USHGA Hang Gliding December 1992 by US Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association

Spedal Hinter Offer

New

American made HIGH QUALITY parachute from Free Flight, one of the most respected Hang Gliding reserve manufacturers in the business. Now at a price competative with the low cost and inferior import canopies.

$375 22 gore

$395 24 gore

PARA-SWIVEL by Skyrohr

Don't leave the ground without one! Mounted in your parachute bridle to prevent the windup and collapse of your canopy in the event of spinning descent of your damaged glider.

$84.00 lnstalation $18.00

The IJD Harness

The most comfortable harness yet. With Cindy's magic L/D has solved the problems that other harnesses are still plagued with. Shoulder pressure has been eliminated. No saging. A new adjustment cleat system option that does not transfer pressure to shoulders and even a built-in FM radio antenna option .

Package Special $425

595.00

X-C Model

Maxvn Hdmet High Quality short shell helmet at an affordable price. Meets the same tough DOT standards that expensive helmets do. Made with High impact Polycarbonate shell, expanded bead shock liner, and is well finished inside with brushed nylon cloth.

$55.00

Line Stiver

Tow line recovery system. Preserve the life of your tow line with this in-line system that automaticaly opens when line tension is released and ejects the parafoil to fly your line back down.

Small

Large

$125.00 $135.00 3/16" kevlar tow line. $125 I 1000ft

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22 gore

Nol only will you gel the best PDA canopy made but we will include a PARASWIVEL, instalalion, and a Hook Kile. A COll1PIETE SAFE1Y SYSTEM

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Call for a Catalog Order phone l-800-677-4449

HIGHER THAN EAGLES by Maralys Wills (with Chris Wills) HIGHER THAN EAGLES documents the drama of a family overtaken by man's oldest dream-flying! It is the story of BOBBY WILLS, a stubborn, feisty boy who overcomes a difficult childhood to achieve his dreams-including becoming the simultaneous U.S., Canadian and British hang gliding champion. But it is also about a family, swept along by one son's vision to the point where they can never tum back, even when tragedy strikes. "A stunning, totally captivating book ... a brilliantly written human drama about a family alternately inspired and torn apart by the sport. The story of a boy who lived life with a passion that very few will ever know." -Gil Dodgen, Editor Hang Gliding magazine

$19.95/Hard Cover (+$3.50 S/H)

Available from USHGA • P.O. Box 8300 • Colorado Springs, CO• 80933-8300

That was then ••• 1973 U.S. Nationals Sylmar, California First Place - Chris Wills (right) Second Place - Bob Wills Photo by Clara Gath 1973

This •

now. 1992 U.S. Nationals Telluride, Colorado First Place - Brad Koji (right) Second Place - Chris Arai

In 1973, the first U.S. National Hang Gliding Championships were held at Sylmar California. Chris Wills won the meet on a Wills Wing glider. Bob Wills , brother of Chris and co-founder of Wills Wing , finished second , completing a one-two sweep of the event for Wills Wing . The following year, it was Bob who took first while Chris finished second , and Wills Wing had a second consecutive one-two Nationals sweep. Nearly two decades later, at the twentieth U.S. Nationals in Telluride , Colorado , Wills Wing pilots once again swept the meet, taking first, second and third , and five of the top six places. In the last nineteen years, a total of 32 U.S. National Championship titles have been awarded for fle x wing hang gliders in various classes and categories . Wills Wing pilots have won fifteen , nearly four times as many as any other manufacturer. To win in competition requires both abi lity and a sing le minded dedication to the task at hand . At Wills Wing , we have tried to take these attributes and apply them also to the larger and more important task of providing pilots everywhere with the best possible products and services. As we prepare to celebrate our twentieth anniversary in hang gliding , we would like to thank all of our customers over the years who have continually inspired us to pursue the very best that is with in us.

LU~

500 Blueridge Ave Orange , CA 92665

Nti

Phone (714) 998-6359

FAX (714) 998-0647

\1_

' It

Airspeed Indicator ... $23.50 Long Bracket ............. $7.00 Short Bracket ............ $6.50

5" Dia. ABS Plastic Wheels $20.00/pair

The Hall Airspeed Indicator A precision instrument for the serious pilot. Rugged, dependable and easy to read.

NEW! SMALL HALL Great for hand-held wind measurement or paraglider Airspeed Indicator using Bracket. Small Hall ................ $23.50 Paraglider Bracket ..... $6.50 Hall Brothers P.O. Box 1010-H, Morgan, UT 84050, USA Mastercard I VISA I C.0.D Phone (80 I) 829-3232 Fax (80 I) 829-6349

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'l.LS!JfgA S'WE.Jt'IS PO '11o,.:8.300 CoCorrufo Spru19s CO 809.3.3 (719} 6.32·8.300 fa:<; 6.32-6417 Please indicate sire: M-L-XL C!ffer e;rpiresJan. 31.;t, 1.9.93. Offer!l(}(Jdin tlie W'J? only.

I·

Volume 22

CONTENTS

Issue No. 12

(USPS 017-970-20- ISSN 089S-433X)

Features

Columns 26 Accident Reports

15 Drag Bag Update

by Doug Hildreth

by Mike Sandlin photo by Raz Raczkowski

Two more fatalities. Some common problems and sol utions.

Further adventtu·es with a retractable, keel stabilized drogue chute.

20 NOWAC by Kari Castle

39 USHGA Reports Page 15

Report on the Nordic Women's Aviation Competition.

Report on the fall USHGA Board of Directors meeting. by Russ Locke. USHGA Board approves APA proposal to service its membership, by Gregg Lawless.

48 Competition Corner

23 Flight Test: The Flytec Variometer

The 1992 Manufacturers League Meet, by Nick Kennedy. 1992 ldaho X-C wrap-up, by Ken Cavanaugh w ith Ken Durstine. 1992 Flagstaff, AZ Merriam Crater Demo Daze. by Brad Lindsay.

63 Product Lines

27 Site Reports: Sandturn, Wyoming Mt. Yamaska, Quebec

by Dan Johnson European invasions, Wills Wing news. hang glidi ng tours and lots of goodies.

Departments

34 The Crossing by David Sahl An incredible flight from east to west over the mi g hty SierTa Nevada Mountains.

Page 34 COVER: Shannon Raby, left. and Ken Muscio celebrate their mind -boggling crossir_ig of the Sierrn Nevad;1 Mountains from east to west at the takeoff si re. Wolr Creek in Sonora Pass, CA. See ~tory on page 34. Photo by Dave Biesser. CENTERSPREAD: Bob Vogel at 15.000" over the

mountains of Telluride. CO. Photo by Bob Vogel. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES IN PUBLICATIONS:Thematerial presented here is publi,hed

7 lO l4 37

Airmail Update Calendar of Events Christmas Poem by Jim Grissom 44 Ratings 54 Classified Advertising 61 Index to Advertisers 6 l Stolen Wings

as part of an information dissemination service for USHGA members. The USHGA makes no warcanties or representation, and assumes no liabi lity con-

cern ing the validity of any advice, opinion or recommendation expressed in the 111ate1ial. All individuals relying upon the mate1ial do so at their own risk. Copyright© 1992 Uni ted States I-fang GIidi ng Assoc iation . Lnc. All rigbts reserved to Hang Gliding and

individual contributors. DECEMBER 1992

Open

Letter

Pilots

As the dust devils of summer dissipate , it's a good time to reflect on the past year and look ahead to the future . UP has certified six new hang gliders and four new paragliders . We've made some course corrections and encountered some turbulence, but turbulence is nothing new to our sport. In fact , it stimulates innovation and the development of technology. Our midsummer decision to make a change in marketing strategy caused quite a stir. We took an objective look at ourselves and the industry and decided that manufacturers and dealers must work together to put the pilots' needs first. We realized that pilots are looking for three things: service, performance and price . During the frenzy to devise complex dealer programs, sliding margins and volume discounts , perhaps the manufacturers lost sight of the fundamentals. We decided to get back to basics. We streamlined our administrative and production philosophy to reduce overhead. This enables us to offer pilots better value on UP gliders. We now offer realistic retail prices. While these changes brought applause from most, we didn't please everyone. Rumors began to circulate regarding the future of UP . Our response: UP is in business to stay. We've never been healthier. We're more efficient. We have a complete line of hang gliding and paragliding equipment. Our international network of subsidiaries and sister companies has flourished during 1992. UP markets through a dealer network. Dealers provide a vital link in our service to pilots . We also encourage pilots to call the factory for help in selecting a glider, to ask technical or tuning questions, or to offer us feedback on our products . Our loyalty to our supportive dealers is ongoing and unconditional. UP is committed to producing the best-performing, most affordablypriced gliders available. With our new complete glider line , a streamlined , more experienced staff, our "pilot-friendly" marketing strategy and a re-dedication to pilot service and support, UP is poised to provide the greatest value and highest degree of service of any manufacturer in the industry. We welcome your comments , questions and inquiries, so feel free to call us at 1-800-266-3287 (1 - 800-COME2UP) .

P.S . .. . We invite all TRX and XTR pilots to contact us for a free copy of the revised Owner's Manual featuring new, in-depth tuning instructions.

UP International• 4054 West 2825 North• Mountain Green, UT 84050

Gil Dodgen, Editor/Art Director John Heiney, Leroy Grannis Photographers Harry Martin, Illustrator Dennis Pagen, Rodger Hoyt, G.W. Meadows Staff Writers Tim Rinker, Design Consultant Office Staff Jerry Bruning, Executive Director Greg Huller, Ratings & ICP's Cindy Evans, Member Services PJ More, Special Projects & Competitions Stu Clark, Insurance & Member Services Jeff Elgart, Marketing & Advertising D. Dean Leyerle, Merchandise Services

USHGA Officers and Executive Committee: Gregg Lawless, President Paul Voight, Vice President Russ Locke, Secretary Dan Johnson, Treasurer

REGION 1: Gene Matlhews. REGION 2: Lynda Nelson, Russ Locke, Connie Bowen. REGION 3: Joe Greblo, Sandy King, Gregg Lawless. REGION 4: Mark Macho, Glen Nicolet. REGION 5: Mike King. REGION 6: Ron Kenney. REGION 7: Rod Hauser. REGION 8: Randy Adams. REGION 9: Pete Lehmann, Jeff Sims. REGION 1O: Matt Taber, Rick Jacob. REGION11: Jeff Hunt. REGION 12: Paul Voight, Paul Riker!. DIRECTORS AT LARGE: Dan Johnson, Jerry Forburger, Jan Johnson, Dennis Pagen. HONORARY DIRECTORS: Ken Brown, Lisa Tate, Jim Zeise!, Doug Hildreth, G.W. Meadows, Tom Kreyche, Mike Meier, Rob Kells, Fred Stockwell, Terry Reynolds. EX-OFFICIO DIRECTOR: Art Greenfield (NAA).

The United States Hang Gliding Association Inc. is an air sports organization affiliated with the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) which is the official representative of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), of the world governing body for sport aviation. The NAA, which represents the U.S. at FAI meetings, has delegated to the USHGA supervision of FA I-related hang gliding activities such as record attempts and competition sanctions. HANG GLIDING magazine is published for l1ang gliding sport enthusiasts to create further interest in the sport, and to provide an educational forum to advance hang gliding methods and safety. Contributions are welcome. Anyone is invited to contribute articles, photos, and illustrations concerning hang gliding activities. If the material is to be returned, a stamped, self-addressed return envelope must be enclosed. Notification must be made of submission to other hang gliding publications. HANG GLIDING magazine reserves the right to edit contributions where necessary. The Association and publication do not assume responsibility for the material or opinions of contributors. HANG GLIDING editorial offices: 6950 Aragon Circle, Suite 6, Buena Park, CA 90620 (714) 994-3050. HANG GLIDING (ISSN 0895-433x) 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 offices. POSTMASTER: SEND CHANGE OF ADDRESS TO: HANG GLIDING, P.O. BOX 8300, Colorado Springs, co 80933-8300. The USHGA is a member-controlled sport and educational organization dedicated to exploring all facets of unpowered ultralight flight. Membership is open to anyone interested in this realm of 11ight. Dues for full membership are $49.00 per year (of which $15 goes to the publication of Hang Gliding), ($55 Canada & Mexico, $60 foreign); subscription rates only are $35.00 ($40 Canada & Mexico, $50 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 1992

Volume 22, Issue No. 12

AIRMAIL Article Comments Dear Editor. There are several topics mentioned in past issues on which I cannot resist commenting. First, Butch Peachy indicated in his piece about his unlucky then lucky accident, that I use different airfoil shapes in my XS. f do not condone altering an airfoil from the pattern supplied with a glider. Although I have tried many airfoils on gliders it was always while working with a manufacturer's tested pattern. Also, I am well aware of the effects of high point placement and spanwise camber distribution. What I did with my XS is as follows: The glider came with a flatter airfoil from two years ago. Rather than rebend all the battens to the recent, more cambered profile, I did a lift distribution analysis on the glider using the Anderson tables method (explained in some aerodynamics texts). With this I could see where the glider should stall first and only altered the battens in that area. Thus I had a combination of the old and new patterns. I intend to use the full current pattern in the future for uniformity. Second, in the same October I 992 issue, an accident report concerning an Italian pilot who tried an AT for the firq time was labeled "baffling .. , The pilot pulled in to an extreme and oscillated wickedly until he hit the ground. In my estimation this is not baffling at all, for I have witnessed it on two occasions and it happens more or less frequently. The problem stems from the fact that a pilot transitioning from an intermediate glider to a high performance one is not used to the very light pitch pressures of the advanced gliders. These pilots arc already generally stressed since they arc flying a strange wing and maybe a strange site. Immediately after launch their "muscle memory'' places the bar where the pitch pressure feels right. That's at the knees or waist since hi-per gliders arc designed to exhibit little pressure until that point. The slightest variation starts a turn which quickly escalates into an oscillation at these speeds. The poor pilot is now operating on pure adrenalin which floods the senses and logical thinking circuits. The results are dire or not so if the pilot luckily slows up for some reason and finds trim. These problems can be prevented by carefully drilling pilots new to "pitchless" gliders on the proper bar position. A pilot-mounted radio helps as well, but an earphone is necessary or wind will drown out a suggestion to slow up. I' 111 sure no one wants to be responsible for someone else's demise. but ignorance of the laws of physics and physiology is no excuse. Finally, I wish to comment on the minidebate carried on in letters by Bob Ormiston and Davis Straub. I hate to take sides. but I must inform Davis that Bob is correct. Turn polars should not cross each other. They are simple to find from the original polar by multiplying the horizontal velocity of any point on the polar by 1/(cos 8)1/2 and the vertical \'elociLy by l/(cos 8)3/2 where 8 is the bank angle. The 1·crtical I elocity is increased by Lhe increased flying speed of Lhe glider as well as the increased drag of the higher wing loading in a turn. For a good analysis of this see the Complete Soaring Pil01s Handbook by Welch. Welch and

Irving or wait for my cross-country book due out this winter. Sorry for the pan and the plug Davis. Your work is appreciated. Dennis Pagen Bellefonte, PA

Weak Links Dear Editor I would like to thank Brad Lindsay for the hard facts on different weak link strengths and the different breaking strengths when using rings or rope loops. But I have Lo disagree with Brad's theory that you need stronger weak links to get high tows on "fat tow lines." I have towed to an altitude of 2,950' using 4,500' of 3/l 6" Ultraline with a weak link made of Lwo strands of 205 leech line. We find that there arc two places during a tow that a weak link will most likely break. The first is right off the truck because of the inertia effect of the drum, and the second is at very low (less than 50') altitudes if the Lruck is on a bumpy road because of the very limited stretch in the rope. These effects can easily be lessened by reducing the tow pressure at launch and during the low climb-out. The effect or the weak link breaking at altitude may be more related to the recluc;d size of the drum diameter as more and more line is reeled out. When mosl pilots measure the tow force of their tow systems it is with only a few feet of rope out. As more rope is paid out from the winch the effective diameter of the drum reduces and the tow force increases. It is advisable Lo measure the tow force as the last 100' is pulled off the drum. Depending on winch design and the type of tow line used, the tow forces can increase greatly from the beginning of the tow to the encl e\·en though the hydraulic brake pressure remains constant. A reduced brake pressure may be necessary toward the encl of the tow. Our tow system has a very large drum diameter and therefore the line stacking is very minimal, resulting in very small diameter and tow pressure changes from the beginning to the encl of the tow. The real question is, HOW STRONG SHOULD A WEAK LINK BE'' Initially the main purpose of a weak link is to prevent excessive tow forces which could damage the glider. In the early ·?O's, while boat towing, we would attach the tow rope directly to the Low bar with no weak link in the system. We would then lock up the winch near the encl of the Low so we could top out the glider almost directly over the boat. This was crazy! Excessi \'e tow forces bent and broke many gliders. and the only reason any of us early boat tow pilots are alive today is that water is a lot softer than land. Today's gliders are designed and built to withstand at least six G's of positive loading. Therefore. the outer limits of weak link design should be to break between just enough force to cause a glider to climb and six G's. Obviously a six-G weak link is entirely Loo strong, and one which can handle only minimal climb loads is too weak. In practice the weak links being used today arc designed to break at 1/2 to one-G forces. A

AIRMAIL pilot with a 200-pound hook-in weight would tow with a weak link that should break at 300 to 400 pounds. Towing with a "weak" weak link can cause many premature weak link failures, and even though platform towing techniques can handle weak link failures at any altitude and in most conditions, they arc still dangerous. The Cajun Hang Gliding Club uses three strands of 205 leech line tied with bowline knots. We have found that this type of knot will consistently cause the weak link to break well below 400 pounds. A bowline knot has a knot efficiency of 50%, compared to a fisherman's knot with an efficiency of 80% (a short splice has an efficiency of 95%). We have found that in strong and gusty conditions the weak link has enough strength to avoid a premature failure, but it is weak enough to break in the event of a winch malfunction or extreme weather-related conditions. The moral of the story is to know your weak link strength and use the same type of knot every time you tie it. On a different note, Brad's suggestion about attaching the release line to the harness shoulder strap should be adopted by all tow pilots. As mentioned in Brad's article, attaching the line to your wrist can result in many undesirable situations. Victor A Toce, President Cajun Hang Gliding Club 110 Kent Circle Lafayette, LA 70508 (318) 232-6637 days (318) 981-8372 nights (318) 235-5907 fax

Positive PR Dear Editor, Enclosed is a copy of an article I wrote for the daily newspaper I work for, The Chronicle of Centralia, Washington. Perhaps other USHGA members can make use or it in their local papers; I heartily give my permission to reprint it wherever it can do some good. I would like to apologize in advance to Doug Hildreth, who will probably be perturbed that I flaunted his doctor credentials. It's an old newsmedia and advertising trick to add credibility to something by getting an MD to endorse it, even if it's something unrelated to medicine. I'm sorry, Doug, but this story needed all the credibility l could give it, so I layered it on as thick as I could spread. And as a professional and working journalist, I reserve the right to be a weasel. Cap Pattison Randle, WA

Cap's article is entitled "Hang Gliding Isn't All That Dangerous." For a copy contact: Cap Pallison, 2414 Cispus Rd., Randle, WJ\ 98377 (206) 497-7177. -Ed.

New England Recommend

A Farewell

Dear Editor, I just returned from a wonderful weekend of flying with some great folks in New Hampshire. This is to thank them publicly, and to share a bit of what's in store for others who may want to go. I called Randy Adams, of the Vermont Hang Gliding Association, to say I would be travelling from Arizona to Vermont on business. That quickly resulted in an invitation to come over that weekend and enter the annual glide ratio contest at Morningside Flight Park. Jeff Nicolay runs a real smooth operation there, about a mile south of Claremont, NH. They have safe launches and huge grassy landing areas. Morningside has camping areas among the trees right at launch, a complete repair facility, and a well-stocked equipment sales room. It was a great weekend, thanks to the the capacity of Morningside, Jeff's preparations, and the helpful and friendly pilots. With several ATC's and special trailers, Morningside can deliver more turn-arounds in one day, without tear-down, than any pilot should ever need. Thanks to Rob Kells who shared some very entertaining videos of oldtime gliding and for providing me with a glider' Thanks to Paul Voight, of Fly High Hang Gliding in Pine Bush, NY, who, when conditions were unflyable, gave a seminar on truck towing. His experience with thousands of incident-free tows was evident as he thoroughly answered every question the pilots could think of about towing. By 5:30 ,1~1 the clay of the contest. Jeff and his Morningside staff were already hustling by moonlight to make coffee for pilots and haul their pre-assembled gliders to launch. They even provided us with a barbecue that evening! I really appreciated the quick sewing Marilyn Nichols did on my harness bag on the spot while I waited. She operates the Nichols Sail Loft at Morningside, and her nearly 20 years of experience shows. (She says she can sew anything that can be ripped.) And thanks too, to the dozens of very friendly and helpful pilots. In the parking lot I counted license plates from eight states, and there was at least one Canadian pilot. New England pilots arc as fine a bunch of guys as one could fly with.

Dear Edi tor, A close friend and fellow hang glider pilot was taken from us recently. David O'Neill DeArmond passed away on August 28 from heart failure. No apparent cause was found. David was 35 and had just recently received his doctorate in music from the University of Colorado in Boulder. He was a very exuberant person and loved flying. I don't recall ever seeing him in a bad mood. We learned to fly at the same time here in the central Arkansas area and went on many a road trip. All his many friends here in Region VI and the friends he made while going to school in Colorado will greatly miss him. Farewell Dr. Dave.

Glider Transport Advisory Dear Editor, I'm one of those pilots who takes meticulous care of his equipment. (You know the type; we always take l5 minutes longer than anyone else to pack up our gliders because we have 30 pads.) Imagine my surprise when I discovered a dent in my crossbar during preflight. Naturally, I wanted to find out what had caused the dent so it wouldn't happen again. When my glider is folded up the crossbars sit above the leading edges. The dent was 3-1/2 feet back from the noseplate in 1111 area in between my well-padded racks. I concluded that either it happened on someone else's rack or it occurred when someone threw his glide on top of mine while loading. There are several lessons here. I) Always carry your glider on well-padded racks and make sure it's secured firmly. 2) Never, never stack your glider on top of, or allow someone to stack his glider on top of yours. 3) 7075 tubing dents fairly easily and is very expensive, so take care of it and always do a carejiil preflight. Ric Lee Sandy, UT

Lee Alley Tempe, AZ

Ball Varios Kudos Weak Link Strength Confirmation Dear Editor. I read Brad Lindsay's article on the strength of weak links in the Oct. '92 issue of Hang Gliding. My measurements, using the methods outlined in a previous letter, completely replicate Brad's testing. I am extremely glad to see published research on the strength of weak links as I believe that it is imperative that we have some understanding of the strength of the weak links we arc currently using. l be] ieve that Brad has done a service to us all. Dave Broyles Allen, TX

David Dunning Russellville, AR

Dear Editor, In a era of broken promises, unfulfilled expectations and poor or nonexistent service, there is a company that stands out in the sky like the rising sun. This company is the Ball Vario Company based in Boulder, Colorado. After delivering to me, on time, my new M50 Flight Computer, I promptly drove this, the best instrument I've ever owned, into the ground like a tent stake on a dark, rainy night, during another blown landing. This was only one week before the Region 4 Championships and I needed it fixed quick, in a bad way. I got right on the phone and the crew at Ball said, "Ship it and you' II get it back in time." Thanks guys, you kept your promise! At most of the major hang gliding events in the U.S. Ball

HANG GLIDING

AIRMAIL makes sure that there is a service technician on site during the event ror '"on the spot repairs" and adjustments. This support has to be recognized as far, far superior to anything else happening today. Thanks again guys. You've proven yourselves to be the best' Nick Kennedy Telluride, CO

Hang Gliding Youth Dear Editor. ] most heartily agree with the BOD's interest in attracting more young people to the sport of hang gliding. Our local club, the Draggin' Flyers. serving Florida. Southern Georgia and Southern Alabama, has enjoyed the company or several younger participants, in particular one pilot named Neal Goss. Whether we're searching for Neal in a swamp or just watching him ride backwards on a bike around the campfire, his youthful exuberance serves as a refreshing reminder of clays gone by. Neal is 71. Tyson Richmond Tampa, FL

Trike Tug Dear Editor, \Vlrn says a trike can't fly slowly enough to tow at hang glider speeds·> On Labor clay weekend in Ohio John Pattison proved that his Mountaineer Tug can. Average tows to 3.000' took five minutes. John Leek. aerotow king of Ohio, yelled over the radio on his first Low. '"you can't do that.'' He was referring Lo the low forward speed that had him mushing along with the bar rull out. He was literally being dragged up. Needless Lo say. J.P. sped things up a little Lo make John Leek's Low more comfortable. Throughout the weekend the Mountaineer racked up a grand total of 23 tows without incident. Tow driver Willie just couldn't be parted from the iVlountaineer. The Cosmos, owned by Doc Rider and operated by Willie, sat on the trailer for the better part of the weekend. On the last day of the meet the Cosmos was finally set up and made some modest tows. Trike driver David Fent made note or the obvious difference in altitudes at the encl of the 4.000-foot runway. The Mountaineer was three times higher than the Cosmos. Also present was a Mountaineer Sport Dual piloted by me, who gave rides during the event. The "best customer" award goes to I 0-year-old Jason Housel, who practically ··fivecl" his father to death with five flights totaling about one hour. Bet his clad thinks hc"s going to be a hang glider pilot when he grows up. Wrong. This kid has trikes on rhe brain. Gunnar Graubaum /vlillcrton, NY

DECEMBER 1992

BOD Meeting Observations Dear Editor. Because of the problems faced at our local site, I decided to attend the fall USHGA board meeting in Milpitas. CA. Since I have had little contact with the board of directors and have never attended a meeting, l had some trepidation and 111any preconceived ideas as ro what to expect. I hate politics and have always believed that rules and regulations should be kept to a minimum. I now have to admit that I was very pleasantly surprised to find a large contingent of dedicated individuals who were willing to work together for the good of all pilots across the country. This is not to say that there was not any controversy or

disagreements. Any time ymt have a gathering of hang glider pilots you will hear as many opinions as there arc people. I was, however, impressed with the willingness of all to work together to reach decisions that had the common goal of doing the right thing for all pilots as the main motivator. Lest you think there was a party atmosphere. let me assure you that most of the committee meetings were long and tedious. During the two days I was able to attend, a typical clay began at 7:00 ,\SI and lasted long into the night. Many directors were hard pressed to attend all the committee meetings they wanted to in the three days allocated. Gregg Lawless did an outstanding job of keeping things 111oving along, and still managed to take an active ro]e in mo.st of the agenda. I found that all of the items I wanted addressed were available for discussion and action at the appropriate committee meetings. I was made to feel welcome and my opinions were listened to and acted upon in a courteous and professional manner.

I learned that running the USHGA is a large and for the most part thankless task that is wholly dependent upon volunteers who selflessly give their time and energy. We all owe them a great deal of respect and gratitude for a job well clone. f would encourage all of you to attend a board meeting in the future and see how it all works. Your participation does 111akc a difference. After all, it is OUR national organization. We can all contribute something. be it time or opinions or the effort to say thanks to your regional director. Brad Hall President. Torrey Pines HGA San Diego. CA

Bishop Building Fund Dear Editor. This is a call to the foot launched ultralight (hang glider and paraglidcrJ population in this country and around the world. Our right to lly and land is and has been under attack by those who do not understand or refuse to acknowledge our place in aviation. Over the years I have seen this kind of bias in action and have had to deal with it personally in the Owens Valley. I have maintained a shop and a meeting place for pilots at the Bishop Airport for 11 years. For the last six I have been fighting a battle with the management of the Bishop airport to keep the

facilities open, and our landing rights intact. To a great extent I have won this battle, however the final match is now in the making and I am calling for your support. In the latest strategy to eliminate our use of the airport area the management has condemned the building near the trees even though it is constructed in the same fashion as many other buildings still in use at the airport including the main terminal. This has been the staging area for hundreds of foot-launch pilots who have come to lly the White and Sierra Nevada Mountains. Loss of this building is the first step in losing the tree/ grass area. To circumvent this I have negotiated a settlement with the county. l will upgrade the building to I 992 county code. This means a significant amount of work will have to be clone to the building. and this will require money to purchase the materials. A rough estimate is $8,000. I have a contractor lined up to work with the local pilot labor and a painting contractor to donate labor and paint for the finished product. What I am asking from you are donations to help buy the materials needed. Through the years you. the pilots, have come to fly the sites in the Owens Valley. I and the rest of the locals have done our best to be informative and helpful to you. I personally have made the trees and grass area very pleasant for you to stage. mingle, breakdown, do repairs and hang out after flying. I have spent many hours writing appeals and arguments representing the foot-launch community before the board of supervisors of Inyo County to keep this area open. Now it is your turn to help' If you have. or if you are planning to come to the Owens to fly and enjoy the facilities and landing privileges (please use the designated landing patcern) at the Bishop Airport, show your support by making a donation to the building fund. Any amount is appreciated all wi 11 go toward making this a better place for footlaunch aviators. For donations over $30.00 you will receive three shower passes. For donations over $60.00 you will become a 111c111bcr of the "Eastern Sierra Sport Pilot Association, an organization formed by and for pilots of all aircraft who fly with smiles on their faces. lnyo County has given us until February 15. 1993 to raise the funds and begin the construction. otherwise on the 16th the bulldozers will clean out the area. I do not have the resources for this project personally; the only way it will be accomplished is with your help. Send funds to: Building Fund, P.O. Box 1632, Bishop, CA 93515. For information call (619 J 873-8367. tvlark Axen Bishop, CA

UPDATE USHGA Board Approves APA Membership Service Proposal Following the October 16-18 Board of Directors meeting of the American Paragliding Association, a proposal was presented to the United States Hang Gliding Association to provide membership services to all existing AP A members in exchange for a transfer of all APA assets to the USHGA. USHGA Board members were requested by mail to vote in favor of or in opposition to the AP A proposal. The vote tabulation was 21 directors in favor, three opposed and one abstention. Joint discussions between selected USHGA Board members and the AP A's Executive Committee to address and resolve "open" issues were held November 22 and 23. The January issue of Hang Gliding will provide additional information on the status of the USHGA/APA membership service agreements.

Wills Wing Moves To New Facility After 20 years in the same location, Wills Wing has moved to a new 16,000square-foot production facility in Orange, California, four miles north of the company's previous location in Santa Ana. Along with the new physical plant, Wills Wing has installed a new computer network for accounting, production management and computer-assisted design and manufacturing, as well as new automated production machinery for sail and airframe manufacturing. The 40% larger facility and the new automated tooling will help Wills Wing offer better service, and to produce higher quality products with greater efficiency, keeping delivery times under control during the busy spring season. The new address and phone are: Wills Wing, Inc., 500 Blueridge, Orange, CA 92665 (714) WW TO FLY (998-6359).

Downwind Chris Gregor Publishing announces the release of their newest book DOWNWIND, A

True Hang Gliding Story. The book brings hang gliding nostalgia of the early 1970's into focus with record distance flights in the Owens Valley. Readers fine! themselves starting on the training slopes and honing their skills until they achieve 200+ mile cross-country flights downwind. The book is about determined pilots who push the limits to experience the thrill of new adventures. It is fun, exciting reading. If you like to fly, this is a must-read. A true story, well told. The book sells for $10.95 plus $3.00 SI H, California residents aclcl $.85 sales tax. Contact: Chris Gregor Publishing, Dept. G, P.O. Box 26595, Fresno, CA 93729-6595.

BRS Unit Survives Torture Test

"This type of deployment is a worst-case test," reports BRS president, Boris Popov. "Our units should be serviced by qualified personnel after such an incident, but this is a valid test that illustrates the durability of our units. We're pleased, though not surprised, that the unit worked according to specifications." The company adds that such tests are potentially dangerous, and wishes to emphasize very strongly that after any submersion or abuse, any ballistic parachute should be returnee! to the manufacturer for proper inspection and refurbishment.

New Flight Computing Catalog Jim and Nancy Palazola, principals of

Ballistic Recovery Systems of South St. Paul, MN strongly discourages users of its products from test firing their units, since someone could be injured and the rocket motor, once fired, must be replaced, not simply refueled. Nevertheless, a pilot in Spain got to see his unit operate after it survived very demanding conditions. The following report was submitted by BRS's Spanish distributor, Aviasport, S.A. "A customer flying a BRS-equipped ultralight built in Belgium suffered an engine failure and landed in the ocean. The aircraft sunk to a depth of 55 feet and was recovered 26 hours later." This lengthy exposure to salt water and other contaminants is considered severe by BRS engineers. Owners who submerge their units for any period of time must obtain factory service before flying again. "The aircraft was unloaded on a ship's dock and the pilot fired the BRS unit, prudently aimed out to sea. The rocket fired immediately with full power and the [parachute's protective] sleeve separated perfectly from the canopy, despite the fact that they were both soaking wet. The rocket and sleeve disappeared in the ocean. The canopy was fully extracted and all lines fully extended." "It was a perfect and clear extraction. The customer and witnesses were very satisfied," reports A viasport owner, Jose Manuel Jimenez.

Tailwinds Catalog, in Novato, California, have acquired The Flight Computing Cara/og

and launched a new edition. They offer the latest in flight planners, flight simulators, global positioning systems, DUAT access, tutorial, and a wide variety of aviation-related software and hardware technology. You can request The Flight Computing Catalog by calling (800) 992-7737. Or write to: Flight Computing Catalog, 42 Digital Dr. #14, Novato, CA 94949.

FAA Joins AOPA In Unprecedented Move In Product Liability Lawsuit The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Assn. applauds FAA's joining AOPA as friend of the court in a product liability lawsuit pending in the U.S. Court of Appeals. "This has never happened before," FAA deputy administrator Barry L. Harris told the opening general session of the AOPA annual convention. The FAA action was welcomed by AOPA president Phil Boyer. "There's a storm gathering in general aviation, and the product liability issue is shaping into a squall line of activity," he said. Unreasonable legal judgements destructive to America's aviation industry are being resisted by the private sector and, now, by the federal government. HANG GLIDING

UPDATE More than 5,000 AOPA members attended AOPA EXPO '92 in Las Vegas. AOPA represents the general aviation interests of its 300,000 members.

Thunderheads Aerial Debut

New Small Hall Airspeed Indicator

Hall Bros. announces the new small Hall airspeed indicator/wind meter. In addition to their standard airspeed indicator, they now have a new smaller version for hand-held wind measurement and use as an airspeed indicator for paragliders using a new paraglicler mounting bracket. This bracket mounts the airspeed indicator on the riser. and will help paraglicler pilots maximize their performance and skill. The speed range of the new airspeed indicator is Oto 30 mph or Oto 50 kilometers per hour. Accuracy is ensured by calibrating each one individually using airspeed indicator standards traceable to the U.S. Government National Institute of Standards and Technology (formerly National Bureau of Standards). The new airspeed indicator is molclccl of super tough lexan resin. The metal parts arc all stainless steel. Incluclecl with each airspeed indicator is a brightly-colored nylon ,torage bag. For more information or to order. contact: Hall Brothers, P.O. Box 1010. Morgan, Utah 84050-1010. or call (801) 8293232.

DECEMBER 1992

After three years of negotiation our efforts came to fruition on July 26, 1992: to demonstrate hang glider truck towing at the Eielson Air Force Base (AFB) annual Open House outside Fairbanks, Alaska. As the "opening act" for the Thunderbirds, we achieved large-scale exposure to the military and civilian community for both the sport and the local glider schools. The vast expanse of the air base and the size of the military aircraft dwarfed our wings. Taxi time from the flight line display to the runway was nearly as long as the flights, but with only two tow rigs available, the 150'-wiclc runway felt quite spacious for simultaneous towing in parallel. We were uniquely privileged, not just to have access to a nearly three-mile-long runway ( 14,514') - which is an alternate LZ for the space shuttle, and second only to Edwards AFB as the longest domestic military airfield - but as the only civilian aerial performers at this joint-services event held in conjunction with the Army units from Fort Wainwright. What was even better was that we got two program slots, one in the morning. and later as the crowd swelled for the stars of the main act. Best of all, though, we got an additional clay of access to practice and familiarize ourselves with the facility and procedures. The local towhead team for the practice and event was composed of Ben "Crankmaster" Deptula, Mike ·'Tattoo" Lindsey. Thom ''Blue Sky" Veer, Zak "Airtime Attack" Wilson, his parents Suzanne and Bruce Wilson. Alan ·Towhead" Chuculate, and our cndlessly-cledicatecl clri ver "Go To Cruise" Kathy Turco. Special thanks go to Kathy and Mike for their selfless service as drivers for the event and for negotiating the aircraft arresting cables straclclling each encl of the runway, to

Suzanne for being our narrator, and to Bruce on the video camera. The down side of the event was the weather; the wind was calm and the air was stable. And later the conditions deteriorated to rain. We made the best of it, though, demonstrating tows over 2,400' AGL, with fonnation flying, tandem and' aerobatics to an enthusiastic crowd who commended us with cheers and applause as we flared in for nostep landings next to the windsock at show center. The rest of the clay there was a line of adults and endless kids waiting for a ride on our self-supported mobile flight simulator. We joined the VIP's in the Officer's Club for the reception following the air show. and enjoyed sharing the company of these highcaliber pilots. We owe it all to the base commander, Colonel Thomas Fleming, without whose progressive policy our event would never have been. Ben suggested that we go on tour with our aerial circus under a more dynamic name, so ifyou'rc looking for a professional hang glider flight demonstration team for your next local air show, contact the 'Thunderheads." - by Alan Chucu/ate

National Air And Space Museum Trophy Winners Selected The 1992 recipients of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum Trophy have been announced. The Magellan Project Team at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory won for mapping the mysterious cloucl-coverecl surface of Venus, and Francis M. Rogallo won for pioneering work that led him to invent the '·flexible wing," which led to the development of modern hang gliders and ultralights. The awards were presented Oct. 16 in a ceremony at the museum. Francis M. Rogallo is the holder of 25 patents. The flexible wing was the ultimate realization of Rogallo' s lifelong vision of a safe and inexpensive wing design, and it has turned the dream of flight into reality for many people. His design. now used around the world, began with home-built kites that were portable. yet large enough to lift his children. He also mass-produced 18-inch toy 11

Sharing the evening with Francis Rogallo were Vic Powell, left, of Annandale, VA, and John Hanis,righ!,ofNags Head, NC, president and vice-prcsidenl, respectively, of the Rog,1!10 Poundation. The non-profit foundation was

recently established lo research and promote low-speed flight. Rogallo and his wife serve on the foundation's board of directors. kites in the family attic with help from his neighbors. llis design was perfected over the years with the assistance of his wife. Gertrude, and a homemade wind tunnel. The National J\ir and Space Museum Trophy was established in 1985 to reeogni1,e extraordinary service in air and space science and technology. Two trophies one for cnrrent achievement and one ror past achievement which has not received proper recognition but has contributed significantly to advancing aerospace activities arc awnrded each year at a single ccrrniony, The original trophy, engraved with the names or every recipient, is exhibited in the National J\ir and Space Museum's Milestones ol'Hight Gallery. J\ replica of this trophy wns presented to each recipient by former Federal Aviation J\d111i1Jistrator Najecb Halaby at the Oct. 16 cercmolly, The trophy is the striking "The Web of Space,. sculpture hy John Safer, The 1991 winners of the trophy were J\rtllur E, Raymond and John Mather :md the cosmic background explorer team. The J 990 winners were Kdly .Johnson and the SR-71 design team, and the Pegasus launch vehicle team, The museum's 1992 trophy event was made possible through the generous support of t11e Martin Marietta Corporation,

US Aviation, builder or the Cloud Dancer, ,mnounccd work 011 a next,-gcnera12

lion derivative of the ultralight motorglidcr. The new model, named the Cumulus, is expected to increase glide performance by 3:l'Yr, to almost 20: J, "In order to dedicate our limited time to work on the Cumulus," reported Dan .Johnson, the company's president. "we will cease production of the Cloud Dancer,'' The SL Paul, MN-based ultralight manufacturer says it has received "a large number or inquiries" from interested pilots, about I 00 per month, J\ccordiug to the designer, performance is predic\ed \o increase from 15: I for \he Cloud Dancer to nearly 20: J for the Cumulus modcL Such a gain is possible clue LO a far cleaner wing, a smoother cockpit pod, a full windscreen enclosure, and fully faired gear, Reaching the 20: I mark is challenging for low-speed, lightweight aircraft. The company believes this level or performance will create, even more enthusiasm for the ultralight motorglidcr concept, US Aviation estimates a minimum of one year wi II be needed to complete the design and documentation or the Cumulus, 'The new wing will have a dope-andfabric COVl:ring," explained Phil Kadlec. US Aviation specialist, "With conventional ribs, we'll have the trailing edge structure to provide rlapcrons," J\s US J\ viation focuses on the Cloud Dancer (,S, original Cloud Dancer designer, New York engineer Erwin Rodger, will continue with his preliminary design efforts !'or the all-new wing, Rodger's effort will also focus on changes to the tail. The glider will employ rlaperons rather than spoilcrons ror primary roll control. The Cumulus will feature a conventional tail, either cruciform or T-tail, instead of they,. tail used on the Cloud Dancer, "By using lfapcrons, we'll not only g.ain more precise handling, but also have greater wing shaping versatility," says Rodger, lie also indicated the wing will continue to use'. spoilers for glide path control, although they will be brought inward toward the root since they will no longer he required for roll control, The easily removed wing (a unique aspect of the Cloud Dancer) will be retained, "We've taken the first design steps with our Cloud Dancer GS," said Kadlec. "GS"

Dancer wi II become the test bed for several changes to he incorporated into the Cumulus. It will exploit the longer, smoother lines of a new fiberglass fuselage which will be filled over a redesigned st.eel cockpit structure. Several ultralight industry firms arc assisting in the new design project. Molds for the new pod arc being built by llypcrDync, a Minnesota fiberglass supplier that also builds parts for the RJ\NS company, Carlson J\ircrafl, manufacturer or the Sparrow line, has produced the tooling jigs and prototype of the steel fuselage, Carlson is also expected to supply US J\ viation with the ribs for the new Cumulus wing, The TEJ\M company of Tennessee has begun a structural analysis, When the design is ready for production, US J\ viation plans to contract for production with a qua Ii fied manufacturer in the field, "We hope to bring the interim ·rnass & Steel' Cloud Dancer to Sun 'n' hrn or Oshkosh in J 991." said .Johnson, "We expect ii lo show an improvement or about two points in glide (to J7: J) resulting from these pre-Cumulus model changes,'' Owners or Cloud Dancers will be pleased to hear US J\ viation plans to maintain their inventory or numerous parts. Tiley will also provide virtually 100% parts support for those items not customarily stocked, "We won't always he able to respond quickly," says .Johnson, "however, we don't plan to pull the rug out from present owners," J\ newsletter, photos, and info packet will he sent in response to written inquiries for either the Cloud Dancer or Cumulus, using their mailing address of: 265 Echo Lane, South SL Paul, MN 55075, US J\ viation requests $5 lo cover expenses, Phone messages or facsimiles can also be sent to (612) 450-0930, though the company advises it is 1101 able to field live phone calls, Dan Johnson would like tu thank the sport aviation press for the excellent support the company has received, Articles in a variety or publications have resulted in nearly 1,000 inquiries in the last year alone,

If you have won a competition using a current UP glider please send information to John Ilcincy, lJP Riverton, J>,(), Box 822,

l fANC: C1m1Nc

UPDATE Riverton UT 84065 (80 I) 254-5285 for inclusion in future UP advertisements. Thanks for flying UP.

DOWNWIND

New USHGA Charter In Arizona The Arizona Sport Pilot Association (ASPA), located in Phoenix, AZ, has been recognized by USHGA as a charter organization. Pilots involved in all forms of sport aviation (hang gliding, paragliding, skydiving, ultralights and small aircraft owners) are welcome. Our goal is to secure new sites in Arizona, improve the ones we currently use, and above all, have fun. Since sport aviation is slowly becoming more widely accepted by state and federal governments and the public, the ASPA offers a wide range of options and experience. Contact: ASPA, 13026 N. Cave Creek Rel. #103-159, Phoenix, AZ 85022.

A True Hang Gliding Storv

by LARRY FLEMING

Book Review

Airworks Moves The home of the famous ''Finger Fairings" has moved to a new location. They can be reached at: The Airworks, 8609 Cherry Hills Rel. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111 (505) 821-1640.

Downwind A True Hang Gliding Story by Larry Fleming Chris Gregor Publishing - $10.95

by Gil Dodgen

1992 Utah Cup The Utah Cup is awarded to the pilot with the longest flight of the year originating in Utah. The "A" division is for pilots with a best previous night of no more than 50 miles. The "B" division is for pilots with a best flight of less than 50 miles. A Division - First place: 147.2 miles, Charlie Baughman, Cedar City, 7/3, Foil Cl. Second place: l 22 miles. Steve Rathbun, Midway, 7/24, HP AT. Third place: 119 miles, Kenny Neilson, Midway, 8/9, K2. B Division - First place: 76 miles, Walter Bresnahan. Midway, 8/9. XS. Second place: 55.7 miles, Bill Scott, Midway, 8/10, Sport. Third place: 35 miles Dave Taylor, Inspiration, 7.23, XS.

DECEMBER 1992

LaiTy

Fleming is a true old-timer in the sport of hang gliding. He took up flying in 1974, when many of us were building our own gliders and teaching ourselves to fly. He started visiting the Owens Valley in the late I 970's, began making 100-flights by 1989 and at prcscnt has more than 1,500 hours of airtime. He says that he was "prompted to write this book because so many people express an interest in hang gliding and want to know what it feels like to fly like a bird." He has achieved his goal of conveying that feeling. I don't believe there has ever been a hang gliding book quite like this one. There are how-to books, histories, technical treatises, instructional manuals and the geewhiz essays. Doll'nwind is perhaps best described as a first-person, didactic "history"

of the sport. The stories it tells are all true, and are either the experiences of the author or his close friends. It is didactic in the sense that he weaves explanations of how things work, and why, into the fabric of the text. The book is thus accessible to both experienced hang glider pilots and those completely unfamiliar with the sport. Appealing to both readerships is a fine line to walk, and the author walks it well. The explanations (about thermals, soaring, how hang gliders are flown, etc.) are never obtrusive or tedious. Although Downwind reads almost like a novel, the author presents a pretty comprehensive history of the modern sport. The book begins with a near-poetic description or a flight in the Owens Valley which truly captures the thrill, exhilaration and adventure of cross-country flying. It then proceeds with a series of chapters that chronicle the evolution of hang gliding from the training hills of the early seventies, to the advent of ridge and thermal soaring, to modern multihundred-mile world record flights. It is packed with amusing, frightening, inspiring and informative anecdotes - all true and all well told. Dmvmvind is a good read, and a book any hang glider pilot will almost certainly enjoy, perhaps especially those who missed the early clays. And it's the perfect gift for a friend who doesn't f1y, wants to know what it's like, and is always asking wuffo questions.• Downwind is available from Chris Gregor Publishing, Dept. G. P.O. Box 26595, Fresno, CA 93729-6595. Price: $10.95 plus $3.00 SIH. Californians add $.85 sales tax.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS Calendar of events items WILL NOT be listed if only tentative. Please include exact information (event, elate, contact name and phone number). Items should be received no later than six weeks prior to the event. We request two months lead time for regional and national meets. Until Dec. 31: East Coast X-C Contest. Send description of longest East Coast flight to: Randy Adams, P.O. Box 369, Claremont, NH 03743. Flights may be foot- or tow-launch and must originate east of Mississippi. Dec. 27-Jan. 8: New Zealand Hang Gliding and Paragliding Assn. National Championships. Held at the Kaimai and Paeroa Ranges in the Waikato-Rotorua district of the north island. Overseas pilots invited. Glider rental, accommodations and transport can be aiTanged. Contact: Ross Gaclcles, Bossons Rel., Te Aroha, New Zealand, tel. 07-884-8184. Jan. 9-10: Blue Balls Fly-In, Hat Creek, CA. Fun contests, supervised Hang II and up. Spot Landing, duration, Sky Goel, fireworks, camping. Be prepared for cold weather. Contact: Paul (916) 8935948 or Jim (916) 533-6850. Jan. 15-29: 2nd New Zealand Hang Gliding and Paragliding Safari. Beginner to advanced. Limited group size. Contact: Santa Barbara HG & PG Center (805) 962-8999. Jan. 16-18: ICP, Seattle area. Contact: Tom Johns, Cascade Soaring, 4420 191 Place SE, Issaquah, WA 98027 (206) 7471647. Feb. 5-14: American Cup, Tumut, NSW Australia. International teams invited. Contact: Ian Jarman, 143 Wynyard St., P.O. Box 558 Tumut, NSW 2720 Australia, tel. & FAX (069) 472888. Feb. 13: FAA Northwest Aviation Trade Show and Conference. Includes hang gliding seminar. Contact: Lori at Cascade Soaring (206) 747-1647. Feb 13-14: Photography Clinic. John Heiney will conduct this two-day seminar. Topics will be mounting, activation, exposure, and film recommendations. Bring your camera and mount. Contact: Airtime of San Francisco (415) 7591177. Feb. 25-28: Soaring Society of America annual convention, Washington State

Trade and Convention Center, Seattle, WA. Displays, lectures and seminars. Contact: Soaring Society of America (SSA), P.O. Box E, Hobbs, NM 88241 (505) 392-1177. March 13-20: Paragliding X-C Meet. March 20-27, 1993: Master Cup of Hang Gliding. Governador Valadares, Brazil. Contact: Haroldo Castro Neves, Av. Brasil, 2.920 - 5° andar - CEP 35020 070, tel. (033) 271-1333, FAX (033) 271-6769.

l 0.6% to 23.4% INONEYEAR! That's over 1,000 newbuyers! According to 1,431 USHGA member surveys from late '91, pilots "going ballistic" leaped from 10.6% to 23.4%since '90.

BRS' popular "Quick Draw" CORDLESS model can be easily installed on many leading harnesses, $499.

Oct. 1-3: October's Best Fly-In, 1993, sponsored by the Sauratown Mountain Hang Gliding Club in North Carolina. Great Autumn flying with cash prizes and "June Bug's Famous Barbecue Chicken Dinner." The flying site features three different launches that face SE, SW and NW and handles everything in between. Free camping in the LZ. Contact: Mike Nester (919) 9830875 or Doug Rice (919) 994-4377.

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HANG GLIDING

A slightly downhill landing flare, but the pilot isn't runoing. Notice that the canopy is high above the ground and would be well clear of potentially damaging brush or other snags.

by Mike Sandlin ow that I've heen flying and landing with my keel··Slahilizcd drogue chute for more than a year, the lime has crnm, to present some: results. In summary, the system has maimed into a practical, G!Tectivc, and reliable setup that makes landings easiGr and nHirG fun, especially in high performance gliders. The original con .. n,pt rrniains unchanged: adding drag for lall(J .. can degrade hang glider pcrf'onrnmcc without any significant loss of control, allowing reduced steep final approaches nnd ground skim distances. I've used my drogue lJJCHMIII R J 992

photo by Raz Raczkowski

chute for nGarly all my landings this year, in high winds, turbulence, downwind, downhill, all the usual stuff, and I've round the chute to he effective and helpful every time. The down side or a drogue chute is mainly the cllort requirc:d to install and maintain a reliable system. Rctractabi Iity is probably the main change from the original experimental setup (sec "Parachute on a Stick." flung Gliding, February 1992), which required the pilot lo rclc,1sc the drogue chute J'rorn the glider ii' there was a far hack over the trees). problem (like

Since then the chute has been modif'icd to allow repeated deployment and retraction, giving the pilot the option or drogue chute use on demand. The retraction is accomplished by using the control line (the same line from the basetubc that was used to initially release the chute from its cover bag) to pull the apex of' the drogue chute canopy forward, turning the chute inside out. Thus, the canopy is converted from a high drag inflated scoop to a low drag streamer, returning the glider to its normal performance. To redeploy the chute. the control line is n>

CANOPY APEX IS PULI.ED FORWARD TO COLL.APSE CHUTE INTO A STREAMER

CONTROL LINE INSIDE DOWHTUBE ~ - - I r - - CONTROL KNOB IS SECURED BY A HOOK IN THE

RETRACTED POSITION

RETRACTED

DEPLOYED

DROGUE CHUTE RETRACTION & RE-DEPLOYMENT leased, a bungee cord pulls the canopy apex back to the full aft position, the chute re-inflates to its normal shape, and full drag is restored. It was fun to test this system, since I could just soar along the cliff at Torrey Pines, turning the chute on and off without having to land each time. My only test flying mishap occurred when I was trying out a really big chute (five feet across) and it stretched so much that the canopy apex hole slipped off the encl of the keel tube. Now I couldn't retract the chute and it was starting to thrash around. I was a mile clown the cliff from the gliderport, and with this big a chute I couldn't just soar back, so I figured I was headed for an awkward beach landing and a long walk home. Finally, I did manage to retract it when the entire canopy slipped off to one side, entirely free of the keel, allowing me to pull the apex forward and streamline the chute. That was my first and last attempt at using a really big canopy, which is not such a desirable thing anyway. I have, at times, yielded to the temptation to use the drogue as an on/off airbrake for precision spot landing attempts, but this doesn't really work very well. It takes a significant amount of time to deploy or redeploy the chute, and one arm is required as well as some pilot attention, and this is just too much to deal with on final approach. I can get better results by deploying the drogue once, high up and early at the pattern entry point, and then just flying it smoothly clown. Also, since chute deployments are not totally reliable, if you don't have time to clear a jam-up (which you won't when low on final) you may have to land without the drogue

if you fool around with it too much. I think retraction is for emergencies, training, and checkout. Using it in the landing pattern is not advised. Reliability has been the main thrust of the development of the system. Various doodads and monkey motion have been applied in the quest for a chute you can count on, resulting in a system that I consider good enough to consider finished (it has not been changed in the last six months, with only one normal deployment failure). The key factor turned out to be brute force: the stronger the pull-out bungee, the more reliable the deployment. This pull-out bungee attaches to the top of the canopy and tends to pull the apex back along the keel (it is under tension when the chute is stowed in its cover bag, and when released for initial deploy-

ment a taut bungee will yank the chute out of the bag like a shot from a gun). Bungee tension is limited only by the strength of the pilot's arm (when retracting the chute, the pilot is mainly working against the pull of the bungee cord). To preserve its elastic properties, the pull-out cord is detached when the glider is stowed. The canopy I now use is just a flat octagon of very light ripstop nylon, 48 inches wide, with eight shroud lines (each is 26 inches of twill tape). This canopy size is large enough to do the job but small enough not to interfere with glider control. To prevent line fouling during redeployment, the lines are joined in pairs by four small panels of mosquito netting (the "skirt"). The cover bag is parapack nylon, rounded in shape with overlapping ears to allow the use of just a single retaining pin. There have been some problems with canopy stability, but these have mostly been cured by rigging changes. The whole point of the keel-stabilized chute (having the keel tube running through the inflated canopy) is, of course, to prevent the drogue chute from bouncing around and interfering with glider control. As far as I know, this has always worked, and even when the canopy is fluttering or the inflation is unstable, there has been no critical control problem. The drogue chute canopy can be stabilized by moving the apex position as far back as the natural inflation position, or a little bit farther, somewhat streamlining the chute. The loss of drag compared to an apex position set forward (as was originally clone) is small, and most flutter or wag problems can be fixed this way. If the keel is wagging back and forth because the glider rigging is loose, this glider may be unsuitable for drogue chute use unless

GRDUNDSKIM DISTANCE 1 OR 2 WINGSPANS

2 TO 1 GLIDE RATIO ON FINAL APPROACH

TYPICAL DROGUE CHUTE LANDING

HANG GLIDING

modified (I don't think any cu1Tently manufactured American-made gliders have this problem). This season's flying has not really added any new techniques or applications for drogue chutes, it has just confirmed the original ones. High wind landings benefit from drogue chutes by allowing rapid descent, so you don't have to hang around on a semi-hovering final approach waiting to get turbulatecl. In light, variable winds, with random turbulence, I've made lots oflanclings in small, downhill fields, and this is where the drogue chute really shines. With the drogue deployed and the VG set to mid range, I'll usually come in high on final and do some shallow figure eights, eventually coming straight in, fairly fast, at about a two-to-one glide angle. After a ground skim of a wingspan or two, I can flare and stop, even in a downhill situation that would have caused a serious overshoot without a drogue. The drogue chute seems to make the flare more effective as a stopping maneuver. I've seen two basic errors committed by pilots new to drogue chutes, and both of them involve coming down to ground level without enough airspeed to perform a proper flare. One mistake is simply to misjudge the now increased vertical rate of descent, and to still be in a turn upon arrival close to the ground. The pilot has to slow clown to allow time for rolling level, comes clown through the gradient with no extra airspeed, and the basetube pounds the turf after

think we'll blow out fewer clowntubes landing with drogue chutes than without. Pilots who are crashing frequently now will get less practice, that's all. For the immediate future, a drogue chute is for the pilot who is especially concerned about landing safety in high performance gliders or who wants to try something new and is willing to fuss with it. There are now two keel-stabilized drogue chute kits commercially available. One is like mine, a low volume, high power bolt-on setup requiring considerable installation effort - a system for the cbmmittecl user. The other is a tie-on system using a canopy built to parachute specs (very rugged), an interesting approach for trying out a drogue chute without drilling any holes in your keel. There is no system that is made just for your particular glider; they all have to be installed with some adaptive innovation. Both systems are intended forquickrepack in the LZ and noninterference with glider breakdown and stowage. (I'm not commercially involved with either of these kits, but I encourage their makers or anyone else to make systems like mine if they want to.) I persist in thinking that drogue chutes should not be used as emergency devices. If you really need it, it may not deploy, which is why no one should ever build a glider that requires a drogue chute (they should use air brakes or flaps instead). Drogue systems that are not frequently deployed and used in flight will be unreliable

a flare that did nothing. The other mistake is to try to correct a low approach by slowing clown to glide farther (speeding up with a deployed drogue will definitely not gain you any distance, so there is a tendency to slow clown instead). The result is the same as any too slow descent through the gradient, but amplified, once again, by the higher vertical sink rate caused by the drogue. Whack! Although I consider a drogue chute landing to be more forgiving than an unassisted one, it takes practice to make the transition, and perfect landings are by no means assured. There are several barriers to widespread drogue chute use, even after everybody has seen one used. In addition to the effort of buying, installing, and learning to use a drogue, any aclclitional gear is a hassle. A drogue chute would be one more item in addition to all the other gear that the (almost 40-year-olcl) average pilot is becoming accustomed to (FM radios, inflight adjustable harnesses, VG's, in-flight drinking water, things that go "beep," rocket-deployed parachutes, landing streamers, hook knives, bar mitts, wired-for-sound helmets, turnpoint cameras, cellular phones (?), etc.). Another possible problem is that a pilot who uses his drogue chute for every landing (like me) may lose his unassisted high performance landing skills, leading to serious trouble if he has to land in a bad spot without his precious drag bag. This may happen, but on the whole I

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and difficult to land with, either because equipment problems go undetected or because the pilot is out of practice. A drogue chute should be used as an appliance for making everyday landings safer and easier, and for some other specialized things, and of course it can and should be used in emergency situations when available, but total reliance on it would eventually be a mistake. Now for the vision thing: We'll think of more uses for drogue chutes as time goes on. I do a lot of on-top landings with mine, which makes driverless flying more convenient, and in non-soaring conditions I sometimes get two sled rides for the effort of one if there's a landable lower launch available. Basic pilot training using drogue chutes may allow students to train on intermediate gliders with performance adjusted to their abilities. I know of at ]east one pilot who intends to use a drogue chute to perform the spot landings required for his next rating. Vertical escapes from dangerous clouds and excessive lift have not yet been demonstrated, but the potential is still there. Anyway, the basic message is that the keel stabilized drogue chute has now been further developed and used on a high performance glider under various hang gliding conditions, and has established a short history of function and reliability. No certification-type testing has been performed, so there is no data upon which to base assumptions of continued safety, but no

serious in-flight problems have yet arisen in service. I like this gadget - it's a colorful action toy that goes "pop" and makes me look like I know how to land, so I'm going to keep using it and see if I can make it better. •

We received an article from Gilbert Roberts, of Roberts Glider Instruments fame, in which he describes some difficulties he had with an early version of The Hang Gliding Center's drogue chute. In the article he outlines a modification using household items that he found works very well, and results in convenient use and reliable deployment. Unfortunately, space limitations did not permit the article's publication in this issue. He may be contacted at: Gilbert Roberts, 3340 CliffDr., Santa Barbara, CA 93109. In the meantime here are some comments from The Hang Gliding Center of San Diego, CA.-Ed. Unfortunately, a deployment problem experienced by Gilbert has also been experienced by us at The Hang Gliding Center. However, we are happy to report that the problem has been resolved. We found that in the initial batch of drogue chutes, the tape loops were just slightly too large for the grommet on the deployment diaper. When inserting the pins in the tape loops,

the top of the tape loops expanded to the point where they would not pull through the grommet once the pins were pulled out for deployment. Anyone experiencing this same problem is encouraged to call us and we'll send them a replacement diaper and ask them to return the old one, or just send it back to us and we'll gladly make the necessary modifications to ensure proper deployment. In addition, the original design which uses three pins to secure the diaper around the chute has been changed to a single cable which speeds up the deployment process. We would just like to reassure all of the users of this product that we are having no problems using it in our training program, and if anyone experiences any problem at all, they can call us and we'll work with them to ensure that their drogue chute provides them with the level of service they expect. Also, we need to keep in mind that this product has been designed to be a basic system that can be modified by the user to suit his or her specific needs. As Gilbert states in his article, once you get used to using one of these drogue chutes you'll be hooked as well. The Hang Gliding Center 4206 K Sorrento Valley Blvd. San Diego, CA 92121 (619) 450-9008

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Kari launching on the first day of competition.

I'm 1101 wntmg an article about no{ whacking. NOW i\Cslands rorNordie Women's Aviation Competition. The backdrop for this event was a small Nordic village called Oppdal situated ill the northern part or Norway. This village is known for being one or the best ski areas in Norway, and for its good flyillg all summer long. The creator of the NOW AC idea is Ingrid Anita Strand, hang glider pilot and womall with a dream. Ingrid works for the Norwcgiall Aero Club as an "air sports organizer" and she has recently moved J'rom Oppdal to Oslo to work with the NAC. If' this sounds confusing let me explain. It all began in Oppdal, at the Air Sports Center for Norway, a gathering place for the four recognized air sports: hang gliding, paragliding, skydiving and gliding. Pilots there got togc\her and discussed how they could best use this center. One idea was an "Air Sports Boogie," which promptly fizzled. A!'teranothcr evening of sitting around discussing why there were not more women who flew, and how to get !hem involved . Ingrid Anita came up with this great idea that would eventually make history. 2D

She presented her idea an all women's comto her petition with four different air sports boss, .Jcns-1-lcnrik Johnson. [-le was the general secretary of the NAC and an avid skydiver. (Skydiving claimed his life this March when both chutes failed.) He loved the idea and wanted lo include all other air sports including: precision J'Jying, ballooning, microlights and airmodcling. i\t l'irsl it was to be open only to Scandinavian pilots, who would compete to decide the best Nordk team. And then two other lucky individuals got in on it, one French and one American (me). The dream became reality when a recruitment hoard was l'ormcd. Ingrid Anita was chosen as chairwoman of the board and put in charge of hang gliding. The other directors included Elizabeth II. Scathcr for skydiving, Bene Shuggcdal for paragliding, Bente l larrfoldt for general aviation/soaring, and Turi Widcroe for general aviation/public relations. With a recruitment board like that, how could they go wrong? They didn't! Eight air sports were present and four competitions were held: hang gliding (4), paragliding (l 2), seven skydiving teams of four, and precision flying (4).

This was a four-clay event ancl the first day of competition turned out to have the very best conditions. All events had valid rounds, except hang gliding. We were on the wrong side of the mountain. Oh well! On day two the hang glider pilots were the only ones lo l'ly, squce:dng in a nigh\ in belwecn rain squalls. Strong winds prevented the paragliders from flying. The general aviation pilots and the skydivers cfocidcd to stay on the ground as well. That evening we had special guest speakers, and then held a panel discussion to try and get everyone's feelings and ideas out in the open. "Why arc there so few women who fly? Whal can we do \o bring more in'!" Our guest speakers were Ann Welch and Turi Wiclcroe. Ann is very well known in the flying com1m1nity, especially among hang glider pilots. She kept us all mesmerized Cor over an hour telling us ahoul how she started flying, including some wild ancl crazy stories that go along with being a pioneer in women's aviation. We all wanted 10 hear more! Turi is also a pioneer in women's aviation. She was \he first female pilot in the western

world to fly for a commercial airline. She started flying for SAS in 1962 as a seaplane captain in Northern Norway. I!er love was r!ying seaplanes, until hc:r love; for her children became more impor1an1. After l 5 years of flying she became a single parc:nt, so she quit flying in 1978 to raise her two children. What a tough decision! Iler night suit rests in the Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Turi dazzled us with a slide show that included brcathlaking shots of'rlying seaplanes in North-· ern Norway. The panel consisted of Elizabeth II. Scathcr. Grctchc Verde, Siri Skare, and myself. Elizabeth is the first female skydiver to make the national \cam. She has more than 3,585 jumps, is four-time National Champion, and holds a world record with 149 other jumpers (.lune '<)2). Gretehc Vertie is the l"irst female soaring instructor in Norway, beginning in 1959, and has loggGcl more than 1,000 hours. Siri is the first female pilot in the Norwegian air force and is currently a Captain on a CI]() Hercules, a four-engine transport plane. My qualifications include being a lJS. champion and world record holder. The conclusion l"inally rcacl1eclhythc panel was to change children books so that girls, as well as boys, arc playing with airplanes and fixing things. Get out and talk to young girls and let tlicm know its okay and fun to fly. We need to get them excited about aviation. We need more events like these to inspire women to compete. Interestingly, the majority of women now want lo compete on an equal basis with the men, not in separate competitions. We feel once more women start winning major competil ions, proving it can be done, that other women pilots wil I be inspired to compete. We arc in the pioneering stage. By the time the next genera-lion moves up the numbers will even out. All in all it was an inspiring night. Day three was rained out completely. Some or the pilots relaxed with books and some went sightseeing in the rain. Four of us hiked up the mountain behind our condos and got above cloudhasc! The af'!crnoon cleared up enough to get in some or the air show that was ~chcdulcd. Skydivers were diving for spot landings while sailplanes demonstrated their superior glide at speed. I lot air balloons, micro] ights and RC planes were alofl as well. Whal a sight 1 The night ended with a fun barbecue in the rain, a party inside, drinking good beer, listening to good music and of course a lot or talking about flying' you now what DFCl'MBFR 1992

Kari Castle and Ingrid Anita Strand at launch.

out and talk to young girls and let them kncnu Us okay and fun to fly. We need to get them excited about aviation. We need more events like these to inspire women to compete. Interestingly the majority of women now want to compete on an equal basis wit:h the men, not in separate competitions. 1

By noon on day four the rain stopped and gave us enough hope to go up the hill. The paraglidcrs got in two rounds and the hang gliders just one. Skydiving and general aviation barely got in one round because the valley was socked in with a low cloudbase.

The mission was complete and all four competitions had winners. The awards ccr· cmony was held that night in the hotel at the bottom o!'thc mountain. C1old, silver and bronze medals were awarded to lhc winners along with all kinds of wonderful prizes donated by the many sponsors of this event, one or the largest being a women's clothing line called Bik Bok. The other major sponsor was Luftfartsvcrkel which is the equivalent of our NAA. The organizers were pleased with the enthusiasm of the sponsors and liave high hopes for next year. They would like to make the event even bigger and better. The recruiting board would also like to start earlier next year, inviting many or the world's best pilots from each air sport. This would truly make it an international competition. They will also seek more sponsorship in hopes of raising prize money, and would like to turn one full day into an air show. Hoperully, I will get to do a balloon drop! The event may be changing its location to Vaga (the site or the I992 European Championships), one of the best places in Norway to rly. Ingrid, your dream has become a reality. Whal a !"inc job you did with the help of some very special people. I am sure Jens--Henrik.fohnson would be very proud of the event's success. We all hope the dream lives on so that this becomes an annual event. l hope I will be invitee! back lo the majestic country of Norway next year. II 21

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Extremely easy to use

A wide range of flight data con be printed out plus on-screen d a ta display

Integral. digital vor10 combined with highly sensitive flight acoustics (ASI) for audible indication of the slightest thermals

Unique. analog vor ometer display (FLYTEC patent I)

New method of attachment with optimum viewing angle

DATE MAX Nr. dd mm.yy ALTll

MAX ALTl2

MAX VARIO

REC TIME

BARO

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4 15.01.92 4894 PILOT DEVICE-NUMBER BARO START TIME TIMEATPRINTOUT

3693 77 5:31:11 • Haari Urs 584 SW-VER29141 11:30 16.01.92 09:45

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For information and a dealer nearest you, call Flytec USA 1-800-662-2449 made in Switze r land

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Flight Test

The Flytec's readout showing analog and digital vario, altimeter and clock functions.

The

Flytec 3000 series varios have been available in this country for almost a year. but a chance to fly it and report to you only presented itself this summer. Yes, fly it is the the right term. for one look at its lifting body shape brings to mind hover craft or reentry vehicles. The combination of ergonomics. aerodynamics and aesthetics of the Flytec vario can best be summarized as stylin'. But good looks, as Elizabeth Taylor used to be able to tell us, do not necessarily bring happiness. Can the Flytec, with its beautiful DECEMBER 1992

facade. hold its own in the rough and tumble world of testosterone-charged thermals and Hail Mary landings~ Will it tell us the tlavor of the most subtle licks oflift or even inform us of our tlight status without leading to info-senso overload'1 I think so ... let's get your opinion.

The Flytec Features The Swiss brought us time (or the accurate keeping thereof). cheese (or the great variation

thereof), the Alps (or the best example thereof) and a now-classic sport known as fruit-shooting played with a crossbow, an apple and the head of a small boy. They also bring us the Flytcc varios which typify the traditional attention to detail of all things Swiss. To see the details we will do best to look at Flytec features. There arc three Flytec models available: the 3010, 3020 and 3030. We will describe the 3020, then point out the different features of the other models.

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The Flytec mount system and stre,1mlined shape.

J)isplay The Flytccs have cvcrylhing you would ask a genie for in terms of display. There is an analog (dial) ra1e-of'elimb indicator, a digital ratcof-clirnh readout, two digital allimctcrs, a clock nnd stopwatch. The analog dial shows up or down, up lo 1,000 feet per minute (f'pm) then starts over again by blanking out the indicator marks all the way up to 2,000 fpm. Thus you get 1hescnsi1ivity of' a 1,000-f'prn scale with a 2,000-fpm scale buih in. This is a great relief for those ofus who forget to switch back to the smaller scale when we leave strong lilt (Note: The 3010 reaches I ,<>00 !'pm maximum.) TltL'. digital vario window indicat<:s very light lif'l or sink -- it registers in 20 fp111 increments. 11 can also he sci to display average value ol' climb for the interval of' your choice up to 30 seconds. This offers two important advantages for the rabid thernrnl hound: f'irsl, you can tell if a varying thermal is worth staying with, and second, you can set a speed ring with this average clirnll (speed rings arc set J'or lhc next expected climb rate which of'lcn is the average climb rntc of the thermal you arc in). The lower display window shows yom

altitude above st;a level and above a preselect eel point of your choice such as takeoff or landing. In f'lighl you can zero the relative altitude altimeter to allow you to sec how much you gain above a low point or in a given thermal. Also available for display is a chronometer to time your rlights like a stopwatch. Below this is a real time clock which is replaced by airspeed when the airspeed sensor is plugged in. Swi!ches

The Flytcc is operated with six pressure butlons and two slide switches (sec photo). The l'irst switch turns the unit off and on lo one of two ballerics. When power is turned on the analog vario dial goes up-scale to indicate exactly what percentage of' power is lcl't in your batteries. No longer will yo11 have an excuse for running out or juice in mid--flight. The other switch is used to record night time. The butlons arc very easy to push and can he punched with your thumb even if you arc wearing mittens. The buttons select altimeters, audio vol-urne, down audio and time, speed or memory as well as the display of past f'lighls. Memory

One or the nicest features on the Flytcc is the memory.

The Flytec vario, mount, airspeed indicator and mount, computer interface and cheap sunglasses.

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[ [AN(; CI.IJJJN(;

It doesn't quite have the recall abilities of an elephant, for that would require too heavy a brain, but at the push of a button it will serve up the maximum absolute altitude, the maximum relative altitude, the maximum climb rate, the flight time and the date of the last 20 ( !) flights. (One of the main differences with the 3010 is that it only remembers the last five flights. It must have incipient Alzheimer's.) With this memory you can fill out your log book once every month or so instead of after every flight. But beware: you can no longer embellish your aerial exploits with tales of ripsnorting thermals and world record gains, for the evidence is displayed in black and grey. The Flytec is a vario on a mission of truth and justice. Airspeed If you wish you can select an airspeed option. The sensor is an impellor in a tube (ducted fan) that sends a signal via a wire to the vario unit. The wire is long enough to allow remote mounting of the sensor. The airspeed unit is sensitive and appears to be accurate enough for hang gliding purposes, which is mainly for spcecls-to-lly. It should be noted that, theoretically, an impellortypc sensor reads true airspeed at altitude, but in reality frictional effects prevent exact reading of airspeed.

Other Features The Flytec's mounting system is simple and elegant. A swiveling arm with universal articulation allows you to set up the vario anywhere on your control bar basetubc or uprights. This arm attaches to the glider with elastic velcro wraps. No, you don't have to trust your precious instrument to velcro, for a safety line completes the attachment system. Two features the Flytec does not have are total energy compensation and a speed ring. Total energy compensation will filter out stick thermals, but requires an airspeed probe to function (the impellor sensor has too much inertia for this application). It may be available in the future for pilots who require or request such refinement. A speed ring is useful in competition for pilots who know how to operate one. It would be simple to put a non-moving ring on the Flytec, but the desirable movable ring would be hard to attach without gluing guides on the DECEMBER 1992

vario. Currently, only Ball varios are available with speed rings.

Flying the Flytec When you soar with a Flytec as a companion you' 11 appreciate how easy it is to read and operate. Its long bracket puts it right below your line of sight if you mount it on a belly bar. The clear dial is friendly, especially when it is reading up. The audio can be selected for silence, mild or loud. It gives out a very reassuring peep, peep, peep like a young fledgling rising from the nest. It is chopped shorter as you rise faster in a manner that lets you look elsewhere and thermal by car. T found it useful to glance at the digital vario in light lift, for it let me know early on if a 360 was panning out. I especially like the dual altimeter feature. I was able to switch it back and forth on one flight to get MSL altitude for air traffic awareness, yet still know the exact clearance over a row of ridges l was crossing. The Flytec is sensitive. Mine registers the slightest rise imaginable. I measured a course near my home with a hand counter wheel. I then rode along this course with my mountain bike and the mounted vario and airspeed sensor to time my passage and calibrate the airspeed indicator. A slight slope in the road let me test the vario sensitivity. By riding as slowly as possible I was able to climb less than IO fpm, yet the up audio still informed me I was climbing. That's sensitivity' The sensitivity and lag time can be set by a dealer properly trained (internal adjustments arc required). The vario comes with about a one-second delay. Some pilots like that. I prefer little or no delay and made the change. Such customization capabilities are welcome. Incidentally, on the unit I have the airspeed indicator read a couple of miles per hour too slow around 20 mph, and became more accurate the faster I went. This is typical for such impellor indicators. If you use a radio closer than about one foot from the vario it will act as if you entered a space warp. Although it is shielded, some leakage obviously occurs. This should only be a problem if you mount your radio antenna on your chest and arc !lying fast.

The Barograph Printout If you get the 3030 model you essentially get a barograph. That's a recording barometer that can be hooked up to an IBM compatible computer to print out a record of your !light including a time/altitude trace. If you have a computer other than the above, software is available that will interface it with your printer for a hardcopy printout. This barograph feature is great for keeping an automatic log book and can be used to document records-. For fun flying a graphic depiction of your ups and clowns lets you relive the exaltations and despair of a past flight.

Getting Outfitted While the Flytecs are manufactured in Switzerland, there is no need to journey to Europe to get one. Rob Kayes, a Florida pilot cum entrepreneur is the U.S. distributor.''' Currently he has setup 14 U.S. dealerships that can sell you what you need and service the instruments. The tollfree number (800) 662-2449 will inform you of the dealer nearest you where you can try and buy a Flytec. Prices are: $575 for the 3010, $850 for the 3020, and $1,200 for the 3030. All the varios come with a one-year warranty on all parts and labor. This service is performed in-country. I found the Flytec to be a \'ery effective vario for telling precise tlight status. The sensitivity and intelligent display of the instrument let you see instantly your vertical performance, whether you are in a mere nudge or an eruption of lift. Adel to this its small size (6-1/4 x 3-1/2 inches) and light weight (9-1/2 ounces vario alone, 18-3/4 ounces with bracket) and you have a great variometer I altimeter I clock I barograph package that is a boon for pilots of all abilities and avenues of pursuit.

'''There have been other operators importing European instruments who have proven less than reliable. Unfortunately, I have written about their products which helped boost their sales. The truth is, the products are good, the importers weren't. I personally know Rob Kayes who regularly appears on the competition circuit and who is immersed in the sport of hang gliding. He runs a regular business and is not likely to disappear any time soon. •

ACCIDENT REPORTS The Problem

by Doug Hildreth USHGA Accident Review Chariman 1

Pilot: Age: Rating: Experience: Glider: Date: Location: Injuries:

Ron SMITH 55 Advanced Extensive Enterprise Wings Foil 9/10/92 Akin, IL Head, chest, abdomen

Event: Very experienced tow team had been successfully towing a student for several flights. Instructor Smith took a final flight. Aero-tow ground launch vehicle was used for pilot launch, and payout winch from pickup used as the tow vehicle. Tow truck towed glider to 100 feet altitude, pulled off tow road at 90 degrees and stopped, as was the routine. The pilot would then release and land further clown the tow road. On this flight the release bridle clicl not release. The winch operator immediately released all winch tension. The tow line did not pay out because of being at 45 degrees to the winch and fouling on part of the glider rack. The standard vehicle-mounted hook knife had been stolen the week before and had not been replaced. When the glider flew to the end of the rope, the glider was pitched nose down and dove in from 50 feet. Pilot survived to the local hospital, but died prior to transfer to a larger institution. This is number eight.

Pilot: Age: Rating: Experience: Glider: Date: Location: Injuries:

Thomas TRIPP 30 None One lesson seven years ago Seagull III 8/19/92 South Thomaston, Maine Neck and chest

Event: One lesson seven years ago, bought glider through a swap booklet. He got his neighbor to tow him with his pickup truck. They used lobster buoy rope, through the nose then clown and around the basetube, held in place by the pilot. Pickup drove downhill,

pilot got to 100 feet, then locked out and yelled. Driver stopped and got out in time to see glider in sideslip dive. Crashed head first. Died instantly.

Visiting pilot rents a glider from a shop or dealer that is above his skill level.

The Solution Entrepreneurs must be very careful about renting gliders. Inspect rating cards, go through log books and ask probing questions.

This is number nine.

The Problem Fringe activity has always been a nagging problem for legitimate hang gliding. Some ignorant, uninformed know-it-all macho daredevil gets a hold of a glider and thinks he can fly. He goes out and kills himself. We're sorry he died when it was totally unnecessary for him to do so, but we're also angry at him because he gave us a bunch of bad press and has screwed up our statistics. We have to count fringe activity deaths, but it certain! y does not represent the real risk of dying in a hang glider if you are smart enough to follow the rules and do it right.

The Solution Each one of us is responsible for reading the newspaper ads and swap sheets, looking for gliders as we drive by garage sales, and responding to rumors of unrecognized gliders in the vicinity. It is up to each of us to take these gliders out of circulation. If we promote our local club and are accessible to the public, we stand a significantly greater chance of preventing fringe activity. Think about it.

The Problem A local pilot borrows a glider from a friend which is above his skill level. A visiting pilot wants to fly, and borrows an advanced glider.

The Solution Be very hesitant to lend a glider to any pilot, particularly one whose skills you do not know well, or whose lack of skills you do know well. You could be saving a life.

The Problem A pilot wants to demo a glider above his skill level.

The Solution Same as above. But manufacturers can put pressure on dealers to be prudent in this area.

The Problem The dealer sells a new or used glider above the skill level of the buyer.

The Solution Same as above.

The Problem An otherwise reasonable pilot feels pressure from himself and his peers to fly a glider that may not be totally beyond his skill level, but that is beyond what he should be flying~ what he is competent to fly~ in order to be macho, be one of the group, and to prove to himself and others that he must be a good pilot.

The Solution Encourage the manufacturers, the dealers, the organization, our peers, and most importantly ourselves to promote flying fun and easy gliders. Or have manufacturers make a glider that has super high performance, light handling, looks great, launches and lands easily, and that we all think is the '·in" glider to have. As a matter of fact, I think I saw it advertised in last month's magazine ... •

HANG GLIOJNG

Mount Yamaska, Quebec launch. Photo by Luc Boucher.

is one or what seems to be many sites that face the wrong direction for the prevailing wind. Launch faces northeast, but the wind is commonly from the south. Winds arc usually light and variable at launch, so most people wait l'or a good cycle to come up the hi] I and launch into it. Thermals arc abundant, so the wait isn't usually very long. /\!though DH 'EMBER 1992

paraglidcrs arc permitted here, it is a very dif/1cult launch for them. This site is therefore no/ recommended for paraglidcr pilots. Located near the north edge or the Bighorn Mountains, Samlturn is officially an unregulated site, but due to agreements with the landowners, all pilots should be current USHC,J\ members with liability insurance. The local pilots recommend an Intermediate (Jiang [II) rating, or a Novice (Hang II) rating with an

instructor recommendation. Sandturn appears to be unofficially regulated with large doses of peer pressure, and it seems to work. Please check in with the local pi/ors befr;re/lying, not only here, but at all sites. Sandt urn is such a consistent site that people drive great distances to rly there (not counting Betsy and myself', or course!). Several or the "local" pilots we met regularly drive several hours down from Montana in order to fly here. 27

~::.. . . ~~L~:. ,

I I

The Bighorn Mountains stretch southeast providing an unbroken range 50+ miles long with good LZ's the whole way. Thermals are abundant, and the site is soarable 70% -80% of the time. Launch is a small paved area just past the barrier of the turnout. It has a 15° slope that drops to45° after about 10 feet, and is relatively easy provided a good launch cycle is chosen. Despite this, launching can be challenging here, not because of the launch or the wind, but because of the tourists! Pilots must be able to block out the fact that 30-40 tourists are watching them with cameras in hand, and be able to concentrate on their launches. I' cl recommend exlreme caution in choosing your launch cycle

here, as bad things seem to happen in direct proportion to the number of people and cameras present. There are three designated LZ's for this site. The first LZ is close to the hill and large (40 acres), but sloped to about the glide ratio of most gliders. Plan on a cross-wind landing here if you don't want to glide over the entire length of the field. The second LZ is preferred, and is a huge, gently sloped field a mile or so farther out. Make sure you have a local pilot point it out, because an inviting field on the opposite side of the highway is off limits! If you land here you may notice a buffalo in the (off-limits) field across the highway. Please leave it alone and especially do not attempt to pet it! (It has hap-

pened.) The third LZ is the Tongue River High School football field, and is for Advanced (Hang /\!) pilafs only. Appropriate caution should of course be used, and an alternate LZ chosen if the field is in use. There is a public swimming pool in town, as well as a golf course (please do not land there). There are two restaurants locally, and several others in nearby towns. Camping and motel accommodations are available in town, but there is a gorgeous free campground only a couple of miles away (in the canyon) with a large stream running by. The local pilots seem to fly whenever it's flyable, and it's a gorgeous area for hiking, etc., on non-flyable days. Bring the family and have a great time!

Site Info -Sandturn, Wyoming SITE NAME

Sandturn Scenic Overlook

CHAPTER

None

LOCATION

Northern edge of Wyoming, above the town of Dayton. Take I-90 north from Sheridan, and turn left on Highway 14. Head southwest on 14 to Dayton. The LZ's are all just past town along the highway, but unless your timing is just right, you probably won't find anyone there. Pilots don't seem to meet at the LZhere, but instead at a restaurant in town (along the highway) called the Dew Drop Inn. An even better bet is to call ahead and atTange a specific meeting place.

ALTITUDE

6,497' MSL, approximately l ,700'-1,800' AGL (depending on the LZ).

RATING

Intermediate (Hang ITI), paragliding not recommended. Novice (Hang Il) pilots may fly if recommended by an instructor.

PROTOCOL

Every pilot should be a current USHGA member with liability insurance.

RESTRICTIONS

No restricted airspace nearby.

FEES

None.

LAUNCH

Asphalt with a 15° slope that drops off to about 45°.

DIRECTION

Launch faces northeast, and can be launched in almost any prevailing winds provided they are light (which is normal). Good launch technique is of course required for this light-and-variable site.

SETUP AREA

Lots of room for 30+ gliders within 100' of launch. NOTE: This is an overlook for passing cars. Please set up close to the barriers to minimize your impact on traffic and parking. Be prepared to smile and answer lots of wuffo questions during your setup.

ROAD

Paved, easy 2WD access. Ten minutes. Usually plenty of spectators around willing to drive your vehicle back to the LZ.

CAMPING

There is a reasonably-priced campground in town that is used quite a bit during fly-ins. There is also a gorgeous, free, primitive campground "in the cany"on" four miles southwest of town that is run by the Fish and Game Commission.

HANG GLIDING

X-C

Good in almost any direction, but north/south provides the easiest retrieval. The site record is 80+ miles to Custer, Montana by Kevin Christopherson.

EVENTS

Labor Day Fly-In. Lots of pilots show up and camp in the in-town campground for this one.

BEST TIME

Sandturn is flyable year-round, and soarable 70% -80% of the time. The best flying is from the encl of February to the miclclle of March, although any clay with high pressure seems to be good. Good flying continues through October.

FREQUENCY

151.955 and 151.925 MHz (USHGA).

CONTACT

Jim and Sarah Bowman (Eagle Air Sports), (307) 655-9848-before 8:00AM or after I 0:00 PM Johann Nield (307) 6552562.

MISC

This is a high-profile site with many tourists and cameras. Remember that you're a representative of the USHGA and be nice when they ask you "how you hold on so long." Choose yonr launch cycle carefully, ignoring the spectators.

Mount Yamaska, Quebec Try to picture this: Catch a I 0-15 minute ride in the club truck to one of the seven launches that face eve1y direction on a beautiful I, l 00' mountain site. While you're flying, leave the family in the grassy primary LZ where they can pitch horseshoes or play Ping-pong (or one of many other games) while the barbecue is warming up. When you're clone flying, land in one of seven huge, designated LZ's, and join with family and friends for a dip in the pool! Once you break your glider down, load it onto the racks in the back of a huge clubhouse until the next time you want to fly! Maybe you decided to fly crosscountry today (50+ miles is common) - just phone the clubhouse and ask for them to come get you! Once back at the clubhouse, join your friends for a barbecue dinner, a cold brew from the 'fridge, and the typical after-flying bull. Believe it or not, I'm not describing something I saw only while I was sleeping, and I haven't been smoking the ol' loco weed! This site actuaJiy does exist, and if you travel just a few miles north of the border, you'll find a hang gliding site that dreams are made of! The clubs own most of the launches and LZ's, and lease the rest. All of this comfort doesn't come easily though; the annual dues are the highest I've seen so far ($375 Canadian per year. about $305 U.S.). Visitor fees are fairly reasonable, however, and if you live more than 100 miles from the site, you may "visit" as many times as you like (if you live closer, you're limited to three visits per year). DECEMBER 1992

Located about 30 miles north of Vermont, Mt. Yamaska is just one of at least half a dozen sites in the general area of Southern Quebec. Each site is run by a separate club, and very little ""mixing" between sites seems to take place. It would appear that each member feels he has an investment in a particular site, and doesn't need to fly at the others. As a pilot who (believe it or not) spent many years flying a single site, I would recommend that particular flying style as the surest way to become disinterested in the sport - especially if no cross-country flying is done. You may have noticed what you thought was a typo back when I said, "the clubs own most of the launches." It wasn't one- there are two clubs at this single site. I'm not going to get into the politics involved that led to the formation of the second club or recommend one club over the other, since both clubs have very nice (though different) facilities and are loaded with nice people. In fact, everyone there is so nice that I'm not quite sure why they don't get along better with each other. Relations between the clubs are at best "civil." Except during competitions. each club's launches may be used exclusively by that club (in the interest of safety, any LZ may be used by anyone at any time if necessary). The first club to be formed is known as Club de \lo/ Libre Yamaska (Yamaska Hang Gliding Club), and the second as simply Yamasky Club (that's pronounced Yama-sky, not Yamaski). The French name is of course due to the fact that Quebec is a French-speaking province

of Canada, and French is the predominate language used around the site. If you don't speak French, don't worry. Most of the pilots speak English well enough to communicate, and many speak it fluently. That is also the case in any of the public places you're likely to visit (restaurants, gas stations, lodging). They're also happy to accept American currency, so you don't have to worry about changing your money if you don't ,vant to. Plastic also works well at most public places (Mastercard and Visa, leave your American Express and Diners Club at home 1). What about flying in Canada? How about USHGA ratings and insurance'l Airspace restrictions'l Don't worry- be happy! The Canadian Hang Gliding Association ratings are similar to USHGA's, and they recognize USHGA ratings and insurance. The airspace restrictions are very different, though. The only permitted airspace until recently has been up to 7,000' AGL for a three-mile radius around the site, with a large X-C corridor open only on weekends. Due most! y to the efforts of a single pi lot, there is a new (one-week-old as of this writing!) provision allowing hang glider pilots to get licenses from Transport Canada Air ( their F AAJ allowing them to fly in any uncontrolled airspace. Tandem flying is permitted only for USHGA Tandem Instructors. since Canada has no equivalent to our Tandem I and Tandem II ratings. One other word of advice. passed on to me by someone who found out the hard way: Don't fly X-C over the border back into the States. The border patrol doesn't like it at all! What about the flying? How does ridge lift 29

combined with moderate-strength thermals sound? This site is soarable almost every clay, and is known all over New England as an excellent soaring site. Five thousand to 6,000 feet AGL is common, and some springs produce an 8,000' AGL cloudbase. There are good LZ's all over the place for X-C flight. This is definitely a site to visit if you have the chance' One finill note that may or may not help you choose which club is right for you: As an

Site Info -

outsider. it appems to me that the Yanrnskaclub is one big family, and its members trnly enjoy being together whether they're flying or not. It's a non-profit corporntion, and every member is expected to help when it comes time to fix the road, mow the grass, or whatever. On the other side of the tracks, the Yamasky club is a business. They have a school and shop on-site. Their members get together after flying too, but seem more like friends and less like a big family.

Maintenance is handled by the club, and incliviclual members aren't expected to help. The majority of the paraglider pilots seem to gravitate toward the Yamasky club, and the Yamaska club is the only one with a pool. • Rob and Betsy Richardson are traveling the United States through June, 1993. They can be contacted at: P.O. Box 732, Glendale, CA 91209-0732 (310) 764-8012.

Mou.nt Yamaska, Quebec

SJTENAME

Mount Yamaska

CHAPTER

Club de Vol Libre Yamaska c/o Gabriel Talbot, President 54 Be Lair Granby, Quebec 12G 7N9 (514) 772-5006 (clubhouse)

LOCATION

30 miles north of Vermont in Quebec, 45 miles east of Montreal (near Granby). Find the intersection of Highways I 0 and 235, and head north on 235. Keep going past 112 several miles until 235 makes a left turn and another road goes straight or slightly to the right. Take this road northeast past some railroad tracks. Take the next right which is Rang de la Montagne. The entrance to the Yamaska clubhouse is 1/2 mile up on your left. To get to the Yamasky shop, keep going on Rang de la Montagne and follow it as it turns right. Keep going several miles until you hit a large cleared field on your right. The sl1op is right there.

ALTITUDE

Yamaska Launches West: 1,050' MSL, 850' AGL North: 1,350' MSL, 1,150' AGL Northeast: 1,350' MSL, l,l50' AGL

RATING

No fixed rating is required. A minimum of five hours and 100 flights of at least 150' are required for visiting pilots (slightly fewer for full members). BRING YOUR LOGBOOK!

PROTOCOL

Every pilot must be a current AQVL (Association Quebecoise de Vol Libre) or USHGA member with liability insurance. A liability waiver must be signed, and visiting pilots must be accompanied by a full member.

RESTRICTIONS

Airspace restrictions are different in Canada. The only permitted airspace surrounds the site with a three-mile radius unless a license has been obtained. There is also a corridor that is open only on weekends for X-C flights. Talk to local pilots before venturing more than three miles from the mountain!

FEES

Yamaska Yamasky Full membership - $400/year (pro-rated also) Full membership - $37 5/year (pro-rated for pilots joining later in the year) Daily membership - $20/day including a ride to bunch Weekly membership - $50/week. Daily membership $10/clay on weekdays $20/clay on weekends/holidays Rides to launch in club truck - $5 each NOTE: All prices are quoted in Canadian dollars. At the time of this writing, figure on roughly 20% less for American dollars. U.S. currency is welcome at their current exchange rates.

Yamasky Club 640 Rang de la Montagne St-Paul-D'Abbotsford, Quebec JOE !AO (514) 379-5449 (shop)

Yamasky Launches West: 1,200' MSL, 1,000' AGL South: 1,350' MSL, 1,150' AGL Northwest: 1,150' MSL, 950' AGL East: 1,200' MSL, 1,000' AGL

HANG GLIDING

LAUNCH

The two west launches (the most common direction) are both groomed dirt with relatively shallow slopes (15°) rounding off fairly quickly to 50°. All launches are relatively easy, clear of obstructions and fairly forgiving. A couple of the launches have large wooden ramps with roughly 30° slopes.

DIRECTION

This site can be flown in any wind direction! Note that the Yamaska club has no east-facing launch, but that is a very uncommon wind direction at the site.

SETUP AREA

All launches have room for at least 20 gliders right next to launch, with no additional setup area available due to heavy forestation.

ROAD

All launches are accessible only via 4WD roads. 10-15 minutes depending on launch.

CAMPING

Camping is permitted in both LZ's, but may cost $10/night. There are also numerous campgrounds within 10 minutes of the LZ, and free camping is available at launch. No campfires are permitted.

X-C

This is an excellent X-C site when the X-C conidor is open (currently only on weekends), and 50+ miles flights are common. The site record is 125 miles to Liniere by Daniel Ouellet. Be sure to talk to local pilots before attempting X-C here due to airspace restrictions!

EVENTS

Yamaska Competition. Large sanctioned X-C competition that takes place in mid-May. There are many other competitions and fly-ins at random times during the year (call for info on upcoming events), including at least one weekend each year where flying fees are waived!

BEST TIME

Yamaska is usually flyable from mid-March to mid-November, depending on snowfall which prevents access to launch even by 4WD vehicles. The best time is usually in May and June, when cloudbase can rise to 8,000' AGL.

FREQUENCY

No established frequencies, but two-meter ham radios are used. Your U.S. ham license is good in Canada (check at the border for any special restrictions), but USHGA business band radios should probably not be used.

CONTACT

Yamaska Gabriel Talbot (514) 375-3583 Maryse Perron (514) 379-5124

MISC

French is primarily spoken at this site, but many of the pilots also speak English.

Yamasky Carl Tremblay (514) 379-5449 (Yamasky shop) (514) 777-7703 (home)

Ball Variometers, Inc. 6595 Odell Place, Suite C Boulder, CO 80301 (303) 530-4940

Ball Proudly Announces The Model M22. The new standard for paragliding. Whether you compete or not, we'll help you be a soar winner. Comes with our standard 1 year warranty (void if submerged). See your local Ball dealer for details. For inquiries, call 1-800-729-2602 • Fax (303) 530-4836 DECEMBER 1992

STANDARD EQUIPMENT • 1,000 ft. or 5 MIS VSI Scale • 1 ft. or 1 Meter ALT Increments (MSL) • RF Shielding • Relative Altitude • 5 Stage Vario Damping • Barometric Pressure (Hg or Hecto Pascal) • Adjustable Audio Threshold • Choice of Piezo Audio Sound: VARI-PITCH· BEEP· INTERRUPT-VARI-BEEP • 4 Stage Averager • Mount (Velcro Strap, Steel Bracket, or Ball Clamp) OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT • Barograph with Flight Linker and Software • Total Energy (TE.) Probe SPECIFICATIONS • Operation Altitude · 2,000 ft. to 27,000 ft., 609 · 8225 Meters • Operation Temperature · 13 to 113 deg . Fahrenheit · 25 to 45 deg. Celsius WARRANTY • M22 flight computer and accessories are warranted for a period of 1 year from date of purchase (with proof of purchase via warranty card) or 1 year from date of manufacture (including software updates) Submersion In Water Voids Warranty. • Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice

M22 (Standard Model Shown) 31

photo by D;ivid Siihl

photo by David Sahl

Ken Muscio launches on lhe eastern slopes of the mighty Sierra.

Shannon Raby launches in preparation for the incredible flight.

/\ small hand of pilots from !he Mother

have been talking about and dreaming of crossing the Sierra since 1979. l would definif:cly take this flight over a 400-miler! Crossing miles and miles of I no-man s lan d. t:a1ces gumption. To take !:he route they toot 1 would want a sailplane and 20/)00' of altitude b~fore I would go." II

1n all the time I've been

associated with hang gliding, this flight is in the top 10 for sure. You have to fly in the Sierra to truly understand just what a formidable obstacle they presen t . fl

DFCl'MllFR 1992.

J .mlc Sky Riders from McClure gathered on the

eastern slopes of the formidable Sierra Nevada mountains in the early hours ol'May 24. Clouds arc just beginning to form over launch. You could feel the cxcilc111e111 in !he air. Those who came to fly knew this was going to he a great day. The rirst pilot lo take lo the air, Wally I .ong, lm111chcd in very very light conditions. The plan was that those in this first group would help each other find the lift. Shannon Raby launched on the heals ol'thc first pilot and flew close in any piece of lift that was then,. Ken Muscio launched ncxl. All three flew for scvcnd minutes close to launch in light lift. Then it started to happen. The lift got stronger and they started to climb. On the grou11d we could hear: 'Tm at I 0,000' in strong lift." Then it was 12,000' then 14,000' and they were drifting toward the west, hack into the canyon. All the other pilots began to launch one artcr the other, includi11g myself. Now the reports were from l 5,()00' and farther back yet. In no time Shannon and Ken were at 16,000' a11d still climbi11g. Those of us who were now glued to our radios could hear the ever-increasing excitement in their voices. Shannon was heard to say, "Let's head for Clark's Fork." Ken replied, "It's only 10:30 in the morning, let's wait nnd sec what happens." l1 was only minutes latter that they were both ,ibovc 17,000', still climbing and still dri/'ting back farther into the Sierras. Looking down at Kennedy Meadows l'rom 17,000' Ken and Shannon almost missed it as a possible landing area. 11 looked like a tiny dot nestled amongst the great Sierras from this altitude. Both pilots

knew that there were no landing arc,as beyond this point that were going to be accessible, but with all this lift, all this altitude, and cloud streets selling up the;y knew what they had todo. This is what makes a cross-country pilot: deciding to go for it. They radioed back that they were heading west. As is always true with any great J'light, a gre;at driver is involved. Mary Mendcnce began the chase on the ground. Mary later rnportcd that she was worried about being able to find Ken and Shannon. Having been raised in California and being familiar with the Sierras, sht'. could visualize them way back in the wilderness for days and days, lost without food, and with her searching and searching. None of' the other six lo eight pilots in the air felt they wanted to venture back into the canyons of' the mighty Sierra. At one point I was at 17,200' and had drifted way back. I couldn't sec anything but snow-covered wilderness. I dicln 't sec anything that even resembled a landing area. I thought lo myself, "These guys sure have got a lot or gumption." Radio reports now rcforcnccd landing areas or lack thcrc:of. They flew over Barn Meadow, then Eagle Meadow. The rugged terrain just seemed to glide past beneath them. It was at this point, still above l 5,()00', that they decided they could make Dodge Ridge on a glide. It was happening. They were, in fact, crossing one of'thc greatest mountain ranges on earth. Now gliding well above the inversion layer in the smoothest air imaginable, they continued west, crossing over the Dardcnclls and Double Dome Rock (l,000' below. This was the final glide of final glides in bouyant air with

a light tailwind. Mary was in hot pursuit jusl below the two "Sierra Cruisers." Shannon and Ken now were gliding west, maintaining a 200' ,o 300' per minute sink rate that matched the slope or the Sierras. The air was as smooth as silk. This final glide was over 20 miles. As the Twain Harte area began lo come into distant view, Shannon's heart began to race. You sec, Shannon lives there. Shannon's father, Dempsey, follows his nights more closely than most parents. I-le almost always has his scanner on to listen lo the radio transmissions. And on this day he was I isteni ng. lfr has no way to talk, only to listen. Out of the corner or his eye, Shannon spotted what appeared to be some sort or signal mirror in the general area where his dad lives. "Is that you dad'/" The ll\irror rlashed again. It was. Shannon radioed to Ken that his dad was flashing them and was listening to their every move. Ken was getting low and needed a landing area. lie radioed to Shannon, asking him to show him how lo land al the golf course at Twain 1-larte. Shannon began giving advise on an approach when Ken intcrruptccl to say, "No, I mean I want you to show me how to land there." As luck would have it ror Ken, Shannon found a thermal which forced Ken to land first. This is a par three course, with small fairways and tall trees. Ken reported that it was tight and exciting to land there. Shannon was next. As he pulled on the speed and headed down the fifth fairway toward the green, golfers on the green pulled the pin for him. I le had a pcrrcct stand-up landing right on the green. They had clone it. They had launched on the eastern side or the majestic, mighty Sierra Nevada mountains, crossed over the highest peaks, and landed on the other side. The crossing had always been thought of as being made from west to cast, hut on this day conditions were perfect for the other direction. Total flight time was three hours. They were the first to do what had been dreamt or and planned for years. The celebration began and continues 10 this day. Shannon's dad was at the golf course in only minutes, snapping pictures and swelling up with pride for his son's and Ken's accomplishment. Both pilots expressed feeling a kind of euphoria about the real. As Mark Twain put it: "The air up there is very pure and !'inc, bracing and delicious, and why shouldn't it be, it's the same air the angels breathe." Ill

To set a goal and achieve it, that's a dream eome true. It was as if God said, "So, you want to fly over the Sierras. Okay, here you go: perfect conditions, nice drift, high cloud base and a driver. The three-hour flight secrned like IO minutes. All in all, this night brings to mind the dreams of other pilots who still live on, Dan Racanelli and Dick Cassetta, talking about crossing the Sierras from Dunlap, and Dick telling me it eould be done. Eric Raymond told me how Dick Cassetta drove him back into King's Canyon and pointed out this tiny landing zone in a canyon. Eric just said, "No way, Dick." This flight is dedicated to their memory and to those ofus who not only dream, but enjoy the beauty of true flight hang gliding. Credit where credit is due: To God, my parents, my wife Alyshia, and to Ken for being a true friend and one of the best pilots around. To Mary for driving, and to the person I have to thank for teaching and showing me a safe and competitive way lo fly, my J'ricnd Jerry Kern. Also thanks to R,;_'l'ck Precision Sheet Metal, U.S. Software, and M.H.G. Supply Co. for sponsorship. Shannon Raby

Ken catches Shannon as they thermal at Hi,000'. Photo by Ken Muscio.

the

ill

Significantly reduces glide path

ill

Increases ability to land in tight LZs

Allows straight flight glide control Eliminates low altitude maneuvering

,we, -ST.'illc12E[) Dl<OGUf- PARACHJTf.

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The Day Before Christmas by Jim Grissom 'Twas the day before Christmas, and all through the state, Not a thermal was stiffing, no ridge lljt ourfate. The gliders were hung in the garage with care, In hope that summer would soon be there. The pilots were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of dust devils danced in their heads. Mama in her flight suit, and I in my cap, Summerfried our brains out. we needed a nap. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I launched from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window Ij1ew like aflash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. What to my wondering eyes did appear, But a Double Vision towed by eight tiny reindeer. With a little old pilot, so lively and quiclc. I lcnew in a moment it must be Saint Niclc. More rapid than eagles. he glided the same, And whistled, and shouted. and called them by name: ''Now K2, now Axis, now Wills Wing and Vision! On XS, on Sensor, on Sport and TRXn! Watch out for the porch! Watch out for the wall! if the wealc linlc brealcs, you're dog meat, you all!" The dry leaves not ralced 'cause I'd chosen to fly, Met up with a dust devil and were sucked to the sky. So up to the housetop the Tow-sters they flew, With a glider full of toys, and Saint Nicholas too. I heard the light landing of each little hoof, And a grunt and a groan as Santa pounded the roof As I drew in my head and was turning around, Down the chimney Saint Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed in afur flight suit from his helmet to boots, And his harness was all tamished with ashes and soot. A bundle of toys he had flown with in tandem, And he looked Wee a dealer demo-ing gliders at random. His ears red as roses, his nose like a cheny, His eyes were all bloodshot. was he drinking the sheny? With a weather-beaten face from years of no sunscreen, He had bugs in his teeth, pilots know what I mean. His lips were chapped and drawn up like a bow. The beard on his chin was as white as the snow. He was chubby and plump, from too many beers, 0ECE!\IBER 1992

And I laughed when I saw him; I've been expanding for years. A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. He spread out the gifts that all pilots hold dear, There were smoke bombs and maps, and new radio gear. A new 'chute for daughter, a pilot named Sue, New vario for mama and spare downtubes too. New harness and helmet for our young pilot Lee, But the best was for papa: a brand new K3. He spoke not a word, and he finished his work, He had filled all the stockings, then turned with ajerk. And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. As hejadedfrom view he bragged how this tool. Won many a contest for this hang gliding fool. He sprang to his glider, to his team gave a hoot, And away they all flew, lilce a ballistic chute. But I heard him exclaim, as he towed out of sight, "HAPPY SOARING TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD FLIGHT!''

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USHGA REPORTS

1992 Fall USHGA Board Of Directors Meeting by Russ Locke

L1e

USHGA 1992 Fall Board Meeting took place in Milpitas, California early in October. Their were no real pressing issues, but the Committee structure worked on a number of general concerns. Listed below is a summary of committee action. The Bylaws Committee was fairly busy and approved a new SOP as well as approving significant changes to three other SOP's. The new SOP was a Regional Director's Job Description ('bout time - huh!). The most significant SOP changes were to our committee system where we adopted a standard process for making changes to Association documents. We also changed our internal election process and charged the Elections and Allocations Committee with nominating Honorary and Directors at Large. Also updated were the elates in the Awards Committee SOP which facilitates getting through the award process at the fall Board meeting. The Competition Committee was busy with its yearly attack on the competition rulebook. Some of the changes were: l) deleting the requirement for meet directors to supply oxygen, 2) deleting the requirement for competitors to place numbers on the top of their wings, and 3) adding a specific penalty of $20 per clay against a meet director's deposit for failing to report meet results in a timely fashion. The Committee also cleaned up the meet sanction fee structure, eliminating the extra $200 deposit required for a Nationals, as well as the entire pro meet sanction fee structure. The Committee approved the following 1993, 450-point meets: East Coast Championships, Rick Jacob. Organizer, April l 7 to 24. Sandia Classic, Mike Gregg, Organizer, May 23 to May 30. Dinosaur League Meet, Nick Kennedy, Organizer, July 17 to 24.

DECEMBER 1992

U.S. Nationals, Lakeview, Oregon, Russ Locke, Organizer, July 31 to Aug. 7. The Finance Committee reviewed the year-to-date numbers. On the whole, things looked pretty good. Currently we are running about $60K ahead of target which compares to $40K behind target at this time last year. The five-year plan is holding up pretty well and no member dues increase is needed, but will be reevaluated this time next year. For l 993, the committee forecasted a 3.2% increase in income with a 2.2% increase in expenses. Another positive note is merchandise sales which continue to be very active. Special Edition II (magazine given to new members) is shipping. The initial edition was well accepted, and this edition was considered to be even better. Current members have responded well to magazine ads and it was a "hit" at the Oshkosh promotion. It was noted that many large shops do not sell the regular magazine because of classified advertising which may promote the sale of gliders to a school's students, although most do sell the Special Edition. The Committee reviewed a trust fund proposal including several similar programs that exist in our sister organizations, the Soaring Society of America (SSA), the U.S. Parachute Association (USPA), and the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). The committee felt strongly that the USHGA should have a similar program and recommended that the President set up a committee whose sole task is to look into and recommend a trust foundation for this Association. Several committees, including the Finance Committee, looked at a proposal from Twinstar Productions to create a training video and a one-hour documentary. The proposal was fairly well received by all the committees that looked at it and the Board approved a USHGA commitment of $2,500 to help finance the front end of the production. It is estimated by Twinstar that this expense would be recouped from sales of

videos over a two-year period. However, it was later agreed that the USHGA would not write Twinstar a check until all the other investors had committed to the program. The Safety and Training Committee approved a plan to develop an SOP to define procedures for administering !CP's. The plan includes an ICP structure, an ICP schedule and ICP presenter qualifications. This plan is being worked on by Pat Denevan and Michael Robertson and is scheduled to be ready by the next Board meeting. The draft of the plan will be published in the next edition of the Instructor Newsletter. The Committee also approved a request to change the apprentice requirements to eliminate the present requirement that all 10 days of required apprenticeship take place prior to the instructor candidate's attendance at the TCP. The Committee voted to delete SOP 12-8 entirely, which means there will be no more Certified Schools (only schools using Certified Instructors.) The Insurance Committee reviewed several situations in which multiple requests were received to insure sites and made the following decision: Ne1v site insurance requests must be approved by the Regional Director. Any change of insured parties to an existing insured site must be approved by the Chapter of Record. At sites where there is more than one entity requesting the purchase of insurance, the Chapter of Record may choose to split the costs with other chapters that use the site. The Insurance Committee also approved a long-term disability package for employees of the Association. The Membership and Development Committee cleciclecl to continue to support representation at Oshkosh and Sun ·n' Fun even though the NAA has pulled out of one and is considering pulling out of the other. The Publications Committee approved the editor's efforts to redesign the magazine. The changes will be reflected in the January 39

USHGA REPORTS or February 1993 issue. The Committee also approved a two-tiered rate structure for advertising. In addition, the Committee wanted to continue supporting the efforts of an outside salesperson, currently working on a commission-only basis, to expand our nontrade advertising. The Committee reviewed some traded ads and recommended we cease trading with Cross Country magazine. Relative to our association with Paragliding, The Magazine versus Paraglide USA, the sense of the Committee was to be equal in ad trades, but the issue is a larger one relative to USHGA's association with one or another magazine (Note: There was no Paragliding Committee meeting at this BOD meeting because the APA had not had their Board meeting in which they make recommendations to the USHGA's Paragliding Committee). The Site Management Manuals developed by the Site Management Committee have been sent out to Regional Directors and have been very well received. It was decided that those Chapters that need a manual for short-term use may check one out with a $50 deposit which will be returned when the office receives the manual back. The Committee's efforts to privatize the National Site Guide have run into some difficulties, so we're going to attempt to do it with volunteer efforts. Prior to that, the following people will be responsible for verifying the accuracy of site information: Russ Locke Sandy King Nick Kennedy Pete Lehmann Rick Jacob Mike Stevenson Greg Black

Regions I, 2, 5 Region 3 Region 4 Region 9 Regions 10, 6 Region l l Region 12

The Tandem Committee moved to have the names of tandem paragliding pilots published in Hang Gliding and Paragliding Magazine. The Committee also made some minor wording changes to the tandem regulations and some other clarifications including: l) Allowing tandem flights to be flown with out the proper card and materials, if the pilot is under the direct supervision of a Tandem Administrator during a tandem clinic only. 2) Adding the following statement to Subpart C - "Tandem advertisements shall conform to the spirit of the Tandem Exemp-

tion in that all flights should indicate instruction and not rides." 3) Adding a requirement for reappointment as a Tandem Administrator to include a synopsis of the tandem programs the Administrator has administered and the problems and successes experienced with those programs, detailing pass/fail criteria for borderline participants. 4) Adding to Subpart A the following statement - "For the purpose of Tandem, a USHGAapproved launch site is any site where tandem hang gliding flights do not violate any established laws, ordinances or trespass warnings. These requirements are in addition to those established by the Federal Aviation Administration Tandem Exemption." The Towing Committee discussed Chris Gagliano's "towing guidelines" and intends, with some modification, to approve these guidelines at the spring I 993 BOD meeting. The A wards Committee approved the following for 1992:

Presidential Citation Breck Betts Chapter of the Year North Texas Hang Gliding Association Newsletter of the Year Skyline, Capitol Hang Gliding Association NAA Safety Award Greg Shaw Pat Denevan Commendations Tim Morley Ken Muscio Bob Bradley Rogue Valley Hang Gliding Association

completely worked out yet). The Elections and Allocations Committee approved a request to move the Las Vegas pilots back into Region II. In another action, they clarified that only annual members had voting privileges and directed the office to remove the ballots from the magazines sent to three-month members. As per the new committee process, they also nominated and received Board approval on the following officers:

Directors at Large Jerry Forburger Dan Johnson Jan Johnson Roel Hauser Dennis Pagen Honorary Directors Tom Kreyche Mike Meier Rob Kells Fred Stockwell Michael Robertson Greg McNarnee In General Session, officers were elected for 1993: President, Gregg Lawless Vice President, Paul Voight Secretary, Russ Locke Treasurer, Dan Johnson The spring BOD meeting will be in Colorado Springs, March 25-28, 1993. The fall 1993 meeting will be in Manchester, New Hampshire, second weekend in October. •

SPECTRA

Special Commendations Mal Gross, NAA City of Lakeview, Oregon Tony Covello There will be an article forthcoming explaining in more detail the accomplishments of these people and organizations. The Committee also agreed to establish two new awards: I) A plaque for the number-one ranked competition pilot each year, and 2) a lOO-mile club (details of this award aren't

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HANG GLIDING

USHGA REPORTS

USHGA Board Approves APA Proposal To Service Its Men1bership by Gregg Lawless

L1e

APA held their Fall 1992 meeting in San Francisco the wcekencl of October 16-18. As expectecl, APA President Peter Zimmerli resigned. However, their next move was totally unanticipatecl. The following motion was macle by APA Board Member John Bouchard: l J The APA office shoulcl immecliately suspend the acceptance of new memberships, new rating applications and all fees. 2) That the APA deliver to the USHGA. immediately. a current financial statement, along with a list of current APA members with their expiration elates, and ask that the USHGA assume the liability of providing these APA members with USHGA paragliding memberships for the remaining term of their unexpired APA membership, in exchange for the APA delivering to the USHGA all of its assets. 3) Providing that the USHGA accepts this offer within 30 clays, the APA dissolves ancl returns, uncashecl, any funds received during the suspension of membership application. 4) If the USHGA cloes not accept the offer within 30 clays, then the APA proceeds with the aclministration of the APA from there.

Motion Passed In General Session: Seven In Favor, Three Against, One Abstention The general consensus of the APA Boarcl was that the USI-!GA had for several years made itself available to assist and advise the APA, as the APA strived to manage the sport or paragliding in the U.S. At the same time, they recognized that the USHGA had 20 years of

DECE11JGER 1992

experience in managing a similar activity and was in a better position to offer the paragliding community the services and direction it needed to prosper and grow in the U.S. After extensive discussions in the APA finance committee, the committee concluded that the APA Board had two alternatives. One was to request that the USHGA provide administrative services to the APA. The other was to continue their operations with the implementation of cost-cutting measures. If they decided to go the first route, the consensus was that the APA membership would slowly diminish. If they followed the second path, it was generally agreed that it would just be a matter of time before the APA found itself insolvent. The basic decision that the USHGA Board was faced with was. "ls the USHGA willing to take on the membership liability of the APA in exchange for all of the assets of the APA 'l" The USHGA has been offering its membership all of the same services offered by the APA for some time. No ··new" programs or services are specifically required at this time. The USHGA would merely add these members to its database and begin providing them the services that the rest of the membership currently receives. As for magazines, the USI-!GA will continue to contract with Paragliding, The 1'vlagazine to provide magazines to those "paragliding division" members. Additionally, the Paragliding Committee would take on the responsibility of continuing the development of the paragliding rating program and ensuring that it continues to conform to the hang gliding rating program. The USI-!GA's bylaws provide that the Executive Committee has the authority to act for the Board of Directors between meetings. However, clue to the nature of this decision, I clecidecl that a ·'roll call" vote through the mail was the most appropriate method for

making a decision on the APA proposal. The result of the vote was 20 directors in favor (Matthews, Locke, Nelson, S. King, Greblo, Lawless, M. King, Kenney, Lesnet, D. Johnson, Adams, Sims, Lehmann, Fagen, Jacob, Hunt, Forburger, Voight, Rikert, and J. Johnson), three opposed (Mocho, Nicolet, Taber), one abstention (Zimmerli) and two did not submit a vote (Bowen. Greenfield). Each Director understood that. in the event the proposal was accepted, a special committee would be formed to work with the APA's Executive Committee to address and resolve the many issues with which the USHGA would be faced. Some of the issues to be discussed will be the magazine and continued development of the paragliding rating system. This committee was formed and was scheduled to meet on November 2223. The results of the meeting will be provided to the Board and the membership as soon as they are available. In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns that you would like addressed, please contact your Regional Director(s). You may contact them through the USHGA headquarters office. •

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BEGINNER RATINGS PILOT: City, State; Instructor/School Region 1 GERTLEY, GARY: Renton, WA; T. Johns/Cascade Soaring KUNZE, JOHN: Maple Valley, WA; R. Brown/Airplayn Region 2 AYERS, BILL: San Jose, CA; J. Woodward/Natural Flying BOATWRIGHT, DAVID: Antioch, CA; P. Godwin/Western HG BRESCIANI, PAUL: San Francisco, CA; R. Frey/Airtime of SF GODDARD, JAMES: Sunnyvale, CA; G. Pornaras/Mission Soaring HART, PATRICK: Campbell, CA; P. Denevan/Mission Soaring LEFHOLZ, LANCE: Carmel, CA; J. Heller/Western HG MOLDANE, STEVEN: Daly City, CA; G. Pornaras PONICKI, WILLIAM: Berkeley, CA; S. Seebass/Berkeley HG Club RIGGS, BRIAN: San Jose, CA; D. Senk/Mission Soaring VAHEID, HOSSEIN: San Francisco, CA; H. Bittner/Airtime of SF Region 3 BARTON, GLEN: San Diego, CA; R. Mitchell/Eagles Wings BELANGER, RANDY: El Toro, CA; R. Pelletier/Hang Flight Systems HAMILTON, BRONWYN: Grand Te1rnce, CA; D. Engel/Southland HG HARMON, CLAY: Riverside, CA; D. Skadal/Hang Flight Systems LEE, CHRISTIAN: Stevenson Ranch, CA; A. Beern/Windsports NASSEN, LARS: Huntington Bch, CA; D. Skadal/Hang Flight Systems RHOME, ROBERT: W. Covina, CA; D. Quackenbush/Trne Flight Concepts TABOR, DON: Thousand Oaks, CA; F. Vachss/Topa Flyers Region 4 BURTON, SCOTT: Glendale, AZ; S. Mish/Bandito Action Sports SPORKA, JIM: Crested Butte, CO; T. Burcar/CO Hang Gliding WESTPHAL, DAN: Flagstaff, AZ; S. Mish/Bandito Action Sports Region 5 ATKIN, STEVEN: Missoula, MT; P. Swanson/The Sports Exchange Region 6 MCELROY, DAN: Topeka, KS; R. Kenney/Prairie Hang Gliding Region 7 ALLEN, ROBERT: Batavia, IL; B. Kushner/Raven Sky Sports DECKERT, TOM: Madison, WI; B. Kushner/Raven Sky Sports SONNEVELDT, ROBERT: Grand Rapids, MI; J. Hooks/Lookout Mtn

Region 9 CARTER, FRED: Charleston, WV; J. Peebles/Lookout Mtn FP FARBISH, PETER: Alexandria, VA; J. Middleton/Silver Wings HALL, GARY: Bushkill, PA; W. Thornton/Kitty Hawk Kites MCCARTY, JUDY: Baltimore, MD; W. Thornton/Kitty Hawk Kites PARKS, ROGER: Dillsburg, PA; W. Thornton/Kitty Hawk Kites Region 10 BELL, ESCOTT: Melbourne Bch, FL; W. Thornton/Kitty Hawk Kites BROWN, JAY: Key Biscayne, FL; J. Tindle/Miami HG BRYANT, WESLEY: Lithonia, GA; G. Evans/Lookout Mtn FP DISHIAN, JAMES: Charlotte, NC; W. Thornton/Kitty Hawk Kites EVERSON, ANN: Charlotte, NC; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP FLOWERS, JACKY: Aventura, FL; J. Tindle/Miami HG FORT, THOMAS: Sharpsburg, GA; G. Evans/Lookout Mtn FP GLIDEWELL, GREG: Ft. Lauderdale, FL; J. Tindle/Miami HG GRAHAM, ROB: Evans, GA; B. Chalmers/Lookout Mtn FP HEMBREE, BARBARA: Nashville, TN; C. Thoreson/LookoutMtn FP HEMBREE, MICHAEL: Nashville, TN; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP MEEUS, NICOLAS: Marietta, GA; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP SANFORD, TODD: Florence, AL; J. Hooks/Lookout Mtn FP WEAVER, PENN: Bartlett, TN; J. Hooks/Lookout Mtn FP Region 11 ZELLMER, JERRY: Baton Rouge, LA; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP Region 12 CALEAGNI, BRADLEY: Rye Brook, NY; F. Valenza/Mtn Wings GREENEING, CHESLEY: Farmingdale, NY; B. Vaughn/Mountain Wings LIPPOTH, WAYNE: Lake George, NY; G. Evans/Lookout Mtn FP

NOVICE RATINGS PILOT: City, State; Instructor/School Region 1 MCRARY, JERRY: Longview, WA; J. Asher/Endless Thermal NISEWANDER, STEPHEN: Cottage Grove, OR; L. Keller/Airtime OR NYGREN, PETER: Bellingham, WA; M. Lipscomb/Lipscomb's HG ZATZ, DANIEL: Homer, AK; A. Chuculate/Adventure Wings Region 2 CROMLEIGH, DUANE: San Francisco, CA; H. Bittner EATON, STEVE: Pebble Beach, CA; P. Godwin/Western HG GLENDENNING, LEW: Los Altos, CA; K. Wright/Wright Bros LEFHOLZ, LANCE: Carmel, CA; J. Heller/Western HG MUN, DEVIN: Concord, CA; D. Yount Region 3 BELANGER, RANDY: El Toro, CA; R. Pelletier/Hang Flight Systems BURTON, MARK: Los Angeles, CA; G. Meadows/Windsports COFFIN, JARED: Van Nuys, CA; D. Quackenbush/Trne Flight Concepts HARMON, CLAY: Riverside, CA; D. Skaclal/Hang Flight Systems NASS EN, LARS: Huntington Bch, CA; D. Skadal/Hang Flight Systems PRYCIAK, ANDREW: Thousand Oaks, CA; D. Quackenbush/Trne Flight RHOME, ROBERT: W. Covina, CA; D. Quackenbush/True Flight Concepts HANG GuDING

RATINGS Region 4 EARLY, GORDON: Denver, CO; G. Greer/CO Hang Gliding HYSLOP, WILLIAM: Westminster, CO; T. Hackbart/Golden Wings LARSON, ROBERT: Mesa, AZ; B. Holmes/Sky Sails of AZ LOUGH, ELIZABETH: Sanely, UT; K. Slowe/Winclricler MCBRIDE, JOEL: Steamboat, CO; K. Stowe/Winc\ric\er WESTPHAL, DAN: Flagstaff, AZ; S. Mish/Banc\ito Action Sports Region 5 ATKIN, STEVEN: Missoula, MT; P. Swanson/The Sports Exchange RAMSDEN, GRAHAM: Omaha, NE; T. Hackbart/Golden Wings Region 6 MCELROY, JOE: Topeka, KS; S. White/White Out HG of OK Region 7 MARSHALL, LINDA: Minneapolis. MN; P. Mays/Lookout Mtn FP TAYLOR, CLIFF: Indianapolis, IN; B. Bryden/Airborne Sales Region 8 SNEESBY, NEIL: Clinton, MA; J. Atwooc\/Morningsic\e Region 9 BOYLE, SHEILA: Cleveland, OH; M. Delsignore/North Coast HG CARTER, FRED: Charleston, WY; J. Peebles/Lookout Mtn FP DOUGHTY,JACK: Blairstown, NJ; R. Jacob/Sequatchie Valley Soaring HAUN, JACOB: Woodstock, YA; J. Hooks/Lookout Mtn FP TAYLOR, NEIL: Arlington, YA; J. Mic\c\leton/Silver Wings BURKE, KEN: Washington, DC; P. Williams/Kitty Hawk Kites Region 10 BROWN, JAY: Key Biscayne. FL; J. Tindle/Miami HG BRYANT, WESLEY: Lithonia, GA; G. Evans/Lookout Mtn FP EVERSON, ANN: Charlotte, NC; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP FORT, THOMAS: Sharpsburg, GA; G. Evans/Lookout Mtn FP GLIDEWELL, GREG: Ft. Lauc\erc\ale, FL; J. Tindle/Miami HG GRAHAM, ROB: Evans, GA; B. Chalmers/Lookout Mtn FP MEEUS, NICOLAS: Marietta, GA; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP REID, SAMUEL: Murfreesboro, TN; G. Evans/Lookout Mtn FP RICHARDSON, JAMES: Panama City. FL; B. Chalmers/Lookout Mtn FP SANFORD, TODD: Florence, AL; J. Hooks/Lookout Mtn FP WARREN, STEVE: Columbus, OH: R. Jacob/Sequatchie Valley Soating WEAVER, PENN: Bartlett, TN; J. Hooks/Lookout Mtn FP WEST, JOHN: Knoxville, TN; R. Jacob/Sequatchie Valley Soaring Region 12 LIPPOTH, WAYNE: Lake George, NY; G. Evans/Lookout Mtn FP PATRICK, MIKE: Masonville, NY; P. Voight/Fly High HG

INTERMEDIATE RATINGS PILOT: City, State; Instructor/School Region 1 LEUALLEN, HARRY: Eugene, OR; L. Keller/Airtime Oregon RAINES, MARILYN: Chelan, WA; B. McMinn

DECEMBER 1992

Region 2 BRIGHT, STEVE: Hollister, CA; R. Leonarc\/Ac\venture Sports BYRNE, EDWARD: Monterey, CA; R. Leonarc\/Ac\venture Sports EV ANS, DANIEL: Topanga, CA; G. Pierson/Wings of Rogallo ROGERS, COLIN: Gilroy, CA; J. Woodward/Natural Flying VOELKER, JORDAN: San Jose, CA; P. Thornbury Region 3 GERSON, TERRY: San Diego, CA; J. Ryan/HG Center LOENGAA, JENS: Los Angeles, CA; R. McKenzie/High Adventure MARSHALL, MICHAEL: Kihei, HI; D. Neto PECOR, ROBERT: Irvine, CA; R. McKenzie/High Adventure SHELLEY, J: Palmdale, CA; J. Bylin/Sylmar HG Region 4 BATEMAN, DON: Sanely, UT; K. Stowe/Winc\ric\er CASALE, LARRY: Park City, UT; W. Henry/UP International MANROSS, MARV: Phoenix, AZ; D. Smith NIEMEYER, DA YID: Denver, CO; B. Koji/RMHGA/Golc\en Wings RIOS, MARY: Santa Fe, NM; T. Hackbart/Golden Wings WHITMORE, PHIL: Goodyear, AZ; S. Aycock/AZ Airwave Region 7 WEST, JEFFREY: Indianapolis, IN; J. Mitchell/JJ Mitchell HG Region 8 SYLVESTER, KEN: Kingston, NH; J. Nicolay/Morningside FP Region 10 COHEN, BERNARD: Pensacola Beach, FL; J. Reynolds/Lookout Mtn FP KELLEY, STEVE: Chattanooga, TN; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP Region 12 BARCIA, DAN: Hopewell Jct, NY; P. Voight Fly High HG HARRISON, WALT: Lake George, NY; M. Taber/Lookout Mtn FP JEWELL, DAVID: Binghamton, NY; R. Murphy/Ultralight Flight MORSE, BARRY: Glenwood Landing, NY; J. Nicolay/Morningsic\eFP

ADV AN CED RA TINGS PILOT: City, State; Instructor/School Region 2 BECK, GREG: Carnelian Bay, CA; R. Leonard/Adventure Sports CONNOLE, DAN: Brentwood, CA; D. Yount FORTNER, NEIL: Fremont, CA; P. Denevan/Mission Soaring HANLAN, KEVIN: San Francisco, CA; P. Elste Region 3 HELLKVIST, MARCUS: Santa Monica, CA; M. Spinelli/True Flight SKADAL, DORRIE: Corona, CA; D. Skac\al/Hang Flight Systems VAN TIEGHEM, CHARLES: Alpine, CA; M. Fleming/Torrey FP WINKLER, ERIC: Hemet, CA; D. Engel/Southland HG Region 4 PAPPENHAGEN, BERND: Holloman AFB, NM; D. Sharp/NM Soaring Academy

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RATINGS Region 5 BUTZEL, HENRY: Missoula, MT: P. Swanson/The Sports Exchange

Region 6

NOVICE: KAHNAMOUI, KAMY AR: Ottawa, Ontario; B. Chalmers/Lookout Mtn FP LACROIX, G.: Winnipeg, Manitoba; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP NEUSCHWANDER, JOHANNES: Winnipeg, Manitoba; P. Mays/LMFP

LORENSEN, JULE: Galva, KS; R. Kenney/Prairie HG SHIRLEY, .JIM: Cameron, OK; W. Flatte/Ft Smith HOA CLASS ONE TANDEM RATINGS

Region 7 WIESNER, RON: Cullom, IL; J. Mitchell/JJ Mitchell HG

AVIRETT, BILL: T. Johns/Cascade Soaring STEUBS, BRYAN: Missoula, MT; L. Bynum

Region 8 SOSA, HERNANDO: Waltham, MA; J. Nicolay/Morningside FP CLASS TWO TANDEM RATINGS

Region 11 WISE, HENRY: Sugarlancl, TX; V. Collins/Ultimate Sports of Austin

DAWSON, .JOHN: Lynnwood, WA; T. Johns/Cascade Soaring ROBINETTE, KEN: T. Johns/Cascade Soaring SPACE, LIONEL: Glacier, WA; T. Johns/Cascade Soaring

FOREIGN RA TINGS BEGINNER: KAHNAMOUI, KAMY AR: Ottawa, Ontario: B. Chalmers/LookoutMtn FP LACROIX, G.: Winnipeg, Manitoba; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP NUESCHWANDER, .JOHANNES: Winnipeg. Manitoba; P. Mays/LMFP

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COMPETITION CORNER

The 1992 Manufacturers League Meet by Nick Kennedy

The

League Meet mo\'ed north this year to Dinosaur, CO after a two-year visit in Telluride, as many pilots liked the idea of a contest held in this particular part of Colorado. Once again the Dinosaur area delivered, with excellent soaring conditions. Missing were the high winds and rain of past contests. Five out of seven contest clays were flown with a average task length of 65 miles. Several subtle goals were attained by the organizers Betsy and Nick Kennedy. The first was to have a fairly high percentage of task finishers while still providing an interesting and challenging task. The reason is to encourage participation from the average pilot. If you never make goal in a contest it gets discouraging. I've been there many times. You fly your guts out never to complete a task and you start to wonder what the hell you 're doing with your time. Participation in contests has to grow if they are going to survive as we know them today. And one way is to keep everybody happy and enjoying themselves is by calling reasonable tasks. It worked! Every task was fairly difficult but we still had many finishers every day. The second was to hold a valid, challenging meet without using turnpoints and the accompanying camera requirement, to cut entry fees and get the mandatory photo skills off the pilots' backs. In some areas photos are mandatory to hold a realistic contest, but up at Dinosaur I felt we could pull it off since nearly all previous tasks called there have been basically downwind anyway. Entry was offered at the lowest possible fee while still supplying a wellstaffed and highly organized contest. This too was to help attract new contest participants and it worked! The third was to develop and instigate a no-film aerial start gate. We organized an invisible line designated by prominent landmarks. Simply stated, cross the line before the start and you zero for the clay. There was some skepticism at first, but this too worked very well, especially after a couple of pilots took a heavy

penalty for going over before the start. Nearly everyone jumped on some sort of team and there were some great ones. The Good, The Bad and the Ugly Team of Gibbo, Dave Adams and Mick O'Dowcl grabbed on to first place fairly early and hung on like a junk yard clog for three long clays until the Wills Team came on like the Hong Kong flu and knocked them off the stage. The ladies formed the Twisted Sisters and as usual Gang Green was lurking about blowing things up. The Superheros were renamed the Supcrzeros after repeated trips to the deck short of goal. After a couple of award-winning clays of flash flooding and a rather lengthy pilots' meeting the Sky Gods smiled down on us and away we went. In summary the 1992 Manufacturers League Meet was a great contest that went off without a hitch and was as safe as your grandma's lap with NO injuries. Many thanks to everyone who was involved, either as a competitor, driver, official or wind technician. Special Thanks go to JZ and Gang Green for suppling the great food at the rock 'n' roll dance party Saturday night! Thanks Guys! This contest was sponsored in by: Pendulum Sports, UP, Wills Wing, Ball Varios, Pacific Airwave and the Colorado Cross Country Pilots Association. Please support these organizations that support you!

Contest Officials Organizer, Meet/Launch Director, Score Keeper: Nicholas Kennedy Goal and Social Director: Betsy Muennich I Kennedy Goal Timer: Ivette Mays Safety Director: Rusty Whitly Medical Director: Lisa Jensen Scoring Medic: Russ Locke Local Advisors: Mike Warden and Tammy Williams Sportsperson Award: Cindy Gall Best Rookie Competitor: Mike Warden Golden Hammer: Len Paton Best Driver: Kathy Lee Ho.spita/ity Award: Amy Hatcher and Gang Green Mido/ Whiner Award: Tim Arai Snake Pit Tractor Beam Recipient: Russ Locke

Teams Wills Wing 2) UP 3) G.B.U. 4) Gang Green 5) Animal 6) Twisted Sisters 7) Bananas 8) Electra Flyers 9) Thermal Lizards 10) Super Zeros 11) Buzzards Squadron 12) Pterodactyls 1)

The top ten individual pilots in order were: Peachy, Arai, Castle, Gibson, Tudor, Lee, Sharp, Szalai, Howe and Bennett. •

1992 Idaho X-C Wrap-Up by Ken Cavanaugh, with Ken Durstine

Lie

1992 Idaho flying season occurred during one of the worst droughts in history. For X-C hang gliding, droughts are supposed to be great, but you can't tell it from the results of the 1992 Iclaho X-C contest.

I remember touching down June 10 at Ruby Reservoir in Montana, 113 miles from launch, for my second hundred-miler of the season, thinking, "Hot damn, this is going to be a record-breaking season." This was based on HANG GLIDING

The goal competition was rather pitiful since, again, no goal expcricncG. Late June flights over I 00 miles occurred. I through mid-Sept cm her had alof'lcn call goal at Ruby Rcsc,rvoir, ways been a pGriod or good hut l called Dillon the day of my flying conditions and long big night and was unable lo colflights. This year, however, lect due to an untimely thunderconditions were reversed and storm there. Ken Schreck was the best l'lyingwas overhy midrushed oil launch on his big one .June. High winds, no wind, and failed to call the goal he norvertical shears, horizontal mally calls at I lenry' s I .ake which shears, and overckvelopment is exactly where he landed. The ruined weekL,mls all summer first successrul goal was accom-long. plished when Al Whitesell flew out When pilots did from King Mountain lo the Challis the (,real CircleGmmlin struck. airport (68.5 miles). I .ater, Eiji No rewer than four I 00+ 1rn1pY okoda called Tremonton, Utah, mile flights calculated out at Ken Cavanaugh 40 miles northeast of King Mountain at 14,000' MSL when flying from Mt. Harrison less than I 00111ilcs great circle. approaching the Bitterroot Mountain Range. during the meet there, and grabbed Too had. The Idaho X-C rules lop honors with a 77.0-miler. No require true great circle disother goals were successl'ully completed. civilized landing 1.one.] landed al Ruby Resertances and I'm truly sorry for the individuals The Under 50 Class this year was won by voir in a strong headwind. Frank misjudged the who sawtheircc,ntury nights chopped lo ninetyDan Delozier who managed lo fly himsel rout or suck on the final cloud and fear or gelling something. his class with a 50-mile trip from ML Bonneville. sucked up turned to relief' as he cleared the cloud It was a tough year ror weckrnd warriors The next closest flight was by Tom Kiester who ancl then ecstasy as he cruised over my landing since none of' the top distance nights occmred made 20 miles from the Big Bulle. spot at 2,000' ACiL. lie !lianaged to crab to some on weekends. Mark Mason and Frank Ciilktte Rumblings or road closures throughout nearby hills, and using their eastern exposure Lo got the hall rolling in April with flights from Big public lands in Idaho necessitated that an Idaho Southern Butte very near the 100-mile mark. maintain, worked into a different valley without Hang Gliding Association be formed so we They were hitting altitudes over 1(,,000' MSL the fierce headwind. He then glided another 16 could J'ormally negotiate with the Bureau of' (11,000' AGL), unusually high ror April. miles lo Sheridan, Montana. which nailed the I ,and Management and National Fores! SerI upped the ante over Memorial day weekrlight of the year at 129 miles. Frank flew vice. Negotiations were success Cul this year to well all year, getting the firs! I 00+ ( I 07) mile end with a I 00.0fr mile flight from Coyote keep the f'our--wheel-drive road open up King Peal<. ll was a no--wincl flight ore,- I /2 hours that l'light from Mt. Bonneville. By my tally, this Mountain and most of' the other flying sites. II took me over my home town half way through brings the number of I 00-milc sites in Idaho to seven. the flight. I don't usually mention non-competition flights but it won't hurt to say that Martin Klciss, a visiting pilot rrom Germany, new 125 miles from Big Southern Butte on June 7. His first and only flight from the Butte, he holds the best average ror the site. Distance (miles) Date Glider Launch Rank Pilot Ken Schrcckjurnped in with a King Mountain flight on June 9. With the l .ost River and OPEN CLASS Lemhi mountai11 ranges completely overdevel1) Frank Gillette 129.0 King Mtn. June 10 145 HP AT oped, he ran the Snake River Valley northeast, 2) Ken Cavanaugh 145 HP AT June JO 113..0 King Mtn. tickling tlw dragon's tail since the cloud streets June 9 113.0 Ken Schreck 158 HP AT KingMtn. were really storm streets. I le stated that he 4) 96.5 Big Butte April 3 Mason 158 HP AT Mark always lcCt himself'a11 out and safely completed a 11:l-milc flight to the llcnry's Lake airport. DECLARED GOAL Frank (liliettc and I got our big rlights the 77,0 Mt. Harrison August I I) Fiji Yokoda 145 HP AT following day in similar conditions. We lkw 68,5 2) KingMtn. May2 Al Whitesell 155 XS separate routes the first 70 miles and then combined forces over I ,ima, Montana. Together we UNDER 50 CLASS were hrnve enough to risk landing i11 roadlcss Mt. Bonneville July 18 50 I) Dan Delozier 158 HP AT terrain (misery lovc~s company) and proceed 2) August I 20 Magic lV Big Butte Tom Kiester where individually we would have sought a

3) Ken Durstine

DI·CFMBFR I 992

162 GTR

King Mtn.

May6

by Brad Lindsay

the Aspen high upon the San Francisco Peaks overlooking Flagstaff, Arizona hegin their seasonal pigment lrans111utation, pilots from all over Arizona make their annual lo "The Craters." If' you haven't seen The Craters, it looks like one of those painted backdrop scenes in the early Star Trek series, with large, round prehistoric volcanic cinder cones rising 800' to 1,400' out or the ground and rose colored vertical cliffs on the horizon. One could almost expect to see an alien or a dinosaur holl J'rom the shadows. The Craters, Merriam and Sheba, arc: lo-cated north and cast or Flagstaff just oil I .eupp road, and arc vcgctat ion-void except for a thrivhcarty bush/weed/plant contrived by a suto make pilots' lives rniserahle. This herbage is specifically designed lo snag risers, ripstop and shoelaces, and is sturdy enough to rip holes in trilarn. Able to withstand (10+ mph winds and a sparse supply of' water, the roots go down, oh, six or seven feet which thwarts 011c f'rorn yank .. ing them out by the roots in a moment or rage. The launch, which is anywhere on top, is void of this miserable flora. One will encounter this bntsh ii' you: a) blow a launch; h) altcrnpt a nowind launch; c) hike up the hill with a para .. grimkr. Speaking or blown launches, the all too familiar ''WI IOOM !""could be heard several

l-li\NC CI.IIJINC:

COMPETITION CORNER times during the event as pilots spoiled by cliff launches sprinted down the gradual slope of the Craters attempting to commit aviation, evidently not realizing they are at 7,200' MSL at 90° F. I witnessed several good ones as I was assisting pilots setting up graphite gliders: ··[s graphite strong?" '·Does the Pope wear a funny hat'l Trust me." Unlike rock-ridden or tree-covered mountains, the Craters don't offer anything to crash into. If you ever want to practice blowing a htunch. this is the place to do it. Question: What effect does a blown launch have on the rate at which potato roots grow from the soles of pilots waiting to launch'? When the next four pilots, positioned tip to lip on launch in the smooth, steady air witnessed a munched launch, one could almost hear potato roots skewering into the loose cinders. Whereas the 12-inch-high vegetation eats gliders, the craters will yield under pressure, minimizing serious damage to gliders and egos, yet is firm enough to offer the unwary pilot a serious case of Crater Rash. Crater Rash is akin to falling shins-first into a coarse. freshly changed, fast moving, two-horsepower_ 220-volt belt sander. Say goodbye to several epidermal layers. Conditions for the event from dawn till dusk were good as pilots flying new gliders filled the air throughout the weekend. Although no log-filling flights were made, everyone had fun sniveling rides from the dealers and comparing notes in the LZ. These conditions made

DECEMllER 1992

it good for the manufacturer reps as most everyone had an "extendo sled ride" to the LZ, and most pilots had the opportunity to demo several gliders each clay. It's probably a good thing conditions weren't stronger since cross-country fever is still running rampant in our area and spreading at an epidemic rate. With the Arizona Cross Country Contest nearing the encl of the season, aggressive pilots might have taken the demos to the ozone layer. However, the radio tete-a-tete would be superb: "This is Hans, tell Ming to head to Colorado." "Break for Alice, I'm on my way to Shiprock." "This is Bob, somebody teach my driver to use a clutch." The relentless sun pounded down through the cloud-barren sky all clay while pilots, wuffos, moms and kids sponged the sunblock on each other as protection from our deteriorating atmosphere. (Diel you know that each shuttle launch does more damage to the ozone than 20 years of manmade emissions9) The end of the clay brought with it a full moon so bright, it gave breaking clown in the dark a new meaning and amplified the Star Trek effect. Unlike last year's "downtube derby" there were only a few mild, ego whittling, boisterously documented WHACKS. There was only one slightly bent leading edge and a couple of cases of mild Crater Rash despite introductions I heard such as: "Hi 1 I'm a Hang II and haven't flown since December but I would like to demo your gliders." Which translates to: "Goel, I

spent a wad of dough on my equipment last year and I don't want to biff it so can I bend one of yours instead?" It takes participation to make this event work and it was evident by the numbers of pilots who attended and the manufacturers who participated. A heartfelt thanks to Tony Barton, Gen Cheney, Lester Washburn and "Big Al" from UP America who brought us the TRX, XTR and XTC gliders from Utah to demo. Larry Tudor of Wills Wing and Wills dealers Bob Thompson and Stan Mish helped pilots demo HP AT's, Super Sports and Spectrums. (Thanks for the rides to the top guys.) And the one woman dynamo Suzie Briggs from Pacific Airwave and dealer Steve Aycock and Bill Holmes who gave the new Pulse, Formulas and theK2, K3 and K4 a list oftest flights. Suzie told me she was a sailmaker for PacAir. After a while I thought she brought a twin sister. as I would see her setting up gliders for pilots on launch in one set of clothes and breaking them down in the LZ wearing a different outfit~ all clay, all weekend! (Kenny, give this woman a raise.) She's not a sail maker, she's a salemaker! Everyone went home happy. Reps repped, dealers dueled and pilots haggled for the best prices, reminiscent of the shrimp markets in Mexico at closing lime: just buy it and fly it. Next year will be even better. Since "pegging the fun meter" became the main objective, I can honestly say we met our goal. See you there next year, same bat time, same bat channel. •

1992 USHGA MERCHANDISE ORDER FORM TOTAL

ill'{.

1993 USHGA CALENDAR 12" x 12" full-color pictorial of the sport you love........................................ .. ........................... $9.95 OTHER USHGA CALENDARS SPECIFY YEAR: 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 Excellent Photography- collect them all! .. @ $1.50 USHGA "TAOS" T-SHIRTS 100% cotton, oversized, fine-lined weathered look. COLORS: Ash Wine Blue SIZES: Med. Large XL .................................................................................................................... $17.95 USHGA "OATMEAL" LONG SLEEVE 100% cotton. Natural color with fine-lined navy stripes and 3" screened logo. Available in MOCK NECK or HOODED SIZES: Med. Large XL.......................................................................... .. ................. $19.95 COLLEGIATE SWEATSHIRT Super heavyweight 11 oz. fleece - 95% cotton, cross-weave w/ side gusset, 3 colors on ash. SPECIFY SIZE: MEDIUM LARGE XL reg. $39.95 ............................................................ .......... $34.95 "FREESTYLE" SWEATSHIRT 9 oz. set-in fleece - 50/50 heavyweight, beautiful multi-color design on white SPECIFY SIZE: MEDIUM LARGE EXTRA-LARGE ...................................................................................................................... $24.95 ALSO FREESTYLE T-SHIRT 100% preshrunk cotton Med. Large XL ...................................................................................... $14.95 "LOOP" SWEATSHIRT 9 oz. set-in fleece - 50/50 heavyweight, red and white on navy SPECIFY SIZE: MEDIUM LARGE EXTRA-LARGE ...................................................................................................................... $19.95 USHGA Golf Shirt 100% combed cotton. Colorfully embroidered. Colors: White Red Navy Yellow Jade Black SIZES: Medium Large X-Large XXL (in while, navy & jade only).......................................... .. ...................................... $22.95 USHGA LONG SLEEVE T-SHIRT 100% Cotton "Simplistic" Design SPECIFY COLOR: WHITE or GRAY & SIZE S M L XL ........ $18.95 USHGA MTN. GLIDER T-SHIRT 100% cotton. Our most popular shirt. SPECIFY SIZE: M L XL COLOR white ash ............ $12.95 USHGA YOUTH MTN. GLIDER T-SHIRT For those up and coming pilots. SPECIFY SIZE: 8(6-8) M (10-12) L(14-16) .................. $9.95 USHGA MTN. GLIDER CAP Embroidered SPECIFY COLOR: NAVY WHITE PURPLE RED ..................................................... $9.95 USHGA CORDUROY CAP Embroidered with "Glider Trails" design SPECIFY COLOR: ROYAL BLUE OFF-WHITE ................... $9.95

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"NEW" Hang Gliding magazine "SPECIAL NEW PILOT EDITION" launching, landing, buying a used glider, etc............................. $4.50 "NEW" Higher Than Eagles by Maralys & Chris Wills. The story of early hang gliding and Bob Wills. Hardcover .............................. $19.95 "NEW" UNDERSTANDING THE SKY by Dennis Pagen Micrometeorology for pilots. Almost 300 pages, 260 photos & illustrations $19.95 **NEW" THE ART OF SKYSAILING by Michael Robertson. Covers material used in ICPs, including Charts of Reliability .................... $9.95 PARAGLIDING· A PILOT'S TRAINING MANUAL Produced by Wills Wing. Everything you wanted to know about paragliding ......... $19.95 HANG GLIDING FOR BEGINNER PILOTS by Pete Cheney The Official USHGA Training Manual. Over 200 pages ........................ $29.95 PARAGLIDING FLIGHT - Walking on Air by Dennis Pagen Covering all aspects of Paragliding. Over 140 illustrations ................... $19.95 HANG GLIDING FL YING SKILLS by Dennis Pagen Our most popular book. For the beginner to intermediate pilot. ......................... $9.95 HANG GLIDING TECHNIQUES by Dennis Pagen Continues where FL YING SKILLS left off. For intermediate to advanced ............... $7.50 RIGHT STUFF FOR NEW HANG GLIDER PILOTS by Erik Fair Overview, humor, techniques and personalities ................................. $8.95 FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS Federal Regulations covering ALL types of aviation. ................... ................................. .. ...... $8.95 USHGA DELUXE LOG BOOK 72 pages. Covering pilot ID, ratings, rules, maintenance, inspection, terminology ... and more .............. $4.95 USHGA X-C LOG BOOK 64 pages. Very clean! For those who like to document their flight. ............................................................. $3.95 USHGA FLIGHT LOG BOOK 40 pages. The oflicial USHGA flight log book ..................................................................................... $2.95

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Official USHGA Windsokrn Pink/yellow or pink/white......................................... .. ................................................................... $39.95 USHGA DELUXE LOG BOOK COVER Gray colored and debossed with the Min. Glider design. Show off your flights ........................ $4.95 USHGA LAPEL PIN Beautiful multi-colored Min. Glider design. Custom shaped pin w/ military clutch and epoxy dome ...................... $4.95 USHGA MTN. GLIDER SEW-ON EMBLEM The most beautiful patch you'll ever own. 12 different colors used ................................... $4.95 USHGA MTN. GLIDER DECAL Full color 6" diameter vinyl decal. Guaranteed to last!... .. ..................................................... $1.50 USHGA KEY CHAIN "Soft Feel" Plastic. Custom Min. Glider shaped. Screened white on red ............................................................ $1.50 USHGA SEW-ON EMBLEM Our original logo, in its original colors on this 3" circular emblem. ................. ... .. ....................... .. .. ...... $1.50 USHGA EMBLEM DECAL Our original logo, in its original colors on this 3" circular sticker. ...................... .. ................. $ .50 USHGA LICENSE PLATE FRAME "I'd Rather Be Hang Gliding" PLASTIC-white with blue lettering....... .. ................ $5.50 METAL-(zinc) with white on blue lettering ............................ $6.50 "NEW" DAREDEVIL FLYERS Ill - THE PARAGLIDING VIDEO The Wills Wing gang paraglides at Telluride, CO (50 min.) ............ $24.95 "NEW" HAWAIIAN FL YIN' video. Hang gliding and paragliding in paradise! Awesome scenery! (46 min.) ......................................... $33.00 *'NEW" HANG GLIDING EXTREME video. Let's you see some of the most spectacular sites and introduces you to some famous pilots! (50 min.) ............................... ,............................................................................................ $34.95 MAGAZINE COLLECTOR BINDER Brown vinyl binder w/ gold leltering. Wire inserls to hold 12 issues of HG .................................... $9.00 *USHGA ERIC RAYMOND POSTER 24" X 37" Eric doing oxygen at 17,000 MSL over the Sierra Nevada Range ................................ $5.95 *USHGA HANG GLIDING POSTER 22" X 28" Colorful nostalgic standard Rogallo flying into the golden sunset. (Circa 1977) ............. $3.95 'Posters are NOT AVAILABLE on International Orders-SORRY!

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PAYMENT must be included with your order. FOREIGN orders must be in U.S. FUNDS drawn on a U.S. BANK!

CHARGE MY CREDIT CARD VISA or MASTERCARD (circle one) acct#_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _exp. ____ Signature____________

SHIPPING .01 - 9.99 ADD $3.50 10.00 - 19.99 ADD $4.00 20. - 34.99 ADD $5.00 35. - 49.99 ADD $6.00 50. + ADD $7.50 Canada & Mexico add $1.50 extra Int'\ surface add $5.00 extra Int'\ air add $15.00 extra

SUBTOTAL

$_ _ _ __

COLORADO RESIDENTS add 3% TAX

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SHIPPING (see chart)

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TOTAL ENCLOSED

$_ _ _ __

SHIP TO: (Street address if possible) NAME_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ USHGA#_ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ CITY/STATE/ZIP _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ UNITED STATES HANG GLIDING ASSN. P.O. BOX 8300 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80933-8300 (719) 632-8300

FAX (719) 632-6417

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

I Urumo ZIP _ _ _ _ PHONE(_) _ __ NEW MEMBER

STATES HANG GLIDll'IG AssN

_RENEW/USHGA# _ _ _ _ _SEX (M/F) _ _ _ _ BIRTHDATE_ _ _/_ _ _./_ __

****************************************************************************************************************

ANNUAL DUES: Includes 12 issues of HANG GLIDING magazine, liability insurance, ratings, and other benefits. FULL MEMBER:

1 Year $ 49.00 U.S. ($55.00 Canada & Mexico*)($ 60.00 International*) . . 2 Years $ 98.00 U.S. ($110.00 Canada & Mexico*)($120.00 International*) . 3 Years $147.00 U.S. ($165.00 Canada &Mexico*)($180.00 International*) . Family Member $24.50 (Must reside with full member-Includes all benefits except mag)

$_ _ _ _ __ $_ _ _ __ $ _ _ _ __ $ _ _ _ _ __

SUBSCRIPTION FEES:

1 Year $35.00 U.S. ($ 40.00 Canada & Mexico*)($ 50.00 International*) . 2 Years $65.00 U.S. ($ 75.00 Canada & Mexico*)($ 95.00 International*) 3 Years $95.00 U.S. ($110.00 Canada & Mexico*)($140.00 International*)

$ _ _ _ _ __ $ _ _ _ _ __

PARAGLIDING:

$_ _ _ _ __

(Includes paragliding ratings and 6 issues of PARAGLIDING magazine) $ Non-USHGA member ($49.00 annually. Non-U.S. add $12.00 postage) . -----Family Member $24.50 (Must reside with full member-Includes all benefits except mag)$~----Full USHGA member ($15.00 annually. Non-:U.S. add $12.00 postage) . . . $_ _ _ __ Family Member $7.50 (Must reside with full member lndudes all benefits except mag) $ - - - - - 0

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OTHER OPTIONAL MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS: 1ST CLASS MAIL SERVICE: ($24.00-U.S., Canada, & Mexico only) ................................. $_ _ _ _ __ AIR MAIL SERVICE: ($30.00-Western Hemisphere, $44.00-Europe, $57.00-All Others) ....................... $ _ _ _ _ __ NAA MEMBERSHIP ($24.00 annual dues includes FAI license) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $_ _ _ _ __

**************************************************************************************************************** $ CHARGE MY: MasterCard VISA -----Credit Card# _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _-Exp Date_______~/_______

Phone:(~_..,....._ _)..,..__ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Signature__________________..,..._ _

**************************************************************************************************************** TOTAL $- - - - - INSURANCE INFORMATION The cost of the insurance is included in the full membership fees with the member as additional insured. USHGA provides a Combined Single Limit Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability Master Policy in the amount of $1,000,000 per claim which covers all recreational flying. USHGA's insurance is valid ONLY while flying in the U.S., U.S. Properties, Canada, and overseas while on USHGA approved business. *Foreign payments must be in U.S. FUNDS drawn on a U.S. BANK. USHGA, PO BOX 8300, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80933 (719) 632-8300 FAX (719) 632-6417

(09/92)

CLASSIFIEDS HANG GLIDING ADVISORY Used hang gliders should always be disassembled before flying for the first time and inspected carefully for fatigued, bent or dented clowntubes, ruined bushings, bent bolts (especially the heart bolt), re-used Nyloc nuts, loose thimbles, frayed or rusted cables, tangs with non-circular holes, and on Rogallos, sails badly torn or torn loose from their anchor points front and back on the keel and leading edges. [fin doubl, 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.

HPAT 158 -40 hours, unus,ial care received $2,500.(615) 949- 2301.

SPORT 180-Low hours, extra downtubcs $1,100. Days (209) 532- 7466, Mary.

HPAT 158- I 99 I w/92 update. Exccllcntcondition$2,250. (316) 697- 2425.

THE CHEAPEST HIGH PERFORMANCE GLIDER JUST GOT CHEA PER - Brand new TRX 140' sand I 60' s $3,495 or best offer. Also, low time used TRX 140's, excellent condition, make offer. Can ship anywhere. Lookout iVIountain Flight Park, open every clay (except Wednesdays). (800) 688-5637, (706) 398-354 l.

HPAT 158 -Clean glider, less than 75 hours $2,450. (303) 444- 7863. HPAT 158 4882.

Great shape. low hours $2,100. (303) 530TRX 140-AII options with matching custom glider bag. 8 hours $3.200. Call Greg Smith (702) 884-3335.

HP- With VG. Like new $600. Days (209) 532-7466, Mary. K2 145 - Mint condition, 5 !lights, looks brand new. Red LE, spectrum unclersurfacc $2,600. (50 I) 663-0905.

VISION MK IV I 7 -Excellent condition, fared down tubes, extra clowntubes, wheels, High Energy harness w/chule. helmet, rack. $2,800 (415) 592-0890, (415) 358-9012.

K2 155 - Custom sail, excellent comlition, low hours $2,700. (505) 293-5165.

VISION \1K IV 17 -Sl,325. Mark JV 19, new condition S 1,625. (80 I J 254-614 l.

K2 155 ~ Excellent condition, factory competition model, will ship. $2,500 (505) 275-2350.

VISIONS & SPECTRUMS -Bought-Sold-Traded. Raven Sky Sports (414) nJ-2003.

K4 DEALER DEMO - w/low hours. Nice colors. !lies fast, lrnncl/cs and lands great. 53, JOO (209) 532-1302.

\V ANTED- Deal on a Moyes XS 142. call (310)479-7771.

ROGALLOS AXIS 13 4425 CA.

$1,200. Axis 15, $900. Paul, eves. (714) 676-

AXIS IS-Custom sail as seen in 1991 USHGA Calendar. PYRAMID GLIDER-Faired downtubes, sail crinkles like new, excellent condition, <50 hours $1,800. (410) 357-4144. COMET 135-$525. Raven 179, $375. Olympus 160,S 175. (801) 254- 6141. DOVES WANTED - Electra Flyer, Doves A. B or C, wanted by inslructor for school use. Any condition. Raven Sky Sports (414) 473-200:1. DREAM 222 AS!- New condition, 6 flights $2,250. (801) 254-6141.

KISS 154- Has all K2 updates. S 1,200. New leading edge, 2.5 years old, full race. Additional equipment also available. (619) 695- 0865. LA MOUETTE PROl'IL 12 - Small glider for small pilot S 1,200 080. (206) 888-3856 Seattle.

DREAMS IN STOCK-All sizes. including 145's. Many other used gliders available, including Visions & Spectrums. Raven Sky Sports (414) 473-2003.

MAGIC 177 - Good condition, extra down tubes, basctube. cross country bag S800. (209) 586-0883.

ENTERPRISE COMBAT II - 12 flights $2,875. Combat I, great shape $2.125. (801) 254-6141.

MARK IV I 7 837- 8567.

FOR SALE-SPORT 180, full race, only 6 hours. $1,750 or best offer. Jn perfect condition, call (512) 494-0096.

MOYES GTR 175 VG-Rainbow bottom, blue LE, fairings S 1,800. Also Moyes pod w/chute. altimeter. vario. (303) 9721245.

20 hours, excellent condition SI ,750. (310)

GREAT SMALL PILOT GLIDER - CONDOR 151. Super easy to lly. Excellent comlition. rainbow colors. $500. (706) 820-2017.

MOYES XS 155 -Low hours, excellent condition SI ,500. (818) 880- 7708.

GTR 162 VG - I.ow hours, great condition, white & blue. S 1,000 OBO (805) 682-4835.

NEW 177 MYSTIC LITE - Pod harness, chute. ISO Excel, vario and other items. All for $2.000. Steve (619) 369-0966.

GZ 155 - Rainbow, <60 hours, US Nationals 1985. S700 you pay shipping. Steve (20 I J 934-763 l.

PACIFIC GULL 1975-Vintage Rogallo, seat harness, bag. near neweondition. purple/gold. SIOO OBO. No. Calif. (510) 825-4979 eves.

HANG GLIDER SAIL REPAIR & REBUILDING BY DENNIS VAN DAM/AEROSAIL - Serving the hang gliding community for over a decade. ·"Integrating aesthetic~ with the highest order of structural integrity." Aerosail, 1617 W 40th St, Chattanooga TN 37409. (615) 821-5945. HARRIER II 147 -Good condition, $800 OBO. (703) 92 I1526 or (703) 947-5761. HPAT 145 - Jan. 1991, 100 hours, flies perfectly. never crashed, pretty. Several JOO+ milers, extra DT's. references. Sacrifice $2,300 firm, (208) 237-9157. HPAT 1-15 - 150 hours. No tears or patches S l.400. Z2 pod harness, all extras, some wear $200. Raven 229. I 00 flights left! $250. (714) 541-2625.

SENSOR- l\10 VGC models. Low hours, high miles, good condition. White LE, red LS $1,200. Yellow LE, reel LS S900. (815 J 234-5388.

REGION IV'S OLDEST, LARGEST FULL-TIME SHOP. .. Celebrating Our 20th Year of Unsurpassed Safety! .. RESERVE CHUTES (All sizes), never used, each inspected. repacked, new bridle and bag ...... $265 (20 ft PDA' s $300) NEW, USED PARAGLIDERS (All Brands) ... $500-$2,800 HELMETS ... (All Brands, Styles) ........... S58-S260 . ................ $75-$500 USED HARNESSES . VARIOMETERS (Used, Demo's. All BrandsJ .... S95-S500 LT DREAM 220 ...... ..... <2 HOURS ..... S2,300 LT DREAM 145 ............ <2 HOURS ..... $2,000 VISION ECLIPSE 19 .... <60 HOURS ... $1,000 LT MYSTIC 177 ........... <40HOURS ... $950 PRODAWN, PROSTAR EXCELLENT SHAPE ..S500EA. PHOENIX 60 185 ......... <45 HOURS ... $450 Equipment lOO'ir Guaranteed, inspected. All Major Credit Cards. COLORADO HANG GLIDING (303) 278-9566 24 HOURS GOLDEN WINGS 1103 Washington Avenue, Golden, CO 80401 TOLL rREE ORDER PHONE 1-800-677-4449 or (303) 278-7181 Mystic 177 VG .... Exe. cond . ........ Sl,300 Vision 19 (used) ... Exe. cond . ....... Sl.800 Several Sport 167 ......................... $ J 800 - S2.200 HPAT ................. Dc,no .............. $2,800 Many other good used gliders ....... $450-S l 000

SENSOR 13 - With C kit. Very good condition, still crisp. $700. (805) 647-7759. also Kiss parts. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA USED GLrnER REFERRAL - BUY-SELL-CONSIGN, ALL MAKES, i\IODELS. CALL TODAY (619) 450-1894 OR (619) 450-9008. SPECTRUM 165 - Orange LE. white midsection. yellow TE, plus speedbar wil\ heels S 1.900. Joe (708) 894-5858 evenings. SPORT AT 167 -Less than 30 hours. Bright red and yellow. extra downtubes Sl.500. Don (415) 753-863-1.

XTR 145-wNG. 30 hours, patched sail $2,400. (310) 8378567.

Due to production schedules, we work two months m advance. Please place your ad early to avoid missing a particular issue.

HANG GLIDING

CLASSIFIEDS SANTA BARBARA HANG GI .!DING CENTER - ( 805 l 962-8999. certified school. 29 S1a1e St.. Santa Barbara CA 93101. iv!C/\IJSA/AMEX accepted. VARIOS: Ball 651 S-175. Ball 652 S575, Ball M22 S-175. 13rauniger PII S-150. Brauniger Pll! $595, Brnuniger LCD II! barograph $995. rly1ec 2020 S759, r:Jytec 2030 $850. AFRO XC 8000 S895. HELi\lETS: Aerodyne S79. Bell SI 19. Carbon Fibre fullface S259. Panoramic full-face S 159. HARNESSES: Keller Hi Tee 2 S799. CG $-199. HE Pod $-199. HE Cocoon S299. PARACHUTES: BRS Rocket S795. HE 22 gore 1ne" l S365. Free Flight 20 gore S365. GLIDERS: (new, used and lradc-ins) TRX demo $2695. WW AT $2300. Comet I 8 hours S650. Vision MK IV Sl-100. W\V Sport $1500. WW Super Sport S3395. Sensor 5 ! OC 20 hours S 1250. Comel I 185 ~ 1250. Light Dream ! 85 S 1250. Moyes XS S2900.

WANTED

\VANTED- Used hang gliding equipment. Gliders. instrumenls, harnesses and par;.1chutes. Airtime of San Francisco. 3620 Wawona. San Francisco. CA 9-1116. (-l 151 SKY-! 177. REAL ESTATE

LOOKOUT L\·ITN LZ- Home or business site on approximately 3.5 acres adjoining the LZ at Georgia's Lookout ivltn. Flight Park. :?:O minute:-. from Chattanooga. I hour from Henson:-.. Excellent in\'cstmcnt opportunity. Call (501 J 9883930 daytime or 98~-0-1-37 nights/weekend:-.. SCHOOLS & DEALERS

AIRTIME OF SAN FRANCISCO - HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING. Complete. safe & fun, USHGA & APA certified training program. ivlountai n clinics & ground schools. ALL MAJOR BRANDS. Quality airframe and sewing b) faclOry trained repair technicians. Parachute services. Large selection of 2nd hand gear (buy & sell). Rentals available. Next to Fort Funston. The only full service shop in San Francisco' 3620 Wawona. San Francisco CA 9-1116. (415) 759-1177. CHAN DELLE SAN FRANCISCO, INC. -Complete hang

gliding and paragliding sale~. ser\'ice and instruction since 1973. Northern California's most complete repair facility. New and used equipment and demo's. lc~son packages. clinics and tandem lessons. 6880 Sir Francis Drake. Forest Knolls CA 9cl933, (-115) 488--1202.

EMERGENCY PARACHUTES

A BEST I3 UY~ - $265. ne\ er deployed, new bridle. bag I PDJ\ ·, S300). Inspected and repacked. all sizes. Fully Guaranteed' Colorado Hang Gliding (303) 278-9566. ALL BRANDS - Bought. ,old. and repacked. Inspection and repack $35.00 - Parachutes. bridles. in~pcctc<l anJ replaced. AIRTIME OF SAN FRANCISCO. 3620 \Va11 ona. San Francisco, CA 9-1116. r-115) SKY- I 177.

ARIZONA ADVENTURE SPORTS TOURS - Certified instruction utilizing the world"s first man-made training hill plu~ olher sites \\'hich all face every wind 1..lirection. Dealer for Pacific 1\irwave. Will, Wing. Hall and High Energy,! 327 E. Bell De Mar Dr.. Tempe. AZ 85283 (602) 897-7121. DESERT HANG GLIDERS - USHGA Certified School. Supine specialish. -1319 \V. Lar,spur. Glendale, AZ 8530-1. 1602) 938- 9550.

PARA GLIDERS

COMPACT WINGS PARAGLIDING - Wills Wings. UP and olhers. APA & USHGA Class !I instruction. Grcal flying year-round. Southern California and European tour:-.. Located at best paragliding site ISoboba). (7!-l) 65-1-8559 HANG GLIDER EMPORIUM -13esl training hill in the west~ Full service hang gliding/paragliding shop. established 197-1. 613 N Mil pas St.. Sanla Barbara CA 93103. 180519653733. THE HANG GLIDING CENTER -

ARKANSAS

'92 EDEL SPACE 2-+ - Include~ harnc:-,:-. and huge gear bag S2.000. 1505 l 29-1-8697. LP KATAN A 25 - Top performance. yellow/blacl; S 1.-100.

SAIi. WINGS HANG GLIDING/PARAGLIDING - Instruction. :-ales . .-.cr\'icc. Pacific Airwa\·e. P.O. Box 5593. Little Rod. AR 72215. 1501 l 663- 3166.

Localed in beautiful

San Diego. USHGA instruction, equipment rentals. local flying tour~. Spend your winter \'acation flying with U\. \Ve proudly offer \Vills \Ying. Pacific Airwave. High Energy, Ball and we need your used equipment. -1-:206-K Sorrento Valley Blvd., San Diego. CA 921211619J-l50-9008.

I 51 0) 798-6606.

CALIFORNIA WILLS. UP'S, ETC - S795 + up. Instruction. equipment. southern California and European tours (71..J.) 65-1--8559. lll,TRALIGHTS ULTRALIGHT A VIA TI ON -

,\CTION SOARING CENTER - In Lodi near Stockton. PersonaliLcd USHGA certified instruction. sales and service. Emphasis on :-,pecial skills. techniques. launching & landing. Dcmo·s. Ask about tO\\ clinic. (209) 368-9665.

American and European

trikcs an<l wing:-.. 1117 Cold I Iarbor Dr. N. Las Vegas NV

Hang Gliding Classifieds FAX line (24 hours) (719) 632-6417

89030. 1702) 399--10-1-1.

~--------------------------------------, USHGA CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING ORDER FORM 50 cents per word, $5.00 minimum. Boldface or caps $1.00 per word. (Does not include first few words which are automatically caps.) Special layouts or tabs $25 per column inch. (phone numbers-2 words, P.O. Box-1 word) photos-$25.00 line art logos-$15.00 Deadline-20th of the month, six weeks before the cover date of the issue in which you want your ad to appear (i.e., June 20 for the August issue). Prepayment required unless account established. No cancellations and no refunds will be allowed on any advertising after deadline. Ad insertions FAXed or made by telephone must be charged to a credit card. Please enter my classified ad as follows:

Number of Months:- - - - - Section (please circle) Towing Wanted Rogallos Schools and Dealers Emergency Chutes Ultralights Parts & Accessories Rigid Wings Business & Employment Publications & Organizations Miscellaneous Paragliders 19_ _ issue and run for consecuBegin with tive issue(s). My check 0, money order 0, is enclosed in the amount of

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

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

Number of words: Number of words:

@ .50 = @ 1.00 =

L--------------------------------------~ DECEMBER 1992

CLASSIFIEDS WRIGHT BROTHERS WINGS - UP, flRS, High Energy. USHGA Certified Instruction. (209) 586-6012 Sonora CA.

SEQUATCHIE VALLEY SOARING SUPPLY our ad under Tennessee.

Sec

IDAHO COLORADO COLORADO CLOUDBASE - Guided tours, drivers, videos, accessories. (719) 630-7042, FAX (719) 630-8126. PO Box 16934, Colorado Springs CO 80935.

TREASURE VALLEY HANG GLIDING - Airwavc, Moyes, UP. Demo's, ratings, tours, service. (208) 376-7914. ILLINOIS

COLORADO HANG GLIDJNG/PARAGLIDING - Celebrating 20 years or unsurpassed safety. 1st USHGA certified school in the U.S.A. Region's largest and oldest. Operating full Lime since 1972. (303) 278-9566.

AAA SPECTRUM HANG GLIDING -Advanced instruction. Enterprise and Wills Wing, Ball, Brauniger and High Energy dealer. Dunes guide service. In Chicago (3 l 2) 9291547.

HIGH ADVENTURE- Hang gliding, paragliding school. Equipment sales, service, rentals at Southern California's mile high site, Crestline. USHGA/APA Jnstructor Rob McKenzie. By appointment year round. (714) 883-8488.

EAGLE'S NEST SCHOOL OF HANG GLIDING/ PARAGLIDING - USHGA & APA certified instruction. Sales and service. P.O. Box 25985, Colorado Springs, CO 80936 (719) 594-0498.

RAVEN SKY SPORTS - (312) 360-0700 or (708) 3600700. Please sec our ad under WISCONSIN.

MISSION SOARING CENTER - Serving the flying community since 1973. Complete pilot trnining program with special attention to takeoff and landing skills. Custom super1ite training gliders. Comfortable training harnesses! Deluxe retail shop. Wills, Pac Air, UP, demos, new gliders in stock! Best trade-in prices. Try all the new harnesses in our simulator. Large selection of specialized equipment, beginner to XC. 11 [6 Wrigley Way, Milpitas (near San Jose) CA 95035. (408) 262-[055.

GOLDEN WINGS - Sales, service. USHGA certified instruction. Dealers for Wills Wing, PacAir. 1103 Washington Avenue, Golden, CO 8040l. (303) 278-7[81.

JJ MITCHELL - USHGA certified school and instruction. TANDEM. PacAir dealer. 674[ Columbia Ave .. Hammond, JN 46324 (219) 845- 2856.

LID ENTERPRISES - Sail and harness repair - Equipment manufacturing - Towing supplies - 5000 Butte #I 83, Boulder, CO 80301 (303) 440- 3579.

KENTUCKIAN A SOARING -

INDIANA

See ad under parts.

RA VEN SKY SPORTS-(414)473-2003. Pleascseeourad under WISCONSIN.

CONNECTICUT MICHIGAN

PERFORMANCE DESIGN PARAGLIDING SCHOOL - Excalibur, Edel, UP, and many more. APA & USHGA certified instructors. \Vorlcl wide tours, accessories. Call for free catalog. (714) 697-4466. TORREY FLIGHT PARK, INC. -

Al the launch of the

world famous Torrey Pines Glider Port. one of San Diego's highlights! Unmatched convenience for pilots and spectators. Refreshments and souvenirs at the Cliffhanger Cafe. Certified Training program featuring tandem so.iring lessons. New, used, rent.ii :ind demo equipment by Delta \Ving and UP. 2800Torrey Pines Scenic Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037 (619) 452-3202. TRUE FLIGHT CONCEPTS - USHGA Certified Instruction, Sales & Service. Become a better pilot in less time with our small personalized classes & tandem instrnction. Our head instructor has over l 3 years teaching experience. Only minutes from our local Kagel Y1ountain flying site. 13185 Gladstone Ave., Sylmar, CA 91342. (818) 367-6050. ULTRAFLIGHT HANG GLIDING - Wills Wing, Sccdwings, ivloyes, High Energy and more. Servicing Lake l'vlcClure area. (209) 874-1795 Waterford, CA. WJNDGYPSY - USHGA Certified school specializing in personalized tandem flight training. Full service sales & repair facility in Lake Elsinore- call for site info. \Vicic range of new & used glider & flight accessories in stock. Proudly demonstrating N[oyes, Pacific Airwave, Secdwings, ASI (Dreams), ESS rapid deployment parachutes. Ask about Windgypsy Safaris. Windgypsy, PO Box 506, Elsinore West Marina, Lake Elsinore CA 92586, (7 l4) 678-5418. WINDSPORTS -LA's largest since 1974. Fifteen minutes from LAX. Central to Sylmar, Crestline, Elsinore and training sites. Vacation training, flying and glider sales packages including lodging and rentals. The most popular gliders and equipment, new and used in stock. Trade in your old equipment. 325 sunny days each year. Come ny with us! 16145 Victory Blvd., Van Nuys CA 91406. (818) 988- 0111, Pax (818) 988-1862.

MOUNTAIN WINGS -- Look under New York. FLORIDA SKY HOOK TOWING - Tandem instruction. Near all Florida major attractions. Come spend your vacation with us and learn to fly on the beautiful space coast. Dealers for: Pacific Airwavc, UP, High Energy, BRS, Second Chanlz. Tow bridles, floats, service. PO Box 540562, Merri It Island PL 32954. (407J 452-8143.

GREAT LAKES HANG GLIDING, INC. - USHGA certified instructors. Dealers for Wloyes gliders, new & used equipment. Located near Warren dunes (616) 465-5859. PRO HANG GLIDERS- USHGA instruction since 1978. Advanced Instructor, Examiner, Observer. Safety is# I . \Ve' vcbeen towing for a decade. Come on SE tvlichigan, let's wake up! We've got asoaringsitcnow. Give me a call at (313) 3999433, ask for Norm. 569 W Annabelle, Hazel Park MI 48030. MINNESOTA SPORT SOARING CENTER/MINNEAPOLIS - Jnstruction. equipment <lcalcrs for Pacific Airwave. UP & Wills Wing. (612) 557-0044. MISSOURI

WE CAN TEACH YOU FASTER AND SAFER, MIAi\H HANG GLIDING, INC. has the most advanced training program known lo hang gliding today. USHGA certified school :-,pccializing in personalized flight training. Full service shop handling all makes and models of gliders. For more info call (305) 573-8978. GEORGIA LOOKOUTMOUNTAINPLIGHTPARK-AMERICA'S #I HANG GLIDING SCHOOL, tlying site. Find out why three times as many pilots earn their mountain wings at Lookout! Complete certified training-"bunny hill"' to mountain soaring. We wrote USHGA's OFFICIAL FLIGHT TRAINING MANUAL! Our specialties: foot-launch. tandem and tow instruction, FIRST MOUNTAIN FLIGHTS, customer service and satisfaction. Lesson packages, ratings, glider rentals. AEROTO\VING. Largest inventory hang gliders tall brands). equipment. Complete sail/airframe repairs. Camping, SWIMMING POOL. Send SI for information packet. Route 2, Box 215-H, Rising Pawn GA 30738 (20 minutes from Chattanooga, Tennessee) (800) 688-LMFP. (706) 398-3541.

SAJL WINGS -

See Arkansas.

NEVADA ADVENTURE SPORTS - Sierra tours our specialty USHGA & APA ccniriecl school and ratings. Dealers for Pacific Airwave, Wills Wing, UP, Enterprise Wings. Fly the Sierras with a full-service shop. 3650 Research Way, Carson City, NV 89706 (702) 883-7070. NEW JERSEY MOUNTAIN WINGS -Look under New York. NEW MEXICO UP OVER NEW MEXICO - Jnstruction, sales. service. Sandia i\ Iountain guides. \Vil ls. Scedwings. Pacific Airwavc, Delta, Moyes. Albuquerque. NM (505) 821-8544. 1

HANG GLIDING

CLASSIFIEDS \'EW YORK

PENNSYLVANIA

VIRGINIA

AAA MOUNTAIN WINGS HANG GLIDING CENTER AND FLIGHT PARK - Now offering PARAGLIDING instruction and sales. Base of ELLENVILLE MTN. Four exclusive training hills. Area's only dealer for Pacific Airwave. UP. Seedwings and Delta \Ving with demos in stock. \Ve are the largest. most complete H.G. accessory and repair shop of its kind in the country. N1any new and used gliders in stock. RIC supplies and kits, Ultra Pod camera systems. VISA and MASTERCARD accepted. Stop in and get your flight pass and gate combo. I 50 Canal St.. Ellenville. NY 12428 (914) 647-3377. In N.E. 1-800-525- 7850.

MOUNTAIN TOP RECREATION -Certified instruction. Pittsburgh.(.\ 12J 697--l-!77. C'MO'I OUT AND PLAY!

BLUE SKY - Tandem flight instruction, tow clinics, custom towing and flight gear. sail repair. PacAirdealer \Vill run ICP's (703) -132-6557 Harrisonburg.

FLY HIGH HANG GLIDING. INC. -

Sm·ing S. New

York. Connecticut. Jersey areas (EllenYille ivhn.). Area's EXCLUSIVE Wills Wing dealer/specialist. Also all other major brands, acccs~orics. Ccrti ficd \Chool/instruction. Teaching since 1979. Area's most INEXPENSIVE prices/repairs. Excellent secondary instruction ... if you·ve finished a program and \\'ish to continue. Fly the mountain~ ATOL towing~ Tandem flights' Contact Paul Voight. RD 2. Bo, 561. Pinc Bush. NY 12566, (91-lJ N-l-33 I 7. SUSQUEHANNA FLIGHT PARK - Cooperstown. NY. Certified Instruction. Sale:-, and Service for all major manuracturcrs.--1-0 acre park, 5 training hills.jeep ride~. bunk house, camping, hot showers, 600' N\V ridge. \Ve ha\·e the best facilities in N. New York state to teach you how to fly. RD 2. Bo, 3-l8A. Cooperstown, NY 13326. (315) 866- 615.1. l\ORTH CAROLINA COROLLA PLIGHT - America·s most experienced tandem flight instructor. teaches utilizing ATOL and Double Vision. Call or write for information Greg De\Volf. Corolla Flight, PO Box 1021, Kitty Hawk NC 27949. (9191 2616166. KITTY HA WK KITES. INC. - P.O. Box 1839, Nags Head. NC 27959 (919) -l-ll--112-l. Learn to hang glide on Jockey"-; Ridge, the lnrgest sand dune on the cast coast, just ~outh of where the \Vright Brothers· first flight took place. Beginner and advanced lesson packages and camp~ offered. Advanced tandem tow instruction. 1500 ft. plus up. Dealer for all major brand gliders. complete i1wcntory of new and u-;ed gliders. acce-;sories and parts. OHIO SKYWARD ENTERPRISES - MARIO MANZO-Basic instructor. Frame & ~ail repair. Seed wing~. CG- I 000. Dayton/Chillicothe. (513) 256-3888 weekday C\'cning"'. NORTH COAST HANG GLIDING-Certified In,truction. Ne\\" & used glider~. Specializing in Pacific Airwave. glider~. ~like Del Signore. 1916 W. 75th St.. Cleveland. OH. -l-ll 02 1216) 631-11.\4. OREGON AIRTIME OREGON HANG GLIDING CENTER - Certified instruction. Dealer for ASL ivloyes. Pac.Air. UP and \Vil ls \\ling. BRS. High Energy. 2nd Chan LL Airwear. Center ofGraYity and i'v1antis harnesses and more. Faclory leftover~ from UP original and American \\'indwright. Demo glider"' & harnesses available. full serl'icc shop. (503) 998-1220. SOUTHERN OREGON HANG GLIDING - Certiried instruction. ATV retrieval. Pacific Airwavc. \Vills \Ving. UP. (5()3) -!79-5823.

DECEMBER 1992

MOUNTAIN WINGS -

Look under New York. KITTY HAWK KITES -

See North Carolina.

WINDWALKER HANG GLIDING - Certified instruction. Pacific Airwal'e Dealer/Glider Accessories. VISC/MC accepted. RR #2 Bo, 2223. Schickshinny PA 18655, (717) 86-l-3-l-!8.

SILVER WINGS. INC. - Certified instruction and eqnipmcnt sales. Proud!) representing Pacific Ainvave, \Vills Wing. Seedwings & UP. (703) 533-1965 Arlington VA.

TENNESSEE

WISCONSIN

HA WK AIRS PORTS - i\ew and improved hang gliding' Attention No\·icc and beginners! New 360 degree training hill designed and built specifically for you. Conveniently located. Fun! Fun! Fun! Clinch i\1ltn. -The longest ridge, two launches. The popular light wind indicator Windsok. Broclrnre~ available. Your satisfaction is the key to our continued grow1h and succes~. Hawk Air Sports, Inc., P.O. Bo.x 9056. Knonille. TN 37940-0056. (615) 933-9296.

RAVEN SKY SPORTS HANG GLIDING AND PARAGLIDING - Largest and most popular in the Midwest. Traditional cuniculum, ridge ,;;;oaring, mountain clinics. Dragonfly acrotowing & tnndems by Brac.l Kushner. Sales/seffice/accessories for all major brands. PO Box 101. Whitewater WI 53190 (414) -173-2003.

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK under Georgia. (800) 688- LMFP.

BALL 652 - $350. 20 gore parachute, S200. Both perfect. (619) 582- 8833.

See our ad

PARTS & ACCESSORIES

SEQUATCHIE VALLEY SOARING SUPPLY -Certified. t\\ o place llight in~truction and first mountain tlighh arc our :-,pccialtic:-.. Rentals. storage and ratings a\'ailablc. Dealers for all major brands. Located in the ··Hang Gliding Capital oft he East ... For pcr~onal. prof"cssional service you can trust. call SVS, RT 2 Bo,, SO. Dunlap, TN 37327. (615) 9-19-2301 ST A Y WHERE THE FLIERS STAY - Crystal Air Sport Mold. Privilte room~. bunkhouse. jacuzzi, pool. (615} 821~5-t.6 Chattanooga. TN.

TEXAS A.A.S. ACSTIN AIR SPORTS - Come tly with us in the ,cenic T exa~ hill country. Our new airpark is located on 1.ake Travis. only minutes from .r\ustin and Packsaddle Nhn. Plight Park. USHGA certified foot-launched and tm\·~launched training program'.'-.. \Ve offer hang gliding. paragliding. sky diving and ultralight flying. Dealers for UP Int"!. Pacific Airwavc. Enterprise \Vings and B.R.S. Austin Air Park has one of the finc.;;t repair facilities in the country. Sc1Yiccs include: airframe & ~ail repair. parachute mounting & repacking, custom harncs-;cs. gear ba:gs and flying accessories. Complete tow system-; cwailable. \Vrite to: A.A.P .. Route 2 Bo., -191. Spicewood TX 78669 or call Steve Burns al 15 I 2i -l7-l-I 669.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT - you could gi,·e your pilot is warmth. S/Hc will remember you every time\/ he flies with sheepskin THERMITTS. The \\'armest hand fairings in the world. Now redesigned for superior comfort. Send S-l7 to Wyoming Aerolitcs, PO Box 880. Casper WY 82602. (307) 135-3367. Dealer inquire, welcome.

RED RIVER AIRCRAFT Hang gliding specialists. ln~truction. "'ales. scJTicc. Towing supplies. ;v[C/VISA. ,\lJSTIN--1811 Red Ri,w. 1\ustin TX 78751. (512) -1672529. rax (512) -!67-8260. FT. WORTH (817) 92 I- 6957. KITE ENTERPRISES - Instruction. sales, repairs. lowing and foot launch. Dallas & North Texas area. 211 Ellis. Allen TX 75002. 121-li .190-9090 an) time. Dealer. Paciric Airwan.'. \Viii, \Ving. UTAH WASATCH WINGS - USHG1\ certiried hang gliding school. dealers for \Vills \\'ing. i'v[oycs and Pacific Airwa\·e. f-lightoperationsat Point of the Mountain. Call Gordon (801 J 277-10-12.

BIG \\'HEELS -

Saw::-. glider~ on hard landing~~ Very

sturdy. cxcellenl forsolo/tandcm 11ying, required for USHGA training. $16. 95/set ( plu~ shipping). di~counb an1i lahle. ( 800 J 688-LMFP, 17061 398- .15-ll.

CLASSIFIEDS COYERBAGS, HARNESS BAGS, ROADBAGS-In stock, lowest prices. Danny Scott custom harness $350. Sensor parts. Gunnison Gliders, 1549 County Road l 7. Gunnison CO 81230, (303) 641-9315 p.m. EQUALIZER - Raymond harness, lg/xl, good condition $300 OBO. (619) 443-3316.

MAXON 5 WATT - 3 USHGA channels, Hi/Lo power $359. ivlaxon l watt, I USHGA channel S l 90. JCOM P2AT$389. Uvex style aramid full face helmet, I lb. 5 oz., $299. Optional visor, headset, VOX & installation. X-C smoke bombs 45 sec., as low as $4. Signal mirror $8., Jack-theRipper cutaway knife $15., Silva compass $100. Camelbak $40. Pendulum Sports, Inc. l-800-WE FLY X-C.

QUICKRELEASECARABINER-S49.95. Extra ball lock pin, S29.00. 10,000 lbs., dealers welcome, patent pending. Thermal 19431-4 l Business Center Drive, Northridge, CA 91324. (818) 701-7983.

HIGH PERSPECTIVE WHEELS-REAL LIFE SA VERS! - 12", light. tough. Fits all gliders. Send$37 + $2.95 shipping per pairto Sport Aviation, PO Box IOI, Mingoville PA 16856. Ask about our dealer prices.

THE FAMOUS "LAMBIE LID" - Aerodynamic hang glider helmet $85. Full- face version, with kevlar-fiberglass guard $ l 20. Jack Lambie, 8160 Woodsboro, Anaheim CA 92807. (714 J 779-1877.

MINI VARIO - World's smallest, simplest vario! Clips to helmet or chinstrap. 200 hours on batteries, 0-18,000 ft., fast response and 2 year warranty. Great for paragliding too. ONLY $169. Mallettec, PO Box 15756, Santa Ana CA. 92705. (714) 541-2625.

maxon

SP-2000 Series

NEW 10-CHANNEL PROGRAMMABLE MAXON SP 2550 - 5 watt hand-held 2- way radio: three USHGA, three weather and four programmable frequencies. Durable, rugged, easy to use. Rechargeable nicacl battery (typical IO hour life). Pilots #I choice' Special price: S349. Additional Maxon options available. Lookout Mountain Flight Park, (800) 688Uv!FP. (706) 398-3541.

LATEST UVEX HELMETS - Ultra lightweight (one pound), most popular hang gliding helmet, full-face protection, using world's strongest fiber. S:299 (plus shipping), discounts available. (800) 688-LMFP, (706) 398-3541.

Sell your unused equipment with the help of a Hang Gliding classified ad. For more details call Jeff (719) 632-8300.

THE SENTEK SX DIGITAL AL TIMETER/V ARIOl\-1ETER-has the quality and features pilots really need: high accuracy, quick response. case of operation, reserve battery, a rugged case, and the crisp Sentek audio. $339. Price includes shipping, clamp, 2 year warranty. For info orto order (check orM.0.J write to: SENTEK, 16212 Bothell Way SE, #F252, Mill Creek WA 98012, (206) 338-9149.

SKY-TALKER II The Sky-Talker II, 2 meter Flvl antenna, will boost the transmitted and received signal by 3 times, and will not interfere with your vario. Internally installs in 5 minutes and automatically sets up and breaks down with the glider. This antenna is pre-tuned and ready to go. Send S30 + $3 shipping and handling to: Sky-Com Products, PO Box 530268. San Diego CA 92153. STOP GETTING RIPPED OFF - They can't touch this' Save Smail orders. NEW-MAXON SP2000 10 ch. w/tone S339. VOX S99. HAM RADIOS, YAESU FT 411 E $299. VOX $74. MOD $30., ICOM 2SAT S289. MOD S40. A LIN CO DJFl T $285. Dealer for Aircotec Alibi varios. Ball, BRS, High Energy, Safewheels. V lv!itts. Raymond. Secoud Chantz. Tow rope l /4" poly $30 per l 000', 3/l 6" poly 525 per !000'. Send S.A.S.E. for sale l1yerorcall Kentuckiana Soaring, 425 Taggart Ave .. Clarksville IN 47129 (812) 288711 l Calls returned collect.

HANG GLIDING

CLASSIFIEDS SUPRONE HARNESS $250 (505) 275- 2350.

New condition with all options.

USHGA BASIC INSTRUCTORS - And tandem tow instructors needed at Kilty Hawk Kites, world's largest hang gliding school. Seasonal or career opportunities. Help us ·'teach the world to fly.'' Resume to John Harris, PO Box 1839, Nags Head NA 27959. PUBLICATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS

DON'T GET CAUGHT LANDING DOWNWIND' - 1.5 oz. ripstop nylon, UV treated, 5· 4" long w/1 I" throat. Available colors: fluorescent pink/yellow or lluorescent pink/ white. $39.95 (+S4.00 S/HJ. Send to USHGA Windsok, P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933-8300, (719) 6328300, FAX (719) 632-6417. VISA/MC accepted.

WINDTALKER Ill *

SYSTEK Jl V ARIOMETER - Designed for thermal flying. Hang glider and parnglidcr pilots. Perfect for entry level pilots. Adjustable audio set-point, mount included, other options. Affordable $185. Systems Technology Inc. PO Box 7203, Knoxville, TN 37921 (615) 531-8045.

PARAGLIDE USA- Subscribe to North America's most widely read paragliding magazine. 12 issues just 525. Send check or money order to 425 Rider St., Ste. 87, Penis CA 92571 or call (714) 657-2664 or FAX (714) 657-4062 with your credit card information. PRACTICAL \VA VE FL YING - Mountain wave flying book for soaring pilots. [ncludcs valuable information for hang glider pilots. $14.95. Quantity discounts available. Lenticular Publishing, PO Box 3842, Englewood CO 801553842. 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. !lox E, Hobbs, NM 88241. (505) 392-1177. TOWING AIRCRAFT - From Red River. Towing supplies, bridles. releases, platforms and more. MC/VISA. (512) 467-2529.

THE \VINDTALKER - is remote controlled by telephone, and can keep 200 access codes, with prcsel numbers or cn1ls thnt can auto decrement. Also will call you ii' conditions exceed threshold. Price is only $895 complete. Free information. Litek (503) 479-6633.

MAKE THE MOVE TO QUALITY THAT LASTS - High performance Speclra & Dacron ropes, coaled to lasl longer and bond fibers. Pulls and d:.unage can occur if not coated. Light, strong and easy to splice. Call David F. Bradley (215) 723-1719, FAX (215)453-1515. TllT 3166.

Belt-drive winch w/6000' rope S 1.200. (50 I) 663-

VIDEOS & FILi\IS TEK 6" WHEELS -S25 per pair, plus $3 S/H. Tek Flight Products, Colebrook Stage, Winsted CT 06098. (203) 3791668.

DARE DEVIL FLYERS Ill-THE PARAGLIDERS - As seen on Prime Sports Network. Paraglidc in scenic Telluride, Colorado. $24.95 HAWAIIAN PL YIN' - Soar Hawaii and experience its beauty as only a hang Glider pilot can. $33.00. HANG GLIDING EXTREME - Hook in and hang on for this whirlwind tour of the most spectacular sites in the US. S34.95 USHGA VIDEOS, PO Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933. Be sure to add S4 S/H. (719) 632-8300.

Proven Pilots Say That...

"...WlND ADVISORY AIR/WIND SPEED INDICATORS HELP You LAUNCH & FLY SAFE!"

(With Poplin Storage Bag) .fi!:~ili~ :~tWU, '=·': •

=h..~=-.. -

(Box With Speed Conversion Chart) DEPENDABLE- Windtunncl tested & calibrated.BUILT TO LAST, impact & corrosion resistant. F.asy to read. Satisfaction Guaranteed. Send check or M/0 for $15 (+S2 SI H), foreign orders add $2. To Pacific Resources U.S.A., PO Box 9064, San Diego CA 92169.

NEW LOW COST XCR-180 _.._ Aluminum cylinder 4-lb. system provide-. up to 3 hours constant service, $359.95 XCR-480 (liters), XCR-240, the lightest/lowest cost composite fiber oxygen systems available. Either XCR system, $499.95 Complete ready to install with leak- proof disconnects, Oxymizcr, flowmclcr/adjuster, remote valve, holsters, lines and hardware. (S 15 S/H). 1-800-468-8185, (80 I) 3644171 eves & wknd. i>,,[ajor CC accepted. Mtn High E&S Co .. 516 12th A vc., SLC Utah 84103. BUSINESS AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FULL AND PART TIME - USHGA certified instructors. Innovative equipment, the latest training methods. Soaring Safaris. Send resume: Mission Soaring Center, 1116 Wrigley Way, Milpitas CA 95035. (408) 262-1055.

Videotapes For Hang Glider Pilots HAWAIIAN FL YIN' - Hang gliding in Paradise' Soar Makapuu, Haleakala and the Kaawa Valley. MOUNTAINS HIGH-The Telluride festival and acrobatic competition. Rocky Mountain llying at its best. FLATLAND FLYINGLarry Tudor and Joe Bostik explore truck towing and the flatlands of Texas and New Mexico. Each tape $33 plus $3 shipping. CA residents add $2.82 tax. Space 9 Productions, 800 Heinz#9, Berkeley CA 94710. VISA/MC OK. Tel (510) 649-8111.

HANG GLIDING

If you're a sport

aviation enthusiast, CLASSIFIEDS

MISCELLANEOUS

HANG GLIDING CHRISTMAS CARDS-$8.50 for 10. $15.00 for 20. $33.00 for 50. Call 1203) 379-1668 or send a SASE for assortment selection sheet to: Tek Flight Products. Colebrook Stage, Winsted CT 06098. MAPS 7885.

Largest selection in US. Map Store, 1-800-332-

DON'T LEA VE YOUR GROUND-BOUND EQUIPMENT SITTING IN THE GARAGE. SELL IT IN THE HANG GLIDING CLASSIFIEDS. CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING RATES The rate for classified advertising i!'.:. S.50 per word (or group of characters) and $1.00 per word for bold or all caps. MIN!tv1U!v1 AD CHARGE. $5.00. A fee of $15.00 is charged for each line art logo and $25.00 for each photo. Please underline words to be in bold print. Special layouts of tabs $25.00 per column inch. AD DEADLINES All ad copy, instructions, changes. additions and cancellations must be received in writing I 1/2 months preceding the cover date. i.e. October 20 for the December issue. Please make checks payable to USHGA Classified Advertising Dept. HANG GUDINO MAGAZINE. P.O. Box 8300. Colorado Springs, CO 80933 (719) 632-8300 or FAX (719) 632-6417. STOLEN Wl'.'/GS STOLEN-Mk IV 19 from Laurinburg/Maxton Airbase, NC (glider taken approximately 1 mile away from base) on Nov.15, 1992. Red LE, light blue/purple undersurface, half l'ibs. Contact: Brent Harsh, 919-387-7116. STOLEN - UP XTR 145 from SANDIA PEAK, NM area on Oct.11th, 1992. Pink LE, black nose panel, pink lower surface, black UP lettering. Serial #XTR 1459203123. Contact George Boyden (505) 299-0312. STOLE!\ -Sensor B Standard from TRABUCO CANYON, CA area on Sept. 28, 1992. Red LE, ornnge, white TE, red tail, VG. Call Bob Hafstrom (619) 274-4824. STOLEN -from PARADOX. CO launch on Sept. 14. 1992. Yaesu FT-23R 2 meter handheld radio. REW ARD' Contact Rusty Whitley. I 549 CR 17, Gunnison CO 81230. (303)6-119315. STOLEN - Black travel bag. from PARADOX. CO launch on Sept. 14th. 1992. Bag contents: !COM radio serial # 372.57, HS 51 headset w/charger, Canon 35mm Sureshot. l',farine compass w/ball clamp. Sport 167 manual, extra ball clamp. logbook, misc. tools. REWARD I Contact Mike Tepper (619)429-5685. STOLEN -

Moyes XS. from ASPEN, CO LZ (l\faroltl on

DECEMBER 1992

Sept. 12. 1992. Custom glider. sky blue. white & lavender. ivloycs decal on kingpost, with no other acJ,,ertisemcnL on glider. Contact Jeff Mallin (303) 920--+326. STOLEN - While in Santa Fe, NM overthe 1991 holidays. WILLS WING 223 PARAGUDER, serial# 21003. Purple w/gray & pink (canopy only). Gray Wills Wing bag wired stripe. APCO AVIATION HILITE 3 23. serial # 857486. Flour. yellow w/grcen (canopy only). Yellow & pink Apco bag. APCO AVIATION JETSTREAM HARNESS-NEW. turquoise blue w/flour. yd low storage bags and pink base in turquoise & flour. yellow bag. size medium. serial #433. Free Flight PDA 20 gore chute,# 1055B. Brown leather gloves. red UVEX downhill ski helmet. AIRCOTEC Alibi l l #4425. KELLER INTEGRAL HARNESS. well used. Pink w/lavendcr. size 150-170. w/18 gore PDA chute. Orange frccnight helmet. gray Calgary 88 gortex gloves, Patagonia jacket-red with blue lining. w/\Vills \Ving on the back. And other nonHG items. Willi Muller. 1403) 932-6760, FAX (.\03) 9326760. STOLEN WINGS are listed as a service to USHGA members. Newest entries are in bold. There is no charge for this service and lost and found wings or equipment may be called in to (719) 632-8300 for inclusion in Hang Gliding magazine. Please call to cancel the listing when gliders arc recovered. Periodically. this listing will be purged.

INDEX TO ADVERTISERS

Adventure Video .............................. 42 AeroTours Internationals ................. 13 Air Sports International .................... 19 Airtime of San Francisco ................. 38 AirWear Sports ................................. 42 Ball Varios .................................. 31,46 Bradley Co ...................................... .40 Brauniger .......................................... 43 BRS .................................................. 14 Cross Country Magazine .................. 47 Flytec ................................................ 22 Golden Wings .................................... 2 Hall Bros ............................................ 4 Hang Gliding Center of San Diego .. 36 High Energy Sports .......................... 38 John B!acet ...................................... .41 Just Fly Aviation Gear ..................... 18 Lookout Mt. Flight Park ................... 51 Mountain Condo ................................ 4 NAA ................................................. 61 Pacific Airwave ................. Back Cover Paragliding Magazine ....................... 46 Pro Design ........................................ 38 RCI ................................................... 38 Safari Sky Tours ............................... 17 Sequatchie Valley Soaring ................. 4 Sport Aviation Publications ............. 42 UP International ................................. 6 U.S. Aviation .................................... 14 USHGA ....................... 2,4,52,53,59,62 Wills Wing ......................................... 3

you should join NAA, "the National Aero Club of the United States."

-' J. ,/

d·, l

,-11 • Ballooning • Soaring • Ultralights • Aeromodeling • Homebuilts • Aerobatics • Parachuting • Helicopters • Hang Gliding NAA is the umbrella organization for all major airsportorganizations, and represents U.S. sport aviation internationally. It is the nation's oldest and most prestigious aviation organization. Supported by thousands of individuals, aero clubs and corporations, NAA is also the nation's official aviation record keeper, as wel I as the custodian of many of the most prestigious aviation awards. Gain access to information on all air sports by joining Chuck Yeager, Dick Rutan and thousands of other air sport enthusiasts. Become a member of the National Aero Club of the United States. I wish to apply for membership in the National Aeronautic Association. I have enclosed my check for$22 ( please enclose $37 for foreign mailing). Name Address City

State

Zip

Signature

National Aeronautic Association 1815 N. Ft. Myer Dr. - suite 700 Arlington, VA 22209 • 703-527-0226

~ 61

$9.95 plus shipping

Please rush me _ _ 1993 USHGA Hang Gliding Calendar(s) at $9.95 each.

SHIPPING Quantity

Shipping

1-3 4-6 7-10

$3.50 $5.00 $6.00

In the 48 states, we prefer to ship via UPS.

CANADA & MEXICO add $.75 per calendar. INT'L SURFACE add $1 .SO per calendar INT'L AIR add $5.00 per calendar

Vl7c~c1~~n~ C

/f vr-

-:::.-# _ _ _ _ __ exp._ _ Sign.

Calendar Subtotal $- - Colorado residents add 3 % sales tax$- - Shipping (see chart) $ _ __ TOTAL (Make checks payable to USHGA. ) $_ __

MAIL TO: USHGA, PO Box 8300, Colorado Springs CO 80933-8300 Phone: (719) 632-8300 FAX: (719) 632-6417

ST. PAUL, MINN. Another British invasion? The approach is different (than Airwave) but the idea is the same. The UK's "other" glider company, Solar Wings, is testing the waters by working with Tennessee's Hawk Air Sports to import their Rumour glider line. They' 11 start with the Fever model, a 12 square meter (z 130 ft') machine. The first one has arrived and will soon be in Dennis Pagen's hands for a review in HG mag. No other details yet. However, Bruce ~awk -- one of those guys who literally built ' his own training hill near the tourism mecca of Gatlinburg, TN -- has just estab:ished a new training site. He flew the Fever briefly at this facility and says "It is fast, rolls nice, and lands sweet." He adds, "The sail is different from anything here in the States." Gotta have one? Drop a rote to PO Box 9056, Knoxville TN 37940. ,,, A French invasion may follow as La Mouette attempts to penetrate the U.S. market, again ... only this time wi~h wings for powe:ced trikes: specifically, their Ghost model. While the French giant has had mixed success with their free-flight glide:cs, they qualify as one of the world's largest ultralight makers through good success with their trikes. For hang glider pilots, this could mean renewed interest in their aerotug. !

La Mouette (or Cosmos, as their por,.rered company is called) ,,,as arguably the very first to offer aero tor,;ing equipment. · • • After many years in

what Bil: Bennett once derided as their "rabbit warren" factory, Wills Wing has moved into a new building I A timely change of quarters, Wills is also planning a celebration of their 20th anniversary. Besides a "birthday party" on Feb 27th, Wills plans a ten-day period of events, including ICPs for both hang gliding and paragliding plus dealer seminars for each. The festivities are topped off with -- yes, believe it a golf tourney. Most of L1ese are clearly aimed at their dealers, but if you live close enough or are traveling, call Wills for activities that may be open to all pilots. Their new number is 714/998-6359. If you're old enough to enjoy golf, you probably can't remember numbers anymore, so they've created a mnemonic (memory aid) : 714/WW-TO-FLY. , , , In a move that surprised just about everyone, the board of directors of the American Paragliding Ass'n resolved to cease accepting new memberships. They've further asked USHGA to provide their APA members with USHGA paragliding memberships. If USHGA accepts, the 1

APA will dissolve. The paragliding group has recognized that Yoo-shga has more experience to offer and has genuinely tried to assist the fledgling organization. APA is experiencing financial difficulties that threaten its future. The decision will be passed on to the USHGA board of directors by a written ballot on the subject. Watch HG magazine for further details on this development. , , , In a four-page , newsletter that closes with the confident statement "References proudly provided," John Olson of Safari Sky Tours describes his varied trips south of the border. Safari is celebrating their fifth year. Olson changed how these tours were marketed by providing the glider. He formed a working relationship with PacAir whose gliders he supplies exclusively. To get your copy of the mailer, contact his agency, Welcome Aboard Travel (ask for Kim). Call 702/828-4000. Six pilots a week fills the available slots, so act soon to get the time you want. They can help with airfares, too. , , , Want to learn how to take better pictures while hang gliding? Think you'd like to have as many photos published as John Heiney? Maybe you can. Air Time San Francisco will host a Heiney HG photo seminar on February 13-14. Topics will include mounting, exposure, film, and more. Owner Jeff Greenbaum wanted to offer such a service and feels it might result in even better photos in the magazine. Get your pix tix from Jeff: $75 for the two-day, classroom and hands-on seminar (415/759-1177). , · · A couple positive mentions to close. Center of Gravity proprietor, Jay Gianforte reports his harness sales doubled in '92 compared to '91. "More pilots are going to the pod style of harness (CG 1000 and CG 2000), 11 says the New York harness builder. Jay also indicated a high percentage of pilots are asking for his BRS rocket parachute option and he's installed many of them. He's expecting the trend to continue for 1993. · · · Sport Soaring Center in Minneapolis/St. Paul reports an increase of interest in hang gliding from EAA clubs following this year's Oshkosh air show. "This year's flight demonstrations and the repeat presence of a USHGA booth are bringing genuine results, 11 explains co-owner Pat Caulfield. The Twin Cities shop is a dealer and flight school that specializes in platform towing. , , , Out ta room. So, got news or opinions? Send 'em to: 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Fax/Msg to: 612/ 450-0930. Good lift in your New Year... THANKS!

K4- the difference is AIRWAVE

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Airwave K Series K4 - the Airwave team again set the standards. Sporty but friendly handling, powerful performance. 155 sq ft of efficiency for the mid-weight pilot. High performance hang gliding means fast efficient climbs followed by long extended glides . It means leisurely thermalling , ground skimming dives or exhilarating wingovers . With the K4 it ' s all pure enjoyment.

NEWS FLASH! K Series Wins! Owens Valley Pre-Worlds John Pendry K4 155 1st European Championships John Pendry K4 155 1st Region 2 Championships Mark Bennett K4 155 1st Ken Brown K4 155 2nd Reta Schelari K2 145 3rd Torrey Pines Air Races David Smith K3 160 1st Jeff Williamson K2 145 2nd Nathan Welchel K3 160 3rd Don't wait till you've been passed up on your way to cloud base or goal. Hook into the K Series today!

The K4 is a state of the art hang glider which today means not only a high top speed but also an amazingly low stall speed . It means light precise handling combined with co-ordination so good that thermalling becomes a pure delight . It means having an efficient trimmer system which transforms the glider from being docile and easy handling into an out and out racer which will convert that precious altitude into cross country distance fast and efficiently. It means a glider that is light weight for general easy use and for easy transportation . It means a g lider that has been thoroughly tested both for extremes of load and pitch stability plus being comprehensively flight tested. It means a glider built with quality and integrity using the best available materials . It means K4 .

K4 - the essential wing .

Pa c ifi c Airwa v e, 1 083 Madi s on L ane, Sa lina s , California 93907. Phone (408 ) 42 2 -2 299 Fax (408) 7 58 3270