“You should compete against yourself, not others.”
[above] Richard Eipper (right) with Rob McCaffrey. [upper right] Eipper (left) and McCaffrey [right] Eipper's USHGA membership card - not the number!
had moved to the Garberville-Miranda area, had not flown in nearly 12 years and didn’t even own a glider anymore when he came across an old 17-foot FlexiFlier. This was the original model produced by EipperFormance in the early 70’s. Within a month Eipper gracefully flew off an 800-foot cliff above the Benbow campgrounds. Models of Eipper’s hang gliders are on display in Washington, D. C., at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum, and at the Boeing Air Museum in Seattle. He also has been on the cover of Popular Mechanics and Low and Slow. Eipper did not advocate competition in the sport because he felt it was too dangerous. Eipper stated, “You should compete against yourself, not others.” On April 27th, 1991, Eipper learned to fly a paraglider from Greg Pujol, owner of A Gift of Wings, in Sunnyvale, CA. After 12 years away from the sport he helped bring into existence, Eipper fell in love with free-flight all over again. Richard Eipper is gone, but certainly not forgotten. He died on January 31, 1993. After he was cremated, his ashes were spread by one of his hang gliding friends as he flew over Shelter Cove, CA. As soon as the hang glider pilot landed, a harrier jet came down out of the clouds and flew 200 feet off the water over the ashes. Jennifer Drews first published this article, June 1991 | The North Coast Journal of Eureka, CA Submitted by Robert L. Smith USHPA # 82497