WHEN YOU'RE A THOUSAND FEET ABOVE THE UP
AT
KITE AND ASK
"IS THIS THE BEST
CAN
IF IT'S A WILLS WING, IT IS!'
s.
It was no
KITES, East Walnut Santa Ana,Ca 9 701 714 547 44 or 714 547 366 If no answer, 1 714 544 0445
GROUND SKIMMER PUBLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES HANG GLIDING ASSOCIATION, INC. AS A SERVICE TO ULTRALIGHT FLIGHT ENTHUSIASTS EVERYWHERE Editor: W.A.Allen
Consulting Editor: Lloyd Licher
Issue No. 15
October, 1973
CONTENTS 11
BACK FROM THE SUN, 11 photo by W.A.A. . ................... . An Icarus II and Larry Mauro fly out of the sunset behind Stanford, California. LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR USHGA MEMBERS USHGA needs YOUR opinions.
cover
PROPOSAL, by Lloyd Licher, President
6
AN EVENING WITH DAVE KILBOURNE AND DONNITA HOLLAND, Part II (conclusion) . . . And a letter of concern over hang gliding's safety record from Donnita on page 11.
7
RULES OF THE ROAD, by Capt. Charles E. Stahl , USHGA Flight Di rector . . . . . 20 Does the other guy know what you're going to do? Do YOU know what HE'S going to do? SOME MEET RESULTS, a brief report
30
VJ-23 SWINGWING KITS MADE AVAILABLE
34 DEPARTMENTS
ABOUT THIS ISSUE (SKIMMINGS) ACCIDENT REPORTS (READ & HEED) COLUMNS: HANG GLIDING POYNTERS PRESIDENT'S REPORT WHAT'S UP! . . . . . .
30 28
22 2 24
CALENDAR OF EVENTS .... CLASSIFIEDS (FLYING FLEA MARKET) MAN-POWERED FLIGHT . . . . . PHOTO FEATURE (1000 WORDS+) USHGA OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
36
35 34 18
20
CONSUMER ADVISORY: GROUND SKIMMER takes no responsibility for the products advertised or mentioned editorially within its pages. GS and the U.S. Hang Gliding Assn., Inc., have no means or criteria by which to judge the safe use, structural integrity, durability, or quality control of such products. How to Buy: People considering purchase of hang gliding equipment should consult hang glider pilots and manufacturers and dealers in their area, and are urged to write to several national manufacturers concerning product usage and safety standards,
GROUND SKIMMER is published monthly by the United States Hang Gliding Association, Inc., whose office is at 11312\ Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. 90066 (mailing address: P.O. Box 66306, Los Angeles, Calif. 90066); telephone,(213) 390-3065(if no answer, 839-8014). Application to mail at second-class postage rates is pending at Los Angeles, Calif. Subscription is available only as part of membership in USHGA, a non-profit, member-controlled educational and scientific organization dedicated to exploring all facets of fuel-less, self-launched ultralight aircraft. Membership is open to anyone interested in this realm of flight. Dues are $5.00 ($6.00 for foreign addresses). $4.00 of these dues are designated for subscription to GROUND SKIMMER (12 issues), beginning with the current issue. Some back issues are available at 50¢ each. Make checks payable to USHGA. Items in GROUND SKIMMER are published with a 11 rights res.erved to GS and the respective writers and photographers. An advertising rate card with mechanical requirements and conditions is available upon request. The basic full-page rate is $50. Paid circulation of the September issue, first mailed on February 16, 1974, was 5,455.
As o and month-to-month b I
location which in the the o:ffi 10:00 A.M.
are enbut please office and to do than
II
II
II
1554 5th
Santa Mon i
Ca Iiforn i a
213-394-1151
' Iii
Directors. One and medical cover was for by all age which USHGA members at a dues level, o it was not current als offer liabi at very reas le rates if There are numerous very desirable would result
case the but in dues would have to be $2.50, from $5.00 to $7.50. all new memwould be covered at the coverage the time unEvidence of the on the , which could ites who
Directors' is, mandatory or vo an The Board was :reluctant a because it would of raise the dues whom do not ent do not need or desire The voted, however to make details of the various proposals known to members this way. in GROUND SKIM!vIER, and ask all those who are interes to write in with an indi on whi ones would be wil to subscribe to. , it would be well to out some of the or ts of liabj surance coverage. If all members had it the would in and it would be much less sure related activities, thus cost to consumers. Insurance for contests
more :indi minimum underwriter USHGA is
not in a way an
would have to bers llows: .25, 2556 $3.00, 1917 . 00, 1440
srnal l. result in a to would ury per and $50,000 '"'""'"''"·"'• with a $ 100 deductible like
is $5.00, 1150 .00, 960 $7.00, 820
$8.00 .00, 640 $10.00 575
How much would you be will to pay thi l 1 If members advise in the manner indicated below such a plan will be made avail as pos ible. In this case, members would be i sued ficates of insurance under a master policy in the name of USHGA. One way or another the Directors would like to have a liabil:i turn to
vJ
Yeah j a lot more isn't anyBut it certain rl can't do and mine around for time and lem. lt' just that it' takAnd just more it on the truck and back off t and et the truck and done all to make a hill. But it lack of • it' their Girls . 1 used to that kind longer for them to build up the muscles to do it.
DAVE: There lot more ical hertion demanded in the prone harness than with a seat. DONNITJ\ · Which goes back to whether you with a prone harnes eat. one valid al for a ceat? DONNITA: are to because it doesn't much commit·· ment to the hill as it does in a to yourself You've real down the hill and real
8
Man'la
and leap into it on that har-· off And if you don't, and you stalled, it takes to back Whereas with the seat and seat and then dive it, as much of a commitment
a
Well, l'm about So if somebody would that go with thi system, wow, sure, let them do whatwant to do because the you' re really
DONNITA· I've noticed a it's not With knee much of a train. But I can in my arms, by the time I 1 ay from a fli where I real did some , or even at where I'm up for 15 or 20 minutes around. I usually go down because I'm tired. But, then you're ta You' choi all you want to do, know prone harnes ical exhertion but we choose a lot more out of it.
DONNITA: the take off. off The the relax to worry about know, a minute and relax, sensi.ti vi.ties of like
Do i DAVE:
No.
That' well
I'd I wouldn't know to j DONNITA: lot of times reaJ when you In other words out. You can ong ]
to just calm can teach them the that way too
j
and
. I
and not
DAVE ·
accentuates the don't have throw it into So
of covered my Wow just 'd
I never even think about .1
.m
when
DAVE: Exact you don't have
ons
Ho1.u
DAVH: as you dive.
I'd ay which
DAVE: No not reaI with the short keeI that it weathercock into the wind II. If level and a
DAVEL
No,
R
licate DAVE:
lo j control.
The stal your
DAVE.
t;o
DAVE: the kite l
no sound when sound at al Tha stalled.
area ical
whi
more or you're still not real divi on. You can 1 now now l'm You mush
DAVE·
Wel
you can 1 some forward MPH wind led
and you about the either mushbut
make can throw zoom
break, DONNI TA alti
But you' and bl
and make to actual 1 your
\tl
L
1110 YOU
\tJ
U. :I IL A ll!IWS 1:/\T /, I' I NI" ll!Glf rLY A KIi[ DO !N TIii SKY
N
awkward to every way. ng take off I'm sold on it now. You know when you up and you onto the , and then you to go and you shi one hand, and then you shift the other? Well that? Jus on like this and down the hill into the harness and while you' that and 'I'he
what he' doa very smooth transition. He just ls into it and lays down. DAVE· hold the kite stable position. kite and around in the wind, where you hold You rest here and you have your arms around them and you' of it. You just run down the way. As soon you're you kind of just into the h Sometimes let go both hands and ch them both at the Once you' ai there no no urgency to
your hands on the bar. them up here. A lot move my hands around. I' 11 hold the
them, "Go can't '11 stall and off over and over down the hil . You hil
Of course stall and their take won't go to go down the hard· other·· up you' l
wi blown DAVE: That' All all my take offs I've cons it to leave crest and so you' in the Ii a headwind. of it you're You're out there. l walk down the bit. Then oon as I take few it up the 1 and I'm in the I find that intand back from the people want leap It run to to me because bit the like f the f you do back And you want
DAVE it blunt
14
with I'm Sometimes
That sounds reasonable. To I never :realized that you
ean 1 the in the tlur.~ mal on account of that. But other than that I think you're just shoot in the dark. There' no way you can know when you're in it when you're out of it. DONNITA: Until you're out of it and you know that you've sed it. you DAVE: work You know have all the visual and you know when to But when you a you 't know when you're or when you' re go·· tell. I down. No to learn how that the on And then
usual a 360.
l There was room. Heck I could have in there and no sweat. But when you' re up there in the air, you've that that one, and you've can You know, with a one of the So I icul a 180 and
it.
ai instructor I want maximum control. And I to come in close to I'm low. I don't want to my until 'm near e when you up your when you're vulnerable that when you start las control, could I come nose on when you're out, you know the terrain and level and control, you want. I'd say the had was at over this
you come tell if there' It will tell you ri
in just all set up from three miles out. And as I closer I noticed that it was with -vol power
1 A lt Ready for
ng
a
sible
WIND GRADIENT
the
is
your· you ent: into your•
ar•e out;
16
10-73
The man The low man on the ri of way, other man unable
the
4. aborts to
the man or men
must
avoid In no are for you to
turn direction one al lost lack of altitude al President:
Treasurer: Fl Dir 20
Ll
,19
m.
I I
in
en muscle the
find
even on can to the the
The
one
allow better
to make the landin hot the wind, touch down and then when the hands
around.
TRAINING
reason for wheel lot while and
kite
he in evera] lawn mower wheels , 80 ach ancl while i shaft diameter Wheels may be moun and then imp Thi method
tube
installation
neutral
res
c
ment has clos
Howdy! HISnow l ee , 9 Lee Wilson Manta comments that skis, short or normal i cd, are best used with iders only if the with ski face lose control and deceleration could bar onto the him Assum• as enLee suggests on snow is imp le, Pliers can pack down a small snow, an uncovered rock area, or carry 1 mats. yi ng is the payoff. publi in 12 72 GB and ince for wi by SCIIGA/USHGA, this e instruction sheet needs a couple of corrections. Most d lo) , the e needed 30° When , ho level to the horizon rather than more than not is horizon. Also it that most instructors students to fill sail Ii than to art the run with the nose at a
in force in time for it the Lilienthal Meet 1974. In order to know how the members liab:i. , who arc interested are asked to send card (or to USHGA, Box 66306, Los 1 Calif. 90066 coded
positive. are wil lowed 24
in how much you
restrictions on also. If you have been j ave, you may want to send Ri Office 72 , Calif. 92502) a map at shows the desert and tricted.
are re , in the BLM It
, or at toward not necessarily tovehicles. HIThe Prices ing up. about author of 11 Variometers 11 last GS, ier Carol Boenish ister of Carl) married Chris Price (who ies Kites) in a ceremony on November 17, 1973. Actually was no leap with an earlier one where Chris followed Carol off of 3 600in Yosemite National Park may look on this scientific nauts both had ight
grass, and tuned
will to each year coverage mentioned. 1 by the annual to tal and
. , , well, just
11
t II
you would be as
your name, and memComments could be added in con them to elations or to consider your in time for l to USHGA before 18th. Results of the survey, and detail on any plan will pub I in GROUND Please Thank number.
llill
f
WILi
IN IH
OU H
M[Ml3
ly
l<SIII
DF/1
($1
90406
you
- I
'
J{stabfohing man's standard .for excellence in ultra-light aircraft
safety and pe1:formance .
.-··-··-···-··········..·-·-·--····"··-····-··-·"· .... Mar Ibo ro, Man-Flight President and Director Product Development, Michael Markowski, is a graduate Aeronautical Engineer with over in the Aero· industry as a and design such giants as Douglas and Sikorsky until, in to devote his full time and talent to ·new sport/industry "foot-launched aircraft." Mike designed his first ultra·light glider in the winter of 1 1 and made his first flight later that summer. Man-Flight now offers a 1 generation that is worthy of Mike's and his company's philosophy: idea that one should fly no higher than Michael A. Markowski President
he cares to fall was proven impot:en/; with learns' fall to the sea. safe al any altitude.
aircraft; are
&
The SKYSURFER Kl to industry
and built
Ily stress ana 1111 1111
111
More than twice as
k structural in . allowing you to fly kite to a landing, in the event of a flying wire and/or tang failure. Advanced I design for positive pitch stability which aids in recovery from
too numerous to mention.
111
1111
Assembly/disassembly in utes with NO No
Iii
PATENTS IN PROCESS
70 page construction manual available Also available as Kits or
ly !
<t,
for a fully illustrated
and a complete line of acc:esisor Dealer Inquiries Invited. Ill
than five min·
I
ur m
ila
rmum
with a
LEARN TO FLY OR .JOIN THE NEW SPORT 11 IN A VOLMER .J-11, SO-L0 11
* Build the world's controllable * Standard aircraft controls. * 6 weeks spare time. 00.00.
to auto tow lost A
at Las
VOLMER AIRCRAFT
which
Glendale, Cali . 91201
•.Jim Foster
Colorado, Sterios of
lo at Re-
Mtn. ', Winds were occas Wind directions at bottom, middle and of mountain were different. Be cause Colorado School of Mines has not ssion to land had been 1 US 58 and US erratic but there .Jim back side of the could not see the 1 he landed afe nes aid he lost his r. downdrafts on the leeward
I I
I
to I!awD 17
Mcet. 11 there
Mike won the
e
19 Hill
l if.
1
Ski tate. and radio tation And somewhat ly one in he a very large, all meet at Telluride Colorado. The word is that Dave Cronk Torrance a took honors•
We 11 here we are! USIIGA office now and after a mus ay j fee thanks to We resurince the pyra··
rected some methods not mids were built to 16
.00 1
.00
.00
18 X
Qui
Matt res
lowed down of GROUND 8KTMMER
i1 ver .
1
cle on Dave Kilbourne !loll and.
NO
A
than a 1000
il
in
all
The Editor ····-···-···········~ r:or more inforrnation and reservations, write or call The Delta School, PO Box 483, Van Cali1ornia 91408. f)hone
instructions 1he student into the the instructor.
30
V
II of
year.
M
M
lo
Substctntial advances have ,rnd convenience. Manta was l he first without
The
ndard M,m la
stable and
deliver· how skilled raster· quick response
to Iearn 011 1
you become. You'I I Mania's solid
you the con fide nee Lo move most of the work is done: control bar, and parts ,ti I precut and 1he
fly from $31
the
send for Mant,i's
to '.f608
,md
cation of Whitney
SAFETY llOW TO SFLECT YOUR AIRCRAFT IIOW TO SELECT FLYING SITES PRODUCT-EVALUATION NEW PRODUCTS, etc. lt is laced with PHOTOS ART CARTOONS and ses THE NEED FOR C.ROlJND SCl!OOLING
TECHNICAL INFORMATION. Circulation of this first i sne (20 is 2000. We will con endeavor to ty of thi publication by cxerci the right to be selccti ads and/or material for publication. Ad space will always be kept at minimum to provide more space for articles and news. We will be using color in the very near future.
$7.50 per year (12
SUBSCRIPTION
$ . 75 per issue
or ADO RATES
Photo
Inside Front Cover or Back Cover $200.00 Full Page
1
Nothing in this
may
the publisher. be tKcompnnied by
perin1ss1on
$110.00 $ 55.00 27.50
without Manuscrq)ts, photographs and tllustraC;>nvclope.
PUBLISHER/WHITNEY ENTERPRISES EDITOR/EDDIE PAUL ART DIRECTOR/BARBARA BOOSALIS ADVERTISING DIRECTOR I HERB GREEN CUSTOMER RELATIONS/TOM McMILLIAN
C MAN FLIGHT MAGAZINE
P.
Box 90762
Los Angeles, Calif. 90009
If you ..
('
,,WJ.n
cuses for not
ld
VJ
have any DSK Ai:rPie:rce St. Pacoima, Volmer Jensen announce 1:i
lot of there are few first hi controllable, monoplane constructed of wood
rfoi 1 de has been known kits its Duster which also cons st main Homebuilders may al Kit 84S. 1 ( ' woocl workers") Kit installment plan as an offer eel for $79S.OO and before March ~n 1974A from San were from
the becaus the eThomas Williamson at Thornton Beach on 20th. Editor of the WOR Newr; another t Thomas
inexes·which were
a and over the water to los to turn ove:r 1 and, downwind and was blown
out
twice as much vc as needed to soar. The wind was on the ckicline is pos ible that the was even 11 Tom was two ve:ry im·Let' close with 1) Make rules of all turns ) never W.A.A.
* ,>c
34
Takes off and lands in 2 eps in a 1 controllable World I s first
wind,
in Wahl on man form the most nical survey and his also the 1 71 ctured and des MIT "BURD RAF 1 choo1 10-73
VI UJI.HRAlN
co.
VI I
VIUFIJRA!N I
I
rem ,';OART\JC
VI l illllil/d!>I &
IJLIJHA!t: I, 11'
Vfllll
ined. 11 Museum, N, Y. 1490 .
I THE BASIC HANDBOOK OF SKYSURFING
1 36
J
I
'I
\
\, / '
\\ \
I
I ,
WHERE IT"S AT! UlJfiALITE PFlODUCTS,
onEGON
SEGUNDO,
(213) 322-7171