,ir-ncss is cust.0111 tailored to the i11divid1rnl pur chaser through a litany or measurements sulli cicnt to put a tailor to shame. Multiple adjust nwnts let you further !'inc tune the hanH:ss to your unique pcrson:il proportions. Jiang glider pilots or the male gender will rejoice to learn that the CCJ-1000, witl1 its ad just able leg straps, is particularly hc11cvole11t to their special m1atomical requirements. llnlikc many other lrnrncsscs, the upright position is not an excruciating cxpcric11cc inducing invol, untary W,1ync Newton impressions. Another ,1clvantagc or the CG I 000, and shared by its pocl-typl: counterparts, is the w:irmth provided by its J'ully-cncloscd Strntums or clothing arc no longer required to J'cnd oil cold weallwr or high-all itudc frigidity. This tr:rnsla1cs to more consistent all--scason harness /'it.
38
by Jules Gilpatrick '-"'ompm(itl to cocoons and kncehangers, pod harnesses are complex of equipment. have a variety of' ndjuslments which must be proper in order to optimize their perforrnanee J'eatmes, whethertbey are Kellers, Raymonds, CG-.! 000' s or whatever. Furthermore, they require prnctice to oper, ate and modifications of one's pre·· takeoff and pre·-landing checks to include items such as making sure the "geflr doors" are nol folded over on themselves before takeoff, zipper pull ropes are 1101 tangled and tha1 you can get the doors open in plenty of lime to eonccntnH.e on your landing approach. L,rnt week Mr. Hoti;hot landed "inhccause he waited until he was at 50 f'eer to open the doors, only 10 discover that the "zipper open" pull was lucked inside the pod and he coukhi' l find it On my second flight I actllally wrapped my foot around one of the pulls and coukln' t get it in or out ol' the pod for nearly 15 minutes · -this because I failed to elem' both lines and make sure ihal both gear doors were in their full··open position before takeoff. I think it would be a good idea for harness inslruction rnamrnls lo address such potential problems f'or new pod users. It could save a lo! ol' over the "tri,tl and error'' method or learning to fly with them. ff you 're plmmingto buy a pod, remember:
I) Spend a couple of hours ..t1r·v .. 11v,1w ·
from a tree or other convenient place to hang. Practfoe in and out of the harness and manipulating lhl: gear doors until harness operation and location of zipper pulls be·conies automatic. This is a good time to adjust aJI parts such as shoulder strapB and foot-operated CG adjustment for maximum comfort and ease of operation, Alw, make sure you set your hang-height for enough above the hasctubc to allow clearance in the maximum head-.low pitch posit.ion. 2) Make a mental "before-takeoff" check list so that your gear doors and operating lines are not l'ouk)d and the pod h; correctly positioned behind you f'or easy insertion of' your foet after launch. Make certain your CG slider line is in its ful],.forward posilion to prevent surprise CG shift as the gl icier begins lifting you off the ground. 3) Get well away from lhe hill before diverting attention from your flying to ping yoursel 1' in, on your first few
flights. 4) Allow plenty of lime lo gel the pod unzipped before landing. Many pod pilots pull their partially open while still high, say 300 focL They stay in the pod until final, where they just use knee pressure on the sides of the harness to open the zipper fully and withdraw their II
f L\NC C1.1JJINC
FEATURES
COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT
What would an article about the CG- I 000 be without mention of its namesake feature, the CG shifter'l This system, originated on the CGI 000 and imitated by several other harness manufacturers, provides a quick in-f1ight method of adjusting one's center of gravity to compensate for glider bar pressure at speed. In flight, pulling in on your glider's control bar causes the nose to lower and the glider to accelerate. Certified gliders, being inherently pitch-stable, resist such efforts with increasing bar pressure. This creates an opposing force on your arms, rocking you upright into a more vertical position and exposing considerably more frontal area (your frontal area) to the wind. The result is increased wind resistance anclclecreaseclglide ratio. The CG-1 OOOcounters this effect by allowing the pilot to alter his horizontal angle to continuously maintain minimum forward profile. Sounds complex, but the actual procedure feels quite natural. To lower your head in flight simply push forcefully with your feet against the harness stirrup-like stomping the pedal to the metal. Returning to normal flying position is accomplished with a slight pushup on your basetube. Moderate resistance in the mechanism prevents unintentional CG changes so you don't rock like a teeter-totter. It's not necessary to use the CG system when flying a CG- l 000, but it's so easy that you'll probably employ it more than YOll think. When admiring the CG-IOOO's close fit, you might wonder about storage area for glider
O\'erall, the CG-1000 displays meticulous attention to detail, the ultimate in construction techniques and materials, and impeccable sewing and workmanship. Unfortunately the harness has one glaring deficiency: it comes with no carabiner (as of this writing). It seems inconsistent that a harness of such premium quality be delivered sans 'bincr, but it is. The manufacturer opts to let purchasers install the carabiner of their preference. This philosophy, however, invites the possibility of a miserly pilot attaching a Yugo carabiner to this Larnborghini harness. A harness is only as good as its weakest link: if you buy a CG- I 000, please complement it with the best of 'biners.
"The CG-1000 is an original iconoclast that has survived the test of time to became one of the premiere competition and cross-country harnesses available today." bags, radios, cameras, water, barographs,ghetto blasters, National Enquirers, Stratoloungers, and all your other indispensable X-C accessories. Rest assured, despite its streamlined silhouette, this harness has storage capacity as voluminous as Tommy LaSorda's old pants. When filled, the internal storage compartments-located in the tail and back-actually enhance the harness' streamlined shape. Externally, in addition to the standard pocket above the parachute container, there are innumerable optional storage pouches that can be added at various locations of your choosing. Speaking of options, Center of Gravity offers more options than Bon Jovi has groupies. Chest-entry models, water bladders, oxygen system containers, ballistic ·chute systems, hook knife mounts, double parachute pouches, tow loops, camera mounts, you name it-literally. Since each harness is custom made, your most esoteric desires can be accommodated.
SUMMARY The CG-1000 is an original iconoclast that has survived the test of time to became one or the premiere competition and cross-country harnesses available today. lt offers ultimate streamlining, supreme cornfort, copious strength and safety. It launches and lands well. The rnanufacturcr has proven himself prompt and reliable in production, service and repair. If that isn't enough testimonial Lo convince you, peruse a partial list of CGI 000 purchasers: Tony Barton, Terry Reynolds, Kevin Christopherson, Greg DeWolf, Joe Greblo, Ken Brown, Teel Hasenfus. Base price of the CG-1000 is $455. For more detailed information, contact Center of Gravity,Rt.173,Chittenango,NY, 12009(315) 687-3724. •
DISCOVER TROPICAL SKIES with SAFARI SKY TOURS now in its fourth season! December and January: El Pen.on del Diab lo, Valle de Bravo, Mexico February and March: Lake Atitlan, Panajachel, Guatemala Includes: *7 Days of flying *Gliders from Pacific Airwave (Vision Mark IV, Formula and K2) *Hotel accomodations *Guide Service *and much more ... $695 (U.S.) plus Airfare (add $100 for Christmas and Easter weeks) Referencesproudlyprovided Make your reservations now by contacting Welcome Aboard Travel in Reno, NV, USA Phone: (702) 828-4000 Fax (702) 828-4110
THE ADVENTURE BEGINS WHEN YOU LAND! JANUARY 1992
39
has always amazed me to think that it only took (l00million years and a litllc nudging f'rom the African continent up against the European slab to form, through the wonders or plate tectonics, arguably the world's best hang glidof the that ancient sitcs. I am backbone that juts up through France, borders Italy, dominates Switzerland and peters out in Austria. Before you begin to defend territory, consider: There arc probably morcwcll·maintaincd and easily-accessible sites in the arc or the Alps an area srnallcrthan the state of Texas-than there arc in the entire United States. These sites range from I ,500 footers to 4,500--footers and more. Conditions vary from desert-like in the south or France to lush, verdant valleys in the uplands of Switzerland and Austria. Thermals can he powerful in the dryer areas, but mostly they're these big benign things that make you feel like an altitude bandit J\nd the public. For one thing you don't have lo answer questions if'you don't speak the language; and rurthcrmorc, you arc treated as a sane and normal, albeit adventuresome, member or society. You arc welcomed with open arms at the many hotels, lil'ts, bistros and shops that cater to pilots as Jong as you have an adequate supply or the local wampum. Y cs, consider these facts as we take you on :1 brief tour or the Northern Alps with a hint of bilitics for your next r!ying trip.
day in the Zillcr!haL
AUSTRIA We rolled through Italy and entered Austria from the south. The reason we didn't stop to fly in the land of vowels (Italy) is that pilots from tile land of harsh consonants (Germany) had been overrunning the pince and caused the passage of a national law banning all foreign pilots. Hmmm. ltsounds a bit draconian to me, hut we have lo assume that modcrat.ion
After launch in the Zillcdhal. Note the church spire in the center of lhc photo and the proximity of the far wall.
1992
will prevail, considering that Italy was a wild frontier in the early days of our sport. Austria was a different matter. We soon arrived in Innsbruck, then swung up the Inn Valley some 27 kilometers Lo the ZillerlhaL My wire and I had been invited lo stay in the area by Andreas Bangheri, European Seed wings manufacturer, and his delightful American wife Jeanette. This area is in the ccntcrof some of the hottest flying in Austria and we were well situated. There are sites all along the Inn Valley, most of them 3,000 feet and higher above the valley. Indeed, everywhere we drove we saw gliders pestering the mountain peaks like gnats. Across the valley from where we stayed was one of the takeoffs for the 1989 Paragliding World Championships. We dceidcd to take the road less traveled and went up !he Ziller Valley to some highly recommended cross-c01mtry siles. Unfortunately, this part or Europe was facing one of the worst episodes of weather in anyone's memory while we Wl:re there, so all we could do was l'Joat around for three hours several thousand feel above takeoff and sally down range a bit to take in the view. What a breathtaking sight it was, with snow-streaked peaks marching to the horizons and Jong emerald valleys dissolving into mist. Many villages clotted the countryside, a11d each sported a vintage clrnrch with a tall that made cxccllcnl triangle and out--and--back 41
turnpoints. When it came time to land, there were designated landing fields, of course, but a cross-country pilot far from home could put it down almost anyplace blindfolded. Like most of Europe, there are roads and houses almost everywhere, so retrieval doesn't seem to be a problem. The Austrian Alps have been crossed in all directions, with some flights starting in Switzerland, some in Italy and some continuing to end in Germany. This is international flying. In general, Austrian flying is dominated by local conditions. At a certain time of the day ce11ain sites turn on like clockwork. The thermals are up the sides and above the mountain crests with the valleys being a bleak source of lift until late afternoon when the stored heat wells up. As a rule of thumb, the sun side is the soaring side. The above state of affairs invites one to play chess in the air, invoking all the available information to make educated guesses as to where to make the next move in the challenge to get high and go far. The abundant lift allows one to make a few beginner mistakes and still end up
around $8) and the tradition of brewing hearty bier to wash down the ubiquitous apple strudel, and you have the basis for an unforgettable experience. One thing I' II remember for the rest of my life was my last flight in Austria. My wife, Claire, and I launched in the late afternoon at the confluence of the Ziller and Inn valleys, at a site known as Reiterkogel. Showers threatened in the south, but we were loath to leave such flying behind. After about an hour we headed around the end of the mountain to land. We met a veil of rain dropping from one of the threatening clouds. My glasses became blurry with raindrops, and at first I couldn't believe my eyes, but there, almost 3,000 feet above the valley floor, a shaft of light penetrated the cloud cover and I was surrounded by a 360° arc of rainbow. No matter which way I turned it followed, with me at its center. The effect was ethereal and I thought I had died and gone to heaven, but after it accompanied me clown to solid ground I realized I was not dead at all, but was indeed in heaven.•
"There are probably more well-maintained and easily-accessible sites in the arc of the Alps than there are in the entire United States. These sites range from tSOO-footers to 4,500-footers and more." with a winning flight. Austria is perhaps the best kept secret in the flying community. The beauty of the surrounding countryside and the many great flying sites go far in recommending it, but add to this the relatively low cost of tourism (a room in a house with a stout breakfast can be had for
·
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HANG GLIDING
much less. See Figure 3. In this case Speed to Fly is only 37 mph. You can see from the figure that the pilot would be prudent to choose a speed of 33 mph between thermals. I have produced similar graphs for all sorts of conditions and it is always the case that the Time-to-Goal curve is flat around Speed to Fly and that you don't gain much by flying at that speed versus seven or eight mph slower. Often flying faster than the Best LID Over the Ground Speed got you on the ground. There are conditions under which you should fly near (but never greater than) Speed to Fly: if you are in lift while flying straight under a cloud street; if you are certain of getting to the next thermal at Speed to Fly; if you are in a moderate-to-strong tailwind that greatly improves your changes of getting to the next thermal; or if the meet rules give vast amounts of points for time and discount distance or making goal. Even under these conditions there is very little lost from flying five miles per hour slower than Speed to Fly. Under difficult conditions-i.e., a headwind, sink between thermals, light lift, long spacing between thermals, very sporadic spacing for the thermals-then it is better to fly at speeds near (but not less than) Best LID Over the Ground Speed. Pfeiffer also pointed out that this is true as you get closer to the ground. You lose a lot of time but you stay in the air with the chance of getting the next thermal.
Airspeed by Wind Speed Speed to Fly and Best LID Speed Climb Rate• 1000 fpm
60-,--------,-----------------;:=============:::;i -- Minimum Sink Speed --··· VNE Speed Speed to Fly ·····- Best L/D S eed
55 50
25 2 0 - , - - - -·15 ·10
-5
0
5
15
10
Tail (minus) or Head (plus) Wind (mph) 116.ti,f'l,;,1,~btaw,flX(J
lI't1mrpm,Th$ilNlr»-1-M' Tl',..,,..al!O!)l1200)',&'1!<11",t,t•"4.5
vals topping out at 12,000' and no head or tailwind. The solid curve that reaches a maximum at 29 mph and almost 7,000 feet represents our lowest altitude on the course. The dashed curve that is lowest at 46 mph and 122 minutes is the Time-to-Goal. The Speed to Fly for these conditions is 46 mph. You can see that it gives us our leastTimeto-Goal. The Best LID Over the Ground Speed is 29 mph and it gives us our maximum lowest altitude. When I first drew one of these graphs, what struck me most was how flat the Time-toGoal curve is near its minimum at Speed to Fly. You could fly eight mph per hour slower than Speed to Fly and only acid three minutes to the quickest Time-to-Goal of two hours and two minutes. My other observation was how expensive those three minutes were in lowest altitude, in this case 2,000'. Out on the course if you were flying at Speed to Fly, you entered five thermals at 2,000' less than if you had slowed down to eight mph less than Speed to Fly. This seems like a large penalty for little gain. Still, 38 mph (46 mph minus 8 mph) is quite a bit greater than 29 mph, the Best LID Over the Ground Speed. At 29 mph your time over the course is 23 minutes slower than the Speed to Fly. If you look at the lowest altitude curve around its maximum you will see that while it is not as flat at the Time-to-Goal curve at its minimum, you only lose about 500' in speeding up to 35 mph.
44
Split The Difference Based on the results shown in Figure 2, a prudent person would make the recommendation that the pilot should fly between 35 and 38 mph given that the thermal distribution will most likely not be as consistent as I have assumed. If the probability of getting a thermal is low then slowing clown to Best LID over the ground will gain you an extra 500' with a loss of 15 minutes in Time-to-Goal. If it is high, speeding up to Speed to Fly will only gain you three minutes in Time-to-Goal with a loss of 2,000'. If the average climb rate on the course is 400 fpm then the difference between Best LID Over the Ground Speed and Speed to Fly is
Slowing Down in Tailwinds If you look again at Figure I you will notice that Best LID Over the Ground Speed is only re-
Glide Speed Vs. Finish Time Glide Speed Vs. Thermal Entry Altitude Climb Rate c 1000 fpm
7000-----:,---::::=='==:::::-----:-----:---,----.,--------,-170 6500 -j_ __ .. _ \' _ 6000
!
5500 -i 5000
O>
4500 -l
] ·-
. _ --- ---- _ .
-'.
_______ , __
--
·-· - - , - - - -
· · -+165
--~~~~ ::: .,
1--- - '\- --- ' - . ---;--- - -----. - --- !
\
•
: \
.
.
_:_'.c -- -· -
'
-1-·-. ---~-\ --·-------. -- ----- ---·- --•------·- -·
- -- --
·
I -+1 --\,\ :i - - I; ----~--
4000
~1ii 3500-! _ _ ',_ ------ \ ·\ ---;: ------'-' ~.J 3000 _I1--- --' - ___ , _··· ... --:-- - - :
1000~-20
-
1 '-.....
I
8 (!:)
140 ,9
"
135 ~
!----- i - - >~ -- -i __: --- •
I
- - 145 ------
+-- - -, --;--- ;__:'-'------i----- _____::_
2050000 ~-; ---j 2 1500
*
--150
:
,----+-130
:
.
----""'--~-------1-125 --~----4-120
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
Glide Speed (mph) 11~1b1F".ot.OOblOMt,8/X!O' 1to•.rdo,1n:c~lhlrmll-l Wmitco.xw,IMnM!ltOl!'in~
HANG GLIDING
I
I
duced by two mph from Best LID Speed in a 15 mph tailwind. You don't slow down very much and certainly not to minimum sink speed (23.5 mph) just because you are in a strong tailwind. In a 15 mph headwind, the Best LID Over the Ground Speed increased by six mph to 35 mph-much more of an increase in a headwind than decrease in a tailwind. You will also notice from Figure I that Speed to Fly doesn't change very much over this range or tail and headwinds. This means if you are calculating Speed to Fly with a speed ring you don't need to worry much about the wind speed-which is great because a speed ring can't take wind speed into consideration.
Glide Speed Vs. Finish Time Glide Speed Vs. Thermal Entry Altitude Climb Rate= 400 fpm 7000
--~1220 ,__
6750 6500
~·~···
j
:e. 6250 11>
"O
j 6000 --
\
· ·~·. --~~i: 1
t,
i
5750
.9 5500
5000 20
· ~... --
I ,,,1
- ----\
I 1a5
------- ----
5250 ·
In conclusion, we have seen that you don't gain much by !lying at Speed to Fly in most conditions, that flying five to IO mph slower than Speed to Fly is a much safer bet, and doesn't cost you that much in Time-to-Goal.•
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45
11'1b1Alol,totllc0-,ei»:r MowlnllctM't:-.......IQMICll:ll.l'M,~10~11P'i't
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45
RATINGS SAFE PILOT AWARDS BRONZE GALEN HEKHUIS RONALD J. KITTREDGE
DIAMOND G.W. MEADOWS
LILIENTHAL AWARDS BRONZE PHILIP HILDRETH
BEGINNER RATINGS PILOT: City, State; Instructor/School Region 1 LAPWOOD, PAUL: Seattle, WA; T. Johns/Cascade Soaring MILLER, WILL: Medford, OR; J. Jernigan/Southern OR HG PECKHAM, KATIE: Puyallup, WA; T. Johns/Cascade Soaring Region 2 BAUM, DENNIS: Berkeley, CA; R. Patterson/Berkeley HGC BEA VER, MICHAEL: Los Altos, CA; J. Fritsche/Mission Soaring HOMMEL, SCOTT: Auburn, CA; D. Thomason/Silent Flight HORNAK, TOM: San Jose, Ca; J. Fritsche/Mission Soaring LOHN, FREDERICK: Los Gatos, CA; J. Fritsche/Mission Soaring PAWLOWSKI, CHRISTOPHER: Berkeley, CA; R. Patterson/Berkeley HGC ROGERS, COLIN: Gilroy, CA; J. Woodward/Natural Flying SHARIFI, NADER: Femont, CA; J. Fritsche/Mission Soaring SHEEHY, BRIAN: Berkeley, CA; R. Patterson/BHGC STEWART, EDWARD: San Jose, CA; J. Fritsche/Mission Soaring WATSON, CRAIG: San Ramon, CA; P. Hystek/Chandelle WILCOX, STEPHEN: La Honda, CA; J. Fritsche/Mission Soaring Region 3 ARDITO, JOSEPH: Redlands, CA; R. McKenzie/Adventure Sports BAILEY, ROBERT: Claremont, CA; R. McKenzie/Adventure Sports BENT!, CINDY: Sylrnar, CA; P. Thornbury/Windsports Int'! GARCIA, LUIS: Los Angeles, CA; G. Reeves/Windsports Int' l HARE, CLARE: Redondo Beach, CA; J. Ryan/Hang Gliding Center LAI, RICK: Sylmar, CA; G. Reeves/Windsports Int'l LEAF, RICHARD: N. Edward, CA; J. Greblo/Windsports Int'l MADSEN, RICHARD: Riverside, CA; M. '.1cGunigle/Southlancl HG NAUJAKAS, JIM: Van Nuys, CA; P. Thornbury/Winclsports Int'l ORTIZ, JOSE: Los Angeles, CA; G. Reeves/Windsports Int'l TOMSIC, KELLY: Escondido, CA; S. Kurth WARREN, CRAIG: Long Beach, CA; F. Vachss Region 4 CAMERON, R NEILL: Vienna, VA; M. Windsheimer/Golden Wings COOK, BRIAN: Westminster, CO; T. Hackbart/Golden Wings DOYLE, JAMES: Littleton, CO; T. Hackbart/Golden Wings EICKHOFF, JOHN: Rio Rancho, NM; C. Woods/Up Over New Mexico FRAWLEY, GEORGE: Conifer, CO; M. Windsheimer/Golden \\lings
46
HEEL, MARC: Tucson, AZ; B. Holmes/Sky Sails of AZ HENLEY, DAVID: Denver, CO; T. Hackbart/Golden Wings KEMPFER, HAROLD: Glendale, AZ; B. Holmes/Sky Sails of AZ PAZOS, FELIPE: Glendale, AZ; B. Holmes/Sky Sails of AZ SMITH, ORRIN: Tucson, AZ; B. Holmes/Sky Sails of AZ TOBIAS, MARK: Aurora, CO; T. Hackbart/Golden Wings Region 5 RAMSDEN, GRAHAM: Omaha, NE; T. Hackbart/Golden Wings Region 7 BLAKER, DAVID: St. Joseph, Ml; J. Braddock/Midwest School of HG BOYNTON, BILL: Eden Prairie, MN; R. Coxon/Kitty Hawk Kites BRADY, MICKEY: Columbus, MS; J. Reynolds/Lookout Mountain FP GRUBER, PAUL: West Lafayette, IN; P. Hall/Purdue HOC LARSON, STACE: Minneapolis, MN; R. Coxon/Kitty Hawk Kites MAHNKE, BOB: Stoughton, WI; A. Whitehill/Chandelle Region 8 CHIN, WAGAR: Bellingham, MA: R. Hyary/Aeolus FOLEY, DAVID: East Boston, MA; J. David/Aeolus HARRRISON, MIKE: Allston, MA: R. Hymy/Aeolus SMITH, BRIAN: Nashua, NH; R. Hyary/Aeolus STUMP, KELLI: Wrentham, MA; R. Hyary/Aeolus THESSIN, JENNIFER: Lancaster, MA; R. Hyary/Aeolus \VEEKS, RANDAL: New London, NH; T. Hackbart/Golden Wings WHITNEY, JASON: Burlington, VT; J. Nicolay/Morningside FP YOUNG, JACK: Lowell, MA; R. Hyary/Aeolus Region 9 ANDERSON, PAUL: Doylestown, PA; B. Holmes/Sky Sails of AZ BLAZEK, CAROLINE: Silver Spring, MD; R. Coxon/Kitty Hawk Kites COLLINS, CHARLES: Newark, DE; R. Coxon/Kitty Hawk Kites FERRELL, MIKE: Fairfax, VA; J. Reynolds/Lookout Mtn Flight Park HENZ, MICHAEL: Cleves, OH; M. Delsignore/North Coast Hang Gliding KURZHALS, ERIC: Alexandria, VA; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP LEAK, CAROL: Milan, OH; M. Delsignore/North Coast Hang Gliding MICHAEL, MICHAEL: Swanton, OH; R. Coxon/Kitty Hawk Kites PALMIERI, MAGGIE: Roanoke, VA; G. Kcoho/Kitty Hawk Kites POPE, ROBERT: Afton, VA; G. Keoho/Kitty Hawk Kites RAMSAY, SCOTT: Exton, PA; B. Umstattd/Sky High STRYKER, JEFF: Ashburn, VA; J. Middleton/Silver Wings Region 10 BALKWILL, ED: Ft. Lauderdale, FL; R. Coxon/Kitty Hawk Kites CLAYTON, JIM: Roswell, GA; B. Chalmers/Lookout Mountain FP CRUZ, JOSE: Miami, FL; J. Tindle/Miami Hang Gliding ELLIOTT, MICHAEL: Huntsville, AL; J. Reynolds/Lookout Mountain FP FRUE, DOUG: Warrior, AL; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mountain FP GOULDMAN, CARL: Oilville, VA; P. Voight/Fly High HG HOOVER, CHRISTIAN: Miami Beach, FL; J. Tindle/Miami Hang Gliding MADER, GLENN: Staunton, VA; R. Coxon/Kilty Hawk Kites MAUTNER, MARK: Pembroke Pines, FL; B. Chalmers/Lookout Mtn FP MCLEAN, JAMES: Belmont, NC; G. Keoho/Kitty Hawk Kites MEIER, RICHARD: Soddy Daisy, TN; J. Reynolds/Lookout Mountain FP NININGER, B.S.: Sharpsburg, GA; B. Chalmers/Lookout Mountain FP PLATT, KEN: Ooltewah, TN; B. Chalmers/Lookout Mountain FP POLLARI, KENN: Marietta, GA; B. Chalmers/Lookout Mountain FP RUSHING, LARRY: Thonotosassa, FL; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP SHELTON, ROBERT: Port Orange, FL; Kitty Hawk Kites
HANG GLIDING
RATINGS WALKER, K.S.: Carrollton, GA; M. Taber/Lookout Mountain FP WASKAN, DOUGLAS: Acworth, GA; C. Thoreson/Lookout IV!ountain FP WILSON, KAREN: Hixson, TN; R. Rojas/Lookout Mountain FP Region 11 FOGOROS, BRIAN: Ft. Worth, TX; D. Broyles/Kite Enterprises ROSS, HUGH: Dallas, TX; D. Broyles/Kite Enterprises ZALDIVAR, MARCO: Houston, TX; J. Hunt Region 12 ANDERSON, JOHN: Glassboro, NJ; R. Coxon/kitty Hawk Kites BABIUK, GREG: Jersey City, NJ; F. Valenza/Mountain Wings BALLORD, DAVID: Bronxville, NY; R. Coxon/Kitty Hawk Kites CHILLINGTON, JIM: Stamford, CT; F. Valenza/Mountain Wings GOLDEN, THOMAS: APO, NY; G. Elhart/Nova Air HUMPHREY, PETER: NY, NY; F. Valenza/Mountain Wings JORDAN, KAREN: White Plains, NY; F. Valenza/tvlountain Wings NUNN, STEVEN: Ocean City, NJ; R. Coxon/Kitty Hawk Kites NUNN, CRAIG: Ocean City, NJ; R. Coxon/Kitty Ha11·k Kites PETERS, ALLYSON: Quakertown, NJ; S. Wise/Fly High Hang Gliding PITTI, ROBERT: New York, NY; F. Valenza/Mountain Wings ROOT, JAMES: APO, NY; G. Elhart/Kova Air SCALLEY, DAVID: Egg Harbor, NJ; M. Taber/Lookout !\fountain FP
HERR, WILLIAM: Chicago, IL; B. Kushner/Raven Sky Sports KLEEWEIN, DANIEL: Mukwonago, WI; 8. Kushner/Raven Sky Sports KOEPPEN, KENNETH: Mt. Prospect, IL; B. Kushner/Raven Sky Sports iVIAHNKE, BOB: Stoughton, WI; A. Whitehill/Chandelle NAUGHTON, TIM: Chicago, IL; 8. Kushner/Raven Sky Sports SCOTT, MATTHEW: Madison, IN; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP SCOTT, ERVIN: Madison. IN; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP Region 9 FERREL, MIKE: Fairfax, VA; J. Reynolds/Lookout l'v!tn Flight Park KURZHALS, ERIC: Alexandria, VA; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP RAMSAY, SCOTT: Exton. PA; B. Umstattd/Sky High SCHWARTZ, DAN: Chester Springs, PA; B. Umstattd/Sky High Region 10 LANE, PATRICK: Atlanta, GA; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mountain FP MEIER, RICHARD: Soddy Daisy.TN; J. Reynolds/Lookout Mountain FP MITCHELL, J.: Thonotosassa, FL; J. Reynolds/Lookout Mountain FP NININGER, B.S.: Sharpsburg, GA; B. Chalmers/Lookout Mountain FP PLATT, KEN: Ooltewah, TN; B. Chalmers/Lookout Mtn FP RUSHING, LARRY: Thonotosassa, FL; J. Reynolds/Lookout Mountain FP WASKAN, DOUGLAS: Acworth, GA; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mountain FP Region 11 ZALDIVAR, MARCO: Houston, TX; J. Hunt
NOVICE RA TINGS PILOT: City, State; Instructor/School Region I DOMINY, CHRIS: Kent, WA; R. Gelfan Region 2 AMIRI, ATA: San Jose, CA; W. Ostiguy/Western Hang Gliders CLARIDGE, RON: Carson City, NV; R. Leonard/Adventure Sports DIFFENDERFER, TOM: Saratoga, CA; P. Denevan/',,1ission Soaring EGGERT, ERIC: Ergmont, CA; R. Polman FISCHER, ROB: Santa Clara, CA; D. Yount/Mission Soaring i JASON, INGRID: Loomis, CA; R. Leonard/Adventure Sports Y ARES, JII\'I: San Mateo, CA; R. Spear/Chandelle HG Region 3 ARDITO, JOSEPH: Redlands, CA; R. McKenzie/High Adventure BAILEY, ROBERT: Claremont, CA; R. McKenzie/High Adventure COUGHLIN, JIM: MDR, CA; R. Rojas/Lookout Mtn FP GARCIA, LUIS: Los Angeles, CA; G. Reeves/Winclsports I111·1 GREVE-COUGHLIN, SHIRLEY: MDR, CA: R. Rojas/Lookout l'v!tn FP KUHLIN, TRACEY: Glendale, CA; G. Reeves/Windsports Int'! LAI, RICK: Sylmar, CA; G. Reeves/Windsports Int'! LEAF, RICHARD: N. Edward, CA; J. Greblo/Windsports !111·1 NAUJAKAS, JIM: Van Nuys, CA; P. Thornbury/Windsports Int'! ORTIZ, JOSE: Los Angeles, CA; G. Rceves/Winclsports Int'! PALMER, MARK: San Diego, CA; J. Ryan/Hang Gliding Ctr Region 4 WALTERS, ROBERT: Golden, CO; E. Duerksen/CO Hang Gliding Region 7 BLAKER, DAVID: St. Joseph, MI; J. Braddock/Midwest School of HG CORNEA, TONY: Mtka, MN: B. Chalmers/Lookout Mtn Flight Park HALLUM, ROGER: Lisle, IL; B. Kushner/Raven Sky Sports
JANUARY 1992
Region 12 BOHORQUEZ, JOSE: Hollis-Jamaica, NY; G. Black/Mountain Wings FILARDI, VINCE: Newtown, CT; B. Umstattd/Mountain Wings HAGER, TOJVI: Lancaster, NY; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP PETERS, ALLYSON: Quakertown, NJ; S. Wise/Fly High Hang Gliding PROCEL, EDISON: Jackson Heights, NY; G. Black/Mountain Wings WHITTEMORE, BRAD: Mahwah, NJ; B. Umstattd/Mountain Wings
INTERMEDIATE RA TINGS PILOT: City, State; Instructor/School Region 2 HASSELL, SEBASTIAN: San Francisco, CA; J. Greenbaum/Airtime of SF LALOUETTE, MARC: Fremont, CA; R. Palmon REYNOLDS, JOHN: San Francisco, CA; P. Hystek/Chandelle Region 3 CAPUANO, MICHAEL: Wailuku, HI; D. Darling/Maui Soaring HELLKVIST, MARCUS: Santa Monica, CA; M. Spinelli/True Flight MEYER, MA TT: San Clemente, CA; J. Ryan/HG Ctr of San Diego ROETCISOENDER, GUY: Goleta, CA; C. Cole SIMPSON, MICHAEL: Avila Beach, CA; 8. Stephens VINCENT, MIKE: Cypress, CA; R. Pelletier/Hang Flight Systems Region 4 ELWELL, JAMES: Aurora, CO; C. Eatherton/Colorado Wind Park MOSSGELLER, MIKE: Aurora, CO; J. Wilber/Summit Soaring Society NAGYVARY, JOHN: Albuquerque, NM; C. Woods/Up Over New Mexico NAGYVARY, ZOLTAN: Albuquerque, NM; C. Woods/Up Over New Mexico NELSON, THOMAS: Littleton, CO; C. Eatherton
47
Hang Gliding Lesson #1 RATINGS Region 5 LE CLAIRE, BRUCE: Billing, MT; J. Bowman/Eagle Air Sports Region 7 STAHLBERG, CURT: Sparta, WI; R. Hauser/WOW Region 8 MARTIN, JOHN: Naples, ME; R. Bradley Region 9 MESSINA, JAMES: Willow Grove, PA; T. Johnson SHERMAN, SETH: Bowling Green, KY; M. Taber/Lookout Mtn FP TURNER, DANIEL: Toledo, OH; W. Trombly Region IO BRASHIER, ED: Kimberly, AL; D. Murdoch GUICE, RONNIE: Charlotte, NC; B. Burril/Ultralight Flying RICHMOND, TYSON: Tampa, FL; M. Pleskovich/Draggin Flyers Region 11 ASHTON, JERRY: Burkburnet, TX; D. Broyles/Kite Enterprises KREGER, DON: Arlington, TX; G. Scheer SPRADLEY, MIKE: Lewisville, TX; R. Chastain Region 12 ANDERSON, THOMAS: Brooklyn, NY; G. Black/Mountain Wings ANDREW DEITSCH: Clifton Park, NY; G. Black/Mountain Wings BUSHOP, RICHARD: Cooks Falls, NY; P. Voight/Fly High HG KOEHN, DAVID: Oneonta, NY; D. Guido/Susquehanna FP LAPLANTE, WILLIAM: Altamont, NY; D. Guido/Susquehanna FP
ADV AN CED RA TINGS PILOT: City, State; Instructor/School Region 3 KOCH, DOUG: Costa Mesa, CA; D. Skaclal/Hang Flight Systems REDKO, ALAN: Los Angeles, CA; D. Quackenbush/True Flight Concepts
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NEWS FLASH ... FOREIGN RATINGS INTERlVIEDIA TE: VENNING, GARY: Hamilton, Bermuda; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP
Is hang gliding a hot news item in your local paper? Please send clippings of stories, photos or articles to the Public Relations Committee through the USHGA office. We want to see your name, your club or your site mentioned in print! USHGA - Public Relations P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933
48
HANG GLIDING
ACCIDENT REPORTS by Doug Hildreth, USHGA Accident Review Chairman Pilot: Age: Rating: Experience: Glider: Date: Location: Injuries:
Mark Kerns 41 Advanced Years Airwave Magic IV 9/19/91 Wasatch State Park, UT Fatal: head, chest, pelvis, leg
Event: Experienced pilot simply forgot to put legs through leg straps of cocoon harness. He could not get his foot into the boot after launch (which has saved other pilots), was able to hold on for several seconds, but slipped out of the harness and fell 200 feet. Died instantly.
Pilot: Age: Rating: Experience: Glider: Date; Location: Injuries:
Eddie Hunter
3l Novice Limited Pacific Airwave Vision l 9 Fall, 1991 Marlboro, KT ')
Event: Inexperienced pilot returned to launch after first flight. Utilizing an inexperienced wire crew, he attempted to launch into a 20 mph wind, stalled and turned back into cliff face. Glider impacted the cliff, and hung up firmly. Pilot called up to spectators that he was OK. A short time later pilot yelled "HELP" and then silence. Apparently the pilot had unhooked and started to try to climb and fell to his death 200 feet below.
Pilot: Age: Rating: Experience: Glider: Date: Location: Injuries:
Leonard Rabbitz
55 Intermediate Several years UP Comet I November 3, 1991 Elizabethville, PA Fatal: severe pelvic fractures
Event: Improper hook-in. Pilot was ready to launch into ideal conditions, did a hang check, and launched. At about 30 feet altitude, there was a loud snap, the pilot fell JANUARY 1992
to the basetube and was holding on to the basetube with his armpits. The glider pitched clown and descended into the trees at the end of the launch slot. On impact, the pilot was ejected from the glider and fell 40 feet to the ground. He died four hours later in the operating room of uncontrollable bleeding from his pelvic fractures. Investigation showed that instead of the standard hang loop arrangement, both the primary and backup hang loops were draped over the keel. To keep the loops positioned, he had tied them together with light cord. This resulted in four loops that had to be hooked through the carabiner for the system to work. Evidently the pilot only hooked through two of the loops, and the cord held his weight during the hang check. But with the launch pull-out, the small extra G force resulted in the cord breaking (or the loops pulling through) and the loops being no longer attached to the glider. Later inspection showed the carabiner was firmly locked to two intact hang loops. Comment: This is another example of a "home made" modification causing a fatality. One would think that in such a system the pilot would "know" that he always had to have four loops through the carabiner. Perhaps during setup his system became asymmetric, with two ends hanging down and the other two ends pulled up toward the keel, leaving only two available. But with this postulation, he would have been hanging a couple of inches lower than usual. Did the pilot notice it') Would you? Another issue from this example is that of standardization of the hang loop level. One of the causes of "modified" hang strap arrangements is that there is no standard height for the hang loop. In other words, when I am adjusted with my harness to my glider and I want to fly a different glider, I will almost certainly hang too high or too low, so I modify the system. The recently condemned three-carabiner chain is an example. I suspect there is a good chance that this fatality report is another. If al I manufacturers were to agree that the hang loop would be located X inches
above the basetube, then once your harness is adjusted, it will fit any glider perfectly. Of course the current solution is to simply order a hang strap of the proper length. It's easy to do. They are readily available. They are not expensive. But it is a bit of a hassle to measure and order and wait. .. so most pilots don't do it. And on the spur of the moment out on the hill they rig something up. And of course that would mean that the harness manufacturers would have to vary the length of the harness hang strap for those who like to hang higher or lower than average. But there would not be many. Or those few pilots who don't like the ''standard" height off the bar could get a different length hang loop from the glider manufacturer. But this is not the first time someone has died from a modified hang loop. And it won't be the last. And you've all seen (and done) some shortening or lengthening of the loop that may not have been ·'up to code" and gotten away with it. But you know in your heart it wasn't the best. My point is, let's have those in the industry consider this idea of standardization again (I can't imagine they haven't considered it before). Remember this: there may be a lot of arguments as to why not, but it WILL save lives.
Passenger: Age: Rating: Experience: Glider: Date: Location: Injuries:
Jan Jefferson
35 Student First flight 220 Dream l l/10/91 Montague, CA Fatal: multiple
Event: Experienced tandem tow pilot took passenger tandem. Tow, release and early flight went well. As was his habit, the pilot dropped a teddy bear with a six-foot parachute. During the subsequent flight, passes were made near the parachuting bear. Presumably the pilot lost sight of the bear, turned back to where he thought it should be, and as he leveled out, the glider flew into the bear, with bear and parachute catching on the right lower !lying wire about half way out. The parachute deflated. They were now clown to 300 feet, and the pilot initiated a left turn for final. As the right wing went up, the parachute reinflated. The glider instantly 49
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1111Wlalllll 1111111111111 and side--slippcd into the ground in less than two seconds. The passenger was on the left and hit first, dying instantly. Pilot sustained severe injuries. (See article /Jy nan 8uch1111un hclow/i>r more details. --Fd)
Comment: The pi lot lost sight or the bear and parachute. J\s he completed his turn to look for them, they suddenly appeared in Cron! of him. They were probably hidden by the wing in the turn. When the right wing went up as the left turn started, the air flow under the and near the pmachute changed, and caused the six--foot chute to reinflate. The drag on the chute slmvcd and "held up" the right wing, causing a 90-degree roll and resultant side-slip. J\pp;irently the nose
tried to rotate down so that dive recovery could occur. hut the drag chute prcvcnwd that rotation. The pilot's first reaction would have been to the out ol'thc slip. Even ii' he had decided to deploy his reserve parachute immediately, all witnesses agree there was no time and no altitude. This wa, a "freak" accident that is unlikely to happen again. But lwve respect for "mid--airs" with any object, even light-weight, low--drag ones. Reevaluate the advisability or dollar bill snatches, streamer cutting, dog that add potential fighls, and other risk and distract attention from rlying. TIIIS MJ\KES !\ TOTJ\L OF 7 (SEVE\/) FJ\TJ\LITIES FOR l 991 SO FJ\R (mid November). II
by Dan Buchanan
Dave Thomason al his best, promoting hang gliding to the public, through flying or the media.
fter talking at length with Doug I !ildrcth l rcalilc I have much insight and familiarity wilh the David Thomason event since I have used thG bear" ma11y ti111es. often with Dave and Candie's operation, Silent Flight, near Mt. Shastn, CJ\. 50
I also have much experience flying relative to other ohjccls in the air (streamers. etc.). I was not :1 witness, but after talking with several who were, l can put my sci r in Dave· s place. I le towed to 1,000-1,200 feet, rcleas1.:d
in sled-ride conditions, flew for a while and then released the Teddy be;ir 1111dcr its six-foot chute. This bear drop is for the benefit of the spectators on the ground. Dave was flying circles in the general area and above the bear, which is normal. But somehow he wound up at the same altitude or below the bear, and flew eccentric circles, flattening out occasionally to keep an eye on it. On one of his 180's he wound up closer than anticipated and on course with the bear. I le wasn't trying to catch it (explained later); it accidentally hung up 011 his right side wire. He tried to retrieve it, but it was out of reach. J\t this point it was not inflated. (I've had gobs or streamers asymmetrically on my wing tips and they had no effect.) J\t this point, at 300-400 feet, he made a left turn to set up for a landing, and the hear's pmachute reinrlatcd. This essentially swung the glider 01110 its left tip, ending forward flight. The glider dropped vertically, left tip down, the drag of the chute keeping the nose Crom coming through as rast as it normally would. It dropped so "incredibly fast" (according to witnesses) that there wasn't time ror anything, including deploying his reserve. It didn't spiral much and there is confusion as to whether it cvc11 made more than hair a revolution berore impacting on the left tip. Jan died instantly and Dave was unconscious with obvious serious injuries. Carlllie immediately called for() 11 help over the f<M. Paramedic response was very fast ;ind prnressional, according to everyone. The bear" hangs from the keel behind the rear wires from a three-ring release. The bear has a skydiving backpack with a small chute and sometimes candy for the kids when they fetch it. The bear is released, and a te11-foot static line deploys the chute alkr it has rallcn away from the glider. This was designed to prevent any possibilily or an inrlated chute hanging up on the glider: /)are was/iilly m1·are of' !he potential danger of's11ch a situolion. The bear has always been a great PR hit and media tool, and was 11sually used solo, since tandem flights were ror instruction. One reaction about this accident I' vc hc:ml from 111any pilots is, "It could have been me J'lying the glider," meaning th:11 they also drop things with harmless intentions and might have het:11 doing the s:11nc thing. Why didn't he deploy'> I speculate tlrnt aft1.:r the l'irst second or two had elapsed, I IANC: C1.11JJNC:
ACCIDENT REPORTS where the vertical speed probably felt like some pitch recovery was pending, and the nose should come around more, there was no time left to deploy. Having been in many unusual stalled attitudes myself over the years (balloon drops and aerobatics), my immediate reaction is to fix the problem-fly the glider. A high-airtime pilot like Dave probably had the same instincts. •
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Hook-In Failure Warning Device by Henry Boessl Dear Doug, With respect to your accident report i11 the November 91 issue, I am sendi11g the enclosed idea a11d sketch to be added to your list of rnggestions. I see that it is actually only a differe11t l'ersion of the one Jack Wat hey submitted ( October 199 J issue) b111 I thi11k mine is still simpler and possibly more
,•isually ef(ecti,•e. As w1 i11structor, I am goi11g to use this device at the 11ext traini11g sessions /starti11g i11 April) a11d 1t'il/ let you k11m1· o( results or comments. Every year we read about hang gliding fatalities, or near disasters. due to failure to
hook in. As a devout supine flyer I don't have that problem: it would be very difficult to launch with my harness hanging in front of my face. This leads me to the following suggestion for you prone pilots (please refer to the illustration): Tie a thin rope to the nose plate end of the front wires, then make a small loop in that rope about 18" ahead of the hang straps and tie the other encl of the rope to the keel where the hang straps are attached, or to the hang straps directly. Be sure you leave enough slack so that the rope does not interfere with the movement of the hang straps. Take a 12" long bungee, hook one end through the loop in the rope you just installed, then bend both bungee hooks into closed rings. If you want, you can add a little flag to the bungee. That's all there is to it 1 Now when you hook in, hook also through the loose encl ring of the bungee. If you don't hook in, the bungee (and flag) will dangle right in front of your face to remind you. •
752 Casiano Drive #B, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Phone 805-687-4663, Fax 805-968-0059
INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE OF HANG GLIDING & INTRODUCTORY SUBSCRIPTION 1 year subscription I 6 issues $30, issues: February, April, June, August, October, December Experience the world of Hang Gliding in your own home ... Europe's most comprehensive, full color magazine.
Name ~··············;S············· ············································· Address ....................................... ········r ..... .t.. .... ································ Phone / ,
~f,
··········································································· ................ .
Payment: CHECK or MONEY ORDER to: "Schutte Sails" CROSS COUNTRY 752 Casiano Drive #8, Sant~ Barbara,; CA 93105 USA JANUARY 1992
51
CLASSIFIEDS ADVISORY Used hang gliders should always be disassembled before flying for the first time and inspected carefully for fatigued, bent or dented downtubes, ruined bushings, bent bolts (especially the heart bolt), re-used Nyloc nuts, loose thimbles, frayed or rusted cables, tangs with noncircular holes, and on Rogallos, sails badly torn or torn loose from their anchor points front and back on the keel and
HARRIER 147 - <30 hours airtime. Brand new 1vlylar for leading edge. Perfect for small, entry level pilots. Weight range 110-210 lbs. $900 OBO. David (406) 586-9336. HP AT 158-Pro white, red. Excellent shape. S2.700 080. (619) 450-9008.
leading edges. If in doubt, many hang gliding businesses will be happy to give an objective opinion on the condition of equipment you bring them to inspect. Buyers should select equipment that is appropriate for their skill level or rating. New pilots should seek professional instruction from a USHGA-ccrtified school. ROGALLOS ATLAS 16- Excellent condition, 160-2 IO lb. weight range, rainbow colors. $590 OBO. (213) 938-6469. AXIS 15 -
SI ,250, excellent condition. (205) 254-3288.
AXIS 15 521-8734.
Excellent condition, SO hours. $1,200. (801)
AXIS 15 - FR, blue/white, 30 hours. Excellent condition, S 1,500. (805) 986-3936. BRAND NEW - 1991 165 Spectrum Plus. Includes 2 extra faired downtubes, safety wheels. parts kit, owners manuaL W.W. hat, tax and shipping tube-Only $2,900. Sa\'e $883.85 The Hang Gliding Connection (916) 241-6974. C2 185 - Good condition, rainbow double surface. Under 150 hours. $450. Paul Robinson (714) 391-2812.
K2 I 55 - Brand new, !lies excellent. Make offeror trade for K2 145. (503) 479-6733. K2 l 55 - Mint shape, competition ready. Call for specifics. $2,700 will not last. (619) 450-9008.
SPORT l 80 - Like new, extra downtubes, extra X-C bag. $900 (209) 224-7302. TEXAS - Trades. new, used, locator service. Call RRA (512) 467- 2529. UP TRX I 58- Light blue & purple with electric yellow UP. Less than 10 hours. (616) 849-1329. VISION 18 - Cocoon lrnrness, excellent shape, low hours. $1,\00. (415) 328-9916.
KISS '89- Blue and rainbow. Upgraded sail. S l ,700 080. (619) 450- 9008.
VISION MK IV 19 - 1990, full race sail, comfort bar, new storage bag. camera zippers. Lime green & black, 60 hours, one owner. $1,250 (619) 674-1865.
LIGHT DREAM 165 - Excellent condition, low hours. Sacrifice S947 OBO. (213) 433-4443.
\V ANTED-HP AT, K2-Low hours, low money. Don (205) 254-3288.
MAGIC Ill 166 ~ <100 hours T.T., nice. $625 freight collect. Specdrail, unused $40. (501) 922-5284. ~ MAGIC KISS 154- Back to Europe. Sacrifice. Fluorescent yellow/turquoise. Excellent condition. S 1,000. work (213 J 825- 7708, home (213) 208-3829 Beat. MAGIC KISS - 1990, full race, good condition. $1,800. (616)469- 4332 eves .. (219) 255-3 I 69 days. MK IV 19-Great shape, w/Ball vario, altimeter S950 (209) 224- 7302. NEW GLIDERS - Best prices' Pacific Ainvave, Wills Wing, Seedwings, Delta. Silver Wings (703) 533-3244.
COMETill 185-Custom, new, less than 10 hours airtime. SI,800 (714) 674-1211.
NEW -
DOUBLE VISION~ Five flights, $2,000. Duck 160-$450. Javelin 208-$300. (501) 227-4920.
SENSOR B-C KIT (805) 649- 9400.
DOVES WANTED - Electra Flyer. Doves A, B or C, wanted by instructor for schoo] use. Any condition. Raven Sky Sports (708) 360-0700.
SENSOR 510 VGB -Mylar, excellent condition, spectrum & white. Fast, good sink rate. Sl,150. (704) 628-4318.
Super Sport 153, $3,200. (209) 874-1795 CA. Good condition. $1,000 or best offer.
WW DUCK -
'82, $650 (908) 996-7836.
COLORADO HANG GLIDING (303) 278-9566 24 hours Region [V's oldest, largest, full time shop. Paragliders Demos, all brands ........... S l ,500-$3,000 D.0.T. helmets (colors!) ................... $58-$129 Used harnesses ........... .. $75-$500 Varios (demo's, all brands) ............... S75-S500 Never used chutes (all sizes), each inspected repacked, w/new bridle and bag ......... S265 Equipment I 00'7c Guaranteed/Major Credit Cards We trade/buy used equipment. Magic Kiss.. . ............ <S hrs .......... $2,200 Excel 160 . . ............. <7 hrs .......... S1,400 Vision Eclipse l 9 ............. <30 hrs ........ SI, I 00 Lt. Dream 205 . .. ............................ S800 .. ...... <15 hrs ....... $800 Gemini 164 ... Vision Esprit 17 .............. <40 hrs ........ S650 Comet l 165 . .. ........... <20 hrs ........ S500 .. .......... <15 hrs ........ $500 Phoenix 60. All equipment I OO'J'c guarantee. inspected and shipped anywhere. Colorado Hang Gliding (303) 278-9566 24 hrs.
SENSOR C - Low hours, excellent condition. Must sellcheap' (612) 735-9130.
THE HANG GLIDING CENTER
SENSOR 510-E - Great condition, custom sail. $2,150 OBO. High Energy pod, like new, custom features, $2 IO. (505) 984-1998 eves.
Axis 15 FR '89 ............... good shape .. $1200 OBO I SO Sport AT ................... excel I.shape. $2.400 167 Sport AT ... ....... ...................... $2.400
SKY HA WK 188 ~ <4 hours airtime. Crisp, mint condition. Weight range 155-230 lbs. SI ,200 OBO. David (406) 5869336 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA USED GLIDER REFERRAL - BUY-SELL-CONSIGN, ALL MAKES, MODELS. CALL TODAY (619) 450-1894 OR (619) 450-9008.
ivlagic K2 145. . ................................. New Magic Kiss ....................... like new ...... S 1.950 & S 1,800 HP AT, ............................ in stock ....... New Vision MK IV,.. .. ....... in stock ...... New Vision MK IV 17/19. used. .. .......... $1,200 Equalizers, used s/m . .. ................ S425 4206-K Sorrento Valley Blvd., San Diego, CA 92121.
SPECTRUM 165 - Almost new, flaired downtubes, speedbar, great color scheme. $2,300 (714) 355-51 OS.
(619) 450-9008. '''Special travel incentives on some glider purchases.
Low hours, $2.395. (219) 845-2856
SPORT 150 - Excellent condition. $1,650 or best offer. (209)431- 9698.
FORMULA 154- Excellent condition. Custom cloth w/4.4 trailing edge. $2,200 (805) 772-1441.
SPORT EURO 150-$1,575., Vision MK IV 17 Sl,325., Magic IV 166 $725., Comet II 135 $575., Comet l 185 S475., Oly 160 $250 .. small CG I 000 harness $200. (80 I) 254-6141.
GOLDEN WINGS 1103 Washington Avenue, Golden, CO 80401 TOLL FREE ORDER PHONE 1-800-677-4449 or(303) 278-7181 Mystic I 77 VG Exe. cond ......... S1,300 Vision 19 (used) (Exe. cond.) .... S 1,800 .. ......... $1800-$2,200 Several Sport 167 ... HP AT, Demo. .. ................ $2,800 lvlany other good used gliders ... S450-S 1000
DREAMS IN STOCK -All sizes, including 145's. Many other used gliders available. Raven Sky Sports (708) 3600700. ENTERPRISE WING FOIL COMBAT 152-C-Vcry good condition, $2,400. Sensor 510-B, 3/4 race, SI ,000. (919) 3859075. FIREFLY II 149 ~ Like new condition, yellow/white. Good trainer glider. Asking $200. Dan Armstrong, Tehachapi CA, (805) 822-8852. FORMULA 144-New in stock. We need to sell this glider "bad". Make us an offer. (619) 450-9008. FORMULA 144 - 20 hours, excellent condition. $2,200 (304) 572- 3276 evenings. FORMULA I 54 -
Mngic Formula, ............... in stock ....... New
\Ve have instruments and parachutes in stock.
Indiana.
GEMINI 164 - Rainbow colors, excellent beginner glider. Jusr serviced, great shape, with harness and heJmet. S775. Maxine (818) 896-0924 eves. HANG GLIDER SAIL REPAIR & REBUILDING IlY DENNIS VAN DA/1-UAEROSAIL - Serving the hang gliding community for over a decade. "Integrating aesthetics \Vith the highest order of structural integrity.·· Aerosail, 16 l 7 W 40th St, Chattanooga TN 37409, (615) 82 l-5945. HARRIER ll -Bem1tiful, clean, crisp sail. Very low hours. $650 OBO. (805) 544-8 l 90.
52
SPORT 150-Excellent shape, race cloth, 63" dt's. Only 10 hours airtime. A steal at $1,600. Call (619) 450-9008 now. SPORT 167 EURO - Full race, speeclbar, excellent condition. SI.400. (419) 589-4174 Ohio. SPORT 167 - <30 minutes airtime. Purchased 4/4/89. Weight range 140-240 lbs. Spcedbar, 1/2 race sail, custom colors. extra downtubes. $1,900. David (406) 586-9336 SPORT 167 (USA) - Red, white, blue. Flies nice. $900. High Energy cocoon w/chute S200. (916) 246-5642.
WINTER CLEARANCE SALE NEW HANG GLIDERS IN STOCK UP TRX-140 & 160 ............ call . Moyes XS-142/155/169. Pac Air K2 145 ....
.. S4300 ..$3495
.. S3SOO
DE1v!OS 160 TRX. .. .... <50 hrs. .. ...... $3800 140 TRX ............................. very low time .. S4 l 00 154 Formula ....................... <40 ... .. S2400
HANG GLIDING
CLASSIFIEDS PARAGLIDERS IN STOCK UP Stellars w/harncss ........... new .......... $2600 & up Pro Design Challengers ........ new ........... S2600 & up Hilite Ill's ...... new .......... $2600 & up 2-Katana 22 ...... used .......... $2200 Katana 25 ............. used ......... $2400 Corvette 22 & 25 ...... used ......... S 1500 Excalihcr 33 cell w/harness ... used ......... S 1500 Airtim~ of San Francisco. 3620 \Vawona, 9-t I 16 (415) 759-1177 OWENS VALLEY SOARING HPAT 145 ..... .... New Demo $3.200 X-S 155 .......... <IOOhrs ... Sl.950 X-S 155 .<150hrs ... Sl,900 Magicl\l 155 ........... <IOOhrs ... Sl.200 Genesis 138 ........... Excellent .. S 1.000 Vision MK JV 17.. . ... Sl,400 Double Vision 215 ................................ $2.500 GTR WB 162. . .... S 950 Z-3 Harness. ..... New .......... S 590 20 Gore PDA Resel"\"e .......... Ne11· .......... S 399 02 Rigs, OV tested .. S -150 Call 1619J 387-2673
PARAGLIDERS PARAGLIDING IN PARADISE - Alpine paragliding in Crested Butte, CO. 24 flying sites. LZ@ 9,000+ MSL I 1\o Wimps'. Videos S32.50, shipping included. Peak Performance Paragliders, P.O. Box 213, Crested Butte, CO 8122-l, Steve (303 J 349-5961. Rusty (303) 349- 6384.
ADVENTURE SPORTS TOURS - Certified instruction utilizing the world's first man-made training hill plus other sites which all face every \Vind direction. Dealer for Pacific Airwave, \Vills \Ving, Ball and High Energy, 1327 E. Bell De Mar Dr., Tempe, AZ 85283 (602) 897-7121.
UP STELLAR 25 - Like new, still crinkly and super clean. S2,550. BRA UNIGER Pl I I alti-vario with memory, S500. Performance design 16 GO RE AEROLIGHT reserve. $300. Must sell for school money. so call and we'll deal. (805) 6858745 e\·cs. or msg.
DESERT HANG GLIDERS - USHGA Certified School. Supine specialists. 4319 W. Larkspur, Glendale, AZ 85304. (602) 938- 9550.
WILLS. UP'S, ETC - $795 +up.Instruction, equipment, southern California and European tours (71-1) 654-8559.
SAIL WINGS HANG GLIDING - Specializing in towing lessons, sales and service. Pacific Airwave, Enterprise \Vings. P.O. Box 321, Atkins, AR 72823. (50 I) 227-4920. LET'S GO TOWING!
RIGID WINGS FLEDGE Ill 0509.
Excellent condition, SS7 5 ORO. (713 I 358-
FLEDGE 111 E.T. - New sail, flown once. Contact Steve Lantz. 1702 I S.11-3-1 n. ULTRALIGHTS
UP OVER NEW MEXICO, INC. (505) 821-8544
CUSTOM TRIKE (713) 358- 0509.
HP AT 1-15, 1991 Excellent Condition, low hours .. $3000. Dream 240. less than IO flights . .... S 1200. 185 .. $1(11)0. 165 .. ..SIOOO. Skyhawk 188, Excellent Condition . S1200. Raven 179. Good Condition. ......... S 500.
for rigid or flex \\"ing, extras. S950. ~ ~
SKYWORLD PARAPLANES -
Orlando. Solo in a pow-
r.:rccl parachute after one hour instruction. Sales. service. i-1071 35 J.-l5 l 0.
ALL BRANDS - llought. sold, and repacked. Inspection and repack S20.00 - Parachutes, bridles. inspected and replaced. Airtime of San Francisco, 3620 Wawona. San Francisco, CA 9-1116. (415) SKY- 1177. PARACHUTES - Never deployed, 85 UP and 87 Delta Wing. 5200 each. (805) 985-19-10.
ARKANSAS
CALIFORNIA ACTION SOARING CENTER - In Lodi near Stockton. Personalized USHGA certified instruction, sales and service. Emphasis on special skills, techniques, launching & landing. Demo's. Ask about tow clinic. 1689 Armstrong Road, Lodi, CA 95242 (209) 368-9665. AIRTIME OF SAN FRANCISCO - Hang Gliding & Paragliding. USHGA & APA Certified Instruction, Sales, Service, Rental. - Pac. Air, UP, \Vills, Sensor, High Energy, i\•[antis, Second Chantz, B.R.S., Pro Design, Apco Hilite. l.T.V., Edel, Skywalker and MORE' Large selection of 2nd hand gear (buy & sell). Next to Fort Funston. 3620 Wawona, San Francisco, CA 94116. (415) SKY-1177.
WANTED WANTED-COCOON HARNESS - for 6' I" pilot. Preferably black in excellent condition. Eric (619) 277-4285.
Ei\lERGENCY PARACHUTES
ARIZONA
\V ANTED-RA VEN 229 - Good shape. Eric Hempstead, Box 87. Taos Ski Valley NM, 87525.
\V ANTED - Used hang gliding equipment. Gliders, instruments, harnesses and parachutes. Airtime of San Francisco, 3620 Wawona, San Francisco. CA 94116. (415) SKY-1177. SCHOOLS AND DEALERS ALABA11'1A
Li'v!PP -
Two hours from Birmingham (sec our ad under
AIRTIME UNLIMITED-Southland Hang Gliding School. Pacific Airwave gliders in stock. Tandem in~truction, ATOL towing. 12120Severn Way, Riverside, CA 92503 (714) 7340622 CHANDELLE SAN FRANCISCO, INC. - Since 1973, complete hang gliding and paragliding sales service and instruction. Dealers for \Vills \Ving, Pacific Airwave, Delta Wing, Seed wings, UP, High energy, Center of Gravity. Ball, BRS, Second Chantz, ITV, Firebird, Edel and more' Northern California's most complete repair facility. including 7th class rigger's machine. New and used equipment, spare parts, and demos. Complete training, including introductory lessons, packages, clinics, ground school and tandem. Five minutes from Ft. Funston. 488 ivlanor Plaza, Pacifica, CA 94044. (415) 359- 6800.
Tennessee.) (404) 398-3541.
~--------------------------------------, USHGA CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING ORDER FORM Number of Months: _ _ __ 50 cents per word, $5.00 minimum. Boldface or caps $1.00 per word. (Does not include first few words which are automatically caps.) Special layouts or tabs $25 per column inch. (phone numbers-2 words, P.O. Box-1 word) photos-$25.00 line art logos-$15.00 Deadline-20th of the month, six weeks before the cover date of the issue in which you want your ad to appear (i.e., June 20 for the August issue). Prepayment required unless account established. No cancellations and no refunds will be allowed on any advertising after deadline. Ad insertions FAXed or made by telephone must be charged to a credit card. $2.00 credit card charge. Please enter my classified ad as follows:
Number of words: Number of words:
@
Section (please circle) Rogallos Emergency Chutes Parts & Accessories Business & Employment Miscellaneous
Towing Wanted Schools and Dealers Ultralights Rigid Wings Publications & Organizations Paragliders
Begin with 19 issue and run for consecutive issue(s). My check 0, money order 0, is enclosed in the amount of
$_ _ _ _ _ _ _ NAME: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ ADDRESS: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
.50 = _ _ _ _ __
@ 1.00 =
USHGA, P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933 (719) 632-8300
L--------------------------------------~ JANUARY 1992
53
CLASSIFIEDS COMPACT WINGS PARAGLIDING - Wills Wings, UP and others. APA & USHGA Class ll instruction. Great flying year-round. Southern California and European tours. Located at best paragliding site (Soboba). (714) 654-8559 HANG GLIDER EMPORIUM- The best training hill in the west is in Santa Barbara, a hang gliding VACATION PARADISE. High quality PERSONALIZED instruction focusing on the skills that most affect your SAFETY. Call for vacation info and glider inventory. Tues.- Fri. I0-5, Sat. 10-4. 613 N. Mil pas, Santa Barbara, California 93103 (805) 965-3733.
WTNDSPORTS - LA 's largest since 1974. Fifteen minutes from LAX. Central to Sylmar, Crestline, Elsinore and training sites. Vacation training, flying and glider sales packages including lodging and rentals. The most popular gliders and equipment, new and used in stock. Trade in your old equipment. 325 sunny days each year. Come fly with us' 16145 Victory Blvd., Van Nuys CA 91406. (818) 988- 0 I I I, fax (818) 988-1862.
ILLINOIS RA VEN SKY SPORTS HANG GLIDING AND PARAGLIDING - Largest and most popular in the Midwest. Traditional curriculum, ridge soaring, mountain clinics, tandem by Brad Kushner. Sales/service/accessories for all major brands. 300 N. Green Bay Rd., Waukegan, TL 60085 (708) 360-0700.
COLORADO
INDIANA
COLORADO CLOUDBASE - Guided tours, drivers, videos, accessories. (719) 630-7042. PO Box 16934, Colorado Springs CO 80935.
JJ MITCHEL- USHGA certified instructor. PacAir and UP dealer. 674 l Columbia Ave., Hammond, TN 46324 (219) 845-2856 (219) 762- 5365.
COLORADO HANG GLIDING/PARAGLIDING - !st USHGA certified school in U.S.A. Region's largest and oldest. Operating full time since 1972. (303) 278-9566.
KENTUCKIANA SOARING Mike Kelley, 3023 McArthur Dr., Jeffersonville, TN 47130 (812) 288-7111 (eves.) See ad under parts & accessories.
EAGLE'S NEST SCHOOL OF HANG GLIDING/ PARAGLIDING - USHGA & APA certified instruction. Sales and service. P.O. Box 25985, Colorado Springs, CO 80936 (719) 594-0498.
LOUISIANA RED RIVER AIRCRAFT -
see ad under Texas.
MICHIGAN GOLDEN WINGS - Sales, service. USHGA certified instruction. Tandem Towing Instruction. Dealers for Wills Wing, Pacific Airwave, UP. 1103 Washington Avenue, Golden, CO 80401. (303) 278-7181. HIGH ADVENTURE- Full service facility located on site at Southern California's famous mile high mountains, Crestline. From sand hill to XC thermal flying, our20 tandem accelerated training program is quick and thorough. Instructor Rob McKenzie. Dozens of new and used gliders for sale or rent. Other services include, weather information, mountain shuttle, towing seminars, XC trips, repairs, ratings (714) 883-8488. THE HANG GLIDING CENTER - Located in beautiful San Diego. USHGA instruction, equipment re111als, local flying tours. Spend your winter vacation flying with us. V./e proudly offer Wills Wing, Pacific Airwave, High Energy, Ball and we need your used equipment. 4206-K Sorrento Valley Blvd., San Diego. CA 92121 (619) 450-9008.
LID ENTERPRISES - Sail and harness repair - Equipment manufacturing - Towing supplies - 5000 Butte #183, Boulder, CO 8030 I (303) 440- 3579. PEAK PERFORMANCE PARAGLIDING SCHOOL Paragliding instruction/equipment sales, videosS32.50, shipping included. PO Box 213, Crested Butte, CO 81224, (303) 349-5961
GREAT LAKES HANG GLIDING, !NC. - USHGA certified instructors. Dealers for Moyes gliders, new & used equipment. Located near Warren dunes (616) 465-5859. PRO HANG GLIDERS - USHGA instruction since 1978, advanced instructor, examiner, observer, safety is# I. Towing specialists since 1978. Maintain and enhance your basic skills. We still foot launch. All brands sold and serviced. Contact Norman Lcsnow, 569 W. Annabelle, Hazel Park, Ml 48030. (313) 399-9433 Home of the Stormin' Norman windsock, $39,95, MINNESOTA
CONNECTICUT MOUNTAIN WINGS -
SPORT SOARING CENTER/MINNEAPOLIS - Instruction, equipment dealers for Pacific Airwave, UP & Wills Wing. (612) 557-0044.
Look under New York.
FLORIDA NEVADA
MISSION SOARING CENTER -Serving the flying community since 1973. Complete lesson program with special attention to quality take- off and landing skills. All major brands of gliders, parachutes and instruments sold. Sail repair and air frame service available. 1116 Wrigley Way, Milpitas, CA 95035. (408) 262-1055. PERFORMANCE DESIGN PARAGLIDING SCHOOL - Excalibur, Edel, UP, and many more. APA & USHGA certified instructors. \Vorld wide tours, accessories. Call for free catalog. (714) 697-4466. TORREY FLIGHT PARK, !NC. - At the launch of the world famous Torrey Pines Glider Port, one of San Diego's highlights' Unmatched convenience for pilots and spectators. Refreshments and souvenirs at the Cliftbanger Cafe. Certified Training program featuring tandem soaring lessons. New, used, rental and demo equipment by Delta \Ying and UP. 2800 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037 (619) 452-3202. TRUE FLIGHT CONCEPTS - USHGA Certified Instruction, Sales & Service. Become a better pilot in less time with our small personalized classes & tandem instruction. Our head instructor has over 12 years teaching experience. Only minutes from our local Kagel Mountain flying site. 13185 Gladstone Ave., Sylmar, CA 91342. (818) 367-6050. ULTRAFLIGHT HANG GLIDING Wills Wing, Seedwings, Moyes, High Energy and more. Servicing Lnkc McClure area. (209) 874-1795 Waterford, CA.
ADVENTURE SPORTS - Sierra tours our specialty USHGA & APA certified school and ratings. Dealers for Pacific Airwavc, Wills Wing, UP, Enterprise Wings. Fly the Sierras with a full-service shop. 3680-6 Research Way, Carson City, NV 89706 (702) 883-7070. NEW JERSEY MIAMI HANG GLIDING, INC. - has the most advanced training program known to hang gliding today. Certified inslmctors specialized in personalized tandem flight training. Full service and sales of parts for all glider.,;;, makes and models. For more information call (305) 573-8978 or (305) 962-6968. LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK-Sec ad under Tennessee. (404) 398- 3541.
MOUNTAIN WINGS- Look under New York. NEW MEXICO UP OVER NEW MEXICO - Instruction, sales, service. Sandia Mountain guides. Wills, Seedwings, Pacific Airwave, Delta, Moyes. Albuquerque, NM (505) 821-8544. NEW YORK
GEORGIA LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK under Tennessee. (404) 398-3541.
See our ad
SEQUATCHIE VALLEY SOARING SUPPLY our ad under Tennessee
See
IDAHO TREASURE VALLEY HANG GLIDING - USHGA CF!. service/sales, Pacific Airwave, UP, American \Vindwright. La Mouette, l 1716 Fairview, Boise, TD 83704. (208) 3767914.
AAA MOUNTAIN WINGS HANG GLIDING CENTER AND FLIGHT PARK - Now offering PARAGLIDING instruction and sales. Base of ELLENVILLE MTN. Four exclusive training hills. Area's only dealer for Pacific Airwave, UP, Scedwings and Delta Wing with demos in stock. We are the largest, most complete H.G. accessory and repair shop of its kind in the country. Many new and used gliders in stock. R/C supplies and kits, Ultra Pod camera systems. VISA and MASTERCARD accepted. Stop in and get your flight pass and gate combo. 150 Canal St., Ellenville, NY 12428 (914) 647-3377. In N.E. l-800-525- 7850.
WINDGYPSY - USHGA Certified school specializing in personalized tandem flight training. Full service sales & repair facility in Lake Elsinore - call for site info. Wide range of new & used gliders & flight accessories in stock. Paul Burns, 33041 Walls St., Lake Elsinore, CA 92530 Phone (714) 678-5418: FAX (714) 678- 5425.
54
HANG GLIDING
CLASSIFIEDS FLY HIGH HANG GUDfNG, INC. - Serving S. New York, Connecticut, Jersey meas (Ellenville Mln.J. Area·s EXCLUSIVE Wills Wing dealcrlspecialisl. Also all other major brands, accessories. Ccrtifiedschoo//instrnction. Teaching since 1979. Area's most INEXPENSIVE prices/repairs. Excellent secondary instruction ... if you've finished a program and wish to continue. Fly the mmimain! A TOL towing! Tandem !lights! Contact Paul Voight, RD 2, Box 561, Pine Bush. NY 12566. (914) 744-3317. SUSQUEHANNA FLIGHT PARK - Cooperstown. NY. Certified Instruction, Sales and Service for all major manufacturers. 40acre park, 5 trnining hills,jeep rides, bunk house, camping. hot showers, 600' NW ridge. We have the best facilities in N. New York state to teach you how to tly. RD 2, Box 348A, CooperSlown. NY 13326, (315) 866-6153. THERMAL UP. INC.-Mostcornpletehanggliding shop in area. Located on top of Ellenville Mountain. USHGA Certi-
fied Instructor and Observer. Concentrating on hang gliding instruction with emphasis on launching and landing techniques. Dealer for all major brands. Offering expert sales and service with lowest price in area. L<1rge mail order inventory. Tom Aguero, P.O. Box 347, Cragsmoor, NY 12420. (914) 647-3489.
LOOKOUT l'v!OUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK-Since 1978, Southeast's largest USHGA-certified mountain flight school. Complete training, from grassy, gently-sloping training hills to soaring high above Lookout Mountain. Our specialty getting you your first mountain flights. Lesson packages, USHGA ratings. glider and mountain bike rentals, camping, local sire information. Largest inventory of new and used hang gliders and mountain bikes, harnesses, helmets, inslrurnents, T-shirts. Repair services. \Ve buy used gliders, equipment~ Send S 1.00 for brochure, rates. directions, accommodations infonnation. Twenty minutes from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Route 2, Box 215-H, Dept. HG, Rising Fawn, GA 30738. (404) 398-35-11 or 398-3433 SEQUATCHIE VALLEY SOARING SUPPLY -Certified. two place flight instruction and first mountain flights are our specialties. Rentals, storage and ratings available. Dealers for all major brands. Located in the .. Hang Gliding Capital of the East'·. For pcrsonaL professional service you can trust. call SVS. RT 2 Box 80, Dunlap, TN 37.l27. (615) 9-19-2301 STAY WHERE THE FLIERS STAY - Crystal Air Sport ivlotel. Private rooms. bunkhouse, jacuzzi. pool. (615 J 82 l~5...i6 Chattanooga, TN.
approved! l\•[uch greater impact strength than 0.0.T. standard! Does your helmet carry an appro\'ed strength rating"? Send measurement arouml the largest part of your head. Only S207 [whiteJ. White. red, blue graphics-add S13. CA orders add .0825 sales tax. Promotions Unlimited. 8181 Mission Gorge Road, Suite I. San Diego CA 92120-1600. BELL SOARING HELMETS - White, blue, red. S132 plus. For nearest dealer. (303) 278-9566. CATTTOUCHTHIS-SaveS mail order-weekly specials. MAXON SP5000 6 ch. programmed S309., VOX $69. HAM RADIOS, YAESU H 41 !E $319., MOD S30., ICOivl 2SAT $319. MOD S40. Dealer for Ball, BRS, High Energy. Safewheels, V iv[irts, Raymond, Second Chantz. tow rope l/ 4" poly S:>5 per 1000'. Send S.AS.E. for sale tlyer ,ir call Kentuckiana Soarin2., 3023 McArthur Dr. Jeffersonville IN 47130 (8121 288- 711 I Calls returned collect. ERIC RAYMOND POD - Almost new, 5' 11 ". Blue wl stripes. $450. (616) 849-1329. GLIDER MARKI~G INTERNATIONAL - Creates a state-of-the-an advertising medium by applying ,ian1c's .and logos on hang gliders. parnchutes, paragliders, sails, etc. P.O. Box -151, Glen Cm·e, NY 11542 (516) 676-7599.
TEXAS NORTH CAROLINA COROLLA FLIGHT - America·s most experienced tandem flight instructor, teaches utilizing ATOL <1nd Double Vision. Call or write for information Greg De\Volf, Corolla Flight, PO Box 1021, Kitty Hawk NC 27949. (9 l9J 261-6166 KITTY HA WK KITES, INC.-P.O. Box 1839. Naes Head, NC 27959 1919) -1-11--112-\. Learn to hang glide on Jockey's Ridge. lhe largest sand dune on the e<1st coast, just south or where the \\!right Brothers· first tlight took place. Beginner and ad\·c1ncecf lesson packages and camps offered. Advanced tandem tow instruction. 1500 ft. plus up. Dealer for all major brand gliders. complete inventory of new and used gliders, accessories nnd parrs. OHIO MARIO MANZO-SKYWARD ENTERPRISES-Certified instruction, inspection, repair, CG-1000, Dayton and Chillicothe, OH (513) 256- 3888 (wkd. e\'es.) NORTH COAST HANG GLIDING-Certified Instruction. New & llsed gliders. Specializing in Pacific Airwavc gliders. Mike Del Signore, 1916 W. 75th St., Cleveland, OH. 44102 (216) 631-1144.
AIRTmlE! - Red River Aircraft, based in central Texas. se1Yice ranges far and wide. Turning students into pilots. USHGA certified tandem instruction, trading new and prcowned wings and things. towing supplies. full ser\'ice repair. Hip and cool Jeff Hunt.4811 Red Ri,•cr. Austin TX 78751. 1512) 467-2529, FAX !512)467-8260. AUSTIN AIR SPORTS - Still the one in central Texas. quality scr\'icc since 1978. Instruction, sales. rental, and a complete airframe & sail repair facility. l 712 \Vaterston. Austin. TX 78703 (512J 47-t- 1669. KITE ENTERPRISES-Instruction, sales. repairs. platform towine. Dallas. North Texas area. 211 Ellis, Allen, TX 75002 1214) 996- 7706 daytime, 1214) 727-3588 nights and weekends. Dealer Pacific Airwa\'e. UTAH WASATCH WINGS - USHGA certified hang gliding school, dealers for \\'ills \Ving. Moyes and Pacific Airwave. Flight operations at Point of the Mountain. Call Gordon (80 I) 277-1042. VIRGINIA
HIGH QUALITY HELr\lET - at an affordable price. D.O.T. Well finished brushed nylon liner with high strength polycarbonate shell.ONLY S55.00 + S4.00 S/H. Great for schools. Dealer inquiries welcome. GOLDEN W[NGS, 1103 Washington Avenue. Golden, CO 80401. (303) 278 7181 or TOLL FREE 1-800-677-4449.
SILVER WINGS. Inc. Certified instruction and equipment sales. (703) 533-1965.
OREGON SOUTHERN OREGON HANG GLIDING - Certified instruction. ATV retrieval. Pacific Airwave, Wills Wing. (503) 479-6345, eves (503) 479-6733.
PARTS & ACCESSORIES
PENNSYLVANIA lV10UNTAIN TOP RECREATION - Certified instruction, Pittsburgh. (412) 697-4477. C'l\ION OUT AND PLAY! MOUl\TAIN WINGS -
Look under New York.
TENNESSEE HAWK AIRSPORTS - New and improved hang gliding' Atlention Novice and beginners! New 360 degree lraining hill designed and built specifically for you. Conveniently located. run! Fun! fun! Clinch ivltn. -The longesl ridge, (wo launches. The popular light wind indicator \Vindsok. Brochures available. Your satisfaction is the key to our continued
THE FAMOUS '"LAMBIE LID'" - Aerodynamic hang glider helmet, $85 postpaid. Full face ver,ion, S 120. State size and three choice, of color. 8160 Woodsboro, Anaheim, CA. 92807 (714) 779-1877.
growth and success. Hawk Air Sports. fnc .. P.O. Box 9056. Knoxville, TN 37940-0056, (615) 453-1035.
AFFORDABLE FULL FACE PROTECTION' Great visibility! Strength, quality construction, comfort! Lightweight carbon/Kevlar mix! Scalp/chin bar ventilation. Visor/side padding removable to increase \\'ind sound! 0.0.T. and Snell JANUARY 1992
Need help writing your ad? Call Jeff (719) 632-8300. 55
CLASSIFIEDS
LINDSAY RUDDOCK VARIO~ Prices around $800. iUS price vary slightly depending on current exchange rate) VISA/MC Call or write Russ Douglas, 2060 Gosser Street, Milpitas CA 95035 (408) 263-I 548 msg. (408) 764-8822 days. MAXON RADIOS - S349. VHF PM 5 watt crystal. includes 3 USHGA channels, charger, case, clip, antenna and I year warranty. Maxon I watt, S 175. NOHYPOXYGEN III OXYGEN SYSTEM-5 1/4 lb .. only S350. ARAMID FULL FACE-Superlite helmet. Excellent vision, yet cold weatherprotection,$325. Visors525. XCSMOKEBOMBSS5. Large signal mirror, $8. Jnck the Ripper cutaway knife, S15. Silva compass, SI 00. Pendulum Sporls, Inc. 1-800-WE FLY X-C PARAGLIDING EQUIPMENT FOR SALE - A complete line of equipment and accessories available. \Vhatevcr your needs, from Alpine descents to ocean, thermal, and ridge soaring, we have it. Videos, $32.50, shipping included. PEAK PERFORMANCE PARAGLIDERS INC., P.O. Box 213, Crested Butte, CO, 81224. Tel/Fax (303) 349-
5961.
QUICK RELEASE CARABINER-S49.95. Extra ball lock pin, S29.00. 10.000 lbs .. dealers welcome, patent pending. Thermal 19431-41 Business Center Drive. Northridge. CA 91324.1818) 701-7983.
DON'T GET CAUGHT LANDING DOWNWIND! Perfect that no-step landing by watching our \Vindsok. Con-
SKY-TALKER II The Sky-Talker II, 2 meter FM antenna, will boost the transmitted and received signal by 3 times, and will not interfere with your vario. internally installs in 5 minutes and automatically sets up and breaks do\vn with the glider. This antenna is pre-tuned and ready to go. \Vhen ordering, please specify radio mount location. Send S30 + S3 shipping and handling to: Sky-Com Products, PO Box 530268, San Diego CA 92153.
PARA-SWIVEL ~ DON'T LEA VE THE GROUND WITHOUT ONE! $84.00 + $4.00 S/H. Available as an option by Free Flight, High Energy, BRS, Second Chantz. Dealer inquiries welcome. GOLDEN WINGS, 1103 Washington Avenue, Golden, CO 80401 (303) 278-7181 1-800677-4449.
Get fast response and the Litek sound, in the most rugged variometer available. The E model is now ONLY $189 direct (VISA, MC, AMEXJ Ball clamp not incl. Free brochure. LITEK (503) 479- 6633, 4326 Pish Hatchery Road, Grants Pass OR 97527.
Sell your unused equipment with the help of a Hang Gliding classified ad. For more details call Jeff (719) 632-8300.
Due to production schedules, we work two months in advance. Please place your ad early to avoid missing a particular issue.
56
structed with 1.5 oz. ripstop nylon. UV treated to maintain its brilliant color. 5' 4" long with an 11" throat. Available colors are fluorescenl pink/yellow or fluorescent pink/white. $39.95 (plus S4.00 shipping/handling) Colorado residents add 3'k tax. Send to USHGA Windsok, P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933-8300, FAX (719) 632-6417, PHONE (719) 632-8300. VISA/MC accepted. ULTRAPOD CAMERAS Infrared remote $179., Thermitts, designed for comfort bar $39. (714) 654-8559.
XCR - Possibly lhe simplest and lightest composite fiber oxygen system on the market. Available in 240 and 480 liter refillable cylinders. Systems come complete, including Oxymizer. The XCR 240 is just $4 74.95, and the XCR 480 is $494.95. ($15 S/1-1). OXYMIZER-TheOxymizercannula's unique reservoir design accumulates Lhe continuous flow of oxygen normally wasted during exhalation, saving up to 66{}ovcr the standard cannula (in most cases). The Oxymizer \vorks with many other supplemental oxygen systems. Only $16.95 ($3 S/H). Mountain High Equipment & Supply Co., 516 12th Ave., Salt Lake city, UT 84103. (801) 364-4171 Major credit cards accepted. Ask about our SportsOxygen
systems.
HANG GLIDING
CLASSIFIEDS BUSINESS AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR SALE - Hang gliding business. Inclmles retail \tore. USHGA certified school and \\'orkshop all localed at lvlarina State Reach near i'vlonterey. CA. Inventory training equipment, fixtures. tools, office equipment, established dealerships and customer base. This school has been in operation teaching hang gliding for I I years. The concession contract allows
paragliding as well a"> surfing and windsurfing sales and instruction. Serious and qualified buyers only please. Jim Johns, \Vcstern Hang Gliders, Inc., P.O. Box 828. j\,farina. CA 93933 HOS) 38.J~2622. HG & PG INSTRUCTORS WANTED - Will !rain. S65$100/day. Send experience. PO Box I .J23. Golden CO. 80402. KITTY HAWK KITES IS HIRING -
Cenified tandem. basic lrnng gliding. paragliding instructors. Send resume to: John Harris. Kilty Ha\\·k Kites. PO Box 1839. Nags Head NC 27959.
TOWING
i\IISCELLANEOUS
.-\NNOUNCING IN TEXAS - Towing snpplies from Red River Aircraft. Bridles. rele[lsts, recovery chutes, platforms and more. (512) .J67- 2529. FAX 1512) .J67-8260. TOW ROPES - Make the mm·e lo quality. Spectra-proven state-of-the- ml tow rope. Available with fiber bonding synthetic finish. longer lasting. easy to use hollow braid. Trade in your ullraline 1 Call David F. Bradley (215) 7231719 or fa, I 215i.J53-I515. STATIC LINE TOW SYSTEMS - Releases & bridles. l /4" poly S25 per 1000 ft. Kenlllckiana Snaring, 3023 McArthur Dr.. Jeffersom·ille. IN .+7J30, (812) 288-71 I I (eves.)
This is the one I I
Un~aver By Golden Wings DON'T FORGET YOUR HANG DRIVER - Bny them an l'd R[lther Be Hanl! Glidi1H! license plate frame for their retrieval vehicle. $5.50 for a plastic frame. $6.50 for a metal (zinc) frame. Please add S2 S/H (CO residenls add JC/, tax) SEND TO USHGA. P.O. BOX 8300, COLORADO SPRINGS. CO. 80933.
MOUNTAIN WINGS - Is lookin2 for advanced hang gliding and paragliding instructors. Salaries negotiable. Fuli and part-time positions available. Manager position available-requires knowledge of compulers; stems. Call Greg or Judy al (91.J) 6.J7-3377. Send resume Lo 150 Canal SI.. Ellenl"ille. NY 12.J28. PUBLICATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS
Tow line recovery System
FREE LANCAJR 320- buil1 by A&P Acrolech students to create scholarship fund. Tax free donation registers you for drawing. Fly at 300 mph or snap roll for fun. 2-t-hr. recorded message for details (303) 696-9101.
Nothing attached to pilot or bridle. UNLIKE OTHER SYSTEMS, no deploymerll mechanism is required. Fully self actuating when tow line is released. Reduce:-. wear on line & rc\\'ind motor. Reduces turn around time. T\\"O size~. SI 25/S 135 incl. shipping. Check or money order. ,\ho available, 3/16" braided Kevaler GOLDLINE 1o11·line.S99per 1.000 feet. Golden Wings. 1103 Washington Ave .. Golden CO. \'IDEOS & F!Li\IS
HANG GLIDING FOR BEGINNER PILOTS - hi" Pele Cheney. The Official USHGA Training Manual. Lean; to lly \\'ith the \\'orld's fines! hang gliding manual. Complete flying instructions from the I raining hill to ~oaring techniques. Over 260 pages. with more than 160 easy- to-undcr~tand illustrations and photo~. Guaranteed to _-;ati::.fy the most inquisitin~ pilot. NOW AVAILABLE FOR S29.95 !plus $.J.00 shipping/handling) Colorado residents add 30£ tax. SEND/FAX/ PHONE TO USHGA. P.O. Box 8300. Colorado Springs. CO 80933-8300. FAX 1719) 632-6-l l 7. PHONE1719)632-8300. \IISA/:\IC accepted. PARAGLIDING-A Pilot'sTraining:\lanual. l'roduced by \Vills \Ving and written by i\-like i'v1eier. in its J'C\-iscd 3rd edition. From [Ill m·c1Yicw of the sport. ln equipment. lO flying and micn1111ctcornlogy. Beginner through ad,·;mced skills CO\'ered. and much. much more. NOW A \I All.ABLE THROUGH USJIGA. Send SI 9.95 CplusS3 S/H) 10 USHGA. PO Box 8300. Colorado Springs. CO 80933-8300 PARAGLIDE LSA - Subscribe 10 Nnnh ,.\merica·s most \\ idcly read paraglicling magazine. 12 issues just S25. Send check or monev order to --1-2:5 Rider St.. Ste. 87, Perri:-. CA 92571 or call 171.J) 657-266.J or FAX 171.J) 657-.J062 wilh your crc.cliL card information. SOARING - i'donihly magazine or The Soaring Society of America. Inc. (\)\'CJ"'> all aspecls of soaring flight. Full membership S.J5. Info. kit with sample rnpy S3. SSA. P.O. Box E. Hobbs. NM 882.J I. (505) 392-1 177.
JANU,\RY 1992
DARE DEVIL FLYERS III-THE PARAGLIDERS-bv Tatum Productions. Paragliclc \\'ith the \Vil ls \Ving temn & friends. in scenic Telluride. Colorado. Bre[lth-taking footage. flying paraglider:- in this beautiful setting. \Villless Class II maneu\·ers by the pro:-.. Tliis is a ~ IUST HA VE for any ,·ideo colleclion. 1-60 min.) A, ail able for $24.95 (plus S3 SI H) through USHGA. PO Bo, 8300. Colorado Springs. CO 80933. Colo. residents add 3,f 1a,. 1719) 632-8300. FAX (7]9)63~-6.)17.
HA WK RING - Sih·er S90.00. 1-lK gold $350.00. Please include ring size m1d check or money order. Hawk. P.O. Hox 255. \\loodacrc. CA 949731.J 15).)88-9383. Allow .J-6 weeks.
1
PERSONAL PILOT/ROOi\li\L\TE WANTED- To share 3 bedroom. 2 bath hm,.,,e in San Antonio. Texas. Excellent local economy with a low cost of li,·ing. Can a.'-.sist in locating employment in Acro...,pacc Industry, if desirl'.d. Just think-no !'..110\\', no c[lrthqu[lkes, no . . mog. lots of single girls and year round thermal flying. Call Chris !51~) 82.J- 1803.
Hang Gliding Classifieds FAX line (24 hours) (719) 632-6417
SOLID GOLD 14K Penclanl SI 19.00 Pendanl S 32.00 SS S3.00 shipping and handling S5.00 for C.0.D. Other glider jewelry c.tYailable in 1-1-K and sterling si]\·cr. To order or inquire. call AnteroJe\\'elers l-800-5-1-7-7627 ext 88. Satisfaction guaranteed.
57
CLASSIFIEDS STOLEN - Pac Air Formula. Pink LE, black to pink to gray undersurface. UP cocoon harness, black w/pink stripes. Ball Vario. Scott Meehleib (619) 295-1261. LOST -Battens onJune8th, 1991, near White Cliffs Beach, Plymouth MA. Call Donald Saccone (617) 857-1031 wk. DREAM 220 - Blue LE, wavy rainbow pattern. Front to back red, blue, green, white, red, purple white. Dark green bag. Taken from LZ near San Jacinto College, San Jacinto CA (Soboba flying site) on 8/10/91. Call (800) 734-0622 STOLEN ON 7/19/91 - From a car in Hollywood, CA Knee-hanger harness, green with a ·'Finstuwalder label~ white parachute mounted in red pocket. Reiner Kaiser, 7848 lvlanchester Ill, Playa Del Rey, CA 90293 (213) 823-7383
USHGA LONG SLEEVE T-SHIRT - Our long sleeve tshirts areeolorfully screened with a "simplistic" hang gliding design across the chest and down the left sleeve, 100'7c cotton' Now in ORA Y or WHITE. $18.95 (plus $3 S/H) Please specify color and size (S,M,L,XL) when ordering. Colorado residents add 3% sales tax. SEND TO USHGA, P.O. BOX 8300, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80933.
lv!AGIC KISS - Fluor. yellow L.E., white chevron, pink undcrsurface, airfoil, down tubes pitchy, bar mitts, 2' skull and cross bones on wing tip, over Kiss emblem inlay, many skull stickers on glider. Serial No. KM 83707. Also HP AT 158, serial no. 22504, with Lt. blue L.E., red chevron on bottom, custom plan. Serial No. 22504. Stolen in L.A. with van 6-26-90. Van recovered without gliders. (619) 274-8254. 155 MOYES XS~ Full race, stolen from side of road at lO I and Schel1er exit, between San Jose and Morgan Hill. It was taken away with no bag or ties. Colors are L.E.-orange, maingreen, bottom- white. Contact Kevin Dutt. (415) 934-2189. STOLEN WINGS are listed as a service to USHGA members. Newest entries are in bold. There is no charge for this service and lost and found wings or equipment may be called in to (719) 632-8300 for inclusion in Hang Gliding magazine. Please call to cancel the listing when gliders arc recovered. Periodically, this listing will be purged.
While we hope you never need a chute, if you cb have an emergency, youll want the very best BRS, the choice of 1,000 satisfied hang gliding pilots.
INDEX TO ADVERTISERS
USHGA POSTER! -Full color, 24" X 37" poster of Eric Raymond doing oxygen at 17,000' MSL over the Sierra Nevada Range, $7.95 USHGA Poster, (CO Residents add 3'k tax) P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933 (7 I 9) 6328300. HAVE YOU ORDERED YOUR 1992 USHGA CALENDAR? CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING RATES The rate for classified advertising is $.50 per word (or group of characters) and$ I .00 per word for bold or all caps. Minimum ad charge, $5.00. A fee of$15.00 is charged for each line art logo and $25.00 for each photo. Please underline words to be in bold print. Special layouts of tabs $25.00 per column inch. AD DEADLINES All ad copy, instructions, changes, additions and cancellations must be received in writing 1 1/2 months preceding the cover date, i.e. October 20 for the December issue. Please make checks payable to USHGA Classified Advertising Dept. HANG GLIDING MAGAZINE, P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933 (719) 632-8300 or FAX (719) 632-6417. STOLEN WINGS WW Z-3 HARNESS -SANTA ANA CA Stolen from car in Grand Ave area. Wills Wings Z-3 gray & red cordoba harness bag with the following contents: Z-3 harness, elec. blue w/ plain gray side panels, serial # 170; Kenwood TI-127 A ham radio (w/broken antenna) serial# 2 I I 00746; Litek V-12 vario & Clouclbase 1350 altimeter; white Bell helmet; pink & white 22 gore parachute w/ red bridle and power swivel, attached to Applied Air Research ELAPS rocket deployment system. Also taken was briefcase containing log books (and other items). Mike Heilman (213) 439-4132.
Adventure Video .............................. 34 AirWorks .......................................... 13 Applied Air Research ......................... 2 Ball Varios ,,,,,,,,,,,, ........................ 6,34 BRS .................................................. 58 Cross Country Magazine ................ ,, 51 Del Air ................................ ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 2 Hall Bros .......................................... 48 High Energy Sports .......................... 48 Lookout Mt. Flight Park.. ................. 35 Morningside Hang Gliders ................. 2 Pacific Airwave ................. Back Cover Paragliding Magazine ........................ 6 Robert Reiter Video ......................... 21 Roberts Glider Instruments .............. 28 Safari Sky Tours ............................... 39 Sport A via ti on Publications .,, .......... 45 UP International ............................ 3,12 U.S. Aviation ,,,, ................................ 19 USHGA .......................... 4,29,42,59,60 Wills Wing ....................................... 62 Windsong Productions ..... ,, ................ 2
ASK
PILOTS
7 I 89 Geoff Loyns Owens, California (BRS#36) 6/90Jersey Rossignol Elsinore, California (BRS#40) 8/90Carl Shortt Kualoa, Hawaii (BRS#44) Theyll each attest to BRS quality and performance in actual uses! BRS has recorded 50 total saves
BRS offers several models to choose from, including our very popular Quick Draw CORDLESS rocket model that can snatch out your chest-mount parachute in about 0. 75 seconds, for only $499. No one offers faster or more reliable high-performance safety
#)
,'J 1s'-:"CJ .....
MAKING FLIGHT SAFER
BR S • 1845-HG Henry Avenue South St. Paul, MN 55075 • USA 818/443-7070 • FAX: 612/457-8651
'-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-'~ 58
THESE
.... 111111 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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HANG GLIDING
• Colorfully Embroidered
• Vented Long Rugby Tail
$21.95
Available in: Black, Jade, White, Yellow, Navy, Red
(+ $3.50 S/H) SIZES:
Medium
Large
X-Large
XXL (white & navy on ly)
USHGA Golf Shirt • P.O. Box 8300 • Colorado Springs • CO 80933
1992 USHGA MERCHANDISE ORDER FORM QTY.
TOTAL
1992 USHGA CALENDAR 12" x 12" full pictorial of the sport you love .................................................................................................. $9.95 "NEW" USHGA Golf Shirt 100% combed cotton. Colorfully embroidered. Colors: White Red Navy Yellow Jade Black SIZES: Medium Large X-Large XXL (in white & navy only) ............................................................................................................. $21.95 OTHER USHGA CALENDARS SPECIFY YEAR: 1991 1990 1989 1988 More Excellent Photography- collect them all! ....... $3.00 USHGA SCRAMBLE KNIT SWEATER by Nutmeg Mills Embroidered with Mtn. Glider emblem, 100% Cotton, "Natural Color" SPECIFY TYPE: CREW NECK or VEE NECK and SIZE: SMALL MEDIUM LARGE X-LARGE ............................................... $39.95 USHGA LONG SLEEVE T-SHIRT 100% Cotton "Simplistic" Design SPECIFY COLOR: WHITE or GRAY & SIZE S M L XL .......... $18.95 USHGA MTN. GLIDER T-SHIRT White-100% cotton. Our most popular shirt. SPECIFY SIZE: S M L XL .................................... $12.95 USHGA YOUTH MTN. GLIDER T-SHIRT For those up and coming pilots. SPECIFY SIZE: 8(6-8) M (10-12) L(14-16) .................. $9.95 USHGA NEON LOGO T-SHIRT 100% Cotton Our beloved official logo, color revised of the 1990's. HOT! SPECIFY TYPE: WHITE TANK TOP or BLACK T-SHIRT & SIZE: Small Medium Large X-Large ............................................. $9.95 USHGA MTN. GLIDER CAP Embroidered SPECIFY COLOR: NAVY WHITE ................................................................................... $9.95 USHGA CORDUROY CAP Embroidered with "Glider Trails" design SPECIFY COLOR: ROYAL BLUE OFF-WHITE ..................... $9.95 USHGA EMBLEM BASEBALL CAP Foam white front, colored mesh back. SPECIFY COLOR: RED NAVY GOLD ORANGE .......... $5.00 USHGA LAPEL PIN Beautiful mulli-colored Min. Glider design. Custom shaped pin w/ military clutch and epoxy dome ...................... $4.95 USHGA 1988 WORLD TEAM PIN Commemorating the world meet in Mt. Buffalo, AUSTRALIA ............................................................ $2.95
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
PARAGLIDING· A PILOTS TRAINING MANUAL Produced by Wills Wing. Everything you wanted to know about paragliding .......... $19.95 HANG GLIDING FOR THE BEGINNER PILOT by Pete Cheney The Official USHGA Training Manual. Over 200 pages .................. $29.95 PARAGLIDING FLIGHT-Walking on Air by Dennis Pagen Covering all aspects of Paragliding. Over 140 illustrations ................... $19.95 HANG GLIDING FL YING SKILLS by Dennis Pagen Our most popular book. For the beginner to intermediate pilot. ......................... $9.95 HANG GLIDING TECHNIQUES by Dennis Pagen Continues where FL YING SKILLS left off. For intermediate to advanced ............... $7.50 FLYING CONDITIONS by Dennis Pagen Micrometeorology for the hang gliding pilot. Over 90 illustrations ........................................ $7.50 RIGHT STUFF FOR NEW HANG GLIDER PILOTS by Erik Fair Overview, humor, techniques and personalities ................................. $8.95 FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS 1991 Federal Regulations covering ALL types of aviation ......................................................... $8.95 USHGA DELUXE LOG BOOK 72 pages. Covering pilot ID, ratings, rules, maintenance, inspection, terminology ... and more .............. $4.95 USHGA X·C LOG BOOK 64 pages. Very clean! For those who like to document their flight. ............................................................... $3.95 USHGA FLIGHT LOG BOOK 40 pages. The Official USHGA Flight Log Book ...................................................................................... $2.95
$ $
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Official USHGA Windsok"' Pink/yellow or pink/white .......................................................................................................................... $39.95 USHGA DELUXE LOG BOOK COVER Gray colored and debossed with the Mtn. Glider design. Show off your flights ....................... $9.95 USHGA MTN. GLIDER SEW-ON EMBLEM The most beautiful patch you'll ever own. 12 different colors used ................................... $4.95 USHGA MTN. GLIDER DECAL Full color 6" diameter vinyl decal. Guaranteed to last! .......................................................................... $1.50 USHGA DRINKING MUG w/HANDLE Unbreakable 14 oz. frosted plastic mug. Mtn. glider screened in blue ....................................... $1.95 USHGA KEY CHAIN "Soft Feel" Plastic. Custom Mtn. Glider shaped. Screened white on red .............................................................. $1.50 USHGA SEW-ON EMBLEM Our original logo, in its original colors on this 3" circular emblem ............................................................... $1.50 USHGA EMBLEM DECAL Our original logo, in its original colors on this 3" circular sticker. .................................................................... $ .50 USHGA LICENSE PLATE FRAME "I'd Rather Be Hang Gliding" PLASTIC-white with blue lettering ........................................ $5.50 MET AL-(zinc) with white on blue lettering ............................ $6.50
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$
MAGAZINE COLLECTOR BINDER Brown vinyl binder w/ gold lettering. Wire inserts to hold 12 issues of HG .................................... $9.00 'USHGA ERIC RAYMOND POSTER 24" X 37" Eric doing oxygen at 17,000 ASL over the Sierra Nevada Range ................................ $5.95 'USHGA HANG GLIDING POSTER 22" X 28" Colorful nostalgic standard rogallo flying into the golden sunset. (Circa 1977) .............. $3.95 'Posters are NOT AVAILABLE on International Orders-SORRY!
$ $ $
PAYMENT must be included with your order. FOREIGN orders must be in U.S. FUNDS drawn on a U.S. BANK!
CHARGE MY CREDIT CARD ($2.00 handling fee-cash, check, M.O. excluded)) VISA or MASTERCARD (circle one) acct# _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ exp. _ _ __ Signature_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
SHIPPING .01 - 4.99 ADD $1.25 5.00- 9.99 ADD $2.50 10. -19.99 $3.50 ADD 20. - 34.99 $4.00 ADD 35. · 49.99 $5.00 ADD 50.+ ADD $7.00 Canada & Mexico add $1.50 extra lnt'I surface add $4.00 extra lnt'I air add $10.00 extra
SUBTOTAL
$
COLORADO RESIDENTS add 3% TAX
$
SHIPPING (see chart}
$
CHARGE CARD ($2 if app.)
$
TOTAL ENCLOSED
$
SHIP TO: (Street address ii possible) NAME _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _~ USHGA# CITY/STATE/ZIP _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ UNITED STATES HANG GLIDING ASSN. P.O. BOX 8300
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
80933-8300
(719) 632-8300
FAX (719) 632-6417
REGIONAL NEWS News from the Rogue Valley Hang Gliding Association, USHGA Chapter No. 45 in Southern Oregon Starthistle: The RVHGA annually hosts a fun, family fly-in, with the net proceeds going to a Ruch community charity in the name of their Woodrat Mountain LZ owners. This year the event was held over the Memorial holiday weekend. The RVHGA subsequently donated $300 to the Applegate Rural Volunteer Fire Department. In a letter recently received from Fire Chief, Ron Yarbrough, he stated, "We in the community enjoy watching the wonderful talents displayed in the art of hang gliding, and greatly appreciate active members in our community that enable this wonderful sport to flourish. Thank you again for your ongoing kindness to everyone who enjoys the beauty in hang gliding." Chief Yarbrough stated the money will be used to purchase medical supplies to aid their community. RVHGA President Terry Pettinger has appointed volunteer Mike Stevenson to again chair the Starthistle Committee. The 1992 15th Annual RVHGA Starthistle will again be held over the Memorial holiday weekend, May 23-25, at RVHGA's primary site, Woodrat Mountain. Mike again plans to have the event be a fun family fly-in format with a variety of events for all levels of USHGA pilots (see Competition Corner, July, 1991, for results of the 14th Starthistle). Lakeview: The Rogue Valley Hang Gliding Association has received a letter on new site improvements at the Hadley Butte site near Paisley, Oregon. It stated: ··Dear Dave (Baleria, one of the RVHGA Lakeview Committee members, along with Mike Stevenson and Doug Hildreth): We have completed the planned work at the Hadley Butte launch site. We were able to improve the road leading to the site, construct a small parking area, a trail leading to the launch area, and a launch ramp. We followed the drawings you gave us as best we could. We hope you get a chance to look at the work done this fall or next spring and give us your comments. If you have any questions, please contact Mike Balboni at 947-3114. Thank
JANUARY 1992
you for your assistance and cooperation." Roger King, District Ranger. The RVHGA 1rn11ld also ask that any pilots reading this, H'ho sail' orfle11· Hadley's shallow, di.Jjicult launch before this 1rnrk, to please consider a short thank-you note to them. Please send it to: Roger King, District Ranger, Paisley Ranger District, P.O. Box 67, Paisley, OR 97636. Please let them know how much you appreciate their efforts to make a safer flying site in their district, and how it will further hang gliding in the Winter Ridge area. Dave Baleria had originally suggested to Lakeview that they consider formally adopting the title of Hang Gliding Capital of the West (see Hang Gliding, Competition Corner, May, 1991 ). Rodger Hoyt, another RVHGA member who flies X-C there, recently encouraged Lakeview Mayor Bob Alger to consider this soon, before another western community beat Lakeview to it. Now it is official. (See las/ month's Update column for the text o(lhe proc/amatio11.-Ed.) Dave Baleria says this is yet another example of how hang gliding can be accepted if USHGA Chapters or interested groups of pilots work for new sites and site improvements in an organized manner. An out-ofstate pilot had illegally cut clown a tree at one Paisley District site, but the RVHGA Lakeview Committee was able lo assure the officials that that was not how they worked. Lakeview Chamber of Commerce Director Barb Gover had already gotten the Oregon State Department of Transportation to formally adopt a state highway hang gliding symbol for road signs to sites that Lakeview had developed with the RVHGA, following securing a state lottery funds grant specifically for site development to promote hang gliding tourism there. The RVHGA also received some good hang gliding press at Lakeview's annual Labor Day parade in September. The Lakeview Examiner ran a photo article on the RVHGA Dragon that Karen and RVHGA Ridge Runner Editor Mike Stevenson spent many hours creating to give to the Lakeview library. The article states: "The paper mache dragon designed by Mike was his way of thanking the county on behalf of his hang gliding association ... It is the creation of glider pilot and screen printer Stevenson, who wanted to give back some of what he says the community has given to him and fellow
pilots." The eight-foot-tall green and yellow dragon, with a hang glider circling 9ver his head, was accompanied by Lakeview children in the parade. It sported a sign stating, "RVHGA has more Western Fun flying Lakeview. The first official sponsored Lakeview hang gliding "Umpteenth Annual RVHGA Lakeview Fly-In" in 1990 had over l 00 attending pilots. In 1991 165 registered for the various event plaques. However, an estimated 327 pilots came to Lakeview to fly during the week of June 30th through July 7th.•
Region VII News by Rod Hauser
W
are once again coming out of hibernation and getting ready to celebrate winter in Duluth, MN on January 11 and 12. I hacl a big response to the meet last year, and this year it promises to be better yet. If you are looking for an area with something a little different to fly in, Duluth is for you. All are welcome to try the infamous spot-skid landings and to try to stay warm while being enthusiastic about flying on an inlet of Lake Superior. As always, there' II be a great party following and a lot of fun for all. In February, the Hoofers are planning a possible tow meet at Madison, on the college campus. More to follow as plans are finalized. As always, we are towing on days above 20 degrees on a frozen lake or at Tomah airport. Call ahead of time to see if we are going out. Hauser's Bluff is open to snowmobile traffic only. Yes, we can fly there as well. The Board of Directors meeting in Salt Lake City saw a lot of changes for the better. My hat is off to Jerry Forburger for all his hard work developing and chairing the tow committee. Hopefully we have worked out a system for tow ratings, that will improve our organization as a whole. Questions? Please feel free to call or write me; I'm usually home and anxious to help. Rod Hauser, Route I Box 73A, Cashton, WI 54619 (608) 269-6304. •
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SPECIFICATIONS Model
143
153
163
Span
31'
34' 4" 7.3
A.R.
6.7
32' 8" 7.0
Weight
57 lbs
62 lbs
66 lbs
Pilot Wt
125 - 210
150 - 250
175 - 275
VNE
50 mph 50 mph 50 mph HGMA Certified - June 11 , 1991
1208 H. East Walnut
Santa Ana
Wills Wing is proud to introduce an entire new line of gliders for the intermediate and advanced soaring pilot, the Wills Wing Super Sports. Derived from the technologically advanced HP AT series, the Super Sports feature the HP AT airfoil, HP AT airframe technology, and a similar, though slightly milder planform. The design focus of the Super Sport project was to combine a very high level of pure performance with the simplicity, light weight, and user friendly handling and landing characteristics featured on the popular Wills Wing Spectrum. The result is a glider of extraordinarily accessible soaring and cross country capabilities that is an absolute joy to fly and to own. Performance and handling characteristics of the Super Sports fit directly in between those of the milder and more forgiving Spectrum and those of the competition class, world record setting HP AT series. Pilots moving up from the Spectrum will find an increased thermal search range due to the expanded speed range and higher UD. Those moving up from the Sport will find superior roll and pitch response; effortless, roll neutral thermal tracking, and a noticeable improvement in static balance and ease of landing. All Super Sport Pilots will benefit from all the standard AT features such as faired wingtips and nosecone, full race premium quality sail cloth, 7075 airframes and battens, pilot's choice of sail colors, of streamlined or round control bar legs, and of speedbar or straight basetube, comprehensive owner I service manual, and a superior quality glider protection system featuring a 600 denier UV resistant polyester cover bag and a wide array of protective pads and covers. Finally, as a member of the worldwide family of Wills Wing pilots, the Super Sport owner will enjoy the unmatched level of product and service quality that is only available from Wills Wing, Inc. If you're looking for top of the stack and over the horizon performance in a simple, fun to fly high quality aircraft, see your dealer today about a test flight on the Wills Wing Super Sport.
CA 92701
Phone (714) 547-1344 FAX (714) 547-0972
1
ST. PAUL, MINN - A new year of soaring begins and v.1e can wonder what new records may fal 1 (well, Larry?) . What new designs will emerge? In the '90s decade, UP anc. their TRX have enjoyed the limelight though sales still trail industry leaders Wills and PacAir. ••• Now UP offers an intermediate model using the successful TRX planform but 1,.1ith aluminum spars (it saves a fev.1 bucks) . The XTR - - once codenamed the TRX L -- extends UP' s model line, cleverly employing the remarkable reception to the composi,:::e-framed competition model. The Utah-based builder is accepting orders while the gl:'_der completes HGl'-'IA certification. Selected dealers have flown the XTR and are reportedly excited. ••• Near the end of '91, National Champ' Tony Barton and aerobatic guru John Heiney returned from an eastern road tour promoting UP. A western tour is planned next. Contact the factory to be included in these plans. • • • UP has geared up both parts and glider production to keep delays short. Parts are now going out the next day, 1.,1hile gliders carry a 3-4 week lag. • • • PacAir rnade a small change on their Double Vision tandem glider: a longer crosstube pullback cable that allm·1s further loosening of the static VG system. Othen,,1ise they continue to experience good feedback from the tandem users. ••• To better provide technical service, PacAir has instituted an unusual step in hang gliding: an 800 telephone number. Intended for use by their dealers, the free-call service all01;.1s order placing and technical questions. Rare throughout sport aviation, the 800 number shmvs PacAir' s determination to offer high quality service. • • • Sail loft manager Jeff Williamson has left the Salir_as factory. He' 11 be replaced by Jose Gonzales 1,1ith help fro~o Sue Christie and old veteran sailmaker, John LaTorre (v,,1hose work dates back to Vision 18 serial #1). APCO, the large Israeli manufac:::urer of hang· gliders and paragliders, is again attempting to penetrate the big USA market. Their new distributor, Ramy Yanetz, headquartered in the San Francisco area, is promoting the APCO Santana SRC 155 high performance model for a remarkably low $2,195. The glider features an electric VG option that provides push-button tuninq for $300 extrct, an afforda:ole option given the SRC' s low intro price. If the SRC's price still seems steep, Yanetz will sell you the APCO Nimbus "entrylevel glider" for a mere $1,395. Both gliders
boast both British and Swiss certification. The distributor also offers an APCO pod harness plus APCO emergency canopies. For demos or info contact Ramy at 415/964-8326. Another importer, Karl Myrenne, is pushing Europe's popular Flytec altimeter/variometer. The instrument offers a large display 1,.,1ith "dome" switches that permit operation even by a gloved hand. Dual digital altimeters provide both absolute and relative altitude, a nice touch, especially as the latter can be reset in flight. The vario uses a large analog display, often thought to be superior over a digital vario display (you can identify trends quicker than with a digital readout). In addition the Flytec features ad~ustable audio, a wind speed sensor, a real-time clock, plus 10-hour stop watch. Perhaps even more significant is the unit's memory for the last 20 flights including: max altitude (absolute), max climb rate, flight duration, a:1d flight date. Two batteries last 60 hours e&ch; a waxning shows :..ow battery and the unit has an auto-power-do1;m capability. If interested, call Dodeca in California at 510/490-4385. ••• Sail Wings of Little Rock, Arkansas has announced light1;.1eight UV protective covers for today's $4,000 gliders. These are full glider covers, intended for use when your glider sits in the sun, fully set up, waiting on conditions. Sail Wings also offers a transport bag made from the same material as ,. ·.Jell as a parachute inner bag (diaper). The material is a silver metalliccoated ripstop Nylon said to offer significant resistance to the sun's damaging rays. Full covers start at $125, storage bags from $80, and 'chute cLapers from $20. Call Sail Wings at 501/227-4920. To close, Austin Air Sports is creating a full-service flight park some,·.1hat like Bi;_l Fulton's Kaaawa Valley in Hav.1aii. Besides offering hang glider training in Austin, Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio, they've ope::-ied the Austin Air Park at \-'hndemere. Nearly every way to fly in Sport Aviation will eventually be offered including ultralights. As water is close at hand, 1;.1aterbased sports are also on che planning agenda. AAS presently occupies the field, so ground.based towing is currently offered. Gliders can stay ful_:_y built inside a hangar. For further info on this exciting faci!ity, call AAS at 512/ 474-1669. Once again, room is gone. So, got news or opinions? Send 'em to: 8 Dorset, St. Paul JvIN 55118. Call or fax to: 612/450-0930. THANKS!
© 1992 by Dan Johnson JANUARY 1992
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V
Since the early 80's, the Vision series has put performance in the hands of pilots of all skill levels and continues to improve and evolve.
THE BEST SERVICE IN THE WORLD
Sure that's a lx>ld claim, but at Pacific Airwave we've made it a way oflife to be the leaders in service and the rest of the industry is struggling to catch up. No other manufacturer can offer you: • One-day parts service on all models. • The hang gliding industry's only one-year warranty.
Pacific AJRWAVE P.O. BOX 4384 SALINAS. CA 93912
• Pacific Airwave's Technician Training Program, where authorized Service Centers are encouraged to send their staff to our Salinas factory for intensive hands-on training in glider inspection, construction and repair. • ...and the latest effort in service, the Worldwide Service System. The new K3 is being produced at lx>th Airwave factories (US and UK) to the same specifications, allowing any Airwave customer to buy any K3 part from any Airwave dealer anywhere. Our goal: to offer this unique service for every new design from the Airwave team. Imagine buying your glider in California and being able to buy a leading edge in Austria... Pacific Airwave, the best gliders in the air, the best service on the ground. Contact your authorized Pacific Airwave dealer today.
PHONE (408) 422-2299
FAX (408) 758-3270