EDITOR: Rich Grigsby LAYOUT & DESIGN: Mark Allison OFFICE STAFF MANAGER: Carol Velderrain Chon Aranda, Susan Mann, Ronda Leggett USHGA OFFICERS PRESIDENT: Lloyd Licher VICE PRESIDENT: Kaz Delisse SECRETARY: Carol Velderrain FLIGHT DIRECTOR·. John Lake TREASURER: Ford Walters USHGA REGIONAL DIRECTORS REGION 1 Vern Roundtree, Gil Dodgen. REGION 2: Lee Sterios, John Grace. REGION 3: Lloyd Licher, Dan Poynter, John Lake, Chris Wills. REGION 4: Don Beuch. REGION 5: Gary Osaba. REGION 6: Darryl Smith. REGION 7: Mike Ziaskas, Fred Tiemens. REGION 8: Tom Peghiny, Dan Chapman. REGION 9: Vic Powell, Chuck Slusarczyk. REGION 10: John Harris. REGION 11 · David Broyles. DIRECTORSAT-LARGE. REGION 1: Bill Johnson. REGION 3: Kaz Delisse. REGION 8 Al Mulazzi. REGION 9: Dennis Pagen. REGION 11: John White.
CONSUMER ADVISORY: GROUND SKIMMER and USHGA. Inc. do not endorse or take any respondibility for the products advertised or mentioned within these pages. Please consult the HMA or pilots and dealers in your area.
GROUND SKIMMER is published for hang gliding sport enthusiasts to create further interest in the sport, be a means of open communication and to advance hang gliding mett1ods and safety. Contributions are welcome. Anyone is invited to contribule articles, photos, and illustrations coricerning hang gliding activities. If the material is to be returned. a stamped, self-addressed return envelope must be enclosed. GROUND SKIMMER reserves the right to edit contributions where necessary. The Association and its publication do not assume responsibility for the material or opinions of contributors. The only form of monetary payment 1s $5 for the photograph or illustration that is u~ed on the front cover. GROUND SKIMMER is published monthly by the United States Hang Gliding Association, lnc., whose malling address is P.O. Box 66306, Los Angeles, Calif. 90066 and wt1ose offices are located at 11312,, Venice Blvd., Los Angeles. Calif. 90066; telephone (213) 390-3065. Second-class postage is paid at Los Angeles Calif. GROUND SKIMMER is printed by Sinclair Printing & Litho, Alhambra, Calif. Subscription Is available only as par I of membership in USHGA, a non-profit, member-controlled educational and scientific organization dedicated to exploring all facets of fuel-less, self-launched ultralight flight. Membership is open to anyone interested 1n this realm ot flight. Dues are $10 per year ($11 for foreign addresses) of which $4 are designated for subscription to GROUND SKIMMER. Changes of address stiould be sent six weeks In advance, including name, USHGA membership number, previous and new address, and a mailing label from a recent issue.
GROUftD ,HlfflffllR mnGnz1n1 ISSUE NO. 31
AUGUST, 1975
CONTENTS 2
ULTRALIGHT CONVERSATION
10
NATIONAL PARK FLYING CLOUDED by Vic Powell
12
WORLD INVITATIONAL HANG GLIDING CHAMPIONSHIPS - TELLURIDE, COLORADO by D. Lindsey Stanfield
18
RECOVERY FROM A VERTICAL DIVE by W. Hewitt Phillips
26
VECTOR I by Stan Hall
30
THE 360° HAZARD by Alexis Tellis
32
EASTERN HANG GLIDING CHAMPIONSHIPS by Bettina Gray
34
TOW LINE by Harry Robb
36
ACCIDENT SUMMARIES by R.V. Wills
42
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
42
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING
COVER PHOTO: John Lasko takes off the 800 ft. hill during the semi-finals at the TellurideChampionships in a Pacific I "Quickarus··. Mammoth Slide, the take off site for the finals is seen at the upper right-hand corner behind a prominent ridge. The photograph was taken by Flus Stolltng.
Billy
little known
Chuck Nylam1 and his Decernber Chuck been flyino univ the nation's top pilots. Chuck
glicler to make tho maximum
to
PHOTO ,JOHI\J DOWD Pl RICHARD
9501
I
P1wlfie I
14
John
what will be rem(31111bEn'e1d thernost unique lrnng; hold, or until meet directors t1evc11ope,a the basket false action supp,ort of 150 hang
color a.nd aroma,, still some snow the t.!10 birds talking and a clog in distance Telluride unchanged.
OVJrn.ALL HlGH POJNT WOHLD JNVJTATIONAL C!IAMPJON Roy Ha.g1,anl, Visalia,, CuJiforni!1
WINNmtS: Hoy Visalia, Califomia.. 1.9 old Ultralight P!'oducts, Drngonfly Mil.olrnll, Mission IV Eippnr-·F'onnn.neo, Cun111lus V Albuquerque, M. old, J;;loctra Flyer, Lliog;o, Cttliforniu.,
old, E:Iectra Plyer, Cirrus (lth. Willia.m Liscomb, Hancho California., old, Sun IV ftegg;.ie .Jonos, Lon1on Grove, California, 28 old, UHraligh1. Products, Dragonfly Wilson, Hodondo Beach, California, old, l:1.iippor . 11\wrnance, Cun1ulus V
Jack Schroder, ltedondo Beach, Ca.lifornia, A ircrnft,, 8,J IV 10th, Brian M. ,Jenson. Denvm· Colom.do, old, JV !Hh, Miclrnel T. Mil.chell, Mission Viejo, Californin,, n old, Pacific Gull 12th, Gregory llen~ie, Telluride, Colorado, old, Seagull Aircn1ft, S,J IV .t:lt.h, Stcphcm W. Mo,vos, Sydney, Austrn,lia, old, Moyes Dolta Glider, Dragonfly 14th, Paul b;. Courtney, Honolulu, Jiawa.ii, 17 old, Ult.ralighL Products, Brook, W. B,1ug·l11nan, Golden, Colorado, old, Ultru.lig·ht Products, Dragonfly
ovmnALL
WINNIDRS: BobK MoCltffrey, Simi, Ca.liJornia,, old, Free, !<'light Systems, Siena II Hene Angelot, l)a,ly City, Califomia, 27 old, Phantom ll Robert Heed, C111ifornia, 1G old, Free Flight Systems, Sierra II 4th Dennis Burton, Van Nuys, Cn.lifomia, old, Free l"ligbt Sierra II f,th, Hrian Huston, Albuquerque, New yea.rs old, Sun JI! Gth, Hielrnrcl Montanaro, Santa. Barh11rn., Cu.Jifomia., rn yea!'fl old, Uitrnlight Products, Brock, Hed Tail
n
AUGUST
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Introducing ...
Thel!I! p H.D,ENIX!l!I
FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO FLY THE FINEST.... Onl y an innovative leader in de ign and craft man hip could have conceived and produced the .. Ph oeni x." ' Thi magni fi ce nt new ultralight oa ring craft embodie virtually all of the most wanted fea ture sought by today's expe ri enced hang glider pilots. By vi rtu e of it uniq ue de ign, exciting new fea tures , and high q uality of workman hip the " Phoeni x" ha brought an added di mensio n to the thrill and enjoyment of fl ying.
PH OENI X TX
Extended Glide Range Increased Lift Capab ility Greater Excellent Penetration ... Even In Strong Wind Cond ition s Outstand ing Pitch Control Control & Maneuverability Greater Wing Loading Capacity Exclus ive " Fan Tail " Cut Sa il Elim inates Sa il Flutter Extremely Stable <iJJJ11 - ...,.;141,111,1, I Response Converts From Seat To Prone Harness In Minutes Qual ity Craftsmanship Throughout. ~~~~~~~~~~~-
Qu iet ... R e ponsive . .. And Beaut iful T o Fly! If You·re R eady To Fly The Finest .. . Step p T o The " Phoenix .'· !Xt Page. PHOEN IX SX
Dullia Wing l Kil
AN
RS, INC.
13620 Saticoy St. , • P.O. Box 483 Van Nuys, California 91408 • (213) 787-6600
The " Phoenix " is produced of only the finest of materials and reflects quality workmanship throughout. Beginning with our special mill run " Hollow Billet" anodized aluminum tubing , through our stabilized dacron sail cloth , to our customized fitting and hardware .. . only the best is used as integral components of the "Phoenix." Only exclusive Mylar coated (MY GLO) stabilized sail cloth is used to insure zero porosity and reduced drag.
18' X 14' PHOENIX TOW KITE Sail Area : 150 sq . ft . Nose Angle: 100 degrees Aspect Ratio: 5.2 Weight : 37 pound s Leading Edge : 18' Keel Edge : 14'6" Sail: Stabilized Myglo dacron 18" tapered leading edge pockets. 4.5° billow. Pilot Weight Range : TOW : 100-240 pounds SOAR : 90-175 pounds
PHOENIX SOARING KITE Sail Area: 205 sq . ft. Nose Angle: 95 .5 degrees Aspect Rati o: 4.1 Weight : 42 pounds Leading Edge : 19'6" Keel Tube : 17' Cables: 3/ 32 ° stainless steel double swedge. Frame : T6063 T832 anodized aluminum . Sail: Stabilized Myg lo dacron 6" leading edge pockets, 4 ° billow. Pilot We ight Range : 150-240 pounds
CUSTOM FEATURES: S,
leading Edgi
Crossb
New original " Fan Tail " cut sail design provides high aspect ratio , greater stability and eliminates sail flutter. The Delta Sail is available in a wide selection of color comb inations of exclusive Myglo sail material. Fully controlled cylindrical leading edges with exclusive new adjustable camber control "tensioners." Rear sections of leading edges constructed of 1 5/a x .058 tubing to reduce wing warping. Constructed of 1 s/a x .058 anodized aluminum tubing for greater strength.
For further information on the e xciting new " Phoen ix" contact your Delta Wing Dealer or the Marke ting Division -
k.e
New short keel design features fully controlled adjustable camber and reflex by new " cam-action " cable "tensioners" and offset king post.
Cab/
The "Phoenix" may be flown with either the swing seat or prone harness and can be rigged for either position by simply reversing the control cables.
Control B
May be ordered with the Delta "Bu bb le Bar" for swing seat or soaring "A" frame for prone or seated flying.
Accessom
Delta Wing offers a complete line of complimentary accessories including: prone harnesses, custom helmets, flying gloves, windmeters , tool bags, kite sleeves and custom car racks.
DELTA WING KITES & GLIDERS, INC. 13620 Sa ticoy St.,• P.O. Box 483 • Van Nuys, California 91408 (213) 787-6600
"PHOENIX" From Webster 's Unabridged - The Phoenix ... " In Egyptain Mythology, a bird of rare and great beauty, said to live for 500 to 600 years in the Arabian Desert and then consume itself by fire , only to rise from its ashes young and beautiful to live through another life cycle. Otten used as a symbol of im mortality. (2) A person of matchless beauty or excellence; a paragon. (3) A constellation ."
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{Minimum ordor $!).001
"Cc1stomms tl'1tsi,jo lJ.S. ad1l 2.5c pm book for handhnn
lll\NKI\MEl11CI\Rfl # MI\S nJICHI\RGF #
18' to 14 112'
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INVITED
600'
prone
furnislied incl1idinq ,,t,1nclc1rct,, ;incl Hi Pe1rforman1.·c C)uic Ji. d<'livery
in ou1 Mi-'il, drop in for informatum
what
H.M,A.
conditions
nrn1ority of new flyers. Fortr,ose v1ilo leel thoy rLon't nood t11is type of construct ion or migl1t bernr,rncomlortable with lighter airframe, we otter ttrn STANOAF1D Same plan form but rlia. tubing rn1d lighter lwrdwarn bring tl1e total woi9ht of the glider down pounds and shoulrJ little 9uys and thc1sewl10 r1ave a 10119 hike to their tavorite take-off sito rut on competition dnvolopment of a fornrnla kite for international mr,ot:, h11s ,•11n)ac1y its WOF1LD CUP to meet
kites you've and rnading Mike Morrissey of Zophyrwas qi11er, t11e ll'iOiiect of designing a kite that would with tho hybrid, flexible wing gliders ilVAilflllle today- uu, c;1J,1 w,,, major consideration in the THEF1MIX model. noso, truncated wing tips, 19' leading a floater personified l 1'1Rt's tt1A lin,,-11nof what's available from stock. 11 you want .a snm
hardware for anything from a stamlarcl
, $510)
Standard or high 1'Arfnrm stock, new used, stra.ightening, and instruetion. Mark Flight, Ltd., l04 Gettysburg, Buffalo, York l
44
(?16) 836-3939.
WISCONSIN
M!\NU I !\CT lm 11\fC;/S/\
f
inforrm1tion about tl1e Quicksilver, !Ile Mc11111id, including
the
lexiFl1er
Lon1i121,