USHGA Hang Gliding & Paragliding Vol33/Iss7 July 2003

Volume 33 Issue 7 July, 2003 $4.95

A P u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s H a n g G l i d i n g A s s o c i a t i o n • w w w. u s h g a . o r g

Jill Nephew

Point of the Mountain, Utah

Y ,T M2 E0 N 0T 3 D EJ PU AL R

Departments Editor’s Notes ....................................... 4 Pilot Briefings ...................................... 5

Bagger or Plumber: One True Religion? ............... 15

By Russ Brown

33

Observations from Wills Wing Demo Days ........... 17

By Rodger Furey

Air Mail................................................. 9 Calendar............................................. 12

2003 Flytec Championship...................................... 22

By Davis Straub

Accidents............................................ 14 Product Lines...................................... 49 New Ratings ....................................... 50 Santa’s List.......................................... 54 (More Lessons for Partners of Pilots) Master’s Corner.................................. 56 (Practice Your Forward Launch)

Play Hard and Win! Pilot Profile: Len Szafaryn ............. 29 Story by Richard Thompson

The St. John Record Encampment ........................ 33

by Vincent Endter

35

Status of Proposed Light Sport Aircraft Rules, Sport Pilot NPRM ..................................................... 47

By Jayne DePanfilis and Bill Bryden

Marketplace ....................................... 60

The Eagles of Fort Ebey ....................................... 35

Gallery................................................ 74 (Point of the Mountain Demo Days Images by Alejandrina Lupi)

A Record Setting 300 Miles of Non-flight! ....... 39

44

By John Kraske

by Jill Nephew

My First Flight ............................................................. 44 Cover Image: Salt Lake-area pilot Dave Chapman has been flying hang gliders for over 30 years.

By Koen Vancampenhoudt

Hang 2 View Turning in Lift...................................... 58

By Jennifer Beach

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58

17 29 Photo: Tim Meehan

Hang Gliding & Paragliding: July, 2003

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EDITOR’S NOTES

Accidents affect us all

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here can be no question that we enjoy a dangerous lifestyle. Accidents can, and all too often do, occur in hang gliding and paragliding. But when one of our own gets hurt—or worse—we all feel the pain. We enjoy a very close-knit community and as such we all share the good and the bad of our sports.

So far this year, we’ve all felt a great deal of pain. We have keenly felt the deaths of close friends and struggled to deal with the serious injuries of others.

Personally, this spring I shared a very painful experience with several pilots as we watched a close friend fall out of the sky. This was the first real flying accident I’ve witnessed —I’ve seen close calls before, but this was the first time I’ve watched a beautiful flight go terribly bad. My friend was coring in a sweet thermal when suddenly things turned ugly. The short of it is, he hit some nasty air that did bad things to his wing. He was just beginning his climb, so he wasn’t high yet. He deployed his reserve, and it did just have time to fully inflate but he was under that canopy for only a breath or two before he struck a steep hillside, injuring his back.

Standing on launch, I was filled with horror as I watched the flight suddenly turn ugly. Emotionally, I jumped from eager anticipation of my own flight, to sheer horror, then to extreme joy when—moments later— I found my friend conscious, lucid and with full feeling and mobility in all his extremities even though he suffered severe back pain. My joy disappeared as I focused on the tasks at hand.

With the other pilots on launch, we called for medical aid and arranged for evacuation to a hospital. Afterward, depression and fear settled on me.

I can’t deny that witnessing this accident—and again, not just a paragliding accident, but one involving a close friend—had a strong impact on my psyche. For a few days I questioned the logic 4

PILOT BRIEFINGS

Ski area reopens hill for free flight Colorado’s Copper Mountain Ski Area, located just an hour from Denver, recently reopened for recreational flying. The management of the ski area has also allowed the return of paragliding instruction at the site.

Summit Paragliding School resumed teaching at Copper Mountain on June 15, 2003. The school will be hiring tandem pilots to assist with training, and interested T-3 rated pilots should contact the school.

of this lifestyle.

But the more I thought of it, and the more I conversed with other pilots (including my injured friend) the more I realized that flying is part of my life. It is not something that can just be turned off. It can be controlled, however, and that’s what I realized I needed to do. Reaffirm my sense of control.

As I’ve said before, I am not a great pilot. I’ve only been flying for a few years, with around 160 flights in my log.

But I realize now I was slipping head first into ‘intermediate syndrome.’ I was allowing myself to become too comfortable in conditions I logically knew to be marginal for my skills. Further, I wasn’t spending quite as much time as I should on my weather modeling and conditions analysis. In short, I was taking some of the details for granted.

The accident I witnessed made me rethink all this. I am still flying, but first I’m making sure I run through all the proper steps and precautions as I was taught. I check and recheck the weather. I spend time practicing my ground handling skills. And I sometimes choose not to fly when conditions are even slightly marginal, no matter how many other pilots are in the air. As pilot in command of my own wing, I remind myself that I need to be comfortable and confident about my own flight. If I’m not, I won’t fly. Period.

Hang glider pilots are also welcome at Copper. The mountain is a great location for cross-country flights with easy access to launch—pilots planning XC flights should carry supplemental oxygen. For more information, contact: info@summitparagliding.net, (970) 968-0100 and ask for Gary Walker.

Or visit www.summitparagliding.com This mountain site in eastern Washington offers great thermal flights, but the valley system can create converging lift bands and rowdy air, too.

The accident I witnessed this spring occurred here.

our skills and our equipment to new limits through things like aerobatics.

And we are getting hurt far more frequently than we should.

I believe we can and we should advance the boundaries of free flight, but we need to advance the sports safely. The USHGA Accident Committees are addressing these issues, searching for ways to improve safety for our community. But it’s up to each of us to make sure that our free flight lifestyle is safe and injury-free. Periodically, we should all take a step back and reconsider the fundamentals we learned in our initial training. Because when one of us gets hurt, we all feel the pain.

Paragliding Tours offered in Europe.

Europe offers epic paragliding opportunities, but planning a flying vacation can be problematic. Now it’s easy, though, to fly sites in the Alps.

Forget about language barriers, travel details and itinerary issues.

USHGA’s 2001 Instructor of the Year, Marty Devietti , has partnered with Matt Gerdes—an American pilot who lives and guides half of each year in the Austrian Alps—to put together paragliding trips to some of the premiere flying sites in the Alps.

I would encourage everyone to give some thought to these issues as well. I think our entire community might be suffering from a form of ‘intermediate syndrome.’ We have a lot of pilots with great skills, and we have equipment that’s better and easier to fly than ever before. We are pushing

The tours are designed for any and all paraglider pilots with a P2 rating or higher. Devietti and Gerdes will tailor each tour to the pilots’ needs and desires, leading them to some of premiere sites of the Austrian Alps. The sites in the Alps generally boast grassy launches and landings, gondola-served sites of around 5,000 feet vertical (launch to landing), and brilliant cross country opportunities.

In addition to guide services to the sties, Gerdes and Devietti will provide assistance as requested to help participants improve their thermaling skills and cross country flying.

Most days, pilots will be able to land right in front of their hotel at the end of the day. Trips include Airport Transfers, quality accommodation with breakfast, instruction, guiding, and retrieves for 9 nights and 10 days. Costs begin at $1,650 per person.

Contact Matt for details, email: info@paraguide.com; call 011-43-676-908-7257 or visit www.paraguide.com

Tennessee Tree Toppers announce results of Team Challenge 2002 For more than a decade the Tennessee Tree Toppers’ Team Challenge has had more flying, more learning and more unforgettable fireside festivities than just about any meet ever camped together. Each year, we’ve bent more than a bit of aluminum, but no one got bent out of shape. We’ve had our share of bad weather, but never once were we weathered out of a few great days of soaring. And though it’s the first meet for so many—a comp. that’s shown countless pilots the basics of XC for points—the famous Radial Ramp has maintained its impeccable record for safety.

The 2002 meet kicked off with a

July, 2003: Hang Gliding & Paragliding

Hang Gliding & Paragliding: July, 2003

Sequatchie Valley stinker—a stable Sunday with but a few chances for glory and a lot of amusing spot landings. But before the sun set, nearly 300 points were awarded. With Steve Larson’s stiffy shooting out of the 5 mile circle and scoring large for the Flying Monkeys, good questions were raised about reclassification of rigids – until The Challenged took back the day with a finish setting them twice as far ahead in the standings. Henson’s own, the Birds of Prey, flapped into third for the day.

Monday turned up the heat. The task committee set the bar high; one of the Sequatchie’s southernmost waypoints, 24 miles down the ridge to Marion County Airport. And our undaunted pilots rose to the challenge. With 31 of 35 pilots running off the ramp for score-able XC flights, and every single pilot scoring spots or duration points, the scorekeepers were up well into the night tallying fully 1,600 pilot points.

Tuesday proved the meet’s most decisive day. A light southeast breeze saw an early start at the Tree Toppers’ fickle Whitwell site—and whether when you launched, potatoed, pushed or jumped out of line to let the pusher bail and flail, timing was everything.

Excitement was high as local Kathy Lee wind-dummied her way right out of sight after an ever-so-slow wafting climbout that saw her below launch dozen times and for more than half an hour, not one hundred feet above it. Lines formed and dissipated, pilots pushed and plummeted, or parted into tiny thermals and hung on in an aweinspiring series of gaggles just in front of launch. No textbook on thermaling would have been half as useful for a learning pilot, as the wiggly tracks and unending efforts of these persistent pilots — proof-positive for those in line of when and when not to launch.

By Tuesday’s cloudy conclusion, the teams had topped a thousand points and scattered their members all along the Sequatchie.

Most impressive was the hawk-like intuition of Jane Leonard and Linda Salamone, who saved a slowly but 5

PILOT BRIEFINGS

inevitably sinking field of flyers.

Searching out, marking, sharing and milking every ounce of lift out of the only good thermal to arrive in hours, these two C-ranked pilots showed us how it could be done. A dozen more experienced pilots stuck in line on launch bolted back into their harnesses and were foaming at the mouth to fly. Spirits soared as the gaggle got up—passing perilously close to Whitwell’s tall treetops—and the awestruck onlookers were shown our sport at its most spectacular as the most of the gang gained nearly 2,000 feet in marginal conditions, and shot off down the ridge.

So many made it so far, in sinky, switchy air. Jeff Laughrey and a couple of others got incredibly close to goal.

But the optimistic 18-mile haul to the cross-valley target was achieved only by a lucky, late launching wind dummy.

Terry Presley’s prescient perseverance on launch had seen him suited up and searching for a sign of lift, for nearly two hours. And just over an hour after launching, he smoked into goal.

Wednesday dawned wet. Weathered in for the last few days, the task committee had the difficult decision of optimism against impossible odds or just calling it a meet.

But that night, as they delivered their decision, a wondrous thing happened.

Icaro, U.S. Aeros, Moyes, Wills Wing, Quest Air, Wallaby, Flytec and our other wonderfully generous sponsors got together and took the sting out of wrapping up early. Fully two thousand dollars of fantastic prizes

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PILOT BRIEFINGS

General Store on Hwy 149, 18 miles west of Creede. 4WD vehicle recommended.

Contact Bill Lemon at (505) 280-3552 blemonbryconaz@aol.com or Larry Smith (970) 642-1520 for info.

were drop shipped and piled high on the table: an Icaro Sky Runner Pro helmet, half price on a slick new Aeros Viper Harness, hundreds of dollars of Moyes gear, amazingly accurate wind meters from Flytec and tows, speed sleeves, shirts and mile high tows and generous flight packages from the Wallaby Ranch and Quest Air. Pilots ate, drank, made merry—and made out like bandits. And as fate would have it, some even soared again before the week was out!

Hearty thanks go out to all who made the meet possible. None of the Tree Toppers’ meets would have been half the fun without the fantastic launch crew, the generous locals, the supportive spectators and dedicated drivers, the pilots who converged from all across America, and especially our kind sponsors who dug deep in their pockets and put out a southern style spread that did us all proud.

Fly safe…and see you all next fall!

Sup’Air offers new products for big and small pilots Sup’Air offers two new sizes on the popular Evo Top, Dorsal and Ventral and Evo-Pro Top, Dorsal and Ventral harness models. The X-Small and XLarge now complement the lines, which make for a total of five sizes in each of three models or 15 available options.

All harnesses are available in red-black or blue-black.

Other new harness models will also

be coming to the US within the next several months.

Sup’Air also offers technical movies of its products (harnesses and reserves) on the Internet. A dozen non-streaming videos are available to the viewers to help them in their buying decisions and equipment set up. The movies are in the QuickTime format and the plug-in can be downloaded from the Sup’Air-USA site at www.supair-usa.com.

Fourth of July free flight festivities Pilots gathering at Creede, Colorado for the Fourth of July Fly-In, from July 3-6, 2003.

Berkeley club tackles ‘History of Hang Gliding’ project Back in 1977 a small group of pilots at UC Berkeley, looking for an easier way for starving students to go flying, formed the UC Berkeley Hang Gliding Club.

The club was established with a co-op format, where the club provided gliders and instructors, and members paid nominal dues each semester. Several members of the club completed USHGA instructor certification, and regularly scheduled lessons were offered each fall and spring to dozens of aspiring pilots, most of whom were students or employees at the university. The “high performance” gliders in the club’s fleet back then consisted of a Highster and a

Seagull 10.5 Meter. Training happened at Dillon Beach, Fort Cronkite and a number of other Bay Area sites that are no longer available for flying.

Today, the Berkeley Hang Gliding Club is not directly affiliated with UC Berkeley, but has about 50 active members and much more modern equipment. They still operate as a coop bringing the fun and camaraderie of hang gliding to many in the Berkeley area, with regular trips to the great flying sites in northern California.

Frank Tucker, one of the early members of the club, is in the process of assembling a collection of pictures, movies, stories and paraphernalia from those first few years of the club, with the goal of creating a history for the club’s website. Pilots who were UCBHGC members in the late 70s or early 80s, or who know former pilots who were members, are encouraged to contact

him if they have material that would contribute to this effort to preserve a piece of local hang gliding history.

Contact: Frank Tucker, (650) 329-9709 or email: franktucker3@earthlink.net

New vario offered from Digifly Digifly introduces the new Flyer vario.

Similar to the Explorer but without a compass this vario comes with several useful features including a temperature gauge and a continuous LCD battery life indicator. The suggested retail price is $299 but this vario is available for a very limited time for $199 from the Paraglider Network.

Contact www.paraglider.net, or call (703) 273-7727.

Join us in celebrating our country’s birthday by flying from 12,700 Bristol Head in the heart of the San Juan Mountains. Lots of activities for the whole family and a great fireworks display. Go to the Creede, Colorado Chamber of Commerce website www.creede.com to book accommodations and check out the activities. This site is great for both para and hang pilots. This is an open event with no fee, just come, bring your high altitude skills, and have a good time.

Daily meeting at Freemons Ranch &

July, 2003: Hang Gliding & Paragliding

Hang Gliding & Paragliding: July, 2003

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Photo credit corrections In the May 2003 issue the Rat Race article, page 30, some photos were confused and incorrectly attributed to me.

None of the Woodrat Mountain photos I submitted were published.

Instead one of the two images, neither of Woodrat Mountain, taken

by Peter Warren, was incorrectly attributed to me. I would appreciate a correction attributing the image to it’s creator, Peter Warren.

Thank you, Donald Fitch

Now, I need advice from paragliders and hang gliders who have successfully negotiated with cities to gain approval for flight activities. I live on the Palos Verdes Peninsula in Southern California and want to pursue the City of Rancho Palos Verdes for a flight area.

The city manager, Les Evans, stated recently that he is willing to review their ban on flight but he wants a proposal that addresses takeoff area, landing area, safety and insurance, and more, I suspect.

And, if anyone has any experience with this city in the past, I would appreciate communication.

M A I L

Don’t coddle either gender As a female, I have no problem using contextual clues to interprete “guys” or “man” to be non-gender specific.

Coddling hypersensitive individuals by ensuring both genders are explicitly mentioned is silly (IMHO) and only serves to reduce the readability of written passages.

Am I the only female out here who has no problem understanding that when someone says, “Hey guys, let’s go flying!” that the speaker is talking to everyone (male and female) who shares a penchant for flying?

Holly N. Korzilius

Kurt Shafer ks@rtg.com Editor’s response: Sorry for the error.

We strive for accuracy, but mistakes do happen. We appreciate hearing from you so we can set the record straight.

Dan Nelson (dan@ushga.org)

Cross training, free flight style Our sport’s magazine has improved incredibly. The technical articles now have room to be complete.

Dixon’s article on getting checked out in aero towing hang gliders is a great example of how our attitude should be.

Everyone needs to understand how the others in their thermal fly—and what do you know? It’s all good fun!

The combined magazine is helping us understand biwinguistics (Gawd, that’s pushing the English language). Let’s all do some cross-training. There’s always something to learn.

Jim Staniforth (flyer of many wings, master of none)

Help needed in site development I like the fact that hang gliding and paragliding are together at last. I love both sports and have experience in each.

Hang Gliding & Paragliding: July, 2003

Additional considerations motors A couple of points Dixon White made regarding motor units are not necessarily indicative of all designs.

I assume he was looking to be conservative in indicating the upper range of motor weights and cost of propellers.

The latest technology puts certain motors at around 45 to 55 pound dry with ample thrust for most pilots.

Night and day to a 90-plus pound example as indicated if one has ever had the pleasure to compare. Wooden props are going to run you in the $170 range for many units. It’s always nice to keep a spare prop handy.

Weight on your back for extended periods while on the ground, cost of repairs and availability of parts are among the things one might want to consider before committing to any particular design. Invariably one will whack a prop or bend/break a cage.

One size does not necessarily fit all so some of these issues might not take priority over others before choosing what’s best for you.

Walter Hines

Men, women or persons?

It has become clear to me as I grow older that there are more and more people on this planet who can not look at the word “man” as used in your opening page and think of it (as I do) as a generic term for all of us thinking beings that inhabit this planet.

However if you are going to change I must say that the change to “mankind” offends me, as I’m sure it will others, as it still contains the root “man.” Changing to humans or humankind has the same problem.

I really think that something along the line of huperson or hupersonkind might be best.

Orlando Stephenson

Accident analysis appreciated Great accident analysis, Jim Little! You put a lot of time and effort into your reports! Thanks for helping us become clearer of where our strengths and weaknesses lie in this sport!

It would be great to have even more comparative information in order to see more clearly what the most dangerous things are that we do.

Like what is the percentage of time we spend in the air doing aerobatics?

Probably less than 1/10th of 1 percent compared to 6 percent of accidents.

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M A I L

Aerobatics over land looks like one of the highest risk things we do, minute for minute. Ironically, aerobatics over water looks to be one of the safest.

It would also be good to know, what percentage of pilots fly DHV-2 or DHV 2-3 wings. Does that percentage match the 49 percent of accident rate for DHV 2 or 2-3 wings?

Even though 21 percent is during launch, and 49 percent in flight, we probably spend 50 to 100 times more time in flight mode than launch mode.

So launching is probably substantially more dangerous than in flight.

Statistics can go on and on. We each have a good sense of which parts of flying are more or less dangerous for us personally and as a group, regardless of the statistics.

We can help ourselves by changing our weak points into strong points, i.e. kiting may increase risk in the short

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term but will reduce our risks over all.

I spent more time with your article than with most other entire issues of the magazine.

Thanks Jim, Ken Hudonjorgensen Author’s response: Thanks for your great feedback Ken. I share your interest in collecting more meaningful statistics.

We suffer from a lack of good “census” data. Although we know how many USHGA members there are, we don’t have a good handle on the total number of active pilots (both USHGA and nonUSHGA members), how many flights and hours each pilot flies, the types of flights (i.e. ridge soaring, thermals, XC, aerobatics), what rating of wing they fly, how many wings of each rating type are sold each year, etc. This data is essential “denominator” data to help us calculate the types of statistics you suggest.

In the past, we’ve tried to estimate this from the USHGA membership survey, which unfortunately has a low response rate. We could hire a pollster to survey a few hundred pilots and provide us with some of these facts, but that is costly.

We’ve even brainstormed about having some kind of an online “flight log” that pilots could use to log all their flights if we could collect anonymous data about number of flights, etc. Perhaps some of the equipment distributors or manufacturers would provide us with the number of wings of each DHV rating that have been sold for the past few years. We are even looking into contacting life insurance companies to see where they get some of their data about the risks of the sport.

We would welcome suggestions from you or any pilot on how to collect this data.

Drop us an email to: editor@ushga.org if you have any ideas!!

Sincerely, Jim Little

Safety First First off, congratulations on the first issues of the combined magazine. I like it and I look forward to learning more about hang gliding.

I am writing about the string of fatalities in paragliding over the last year, including the 2 accidents in the Owens Valley this past September. I was flying in the US Nationals that week, and while I finished near the bottom, I did have my personal best flights in distance and altitude. I also witnessed an accident on launch that led to a fatality, and a reserve deployment that led to a rescue operation, in which I participated.

Nothing new though—last year at the US Nationals in Chelan, we started each day with a review of the previous day’s flying and nearly everyday with a story of a reserve deployment. On the last day of flying, the pilot who launched just after me, spun his wing and crashed soon after launch, resulting in a serious back injury. So, it has been my experience that flying and competing can lead to serious accidents.

I am curious why this seems to come as a surprise to our community. Do we not know that paragliding is dangerous? Have we rationalized that it will not happen to me, so we can suppress our fear? I used to wonder my first year, why the most experienced pilots seemed to be the most cautious.

I seemed to be taking risks that they would not. Now at 1000 flights with a T-3, Basic Instructors rating and 4 comps under my belt, I feel like I know less than I did as a P-2.

So, let’s enjoy our community, our friends we have made, the casual banter on launch or in the LZ, but let’s not forget that when it is time to fly, it’s serious business.

Bob Rinker

Hang glider pilot says, ‘I don’t care for PG content’ I know you aren’t going to like this but the new magazine sucks.

I’m a hang glider pilot—for 25 years.

I’m just not really interested in reading stuff about paragliding. Please put our respective stuff in different sections.

Better still, give us our own magazines.

(What a novel idea!)

Why the horrible, thick glossy paper?

What is the point? To make it look fatter? To cost more? To waste more resources? We don’t need this—it’s terrible! Why the ridiculous pictures half obscured with the lines in the High Rock article? Is this supposed to be clever? Arty? It’s BS, is what it is.

Have you finally settled on a font style?

The last two magazines were partly unreadable because of awful fonts.

M A I L

Cover image illustrates our class structure Congratulations. The cover of Volume 33 issue 5 is distilled perfection of images that represent a pernicious attitude in our sport. The title shows silhouetted logos of a hang glider soaring above a paraglider. The cover photo shows a hang glider looking down on a paraglider. The name of the magazine’s organization completely omits paragliding. The tag line between them exhorts acquiescence by shouting “SHUT UP AND FLY!” However, accepting this as status quo is impossible. The proof is on pages 50 and 51 where the earned paraglider to hang glider ratings are reported at 1.6 to 1. The whole situation reminds me of a quip I heard by a ski-lift operator.

After some skiers made disparaging remarks about snowboarding, he replied “Remember every day an old skier dies and a snowboarder is born…”

I have been a member of USHGA ever since I have lived in the USA, and written articles for Hang Gliding. But this magazine is SO disappointing.

The magazine is finally merged, now we need to change USHGA’s name to include all of us.

Leo Jones

Barry Parish

Paraglider pilot says, ‘I don’t care for HG content’ I suspect you don’t want to hear from another reader preferring the “old” format to the “new” format, but I feel compelled to write you. What I’ve actually experienced is a profound sense of loss. I used to look forward to Paragliding magazine and go cover to cover in under an hour. It was the same passion I had many years ago with my climbing magazines and I’m sad to say that it’s gone.

I expected, like you, that the new format would be better and that I would probably enjoy both and even learn from the hang gliding articles.

It ain’t so! I miss the anticipation as much as the magazine. I really don’t care for the hang gliding articles and miss the exclusive paragliding content.

Editor’s note: Mr. Parish, be assured that there was no hidden agenda in the selection of the photo nor the design of the magazine’s title flag. The position of the two wings in the name is purely happenstance (the Art Director is himself a paraglider pilot). As for the name of the organization, the USHGA board of directors discussed that very issue in some detail at their spring meeting, and the organization will be analyzing the name as part of an overall brand development program over the next several months.

Dan Nelson (dan@ushga.org)

Jim Ongena 10

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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 than six weeks prior to the event. We request two months lead time for regional and national meets. For more complete information on the events listed, please see our Calendar of Events at www.ushga.org

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clinics, tours JUNE-JULY, 2003: Touch the Andes. Guided paragliding tours to the Central Andes of Peru by Jeff Cristol.

Contact: cristol8750@hotmail.com.

OCTOBER 19-25, 2003: Paragliding Lake Powell Deluxe Maneuvers (SIV) clinic. Two-can Fly Paragliding/ Ken Hudonjorgensen, Draper UT, (801) 572-3414, khudonj@qwest.net, www.twocanfly.com

JUNE 1-JULY 31, 2003: Austin Air Sports is hosting their 2nd annual LSXC expedition in Edinburg, TX. www.austinairsports.com.

NOVEMBER 2-8, 2003: Ridge Soaring Clinic in New Mexico with Parasoft Paragliding School www.parasoftparagliding.com/NewMexico.html

JULY 2-6, 2003: SIV Clinics at the Palisades Reservoir. Contact: Scott Harris. Jackson Hole Paragliding (307) 690-8726 www.jhparagliding.com

NOVEMBER 9-15, 2003: Ridge Soaring Clinic in New Mexico with Parasoft Paragliding School www.parasoftparagliding.com/NewMexico.html

JULY 12-18, 2003: Sierra Nevada Safari. Contact Dennis Harris heliumharris@worldnet.att.net (775) 530-4393.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER/JANUARY 2003/4: Mid Atlantic Airsports – Spain and the Canary Islands. http://midatlanticairsports.com/trips.html

Competition JUNE 30 – JULY 6: Chelan XC Classic - USHGA class A sanctioned, held in Chelan, Washington. See www.cloudbase.org and click on 2003 Classic, or contact Steve Alford (425) 788-0308.

JULY 27-AUGUST 1, 2003: CLASS 1, 2 & 5 HG X-C MEETS: US Nationals, Big Spring, Texas Sanction: USHGA Class A sanctioned and CIVL/WPRS points meet: Flex, Rigid and Swift class.

See http://www.flytec.com AUGUST 7-9, 2003: Sierra Nevada Open Distance Hang Gliding Championships, Reno, Nevada area. Contact Rose Carter (775) 359-3933 or rose_carter@hotmail.com, also heliumharris@worldnet.att.net SEPTEMBER 16-20, 2003: Paragliding US Nationals. USHGA sanctioned, hosted by the Telluride Air Force at Gold Hill, Telluride. Pre-registration $250/$300 after Aug. 31. Official practice dates: September 14&15. Weather dates: September 21&22. Scott MacLowry at (970) 369-4696, http://www.tellurideairforce.org Until Dec. 31, 2003: The Michael Champlin World X-C Challenge.

Open to paragliders, hang gliders, rigid wings and sailplanes.

Visit http://www.hanggliding.org or contact John Scott (310) 447-6234, fax (310) 447-6237, brettonwoods@email.msn.com.

fun flyin g JULY 3-6, 2003: Fourth of July Fly In, Creede, Colorado. Contact Bill Lemon at (505) 280-3552 blemonbryconaz@aol.com or Larry Smith (970) 642-1520 for info. www.creede.com JULY 3-7, 2003: Annual Lakeview, Oregon Fun Fly-In (a.k.a. the Umpteenth Annual Festival of Footlaunched Flight).

Registration on Thursday July 3rd, fly the 4th, 5th and 6th, awards on the 7th. Jules Gilpatrick, freeflite@centurytel.net AUGUST 30-SEPTEMBER 1, 2003: Brad Koji Memorial Fly-In, North Park, Colorado. Details at www.rmhga.org SEPTEMBER 13TH AND 14TH, 2003: 13th Annual Pine Mountain Fly-In, Bend, Oregon. Contact Phil Pohl 541/388-3869 philpohl@coinet.com or visit www.desertairriders.org

JULY 18-20, 2003: Paragliding Thermal Clinic. Two-can Fly Paragliding/ Ken Hudonjorgensen, Draper UT, (801) 572-3414, khudonj@qwest.net, www.twocanfly.com

DECEMBER 13-20, 2003: Paragliding Southern CA trip. Twocan Fly Paragliding/ Ken Hudonjorgensen, Draper UT, (801) 572-3414, khudonj@qwest.net, www.twocanfly.com

JULY 26-27, 2003: 2003 Mt. St. Helens/Toutle Valley Fly In. More info: http://www.cascadeparaglidingclub.org/brett/ toutle.html AUGUST 8-10, 2003: Paragliding 3-Day Maneuvers (SIV) & Thermal Clinic. Two-can Fly Paragliding/ Ken Hudonjorgensen, Draper UT, (801) 572-3414, khudonj@qwest.net, www.twocanfly.com

JANUARY 3-10, 2004: Valle de Bravo Mexico with Ken and Kevin Biernacki. Two-can Fly Paragliding/ Ken Hudonjorgensen, Draper UT, (801) 572-3414, khudonj@qwest.net, www.twocanfly.com 572-t3414, khudonj@qwest.net, www.twocanfly.com

AUGUST 12-14, 2003: Paragliding 3-Day Maneuvers (SIV) & Thermal Clinic. Two-can Fly Paragliding/ Ken Hudonjorgensen, Draper UT, (801) 572-3414, khudonj@qwest.net, www.twocanfly.com

meetings OCTOBER 3-5, 2003: 2003 Fall USHGA Board of Directors’ Meeting, Ramada Inn, Outer Banks Resort and Conference Center, PO Box 2716, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948, Telephone Reservations: 1-800-635-1824 or (252) 441-2151, Fax: (252) 441-1830 See www.ushga.org/hotnews.asp for more details.

SEPTEMBER 19-21, 2003: Ridge Soaring Clinic at Reader Mesa and Anvil Point, Colorado with Parasoft Paragliding School. www.parasoftparagliding.com/Reader.html, www.parasoftparagliding.com/AnvilPoint.html SEPTEMBER 20-21, 2003: Paragliding Mountain Flying and Site Pioneering. Two-can Fly Paragliding/ Ken Hudonjorgensen, Draper UT, (801) 572-3414, khudonj@qwest.net, www.twocanfly.com OCTOBER 3-5, 2003: Paragliding Instructor Training. Two-can Fly Paragliding/ Ken Hudonjorgensen, Draper UT, (801) 5723414, khudonj@qwest.net, www.twocanfly.com OCTOBER 4, 2003: Paragliding Instructor Recertification. Twocan Fly Paragliding/ Ken Hudonjorgensen, Draper UT, (801) 572-3414, khudonj@qwest.net, www.twocanfly.com OCTOBER 11-12, 2003: Paraglider Tandem Clinic (T2 & T3) Twocan Fly Paragliding/ Ken Hudonjorgensen, Draper UT, (801) 572-3414, khudonj@qwest.net, www.twocanfly.com OCTOBER 16-18, 2003: Paragliding Lake Powell Maneuvers (SIV) clinic.

Two-can Fly Paragliding/ Ken Hudonjorgensen, Draper UT, (801)

12

July, 2003: Hang Gliding & Paragliding

Hang Gliding & Paragliding: July, 2003

13

TRU E

A C C I D E N T S

PG ACCIDENT REPORT

Editor’s Note: After many long months of absence, we should soon see a return of the Hang Gliding accident report to this magazine. We appreciate your patience and understanding as our new HG accident columnist gets organized and initiated into the process.

A bad start to the year: Two fatalities already

By Peter Reagan Mountain site, early spring, 10:30 a.m., smooth conditions According to pilots present at the time, Chris Neuman, a 29-year-old experienced tandem instructor, indicated via radio that he was going to perform aerobatics. He initiated his “routine” at approximately 1200 feet AGL. Following two rotations in an asymmetric spiral dive, the pilot attempted a loop/tumble entry into a SAT maneuver. The glider experienced approximately a 40 percent asymmetrical deflation and exited the SAT after one rotation.

Following the exit, the glider surged and experienced a full frontal deflation. It then recovered/reinflated asymmetrically. Now in approximately a 30 percent asymmetrical front deflation, the glider rotated. While rotating, the glider recovered/re-inflated but continued in a stable spiral dive for three revolutions until impact.

The pilot crashed into a river in about one foot of water. Two pilots in the air landed adjacent to the crash location and pulled the victim from the river. CPR was started and EMT personnel were contacted immediately. Resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful. Pilots present saw no discernible input to the glider from the pilot following the SAT maneuver. No deformation on the trailing edge of the wing—indicating pilot input—nor hand movements were observed. There was no attempt to deploy the reserve parachute.

The reserve handle was in place and believed to be in working order.

14

Several very experienced observers feel that the most likely reason for lack of pilot input was loss of consciousness from excessive acceleration. Alternative possibilities involve in-air pilot injury because of the violence of the events, or even the possibility that a tangled line may have snapped the pilot’s neck.

Practice site, afternoon, fairly smooth air Eigi Yokoda, a very experienced hang glider pilot but neophyte paraglider pilot with about 15 flights was taking a solo instructional flight on a DHV 1 wing from a 500-foot hill in smooth, moderate conditions. His launch was good but his flight was noted to be over-braked. He experienced a full stall about 20 feet AGL and landed on his right shoulder and head. He was immediately unconscious and died within an hour, in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.

These two accidents are a study in contrasts. The first pilot was quite experienced but in the throes of intermediate syndrome, and expert acquaintances felt he was trying to do things beyond his level of training. No paragliding pursuit is less forgiving of intermediates than aerobatics. And it is likely that aerobatic pilots tend to be bold. I’m committed to trying to help more of them get old.

RELIGION

above the ground. It doesn’t usually cause serious injury under appropriate training conditions. Bad luck was involved. But for all of us, including those who already have more training, this accident is just one more tragic reminder that speed is your friend.

Deaths affect the rest of us more significantly than we allow ourselves to see. Beyond the obvious grief and pain, we tend to respond with denial, and rationalize why we ourselves will not suffer the same fate. Surviving a friend’s death makes us feel special when what we really are is lucky.

Fly humbly, even as you perform spectacular feats. Humility saves lives.

We have no trouble keeping track of fatal accidents. We always hear about paragliding deaths through many sources. It is the accidents that pilots crawl away from that we need to hear about. Regardless of the extent of your injuries—or even if you don’t get injured—send in reports of your accidents and flying incidents. Your reporting can help prevent future accidents.

I

’ve long respected and been fascinated by the Amish, a people whose deep religious beliefs forbid the use of electricity or complicated machinery. They’re happy without computers, TV’s and telephones, cellular or otherwise. In the aviation arena, hang gliding would seem to get the Amish seal of approval. We have no motors, no licenses, not even a cockpit.

We ought to fly with straw hats, not helmets.

But wait, what about the splinter sect of footlaunch zealots who, despite their Day-Glo outfits, have seemingly reached a higher plane of orthodoxy by shunning aluminum and bolts — paraglider pilots?

I would like to add in relation to this accident that if one follows the paragliding grapevine, aerobatic accidents seem to be notoriously under-reported. This is at least the third aerobatic death in the United States, and there have been several in other parts of the world. Aerobats out there, if you want to improve the safety and therefore the continued possibilities for your subspecialty, report your accidents.

It literally saves lives.

About a week ago I scraped the muffler of my Honda CRX up to the top of Marshall Peak (near Crestline, California), set up my old Comet 2 hang glider and launched at 1:15 p.m. into very clear and surprisingly strong conditions. Gliders were visible above all three major peaks. I immediately snagged a boomer to the left of launch and worked up into the gaggle of paragliders above Marshall. (Knock on aluminum, but I’ve never had a bad experience flying amongst paragliders, even in the notorious Torrey Pines HG/RC/PG/sailplane air cocktail.)

The second report is a comparative rarity: a pilot making a neophyte mistake and paying for it with his life. Flying too slowly on landing is relatively common early on, and many students will have a similar experience of almost stalling July 2003: Hang Gliding & Paragliding

Hang Gliding & Paragliding: July, 2003

By Russ Brown Although I was a bit nervous to leave Marshall without a driver, I challenged myself to run “the circuit” that day

(what I call flying the triangle with Crestline, Pine Flats and Marshall as turnpoints). As I was gaining enough altitude to shoot over the back to Crestline I noticed a fairly square, faded, orange paraglider heading back about 300 feet below me.

“Wow,” I thought.

“This guy’s got balls to head out that low in a paraglider.”

I made another circle and saw that he wasn’t hitting any massive sink, so I followed and caught up to him at the Crestline launch where I hung out and watched him race to the “billboard” (a microwave reflector at the west end of the mountain) while he hugged the terrain. I got to the billboard and was having a little trouble working some trash, when I looked up and was surprised to see the intrepid Orangeman really high and starting off toward Pine Flats. Now my competitive fires were ignited.

“Wait a second! This guy’s ahead of me on the circuit — in a bagwing!”

15

TRUE RELIGION

W W D E M O D AY S

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I hadn’t top-landed Marshall in 15 years and had forgotten what a satisfying, independent feeling you get landing next to your car after a thermal flight.

16

I thought. Getting frustrated by the trash close in, I switched strategies and blundered into an unusually strong 1,000 fpm thermal farther away from the mountain, over the concrete cylinder. After I topped at 700 feet above I shot over to Pine, circled the peak, and then headed toward Marshall. I could see the orange PG’er working the foothills of Pine. I admired his guts and got a quick new respect for paraglider capabilities, considering how fast and how far he had flown.

After one additional thermal I flew back to Marshall and top-landed while the conditions were still good (I didn’t want to risk getting drilled without a driver). I hadn’t top-landed Marshall in 15 years and had forgotten what a satisfying, independent feeling you get landing next to your car after a thermal flight.

While bagging my glider I noticed the orthodox congregation at the edge of launch. As I struggled to heft my metal-tubed contraption to the top of my car, a lean figure parted the paragliding crowd and walked toward me. I looked twice.

“It can’t be… it is… The Creator!” I thought in awe.

There, standing in front of me with palms outstretched, dust majestically swirling around his feet and cloaked in a faded Day-Glo jumpsuit, wa arguably the greatest hang glider designer in history, the creator of the Comet, and now paraglider pilot — Roy Haggard.

Was he here to lay hands on my fluttering trailing edge?

What profound utterances would this holy man impart? Would he speak of his religious journey to the pureness of paragliding? What wisdom would he choose to reveal to me?

“Do you have any toilet paper?” he asked.

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“Some People Never Grow Up!”

W

hat’s making that annoying popping noise?

Rob Kells, president of Wills Wing, is standing in front of two hundred fifty hang glider pilots at the 30th Anniversary Wills Wing Demo Days dinner, trying to express his gratitude for the enthusiastic turnout, but something that sounds like a low voltage bug zapper is distracting him. It’s not until Wallaby Ranch tug pilot Tiki Mashy leaps to her feet and snatches a sheet of plastic bubble wrap from a grinning Chris Wills that the culprit is revealed.

“Some people never grow up!” proclaims Rob, returning the mischievous grin of his tormentor. The comment is met with thunderous applause. It’s just a throwaway line, off the cuff, not exceptionally clever or amusing, but it resonates with this particular group. This eclectic collection of middle aged and somewhat more than middle aged individuals have managed, despite their advancing years, to preserve an almost child-like passion toward the joy and wonder of powerless flight. They’ve gathered together at Wallaby Ranch to celebrate the success and longevity of the one remaining major hang glider manufacturer in the United States.

to pick their landing spot with sufficient care. Demo Days ushered in the beginning of more typical spring weather with four soarable days out of the six. During those four days the Ranch averaged 150 tows a day and the sky was filled with gliders, by some accounts as many as 60 to 80 at a time. Pilots were encouraged to fly as many of the 22 Wills Wing demo gliders as was humanly possible.

“Please do not leave the Ranch with a demo glider!” That was the oftshouted mantra of the Wills crew.

They could be heard anxiously repeating the phrase up and down the flight line as eager pilots, some who had been snowbound for months, gazed up at the endless cumies and entertained dreams of going long.

“It’s called a U2.”

“Huh? The spy plane?”

“It probably stands for UltraSport 2.”

“Why didn’t they just call it that?”

“Dunno.”

“Or that rock group from Ireland.

People are going to confuse it with those guys.”

“Unlikely.”

“It’s a stupid name.”

“Well, Rob is around here somewhere. Why don’t you go tell him that?”

“Naw … Hey! Do you think I could get him to sell me one cheap?”

Wills Wing’s Demo Days took place over a six-day period near the end of March. Rain had dominated the first quarter of 2003 in central Florida.

An aerial view of the area revealed a predominance of flooded fields, an observation reinforced by the mud filled shoes of those who neglected

It is just 9:45 a.m. and the jockeying for position has already begun. Small groups of people begin to enter the barn and drift nonchalantly toward the rear of the building. Some pretend to watch TV, others feign idle chatter with new best friends conveniently seated near the beginning of the serving line. It’s a human chess

Hang Gliding & Paragliding: July, 2003

17

W W D E M O D AY S

W W D E M O D AY S

game performed by would-be master strategists, a matter of opportunistic timing and lightning-quick reflexes. All eyes rest on Jeremy as he bustles about the kitchen, all waiting for that almost imperceptible gesture that will start the stampede. Hesitate for an instant and you’re fiftieth in line.

It’s breakfast time at Wallaby Ranch and only the quick and the ruthless will prevail.

“Holy macaroni, is that a Falcon?”

Normally it isn’t this intense, but the exceptionally large turnout for Demo Days is taxing the kitchen staff. The food continues to be superb but the availability is sporadic, particularly if you’ve missed the initial rush. Eventually someone remembers to ring the breakfast bell, no longer a precursor of breakfast but a harbinger of the end, a grim reminder to those who have been caught napping that the pickings will be slim.

“It was contrived as a novelty glider for one of the local XC hotshots to use when they go after that $1000 single surface Wallaby prize. I don’t think it’s for sale.”

“They’re calling it an Attack Falcon.”

“Clear mylar sail and a slipstream control frame. Oh, I think I’m getting a woody!”

“Too bad. Did you see those old-timers hovering all over the thing? You’d think it was the second coming of Ann-Margret. Hey look, stripped wires!”

It’s Friday evening.

Following an aerobatic demonstration by Mitch McAleer, who once again displayed his unique inability to maintain the attitude of his hang glider within suggested manufacturer recommendations, Chris Wills is providing the entertainment with a compilation of old films from the 1970’s showing the Wills brothers and

Photos: Walter Rowe

their early attempts at flight. Too young, too thin, and with way too much hair, these kids had thrown caution to the wind and embarked on a journey of discovery, invention and full frontal face-plants. The big top is filled with laughter at the images of these young pioneers hanging by their armpits from a bamboo lattice, thrashing their feet from side to side in an inexplicable aerial ballet performed by the institute for the hopelessly graceless. Chris Wills explains that they were not particularly well versed in the scientific method and an initial success had led to the notion

of swinging one’s feet to perpetuate flight. Watching the antics on the screen, it becomes apparent that hang gliding for the young Wills boys could be summed up in four steps - launch, flight, impact and repair.

“Wonder Woman.”

“Eh?” “They’re calling it the Wonder Woman glider, the 20,000th hang glider manufactured by Wills Wing.

It’s that Falcon with the stars and stripes motif.”

“And what about the Talon with the same pattern, the one that Mitch McAleer just finished using and abusing?”

“That’s the 20,001st glider manufactured.”

“Let me guess - they’re calling it Captain America.”

“Uh, no.”

“Pity.”

“Doesn’t anyone have a BB

Photos: Walter Rowe

W W D E M O D AY S

“Hey, what has a sink rate of 425 fpm and an L/D of 4:1?”

“A paraglider dragging a bucket of rocks?”

“Nope, it’s number 35. The 35th production glider from Wills Wing. It’s the glider that Chris Wills used to win the US Hang Gliding Championship in 1973.”

“That’s nice.”

“You’re sitting under it”.

“Oh, I thought it was a canopy to provide some shade. You mean they actually used to fly these things?”

“Guess so.”

“Whoa… we’ve come a long way in thirty years.”

“You got that right.”

Now it’s Saturday night in the big top.

Mike Meier has a perplexed expression on his face. One moment he’s presenting a slide show to an audience at the Saturday night dinner, the next moment his audience is gone. Another explosion of light and sound and the missing crowd articulates approval with the obligatory “oooh’s” and “ahhh’s” from outside the tent. Mike glances over at Malcolm, who can only

Wills Wing’s Demo Days event is winding down. Mike Barber is describing the forecast for Sunday as “nuclear” which suggests there will be little flying except for the stout of heart or galactically stupid. The beer is flowing, a band is playing in the barn and there is a growing number of people trying to wangle seconds of roast beef and lobster ravioli out of Jeremy.

It’s a beautiful night. Life is good at the Ranch, thanks to the tireless efforts of Wills Wing, Malcolm and the Wallaby staff. Wills Wing’s annual Demo Days at the Ranch truly is a happening not to be missed.

Photos: Walter Rowe

gun?”

The warm ambiance of a crackling fire is spoiled by the soulless illumination from a nearby streetlight.

A transplanted streetlight, telephone pole and all, inhabits the center of the Wallaby complex near the bathrooms and the climbing wall, a prime piece of real estate which had, until now, appeared to be the perfect place for a cozy campfire. A group of pilots discuss among themselves the best way to deal with the problem. Climbing is dismissed as too dangerous, ironic considering the source, and Malcolm has wisely denied all knowledge of a shutoff switch. Firearms are out. One of the local tug pilots hits upon a “if you can’t beat it then overwhelm it” solution with the better part of a gallon of lighter fluid. The effort is met with approval by the collection of pyros, which prompts a second tug pilot to disappear into the night, returning shortly with a welding tank of commercial grade O2 and a maniacal grin on his face. For a moment Cape Canaveral is relocated to Davenport, FL as the fire erupts into something not unlike the exhaust from the space shuttle. The crowd recoils and a few people run a hand across their face, checking for eyebrows. That maniacal grin has turned somewhat sheepish and the tank of O2 disappears. Maybe the streetlight isn’t so bad after all.

shrug and mutter something about the pyrotechnic person and another time zone. The fireworks display is a surprise from Malcolm and despite the poor timing is sufficiently impressive. Rob closes the festivities by thanking Chris Wills for creating Wills Wing, and his partners Mike and Linda Meier for all the work that they have done over the years. Last but certainly not least, he credits partner and designer Steve Pearson as the creative core of the company and the most prolific hang glider designer in history, with more than eighty models and sizes to his credit.

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July 2003: Hang Gliding & Paragliding

F L Y T E C

2 0 0 3

F L Y T E C

the Owens Valley is just wasted now that we finally have high performance hang gliders.

threatening.

The big air of

Great Flying Marks 2003 Flytec Championship

A

of

by Davis Straub

re meet organizers making it too easy? Are we hang glider pilots getting more than we deserve?

What happened to that old, “Let’s set up here in the hot desert in July under the broiling sun, put on our snowmobile suits and oxygen bottles, and run off this rocky mountain side into a dust devil” attitude? Aren’t we tough enough anymore?

I can remember back to the days when we all thought it was very strange that hang gliding took place in Florida at all. I mean, didn’t they have to watch out for the ‘gators when they went truck towing through the cane fields? Back then Mike Barber was this new guy at the Sandia Classic who I seemed to keep meeting in close quarters in the crowded gaggles in front of the mountain.

USHGAdirected conspiracy, or have we all forgotten our frontier past?

Topless flex wing and rigid wing hang gliders have so much performance that we can now have three- or four-hour out-andreturn or triangle tasks over 60 to 100 miles long, with a high percentage of pilots completing the task. Pilots are happy to make goal after an exhilarating flight in conditions that allow them to concentrate on race tactics, and not on keeping a tight grip to avoid going over. We are happy to be able to not just flail off down wind, but even to fly into a head wind and still make it back to goal.

This year substantial contingents of French and Brazilian pilots (as well as other nationalities) came to the Florida competitions and lent a definite international flavor to the proceedings. Twenty-eight rigid wing pilots flew at this year’s Flytec Championship; nine came from Europe, and one from Quebec, Canada.

The top eight finishing pilots in the flex wing class at the Flytec Championship were from outside the U.S., and 38 of the field of 78 flex wing pilots came from other countries.

Thankfully, we have two highly competitive Florida flight parks, as well as a few smaller ones, that are doing their best to outdo each other in pilot services and in creating an enjoyable atmosphere for a high level contest.

We pilots benefit greatly from this competition among the flight parks, and we look forward to visiting both of them each spring.

The conditions were ideal for a high level competition, and we could get plenty high in the Florida thermals.

These outstanding conditions are the primary reason so many top pilots come to fly here.

The fact that there are two competitions in a row in the same neighborhood is a huge benefit to pilots traveling from South America, Asia and Europe, because they can more easily justify the travel expenses for two weeks of competitions. In fact, it is often easier and cheaper for European and South American pilots to get to Florida than it is

Hang glider pilots are voting with their feet, and in the spring their feet take them to Florida — and to the full service flight parks set up there for our convenience and comfort. With no need for extra-big air to keep us aloft during difficult tasks, we now realize that we can have fully valid competitions with lots of racing in conditions that aren’t life

Now we never go back to the big air sites in the western mountains of the U.S. for our major hang gliding competitions. All the big comps are taking place in the flatlands of Florida or Texas (which is Florida on steroids). Is this some kind 22

for pilots from the west coast of the U.S.

Given that it’s a swamp, the flying conditions in Florida are amazingly good, especially in the spring before the rainy season begins. This year, however, there had been plenty of rain during the dry season, and every low spot in the state was filled up with standing water.

Somehow that didn’t seem to dampen the thermals too much — they were often fully packed and ready to take us to over five thousand feet AGL. The Flytec Championship takes place at the Quest Air Soaring Center, the U.S. home of the Bailey Moyes

July, 2003: Hang Gliding & Paragliding

Photos by Timothy Ettridge and Tim Meaney

Hang Gliding & Paragliding: July, 2003

2 0 0 3

Dragonfly. Quest is a wide-open grass airport on high ground just south of the old Florida citrus town of Groveland.

Steve Kroop, meet organizer, manager of Quest Air, and owner (and chief repair guy) of Flytec USA arranged for us to have twenty tugs, both trikes and Dragonflys, so we wouldn’t have to wait in line very long for a quick tow up.

It is amazing to see so many tug pilots come down and join in the fun of a major hang gliding competition. They really do give their all for a couple of hours each day (and late into the night as they do repairs), and we more than appreciate their efforts. Without them we couldn’t get into the air here in flat Florida (see sidebar about Chad).

With twenty tugs for 110 pilots we had more than enough resources to get us in the air in a hurry. In fact, I would

Bo Hagewood snatches the prize bag at 60mph from David Glover…

say it was overkill.

Most competitors lazed about, not getting into the launch line until the last minute. It was almost as if they didn’t want to get into the air and start flying. Personally I was quite willing to start early and fly around having fun until the serious business of racing began.

23

F L Y T E C

2 0 0 3

One hundred ten hang glider pilots made the 2003 Flytec Championship the biggest aerotow meet ever. In fact the Flytec Championship has been the biggest hang gliding meet in the U.S. for each of the last three years.

Not only the quantity, but the quality of pilots was very high. There were twenty-one flex wing pilots ranked in the top twenty world wide or top ten U.S. Fifteen rigid wing pilots ranked among the top twenty world wide or top ten U.S. Both classes were worth maximum points for U.S. pilots in our NTSS ranking system, because of the quality of competitors here.

Given the size and quality of this meet, you’ve got to wonder why CIVL keeps devaluing it, giving the European Championship an unwarranted 50 percent bonus. This has got to feel very unfair to meet organizers who put on a top notch competition like the Flytec Championship, only to have the attending pilots get a lot fewer world ranking points than their performance indicates they should.

The Flytec Championship and the Wallaby Open were the last two meets to count toward U.S. pilot ranking for selection of the National flex wing team that would go to the Worlds in Brazil this August. The results of these meets determined the team.

Looking back at the week, it’s obvious how much preparation went into the organizing of this meet. During the actual competition almost everything ran smoothly and seemingly without effort, but only because intense planning had occurred during the months prior. The organizers at Quest were definitely not resting on their laurels; each year they strive to improve the format with many small tweaks.

The whole focus of the Flytec Championship and of the staff at Quest Air was to facilitate hang glider pilots’ enjoyment of the contest and auxiliary events (like eating breakfast and lunch).

I do remember the bad old days when it seemed like the pilots were the guys who caused headaches for the meet director, and we were treated as such.

24

F L Y T E C

David Glover, Flytec meet director, acts as though he just wants to help the pilots have the best competition possible. He sees his role as facilitating the meet, while others are facilitating getting us in the air, or getting us fed in time for the pilot meeting. This whole approach of meet organizers helping pilots and letting them take responsibility for their own meet began (in my own experience anyway) with Tove Heaney running the Bogong Cup meet a few years ago in Australia. She empowered the task, safety and protest committees (made up of pilots) to determine how the tasks should be run.

Still, David left us alone to make our own mistakes and call the tasks. And for the most part it worked out great. It’s a huge responsibility, but one that pilots are uniquely capable of taking on. Of course, it was a hard task the day I refer to above, but the top pilots were able to complete it.

Using a heavily edited version of the Florida sailplane pilots’ database, David had come up with 170 waypoints, so pilots would not be required to add additional waypoints during the meet (and especially right before they launched). These additional waypoints allowed the task committee a lot more flexibility when choosing turnpoints and tasks.

David has picked up on Tove’s approach, and with the new changes in the 2003 USHGA Competition Rulebook, competition pilots can be placed in charge of these three committees. David sets them up and then gets out of their way. This approach means that pilots are responsible for task setting, launch times, start times, etc. If you don’t like how the tasks are going, you can approach the task committee members and tell ‘em what you want.

Before the meet David had also gotten together with a large number of pilots to go over the proposed local rules.

Based on their recommendations he implemented a whole series of rule changes to make the meet more user friendly. He also incorporated the new USHGA GPS rules (which originated with the new Australian GPS rules) that make it easier for the pilot to confirm that he or she has accomplished the task.

Another great innovation from Tove was keeping the committees down to three people each. At the Flytec Championship it was Jim Lee, Terry Presley and I who met each morning in my trailer around the computer full of weather data and task setting software (SeeYou) to determine the task for the day. This allowed for quick decisions to be made.

The new local rules used at the 2003 Flytec Championship allowed pilots to leave the start circle early without having to worry about crossing the line right after one of the start time intervals.

This meant that less experienced pilots could launch early, and if they happened to drift out downwind of the start circle before the start time opened, they wouldn’t get penalized.

Occasionally, though, with only three members the task committee might overlook something. For example, on one day when there was a strong east wind, we didn’t think about starting off with a downwind leg that would take us to an area of lighter winds.

We missed this option because we had over-committed to coming back to Quest Air, because I didn’t realize that the windcast (which would have clued us in about the area of lighter winds to the west) was indeed working, and because we mistakenly thought that the lift would be stronger up on Highway 27 to the east. With another person on board we might have been prodded to look at things differently.

Brazilian hottie , Flavia does cart retrieve

July 2003: Hang Gliding & Paragliding

Hang Gliding & Paragliding: July, 2003

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Video of the Flytec Championship 2003 and 2002

Glover rides in on a camel

Camping by the spring fed lake

A new, high-energy hang gliding video captured the fun and excitement of the Flytec Championship event at Quest Air Flight Park. Steve Kroop of Flytec USA, has donated 50 video tapes to Highland Aerosports and 100 percent of all money raised from the video will go into the Highland Aerosport general account (Chad Elchin was a principal at Highland Aerosports).

The tape is about 35 minutes long and features both the 2002 and 2003 Flytec Championship short films. GW Meadows wrote, filmed, directed, edited and produced the video, which is available in VHS and PAL formats. The recommended donation is $25 plus shipping.

If you or your club would like to get one of these very enjoyable videos contact: Highland Aerosports 24038 Race Track Rd., Ridgely MD, 21660 (410) 634 2700

Christoph Lorhmann from AIR in Germany David set up the goals as virtual goal lines. That is, each pilot’s time crossing goal would be taken from his or her GPS. There was a physical goal line at the same place as the virtual goal line so that pilots could have something to see as they headed for goal. Most of the time we came back to Quest Air, so the goal line was in the middle of the field.

Virtual goals are easy for the scorekeeper to deal with and make for quicker production of the preliminary scores. Everything is taken right from the GPS. Also, they allow for a contest

Email: hanglide@aerosports.net

that is more affordable for the pilots.

With David and Steve delegating authority and empowering others to make decisions, a lot of work got done without putting undue stress on the guys in charge at the top. This left David with the opportunity to entertain us all at what would usually be deadly boring daily pilot meetings.

He used the meetings, not only to get out the information about the task for the day, but also as an opportunity to thank the various groups of folks 25

F L Y T E C

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F L Y T E C

2 0 0 3

THE RESULTS:

FLEX WING: Place

who were putting up with us pilots: the ground crew, the tug pilots, the Quest Air staff, the food folks, etc. It was always nice to give them a round of applause.

Oh the first day, David rode in to the pilot meeting on the back of a camel. I don’t know exactly what the connection was, other than a person who had a connection to a camel. It sure made us think that we should be on time for the pilot meeting, just to see what might happen next.

David wanted to make things a bit more fun, so he would run around near the goal line with a bag on a stick and try to get pilots interested in grabbing the bag and getting whatever was in it. There was also a spot-landing set up nearby, so pilots could win a little extra money by hitting the spot.

The Flytec Championship was pilot friendly in another way: it was relatively inexpensive, $300 plus the

cost of towing. Pilots got money back for coming in first to goal, for nailing the spot, for grabbing the bag, and for finishing well at the end of the meet.

The last pilot to goal every day got a massage. Flytec Switzerland provided 8 Garmin 12 Map GPSs for daily random good attitude awards that were given to pilots who were just having a great time.

So there we were in the spring in Central Florida with temperatures in the low 80’s, with many pilots camping out by the lake. We had breakfast served up for us each morning at minimal cost. The pilot meeting was held at the reasonable hour of 10 a.m., and it was pure entertainment under a big white tent.

Soon after the pilot meeting we would be treated to the grand Le Mans start with pilots running across the field with their gliders, trying to get them set up near the front of the staging line. This contest within the contest

was for no apparent purpose, since it didn’t really matter much where you staged your glider — you could launch for the first forty-five minutes of the launch window without any interference. Still, the race was great fun to watch, and seemed to be enjoyed by most of the pilots.

Name

Glider

1 RUHMER Manfred

Nation

Icaro Laminar MR

Total

AUT

5626

2 BONDARCHUCK Oleg Aeros Combat

UKR

5519

3 COOMBER Kraig

Moyes Litespeed 4

AUS

5458

4 HAZLETT Brett

Moyes Litespeed 4

CAN

5265

5 WALBEC Richard

Moyes Litespeed 4

FRA

5040

6 DURAND Jon Jr.

Moyes Litespeed 4

AUS

5000

7 ALONZI Mario

Aeros Combat 2

FRA

4911

8 OLSSON Andreas

Moyes Litespeed 5

SWE

4812

Around noon we would get around to launching, getting high over the field while we waited for the official start time. This was so easy every day that it was just great fun to play with the clouds and try to lure other pilots to start first and get out in front.

9 WILLIAMS Paris

Aeros Combat 2

USA

4797

10 WARREN Curt

Moyes Litespeed 4

USA

4753

11 BOISSELLIER Antoine Moyes Litespeed 4

FRA

4715

We on the task committee were often smart enough to separate the rigid and flex wing pilots into separate start circles, which in most cases kept the death gaggles at the edges of the circles down to manageable size. We also often tried to give the two classes slightly different tasks to further separate them and make it more fun for everyone out on the course line.

Why Books?

1. They don’t use power and are cheap to operate in California.

2. They’re portable.

3. They don’t need a hard drive.

4. They go straight to the point.

5. They guide you long after you leave your instructor.

12 SCHMITZ Carlos

Moyes Litespeed

BRA

4701

13 BARBER Mike

Moyes Litespeed 4

USA

4698

14 CASTLE Kari

Icaro MRX 700+

USA

4674

15 MULLER Chris

Wills Wing Talon

CAN

4629

16 BESSA Carlos

Wills Wing Talon

USA

4471

17 CAUX Raymond

Moyes Litespeed 4

FRA

4444

18 SANDOLI Alvaro/Nene Wills Wing Talon

BRA

4305

19 LEE Jim

Wills Wing Talon

USA

4262

20 ROSSIGNOL Jerz

Icaro MR

USA

4190

Glider

Nation

Total

1 CIECH Christian

Icaro Stratos

ITA

5824

2 CHAUMET David

La Mouette Top SecretFRA

5721

3 PLONAR Alex

AIR Atos C

ITA

5195

4 BARMAKIAN Bruce

AIR Atos

USA

4765

5 YOCOM James

AIR Atos C

USA

4468

6 TRUTTMANN H.

AIR ATOS C

CHE

4268

7 TRYON Michael

Icaro Stratos C

USA

4226

RIGID WING: Place

Name

8 POUSTINCHIAN M. AIR Atos C

USA

4179

9 PAQUETTE Eric

AIR Atos

CAN

3886

10 FIECHTER Markus

AIR Atos

CHE

3719

Place Name

Nation

Total

1

MULHOLLAND Mark

USA

5868

By Dennis Pagen:

2

PORTER Brian

USA

5301

3

NAKAMURA Junko

JPN

3227

• Hang Gliding Training Manual (Hang 1 to 3) - $29.95 • Performance Flying (Hang 3 to 5) - $29.95 More flying books • Towing Aloft - $29.95 (also by B. Bryden) and videos at • Understanding the Sky - $24.95

4

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USA

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Shipping: Order of up to $25: $4.50 Order of $25 to $50: $5.50 Order of $50 to $100: $7.00 Contact us for larger orders 26

E-mail subject line: Book /video order

SWIFTS LIGHTS:

See the daily reports on the 2003 Flytec Championship starting at http://ozreport.com (click “The Oz Report” and “back issues,” and scroll down to the Flytec Championship) or http://www.flytec.com/ flytec_champ_03/scores.html. Here you can also find plenty of pictures and animated track logs of the top finishers.

Box 43, Spring Mills, PA 16875 - USA SPORT AVIATION PO Tel/Fax: 814-422-0589 pagenbks@lazerlink.com PUBLICATIONS E-mail: We accept credit cards.

July 2003: Hang Gliding & Paragliding

Hang Gliding & Paragliding: July, 2003

27

F L Y T E C

2 0 0 3

PILOT Tragedy in the Family

After returning to goal, often at Quest Air, we’d check in with Tim Meaney, the scorekeeper extraordinaire, who seems to have some magical powers over the finicky Compe-GPS (in this case version 4.03) and Race software (and their coordination). We threw him a curve, though, which took him a while to reprogram, when we allowed pilots to leave the start circle early. Compe-GPS and race don’t handle this automatically.

Of course, dinner was ready for us after our grueling three-hour task, as long as we checked in with Tim first.

This was way too civilized. Perhaps we should think about the good old days and the wide open western spaces that we so fondly inhabited not so long ago.

If this sounds more like a fly-in than a competition, well, you’ve got a point there. In the midst of all this pilot and driver comfort there was a lot of heavy duty competition going on, but still everyone was having fun and not suffering for their craft.

The Flytec Championship is, for most pilots, a chance to come down to Florida and its wonderful weather, and to fly with some of the best pilots in the world.

Sure you have a chance to make goal and maybe even get a reasonably fast time, but most pilots are going to have difficulty getting in the top ten — especially given the high quality of pilots who attend this competition from around the world.

The very top pilots come to the Flytec Championship and have fun competing against one another. Only at the Worlds, or perhaps at the European championship, will you get so many high caliber pilots in one competition.

For the regular U.S. hang glider pilot, flying with your buddies and making friends with the world’s best is great fun. You get challenging tasks to fly each day. You have lots of pilots in the air to help you spot the thermals (and hopefully not crowd you out of them), you have a whole bunch of people working hard to get you up in the air and making sure that all your needs are attended to. No wonder these meets have won out over those that we used to attend.

So think about coming on down to Florida next year if you can get the time off work. Yes, it is a big fly-in with a very competitive twist, but all in all a lot of fun. You learn a lot when you get to fly with the world’s best.

Given the history of great results and the strong organization that puts on the Flytec Championship, hopefully the world’s top hang glider pilots will have a chance to come to Quest Air in the future to compete in a world championship.

On April 11, approximately 100 folks witnessed a terrible flying accident involving one of our dear hang gliding friends. On the practice day for the Flytec Championship, Chad Elchin was taking his Dragonfly tow plane for its test flight after transporting it to Quest Flight Park.

Chad had brought the towplane to the Flytec competition (as he had for a number of years) in a trailer from the Highland Aerosports —the flight school that he co-owned in Maryland. During reassembly, a very important bolt was not properly placed and the wing on his craft came off at about 800 feet.

Chad pulled the BRS handle and the rocket indeed fired, but the parachute got trapped inside the damaged plane.

The tell-tale report of the BRS rocket indeed drew all eyes skyward at that moment and we all stood helplessly as we watched Chad and his craft succumb to the powers of gravity. That sight still replays in my mind.

Chad died instantly upon impact. I’m an optimist by nature and I would like to use this space in the magazine to point out the ‘good’ associated with this tragedy. As we all know, losing a friend is a tough thing that can never be fully understood until it happens to you. Chad had many friends. He was a guy who touched the lives of thousands of people. Always willing to take the time for you—always wanting to find you the answer you needed.

I was one of the many lucky people who got to know Chad well. His death had an effect on the entire hang gliding group at the Flytec meet this year—in fact, it had an effect on the meet itself. It was a very positive effect. There was less squabbling, there was less discontent. It was as if a family had come together for its “Norman Rockwell” moment. More than 150 brothers and sisters sharing their love for each other and the sport that had drawn them to the same place at the same time.

It was an experience that could never be recreated – no matter how hard we could try. Chad left us wondering (again) why such things happen to the good guys. He also left us knowing that we are indeed a family

28

July 2003: Hang Gliding & Paragliding

PROFILE

A

ccording to some, one sign of intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing views at the same time. Oxymorons are a form of such enigmas.

We’ve all had our laughs at some of these: military intelligence; genuine imitation; pretty ugly, just to name a few. The one that often comes to mind whenever I hear a pilot describe himself as being a conservative pilot is “conservative thrill seeker.” If you are wondering what “conservative thrill seeker” and signs of intelligence have to do with this year’s American paraglider champion, Len Szafaryn, you probably haven’t had the good fortune to meet him yet.

If that is the case, no worries. Len makes getting to know him an easy proposition.

Extremely approachable, he seems to be anything but complex or in anyway enigmatic. Len readily shares himself with others, especially those of us who share his passion for flying. When I asked Len about his outgoing nature he simply said, “Hey, when you are among friends, what’s to hide?” And that’s the thing with Len; if you fly, his primary assumption is you are a friend, albeit one of those longlost friends he just hasn’t met yet.

With Len, however, as I suspect with most champions, the qualities that set him apart run deeper than a friendly smile and a winning personality. That said, in Len’s case, the smile is as real as it is easy. And the same can be said for his approach to flying.

But isn’t that the real enigma? Everybody trying so hard to win, all the while the true winners coming in on top, time after time, making it look so easy. That’s the place to start with Len Szafaryn. The smallest details may tie him up for hours in quiet contemplation while his outward appearance projects serenity. Don’t be fooled by that. While Len may be intensely thoughtful in general, when it comes to competing, he’s dispassionately aggressive. You wouldn’t think those apparently opposing traits were possible in the same person. Thus the Len Szafaryn enigma.

Hang Gliding & Paragliding: July, 2003

Pilot Profile: Len Szafaryn Story by Richard Thompson Enigmas aside for a moment, know this: if you are ever on a competitive plain with Len and you have occasion to see him coming after you, his jaw set, lips compressed, eyes down tight, take it from me—he has thoroughly considered what he’s about to do. He’s weighed it, contemplated all the angles, and thought it through. The enigma: his thinker is the touted “chess player”, but it sits on top of a linebacker’s frame.

The smash-mouth game of American football is literally where Len comes from. And his position of choice really was defensive linebacker. Technically that may put him on the defense, but anyone who has played that game knows linebackers are more like attack-dogs than they are thoughtful or defensive chess player types. For me, that enigma defines Len. Once, while engaged in a lively philosophical discussion, (even philosophy can be lively with Len!), he suddenly threw a hand up in the air and said with a start, “Wait a second! Are you talking about Nietzsche the philosopher or Nitschke the Green Bay Packer?” As

it turns out, Len’s confusion was totally understandable; his dad played for the Green Bay Packers with the legendary linebacker Ray Nitschke. These were the heroes Len grew up with. Ultimately this means that while Len was in his formative years he learned about winning while walking among giants —or rather, Green Bay Packers!

At any rate, Len learned early on to play hard, and with that “hard play”, winning could be as easy as smiling at someone.

When I asked Len about what it takes to be a winner, he said, “The really great ones always make success seem so natural or easy.” Then after another one of his thoughtful pauses he added, “But a close second can make you a winner too.”

More oxymorons? Hard play=easy win?

Losing can mean winning? Hmmmm, how can this be? Len’s answer comes right out of a Rudyard Kipling poem: “The pilots I respect most deal with losing equally as well as with winning.”

So, the question I have to ask Len is, 29

PILOT

PROFILE

“Are you saying then that it’s not the final destination but the journey?”

“In a way,” Len says. “For me, being first to goal shouldn’t become more important than the preparation and practice that went before it. If you fly with certain intensity all the time, practice perfect turns even when it doesn’t really matter, success will take care of itself…unless of course if it doesn’t…first to goal isn’t necessarily necessary.”

A proven winner who doesn’t really care about winning? Did I use the word enigma yet? Len’s response: “In any given competition, there may be just too many elements that I have little or no control over, but what I can control is my own performance and the only way I know to do that is to be prepared.”

Len’s preparation for initially getting into foot-launched flight took him to Andrew Jackson Park, Rob and Dianne McKenzie’s hang gliding school there at Marshall. The McKenzies have been described as the proverbial backbone of Marshall, having been there for over 30 years and a driving force that has benefited all and any of us who fly Marshall—rag-baggers and barmonkeys alike. And Rob McKenzie, like Len, is bi-wingual. When I asked Rob if he could describe Len as a student, he did so by telling me a kind of story.

Rob said, “I’m reminded of these two rather plain women sitting on a beach.

A third woman walks by, gorgeous, perfect in both body and mind; she stops and greets the first two women most cordially and in an instant has displayed both grace and intellect.

After she has gone, the first woman says to the second, ‘Wasn’t she just disgusting?’” Rob stops for a minute, to make sure I’m going to get his point, and then he continues, “That’s Len…just disgusting.” After we both had our chuckle, I asked Rob for the one quality in Len that stands out above all the others? Without hesitation Rob said, “Team player. To the max. Len is never just all about Len.”

30

PILOT

WHEN ASKED WHICH AMERICAN PILOTS WE SHOULD BE KEEPING OUR EYES ON IN 2003, SCOTTY MARION, RANKED SECOND OVERALL IN THE 2002 PRE-WORLD CUP, IMMEDIATELY NAMED LEN SZAFARYN

Len is a leader in the community of pilots at Marshall, even if he won’t admit it, and he is first and foremost a team player from his heart—that heart formed initially by the team sport of football.

Where this can come into play in XC comp flying, I think, is after launch, but early into the tasks, all pilots are at least semi-working together just to stay up and in the game. This has all the signs of a team effort. Then, somewhere along the line on final glide or after the last turn point, strategies change back and efforts return to individuals going for it. Every man for himself, so to speak. This rather unique aspect of paragliding competition seems like it would require a competitor not only to be able to work well with others, but also to strive to maintain an overall positive attitude.

That positive attitude equates to a kind of true optimism. The way Len puts it is, “It’s hard to win if you don’t make it to goal.” I halfway parroted him reciting the old runner’s adage, “You mean, to finish first you must first finish.” At that Len pointed out that cross-country paragliding may be the only form of racing where the competitors must run in circles. His point is well taken. It does seem like a positive attitude is a big plus when your teammates are actually your opponents, and half the time while you are racing, your GPS may show a southbound heading while goal is dead north.

Okay, so with a really positive attitude you may go the wrong way and still win; you may have practiced with perfect intensity all the while knowing that winning may not necessarily be necessary. If this is all true, Champ, what is Len Szafaryn’s prime focus or overall game plan; the number one quality that makes it all work?

With staggering simplicity Len’s answer is clear, concise and in no way enigmatic. “Consistency! As with any contest, where the ultimate winners come out of an accumulated point total, being first on any one given day may not mean much. In other words, you may never actually come in first to goal but you still may eventually July 2003: Hang Gliding & Paragliding

Hang Gliding & Paragliding: July, 2003

PROFILE

win if you are consistently there, over the long haul.”

Ahhhhh, the tortoise and the hare? I get it. Consistency may be about everything but “big speed” or “loud starts.”

“Yes, in fact,” Len says, “instead of flying fast, I like to think more in terms of flying with intensity.” I’m immediately reminded of something Chris Santacroce said about paragliders being the worst performing aircraft, only outdone in that department by hot air balloons. Len agrees, saying, “Yes, if it’s raw speed I’m after, then I take out my hang glider.”

The obvious question: Why paragliding over hang gliding at the competition level? Len’s answer could fill the pages of this magazine.

I’ll paraphrase. The transition from hang gliding to paragliding happened before the decision to compete. Additionally when Len says, “Fly with intensity,” he means, “live with intensity.” Short of selling his company and becoming a fulltime comp pilot, there just isn’t enough time to be more than simply proficient in both disciplines. And for Len to compete, just “proficient” isn’t enough.

Plus, there’s the mental challenge.

When you give up the speed and glide hang gliders have, you have to replace that raw performance with something else. “Intensity” can compete with “speed”.

Len credits the passion he’s developed for paragliding to his paragliding instructor, Joe Gluzinski.

Joe’s enthusiasm is as well known as it is contagious. What isn’t well known is that Joe has produced two US champs in Gary Brock and now Len Szafaryn, and they both came out of the same class. Good friends and flying mates to this day, Len will be the first to tell you that Gary has shown him the way more than once.

But if you ask Gary about Len he’ll tell you, of late it’s been the other way around. And, Gary says, “The two 31

PILOT

S.J.R. ENCAMPMENT

PROFILE

defining advantages that separate Len from the rest of the pack are his ability to focus on the task at hand, forget about what happened yesterday or last week…and his consistency.”

O

When I pressed Gary for any negatives about Len, he said the only negative is, “Lately, I haven’t been able to fly as much as I would like to with Len. He’s one of my favorite pilots not just to fly with but to just hang with as well.”

ur club, the Sonoma Wings has several local sites. One of them is called St. John Mountain located in Northern California. It’s a great site, but in the last couple of years when our pilots take a road trip to fly, they usually leave the area. Sites like King, the Owens Valley, Reno NV, are common destinations. Last year one of our pilots, Todd Robinson decided to have a St. John record encampment (poking a little fun at the WRE in Texas). Several of us decided to spend our Fourth of July holiday at a local site instead of heading off on a long road trip.

And for Len Szafaryn, that’s the true pay-off. Flying with passion while surrounded by good friends. What’s not to like about that?

The flex wing and rigid wing record for St. John was 65 miles. Flex wing was set by Scot Huber in 2001. Bob Trumbly set the rigid wing record in the late ‘90s. Todd had once held the record, as had Rich Sauer. For years the record sat at a little over 50 miles until Scot shattered it. I don’t think there have been more than a handful of 50mile flights from St. John.

On the first day of the SJRE, July 4, I had to work in the morning. In the afternoon on the drive up the central valley I could hear Todd, Rich Sauer, and Matt Jagelka on the radio. All three had passed the 50-mile mark.

I was cursing myself for volunteering to work (I needed the money). It was really exciting listing to all three of them as they continued on their record setting flights. Matt set a personal best, going close to 60 miles before landing on Highway 36 north of Red Bluff. Todd and Rich were in the air on what looked like a 100-mile flight. At 93 miles Todd realized that there were no more LZs and turned back to land at 90+ miles. Rich joined him a little later.

32

thought was I-5 was in fact a railroad track. I was low and about 4 miles from I-5. I managed to drift northeast and get over to the freeway. At the 68-mile mark I was too low to jump to another LZ and had to land. I was 68.9 miles from St. John. Todd was a little nervous of his new record until I landed. I did get the rigid wing record.

by Vincent Endter

July 2003: Hang Gliding & Paragliding

Hang Gliding & Paragliding: July, 2003

On July 5 Greg Sugg was in camp and he and I flew. Rich had gone home and Matt and Todd were going to rest up (Matt and his wife Lori went fishing).

Todd had to have a flat fixed so he offered to drive. Greg and I got up over St. John and left the top around 10,000 feet (typical for a good day at St. John).

I found a convergence line and was able to glide to Red Mountain (about 20 miles) before I needed to turn. Greg had a little busier time with it and landed near Chrome (23 miles). Todd picked him up and they both started to chase me. Since Todd needed to go to Red Bluff, I tried to fly in that direction to make the retrieve easier. I preferred that direction anyway. The classic route is to stay along the mountains.

The problem with that route is there are very few retrieve roads past the 40-mile mark.

The thermals were okay but got weaker and weaker as I headed north toward the central valley. I started jumping from one east-west road to another. I told Todd to head into Red Bluff and follow Interstate 5 north. I thought I could make it on a glide. But what I

On Saturday, John DeAguiar and Charlie Nelson were in camp. Rich came back for the day. Linda (Rich’s wife, Nancy my wife, Lori and Suzie (Todd’s friend) were on the retrieve. We had seven pilots trying for some record flights. Gregg, John and I launched, followed by Matt, Todd and Rich. I left first at 9,300 feet with everyone else leaving later around 10,000 feet. I again found a convergence, but it only took me 10 miles. After that it was a struggle. I could hear everyone else behind me struggling as well. I arrived at Newville (25 miles) too low to cross the small ridge toward Paskenta (30 miles). I started thinking about where I would land. I hit some week lift that I drifted in for 2 miles and gained 800 feet. This was just enough to make it over the small hills toward Paskenta.

Pilots behind me started landing. I was set up to land in the first field after crossing the small hills when I hit my first real thermal since leaving St. John.

This is the same spot where I got my low save last year. I climbed to 5,000 feet. From here, the thermals were pretty good, most of the time I could climb above 5,000 feet.

The night before Matt had mapped out a promising route for a 100 mile flight. Todd had come up with a similar idea. The proposed route would cross south of the Redding airport and head up a road that parallels Highway 5 (Dechutes Road), from there it would hit Highway 299.

33

S.J.R. ENCAMPMENT

I was flying the same route that I flew the day before and passed the 68-mile mark at 4,000 feet. Following Matt’s new route, I headed up Dechutes road until I came to Highway 44. At this point I was at 82 miles from St. John. I could see 299 and another road. Now I was in a quandary. I was at 5,000 feet. I could either go for the Coffee Can (one of the clubs contest) and head north, or go for a possible 100 miler and go east. I chose the coffee can. I figured I could glide past the 90 -mile mark with the south wind I was seeing.

I headed for the last possible LZ, I could see on Highway 299.

I arrived over it at 4,500 feet (I found another thermal on the way). This LZ was at 92.4 miles. I went up the road to the 95mile mark, but could not see any more LZ’s. I could see more LZs up Palo Cedro but these were more west and not probably no farther from St. John. I called Nancy and Lori to see if they could get from Highway 299 back to Palo Cedro. My radio battery went dead.

Rather than risk a longer retrieve than I was already on, I headed back to the LZ on Highway 299. It took quite a bit of work to get down due to the thermals, so much so that I finally threw my drogue chute. As I got lower I saw my nice LZ had rocks in it that stuck up like tomb stones, many more than six feet high. I landed in the best spot I could find and it was still covered in rocks the size of bowling balls. I had a great landing. My flight time was 4 hours and 11 minutes.

F O R T

Rich managed to get past Paskenta and found the better lift.

He followed my line and landed at 68 miles on Highway 5. He landed across the highway from a CHP weigh station. I guess they never get to see hang gliders land because they called the paramedics (and it was one of Rich’s better landings).

I felt bad for Lori. She was in the truck with Nancy and did not get to see Matt land and we did not get back to the top of the mountain until 11:00 pm. I am glad she was there because she kept Nancy focused. Nancy wanted to stop and look at every critter she passed. Lori kept her driving in my direction. She was also a great navigator.

Everyone headed home on Sunday, except for John and Charlie.

They were going to try to fly. As we passed Williams, we heard that they were driving down. Charlie said the wind shifted to Westerly at launch so they bagged it.

The final stats for the ST-RE were Matt, 60 miles (plus his flight on Saturday); Rich, 90 miles and 68 miles; Todd, 90 miles (29 miles on Saturday); and Greg got three enjoyable flights. I think John got his best at St. John. Charlie had a nice flight. I had flights of 68.9 miles and 92.3 miles (my first site record). These were some of the most impressive set of flights ever from St. John.

T

he eagle has been revered by civilizations throughout history as a symbol of the illumination of spirit, healing and creation. In early Christian mysticism, the eagle was a symbol of resurrection. The eagle represents a willingness to seek out the true emotional aspects of self, rediscovering the lost child and awakening a higher sense of pure consciousness, and spirituality.

On one particular Sunday, I had driven from La Connor, Washington—about an hour north of Seattle— and met with a group of my paragliding pals, all of us hopeful to catch a rare soaring day at “The Fort.” I have learned from past experiences never to count on Fort Ebey State Park on Whidbey Island being flyable. I cringe at the remarks that spill from the mouths of some of my paragliding friends: “I’ve struck out the last twenty times I’ve been there. I’m never going back! Whidbey sucks!” One year I caught it flyable seven times in a row—a very good year. More recently, and more often, I’ve hung around in the grass waiting and watching as the late afternoon sun sizzles below the western horizon, having “struck out” once again. Still, the setting sun is awe-inspiring and always has a Zen-like therapeutic effect. Even if I cannot fly, the Island has its rewards. For me the greatest joy of Fort Ebey is being in the presence of the resident bald eagles.

Fort Ebey is on the western-most prominence of Whidbey Island and is the first major landform to catch the winds that sometimes blast through the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The Strait is a narrow boundary of water averaging 12 to 15 miles across, separating Vancouver Island in British Columbia on the north and the northern shore of Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula on the south.

Five miles due south of Fort Ebey you can see Point Wilson lighthouse and Port Townsend. On a really clear day you can pick out Vancouver Island, twenty-odd miles to the northwest.

Weather fronts build out on the Pacific Ocean, and as they move inland,

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Hang Gliding & Paragliding: July, 2003

By John Kraske their winds compress in the Strait for almost 80 miles before their velocity dissipates in the broad reaches of Puget Sound, 20 miles before they arrive at Whidbey Island’s western shore. If the wind loses too much of its velocity, or blows too strong, we hang out with brightly colored wings bunched up like overly large fungi growing on the windsculpted grasses of the park. A closer look will reveal prone and reclined twolegged’s with eyes glazed in hopeful anticipation. These biped, wannabe winged creatures are paragliding pilots, and this is how we learn the art of “parapatience.” We are “parawaiting;” waiting for the winds either to increase or decrease. We really wannabe soaring with the eagles of Fort Ebey.

My original plan for this particular Sunday had been to fly at Blanchard, up near Bellingham. Saturday at Blanchard had been a soaring-with-eagles experience of epic proportions. I had never before experienced flying with so many eagles at one time. During one flight I counted no fewer than a half dozen individuals, soaring effortlessly with a similar number of hang gliders and paragliders. Unlike the eagles at 35

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“The Fort”, many of the Blanchard birds were unfamiliar to me, strangers, and I assumed they were migratory, probably wintering over before returning north to Canada and Alaska. Or maybe I just more easily recognize and identify with the eagles who are “locals” at the Fort.

When the winds are too strong for us bag pilots to fly, sometimes the radio control model gliders come out. I have watched one particularly talented RC pilot maneuver his craft in play with several young eagles at once. It was like watching a synchronized aerial ballet with feathers. Just like the RC glider, the eagles would effortlessly climb, stall and roll, dive and stall, imitating but never quite touching the small plane.

It was as if these fun-loving creatures were counting coup on the toys of man.

The model plane is much more closely matched to the size of an eagle than is a paraglider. Without a doubt these birds could do much damage to plane or wing, but they seem very gentle in their conscious flying maneuvers.

When we fly our paragliders and these birds fly with us they maintain a safe distance, but it’s close enough that we can observe them turning their heads and eye-balling us as they expertly glide along just a few feet away.

Prior to my involvement in paragliding, I thought birds of prey flew because they were hunting. Since I began paragliding in 1996 I’ve become joyfully aware that animals, especially birds, play.

F O R T

Eagles are the most adaptable birds of prey. In order to survive, they have developed seven successful methods of obtaining food. In fact, their only major obstacle in life is man. They hunt while in flight and can dive at 200 mph to capture prey. They hunt from a perch, conserving energy and being conspicuous to let other eagles know that this is their territory. Eagles wade into shallow water for fish.

They hunt on the ground, sometimes sneaking into thickets to flush hiding animals. They sometimes participate in cooperative hunting, one flushing the prey out into the clutches of the other.

They sometimes steal another animal’s kill. They will also scavenge unattended carcasses. But, eagles play as much or more than they hunt.

Yesterday - Saturday - the birds at Blanchard had seemed extremely playful, especially the younger ones. They would fly in pretty close to us as we soared, but always they maintained a reasonably protective distance. When we fly thermal sites and hook into a thermal we crank our wings into a spiral pattern and ride the core of the current upward. I have experienced eagles and hawks that spiral up in that same thermal, broadening their circles around the outside of my wing, and “skying out” high above me. Sometimes they will bank out of the thermal and look back as if beckoning us to follow. I’m certain they feel sorry for us, and probably consider us to be some sort of ‘special ed’ flying students. It

often seems that these wondrous winged creatures are doing their humanitarian best to share with us the hows and wheres of flying. Some of these birds are very patient, while others seem to give up in disgust at our human inabilities. Oh, for feathers and hollow bones!

E B E Y

On this Sunday, pilots arrived at Fort Ebey at staggered intervals from different directions. I was the first of our group to arrive and rushed up from the parking lot to check the conditions. The resident eagles were not sitting and watching from the tree where I normally see them perched. The wind was blowing in just slightly cross from the northwest at what looked to be the perfect velocity for paragliding. I scanned the sky and saw no sign of my feathered cousins. The trees between the World War II gun placements and the parking lot were lightly swaying, indicating potentially perfect flying conditions. I rushed back to my van, paid my $5 day use fee, pulled on my flight suit, strapped on my winter helmet, gloved my hands, grabbed my wing and headed to launch just as Ross and Owen drove up. I’m sure they both recognized the crazed “we gonna fly!” look in my eyes as I rushed to launch.

Fort Ebey is a ridge soaring site. The resident eagles will sometimes join us in flight for brief periods, but usually they choose the higher altitudes, heights about which we mere mortal parapilots only dream. All the eagles we are blessed to share the air with, whether residents or migratory, are equipped with razor sharp talons and a deadly and threatening beak. They are magnificent, and they could easily shred our wings to ribbons if they chose. Yes, they are predatory creatures but they do not offend or threaten us while we fly, nor do they seem to be threatened by us. They are very tolerant of our bungling and cumbersome attempts to imitate them in flight. They seem curious and playful, and always in control of their encounters with us. We in turn are very respectful of their space, and we do not fly in too close proximity to them when they are perched in a tree. Watching them watch us as we fly, it is very obvious when they become concerned about our presence. Usually the mature birds seem bored, and perhaps a bit arrogant about our flying.

As I prepared my wing, finally one of the adult eagles appeared, soaring by below the cliff edge, heading north. I wondered where its mate was. I clipped my harness to the risers of my wing, pulled my wing overhead, turned into the wind and danced off the cliff edge and rode the wind up, keeping the ridge on my right as I gained altitude in a northern push toward the highest point above the park. The wind direction was slightly from the north with lots of western influence. I tested my wing’s penetration as I climbed higher and higher, making certain the wind wasn’t going to build and blow me south down the coast, or worse, back into the trees east of the ridge. I continued north until I reached the tree where the resident eagles normally hang out. Today it was empty. Reversing my course, I banked to the west, leveled out and rushed down wind and landed as Ross and Owen were preparing to launch. “Where are the eagles?” I wondered.

I am a certified tandem paragliding instructor, and on such a perfect day, after a couple of solo flights I get pumped up to share the soaring experience. I spotted a park employee pushing a lawn mower across the grass and felt compelled to share my passion with those who manage this wonderful place. “Here’s my card,” I announced. “If any of the park employees would like to experience foot-launch free flight, I’d like to offer my services, for free.” This beautiful young woman shrugged, looked perplexed for a second or two, then flashed a smile that radiated the beauty of our surroundings, parked her lawn tool and volunteered her services as tandem fodder.

I guided her through the required preflight. The wind was blowing in at a steady 12 to 15 miles per hour, so I enlisted some launch ballast from my flying buds. With relatively strong winds, I feel you can never be too safe when launching a passenger, and I certainly don’t buy into the egotistic nonsense, “If you can’t launch your passenger unassisted, then you shouldn’t be launching at all.”

With Ross and Owen holding Karen’s harness, I began the count down to launch: “Ready? Pull! Run!” Off we went.

Photos: John Kraske 36

As we flew north with the park on our right I explained the workings of a paraglider and the dynamics and relationships of wind and terrain. We soared across Point Partridge. This farthest western point of land tends to split the wind, (Point Part-Ridge), sending one part south and the other north. From three hundred feet over Libbey Beach I spotted one of the resident eagles in a treetop, across what I call Libbey Gap, to July, 2003: Hang Gliding & Paragliding

Hang Gliding & Paragliding: July, 2003

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the north. “The Gap” is where a soaring paraglider normally loses altitude due to the disappearance of vertical cliff face. Below us, the gap was a scatter of driftwood with most of the beach covered by tide. I banked back to the south, not wanting to risk too much loss of altitude and a potential landing in logs with a passenger onboard.

When I was certain we were sustaining our lift just barely above the Partridge Point light, I asked Karen what she knew about the local eagles. She told me about one that had been found on a trail with what looked like a bullet wound in its neck. The bird was just recently dead when the Park authorities called in the State Fish and Wildlife folks. Karen’s matter-of-fact information took the wind out of my sails, dampened my spirit, and took me into a quiet and somber place in my mind. I wrestled with being attentive to my flying and dealing with an immense feeling of loss. Attentive and in the moment won; I could save my rage and sorrow for a more appropriate time. We continued our flight above the park for a halfhour, eventually setting down light as a feather 50 feet behind where we had begun our flight. Karen departed with a twinkle in her eye and an ear-to-ear smile that radiated amazed wonder at the beauty of her work environment.

Later I took up three of my paragliding friends who had never flown “The Fort”. The tandem wing is a great way to orient pilots to a site they have never flown. It was an absolute joy, but still a part of that joy was missing.

For the next few days I contemplated that senseless act of some unthinking and confused human. What possible gain could there have been for the shooter? I can only conclude that it was an ill-minded act committed for a very brief feeling of power. What dark beast held captive the heart of the human who did this? Perhaps it was the shooter’s isolation that demanded the same of everything in creation. This was a senseless and heartless act by a weak and dying spirit, an act of someone who has thrust themself further into the depths of loneliness and isolation.

I have no idea if the remaining member 38

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of the Whidbey eagle couple will receive another mate or not. I wonder if and for how long an eagle will mourn the passing of its partner. Eagles mate for life, but are known to mate with another if something like this happens.

What I do know is that, for me, there is an immense void at Fort Ebey on Whidbey Island’s westernmost point of land. For me, flying there will never quite be the same.

As for the shooter, I’d like to share an old fable about a man who found an eagle’s egg and placed it in the nest of a barnyard hen. The eagle hatched with the brood of chicks and grew up with them. All his life, the eagle did what the barnyard chicks did, thinking he was a barnyard chicken.

by Jill Nephew A lot of people have been asking lately (ok, maybe just two) how I pulled this off this epic non-flight during the past year. I gave them the details, but for the rest of you, here is a condensed version of my story:

He scratched the earth for worms and insects. He clucked and cackled. And he would thrash his wings and fly a few feet into the air.

July 2000, World Air Games:

Years passed and the eagle grew old.

One day he spotted a magnificent bird high above him in the cloudless sky. It glided in graceful circles, riding high in thermals and powerful wind currents, with scarcely a beat of its powerful wings. The old eagle looked up in awe.

“Who’s that?” he asked.

The meteo doesn’t look good. Winds over the back again. It may thermal block, but it isn’t pretty. The task is set.

Shaking, I enter the course into my GPS. At one point I am doing very well on my non-flight: ‘I don’t need to fly this sh*@!

I didn’t push anyone off the team to be here! I’m here for me!” But next thing I know I am getting low. “Man, you are being such the weenie. You’ve flown in this stuff before, and look at that, everyone who was just agreeing with you not to fly, is now setting up.”

“That’s an eagle, the king of the birds,” said his neighbor. “He belongs to the heavens. We belong to the earth – we’re chickens.”

So the eagle lived and died a chicken, for that’s what he thought he was.

Things go from bad to worse.

“Well just set up.” Dumb move, now I am really low, and sure enough it happens—I launch.

How sad it is that, with all our potential as humans, some of us are so disconnected from creation and nature we must destroy that which represents what the child in us all seeks – freedom, connectivity, and our own personal power. I pray that the eagle shooter someday finds his or her way out of the barnyard.

The air is as expected, over a few climbs I check the wind speed and drift. Yes, over the back and yes, worse than predicted. FINALLY I get just what I need, “F*%@ this! You know, I don’t have to kill myself for this task” and finally the clincher “what would your mother think?” It’s in the bag. I am determined to top land.

I celebrate my successful non-flight by sitting in the shade and watching the …continues page 42 July, 2003: Hang Gliding & Paragliding

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I

/

/ /

Pilots flying the sunset glass in Telluride, Colorado Photo Brett Schreckengost

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N O N - F L I G H T

below launch and disappear into it. At this point, things are actually pretty effortless. “That’s nuts. I don’t need that. Let’s go to another launch, or just go home.” A couple other pilots even spot me and join in with “yeah, I agree.” Things get tricky when the launched pilot pops out the other side of the cloud and gets an easy climb.

I’m afraid I may have lost them now, knowing what they are up against. I probe, “what are you thinking now?

You wanna fly here?”

“No, let’s go to another safer launch”.

YES! They are with me!

…continued from page 39

last of the organizers pack up to leave, hoping to hitch a ride back to the hotel to read or something.

Just then, I couldn’t believe my eyes— here I thought I had done something truly remarkable but alas, I hear an Italian pilot just behind me uttering “This is sh*@! Stupid conditions!”

He lands next to me celebrating his victory. Then I notice the gliders are coming down like rain all around me!

Eventually the organizers call the task, in response to a mass collective protest and everyone makes it in (albeit some with a few with fractures). *sigh* Well, I comfort myself that I was the first!

April 2003, home site: The day started out really weak. It wasn’t looking good.

We get to the other launch and as predicted, things are PHAT. Low winds, high base. I go first and attempt to join the pilot who launched early. My internal guidance mechanism goes haywire. “You HAVE to catch him—this is your big chance to figure out how to go far in these mountains.”At the same time I notice the air is just whacked.

It makes no sense. I see lenticulars forming in the clouds out front. I have no idea how or why. Then things went from okay to bad! “Screw it—you’ll be fine, just catch up with him,” was followed up with a really weak “how about we fly the foothills?” That is all I have to protect me.

We arrive to a launch at the back of a gully, no good landing options on glide with the high, gusty wind. I watch a local pilot launch into a cloud 42

I get on the radio: “Jenny, you still going sailing?”

I can’t believe my luck, from then on it was so easy. I just thought about sailing, and getting a good lunch, and focused on a safe landing!

A lot of people compliment me (or I take it as a compliment) how far I have come in just a couple years. I have to say, I am a bit proud, but not nearly as proud as my mother. I can remember just a couple years ago thinking all I would ever be able to do in paragliding is get high, and go far. Man. This is all just way beyond what I would have ever imagined. The liberation and freedom of choosing for myself, and not having to beat myself up for landing early! I find with this newfound freedom to choose, I can now fly in all sorts of new interesting ways that just look like a birds nest on my GPS and are difficult to convey to my fellow pilots, but that I find absolutely fascinating!

“You sure you want to land?”

“Yeah, this is crap, I will be happier on the ground, I’ve had enough.” Just for extra measures I throw in “now you promise you won’t be all upset you didn’t go XC once you land and hear about their epic flights?”

I mean who was I? Here I knew I often chose what to do in the air solely because I wanted approval, or admiration, or adventure, or self-respect, or just because I talked myself into some goal that I was unwilling to revise.

Then it happens, I get a fortuitous large whack right at the decision point over some power lines.

I work it….

But I have to say, it was by no means all me. Luckily, I have had great mentors.

People who I would have a blast with when I didn’t fly. We would go searching for hot springs, or hiking, or going for a swim. Then we started caring about each other, and the rest actually came pretty easy after that.

Thanks for taking care of yourself!

I try to be humble and help other people along. It’s not always easy. Some people really have some bad habits they just won’t let go. They’ll say, “you know, there were high winds, so I landed, but Joe here flew 60 miles. I guess I am just a weenie.” I’ll try my best, “sounds like you made a good decision, you’re still alive, and you probably wouldn’t have enjoyed that flight.” But they often just find the nearest sink despite my efforts, “don’t be patronizing.”

Jill Nephew has been flying paragliders for eight years, and hang gliders for four.

She competed from 1997 to 2001 earning titles such as British Female Nationals Champ, US Female Nationals Champ, and Titanium-Testicals-Jill, where she battled a notoriously strong bout of intermediate syndrome that was virtually cured by a very low deployment. She can now be found imitating a yo-yo when flying random patterns in the foothills of various California sites and flying tandem, when she isn’t busy studying Atmospheric Science in La Jolla.

Jill Nephew Co-founder Team Air-Wuss, local chapter ***

“Yeah, meet you in an hour at Parma”

I remember when I was still focused on height and length as the only measure of my flight’s worth I would meet people who were just flying by their own standards, often happy with whatever flight they got, by their own measure.

I think the term I heard a very senior and respected pilot use with his James Bond accent was “true aviators.” These people could judge the conditions for themselves, and make all their decisions based on what they truly felt was best for them. Steely-eyed men and women of the air, they would define their own boundaries, and constantly went against the grain. They just didn’t seem to care what anyone thought of them. I never dreamed I could be one of them.

I attempt to follow for a while and it’s not looking good, despite being under constant assault by the air, the lift is everywhere and it is kind of a no brainer. In fact, it is looking downright hopeless. I am going XC whether I like it or not.

“I want to land”.

The conditions are awesome, and I hadn’t flown in a couple months, and to make things worse, I heard about the epic XC flights had by all the previous day. I’m on a mission to do a good flight.

“No, I want to do something else, didn’t we have an invitation to go sailing this afternoon?” YES, that’s it! The sailing invitation!

July, 2003: Hang Gliding & Paragliding

Managing choices is one of the hardest things we do. I can’t even begin to say how thankful I am when my friends choose to take care of themselves in the air.

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MY FIRST FLIGHT

MY FIRST FLIGHT

occasion to establish a first impression.

I got hooked right away. This happened about six years back. After university I decided serious life wasn’t anything for me—not yet, at least—so I grabbed a backpack, stuffed it with the most elementary travel clothes and accessories, and hit the road. I won’t go into details about that – it’d be a story in itself – but basically after half a year of traveling I ended up in the rather colorful company of two French guys, Christophe and Bruno, and an English bloke, Paul, who was about the tallest Englishman I’d ever encountered.

We met in a youth hostel in Hawaii and eventually ended up together in the Fijis. That’s where this paragliding adventure starts.

Christophe’s luggage consisted of one huge backpack, filled with a tandem paraglider—it was remarkable to see how 95 percent of his total travel outfit consisted of that paragliding equipment. He was a true “street dog.”

His plan was to continue his travels all the way to Queenstown, New Zealand, where he speculated on earning some money doing tandem flights with goodlooking tourist chicks.

By Koen Vancampenhoudt

’ve only recently started keeping an extensive flight logbook. Not that I didn’t write my flights down before.

As a matter of fact, I logged every single flight—even the 5-minute sled rides. But I’ve been lazy. My logbook is basically a list of day-month-year, flying site, the wing I flew and the duration of the flight. Pretty dry information.

As a New Year’s Resolution I decided to get my act together and to start writing a little ‘report’ of every flight I make. I started the new practice on the first day of this new year at flight number 300. This proved to be a useful writing exercise. It is also a good way of retaining a more profound memory of each sky-trip. I’ve been fortunate enough to fly in more than 50 different places all over Latin America. I’ve met plenty of wonderful people, seen great 44

scenery, and made some heroic flights. But most of the names and details are lost in the gray and dark backstreets of my brain. Lost, gone, verschwunden!

I had dreamt of paragliding plenty of times before. Not being a rich fellow, having no clue about it, and not living in the mountains, I just hoped it might happen one day.

Hopefully not forever, though! Besides making a little story of each new flight, I’ve decided to go back in time, bit by bit, and write down some of the flights and adventures that come back to mind. And here’s the first one—probably the most memorable flight for all of us in our whole flying career—the very first flight!

Well, there I was in Fiji, traveling with a tandem pilot, looking for a place to launch. It couldn’t be more perfect.

Obviously he didn’t need to ask twice if we all wanted to give it a go. The four of us and the Fijian man with whom we were staying, walked up a hill one sunny afternoon. We started scoping those coastal hills for a potential launch site. Thrilled with the idea of really flying (a lot sooner than I’d ever dreamed) and with Christophe showing serious withdrawal effects due to months of not flying, it didn’t take us long to find a launch, though we had to clear it of bushes, plants and grass with a machete.

My first paragliding flight was a tandem flight. I reckon a lot of pilots’ first flights were tandem with some experienced pilot. It’s the most obvious way to get to know the sport. I think there’s something magic about that first “dip” into this passion: the place, the scenery, and the pilot. It all adds to that one unforgettable experience. It’s like meeting someone new. There’s only one July, 2003: Hang Gliding & Paragliding

Hang Gliding & Paragliding: July, 2003

Covered with sweat as well as bits and pieces of plants, we finally spread open the gigantic blue-green wing. Paul was to go first. The wind was blowing pretty hard, but Christophe seemed to be a very experienced pilot, and take-off was smooth. Soon they were up 250 meters above the small ridge.

You could tell Christophe was having loads of fun. Bruno, who was also a pilot although not as experienced as Christophe, provided Bob—the Fijian guy—and me with plenty of information (“See? That’s a wing over!

Wow, nice 360!”). But it wasn’t long before we could see that Paul wasn’t experiencing the same degree of joy.

As a matter of fact he threw up, and it wasn’t pretty with that full-face helmet he wore!

Unfortunately the wind was still quite strong, and the launch area very small – basically just the size of the glider – so while Christophe was attempting to do a top landing with several flyby’s and sharp turns, Paul was taking a short nap, hanging nearly lifeless in his harness. Eventually the three of us on the ground grabbed them and pulled them out of the air to end Paul’s sufferings. His green face slowly changed back to normal color.

Now it was my turn. A little nervous —not so much for possible dangers involved, but heck, I didn’t want to puke in the air!—I hooked into the harness. Christophe did a final check and we were off.

It was absolutely fantastic! I couldn’t wait for Christophe to do some of the cool stuff he had done with Paul—I felt like my stomach could take it. We did a couple of thrilling wingovers but we had lost some altitude. Christophe worked as hard as he could to get us above the launch area again. But it was no use—the wind had abandoned us!

So there we went, sinking out towards the ocean, overflying an abundant forest of palm and other exotic trees and plants below. Then Christophe noticed an open space between the trees, and made a splitsecond decision to land there.

Following a professional and uneventful landing we laughed and enjoyed the moment as we stuffed the gear in the backpack.

So far so good! But our real adventure was only about to begin! It must have been somewhere between 5:30 and 6 p.m. by the time we picked up the backpack and started hiking out. We were way off the beaten track here in a very isolated area.

As a matter of fact, the only way to get to the bay where Bob and his family live (unless you want to walk for 5 hours) is by boat. There are no walking trails, no roads, no nothing! Just plants, roots, trees, bushes, sticky stuff, mangroves, the whole works!

You also need to consider that soon after 6 p.m. it becomes pitch dark in places this close to the equator!

So on we went, hiking in the dusk toward the neighboring bay. A hill of about 400 meters separated us from our destination at the next bay, and we tried to walk without going up or down in order to roughly follow the coastline. Doing this, we thought we would eventually end up on the other side of the hill that separated us from “our” bay.

After 15 minutes of walking, it became so dark I couldn’t even see my hand before my eyes. We tried to keep our direction, but routinely bumped into trees and tripped over plants and roots.

Pretty soon we were worn out!

Exhausted and dehydrated after only 30 minutes of this, we decided to change our strategy: we’d work our way downhill toward the beach.

Going down was indeed easier, but when we arrived at the waterfront, instead of finding a beach we bumped into the mangroves. Well, we reckoned, there can’t be that many of these mangroves around, so if we climb through them maybe after some meters 45

MY FIRST FLIGHT

SPORT PILOT NPRM

Status of Proposed Light Sport Aircraft Rules/Sport Pilot NPRM

we’ll be in the open water and then we’ll swim or swimwalk, to our beach.

After climbing over and under and between roots and suffering for half an hour, feet in the mud, we became aware that this was not going to lead us anywhere.

Consider we had been doing all of this in the pitch dark.

So you can imagine the terror that overcame us when Christophe lit a match and we could see ourselves trapped in this all-surrounding maze of roots.

L

ast year the FAA proposed a new regulation known as the Sport Pilot and Light Sport Aircraft rule, (Sport Pilot NPRM). This new rule will affect aerotow operations and possibly other hang gliding and paragliding activities. (For background information, see previous magazine articles on the Sport Pilot NPRM at www.ushga.org/articles.asp).

It took 30 minutes to go back the way we just came. For all the work, it was still kind of fun. I like adventures. And so did Christophe. Back on shore we started climbing up the hill again. In a more or less open spot we took a break, and Christophe smoked a cigarette. As we stood up to go on, we disagreed about which direction we just came from and where we should go. We compromised and decided to go 90 degrees in another direction. It was at least 10 p.m. by this point. We didn’t give up, though, and we kept struggling on, tripping and falling in the mud and taking turns carrying the backpack.

One of the key aspects of the Sport Pilot NPRM is the requirement that manufacturers certify all ‘Light Sport Aircraft.’ To facilitate this, a new committee —the Light Sport Aircraft Committee, F37— was formed last fall under the auspices of the ASTM to address the standards protocol for light sport aircraft and to determine the aircraft certification requirements under this new category.

We ran into some sort of a bamboo forest that was even more difficult to penetrate than the stuff we had already pushed through! The bamboo trees, some of them fallen over, proved impossible to climb through in the dark.

We kept our spirits high but our bodies couldn’t follow any more. We endured four or five hours of struggling through the bush in the heat and humidity, without anything to drink or to eat. Finally, we decided there was nothing else to do but spend the night. We rolled out the paraglider and slept in it there in the middle of the bamboo forest! I slept quite nicely until the sounds and sunlight at break of day woke us up.

Founded in 1898, ASTM International is a not-for-profit organization that provides a global forum for the development and publication of voluntary consensus standards for materials, products, systems, and services. Formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials, ASTM International provides standards that are accepted and used in research and development, product testing, quality systems, and commercial transactions around the globe. Executive Director Jayne DePanfilis and Regional Director Bill Bryden represent the USHGA and the free flight community on the committee and Mike Meier of Wills Wing provides industry representation. The Light Sport Aircraft Committee Chairperson is Earl Lawrence, Vice President of Industry and Government Relations for the Experimental Aircraft Association. (For more information about the committee and its meetings, visit www.astm.org/ COMMIT/F37.htm).

With daylight to assist us, it didn’t take us long to find the right direction and in short order, we ran into Paul and Bruno. They thought perhaps we had a crash landing, possibly hurting ourselves, and that was why our return was delayed.

That was our last flight in Fiji, except for that Boeing 747 flight that took us out of there, to new continents and new adventures. A couple of months later I took my beginner’s course with Guy and Uwe in Arambol, Goa, and bit-by-bit paragliding started ruling my life. But this “historic” Fijian paragliding/bivouac experience truly provided the first spark and set the tone for the rest of my paragliding “career”!

46

By Jayne DePanfilis and Bill Bryden

July, 2003: Hang Gliding & Paragliding

Hang Gliding & Paragliding: July, 2003

Under the ASTM rules, tow planes must comply with the safety standards established by the appropriate committee. Several committees are developing towing protocols and airworthiness design standards for aircraft types including weight shift aircraft (trikes) and airplanes (fixed wings). The new light sport aircraft standards will include hitch and aircraft performance requirements for safe tow planes.

USHGA and industry representatives have been careful to ensure that the development of the design standards for tow planes used to aerotow launch hang gliders will not be overly burdensome nor costly for tow plane manufacturers. Mike Meier of Wills Wing masterfully helped to reduce the size and complexity of early drafts of the weight shift aircraft design standard.

The ‘Standard Practice for Quality Assurance in the Manufacture of Light Sport Airplanes Specification’ is officially complete. Other required standards for airplanes are also near completion. The completion date for the standards pertaining to weight shift aircraft (trikes) is about three to five months away. Engine certification standards are also close to completion. Standards for powered parachutes (a trike-like carriage suspended under a big rectangular parachute) are close to completion.

It is important to note that the ASTM industry consensus standards address aircraft only. Sport Pilot licensing will be managed by the FAA. The draft version of the NPRM states that a sport pilot will not be permitted to tow. The USHGA and industry representatives continue to apply substantial pressure to make sure the FAA understands that the extra training that might be required of our tow pilots to obtain a private pilot certificate is of little value for pilots of tow planes that are used to aerotow launch hang gliders. The USHGA does not know yet if we will be successful in our efforts to gain towing privileges for sport pilots. We do know that the aircraft side of the

equation was the primary problem for towing operations and it appears as though these issues are going to be satisfactorily or adequately addressed in the new rules and industry standards.

The FAA has not released an official date for the announcement of the completion of their work on the Sport Pilot Rule but rumors suggest that the Rule may be announced by FAA at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2003, July 29-August 4. Once the FAA announces the completion of their work on the Rule, the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Transportation have the right to review the rule for 90 days. Once the rule is approved by the DOT and the OMB, it will be forwarded to Congress for their approval. This process could be concluded as early as September of 2003. We expect a transitional period of about three years for industry compliance to the new rule during which time all aircraft meeting the category definition of a light sport aircraft will need to comply with the new rules.

The rule will affect the aircraft side of our aerotow operations. The pilot of the tow planes will also be affected, but the hang glider pilot will not be impacted by these new rules.

The next meeting for the development of the design airworthiness standard for light sport aircraft is schedule to take place in Tampa in November.

Electronic communications and ‘virtual meetings’ are also taking place through the ASTM infrastructure.

Email jayne@ushga.org for more information.

47

PRODUCT LINES

© By Dan Johnson <cumulusman@aol.com> www.bydanjohnson.com

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St. Paul, Minn. — I don’t intend for “Product Lines” to become a place where you read government regulatory updates (God forbid!) but I was in a place to hear some recent developments that I believe you’ll find of interest …some of you anyway. That place was Kansas City, where several ASTM groups gathered for rule-writing Committee Week in mid-May 2003. ▲ At first, I shied away from this whole ASTM rule-writing business as it sounds dull and far from flying fun (and it is, believe me).

But this is an historic opportunity to affect federal rule making that directly impacts hang gliding and powered ultralights (two activities that draw my focus). ••• OK, let’s say you’re interested as well — and you should be if towing or tandem flying is part of your hang gliding or paragliding. What the heck is ASTM* anyway? • ASTM has created a group, creatively called “F37,” that will help guide industry officials to build the new standards for Light Sport Aircraft. You probably don’t think that could possibly be of interest to you but your mind might be changed to know that F37.20 (the guys writing standards for airplanes; other F37 dot-somethings are working on weight shift and gyroplanes, etc.) are including aerotowing in their standard writing. Thus, this bunch of folks are working on standards that very directly affect aerotowing of hang gliders. The good news: USHGA leaders like Mike Meier, Bill Bryden, and Jayne DePanfilis speak out at ASTM meetings, last January and again in May… and will do so again more times this year. If nothing else, Meier, Bryden, and DePanfilis deserve your thanks for taking time from their other schedules to volunteer for this work. It’s a lot like serving on the USHGA board of directors, except attendees pay 100 percent of their cost to attend. ▲ In addition to the USHGA contingent, the fixed wing airplane committee (F37.20) is chaired by Tom Peghiny, a longtime and highly dedicated hang gliding enthusiast. Where possible, I try to lend my voice to the pro-hang gliding/paragliding forces. (My business reason to attend ASTM meetings is to assure that parachute rules are included and properly done — as you may know my “day job” is for BRS parachutes.) These pro-HG/PG people can’t prevent all potential damage, but they will probably help make the aerotowing language as acceptable as possible. Certainly they’ll do better than FAA officials.

And these industry standards are not FAA rules. They can and will be subject to change. Different than FAA rules, these standards can readily be changed if their provisions are not accomplishing the desired goals. ▲ One cool part of this entire process is that FAA is hoping the Light Sport Aircraft industry-designed standards will set a precedent for other aviation regulations. In some ideal future, all FAA rules may be devised by industry. Gee, sounds like what USHGA/HGMA have been doing all along, doesn’t it? And, it’s worked quite well for us. *ASTM is American P rGliding o d u& Paragliding: c t L i nJuly, e 2003 s …

Hang

h a n g

g l i d i n g

Standards and Testing Materials, except that they are changing their name to ASTM International. This large organization has 30,000 members in 110 countries.

Worldwide auto fuel standards are a construct within ASTM showing the global impact of this organization — which is why they are going to the “International” name. ••• Talking with Wills Wing’s Mike Meier at the recent ASTM meeting, news also emerged of a possible change to Part 103 — though the agency had first said they would not change the rule governing hang gliding and paragliding (and that was — and still is — very welcome news for all solo flying of HGs and PGs). ▲ However, FAA is determined to eliminate exemptions which would scuttle tandem operations for both HGs and PGs. FAA lawyers remind FAA rule-authoring personnel that exemptions are meant to be short-lived and used sparingly yet we’ve had a tandem exemption for many years. Now FAA is saying that they want to call tandem operations “Part-103 compliant aircraft with two persons hanging from it,” reports Meier. This semantical gymnastics is FAA’s way of saying tandem isn’t a “twoseat” operation — since no actual seats are part of the aircraft (hang glider or paraglider). In so saying, they can avoid forcing all tandem-flown hang gliders to meet Light Sport Aircraft rules… perhaps. This is a work in progress and the outcome is not 100% certain. ▲ Meier also referenced the shut down of aerotowing operations at Lookout Mountain Flight Park — an event that must give nightmares to all the other professional flight parks.

He feels that the uproar over this action may actually turn out to be a good thing… one of those make-lemons-intolemonade situations. He hopes that actions at FAA will help “legalize” this important segment of our sport. ▲ At the end of meeting, Meier, Bryden, and DePanfilis all felt good about what was accomplished at the Committee Week sessions. Certainly ASTM’s solid organization ability is helping to bring together quite disparate groups. FAA’s strong presence at these meetings and the chance for face-to-face interaction with FAA by leaders in and out of USHGA has every promise of bringing positive results. Without their work, I believe both aerotowing and tandem hang gliding or paragliding would have questionable futures. So I want to thank Mike, Bill, Jayne, and Tom Peghiny for their unwavering support of the kind of flying we all love. ••• OK, next month I promise a return to product news. This ASTM stuff was too compelling and too fresh to pass up for this issue of “Product Lines.” ••• So, got news or opinions? Send ‘em to: 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Messages or fax (651) 450-0930. E-mail to News@ByDanJohnson.com or CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS! p r o d u c t

n e w s

s i n c e

1 9 7 9 . 49

RATINGS REPORT

Region H-1 H-2 H-3 H-5 H-2 H-1 H-2 H-3 H-1 H-3 H-3 H-1 H-1 H-1 H-2 H-1 H-1 H-1 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-3 H-1 H-2 H-3 H-3 H-4 H-3 H-1 H-2 H-4 H-1 H-2 H-2 H-1 H-2 H-1 H-2 H-3 H-1 H-2 H-3 T-1 H-1 H-3 H-1 H-2 H-1 H-4 H-4 H-4 H-2 H-1 50

1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 5 5 6 7 9 9 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 11 12 12 12 12 13 13

RATINGS REPORT

Name

City

State

ERIC THORPE ERIC THORPE ERIC JOHNSON STEVEN RODRIGUES TRAVIS LANGE DOUGLAS HAHN STEVE HAZARABEDIAN CHRISTOPHER HAMLIN SAMUEL ROGERS SIMON LYNN PRESTON HOLMES CHRISTOPHER SHORE DANIEL KWAN OSMAR BATISTA LYNDEN VAZQUEZ MEGRET OLEWILER HAIM AMIR ROD CLARK MEGRET OLEWILER HAIM AMIR ROD CLARK MEGRET OLEWILER BOB BARRY BOB BARRY BOB BARRY JOHN (TAD) HURST BOB BARRY TODD PETERSON DANE HARRIS DANE HARRIS THOMAS GRAHAM JACOB BUNYAN DANIEL BROXTERMAN MICHAEL FULK CARL HARRISON CARL HARRISON E R MATHIS E R MATHIS KLEBER FERREIRA PHIL RICHUK PHIL RICHUK PHIL RICHUK SPENCER KINDT BILLY ALEXANDER BILLY ALEXANDER THOMAS FOSSIER THOMAS FOSSIER DAVE LEACH LINDA SALAMONE MARK FRUTIGER VLADIMIROS PANAGIOTIDIS JOHN PHILLIPS DAN BAZ

PORTLAND PORTLAND SEATTLE BRISBANE SAN FRANCISCO LOS ALTOS EL SOBRANTE RENO SAN FRANCISCO SAN DIEGO LA JOLLA LOS ANGELES LOS ANGELES CULVER CITY SOUTH PARADENA LAKE ARROWHEAD INDIO NEWPORT BEACH LAKE ARROWHEAD INDIO NEWPORT BEACH LAKE ARROWHEAD OCEANSIDE OCEANSIDE OCEANSIDE SAN DIEGO OCEANSIDE TEMPE TWIN FALLS TWIN FALLS LAWTON AUBURN HILLS TAKOMA PARK SCHUYLER WINTER PARK WINTER PARK CHILDERSBURG CHILDERSBURG MIAMI HIGH POINT HIGH POINT HIGH POINT CLERMONT BRANDON BRANDON HOUSTON HOUSTON WATERTOWN E ROCHESTER HONEOYE ASTORIA BEWDLEY WORCS TORONTO, ONTARIO

OR OR WA CA CA CA CA NV CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA AZ ID ID OK MI MD VA FL FL AL AL FL NC NC NC FL MS MS TX TX NY NY NY NY

RatingOfficial ANDREW BEEM ANDREW BEEM RUSSELL GELFAN JOHN WILDE KURTIS CARTER PATRICK DENEVAN PATRICK DENEVAN RON SMITH THEODORE MACK ALAN KENNY ALAN KENNY ANDREW BEEM ANDREW BEEM ANDREW BEEM JOE GREBLO ROB MCKENZIE ROB MCKENZIE ROB MCKENZIE ROB MCKENZIE ROB MCKENZIE ROB MCKENZIE ROB MCKENZIE STEVE STACKABLE STEVE STACKABLE STEVE STACKABLE STEVE STACKABLE STEVE STACKABLE CHAD KOESTER FRANK GILLETTE FRANK GILLETTE RON KENNEY NORMAN LESNOW JOHN MIDDLETON JON THOMPSON BART WEGHORST BART WEGHORST CHRISTIAN THORESON CHRISTIAN THORESON JAMES TINDLE MICHAEL ROBERTSON MICHAEL ROBERTSON MICHAEL ROBERTSON PAUL VOIGHT TIKI MASHY TIKI MASHY FREDERICK BURNS FREDERICK BURNS DANIEL GUIDO DAVID JEWELL DOUG MOSSBROOK PAUL VOIGHT MALCOLM JONES MICHAEL ROBERTSON July 2003: Hang Gliding & Paragliding

Name

City

H-2 H-1 H-2 H-3 H-2 P-1 P-2 P-1 P-3 P-1 P-2 P-1 P-2 P-1

Region 13 13 13 13 13 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

DAN BAZ JACQUELINE TEELING JACQUELINE TEELING JACQUELINE TEELING MARK OLIVER PETER PUPATOR PETER PUPATOR RICHARD YOUNG RICHARD YOUNG RUSTY SWAYNE RUSTY SWAYNE PAUL ANDERSEN PAUL ANDERSEN DIANE ILLI

TORONTO, ONTARIO MILDMAY, ON MILDMAY, ON MILDMAY, ON RICHMOND, SURREY PORTLAND PORTLAND ANCHORAGE ANCHORAGE BELLINGHAM BELLINGHAM PORTLAND PORTLAND MILL CREEK

OR OR AK AK WA WA OR OR WA

MICHAEL ROBERTSON PETER DARIAN-VARZELIOTIS PETER DARIAN-VARZELIOTIS PETER DARIAN-VARZELIOTIS TIKI MASHY ABE LAGUNA ABE LAGUNA DIXON WHITE DIXON WHITE JAMES REICH JAMES REICH KELLY KELLAR KELLY KELLAR KYOUNG KI HONG

P-2 P-3 P-1 P-2 P-3 P-3 P-1 P-2 T-1 T-1 T-1 T-1 P-1 P-2 P-5 P-3 T-1 P-2 P-1 P-2 T-1 T-1 P-2 P-1 P-2 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-2 P-3 P-4 P-4 P-1 P-1 P-2 P-3 P-3 P-1 P-3

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

DIANE ILLI STEPHEN PIENIAK G WAYNE MAXWELL G WAYNE MAXWELL G WAYNE MAXWELL R DOUGLAS ETTER TIM STELZER TIM STELZER SEWARD WHITFIELD ROSS JACOBSON BRIAN STIPAK NORMAN HENNINGSEN ALEXANDER LLOYD ALEXANDER LLOYD ANN SASAKI MICHAEL COX FABIO BLANCARTE STEVEN ADAMS SHANE SHRADER SHANE SHRADER EIRIK STOUT KATHERINE STOUT RICKY WHITE SCOTT MATTOCH SCOTT MATTOCH PIERRE MARCHAND DAVE GEALOW FRANK KUENHEN DAVE GEALOW PIERRE MARCHAND MAX MARIEN ROBIN SUTTON-BROWN STEVE GEARY KAORU FELDMAN TONY LEONARD RICHARD PEW STEVE GEARY JAKE MCGILL JAKE MCGILL

MILL CREEK FOX ISLAND NORDLAND NORDLAND NORDLAND OLYMPIA WASILLA WASILLA TILLAMOOK MUKILTEO PORTLAND TACOMA SAN FRANCISCO SAN FRANCISCO PACIFICA OAKLAND SAN FRANICSCO SAN LEANDRO CAMARILLO CAMARILLO MARINA DEL REY MARINA DEL REY KAMUELA KAILUA KAILUA LOS ANGELES HUNTINGTON BEACH ESCONDIDO HUNTINGTON BEACH LOS ANGELES SAN DIEGO SAN DIEGO SAN DIEGO COSTA MESA ENCINITAS SAN DIEGO SAN DIEGO MARINA DEL REY MARINA DEL REY

WA WA WA WA WA WA AK AK OR WA OR WA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA HI HI HI CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA

KYOUNG KI HONG LAN DO CHIRICO MICHAEL SMITH MICHAEL SMITH MICHAEL SMITH MICHAEL SMITH RICK SHARP RICK SHARP STEVE ROTI STEVE ROTI STEVE ROTI STEVE ROTI CHRIS SANTACROCE CHRIS SANTACROCE JOHN WILDE KIM GALVIN SCOTT GASPARIAN WALLACE ANDERSON CHAD BASTIAN CHAD BASTIAN CHAD BASTIAN CHAD BASTIAN CHRISTOPHER LANGAN DOUGLAS HOFFMAN DOUGLAS HOFFMAN GABRIEL JEBB GABRIEL JEBB GABRIEL JEBB GABRIEL JEBB GABRIEL JEBB GABRIEL JEBB JOSHUA MEYERS KYOUNG KI HONG KYOUNG KI HONG KYOUNG KI HONG KYOUNG KI HONG KYOUNG KI HONG LAN DO CHIRICO LAN DO CHIRICO

Region

Name

Hang Gliding & Paragliding: July, 2003

City

State

State

RatingOfficial

RatingOfficial

51

RATINGS REPORT

Region T-1 P-1 P-2 P-3 P-1 P-3 P-3 P-4 T-1 P-1 P-2 P-1 P-1 P-2 P-2 P-1 P-3 P-1 P-2 P-1 P-2 T-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-1 P-3 P-4 P-4 P-1 P-3 P-3 P-1 P-2 P-1 P-2 P-1 P-2 P-1 P-2 P-1 P-2 P-4 P-1 P-2 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-1 52

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 10

RATINGS REPORT

Name

City

State

DAVID TARATKO HARRY WUENSTEL MICHEL CARIOTIS HARRY WUENSTEL KEN PATERSON KEN PATERSON LORY FOUNTAIN MARTIN REESE ADAM GRAHAM JEFF SIMSOVIC JEFF SIMSOVIC CHESTER FRANTZ JAY QUINLAN CHESTER FRANTZ JAY QUINLAN PAUL BRIGGS PAUL BRIGGS KEVIN OTLOWSKI KEVIN OTLOWSKI DENNIS MCDONALD DENNIS MCDONALD MICHAEL CARR CHAZ TOMPKINS IRINA SINAKEVITCH ADRIAN LOEFF CHAZ TOMPKINS IRINA SINAKEVITCH ADRIAN LOEFF WILLIAM HEANER III DYLAN NEYME WILLIAM HEANER III DAVID DIXON PIERRE DOGAN PIERRE DOGAN GREG MATTHEWS JEFFREY COULTER JEFFREY COULTER ROBERT LE ROY ROBERT LE ROY DAVE BRUMBAUGH DAVE BRUMBAUGH MICHAEL FRANCIS MICHAEL FRANCIS WILLIAM BEHRENS WILLIAM BEHRENS FABRICIO RODRIGUES ALEX HALPERN ALEX HALPERN JAMES COBLENTZ JOHN WYSHAM MATTHEW SZCZEPANOWSKI JEFF SHRINER ERIC BECK

HONOLULU AGUA DULCE HESPERIA AGUA DULCE HUNTINGTON BEACH HUNTINGTON BEACH LONG BEACH ASPEN SALT LAKE CITY LAS TRAMPAS LAS TRAMPAS SALT LAKE CITY BRECKENRIDGE SALT LAKE CITY BRECKENRIDGE ALBUQUERQUE ALBUQUERQUE ROY ROY SALT LAKE CITY SALT LAKE CITY LAKEWOOD TUCSON TUCSON TUCSON TUCSON TUCSON TUCSON DRAPER KAMAS DRAPER BLUFFDALE MORRISON MORRISON BOZEMAN JACKSON JACKSON GREAT BEND GREAT BEND CUSTER CUSTER BIRMINGHAM BIRMINGHAM MONTVILLE MONTVILLE DANBURY BURLINGTON BURLINGTON FREDERICK FAIRFAX PHILADELPHIA BRYN MAWR HUNTSVILLE

HI CA CA CA CA CA CA CO UT NM NM UT CO UT CO NM NM UT UT UT UT CO AZ AZ AZ AZ AZ AZ UT UT UT UT CO CO MT WY WY KS KS SD SD MI MI ME ME CT VT VT MD VA PA PA AL

RatingOfficial MARC HILL MARCELLO DE BARROS MARCELLO DE BARROS MARCELLO DE BARROS TIM NELSON TIM NELSON TIM NELSON ALEJANDRO PALMAZ ANDY MACRAE BRUCE WALKER BRUCE WALKER CHRIS SANTACROCE CHRIS SANTACROCE CHRIS SANTACROCE CHRIS SANTACROCE J C BROWN J C BROWN KEN HUDONJORGENSEN KEN HUDONJORGENSEN KEVIN BIERNACKI KEVIN BIERNACKI KLAUS SCHLUETER SCOTT HORTON SCOTT HORTON SCOTT HORTON SCOTT HORTON SCOTT HORTON SCOTT HORTON STEPHEN MAYER STEPHEN MAYER STEPHEN MAYER STEPHEN MAYER WILLIAM LAURENCE WILLIAM LAURENCE ANDY MACRAE JAMES MATT COMBS JAMES MATT COMBS BO CRISS BO CRISS GRANGER BANKS GRANGER BANKS TIM NELSON TIM NELSON CHAD BASTIAN CHAD BASTIAN PAUL VOIGHT RICK SHARP RICK SHARP CHRIS BOWLES DWAYNE MC COURT STEPHEN ONSTAD STEPHEN ONSTAD CHAD BASTIAN July 2003: Hang Gliding & Paragliding

Region P-2 P-3 P-3 P-1 P-2 P-1 P-2 P-4 P-1 P-1 P-2 P-2 P-1 P-1 P-2 P-3

10 10 10 12 12 12 12 12 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

Name

City

State

ERIC BECK DOUG KAYS GERALD FRITZ ALBERT ISEA ALBERT ISEA SEBASTIAN MEIER SEBASTIAN MEIER ROBERT WORTMANN ROBERT METHOT KENNETH FERGUSON ROBERT METHOT KENNETH FERGUSON PABLO HALLER MICHAEL STEVENTON PABLO HALLER HERB HORNIG

HUNTSVILLE ROSWELL RINGOLD STATEN ISLAND STATEN ISLAND PHILMONT PHILMONT MARYLAND VANCOUVER BC BURNABY BC VANCOUVER BC BURNABY BC KUEISHAN, TAOYUAN 33 HONG KONG KUEISHAN, TAOYUAN 33 SCARBOROUGH ONT

AL GA GA NY NY NY NY NY

Hang Gliding & Paragliding: July, 2003

RatingOfficial CHAD BASTIAN J P SALDANA J P SALDANA DIXON WHITE DIXON WHITE KEN HUDONJORGENSEN KEN HUDONJORGENSEN PAUL VOIGHT JAMES REICH JAMES REICH JAMES REICH JAMES REICH LESLIE SHARP LESLIE SHARP LESLIE SHARP ROB MCKENZIE

53

S A N TA’ S

L I S T

S A N T A’ S

• Hold down the radio transmit button while you are “rocking out” to your favorite music (only for a few seconds—or more if the pilots like it!)

• Bring a kite, a radio-controlled glider, a book, small children, pets and anything else that makes you happy (we want you around at all costs) • Wear silly hats and put stuffed animals in pilots’ harnesses • Try to remember the names of all of the kids in your kindergarten class

By Chris Santacroce

• Write derogatory comments in the dust on people’s back windows. Suggestions: “Air slut”, “Bad judgment”, “Needs a life”, “I wish I was a paraglider”, “I wish I was a hang glider”, “Socially inept”, “Not too bright” • Switch the contents of one paraglider/ harness bag to another and then enjoy the ensuing mayhem on launch

L

ast month, we discussed some of the things that the “significant others” of free flight pilots need to know to better understand their mates. This month, I want to offer some suggestions of things these SO’s can do to increase their enjoyment of this lifestyle.

With that in mind, here’s a list of some simple things—some might call them tricks—for the partners of pilots to keep in mind. The most important thing to remember, though, is that despite what you may think, going flying can be fun even if you are just tagging along. Apart from offering support, you can use the following tricks to keep yourself entertained (even if it means having fun at your partner’s expense!): 54

• Count how many times you hear the word “flying” • Tell the paraglider pilots that their harnesses make their butts look big • Yell “wa wa wa…” when hang gliders are on final and then yell “WHACK!” when the nose of the hang glider touches the ground • When you drive someone’s vehicle down the hill, dig through the glove box and see what you can find; keep the change • See how many Red Bull’s you can drink; crush the cans with your head and leave them on the floor of the car

• Pick up one batten while a hang glider is being set up.

Stand by and watch while the pilot searches frantically, then walk up and casually ask, “Looking for this?”

• Take the carabiners off harnesses and then sell them back to the pilots on launch • Whittle, fiddle, eat, sing, knit, sun bathe half naked, throw rocks, hike or sun bathe half naked (did I say that already?

Well, give it a try! The pilots won’t mind.)

• Call people by the wrong name and when they correct you, tell them that they are wrong • Say things like, “It’s blown out” when there is no wind, “Have a good sledder” when it’s perfectly soarable, “See you in July 2003: Hang Gliding & Paragliding

the LZ” when pilots are going cross country.

• Tell the hang glider pilots to “feel the brakes and keep it inflated” and the paraglider pilots to “keep it pulled in until you get away from the hill and then zip up the pod” • Announce things on the radio like, “Honey, your mother just called and she wants to check to make sure you are wearing underwear”, or “Honey, I can’t find my pink thong. Are you wearing it again?”

• If you ever see a dust devil, yell “DUST DEVIL!” at the top of your lungs. Or yell it any time just for fun. Count how many pilots dive into the dirt for a wingtip and compare your score to that of other non-pilot participants.

• Pick up hitch hikers and tell them lies about the aliens you are chasing • If you really don’t want your significant other to go flying, then offer to help load up the equipment. When you find the handle (usually red) on the side or front of the harness, pull it out. This will dislodge the reserve parachute which will likely need to be repacked by a professional. The pilot will be “all yours” for the rest of the day, albeit probably not very happy. Needless to say, don’t pull that handle if you really want your significant other to go out and have a great flying day.

• People love to talk about flying and all pilots needs to talk about their flights for at least a few minutes. Among certain groups of avid and professional pilots, however, there is a rule that after the sun goes down, the conversation mustn’t be about flying. Also, some people abide by the rule that you Hang Gliding & Paragliding: July, 2003

don’t make your non-flying significant other watch flying videos. While many things are simply “off limits” it is certainly reasonable to invoke these two rules.

• Get even! If your significant other spends the whole day flying and spends a ton of money on equipment, then spend your whole day doing whatever you want and spend just as much money. If your significant other hang glides, go talk to the paraglider pilots, and vice versa. Talk about how much better hang gliding is than paragliding, and vice versa.

• Have fun, and make fun! Call the paragliders “big, dumb backpack people” and the hang gliders “ridiculous pipe on the top of the car freaks”.

• Announce that you just got to the LZ and realized that the emergency brake was engaged, that there is a horrible smell and a little fire, but no big deal.

• If you can’t beat em’, join em!

Taking a tandem flight or an introductory lesson can help you to appreciate why your pilot flies.

• Ice cold refreshing beverages on a hot day entice pilots to the landing zone like flies to fresh cow manure. Offering such beverages can put a lot of pilots in your debt. Use this power wisely, but ruthlessly!

L I S T

within their own homes every year. Many, many people fly for years and years with great predictability as a result of a thoughtful, recreational approach to the sport. Accidents don’t “just happen”. A combination of things usually manifest in an incident or an accident. In general, pilots have to ignore warning signs and willingly take unnecessary risks in order to be injured.

Your significant other can fly uneventfully over the years, and your support will help him or her to achieve that end.

All joking aside, having our friends and family support us in our flying endeavors is a real treat. The “feeling” that we have when we go flying makes a big difference. Sometimes, pilots have the feeling that they shouldn’t be flying or that their husbands, wives, mothers, etc. don’t approve. The associated guilt and other emotions affect a pilot’s flying.

Pilots need to be “in the moment” and have a “positive feeling” each flying day. I am absolutely blessed with parents, friends and a girlfriend who support me in my pursuits. I give my best effort to do anything and everything that I can for them in order to return the favor. Conversely, I as an instructor, equipment sales person and all around “fun pimp” tend not to be popular with others’ significant others or parents. But instructors and those who are seriously involved in the flying community can help. Confer with them about your situations or concerns - they can often provide useful insights and suggestions.

• Make a plan. Have a serious talk with your pilot and find a way to budget time for each of your needs, as well as theirs.

• Be realistic: if a person flies, he or she should have health insurance. It is possible to get scraped up a bit as a result of flying. Injuries can be serious, although most are not. Thousands of people die from accidents that happen 55

MASTER’S

TIPS

MASTER’S

the road, might build a habit or thought process that would be hard to shake. A well-designed training syllabus should unfold a natural layering of habits that don’t have to be changed, or “broken”. As a side note to instructors, the confidence your students will have about “how” a glider behaves and works as a result of the reverse launch training process will actually keep them around the sport longer as confidence increases their enjoyment.

By Dixon White

I

’d heard that there are situations where even the very “best of the best” at reverse launches would decide to do a forward launch. I really had trouble envisioning this situation and was surprised when I found myself making that choice out of necessity this past April.

It had always seemed to me that if a difficult launch situation required a forward launch, you shouldn’t consider launching in the first place. To feel it’s necessary to forward launch may mean you won’t be able to scan the glider for symmetry and cleared lines, nor have room to abort if needed– and I hate to rely on luck. I would teach forward launches without a great deal of enthusiasm, and not without a bit of snobbish comment on how ridiculous and dangerous they seem. But even as an instructor, I’m learning, too.

It seemed to me that forward launching was only necessary for folks with landing gear weakness (like frail knees), such poor athletic skills that they couldn’t coordinate a reverse launch, or those who, having been taught the forward launch first, were simply too set-in-their-ways to perfect their reverse launches. The last seems to be the biggest reason folks forward launch.

We tend to gravitate towards what we first learn, so always think carefully about how you train. Work with an instructor who’ll take the time to build your skills and knowledge in a pragmatic fashion. Bad habits are hard to break, but it’s easy to break a pilot because of bad habits. And replacing one method with another can be hard—it means relearning something you may already have mastered.

Reverse launches are more difficult 56

than forward launches. They require significantly more practice and skill, but students who learn forward launches first often have more trouble gaining confidence in their reverse launches later in their careers. Why? Well, first of all, the student is already confident in one method of launching, they don’t really “want” to learn something new, they just want to get into the air. Second, they are “geared up” mentally to face forward and when we put them in a reverse position they keep mentally seeking that forward facing reference; they have to unlearn that mental configuration. When learning a reverse launch first, students of course end up in a forward position as part of the launch process, and so the mental progressions are forced.

Some instructors explain that they are simply too busy and stressed to help students perfect a solid reverse launch. They might insist that the lack of winds in their area make it difficult to teach reverse techniques.

It is of importance to me that we build students correctly, and these instructors should take the time and trouble to find a place that does have a good wind flow for ground handling practice. Some instructors say that it’s easier to just spot their students on a forward launch and get them airborne—they can move more people into the air faster. This seemingly works well in a highly monitored simple situation and if the instructor doesn’t expect the students to continue very long with the sport. When those students who get the “fast track into the air” program find themselves unattended, there are greater opportunities for a non-supervised forward launch to go afoul, and this may mean an injury. The glider might come up crooked and swing the pilot to the side; or yank the student backwards and onto their head or back; or overfly the student and take a frontal,

slamming them on the ground; or the student could have a knot in the lines or a line-over; etc. But now it’s too late because they’re airborne and stuck with the fouled glider. In addition, those students who don’t put in the kiting practice seem to lose control of their gliders more easily when flying through turbulent air, and they often don’t use lifting air as successfully as those who are competent at kiting.

We note that students who get “air” too early are out of step with their development, and often end up scaring themselves unnecessarily through a lack of glider integration from kiting.

came up crooked – even the very best pilots sometimes lose track of their forward launches. Next time before heading to Europe I’m going to practice my forward launches at least thirty times—I did feel a little lucky that they went so well, and you know how I feel about relying on luck!

Once a student is up to speed on their reverse launch it’s a cinch to get them going with a forward. They have already spent loads of time reversing a glider and then turning to stand and run in a forward position with the glider overhead. This has prepared them for the simple addition of the inflation phase while facing forward.

I’m certainly more determined to have our students practice forward launches as a result of some flying I did with “Mad” Mike Kûng in Austria this past April. We were launching off snow with a 3 to 5 mph tailwind. There were strong thermals rising from the valley out in front and they were drafting air down the launching slope. I KNEW I had to do a forward, though I couldn’t remember having done one because I felt it necessary since 1990 (I’d done them in training situations, of course, but never because I thought they were needed). I wondered if I’d actually have trouble since “practice is the mother of skill,” and Lord knows I haven’t practiced very many downwind forward launches. Even though I can do no-wind and very-light-wind dynamic reverse launches, I didn’t even consider trying this technique.

The good news—my fears of suddenly being in the air with a fouled glider were unnecessary as the slope was quite shallow and a glider scan and possible abort would be easy.

Although a reverse launch offers some hazards, these are less in comparison to the hazards of forward launching. It’s significantly easier in a reverse launch to see a problem, easier to control or abort, and easier to run up under the glider when gusted. The problem with the reverse inflation is coordinating the turn around— that takes practice. Once you get it down, it works and protects you over the years from the problems that forward launches can cause for even the most expert of pilots – I’ll give you an example in a few moments.

My determination on this got some criticism from other instructors, years ago. This seems to have turned around as many are now saying they see the reasoning and now teach reverse launches first. Indeed, Dennis Pagen recommends the reversefirst training method within his instruction and training manual, The Art of Paragliding.

Training to work in the circus— specifically, learning to ride unicycles on the tight wire—we were thoughtful about engineering the training environment for a systematic skill development. We would avoid teaching skills that might screw up techniques down July 2003: Hang Gliding & Paragliding

TIPS

In the end, it all went well for me on my forward launches in the course of my visit, with no aborts. I guess the little demonstrations I do for our classes paid off. It was interesting that “Mad” Mike actually fouled one forward launch because his wing Hang Gliding & Paragliding: July, 2003

57

H A N G

2

H A N G - 2

V I E W

marvelous, too perfect, dream. I wondered if this was what a real thermal was like? Not those tiny little rockets like I had experienced out at Dinosaur. The kind that wanted to rip the bar from your hands then dumped you out until it felt like your feet were over your head. I checked my location to the front of the ridge against my altitude and decided to go for it. My first mountain thermal 360. Cool. I had done it. Turned all the way around and stayed in the lift.

Bob Kanick’s words came to my mind.

Don’t worry about it (thermaling) so much. One day you’ll get into one so

By Jennifer Beach

“Shawn! I’m a thousand feet over launch!”

The day had started out at 4am with the alarm waking me from a light sleep. I was on the road by 5am and heading for the mountains. By 7:30 I was on the east side of Laramie and the wind was already SW and perfect. My destination was Bull Mountain near the ColoradoWyoming border. The sky was blue with only scattered clouds that looked like leftovers from the rain the previous night. Nothing looked threatening, the only danger I could see at that point was that there might be too much wind.

58

“Shawn! I’m three thousand over!”

The eagle was working lift again but he was below me. Now there was a first. Usually I was the one looking up at them no matter the circumstances. My heart was full. I had spent more than a year in training, and two years since wondering when it would happen for me. Here I was, it was happening. I savored every second, every minute.

The air began to change, subtly at first but noticeable. I checked penetration again, this time by leaving the thermal altogether and heading back to the front of the ridge. What was this?

Another big, fat, lazy thermal? There was more than one? I caught it and rode it up and back again. Penetration still wasn’t a problem so I enjoyed that thermal, and then another.

“Shawn! I’m four thousand over! And right about now I’m thinking gloves would have been a good idea.”

Shawn comes in for a sunset landing in NM. He never did get off of launch the day I went 4000’ over.

Photo: Jenn Beach

He still wasn’t on launch but had apparently solved his radio issues.

“Why the hell didn’t you wear them?”

“Because I never get up!”

Until now. *****

but light face winds. Turning back to catch the lift I felt the glider tug and I was climbing again. This time I stayed in the lift and allowed myself to begin to follow it back a bit.

“Shawn! I’m two thousand over!”

He was on launch and I thought at any moment he would get here to share the magic. I returned my attention to my flying.

I couldn’t believe it. It was like some

big that you can’t screw it up. It will take you with it and you’ll start to get the hang of the whole thing. I had been waiting for two years for this thermal.

Something to my left drew my attention.

Just twenty feet off my wingtip was a golden eagle. I held my breath. We were both there, enjoying the same wave. It seemed so natural. Then the majestic local realized I was in his airspace and he peeled off. I stayed steady for a moment more and turned in lift again.

I had had some amazing flights in the July, 2003: Hang Gliding & Paragliding

2004 USHGA

He was back behind launch and it looked like he was repreflighting his glider.

Always at the same altitude it started to get bumpy, not drop and shock like some air I had been in, more like a rollercoaster, and it came with some big lift. I did some steep banked turns and played for a while before daring to work it up some more.

This time, as I looked around, I saw that I was in the middle of a newly forming cloud. Neat! But the moisture at 14000 feet bit into my bare hands and was cool through my light long-sleeved shirt. I stayed for a minute then went for an edge. As I did, I stole another glance at the vario.

But he couldn’t say anything back.

He was having radio problems. He waved up at me to acknowledge the transmission.

By 8:45 I was in the LZ and by 9: 15 I was at the top unloading the glider. At 10:08 Shawn Banks helped me launch. I went up as was usual in the right ridge lift conditions at Bull.

I did 180’s until it looked like I had good distance between the glider and the hill. Then I looked at the vario. A thousand over. I looked twice to be sure. This was higher than I had ever been in the ridge lift at Bull. Cautious about wearing blinders that would only let me see the plus of climbing, I left the lift and checked penetration.

No problem. Huh? That was weird.

This hadn’t happened before; big lift

past two years, but nothing compared to this fantastic dream.

I looked at my vario.

V I E W

From the Author: I want to thank those who sent an e-mail for their encouragement and for sharing their experiences. The unexpected and infinitely rewarding aspect of this sport is the support I have experienced or witnessed within the flying community. You are an amazing group of people and I am privileged to call myself a member. I enjoyed writing about my flights and might one day write about them again. Until then, fly high, fly safe, and dream of looking down.

Hang Gliding & Paragliding: July, 2003

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M A R K E T P L A C E

M A R K E T P L A C E HANG GLIDING 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 non-circular holes, and on flex wings, sails badly torn or torn loose from their anchor points front and back on the keel and leading edges.

PA R A G L I D I N G A D V I S O RY

FALCON 195 — Single owner, like new, excellent condition, 13 hours, light & dark yellow $1,650. (808) 924-9996.

MOYES XTRALITE 137 — 120 hours, XC bag, spare downtube $700. (720) 733-0313, dgcrabb@hotmail.com

FALCONS CLEARANCE SALE — School use, one season. Falcon 1s and 2s. All sizes $1,250-$2,500. (262) 473-8800, info@hanggliding.com

MOYES XTRALITE 147 — Flies great, excellent condition, original owner $1,200.

(231) 352-4908.

FORMULA 154 — Stored indoors, excellent shape w/fin, Z2 harness w/chute, tow releases $1,100 takes all. (513) 519-0962, cunninghamm@xu.edu

PACIFIC AIRWAVE VISION MKIV 17 — Excellent condition, crinkly sail, upgraded sail cloth, kingpost hang. Blue/magenta/yellow/ white. A joy to fly, you won’t find a better one. One owner $900. (916) 939-0396.

Used paragliders should always be thoroughly inspected before flying for the first time.

Annual inspections on paragliders should include sailcloth strength tests. Simply performing a porosity check isn’t sufficient.

Some gliders pass porosity yet have very weak sailcloth. If in doubt, many hang gliding and paragliding businesses will be happy to give an objective opinion on the condition of equipment you bring them to inspect.

FREE PVC GLIDER STORAGE/TRANSPORT TUBE — With the purchase of any new glider. (517) 223-8683, Cloud9SA@aol.com.

Largest selection of new and used gliders in Michigan.

PULSES AND VISION MARK 4S — Low cost novice gliders.(262) 473-8800, info@hanggliding.com

FUSION SP150 — White mylar, excellent glider, low hours, flies great, lands sweet $2000. (702) 480-4499, eteamer1@aol.com

SPECTRUM 165 — The Wills Wing novice model before the Eagle. One left, low hours, clean, priced to sell or trade for?

(262) 473-8800, info@hanggliding.com

BUYERS SHOULD SELECT EQUIPMENT THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR SKILL LEVEL OR RATING. NEW PILOTS SHOULD SEEK PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTION FROM A USHGA CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR.

FUSION 150 — Excellent condition, flies sweet, best offer, will ship. (305) 285-8978.

FLEX WINGS

AEROS STEALTH 129 — Topless, excellent for smaller pilot, original owner, purple with gray tip, $1,195.00, csperry318@aol.com AIRBORNE CLIMAX 13 — One nearly new $4,995; One demo, looks new $4,595.

1-800-688-5637, fly@hanglide.com AIRWAVE KLASSIC 144 — Excellent condition, great thermal glider $800. (541) 504-5416.

AV8 — ICARO The Laminar MRX 700+ is now available. Fly the glider that is flown by the current US National Champion and both the Men and Womens World Champions.

(760) 721-0701, indasky@yahoo.com and www.icaro2000.com EAGLES 145, 164, 180 — Rental gliders at flight park, low hours, clean, priced to sell.

(262) 473-8800, info@hanggliding.com EVEN-UP TRADES — Looking to move up from your Beginner or Novice glider, but can’t put up cash? (262) 473-8800, info@hanggliding.com FALCONS — 140, 170, 195, 225 new and used. WALLABY RANCH (863) 424-0070.

60

FUSION 150 — Low hours, meticulously maintained, excellent condition, one of the last ones built $2,100 or trade for?

(262) 473-8800, info@hanggliding.com LAMINAR 14 MRX 700 — Excellent condition!

Extras include 2 spare downtubes & an extra set of wires. Only $3,900! (310) 779-5348, deniron62@hotmail.com LAMINAR 14 ST — 1999, sweet handling, well maintained and cared for, turquoise & yellow $2,400. Russ Van Der Biesen (858) 550-0704 San Diego.

MAGIC KISS — Raven 229, 2 harnesses, best offer. (651) 994-7007.

MOYES SX4, MAX — Great condition, very low hours, each priced at under $2,000. Moyes Xtralite 147 — All white $1,100 or trade for? (262) 473-8800, info@hanggliding.com MOYES SX5 — Very good condition, minor scrapes on nose, complete w/batten patterns, extra downtube & PVC “hanger”, $700 or trade for WW Falcon. (509) 4643534, cranknbank@aol.com MOYES SONIC 165 — Excellent condition, low hours $1,900 OBO. (205) 823-5121, rhilton103@aol.com

SPORTSTER 148 — Brand new, white and red, priced to sell or trade for? (262) 4738800, info@hanggliding.com TARGET 180 — Near new, rental glider at flight park, clean, priced to sell. (262) 473-8800, info@hanggliding.com TRX 160 — $600. WW Sport $700. Magic 177, 25 hours $800. kob7150@hotmail.com, (570) 629-0522.

ULTRASPORT 147 — Low hours, blue w/white leading edge, Hall wheels, extra downtube, XC bag $1,900 OBO. (707) 965-9159, LOUTRIUMPH@prodigy.net E M E R G E N C Y PA R A C H U T E S

AUTHORIZED CHUTE REPAIR — And service center for APCO, Elan, Chiron powered parachutes and UP/Perche/Independence paragliders and more! We have a fulltime loft available with quick turn around for small to huge repairs and annual inspections. Ship your chute to MoJo’s Gear Ltd. Co., 1475 CR 220, Tow, TX 78672 Attn: REPAIR or INSPECTION. Include a note about the service(s) you require as well as a contact phone number and email. We will contact you with an estimate prior to starting the work. Office: 915-379-1567, www.mojosgear.com July, 2003: Hang Gliding & Paragliding

RISING AIR PARAGLIDING SERVICE AND REPAIR — Since 1988, specializing in all types of paragliding & powerchute repairs, repacks, inspections. Pricing and service request form available at www.risingair.biz, badbones@risingair.biz. (208) 554-2243.

P O W E R E D PA R A G L I D E R S

ULTRALIGHTS

AIR SPORTS USA — WWW.FLYFORFUN.NET WANTED

WANTED: NEW OR USED — ThinAir or Vapor harness by ThinRedLine. Contact rudyvisaya@attbi.com, (510) 776-2341.

20 GORE PDA — w/swivel $375. 20 gore $199. Used Quantum 330s, 440S, 550s. some paraglider reserves, too. Inventory changes monthly, some trade-ins accepted.

Raven Sky Sports (262) 473-8800, info@hanggliding.com

SCHOOLS & DEALERS ALABAMA

HARNESSES

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK — See ad under Georgia.

CENTER OF GRAVITY — Chest entry, excellent condition, 5’ 9”, $300. (541) 504-5416.

ARIZONA

HIGH ENERGY — Custom aerobatic harness.

Excellent condition, includes new LARA parachute, fits 5’6”-5’9” $650. (970) 2520098, delconi@frontier.net HIGH ENERGY TRACER POD HARNESSES — And other brands, too. Sizes and styles change monthly, $300-500. Cocoons $125$200 each. Many others available. (262) 473-8800, info@hanggliding.com CARBON CG - w/Lara Gold chute $1,500.

Eric Raymond harness w/tandem chute & swivel $800. Reggie Jones (619) 445-3633 reggieandvicki@cox.net PARAGLIDERS

AIR SPORTS USA —WWW.FLYFORFUN.NET EDEL ATLAS — Medium, cobalt blue, flown 3 times, Balance harness, Pocket Rocket reserve, Brauniger alti/vario, Yaesu FT-11R radio, all excellent condition. Ed (208) 7266218, fax (208) 726-8474, mcg5B@aol.com PACIFIC AIRWAVE BLACK MAGIC — Best offer. (651) 994-7007.

SERAK — Medium, 10 hours, like new $1,800.

(972) 712-4609, alberto@albertovoli.com SOL QUASAR — Small, purple, good condition $200. (801) 583-2432, lisaverzella@hotmail.com WINDTECH QUARX — Large, red/white/ blue, low hours $1,800. (509) 243-4988.

Hang Gliding & Paragliding: July, 2003

THE MINIPLANE — Is the paraglider pilot’s paramotor, very comfortable harness, weight shift option, low weight, very quiet, clutch w/ quick brake down frame and custom travel box. www.usairborne.com, (509) 243-4988.

RIGID WINGS

AV8 — STRATUS RIGID. Go rigid for under $10,000. Call (760) 721-0701 or email indasky@yahoo.com EXXTACY 160 — Larger control frame, tandem or solo, 150 hours, flies great $4,000.

EK (970) 209-8376, erik_kaye@msn.com EXXTACY 160 — 1997, good condition, new/reinforced keel $5,500 firm. (315) 9862931, (585) 202-8090.

EXXTACY 160 — Strong, easy to fly, great performance, w/spare practically new complete sail, extra downtubes, XC bag, split bags $3,900. (775) 848-1895, Stephen.Rudy@IGT.com GHOSTBUSTER — 2000, excellent condition, plus spare downtubes & custom xc bag $7,000. Steve Wertheimer (415) 385-0423, swerthei@earthlink.net.

GHOSTBUSTER - 2000 looks new, complete with recreational control frame w/wheels, full-race Wills Wing control frame w/carbon fiber flared base tube, spare and extra flared downtubes $6,000. Reggie Jones (619) 445-3633, reggieandvicki@cox.net

DIXON’S AIRPLAY PARAGLIDING - Dixon White: USHGA’S Instructor of the Year! Airplay: Top ranked school for years and featured in the best selling paragliding training videos “ Starting Paragliding”, “Weather to Fly”, “The Art of Kiting”, “Paraglider Towing” and “Lifting Air”. Airplay and it’s sister schools are dedicated to thorough and competent instruction at perfect beginner training areas.

Drive up to 360 degree treeless, rockless and uncrowded launches. Land in wide-open fields, beginners enjoy many flights each day. Excellent individualized instruction with state-of-the-art lesson plans and equipment.

Comprehensive ground schooling with an emphasis on micrometeorology.

Great new and used gear, specializing in Windtech, Gradient, Swing and Airwave. In Arizona or Washington RESERVATIONS are required. POB 2626 Flagstaff, AZ 86003 call (928) 526-4579. www.paraglide.com or dixon@paraglide.com CALIFORNIA

AIRJUNKIES PARAGLIDING — Join KEN BAIER for your “Pursuit of Paragliding Excellence” in the land of year-round, excellent paragliding: Southern California and the Baja. Courses for Novice, Intermediate, Advanced and Instructor ratings. Powered paragliding, soaring and maneuvers clinics, guided tours, tandem and towing instruction and special events. USHGA certified. Handling the latest equipment. Call (760) 753-2664 for information, airjunkies@worldnet.att.net 61

M A R K E T P L A C E

M A R K E T P L A C E

DREAM WEAVER HANG GLIDING — Train

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Support Our Future through the USHGF

➢ Site Preservation ➢ Safety and Education ➢ Competition Excellence The United States Hang Gliding Foundation supports activities that help ensure that the free-flying community has a future.

Make a tax-deductible contribution today.

The USHGA will match your contribution up to $500 each year when you join or renew your membership.

62

July, 2003: Hang Gliding & Paragliding

Contact us at 719-632-8300 — or on the WEB at www.ushgf.org

LARGEST HANG GLIDING SHOP — In the West! Our deluxe retail shop showcases the latest equipment and has two virtual reality hang gliding flight simulators. We stock new and used…Wills Wing, Altair and Moyes gliders, and all the hottest new harnesses. Trade-ins are welcome. Our comprehensive training program, located at the San Francisco Bay Area’s finest beginner site features: gently sloped “bunny hills,” Wills Wing Falcons of all sizes and comfortable training harnesses! “FIRST FLIGHT”15 minute video tour of our beginner lesson program shows a student’s skill progression $20 (shipping included). 1116 Wrigley Way, Milpitas CA 95035 (near San Jose). (408) 262-1055, fax (408) 262-1388. mission@hang-gliding.com www.hang-gliding.com SAN FRANCISCO HANG GLIDING CENTER — Tandem instruction, solo lessons, gliders new and used. Ultralight seacraft instruction over San Francisco Bay. Apprenticeship program.

(510) 528-2300, www.sfhanggliding.com

Whassuupp?

TORREY PINES GLIDERPORT — Come soar in San Diego! This family owned and operated flying site offers USHGA certified instruction, advanced training, equipment sales, tandem flight instruction, motorized pg/hg instruction and site tours. We also have an extensive pg/hg outfitting shop offering parachute repacks and full-service repairs.

Bring your family for our amazing sunsets and dining at the Cliffhanger Cafe. Importers for PARATECH and INDEPENDENCE gliders. We also carry AustriAlpin, Center of Gravity, Crispi and SupAir. Check us out online for sales and questions at: www.flytorrey.com, or call tollfree at 1-877-FLY-TEAM (359-8326). Also, tune in to the Internet Paragliding Talk Show at www.worldtalkradio.com every Tuesday 9-11:00am (PST).

“What’s taking so long with your Website?” — “Are you ever going live?”

I’m aware some of you have been waiting anxiously so you can read almost 25 years of “Product Lines” columns, Dennis Pagen flight reviews of several modern gliders, or hundreds of other pilot reports with thousands of photos.

OK, maybe “anxiously” is a little strong. But after all these ads, you’re curious, aren’t you?

To speed up the effort of posting all the articles, I’ve hired Whole Air magazine editor Starr Tays Weiss to help, and our former teamwork will pay off once again.

So, really — I mean it — ByDanJohnson.com IS coming. Please sign up now to be notified when the site goes live.

DON’T RISK BAD WEATHER — Bad instruction or dangerous training hills. 350 flyable days each year. Learn foot launch flying skills safely and quickly. Train with professional CFI’s at world famous Dockweiler Beach training slopes (5 minutes from LA airport.) Fly winter or summer in gentle coastal winds, soft sand and in a thorough program with one of America’s most prestigious schools for over 25 years.

COLORADO

AIRTIME ABOVE HANG GLIDING — Fulltime lessons, sales, service. Colorado’s most experienced! Wills Wing, Moyes, Altair, Aeros, Airwave, High Energy, Ball, Flytec, MotoComm and much more. Call (303) 674-2451, Evergreen, Colorado AirtimeHG@aol.com

Brand New 2003 Buyer’s Guide Last year’s edition sold out.

And the new 2003 model is bigger and better than ever.

WDLA has got: 36 pages of paragliders, 16 pages of hang gliders, 10 pages of ultralight sailplanes, 19 pages of powered hang gliders or paragliders… plus… over 1,000 aircraft including powered parachutes, trikes, ultralights, kit-built aircraft, rotorcraft… and… contact info for many suppliers, schools, dealers, and clubs.

Thought you’d seen it all? Hardly!

Get your own copy of the 2003 World Directory of Leisure Aviation. Only $9.95 + $4.95 Priority Mail. Limited stock—send a check for $14.90 to: Dan Johnson • 265 Echo Lane • South St. Paul MN 55118 • USA • (no credit cards or phone orders)

M A R K E T P L A C E

M A R K E T P L A C E

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK — See

PROFLYGHT PARAGLIDING — Imagine a 1000’ foot training hill with nothing but grass between the launches and landing zone. Imagine a paved road that would offer easy access to multiple launches. Imagine that road continuing up to a launch at 6,500’ AGL. Imagine telling your spouse that the next flying trip will be to Maui. (SNAP!) Now wake up and make your dreams a reality. Join Dexter Clearwater and his team at Proflyght Paragliding for an experience of a lifetime. Never flown before? Spend two weeks in paradise and go home with your rating. We offer complete instruction from beginner to advanced. Call (808) 874-5433 for more information or check us out at WWW.PARAGLIDEHAWAII.COM

our display ad. Discover why FOUR TIMES

IDAHO

GEORGIA

CONNECTIC U T

MOUNTAIN WINGS — Look under New York.

FLORIDA

The Aerotow Flight Park Satisfaction Guaranteed JUST 8 MILES FROM DISNEY WORLD *YEAR ROUND SOARING

18265 E. State Road 80, Clewiston FL. (863) 805-0440, www.thefloridaridge.com GRAYBIRD AIRSPORTS — PARAGLIDER TOWING, XC, thermalling, instruction, equipment. Dunnellon Airport (352) 245-8263 www.graybirdairsports.com LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK — See ad under Georgia. Nearest mountain training center to Orlando (only 8 hours).

*OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK *SIX TUGS, NO WAITING *EVERY DIRECTION 50+ NICE demos to fly: Topless to Trainer Gliders: Laminar, Moyes, Wills, Airborne, Airwave, Exxtacy, La Mouette, Sensor; also harnesses, varios, etc.

Ages 13 To 73 have learned to fly here.

No one comes close to our level of experience and success with tandem aerotow instruction.

WE HAVE — The most advanced training program known to hang gliding, teaching you in half the time it takes on the trainingBUNNY HILL, and with more in-flight air time. YES, WE CAN TEACH YOU FASTER AND SAFER. For year-round training fun in the sun, call or write Miami Hang Gliding (305) 285-8978. 2550 S Bayshore Drive, Coconut Grove, Florida 33133.

A GREAT SCENE FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS...

FULL HOOK-UPS — Laundry, propane, recreation room. 1-800-803-7788.

as many pilots earn their wings at Lookout than at any other school! We wrote USHGA’s Official Training Manual. Our specialtycustomer satisfaction and fun with the BEST FACILITIES, largest inventory, camping, swimming, volleyball, more! For a flying

10 motels & restaurants within 5 mins.,

trip, intro flight or lesson packages, Lookout

ILLINOIS

camping, hot showers, shade trees, sales,

Mountain, just outside Chattanooga, your

storage, ratings, XC retrievals, great weather,

COMPLETE training/service center. Info?

HANG GLIDE CHICAGO — Full service aeropark, 2 tow planes. Full time certified instructors, ultralight instructors, East Coast record 217 miles. (815) 325-1685, www.ha ngglidechicago.com

climbing wall, trampoline, DSS TV, ping pong, picnic tables, swimming pool, etc.

Flights of over 200 miles and more than 7

(800) 688-LMFP. H AWA I I

hours.

Articles in Hang Gliding, Kitplanes, Skywings, Cross Country and others.

Featured on numerous TV shows, including Dateline NBC, The Discovery Channel &

THE BEST AEROTOW — Instruction available. The only U.S. hang gliding school with TWO NATIONAL CHAMPION INSTRUCTORS and U.S. WORLD TEAM MEMBERS Bo Hagewood 2000 National Champion and Paris Williams 2001 & 2002 National Champion. From your first tandem to advanced X-C racing instruction. Open every day with beautiful remodeled 90+ acre facilities. Plenty of other activities like our screened in pool, hot tub, private lake, canoes, fishing, volleyball and just minutes from Orlando attractions. Learn from the best.... at Quest! www.questairforce.com Email: questair@sundial.net (352) 429-0213 Groveland, FL 64

KING MOUNTAIN GLIDERS — Alluring site plus shop supplying all your HG/PG needs. Instruction, equipment sales, complete accessories. Visit our website www.kingmountaingliders.com or (208) 390-0205.

ESPN. Visit us on the Web: http://www.wallaby.com Please call us for references and video.

1805 Dean Still Road, Disney Area, FL 33837 (863) 424-0070 - phone & fax fly@wallaby.com 1-800-WALLABY

BIRDS IN PARADISE — Hang gliding & ultralight flying on Kauai. Certified tandem instruction. (808) 822-5309 or (808) 639-1067,

birds@birdsinparadise.com

www.birdsinparadise.com

RAVEN SKY SPORTS — (312) 360-0700, (815) 489-9700 or (262) 473-8800. 2 hours from Chicago, 90 minutes from Elgin, Palatine or Libertyville. The best instructors, the best equipment, the best results in the Midwest. 7 days/week, March thru November. Training program for combined/ integrated FOOT LAUNCH AND AEROTOW certification. Apply 100% of your intro lesson costs to certification program upgrade!

Please see our ad under WISCONSIN. info@hanggliding.com MAINE

DOWNEAST AIRSPORTS — Paragliding and hang gliding instruction; quality equipment sales. Specialize in “biwingual” cross-over training. Extended training/tour packages with lodging in magnificent Acadia NP available by reservation. in_a_cloud@hotmail.com, Marc (207) 244-9107 www.downeastairsports.com,

Conservative . Reliable . State of the Art F.H.G. INC./FLYING FLORIDA SINCE 1974 Malcolm Jones, Laurie Croft, Carlos Bessa, Rhett Radford, Tiki Mashy, Jeremie Hill, Tom Ramseur, Roger Sherrod, Mike Barber, Neal Harris, Bart Weghorst, Carolina de Castro, Paul Moncure, Bob McFee, Emily Boespflug July, 2003: Hang Gliding & Paragliding

Hang Gliding & Paragliding: July, 2003

MEXICO

MEXICO — Summer in Monterrey, winter in Valle de Bravo. 1-800-861-7198, www.flymexico.com MARYLAND

MICHIGAN SOARING — Delivering VALUE with the best combination of SERVICE, QUALITY & PRICE. ALL major brands of gliders and gear. Call Doug Coster (231) 882-4744, wingman@traverse.com

TRAVERSE CITY HANG GLIDERS/ PARAGLIDERS — Put your knees in our breeze and soar our 450’ sand dunes. FULLTIME SHOP. Certified instruction, beginner to advanced. Sales, service, accessories for ALL major brands. VISA/MASTERCARD. 1509 E 8th, Traverse City MI 49684. Offering POWERED PARAGLIDING. Call Bill at (231) 922-2844, tchangglider@chartermi.net. Your USA & Canada Mosquito distributor.

NEVADA

Baltimore and DC’s full time flight park Tandem instruction, solo aerotows and equipment sales and service. We carry Aeros, Airwave, Flight Design, Moyes, Wills Wing, High Energy Sports, Flytec and more.

Two 115 HP Dragonfly tugs Open fields as far as you can see Only 1 to 1.5 hours from: • Rehoboth Beach • Baltimore • Washington DC • Philadelphia Come Fly with US! Ph 410.634.2700 Fax 410.634.2775 24038 Race Track Rd Ridgely, MD 21660 www.aerosports.net hangglide@aerosports.net MICHIGAN

CLOUD 9 SPORT AVIATION — Aerotow specialists. We carry all major brand hang gliders. Free PVC glider storage/transport tube with new glider purchase. Now in stock: 2003 Upgrade Wills Talon Comp, Falcons; Moyes Litespeed 4, Sonic 165; Airwave Magic Kiss 154. Outrigger wheels and other accessories in stock. Cloud 9 Field, 11088 Coon Lake Road West, Webberville, MI 48892. Cloud9sa@aol.com http:// members.aol.com/cloud9sa Call for summer tandem lessons and flying appointments with the DraachenFliegen Soaring Club at Cloud 9 Field (517) 223-8683, DFSCinc@aol.com http://members.aol.com/dfscinc

ADVENTURE SPORTS — Carson City, Sierra tours, tandems, sales. (775) 883-7070 http://home.pyramid.net/advspts NEW JERSEY

MOUNTAIN WINGS — Look under New York.

NEW YORK

AAA FLIGHT SCHOOL — Mountain Wings Inc, 150 Canal Street, Ellenville NY 12428, www.mtnwings.com mtnwings@catskill.net, (845) 647-3377.

AIR SPORTS USA — NYC’s first and only certified hang gliding, paragliding, microlights (trikes), powered paragliding.

Distributors for Avian. Dealers for most major brands. Full service and equipment at best prices. The most friendly service in the area. Store address: 29 31 Newtown Ave., Astoria NY. Phone (718) 777-7000, WWW.FLYFORFUN.NET FLY HIGH HANG GLIDING, INC. — Serving S. New York, Connecticut, Jersey areas. Area’s EXCLUSIVE Wills Wing dealer/specialist. Also all other major brands, accessories. Certified school/instruction. Teaching since 1979.

Area’s most INEXPENSIVE prices. Excellent secondary instruction...if you’ve started a program and wish to continue. Fly the mountain! Towing! Tandem flights! Contact Paul Voight, 5163 Searsville Rd, Pine Bush, NY 12566, (845) 744-3317.

65

M A R K E T P L A C E

M A R K E T P L A C E SUSQUEHANNA FLIGHT PARK — Cooperstown, NY. Certified Instruction, Sales and Service for all major manufacturers. 40 acre park, 5 training 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 fly. c/o Dan Guido, Box 293 Shoemaker Rd, Mohawk NY 13407, (315) 866-6153.

NORTH CAR O L I N A

Kitty Hawk Kites Flight Park

Fly At The Beach!

RAVEN SKY SPORTS HANG GLIDING AND

the Aviation Depot at www.mojosgear.com

PARAGLIDING — The first and oldest

featuring over 1000 items for foot-launched

TEXAS

aerotow flight park in the USA, open 7 days

and powered paragliding, hang gliding, stunt

a week since 1992. Featuring INTEGRATED

and power kiting, and powered parachutes.

AUSTIN AIR SPORTS * CHECK WEBSITE FOR SCHEDULE OF EVENTS * ALL FLYING BY RESERVATION ONLY * DRAGONFLY/TRIKE INSTRUCTION * INTRO FOOT LAUNCH CLASSES * AEROTOWING/WINCH TOWING * EXCELLENT XC FLYING * TANDEM INSTRUCTION * SALES AND SERVICE Steve Burns - 979.279.9382 email: sburns@austinairsports.com Fred Burns - 281.471.1488 email: austinair@aol.com 3810 Bonita Lane, La Porte TX 77571 WWW.AUSTINAIRSPORTS.COM

HILL COUNTRY PARAGLIDING INC — Learn complete pilot skills. Personalized USHGA certified training, ridge soaring, foot & tow launching in central Texas.

MOTORIZED PARAGLIDING INSTRUCTION & EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE. (915) 379-1185.

1475 CR 220, Tow TX 78672.

(800) 334-4777 NAGSHEAD, NC Internet Address: http://www.kittyhawk.com E-Mail Address: info@kittyhawk.com PENNSYLVA N I A

HIGHLAND AEROSPORTS — See Maryland.

MOUNTAIN WINGS — Look under New York.

PUERTO RIC O

FLY PUERTO RICO — Team Spirit Hang Gliding, HG classes daily, tandem instruction available. Wills Wing dealer. Glider rentals for qualified pilots. PO Box 978, Punta Santiago, Puerto Rico 00741. (787) 850-0508, tshg@coqui.net 66

FOR ALL YOUR FLYING NEEDS — Check out

WISCONSIN

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK — See ad under Georgia.

GO...HANG GLIDING!!! — Jeff Hunt. Austin ph/fax (512) 467-2529 jeff@flytexas.com www.flytexas.com

• TANDEM INSTRUCTION • AEROTOWING • BOAT TOWING • BEACH RESORT • TRAINING CAMPS • FOOT LAUNCH • OPEN YEAR ROUND • PARAGLIDING • EQUIPMENT SALES AND SERVICE

Don’t Pay Retail for your Flying Gear

TENNESSEE

TX FLYSPORTS — SPECIALIZING IN POWERED PARAGLIDING, certified instruction. Sky Crusier and Airfer power units, US importer of MUSE and EDEN II paragliders. (713) 494-1970 Houston, www.txflysports.com

BLUE SKY — Fulltime instruction and service at Manquin Flight Park near Richmond. Wills Wing, Moyes, Flight Design, Aeros, Doodlebug and Mosquito dealer. Steve Wendt (540) 432-6557 or (804)

241-4324,

www.blueskyhg.com,

blueskyhg@yahoo.com

training hills facing all wind directions and a new 360 degree manmade hill under development. Four Dragonfly tow planes,

electronics, clothing, safety equipment, Certified Full Face Helmets $149 www.OnlineFlyingGear.com onlineflyinggear@mindspring.com MC/Visa/Paypal

complete powered paragliding units with training from Hill Country Paragliding Inc. w w w. h i l l c o u n t r y p a r a g l i d i n g . c o m 1-800-664-1160 for orders only. Office (915)

for training from the very first lessons. USUA

379-1567.

ultralight and tug instruction. Free camping.

Sales/service/accessories for all brands. Open HANG GLIDER AND PARAGLIDER TOWING — Aerotowing for hang gliders with tandem lessons and training. State of the art platform truck and scooter towing for hang gliders and paragliding. See Blue Sky ad above. 2 hours south of Washington DC, minutes NE

March 1st thru December 1st. Contact Brad Kushner, PO Box 101, Whitewater WI 53190 (262) 473-8800 phone, (262) 473-8801

fax,

www.hanggliding.com,

info@hanggliding.com WYOMING

of Richmond. (540) 432-6557 SILVER WINGS, INC. — Certified instruction and equipment sales. (703) 533-1965 Arlington VA, silverwingshanggliding.com WA S H I N G T O N

DIXON’S AIRPLAY PARAGLIDING — Please see our classified ad under Arizona. www.paraglide.com

SUPER FLY PARAGLIDING ACADEMY — The nations foremost training paragliding center offering comprehensive pilot training programs, powered paragliding instruction, tandem flights, maneuvers training, towing training/certification and tandem pilot training. We are the closest shop to Point of the Mountain, open year round and supported by the Super Fly, Inc. distribution and service center just minutes away.

Instructors Ken Hudonjorgensen, Scotty Marion, Chris Santacroce, Kevin Biernacki, Dale Covington, Jeff Farrell and Ryan Swan.

Lessons start at $65. (801) 816-1372 or www.paraglidingacademy.com

powered

KITTY HAWK KITES — See North Carolina.

KITES, gifts, engine parts, harness accessories,

any in the USA. Seven beautiful, grassy

undercarriages. WW Falcons and Falcon2s

HANGTIME — Dealer of the MOSQUITO

HIGHLAND AEROSPORTS — See Maryland.

24/7 secure online shopping. Books, videos,

tandem skills, at package prices to beat

no waiting! Four tandem gliders on wheeled

U TA H

VIRGINIA

INSTRUCTION of foot-launch and aerotow

harnesses.

Call

for

CLINIC

dates. Right here in the pacific northwest.

(509) 525-3574, lbbrown@bmi.net U.S. AIRBORNE SPORT AVIATION CENTER — Full service flight school & sales.

Paragliders, hang gliders, paramotors, light trikes, Explorer harnesses, AirBorne trikes, aero towing, flight suits, Lynx helmets and headsets, BRS, tours and a full line of accessories. USHGA advanced paraglider instructor, ASC advanced flight instructor: trikes & paramotors. Nice bluegrass strip

JACKSON HOLE PARAGLIDING — Come to Paragliding Paradise and enjoy Alpine flying at its absolute best! Jackson Hole Paragliding can help turn flying dreams into reality with our quality instruction and guide service.

Long known as an outdoorsman’s paradise, Jackson Hole has evolved into a Mecca for paragliding activities. JHPG offers tandem flights, beginner through advanced instruction, mountain thermal clinics, XC clinics, towing, maneuvers training, aerobatic demonstrations and paramotoring. A perfect flying day-Launch the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Aerial Tram in the morning, Tow at the Palisades Reservoir in the afternoon. Contact: scharris@wyoming.com www.jhparagliding. com (307) 690-TRAM (8726) PARTS & ACCESSORIES

near the Blue Mountains of SE Washington

ABSOLUTE LOW — Ball/Blue Sky VARIO prices!

and Hells Canyon. Scott & Terri Johnson,

www.websitetrafficbuilders.com/vario.htm,

www.usairborne.com, (509) 243-4988.

July, 2003: Hang Gliding & Paragliding

email bob@websitetrafficbuilderscom Hang Gliding & Paragliding: July, 2003

• ORDER ONLINE AND SAVE • Water/Dust Resistant Push Button • Field Replaceable Finger Switch • Heavier Gauge Wire/Improved Plugs • Increased Strain Relief at ALL Joints SUMMER SPECIAL $99.95 Extra finger switch $19.95 w/purchase. Dealer inquiries welcome.

Call (636) 390-8919. MC/Visa.

Visit our website at www.flightconn.com, mikedillon@flightconn.com

FLIGHT SUITS

Starting at $139.95 We offer a Broad range of sizes.

5 STYLES IN STOCK *Perufly Paragliding Suit. *Featherweight *Desert *Flame Retardant *Hang Gliding 24 HOUR SHIPPING, MC/Visa Accepted.

MPHSports.com (503) 657-8911

XC $60., heavy waterproof $100. Accessories, used stuff. Low prices, fast delivery! Bar mitts, harness packs & zippers. Gunnison Gliders, 1549 County Road 17, Gunnison CO 81230.

(970) 641-9315, orders 1-866-238-2305.

KLASSIC OR CONCEPT WINGLETS — One pair left, brand new in box $350 OBO or trade for? (262) 473-8800, info@hanggliding.com

MINI VARIO — World’s smallest, simplest vario! Clips to helmet or chinstrap. 200 hours on batteries, 0-18,000 ft., fast response and 2 year warranty. Great for paragliding too.

ONLY $169. Mallettec, PO Box 15756, Santa Ana CA, 92735. (714) 966-1240, MC/Visa accepted, www.mallettec.com 67

M A R K E T P L A C E

M A R K E T P L A C E pack: Alt, ASI, Tacho, temp gauges, Hobbs $1,017. Painted one color $1,200. Tow system $375. Total $28,013. A 50% deposit is required. Bobby Bailey can be available for basic training after completion.

Kenny Brown/Moyes America, 200 Hillcrest Drive, Auburn CA 95603, (530) 888- 8622, fax (530) 888-8708, flyamoyes@aol.com, www.moyesamerica.com

HAWK AIRSPORTS INC — P.O. Box 9056, Knoxville, TN 37940-0056, (865) 945-2625.

World famous Windsoks, as seen at the Oshkosh & Sun-N-Fun EAA Fly-Ins. Hawk@windsok.com, www.windsok.com The world-class XCR-180 operates up to 3 hours @18,000 ft. and weighs only 4lb. Complete kit with cylinder, harness, regulator, cannula and remote on/off flowmeter, only $400.00.

PUBLICATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS

FLY THE WING! Hooking Into Hang Gliding,

by Len Holms. This is the perfect book for those curious about the sport of hang

SOARING DREAMS

gliding. Written at a level which will not swamp the reader with daunting amount of technical details, you will learn about hang glider wings and the skills needed to fly

THE ART OF PARAGLIDING — By Dennis Pagen. HOT OFF THE PRESS!!! Step by step training, ground handling, soaring, avoiding dangers, and much much more. 274 pages, 248 illustrations. The most complete manual about paragliding on the market. $34.95 +$5.00 s/h. USHGA, PO Box 1330, Colorado Springs CO 80901. (719) 632-8300, fax your MC/Visa/Amex to (719) 632-6417, www.ushga.org, ushga@ushga.org

$12.95(+$5 s&h). USHGA, PO Box 1330,

SPECTACULAR TROPHIES, AWARDS! — Hang gliding & paragliding gifts and accessories.

Contact Lisa Tate, 11716 Fairview Ave., Boise ID 83713, (208) 376-7914 or (208) 484-6667, www.soaringdreamsart.com TEK FLIGHT PRODUCTS

Colorado Springs CO 80901. 1-800-6166888 www.ushga.org

BAG IT! — If you don’t have your copy of Dennis Pagen’s PERFORMANCE FLYING

ATTENTION PILOTS — Fly home to 40 acres as your personal LZ! only minute away from a 360 degree launch site. Unique “off the grid” timber frame house w/large deck and spectacular views of the painted desert and craters. 40’x60’ barn, fenced pasture and out buildings. Enjoy “glass off” from the comfort of your deluxe hot tub. A must see @ $325,000. For additional information call Charlie at Village Land Shoppe @(928) 526-8747 or email lashercat@hotmail.com.

More info and photos @ www.northernariz onamls.com listing #104814.

yet, available through USHGA Headquarters $29.95 (+$6 s&h for UPS/Priority Mail delivery). USHGA, PO Box 1330, Colorado Springs

CO

80901.

1-800-616-6888

www.ushga.org Camera mount (A or B) $48.50 ($6 S&H).

Vario mount $23 (S&H included). 6” wheels $29.75, 8” wheels $34.75, $10 S&H pr.

Web page www.tekflight.com for more. TEK FLIGHT Products, Colebrook Stage, Winsted CT 06098. Or call (860) 379-1668. Email: tek@snet.net 68

HARRY AND THE HANG GLIDER is a beautifully illustrated, hardcover children’s book with 40 color pages written for pilots to share the dream of flight! To order: send $24.95 plus $3 shipping to SkyHigh Publishing, 201 N. Tyndall, Tucson, AZ 85719 or call (520) 6288165 or visit http://www.flash.net/~skyhipub Visa/MC accepted.

SOARING — Monthly magazine of The Soaring Society of America, Inc. Covers all aspects of soaring flight. Full membership $55. Info. kit with sample copy $3. SSA, P.O. Box 2100, Hobbs, NM 88241.

(505) 392-1177.

July, 2003: Hang Gliding & Paragliding

N O W AVA I L A B L E F R O M U S H G A

REAL ESTATE

them. 84 pages with photos and illustrations.

Otto Lilienthal’s genius in scientific observations and analysis, documented in this work, became the basis for the experimentation of the early pioneers in aviational flight. The “hero” of the Wright brothers, Otto is considered to be “The Father of Gliding Flight.” Lilienthal’s definitive book has been out of print for almost a century, but is now available to everyone for a wonderful and absorbing journey into aviational history.

176 pages, 16 photographs, 89 drawings and 14 graphs. $19.95 (+$5 s/h) Call USHGA 1-800-616-6888, or order off our website www.ushga.org

VIDEOS & DVDS

TOWING

AEROTOWING ACCESSORIES — Headquarters for: The finest releases, secondary releases, Spectra “V” bridles, weak links, tandem wheels, launch cart kits, etc.

THE WALLABY RANCH (863) 424-0070.

DRAGONFLY B-MODEL KIT — Built by Bobby Bailey $13,600. Rotax 582 fitted and plumbed radiator, exhaust $6,626. Electric start, 6 blade Ivo prop with clutch $1,100. Rear seat and controls $1,250. Brake kit installed $250. BRS 900 VLS $2,595. Instrument Hang Gliding & Paragliding: July, 2003

*NEW* STARTING POWERED PARAGLIDING is a great introduction to the sport of powered paragliding. It shows what to expect from first lessons, first solo flight, to advanced techniques. Covers ground school with simulator training and paraglider wing ground handling, equipment fundamentals of the wing and power pack, importance of weather to fly, and expert pilots showing advanced techniques. Features animated modeling to illustrate climb/descent attitudes and flight patterns plus spectacular in-air footage and great soundtrack. 44 minutes $36.95 ALSO AVAILABLE IN DVD, same great price. *NEW* LIFTING AIR For Paragliding-How to Thermal and Soar. Master the principles of lifting air with Dixon White, Master Pilot, USHGA Examiner, and USHGA 2002 Instructor of the Year. Learn where to look for thermals and ridge lift, how to stay in the lifting air to climb efficiently, and deal appropriately with the dynamics of the soaring conditions. This is for beginner, intermediate and the advanced pilot wanting to brush up. A must for all paraglider and powered paraglider pilots. Divided into 5 sections: Prerequisites for Lifting air, Active Piloting, Ridge Lift, Thermal Lift, and Cross Country. 40 minutes $39.95 ALSO AVAILABLE IN DVD, same great price. * N E W * PA R A G L I D E R T O W I N G Instructional. Learn the fundamentals of paraglider towing with Dixon White, Master Pilot, USHGA Examiner, and USHGA 2002 Instructor of the Year. Basic how-to and safety

tips are covered along with a discussion on towing rigs. Gives you a better understanding of paraglider towing. 24 minutes $24.95 ALSO AVAILABLE IN DVD, same great price.

SUPER FLY HARD by Super Fly. A worldwide flying adventure film featuring Chris Santacroce, Rob Whittall, Othar Lawrence and Pablo Lopez. Filmed at the most beautiful flying locations in the world-Hawaii, Switzerland, Turkey & Utah. This films shows the beauty of flying, the latest aerobatic maneuvers and an introspective look into why we fly. 40 minutes $35.95 SPEED TO FLY with Jockey Anderson. A complete video guide to cross country paragliding. Great air-to-air and in-board footage with Jockey as he takes you around the world, providing flying tips and interviewing the top pilots. Covers thermaling, decision making, competition flying and speed to fly. 70 minutes $39.95 A HIGHER CALLING by Dawn Treader Productions. Winner “People’s Choice Award” at the Banff Mountain Film Festival 2000. A story of six friends attempting to fly cross country together as a group through western Nepal, where finding launches & landings becomes a daily routine. Become immersed into the Nepal culture upon every landing. Superb editing. 45 minutes $32.95 PARAGLIDER GROUND HANDLING & THE ART OF KITING, by Adventure Productions.

Learn techniques and tips for easy ground handling with this instructional program.

Get in tune with your glider and improve your flying skills while on the ground.

Various wind conditions are covered with the successful and proven industry-standard techniques of Dixon White-Master rated pilot, USHGA Examiner and USHGA’s PG Instructor of the Year. This is for the beginner, intermediate & advanced pilot who wants to do some brushing up on his skills. Be a master of your paraglider. 44 minutes $36.95 ALSO AVAILABLE IN DVD, same great price.

IN SEARCH OF THE PERFECT MOUNTAIN

By Adventure Productions. Searching for the perfect mountain, perfect flight, and the perfect experience that challenges our essence and satisfies our quest for adventure.

This paragliding odyssey takes you to St. Anton, Austria; Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany; Sun Valley, Idaho; Point of the Mountain, Utah; and Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Features in-air footage, aerial maneuvers, and local pilot tours. 44 minutes $36.95. NOW AVAILABLE IN DVD, same great price.

69

M A R K E T P L A C E

M A R K E T P L A C E BALI HIGH, by Sea to Sky Productions. A

MISCELLANEOUS

paragliding adventure film. Great flying and

STOLEN WINGS & THINGS

GIN BANDIT — Stolen May 4th, 2003 from

a great adventure on the exotic island of Bali,

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING RATES The rate for classified advertising is $.50 per word (or group of characters) and $1.00 per word

Indonesia. A result of wild imaginations,

pick up truck in GREELEY, COLORADO.

weeks of filming and three unsupervised

Size x-small, purple w/ Jackson Hole

pilots in a land of serious fun. Great flying

Paragliding logo, w/blue Critter stuff bag.

$5.00. A fee of $15.00 is charged for each

footage. 38 min $29.95

Contact Matt Combs (307) 690-7555,

line art logo and $25.00 for each photo.

mcparagliding@hotmail.com

LINEART & PHOTO SIZE NO LARGER THAN

WEATHER TO FLY, by Adventure Productions.

A much needed instructional video on meteorology. Dixon White, Master pilot and USHGA Examiner, takes you through a simple step-by-step process showing where to acquire weather data and how to interpret it. This video will help pilots of any aircraft understand more about modeling and forecasting. You’ll learn

From the Telluride Festival in 1981, to the modern day freestyle competition. Follow the history of this dynamic gathering. $24.95 Call USHGA (719) 632-8300, fax (719) 632-6417, order from our web site www.ushga.org. Please add +$4 domestic s/h.

about regional and local influences and how to

ADVANCE SIGMA 5’S — Two, stolen April

featuring John Heiney doing what he does

10th, 2003 from LAHOLLA VILLAGE (close

best-LOOPING! Available through USHGA

to TORREY PINES GLIDERPORT, LA JOLLA,

on your wall! Send to USHGA Aerobatics Poster, PO Box 1300, Colorado Springs CO 80933. (USA & Canada only. Sorry, posters

determine winds aloft and stability. “Weather details and includes great cloud footage. It is

SPECIAL-Aerobatics poster & Eric Raymond

a straight-forward presentation that is easy to

poster-BOTH FOR $10 (+$5 s/h). Check

follow. 50 min. $39.95 ALSO AVAILABLE IN

the merchandise section of our web site

DVD, same great price.

www.ushga.org for a color picture of these

STARTING HANG GLIDING, by Adventure

beautiful posters.

Productions. Produced especially to promote proper attitude, ground handling, launching

STARTING PARAGLIDING by Adventure Productions. Covers basic preparations,

serial # 26702, w/black & dark blue bag. One Advance Sigma 5, 31 meter serial # 26813, w/yellow & black bag. Reward$$$ Bob Ryan (714) 350-7860, turbobobryan@cox.net

be in bold print. Special layouts of tabs $25.00 per column inch. Phone number=2 words. Email or web address=3words.

AD DEADLINES: All ad copy, instructions, changes, additions and cancellations must be received in writing 2 months preceding the cover date, i.e. June 20th is the deadline for the August issue. Please make checks

VISION CLASSIC — Stolen October 25th,

payable to USHGA, P.O. Box 1330, Colorado

2002 from a van in SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

Springs, CO 80901-1330, (719) 632-8300.

Size small, orange/white. Small women’s

Fax

harness, black w/orange trim, w/front mount

ushga@ushga.org your classified with your

reserve chute. Flight bag w/helmet, boots, pants, etc. Trisha Ross (360) 402-5767,

(719)

632-6417

or

email:

Visa/MC or Amex.

diligentanesthesia@yahoo.com TO FLY: DISCOVER PARAGLIDING TODAY — USHGA’s 7 minute promotional video,

and those first flights. 30 min $29.95

CA). One Advance Sigma 5, 28 meter, aqua,

are NOT AVAILABLE on international orders.)

To Fly” is an over-all view packed with useful

the sport. Covers basic preparation, weather,

1.75” X 2.25”. Please underline words to

“AEROBATICS” — Full color 23”x 31” poster

HQ for just $6.95 (+$5.00 s/h). Fill that void

for bold or all caps. MINIMUM AD CHARGE

now only $9.95 PLUS FREE SHIPPING (in the USA). 1-800-616-6888, www.ushga.org

weather, proper attitude, ground handling &

NEW APPAREL, VIDEOS, BOOKS & POSTERS — Check out our web page www.ushga.org DON’T LEAVE YOUR GROUND-BOUND

SELL IT IN THE HANG GLIDING

ALSO AVAILABLE IN DVD, same great price.

II Harness by fraud ring in Singapore at Jl.Gandaria IX No:4, Gandaria kebayoran

EQUIPMENT SITTING IN THE GARAGE.

those first exciting launches. 30 min $29.95

SMALL GIN BOLERO #31247 & Genie

CLASSIFIEDS.

baru, City: JAKSEL, JKT-IND. Also fraudulently ordered by delta_trikes@astaga.com: Alinco DJ-195 radio, Gin Flight Suit, Gin Reserve and Lazer helmet. Contact granger@parasof tparagliding.com or (303) 494-2820.

HANG GLIDING EXTREME & BORN TO FLY

by Adventure Productions, great hg action

WORLDWIDE INTERNET PARAGLIDING TALK

STOLEN WINGS are listed as a service to

$34.95 each. ALSO AVAILABLE IN DVD,

SHOW — WWW.WORLDTALKRADIO.COM

USHGA members. Newest entries are in

Listen live or to the archives! Live Tuesday

bold. There is no charge for this service and

fax

9-11:00 am (PST). Call toll-free, 1-888-514-

lost and found wings or equipment may be

(719) 632-6417, email: ushga@ushga.org,

2100 or internationally at (001) 858-268-

same great price.

Call

USHGA

(719)

632-8300,

or order off our web page www.ushga.org.

Please add +$4 domestic s/h (+$5 for two or more videos). Great to impress your friends or for those socked-in days. Perfect gift for the launch potato turned couch potato.

70

TO FLY: DISCOVER HANG GLIDING TODAY — USHGA’s 7 minute promotional video,

3068. Paraglider pilots and radio hosts David and Gabriel Jebb, want to hear about your

now only $9.95 PLUS FREE SHIPPING (in the

stories, promotions/events or insight: they

USA). 1-800-616-6888, www.ushga.org

also take questions!

July, 2003: Hang Gliding & Paragliding

called in (719) 632-8300, faxed in (719) 632-6417, or emailed at ushga@ushga.org for inclusion in Hang Gliding & Paragliding magazine. Please call to cancel the listing when gliders are recovered. Periodically, this listing will be purged.

Hang Gliding & Paragliding: July, 2003

71

Jayne DePanfilis, Publisher: jayne@ushga.org Dan Nelson, Editor in Chief: editor@ushga.org Steve Roti, Contributing Editor: steveroti@hotmail.com Tim Meehan, Art Director: artdirector@ushga.org Office Staff Jayne DePanfilis, Executive Director, jayne@ushga.org Jeff Elgart, Advertising, jeff@ushga.org Sandra Hewitt, Member Services, sandra@ushga.org Natalie Hinsley, Member Services, natalie@ushga.org Bob Archibald, IT Administrator, bob@ushga.org USHGA Officers and Executive Committee: Bill Bolosky, President, bolosky@ushga.org Jim Zeiset, Vice President, jimzgreen@aol.com Russ Locke, Secretary, russ@lockelectric.com Randy Leggett, Treasurer ias@ot.com REGION 1: Bill Bolosky, Mark Forbes. REGION 2: Ray Leonard, John Wilde, Tim West. REGION 3: David Jebb, John Greynald, Alan Chuculate. REGION 4: Steve Mayer, Jim Zeiset. REGION 5: Frank Gillette.

REGION 6: Len Smith. REGION 7: Bill Bryden. REGION 8: Gary Trudeau, REGION 9: Randy Leggett, Felipe Amunategui. REGION 10: Tiki Mashy, Matt Taber.

REGION 11: R.R. Rodriguez. REGION 12: Paul Voight.

DIRECTORS AT LARGE: Jan Johnson, Dennis Pagen, Russ Locke, Steve Kroop, Chris Santacroce. HONORARY DIRECTORS: James Gaar, Aaron Swepston, Steve Roti, Dick Heckman, Michael Robertson, Bob Hannah, John Harris, Tom Johns, Ed Pitman, Jennifer Beach, James Gaar, Dave Broyles, Ken Brown, Rob Kells, Liz Sharp, Dan Johnson, Dixon White. EX-OFFICIO DIRECTORS: Art Greenfield (NAA).

The United States Hang Gliding Association Inc. is an air sports organization affiliated with the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) which is the official representative of the Fédération Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), 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 FAI-related paragliding activities such as record attempts and competition sanctions.

HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING magazine is published for foot-launched air-sports enthusiasts to create further interest in the sports of hang gliding and paragliding and to provide an educational forum to advance hang gliding and paragliding methods and safety. Contributions are welcome. Anyone is invited to contribute articles, photos and illustrations concerning paragliding activities. If the material is to be returned, a stamped, self-addressed return envelope must be enclosed. Notification must be made of submission to other hang gliding and paragliding publications. HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING 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 & PARAGLIDING editorial offices email: editor@ushga.org. ALL ADVERTISING AND ADVERTISING INQUIRIES MUST BE SENT TO USHGA HEADQUARTERS IN COLORADO SPRINGS. The USHGA is a member-controlled sport organization dedicated to the exploration and promotion of all facets of unpowered ultralight flight, and to the education, training and safety of its membership. Membership is open to anyone interested in this realm of flight. Dues for Rogallo membership are $59.00 per year (of which $15 goes to the publication of Hang Gliding & Paragliding Magazine), ($70 non-U.S.); subscription rates only are $42.00 ($53 non-U.S.). 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.

72

HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING (ISSN 0895433X) is published monthly by the United States Hang Gliding Association, Inc., 219 W. Colorado Ave., Suite 104, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 (719) 632-8300. FAX (719) 632-6417. PERIODICAL POSTAGE is paid at Colorado Springs, CO and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: SEND CHANGE OF ADDRESS TO: HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE, P.O. BOX 1330, Colorado Springs, CO 80901-1330.

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES IN PUBLICATIONS: The material presented here is published as part of an information dissemination service for USHGA members. The USHGA makes 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 © 2003 Hang Gliding & Paragliding Magazine.

Hang Gliding and Paragliding magazine welcomes editorial submissions from our members and readers.

We are always looking for good material.

Please send copy as a Word attachment or text pasted into an e-mail, directly to the editor at editor@ushga.org. Photo captions and byline credit are critical. Please remember to include your name and a title for the article in your copy.

Feature stories generally run anywhere from 1,500 to 3,000 words, however, your topic may demand more or less than this. You may discuss this with the editor.

News releases are welcomed, but please do not send brochures, dealer newsletters or other extremely lengthy items. Please edit news releases with our readership in mind, and keep them reasonably short without excessive sales hype. You are welcome to submit photo attachments, preferably jpeg files smaller than a megabyte.

Calendar of events items may be sent to the e-mail address above, as may letters to the editor.

Please be concise and try to address a single topic in your letter.

Your contributions are greatly appreciated. If you have an idea for an article you may discuss your topic with the editor either by e-mail or telephone.

Contact: Editor, Hang Gliding & Paragliding Magazine, editor@ushga.org, (253) 840-1372.

INDEX TO ADVERTISERS

Adventure Productions ............. 13 Aerolight USA ........................... 13 Apco Aviation ........................... 43 Cloud 9 ...................................... 8 Critter Mountainwear ............... 10 Dan Johnson ............................ 63 Dixon’s Airplay.......................... 79 Fly Market/Independence ......... 46 Flytec USA .................................. 2 Hall Brothers............................. 16 High Energy Sports................... 16 Mojo’s Gear ................................ 6 Moyes ...................................... 24

Gallery Artist: Alejandrina Lupi

MPH Sports .............................. 28

Paragliding instructors from Bariloche, Argentina, Alejandrina and her husband Guillermo now call Aspen, Colorado home where Guillermo flies as a tandem instructor for Aspen Paragliding.

North American Paragliding...... 31 Skyco Sports ............................. 20 Sport Aviation Publications ...... 26

Demo Days 2003 at Point of the Mountain, Utah, outside of Salt Lake City, provided the perfect backdrop for her to capture the essence of our flying lifestyle.

Summit Paragliding .................... 7 SuperFly ................................... 80

“Through photography I’m able to be connected with the art of Paragliding.”

Thermal Tracker ....................... 32 The United States Hang Gliding Association, a division of the National Aeronautic Association,

Torrey Pines .............................. 37 Traverse City/Mosquito ............ 34 US Aeros .................................. 27 USHGA ............................... 21, 71

is a representative of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale in the United States.

USHGF...................................... 62 Volant Technica ........................ 27 Wills Wing ................................ 48 July, 2003: Hang Gliding & Paragliding

Hang Gliding & Paragliding: July, 2003

73

Demo Days: Great wings from all the best manufacturers, good weather, great flying and great pictures.

This photo: Tim Meehan Dave Chapman checks out conditions just before launching.

Demo Days hosts a festive party atmosphere for this year’s 100+ participants and even more spectators.

Smooth consistent soaring at the point makes for the perfect flying vacation for both hang gliders and paragliders.

A zoom lens can make any site look crowded…

Photos: Alejandrina Lupi

A committed south side launch…

Casual kiting on the north side…

Moderate but predictable winds characterize soaring the Point of the Mountain.

Evenings there afford pilots of all skill levels great soaring flights until sunset.

Steady winds morning and evening create the perfect oppotunities to practice kiting.

This photo: Jayne DePanfilis

Dave Chapman soars the South Side of Point of the Mountain, taking advantage of the smooth air just before sunset.

801 255 9595 552 West 8360 S Sandy, UT 84070

www.4superfly.com info@4superfly.com