PAPALOTES 2153 Winter 2011

Hang gliding Campaign

Winter 2011

ISSUE 18 VOL.3

Contents Winter Photos starts pg. 18

Hang Check

pg. 14

Blog Enrty pg. 4

Blog Entry

3/26/2012 Thanksgiving at Morningside photo:EM

Winter’s actually over now. Only 33 days until Morningside re-opens. Spring is practically over too. Pollen is in the air and all over everyting. Birds are on the move, and so are pilots. HG’s are learning to fly PG’s and PG’s HG’s and whatever else that flys including powered aircraft.

Normally this time of year, like most people, I’m analyzing and planning for the rest of the year. I’d think about work, school, family and freinds and then world events. So far this year has,and will have a ton going on. Records are being set and broken in everyting and will be all year long. There a lot of big, maybe life changing decisions that will have to be made. It’s going to be hard to keep up with all that’s about to happen in the world. It really is an exciting time to be on earth, but like usual, I’d rather not be. I just want to fly.

-em

Summer 2011 ISSUE 18 VOLUME 3 EDITOR: The Meibos Touch WRITERS: Air-Rick PHOTOGRAPHERS: Eric Meibos (EM) Photos and Articles welcome www.papalotes2153.blogspot.com PAPALOTES 2153 is a non-profit, non-organizational, non-anything publication about Hang Gliding and Free Flight and related activitie . It is not for sale and is available to anyone who is interested. Input and feedback are always welcome. Anyone can be apart or involved with Papalotes 2153.

No subscriptions, membership, or Contributions required. Just FLY FLY FLY. Contact: esobien@gmail.com Published on issuu.com

What is Papalotes 2153?

It’s a new sensational

Workout Program WALK JOG RUN RUN RUN....

RUN....

FLY!

*guaranteed to feel lighter

FLY FLY FLY

**it happens.

....

“....if it can happen, it probably will unless something is done to prevent it.�

It happens to all of us in one way or another. We are human, people make mistakes. Maybe you don’t, you might be a perfect pilot, always lands level and on your feet. But maybe you let some one borrow your glider for just a sled ride and they put it in the ditch, or maybe your your buddy helped you load in on the car but forget to tie down the front and it didn’t stay on. Or maybe you’re really good but it was the conditions. Or maybe that tree just wasn’t as high the last time you flew that site.

We can make up all the excuses we want but mistakes, accidents, incidents, events, whatever you want to call them, happen. Almost always it is pilot error.

Technology and designs have improved a lot over the years and now pilots will walk away from most bad decisions unharmed.

However sometimes it is much more serious. The Hang gliding and Paragliding community is still small enough that we can keep track of each other and for the most part we do. In General we don’t allow others to fly unsafely and hopefully it is always that way. But we should never kid ourselves and say that “nothing will happen” or “it’s safer than....” It’s as safe or dangerous as we make it.

We all Know or should know our limits, and if we don’t our instructors or mentors can give us some. We weren’t born with wings so naturally we weren’t meant to fly. So in a sense we rebel against nature and found a way to fly anyway. That’s part of what makes it fun but there’s no need to be reckless. In fact it’s better to be gracious and humble, always learning and eventu-

Left top to bottom: About to .... ....did Poor Progressive Right: Control frames

ally flying becomes a right we’ve earned.

Free flight is also over a hundred years old now. There are plenty of experences and mistakes that have been made by others, no reason for us to repeat them. They were pioneers but that doesn’t mean we can’t be too. There is still a great amount to learn but there is a wealth of knowledge we can use as we forge ahead.

It’s been said, you can never be too safe and sometimes it seems like to the FAA your never safe enough anyway. So we have to stick to our check ists, pre flights, HANG CHECKS, and watching the weather. Never be ashamed to call it quits if you’re not ready. It really sucks when the weather is great and everyone is up but you just lost a parachute pin. You could fly anyway and maybe for the last time, or you could learn from the expereinces and go on to many more times in even better conditions.

Instructors may have to be even more diligent, because they are examples to future pilots. Their attitudes and opinions may affect what will happen in the sky.

They must also be able to guide new pilots without holding them back but without letting them get into danger even after they may have fininshed there initial trainning.

I salute and thank all the pilots who’ve taught me and shown me how to make flying my life and give a greater amount of thanks to the many Pilots who have given their lives so that others can enjoy the sky as well.

FLY FLY FLY

Right: Collection of Down tubes and basetubes Below: Placed at Launch at morningside.

Hang check

Top 5 Played songs 3/25/12 1. “Good Feeling” - Flo Rida 2. “Savannah” - Relient K 3. ”Admit it” - Say Anything 4. “Got Nuffin” - Spoon 5. “Highway” - Ingrid Michaelson

Save the world a little this year.

Ride a bike, catch a bus, train or car pool. hike your glider a few times appreciate fresh air while we have it, And when ever possible travel by air!

Photo Galle

Left: Traveling a Below: Alex T Bottom R

ery

WOODSTOCK and Sleeping in the car Tatum giving directions Right: Checking the LZ ight: Dave Miller flying

Far left: TJ Left: Paul Below: Jamming around the campfire Bottom: Progression of Airwave left to right; Eric’s Vision 18m, Dave’s Mark IV 17m, and Steve’s Pulse 11m

Left top to bottom: Woodstock Instructor awards HG Mob Bottom: Tim and Mike taking turns with their Target.

Right: Jon Atwood and his new PG

Below: J Tron is home and visits Mside Opposite top to Bottom: Launching the 450’ Spot landing Good dog

Morningside late 70’s

Morningside late 2011

Brian and Andy Test Flying the new Prototype on flat ground

Clock wise: Mike and Liz, Coke Ad Brian Doug Mike Flying Thunder, Doug and Brian

Top: Brian launching with thunder far left: Mike is ready left: Doug flying his UltraSport

Doug Haber checking conditions at woodstock