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

• MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION • 111111·---------1

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0 I year: $39.00 ($47 foreign*, $42 Canada & Mexico*) 0 2 years: $78.00 ($94 foreign*, $84 Canada & Mexico*) 0 3 years: $117.00 ($141 foreign* ,$126 Canada & Mexico*)

ANNUALDUES: $19.SOforeachFamilyMember, 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 property damage insurance, and voting privileges. I need not be a rated pilot to be a member.

SUBSCRIPTION ONLY 12 issues of Hang Gliding magazine only 0 1 year: $29.00 ($37 foreign*, $32 Canada & Mexico*) 0 2 years: $53.00 ($69 foreign*, $59 Canada & Mexico*)

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THREE-MONTH MEMBER 0 3-MONTH DUES: $15.00. Full Member privileges, three issues of Hang Gliding magazine, liability and property damage insurance. I need not be a rated pilot to be a member.

0 3 years: $77.00 ($101 foreign*, $86 Canada & Mexico*)

* Foreign payments must be in U.S. FUNDS drawn on a U.S. BANK 0 Enclosed is an extra dollar for the World Team Fund. I understand that USHGA will match my contribution.

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UN~TE[) STATES HANG Gl~[)~NG ASSNa~ ~NCa P.O. BOX 8300, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80933 (719) 632-8300 FAX (719) 632-6417

revised 1190

It's Here! The 1991 USHGA Hang Gliding Calendar

---------------------------------------------· Please rush me _ _ _ 1991 USHGA Hang Gliding Calendar(s) at $9.95 each. Shipping Charges Quantity Shipping 1-3 $3.00 4-6 $4.50 7-9 $5.50 10 $6.50 Shipped by first class or UPS - Canada & Mexico add $.75 per calendar International surface add $1.50 per calendar - International air add $5.00 per calendar

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to fly with the world's finest hang gliding manual • Up-to-the-minute flight techniques • Complete • from your first flight to soaring • As The Pro Flies pages- first-hand tips from the experts Easy-to-understand theory sections • How to choose your own equipment • Glossary of hang gliding terms simple, attractive • More than 160 illustrations and photos Over 260 pages • Matching workbook learning • Unparalleled quality

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Features

Columns

Pilot ProfileSally Tucker

Accident Reports

hy Doug Hildreth l 990 fatalities-weather was a big factor this year.

hy Roh McKenzie The story of a deaf lady who learned to fly.

13 USHGA Reports 20 ReportAlti Plus Varios

hy Russ Locke Page 14

USHGA joins forces with APA.

53 Product Lines

A look at three high-tech instruments from France.

hy Dan Johnson Pagen rumors, new gliders from Washington state, new Ball flight computer. .. mnre.

22 Mark & Kari's Excellent Adventure -Part II hy Briggs Christie We pick up from the October issue-When Dreams Come True.

Page 20

Departments

24 Big Sur Fly-In

5 10 11 38 45 52 52

hy David Oherhettinger Soaring the country's most scenic sled-ride site.

29 SpeedmTomFly Theory by Chris Arai In order to fly fast and far you need more than a few simple rules. The second in our series of articles by your World Team members.

42 Hang Gliding Achievement Awards & How To Get Them by Dick Heckman It's a lot easier than you think to get USHGA and FAI awards.

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

Page 24 COVER: Russ Douglas experiments with horizontal polarization on an antenna test. Photo by Russ Douglas. CENTERSPREAD: David Oberhettinger soars Big Sur, CA. See story on page 24. Photo by David Oberhettinger. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES IN PUBUCA TIONS: The material presented here is published as part of 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 individual contributors. -----------

DECEMBER 1990

Summit Magic Inc. 2765 Bechelli Lane Redding, CA 96002 (916) 221-1192 or 222-4712

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 Pat Robbins, 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 1: Gene Matthews. REGION 2: Ken Brown, Russ Locke, Connie Bowen. REGION 3: Bill Bennett, Sandy King, Gregg Lawless. REGION 4: Mark Mocho, Jim Zeise!. REGION 5: Mike King. REGION 6: Ron Ken· ney. REGION 7: Marty Bunner. REGION 8: Bud Brown, Jr. REGION 9: Pete Lehmann, Jeff Sims. REGION 10: Mall Taber. REGION11: 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, Lisa Tate. The United States Hang Gliding Association Inc. is a division of the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) which is the official representative of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAil, of the world governing body forsport aviation. The NAA, which represents the U.S. at FAI meetings, has delegated to the USHGA supervision of FAl-related hang glidirig 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, pho· tos, and illustrations concerning hang gliding activities. 11 the material is to be returned, a stamped, selfaddressed 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 GLID· ING editorial offices: 6950 Aragon Circle, Suite 6, Buena Park, CA 90620 (714) 994·3050. HANG GLIDING (USPS 017-970) is published monthly by the United States Hang Gliding Association, Inc., 559 E. Pikes Peak Ave., Suite 101, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903 (719) 632-8300. FAX (719) 632-6417. Second-class postage is paid at Colorado Springs, CO and at additional mailing olfices. POSTMASTER: SEND CHANGE OF ADDRESS TO: HANG GLIDING, P.O. BOX 8300, Colorado Springs, co 80933-8300. 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 (of which $15 goes to the publication of Hang Gliding), ($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. DECEMBER

1990

Volume 20, Issue No. 12

AIRMAIL HELP NEEDED IN RUMANIA Dear Editor, We are a group of pilots who suffered greatly under the rule of Ceauscescu. Rumania was a closed and isolated country. We had no contact whatsoever with other pilots in the world because everything was strictly monitored by the Secret Service. We were terrorized. As a result we have no real sports federation, no up-to-date information on wings and flying equipment and very little link with foreign clubs. We are naturally very behind the rest of the hang gliding community, perhaps as much as lO years. W c don't have the currency to buy even the strict minimum in order to hang glide without taking risks. We fly with our home-made wings (based on the UP Comet 165 model) and parachutes (after a the ZS Russian model). We need your help in order to revive this sport in Rumania. We are no more than 100 pilots in the entire country but have survived out of hope and optimism. We have everything to learn from you. The Revolution of December 22nd reopened the doors of our country. We would greatly appreciate your concern for our situation on behalf of pilots from Galati, lasi, Roman, Piatra-Neamt and MiercureaCiuc. eng. Miklos Barac str.Harghila 0 8 apt.M Miercurea-Ciuc 4l00 Harghita Run1ania

is clone by winding the co-ax into a simple decoupling choke at a point directly below the antenna. An RG58A/U co-axial line can be wound into a circle whose diameter is about JO times the diameter of the cable. A bend sharper than this can distort the inner conductor of the cable and lead to trouble. Guided by this limitation, it is safe to wind the RG58A/U cable into a coil approximately three inches in diameter. A VHF choke can be made from three turns of cable. The choke is held in position by means of plastic cable ties or vinyl tape. It is placed near the feedpoint of the antenna, at right angles to the long wire. Use of a remote Jong wire antenna is recommended when employing a Maxon VOX/PTT while airborne. The rubber ducky antenna, provided by Maxon and mounted to the top of the SP-5 l 50 fivewatt radio, generates radiation that interferes with normally functioning delay circuitry, causing the radio to stay on transmit indefinitely. This problem can be overcome by permanently mounting a 1/4-wave long wire antenna into the harness and (specifically) by stringing the radiating wire into, or beside, the vertical hang strap. It is essential that the the end of the antenna be at least 1/ 2 inch away from the carabiner, as it can extend the effective length of the wire through capacitive interaction. By deploying the antenna in a nearly vertical configuration, the most reliable transmission and reception will be realized. Disconnecting the long wire and replacing with the stock rubber ducky or optional 3 DB gain rubber ducky will provide adequate communication on the ground for retrieval.

ANTENNA HINTS Dear Edi tor, I'm often asked, "What is the best antenna configuration for radios used on the USHGA frequencies'?" My personal experience on six and two meters, as an amateur radio operator, has taught me the following about the VHF Jong wire antenna. The long wire antenna, an extremely popular antenna on the amateur bands above 10 meters, is made by stripping the co-ax shield off the center braided conductor and insulation for a length of 1/4 or 1/2 of the transmission frequency wavelength. A large percentage of VHF FM operations employ vertical polarization because of the mobiles that use vertical whips and ground planes. It is easy for the field of a long wire antenna to interact with the outer shield of the co-axial transmission line unless precautions are taken during the installation of the antenna. Interaction such as this causes the line to become part of the antenna and tends to nullify the good, low angle radiation of the antenna, making it less useful for VHF ground range coverage. As ii is important to make sure that the field of the antenna does not influence the transmission line, you should decouple the line from the antenna. This

Jim Zeiser USHGA Vice President

RATING BLUES COMMENT Dear Editor, Somebody complained a few issues ago about the inability to get an Observer to witness his rating flights. Having held flight instructor ratings for both aircraft and hang gliders for more than JO years I feel that he was overlooking one important factor and some others may also. If you want a private pilot's license, you generally have to pay someone to give you instruction and sign off your log book for solo and other endorsements. Sure. you may have a friend who holds an instructor's rating, and you may get some free instruction, but if you want that license any time this century. you're probably going 10 have to pay for it and your proficiency checks lo keep it valid. The USHGA Observer system works somewhat the same way. Like the FAA's Instructor/ Designated Examiner system, there are people for

AIRMAIL whom flying is a profession, those for whom the system helps pay for their hobby, and those for whom the love of the sport is pay enough. The main difference between the FAA system and ours is that we have more folks in that last category. Just enough to be confusing. The moral is this: If you want a free rating, find one of those altruistic guys and be prepared to wait till he can fit you into his schedule, and don't bitch about how long it takes. If you want it done on your schedule, pay someone for losing a day's flying if nothing else.

chute, $500 for a flight deck and then bitch about paying a measly $39 for a full year membership in the ONLY hang gliding association in the U.S., that publishes the BEST and ONLY hang gliding magazine in the U.S., and furnishes pilots with a $1,000,000 insurance policy? WHAT DO YOU WANT? Lany Haney Sail Wings Hang Gliding

GOOD SITE NEWS Richard Heckman Konigswinter, Germany

PARAGLIDER/HANG GLIDER RIGHT-OFWA Y Dear Editor, I just returned from Utah where I was able to do some flying at the Point of the Molllltain. The locals there were great. I'd like to thank them all for turning me on to some good flying and sharing their mountain. This was also my first encounter with paragliders. Other than the face-first-in-the dirt landing (great flight suit) it looks like it's a blast. My only concern now is safety. Are there any right-of-way rules to be observed when both hang gliders and paraglidcrs are in the air at the same time? How arc we going to avoid mid-air collisions? Obviously at sites like the Point, people arc used to sharing the air. What happens when visiting pilots from both activities come to a site where no one has flown together before? I think we should make an effort to share as much info1mation as possible between organizations to avoid any type of in-flight accident. Bret Hilliker President, N. CA HG Assn. P.S. I recently purchased life insurance through The Franklin life insurance company. They do cover hang gliding and the rates are reasonable. They are based out ofillinois with offices all across the U.S. I purchased a $100,000 convertible tenn policy for $40 per month. Their address is : The Franklin, #1 Franklin Square, Springfield, Illinois 62713-0001 (217) 528-2011. I have some more info if you have any questions. Feel free to contact me at (916) 6774953.

Dear Editor, We have all heard the gloom and doom stories about disappearing flying sites and how the bureaucracies of federal, state and local governments are not helping matters much. With that in mind, it is with great pleasure and pride that I am able to announce the opening of a brand new flying site in Southeast Oklahoma. The launch is located at the Panorama Scenic Vista, four miles east of the intersection of Highways 1 and 271 near Talihina, Oklahoma. Panorama is a beautiful 1,300-foot, east-northeast facing flying site located in the Quachita National Forest. This flying site is permitted to the Buffalo Mountain Fliers under a special use pe1111it granted by the National Forest Service. It has taken us three years of intense negotiating and hard work to secure this permit so we would appreciate any visiting pilot contacting one of us prior to flying the site. Now I am compelled to get up on my soap box for a moment. The National Forest Service would never have even considered our proposal were it not for the site insurance and the pilot proficiency rating systems administered by the Uuited States Hang Gliding Association. These programs legitimatize hang glider pilots as responsible individuals concerned about the safe enjoyment of our sport, and give us the structure needed to convince regulators we arc able to control our membership. The next time an unregistered pilot approaches me with one of those "what has USHGA ever done for me?" comments, believe you me I will have an earful for him. I must also recognize the efforts of Patti Sparks and the rest of the USHGA office staff. The Forest Service had some fairly unique and burdensome requirements that demanded some fancy footwork on the part of USHGA. The Buffalo Mountain Fliers appreciate your professionalism and hard work. Scott Greenawalt Oklahoma City, OK

MORE ON DUES Dear Editor, What makes a pilot spend $3,500 for a new glider, $500 for a new harness, $800 for a ballistic

MYSTERIOUS CANADIAN TEAM Dear Editor, As President of the Hang Gliding Association of Canada I receive many publications from around the world (Hang Gliding being one of many quality publications). When scanning through a May '90 issue of \Iof Libre I noted the competition results from the Brazilian Pre-World Championships. Being an active competition pilot I was quite interested in Canada's placing in this event. According to the results Canada placed 14th out of 22 national teams. Not bad when you take into consideration Canada did 1101 even field a Team for this event. Upon investigation it appeared that yes, a Canadian team had been entered and did in fact place 14th overall. Or had we? Strange as it seems the identity of "our pilots" seemed to be a mystery to all whom I contacted. Through the summer my investigation continued till finally the answer was found. The international sovereign rights of Canadian pilots has been violated. United States citizens were found to have created a international incident of grave consequence by unjustly assuming Canadian National Team status. This violation of international law and FAI rules must be addressed. The pilots in question, obviously unable to secure a position on their own national team, selfishly and without concern for international sports ethics assumed Canadian team status. Let me make myself clear-perfectly clearonly Canadian citizens will be allowed to represent a Canadian national team. Canadians, like Americans, take pride in their country; this pride goes as deep as mom and apple pie (or should I say maple syrup and the Royal Canadian Mounties). This is a international incident of the highest order. The Hang Gliding Association of Canada requests and expects an apology from these pilots. The honor of all nations is at stake. Martin Henry President HGAC 3595 Old Clayburn Rd. Abbotsford, BC V2S-6B7, Canada P.S. Had the pcrfonnance of these reprobates been better we could have overlooked the whole incident. After all, it's only a friendly little competition, eh?

BAD PR? Dear Editor, I recently picked up a copy of a sailing magazine on the newsstand. On the first few pages there were some controversial and critical letters, which may have been of interest to certain individuals in the organization, but which were not of interest to

HANG GLIDING

AIRMAIL me. I picked up the magazine because of my potential interest in the sport. Hang Gliding has a beautiful cover, spiffy colorful ads, and informative articles. Let's put them at the front of the magazine, or better yet, a brief welcome and introduction to our sport from the editor, president, etc. Although Ai1mail does serve a good purpose I would like to see it and Accident Reports "land" in the back of the magazine. Phil Wiseman Austin. TX

FALSE SECURITY Dear Editor, Should we ever do anything with our helmets and parachutes on that we woulcln 't feel comfortable doing without them? l 'm not saying we shoulcln 't wear them, but I do think they give some, especially new flyers, a false sense of security. A helmet or parachute will not improve your flying skills. A helmet definitely dulls the senses. I believe that putting on a helmet may be the leading cause of failing to hook in. I recently noticed that a flyer I've been flying with for 18 years always hooks in first, then puts on his helmet.

YOUNG ENTHUSIAST Dear Editor, My son Shane has just earned his Beginner rating. He started training on Aug. 5 on an SST 90C. Prior to this he had eight tandem flights on a Yarnall Skyhook stationary winch. To elate he has had a total of 75 flights from a 45' all-grass training hill. He is able to fly twice a week and should earn his 100 safe flights award before the encl of the year. On his birthday l tested him for his rating and he passed with flying colors. He is 14. He says he wants to become a hang gliding instructor just like his clad. Norm Lesnow

A WARNING TOO LATE'! Dear Editor, While reading Jerry Forburger's article on the Hobbs festival I had a feeling of guilt about Cindy Drozda' s accident. On Sept. 4, 1989 while ATmvl towing (Air Time of lvlinnesotaJ from my boat, I forgot to untie the hold-clown that connected the back of the keel 10 the tow boat. After launch the nose pitched very high until the glider gave a hard shudder. This shudder was the tail float, and its tube that fits onto the keel, being stripped off. For safety's sake I directed my driver to slowly tow n1c over to a sand bar-a very good move as it turned out. The keel was kinked just ahead of the cross bar haul-back anchor point. After I lanclecl I lifted up on the keel tube. It snapped off in my hand and the whole glider collapsed flat on the ground 1 It was my pride and embarrassment-the pride of a tow pilot with over 2,000 tow flights-that stopped me from spreading the tie-down warning. Now, before we tie down the glider tail to the tow vehicle we hook a spare carabiner in the hang loops. This reminds us to unhook the tail tie-clown before hooking ourselves to the hang loops.

Dave Saffold Santa Barbara, CA

CT&L COMMENTS Dear Editor, I would like to add my two cents worth to Jerry Forburger's excellent article, "Crooked, Tight and Low." The one thing I thought was missing was a discussion of actual line tension. When I started truck towing the common practice was to set the line tension at about 190 lbs. No problem, right? In 1986 I experienced a classic "worst case" CT&L situation. I stayed on the line and came through okay, but I got to thinking: "What if I can't stay on line when I need to most?" What if: the winch jams. the weak link breaks, my release line is too short for the wild body movements required, the tow line wraps around a signpost, or my brain fails (my instincts told me to release and I nearly did!)? Any time you must stay on the line you are thumbing your nose at Murphy's Law. Using 100130 lbs. of line tension to gain the first 200' of altitude results in a somewhat slower climb but also greatly reduces all of the effects Mr. Forburger so admirably describes, so much so that I teach my towing students to release from the line whenever they are uncomfortable, before the situation gets out of hand. Once 200' is reached then it's time for l 80 lbs. of line tension unless ifs turbulent, then the added control is more comfortable. Also, never launch in anything you wouldn't land in. Calibrating your particular winch is easy. Buy a 0-200 lb. spring scale from the local hardware store (or McMastcr-Carr, (312) 833-0300, PN #1756T4, $35.95) and tie it to a fence post. Hook up the tow line to the scale, have a helper watch the scale, and drive out the line to simulate a tow. After a few runs you'll know exactly what your system is

doing. This works great for testing a new system, weak links, bridles, etc. Feel free to call and argue about towing: (303) 440-3579. Ian Huss Longmont, CO

BIRDS OF A FEATHER Dear Editor, I had the pleasure of attending the 38th Annual International EAA Convention and Sport Aviation Exhibition in Oshkosh, Wisconsin July 27 through August 2, 1990. It is the largest of its kind in the world and is run safely and efficiently clue to the efforts of volunteers who contribute many hours in many different ways. There were educational forums, seminars and workshops covering nearly every aviation topic along with the largest assembly of home-built, private, ultralight and warbird aircraft in the world. After I toured the airshow for four days I had the pleasure of meeting two midwest hang glider pilots, Chris and Mike. After we had discussed various flying sites and shared some flying stories, they asked me if I would like to volunteer to help at the hang gliding booth. The next three days turned out to be very rewarding. I met some very interesting and friendly people representing their respective fonns of aviation. It was the first year for this combined National Aeronautic Association Booth. In this booth were representatives from the United States Hang Gliding Association (USHGA), Hot Air Ballooning Association (BFAJ, United States Ultralight Aircraft Association (USUA), United States Parachuting Association (USPA), Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), Helicopter Club of America and the Experimental Aircraft Association. Everyone worked well together for the future of all fonns of sport aviation. I felt honored ancl proud to be a small part of I want to thank Mike, Chris, Chip,John, Becky, Art, Mal Gross and John & Lillian Worth for their hospitality and friendship. It truly was the frosting on the cake and it made my Oshkosh experience very memorable. I hope to see them again next year to continue the birds-of-a-feather atlituclc that was displayed by all. Stan Jones Everett, WA

Bill Cummings Hoyt Lakes, MN OCTOBER 1990

ACCIDENT REPORTS compiled by Doug Hildreth Below are the 1990 fataiities we have received so far. PLEASE, if you know of any other hang gliding deaths, send in a report right away. Crashed on landing in rotor. Glider damage with control problems? Jeff Martel NH Snowmobile tow with lockout. Brad Anderson OR Tow release, stalled low, dove in. David O'Neal NV 360 too close to the hill. Bob Bautz TN Pre-frontal gust turned pilot into the cliff. Joe Gillis UT Stall at top of low-level wing over. Eric Aasletten NM Tow release, thermal induced, dove in. C.E. Shue CA Carabiner failure. Fell from glider. Bob Allmon

Familiarity breeds contempt, or at least complacency. Those of us who have been around hang gliding a while become used to dealing with strong weather. In fact we look for those clays that promise strong conditions: midday the1mals, strong ridge lift, over-development. We have learned to flirt with these powerful forces of nature and get away with it. Nineteen-ninety has seen some strange weather conditions. I went on a 4,000-mile trip this summer and got to fly twice. Everywhere we went the story was the same: "Weather's never like this ... always gets good by now ... been strange all summer. .. " Weather contributed to at least three of this year's fatalities. Several prominent pilots had accidents related to weather. At the Nationals in Dinosaur there were many weatherrelated accidents including one tumble which occurred within shouting distance of two other pilots who noticed nothing. Then a Hang II releases from tow in mellow conditions, the

wind jumps to 50 mph and blows him five miles downwind. An expert pilot on final in mellow conditions and ·wham, his glider is swatted to the ground by gust-front turbulence out of nowhere. A number of pilots had close calls with strong winds and inability to penetrate. The over-development this year seems to have produced more gust fronts, fronts farther out, more powerful turbulence and less warning, even for experienced pilots who have watched storms and fronts years. The bottom line is this. Respect the weather. Watch the signs. Don't become complacent about storms. Gust fronts can stray a long way from the storm, and not necessarily in the direction of the stonn or wind. The weather will always remain to some extent unpredictable. Hang gliding by its very nature will always contain an element of risk-the unpredictability of the weather. To fly means to accept that risk. •

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T FLYING

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Pilot: Bo b Schune Photo : Bob Trampenau

UD BREAKTHROUGH! IS 1 5-1 FINALLY HERE? With its sleek, low-drag profile, the Sensor 51 OE defines a new level of wing shape efficiency. To fly one is to experience the greatest glide ratio currently available from any hang glider factory in the world today. The Sensor 51 OE is 1990 HGMA and DHV certified . Fly an E soon . You 'll feel the astonishing flatness in glide angle immediately and experience remarkable stability and control.

UD BREAKTHROUGH 15-1 COULD FINALLY BE HERE ... .

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SEEDWINGS

4 1 Aero Camino, Goleta. CA 93117 (805) 968-7070 • Fax (805) 968--0059

new sail technology, Bob Schulle began hang gliding in New York during 1975 at Harris llilL His has accumulated an extensive background over the past I years in hang glider research, development, certification lesl flying and produclion mcth()()S,

PACIFIC AIRWA VE RELEASES NEW Paci\ir ,mnounccs the release or lhcir new K2 modeL According to the manufacturer it t'calurcs: better handling, improved and high-speed pcrl'orrnancc, improved dircc· tional stability, more setup and breakdown, new trimmer (YC,), and "warp cloth" for greater life c:xpcctancy, 1(2 145

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE USHGA STAFF From left 10 right: CINDY EVANS, our front line or information, When you call lJSIICiA, chances arc you'll be talking with Cindy firsL STU CLARK, a man of'many duties·· from data entry to collating to shipping to election ballo1 coordinator.-S1u is a very much in-demand person at USl!Gi\ headquarters, PAT ROBBINS, aclver1ising, Pal works with llang Gliding magazim: advertisers, helping smooth the path for our in1ernationally-known editor (Gil Dodgen), Site also unknowingly let our boss know of her proficiency in accou11ting, thus 1ripling her work load, GREG IHJLLER, computer whiz, deals with USHGA membership, and all its tkrivatives (dues, ratings, donations, awards, etc), Instructors- if' you're not filling out your JEFF El,(iART, merchandising, Prom paperwork correctly, 1hcn you'll he talking to lo Paris to Colorado Springs, Jeff brings to the world the latest in lJSJ IC,A fashions, Ile is also an occasional contributor or stories and pholos to I fang Gliding magazine, .JERRY HIUJNING, Executive Director, I've gol to he nice; he my paycheck, Jerry has the pleasant job or keeping USHClA soaring, withoul landing dow11wi1HL PJ MORE, special projects, PJ is involved in all lypcs ofprojecls, from board meetings lo World Team fund raising to administration of hang gliding world records, PJ is also USIIGA's "media person," PATTI SPARKS, insurance specialist administrator, A very good person to know and refer lo while you're enlightening lhc park ranger aholll the sport of hang gliding, Palti also makes sure US! IC.A's Instrnctors, Observers, Ex., amim:rs, etc, arc up-to.,snutT That's the whole gang, We'd like to wish you another prosperous year of ckan launches and rHi.step landings, Season's Greetings from YOUR USHGA s1aff 1 MEMBERSHIP CREDITS The new deal is this: Bcginni11g in the month of October, we implcme111ed a new method of crediting those who send full mcmbcn,hips to US! lGA heaclquarlcrs, Provided your school's name and address arc printed on the membcr;,hip form, we will send you a crcdil slip which is redecmabk for advertising costs in 1/(lng (l/iding magazine, or for merchandise (limited to calendars, apparel, hooks and accessories), This coupon is good for one year from elate of issue and for use only as specifically stated, 1()

SCHUTTE TO .JOIN SEEDWINGS is pleased to announce that Hoh Schulle and his family have retunwd from Anstri,1, Schutte will begin duties in Santa factory as chief sailBarbara at the maker and manager or the sail department, Over the past year Bob learned Sensor sail produel ion and set up the Seed wings Europe sail Iott Recently thl: Sensor 510 E model has been Cl:rtified to Ckrman Gutcseigcl and HCiMA 1990 slandanls of airworthiness, Scedwings clain1s further performance enhancements with

14:i sq, fL Area 1 86,2 Yr, Double Surface I '.l2" Nose Angle (frame) # Ribs . --Top 9+nosc 11 ii Ribs -.. Botlmn 32,l)J fL Span Aspect Ratio 61 lbs, Weight Jlook-in Weight (lbs,) 120-220 Ill USHGJ\ Rating

1(2 155

l 54 sq, l°L 85,4 I

9+nosc 4 34,()4 fL 67 lbs,

15,'5 250 Ill

The company also now offers a replace .. mcnl for the wing nut called the "speed nuL" It features: rust-free stainless steel, no get in the way or the safety ring, knurled for no·slip ovcr.,sized thread entry for speedy starts, Contact: Pacific Airwavc, PJ), Box 4384, Salinas, CA 939 I (408) 422-2299,

WAVE FLYING According to the publisher, Pmctirnl Wal'e Flying, Revised Edition contains the in .. Cormation needed by beginning as well as advanced wave flyers and is recognized around the world as the book on wave It in· eludes: wave theory, forecasting, preflight preparation, flying techniques, photographs and diagrams, Pmctirnl Wm'e Flying is priced at $12,95 plus shipping and handling, Quantity discounts arc available to clubs or organi1,at ions, Contact: Mark Palmer, Lenticular Publishing, J>,(), Box 3842, Englewood, CO 801 .1842 (30l) 759-0515,

HANC GLll)INC

UPDATE BRS WIDENS LINE OF NEW "WEDGE" MODEL

After introducing its new WEDGE models earlier this year, BRS is pleased to announce

Calendar of Events Calendar of events items WILL NOT be listed if only tentative. Items with exact information (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.

Dec. 29-Jan.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.

DECEMBER 1990

an addition to the fast-deploying emergency parachute systems. "In response to customer requests, we've broadened the WEDGE line to include a 20gore model," says marketing vice president, Dan Johnson, "so we now offer the WEDGE 16, 18, and 20." The three sizes serve gross weights of 225, 325, and 400 pounds. "We are recommending that pilots select the larger sizes in many cases, but especially for those flying at high elevations or at greater density altitudes," added Johnson. According to the company more and more pilots are choosing to add a secondary back-up system to their harness. "Perhaps the days of a single back-up 'chute are fading," conjectures

Boris Popov, founder of BRS. "This is similar to the sky diving field where tertiary (or third) systems have become quite common." The WEDGE units feature: easy installation by sewing or with "button head" grommets, super-fast 0.7 second to line stretch deployment, pulled-apex 'chute design using 100% zero permeability cloth (tested to MIL-I45208 QA standards). The 16, 18 and 20 models retail for $799, $849 and $899 respectively. Contact: Ballistic Recovery Systems, , Fleming Field, 1845-NR Henry Ave., South St. Paul, MN 55075 (612) 457-7491, FAX (612) 4578651.

Dec. 12-15: 1st International Aerobatic Contest, Acapulco, Mexico. Entry $100, $350/ team. Contact: tel. 540-24-36, FAX 27700-38.

Jan. 5-12, 1991: Ninth Chilean Hang Gliding Open, Cordillera de Los Andes, Santiago. Entry $500, includes 8 days lodging, transportation to launch, lunch, retrieval. Nonpilots $350. Contact: Augusto Olivares, FAX 562-334056 Chile, Eric Hempstead, tel. (415) 932-0546 U.S.

Feb. 9-10, 1991: Haney's Point 2nd Annual Fly-Out, Atkins, AR. Fun and games. Contact: Sail Wings (501) 227-4920 or (501) 641-1902.

Jan. 9-19, 1991: Forbes Flatlands hang gliding and paragliding competition, NSW Australia. Contact: Jenny Ganderton, "Boganol", Henry Lawson Way, Forbes, NSW 2871 tel. (068) 537220.

March 14-17, 1991: Toney Pines, CA Hang Gliding Air Race. April 18-21: World Invitational Paragliding Meet. Contact: Joe Bill, Torrey Pines Glider Port, (619) 4523202, FAX (619) 452-3203.

Model Span Aspect Ratio Nose Angle Glider Weight Pilot Weight

144 31 feet

6.7 120 degrees 54 lbs. 110 - 210 lbs.

A smaller Spectrum for smaller pilots, the 144 brings first purchase high performance to a whole new group of pilots. A complete 7075 airframe and battens, drag reducing wingtips, optional streamline downtubes and speed bar, and AT hardware are featured on the 144. If you've been waiting for a high tech, high performance glider that's just your size, see your dealer about the new 144 Spectrum!

Spectru,n 144

165 Spectru,n In just a few months on the market, the 165 Spectrum has taken the recreational pilot market by storm. No glider before has combined this level of quality, performance, and value into a glider that is so much fun to fly and such a pleasure to own. If you are looking for a superior combination of advanced engineering, reponsive and predictable handling, and top of the stack soaring performance, backed by Wills Wing's unmatched record of customer service and satisfaction, check out a Spectrum today!

1208 H. East Walnut • Santa Ana • CA • 92701 •

Model Span Aspect Ratio Nose Angle Glider Weight Pilot Weight

165 34 feet

7.0 121 degrees 60 lbs. 140 - 240 lbs.

Phone (714) 547-1344 • FAX (714) 547-0972

USHGA REPORTS USHGA Joins With The APA To Service Pilots by Russ Locke In the spring of 1990, the USHGA named the APA (American Paragliding Association) as a USHGA Affiliate organization, and encouraged the APA to continue with their development of paragliding pilot rating and instructor certification programs. The USHGA also agreed to negotiate with the APA a plan whereby the USHGA office could assist the APA by establishing and administering a computerized database for AP A membership. A final agreement between the two organizations was never consummated. In November of l 990, at the fall meeting of the USHGA Board of Directors, the board took further action in the interest of expanding USHGA services to all hang glider and paraglider pilots. The net effect of this action is to make all USHGA services available to paraglider pilots on an equal basis with hang glider pilots. A paraglicler pilot can now join the USHGA for the n01mal clues, becoming a full "paragliding member" of the association, be covered by the USHGA insurance, be eligible to obtain paragliding pilot proficiency ratings, and receive regular issues of Paragliding - The Magazine, published by Freel Stockwell. USHGA member hang glider pilots who wish also to receive Paragliding - The Magazine, and to be eligible to earn paraglider pilot ratings, can add a "paragliding membership" by paying an additional$ l 5 on their annual membership clues. And USHGA member paraglider pilots who wish to be eligible to earn hang gliding pilot ratings and also receive Hang Gliding magazine can add a "hang gliding membership" by paying an additional $15 on their annual membership clues. In conjunction with this action, Peter Zimmerli, APA President, has been elected as a voting Director At Large to the USHGA Board of Directors. Fred Stockwell, fmmer AP A president and publisher of Pamgliding - The Maga:ine, has been appointed chairman of the USHGA paragliding committee, which will initially be handling all paragliding matters within the USHGA. Fred will name to his committee representatives from both the APA and the USHGA. Further, the USHGA has recognized (and will be publishing) the existing APA pilot rating and instructor certification programs. And DECEMBER 1990

finally, the USHGA will encourage local site administrators to rate their sites, when appropriate, for paragliding in accordance with the APA paraglicler pilot rating program. (Control of site use will remain a local issue under local control, and there will not be any attempt to establish any "equivalency" between USHGA hang glider pilot ratings and AP A para glider pilot ratings. The vastly different perfmmance parameters of paragliclers and hang gliders make such an equivalency impossible, as the required paraglider rating for a site may change with changing conditions independent of the required hang rating). Hang Gliding magazine will continue to be aimed primarily at hang glider pilots, and deal mostly with hang gliding issues and editorial content. Paragliding - The Magazine will feature material primarily on paragliding. From time to time each magazine will feature stories and articles about "the other sport" in recognition of the importance of all pilots who share common sites being reasonably well informed about both types of flying. Within the administration of the USHGA, the cost of administering paragliding programs will be covered by revenues from paraglider pilot membership clues and ratings fees charged, and services to hang glider pilots should be unaffected in any negative way by the incorporation of paragliding into the USHGA. There are a very wide range of positive results to be gained from this expansion of contact and communication between the USHGA and APA in particular, and between hang glider and paraglider pilots in general. This action at this time does not constitute a merger of the APA and USHGA, nor does it imply the dissolution of the APA. The door has been left open for such a merger in the future, or, if it turns out that the individual pilots in both sports decide that paragliding can best be served by the continued existence of two separate organizations, that option remains equally available. Pilots with questions or concerns about paragliding and the USHGA involvement in it are asked to contact their USHGA regional directors. The USHGA office will be striving to have a database ready for use shortly after the first of the year. •

Now introducing, our newest BRS: the WEDGE 16, 18, or 20 ... the fastest-deploying parachute systems you can buy, from $799. LET'S GET TECHNICAL • Maximum deployment performance: O. 7 sec. to line stretch • Maximum canopy performance: Pulled apex shape is very high drag and opens very fast • Light Weight: 5 pounds • Easy to use: Our popular and simple "Quick Draw" handle • Easy to Mount: Self-contained; just sew or bolt to harness, and route bridle to karabiner • State-of-the-Art: Many color choices; aerodynamic shape Pull-down apex technology coupled to a supremely-reliable rocket, built by the world's leader. It doesn't get any faster! Over 800 satisfied hang glider pilots are using BRS performance.

•

/"1:;)'

MAKING FLIGHT SAFER

B R S • 1845-HG Henry Avenue South SL Paul, MN 55075 • USA 612/457-7491 • FAX: 612/457-8651

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't 't by Rob McKenzie once in a while we hear about an individual with a special handicap that they've had to overcome. This is the story of one such individual. I am very proud to know her and to have played a part in helping her learn to hang glide.

Sally Tnckcr was horn deaf. Her parents arc hearing. Sally is the eldest of five children which only one is hearing. Sally is a univcr· sity graduate with a degree in Computer Business. She has led a very active life including snow skiing, jct skiing, motorcycling, camp-

ing, bicycling (across most of the U.S.) and last year she added hang gliding to the list. Sally's introduction to hang gliding was in I 974 at Head North Carolina. Watching the lessons at the beach she longed to try it. Being a little short on cash, as most students HANG GUDING

arc. shC: had to settle for just walehing. She knew however that one d,1y she would fly. Five long years later she had a hit or time and money so she enrolled in a hang gliding school in Mnryland. F1111ds permitted only three lessons ai1d it was a four··hour drive each way. She did gel 20 flights on a bunny hill with a scat harness. She had an interpreter for th(: classroom session but not for the prnclical portion. A couple of years later she 111ovcd lo Los Angeles and saw pilots training on 1he beach a1 Playa del Rt:y. The site soon closed and Sally had no idea where to go lo learn to fly. One clay in I()~() a friend or hers told her or the landing are,1 at Syl111ar. Excitedly, she soon mel Don Quackenbush, a local instructor, and asked him if he would teach her to rly. I Jc she give his compclition a call. She then talked to Joe Greblo and his wife Kris. To Sally's sur· boih .Joe and Kris could cornmuniealc in sign language. i\ctually, Kris used 10 be an i!lterpreter for the deaf and Joe has picked up "l lang I" sign skills from Kris. So olT Sally went for her firs! contcmpo· rary hang gliding lesson. The neatest part was that it was close by and she could afford it. I lcr exciteml:nt erupted as she knew llwl this time she actually would do it. I !er first day was at the bunny liill wi1h Ted Boyse, Joe ( ircblo's employee and main instructor. had her hearing sister Donna there to interpret. Poor Donna. lJp and down she ran all day chasing Sally, contorting her hands and waving her mms with Ted's instrnc· tional messages. By the end or lhe day the two

ABOVE: Sally's first solo mountain fligh l.

RIGHT: Rob loose while Sally executes a pc1,'te,ct1,H1mcid flare.

RIO rJ;ir;ilniinismn Hotel reservations, car and equipment location. exrJenenc;ect (pilots). Tours to br:,st 11ight locals.

POl)STAfl VIAGf NS E TURISMO Cop,Jcabana. 680 S. 404 22050 flio cle ,Janeiro Brazil Tel. (021) 255 :i590 Telox 2137157 ~TVLJ

Is hang gliding a hot news item in local clippings of c:tn1rioc: photos or to the Public Relations Committee through the office. want see your name, your club or your mentioned in print! Public Relations 8300, Colorado Springs,

Fax 00:.'l(i21 255·3644 Dl'CEIVIBliR

9()()

w,:n, almost 100 pooped 10 pull !he:

or foxtails from !heir socks. The second day they wc111 for some iow.Jaunclied dual rliglJJs. Without the and with fligl11 maneuvers happening very quickly, Sally's ci1cmcnt took a nose dive into a sea or fruslra· lion. I sensed some regret when Joe called me up 10 explain situation and the racl that both Don Quackenbush, and now he, had to inform Sally that they could 1101 teach her anymore. So it became my tum. Not as busy as either Joe or Don, ,rnd having geared my teaching 10 provide dual lessons and evalu to the extent that radio assistann: ation on first mounlilin solos was rnrely needed, 1 agreed to try. Being a bit pumped up 10 give it my best shot I ran mil to tlH: library a11c/ bor rowed a couple of video !apc:s on sign la11. guage. By the t:nd of the night I could recite l .illlc Red Ridinr: Hood in but 1ha1 wasn't what was uecrkd so I bough! a reference book :md looked up the letters of the alphabet and some common instruct ion al words like lei'!, right, faster, slower and good. sm·1ms111,g her the day she canw for her first lesson. I thought that it was to be cake, but il was much harder t lian l had though! it would he:. Much or dual instruction involves being flexible and bci11g prepared to explai11 silu:1tio11s and conditions as they occur. Turns on approach were also difficult to J(,

leach. Timing is critical and I didn '1 have time lo sign instructions, since she didn't have time to "hcnr" them bcca11sc her cyGs were sup· posed 10 be watching the windsock and the tar get. We decided 10 use a rlag system in which I radio lo a flag person in the I J. standing Oil the target, and they in turn lo Sally what head ing slit: should he flying. For the landing flan: I rode in behind Sally as I usually would, hut assisted her flare tinling by tapping on her shoulders when she was supposed lo Clare. /\s one might expect the landings Oil occasion left much to be dcsirL'd, but knee pads provided thL' necessary protect ion.

Sally pc1rscvc1·cLI. With I weeks and 20 lessons heh incl her she made her first mountain solo. In the weeks and months thal followed Sally earned her sign·oll ror Kagel under Don Q11ackcnb11sh 's stq1l'rvision. She is now an Intermediate pilot and has added truck towing 10 her list of accomplishmc11\s. 111 the past six months Sally has brought out 4:~ friends for dual lessons. She is a terrific supporter of !lie sport, and a pretty good tht:nnal pilot I might aclrl. Sally wants to know if there are any deaf pilots out there. If so feel free 10 conlacf her al (818) lC12-0SS8,T.D.D.

I IANC CLIDINC

BAU. VAIHOME1ERS INC. 6595 ODELL PL, SUITE C, BOULDER, CO 80301 (303) 530-4940 MODEL 651 VARIO/AUDIO/ DIGITAL ALTlMETER $530

MODEL652 VARIO/AUDIO DIGITAL AL TlMETER/ AIRSPEED $640

MODEL M20 WRIST VARIO $250

True or False ...

BALLCLAMP $20

Available from hang glider manufacturers and dealers

HANG GLIDING TRIPS - PARAGLIDING INSTRUCTION - SALES - SERVICE Sierra Tours Lake Tahoe-Reno One-Day Adventure Including Glider $75 Custom Guided Trips Available Alps Andes Himalayas ADVENTURE SPORTS 3680 Research Way #6 Carson City, Nevada 89706 (702) 883-7070

HANG GLIDE ALL WINTER LONG with THE FOi INPUT DEVICE and SOARING SOFTWARE

* RIDCF S01\R I fli RM Al

, I

SOAR

ADD A POWEk POD

·i9.00 INFO PACK phone (919) 840-0449

fax:

(919) 840-0232

FLIGHT DYNAlvllCS, INC. P.O. Box 80184 Raleigh, N.C. 27623

You get what you pay for.

AMATEUR ATHLETIC SAVINGS CARD!

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USHGA Headquarters is pleased to announce the immediate availability of the U.S. Amateur Athletic Savings Card. The U.S. Amateur Card provides discounted prices for travel and lodging to scheduled USHGA events and brand name merchandise savings to USHGA members. USHGA receives an enrollment fee and airline ticket credits based upon membership use. Take 40% off regular coach rates; 25% off daily room rates. Drive Alamo rental cars for $16.97 per day with unlimited mileage and purchase AVIA, Reebok, Bassett Walker, etc.,

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sportswear-150 top-of-the-line items-at 40%-60% discounts. Take advantage of ALL these membership benefits for one LOW fee of $74.95 ! This fee covers your immediate family only-parents. legal guardians. brothers. sisters. spouse. or children of a member in the same household. ACT NOW AND SAVE when participating in this year's scheduled hang gliding events. Call USHGA Headquarters at (719) 632-8300 for more details, or complete and forward the U.S. Amateur Card application form to the address shown.

United States Hang Gliding Association (USHGA) While You're Going for Gold The Athletic Savings Card™ Will Help You Save Gold,·Silver and Copper. For an annual membership·fee of $74.95, your entire family can enjoy the following Travel Saving Benefits all year.! • Top Off Already Low Airfares ••• fly North;.vest and Delta Airlines to registered USHGA events withiµ the U.S;A,. Take an additional 5% discount on all special promotional airfares, or choose an unrestricted, penalty-free 40% USAmateur™ discount off regular coach rates.

Athletic Savings Card™

AMATEUR ATHLETES SHOULD STOP PUTTING OUT 100% To Order . . . send $74.95 to: USAmateurni

Western Division, 1205 Shasta Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80910 Payment: Dcheck OMC OVisa Card NO.

Exp. Date

• Bikes Fly Free .•• An immediate $60 savings! Free bicycle boarding passes from Delta and Northwest lf!t you pocket the savings every time you travel!

I I I I I I I I 11 I I 11 I I I DJDJ

• Special Low Rates From/Alamo-and National Rent A Car ... Alamo offers rates starting at $16.97 wftb: unlimited mileage, any day of the week at all rental locations. N:atfonalCar Rental guarantees savings nationwide; 20 % off local daily rj\tes; 10% off all promotional rates.

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HERE'S H()\Vc1fy JOIN THE USAmateur 1n, TEAM

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Address - - - - - - - - - - - - -

City State_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Zip_ __ Phone(_ _ ) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

Birthdate _ _ _ _ _ 0 MALE O FEMALE l run a: (a) D Amareur Athlere (b) 0 Coach (d) D Manager (g) 0 Sports Enlhusias.t

Call Today ... (719Y632-"8300 for an instant enrollment and a 30 day free trial offer! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT-OF USHGA OFF1CIAL SPONSORS

(e) D .Administrator

NO SLIP RUBBER BUSHINGS PREVENTS BASE TUBE ABRASION WHEN USED ALONE

PROTECT YOU AND YOUR GLIDER A must for dealers with demo gliders. German made, thousands flying in Europe. Sold to major dealers in U.S. and Canada. ONLY

1 YEAR GUARANTEE • SNAP ON/SNAP OFF ANYTIME, ANYWHERE • AFFORDABLE/HIGH QUALITY • RUGGED & DEPENDABLE • 7" DIA. x 21h" WIDTH EXTREMELY LIGHTWEIGHT STORE IN GLIDER BAG OR HARNESS

$4500 PER PAIR (specify 1" or 1 /e" base bar) 1

True You seldom get more than you pay for. If you pay a cheap price, you usually get a cheap product or service.

False On the other hand, it is quite possible to get Jess than you pay for. In any industry or business, there is usually one company that sets the standard of quality in products and services. Prices for these products and services are determined by the costs of the materials and supporting labor which go into them. In a situation where differences in materials quality may not be readily apparent to the ultimate consumer, other suppliers will often charge similar prices for a product which in fact costs much less to produce and which has a correspondingly lower value.

SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO:

MORNINGSIDE HANG GLIDERS ~ RFD 2 BOX 109, CLAREMONT, NH 03743 (603) 542-4416 ~ CANADIAN ORDERS ADD $3.00 DEALERS WELCOME

IEE

CLIMB ABOVE THE COMPETITION !

For example, Polyant sail cloth is recognized throughout the world of sailmaking as the premier woven fabric. Manufactured on the most modern, high technology looms, it offers an unmatched combination of high tenacity fibers, high density weaving, premium resins and extraordinary consistency of quality. Polyant cloth costs more to buy, but a Polyant sail will last years longer, making it a far better value. Wills Wing is the only manufacturer that spends the extra money on your behalf to use Polyant sail cloth exclusively in the sail body.

THE

jSENI EK!

High strength 7075 alloy tubing costs more than twice as much as the more commonly used alloys such as 6061, but it gives you a stronger airframe and a lighter weight glider. Wills Wing pioneered the use of 7075 in main airframe spars in 1986. Today, Wills Wing is the only manufacturer to offer any glider with an all 7075 main airframe, and we offer a full line of gliders, from first purchase SPfCTRUMSthrough advanced competition HPA T'S, featuring 7075 airframes and 7075 battens.

· For your nearest dealer call (206) 337-9575 SENTEK INSTRUMENTS 14327 27th Dr. Mill Creek, WA 98012

"Fly Brazil" RIO DE JANEIRO'S FINEST HANG GLIDING SHOP FLYING TOURS

Other Wills Wing quality features that may not be apparent on casual inspection include an expertise in product design and testing, and a level of after sale service and support that can only be provided by the country's oldest , largest and most experienced manufacturer, working in cooperation with the largest and most professional dealer network in the industry. If you're paying for top quality, you should be getting top quality. So why not get a Wills Wing, and get what you pay for?

Bi-lingual guides Transportation & Retrieval - Airport pickup Hotel & rental car reservation available

TANDEM TRIKE FLIGHTS OVER RIO Parachutes, harnesses, instruments, radios & T-shirts available Repair services & parts for AIRWAVE, AIRBORNE, ALBATROSS & MOYES For infonnation or reservations contact: Ondas do Ar Ltda OA USA Av das Americas, 1917T Attn: D. Aguilar Rio de Janeiro 22631 Brazil (213) 439-4132 (818) 443-7070 FAX (21) 2477468 FAX & phone

1208 H. East Walnut • Santa Ana , CA • 92701 Phone (714) 547-1344 • FAX (714) 547-0972

Pilot Report

The Alti Plus Varios © 1990 by Dennis Fagen Hang gliding instrumentation has come a long way from the days of a wet finger in the wind and hank of yam on a flying wire. Hightech has invaded our high life style. Miniature devices lap at the air to taste changes in pressure, temperature and molecular transit time in order to direct a gang of electrons into a meaningful arrangement for our senses. We can now accurately pinpoint where we are and how we're doing in the vertical dimension. The

latest devices for doing just that are the Vl, V3 and V6 Alti Plus variometers from Prete!. In this piece we'll introduce you to these three varios and show you how to use some of their unique technology.

ALTIPLUSBACKGROUND The manufacturer of our varios, Prete!, is located in Claix, France, which is near Grenoble, which is in the Alps, site of some of the world's

best flying. But you don't have to seek out the world's best flying to get an Alti Plus, for it will come to you. The distributor, K&C High Tech, Inc., is located in Jacksonville, Florida and many shops around the U.S. will be stocking the units. Prete! is a company fmmed in 1983 to produce snazzy electronic devices. Besides varios, Prete! also manufactures electronic altimeters used in mountain climbing and surHANG GLIDING

veying, ski lift safety systems and industrial process monitors (black boxes). Since 1987 they have sold over 14,500 altimeters and varios. The company is no slouch in the electronic gizmo business, as evidenced by their several prestigious design awards. When they cleciclecl to manufacture varios, they enlisted the aid of several well-known hang gliding and paragliding pilots. Thus the devices are just about what you've always wanted in a vario but were afraid you couldn't afford.

ALTI PLUS CONSTRUCTION All three varios come in col01fol boxes molded from polycarbonate ABS (lexan, that Superman stuff featured in bulletproof windshields) and are nearly unbreakable. Rumor has it that one Alti Plus fell off a pilot's control bar while he was thermaling high in the Himalayas where it was chewed by a water buffalo that passed it into the Ganges where it was swallowed by a crocodile that later was shot by a hunter who found the vario and brought it back on a tramp steamer that foundered on a reef off the cost of Zanzibar when it washed up on shore to be picked up by a witch doctor who freaked out at its eerie up-tone and tossed it into a volcano that erupted a week later to spew the vario five miles into the jungle to be found by a missionary who returned it to Prete! in perfect working condition! Whether or not this story is true, the varios are certainly strong enough to be used as a toy for your three-year-old hellion when you 're not flying. The varios are also water resistant; if you clunk them in salt water, rinse them off and let them dry to restore them to working order. The V3 and V6 are radio shielded. Radio shielding is an important feature when operating a radio in flight, or flying near microwave towers! For those readers inexperienced in these matters, an unshielded vario will go deaf, dumb and blind in the presence of strong radio transmission. All these slickly-packaged products only weigh 7-1/2 ounces (with battery) and take up about the same amount of space as half a Richard Bach book: 3-3/4" x 2-1/2" x 1-1/2". ALTIPLUSFEATURES Because we're really talking about three varios, we will list the highlights of each separately.

The A/ti Plus VJ The VI is really a combination variometer and barometer/altimeter. The altimeter does what all law abiding altimeters do to give you your DECEMBER 1990

absolute altitude within a range from -800 to 32,000 feet. This is MSL, or you can choose to zero the altimeter at takeoff or the landing field. In addition, the VI will display your maximum altitude reached. This neat feature eliminates all those post-flight generous estimates. We suggest you loan the Alti Plus to a friend who tends to inflate his or her high point without telling them about the truth factor built into the instrument. Prete! has sponsored a contest where 20 varios were given to 20 pilots and they all had a couple of hours to try them out. The pilot with the highest maximum altitucle reading got to keep the vario. Sounds like we should get a glider manufacturer involved with this as well! The V 1 altimeter displays all its information with a numeric LED output. The altimeter is in five-foot increments and is temperature compensated from -13 degrees to + 130 degrees F. The barometer displays in inches of mercury and flashes the pressure trend with a series of five mTows. This allows you to be your own weatherman on top of the mountain. The V 1 variometer function uses the same numeric display as the altimeter. You can have one or the other or both. When in the "both modes" the instrument flashes altitude then rate of climb or descent one after the other with a lot more time given to the variometer function. I wasn't sure I liked this at first, but I soon realized that I'm a sound man and the audio (up only) output keeps me info1med of my climb state. This audio (and that of the V3 and V6) sounds like a clarinet tuned to a G# note two octaves above middle C. It is chopped nicely for lackluster lift and becomes a solid tone when you 're climbing fast enough to bore through every glider in the sky. The audio tone makes up for the less than perfect visual display. The main thing I miss on the VI is an analog dial that the V3 and V6 do have. The V 1 incorporates a welcomed feature: a battery display appears every time you tum the vario on to let you know how much juice is available in percentage of full power. When the battery gets low, you have about three hours to replace it and a low battery sign flasl1es every 20 seconds. Normal battery life is 30 continuous hours of climbing.

The A/ti Plus VJ The V3 vario has some very different features. It also displays in an LED format, and this includes an analog vario dial. In vario mode, rate of climb also is given numerically, so scratch lift can be readily detected. In the altimeter mode, the increments are l O feet and the range is from Oto 19,000 feet, good enough

for the U.S. where you pay a big fine above 18,000 feet. The maximum altitude reached is not displayed, but the maximum gain above takeoff is, so the V3 also serves as a lie detector. The altimeter does not read MSL but the altitude above or below a set point (such as launch or landing). The V3 is not ideal for contest crosscountry soaring because you can't set to a contest altitude, but for local soaring its sensitivity and constant analog display make it a useful instrument indeed. A bit of inertia exists in the analog dial but the audio tone (up only) is accurate and fast-acting.

The A/ti Plus V6 Now we anive at the Queen of the Fleet. The V6 possesses all the features of the V 1 and V3 plus a chronometer, audio in lift and sink, and a memory of ground altitude which you can call up in flight. In addition, the altimeter reads in three-foot increments~goocl enough to serve as a numerical vario. All this comes in the same size as the preceding two varios and the V6 is recommended for the serious cross-country pilot.

ALTI PLUS FUNCTION Using the Alti Plus varios is a matter of pushing combinations of two buttons. One button turns the instrument on and one button calls up all the various functions. The buttons are protected in a recess and yet are easily turned on with a gloved hand. In addition, the VI and V6 automatically turn themselves off after 20 seconds unless the function button is pressed to secure against accidental turn-ons. The battery is easily accessed by popping open a little door on the back of the instrument. The unit is equally easy to attach to your glider (or leg if you fly soft wings). A large elastic velcro strap hooks to a faired downtube or even the fattest thigh, while two plastic clips allow you to snap the vario on to a round tube. A lanyard safety rope is quickly hooked up to prevent your instrument from experiencing the perils described earlier. In sum, the Alti Plus varios are user-considerate devices with a number of fine features worth checking out. You can readily do this by calling the number advertised in this magazine and talking to Roland Cachet, the U.S. distributor. However, he'll probably direct you to one of the many dealers that now handle these instruments, where you can plunk down $487, $549 or $679 for the V3, Vl or V6 respectively, and walk away with a toy sure to get you high! Tell them you found out about it from this article and you'll get an extra fifty feet. • 21

by left our hernt:s at tht: end or June, happy with their accomplishments, hut not satisfied. Their dreams had been dangling in front of them for several weeks now, in the heat of the New Mexico deserL For Mark Gibson, the elusive 200-mile flighL Ile had bested the number 011ce hack home in the Owens Valley, and had come within two miles or doing it again. For Kari Castle, the World Distance

Christie

Record was her only thought Nothing else would do and she knew iL The Altitude Gain Record was hers, but the Open Distance continued to be just on the other side of each day's Hoth pilots knew that they were prepared and capable, but could never seem to get the clay to he righl. Something always blockc;d the path to their goals.

Until July came. Kari: "July 1st dawned and I was 11p with the sun ... today was the day, l knew ii. l got the harograph trace signed and 111mmtcd, all my paperwork completed, new film in the cameras ... then l happened to look in my log book. lt was exactly two years to the day since I had tumbled. I looked back over the last two years of my flying and how l had had lo fight llANC GUDINC

the fear of it, and today I wanted more than anything else to break that barrier of fear. I was ready! "The direction wasn't good (as far as being easy) and it almost forced you to do a dogleg clue to a lack of roads heading north, so I declared the twin towers by Caperock as my turnpoint. From there I knew I would have to go crosswind to Roswell until I had enough guts or altitude to cross over no-woman's land in order to intersect highway 258 heading north." Everything got off to a good start, with a quick climb to cloudbase and lift abundant all the way nearly to the towers. As she approached Caperock, however, she sank to 7,000' and found her turnpoint deep in shade. Decision time: blow off the turnpoint record and stay in the sun or go for the towers and risk sinking out? It was just a moment's hesitation for Kari; this was her clay and she knew it. Kari: "I started wondering as I got lower and lower coming up to these huge towers (that I was no longer above). Mark was at the turnpoint warning that there wasn't much happening and to stay in lift (what lift?). As I approached the towers I spotted a little chunk of sunshine and dove for it, while Mark got on the radio and said he spotted a bird going up in front of the towers. Ya-boo! As I arrived I was greeted with a nice little 100 fpm thermal, a bird and my turnpoint slowly getting smaller beneath me. I proceeded to take my pictures and wind that puppy as high as it would go12,000'; I was a happy girl!" The crosswind leg to Roswell turned out to be a treat, with lift under every cloud and not too much drift. Chris Arai climbed up from below to join Kari for a while and they yo-yoed from cloud to cloud, enjoying the thrill of soaring in prime conditions. It was time for fun, because the crossing to 258 was coming and the leisure would stop and the work begin. Roswell was in the middle of a huge blue hole, so Kari opted to take off for "no-woman's land" a little earlier than planned, despite Mark's apprehension about the idea. Mark's radio was weakening and Kari would be stuck in the middle of nowhere if she couldn't stay high. It started to get tense, as Mark would have to turn his radio off to save juice and then come back on to see if Kari was still in the air or stranded in the desert somewhere. As it turned out, Kari sped through the toughest part of her flight path in championship fonn, telling Mark where to be on the highway and meeting him there. When he finally had her in sight again there was laughter over the radios, especially when she crossed DECEMBER 1990

the l lO-mile point, breaking the Dogleg World Record. With that behind her, the time came to attack the goal that she had been working toward all these weeks. Open Distance, the jewel in the crown of hang gliding, had been just out of reach, and now it was time to put all that practice to work and see what she was really made of. Almost immediately, things shaded over and progress slowed. Each time Kari would get low, she would work every little breath to get back up, taking longer and longer each time. She found herself looking at a landmark for a final approach with Mark reminding her to get pictures for her dogleg record when, once again, the skies parted and built a core. Kari: "Two hundred feet above the deck I hit one of the nicest thennals I had had in a long time. Working my Kiss for everything, before I knew it I was back up to 9,000' and really laughing this time! What a nice gift! After that point I worked every little bump I hit and stayed nice and high. going on long glides in the buoyant air." Within no time Kari was 60 miles downwind of that low save and maintaining 8,000'11,000' relatively easily. The town of Vaughn came over the horizon all too quickly and with it, the record she had worked so hard for. A the1mal was there to meet her and she climbed back to 11,000', starting her final glide in triumph. Outside the town of Encino she met Mark, who was flagging down cars to get a landing witness. Between the maniac waving them clown and the glider cruising over the road, well, getting cars to stop wasn't a problem. Papers signed, barograph checked and the celebration began. For the record, Women's Open Distance at 182 miles and Women's Open Distance with a Tumpoint at 184 miles. Just when it looked like things were going to calm clown, July 2nd started to pop, and Mark Gibson was on the tow rig ready to chase his 200-mile dreams. Kari was satisfied and happy, and now it was Mark's turn to chase the clouds. Lany Tudor was off the ground by 11: 15, with Mark a half hour behind, cumulus everywhere. Winds were 20 mph on the ground and, well, these guys were just plain tearin' it up. Mark bounced from thermal to thermal for 75 miles, running past cars on the highways between lift sources and grinning from ear to ear. He never even thought about getting low, and just kept scanning the sky ahead for Larry. Mark: "Finally I encountered a perfect 30-mile long cloud street. I just pulled the bar in and blazed! After 30 miles, at the encl of the street, I saw a white dot ahead of me, circling

up. It was Larry. I caught him! I raced to his thermal and up I went. We were past the first 100 miles and now we had each other to race. Ya-hoo! It was so much fun, leap-frogging thermals and blazing the miles away until the 160-mile point, where we went our separate \Vays. ')

They weren't done with this part of the adventure, though. At 190 miles, Larry and Mark found each other again, climbing under a slowly collapsing cloud and gliding past the 200-mile barrier together. The rest of the day was spent playing in ragged thennals blown apart by the strong winds, and Mark was clown after five hours and 50 minutes, 224 miles from Hobbs in Amistacl, New Mexico. Larry went even farther, getting warmed up for one of the most incredible flights in the history of the sport, but that's a whole different story. There is a postscript, by the way. The entire Pacific Airwave team banded together the next clay and set a 100-mile goal that they all reached. Kenny Brown, Mark Bennett and Dave Sharp were thrilled to be a part of the 100-mile gaggle that day, but there were two who still tingled from sharing fulfilled dreams. One hunclrecl miles? Not bad, but they were champions now, holders of records, conquerors of personal goals and, for one gutsy lady pilot, the only one left standing after a twoyear battle with her own fears. May we all one clay be as brave and successful. Mark: "I'd like to thank Larry Tudor for opening our eyes to X-C towing and putting Hobbs airport on the map for hang gliding. Also a very special thank you to Jean-Michel Bernasconi and Kenny Brown for seeing the reality of our dreams and giving us the best equipment available. The Kisses were awesome and the truck never missed a beat. Most of all, congrats to Larry on his 303-miler. I guess we'll have to wait until next year for a shot at that one. Just remember Larry, next time you'll be signing my barograph!" Kari: "Special thanks to Larry Tudor for pushing me into all this record-breaking stuff. Two years ago he came over to my house with maps, record claim forms, a Sporting License application and excitement. It was a month after that I tumbled, which put a clamper on my flying. It's been a long, slow process getting my 'pucker factor' back. I really wanted this badly~to make it a turning point in a positive direction for my flying~and it did. It feels good to be excited about flying again, just like I used to. Now I want 200! "Pacific Airwave, thanks for making my dreams come true. I couldn't have clone it without you."• 23

ig Sur is renowned for tlw most spcctacu· Jar scenery on the Cen·· trnl California coasL Among hang glider pi" lots. its repuliltion matches that of Yosemite as a spot for an awc"inspiring, but brier. sled nm. The California coastline is not known for gener· ous thermal activity, and the coastal cliffs at Big Sur arc too low for soaring in lllod" erntc winds. Thus the Sylmar I Iang Gliding Association goal for its Columbus Weck" encl FJy.(n was ambi" tious" "to get everyone soaring above launch at Big Sur. The Sylmar IIGA is the major club in the Los Angeles area. Somewhat spoiled hy our control or our own landing field and the use or one of the most consistent thermal flying sites int he coun· try, it's hard to get club members together to visit other locations. Since the U.S. Forest Service limits Big Sur hang gliding to 25 pilots per day, though, the available slots were taken quickly. Arriving at the designated meeting spot near Sarni Dollar Beach late Friday night, we couldn't find the group campsite and scrounged a temporary site by the light of the Milky Way. We decided that the clear October night's sky was an auspicious sign from the Wind Spirits. During the summer the heat circulation tends lo suck moisture in from the ocean and blanket the coast with fog. This marine air mass can be treacherous; within five minutes af'tcr launch" ing into clear sky, clouds may form and fill the valley. The only viable landing sites are adja cent lo the beach, and under cloud cover there is a very large expanse of ocean within your glide path. Sycamore Flats is a broad, grassy, marine terrace lying between the scenic Pacific Coast Highway (Route I) and the coastal cliffs. A wavc"cut shelf thrust above the ocean by the tectonic forces which created the rugged Big Sur headlands, the Flats pcnnits an unobstructed

by David Oberhettinger landing approach after spilling excess altitude over the waves. Even with a sled run from launch, most gliders can reach the beach with more than 2,000' MSL, allowing a leisurely glide out over the ocean to Plaskett Rock, an offshore landmark. A low and fast return to the Flats with an overflight above Plaskett Rock may raise verbal protests from its resident sea lion colony. The nearby beaches, though open to the public, arc protected as a marine sanctu· ary for sea otters. Saturday mid"morning was marked by the arrival or slightly cool and hazy conditions, and the remaining Sylmar pilots. We received our flight briefing from the elderly Forest Scrv· ice volunteer who issues the daily gliding per" mits. Her briefing focused on map locations of private property where overflights are prohib" ited. There was much speculation among the pilots concerning the likely species of cash crops in these forbidden canyons. Taking the Ridge Road, a steep, two .. wheel-drive dirt road to the three launch sites along Plaskett Ridge, we reached the Plaskett Creek site slightly before noon. Near this

launch site is the begin" ning or the Coast Ridge Trail, which follows the crest or the Coast Range. Tlw tempera· ture at launch was sur· prisingly hot given the coolness of the valley, suggesting a poor lapse rate. The Plaskett Creek launch site is a narrow shc:lf at 2,880' above the LZs (ahout 3,000' MSL) provides cramped space for setup. None: of the three LZs arc visible from launch, hut the view down to the pounding surf rivals any East or West Coast hang glid" vista. Most of the 20 Sylmar pilots were off by I :00 PM, exploring the knoll in front of launch where a reliable "house" thermal was said to reside. SucceS·· sive pilots scoured cv· cry foot of the knoll and adjacent ridges without a peep from their var" ios. Below the knoll, a series or grassy, wooded ridges and canyons descend steeply to the beach. During the spring, these: slopes arc heavily carpeted with wild flowers. After a few minutes searching for lift, each pilot reluctantly committed to a sled run and headed for the coast. Saturday's highlight was a thin band of clouds over the coast at 2,000' elevation. Flying over the clouds in bright sunlight and with over 500' clearance, each pilot looking north along the coast viewed a dazzling white ribbon punctured by wooded peaks. Just as they reached clear air over the ocean and started their descent, several pilots saw their "glory," an aviation term used to describe the shadow irnagc of an aircraft pro" jcctecl onto the lop of a cloud and encircled by a rainbow halo. The first pilots to land on the portion of the marine terrace nearest Sand Dollar Beach popped out of their harnesses and into swim trunks. Blowing great trurnpct blasts on ho] .. low lengths of giant kelp taken from the beach, they announced the next club activity to pilots on final approach. Soon, most of the club was frolicking in the waves. Saturday night activi" HANG GLIDING

tics were ccntcrvd around lhc rnmnlirc at our c:mipsilc, wlivrc practical jokes c11li rl1sapprn11111:d with their f'lighls. morning grew warm carlit'r, i111· prospects !'or thcrm:il soaring. Many pilols wen' lwppy jusl at the promise of a second consecutive flying day at this unprc· dicta hie site. Reaching launch, Ilic pilots noted the crystal ol'the air, and tfwy rnshcd l'or the fimilt:d scH1p Crammed on the shell' the li11rricd clat lcring ol' hat tens echoed down the canyon. ( )nc

a/'tcr :11101l!cr, tile Lnmclicd to· wmd tile knoll. Positioned 11car the top or the wooded c:myon, the knoll seemed to collecl and cha1mel all the Iii'! in 1he vici11ity. Within ,4() minutes, the entire Sylmar contingent had formed a gaggle rising ov,:r launch. Looking behind launch, the 1:xccptional visibility permitted a view o/' the smoke plum,: or a large l'on.:st !'ire over miles to the cast. To the west, the cKcan surl'ace was l'lat and the heavy spray against 1hc cliffs. Flying at :1.500', ;1 good portion oft he coastline

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Competition. Looking at the attendance of this year's U.S. Nationals, it seems that interest in competition is high, at least if the event is well publicized and well run. Still, competition is not for everyone, but cross-country flying seems to capture the interest of most of today's hang glider pilots. If we care about X-C flying then-directly or indirectly-we care about competition, because competition facilitates better X-C by driving technological improvements, not only in the technology of the gliders we fly, but also of the tactics we use. One of the ways to improve our X-C flights is to use better equipment. However, there are always two limits to doing this: we already own the best equipment available, or we can't afford it. The other way is to improve our technique. As some famous business tycoon once said, ''Time is miles!" The more time you waste, the fewer miles you'll fly. Conversely, the faster you fly, the more miles you fly. The tycoon was talking about his frequent flier program, I'm talking about Speed-to-Fly theory. Sounds technical...Yuuuck! Hang on a minute. Sure it's technical, but !hat's not so bad. This is the kind of stuff that inspires young children to go to universities and get their Ph.D's and make a stronger America! Yes, people do go to school to study soaring. Helmet Reichmann got his Ph.D in speed-to-fly theory. That's right: Dr. Soaring! Reichmann not only wrote the book on X-C flight 1, but he also won the sailplane World Championships twice! Besides, if you really want to improve, and you're not a natural like Paulo Coehlo 2 , you need to bite the bullet and acquire a good understanding of speed-to-fly theory. So let's get started. In this article I intend to explain the speedto-fly theory and make some observations along the way. What I'm trying to do is enable you to understand the theory so that you can judge for yourself what's important and what's not. In order to go fast and far you need more than a few simple rules, you need to understand speedto-fly theory fully so you can squeeze every bit of performance out of your equipment. I'm assuming that you have already seen polar constructions for best glide. If you haven't, you might want to review Dennis Pagen's work 3 '". He has written excellent material on the subject in his past articles and books.

Best Glide in a Tailwind To emphasize the point that you need to completely understand the speed-to-fly theory, I'll start with a common misconception even among top pilots. Everyone is familiar with the idea that you speed up in headwinds and slow down

in tailwinds. I repeatedly hear pilots say, "I was gain' downwind so I was totally pushed out." This is the correct way to fly only if you are in zero sink or climbing. Look at the polar in Figure I. You know that the best L/D speed for a tailwind is found by drawing a line (line AA) from the point on (V) axis corresponding to -(Wk) (Wk is wind speed, positive for tailwinds) to the tangential point (coITesponding to Vaa) on the polar. You also know that minimum sink (Wsmin; Ws is always negative, being the glider sink rate in still air) is the high point of the polar curve where the tangent (line BB) is horizontal. Since the tangent at minimum sink is horizontal, where is it going to intersect the (V) axis? Nowhere-parallel lines don't ever cross! However, line BB could also represent the best L/D in a tailwind (Wk) and vertical airmass

"In this article I intend to explain the speed-to-fly theory and make some observations along the way. What I'm trying to do is enable you to understand the theory so that you can judge for yourself what's important and what's not. In order to go fast and far you need more than a few simple rules." (Wm)= -(Wsmin). Therefore, in tailwinds you do fly slower, but not at minimum sink airspeed (Vms) unless you are in zero sink. The reality is that when gliding downwind to your next thermal you are as often as not in considerable sink. Line CC shows that in tailwind (Wk) and sink (Wm) you want to be flying even faster (Vee). Looking at Figure 2a we can get a bit more quantitative. This figure shows that max L/D in a 15 mph tailwind (no sink) to be almost 19 at 28 mph. If you were "totally pushed out" you would be losing almost two LI D points! See what I'm getting at? Let's look a little further at Figure 2a (first published by M. Sandlin 5 ). What's interesting to note is the range of L/D for a given curve from (Vmaxld) to a top speed of 60 mph. (Yes, that is past Vne on most modern gliders, so be aware of the fact that you can blow gliders up

at these speeds!) The curve for a 15 mph tailwind shows an L/D change of greater than eight points, whereas the 10 mph headwind curve only loses about two points and the 20 mph headwind loses less than one L/0 point. Figure 2b plots the data for different rates of sink. As you can see, if the sink or the headwind is strong you want to be going fast. If you fly too fast your penalty is relatively small. This is useful to know if you don't have an airspeed indicator or a speed ring. How would you come to the same conclusion from looking at the polar? Figure 3 says it all. It shows the max glide and glide at 60 mph for a headwind and a tailwind. In a headwind there is less difference between max L/D and L/0 at 60 mph. You can make the same constructions for sink or for lift and sink combined.

The Speed Polar 400~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wsaxif)

200 ··········

E g ~© -20

········

---:. ------ ---- ----····-----:----······ .......... . . - --- -:---.

...

....

.. .. · lvaa ~cc V axis o-1<}----,,----~-;----"'-.~+,-'-'-=----,1-':c..=.:.:~~:c.::.._~---~--:f--!--""'"""-1 .! ... .

.... . 1

0: ::,:. C

i:75 -400

-600 ........... . -soo,-1--~~+--~~~~~,-.~~,--~~,--~~...--~~~~--,

Optimum Speed-to-Fly Speed-to-fly theory is different from best glide. In speed-to-fly we are attempting to minimize the time it takes to go from thennal to thermal including the time it takes to climb back up. It turns out that for a given climb rate (Cl) in the next the1mal there is an optimum gliding speed at which we can fly that will give us a higher average speed. This gliding speed is always faster than maximum L/0 speed. Although we lose more altitude, we can regain it faster by climbing than by conserving altitude flying in best glide mode. Your intuition may have already lead you to conclude this was true. The question is: how do we actually achieve this in the air? To do this we have to roll up our sleeves and do a little math. I'm going to do the derivation first because the graphical construction for speed-to-fly is such a simple addition to the best glide construction, it seems a bit hard to believe. The first step is to declare all of the assumptions which make life easier. We assume that there is no horizontal wind, an assumption that many researchers make. We also assume that the glider's horizontal velocity (in still air) is the same as its airspeed. (This is a geometric error clue to glide slope, about .3% at L/0= 12 and 1.4% at L/0=6.) The final assumption is the polar used in all of the figures. This polar is a hybrid from several sources and is not actual flight data. It is my best guess as to where modern gliders are today. It probably is a bit optimistic, but it's close enough. The next is to define all the terms, which I'll let Figure 4 do. Figure 4 depicts a portion of a flight: climbing up on the left, gliding to the next thennal and climbing back up. We can think of an X-C flight as linked segments. Each seg-

-1 0

20 30 40 Airspeed V (mph)

Figure 1. When flying down wind, don't assume you should fly at min sink.

ment consists of two parts: the time spent gliding from the top of one thermal to the bottom of the next and the time spent climbing back up. For the derivation, we expect to climb back up to the same height as the top of the last the1mal. The goal is to figure out how to minimize the time it takes to fly each segment. You don't have to follow the whole derivation, but you should at least understand the significance of the numbered equations. The total time (tcr) is made up of the time climbing (tc) (recall that distance = rate * time; time = distance/rate),

Now we substitute the above expression for h into equation (I), tcr = -e*(Ws +Wm)/(Vm*Cl) + eN Simplifying (hand waving) we have tcr = e*(Cl - Ws - Wm)/(V*Cl) Our average cruise speed (Ver) is then the distance (e) divided by the average time (tcr), or, Ver= e/tcr = (V*Cl)/(Cl - Ws - Wm)

tc = h/Cl (Cl= glider climb rate)

(2)

Ver= (V*Cl)/(Cl -Si) and the time gliding (tg), tg=eN The total time is, tcr = tc + tg = h/Cl + eN

(1)

The height (h) lost in gliding can be expressed in terms of the actual glide over the ground (L/ Dgnd) and the distance (e), L/Dgnd = V/Si = V/(Ws + Wm)

This is an important relationship. Notice that the (e) and (h) terms are gone. This implies that with a vario to measure (Cl) and (Si), and an airspeed indicator to measure (V), we will be able to measure (Ver) and hopefully be able to minimize it. Indeed we can minimize (Ver), but we have to go a little further. Remember that our goal is to maximize the average cruise speed (Ver), or minimize the time (tcr). In order to do this we have to use calculus (egads!), but if you will trust me on this one I'll spare you the full explanation and just provide the end results:

-h = e/(L/Dgnd) = e*(Ws + Wm)N dWs/dV = (Ws + Wm - Cl)N

(3)

What on earth does that mean? First of all HANG GLIDING

UD vs Airspeed For Different Wind Speeds (Wk)

20 18

·•·----

----·

-------·------·---,------

·············H'Scn::l·······I.•·· . ). l.~1 ()·nt1

14 12

g 10 8

-·- --------·-----··

6 4 2 0 20

Airspeed V

Figure 2a. you must understand that equation (3) only describes the conditions under which (tcr) is minimized or (Ver) is maximized. Note that neither (tcr) nor (Ver) are even in (3). If we had an equation for (Ws) in tenns of (VJ (i.e., an equation for our polar), we could solve for (V). The solution would be the optimum speedto-fly. But we're not into numbers just yet. The left-hand side (dWs/dV) is known as "the derivative of (Ws) with respect to (Y)." In physical tenns it is the slope of the tangent to the polar at any particular point. Remember that so far we have been speaking only in general terms, not actLtally picking any particular (V) or (Ws), but we know in our hearts that for any (V) there is only one (Ws) as defined by the beloved speed polar. Every point on the polar has a tangent with a unique slope. In looking at the right-hand side, remember that (Ws) is always negative; (Wm) (which describes the air between thermals) is negative if it's sink, and Cl is always positive. Now take those glazed eyes and point them towards Figure 5. If you understand that the purpose of an equation like (3) is to force two relationships to equal one another, then we can see in Figure 5 how equating the left and right sides of (3) is accomplished. The slope of the tangent to the polar is (dWs/d (Y)) at the point (V,Ws). It is also the slope of the hypotenuse of a triangle whose sides are (V) and (Ws + Wm - Cl). Thus, by picking any combination of (Wm) and (Cl) we can solve for (Ws) and (V) by DECEMBER 1990

graphical construction. The (V) that we solve for is our optimum gliding speed when gliding through sink (Wm) on our way to the next thermal with climb rate (Cl). Notice that this is the exact same construction as for best glide, with the addition of the climb rate (Cl) segment. Figure 5 clearly shows why we must fly faster than best glide to optimize our speed along the course. Equation (3) is the mathematical repre-

sentation of the classic MacCreacly theory of speed-to-fly, which is the basis of the speed ring or MacCready ring. If we let CI in Figure 5 go to zero, then we are left with the familiar construction for best glide. Thus equation (3) represents the best glide relationship when Cl = 0. The speed ring is actually a ··best glide, no wind" ring, because it is calculated with Cl= 0 with no horizontal wind. Due to the nature of equation (3) and Figure 5, tile speed ring is readily adapted to the speed-to-fly theory. !\fore on that later; let's build one first. What we do is draw the best glide lines for different values of (Wm) (say from +300 to -lOOO fpm.) From each tangential point on the polar draw a point directly below a distance corresponding to the (Wm) value. Figure 6 shows the construction of one point of the speed-to-fly curve. The vertical axis on this new curve is our actual variometer reading. For any vario reading we can easily pick the optimum speed for best glide (Vbg). However, this graphical fom1 wouldn't be very easy to use in the air. The speed ring enables us to glance at the vario and easily see the proper speed at which we should fly. To construct a true speed ring, we need a round face vario with evenly spaced numbers. For varios with linear (bar graph type) displays we can construct a linear speed "slide rule." With the first type the vario needle actually points to the speed we need to fly, and is dependent on the display size. The slide rule can be any size or shape independent of the display and used with any type of vario. See Figure 7.

UD vs Airspeed

For Different Airmass Sink Rates (Wm) 25~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

20 ....

!Wr'°°J~······

- - . -- -- -~ - . - -

15 ······

··'(-·······

··········[·········t··· ·····i·······

:::J. ............... '.....

! -200 fpm

5 ··~·=····=l--c.··-l.=--···~=·····~·····=·····~·····=·····~~~:.~F=:.r·.

j""'

-4obtpm

Q+-~---+~~--t-~~1--~-t-~~-t-~--+~~-+-~~1--~---t-~---1

Airspeed V

Figure 2b. 31

Table 1 shows data taken from the speedto-fly curve in Figure 6, used to create the two types of "rings" shown in Figure 7. The one important feature to note here is the "O" mark on the ring next to minimum sink speed. When the "O" mark is aligned with the Ofpm mark on the vario, the ring is in best glide mode and corresponds with the data in Table 1. This is the mark that we will use to set the ring for optimum speed-to-fly.

The Speed Polar 01.---s;;::--c--,--~;:-----,------,---~-----,---~---,

-20

g-30

~ -40 co a: Q)

Table 1 Vbg (mph) 21 25 32 35 40 45 50 55 60

. --- ---- r----- --- -M~-qo-s1~~i~--------

-10

Si (fpm) 0 (Min sink airspeed) -66 -226 (Best L/D in still air) -311 -480 -680 -912 -1175 -1469

Using the Speed Ring So now let's talk about the how, why and when of using the speed ring. To set the speed ring for our next expected climb (Cl), we slide the "O" mark up until it matches our expected climb and fly at the speed on the ring pointed to by the vario. Simple as that. This is the same as adding the (Cl) segment in Figure 5, or the (Cl) term in equation (3). It's really not quite that simple because we don't actually know what the climb rate in the next thermal will be. It is not an easy task to predict how strong the

~ -50

-60 -70 -B00-1-----~--,--~-~----,--...-----..-----,..-~--< -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 Airspeed V (mph) Figure 3.

next thermal will be. The easiest way is to have a friend in the next thermal who can tell us what the climb rate is, but we're not guaranteed it will be that way when we get there. Add to this the fact that few thermals ever have a consistent climb rate from bottom to top, and we see it becomes quite complicated. There are several things to consider when selecting speed ring settings. We are trying to make our best guess on the future. The sim-

Terms Used to Derive Optimum Speed-to-Fly Top of 1st Thermal

9 Wm = Airmass Vertical

Top of 2nd Thermal

(fpm)

-h=Altitude

st in Glide

(~)

<f------e = Glide Distance (miles) Figure 4. Flight path from one thermal to the next.

h=Altitude Ga ed Cl= in Clim Climb in Next Thermal (fpm)

plest method would be to set your speed ring to the average climb rate of the thermal you are leaving. This is an estimate of the future based upon past performance. However, just because we accurately guess the actual climb rate of the next thermal, we are not guaranteed to get to it. It does us no good if the next thermal turns out to be too far away and we encl up landing. Therefore we must look ahead and make judgments about how far away the next thermal may be and whether or not the conditions are changing. If we seem to be entering thermals with altitude to spare, we should increase our ring setting. If we see a big cloud up ahead that could either mean 1,000 fpm lift or may turn to rain, we should set a more conservative setting so we have altitude to spare in case it is raining and we need to look elsewhere. The speed ring does not give us guarantees, it only allows us to fly optimally for what we can accurately anticipate. Without a speed ring we can only guess, and in the process we probably won't fly consistently. If we don't feel comfortable with settings above "zero," we can at least know that we are flying at our best glide, giving us the best possibility of finding the next the1mal. We must remember that the most effective way to cut time is to spend our time in thermals in the strongest possible lift. Wasting time topping out after the lift has slowed down acids minutes to our total time. Arriving low and getting stuck or climbing slower than at higher altitudes will do the same. As an exHANG GLIDJNG

The Speed Polar 800 600

··;~500·················· .............. ,..............,... ·········· ··············:·············

400

E- 200 Wm=-30f

(/')

1il

-e -200 u5

Ws=-66~

-400 -600 -800

30 40 Airspeed V (mph)

Figure 5. Graphical construction of speed-to-fly for fastest time.

The Soeed Polar Speed Ring CuNe

1000.-------------------~-~

500

--·---·-----~~4s:-i:iesfo'iicje-si:;e~cnri'i.,vii{ _____ ---------

(f)

5 11l

.:.:

l. Helmet Reichmann, Cross-Country Soaring, Graham Thomson Publications, 1978. This is the bible on X-C flight, and most of the information contained in this article is derived from this book. This book not only has the technical stuff, but the first half is an excellent description of all aspects of X-C flight. Written with sailplanes in mind, but 90% applies to hang gliding.

2. Sherry Thevenot, "Paolinho Coehlo," Cross Country, No. 10, Summer 1990. Paulo is a brilliant natural pilot from Brazil. He won both of the competitions in Brazil this year. He probably doesn't know much about the technical side of speed-to-fly; he can't read!

E-

ability to analyze the conditions. What formulas do help us with is that they provide us with tools like the speed ring. They also point out important things such as the effect of wind and sink on our glide ratio. Understanding the speed-to-fly theory will help you maximize your X-C flying performance with the equipment available to you. I covered a lot of material in this article. started out intending to covering a lot more before I realized how much space that would take. I intend to continue with more articles covering subjects related to cross-country that I didn't get to. If you have any questions you may write to me and I'll try to answer in future articles. lf I don't have the answer, I'll ask some of the other competition pilots. If they don't know, I'll make something up that sounds good. The same offer is extended to those who disagree with anything I say. My address is: Chris Arai, Arai Design, 1101 Glendora Ave., Oakland, CA 94602.

-500

u5 3. Dennis Pagen, Hang Gliding Techniques, Sport Aviation Pubs. This book will give you a complete understanding of the material I cover in this article.

-1000

-1500+---+------l-----+-----+-----t-----+------I 10 20 30 40 0 50 60 70 Airspeed V (mph)

4. Dennis Pagen, Speeds to Fly, Parts I, II & III; Hang Gliding, 4/79, 5/79, 6/79.

Figure 6. 5. Michael Sandlin, "A Closer Look At Speeds To Fly," Hang Gliding, 1/85. ample, say we spend five minutes in 200 fpm lift because we didn't leave when the thermal started to slow down. If the next thermal is 400 fpm, we would have saved 2.5 minutes gaining the same amount of altitude. A couple of minutes in several the1mals means a lot when racing. Of course if you see a large gap in the lift ahead, be it from a blue hole, dying clouds,

DECEMBER 1990

overcast, etc., you need to get as high as possible and set the speed ring for maximum glide. So we see that formulas don't provide all the answers and that we need to learn from experience. Things like knowing when we are high enough to make it to the next thermal is not something that formulas are much help with. We constantly need to be improving our

Chris Arai is 33 years old and works as an electronics engineer in Oakland, Califomia. He began flying a home-built bamboo glider in 1974 before going on to aluminum and dacron standards. He worked for Tom Price and Keith Nichols at Albatross Sail Gliders in 1976 and

U.S. Hang Gliding World Team 1991 e:11000

= = =

<Z:1500

= = MPH = 21 25 32 35 40 45 50 55

= = = @.500 = =

= = <ID -1000

= = = =

-1500

Figure 7.

'77. Chris began co111peting and flew in the ji'rst six Owens Valley X-C Classics. He stopped competing in 1984 to conce11trate on sailboats, maJ'J'iage and his engi11eeri11g career (1101 necessarily in that order!). /11 1988 he resumed co111petitio11 flyi11g and was 011 the '89 and '90 teams to Bra::i!. He has m•er 800 hours logged

in 16+ years of ha11g gliding. Wills Wing, Oakley and Patagonia prm•ide equip111e11r support. Chris be/iei·es that this U.S. Team has the best cha11ce of victory i11 Brazil because of the 1111precede11ted a11w11111 of experience the team has at the site and close cooperation among the Tea/II J11e111bers. •

~ }~7:· lhift'1s~5nf/f/j/;!/'%~JSd/Jidf tiffPc/J~ff,GtflZEV AND THAT'S WKAT COUNTS fr,J MARGfN~L CONDITIONS~ OVER 650 . P/1...0TS, l!J~UD~NG f~MOUS NAl,fES-, ELY THEM. rnEY SHOUL~ K_,NOW'.r-

Chris' article is the second from the World Team. In future articles we'll have a team profile, an article defining exactly what competition means to the development of the sport and the recreational pilot, and any other subject that will be of value to USHGA members. I think it's only fair to say thank you to the Team for their efforts. And what better way than to show your support with a donation to the Brazil fund? We are estimating $40,000 minimum to suppo1t the Team for five weeks at Govern ad or Valadares. The single biggest expense is airline transport, followed by housing, food and car rental. All donations are tax deductible (less the value of gifts or prizes received) if you make your check out to the United States Hang Gliding Foundation. Check out the great new items we've got for different size donations! All donations of $ I 0.00 or more will automatically enter you in the glider and product raffle, and you will get various World Team products in return. For $10.00 we have an enamel pin, $20.00 gets you a tank-top shirt and $40.00 is good for a hooded sweatshirt. The prizes in the raffle include a glider of your choice, an oxygen system, Kevlar fullface helmet or FM radio with VOX and headset. For clubs or individuals who raise significant amounts, we're offering substantial rewards. Check out the fundraising article in the October magazine for details. You might be eligible for a brand new harness with a BRS ballistically-cleployed parachute, a complete BRS system, site insurance, trophies, posters, hook knives and the big prize~a trip to Brazil with the team! Donations should be made to: United States Hang Gliding Foundation P.O. Box 8300 Colorado Springs, CO 80933 Remember, donations are tax deductible when made out to the Foundation (less value of prizes or gifts received). Send anything you can, and let's help our guys bring home the GOLD!• ~Mark Macho

HANG GUDlNG

WORLD TEAM DONATIONS ITEM

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----------------------------------------------1990 U.S. World Team Fund-Raiser/Raffle Lots of hang gliding equipment prizes, including a grand prize of a glider. $10.00 gets you a World Team pin. $20.00 gets you a World Team tank top. $40.00 or more gets you a team sweatshirt with hood. One entry per person please. Enclosed please find: D $10.00 for a World Team pin. 0 $20.00 for a World Team tank top. D $40.00 for a World Team sweatshirt with hood. D Other contribution of$ to help out the team. I understand I'm entered in the raffle. Make checks payable to U.S. Hang Gliding Foundation. NAME: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ ADDRESS: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ CITY: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _STATE_ _ _ZIP _ _ __ PHONE: ( Send to: USHGA, P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933

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iRules'ro1,:jy~ . ; · :-•l<~.ing.UpYoui Fllght Log . • Selectingffhe Equipment You'll

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How US Patent No. 4,930,727 gives you the Safety - Performance & Reliability that you demand from a Paraglider

Just what makes the Excalibur"' line of paragliders the best in the world? Bill Coe, designer of the Excalibur, started by developing a safe, stable, easy to inflate, collapse resistent air foil. Then he invented a way to make the airfoil extremely rigid while at the same time reducing the total number of suspension lines by over 50%. As you may already know, line drag is the single largest source of parasitic drag on a para glider. Other manufacturers the world over have tried to accomplish the same thing with mixed results. Some manufacturers have tried to reduce drag by using a limited number of suspension lines (see illustration 2). This method results in lower drag but at the expense of severe canopy deformation resulting in a corresponding loss of lift. A few manufacturers have even added additional suspension lines to keep their wings rigid (see illustration 3). Although this does result in a flatter wing the amount of drag produced by the additional lines results in a low performance paraglider.

In sharp contrast to these various attempts at increasing paraglider performance all Performance Designs Paragliders use the Patented C3 Construction Method (displayed in the illustration at the top of this text) to get the best of both worlds - an extremely rigid wing and a minimum number of suspension lines. This is accomplished by using internal diagonal ribs that: 1. Add to the overall strength of the canopy 2. Reduce the total number of suspension lines 3. Distribute the load on the wing over a wider distance (reducing and minimizing stress points) 4. Result in a flatter, smoother, more efficient wing

These four factors combined with our safe airfoil design gives you one of the most stable and absolutely the most efficient paraglider available today. This means easier inflations, easier launches, more stable flight, less sink, higher LID (glide angle) and virtually no canopy collapses. Performance Designs has accomplished what every other paraglider manufacturer in the world keeps attempting to do produce a safe airfoil that can maintain its rigid shape during all flight modes and deliver the Safety, Performance and Reliability that paragliding pilots the world over demand from their wing.

I I I I I Illustration 2

Illustration 3

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RATINGS OCTOBER, 1990 RATINGS The following ratings were processed in October, l 990. This does not necessarily mean they were awarded in October.

SAFE PILOT AW ARDS LORENA HILLMAN CHRISTY HUDDLE DANIEL J. HARTOWICZ

LILIENTHAL AW ARDS Bro11:e

MARK RASOR ERIC WYATT JOHN ASHLEY RON WILLOUGHBY RICHARD K. LAPORTE RANDALL J. SCHULTZ

Silver STEVE ARNDT

BEGINNER RATINGS PILOT: City, State; Instructor/School Region 1 DICK BONNET: Portland, OR; M. Taber/ Lookout Mtn. - KERRY KELLEY: Portland, OR; M. Taber/Lookout Mtn. - JEFF !GELMAN: Corvallis, OR; T. Johns - GARY LANTHRUM: Manchester, WA; J. Estrin/Airplay'n of Oregon - ARLEN FLETCHER: Mount Vernon, WA; T. Johns - TOM OLESON: Longview, WA; M. Wonser - GREG JIPSON: Bellingham. WA; T. Johns - HERTA KURP: Anacortes, WA; T. Johns Region 2 RENNY CA VENER: Chico, CA; D. Thomason - MAMORU FUKUDA: San Jose, CA; R. Engorn - CHRIS ZECCHIRELLI: San Jose, CA; R. Palmon - TIMOTHY MEIER: Livermore, CA; R. Palmon - TAHIR SHEIKH: Fremont, CA; J. Greenbaum/ Airtime of SF - STEVE SCHUSTER: Half Moon Bay, CA;P. Denevan-OSCARGRAY: Berkeley, CA; D. Prior - MARK BORGERT: Pacifica, CA; J. Greenbaum/Airtime of SF ALI HERGA: Alameda, CA; R. Palmon JEFF SMITH: San Jose, CA; J. Woodward STEFAN CONSTANTINIDES: Sunnyvale,

CA; H. Amal/Western - MICHAEL A. SIEBENHAAR: San Jose, CA; J. Woodward - SCOTT JAMES WEBSTER: Redwood Estates, CA; J. Woodward - CHIP GREEL: Mountain View, CA; R. Palmon - RICARDO SALINAS: San Francisco, CA; A. Whitehill/ Chanclelle - DANE P. WILTZIUS: Livermore, CA; R. Palmon - BRYAN DELLASANTINA: Mill Valley, CA; C. Bolfing/ Airtime of SF - JOHNNY F. BELL: APO, SF, CA; J. Tindle/Miami HG Region 3 STEVEN B. JACOBSON: Westminister, CA; P. Burns/Windgypsy - DANIEL KOENIG: Morgan Hill, CA; J. Woodward-THEODORE DANIEL BAUMANN: Paia, HI: D. Darling/ Maui Soaring Supplies - MARTIN THOMAS: Goleta, CA; A. Hageman Region 4 JOHN SWANSON: Ft. Collins, CO; M. Taber/ Lookout Mtn. - TOM YOCUM: Snowmass, CO; G. Middleton - DARLA STEFFEN: Colorado Springs, CO; R. Wilkinson/Eagles Nest - STEVEN R. FORD: Denver, CO; T. Hackbert/Golden Wings - JOHN MARK ELDER: Penasco. NM; C. Woods/UP Over NM - JEFF WRIGHT: Provo, UT; G. Pollock/Wasatch Wings - DALE DUBBERT: Tijeras, NM; C. Woods/UP over NM Region S RONALD J. COUSINO: Casper, WY; J. Nield/Big Horn Graphics Region 6 ASHLEY AYMOND: RusseJville, AR; L. Haney/Sail Wings Region 7 ROSSANA BALINGIT: Chicago, IL; B. Kushner/Raven - PAUL OLSON: Racine, WI; B. Kushner/Raven - GARY SOLOMON: Chicago, IL; A. Mantas/Spectrum HG SHANE LESNOW: Hazel Park, MI; N. Lesnow/Pro Hang Gliders - TIM BERNETT: Sparta, WI; R. Hauser - BRIAN SINGLETON: West Lafayette, IN; R. Kreske KARSTEN ANRECHT: W. Lafayette, IN; R. Kreske Region 8 SETH SHERMAN: Wilton, CT; W. Vaughn/ Kitty Hawk Kites- PAULO GUSMAN: Framingham, MA; D. Beland/Morningside - ANDREW NEITLICH: Allston, MA; I. David/ Aeolus - HA YRLE LIMERES: Framingham, MA; D. Beland/Morningside FP

Region 9 KEVIN S. BURKETT: Hagerstown, MD; B. Hagewood/Kitty Hawk - GEORGE HANKINS: Virginia Beach, VA; W. Vaughn/Kitty Hawk Kites - DAVE KAISLEY: Hummelstown, PA; W.; Vaughn/Kitty Hawk Kites MICHAEL FIELD: Simpsonville, MD; J. Middleton/Silver Wings - WILLIAM R. CROWE: Beaverlett, VA; W. Hemphill/Kitty Hawk - STEVEN W. MOODY: Pittsburgh, PA; J. Hostler - MONICA FETTY: Vienna, WV; R. Kreske - STEVEN VINNER: Silver Spring, MD; G. Keoho/Kitty Hawk - PATRICK WEST: Philadelphia, PA; B. Umstattd/ Mtn. Wings - JEFFREY A. BEYERLE: Sinking Spring, PA; G. Reeves/Kitty Hawk ASH OK RAI: Riverdale, MD; G. Keoho/Kitty Hawk - STEVEN M. DA VIS: Philadelphia, PA; G. Black/Mtn. Wings - RONALD IBEX: Frederick, MD; G. Keoho/Kitty Hawk Region 10 STEVEN DESUTTER: Mooresville, NC: J. Reynolds/Lookout Mtn. GRANT P. TOWNE: Beaufort, SC; F. Proctor - JOHN E. COTTRELL: Columbus, MS; B. Chalmers/ Lookout Mtn. - REN TILTON: Port St. Lucie, FL; F. Proctor/Baloon Factory, Inc. HARVEY SHAFFER: West Palm Beach, FL; G. Keoho/Kitty Hawk Kites - MARK ROTELLINI: Kill Devil Hills, NC; G. Reeves/ Kitty Hawk - VINCENT HANNON: Kill Devil Hills, NC: G. Reeves/Kitty Hawk BRIAN MCNAIR: Marietta, GA; J. Reynolds/ Lookout Mtn. - BRIAN PETREE: Nashville, TN; M. Taber/Lookout Mtn. - HENRY L. STIRIZ: Pembroke Pines, FL; J. Tindle/Miami HG - KAREN MEDINA: Pembroke Pines, FL; F. Foti- RICHARD M. GOODIN: Cory, NC; B. Hagewoocl/Kitty Hawk- DAVID LEE REECE, JR.: Reidsville, NC; G. Keoho/Kitty Hawk - DAVID R. PIERCE: Reidsville, NC; G. Keoho/Kitty Hawk Kites - RICHARD E. HA YES: Guntersville, AL; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn. - PRIOR E. POWERS: W. Palm Beach, FL; B. Chalmers/Lookout Mtn. - JONATHAN B. OWENS: Asheville, NC; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn. - MARCO A. ALVARENGA: Miami, FL; J. Tindle/Miami HG Region 11 RUSSELL SHELTON: Houston, TX; S. Burns/Austin Air Sports - MIKE GARDNER: Houston, TX; S. Bums/Austin Air Sports RIFKI COLAKHASANOGLU: Houston, TX; S. Burns/Austin Air Sports - GILBERT JONES, II: Mesquitej, TX; D. Broyles

HANG GLIDING

RATINGS Region 12 l THOMAS J. TOUCHET: Islip Terrace, NY; G. Black - PETER FRECKNALL: NY, NY; B. Umstattd/Mt. Wings - WILLIAiVI J. SVOBODA: Binghamton, NY; D. Guido HAROLD E. STEPHENS: Hopewell Jct., NY; G. Black/Mountain Wings - JOHN V. GLADISH: Madison, NJ; B. Umstattd/Mt. Wings - RICHARD BISHOP: Cooks Falls, NY; B. Umstattcl/Mt. Wings -TIMOTHY C. \-VELLS: APO, NY; G. Elhart/Nova Air MARK R. KUEHN: College Point, NY; P. Thornbury/Toney FP - ROBERT PELLEGRINI: Leonia, NJ; G. Reeves/Kitty Hawk JUDI BAMBERGER: New York, NY; R. Coxon/Kitty Hawk - STEVE COLUNIO: Watkins Glen, NY; G. Reeves/Kitty Hawk JOHN SHEPARD: W. Babylon, NY; G. Reeves/Kitty Hawk - STEPHEN R. NARRIGAN: Avalon, NJ: W. Vaughn/Kitty Hawk

NOVICE RA TINGS PILOT: City, State; Instruct01/School Region 1 STEVEN ILTEN: Medford, OR; W. Roberts - DANNY L. ALVIS: Tacoma, WA; M. Taber/ Lookout Mtn. - DICK BONNETT: Portland, OR; J. Reynolds/Lookout Mtn. - KERRY KELLEY: Portland, OR; B. Chalmers/Lookout Mtn. - HARRY N. LEUALLEN: Eugene, OR; L. Kelle1JHG Ctr!. Eugene, OR - THOMAS C. JOBE: Central Point, OR; W. Roberts/ S. Oregon HG - STEVEN J. GRONDIN: Williams, OR: W. Roberts/S. Oregon HG KERIE SWEPSTON: Auburn, WA; D. Chadwick Region 2 DALE D. WORDEN: Mountain View, CA; C. Crescioli/Western - GREG KNEPP: San Jose, CA; C. Crescioli/Western HG - CANDICE SMITH: Mt. Shasta, CA; D. Thomason/Silent Flight - DAVID HUGHES: Freedom, CA; C. Crescioli/Western HG - HOSSEIN-ALI SABERI: Sunnyvale, CA; A. Whitehill/Chandelle - VANDY SHRADER: La Honda, CA; P. Hystek/Chanclelle - BRIAN KARLAK: Berkeley, CA; B. Smith - SCOTT CARLSON: Manhattan Beach, CA; C. Crescioli/Western HG- BRUCE COLBOURN: San Jose, CA; J. Woodward - JOEL FURLONG: Sacramento, CA; D. Thomason/Silent Flight JOHN FINCH: Foster City, CA; A. Whitehill/ Chandelle

DECEMBER 1990

Region 3 WILLIAM P. SCHV.'AB: Monterey, CA; C. Crescioli/Western HG - STEVEN BIDD: Torrance. CA; P. Burns - STEVEN B. JACOBSON: Westminster, CA; P. Burns/Winc!gypsy - JAMES T. COREY: Tujunga, CA; J. Greblo/ Windsports Int'l - CHRIS LAKE: San Diego, CA; J. Ryan - WINDEL SPARKS: Taft, CA; K. c\eRussy/Hang Glider Emporium - MATTHEW HERMANN: Salinas, CA; H. Arna!/ Western - GREGORY A. BLACK: Van Nuys, CA; L. Ivlace - JEFF WRIGHT: Provo, UT; G. Pollock/Wasatch Wings - BARRY SKLAVER: Manhattan Beach, CA; M. Spinelli/True Flight Concepts GREGG A. MINOLI: Boulder Creek, CA; H. Amal/Western HG Region 4 STEVE SHOOP: Phoenix, AZ; D. Gordon/ AZ Windsports - BILL MARSHALL: Englewood, CO; T. Hackbart/Golden Wings DAVID A. BROWN: Denver, CO; G. Greer/ Colorado HG Ctr. - STANT. MILLS: Salt Lake City, UT; G. Pollock/Wasatch Wings PHIL HARRIS: Tempe, AZ; B. Holmes/Sky Sails of AZ - MARK OTT: Syracuse, UT; G. Pollock/Wasatch Wings - MICHAEL DARR: Sanely, UT; C. Stockwell/Southwind - STEVE BYRNE: Flagstaff, AZ; S. Mish - JOHN NOLTING: Flagstaff, AZ; S. Mish/Bandito Action Sports - PAM MEYERS: Aurora, CA; G. Greer/Colo. HG Ctr. Region S JAMES E. SCHULTZ: Kansas City, KN; G. Bitikafer Region 6 ROBERT SIMPSON: N. Little Rock, AR; L. Haney/Sail Wings - H. WAYNE DELONY: Ft. Smith, AR; L. Haney/Sail Wings Region 7 TOM NEEB: Westfield, WI; M. Taber/Lookout Mtn. - PETER DEMOS: Chicago, IL; R. Jacob/Sequatchie Valley - JOHN ARKS: Waukegan, IL; G. Pollock/Wasatch Wings MICHAEL J. JAMESSON: Sparta, WI; R. Hauser - FRANK FAR WELL: Council Bluffs, IA: P. Eckerson Region 8 BARRY D. MORSE: Manchester, NH; R. Hastings - HELEN HAMILTON: Belmont, MA; J. Greblo/Windsports, Int'!

Region 9 FRED GERMOND: King George, VA; C. Whitney/Sequatchie Valley - GARY DEY: N. Lima, OH; M. Delsignore/North Coast HG JOSEPH SIMMERS: Mansfield, OH; M. Manzo - GA.ERON G. BAKER: louisville, KY; J. Kelley Region 10 JAMIE F. ALEXANDER: Mableton, GA; B. Chalmers/Lookout Mtn. -TODD MANNING: Orlando, FL; B. Chalmers/Lookout Mtn. - G. B. BABINEAU: Key West, FL; B. Chalmers/ Lookout Mtn. - HOLLIS CAFFEE: Melrose. FL; B. Chalmers/Lookout Mtn. - STEVEN DESUTTER: Mooresville, NC; B. Chalmers/ Lookout Mtn. - MICHAEL J. BROOKS: Marietta, GA; B. Chalmers/Lookout Mtn. BILL MOODY: Columbus, MS; B. Chalmers/Lookout !Vltn. - DON DURHAM: Nashville, TN; B. Chalmers/Lookout Mtn. - MICHAEL WILLIAMS: Huntsville, AL; B. Chalmers/Lookout Mtn. - CHARLES A. LEA VITT: Marietta, GA; M. Taber/Lookout Mtn. - EDWIN F. FONT ANEZ: Carolina, PR/S. Mendoza - CHRIS CORELLOU: New Orleans, LA; J. Hunt/RRA - JOHN V. MCCOY: Ft. Benning, GA; B. Chalmers/ Lookout Mtn. - MICHAEL J. HUNT: Indialantic, FL; M. Taber/Lookout Mtn. - TIMOTHY HOLSBEKE: Winter Park, FL; B. Chalmers/Lookout Mtn. TYSON RICHMOND: Tampa, FL; J. Reynolds/Lookout Mtn. - KEVIN R. THOMAS: Hixson, TN; J. Reynolds/Lookout Mtn. - KEITH A. JONES: Mobile, AL; B. Chalmers/Lookout Mtn. Region II JASON YU: Austin, TX; S. Burns/Austin Air - BILL REISDORF: Austin, TX; J. Hunt/Red River Aircraft - RICK NEIL: Fort Worth, TX; S. Bums/Austin Air Sports - GUY KIDDER: Houston, TX; S. Burns/Austin Air Sports - GERALD ASHTON: Burkburnett, TX; D. Broyles/Kite Enterprises Region 12 DAVIDE. BRITT: APO, NY; G. Elhart/Nova Air - STEVEN JONES: New York, NY; P. Voight/Mountain Wings - RANDY EAKIN: APO, NY; G. Elhart/Nova Air - GARY S. DANIELS: APO, NY; G. Elhart/Nova Air ROBERT SIENKIEWYCZ: Hamilton, NY; R. CLark/Susquehanna FP - ANDY P. KINNE: APO, NY; G. Elhart/Nova Air - RICHARD BAER: Northport, NY; J. Reynolds/Lookout Mtn. 39

RATINGS INTERMEDIATE RATINGS

Region 5 WILL LANIER: Bozeman, MT; D. Gravage

PILOT: City, State; Instructor/School Region 1 JOSEPH L. CUNNINGHAM: Renton, WA; L. Strom Region 2 REID FREY: San Francisco, CA; K. Dearborn - ROY SPENCER: Santa Clara, CA; C. Kranz -JOHN BENTEL: San Francisco, CA; K. Dearborn - REUVEN AV-TAL: Woodland Hills, CA; J. Greblo/Windsports Int'! ROBERT E. BYRD: San Francisco, CA; A. Whitehill/Chandelle - RALPH ACEVES: Milpitas, CA; P. Denevan - PHILIP ANDREW HYSTEK: San Francisco, CA; A. Whitehill/Chandelle - MORRIS BROWN: Chatsworth, CA; M. Spinelli/True Flight Concepts - VON WELCH: Chatsworth, CA; D. Quackenbush/True Flight Concepts -TERRY WALLA CE: Rising Fawn, GA; J. Reynolds/ Lookout Mtn. - ERIK JACOBY: San Francisco, CA; D. Burnham: Region 3 BEN STEPHENS: Cayucos, CA; W. Ha11wick - CRAIG CARLSON: Los Angeles, CA; J. Greblo/Windsports Intl. - TIM FISHEL: San Diego, CA; J. Ryan - JOE KINN: Tehachapi, CA; G. LaMadrid- BUD STUBBLEFIELD: Taft, CA; G. LaMadrid - MICHAEL WALLACE: Los Angeles, CA; J. Greblo/Windsports Int'! - JEFF KIRBY: Oak View, CA; K. deRussy/Hang Glider Emporium DONALD L. JACOBSEN: Vista, CA; G. Meadows/Hang Gliding Center - ALON RED KO: Van Nuys, CA; J. Greblo/Windspo11s Int'! - FINBAR SHEEHY: Pasadena, CA; L. Bynum - ROBERT MCKENZIE: Huntington Beach, CA; M. Fleming/Torrey - SHAINE EBRAHIMI: Los Angeles, CA; M. Spinelli/ True Flight Concepts - ANDREW BASSIS: Santa Monica, CA; J. Greblo/Windsports Int'! - JOHN C. WICKHAM: Los Angeles, CA; J. Greblo/Windsports Int'l - JOHN HESCH: Pacific Grove, CA; K. Eminger - JIM BOTKO: Los Angeles, CA; M. Spinelli/True Flight Concepts - MIKE SWEENEY: Gardena, CA; M. Spinelli/True Flight Concepts Region 4 GRANT BROWN: Kearns, UT; C. Stockwell/Southwind - LISA COZZETTI: Gilbert, AZ; D. McManus

Region 6 CHRIS TROUT: Elkhart, KA; R. Kenney/ Prairie HG Region 7 PATRICK WINTHER: Highland, MI; N. Lesnow/Pro HG Region 8 WINSTON RAND: Beverly, MA; D. Hammer - PHIL TANGUAY: Walpole, NH; J. Nicolay/Morningside FP Region 9 MARK E. WALLNER: Indianhead, MD; E. Logan/Penn-Aerie - KIT ERSKINE: Leonard Town, MD: G. Reeves/Kitty Hawk - C. DANIEL RAUCH: Swarthmore, PA; R. Kemp - HEINZ WERNER: Cleveland, OH; M. DelSignore/North Coast HG - GREGORY SOBOLEWSKI: Garfield Hts, OH; M. De!Signore/North Coast HG - WILLIAM J. KA UTTER: Columbia, MD; E. Logan/Penn-Aerie NORMAN PRICE: Levittown, PA; G. Black/ Mtn. Wings Region 10 PHILIP VANZYL: Ft. Pierce, FL; B. Chalmers/Lookout Mtn. Region 12 STEFANO MEKUND: Brooklyn, NY; T. Aguero - KLAUS LORENZ: Queens, NY; P. Voight- GRANT C. HILTY: Rome, NY; D. Guido/Susquehanna FP

ADVANCED RATINGS

Dublin, CA; D. Senk/Mission Soaring - JIM HOLLOMAN: Alta Loma, CA; D. RenshawArmenta/Natural High Region 3 BARBARA GRAHAM: San Diego, CA; W. Henry/Torrey Flight Park - BRUCE MORROW: Bakersfield, CA; G. LaMadrid- GREG BAIN: Riverside, CA; D. Engel/Southland HG - LARRY WALLS: Santa Barbara, CA; D. Skadal - GARY BJERKE: Taft, CA; S. Huekert/HG Emporium Region 4 ST AN MISH: Flagstaff, AZ; T. Barton- PAUL KAPTCHEN: Lafayette, CO; I. Huss Region 8 CARLOS R. MORINICO: Mmimack, NH; E. Stelzel Region 10 CHIP DAVIDSON: Rising Fawn, GA; M. Taber/Lookout Mtn. - JORGE DECUBAS: Atlanta, GA; P. Thornbury/Torrey Pines CRAIG COLEMAN: Lookout Mt., GA; J. Reynolds/Lookout Mtn. Region 11 JEAN MARC TERREIN: Austin, TX; J. Hunt/RRA - CHARLES W. BELL, JR.: Edison, NJ; P. Voight Region 12 PHILIP OLSON: APO, NY; R. Lockwood

FOREIGN RATINGS Beginner: CHRIS ERLEBACH: Richmond, Surrey, UK; S. Burns/Austin Air Sports - ERIK-JAN KRAMER: Makati, Rizal, PHILIPPINES

PILOT: City, State; Instructm)School Region 1 DYLAN ROUNDS: Ashland, OR; W. Roberts - BRUCE BAKER: Kenniwick, WA; L. Strom - LENNARD BARON: Bellevue, WA; T. Johns Region 2 BODHI KROLL: Berkeley, CA; E. Gama DA VE WILLS: Palo Alto, CA; D. Buchanan KERRY R. EDWARDS: Orangevale, CA; B. Hillicker/Adventure Sports - BRIAN KIBLER: Crowley Lake, CA; D. Conners/ Caldera Air Sports - JOHN WOODRUFF:

Novice: HENRY MACIESOWICZ: Hamilton, Ontario, CANADA; P. Voight/Fly High - GARY HALL: Burlington, ONT ARIO - CARLOS E. ROBLES.M.: Cali, Valle, COLUMBIA; B. Chalmers/Lookout Mtn. Intermediate: JOEL REBBECHI: St. Andrews, Victoria, AUSTRALIA; M. DelSignore - BRIAN REBBECHI: St. Andrews, Victoria, AUSTRALIA; M. DelSignore

HANG GLIDING

Hang Gliding Achievement Awards And How To Get Them by Dick Heckman

ne of the least known and most underused programs of both the USHGA and the FAI are their respective achievement awards programs. Many people are eligible for one or more of these awards but never apply for them. Between the two programs they cover the gamut of flight tasks from a one-minute flight to a 500-km flight. The two programs dovetail into one another with the USHGA's being the simplest, leading into the more difficult FAI Badges. I hope I can take some of the mystery out of these awards and interest many of you to apply for what you may have already earned.

THE LILIENTHAL AW ARDS The Lilienthal Awards are what we call our program. There are four awards: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Gold with Diamonds. The Bronze requires a one-minute flight. A Novice rating automatically qualifies you for the Bronze. Just write the office, citing your rating, to be given the award. The Silver requires that a distance of 10 42

km (a little over six miles) be flown and a duration flight of at least one hour be accomplished. The requirements don't have to be met in the same flight. To be counted for the award flights should be witnessed by disinterested observers (in other words, not close relatives or business associates). Both takeoff and landing should be witnessed, not necessarily by the same folks, and a statement that no intermediate landing has occurred should accompany the application. Photographic documentation is not presently required but is always nice to have. The Gold requires a distance flight of 50 km (about 31 miles) and an out-and-return flight of 20 km (a little over 12 miles). Both flights require the documentation required for the Silver. Sometime in the future photographic documentation of these flights will probably be required. Since you have to have both flights and it may be some time before you get around to getting the other, it might be a good idea to take a camera along if you plan to try for one of these flights. The Gold with Diamonds requires an altitude gain of 5,000 feet and a flight of 100 km (about 62 miles). Both requirements can be met during the same flight but remember that you have to have witnesses to the 5,000-foot gain or you have to have a barograph trace. Approved barographs are becoming more available and I wouldn't be surprised if this too, like the photography, becomes a requirement in the future.

THE FAI DELTA BADGES The FAI issues three badges: the Delta Bronze, Delta Silver and Delta Gold Badge. These awards, or "standards of achievement," as the FAI calls them are the same for all countries.

They dovetail into the Lilienthal awards and extend beyond them. The documentation requirements, with the exception of the Delta Bronze Badge, are the same as for world records. The USHGA office has a world record kit which spells this out in more detail and is available for $10.00 including an FAI Sporting License. The Delta Bronze Badge fits between the Lilienthal Bronze and Silver. It requires that five flights be flown of more than five minutes duration, with a controlled landing within 25 meters of a predetermined spot, and another flight of not less than two km, around two turn points separated by at least 1/2 km and followed by a controlled landing within 25 meters of a predetermined spot. The above flights can be documented by witnesses (the FAI calls them observers) just like the Lilienthal Awards. By the way, "controlled landing" means no glider clings or bent clowntubes trying to stay within 25 meters of the spot, and your witnesses should verify such. HANG GLIDING

The Delta Silver Badge requires pilot proficiency similar to our Lilienthal Gold Award. It requires a distance flight of 50 km (about 31 miles), an altitude gain of l ,000 meters (about 3,300 feet), and a duration of at least five hours. All of these requirements can be met in one or several flights. The Delta Silver Badge requires more documentation than our awards however, so this is where a little practice while you were getting the Lilienthal Awards will come in handy. You must provide barograph tracings for all claimed flights, uncut film of the flights, and comply with the observer and certification requirements necessary for records. The Record Kit and the Hang Gliding Section (Section 7) of the FAI Sporting Code spell these out. Don't be put off by Official Observers. Almost any USHGA member can serve in this capacity. It has to be someone that the USHGA can approve however, so if you have any doubt about lack of competence or conflict of interest, check with the office beforehand. The Delta Gold Badge reaches beyond our Lilienthal Gold with Diamonds but is more readily achieved than the number of badges awarded indicates. By the time you read this, Larry Tudor should have #3, so you can be in good company. The badge requires a distance flight of 300 km (about 180 miles) and an outand-return or triangle flight of 200 km. The documentation requirements for the Gold are the same as the Silver. If you blow the out-and-return or triangle by a little bit (less than 20 km) but land within 10 km of your leg back and have flown al least 200 km, you can still get credit. You have to declare your turn points and goal before taking off however. There are three Delta Diamond awards. One is given for each of the following flights: A distance flight of 500 km. A goal flight of 400 km. An out-and-return or triangle flight of 300 km.

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Documentation requirements for the Diamonds are the same as for the Gold flights.

THE FAI EAGLE BADGES The FAI also has awards for paragliders (Class III hang gliders). These are called the Eagle Badges. The documentation requirements for these are the same as for the Delta Badges. The flight requirements are: Eagle Bron::e Badge: A flight of 15 km or one hour duration or 500 meter altitude gain. Eagle Sil\'er Badge: A flight of 30 km and five-hour duration and 1,000 meter altitude gain. These do not have to be during the same flight. Eagle Gold Badge: A flight of !00 km and a duration of five hours and altitude gain of 2,000 meters. Again, multiple flights are OK. Eagle Diamonds: There are two of these ~ a flight of 200 km, an altitude gain of 3,000 meters.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN From the above list of awards you can see that

PARAGLIDER PILOT CERTIFICATION CLINIC TORREY FLIGHT PARK WILL BE RUNNING TWO THREE-DAY BASIC INSTRUCTION CLINICS

December 15th - 17th This course runs from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. each day.

GOALS The student learns the basics of aerodynamics, micrometeorology, preflight, wind evaluation, ground control of a paraglider, forward and reverse launching, no wind launches, cross wind launches, air speed control, mild stall and recovery, flights making 180 and 360 degree turns, landings within a 50 foot circle, high wind landings, preventing being dragged back, care and maintenance of a paraglider.

SITES Day 1 - Torrey Pines Training Slope Day 2 - Poway Training Hill (200 feet) Day 3 - Suboba Mountain (2,300 feet) TORREY PINES TELEPHONE (619) 452-3202 FAX (619) 452-3203

there is something for just about anybody in hang gliding. If the Bronze awards seem too easy and beneath you, file for them anyway, the documentation practice will make the others easier. The whole idea of creating these awards is to foster interest in expanding the comfort zone of our flying without the pressure of flying in contests. These are goals that can be reached by many ofus, taking one at a time, and waiting until the conditions are to our liking. The U.S. is under-represented in the Delta Badges awarded and I hope my article encourages many of you to start working on meeting the requirements. Clubs can be a great place to launch a joint attack on the awarc!s~pooling resources for the instrumentation, getting observers and witnesses, etc. People in a group can help one another and everybody wins. And while you are all decked out with baro, etc., who knows, maybe you'll set a new world record. There are quite a few that have been idle for a long time and probably could be yours.•

TORREY FLIGHT PARK Telephone: (619) 452-3202 FAX: (619) 452-3203 Paragliding classes, Class 1 and 2 and instructor ratings. Latest certified equipment and instructors. Five days to Class 1 level: $440.00 Classes: $100.00 per day per person. Groups of five: $85.00 per day. Private lessons: $175.00 per day. CHRISTMAS RESERVATIONS are now being taken, so book early. COME TO SUNNY SAN DIEGO. TORREY FLIGHT PARK Best in the West for all your paragliding needs!

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CLASSIFIEDS ADVISORY: Used hang gliders should always be disassembled before !lying for the first time and inspected carefully for fatigued, bent or dented clowntubes, ruined bushings. bent bolts (especially the heart boll), re-used Nyloc nuts, loose thimbles, frayed or rusted cables, tangs with noncircular holes, and on Rogallos, sails badly torn or tom loose fro1n their anchor points front 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. Buyers should select equipment that is appropriate for their skill level or rating. New pilots should seek professional instruction from a USHGA-certified school. ROGALLOS AIR-ZONE-A - Towslcrs have the new Phoenix Soft Release and a Pagen glider dispenser. Just bring your harness. Jeff Reynolds (602) 482-9723. AXIS 15- Made September, 1988, perfect condition. Pink diamond LE., pink UP symbol, metal cloth, faired down tubes, many spares $1,600, (408) 384-2622. Ask for Hernando or leave a message.

GElvIINI 16---1- - Green L.E., spectrum midcamber and neon green trailing edges. Like new' Frank, eves, (804) 295-2585 HP AT 145 - Immaculate shape, demo, approx. lO hours. 53,200 OBO, full race, nice colors (6l9) 450-9008. HP 1-1/2 - Blue and white, specdbar, available December, $400. Daniel (71-l I 689-1266. HP lI - 1989, full rce, beautiful custom inlaid sail, excellent condition, low hours. S 1,500 OBO (505) 293-5165. HP 11 - Sail/frame in very good condition. $850 OBO. (602) 893-6147. HP II - Full race, all white with speedbar, lots of hours, but well maintained, $1,000 OBO. (818) 336-1553. B. Asher. KISS 154 X-C- New, April, 1990, 50 /lights, !00 hours. Flies great, $2,250 or trade for HP AT l45, Kiss 144, (208) 233-7408. KISS - Virtually new, great thennaling bird, need to sell, $2,600. (716) 394-1254.

AXIS 15 - Blue & white. Low air time, SI ,400. AXIS 15. Custom asymmetrical sail, S 1,600. Both factory maintained. RA VEN 179, good trainer, $300.(714) 674-8844 eves.

KISS - Fifteen hours, Si.750.00. Kiss, new, $2,000 OBO. (509) 627-3624.

AXIS 15 - Ft,)! race, low airtime, exceJlent condition $1,450. (4l2) 898-3219.

LIGHT DREAM 165 - Blue L.E., rainbow, white T.E. Like new 10 hours Si,200. (805) 653-5781 Jordy.

AXIS 15 - Full race, beautiful glider, excellent condition S 1,800. t303) 499-8236.

MAGIC FORMULA - 1990, low time, mint condition. custom sail, Ball 652, new High Energy cocoon, harness. large-med., New 24-Hanbury chute. $2,400. (907) 456-5520 days.

COMET C-1 165 - Spectrum cloth. excellent condition. $650. Mike Johnson (818) 338-1222. Red, white, great glider $350.00 (9l6)

MAGIC JV 133 - Short control bar. VG, Scorpio pod harness, Rell helmet with ··bungie" head support. Perfect XC set-up for micro-pilot.SI, 1500. (206) 888-3856 Seattle.

COi'v!ET I 165 - New tlying wires, good condition. $500 OBO (117) 328-2986.

MAGIC IV 166 - V.G., -l.4 sail, surfcoal L.E., cxcellenr condition S 1,200. (818 I 357-9-\79.

DELTA WING EXCEL 180 - Very 2:ood condition. Airstream harness and chute, Roberts vario.~52,000.00. Must sell' Steve Christie (619) 480-9098.

MAGIC KISS~ Sl.995 OBO. Blue with rainbow undersurface. ( 714) 654-8559.

COMET I 165 221-3654.

165 DREAM (315) 72-l--\400.

Purple, lime. white. never used $1.150.

DREAM 165 - 1989. greal condition. S l .100. Sport 16 7. SI.JOO. Duck 180, $600. Call in trades/offers! (9161 9382061. DREAM 185- Blue. rainbo\\', white. good condition. with knee hanger harnes,. S l,150. (619) 792-0926. DREAM 240 - Besl tandem glider, blue L.E .. nest white, great shape. includes 2 extra DT's Sl.700. (619)-!50-9008. DREAM 240 - Only 10 flighto. like new, 500 lb. placard. S 1.500 (619) -!92-9939. DUCK 130 - Excellent condition. low air time, beauty Best performing 130. S650 OBO. Dnnnita (6191-\38-780-l. F.SPIRIT 16 - Exl:ellent l'.ondition, 158 ~q. ft., white. :-..peetrum undersurface, S800. ORO (21-l) -1-\2-7-\83 or \21-li -\97--1733. fORll·!ULA 1-\5 -Demo, full race. speed bar S2.7011. firm. (619t -l50-9008. FORMULA 15-l - Demo. full race. speed bar.< 10 hours. S2.500. OBO. 16191450-9008. FORMULA 15-l - 1/2 ribs, exctllent condition. great colors, low hours. $2.200. (505) 821-85-l-l.

MAGIC KISS 1990 -+322. eves.

iv!OYES XS - for Chrbtmas. Glide contesl winner twice. !\•lake rea~onablc offer. Call to demo. (2091 333-2575 or (209) 368-9665. MOYES XS 155-Very good condition. 75 lrours. $2.300 (303) 879-3935. MYSTIC 166-VG Full race. Many hours. good condition. Recent inspection. $-\00. ( 818) 366-8996. NEW GLIDERS - Best Prices' Pacific Airwave. \Vills \Vings, Seedwings. Delta. Silv('r \Vings (70J) 533-3244. RA VEN 229 1275.

Great ,hape. low air time. S500. (805) 541-

SENSOR B - 1987. 3)-l. J"ilCC, ··c· up.grade, new wire~. good condition. S 1.000. (602 I 27-\-5103 eves. SENSOR 510 A 180-Non-VG. like new. under 12 hours. original owner. S850. Can ship. Call ( 7 1-l I 338-3206 eves. 171-li 799-3389 weekdays. SENSOR 510 C - Full race. 120 hours. excellent condition. 51.900. OBO Chris (-\151531-2261. SENSOR 51(1 C - with pigtail and FR sail. Excellent condition, must sell. S 1,200. ( 603 I 529-20 I 0 SENSOR 510 C -

GTR 162 \VB - full race option, red with :-.tee! gray L.E. Low hnurs. CXL~ellent condition. Sl,975. Gary (615) --i532158.

DECEMBER

1990

S2.000. Low hours. Call (616) 469-

S 1.500 Primo Deal' (5031 293-1568.

SENSOR 510 165 - with double French connection. Great condition, $295.00 (408) 758-2539. SENSOR 510 B!C - with compensator, 3/4 race, white US with spectrum LS, very good condition. SI ,000 ORO. Will ship, Mike (803) 834-5067. SKYHAWK 188 - Excellent condition with knee hanger harness. S 1,000. (206) 475-4739. SPORT 150 EURO - Ten hours, full race. 1989 glider. Must sell! 51,500. (6 l6) 235-4064. SPORT l 67 EURO - Light tubing, light cloth, light handling, excellent condition. $1.600. (602) 581-96 l 3. SPORT 167 -Excellent condition, low hours. Only SI ,700. (619) 286-5604. SPORT 167 - Magenta on white, three hours, factory condition, $2,000. (7 l4J 366-18 tO. Mike. SPORT 167 - Grear shape (Ohio) New wires, Sl,500. (6l4) 837-0318. SPORT l 67 EURO - or new ATS 1,200 or $2,500. Mike (214)-475-4320 (TX) after 5:00 p.m. SPORT 167 EURO (415) 649-8111.

Red/yellow/blue, 130 hours SI, !00.

SPORT 180- Full race. Clean, tlown in Montana 70 hours. Wasatch wing cocoon, 6' with chute. Make offer. (406) 2521421 or (406) 652-1648. SPORT 180 678-6718.

Perfect condition, less than 10 flights. (714)

UP COiVlET II 185 -Good condition, cheap flying at $500. (716) 394-1254. VG MYSTIC 155 -Low hours, excellent condition, S 1,200 ORO. Delta wing pod $200 OBO (619) 270-6867 VISION 16 - 148 squares. Great condition, recent inspeclion and tuning. $800. (206) 526-2793. VISION ECLIPSE 19 $995. (415) 487-3424.

Blue L.E. and spectrum colors.

VISION ECLIPSE 19 -Custom sail. Good condition. Bill. clays (415) 978-3062. Eves (415) 3-\6-7858. $1,000. VISION MK IV 17 - Great condition. Blue trilam L.E .. blue undersurface. $1,500. (619) 451-3970. VISION MK IV 17 - Two to choose from: Blue - S 1,300. Orange - SJ,600. t619i-l50-9008. VISION i'vlK IV 17 -Good condirion. low flight time. one owner. knee hanger harne~s with parachute, wheels, helmet and extra down tube. Package S 1,800. Have to sell, mm·ing over,eas (202) 333-0546. V[SION MK JV 17 and 19 - 3DCG. camera zippers, trilam L.E. S2.235 ca. Test tlown only, shipped anywhere. (303) 750-3226. \\'ANTED-Used hang gliding equipment. Gliders, instruments, harnesses and parachute~. Airtime of San Francisco, 3620 Wawona, San Francisco. CA 94116. (-115 J SKY-1177. WANTED-MOYES MISSIOi\ 210, Jeff or Vicki. (503862-2922. WILLS WING-Sparr 180, brand new, magenta, nell' blue and F. yellow L.E. Only 2 rest tlights, $1,195. Harness. Wills Wing Zipperman lI with parachute. S500. (50 I) 6815656or(501 I 851-7039 e\'es. and wknds.

SENSOR 510 C+ - 1989. 20 flights, full race. big fin. pigtail, pad,. S2.500. (615) 9-\9-2301 (TNJ.

CLASSIFIEDS COLORADO HANG GLIDJNG (303) 278-9566 Region !V's oldest, largest, full time shop, 35 new and used gliders: $350-$3,100 Too many to list. All insp. tested, with new hang straps and glider bag. Shipped anywhere. MC/VISA/AMEX/DISCOVER accepted. 100% satisfaction guaranteed on gliders.

RIGID WINGS ODYSSEY -Foot launched sailplane. 16-l glide ratio. IO minute set-up. Excellent condition. Includes transp011 box. $3,500. Dudley Mead. (415) 775-9560. PARAGLIDERS

Heavy duty glider bags . .. ... $74 D.0.T. helmets. .. ........ $50-$129 Steel biners (2 min.)... .. .... $14.80 Paragliders (demos) . .. ... $900-$2,000 NAS vario/Alt ... .. .. $388 Varios (demos, all brands) ...................... $75-$500 On staff FAA cert. master parachute rigger. Never used chutes ... $265 New NAS PDA chutes .... $388 All repacked/inspec. w/new bridle and deployment bag. Dozens in stock. 100% satisfaction guaranteed on parachutes. THE HANG GLIDJNG CENTER Magic Formula, in stock.. ................. New Magic K2 145 ...... New Magic Kiss, like new..... ....... $2,500 167 Sport AT . $2,700 HP AT, in stock .. .. .. New Magic III 166, great glider .... $900 Vision MK IV 17/!9, in stock...... .. .... New Vision MK IV 17/19, used .......................... $1,200 Equalizers, used s/m ... .. ... $425 4206-K Sorrento Valley Blvd., San Diego, CA 92121. \Ve have instruments and parachutes in stock. (619) 450-9008. •Special travel incentives on some glider purchases. GOLDEN WINGS l !03 Washington Avenue, Golden, CO 8040 l (303) 278-7181 Vision MK-JV 17, 19 Demos (like new)Sl,900 -$2,050 Vision 19 (used) (Exel Cond) . .. Sl,800 Sport 167 Euro Demo (Exel Cone!) .............. $2,300 Spo1t Amer. 167 (IO hrs) ...... $2,000 HP AT, Demo .... .. .... $2,800 Several other good used gliders ........ $450 -Sl,000

CONDOR SPII - with harness, backpack, reserve, wind indicator, $1,500 or $1,300 without reserve. (415) 4873424. FIREBIRD F-l - Super high pe,fomrnnce for advanced pilots. No holes or tears. Fly the wing that wins! Circ (303) 670-0301. USED PARAGLJDERS - Toney Pines (619) 452-3202, FAX (619) 452-3203. We have several used demo Corvette paraglidcrs. Great opportunity for intro and intermediate recreational paragliders. Contact above for further infonnation. These units can save you$ 1000+, but will only be sold to qualified persons, instructors and dealers, or with lessons at Torrey Pines or one of our qualified dealers. SCHOOLS AND DEALERS ALABA!vIA LMFP - Two hours from Birmingham (see our ad under Tennessee.) (404) 398-354\. ARIZONA ARIZONA WINDSPORTS- Largest hang gliding center in the Southwest. Lessons utilizing the world's first manmade trainer hill. All our sites face every wind direction. Highest percent of flyable sllldent 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. DESERT HANG GLIDERS - USHGA Certified School. Supine specialists. 4319 W. Larkspur, Glendale, AZ 85304. (602) 439-0789, 938-9550. ARKANSAS SAIL WINGS HANG GLIDING - Full-time lessons, sales, service. Pacific Airwavc, CG 1000. New, used, rental equipment. P.O. Box 321, Atkins, Arkansas 72823. (50 I) 227-4920. Haney's Point (501) 641-1902. We PROI\IOTE the sport 1

CALIFORNIA ACTION SOARING CENTER - In Lodi near Stockton. Personalized USHGA certified instruction, sales and service. Emphasis on special skills and techniques, T.O. and L. Call to demo XS, EZ, WB. Ask about tow clinic. 1689 Artnstrong Road, Lodi, CA 95242 (209) 368-9665. AIRTIME OF SAN FRANCISCO - Hang Gliding & Paragliding. USHGA & APA Certified Instruction, Sales, Service, Rental. - Pac. Air, UP, Wills, Sensor, High Energy, Mantis, Second Chantz, B.R.S.///Pro Design, Apco Hilite, I.T.V., Edel, Skywalker and MORE! Large selection of 2nd hand gear (buy & sell). Next to Fort Funston. 3620 Wawona, San Francisco, CA 94116. (415) SKY-! 177. AIRTIME UNLIMITED-SOUTHLAND HANG GLIDING SCHOOL - Pacific Airwave gliders in stock. Tandem instruction, ATOL towing. We need your used glider tradeins. c/o David Engel, 12120 Severn Way, Riverside, CA 92503 (714) 589-0109. CHANDELLE SAN FRANCISCO, INC. Since 1973, complete hang gliding and paragliding sales service and instruction. Dealers for Wills \Ving, Pacific Airwave, Delta Wing, Seedwings, UP, High energy, Center of Gravity, Ball, BRS, Second Chantz, ITV, Firebird, Edel and more! Northern California's most complete repair facility, including 7th class rigger's machine. New and used equipment, spare parts, and demos. Complete training, including introductory lessons, packages, clinics, ground school and tandem. Five minutes from Ft. Funston. 488 .l\llanor Plaza, Pacifica, CA 94044. (415 J 359-6800. HANG FLIGHT SYSTEMS - DIRECTLY across the street from WILLS WING. DEMOS and rentals available to qualified pilots. HP-AT small, medium & large SportAT's, Kiss, Mark IV, Genesis, Dreams and Axis. FLY 'EM ALL and decide what you like. \Ve sell and service all major brands of gliders and accessories. USHGA certified XC clinics and training program. 1202 E. Walnut, Unit lvl, Santa Ana, CA 92701 (714) 542-7444 Near Disneyland. HANG GLIDER EMPORIUM - The best traininQ 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 inventory. Tues.-Fri. 10-5, Sat. I 0-4. 613 N. Milpas, Santa Barbara, California 93103 (805) 965-3733.

,--------------------------------------, I USHGA CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING ORDER FORM cents per word, $4.00 minimum. I 40 Boldface or caps $.95 per word. (Does not include first few words I which are automatically caps.) Special layouts or tabs $22 per I column inch. (phone numbers-2 words, P.O. Box-1 word) I photos-$25.00 line art logos-$15.00

Section (please circle) Rogallos Emergency Chutes Parts & Accessories Business & Employment Miscellaneous

Schools and Dealers Ultralights Rigid Wings Publications & Organizations

I 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 I August issue).

I Prepayment required unless account established.

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

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

USHGA, P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933 (719) 632-8300

L--------------------------------------~ 46

HANG GLIDING

CLASSIFIEDS COLORADO

MICHIGAN

COLORADO HANG GLIDING/PARAGLIDING USHGA School. All brands, rentals, towing. Open full time since 1972. (303) 278-9566.

PRO HANG GLIDERS - Serving since 1978. USHGA certified tlight school. Towing specialist. Step-towing or thermal-trolling for qualified pilots. Beginner through advanced lessons. Obsen-er. \Vills \Ving, Bennett, Manta. Contact Nonnan Lesnow, 569 W. Annabelle, Hazel Park, Ml, 48030. (313) 399-9433.

COLORADO WIND PARK - ·'Corne up for Air!" Sales, service, complete instruction on our 500-foot, 360-degree training hill. S IO/day lodging. Dealing all brands. 5526 S. Pitkin Ct., Aurora, CO 80015, (303) 762-6505 or (303) 6806443.

EAGLE'S NEST School of Hang Gliding - USHGA ce11ified school. Dealer for Delta Wing, Pacific Airwave and Wills Wing. P.O. Box 25985, Colorado Springs, CO 80936 . (719) 594-0498.

HIGH ADVENTURE- Full service facili1y located on site

at Southern California's famous mile high mountains, Crestline. From sand hill to XC thennal flying, our 20

tandem accelerated training program is quick and thorough. Instructor 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. \Ve proudly offer Wills Wing, Pacific Airwave, 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 tlying community since 1973. Complete lesson program with special attention to quality take-off and landing skills. All major brands of gliders, parachutes m1d instruments sold. Sail repair and air frame service available. 1116 \Vrigley \Vay, Milpitas, CA 95035. (408) 262-1055.

GOLDEN WINGS - Sales, service. USHGA certified instruction. Tandenl Towing Instruction. Dealers for \Vills Wing, Pacific Airwave, Delta Wings, Moyes, UP. Clinics: Soaring, Parachute, Instructor, Mtn. Tours, Towing. 1103 Miners Alley, Golden, CO 80401. (303) 278-7181.

WINDGYPSY - USHGA Certified school specializing in personalized tandem flight training. Full service snles & repair facility in Lake Elsinore - call for site info. \Vide 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. WINDSPORTS SOARING CENTER - Los Angeles. largest and most complete school since I 974. \Ve specialize in personalized tandem instruction, sales .ind repair. Spend your winter vacation flying with us! 161-15 Victory Blvd .. Van Nuys, CA 91406 (818) 988-0 l l l. "Professionals You

UP OVER NEW i'v!EXICO, INC. - Instruction, sales, service. Sandia Iv1ountain guides. \Vills, Seedwings, Pacific Airwave, Delta, Moyes. Albuquerque, Nlv! (505) 821-8544.

CONNECTICUT

NEW YORK

MOUNTAIN WINGS -

Look under New York.

FLORIDA

J'J ] rl J' J J j- J ;.1 1 J 'J 'J L JlJ J J J 'J In<. MIAMI HANG GLIDING. INC. - has the most advanced training program known to hang gliding today. Certified instructors specialized in personalized tandem flight training. Full service and sales of parts for all gliders, makes and models. For more information call (305) 667-2392 or (305j 962-6968. ORLANDO - Solo in one hour. Paraplane (powered parachme). Flights on large private airfield. (407) 351--15 I 0. LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK Tennessee. (40-1 J 398-354 l.

See ad under

GEORGIA LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLlGHT PARK under Tennessee. (40-IJ 398-3541.

See our ad

IDAHO TREASURE VALLEY HANG GLIDING - USHGA CF!, service/sales, Pacific Airwave. UP, American \Vind\\'right, La Mouetle, l l 716 Fairview. Boise, ID 83704. (208) 376791-1. ILLlNOIS RA VEN HANG GLlDING SCHOOL - Largest and most popular in the ~·,1idwcst. Traditional curriculum, ridge soaring, mountain clinics. tanckm by Brad Kushner. Sales/ service/accessories for all major brands. 300 N, Green Bay Rd .. Waukegan. IL 60D85 r.708) 360-0700.

1990

NEW JERSEY

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

Can Trust!''

DECEMBER

ADVENTURE SPORTS - Spectacular Sierra tours, tandem & lessons. USHGA cenified training and ratings. Dealers for Wills Wing, Pacific Airwave, Delta Wing, UP. Fly the Sie1ns with a full-service shop. 3680-6 Research Way, Carson City, NV 89706 (702) 883-7070.

MOUNTAIN WINGS -

SILENT FLIGHT - Fly all winier! Towing year ·round. Demo Axis/Comets. Full service school/dealership. (916) 938-2061.

TRUE FLIGHT CONCEPTS - USHGA Certified Instruction, Sale.\ & Service. Become a bt:'.ttcr pilot in less time with our small personalized classe~ & tandem instruction. Our head instructor has over l 2 years teaching experience. Only minutes from our local Kagel Mountain flying site. 13185 Gladstone Ave., Sylmar, CA 91342. (818) 367-6050.

NEVADA

L/D ENTERPRISES -Sail and harness repair - Equipment manufacturing - Towing winchs and supplies - 5000 Butte #183, Boulder, CO 80301 (303) 440-3579.

NATURAL HIGH SPORTS - Lessons, equipmenl, jewelry. Debbi Renshaw-Armenta, P.O. Box 361. Running Springs. CA 92382. (714) 867-7961.

TORREY FLIGHT PARK. INC. - At the launch of the world famous Torrey Pines Glider Port, one of San Diego's highlights! Unmatched convenience for pilots and spectators. Refreshmenls and souvenirs at the Clifthanger Cafe. Cerrified Training program featuring tandem soaring lessons. New, used, rental and demo equipment by Delta \Ving and UP. 2800 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037 (619) 452-3202.

T-N-T HANG GL!DING, INC. - Know how to tly? Want to learn to t1y·J Come see Michigan's first ATOL launch system in action. (313) 382-3977.

Look under New York.

NEW MEXICO

AAA MOUNTAIN WINGS HANG GLIDING CENTER AND FLIGHT PARK - Now offering PARAGLIDING instruction and sales. Base of ELLENVILLE iv!TN. Four exclusive training hills. Area's only dealer for Pacific Airwave, UP, Seedwings and Delta Wing with demos in stock. \V~ are the largest, most complete H.G. accessory and repair shop of its kind in the country. ivlany new and used gliders in stock. R/C supplies and kits, Ultra Pod camera systems. VISA and MASTERCARD accepted. Stop in and gel your flight pass and gate combo. 150 Canal St.. Ellenville, NY 12428. (914) 647-3377. In N.E. 1-800-525-7850. FLY HIGH 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 prograrn and wish lo continue. Fly 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. Ce11ified Instruction, Sales and Service for all major manufacturers. 40 acre park, 5 training hills. jeep rides, bunk house, camping. hot showers. 600' N\V ridge. \Ve have the besr facilities in N. New York state to teach you how to fly. RD 2, Box 348A, Cooperstown, NY l 3326, (3 l 5) 866-6153. THERMAL UP, INC. - Most complete hang gliding shop in area. Located on top of Ellenville I'\·fountain. USHGA Certified Instructor and Observer. Concentrating on hang gliding instruction with emphasis on launching and landing techniques. 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. NORTH CAROLINA FLY AMERICA, Corolla Flight- All introductory t1ights and lessons taught by USHGA i'vtaster Rated, Advanced Tandem ln~tructor. Greg De\Volf instruch ne\\' through advanced students with ATOL and Tandem. Tow from vour blanket or doorstep on beautiful Currituck Beach 01{ the Outer Banks. Call (919) 261-6166 or write: Corolla Flight, Box 102 I, Kitty Hawk, NC 279-19.

CLASSIFIEDS KITTY HA WK KITES, INC. - P.O. Box 340, Nags Head, NC 27959 (919) 441-4124. Learn to hang glide on Jockey's Ridge, the largest sand dune on the east coast, jusi south of where the Wright Brothers' first tlight took place. Beginner and advanced lesson packages and camps offered. Advanced tandem tow instruction, 1500 ti. plus up. Dealer for all major brand gliders, complete inventory of new and used gliders, accessories and parts.

KITE ENTERPRISES - Instruction, sales, repairs, platform towing, Dallas, North Texas area. 21 l Ellis, Allen, TX 75002 (214) 996-7706 daytime, (214) 727-3588 nights and weekends. Dealer Pacific Airwave. RRA~RED RIVER AIRCRAFT - The pro's shop. We specialize in turning students into pilots. Flying trips. Jeff Hunt (512) 467-2529. Austin.

OHIO UTAH MARIO MANZO - Certified instruction, repair, inspection. CG-1000, 2259 S. Smithville Rd., Dayton, OH 45420. (513) 256-3888 (eves.) NORTH COAST HANG GLIDING - Certified Instruction. New & used gliders. Specializing in Pacific Airwave gliders. Mike Del Signore, 1916 W. 75th St., Cleveland, OH. 44102 (216) 631-1144. PENNSYLVANIA MOUNTAIN TOP RECREATION - Certified instruction, Pit1sburgh. (412) 697-4477. C'MON OUT AND PLAY! MOUNTAIN WINGS -Look nnder New York. TENNESSEE

WASATCH WINGS - USHGA certified hang gliding school, dealers for Wills Wing, Moyes and Pacific Airwave. Flight operations at Point of the Mountain. Call Gordon (801) 277-1042. VIRGINIA SIL VER WINGS, INC. - Certified instruction & equipment sales. N. VA. (703) 533-1965. WASHINGTON AIRPLA Y'N PRO SHOP & Hang Gliding School. The largest full time, full service hang gliding shop in Washington. All major brands sold and serviced. 800 Mercer, Seattle, WA 98109. (206) 467-

8644. 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. FF!: 4328 Cummings Hwy., Chattanooga, TN 37409. (615) 821-2546. Chuck & Shari Toth. HAWK AIRSPORTS - New and improved hang gliding! Attention Novice and beginners! New 360 degree training hill designed and bnilt specifically for you. Conveniently located. Fun! Fun! Fun! Clinch Mtn. -The longest ridge, two launches. The popular light wind indicator Windsok. Brochures avnilable. Your satisfaction is the key to our continued growth and success. Hawk Air Sports, Inc., P.O. Box 9056, Knoxville, TN, 37940-0056, (615) 453-1035. LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK - Since 1978, Southeast's largest USHGA-ce11ified mountain !light school. Complete training, from grassy, gently-sloping training hills to soaring high above Lookout Mountain. Our specialty: getting you your first mountain flights. 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 se1vices. We buy used gliders, equipment! Send Sl.00 for brochure, rates, directions, accommodations information. Twenty minutes from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Route 2, Box 215-H, Dept. HG, Rising Fawn, GA 30738. (404) 398-3541 or 398-3433. SEQUATCHIE VALLEY SOARING SUPPLY, INC. Dealers for all major brands. Small training classes, with USHGA certified instruction, including tandem !lights with group rates a\iailable. Famous radial ramp located just across the slreet. Great first mountain flight location with a huge landing zone and carnping 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 Wing gliders with reasonable pricing on all products. Brochure, maps. site info., Tennessee Tree Toppers Club memberships available. Visa, Mastercharge and Discover Card accepted. For personal service that you can trust call SYS, Rt. 2, Box 80, Dunlap, TN 37327 (615) 9492301. TEXAS AUSTIN AIR SPORTS - Still the one in central Texas, quality service since 1978. Instruction, sales, renLal, and a complete airframe & sail repair facility. 1712 Waterston, Austin, TX 78703 (512) 474-1669.

TOW LINE RECOVERY DROGUE KITING SYSTEM® DKS - Stop dropping your tow line, pull it down out of the sky. Fast, saves wear on tow systems. Self-contained system stays with rope. Two sizes, $125-$130. Check or M.O. To: Happy Bottom Research, 1229 Dug Hill Rd., Brownsboro, AL 3574 l. (205) 536-8224 After 5pm CST. ULTRALINE - From the original Ultraline source - Cajun Hang Gliding. In stock 1/4, $145 delivered and 3/16", $95 delivered. 110 Kent Circle, Lafayette, LA 70508. (318) 981-8372. PARTS & ACCESSORIES

INTERNATIONAL DEALERS SWITZERLAND

BELL SOARING HELMETS - White, blue, red and neon. $129. plus NAS Distributing. Call (303) 278-9566. Sold through dealers only.

SWISS ALP HANG GLIDING SAFARI - For quick, easy flying May to October, call or write Ron Hurst, Jostenstr. 21, 8854 Galgenen, Switzerland, Dir. Dial USA Ol I-41-55645229, FAX#: Oll-41-55-645223.

BRAND NEW MAXON RADIOS - $ l 75 shipped! Colorado residents add 3.5Cfc. sales tax. Colorado \Vind Park, 5526 S. Pitkin St., Aurora, CO, (303) 762-6505 or (303) 680-6443.

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. NEVER USED CHUTES! 100% satisfaction guaranteed. S265 each. All sizes, new bridle, deployment bag, repacked/inspected by FAA ce11. master rigger. (303) 2789566. TOWING MAZDA 4X4 1987 - 58K with TLS TOW RIG, removable glider racks. Complete and ready to tow, $8,500. (619) 872-48 IO. Bishop, CA. PROTOTYPE PAY-OUT WINCH - Level-wind and all the goodies! Runs great, well proven, mounts to any vehicle. Call Ion (303) 440-3579.

CRUISE SUPRONE POD-Comact Steve Dyer, P.O. Box 309 l, Friday Harbor, WA 98250.

TOW LAUNCH SYSTEMS - Our reputation for building safe, reliable equipment is well known throughout North America. TLS will custom make your low system for the line dia. you wish to use, 3/32" or 1/4" ultraline (''Dweebs" only). COMPLETE TANDEM SYSTEMS WITH LAUNCH PLATFORM, $2,386.00. (personal instruction included). For a free info. package, contact, TLS @ 70 I 0 Mark St., San Antonio, TX 78218. (512) 824-1803.

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: Colorado's New Hang Gliding Supply Source, (303) 278-7181.

HANG GLIDING

Ssuccess cont·nues The worldwide success story keeps going for the incredible XS . Now HGMA Certified, the XS 155 and XS 142 just keep on winning!

The 3rd annual Glide Contest in Morningside, New Hampsh ire was won by the XS 155 and XS 142. The longest flight of the meet was on an XS 142 with Coby Fins.

1st: Thomas Suchanek, XS 155, Australian Nationals, Mt. Elliot, Corfyong 1st: Paulinho Coelho , XS 155, Pre-World Championsh ips , Govenador Valadares , Brazil 1st: Peter Luke , XS 155, Golden Open XC , Golden , Canada 1st: Bob Mackey, XS 142, Chelan Classic, Chelan , Wash ington 1st: Thomas Suchanek, XS 155, First World Open XC , Wakayama , Japan 1st: John Durand, XS 155, West Coast Championships, Pine Mtn ., Oregon

At the Golden Open XC event in Alberta, 3 XS's were entered , and finished 1, 2, 3. "The XS seemed to excel in the light conditions at minimum sink and at best glide .. .. ln solid cores as well, the XS produced exemplary climb rates .... Landing is a cake walk." - Dennis Pagen, Pilot Report, Sept. '90 Hang Gliding magazine

Become a success story, fly an XS .

Moyes Delta Gliders PIL .. 173 Bronte Ad.Waverley 2024 N.S.W. Austral ia.Tel. (02) 387 5114 Fax : (02) 387 4472 Moyes California 22021 Covello St. ,Californ i3 91303.Tel. (818) 887 3361 Fax : (818) 702 0612 Moyes lcaro 2000 S.R.L. via Santa Caterina, 15 1/21038 Leggiuno Reno (Va) ltaly.Tel.(0332) 648335 Fax (0332) 648079

The Champions GHder.

Moyes Japan 124-6 2F Mukougaoka, Takatu-KuKawasaki-Shi Kanagawa Ken -213 Japan. Tel. (044) 8775044 Fax (044) 8557242

FREEFLIGHT RESERVE- container and extra large knee hanger harness - all in fair to excellent condition. Only $150 takes it all. Call Joe at (714) 924-5229.

CLASSIFIEDS

PARAGLIDERS INC., P.O. Box 213, Crested Ilutte, CO, 81224. Tel/Fax (303) 349-5961.

conditions year round. Send resume to 16145 Victory Blvd., Van Nuys, CA 91406. 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.

KEVLAR FULL FACE-Superlite full face cover helmet. Excellent vision, yet cold weather protection, $295. Visors $25. Pendulum Sports, Inc. (719) 539-3900.

MOUNTAIN WINGS - Is looking for advanced hang gliding and paragliding instructors. Salaries negotiable. Full and pmt-time positions available. Manager position available-requires knowledge of computer systems. Call Greg or Judy ar (914) 647-3377. Send resume to 150 Canal St., Ellenville, NY 12428.

USA La Mouette - La Mouette parts, gliders, trikes, paragliders and accessories. l l 716 Fairview, Boise, Idaho 83704. (208) 376-7914. Dealer inquiries welcome.

PUBLICATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS **SPECIAL NEW PILOT EDITION**-Covering many aspects of hang gliding for the beginning pilot. $4.50 plus $1.50 S/H. USHGA, P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933.

LINDSAY RUDDOCK VARIOS - 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 last decade. Customized for each pilot with choices from: altimeter, airspeed, avcrager, 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 Airwavc 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.

PARA-SWIVEL- Only $79.00. Ask your local dealer or call us. This is what you have been waiting for. Reduce the risk of your parachute wrapping up. WARNING: This swivel must be installed by a qualified rigger. Swivel installation, new bridle & repacking available. Call for details and prices. Available as a parachute manufacturer installed option. Dealer inquiries invited. GOLDEN WINGS, 1108 Miners Alley, Golden, CO 80401. (303) 278-718 l. RAYMOND COCOON -Medium with High Energy Sports parachute, steel carabiner, Bell helmet, Size 7-1/4 and UP backpack harness bag, $425 or 080. Steve (619) 221-5990

MAXON RADIOS - $325. New synthesized, programmable VHF FM 5 watts. Includes 6 channels (3 USHGA and 3 weather), charger, case, antenna and warranty. Best prices on Maxon hand-held, mobile and accessories plus fast, reliable service facility. Iwatt Maxon $169.95. Quantity discounts available. Pendulum Sports, Inc. (719) 539-3900. NEW NAS VARIO/ALT COMBO - extremely accurate+/ - 10 ft. at 10,000 ft. One-foot increments alt., digital, radio shielded, up and sink readout and alarm. Five year parts and labor replacement !00% guarantee or money back. $380 each. NAS distributing representatives (303) 278-9566. PARAGLIDING EQUIPMENT FOR SALE -A complete line of equipment and accessories available. Whatever your needs, from Alpine descents to ocean, thermal, and ridge soaring, we have it. PEAK PERFORMANCE

SOARING - Monthly magazine of The Soaring Society of America, Inc. Covers all aspects of soaring flight. Full membership $45. Info. kit with sample copy $3. SSA, P.O. Box E, Hobbs, NM 88241. (505) 392-1177. VIDEOS & FILMS

eves.

SAILMAKING & RIGGING SUPPLIES - All fabric types. Massachusetts Motorized, P.O. Box 542-G, Cotuit, MA 02635. (413) 736-2426. THE ULTIMATE CAMERA SETUP!! -See for yourself why this is THE BEST equipment available for hang gliding. This is THE ONLY camera available with ultrasound remote (no wires, no point-to-shoot). It also is very lightweight, and has auto-focus, auto-advance, auto-rewind, auto-load, auto-flash, built-in wide-angle lens, and more! The mount easily adapts to any glider. Just $236 gives you everything all ready-to-go. Beat the manufacturer's January price increase. VISA/MC. CA residents add 6.25% tax ($250.75). Cindy Gall, c/o Semicoa VISA/MC. CA residents add 6.25% tax ($250.75). Send to Cindy Gall, c/o Semicoa, 333 McCom1ick Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Call (714) 894-7143.

LITEK IS BACK! - with a new model E variometer. Improved on a CAD system, this $275 instrnment has the fastest response time of any we ever made. Many new features: longer battery life, mounts both sides and bottom, all metal rugged, all controls and audio now face pilot, audio level infinitely adjustable, and ... they are in stock! Free brochure. Available at your full service dealer or order (VISA, MC, AMEX) from Litek, (503) 479-6633, 4326 Fish Hatchery Road, Grants Pass, OR 97527.

PARAGLIDE USA-Subscribe to North America's most widely read paragliding magazine. $25/year/12 issues. VISA/ MC 12662 Softwind Dr., Moreno Valley, CA 92388 (714) 924-5229 or FAX (714) 242-4718.

X-C SMOKE BOMBS -$5.00. Signal mirror, $6.00. Jack the Ripper cutaway knife, $15.00. Silva compass, $100.00 Pendulum Sports, Inc. (719) 539-3900. BUSINESS AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

VidEOTApES

AiRPLAy FoR HANG Glidrn PiloTS HANG GLIDING TODAY - is a new, short introduction to our sport and the programs of USHGA. Available only from USHGA for $9.95 + $3 shipping. Copies of TELLURIDE!, Mountains High And Flatland Flying are $37 each (Calif. Res. add state tax) + $3 shipping from AirPlay. Make checks payable to Robert Reiter, 800 Heinz Street #9, Berkeley, CA 94710. For additional information, call (415) 649-81 l l. *NEW* "HANG GLIDING TODAY" - The official USHGA Headquarters membership video. Produced by Robert Reiter and narrated by Russ Locke, covering member programs and benefits. $9.95 plus $3.00 S/H. Send to USHGA Video, P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933. MISCELLANEOUS

ATTENTION -LICENSED HANG GLIDING INSTRUCTORS. Contact us for free information on opening your own Paragliding School. We provide everything you need 10 start a school. and train you to use our proven methods of instruction. Free introductory Paragliding ground school and flight to Licensed Hang Gliding Instructors. For information on your own Paragliding School, contact: PEAK PERFORMANCE PARAGLIDERS INC., P.O. Box 213, Crested Butte, CO 81224. Tel/Fax (303) 349-5961.

USHGA DELUXE LOG BOOK COVER- Be proud to show off your flighrs with our deluxe log book cover. American made from "reconstructed" gray vinyl. Looks and feels like leather and "debossed" with the Mtn. Glider design. Will fit any hang gliding log book! A great Christmas present! Only $9.95! (plus $2.00 S/H) Colorado residents add 6.5% sales rax. ORDER YOURS TODAY! USHGA, P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933. (719) 6328300

Southern cal(fornl4'•

INSTRUCTORS WANTED - Basic-Advanced, Tandem, also Paragliding. Top pay and great working and flying

HANG GLIDING

CLASSIFIEDS BRAND NEW H[GH ENERGY COCOON - Stolen along with contents of my vehicle in Durango, CO in early May, 1990. Stripes from toes to shoulder, brown, tan, orange, yellow, red. Red stuff sack with yellow, orange and brown patches. Please contact Tim at (213) 375-8438. Leave message. 155 MOYES XS -Full race, stolen from side of road at 101 and Scheller exit, between San Jose and Morgan Hill. It was taken away wilh no bag or ties. Colors are: L.E.-orange, main-green, bottom-white. Contact Kevin Dutt. (415) 9342189 ITALIAN MOYES XS - Red L.E., yellow, white T.E. Stolen from my home in Birmingham, Alabama on June 4, I 990. European tubing, l of 5 in U ,S. Call Allen (205) 5958641.

HANG GLIDING CHRISTMAS CARDS - Unique black and white, Sl0,00 for an assortment of 15, or S30,00 for 50 (please add 10% for shipping), Call Alegra (203) 379-1668 or send a SASE for assortment selection sheet to: Tek Flight Products, Colebrook Stage, Winsted, CT 06098.

ULTRA GOLD WINGS - YOUR STATEMENT OF FLIGHT (in fine jewelry) NEW DESIGN Available in 14K gold or s1crling silver. Satisfaction guaranteed. Contact Antero Jewelers, I 30 F St., Salida, CO 8120 l (719) 53976 l I. 14K ss Necklace and chain S l l 9 .00 $39.00 Tie tack or pin S99.00 $32.00 Adel S3.00 for shipping and insurance. \/[SA and MASTERCARD accepted. WANTED TO LEASE - or purchase a hang gliding site in New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts or Connecticut. Send infonnation to P.O. Box 428, Lumberton, New Jersey 08048 or call (609) 859-3894. HAVE YOU SENT FOR YOUR NEW 1991 USHGA MERCHANDISE ORDER FORM TODAY? FREE!

LADIES -The best CHRISTMAS PRESENT you could give your pilot is warmth. He will remember you every time he flies with his sheepskin THERMITTS. The warmest hand fairings in the world. Send $47.00 to Wyoming Aerolites, P.O. Box 880, Casper Wyoming 82602. (307) 2353367. Dealer inquiries welcome,

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING RA TES: The rate for classified advertising is S.40 per word (or group of characters). Minimum charge, $4.00. A fee of $15.00 is charged for each line art logo and $25.00 for each photo. Bold face or caps within the text $.95 per word. Please underline words to be in bold print. Special layouts of tabs $22.00 per column inch. AD DEADLINES: All ad copy, instructions, changes, additions and canceHations must be received in writing 1 l/2 months preceding the cover date, i.e. October 20 for the December issue. Please make checks payable to USHGA: Classified Advertising Dept. HANG GLIDING MAGAZINE, P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933 (7!9) 632-8300. STOLEN WINGS MILITARY DUFFLE WITH EQUIPMENT - Large green duftle containing red Wasatch Wings spaghetti harness. With high energy parachute and two Maxon 3channel radios in red cordura cases with Maxon headset and Roberts Alt/vario. White helmet stenciled with #39490. Also, black Region 4 championship duftle with HG hardware and smoke bombs, blue Columbia poncho with grey sweater. Home burglarized in Craig, CO. 9-1790. Scott (303) 824-2454 leave message.

T-SHIRTS - l00'7c cotton, silver logo on red, black, or blue. All sizes, with or without pockets. Sl0.00 plus $LOO P&H. SWEAT SHIRTS - All sizes, lots of colors. $20.00 plus $2.00 P&H. Send orders to: Christian Titone, P.O. Box 287, Elverson, PA 19520 or call (215) 286-9427. USHGA POSTER! - Full color, 24" X 37" poster of Eric Raymond doing oxygen at 17,000' MSL over the Sierra Nevada Range, S5.95 plus S2.00 S/H, USHGA Poster, P.O. Box 8300. Colorado Springs, CO 80933 (719) 632-8300. USHGA EMBLEM T-SHIRTS - The original, revised for 1he 90's! Bright neon colors. Your choice: a white tank top or black t-shirt. Both lOO'J cotton. Please specify type and size. Available in S, M. L, XL. Only $9.95 each (what a deal!)+ $2.00 S/H. Colorado residents add 6.5'7c tax. Send to USHGA, P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933 (719) 632-8300,

DECEMBER

1990

MAGIC KISS -Fluro. yellow L.E., white chevron, pink undcrsurface, airfoil, down tubes pitch,•, bar mitts, 2' skull and cross bones on wing tip, over Kiss emblem inlay, many skull stickers on glider. Serial No. KM 83707. Also HP AT 158 with Lt. blue L.E., red chevron on bottom, custom plan. Serial No. 22504. Stolen in L.A. with van 6-26-90. Van recovered without gliders. (619) 274-8254. BALL VARIO - With total energy probe, electrical tape securing battery. Lost in Hemet (So. Cal.) in early Spring of 1990. Located in black fanny pack, can describe the contents of the pack (619) 480-1321. i\ IAXON - Three-channel radio, lost or misplaced at the Telluride Aerobatics Competition. Serial No. 81171758. (602) 745-6739 days. leave message. 1

STOLEN FROM SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 2/90 - !67 Sport Euro. Full Race. All white with dayglow orange undersurface. $300 reward for information leading to recovery. Call Dave Rodriguez at (801) 572-1000. F[REB[RD COBRA PARAGLIDER-24m2, yellow, pink, orange. Stolen from car in Kcntfield, CA on 4-15-90. Call (415) 456-7272. STOLEN WINGS are listed as a service to USHGA members. There is no charge for 1his service and lost and found wings or equipment may be called in to the office for immediate inclusion in Hang Gliding. Please call to cancel the listing when gliders are recovered. Periodically, this listing will be purged.

INDEX TO ADVERTISERS Adventure Sports .................................... 17 Air Wear Sports ........................................ 9 AirWorks ........................ ,,,,,,,,, ................ 43 Alti Varios ................................................. 8 Ball Varios ........ ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ...................... 17 Big Wing ................................................. 25 Brede! Tours ............................................ 28 BRS ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, .... ,,.,,,, .............................. 13 Edel ......................................................... 41 Flight Dynamics ...................... ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 17 Hall Bros ................................................. 28 High Energy Sports ................................. 28 Lookout Mt. Flight Park ......................... 11 MBNA ..................................................... 44 McClaren Products .............................. ,,,, 36 Morningside Hang Gliders ...................... 19 Moyes ...................................................... 49 OA USA ........... ,, .... ,, ............................... 19 Pacific Airwave ..................................... BC Performance Designs .............................. 37 Popstar ..................................................... 15 Pro Design/Summit Magic ........................ 4 Roberts Glider Instruments ......... ,, .... ,, .... 34 Safari Mexico ............................................ 4 Second Chantz ........................................ 36 Seedwings ........................... ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 9 Sentek ...................................................... 19 Sierra Cloudbase ....................................... 9 Sport Aviation Publications .................... 28 T01Tey Flight Park ................................... 43 USHGA ............................ IFC, 1,2, 18,36,52 Wills Wing .................................... 12,17,19

USHGA Scramble Knit Sweater by Nutmeg Mills

$39.95 •100% Cotton •Full-Color Embroidered •Natural Color •Athletic Cut (Big) Your Choice O Crew Neck or O Vee Neck O Small O Medium O Large O XL

MC or VISA (circle choice) $2 service charge _ __ _ _ __ _ _ Exp._ _ Sig . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ $

Scramble Knit Sweater - $39.95

$_ __

Colorado res. add 6.5% tax

$ 4.00

Shipping and Handling

NAME._ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ _ __ __ __ _ __ _ __

$._ __ $2.00 charge card (if applicable)

ADDRESS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ __

$._

CITY/STATE/ZIP_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ __

_ _ TOTAL

SHIP TO: (street address please)

USHGA Sweaters, P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933

Show Off With these quality USHGA gifts! American made with reconstructed vinyl-has the look and feel of leather. Debossed with the Mountain Glider design. A GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT! Quantity Portfolio/Letter Pad @ $29 .95 Circle choice of colors: O Burgundy O Navy SHIP TO : (street address please) NAME_ _ _ __ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

Deluxe Log Book Cover @ $9 .95 (gray only) USHGA Desk Clock@ $6.95

ADDRESS _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ CITY/STATE/ZIP_ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ MC or VISA (circle choice) $2 service charge _ __ _ __ _ _ exp. _ _ Sig. _ _ __ _ _ _ __ Shipping: U.S., Canada & Mexico $5-$9.99 add $2 $20-$34.99 add $4 $10-$19.99 add $3 $35-$49 .99 add $5

$50+ add $6 lnt'I Air $8 extra

USHGA, P.0. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933

$_ _ __

Subtotal

$_ _ _ _

Colorado residents add 6.5% tax

$_ _ _ _

Shipping (see chart)

$_ _ __

Credit card service charge ($2.00)

$_ _ __

TOTAL

WASHINGTON D .C. -- This month's "Product Lines" comes from our nation's capital at the occasion of the USHGA' s fa.d board of directors meeting. Other reports will relate the actions of the board. But at the gathering, two interesting and nascent product-related stories emerged. • • • No. 1 is confirmation by mainline hang gliding writer, Dennis Pagen, regarding his ?lans to pursue a longtime desire to design and build his own glider. A rumor that he would abandon his writing efforts (supposedly to focus on a new manufacture undertaking) proved -:o be baseless. He does plan to take preliminary steps toward a "limited production" of a new design. But "I'm not doing this as a incomeearning venture," says Fagen, "That's not my present goal." ••• No. 2 comes after lengthy prototype activities by World Team member, Terry Reynolds of Colorado. Employing exotic new airframe materials, you' 11 want to read more on this exciting project next month, after additional tests. • • • In recent years it's been rare to have several gliders to report in this column, but the parade continues. • • • Though not representing new announcements like the two above, Seattlite Kamron Blevins' Merger gliders are overdue for some national publicity. His company, called Northwing, has been developing a swallow-tailed ragwing for four years. Blevins feels feedback from sales in Region 1 warrants a more ambitious effort to reach buyers. Besides the swallowtail, the Merger's wing distinguishes itself by an enlarged volume of double surface area near the wing tips. Mergers are sold as a 151 F/X and a recreational model, 151 R/T. Specs: 151 ft", 35. 6 ft span, s. 4 aspect ratio, 73 lbs weight (67 for the R/ T), with the primary differences between the two models being a variable geometry system (FI X only), round tube control frame on the R/T, and more ribs on the F/X (25 top & 10 lower vs. 18 top & 6 lower) . Northwing builds the entire 2.ircraft including sailmaking, a job-shop activity Blevins has been providing to Seattle area pilots while he gears up Merger manufacturing. • • • Concluding our review of gliders, yet another glider company has been formed in the aviation-intensive state of Washington. Like Reynolds' effort above, designer Danny Howell has worked on his ship for several years. This represents only the beginning of the story about Glider Sport International and their just-named Apex glider (formerly codenamed "Mistral") . Some intriguing aspects of How-

ell's development include his capital fund raising success (very unusual for the hang gliding industry) and the airframe materials (it uses a composite structure of non-conventional configuration). Basically, the Apex employs not one, but two spars, the forward one of which has a "D" shape to begin the wing's formation. Unlike more conventional D-cells, : Howell's leading edge is "non-sacrificial," a term meant to suggest the D-shape doesn't contribute to the structure, so surface damage ' (dings) doesn't require immediate repair. Specs: span be either 40 or 42 ft (by pulling out retractable tips!), area thus 150 or 156 ftL, aspect ratio 10.6 or 11.3. The weight is still right at 100 pounds, but Howell believes he'll trim this slightly. ••• To wrap up, a couple accessory items: first, an updated model of a trusted name as Ball Vario company announces their MSO audio vario/altimeter flight computer. Reflecting the cross country fever of the '80s, the M50 Ball deck offers an optional barograph function with a "Flight Linker" and software. The M50 can switch between metric and English measurements. And , importing the riot of color sparked by the European paraglider community, Ball now breaks a black-only tradition by offering a choice of nine colors. You can also select from four different audio patterns (vari-pitch, beep, interrupt, vari-beep). Another useful feature is the low battery indication which blinks the main display first, then goes steady to suggest you switch to your back-up 9v battery. Ludwig Goppenhammer of Colorado has been recognized recently for his swivel for parachutes, intended to reduce the chances of line twist up. The in-line device has been tested by Free Flight Enterprises, a leading supplier of hand-deployed 'chutes, and been further examined by BRS, the rocket-deployed parachute manufacturer. Both companies have given their blessing to the Goppenhamrner unit, based on load tests run by the Golden Wings shop owner, by air drops employing a spinning parachute design, and by function analysis attempting to be sure the device will not interfere with extremely rapid rocket deployment. Additional tests are planned. Contact Goppenhamrner at 303/ : 278-7181. • • • T-t-that' s all folks! Next time: Wills, Seedwings, PacAir, Reynolds wing. Got ' news or opinions? Send 'em to 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Call 612/457-7491 (days@ BRS). Fax: 612/ 457-8651. Merry Christmas to you! THANKS' I

DECEMBER

1990

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SOAR UP THE PERFORMANCE tADDER SOAR UP 1:0 PACIFIC AIRWAVE Pacific Airwave builds the ultimate gliders for every level of pilot. Period. Vision MK IV 17/19, a time-proven standard in excellence. If you are a student looking for double surface performance and a glider that will take you to your first X-C flights you are looking for a Vision MK IV. Available in two sizes, the Vision MK IV allows you to maximize your enjoyment with the confidence that comes standard on a glider that is #1 with USHGA Certified instructors. The Vision MK IV is the lightest, most suitable entry level, double surface glider available.

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Pacific AIRWAVE

PACIFIC AIRWAVE LTD D P.O. Box 4384 D SALINAS, CA 93912 D TEL. 408-422-2299 D FAX 408-758-3270