USHGA Hang Gliding July 1990 by US Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association

• MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION • 1111••·--------,

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FAMILY MEMBER ANNUAL DUES: $19.50foreachFamily Member, who resides in my household. Each will receive all Full Member privileges EXCEPT a subscription to Hang Gliding magazine.

* Foreign payments must be in U.S. FUNDS drawn on a U.S. BANK This accords me full membership in the United States Hang Gliding Assn., Inc., 12 issues of Hang Gliding magazine, effective with the current issue, liability and prope1ty damage insurance, and voting privileges. I need not be a rated pilot to be a member.

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UN~T[E[J) STAT[E§ HANG Gl~[J)~NG ASSNc~ ~NCc P.O. BOX 8300, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80933 (719) 632-8300

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USHGA Books

How complete is your reference Library? HANG GLIDING MAGAZINE - Special Beginners Edition Topics covered: Tandem Instruction, Solo Flight, Keeping your Flight Log Book, Terminology, Choosing the right Instructor ... etc.

PARAGLIDING FLIGHT by Dennis Pagen The most complete book on paragliding. Complete coverage from ground launching to thermal soaring. Over 140 photos and illustrations.

HANG GLIDING FLYING SKILLS by Dennis Pagen Highly recommended for the beginnger to intermediate pilot. Covers takeoff and landing problems, equipment selection, soaring, glider maintenance ... and much more! Our Best Seiter!

HANG GLIDING TECHNIQUES by Dennis Pagen For the novice to the advanced pilot. This book continues where FLYING SKILLS left off.

FLYING CONDITIONS by Dennis Pagen Micrometeorology for pilots. Wind gradient, ridge lift, rotors, turbulence, thermals ... etc.

RIGHT STUFF FOR NEW HANG GLIDING PILOTS by Erik Fair Reprints from HANG GLIDING magazine. Light Humor, overview, launching and landing techniques and personalities of this great sport!

MANBIRDS by Maralys Wills Entertainingly takes you from hang glidings past to its soaring present. • HardCover • 150 photos • 8 pages color

FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS 1990 Edition SHIP TO: NAME _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ USHGA #_ _ __ ADDRESS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ CITY _ _ _ _ _ _ STATE _ _ _ _ _ _ ZIP _ _ _ _ __ USBGA BOOKS, P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933

TOTAL QTY _ _ HANG GLIDING- Special Edition ... , .. , ... $ 4.50 _ _ __ _ _ PARAGLIDING FLIGHT,,,, ... ,, ... ,,,., ... $19.95 _ _ __ _ _ HANG GLIDING FLYING SKILLS. . .. $ 9.95 _ _ __ _ _ HANG GLIDING TECHNIQUES . ,,,$ 7.50 - - - _ _ FLYING CONDITIONS. , ..$ 7.50 - - - _ _ FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS . ,, ,$ 8.95 - - - _ _ RIGHTSTUFFFORNEWH.G. PILOTS .. " $ 7.95 - - - .. $ 9.95 _ __ MANBIRDS ...... , , , ........... , SHIPPl"G TOTAL 001 • H9AD0 SI 2S SOO · 9.99 ADO UOO SHIPPING _ _ __ IO.OO- li99>.DOUOO 1000, l-1"3.l.00$400 Colorado Residents add 6.5% Tax _ _ __ 3S.00- 4999 ADO SSOO SOOO lodortrAOO 16.00 CANADA l WE'.X A.DD SI S.O E..\.TIA TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED _ _ __ ll{Jl,SURFAct ADO M.00 E'XTRA ll<T"l,AI~ A.DO s.&00 £.XTRA

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(USPS O17-970-20)

Features

Columns 12 Accident Reports

hy Doug Hildreth

hy Glen Nicolet

Comments on turbulent launches.

Hang gliding visually. Visibility, vertigo and visual flight rules.

USHGA Reports A review of the Pilot Proficiency Programby Patti Sparks. Foresight, paranoia and Freel-by Jeff Elgart.

First World Open Wakayama

article and photos hy John Heiney

Hang Gliding

Hang gliding Japanese style. Probably the most significant meet in history for the promotion or the sporl worldwide.

57 Product Lines National

hy Dem Johnson

hy Dennis Pagen

Owens Swift, Sierra ultralight sailplane, rumors of a major manufacturer evaluating a rigid wing, USI-IGA at Oshkosh.

An introduction to your Association's annual fun meet for the rest of us.

Gliding

Spectacular hy Nancy McWilliams photos hy Brad Stevens

Departments

Speaking of fun meets. One of the nation's longest-running hang gliding get-togelhers.

Places To Fly Switzerland hy Dennis Pagen Imagine riding a tram up 3-4,000 vertical feet, having lunch on a sun deck, setting up on a grass carpet, then launching and winging clown to land next to your hotel.

JULY 1990

5 Page 42 COVER: Steve Wendt soars a Wills Wing Skyhawk at the 18th Hang Gliding Spectacular, Nags Head, NC. Photo by Brad Stevens. See story page 37. CENTERSPREAD: Russ Douglas over Mission Ridge, CJ\ with a view of the Bay Arca. Photo by Russ Douglas. DISC I.AIMER OF WARRANTIES IN PUBLICATIONS: The material presented here is published as part or 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© 1990 United States Hang Gliding Association, Inc. All rights reserved to Hang Gliding and incliviclual contributors.

8 IO 46 51 51 54

Airmail Update Calendar of Events Classified Advertising Index to Advertisers Stolen Wings Ratings

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Gil Dodgen, Editor/Art Director John Heiney, Doug Rice, Leroy Grannis, Eric Raymond, Photographers Harry Martin, Illustrator Tim Rinker, Design Consultant Office Staff Jerry Bruning, Executive Director Chris Soulard, Advertising Greg Huller, Member Services P.J. More, Office Operations Patti Sparks, Member Services Jeff Elgart, Merchandise Services USHGA Officers and Executive Committee: Russ Locke, President Jim Zeise!, Vice President Gregg Lawless, Secretary Dan Johnson, Treasurer

REGION l: Gene Matthews. REGION 2: Ken Brown, Russ Locke, Connie Bowen. REGION 3: Bill Bennett, Sandy King, Gregg Lawless, REGION 4: Mork Moc ho, Jim Zeiset. REGION 5: Mike King. REGION 6: Ron Kenney. REGION 7: Marty Bunner. REGION 8: Bud Brown, Jr. REGION 9: Pete Lehmann, Jeff Simms. REGION l 0: Matt Taber. REGION 11: Carl Boddie. REGION 12: Paul Voight, Paul Rikert. DIRECTORS AT LARGE: Dan Johnson, Jan Johnson, Joe Greblo, Dennis Pagen, G.W. Meadows. HONORARY DIRECTORS: Liz Sharp, Mike Meier, Tom Kreyche, Jerry Forburger. The United States Hang Gliding Association Inc. is a division of the National Aeronautic Association CNAA) which is the official representative of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FA!), 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 FAl-related hang gliding activities such as record attempts and competition sanctions. HANG GLIDING magazine is published for hang gliding sport enthusiasts to create further interest in the sport, by a means of open communication and to advance hang gliding methods and safety. Contributions are welcome. Anyone Is invited to contribute articles, photos, and illustrations concerning hang gliding 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 publications. HANG GLIDING 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 editorial offices: 6950 Aragon Circle, Suite 6, Buena Park, CA 90620 (714) 9943050. HANG GLIDING (USPS O17-970) is published monthly by the United States Hang Gliding Association, Inc., 102 N. Cascade Ave., Suite 200, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903-1402 (719) 632-8300. FAX (719) 632-6417. Second-class postage is paid at Colorado Springs, CO and at additional mailing offices. The USHGA is a member-controlled educational and scientific organization dedicated to exploring all facets of ultralight flight. Membership is open to anyone interested in this realm of flight. Dues for full membership are $39.00 per year ($42 Canada & Mexico, $47 foreign): subscription rates only are $29.00 ($32 Canada & Mexico, $37 foreign). 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. POSTMASTER: SEND CHANGE OF ADDRESS TO: UNITED STATES HANG GLIDING ASSN., P.O. BOX 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933.

July 1990 Volume 20, Issue No. 7

AIRMAIL TORREY CLARIFICATION Dear Editor, The April, 1990 issue of HG has an article by John Heiney titled "Torrey Pines, etc." which appears on pages 26 through 30. On page 27 he states, "The Torrey Pines Hang Gliding Association remains in charge of monitoring hang gliding at the site." This point needs some clarification. The City of San Diego requires a special permit in order to fly hang gliders at Toney Pines City Park. The Torrey Pines Hang Gliding Association has been issued a pen11it for this activity since l 978; under such permit all its members are includecL One condition of the permit is that the pen11i ttee provide a flight director to oversee and regulate their flight activities at the park. When the volunteer method proved to be inadequate, Flight Realities (a local hang glider shop) applied for and received a permit to operate as a concessionaire at the park under the condition that they provide the flight director to oversee the flight activities. Flight Realities set up a shop on the hill at the park and ran the show for many years. When that shop went out of business the hang gliding club had to once again provide its own flight director until a new concessionaire moved in. This took almost a year. Mr. Bill Bennett is the new concessionaire. The only reason the park has a concessionaire at all is to provide a full-time Flight Director. Donald B. Betts ex-Volunteer TPHGA Flight Director Pine Valley, CA

HILL FATALITY Dear Editor, This is in response to Mr. Phillips' letter in the May magazine objecting to including Mr. John Hill in our list of fatalities. Although I agree with Mr. Phillips that the actions leading to John's death were foolish, I would like to point out a few lessons we can glean from them. 1. John had a bad case of inte1mecliate syndrome. We need to be on the lookout for signs of this in ourselves and other pilots. 2. Novices in this sport will do as you do NOT as you say. Yes, John had been warned against attempting a loop, especially at low altitudes. But we had sat together at a demo three weeks before his death and watched our

experienced pilots doing loops well below 500 feet as they set up final approach. It looked easy, John apparently thought so too. As for not including John in our list of honored dead because it taints their memory, I'm sure if you think about it you will see that the majority of hang gliding related deaths are clue to some combination of pilot error, poor judgment and lack of experience. John suffered from all three. John Hill was not just a statistic, Mr. Phillips, to be included or excluded from a list of fatalities. The only purpose your letter served was to make it even harder for John's family and friends to adjust to his death and the circumstances surrounding it. A little more concern for our feelings would have been appreciated. John, fly with the eagles. Donna Hanson Crestline, CA

PARAGLIDING IS HERE Dear Editor, What are the numbers in Europe? I don't know exactly but I do know that the number of paraglicler pilots has surpassed the number of hang glider pilots. I would guess that will happen here in the U.S as well. Soon we'll all be reading the "Airmail" column in Paragliding magazine with much interest as the paragliding community debates whether they should allow pictures of hang gliders, or if they should allow hang glider pilots at their sites. Think about it. They're here, As Nick Di Giovanni said in the May issue of Hang Gliding, "Ours is not the only way to fly." Dan Lidgard Mercer Island, WA

Dear Editor, I am concerned about the negative altitude of some people towards paragliding. I live in central Kansas. It is basically a flat plain with very few hills. The only close place that I've been able to soar is at Lucas Park in Lake Wilson, which is an hour's drive from where I live. About 3-1/2 years ago I learned to hang glide at what is now the Colorado Hang Gliding Center. I got my first rating and am now a rated pilot and member of the USHGA.

AIRMAIL There are several good places to soar nearby, but they are inaccessible from any nearby roads, and I am not about to carry my hang glider for a mile. Therefore, I am going to take up paragliding, and surprise, I am not the only hang glider pilot interested in paragliding. In the April issue of Hang Gliding John Heiney said, "We have all been in the situation where the conditions were not soarable, or the terrain at launch or landing precluclecl the use of a hang glider, but a paraglicler might have proviclecl some airtime and saved the clay. Why should we not allow ourselves that option? I will be keeping one in my car." I am very pleased to see paragliclers in the magazine, and hope to see much more, with articles on safety and common sense, articles on flight experiences, pilot reports on specific paragliclers, and reports of advances in design. With the thrilling new advent of paragliding, I would not be satisfied with the magazine staying so monotone as to not include paragliding. It is a sport that members are interested in, and could benefit us all as hang glider pilots as well as paraglicler pilots. I know that eventually will be doing both in a safe and fun way. Robert LeRoy Great Bend, KS

SELF-TAUGHT TOWING Dear Editor, As a veteran pilot from the early clays of hang gliding (mid ?O's), I would like to bring attention to a trend in safety which I believe is about to create a serious threat to our future growth. Over the years we have made teITific progress in our training methods and instructor certification processes. Nowadays it would be unthinkable that an incliviclual could call a hang glider manufacturer and order a glider through the mail complete with "how to fly" instructions. However, it used to happen. I personally know someone who clicl just that in 1976, and then attempted to teach himself and his friends how to fly. I believe part of the demise of the ultralight movement was the fact that a nonairworthy individual could buy an airworthy ultralight, then by trial and enor attempt to teach himself as well as others how to fly. My fear is that I see this trend developing in one new area of our sport~platform launch towing. In 1986, Airtime of Lubbock (ATOL) went public with its truck towing method for launch-

ing a hang glider. Since that time, many alternative systems have been creeping onto the scene, and everywhere I go people are becoming more and more interested in platform launching. That's the good news. The bad news is that when someone acquires a new tow system, lots of people want to get in on the act, and the new tow system owner suddenly finds himself in an instructor's role, whether he has the ability to properly train others or not. Believe me, it happens, and the results are not always pleasant. So what do we do? Beats me, but it seems to me that all people acquiring tow systems should be properly taught how to instruct pilots of all levels to safely platform launch. Unfortunately, this does not appear to be happening consistently with all tow system dealers/manufacturers. Airtime of Lubbock has an overall excellent safety record, and Jerry Forburger has clone an outstanding job of turning new tow system owners into inclivicluals capable of teaching other pilots how to safely platform launch. In fact, ATOL is constantly being contacted by individuals who have recently purchased nonATOL towing equipment for instruction on how to safely use their new equipment and teach others how to platfonn tow. This is happening because these individuals are not getting adequate instruction from their tow system dealer/manufacturer. USHGA, I think it's time to get involved and help stop this unhealthy trend. If a person is purchasing unproven tow equipment from someone who is unable to effectively train them to teach others to safely use the system, then they're not getting a good deal no matter what the price. Let's keep towing safe. Mike Haley Salt Lake City, UT

The following letter was sent to the air sports divisions of the NAA by NAA President Mal Gross.~Ed. I know from my discussions with many of you that availability of flying sites is becoming an increasingly important concern. I am enclosing a copy of a letter we recently wrote on behalf of USHGA, which is self-explanatory. According to Russ Locke, President ofUSHGA, this letter was quite helpful and the site [Eel Levin] has been saved.

I am prepared to write similar letters on behalf of any of our Divisions under the following circumstances: 1. The request come from the President or Executive Director of the Division. This is to be sure that we do not get inundated in requests. 2. A draft be submitted to us of the type letter you would like us to write, polished so that we will not have to spend a great deal of time editing it. We can add the NAA boiler plate. 3. A brief memorandum accompany the request that defines the issues with respect to this particular site so we won't get caught off guard. I hope we can be of help in this important issue. Malvern J. Gross, Jr. President, NAA

"BASE" CORRECTION Dear Editor, There was one small mistake in my letter about BASE jumping as printed in your magazine. The "S" in the acronym stands for Span (like a bridge) not Space. I've made jumps from airplanes, balloons, ultralights, sailplanes and all types of fixed objects but alas, I've never jumped in "Space!" Nick Di Giovanni Oceanside, CA

ACCIDENT STATISTICS Dear Editor, It seems that there is much concern over how safe hang gliding appears to be statistically. Attempts to determine fatality rates vary widely due to estimates of how many pilots are flying. Why not simplify the issue by calculating fatality and injury rates among USHGA members only, as a subset of all accident rates? We know who we are and how often we fly. I, for one, would like to know the accident rate for me, my friends and my partners in flying, all of whom are USHGA members. Grant Hoag San Gabriel, CA

HANG GLIDING

photography by Adam Hunt

22021 Covello St., Canoga Park California 91303, Tel: (818) 887-3361 FAX: (818) 702-0612

A po1cntial cxis1s on all I IP AT's for the pilo110 cut his hand or arm on the sharp of the VG activation cable slot in the trailing of 1hc right side down tube on I JP AT I 58's and 145's. Because of 1hc thin wall of the down,, lube material in lhis area, the slot has a sharp evc:n when carefully dchurrcd. A protcclive rubber sleeve cover for the slot is available for from you dealer or direct from Wills no and should he installed immediately 10 protcc1 against possible pilot injury. It is f'mthcr rccomrncmled !hat pilots wear leather to further protect against the possibility ol' injury from contact with 1he slot. Pilots should their local dealer to obtain the pro· 1208

MOYES/GRAND CANYON ANNIVERSARY

not the person to he hlu lTcd into performing. The group con1inued their preparations to leave, and flew out iu fr0111 of 1he rangers. At midnight several later, they all returned and took up their vantage points waiting for suit,, able eomlitions. Bill launched from 7,2()(),,f'oot Yaki Ridge, and waved to the rangers as he floated civer,, head. The canyon is f'ormccl from reel limestone, and the sun docs11 '1 have to be up for long for it to become very active. During his recorcJ .. brcak .. flighl, Bill was wary oJ'"violcnt vertical air currc11ts" as thcrmaling was unheard of in hang gliding al the lime. The Grand park rangers in 1970 were not especially noted l'or 1heir keen sense or lrnmor. wilh ''performing a spec Bill was tnlar acl without a permit," f'ined $.'iOO and Bill's friend Edwin lloopcr for three was also charged with in cornmcr· cial photography without a permit" and 1he majority of' their film was confiscated. I .uckily some t'ilm was wrapped in foil and mistaken J'or food by the rangers. 11 remains their only record of this extraordinary flight, 20 years ago this month. Tlw publicity SIIITOU!l(ling this flight cap,, tured the of'many Americans, and within rive years some 30,000 people had he,, involved in hang gliding across the U.S. l lappy Bill.

Man wasn't meant to fly, but he did it anyway. These docsn' t sel:m like very much al all. A distance of' '1.7 111ilcs would rate a mention in a hook. Add to !hat a 10-hour uphill walk-out, $.'iOO fine and three in jail and you have a that not even tlw keenes1 (or maddest) pilol would attempt. years ago this led to two world records -the and the: grcalcst descent. The and 1he pilot was he:cn refused by the park rangers on that, "This is a 1101 a bloody circus," Bill and his cww made plans to leave. I lowcvcr, the ranger continued, "Besides, I don't think you can do it the major ol' barnstorming show-ground exhibition flying, Bill was

infinitely,,variable spool rpm for rewind. The winch is almost cnlirely stainless steel and aluminum, making it very suitable for marine· type applications. They also offer a chute for consistent rewinds withou11hc lim: ever \ouch,, ing the ground. The system comes complete with 3,000 ft. of 1/8" kcvlar line:, nose boom with nose release, and launch platform. Con .. tact: Sky hook Inc., 2105 N. Tropical Trail, Merritt Island, FL 3295] (407) !J.'12-8143.

MANUFACTllRERS I ,EAGlJE MEET TO Im HELD IN TELUJIUDE COLORADO Sept. I 1990, one week before the world l'amous "folluride I fang Gliding Festival, the League Meet makes a long .. awaitcd return to beautiful Telluride. I ,ocated in a box canyon high in the Rocky Mountains or Colorado, Telluri(k has undoubtedly some of the nation's best conditions for cross-country with uncrowded airspace, huge scH1p areas and many launches. Accommodations arc availablc for every pocke1 book, with camping and showers in the landing zone. Telluride has many fine restauhiking, shopping, rants, fishing, dancing, and movies. Whether you arc a seasoned X C veteran or a rel alive newcomer to competition, please try to attend. This will be n grcal event al a great site with 1'1111 planned !'or Cont;1c1: Nick Kennedy, Tellmidc Air h1rce, P.O. Box t1.'i6, Telluride, CO 81435 (303) 728,,3()05. For accommodations contact: Ccnlral Reservations, Telluride, ('.l03) 7284431.

NEW TOWING

with an elcctric .. s\art gasoline a hydrnulic pump. The l'luid is with a cm11rol valve enabling

& JNJ<'ORMATION HOTLINE Airtime ol' I .ubbock announces the re,, lease of a new combination of towing equip· menl based on their popular 3150 tandem tow ing unit. The "TB 3150" features an aluminum 3,000 ft. 1/4" poly), stainless drum du,il<1ctio11 brake, rugged steel shafts, a stGel mainJ'ramc, and their F 14 control uni!. The TB I 50 intrnductory price is This unit is built with the same mainframe as lhc Tandem I.'iO so that each option age can he added as necessary. Option ages include the lcveJ,,wind mechanism f'or automatic of' the rope during rewind, quick disconnects 011 the hydraulics, rod boot protection, LoncStar J;rnnch platform, power isolation, and aclj11sta1Jlc maximum tension J'or l l/\NC: GL!DJNC:

parnglidcr towing. ATOL 1cachcs new operators how to 11sc 1hcir cquipmen1 in an /\TOI. Towing Safety Scmiuar and backs each uni1 with fuJJ.1ime factory support services. Airtime or l .ubbock is also providing a free towing i11forma1ion ho1line. Many homeb11ildcrs and 01hers have of1cn requested hints regarding safe and cffcc1ivc; lowing tech 11iq11es, so ATOL is sharing its expcrirnce from having 1augh1 nearly l 00 operators and l ,000 pilots lo lmck launch. Contact: Airtime of r.ubbock, 8206 Ave. D, I .ubhock, TX 79404 ( 806) 7'15-9633.

NAA PRESIDENT VISITS

Mal Gross (right) President of the NJ\/\ (Na!ional Aeronautics Association), lakes time out from a board meeting in Denver lo discuss NJ\!\ silc retention and oilier NA/\ support roles with Executive Director Jerry Bruning (left) and Special Projecls J\dministnllor P..1. More. Mal visitc~d USHG/\ I lcaclquarlcrs in Colornclo CO in the bcgi11ning of May.

AMATEUR ATHI ,ETH'. SAVINGS CARD UST !GA Headquarters is pleased 10 announce the immcdia1e availability of 1hc U.S. J\malcur A1hlelic Savings Carel. The !J.S. i\malcur Card provides discou111cd for !ravel and lodging to scheduled l ISi lG/\ events and brand name merchandise savings to USJTG/\ members. UST!(]/\ receives an en rollmenl fee and airline tickcl credits based upo11 membership use. Take 40'Yr. off regular coach rnlcs; 25% off daily room rates, Drive Alamo rcn1al cars for$ I(J,<)7 per day with unlimited mileage: and purchase I\ VI/\, Reebok, Bassetl Walker, etc, sportswt:ar- .. J 50 lop-of-the-line items at 40%Ai0% disco11nts. Take advanlage of /\I .I these membership benefits for one LOW fee of $74,9S ! This fee covers your immeclialc; family only -par·

rnts, legal g11ardians, brothers, sisters, spouse, or childrrn of a member in 1hc same household. ACT NOW AND SA VE when par1icipalin I his sched11led hang gliding evcnls, Call UST lCi/\ I leadquarters al (719) 632-8300 for more details, or complete and forward the U.S, Amateur Card application form to the address shown,

MONT BLANC cm cu MN A VIGATION Roland Dclez recently became the first hang glider pilot to fly an uninterrupted circum11avigat ion oft he Mo111 Blanc Massif. The over 120-km (75-milc) long flight started at Vcrhicr and ended at Courmayeur, Chamonix Valley, over Forclaz Pass and back lo Vcrbier. He did not, however, receive lhe prize orfered ror this accomplislnncnt: a cow valued al several thousand Swiss Francs ($2,000). lJnfortmwlcly Dclc,: missed the last of five previously cJc. clared turnpoints before landing at Vcrbicr

REGION lO DIRECTOR NEEDED Since G,W. Meadows moved to Califor. nia, Region IO has an opening for a Regional Directorship, lntercstcd members arc cncour aged 10 submit their nominations for a candi· date for the election this fall.

TOWING TAKES OFF IN NORTH CAROLINA I\ hang gliding instructor with Kitty I lawk l lead, NC reached new heights Kites in in lowing on the Outer Banks recently when he got to 4,200 reel. /\dam 23, a Maryland native and KHK instructor for four years, was towed lo 900 fec:t by the KHK four-wheel-drive and /\TOl. system. This was the higliest altitude gai11 to date, Conditions were just right, Eisen· said, wilh cloud base 2,000 reel higher and all the way lo i1. The only problem was that it was below frcc,:ing at that altitude, w,1s "/\nyhocly who and had launched when I did could have done ii," Eisenberg said . KIIK Steve Wendt commented that intcn:st i11 towing is growing on the Outer Banks or Nor1h Carolina, where pilots now have the chance to reach high altitudes in !he flallands, "It the only way we could put a motmtain on !he Ou1cr Banks," Wernli com·

mcntcd, This was Eisenbcrg's 10th tow at the Currituck County Airstrip where KHI< operates ils towing system Kilty llawk Kites be· gan tandem tow training at the 4,000-foot, World War II airstrip in March, "It's lhc tip of the iceberg," Eisenberg said, "We're going 10 have nighls up 107,000 feet and cross-country flights breaking 50 miles. There is a lot or potential ror good f'lying. The terrain is f'lal and I here arc plenty or fields to land in."

NATIONALS VOUJNTEERS The 1990 Nationals organi;:crs arc still accepting applications for volunteer positions at this competition at Dinosaur, CO, July Many pilols have responded lo the February Nationals article with offers to help out in return for frc:c-rlying privileges and other contest amenities. Pilots who refuse to help out will be allowed to f'ly al the Nationals site on competi·· lion days at the discretion of the safely/launch director. For land use pcnnil and insurance reasons, non--voluntccr pilots must meet lhc same rating/special skill and other requircmenls as compel it ion pilots and volunlecr pilots. Non· at mcc:t head volunteer pilots musl quarters prior to flying ancl will be charged $90. Applications to vol11ntccr, qucslions or commcnls may be sent lo: Rock Moun1ain nlidcr Company/GcnTcch Corp., Box 28 l, Conifer, CO 80433.

TOW LINE RECOVERY SYSTEM

J\ major source of problems when towing comes from dropping 3,000 feet of rope across the lanclscapc, The rope may fall into undesirable areas, and even clear areas cause wear on the rope, motor and weak link, The "Tow r.inc Recovery Drogue Kiting ( DKS ) by Happy Boltom Research the rope hi the air while it is reeled

UPDATE in. The DKS is stowed in its deployment bag while on tow. On release, the DKS drops away and inflates, slowing the fall of the rope. It then orients itself to the wind, if any, and begins to try to lift the rope as a kite. Some wind helps, but is not necessary. The tow crew can reel in the rope by pulling the kite down out of the sky. The DKS allows the use of smaller diameter rope by protecting it from abrasion, an important consideration when considering the price of the new ropes made of kevlar and such. Smaller reel designs become more practical. Dirt and mud are not picked up and slung into the tow truck. A flotation model is available for water tow applications. The manufacturer claims that even on a sled run the truck can beat the glider back to the end of a 1.5-mile road. Contact: Happy Bottom Research Inc., 1229 Dug Hill Rel., Brownsboro, AL 35741 (205) 536-8224 after 5PMCST.

Available for the Sport, HP AT and Kiss. Price $20-$40 plus $2 shipping, two-week delivery. Contact: Jodi Rosengren, 140 Pennsylvania Ave., San Diego, CA 92103 (619) 2982522.

MONTEREY, CA AIR RACE RESULTS When all the final times were posted the best times in three classes, over a 12-mile course, were: Pilot

Time Glider Pro Class Ken Brown 19:23 Kiss Full Race Mark Bennett 19:25 Kiss Full Race Kiss 144 Proto Jeff Williamson 19:58 HP AT 145 Dan Skaclal 20:14

Dave Smith Bryant Butler Stan Roberts

Amateur Class 21 :29 Magic Full Race 23:19 HP AT 158 24:07 Kiss

Ray Leonard Sue Christie

Vision Class 28:04 Vision MK IV 1: 16:09 Vision MK IV

CHAPTER RENEWALS The following Chapters have renewed their 1990 status. Tuscon, AZ # 1 So. Arizona HG Assn. # 17 Wind Riders HG Assn. West Chester, PA # 28 Hudson Valley HG Assn. Ballston Lake, NY # 46 Toney Pines HG Assn. Solana Beach, CA Ellenville, NY #47 So. New York HGPA Draper, UT # 58 Utah HG Assn. Reading, PA # 99 Blud Ridge HG Club Hunt Valley, MD # 108 Maryland HG Assn. Claremont, NH # 109 Vermont HG Assn. C. Springs, CO # 139 Pikes Peak HG Club Elk Grove, IL # 148 Reel Pilots HG Assn. # 149 Susquehanna Soaring Canastota, NY # 169 Klamath Falls HG Assn. Klamath Falls, OR

SAIL CHAFE PROTECTION Every glider has its chafe points and one of the most common areas is behind the leading edge 4-6 ft. from the nose. The sail wear in this area is usually caused by the tops of the downtubes and fittings at the keel. Jodi Rosengren, a San Diego, CA sailmaker/hang glider pilot has designed Chafe Protectors to help prevent the very holes she loves to fix. The protectors are made of sailmaker's chafe leather and velcro. They provide a one-time installation with easy inspection.

LAST CALL FOR 1991 USHGA HANG GLIDING CALENDAR PHOTOS We're going to press earlier this year and hope to have the 1991 calendar on the shelves in August. If you have a photo you think is a good candidate send it to: Hang Gliding magazine, 6950 Aragon Circle, Suite #6, Buena Park, CA 90620. Slides are preferable but good quality color prints will be considered. Deadline for receipt is Aug. 1, 1990.

July 14-15: Mt. clinic. Sept. 15-16: Mt. clinic. Oct. 6-7: Truck towing seminar. Oct. 13-19: Hang gliding camp. Oct. 20-21: Mt. clinic. Nov. 7-8: KHK/Shenandoah Valley instructor fly-in. Contact: Kitty Hawk Kites, P.O. Box 340, Nags Head, NC 27959 (919) 441-4124. July 6-20: Kisil Championships of Russia. August: USSR Cup in Yalta. Foreign pilots invited. Contact: Vadim Kakurin, General Director, or Alexander Gaidarly, Manager of Protocol, INTERAERO, ul. Panfilova, 20, 125080 Moscow, USSR, tel. 158-4895, FAX 9430059. July 14-22: Round 3, Montreux, Switzerland. Contact: Superleague, 2 Cyprus St., Bethnal Green, London E2 ONN ENGLAND tel. (01) 9815941. July 1-7: Owens Valley tour II. July 20-22: Reno flying tour. July 28-29: Demo days. Aug. 11: Chute clinic. Aug. 12: Glider maintenance clinic. Aug. 18-19: Demo days. Aug. 24-26: Reno flying tour. Sept.1: Novice ground school. Sept. 2: XC clinic. Sept. 9-15: Owens Valley tour. Sept. 22-23: Demo clays. Oct. 13-14: Big Sur demo days. Oct. 19-21: Reno flying tour. Oct. 27: Glider maintenance clinic. Oct. 28: Chute clinic. Nov.10-11: Big Sur demo days. Dec. 29Jan.1: So. Cal. tour I. Jan. 6-12: So. Cal. tour II. Contact: Western Hang Gliders, P.O. Box 828, Marina, CA 93933 (408) 384-2622. July 4-7: 7th Annual Bachelor Mt. Fly-In and Pig Roast, Grant Montana. Friendly competition, mountain flying, towing. Silver belt buckle for longest flight. Contact: Monte Elliott (406) 6813144, or Dan Gravage (406) 222-7240.

Calendar of Events

July 4-8. Rogue Valley (Oregon) HGA Umpteenth Annual Lakeview Fly-In. Fun family fly-inX-C, 22+ mile Abert Rim ridge flying, late afternoon glass-off to 10,000'. Contact: Greg Christensen, P.O. Box 17, Lakeview, OR 97630 (503) 947-4439, or Doug Hildreth, 1025 E. Main St., Medford, OR 97504 (503) 779-5240.

Calendar of events items WILL NOT be listed if only tentative. Items with exact infonnation (event, date, contact name and phone number) will be published if received six weeks prior to the event. We request two months lead time for regional and national meets.

July 5-8: Hobbs, New Mexico (home of the Soaring Society) Hang Gliding Festival. Novice (duration, spot landings & bomb drop) and X-C competition. Tow launch. Contact: Hobbs Chamber of Commerce, 400 N. Marland, Hobbs, NM 88240 (505) 397-3202.

Until Oct. 31: 1990 So. Cal. X-C Competition. Open distance, best 2 flights of season wins. Entry fees: Class A $75, Class B $50. Prizes to top places. Contact: Windsports Soaring Center (818) 988-0111 or The Hang Gliding Center (619) 450-9008 for details.

July 7-8: Haney's Point Summer Fly-Out. Camping, fun and prize for longest flight. Atkins, AR. Contact: Sail Wings (501) 224-2186. July 7-13: Chelan Classic. July 5-6 practice days. Contact: Richard Girard (206) 788-4029.

HANG GLIDING

UPDATE July 12-15: Chicago Air & Water Show. Contact: Tom Wiencck, 8757 Sunshine Ct., Orland Park, IL 60462.

tandem instructor clinic. Contac1: The Hang Gliding Center (619) 450-9008.

July 13-16: Uvalde, TX Regionals, sanctioned, $30 entry. Tow, X-C. Contact: PSA, 9203 Dartbrook #3, San Antonio, TX 78240 (512) 5586594.

Sept. 1-7: Manufacturers League Meet, Telluride, CO. Contact: Nick Kennedy, Telluride Air Force, P.O. Box 456, Telluride, CO 81435 (303) 7283905. For accommodations contact: Central Reservations, Telluride (303) 728-4431.

July 16-21: West Coast Championships, Pine Mt., Bene], OR. Best 5 of 6 days. Entry $55 before June 1, S65 June !-July 1, $75 after July I. Contact: Mike King (208) 376-7914.

Sept. 10- 15: Telluride Hang Gliding Festival and World Aerobatic Championships. Send $70 preregistration to: Telluride Air Force, P.O. Box 456, Telluride, CO 81435. Contact: Hugh Saw-

July 21-22: Buffalo Bill Days Fly-In, civic festival/ parade. Contact: Ludwig or Terry, Golden Wings, Golden, CO (303) 278-718l.

Aug. 7-11: USHGA National Fly-In, Colorado Wind Park, Hartse!, Colorado. Contact: Chris Etherton and Jim Elwell, P.O. Box 94, Hansel, CO 80449 (719) 836-2240 (weekends only), or (303) 762-6505. Aug. 11-12: Can-Am Meet, Black Mt., WA. Contact: Lionel Space (206) 599-2360. Aug. 11-12: Laguna Fly-In, Horse Heaven campground. Contact: Sandy King (619) 265-8398. Aug. 12-18: 1990 Women's Team X-C Championships, Mt Harrison, near Burley, ID. Contact: Mike King (2081 376-7914. Aug. 17-26: Owens Valley Assault. AUG: 15th Annual Gateway Fly-In. Contact: The Hang Gliding Center (619) 450-9008. Sept. 1-7: Manufacturers' League Meet, Telluride, CO, Gold Hill launch. Scored using World Meet System with straight-line, out & return, or triangle goal tasks of 50-100 miles. 3-man teams or individuals. Entry $150/pilot, $425/team before Aug. I, $175/pilot, $500/team after. Contact: Nick Kennedy, c/o TAF, Box 456, Telluride. CO 81435 (303) 728-3905. Sept. 1-2: 15th Annual Gateway Fly-In at Cantamar, Baja, Mexico. Fun fly-in, spot landing, street dance, awards dinner. Oct. 20-21: Basic and Advanced ICP. Oct. 27: Halloween costume party. Oct. 27-28: Tandem I & II, and

JULY 1990

Sept. 21-23: Reno Air Races Fly-In, Slide Mt./Recl Rocks, Reno, NV. Contact: Mike King (208) 376-7914. Oct. 20-Nov. 3: New Zealand Hang Gliding Safari. North & south island. Max 6 pilots. Contact: Santa Barbara HG Center, 29 State St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (805) 962-8999 FAX (805) 964-3337.

THE ACCURATE MEASUREMENT

July 27-29: Hearne, TX Fun Fly. Tow, X-C. Contact: Reel River Aircraft, 4811 Reel River, Austin. TX 78751 (512) 467-2529. July 28-August 5: 1990 U.S. Nationals, Dinosaur, Colorado. Entry fee $27 5 postmarked before July 1, $325 after. Contact: Christine Reynolds I GenTech Corp., Box 281, Conifer, CO 80433.

yer (303) 728-4772. For lodging contact: Central Reservations (800) 525-3455 (outside Colorado) or (303) 728-4431.

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ACCIDENT REPORTS compiled by Doug Hildreth Pilot: Location:

Injuries:

Brad Anderson Oregon ? head

Event: Accidental release from tow at 40-50 feet AGL in an extremely nose-high attitude and whipstalled into the ground. Brad hit the ground at a relatively low speed but hit head first. Ambulance response was within eight minutes. He had a lot of flying experience and had done some truck-towing previously. David O'Neal Pilot: 34 Age: Date: 3/25/90 Reno, Nevada Location: Event: Hang gliding with several friends. The pilot took off from the rocks as his friends watched. Moments later he was caught by a strong gust of wind and crashed into the rocks. Pilot: Age: Rating: Experience: Glider: Date: Location:

Injuries:

Bob Bautz 58 Advanced 15 years Wills Wing Raven 229 5/6/90 Henson's Gap, TN Head/neck/chest

Event: Conservative, safe, 58-year-old, 140-pouncl pilot had been flying 229 Raven for 5 years. Launch conditions were mild, marginally soarable and smooth. Pilot launched and turned left to parallel the cliff. Overpowering lift suddenly raised right wing and turned glider into the cliff despite attempts at correction. Glider/ pilot hit the cliff head-on at a high rate of speed. Glider hung there for 20 seconds and then fell 100 feet to the base of the cliff. Five minutes after the accident, a 35-mph squall front came through and pilots in the air experienced severe turbulence. Comment The reporter pointed out that low wing loading was a contributing factor, although the pilot had flown the glider well for five years. The gust/lift hit the outside wing just as the glider was going into a turn close to the hill. Although the lift was felt by observers to be overpowering, heavier wing loading, more distance from the hill, more speed and an anticipation that conditions might be changing all could have helped prevent this tragedy. This same scenario has occurred before: A pilot launches, flies slowly and turns right after launch to stay close to the hill (in the lift band) on those marginally soarable clays. We have seen many accident reports following this pattern. The point is that any time you are close

to the hill a gust or thermal or whatever can lift that outside wing and turn you into the hill. Obviously if conditions arc smooth it is not quite as dangerous as if it is turbulent; you can only know that from having made several passes. Always be alert, ready for that wing to lift. Be primed to instantly pull in (you must pull in first) and aggressively roll away from the hill. Obviously it helps to carry a little extra speed, and in general, the closer to the hill you get the faster you should fly. Occasionally the weather really does change without warning, as is reported here. It is an inherent risk that we can't do much about. But far more often we are aware of changing weather and fly anyway. Before flying think consciously about conditions. Cue into those strong gusts coming through launch, the squall slowly moving our way, the wind lines on the water, the cloud patterns, warnings from other pilots in the air. The issue here is not so much should you launch--even though it is a very good point to consider-but if you do choose to fly, that you are really ready for a turbulent launch, a really rowdy ride, lift you cannot escape, winds you cannot penetrate, very turbulent approach and landing conditions (most likely in a strange LZ). Think ahead and be sure that your skills, your psyche, your glider, and your site allow you enough alternatives and margin of error such that you can survive the flight. Nobody has ever died breaking down his glider.•

HANG GLIDING

USBGA SUMMER APPAREL COST

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USHGA "MTN. GLIDER" T-SHIRT 100% cotton. Multi-color hang gliding design on the back, glider trails across the front right chest. SPECIFY SIZE: DS DM DL D XL

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USHGA NEON LOGO SHIRT 100% cotton. Our original logo-color revised for the '90's, in a Black T-Shirt or a White Tank Top. SPECIFY TYPE: D BLACK T-SHIRT D WHITE TANK TOP SPECIFY SIZE: DS DM DL D XL

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USHGA CORDUROY CAP Heavy-weight corduroy with braid. Embroidered with 4-color "soaring" hang glider and trails. SPECIFY COLOR CHOICE: D WHITE D BLUE

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USHGA "MTN. GLIDER" CAPS Embroidered onto a traditional cotton twill cap - colors WHITE or NAVY or new neon supplex in WILD PINK or RADICAL YELLOW SPECIFY COLOR: D WHITE D NAVY D PINK D YELLOW

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USHGA NEON SHORTS 100% nylon supplex (LIMITED QUANTITY!). screened with the· Mtn. Glider Design. These shorts are lined, have side pockets and an elastic drawstring. SPECIFY COLOR: D PINK D YELLOW D GREEN SPECIFY SIZE: DS DM DL D XL

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SUBTOTAL$ COLORADO RESIDENTS ADD 6.5% TAX$ SHIPPING$ (see chart) CHARGE CARD$ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ ($2.00 if app.) TOTAL ENCLOSED$ ========

USHGA REPORTS

Pilot Proficiency Program Examiners and Observers by Patti Sparks Wthin our self-regulated sport there is a chosen covey of birds of a special nature. To you, the pilot, this unique breed may be your best friend, a flying buddy or someone who has acquired your respect simply for the position he holds-a position of responsibility that has no monetary benefit, is based on an in-depth knowledge of flying and, although not often thought of by the rest of us, carries the burden of neutrality. This appointed group has two categories: EXAMINER and OBSERVER. In our flying community there are numerous pilots who share their knowledge and experience of flying with the newer pilots to assist them in achieving greater skill levels. The chain of self-regulation begins with the Regional Director who selects responsible pilots within his region to assist in administering the Pilot Proficiency Program (PPP) and to serve as a contact person for every pilot within his area. This contact person is respectfully known as an Examiner, the duties of which include the responsibility of appointing and monitoring the performance of Observers, and to serve as a review person when questions regarding the PPP arise in their area. They are recognized by the red and yellow half-moon patch presented to them upon acceptance of appointment. The description of the Examiner and his related responsibilities are found in SOP 12-5.05, .06 and .07. The Examiner has varied responsibilities. He/she may only appoint Observers within the region in which they reside. Observers are appointed by Examiners to serve for a period of one year. Observer appointments are reviewed periodically for renewal by the Examiner who made the original appointment, unless the Examiner is no longer active, in which case the name of the Observer will be sent to another Examiner for re-appointment. Examiners may appoint themselves as Observers but must inform the office, using the appropriate appointment and acceptance form. They may appoint foreign Observers to rate

levels Beginner through Advanced, within a specified time limit. Examiners who move from the region in which they were appointed must be re-appointed by the current Director in the new region before any new appointments are made. He/she may recommend a candidate to attend an ICP, after establishing that the candidate has had experience and instruction in hang gliding instruction. They may recommend candidates for the Master rating to the Regional Director. Examiners are responsible for the investigation of complaints of any Observer he has appointed. These findings will determine if the Observer appointment should be cancelled or continued. If the Examiner fails to take action the matter may be referred to the Regional Director. Observers guilty of "giveaway" ratings or inactivity should be removed from the rolls by the Examiner. Any accidents involving any appointee should be investigated and reported. Examiners may revoke the appointment they made if the appointment is a detriment to the sport or the Pilot Proficiency Program. They may revoke a rating of any pilot when they determine an Observer has issued a giveaway rating. The pilot has the right of appeal to the Regional Director. Examiner's appointments are for two-year tem1s. As with all appointments in the PPP, Examiners must be full USHGA members. Observers are selected and appointed annually, usually in January or February, by his/her local Examiner. The Obse1ver is not to be confused with the Instructor. The Observer's duties are found in SOP 12-5.09, .10 and .11. Their primary responsibilities are to observe pilots' flying skills for issuing Intermediate and Advanced ratings, Special Skills, administration of oral (optional) and written (mandatory) tests, and to write letters of recommendation for Master rating applicants to indicate that he/she has known of the applicant's good judgement, safe practices, etc., for a period of three years or less if indicated. If there is a change of resi-

dence, the Observer can rate pilots anywhere in the U.S., but must be renewed by the Examiner in the new region in the following year. An identification card, a red & yellow half-moon patch and materials will be sent to all Observers by the USHGA office upon receipt of notification of appointment or re-appointment and their acceptance of appointment form signed by the Examiner who appointed them. Observers comply with a specific format in the administration of ratings. Pilots must be full members of USHGA or be in the process of obtaining membership, and must have a previous rating one level below the rating being obse1ved. The pilot's flying skills, as required in Part I 04, must be actually observed. The appropriate oral (optional) and written (required) tests can be administered at any time during the rating process. The written test is corrected and the pilot is infonned of his score. The Observer completes the temporary rating application by circling the proper rating level. The pilot (student) receives the top and center portion which indicates the fees that must be sent to USHGA. The Observer retains the bottom portion for his records. The Observer's signature designates that the pilot has passed the flying and written test. The pilot's portion of the temporary rating application is only valid for 30 clays, so the pilot should be informed that it is his responsibility to send in the application and his cmTent membership card for validation. Foreign pilots may be rated for any level deemed appropriate. Australian, Canadian, French, German, and Norwegian equivalent ratings are accepted for conversion to the USHGA system. Observers are encouraged to use, and suggest that pilots use, log books. Ratings, as issued by the Observer, may be revoked due to flying which endangers the pilot, other pilots or the sport. The pilot has the right to appeal to the Regional Director. The length of time of revocation is at the discretion of the Director. Unresolved problems may be appealed to the Board of Directors. Observers may not rate themselves for any rating level; they must be rated by another Observer. There is also a special category structured to accommodate special circumstances-the SPECIAL OBSERVER. Directors may appoint Special Observers for the purpose of establishing the rating program in remote areas where there may be few

HANG GLIDING

USHGA REPORTS or inaccessible instructors. These Special Observers can be granted the ability to rate Beginner and Novice pilots in addition to Intennediate and Advanced pilots. Special Observers must follow PPP rating standards as set forth in Part 104. Time requirements may be waived on an individual basis by the Director in cases where the pilots have hang gliding experience as unrated pilots. To appoint a Special Observer, Directors must send a letter to the USHGA office stating the appointee's name, address and time limit of the appointment. Special

Observers must be full members of USHGA. There you have it. For those of you currently appointed to these positions, I hope this has been an informative review for you. For our general membership, the objective is to give you a greater understanding of an important segment of the PPP, of which you very well may become a part in the future. Issues not ac\c\ressed in this article can be brought to the attention of your Regional Director, your local Examiner, your area Observer or Patti at USHGA. •

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Foresight, Paranoia & Fred's Launch Technique

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by Al Wez Hoolcin So hey dude, I'm all ready for Hobbs, New Mexico. Bring on the senoritas and Corona beer. We' re ready for some of the hottest thermals this side of the Mississippi. Being only an African frog's jump away from the .\1exican border, I'm sure it'll be quite ·'toasty" down there in the beautiful Southwest. Well. this will be a good warm-up for that high altitude of Dinosaur, Colorado. Oh ya, by the way, the word through the hang gliding underground has it that Freel 's glider was last seen strapped to a 1963 Ford Falcon wagon, heading for the border. The local authorities have been notified, but the thieves were just too slippery (the slime). I had the pleasure of speaking with Freel the other day, and his profound wisdom blessed me with these sacred words: "A man without a glider is a man on the ground." Deep, really deep! Through vigorous overtime and part-time bar tending at 'The Glide Hanger." Freel clicln 't waste any time replacing his stolen glider. (If he had purchased the glider theft insurance to begin with. then he woulcln 't have had to work so hard!) But that's besides the point. Freel hated missing any airtime. and he had two options open on how to spend his hard-earned money: IJ Buy that engagement ring that he's been promising to Becky Sue, or 2) Buy that beautiful new Hang III-rated glider. Well, let's be serious folks! She'll unclcrstancl. ... Sometime later ... JULY 1990

"CLEAR!" Freel shouted as he was standing on the launch ramp with his new glider. He was hooked in and patiently waiting for that infamous perfect cycle. "CLEAR!" Freel shouted again. It was obvious that the wire men were getting quite annoyed (and a little concerned). Freel had been standing on launch for 2-3/4 hours, yelling ·'clear" every ten minutes. It was time for some intervention. Down from the mount came the USHGA Observer (who shall remain anonymous al this time). ''What's the deal Freel?" he asked. Freel had a deep gaze in his eyes as he fonnulated his words to the Observer: ·'You see, if I fly my new glider, then I'll have to eventually land it. This will lead to breaking down my new glider and loading it onto my Bronco. If USHGA doesn't get that Participant Accident & Glider Theft Insurance in place, then I know my new glider will get ripped off.--AGAIN! !just know it! So, all this stress can be avoided by just not launching. Doesn't that make sense?" Now the Observer was just as bewildered as the wire men. Freel had captured the launch ramp, and his paranoia was holding everybody hostage. So. PLEASE ... PLEASE ... PLEASE apply for your USHGA Participant Accident & Glider Theft Insurance today. USHGA has been granted an extension to August 31 to fulfill the 300 people needed to make these policies fly. We arc so close to that goal and Freel really wants to launch his new (and insured) glider!•

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Dear Wills Wing, Dear Wills Wing, I wanted to let you know how happy I am with the 150 Sport AT. It's everything I wanted in a glider (and more)! It was definitely worth waiting for. I've told people not to worry about delivery times for the Sport - when they get it they'll be happy they waited and didn't buy something else.

I love my new HP AT 158! I've owned a great many gliders and this one is by far the best I've ever had. Thanks for a great glider!! Aaron Swepston

Thanks!! Lynda Nelson Dear Wills Wing , Dear Wills Wing, I would like to really thank Linda Meier for taking the time on the phone to answer questions about sailcloth and custom sail work. The quality of the sail on my glider is excellent! Her working with me on my custom flag and stars really made me 100% plus satisfied . I would get another Wills Wing glider without giving it a thought. Also I want to thank Steve Pearson for the in-depth phone conversation about how the HP AT flew as opposed to my 167 Sport American full race. He really sold me on the VG system. It's the best. The airfoil downtubes are a real neat concept also. I'm really happy with my purchase and you folks at Wills Wing deserve a big pat on the back! Thanks for being so nice! Tommy Thompson

I've been waiting ten years for someone to design this glider; it's my soulmate. It sounds corny, but I've never tuned into a glider like I have with this HP AT 145. It does everything I want it to do and more. My confidence is soaring! In the East Coast Championships I won two task rounds by a wide margin, which can only be attributed to the glider. It turns when I want it to, it's fast and it has an incredible sink rate. Special thanks to Steve for designing it, to Rob for talking me into it and personally keeping an eye on it, to Linda and Mike for the color selection, and to everyone at Wills Wing . Thank you! Alice Stapleton

HANG GLIDING 101

illustrations by Dan Sutherlin

THIS IS THE BEGINNING Howdy fellow dangle divers. I trust all of you have spent the last 30 days working on your launch technique as described in last month's rendition of Hang Gliding 101. For the last week you've probably been sitting out by the mailbox waiting for the postperson to deliver this month's mag so you can read all about landing, as I promised last month. Okay, stop your drooling and I'll get right to it. But seriously folks, if you have any likes or dislikes about the column, !'cl appreciate hearing from you, so I can tailor the information to suit more people.

WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN Landing a non-powered aircraft is extremely important because you HA VE to do it right the first time. There are no second chances when it comes to ending your flight. Unlike in a conventional aircraft where you can ··go around" if you don't feel comfortable with the way your landing approach is going, everything you do in your hang glider from 300 feet off the ground until you touch terra firma with your feet can affect the outcome to the encl of your flight. Maybe you're one of the few who have this landing stuff all figured out. If you are, then you don't need to read this. Reward yourself with a big bowl of ice cream and give yourself a couple "attaboys." If you're one of the rest of us, then I'm going to give you some infonnation that can make your landings a lot more enjoyable and a lot less embarrassing. Basically, there are two parts to this land-

JULY 1990

ing game. There is the all-important approach, and then there's the actual "flare and put your feet on the ground" landing. Let's take a look at each part in detail.

THE APPROACH As mentioned, this is the "all-important approach." Your approach, which actually starts somewhere around 300 feet AGL, is possibly the most important factor in a good landing. If your approach is semi out of control and highly stressful, then you 're not going to be relaxed enough to be able to focus properly on the actual landing. This doesn't mean that you're going to for sure screw up your landing, it just means there's a higher likelihood of it. On the other hand, if your entire approach is not only well planned but also well executed, you stand

a much better chance of nailing that landing. The key to this is relaxation and focus. You know, when you're up in the wild blue yonder, you're able to relax and enjoy the scenery and not necessarily put gobs of thought into actually flying the glider. That's not to say that it's okay to let your mind wander and ignore your flying, it just means that the whole idea of what's going on around you doesn't have such a sense of urgency. But the approach and landing, just like the launch, takes all of your focus at that moment. When we're doing our approach or landing, all we should be thinking about is what is taking place right then and there. This "focus" is one of the keys to better approaches and landings. Relaxation, as mentioned in last month's article, is also extremely important. If you 're

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HANG GLIDING 101 WARNING: The Instructor General has determined that using the information contained in this article without the assistance of a USHGA-certified instructor can break or kill you. Seek professional help! not relaxed, then you're tense, and when you're too tense you can't hear what the glider's trying to say to you. As I said last month, your glider will speak to you through its control bar pressures. If you don't have a relaxed enough grip on the control frame, you '11 never hear what the glider's saying.

APPROACH PREFERENCES If the wind is blowing around 12 mph or less, I prefer and teach the standard aircraft approach. If the wind is blowing more than 12 mph, then the S-turn approach is the more desirable of the

Base

A Figure 1. Aircraft Approach

two. The aircraft approach gives the pilot more options and can be safely applied to more landing fields than can the S-turn approach. Let's look into both approaches and their pros and cons.

AIRCRAFT APPROACH The aircraft approach is sometimes referred to as the "box the field approach" and with good reason. Basically what you are doing is "boxing" or surrounding the field during your approach (figure I). Preferably you start by getting to the LZ with plenty of altitude, so you can check out the wind sock or look for any unexpected obstructions. After gaining knowledge about the wind, terrain, etc., you should then move to point "A" to bleed off any excess altitude. Depending on the size and shape of your landing field, when you are between 100 and 150 feet AGL you should begin your downwind leg. Your intentions are to have yourself at approximately 60 to I 00 feet high when you turn on your base leg, and then to be between 40 and 75 feet high when you turn onto final. There are many variables that can and will have you sinking out faster or slower than you thought you would, and that's where this type of approach really shines, because it's so variable. If you start sinking out quickly along the downwind part of the approach, then you simply turn on base a bit sooner. If the opposite happens and you find yourself higher than expected as you turn on to your base leg, then you simply extend your base leg farther than nonnal or add an S-turn on the far end of the base leg. Remember, your ultimate goal for your approach is to turn on final at approximately 40 to 75 feet AGL as you enter the downwind side of the landing field. Here are a few things to remember about the aircraft approach: a) Do all your turns toward the LZ. b) Begin your tum onto base a little sooner

than you may expect to, because you are going downwind as you begin the turn and the radius of your tum will be wider than expected. The more wind there is the sooner you should begin this turn. c)Do all turns that are within 100 feet of the ground with ample airspeed. Stalling a turn within three wingspans of the ground can be very detrimental to your approach and/or landing. cl) If your approach legs have you over trees, power lines, etc., be sure to keep the majority of your wing inside the perimeter of the field. Don't let unexpected sink or turbulence put you in the trees or, much worse, the power lines. The drawback to the aircraft approach in windy conditions is that you find your downwind leg happening very fast and your timing can be affected considerably. Also, many pilots may find themselves in a downwind stall clue to the increased grounclspeed. Confusing groundspeecl and airspeed is the major culprit in a downwind stall.

THE S-TURN APPROACH The S-turn approach is, in my opinion, the best approach for very windy landings. An S-turn approach is one in which the pilot does multiple overlapping S-turns at the downwind encl of the LZ to lose altitude. In light winds many pilots have the problem of encroaching on the LZ or not making their S-turns tight enough, and not overlapping them sufficiently to keep the glider from drifting into the LZ at too high an altitude (figure 2). Another problem inherent in the S-turn is doing I SO-degree turns in close proximity to the ground. The more turns a pilot does close to the ground or over trees, power lines, etc., the greater the chance he will have of stalling one of those turns. Although it may sound as though I'm bashing the S-turn approach, it does have its place.

HANG GLIDING

HANG GLIDING 101

L________J Bad Good Figure 2. S-Turn Approach

The S-turn is the approach of choice in high winds. If the wind is blowing over 12 mph, then the possibility of encroaching on the LZ is greatly reduced due to the fact that your ground track will be lessened as the wind increases. As mentioned, S-turns do away with the downwind leg of the aircraft approach in high winds. No matter which approach you are using, the main purpose of the approach is to enter the LZ at about 30 to 60 feet with your wings level, into the wind and nothing but open field in front of your flight path.

LANDING Okay, now that we knm1· the purpose of our approach and how to perform an acceptable one, let's talk about what to do next. Presuming that you are indeed entering the LZ at 30-60 feet, into the wind with wings level, then the next task is to increase or main-

JULY 1990

"In just a moment your glider is going to speak to you, and the only way you can listen is with the light grip you now have on the downtubes ... Some glider models will speak to you louder than others, but all will speak-the trick is to listen." tain speed at best glide. Best glide is approximately 2-4 inches in from trim on the control bar on most gliders. (Ask your instructor about

your particular glider/weight combination.) You want to keep your speed at best glide as you descend through the wind gradient. This is a very important part of the landing process since it prevents stalling as you pass through the gradient, where the wind abruptly decreases in velocity as you get closer to the ground. Maintain this speed until your base rube is approximately three feet off the ground, where you gently and slowly LET the control bar come out to trim, while maintaining that threefoot ground clearance. (This is assuming that your glider is trimmed properly and will fly just above stall, hands off.) Here's ii·here the tricky part comes in and it absolutely requires the lightesr touch you can mus/er. Here you are at three feet off the ground, at trim speed with a very light toL1ch on the downtubes. In just a moment your glider is going to speak to you, and the only way you can listen is with the light grip you now have on the downtubes. What you're feeling for is a slight "buck" of the wing as the glider is about to stall. You will actually feel the downtubes push back gently on your hands. At this precise moment you must flare IMMEDIATELY and AGGRESSIVELY. Many instructors refer to this as "feeling for the flare" and I guarantee that you'll miss it if you have too tight a grip on the downtubes. Using this method you can land any hang glider consistently well. Some glider models will speak to you louder than others, but all will speak-the trick is to listen. Always practice new techniques like this in smooth conditions until you are familiar with them.

SUMMARY So what have we learned here? 1) Choose the approach that is proper for the conditions. 2) Execute the approach according to plan. 3) Enter the LZ with wings level and ample airspeed. 4) At three feet AGL bleed off extra speed to maintain three-foot ground clearance. 5) ''Feel for the flare" with a very gentle touch. 6) Flare immediately and aggressively when you feel the glider buck. 7) Do all the above while focused and relaxed. THIS MONTH'S TIP: If you only get a sled run don't get upset. There was a time when you would have been more than happy with one.•

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Hang Gliding Visually by Glen Nicolet

Vision is one of our most precious possessions. Of all the sensory equipment available, both human and mechanical, none is more important for flying than our eyes. While on the ground, impaired vision or reduced visibility may or may not be dangerous. It depend, on \\ hat you are doing and where you are. While flying. however, impaired or reduced vision is always dangerous. No matter where you are, ,everal factors such as hypoxia. carbon monmide, smoking. alcohol. drugs. fmigue. or even bright sunlight can adver,ely affect vision. In the air these effects arc critical. Good 1·ision is the one most important clement in the judgement of depth. distance, position in flight, and reading of instruments. To protect and sustain good vision follow a few common sense rules. Always make use of sunglasses on bright days to avoid eye fatigue and remember that the factors mentioned above can have an adverse effect on visual acuity. The human eye. in simple terms. is an organic camera. Like a camera. the eye has a shutter. lens. diaphragm. method of focusing. and an inexhaustible supply of film. All of this is arranged and contained in a light-tight container. In much the same way that a camera projects images through the lens onto film. the eye also focuses light from objects that emit or reflect light a, an image projected on the retina. The retina contains light-sensitive cells called rods and cones which line the interior coating of the eye around the sides to the back. JULY 1990

neurons on a one-to-one basis creating the fine detail we see. The rods are intennixed with the cones in a zone between the fovea and the peripheral areas of the eye. Although many rods are primarily found in peripheral areas. they arc less numerous. The rods· function is ba,ed on the buildup of a chemical called visual purple. Rods are valuable because they are more sensi-

These, in turn. are connected to the optic nerve which transmit the light messages to the brain where we perceive them as the image of the object sighted. The cones are color sensitive. Additionally. the largest concentration of cones is located in a slight depression in the center portion of the retina called the fovea. Here the numerous cones excite the interconnecting

IFR 8LTITllDES l'..Q. FLY I f your magnetic course

(ground track) is 0 to 179 degrees 180 to 359 degrees

I I I I I I I

Below 18,000 HSL fly Odd thousand, MSL (3000, 5000, 7000, etc.)

Even thousand, HSL (2000, 4000, 6000, etc.)

CONTROLLED i UNCONTROLLEQ 8IRSPl\~E! VFR ALTITUDES TO FLY I f your magnetic course

(ground track) is 0 to 179 degrees

I I I I

I I 180 to 359 degrees

I I I

Below 18,000 HSL fly but more than 3,000 feet AGL Odd thousand, HSL plus 500 feet (3500, 5500, 7500, etc. )

Even thousand, MSL plus 500 feet (4500, 6500, 8500, etc.)

ALTITUDES TO FLY

tive to light than cones. However, they are not sensitive to color and do not detect light in wave lengths greater then reel. Rods are not always immediately ready for use when going from bright light to night conditions. During daylight there is a lack of visual purple making these cells inoperative. It usually takes 30 minutes for the eyes to fully night adjust. Cones require at least half the intensity of moonlight to function. Rods, on the other hand, are activated by light equal to starlight found on a clear night. Contrast. brightness, illumination and exposure time. size and detail are factors that cletennine visual acuity. Everyone has one blind spot in each eye known as the optic disk where the optic nerve enters the eye. At below one-half moon illumination there are two blind spots in each eye. the optic disk and the fovea which contain only daylight receptors. Nonnally the optic disk is

not noticed because the visual fields of both eyes overlap and, in effect, eliminate this blind spot. However, at night under low light conclitions, an object cannot be seen by looking directly at it. The object can be seen by looking 4 to 12 degrees away from it so the image will fall on the rods. This technique of off-center vision can be developed with practice.

VISUAL FLIGHT RULES Hang gliding takes place in both controlled and uncontrolled airspace and has to be conducted under Visual Flight Rules (YFR). Visual Flight Rules are made up of visibility and distance from cloud criteria. The requirements for visibility and minimum distance from clouds will vary depending on your altitude above the surface (AGL) or above mean sea level (MSL) and whether flying in controlled or uncontrolled airspace.

The following is an explanation of visibility, how it affects our flying, and will give some helpful information on conducting flight in VFR conditions.

VISIBILITY The rules governing VFR flight are designed to help the pilot to see and avoid others in the air, and to maintain flight stability by orientation with the ground. The minimum weather conditions required are sighted in the accompanying table. Visibility is defined as the ability to see and identify prominent unlighted objects by day and lighted objects by night. This is determined by the atmospheric conditions and is expressed in units of distance, as statute miles, hundreds of feet or meters. Flight Visibility is the average forward horizontal distance at which prominent unlighted objects by day can be seen and identified by the pilot. Ground visibility is the prevailing horizontal visibility near the earth's surface as reported by the National Weather Service (NWS) or an accredited observer. We can obtain the visibility from NWS by listening to weather broadcasts on radios with a weather band or from a weather briefing over the phone. Other weather information, such as cloud cover, and that all-imp011ant item the wind, are also available. How do pilots tell when they are 500 feet below or 2,000 feet horizontally from a cloud? Judgement is probably the only best guess. Actually, this is pretty close to be to a cloud; 500 feet is only fifteen wingspans. Keep in mind the dangers of a ·'white out" by accidentally entering a cloud (this will be explained below), or an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft popping out of it at your position, and just maintain a safe distance.

VERTIGO

Well, there's something you don't see every day... A hang glider dude at 17,500 feet trying to stay VFR. 26

The pilot must have visual reference with the ground to safely control a hang glider. The FAR states this for a very important reason. The effects of flight create sensations on the body that can fool the pilot into thinking up is some place other than where it really is. Vertigo is defined as a disordered condition in which an individual, or whatever is around him, seems to be whirling about-dizziness. To us as pilots it means that we can't tell which way is up. The fact is, vertigo during flight can have fatal consequences. Being earthbound creatures by nature, we have developed the ability to know which way is up through the combined use of three senses: 1) Vision - We can see where we are in relationship to fixed objects. HANG GLIDING

2) Pressure - The gravitational pull on muscles and joints lets us know which way is clown. As we get older this causes sagging body parts, but is unrelated to orientation. 3) Special Parts in the Inner Ear - A calcareous concretion in the internal ear callee! the otolith (we normally have two) tells us which way is clown by gravitational pull. However, accelerations of the body are cletectecl by the fluid in the semi-circular canals of the inner ear. This tells us when we change position. What happens without visual references, such as flying in very hazy conditions or being sucked into a cloud? The accelerations of the glider can be confusing, especially since their forces can be misinterpreted as gravitational pulls on the otolith and muscles of the body. The result is vertigo, or disorientation (dizziness). Occasionally a pilot will become airsick because the visual senses won't override the signals from the inner ear. It would be great if all hang glider pilots could experience these sensations under controlled conditions. There is a specially made swivel chair callee! a Barony chair used to demonstrate these sensations and their effects. It is most often used for advanced flight training, but if you ever have the opportunity, the experience will make a believer out of you. Aiqilane pilots also receive training in attitude control of aircraft solely by reference to gyroscopic instruments. Hang glider pilots don't carry gyroscopic instruments and thus have to maintain visual reference to the only fixed object available, the ground.

VFR ALTITUDES TO FLY While hang gliding we are almost always climbing and descending. On the other hand, powered aircraft maintain level flight while in route and are required to fly at specified altitudes, under both VFR and IFR, and whether in controlled or uncontrolled airspace. It's important to be familiar with this information so you'll know where to look for aircraft while flying. Altitudes for aircraft to fly are determined by magnetic heading and type of flight, that is, VFR or IFR. An easy rule to remember is, "East altitudes are Ocie! and West altitudes are Even." IFR altitudes are "cardinal" or whole thousands of feet, while VFR altitudes are thousands of feet plus 500. The following is an explanation of the adjoining chart. If the aircraft is IFR and heading east on a magnetic course (ground track) of Odegrees or clue north through 179 degrees and below 18,000 feet MSL, the altitude to fly is odd thousand MSL (3,000, 5,000, 7,000, etc.). JULY 1990

Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 103: Ultralight Vehicles -FAR Part 103, Paragraph 103.21: Visual reference with the surface. "No person may operate an ultralight vehicle except by visual reference with the surface." -FAR Part 103, Paragraph 103.23: Flight visibility and cloud clearance requirements. "No person may operate an ultralight vehicle when the flight visibility or distance from clouds is less than that in the following table as appropriate:"

Flight Altitudes

Minimum Flight Visibility

Minimum Distance from Clouds

3 statute

500 feet below 1,000 feet above 2,000 feet horizontal

1,200 feet or less above the surface regardless of MSL altitude: (I) Within controlled airspace

miles

(2) Outside controlled airspace

1 statute mile

Clear of clouds

(l) Within controlled airspace

3 statute miles

500 feet below 1,000 feet above 2,000 feet horizontal

(2) Outside controlled airspace

l statute mile

500 feet below 1,000 feet above 2,000 feet horizontal

More than 1,200 feet above the surface and at or above 10,000 feet MSL

5 statute miles

1,000 feet below 1,000 feet above

More than l ,200 feet above the surface but less than l 0,000 feet MSL:

Heading west from 180 degrees or clue south through 359 degrees below 18,000 feet MSL, the altitude to fly is even thousand MSL (4,000, 6,000, 8,000, etc.). If the aircraft is VFR and in either controlled or uncontrolled airspace and heading east on a magnetic course (ground track) of 0 degrees or clue North through 179 degrees and more than 3000 feet above the surface (AGL) but below 18,000 feet MSL, the altitude to fly is odd thousand MSL, plus 500' (3,500, 5,500, 7,500, etc.). Heading west from I 80 degrees or clue south to 359 degrees and more than 3,000 feet above the surface but below 18,000 feet MSL, the altitude to fly is even thousand MSL, plus 500' (4,500, 6,500, 8,500, etc.). Aircraft below 3,000 feet AGL fly in any direction at

1 statute mile horizontal

any altitude. Another likely place to look out for aircraft would be over VOR 's or other navigational aids. Get a sectional chart to find the spots where aircraft are likely to be flying. Don't think that because you are soaring out in the boonies that you are immune from encountering other aircraft. Hang glider pilots must always maintain VFR whether flying in controlled or uncontrolled airspace. VFR flight minimums vary from uncontrolled to controlled airspace, with the altitude Above Ground Level (AGL), and the altitude above Mean Sea Level (MSL). Check the weather before flying, protect your eyes, keep them peeled for other aircraft and fly far.•

·/

article and photos by fohn Fleiney have attended a few hang gliding conlests and have heard abo111 many others, bul I have never known or one with as many allractive features for the modern com pet ilor as this one, To bcgi11, there was more prize money than any other hang gliding cornpcti1io11 in history"" 13,000,000 yen (about 83,870 lLS, dollars), Obviously lilt: organizers did a great job of securing sponsorship; moreover, they were creative in the maimer in which they divided and awarded lhc money, The lop f'om placers each day received cash awards which were theirs lo keep no mat-tcr how they placed in the rest of !lie mccL The breakdown was: Ist place,,Y50,000 ($:120), 2nd place:- Y:10,000 ($190), :lrd ph1ce- Y20,000 ($125), 41h placc-Y I0,(lOO ($64), h1r the two days of opening ceremonies a

short race was used to insure that the pilots all landed at the I ,Z for a bc1tcr show for the spectalors, A Y 10,000 spot-landing award was which warmed the hearts of oldtimers like Bill Moyes and Bill Bennett, who remember when spot landing was the only method of determining a winner at a hang gliding contt:sL The last day of the contest was anothc:r spectator day, so the organizers chose an inno"" vative formaL They asked the pilots to divide themselves into teams of five members, The memhers or each team were to launch consccu lively, get high and fly out to the L7,, Once near the L'./, they were to perform a routine that they lhought would best enlcrtain a judging panel c0111posed ol' local dignitaries who knew nolliing about hang gliding, The prize for the win-

ning team was 150,000 yen, with a l 0,000 yen bonus for spot landings, The top ten ranked pilots, as determined by their performance in the week-long crosscountry portion or the competition, received prize money in the unprecedented amounts of: 1st place-Yl,000,000 ($6,1150) 2nd place Y600,000 ($3,870) :;rd place-Y400,000 ($2,580) 4th place-Y:100,000 ($1,930) 51h place-Y200,000 ($1,290) fah place-Y l 00,000 ($645) 7th placcY80,000 ($515) 8th place-Y50,000 ($:120) 9th place Y30,000 ($190) 10th place-Y20,000 ($125)

I IANc: GLmtNc

Competitors, officials and interested parties at the biggest money meet in histmy.

The promise of prize money was only lhe beginning or the reward for a!lencling 1his competition. II seemed thal Ilic pilols had gifls bestowed upon !hem at every juncture. Al 1hc opening ceremony each pilo1 was called on stage, interviewed and prescnled wilh an ex ccllenl insulaled, rton:scenH:olored nigh! suil manufactured by lJl!ralitc Prod11c1s (value $400). Please forgive me for dwelling on the monetary aspects. but it is so tmusual for hang glider pilols to be trcalcd with the n'.spcct and appreciation thal thl'.SC pilols experienced al the hands or !he orpm izcrs and sponsors or this event. Ai the closing ceremony the lop ten pilols received a hea111iful all grey insulated rtight sui1 from UI' (value $500). All pilots received a quality slrobc ligh1 to aid in n:scuc in the event or a remote outla11di11g. Thl: main spon· sor, Shima Seiki, presented each pilot with a pair or binoculars. T-shirts and posters were handed out lo all pilots. Box lunches were often provided containing interesting and some! imcs foods. To my mind one or the best benefits or altcnding this event was the opponunity to experience an ancient roreign culture. I had a chance to walk through some city and village areas, and I photographed the things that were done difforently !here. The bicycle is a common means of trnnsportation. Women ride bi cycles and scooters to and from Ihe market with babies and groceries on board. Onions aw a major crop. The neon is almost an art JULY

1990

forrn. It seems that most Japanese people smoke cigarettes. I saw a double-decker golf driving range and other indications that real estate is in short supply. I found the people to be friendly, polite and very work ancl business oriented. The chi! drcn wear uniforms to school and ride bicycles. The Japanese have minialtm: cars, trucks and vans, and tiny construction equipment, in arid it ion to normal sizes. One day 1saw the smallest backhoe I had ever seen, and then I saw a smaller one. The restaurants display plastic replicas or the dishl'.s they have on 1hc menu in the front window. They have Kentucky f;ried Colonel restaurants and the chicken tastes cxac1ly the same as in 1hc IJ.S. The creative and driving force behind this even! is Yusukl'. Yamazaki, president or UP Sports, Inc. of Osaka, Japan. Yusuke was one of the first hang gl idcr pilots in Jap,m, and pioneered many launch sites. I le no longer nics, h111 his dream of an X-C flight from Du Mon Zan (Dragon (iate Mountain) to Kushimoto on the coast, 90 kilometers south, was his inspiration for this competition, Yusukc has succeeded where many hang gliding enthusiasts have /'ailed in 1hc past. He has convinced sponsors to provide enough funds to do a hang gliding competition right. When pilo1s in the U.S. first started hearing about this event there was much skc:pticism. "They'rl'. to pay our round-trip airfare, accommodations in a first class hotel and expenses, plus great prize nrnm,y') Arc you sure it's a hang

gliding contest')" Time proved it to be true. The cross-country route is the kind of area !hat you would not wish to head over the back into unless the conditions looked great for making it all the way to !he coast. It is all forest-covered ridges 90 degrees to the route with very few f'lat areas bctwccn, and even fewer suitable LZ's. Every flat area iu Japan is occupied by someone, and power lines arc installed frec-rorm. I heard stories of pilots finding a power line on their approach only seconds before landing, necessitating an im· mcdialc decision whether to try lo pop over it or dive unckr it. There were no serious injuries during the two clays or "over-the-back" flying, bul most rtycrs had stories of some or the most scary landings of their careers. After the first day I saw at least two people limping and om: chang· ing his cross spar. On the second clay I rnou1Hed a camcorder 011 Kevin Christopherson's glider which recorded one of Kev's most memorable landings. I le over-shot a tiny field in a narrow canyon in very rowdy air, and came fortuitously to rest in the bushes on a hillside just short of a serious fruit orchard. l lc and the glider were uninjured. An incredible amount or c:ffort and money were expended in a short 1imc to make !his event happen. I was told that two weeks before the meet began the main launch and the road to it did not exist' Indeed 1hc workmen were still welding the structure for the launch ramp as we mTivcd on the first practice day. Many trees 31

had been cleared 10 make way for the road and

TV coverage was extensive. There were a1 least three stations at the opening cercmo nics. I spent much of my I imc mounting camcorders for a group that is making a tWO··hour TV special on 1hc event. I was riding lo launch wilh the video crew one morning and lhc driver plugged a tape into the car's stereo. Soon, 10 my surprise, I was hearing early Ray Charles. There I was, thousands or miles from home, in a car full or people who spoke 110 l·:nglish,

scH1p area. The lmmch ramp was cxccllcn1, unless you happen lo he accident prone. The VG cord

on Valentino h·ics' glider caught in the steel grating and left him hanging off the end or the rn111p, upside down. I le hurt his root haclly which kepi him from rlying the next lwo Bui by the lime the contest started he was walking again, and limped through lite whole eon1es1 landing on wheels lo save his painful foot. Vaknlino gets the perseverance award in my book. l get 1he kl111z award for falling off the ramp while sc11 up my glider, and then ( 1·ive minutes laler) slcpping through a l1olc in lite ramp while explaining lo Bill how I lcll oil the rirsl time. Fort1mately I did only minor 10 my knee. Alkr lhrcc more fcll llmmgh the hok, plywood \Vas inslallcd. Ii seems llrnt liahilily docs not have ,1 strangle hold on Japan as it docs the U.S. UP has a great 11cw toy called lhc Wheeler." Ii is a skate hoard wilh large· diameter wlH:cls and a board sail. Then· were three of them in lhc LZ every and the pilols were c11lti11g it 11p. lt is a blast on 1he ground, hut we will 1101 sec ii markclccl in lite U.S. I .iahilily. Hobby Whittal, cu1Tcn1 World ( 'ham pion. got himself s111ck behind lhc mountain during a ridgL: race 011 the second day of compe1i1io11. He lost control i11 the lee turlmlcncc while a11cmp1ing to land and injured his sho11ldcr caw,ing him 10 miss most of the meet. Robby hung around a11yway just to bring a lilllc joy 10 ihc lives of his fellow in whalevcr way ht, could. On the second day of opening ceremonies min kept us off the moun1ai11, so we hung 0111 al 1hc lZ. I decided to L:ntertain the crowd with so we bor· some towing. We had no tow rowed a pickup and a few hundred feet of rope. Robby Whiltal drove the truck, and Tony Bar Ion sat in the back and held the rope. We never did gel an t:rficicnl low, hul I got high enough to :'lCiO and land in fron1 of the crowd. World Paragliding Champion Andre Bucher borrowed my release and got lowed too hard. I le released under great line tension and wcnl through some weird gyralions before pulling off a safe landing. Andre flew from the top launch one day. He did nol have adequate running room so he did a reverse launch and ran off the ramp backwards, checking his can opy for proper inflation as he ran. Ii was a crowd pleaser. lsao lmajima was the big surprise al lhis conlcst. I was told his glider is a four-year-old

A. BOVE: Scl-up area, launch ramp and Pven a road were built just for lhe competition. INSET: Wlweler" was a popular form of recreation during off hours. I! will nol lw marketed in the because• of liability exposure.

The

l·'alhawk which has had three new sails. On the las I day he !kw the 11 () . . kilomclcr ridge race in a strong crosswind in less lhan four IHHirs, half an hour faster than his nearest competitor Tony Barlon. I heard 1ha1 lmajima cams his living wilh a papl:r route in the morning. and flies this mounlain every afternoon. I lcrbbic Curll or Auslria made the longcsl straight-line rlighl loward goal ofM.5 kilomc· tcrs. !majima flew ()4 km tlrnl day. I lcrbbic flew well the rest of the meet and earned third place with lmajima laking Sl:coml. Sieve Moyes finished fourlh. II occurs 10 me that lhc name Sieve Moyl'.S has been al or near the top of the list in hang gliding compel i lions longer than anyone else in the history of 1hc sporl (maybe I or more years). I le is a phenomenon. I low long can he go'' Despite outslanding individual ciTorls by the other pilots, Tomas Suchanek, the new kid from Czechoslovakia, was not 10 be denied. I le was "Mr. Consislcnt" and walked away wilh lhc rirst place money. Tomas is a man lo walch in ihe future.

listening 10 some or my favorite rnusic -the universal langu.1gc. This compclition was very good for hang gliding in that it sci a precedent for corporale sponsorship of hang gliding cvrnls in the future. The sponsoring companies dl:scrvt: a great deal of credit for their roresighl and cooperation, and of course. the whole thing would nol have happened wilhout Yusukc. The following is a lisl of the sponsors and what they do. II Shims Seiki Computers, compuler graphics Japan Railroad Yagi & Co. LTD Sportswear, UP Sports Products Omron Medical Equipment Sun Star - GUM Denial products Okamura Creative C.roups - Prinling S11milomo ·· Metals Nillo Development Japan (icneral Development Co. LTD lchijyo Printing Minolla Pholographic equipment Asahi Beer I li\NC: Cl.lrnNC

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year we're to planned, including SL,minars, manul'ac1urcrs' demos, videos, continue lhc lradition of i'un and games in the sky and 011 and parties where you all can the ground in an area ol' Colo expose your uncivilized nature, rado called South Parle This For the non,,flycrs, or simply area is not known for its met, exhausted pilots, there is some ropolilan atmosphere, but ii of the best fishing in lhc West nbounds in ouldoor activities nearby (I iccnscs arc cheap), hot and awfully big sky, springs for a relaxing soak, and great white waler rafting along Before we give, you any more delails, we need to ofthe i\rkansas River a few miles fer an cxplanaliotL The Naaway in Buena Vista. tional Fly,ln is supposed to I lartscl itself is a 110,blink, take place on 1he opposite one-store lown thal is l:xcitcd side or !he country from the Launching from Hald Hi!L ReiiH'ck(:r Ridge is seen oul front abo111 the Fly,Jn, i\ number or Nalionals, lo spread around locals have opened their homes tl1c airtime so lo So why arc both up lo pilots at around $IO per nighL The shop j11st upwind of' Bald l<noh, Seven Mile Ridge, ings in Colorndo? Because h1s1 year we prom, has a bunkhouse upstairs for similar rates, ,md Willow Creek, The l'lying should he uniscd the hosls or this year's Fly-ln that they Camping is free on the properly near the shop limited and variable, Bring your water botllcs, would have the venue, f .itllc did we drcam lhal al the edge or town, Showers will he available, We have olher activities and events the Nationals would be in Colorado, So there you haw iL The National Fly-In will hl: right after the National Competition, and wil I be held i\ngust 7-1 l, l 990, The center or I he acl ion is lhe ( 'olorndo Wind Park shop in l larl sci, Colorado, Yom hos ls arc Chris Ether 1011 and Jim rnwcJJ, C(HlWIIC!'S of lhc J'light park, The ,iddrcss is: l'J), llox 94, l lartsel, CO 80449, J\ crn11ac1 number for inhlmrn1ion is: (71 <)) 836-2240 (weekends only), or (lO:l) (1505, Near I !arise! is Bald I !ill, ;i 500 foul knob rlyablc in 1nost any direction, II is s11i1able for l Jang l lo I hmg ln!'inily pilols, The plan is to nm daily events al lhis sile (spot landings, king-of the,llJotJn!aill COnlCS!S, CIC) i'or !he less advcnlurous, and daily excursions lo lhl: local high sites with a guide, and a clwllengc 10 fly back to \he night park, One such peak, ML Princeton, is only 4 I/2 kilomclcrs lower tlwn ML Fvcrcst and only 30 miles upwind or HartseL Yo11 can practically glide hrnm:, Other Pilots prepare lo latmdt a! Rcinccker Ridge. Hald Hill is sel'n in the backgmund, sites nearby include 14,mile Ricneckcr Ridge

J/J

l li\NC: GI.IDINC:

i\ccom111oda1ions are limited in I lartsel, so we suggest yo11 reserve a place early by calling the shop. The nearby towns of Fairplay ( 18 miles) and Buena Vista (26 miles) have plenly or hotel rooms if ym1 are so inclined. I Iarlscl has one liquor store, one bar and one restaurant, lhe Mrn111tain Muffin. The owners will he proud to cook you up some country food · jusl don't ask for anything like or California salads. This is Marlboro Country, and a man's woril1 is meas·· urcd by the stains on his hat and the cracks in his hoots. Wild things abound in the South Park area, but they all have rour herds or elk and pronghorn antelope are a common sight, and chances arc you will fly over these freeranging beasts. Bring your camera. We hope you will join us this summer for a fun.filled flying rest in the land of the lites. Be prepared to accumulate airtime, demo glid ers and share a l\m week with like·mintled hypsophiles. •

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Nancy Mc Williams photos by 18th Annual l lang Gliding Spectacular at .Jockey's Ridge State Park in Nags Head, North Carolina, attracted S] competitors. Held May I I 13, the Spectacular was sponsored hy Kitty llawk Kites, the world's largest hang gliding school. Pilots from across \he co11n1ry gathered for the fun competition on the East Coast's mega-sand dune, near where the Wright 13rothcrs first flew. For the third time, Steve Wendt of Kill Devil Hills, NC came away with first place honors in the intermediate/advanced division. The Spectacular opened May 11 with three rounds of competition. During absolutely pcrf'ect conditions on Saturday, fivG roumls were held. A steady northeast breeze allowed pilots lo experience soaring the sand hills of Jockey's Ridge. Competition was canceled on Sunday due to 30-mph gusts. The entire event was carried out smoothly, thanks to the efforts of' Reeves, meet director. "I was really impressed with the quality or the f'lying," Reeves said. "We had a fun variety of' conditions and a great time."

1990

An aerial view of the Spectacular underway.

Final results were: Intermediate and Advanced Division (Hang Ill and IV pilots) first place, Steve Wendt of Kill Devil Hills, NC, 4 lO points, flying a Wills Wing Skyhawk; second place, Jonnie Thompson of Duck, NC, 405 points, flying a Comet !; third place tic between Hoh Bachman of Roanoke, VA, 380 points, flying a Mark IV, and Lawrence Bat-

taille of Kill Devil Hills, NC, 380 points, flying a Mark IV; fifth place, Bo llagewood of Kill Devil !!ills, NC, :no points, flying a Mark IV. In the 13eginner/Novice Division (Hang I and ll pilots): first place, Crant Wolfe or Walnut port, PA, 28.'i points, flying a Mark IV; second place, Alexander MacNutt of B ishopvillc, MD, 24.'i points, flying a Mark IV; third place, Sta-

Steve Wendt, firs! place in the Advanced Division, shows how H's done.

cey Fisher of' Waynesboro, VA, 10 points, flying a Mark IV; fourth place, Richard Snell of Pctcrshorn11gh, England, 205 points, flying a Mark IV. On Sunday, awards were presented by Francis Rogal lo, invelllor of the f'lexible wing and "father of modern hang gliding." Awards were handmade wooden plaques shaped like hang glider wings. Wendi won a variometer/ altimeter from Trnnsscas lntcrnalional and all top three placers in each division won Bollc Among the 5, I 04 visitors to the state park during the Spectacular were two noted pilots, John Ilcincy of' San Clemente, California· professional hang gliding photographer and former world champion aerobatic pilot · and filmmaker Charlie Jost of Heidelberg, Ger·· many, who was in Heacl representing the (Jerman Hang Gliding Federation. While in the area, Jost was filming a documentary on the history of' hang gliding and on Francis Rogallo. Arter the three-day competition ended, the Spectacular was capped off with a day of towing for llang II[ and JV pilots who wanted to try Kitty llawk Kitc:s' newest method of getting high in the flatlands. The KIIK ATOL system made 40 flights that day at the Curri· tuck County Airstrip. A successful street dance attracted about ]00 people Sa1urday night, with the hand Neurocktix playing f'or the crowd. Plans arc already underway for the I9th Annual l lang Gliding Spectacular, scheduled for the second weekend in May, 19() I. 111111 38

A day of towing was offered to Hang HI and IV pilots who wanted to try Kilty Hawk's newest method of altitude over the flatlands. The following the Spectacular was spent a! Airstrip, where KHK tows pilots to 1,000 ft. ACL. German filmmaker Charlie Josi (right) was on hand lo film the action.

annual KHK Spectacular may not he competition in the hang gliding but it is certainly a favorite for the who travel to Jockey's Ridge Park the second weekend in May each Many of the 53 pilots who attended this event learned 10 fly at Jockey's Ridge, love to return "home" when, they can and the Atlantic Ocean, soar the with long-time acquaintances. "I'm not scoring too well, but I'm havheJJ of a good time," one of the two competitors said. A Hang Jl pilot, Conquest of Nags Head, NC, saicl ,'>1J1:;c1:i1cu11ar is great fun, but that she'd see more women get involved. ComJmtitor Glenn Hockett of McchanV A, said, "I wasn't too smart this but I'm having fun." Hocke11 was the person lo fly over an hour on the ridge. a 14-minule, two,.second record a four·lmnr, 25·minutc flight. Hockett's gliding since 1974, when it wasn't but a "suicide risk, " he said . test pilot and competitive pilot for years, Hockell said he still loves to fly He said Jockey's Ridge is a very '''"' ""errnmo place to soar. "I can go to the

mcmntt1ins any time, but I like to come here and skim along the sand," he said. He's been to almost every Spectacular, and took first place three times, "It's a great time to see everybody. We sec old buddies and instruc"· tors who now live in Califomiii and Tcnnes" sec. It's the only competition .I go to. At his fifth Spectacular, Rob Bachman, formet KiUy Hawk K.ites hang gliding man,· ager, who now lives in Roanoke, VA, said, "This is old home week, People l 've known for years come back, the flying is fun, and it's a great time. He said this Spectacular was a great one because the conditions were fantastic. Because the Spectacular is promoted as a fim compel ition, Bachman said the pilots really have a good time, and come back year after year. One of the youngest competitors, Grant Wolfe, 16, of Walnutporl, PA, took first place in the Beginner/Novice Division. This was his st)Cond Spectacular. "It's a time for all our friends to get together and do what we tove most, which is flying," Wolfe said. Wolfe has been hang gliding for four years. "I've always wanted to fly," he said, and he hnd watched his father and brother hang glide before he ever reached the weight

limit to begin. Wolfe learned to fly at Jockey's Ridge, and has been featured in a television special, "Sunkist Super Kids." He has now flown mountain sites across the country. Dick Snell of Raleigh, NC, and originally from England, was a first-time competitor. "It's an interesting opportunity to watch good people fly very well," he said, "and then to try and do it. It's a great learning experience." A Hang II, Snell learned to hang glide at Jockey's Ridge three years ago. "The next step is to win," he added. One of the older participants was Ray Wells of Winchester, VA, who said, 'Tm still trying to play like a kid." He's been hang gliding since 1982, and is a Hang IL "This is premier flying," he said of the Spectacular. "Anything that flies I'm all for it," the former Marine Corps pilot said. "The main feature of the Spectacular is renewing old acquaintances."

<· •• ' ~ . · .•,.: - ~ .

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"A test pilot and competitive pilot for seven years, Glenn Hockett said he still loves to fly the dune. He said Jockey's Ridge is a very challenging place to soar. 'I can go to the mountains any time, but I like to come here and skim along the sand/ " Billy Vaughn of Nags Head, NC, said, "This is the best pai1y in the entire country. People come from all over for old home week." Mary Waterhouse of Nags Head com-

• Rules To Liw 13y • Keeping Up Your Flight Log • Selecting The Fquipmenl You'll Need • Your First Solo

peted for the first time in the Spectacular, and said it was no big deal being one of two women in the event. "I'm just one of the guys," she said. "The Spectacular is great fun. It's a blast." Father and son competitors Stacey and Clyde Fisher of Waynesboro, VA, have been hang gliding for two years. After they watched hang glider pilots near their home, they decided they wanted to learn and that Jockey's Ridge was the best place to do it. Both father and son expressed love for the sport. "I can't wait to get up there with Hang Ill's and lV's," Clyde said. Stacey said friends and family think they are crazy for taking up hang gliding, but he added, "I think it's the best sport I've ever done." The Spectacular is an annual event that brings old friends together, to visit, recall old times, meet new friends, and last, but not least, to FLY.•

Hnng Gliding magazine presents its first-ever new pilot edition-an entertaining and informative publication designed for up-and-corning pilots. Topics include: • Selecting the equipment you'll need. • Your first solo flight. • Tandem instruction. • Choosing an instructor. • Keeping up your flight log. • How gliders are certified. • And much 1nore ...

Please rush me copies of the new pilot edition of Hang Gliding at $4.50 each. (Shipping: 1 copy-$1.50, 2-6 copies- $3.00) Colorado residents add 6.5% sales tax to magazine subtotal (not shipping). Enclosed please find a check or money order for $_ _ _ _ __ NAME ADDRESS_~~~~~~~--~~I Dealer Inquiries Invited I CITY STATE _ _ _ ZIP Send to USHGA, P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933 (719) 632-8300 JULY 1990

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Swiss Innovation for Real Pilot Comfort The light-weight aluminum back frame spreads your weight evenly throughout the harness so that there are no stress points. Rotate to and maintain any flying angle from nose on the bar to vertical with minimal input. Clamp for setting and quickly adjusting lowest pitch. Change your pitch to relax during a long flight. Even fly standing up.

Comfort of mind with Gutesiegel (DHV) and FSVL certification. Will sustain 1980 lbs for 10 seconds at all attitudes. Continuous webbing throughout the harness vest is connected across the pilot's chest with two seat belt buckles and a third delrin buckle. Fixed (non-sliding) hang strap attachment means you won't nose yourself into the ground.

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from the takeoff above Ficschc to the Matterhorn on !he horizon (just right of center).

article witzcrland. Just mention tlw place and most or us conjure up images of chalets, holey cheese and girls named Heidi. The !'airy talc ambiance or the country is announced by towns with names like Clrin<klwald and Interlaken. Most pcrl incnt to our purpose is this: the travel posters show an abundance or peaks that arc mottled with wi<Jc··opcn pastmes and wired with ski lifts that feature rcst:rnranls at every terminus. Think ol'the rlying possibilities: You leave your car in the, tram parking Jot, ride to the lop some three or four tl1ousand vertical feet, have a pleasant lunch on a sun deck, sci up on a grnss carpet, then launch into a rising sky to collect the airtime you need before down lo land next to yom vehicle. You !eel like Peter P,111 in Never-Never I ,and. I Ia11g gliding bas long been cslahlishcd in SwiL,crland. The Swiss penclu1111 for 0111door activities and !heir early predilection for sailplani11g, cornhinccl with the ideal tcrrnin, assured lhc success of our sport. 011c contrib111or to hang was a Swiss pilot nmncd I lcnri l lcmi has the dubious honor of Ilic first pc.:rso11 lo loop a lie performed this feat many limes i11 197."i a11cl beyond and ii all on film.

photo

7990 hy Dennis Pagen

llcnri apparcnlly was bestowed wilh more lcstostcronc lhan sense, for he accomplished his loops in a "standard" glider without the bcnc/'it orrcJlcx bridles, del'incd tips, a helmcl, a parachute or even, if you can believe this, a harness. l lis trick was to attach bicycle pedal cages to the basctuhc nnd fly standing up i11side the control bar with his feet in the cages. This arn111gcmcnt allowed him a lot of extra pitch control :ind held him in the glider when he went 11psidc down. Now most of us know that a standard with its loose, unbattcncd sail was not too blessed with pitch stability or speed relent ion. This didn 'I hot her l lcnri, for all he had lo do was enter a screaming dive and push nut. The glider would climb, tail slide, flop on its hack thcu co111i1111e to flip right side up with I lcnri rnttling around in his triangle. Well, maybe this was mnrc like a controlled tumble than a loop, but llcnri went blithely through the such anlics with a smile on his f,ICC. This slory is mentioned simply because it belies the populm image of the typical Swiss citizen as a dour conservative conl'ormist. To be sure, there me plenty of l'uddy-duddics in a country whose whole economy runs on world· diss banks and world-class time But

here and !here a few knighted souls burst the bonds that limit the average Swiss and so bcco111c characters in a world of ciphers. It is no surprise that many such characters gravitate to hang gliding, hut the mystery is why a country known l'or its serious mien is so taken with hang gliding. There arc more pilots per capita i11 Switzerland than in lhc supposedly frc(>mindcd lJ.S. The people love it. I don't know hul there it is. BACK TO SWITZERLAND It is with these thoughts in mind that I heackd l'or Switzerland. girl friend ancl I entered the cou111ry lalc one night from Austria by way of Liechtenstein. We decided to camp under a clear in a large trec·-lined f'icld. The next morning [ took a hike and noticed a !'cw 01Ticial-looki11g sigm. They were in (icrman and French. My German is rndimenlary and my French brings chuckles lo my friend who is, in fact, French. I understood everything the said except the word TJR. Apparently there was some , sol 011 lhc palh and kepi a lookout in the hushes for the tir. When I got hack to camp! askc:d Claire l'or a translation. "Tir," she said, "means artillery We had cnmpccl under the big guns. Welcome to Swi11crland. f lANC Ci II llNC

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Actually, that welcome was not all that surprising for I had lived in Switzerland for three years from 1970 to 1973 and was well acquainted with this mountain fortress. Switzerland has the world's largest standing army with virtually every male citizen a trained soldier. I remember walking into my Swiss friend's bedroom and finding a machine gun in the closet. Other details missed by the casual tourist are the tank traps ready to spring out of the primary roads, the camouflaged guns bristling along the borders, the explosive charges on all the strategic bridges and the fall-out shelters with stored food secreted away in each village. In their no-nonsense manner the Swiss intend to remain free even if they have to barricade themselves in to do it. But as I indicated, the casual tourist need not bother himself with Swiss paranoia, Swiss inflexibility and the Swiss obsession with mammon. We can instead concentrate on flying ~he big ones over a sparkling countryside. The natural beauty of the place far outshines any quirks in the national character. And so I dreamed for fifteen years of returning to Switzerland and flying from the alpine slopes that I had hiked so many times before. There is no place in the world that exhibits such a profusion of wild flowers in the spring. The hills are indeed alive with the sound of music as every cow is hung with a large bell that echos through the mountains as the cows graze. The combined effects of visual and aural beauty are the main things that make Switzerland so attractive.

FLYING SWISS AIR And then there's the flying. A good place to start is the Rhone valley, the upper end of which is called the Goms where the World Championships at Fiesch took place. We pulled into Fiesch on a non-flying day and looked around. The entire valley is fairly narrnw herenot much more than a mile at its widest-with walls that reach over 4,000 feet and more at the peaks. The valley is a thermal alley that extends from the Grimsel Pass clown to Marigny and then up to Lake Geneva, a distance of approximately 140 km (87 miles). You can fly either way along the valley on either side, depending on the time of day. If you head northeast you can jump the Grimsel Pass and Furka Pass (almost 8,000 feet MSL) and continue on into Austria up to the Inn Valley past Innsbruck. It's been done before. We spent a few days lugging equipment and driving for the U.S. team, then finally I got my chance to fly in Switzerland. Actually the earlier flying was not all that attractive for a JUNE 1990

Hand-Thrown, 1 Chest-Mounted strong northerly wind was crossing the valley. In the Alps, the terrain does not lend itself to :Parachute with a high winds. Be it a mistral, foehn, sirocco, : Rocket-Fast levanter, bora, grimsel snake or any other peculiar howl, the tight valleys and rugged peaks I BRS! turn the whole uplands into a giant Maytag washing machine. The competitors were compelled to fly. I could choose my day and went out on one of the better ones. As it was I thennaled out with literally scores of pilots and spent two hours with a breathtaking view of the Aletsch glacier that oozes down from the sides of the Aletschorn, the Dreieckhorn and the Wannenhorn, all peaks over 13,000 feet just behind launch. Further back I could see other famous mountains including the Jungfran and the Eiger, then turned my gaze to the southwest to make out the distinctive shape of the Matterhorn. All considered, that one flight is worth the visit to Switzerland, but don't stop there. After exploring the air at Fiesch we headed toward Lake Geneva and the village of Leysin, high above the Rhone Valley where I used to live. My plan was to fly from the alpine pastures where I hiked and skied, but time and the closing of the lift conspired against this. I had to be content with reviewing old memories and watching the many paragliders float clown like colorful jellyfish. The one flight we did take in the area, however, was at Son Chaux above Villeneuve and Montreaux. You can drive up to this site or jump on a cog train in Montreaux that is well prepared to take your full-length glider. The site is often influenced by stable air from Lake Geneva, but the scenery and imposing cliff walls that you fly along make even a sled ride worth the effort. The vertical from the top to landing is some 5,400 feet. There arc many more sites throughout the country. As in other parts of the Alps, you don't need a site guide, for there are pilots everywhere who will tell you about this site and that, and when you get to this site or that you will find more pilots to tell you about other sites here and yon. Just be flexible and you 'II find all the flying you need. Be sure to bring along a few extra dollars, for living in Switzerland isn't cheap, although no place in the world charges as much as we do in the U.S. for changing sheets in a hotel. You'll want to sample some Swiss cheese (each canton has its specialty), meet some local talent (the mountain girls are rugged), down a fondue or two, blow an alpenhorn, yodel across a valley and, of course, grace the sky high over the marvelous peaks of the place the Romans called the land of the sun-Helvetia. •

I I

New "Holster" Model

You Suggested Changes. BRS Listened! BRS is pleased to incorporate your most popular suggestions into our latest version ofrocketdeploycd emergency parachute systems. You asked for another style of unit that could employ the common chest-mount location for the parachute. After a design and testing phase, BRS proudly offers the Holster model. We've worked with the best harness makers in the country to be sure their "BRS Option" met our demanding quality specifications. You can buy a harness from the following builders, with all the right modifications built in during manufacture. You can easily add a BRS Holster (rocket motor and activating system). Or ... your present harness can also be modified.

Center of Gravity (CG1000) Ultralight Soaring Software (Raymond) Wills Wing (Z-2) High Energy Sports C/oudbase (Chris Smith) This 2-pound "Ultimate Option" can bring you the rocket-fast deployment that "saved" GeoffLoyns in the Owens. As Jeff says: What's most important is the time to line stretch, not just the speed of canopy filling. "The BRS is your best chance of survival."

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TELL{IRIDE HANG GLIDING FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 10-15, 1990 Come fly hang gliding's premier site at the biggest and best festival of all!

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Don't miss the latest issue by failing to notify USHGA of your change of address! NAME._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ USHGA#_ _ __ OLD ADDRESS_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ CITY_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _STATE ZIP_ _ NEW ADDRESS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ ZIP_ _ CITY_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _STATE

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*Special Events * Slide Shows * Guest Speakers * Dance *Aerobatics Landing Prizes * Awards * Banquet Parachute Clinics * Lots of Fun And Great Flying) Send $ 7 0 pre-registration to: Telluride Air Force Box 456 Telluride, Co. 81435 For info call: (303) 728-4 772 or (303) 728-3041

CLASSIFIEDS 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 msted cables, tangs with noncircular holes, and on Rogallos, sails badly torn ortorn loose from their anchor points from and back on the keel and leading edges. If in doubt, many hang gliding businesses will be happy to give an objective opinion on the condition of equipment you bring them to inspect.

HP AT 158 -

Brand new, 0 hours. (206) 256-7935.

HP 1-112- Excellent condition, red L.E., yellow undersurface $550. (415) 969-0177. HP 1-1/2 - Red/gold/white. Excellent performance, $600. Mike (619) 576-2098.

SENSOR B MODEL - Very good condition. Red L.E., white T.E. $1,300. Magic 177: Full race, white and rainbow undersurface,

low airtime $1,400. Comet 166: orange L.E., white T.E., fair condition $300. (919) 768-5602 or (919) 723-2760 (Days). SENSOR B STD VG -$1,300. (206) 256-7935.

ROGALLOS

HP 1-1/2 - Blue/White, above keel hang point, extras, good shape. $630 or lrade for tandem glider. Andy (602) 774-2320.

AXIS l 3 -All options brand new <6 hrs. $2,500. AXIS 15 brand new <5 hrs. 7075 Battens $2,500. HP l <40 hrs. $1,200. Call (219) 762-5365.

HP \.[/2 - Very good condition. Low hours, looks and performs great. $750 OBO. Ken Pasterkiewicz (619) 2844765,

SENSOR 510-B - 3/4 Race with compensator, low hours, nice and light Sl,300 OBO. Mike (803) 834-5067.

AXIS 15 - Full Race, beautiful glider, excellent condition. $1,950 (303) 499-8236.

HP II Racer, i 989 - Clean, low hrs., extras, fluorescent ycllDw-green wedge. $2,000 or trade for 220 Dream. (818) 355-1622.

SENSOR 510 B-VG - 1988 3/4 Race, C conversion, Lt. blue L.E., Blue/Yellow lower surface. Will ship. $1,800. (608) 833-5515 evenings.

HP ll 1988 - Full Race w/speedbar, faired downtubes. Must sell. S 1,250. Call Robert@ (805) 496-1705.

SENSOR 510-C 6036 Bob.

JJ\ VEUN 208

SKYHA \VK 168 - Near mint condition. Low hours, with

ATLAS 16 - Excellent condition, black mylar L.E., red/ orange/yellow tips. Flies Great! $799 OBO (VA) (804) 722-7816. DALL VARTOS - New and demo., $580 and up. Trades okay. BRS chutes, easy wheels S3,995. Used Sport Euro. Pull Race 167, SI ,900. HP Jl, $1,950. (812) 288-7111. COMET I 165 - Red, white, good condition, S450. (916) 221-3654, (916) 527-4197. COMET 185 - Good condition. New side cables, $500. (805) 685-3677 evenings. Dane. COMET 2 185 - Nice custom asymmetric rainbow, $500 OBO. (619) 492-9939. DELTA WING X180 - Great condition, double surface, white/blue with speedbar S550. (203) 531-1442, eves. TWO DOUBLE SURFACE GLIDERS - Airstream harness, chute, varioS875. Lake Tahoe, NV (702) 831-6415.

-25 Min. nirtime. UP Sierra prone harness,

SENSOR 510 - 165, 1981 Excellent. Less lhan 30 hrs., speed bar, 2 spare downtubes. Can ship. S800. Evenings, Mario (513) 256-3888.

Full Race, $2,000 OBO. (801) 359-

chute, blue wheels S 1,000. (513) 825-6905.

harness. $850. (209) 431-8139.

KISS - Almost new, 50 hrs. total. Custom colors. Musi sacrifice, $2,500 ODO. (209) 586-6222.

SKYHAWK 168 - 40 hrs., W.W. Fly Lite deluxe with chute, Bell helmet. S1,2000BO. Floyd (CA) (805) 834· 207 l after 5:30 p.m.

LOWEST PRICES ON NEW UP, Moyes, Wills Wing, Delta Wing, Pacific Airwave Gliders. Aerotloats, sail and glider repair. (602) 453-6261. MAGIC KISS - All features plus neon leading edge and undcrsurfacc. Flies great and straight. Like new. 52,500. (201) 852-0211. MAGIC KISS - New November '89. Pink w/gray exponenlial stripes. Greal condition. Need cash. S 1,750 firm. (714) 858-9773 (anytime).

SKYHA WK 188 - Great condition, S l,300 OBO. (805) 498-7109 or (805) 496-7791. SKYHA WK 188 (919) 983-9064.

Excellent, 15 flights, I 2 colors. $650.

SKYHAWK 188 - Good condition. $925. Wills Wing cocoon, chute $475. (303) 728-5214. SPORT 167 EUROPEAN - Blue, good condition, easy handling. $1,500 OBO. (619) 492-9939.

DREAM 135 - Perfect condition, zero homs. Rainbow Sail Sl,800. (616) 399-6205 or 459-4469.

MAGIC KISS - Like new, 5 hrs., $2,500. New S2,700. Will split shipping (509) 627-3624.

SPORT 167 - Good shape. I3lue, rainbow, white. S l,200 080. (818) 349-0786 (Brent).

DREAM 240-0nly 15 flights, Blue wi1h nice rainbow at Apex. Excellenl condition, Sl,700 OBO. (619) 492-9939.

MAGIC III 166 - V.G., 4.4 sail, spare airfoil, downtubes. $750. (20 l) 852-021 l.

SPORT 167 EURO. -Excellent condition. Custom sail w/ spectrum cloth. S 1,700. (513) 236-2436.

LT. DREAM 220 - Firm cloth, nose cone, test flown only. 52,000. (206) 256-7935.

MAGIC IV 166 - V.G., speedbar, surfcoat L.E., faired tubes, 4.4 oz. M.B., excellent condition $1,400. (818) 3579479.

SPORT EURO. Race 167 - Aramid LE., bright red B.S., White top, excellent condition. $1,650. (7 l4) 677-6065.

185 SUPER DREAM - Pink and green, faired ctowntubes and speedbar. Less than 20 hrs., matching Eric Raymond harness, chute and helmet. Afro 8,000 cross country. Total package $3,000 OBO. (214) 987-9944. A TT ACK DUCK 160- with half battens, good condition. $600 or trade (602) 453-6261.

MAGIC IV RACER 166-Faired tubes. 6.6cloth, $1,450. (201) 850-3540. MAGIC IV 177 (206) 256-7935.

Full race, new, besl reasonable offer.

DUCK 180 - Centcrspread January of 1988. Excellent condition. $850. (209) 22 i- 7428.

MAGIC IV 177 -Streamlined downtubcs, sHfe edge available, wonderful handling, excellent sink rate. $1,200. (312) 929-1547.

GTR 162- red/white. $1,200. OBO (219) 654-3419/(219) 236-3340 Mike Haas, IN.

MAGIC IV 177 - Full race, 20 hrs. Perfect condition. $1,500. (503) 245-3047 collect.

HARRIER 147 - Very good condition, low ai11ime, perfect for small pilot. Mary (415) 641-5591.

NEW GLIDERS - Best Prices! Pacific Airwave, Wills Wings, Seeclwings, Delta. Silver Wings (703) 533-3244.

Southern California,

ProAir 1-180 1981 ~- Wills Wing cocoon harness with chute, vario, altimeter and compass. $500 for package. Call Angelo at (209) 661-7626.

HARRIER 177 - Vibrant colors. $500. (714) 770-4135 LVMSG.

HARRIER 177 - fine condition. All new sail work, leading edge. $800 OBO. (616) 399-6205 or 459-4469. HAVEN'T GOT $4,000 FOR A NEW GLIDER??? Let Cindy's "Magic Wand" give your sail a face-lift! Call: L/D (303) 440-3579. Check out our selection of QUALITY PRE-FLOWN GLIDERS! HP AT-Ahnost new, only 4 hrs. Why wait? $3,300. (312) 929-1547.

SPORT 180- Perfect condition. 8 flights. $2,200. (714) 678-6718. TIME TO SELL-C2-l65 Nice, $600. Esprit 16; 158 sq. ft., nice colors and handling, $700. CG- !000; chest zipper and more, black, 30 hrs., $400. W.W. Fly Lite cocoon; excellent condition, $175. Both for 5 '8" to 6' pilot. High Energy 20-gore chute, $225. All items negotiable. Call Dave@ (303) 728-4005. VISION MK IV 17 - Excellent condition, lots of extras, $ i ,800. Parachute, brand new, $300. Alex (818) 785-283 l. VISION MK IV 17 - 1989 full race. Custom full length rainbow, zippers. $1,700. Paul (714) 676-4425. VISION MK IV l 7 and 19 - 3DCG, camera zippers, 1rilam L.E. $1,935 ea. Test flown only, shipped anywhere. (303) 750-3226.

PROSTAR 160 - Excellent condition. Beautiful rainbow sail, recent annual. $650. (619) 582-8833.

VISION MK IV 19-Red/white/blue. Excellent condition. Low airJime. Losing weight- buying smaller glider. Will ship. S1,500. (804) 482-0826,

RA VEN 229 - Mint condition, under 10 hrs. Tandem rigged. $650 ODO. (NM) (505) 298-2552.

WANTED- Eipper Quicksilver, reasonable condilion. Call Randy (714) 680-4963.

1987 SENSOR B - 3/4 rncc, very good condition, extras, will ship. $1,250 U.S. (604) 383-6962.

WANTED - Used hang gliders and accessories in good condition. Action Soaring Center (209) 368-9665.

HANG GLIDING

CLASSIFIEDS WANTED - Used hang gliding equipment. Gliders, instruments, harnesses and parachutes. Airtime of San Francisco, 3620 Wawona, San Francisco, CA 94116. (415) SKY! 177. COLORADO HANG GLIDING (303) 278-9566 24 hours Comet lII 185 ................ Intro Price ............ $2,600 Magic Formula .............. Intro Price ............ $2,700 Magic KISS ................... Demo Price .......... $3,100 Magic Formula .............. Demo Price .......... S2,390 ..... S [ ,925 Vision MK IV 17, I 9 <3 hrs. ....... Lt. Dream 185,205 <15 hrs. ..... $1,480 Lt. Mystic 177,188 <20hrs..... ..... Sl,100 25 used gliders $500-S 1,800 1v!C, VISA, Discover, AMEX, accepted. All equipment guaranteed and shipped anywhere.

SEQUATCHIE VALLEY SOARING SUPPLY

Sales - Rentals - ln5truction - Repairs (615) 949-2301 Dream 165 - with wheels. Dbl. knee-hanger, spare tubes, low hours . .......................................... $ 1395 ........ $2395 Dream 220 - neon - demo. ........... Dream 240 - custom sail ............................ $2495 Raven 209 - real good condition ................... $ 67 5 ................ $2895 Sport 150 - beautiful ................ $1995 Sport 180 - low hours .... HP AT - hot demo... ........... $3295 Vision 18 - great shape .... .. S 895 GTR 162 - real clean... . ... $1695 XS - very nice, almost new . $2295 High Energy POD - new ...... .. S 399 Cloudbase cocoon - new ............ .. S 325 Great deals on all Wills Wing, Seed wings, Delta Wing, High Energy sports products and lots more!

GOLDEN WINGS (303) 278-7181

RIGID WINGS FLEDGE Jll -6 hrs. T.T. $900. (415) 728-7709

Vision MK IV 17, 19 Demos, (like new) .... S2,050 VISION 19 (USED) (EXCL COND) .......... $1,800 Spo11 167 Euro. Demo. (exec. cond.) ......... $2,700 SPORTAMER.167 (IOHRS)... ........ $2,000 HP-AT, Demo .. . ........ S3,200 PRO AIR 180 .... .... $650 Magic 3 ......... ......................... . ..... S700 ATLAS 176 ..... .... S475 POLARIS (SMALL) ................ $600 DUCK 160 ...................... ................ $ 600 CG!OOO HARNESS (NEW) ......................... $485 THE HANG GLIDING CENTER Magic Formula In stock .............................. New Magic KISS .............. .............. New Magic KISS Like new ............... ........ $2,500 150 Sport FR 63" CB.......... ....... Sl,900 167 Sport............ ........ $1,400 HP AT In stock ...... ....... New Demo HP AT. Custom lettering, almost new, immediate delivery. ....... $3,500 Sport 167 AT In Stock ........... ....... New Magic lII 166 Great Glider .... ....... S 1,200 ... New Vision MK IV 17/19 In stock ..... Vision MK IV 17/19 Used..... ....... SI ,200 ....... $700 229 Raven Used.... Equalizers Used S/M .................. ....... $425 CG 1,000 M Like new .... ........ S450 4206-K Sorrento Valley Blvd., San Diego, CA 92121. We have instruments and parachutes in stock (619) 450-9008. *Special !ravel incentives on some glider purchases.

SCHOOLS AND DEALERS

DESERT HANG GLIDERS - USHGA Certified School. Supine specialists. 4319 W. Larkspur, Glendale, AZ 85304. (602) 439-0789, 938-9550. ARKANSAS SAIL WINGS HANG GLIDING - Certified Instruction. Agent for Pacific Airwave, C.G. 1000. Soar 600' Haney's Point! 1601 N. Shackleford#l31-4. Little Rock, AR 72211 (501) 224-2186. CALIFORNIA ACTION SOARING CENTER - In Lodi Near Stockton. Personalized USHGA Certified Instruction, sales, and service. Emphasis on special skills and technics, T.O. & L. Major brands of gliders & accessories carried. 1689 Armstrong Road, Lodi, CA 95242 (209) 368-9665. AIRTIME OF SAN FRANCISCO - Hang Gliding & paragliding. Lessons -sales - service - rentals. UP, Pacific Airwave, Seedwings, Wills Wing, High Energy, Pro Designs, HiLite, Condor and more. Large selections of secondhand e4uipment. Certified instruction (USHGA & APA). Next to Fort Funston, 3620 Wawona, San Francisco, CA 94116. (415) SKY-1177.

ALABAMA

LMFP - Two hours from Binningham (sec our ad under Tennessee.) (404) 398-3541. ALASKA ADVENTURE WINGS - Come tow over wilderness. Fly among North America's highest peaks. Hang Gliding, fill:: ~ ' Tours, Towing, Tandem, Sales, Certified ]nstruction. Live the Alaskan Adventure' (907) 455-6379. P.O. Box 83305, Fairbanks, AK 99708.

AIRTIME UNLIMITED-SOUTHLAND HANG GLIDING SCHOOL - Pacific Airwave gliders in srock. Tandem instrucLion, ATOL towing. \Ve need your used glider trade-ins. c/o David Engel, 19046 Singing Wood Cir.. Trabuco Canyon, CA 92679 (714) 589-0109. CHANDELLE HANG GLIDING CENTER - USHGA Ce11ified school., The best damn hang gliding shop in the world. Dealers for \Vills \Ying, Pacific Airwave, Delta \Ving, Moyes, Sccdwings and High Energy. Five minutes from Fo1t Funston. 488 Manor Plaza, Pacifica, CA 94044. (415) 359-6800.

ARIZONA ARIZONA AIR WAVE - USHGA certified instruction. Pacific Airwave sales and service. (602) 395-0649. ARIZONA WINDSPORTS -Largest hang gliding center in the Southwest. Lessons utilizing the world's first manmade trainer hill. All our sites face every \Vinci direction. Highest percent of flyable student days in America. Dealer for Pacific Airwave, Wills Wing, High Energy, Ball and Seagull classic parts. 1327 E. Bell De Mar Dr., Tempe, AZ 85283 (602) 897-7121.

FOOTLAUNCHED FLIGHT SERVICES - Tandem instructional and introductory flights over beautiful Santa Barbara. Robert Brown, Tandem Instructor. Private, group instruction, and flight excursions. P.O. Box 22343, Santa Barbara, CA 93121. (805) 966-2962. HANG FLIGHT SYSTEMS - DIRECTLY across the street from WILLS WING. DEMOS and rentals available to qualified pilots. HP-AT small, medium & large SportA T's, Kiss, Mark IV, Genesis, Dreams and Axis. FLY 'EM ALL and decide what you like. We sell and service all major brands of gliders and accessories. USHGA certified XC clinics and training program. 1202 E. \Valnut, Unit M, Santa Ana, CA 92701 (714) 542-7444 Near Disneyland.

r.--------------------------------------, USHGA CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING ORDER FORM Section (please circle) 40 cents per word, $4.00 minimum. Boldface or caps $.95 per word. (Does not include first few words which are automatically caps.) Special layouts or tabs $22 per column inch. (phone numbers-2 words, P.O. Box-1 word) photos-$25.00 line art logos-$15.00 Deadline-20th of the month, six weeks before the cover date of the issue in which you want your ad to appear (i.e., June 20 for the August issue). Prepayment required unless account established. Please enter my classified ad as follows:

Rogallos Emergency Chutes Parts & Accessories Business & Employment Miscellaneous

Schools and Dealers Ultralights Rigid Wings Publications & Organizations

Begin with 19_ _ issue and run for consecutive issue(s). My check 0, money order 0, is enclosed in the amount of

$_ _ _ _ __ NAME: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ ADDRESS: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

JULY 1990

CLASSIFIEDS HANG GLIDER EMPORIUM - The best training hill in the west is in Santa Barbara, a hang gliding VACATION PARADISE. High quality PERSONALIZED instruction focusing on the skills that most affect your SAFETY. Call for vacation info and glider invenlory. Tues.-Fri. 10-5, Sat. 10-4. 613 N. Milpas, Santa Barbara, California 93 !03 (805) 965-3733.

WINDGYPSY - USHGA Certified school specializing in personalized tandem flight training. Full service sales & repair Facility in Lake Elsinore - call for site info. Wide range of new & used gliders & flight accessories in stock. Mexico Hang Gliding Tours. Paul Burns, 33041 Walls St., Lake Elsinore, CA 92330 Phone (714) 678-5418; FAX (714) 678-5425.

IDAHO TREASURE VALLEY HANG GLIDING - USHGA CF!, service/sales, Pacific Airwave, UP, American \Vindwright, La Mouette, I 17 I 6 Fairview, Boise, ID 83704. (208) 3767914. ILLINOIS

WINDSPORTS SOARING CENTER - Los Angeles' largest and most complete school since I 974. We specialize in personalized tandem inslrnction, sales and repair. Spend your winter vacation flying with us! 16145 Victory Blvd., Van Nuys, CA 91406 (818) 988-0111. "Professionals You

HIGH ADVENTURE-Full service facility located on site at Southern California's famous mile high mountains, Crestline. From sand hill to XC thermal flying, our 20 tandem accelerated training program is quick and thorough. Instrnctor Rob McKenzie. Dozens of new and used gliders for sale or rent. Other services include, weather information, mountain shuttle, towing seminars, XC trips, repairs, ratings. (714) 883-8488. THE HANG GLIDING CENTER - Located in beautiful San Diego. USHGA instruction, equipment rentals, local flying tours. Spend your winter vacation flying with us. We proudly offer Vv'ills Wing, Pacific Airwavc, High Energy, Ball and we need your used equipment. 4206-K Sorrento Valley Blvd., San Diego, CA 92121 (619) 450-9008. MISSION SOARING CENTER - Serving the flying community since 1973. Complete lesson program with special attention to quality take-off and landing skills. All major brands of gliders, parachutes and instruments sold. Sail repair and air frame service available. 1116 Wrigley \Vay, Milpitas, CA 95035. (408) 262-1055. NATURAL HIGH SPORTS - Lessons, equipment, jewelry. Debbi Renshaw-Armenta, P.O. Box 361, Running Springs, CA 92382. (714) 867-7961.

Can Trust!"

RA VEN HANG GLIDING SCHOOL - Largest and most popular in the ivlidwest. Traditional curriculum, ridge soaring, mountain clinics, tandem by Brad Kushner. Sales/ service/accessories for all major brands. 300 N. Green Bay Rd., Waukegan, IL 60085 (708) 360-0700.

COLORADO

MlCI-JlGAN

COLORADO HANG GLIDING - USHGA Certified School, dealer all brands. Towing and paraglider inst. Bell helmets. (303) 278-9566.

PRO HANG GLIDERS - Serving since 1978. USHGA ce11ified flight school. Towing specialist. Step-towing or thermal-trolling for qualified pilots. Beginner through advanced lessons. Observer. \Vills \Ying, Bennett, ivlanta. Contact Nonnan Lesnow, 569 \V. Annabelle, I-laze! Park, Ml, 48030. (313) 399-9433.

COLORADO WIND PARK - "Come up for Air!" Sales, service, complete instruction on our 500-foot, 360-dcgree training hill. S JO/day lodging. Dealing all brands. PO Box 94, Hartse!, Colorado 80449. (719) 836-2240 (weekends only) or (303) 762-6505. EAGLE'S NEST School of Hang Gliding- USHGA certified school. Dealer for Delta Wing, Pacific Airwave and Wills Wing. P.O. Box 25985, Colorado Springs, CO 80936. (7 I 9) 594-0498. GOLDEN WINGS - Sales, service. USHGA certified instruction. Tandem Towing Instruction. Dealers for \Vills Wing, Pacific Airwave, Delta Wings, Moyes, UP. ClinicsSoaring, Parachute, Instructor, Mtn. Tours, Towing. I I 08 Miners Alley, Golden, CO 80401. (303) 278-7181.

TORREY FLIGHT PARK, 11\C. - At the launch of the world famous Torrey Pines Glider Port, one of San Diego's highlights! Unmatched convenience for pilots and spectators. Refreshments and souvenirs at the Cliftl1angcr Cafe. Certified Training program featuring tandem soaring lessons. New, used, rental and demo equipment by Delta \\ling and UP. 2800 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037 (619) 452-3202. TRUE FLIGHT CONCEPTS - USHGA Certified Instruction, Sales & Service. Become a better pilot in less time with our small personalized classes & tandem instmction. Our head instructor has over l 2 years teaching experience. Only minutes from our local Kagel ~1ountain !lying site. 13243 Gladstone Ave., Sylmar, CA 91342. (818) 367-6050. 1

NEVADA HIGH SIERRA SPORTS -Spectacular Sierra tours, tandem & lessons. USHGA certified training and ratings. Dealers for Wills Wing, Pacific Airwave, Delta Wing, UP. Fly the Sie,rns with a full-service shop. 2303 North Carson St., Carson City, NV 89701 (702) 885-1891 or (702) 885-1970. NEW JERSEY

L/D ENTERPRISES -- Frame and sail repair; Parts and accessories, Cindy Drozda, 5000 Butte #183, Boulder, CO 80301 (303) 440-3579.

MOUNTAIN WINGS -Look under New York.

PEAK PERFORMANCE PARAGLIDING SCHOOL Paragliding instruction/equipment sales. P.O. Box 213, Crested Butte, CO 81224. (303) 349-5961.

UP OVER NEW MEXICO, INC. - Instruction, sales, service. Sandia Mountain guides. \Vills, Secdwings, Pacific Airwave, Delta, Moyes. Albuquerque, NM (505) 821-8544.

CONNECTICUT

NEW YORK

MOUNTAIN WINGS -Look under New York.

AAA MOUNTAIN WINGS HANG GLIDING CENTER AND FLIGHT PARK - Base of ELLENVILLE MTN. Four exclusive training hills. Areas only dealer for Pacific Airwave, UP, Seedwings and Delta \Ying with demos in stock. We arc the largest, most complete H.G. accessory and repair shop of its kind in the country. Many new and used gliders in stock. R/C supplies and kits, Ultra Pod camera systems. VISA and MASTERCARD accepted. Stop in and get your flight pass and gate combo. 150 Canal St., Ellenville, NY 12428. (914) 647-3377. In N.E. 1-800-5257850.

FLORIDA

PINE CREST AIR PARK - Landing area for Crestline. Launch info. for schools, lodging, area flying sites. Contact Juanita Jackson evenings at (714) 882-4803. SKYDANCE PARAGLIDING COi\-lPANY-San Francisco's premier paragliding school. Advanced APA certified instruction, sales, para tours. Supplier of new, used and demo equipment by Pro Design, Hilitc, Fircbird and UP. Best prices - We ship anywhere in the U.S. 250 Alpine St.. San Rafael, CA 94901.. (415) 456-PARA.

T-N-T HANG GLIDING, INC.-Know how to flyO Want to learn to fly? Come see Michigan's first ATOL launch system in action. (313) 382-3977.

MIAMI HANG GLIDING, INC. - Certified school specializing in personalized tandem flight training. f<ull service sales and parts for all gliders, makes and models. For more info. Call (305) 667-2392 or (305) 962-6968. LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK - Sec ad under Tennessee. (404) 398-3541. GEORGIA BALLOON FACTORY INC. OF SAVANNAH-Offering Pacific Airwave gliders and accessories. Also center of mass towing and instruction: 824 E. DeRenne Ave., Savannah, GA 31405. (912) 354-3039 or (912) 756-2696 after 6:00 p.m. LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK uuder Tennessee. (404) 398-3541.

NEW MEXICO

FLY II!GH HANG GLIDING, INC. - Serving S. New York, Connecticut, Jersey areas (Ellenville Mtn.). Area's EXCLUSIVE Wills Wing dealer/specialist. Also all other major brands, accessories. Certified school/instruction. Teaching since 1979. Area's most INEXPENSIVE prices/ repairs. Excellent secondary instruction ... if you've finished a program and wish to continue. Ply the mountain! ATOL towing! Tandem flights! Contact: Paul Voight, RD 2, Box 561, Pinc Bush, NY 12566, (914) 744-3317. SUSQUEHANNA FLIGHT PARK - Cooperstown, NY. Certified Instruction, Sales and Service for all major manufacturers. 40 acr~. park, 5 lraining hills, jeep rides, bunk l10usc, camping, hot showers, 600' N\V ridge. \Ve have the best facilities in N. New York state lo teach you how to !ly. RD 2, Box 348A, Cooperstown, NY 13326, (315) 866-6153.

See our ad THERMAL UP, INC. - Most complete hang gliding shop in area. Located on top of Ellenville Mountnin. USHGA Certi fled Instructor and Observer. Concentrating on hang gliding instruction with emphasis on launching and landing

HANG GLIDING

CLASSIFIEDS Lechniqucs. Dealer for all major brands. Offering expert sales and service with lowest price in area. Large mail order inventory. Tom Aguero, P.O. Box 347, Cragsmoor, NY 12420. (914) 647-3489. !\ORTH CAROLlNA FLY AMERICA, Corolla Flight-All introductory tlights and lessons taught by USHGA lvlaster Rated, Advanced Tandem Instructor. Greg Dc\Volf instructs new through advanced students with ATOL and Tandem. Fly beautiful Currituck Beach on the Outer Banks. Tow from your blanket or doorstep. All llights guaranteed 1500'-2000'. Best and most thorough instruction available in U.S. Best safely record. No glider carrying, no climbing, no sand in your face. Call Greg De Wolf (919) 261-6166 or write: Corolla Flight, Box 1021, Killy Hawk. NC 27949. KITTY I-IA WK KITES, INC. -P.O. Box 340, Nags Head. NC 27959 (919) 441-4124. Learn 10 hang glide on Jockey's Ridge, the largest sand dune on the east coast, just south of where the \Vright Brothers' first flight took pince. Beginner and advanced lesson packages and camps offered. Advanced tandem tow instruction, I 500 ft. plus up. Dealer for all major brand gliders, complete inve11Lory of new and used gliders, accessories and parts. OHIO NORTH COAST HANG GUDING - Cenified Instruction. New & used gliders. Specializing in Pacific Airwave gliders. Mike Del Signore, 1916 W. 75th St., Clcvelancl. OH. 44!02 (216) 631-1144.

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FUGHT PARK -Since 1978, Southeast's largest USHGA-ccrtificd mountain flight school. Complete training, from gras-;y, gently-sloping training hills to soaring high above Lookout Mountain. Our specialty: getting you your first mountain nights. Lesson packages, USHGA ratings, glider and mountain bike rentals, camping, local site information. Largest inventory of new and used hang gliders and mountain bikes, harnesses, helmets, instruments, T-shirts. Repair services. \Ve buy used gliders, equipment! Send S 1.00 for brochure, rates, directions, accommodations information. T\', enty minutes from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Route 2. Box 215-H, Dept. HG, Rising Fawn, GA 30738. (404) 398-3541 or 398-3433. 1

SEQUATCHIE VALLEY SOARING SUPPLY, INC. Dealers for all major brands. Small training classes, with USHGA certified instruction. including tandem flights with group rates available. Famous radial ramp located just across the street. Great first mountain flight location with a huge landing zone and camping available with a comfortable clubhouse. Fly over 100 miles of ridges and enjoy challenging thermals with two launches, soon to be three, right here in "The hang gliding capital of the East." Fully stocked pro shop. Rentals, storage, USHGA ratings and all the latest fashions. Proud dealers for Wills Wing, Seedwings and Delta \Ving gliders with reasonable pricing on all products. Brochure, maps. site info., Tennessee Tree Toppers Club memberships available. Visa, Mastcrclrnrge and Discover Card accepted. For personal service that you can trust call S\IS, Rt. 2, Box 80, Dunlap, TN 37327 (615) 9492301.

EMERGENCY PARACHUTES ALL BRANDS - Bought, sold, and repacked. Inspection and repack $20.00 Parachutes, bridles, inspected and replaced. Airtime of S.F., 3620 Wawona, San Francisco, CA 94116. (415) SKY-1177. SPECIAL 14-gore Hanbury Super slim only for reserve use. (303) 278-9566.

Super small,

PARTS & ACCESSORIES

BELL SOARING HELMETS -All sizes in stock. Send hat size and S 129 to: NAS Distributing, P.O. Box I 170 I, Denver, CO 80211 or use VISA, MC, AMEX, Discover at (303) 278-9566 24 hrs.

TEXAS MARIO MANZO - Certified instruction, repair, inspection. CG-1000, 2259 S. Smithville Rel., Dayton, OH 45420. (513) 256-3888 (eves.) PENNSYLY ANIA MOUNTAIN \VINGS -

AUSTIN AIR SPORTS - Still the one in central Texas, quality service since 1978. Instruction, sales, rental, and a complete airframe & sail repair facility. 1712 \Vaterston, Austin, TX 78703 (512)474-1669.

Look under New York.

PENNSYLVANIA SKY HIGH - Certified instruction. tandem, service, PacAir. Philadelphia (215) 527-1687.

KITE ENTERPRISES - Instruction, sales, repairs, platform towing, Dallas, North Texas area. 21 I Ellis, Allen, TX 75002 (214) 996-7706 daytime, (214) 727-3588 nights and weekends. Dealer Pacific Airwave.

TENNESSEE CRYSTAL AIR SPORT MOTEL- at Raccoon Mountain; Bunkhouse, private rustic rooms, regular & waterbeds, video in-room movies, private jacuzzi room, pool, sky gear gifts. fliers work program. FFI: 4328 Cumming:-, Hwy., Chattanooga, TN 37409. (615) 821-2546. Chuck & Shari Toth. HA WK AIRS PORTS - New and improved hang gliding! Attention Novice and beginners! New 360 degree training hill designed and built specifically for you. Convenient!) located. Fun! Fun! Fun! Clinch lvhn. - The longest ridge, two launches. The popular light wind indicator \Vindsok. Brochures available. Your satisfaction is the key to our continued growth and success. Hawk Air Sports, Inc., 251 North Boyd's Creek Rd., Sevierville. TN 37862, (615J 453-1035.

FINGER FAIRINGS

.i • Always there when you need them • Warm, comfortable, durable, slide easily across control bar • Instant bare hand dexterity for launch, CB, chute, camera • Quality construction, V.t·in. neoprene, nylon inside and out • Available in red or black S, M, or L only $32.50 dealer inquiries invited

THE AIRWORKS

3900 Van Buren NE Albuquerque, NM 87110 (505)

JULY 1990

RRA - AUSTIN, TX - A difference in Region 11. 4811 Red River St., Austin. TX 78751. (512) 467-2529. UTAH WASATCH WINGS - USHGA certified hang gliding school, dcalerf) for \Vills \Ying. iv1oycs and Pacific Airwavc. Flight operations at Point of the Mountain. Call Gordon (801) 277-1042.

BLACKHAWK BODYSACK CG HARNESS-with case, custom made, $395 including shipping, also Pods $395. Silver Wings (703) 533-1965. BRAND NEW MAXON RADIOS -S175 shipped' Colorado residents add 3.5'7. sales tax. Colorado Wind Park, PO Box 94, Hansel, Colorado 80449 (303) 762-6505.

VIRGINIA SILVER WINGS, INC. - Certified instruction & equipment sales. N. YA. (703J 533-1965. WASHINGTON AIRPLA Y'N PRO SHOP & Hang Gliding School. The largest full time, full ~ervicc hang gliding shop in \Vashington. All major brands sold and serviced. 800 i'viercer, Seattle, \VA 98109. (206)467-8644. CAPITAL CITY HANG GUDERS - Instruction, sales, ')ervice; \Vil ls \Vin!!. UP & Seedwings. Olympia, \VA (206) 459-8389. C

INTERNATIONAL DEALERS SWITZERLAND SWISS ALP HANG GLIDING SAFARI-For quick, easy flying i'vlay to October, call or write Ron Hurst, Jostens tr. 21, 8854 Galgcncn, Swilzcrlancl, Dir. Dial USA 011-41-55645229. FAX ff: 011-41-:i5-6~5223.

CLOUDBASE INSTRUMENTS - ghl350c Digital altimeter. Temperature compensated, accurate, mounting options, affordable, $149.00 2464 El Camino Real, Suite 513, Santa Clara, CA 95051 (408 i 729-4860.

884-6851

CLASSIFIEDS MAXON 4-CHANNEL, 5-WATT RADIOS - One hang gliding frequency installed. One-year parts and labor, $265.00 (702) 452-5554. MAXON RADIOS - $325. New synthesized. programmable VHF FM 5 watts. Inclucles 6 channels (3 USHGA and 3 weather), charger, case, antenna and warranty. Best prices on ivlaxon handhcld, mobile and accessories plus fa'it, reliable service facility. I-watt Maxon $169.95. Quantity discounts available. Pendulum Sports, Inc. (719) 539-3900. PACIFIC KITES PRONE HARNESS - Corclura construction, padded, black, used twice, S250. Benet Sommers. NY (518) 561-4898. DON'T PAY FOR A NAME, PAY FOR QUALITY. High quality short shell, open ear helmets at an affordable price. MEETS & EXCEEDS the new 1988 DOT standards. Well finished Brushed nylon liner with High strength Polycarbonate shell. ONLY $55.00. Golden Wings: Colornclo's New Hang Gliding Supply Source, (303) 278-7181.

PARAGLIDING EQUIPMENT FOR SALE - A complete line of equipment and accessories available. \Vhatcvcr your needs, from Alpine descents to ocean, thermal, and ridge soaring, we have it. PEAK PERFORMANCE PARAGLIDERS INC., P.O. Box 213, Cresled lltttte, CO, 81224. Tel/Fax (303) 349-5961.

THERMAL SNOOPER®---- The exciting new soaring instrument. Proven to indicate nearby thermals and more. For competition or just fun. Own one for just 598 check or money order lo: Digi-Log Circuits Co., 5711 Tannahill Circle, I-luntsville, AL, 35802, LSA. Satisfaction and 12 month warranty. (205) 881-7886. T-SHIRTS - f'ree catalog. Blue Horizons, P.O. Box 695, Goleta, CA 93116. TUBING, WHEELS, BOLTS, BRACKETS, DACRON plus much more. Free tubing price sheet or send S5 for complete catalog. Leading Edge Air Foils, Inc .. 331 S. 14th Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904. Phone (719) 632-4959. ULTRALINE - From the original Ultraline source Cajun Hang Gliding. 1/4". $145.00 clelivered and 3/16", $95.00 delivered. 110 Kent Circle, Lafayette, LA 70508. (318) 981-8372.

"Essential for safe, relaxed flying." - LARRY TUDOR. For safer launches, easier ground-handling and comfort aloft, ny in confidence with gloves by Sk)•lifc® -the choice of the lasl two U.S. World Teams. Features soft deerskin with textured rubber strips sewn to palms and fingers for the grip that's STRONGER THAN TURBULENCE- but without white-knuckle effort and fatigue. S,M,L,XL $44.95 PPD, XXL $47.95, XXXL $49.95. NY residents acid 8 1/4% tax. ©1990 Sky life®, 345 \V 21st St., New York, NY IOOll Tel: 212-929-4379. KEVLAR FULL FACE-Superlite full face cover helmet. Excellent vision, yet cold weather protection, $295. Visors $25. Pendulum Sports, Inc. (719) 539-3900. USA La Mouette -

La Mouette parts, gliders, trikes,

UNIVERSAL TOW RELEASE - Measures only I 3/4" x 7/8" x 1/2". Replaceable lines. 1/8" Tow line - $125.00. Available now -line recovery parachute. Loads in 10 seconds. Also custom water ballast packs. Pilot Support Systems, P.O. Box 49740, Austin, TX 78765. (512) 2668006. QUICK RELEASE CARABINER - Braking 10,000 lbs. $24.95. Extra 5/16 ball lock pin SI 0. Dealers wanted. Patent pending. Thennal, 19431-41 Business Center Dr., Northridge, CA 91324.

NEW - NEW - NEW! USHGA CORDUROY CAPS with rnatching braid. Embroidered with colorful '·soaring" hang glider. Specify white or blue. $9.95 plus $2.00 S/H. USHGA, P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933.

SAILMAKING & RIGGING SUPPLIES - All fabric types. Massachusetts Motorized, P.O. Box 542-G, Cotuit, MA 02635. (413) 736-2426.

NEW - NEW - NEW' USHGA LAPEL PINS - Colorful design, epoxy dome with military clutch. S4.95 plus $1.25 S/H. USHGA, P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933.

$$$SA VE MONEY$$$- Make downtubes in seconds with your own custom-made JIGMASTER drilling tool. Send $32.95 to JIGMASTER, 4175 Lacy Lane, Suite 36, Colorado Springs, CO 80916, or call (719) 596-4284.

X-C SMOKE BOMBS-$4.00. Signal mirror, $6.00. Jack the Ripper cutaway knife, $20.00. Pendulum Sports, Inc. (719) 539-3900.

paragliders and accessories. l 1716 Fairview, Boise, Idaho 83704. (208) 376-7914. Dealer inquiries welcome.

SEN I Ek SENTEK SVAI ALTIMETER with audio vario. ACCURATE to 20,000 ft; EXTREMELY LOW TEMPERATURE DRIFT: 60 ft. from 32° F to 125° F; RF! shielded; adjustable to zero at LZ; low battery warning; COMPACT 4x3xl.5 in. and VERY AFFORDABLE, now $229. MODEL SVI audio-only vario, very sensitive, audio for up and down, only $99! SENTEK 14327 27th Dr., Mill Creek, WA 98012 (206) 377-9575.

LINDSAY RUDDOCK VARI OS - Considered by good pilots on all 5 continents as the very best sensitivity and stability that money can buy. Sold all over the world for most of the ]ast decade. Customized for each pilot with choices from: altimeter, airspeed, averager, stopwatch, 2 zero's, TE, dual battery, QNE, millibars, switched ranges, metric/english, colored case, etc. Prices $600-$800. Not the cheapest but definitely the best. We also sell Pacific Airwave performance gliders. Call or write for more info.: Bob Fisher, M & B Associates, 11003 Oasis, Houston, TX 77096. (713) 728-4146, FAX 728-0438. VISA/Mastercard accepted.

SHOP MANAGERS!! We can supply your needs for: Tubing, Cable, Helmets, Steel carabiners & Perlon. Base tube "COMFORT GRIPS". Also!! The brand new parachute bridle Swivel "PARA-SWIVEL". Save money & time. Call us for a Dealer price list. GOLDEN WINGS: COLORADO'S NEW HANG GLIDING SUPPLY SOURCE. I 108 MINERS ALLEY, GOLDEN CO 80401 (303) 278-7181.

HUSINESS AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ATTENTION - LICENSED HANG GLIDING INSTRUCTORS. Contact us for free information on opening your own Paragliding School. We provide everything you need to start a schoo], and train you to use our proven methods of instrnction. Free introductory Paragliding ground school and f1ight to Licensed Hang Gliding [nstructors. For infomiation on your own Paragliding School, contact: PEAK PERFORMANCE PARA GLIDERS INC., P.O. Box 213, Crested Butte, CO 81224. Tel/Fax (303) 349-5961. ATTENTION - Postal jobs! Start S11.41/hour! For application info. call l-(602)-838-8885, Ext. M-15034, 6 a.m.-10 p.m., 7 days. INSTRUCTORS WANTED - Prefer certified but will train qualified people. Advancement opportunities include tour guiding and management. Western Hang Gliders, P.O. Box 28882, Marina, CA 93933. (408) 384-2622. MAKE $750 NEXT WEEKEND - $6.95 for informative book. Rivett Publishing, 2435 E. North St., Suite 138, Greenville, SC 29615.

HANG GLIDING

CLASSIFIEDS charged for each line art logo and $25.00 for each photo. Hold face or caps within the text $.95 per word. Please underline words to be bold. Special layouts of tabs .$22.00 per colnmn inch. AD DEADLINES: All ad copy. instructions, changes, additions and cancellations must be received in writing I l/2 months preceding rhe cover date, i.e. November 20 for the January issue. Please make checks payable to USHGA: Classified Advertising Dept. HANG GLIDING MAGAZINE. P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs. CO 80933 (719) 632-8300.

\.fOUNTAIN \VJNGS - Is looking for advanced hang gliding and paragliding instructors. Salaries negotiable. Full and part-time position~ available. Manager position available-requires knowledge of computer systems. Call Greg or Judy at (914 i 64 7-3377. Send resume lo 150 Canal St .. Ellenville. NY 12428. WANTED - Advanced Pilots lo represent Tow Launch Systems (the best selling LO\\' system of 1989). Product demonstration and -;ales exp. preferred. Thi!:i is an cxccllem opportunity to get more airtime and offset your expenses. Dealer discount on first system purchased, (S 1,695). Fo1 details call Chris al TLS i512J 824-1803.

STOLEN WINGS STOLEN FROM SALT LAKE CITY. UTAH 2/90 - 167 Sport Euro. Full Race. All white with clayglow orange undersurface. S300 reward for information leading to recovery. Call Dave Rodriguez at (801) 572-1000.

PUBLICATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS ROCKY MOUNTAIN SITE GUIDE - lncludine Nationals and the National Hy-In Sites. S5.75 to RMHGA. P.O. Box 28181. Lakewood. CO 80228. SOARING - Monthly magazine of The Soaring Society of America, Inc. Cover~ all aspects of soaring flight. Full membership S35. Info kit with sample copy S3. SSA, PO Box E. Hobbs, NM 88241. VIDEOS & FILMS

FIREBTRD COBRA PARAGLIDER-241112, yellow. pink. oran2:e. Stolen from car in Kentfield, CA on 4-15-90. Call (415) 456-7272. POTENTIAL HOME OF WORLD HANG GLIDING DISTANCE RECORD- Three launching sites overlooking Goose Lake Valley. Soar from the famous Abert Rim. Come to this mile high city for wide open spaces, friendly folk') and beautiful scenery. Contact The Lake County ChamberofCommcrce. S 13 Center St.. Lakeview. OR 97630 (503) 947-6040. CSHGA EMBLEM T-SHIRTS - The original. revised for the 90's! Bright neon colors. Your choice: a white tank top or black t-shirl. Both ]()()'!,. cotton. Please specify type and size. Available in S. M. L, XL. Only S9.95 each (what a deal')© S2.00 S/11. Colorado residents add 6.5'7c tax. Send to USI-IGA. P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Spring,. CO 80933 (719) 632-8300. USHGA 1989 World Team Sweatshirts - We still have limited quantities in sizes S, XXL. S 19.95 © $3.00 S & H. Call USHGA to reserve one for yourself' Limited time only. Call Jeff at (719) 632-8300 for details.

A TOL TRuck TowiNG & CROSS CouNrny FlyiNG IN WEST TEXAS Wirll LARRY TudoR ANd JoE BoSTik

FLATLAND FL YING puts you in the control bar with Larry Tudor and Joe Bostik on flights of up to 220 mile~. Get a good look at truck towing in action, with lots of aerial footage, including tandem flying. Incl mies short music video, "Airplay!" Also available, Moumains High and TELLURIDE!. showing Colorado mountain flying and aerobatics at their best. All tapes are S37 (CA residents add state tax) plus S3 shipping (S6 foreign). Flatland Flying also available in PAL format on foreign orders for $42. Robert Reiter, 800 Heinz Street #9, Berkeley, CA 94710 (415J649-8 I l I MISCELLANEOUS NEW - NEW - NEW - USHGA NEON CAPS. Hot Pink or Wild Yellow w/braid. Full color embroidered with Mountain Glider design. S9.95 plus S2.00 S/H. USHGA, P.O. Box 8300. Colorado Springs. CO 80933. HANG GLIDE IN ENGLAND-Sta\' in a 200-i•ear-old cottage set in a delightful village Ideation clu;·ing the summer of 1990!! English pilot wishes to arrange home exchange. If interested, write to: Rob Anderson, 8 Newbold Road, Desford, Leicestershire LE9 99S, ENGLAND. JOHN HEINEY SEMINARS - Balloon drop, photography, and aerobatic safety seminars available to your club or school. Learn by doing in weekend seminars. Individual attention to each piloL, intermediate through advanced. Frn information call or write: l '.25 \V. Cordoba, San Clemente, CA 92672 (714) 361-0169. NEW - NEW - NEW - ··Mtn. Glider·· T-shirt. 100'7c cotton. Multi-colorecl design on the back with blcndccl design on the front. Sizes S. M. L. XL. SI0.95 ©S3.00 S & H. USHGA. P.O. Box 8300. Colorado Springs. CO 80933. (719) 632-8300. JULY 1990

ULTRA GOLD WINGS - YOUR STATEMENT OF FLIGHT (in fine jewelry) Available in 14K or S.S. A choice of stud or French wire earrings. $129.00 14K. $49.00 S.S. Necklace including chain - S99.00 14K. S29.00 S.S. Versatile pin of flight $79.00 14K. S24.00 S.S. We design custom and personalized wings, and offer satisfaction guaranteed. Contact Dave Morgan, 130 F St .. Salida. CO 81201 (719) 539-7612. Prices 14K S.S. French wires or swd earrings $129.00 $49.00 Necklace with chain 99.00 29.00 79.00 24.00 Pin X-C FLIGHT LOG BOOK - Very clean. 64 pages. For those who like to document their flights. $3.95 plus S 1.25 SI H. USl·IGA. P.O. BOX 8300. Colorado Springs, CO. 80933. HA VE YOU SENT FOR YOUR NEW 1990 USI-IGA MERCHANDISE ORDER FORM TODA y-, FREE! The rate for classified advertising is S.40 per word (or group of characters). Minimum charge. S4.00. A fee of $15.00 is

INDEX TO ADVERTISERS AirWorks ................................................. 49 ATOL ...................................................... 41 Ball Varios .............................................. 20 Brede! Tours ............................................ 23 BRS ......................................................... 43 Cloud base Instruments ........................... .45 Daekeo .................................................... 44 Flytec ....................................................... 40 Golden Wings ......................................... 20 Hall Bros................................ . ...... 23 Hang Ventures ........................................ 40 High Energy Sports ................................. 23 Lookout Mt. Flight Park ......................... 12 Maxon ..................................................... 21 MBNA ..................................................... 33 Morningside Hang Gliders ........................ 4 Moyes ........................................................ 7 Old Kings Flite Park ............................... 23 Pacific Airwave ................................ 20,BC Peak Marketing ....................................... 11 Popstar ..................................................... 40 Roberts Glider Instruments ..................... 35 Ron Hurst ................................................ 20 Safari Tahoe ............................................ 36 Seed wings ............................................... 24 Sentek ...................................................... 40 Sierra Clouclbase ..................................... 20 Sport Aviation Publications .................... 35 Summit Magic ......................................... 36 Telluride Festival .................................... 45 Torrey Flight Park ..................................... 1 Trans seas International ........................... 22 Trouper Tee's ............................................ 4 UP International ................................. 53,56 USHGA ............................ IFC,2,4, 13,15,39 Wills Wing .............................................. 16 Windgypsy .............................................. 23 Xcalibur ................................................... 52

PERFORMANCE DESIGNS PARAGLIDERS PROUDLY PRESENTS

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39 CELL EXCALIBUR -- Our Expert-Only Paraglider The highest performing Paraglider available anywhere in the world.

"The 39 Cell Excalibur has the highest glide ratio and the lowest sink rate of any paraglider in the world'' - Jacques Due

French Paraglider Test Pilot ALL CANOPIES AVAILABLE IN CUSTOM COLORS AT NO EXTRA CHARGE PRO-PARAPORTER HARNESS • Multiple Sizes and Styles to choose from PARAPORTER RESERVE SYSTEM • 18 Gore Parachute with Container - Can be clipped on to any harness All of our products are 100 percent American made with the highest quality materials and craftsmanship. The patented Excalibur construction method reduces the total number of lines by 50% (line drag is the single biggest source of parasitic drag). We have over 7,500 Ram Air Wings in use today. Contact us today to receive your Complimentary Copy of the Excalibur Test Flight Video Gust $5 to cover shipping and handling) which includes extensive soaring footage shot in Southern California. Dealer and School inquiries invited.

Performance Design Paragliders, Inc. 12650 Softwind Drive Moreno Valley CA 92388 Phone

(714) 924-5229

FAX

(714) 242-4718

rom the beginning, and into the future, UP means quality, periorm once and outstanding design. Built for pilots, by pilots, UP aircraft are made of the highest quality tubing, precision hardware and woven laminated sailcloths: made for UP in the USA. From your first day to your first l 00 mile flight, UP IS WHERE IT'S AT!

RATINGS May, 1990 RATINGS The following ratings were PROCESSED in May, 1990. It does not necessarily mean they were GIVEN in May. SAFE PILOT AW ARDS BRONZE PEDRO H. RODRIQUEZ LARRY WALLS MILT ANDERSON GEORGE REEVES SILVER LARRY WALLS PAUL HAVER LILIENTHAL AW ARDS BRONZE TOM CHIN-NAN TSAI ADAM BOBKOWSKI BRAD FALLOWFIELD MILT ANDERSON HIROAKI KAY ANO TONY COVELLI JOEL REBBECHI KIT ERSKINE ROD C. HOSCHOUER JERRY JOHNSON PILOT: City, State; Instructor/School BEGINNER RATINGS Region 2 BRADLEY K. BRYAN: San Francisco, CA; J. Woodward. - JOHN FIFE: Palo Alto, CA; R. Engorn. - SHERRY LOEFFLER: Zephyr Cove, NV; R. Leonard. -ALAN CUMMINGS: Oakland, CA; M. Damon. - DAVID ZITO: Berkeley, CA; M. Damon. - MARK STILLMAN: Berkeley, CA; M. Damon. JESSICA BENTLEY: Berkeley, CA; M. Damon. - PAL BIRGER RISTVEDT: Berkeley, CA; M. Damon. - CANDI SMITH: Mt. Shasta, CA; D. Thomason/Silent Flight. PAUL FLEMING: Bishop, CA; K. Klinefelter. - THOR HANSEN: Fremont, CA; R. Palmon. - TIM GETZOFF: Berkeley, CA; A. Hageman. - KHOSRO AFKHAMI: Sacramento, CA; B. Haneke/Action Soaring Center. - DANIEL E. GROW: Stockton, CA; B. Haneke/Action Soaring Center. Region 3 MARK LABIANCA: Santee, CA; W. Henry/ ToJTey Flight Park. - MIKE MARSHALL:

Kiher, HI; D. Darling. - EDWARD COX: Monterey, CA; H. Amal/Western Hang Gliders. - MARCUS CHRISTENSEN: San Diego, CA; W. Henry/Torrey Flight Park. Region 4 DAVID MARSH: Rio Rancho, NM; C. Woods. - DAVID P. TIPPETT: Security, CO; R. Wilkinson/Eagle's Nest. - JANELL K. HARMON: Mesa, AZ; B. Holmes/Sky Sails of AZ. - EDWARD N. WILLIAMS: Phoenix, AZ; B. Holmes/Sky Sails of AZ. - JAMES R. BUDROE: Phoenix, AZ; B. Holmes/Sky Sails of AZ. - MARY KA YE RIOS: Thornton, CO; G. Pollock/Wasatch Wings. - GERRY TOOMER: Boulder, CO; T. Hackbart. Region 6 MATTHEW R. MALOY: Edmond, OK; M. White. Region 7 MICHAEL A. BOWERS: Royal Oak, MI; N. Lesnow. Region 8 CHARLES DENSMORE: Pomfret Center, CT; A. Davidson. - ED WHIT ACRE: Williamsburg, VA; G. Reeves. - MARK P. ALARIE: Rutland, MA; J. David. Region 9 ROBERT SALERNO: Radford, VA; R. Cobb. - DAVID OLSIN: Cleveland Heights, OH; M. DelSignore/North Coast H.G. - DANIEL SCOTT WEA VER: Mechanicsburg, PA; G. Reeves. - GARY FUSON: Washington, D.C.; G. Ball. Region 10 DAWN ROARK: Charlotte, NC; B. Burril. WILLIAM K. MARTIN: Fort Payne, AL; J. Reynolds. - JERRY KLEIN: Sunrise, FL; J. Reynolds/Lookout Mtn. Flight Park. - JOE HEWITT: Vale, NC; B. Burri!. - WARD SWANN: Kill Devil Hills, NC; W. Vaughn. Region 12 LISA VERZELLA: E. Rochester, NY; G. Middleton/Snowmass Windsports. - COLLEEN SHEPARD: Valley Stream, NY; W. Hemphill/Kitty Hawk Kites. TOM BUD ROE: Marlton, NJ; B. Holmes/Sky Sails of AZ.

NOVICE RATINGS Region 1 JOE L. CUNNINGHAM: Renton, WA; L. Strom. - ROBERT FISHER: Gig Harbor, WA; K. Blevins. - ROBERT L. MARS: Winlock, WA; J. Reynolds. - MARILYN RAINES: Chelan, WA; L. Majchrzak. Region 2 ERIC L. ROYER: Mammoth Lakes, CA; W. Henry/Torrey Flight Park. -MARCO GUZMAN: San Mateo, CA; A. Whitehill/ Chandelle S.F. Inc. -MIKE FREY: San Jose, CA; J. Woodward/Natural Flying. - SCOTT SEEBASS: Berkeley, CA; B. Smith. - JONATHAN L. TUPY: Berkeley, CA; B. Smith. RICKY ROJAS: Isla Verde, PR; P. Thornbury/Lookout Mtn. Flight Park. - PATRICK A. BOWEN: San Francisco, CA; J. Woodward/ Natural Flying. - ERIC MIES: San Francisco, CA; E. Klemen ts/Airtime of S .F. - HENRY VINTON: San Francisco, CA; G. Greer. - OFER BRUHIS: Palo Alto, CA; A. Whitehill. - REID FREY: San Francisco, CA; Jeff Greenbaum/ Airtime of San Francisco. - JOHN NEWLAND: Fremont, CA; D. Yount. Region 3 MICHAEL D. VINCENT: Cypress, CA; D. Skadal. - DANIEL REDONE: San Diego, CA; R. Chase/Ultimate High Aviation. - ROBERT REDONE: San Diego, CA; R. Chase/Ultimate High Aviation. - JAMES G. JULIG: San Diego, CA; J. Ryan. - FRANS LOWMAN: Aliso Viejo, CA; D. Skadal. -BOB NAGY: San Bernardino, CA; B. McKenzie. - TED MYERS: San Diego, CA; J. Ryan. - RICH PERRINE: Ridgecrest, CA; K. DeRussy/Hang Glider Emporium. - CHARLES B. MAY: Ridgecrest, CA; K. DeRussy/Hang Glider Emporium. - DOUGLAS L. SMITH: San Pedro, CA; M. B. Asher.- SAMANTHA STEVENSON: Monterey, CA; D. Thomason/Silent Flight. - KENNETH L. LANGLEY: Spring Valley, CA; W. Henry. - PAT BARTEN: Los Angeles, CA; T. Boyse. - MARK RASOR: Waipahu, HI; N. Kjar. - MITCH MURRAY: San Diego, CA; M. Fleming. CRAIG CARLSON: Los Angeles; J. Greblo. MERCURY FREEDOM: Los Gatos, CA; C. Crescioli. Region 4 JIM SILVERMAN: Flagstaff, AZ; B. Holmes/ Sky Sails of AZ. - THOMAS L. NELSON: Littleton, CO; C. Eatherton. - JOEL

HANG GLIDING

RATINGS

WHITMORE: Litchfield Park, AZ; B. Thompson/Desert Hang Gliders. - FRANK MACKAY: Albuquerque, NM; C. Woods. ROGER BUTLER: Ogden, UT; M. Knowlden. - THOMAS R. WILLIAMS: Englewood, CO; G. Greer. - SCOTT B. RANKIN: Colorado Springs, CO; R. Wilkinson/Eagle's Nest. - VIRGINIA MURRAY: Colorado Springs, CO; R. Wilkinson/Eagle's Nest. - BOB KOOSER: Colorado Springs, CO; R. Wilkinson/Eagle's Nest. - ERIC JONES: Grand Junction, CO; G. Pax.

Region 2 TIM THOMAS: Dublin, CA; L. Nelson. MARK EDDY: Mammoth Lakes, CA; M. Gibson/Awesome Air.

Region 6 WARREN NARRON: Sugar Creek, MO; G. Bitikofer.

Region 4 BILLY L. OFFUTT: Colorado Springs, CO; R. Wilkinson/Eagle's Nest. - ERNEST J. RESCHKE: Colorado Springs, CO; R. Wilkinson/ Eagle's Nest. - JERRY RATZ: Colorado Springs, CO; R. Wilkinson/Eagle's Nest.

Region 7 WILLIAM HOLLANDER: Rochester, MN; E. Logan/Penn-Aerie. - BRANT SNYDER: Elgin, IL; D. Hartowicz. Region 9 WILLIAM J. KAUTTER: Columbia, MD; J. Middleton/Silver Wings. LYNN ALEXANDER: Bel Air, MD; A. Barrick. - NORMAN J. PRICE: Levittown, PA; B. Omstattd/Sky High. - DAVID J. HOLTSCHNEIDER: Lynchburg, VA; G. Reeves. - MARK SZARA: Lexington, KY; R. Whitsitt. - MARKS. LEVITT: Fairfax, VA; S. Mendoza. Region 10 FRANK SUSKO: Tuscaloosa, AL; M. Taber/ Lookout Mtn. Flight Park. ARNOLD MICHAEL: Sunrise, FL; M. Taber. - RUSSELL C. BROWN: Casselbeny, FL; K. O'Brien. Region 11 JERRY W. FRITZ: Copperas Cove, TX; B. Holmes/Sky Sails of AZ. Region 12 JOSE VINALS: New York, NY; P. Thornbury/Lookout Mtn. Flight Park. - RAMI HYARY: Albany, NY; P. Voight. - THOMAS E. CROSS: APO New York, NY; G. El hart.

Region 3 BOB TAGGART: Bakersfield, CA; G. Lamadrid. - TIMOTHY A. WORLEY, JR.: Arcadia, CA; P. Hobson. - ERIC ZAPF: San Diego, CA; G. W. Meadows/The Hang Gliding Center of San Diego. - MARIRO A. VIGIL: Los Angeles, CA; D. Quackenbush.

Region 6 MATTHEWS. NAGEL: St. Louis, MO; L. Haney/Sail Wings. Region 7 DAVID J. ALBRIGHT: Madison, WI; C. Whitney. - BETTY L. KRESKE: Rolling Prairie, IN; R. Kreske/Midwest H.G. & Ultralight Center. Region 8 PETER DEBELLIS: Foxboro, MA; R. Hastings/Morningside Flight Park. - DENNIS RENTSCHLER: Wilton, NH; R. Hastings/ Morningside Flight Park. - JOHN BATES: Sherman, CT; G. Black. Region 9 GARTH BEAVON: McLean, VA; E. Logan. - J. F. SCHUCHTER: Gaithersburg, MD; S. Wendt. - RODNEY FARRAR: Lexington, KY; P. Voight. Region 10 MIKE RIGGINS: Douglasville, GA; M. Taber/Lookout Mtn. Flight Park. Region 11 RICHARD A. STEIN: Allen, TX; D. Broyles/ Kite Enterprises.

INTER MEDIA TE RA TINGS

ADVANCED RATINGS

Region 1 TIM THATCHER: Rainier, OR; B. Henderson.

Region 1 CHRIS CHRISTENSEN: Marysville, WA; M. Daily.

JULY 1990

Region 2 ROD LOUCKS: Livermore, CA; P. Denevan. - ED HART: Sunnyvale, CA; J. Woodward/ Natural Flying. - ERIC KLEMENTIS: Berkeley, CA; J. Greenbaum.

Region 3 RANDALL ZIMMER: Vista, CA; W. Henry/ Torrey Flight Park. - RICHARD BRUBAKER: Los Angeles. CA; T. Boyse/ Windsports Soaring Center. - MARK SUTTON: Encinitas, CA; W. Henry/Toney Flight Park. - BRIAN KOWALSKY: Crestline, CA; D. Mahling. - JOHN KERRY: Huntington Beach, CA; D. Skadal. - DARRELL WILLIAMS: Kula, HI; S. Nottage. -ARMIN ENGERT: Paia, HI; D. Darling. Region 4 BRUCE DECKER: Colorado Springs, CO; S. Johnson. - PETER KLINE: Boulder, CO; G. Greer. Region 7 ROBERT CHATTERS: Mt. Clemens, MI; W. Henry/Torrey Flight Park. -TAMMY BURCAR: Cross Plains, WI: C. Robbins. Region 8 ROBERT HOOK: Caribou, ME; P. Voight. DIETER KRESS: Greenwich, CT; T. Aguero. Region 9 SCOTT CONWAY: Hilliard, OH; W. Henry/ Toney Flight Park. - KEITH C. FORD: Greencastle, PA; A. Barrick. Region 10 CHRISTIAN THORESON: Lookout Mountain, TN; M. Taber/Lookout Mtn. Flight Park. Region 12 KRISTIN FITZPATRICK: Rockaway, NJ; P. Voight. - MARK CASEY: Pawling, NY; P. Voight. FOREIGN RATINGS INTERMEDIATE: GWEN SMITH: Burnaby, BRITISH COLUMBIA; D. Fox.

NOTE: If you would like your school to receive recognition for the students you certify, please put your school's name on the USHGA rating sheet. Thank you!

... THE INNOVATOR

STABILIN... PERFORMANCE ... CONSTRUCTION QUALIN ... STATESIDE FACTORY SUPPORT... INVENTORIED WINGS, PARTS & ACCESSORIES ... INSTRUCTION PROGRAMS ... FACTORY DEMO'S... UNPRECEDENTED SERVICE ... THE WIND IN YOUR FACE, THE SKY AT YOUR DISPOSAL ... COME TO UP PARAGLIDERS ... CALL THESKYSPORT LEADERS AT 6199430274 .. .UPSKYSPORT TEAM FLY-IN ... ELLENVILLE NEWYORK, MAY5&6 ... UPINTERNATIONAL ... 5604 BIRCH STREET ... LAKE ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA .... 92330 ... l 800 COME 2 UP

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ST PAUL, MINN - Several recent calls and letters referred to rigid wings presented here. Are we experiencing an upsurge of real interest? Or just another bubble of enthusiasm that will burst with the announcement of some new hotter-than-ever rag wing? No one knows. ••• Meanwhile in response to several inquiries, you can contact the Owens Composites Swift people at 10000 Trumbull SE, Albuquerque NM 87123. Their February Swift News announced work on an article for Hang Gliding. Watch for it. •••Two other projects bear mention here: Advanced' s Sierra and the Cloud Dancer The ultralight company Advanced Aviation, is flying their second prototype Sierra ultralight sailplane (42 foot span and greatly cleaned up) . I saw #2 flown by towplane designer Bobby Bailey -who is also the principal designer of this bird -- and I flew the #1 machine some months ago. The original prototype had promise which the successor significantly reveals. Far slicker, #2 performed beautifully on a mildly soarable day in April. The Sierra goes a long way toward the ultralight sailplane dream. Weighing in over 180 pounds, it won't qualify as a "legal" unpowered ultralight. Performance on the new machine should exceed 20:1, and might hit 25 with refinements. It tows well behind any ultralight equipped for towing. Advanced wants to make it towable behind conventional aircraft. A Sierra II goes for $9,900, for a kit (no engine). Even with hang gliders exceeding the $4-Grand barrier, I forecast slow acceptance at this cost. I could be wrong. Contact them at 323 Ivey Lane, Orlando FL 32811. •••Asimilar amount of money will buy you a proven ultralight motorglider: the Cloud Dancer, from a group that recently bought the company from engineer Erwin Rodger of New York. Rodger is a former hang glider pilot (no airplane time) who designed this craft in 1983 to satisfy his need to soar with less preparation than hang gliding takes. A dozen 'Dancers wer sold. The motorglider boasts several strengths, notably a 14:1 glide and min sink of 260 fpm. Flying just above hang glider speeds, it's a quiet design using a

small, fully-faired engine. Electric is standard; you can shut down and soar with confidence. The $8,950 airplane will be sold custom-built, ready-to-fly. Specs: a 40 foot span with cantilevered wings; three-quarter cockpit enclosure; stall at 2 6; top end better than 80; X-C cruise of 42-45; honest 20-minute breakdown for car top carrying. As a public notice, I have a business interest in this design. If you'd like more info, write: US Aviation, 265 Echo Lane, South St. Paul MN 55075. ••• Before leaving rigids, I have to pass along one juicy rumor. A reliable source told me that one of the major American producers of rags is taking early steps to evaluate a rigid design for possible production. Could it be ... ? Some of the true believers think further performance gains will be very difficult to achieve with rags. No word on who the "major" is! ••• "Step right up, sir, hear the message on the greatest way to fly!" USHGA will finally have a booth at Oshkosh, in cooperation with all other members of the NAA; here we go, alphabet sou~ .. SSA, USPA (parachutes), AMA (modelers), HCA (helicopters), USUA (ultralights), EAA, BFA (balloons), and IAC (aerobatics) . Terrific contact is possible; literally hundreds of thousands of aviation-enthused people pass these booths, and your staff can seriously talk to over a thousand people a day. Any region interested in providing a club member to work the booth half a day should contact USHGA HQ ASAP! ••• NAA is also spearheading a drive to produce a National Sport Aviation Show. Potential from doing such a show correctly? Look at Oshkosh, a multi-million dollar affair primarily staffed by volunteers. Organizer John Worth says, "Imagine in one show: sailplanes, balloons, parachutes, ultralights, models, hang gliding, helicopters, hornebuilts, aerobatic aircraft etc. The visual impact and public appeal would be tremendous." Given our new office staff, perhaps we can professionally respond to these possibilities. ••• Well, lots more news ... outta room. Got news or opinions? Send 'em to: 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Call 612/ 457-7491 days or FAX 612/457-8651. THANKS'

ou have entered the world of Hang Gliding. You are now looking to purchase the perfect glider for your advancing skills. You need a solid anxiety-free soaring wing with an impeccable record for safety and owners satisfaction (The Vision MK IV is the most satisfying, refined glider ever crafted for the new/recreational pilot.) Statistics reveal that more students choose the Vision MK IV over any other glider and , 68% of the instructors that responded to a recent survey recommend the Vision MK IV as their student's first new glider. Make the choice that gives you the confidence of Champions ... Choose the Vision MK IV as your first glider.

he Magic Formula is truly an exceptional glider. This newest addition to our product line is the result of Pacific Airwave commitment to crafting the most tested , most confidence-inspiring gliders in this industry. Pacific Airwave engineers and designers have over 54 combined years of experience irJ the Hang Gliding industry. To insure your gliders consistency and quality we've introduced stringent new production testing for 1990. You 're a hang Ill pilot or above, you 're interested in serious cross country flying with superb thermaling " feel ". You want to know that your glider's structural integrity has been the object of uncompromising attention : Your best choice is unquestionably the new Magic ·Formula

As a result of our affiliation with Airwave Gliders we have a world wide scope while maintaining a local focus. You , the pilot benefits most from this. Whether you order a wing nut or a glider you 'll receive excellent, personal service from Pacific Airwave. Contact your local Pacific Airwave Dealer now for more information about our full line of gliders.

erformance is best measured by results. You are an advanced Hang Ill or above. You want to own the most performing wing in the sky and feel responsive smooth handling feedback. You can read the performance of your future glider with results like these; Magic Kiss: 1st place .. .World Championships. Magic Kiss: Open Distance World Record 287 miles. The Magic Kiss has won and keeps winning in the most demanding conditions the world over. The Magic Kiss doesn't just perform for you when the flag is dropped but throughout every facet of its flight envelope. Now that's a Champion!

Pacific AIRWAVE

PACIFIC AIRWAVE, LTD. o P.O. BOX 4384 o SALiNAS, CA 93912 o TEL: 408-422-2299 o FAX 408-758 - 3270