USHGA Hang Gliding October 1994 by US Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association

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na111e ___ ____ _ ___ ______ _ StR€€tabbR€SS _ _ _ _ __ _ __ __ _ __ city _ _ __ _ _ __ state _ _ _ zip _ __ _ MAIL fO: USHGA, PO Box 8300, Colorado Springe; CO 80933-8300 Phone: (719) 632-8300 PAX: (719) 632-6417 •

(USPS 017-970-20 - ISSN 0895-433X)

18 Monsoon-Thee 1994 U.S. Nationals by Pete Lehmann photos by Gerry Charlebois After placing second in both the Nationals and .the Worlds last year, Cluis Arai wins his first contest.

24 Behind The Scenes In Ager, Spain The 1994 Pre-Worlds by Peter Lardner A colorful meet in a colorful place.

35 X-C Flying: Landing In Unfamiliar Territory by Roger L. Ritenour The third and final installment in a series on landing out.

38 Pilot Profile: Samantha Moore by Holly Blumenthal A visit with a member of our 1994 Women's World Team.

42 1994 USHGA Board of Directors Election fill Use the ballot attached to chis issue of the magazine, and don't forget to the questionnaire.

out

Columns

Departments

Accident Reports, by Luen Miller ............9

Airmail ...................................................... .5

AskGeeDub,byG.W.Meadows ........... 16

Update........................................................?

Competition Comer, by Dave Baleria ....28

Calendar ofEvents .....................................8

USHGA Reports ....................................48

Ratings ..................................................... 12

Product Lines, by Dan Johnson ............. 62

Classified Advertising ..............................49 Index to Advertisers .................................54

OCTOBER 1994

GENT FLIGHT COMPUTER - SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER! If you have always wanted to use speedto-fly, now is the time! · The Tangent Flight Computer is a sensitive total energy vario/altimeter . that fully implements the S2F theory, iving the pilot easy-to-use audio feed back. The clear and consistent user interface will have new users going faster and staying higher right out of the box! Until December 31, 1994, Arai Design is offering the Tangent Basic with the upgrade to the Tangent Baro model at the Tangent Basic list price of $1100.00. The Baro model will be avail-

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cross countly flying! Not only for Sky Gods but regular folks too! For complete information about the the Tangent Flight Computer contact: Arai Design

1101 Glendora Avenue Oakland, California 94602 510-531-2261 510-531-5318 fax or ask your dealer.

.JUST

Gil Dodgen, Editor/Art Director John Heiney, Gerry Charlebois, Leroy Grannis Photographers Harry Martin, Illustrator Dennis Pagen, Mark Stucky, G.W. Meadows Staff Writers Tim Rinker, Dave Pounds, Design Consultants Office Staff

Phil Bachman, Executive Director Greg Huller, Ratings & ICP's Jeff Elgart, Advertising D. Dean Leyerle, Insurance & Membership Se1vices Karen Simon, Member Services Marisa Hatton, Merchandise Services USHGA Oft1cers and Executive Committee:

Gregg Lawless, President Jim Zeise!, Vice President Russ Locke, Secretary Bill Bryden, Treasurer REGION 1: Gene Matthews, George Sturtevant. REGION 2: Russ Locke, Ray Leonard, Paul Gazis. REGION 3: Joe Greblo, Sandy King, Gregg Lawless. REGION 4: Glen Nicolet, Jim Zeise!. REGION 6: Ron Kenney. REGION 7: Bill Bryden. REGION 8: Randy Adams. REGION 9: Pete Lehmann, William Bennett. REGION 10: Barbara Flynn, Matt Taber. REGION 11: Jeff Hunt. REGION 12: Paul Voight, Paul Riker!. DIRECTORS AT LARGE: Frank Gillette, Dan Johnson, Jan Johnson, Dennis Pagen, Alan Chuculate. HONORARY DIRECTORS: Ed Pitman, Ken Brown, Doug Hildreth, Tom Kreyche, Mike Meier, Rob Kells, Fred Stockwell, Gregg McNamee, Michael Robertson, Dave Broyles, David Sondergeld, Ken Baier, Marcus Salvemini, Fred Moy, Greg DeWolf. EX-OFFICIO DIRECTORS: Art Greenfield (NM). 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 (FA!), of the world governing body for sport aviation. The NM, which represents the U.S. at FAI meetings, has delegated to the USHGA supervision of FAl-related hang gliding activities such as record attempts and competition sanctions. HANG GLIDING magazine is published for hang gliding sport enthusiasts to create further interest in the sport, 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 organization dedicated to the exploration and promotion of all facets of unpowered ultralight flight, and to the education, training and safety of its memberhip. Membership is open to anyone interested in this realm of flight. Dues for full membership are $54.00 per year (of which $15 goes to the publication of Hang Gliding), ($60 Canada & Mexico, $65 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.

OCTOBER 1994

VOLUME 24, ISSUE No. 10

Air Mail~ NO GLIDER FOR SOMEONE LIKE YOU - UNTIL NOW Dear Editor, In the course of the wondrous evolution of gliders over the last 20 years, and particularly in the last 10, it just may be that we have been inadvertently smothering the interest of new pilots with our fanaticism. Gotta have better glide, higher speed. Don't be a wimp, fly a fast, doublesurface glider that takes two or three times as long to safely learn how to handle. What have I been doing to my students for the last 10 years? What have all of us been doing to "new" pilots and each other? The primary goal of virtually all hang glider pilots is to experience the joy of controlled flight. That's it. All other goals are secondary. With this in mind, let's abolish the term "beginner glider." In fact, there is no such animal. There are, however, gliders that are easy for entry level pilots to get into - gliders which pilots of all skill levels can enjoy if their goal is playing in the air and not showing off. Pilots getting into hang gliding (as well as current pilots) are made to feel second rate if they are not flying the fastest, hottest competition glider around. Yeah, it's fun to get a new glider, but just about all of us could experience a lifetime of growth in any reasonably current glider, and some gliders make that growth easier and more painless. One manufacturer has just released a super-sink-rate, easy-flying glider that is probably the only one available that will allow us to soar out of our training site. Call that a mere beginner glider? It's a great step sideways that just may entice a new crop of pilots into taking up the sport, and simultaneously revitalize some current pilots. (Our daughter, who has hated hang gliders for 20 years and calls herself a hang gliding orphan, has expressed enthusiastic interest after seeing this glider fly.) The glider is the Wills Wing Falcon, and I hope more manufacturers follow suit so we won't become a dying breed. Ben Davidson Winsted, CT

NOT SO BAD AFTER ALL Dear Editor, Okay, I admit it, some of my friends have started flying them bag wings. Some have quit hang gliding altogether in favor of the boneless gliders. Some are even non-hang glider people who learned to fly on a paraglider. Most of them seem seminormal even if they dress a little weird. But when it comes to "true flying," I always tell the wuffos that hang gliding is where it's at, especially when it comes to talcing a tandem ride. Why would anyone want to float around at a snail's pace sitting on the lap of some strangely-attired pilot of questionable reasoning powe1~ when a ride on a "real wing" is available? Yeal1, they do land real nice in a rather small LZ - no running, no whacks, real slow - and they are a little lighter to pack around and easier to set up, but as for me, give me some tubing and battens and cables. That's what I thought until a day last month at Torrey Pines, California. My sister was visiting and needed a diversion. She had suffered an anemysm and stroke a year ago that left her right arm paralyzed and her right leg weakened. Her selfesteem seemed to suffer greatly. I thought that getting out in the sunshine and just watching the spectacle of flight would do her spirits good. After taking a flight I asked Karen what she thought about this flying business, and was surprised to hear her express a desire to take a ride. For Karen, the logistics of getting into a harness and the risks involved in having to run out a landing precluded hang gliding. We watched Alan Chuculate do several tandems on his big paraglider and decided that this was for her. (Alan has a special way with his students.) He discussed the launch and landing with Karen and they decided that a safe flight would be easy. His confidence rubbed off on her and I saw no signs of fear or worry. We got her into the seat/harness and Alan inflated the canopy. I grabbed a piece of webbing and walked them down to launch. As they floated off into the lift I saw the biggest smile on Karen's face I have ever seen. He took her on a grand tour of Torrey, past the mansions and golf course and out over the waves. Every time they crossed launch she would wave and

~ Air Mail smile. It felt great to see her having so much fun. Monte came over to lend a hand when Alan decided to land, and they floated right to us. We caught Karen by the seat and set her down gently. She later told me that if she could do this, she could do a lot of other things she thought were beyond her reach. I agree. Thanks to Alan and Monte and all the pilots who showed Karen a wonderful time. Maybe paragliders are not so bad after all. Brad Hall San Diego, CA

GLIDER ABUSE DENIAL Dear Editor, When I first read Jim Lersch's letter in the September issue accusing me of glider abuse, I was angry. How could a trusted longtime friend say such awful things about me? I was in denial, blaming po01~ innocent Julie Ann for the entire landing. Perhaps I even thought she deserved it for sinking out. But one lonely night, sitting on my couch staring across the room at that bent upright, I came to realize that, yes, I was a glider abuser. It's not easy facing up to such a thing. Many pilots out there have known the shame of their flying friends watching them brutally whack their gliders, sometimes over and over again. How many of us have snuck down to the local shop for repairs, and begged the dealer to "please, keep it quiet"? And so the cycle of glider abuse continues, until the pilot realizes he needs help. I've apologized to Julie Ann, and she's agreed to keep flying with me. (Well, I did have to buy her a new downtube.) I've enrolled in a twelve-step program for recovering nose-pounders and gliderwhompers, and regularly attend local meetings of Whackers Anonymous. And if I ever catch myself thinking, "Ha-ha! I'll land downwind today," I'll remember that old bent downtube, and hang my head in shame. Mark Sawyer Tucson,AZ

UTAH HANG GLIDING RECOMMEND Dear Editor, We are writing to publicly thank a group of people who went out of their way to help us. In June we spent a week vacationing near Salt Lake City, Utah. Of course hang gliding was our focus. The personnel at UP Soaring Center in Draper, Utal1 helped us in every way they could. They provided gliders, shelter, rides, instruction, and most of all friendship. Thank you Dave, Greg, Chris and Fred. We also spent some time in the next valley over with Mark Knowlton of Rebel Wings (where the flying is always better, according to Mark anyway). Like the people at UP, Mark is the salt of the earth and made us feel at home and cared for. Thank you, Mark. We hope to spend more time with you during our next visits to Utah. We all hope to be back soon and recommend that anyone who can look up these two great organizations.

from alongside Highway 50 in Silver Springs, Nevada about two months ago. Today, thanks to the initiative and integrity of these three, I am once again ripping it up in my new glider. Pat Bowen San Francisco, CA

PUBLISHING HANG GLIDING RECORDS Dear Editor, I received the latest Special New Pilot Edition III, and as always I found it to be informative as well as an educational tool for my school. It is my suggestion that in the next issue you have an informational section on hang gliding records that have been set (distance, duration, altitude gain, etc.) I feel that these records are impressive and demonstrate of the possibilities in modern hang gliding, and can inspire enthusiasm for the sport.

Larry Lessard Peter Burghardt Karin Muller Chuck Malloch Tanja Pyles

James Tindle Coconut Grove, FL

THANKS UP INTERNATIONAL

IDAHO OUTBACK FLYING

Dear Editor, Thanks to UP International for resisting the philosophy that new must be better, and refining an already great and proven design, the TRX Race. The TRX is still the world's only carbon fiber hang glider with strength, performance and a safety record that is enviable. Evety time I fly this 61-pound masterpiece I'm smiling from ear to ear!

Dear Editor, I am pleased to report that hang gliding is alive and well in the outback of Idaho. My buddy Deadeye Paul and I recently headed up to Ketchum, Idaho for the flying reputed to be happening there. No sooner did we cruise down the main drag in Haley than we were pulled over by Herr Zipmeister (the local sky dog) and escorted from one bodacious flying site to another. We went to Skyhom, Greenbender and Bell ridge, got our butts kicked all over the sky and enjoyed every second of it. The flying was typical of the Rockies, the hospitality of the locals characteristic of the rural West, and the food (prepared by local pilot and chief Skyman) distinctly above average. The folks up there sure know how to boogie!

Kevin Wright Sonora, CA

GLIDER RECOVERY THANKS Dear Editor, My heartfelt thanks go to Terry Raines, Ray Leonard and Jackie Danskin for their assistance in recovering my stolen RamAir. Someone picked the glider up

Sounds like a good idea for the regular magazine as well - Ed

Scruffy Wherever My Van Is Parked HANG GLIDING

'T'his summer's Norrhwesl EAA Plyheld at the Arlington ;iirficld on July l 0, included for first area dedicated 10 for women in dis

After cmc··and-a--half years, USHGA the publication for hang glidi nst rucrors, is discontinued. it was highly acclaimed it was supported. Shaw and Pat editors and publishers, com-ment that production is being suspended until US! !CA instructors become orga-nizcd enough to s11ppon an independent '] say that the expcrimem and rcsul1s were worthwhile, however,

and much bas been learned in the last two years about flying skills and die foor--launch comrnuniry, the panel was set up, so tbe hang and para ladies did nor have an opportunity to speak to the aml!encc of about 200. Having a set up in front oF the booth was a big attention-getter, however. After the panel the women

aviarorn and the wives and kids of the male power pilots were thrilled to have the opportunity to pick up and glider. thanks to the s1aff at US HCA f<Jr providing an of posters, buttons, brochures, videos and banners on very shon noricc. 'l'he USI ICA table was staffed by Michelle Leialoha with expert assistance from John Socha nnd Region I I )irector Sturtevant, while Sturtevant did the demos our in from of the hangar. Woman Pilot would like ro invite anyone women arc phying in aviation to subscribe. It is published birnomhly, and consists of articles events and ro women who fly.

include a Mcel and a

011

issues will

the Women's World on women m

'fo send a check I G payable to Woman Pilot, EO. Box L3T7, Mercer fsland, WA 98040 13 77. J;or more information con tact Bobbi publisher, at the above address, or call (i4 J .j5G<i.

0CTOlllR 1 994

instruction. The pllblishcrs

their appreciation for the support the "home office" which made Instructor a reality,

and

Three hundred exhibitors and more than 50 new aircrafr will highlight AOPA Expo AOPA's annual general aviation exposition, over the Octohcr I 2:3 weekend in Palm California. The 60,000-square--foot exhibit hall will foaturc the latest aviation ucts and technology, and more than 7,000 pilots, fornily and friends arc to attend.

In addition, attorney E Lee Bailey and AOPA Prcsidcm Phil Boyer will report on the significance of AOPA's recent product li:1hili1y (Product

liahilit y lawsuits have virtually paralyzed general aviation in recent For more information on AOPA Expo '9,1 call 1-800-9,12./,269.

hope to keep the ball rolling.

Miami Cliding is now manufocrnring what foci is the com mcrcial float sys1cm for hang gliders. 'The float system docs away with the tail float, enabling high nose angle landings. This means that a tandem instructor or stu· dent can land a hang glider over water as over land. The sysrcm can adapted to any currcmly n1,111ufacturcd hang glider and has a rag oC Contact: Miami Gliding, 2640 S. Bayshore Bldg. l, Floor, Coconur Grove, FL 33133 005) 285 8978 (James Tindle).

'rlie Pree Flight Pcdcration of Puerto Rico reports that hang glider pilot Ricky Rojas recently set a record by flying /iii .'l miles 7 miles more than the island is wide). Puerto Rico is the smallest oft he greater Antilles, and is the home of million inhabitants. For I he past two years, the hce Might Federation has been successfully promo1ing the sport and garnering media attention. The most impressive achievcrncm, is that they have had no fatalities! Their best fly ing season is January to March and arc planning a fly--in for next year. This year reported thermals in the 1,000 to I ,GOO fprn range on good and they hope ro eventually fly 1hc entire length of the island (I miles) with rhc help of the easterly rrade winds which arc for the route. The scenery in this country is reputed robe breathtaking. If' you arc interested in Puerto Rican hang gliding contact: Fcdcraci6n de Vuclo Libre de Puerto Rico, Inc., 2009 I;ray Cranach, El Schorial, Rio Plcdras, Puerto Rico 00926, tel. (809) fox (809) 727-0717.

Im Calendar of Events Calendar of events items WILL NOT be listed if only tentative. Please include exact information (event, date, 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 Oct. 15: 1994 Montana Cross Counny Challenge. Entry $15 includes T-shirt, log book, newsletter and prizes. For application call or write Roger Lockwood, P.O. Box 234, Fort Benton, MT 59442 (406) 622-5677. Until Dec. 1: 1994 Region 9 Yearlong X-C Contest. Recognizes the longest flights flown in the Region between Feb. 1 and Dec. 1. $5 entry fee. Contact: Pete Lehmann (412) 661-3474 (before 9:00 PM), fax 3436. Oct. 1: Parachute Clinic. Learn to deploy/repack your chute. $49. Oct. 8: Assisted Windy CliffLaunch Clinic for AWCL Special Skills checkoff. $15. Oct. 15: Glider Tuning & Maintenance Clinic. $25. Oct. 15-16: Airwave Vision Classic and Pacific Airwave Demo Days. Fun competition, open to all Vision-series gliders (Visions, Eclipses, Mark IVs, Pulses). Oct. 22-23: Aero Towing Clinic for AT Special Skills checkoff. Three tows to 3,000 feet (tow release and tow bridle provided). $79 (Aero Tow Club members $49). Oct. 29: Lookout Mountain Halloween Party. Free catered dinner and key party in LZ. Costume judging 9:00 PM. Prizes. Contact: Lookout Mountain Flight Park (near Chattanooga), (706) 398-3541. Oct. 1-2: 8th Annual Gmy Lagrone

Memorial Fly-In andfond raiserfor Save The Children, Point of the Mtn., UT. Competition events for both hang glider and paraglider pilots. Class 1 and Hang II pilots welcome. Events include barbecue both Sat. and Sun. afternoons, live band, and awards for first three places in all events. Prizes for all registered pilots. All proceeds go to Save The Children Foundation in memory of Gary Lagrone. Registration fee $30, includes long-sleeve shirt or sweatshirt. Contact:

Valerie Carroll, 11982 S. 700 W., Draper, UT 84020 (801) 572-5869. Oct. 7-9: October's Best Fly-In, sponsored by Sauratown Mountain Hang Gliding Club in North Carolina. This site was featured in the May '94 site report article. Entry fee is $35 which includes a Tshirt and dinner Friday night. First place cash prizes of $50 in open distance X-C, duration and spot landing competition. Don't miss "June Bug's" Famous Barbecue dinner Saturday night. Contact: Joel Godin (910) 983-4253, Jeff Reynolds (910) 994-9575 or Ken Frampton (919) 220-1273. Oct. 8-10: Alabama X-C Fly-In at Rocket Ciry Airsports, Keel Mountain, Gurley, Alabama. Prizes for out-and-return, spot landing, longest X-C, etc. $30 entry fee includes games for the family, free camping, cookout, T-shirt, great prizes and fun flying. Contact: Alex Harris (205) 290-8120 or alexh@asgjv.com on the Internet. Oct. 9-15: 1994 South African Nationals, Hartebeespoort Dam (70 km from Johannesburg). Race-to-goal tasks (triangles and out--and-return). 35-mm camera required. Camping, hotels and chalets. Hang III or better. Contact: Laura Nelson 27-11-609-1678, or Keith Turner 27-11-673-1184 (home) 7162535 (work). Oct. 15-16: Tut's Mountain Hang Gliding Extravaganza, Clayton, GA. Bring the whole family to our 20th annual event. $1,000/day prize purse with no enny fees. Includes free barbecue lunch and limited deluxe accommodations, cooking facilities, pool table and ping-pong. Transportation from the LZ back to launch without breaking your glider down. Prize competition for flight duration, spot landings, most flights and the famous "Myste1y Pilot" awards. Event includes Tut's exotic animal preserve, live cultural demonstrations. Contact: Doug Lawton (706) 947-3133 or Tut's Mountain (800) 621-1768. Oct. 15-16: Vision Classic. Contact: Lookout Mountain Flight Park (near

Chattanooga, TN) (706) 398-3541. Oct. 22-23: Vision Classic. Contact: Kitty Hawk Kites (919) 441-4124. Oct. 27-31: Wills Wing Demo Days. Test fly the latest WW gliders. Free clinics. X-C clinic with Larry Tudor, launch and landing clinic, parachute seminar (throw and repack, $30). Oct. 29: LMFP Halloween Party in the Lookout Mtn. LZ. Catered dinner and costume party. Contact: Lookout Mountain Flight Park (near Chattanooga) (706) 398-3541. Oct. 29-30: Pacific Airwave demo weekend with Miami Hang Gliding. Contact: (305) 285-8978. Nov. 5: Parachute Clinic. Learn to deploy/repack your chute. $49. Nov. 12: Assisted Windy CliffLaunch Clinic for AWCL Special Skills checkoff. $15. Nov. 19-20: Aero Towing Clinic for AT Special Skills checkoff. Three tows to 3,000 feet (tow release and tow bridle provided). $79 (Aero Tow Club members $49). Contact: Lookout Mountain Flight Park (near Chattanooga), (706) 398-3541. Nov. 12-19: 10th Annual International Hang Gliding Championships, La Rioja, Argentina. $100 entry includes transportation and retrieval, $1,500 in prize money. Contact: 54-822-25357 (fax), 54-822-23139 or 2773 7 (phones). Dec. 28-Jan. 5, 1995: Bogong Cup, Northeast Victoria, Australia. Mount Emu, Tawonga, Mt. Buffalo. X-C with photo turnpoints, timed launch and goal. Entry $120 by Oct. 31. Contact: 010-61-57-573-172 (phone), 010-6157-571-268 (fax). Jan. 17-26, 1995: Forbes Flatlands 1995

(including Australian Nationals). Registration and practice Jan. 15-16. Entry $150 before Nov. 30, $165 after. Minimum four paid entries per team. Intermediate and Advanced pilots welcome. Contact: Forbes Flatlands, c/o Jenny Ganderton and Len Paton, "Boganol," Henry Lawson Way, Forbes NSW 2871, phone/fax 61-68-537220. HANG GLIDING

Accident Reports by Luen Miller, USHGA Accident Review Chainnan JOHN BENTEL FATALITY UPDATE Pilot: Age: Rating: Experience:

Glider: Location:

Event: Injuries:

John Bente!

26 Hang IV Flying for about five years, "very experienced," "good, safe, conservative pilot," "moderate cross-country experience" Wills Wing HP AT 145 About two miles west of Adel, Oregon (17 miles ease of Lakeview) Suspected tumble, failed ballistic deployment Fatal, neck

The pilot was soaring downwind close to launch and had radioed that he was at

13,000 feet and unsure of what direction to take. He was instructed to continue following a highway, but to stay away from a steep gorge the road dropped into. His chase vehicle didn't hear from him again. He was found the next day on a small, flat plateau along the canyon. The pilots who found him felt that the close distribution of loose wreckage indicated a low tumble. The leading edges were broken just outside of the crossbar brackets and the control frame was intact and undamaged, evidence of a "classic and ferocious catastrophic negative structural failure," according to the glider's manufacturer. The deployment system was a sidemounted Second Chantz Pocket Rocket. The rocket and apical parachute cord were wrapped around one of the luff lines near the kingpost, and the parachute shroud lines were wrapped and twisted into "an impossibly complicated knot" around a lower side wire. The bridle was still Sturned in the chest-mounted chute container with the restraining rubber bands still in position, and the pilot was found with the shroud lines in his hands. He had died of a broken neck. The pilot was still OCTOBER 1994

zipped up in his harness when found, indicating that he hadn't planned on immediately landing when he was tumbled.

ANALYSIS This was a pilot with a reputation for conservative flying. John was the only pilot to attempt to fly cross-country that day. He may have flown into a rotor, since he was found a couple of hundred yards from the edge of a steep canyon, but thermal turbulence is also a possibility. Conditions were described as "hot, blustery and thermally, with winds of 5-20 mph on launch." The accident site was "not a place I would want to try to land, if possible," according to one rescuer, as it was the only flat place nearby, not very large, and very close to Lynch's Rim, a thousand-foot vertical sheer wall. His fellow pilots theorize that John was scratching low and was hit with severe turbulence, tumbling the glider. There are other events that might conceivably have led to this incident, including inversion, followed by partial deployment, then the tumbling/spinning of the glider. In the absence of witnesses, and pending a more thorough analysis of the wreckage, a tumble is still the strongest possibility. John may have been trying to follow his instructions and stay with the road but stay out of the canyon, and may have simply worked the edge of the plateau until he was too low and too close to the rim. Any wind or drifting thermal, coming from the southwest through the south and around to the northeast, would have been capable of producing a rotor because of its proximity to the sharp cliff edge. The shear, dark, south-facing slope would have probably been producing strong thermals around the time John is presumed to have had his accident. Turbulent air from convergence is possibly a regular phenomenon in the Adel area. Doug Hildreth, a Rogue Valley Hang

Gliding Association member, has flown the Lakeview area for years. When I spoke with him about the accident he mentioned that he and other RVHGA pilots had on several occasions run into very strong turbulence near Adel, including one instance in which he was forced to land because it had clearly become dangerous. In summer, the Warner Mountains seem to be a battleground for weather from the Shasta area (predominantly from the southwest), the Klamath Falls area (predominantly northwest), and the high desert (winds usually from the southeast). While based on anecdotal evidence, the recommendations of the local pilots should be respected: the possibility of convergence turbulence from masses stabilized or moving along the Warner Crest, Lynch's Rim or Abert Rim should be anticipated by all pilots flying near these sites.

FIFTH FATALITY Pilot: Age: Event: Rating: Experience:

Glider: Location:

Injuries:

Dean Gonzalez 36 Pilot clipped a tree, stalled, and plunged onto a road Hang III Flying for three years, "flew every weekend, and during the week if he could," second competition UPTRX Meadow below Mt. Princeton launch, Colorado (near Salida) Fatal, ruptured aorta

A pilot new to competition, flying during the Nationals, launched into mild conditions and worked low enough into a canyon that he was unable to penetrate to the primary landing zone. He flew crosswind along the downwind side of a large meadow until he was almost into the trees, then suddenly initiated a right turn. The glider hit its right wing, well inboard from the tip, on a 40-foot conifer five feet or less from the top. The glider stalled and dove hard onto an asphalt road below. The pilot had unzipped his harness in flight and both legs were out at the time of impact. He had no pulse and was not breathing when reached. He received CPR within

11 Accident Reports two minutes and professional emergency care within a couple of minutes more, but rescuers were unable to revive him.

ANALYSIS A non-pilot witness who lives at the scene observed the entire incident. He described the glider as "coming down fast, then, a hundred feet up he pitched down and dropped about 40 to 60 feet and started to turn to the right" (the only direction available). The pilot was described as flying very steadily, and not oscillating or moving around. The description paints a scenario of the pilot finding that he had flown himself into a corner, with absolutely no way to reach the next field, then either experiencing turbulence before initiating his turn or pulling in for speed and trying to execute a sharp turn back to the field he had just left. In either event, given his altitude and direction, by the time he started his dive he was probably out of all options except for a tree landing. A pilot flying above Dean at the time of the accident said, "The air was [somewhat] rough, as we were getting rotored from the north wind dumping over the mesa above us to the north ... but conditions at landing weren't that bad. It is possible that Dean was trying to make it to the larger, more open field to the east, but encountered sink or didn't notice the rise of the land ... When I turned into the wind [on approach] I just parked and went down. I had to stuff it to make it over some lines to the next meadow beyond Dean's. There was absolutely no way he could have made the next field from his altitude ... I saw him and thought, 'Where are you going? What are you doing?' There was just no way." This pilot, who rode to launch with the victim one day, found him to have an aggressive "gung ho" attitude. There is the possibility that the pilot was pushing it because of the competition, maybe trying to fly as far as possible for maximum points. This accident is virtually identical to one which occurred late last year. While the immediate cause of the fatality is evident, the choices that led up to it are not. As in many accidents, this one probably

was the result of a series of "unconservative" decisions: the pilot worked himself too low to make his primary LZ, then passed up an easy secondary LZ to try for another he couldn't reach. Had he either bailed out at a higher altitude or chosen sooner to land in the meadow once he found himself low, this incident might have been a non-event. I think the prevention of future accidents like this one will be quite difficult. It will depend on pilots being able to develop a good flight plan and follow it. It will also depend on pilots being able to recognize early that they have made a mistake in judgment and need to follow a conservative plan to rectify the situation. I am open to suggestions as to how to bring about improvement in this area. Offhand I would recommend a "flight procedures check" by pilots already flying, and attention to flight plans and flight procedures by instructors with students in training.

SUMMARY The only good that will ever come from our fatalities is improvement in our sport resulting from those accidents. As I wrote to the pilot who first reported this latest accident to me: "Sure, you can learn how to do turns and good landings, but assessing weather, objectively judging your own abilities, and making [critical] decisions are all things you will never do perfectly. I am very sorry about the death of your friend. If it gives you second thoughts about how and why you fly, good. An incident like this illustrates the point that when faced with a decision, pilots will often make the wrong one. "We need to develop procedures that help us make the right decisions, and hardware that helps us live through the wrong ones."

Tumbling Gliders and Failed Parachute Deployments OFFICIALLY REPORTED TUMBLES: 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994

no record no record no record no record no record 1 (fatal) 0 1 (fatal) 1 (fatal) 0 ~ 17 (1 fatal) 14 9 15 3 2 0 3 0 10 (1 fatal)

After I received the reports on John Bemel's death, I began researching reported tumbles and deployments. Since I don't have a 20-year-high stack of Hang Gliding issues, I had to search the annual summaries, starting with the first annual Accident Report by R.V Wills (1974). While I knew that dialogue had already started on the issue (Bob Ormiston, Steve Pearson, Mitch McAleer and others), I figured that I should do my job ("accident review") and look at the record on tumbles and deployments to try to identify a trend and make recommendations from what I found. Since early reports included events from all parts of the world, and ultralight accidents as well, I decided to limit the search to non-powered incidents occurring in the U.S., which is the type of data we currently collect. My search was impressively unproductive. There were very few tumbles described in the early days, since the phenomenon was almost certainly not as common and was poorly reported when observed. In HANG GLIDING

Accident Reports addition, the only early accidents I had figures for were the fatal ones. There are a few incidents described as "outside loops" which might qualify, along with some later occurrences simply described as "glider tumbled." Almost all seemed to be the end result of the rightly-feared, high speed "full luff dive." Through 1983 tumbles were rarely mentioned. Some years did not have a single incident that might qualify. However, when I got to 1984, I abruptly came across the following from Doug Hildreth: "There were 17 instances [this year] in which gliders assumed attitudes not planned for or approved ofby their pilots. Most of these were tucks/rumbles, with a few dives, rolls and slips. Eight of these were aerobatically induced ... Whereas aerobatics and strong weather are the precipitating factors, no glider has been immune to tumbling or breaking. Relatively few of these incidents have been reported to me in the past, and this year I received only seven, until Mike Meier of Wills Wing made available his entire file. His generosity is greatly appreciated and I encourage other manufacturers to join the cooperative effort." I called Doug Hildreth about the puzzling lack of reports since then. "Pilots turned in accident reports on about 14 tumbles 1984, but none in 1991 or 1993? Only two tumbles were reported in 1989 and one in 1990? How could there be such a huge discrepancy from year to year?" I inquired. "Simply because no one turns anything in," he replied, with some amusement. "Partly, people are either embarrassed or don't think the incidents are important. I think most of the reason is that when one of these things occurs, the glider or parachute manufacturer gets a call from the pilot either congratulating them on their fine product or demanding an explanation of why their glider broke or parachute failed to deploy. Then that's the end of the process. The manufacturer never releases the information, the pilot assumes that the 'report' has been filed, and we never learn of it." Since we have no reliable statistics on any historical trend, the best historical information will probably come from Mike Meier's tumble survey. What would have happened if we had OCTOBER 1994

been able to objectively chart the increase in tumbles as wingspans increased and pitch stability decreased? Would we have addressed this problem more aggressively a decade ago? Would we now have gliders that rarely tumbled and didn't break when they did? I humbly request, if you tumble or know of a tumble, please turn in a brief description of it. Make it anonymous if you want, include as much or as little as you feel like (date and site, at a minimum, to prevent duplication of reports), but please at least report it. With some reliable numbers we might be able to see some meaningful trends, and improve our gliders and our flying. k for parachutes, I recommend Betty Pfeiffer's articles in the July and August issues of Hang Gliding. The BRS sidebar in the July issue brings up important points for owners of ballistic systems. In light of failed deployments of all types over the past couple of years, it seems apparent that while they are the best now available, we pilots are not being adequately served by any of the deployment systems we have. In my view, parachutes should successfully extend and inflate at least 99% of the time. Ballistic systems need handles which are more easily accessible to pilots in desperate situations. The projectile/parachute/bridle combination somehow needs to clear its container and the glider much more reliably. Can we find some way to keep the hand-thrown chutes from falling below or into the glider? Ballistic systems have the potential of overcoming the failings of hand systems, but from the record the only thing that can't be argued is that we need to improve all methods of deployment. In talking to various manufacturers and experts in the field, I was presented with some interesting ideas: glider-mounted systems firing backward in line with the keel, some sort of drogue chute to orient the tumbling or broken glider and prevent the parachute from getting wrapped up, or reassessing the mortar sequence of deployment (bridle first instead of apex first). Parachute problems might need to be addressed in a more comprehensive manner. Shouldn't we be considering whole parachute/glider systems instead of just treating parachutes as an add-on accessory? I would like to see pilots, glider manufac-

turers, and parachute and parachute deployment system manufacturers come together on all of the parachute issues: hand versus rocket, harness mount versus keel mount, air versus rocket versus mortar, apex first versus bridle first, firing angle, etc. The current probability of successful inflation is, to me, still far too low. I would like to hear what level of faith pilots have in their individual parachute systems. Changes are on the horizon; new approaches are already being considered. However, since I don't think we can expect immediate improvement when it comes to deployment, I think a review of the reported incidents shows that in almost all instances the pilots would have been quite happy to have had a second parachute, especially if it deployed differently from the first.

PARACHUTE DEPLOYMENTS (accidental deployments included) Successful 197 4 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994

Unsuccessful

not recorded not recorded 0 8-10? 0 0 0 11 7 11 17 24 11 18 6 5 15 10 6 6 4

0 "afew" 0 0 1 0 2 1 2 1 5 0 0 1 2 0 2 8

Note: Of the 1994 successful deployments, one was ballistic, two were "unintentional hand," and one is currently unknown. Of the unsuccessful events, four were ballistic and three were hand. One is currently unknown.

II Ratings SAFE PILOT AWARDS GOLD ALLEN AHL

LILIENTHAL AWARDS BRONZE CHARLES S PARK, JR JEFF WILSON

X-CFLIGHT AWARDS 50MILES EDDIE ROBB

JOO MILES BILL DEGEN (143 miles) EDDIE ROBB (110 miles) DAYID ROBINSON (109 miles) DENNIS THORPE (130 miles)

150MILES MICHAEL CHAMPLIN (160 miles) RAMYYANETZ (157.5 miles)

BEGINNER RATINGS PILOT: City, State; Instructor/School Region 1 CROSS, SCOTT: Anchorage, AK; J. Egger/Aeroquest NORTON, BRUCE: Seattle, WA; W. Roberrs/Southern Oregon HG SKIRVIN, JEREMIAH: Spokane, WA; L. Strom/Spokane Air Craft Region 2 DALCANTO, RICHARD: Stanford, CA; T. Cadora/Mission Soaring FALLANT, RALPH: Redwood City, CA; R. Engorn/Mission Soaring JONES, MICHAEL: Auburn, CA; G. Hamilron/Sacramento HG KLEIN, DAYID: El Cerrito, CA; G. Andronaco/Berkeley HG KUHLMANN, NEIL: Hayward, CA; T. Cadora/Mission Soaring LEE, JON: San Jose, CA; T. Cadora/Mission Soaring LIKOUT, KEN: Twain Harte, CA; K. Wright/Wright Bros MOELLER, WILLIAM: San Jose, CA; N. Whelchel TOYER, GARY: Castle AFB, CA; K. Wright/Wright Bros VANDERWERF, BRIAN: Los Altos Hills, CA; T. Cadora/Mission Soaring YOUNG, TIMOTHY: Haywood, CA; T. Cadora/Mission Soaring Region 3 BLOOM, PHILL: Woodland Hills, CA; J. Greblo/Windspsorrs Int'! BLOOM, KATHE: Woodland Hills, CA; A. Beem/Windsports Inc'! EDMUNDS, BOB: Fresno, CA; A. Beem/Windsports Int'! ELLENBERG, BOB: Los Angeles, CA: A. Beem/Windsports Int'! HERBERT, JOSEPH: Tucson, AZ: A. Beem/Windsports Int'! HUNT, MARK: Goleta, CA; R. Brown/Foot Launched Flight MARTYN, JIM: Haiku, HI; A. Engert/HG Maui McGRADY, MICHAEL: Newbury Park, CA; R. Brown/Foot Launch Flight PAUTLER, CHRIS: Orange, CA; R. Pelletier/Flight Systems STRACHAN, MARK: Thousand Oaks, CA; F. Vachss/Ventura County HG Region 4 BERRY, SCOTT: Tempe, AZ; R. DeStephens/Zonie HG COUTO, GILL: Tempe, AZ; R. DeStephens/Zonie HG FARRER, DAVID: Salr Lake City, UT; T. Webster/Up Soaring GEBERT, GLENN: Wellsville, UT; G. Pollock/Wasatch Wings GRITTON, HOWARD: Salt Lake City, UT; G. Pollock/Wasatch Wings HANSEN, TIM: Toole, UT; M. Knowlden Sr./Rebel Wings LOWRIE, AL: Cortez, CO; R. Whitley/Gunnison Gliders MELANEY, CHARLES: Gallup, NM; C. Woods/Up over NM MISTRETTA, MICHAEL: Albuquerque, NM; M. Glantz/High Desert

Region 7 DeSOTO, LAURA: Champaign, IL; G. Pollock/Wasatch Wings DeSOTO, STEWART: Champaign, IL; G. Pollock/ Wasatch Wings DVORAK, ANDREW: West Chicago, IL; B. Hightower/Kitty Hawk Kites DVORAK, BILL: West Chicago, IL; B. Hightower/Kitty Hawk Kites JACOBSON, RON: New Berlin, WI; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP MAYBURY, CHRIS: Troy, MI; H. Cartmill/Skywings MOORE, JEFF: Crown Point, IN; J. Tindle/Miami HG THOMPSON, LARRY: Fort Wayne, IN; D. Jones/Lookout Mtn FP Region 8 FORTGANG, ADAM: Simsbury, CT; K. Immordino/Kitty Hawk Kites GAINES, SEAN: Montague, MA;]. Nicolay/Morningside FP HABCHI, BOUTROS: Quincy, MA; D. Baxter/Morningside FP HABCHI, KHALIL: Quincy, MA; D. Baxter/Morningside FP HERTER, ERIK: Ossipee, NH; D. Baxter/Morningside FP LIEDTHE, MICHAEL: Mirror Lake, NH; D.Baxter/Morningside FP ROSE, DANIEL: Sudbury, MA; D. Baxter/Morningside FP SCOTT, JOSEPH: West Islip, NY; D. Baxter/Morningside FP SMITH, MARK: Hampton, NH; D. Baxter/Morningside FP SYLVESTER, HOWIE: South Boston, MA; D. Baxter/Morningside FP TRUDEAU, GARY: Cheshirp, MA; R. Hastings/Morningside FP Region 9 DROPPA, TIM: Skaneateles, KY; G. Thornton/Kitty Hawk Kites GOULD, EMIL: Arlington, VA; J. Middleton/Silver Wings HADDOCK, JENNIFER: Bowie, MD; G. Thornton/Kitty Hawk Kites HAZEN, CHRISTIAN: Annapolis, MD; B. Hagewood/Kitty Hawk Kites HOLUPKA, ANDREW: Leechburg, PA;]. Hostler/Mm Top Rec KANE, KATHLEEN: Doylestown, PA; G. Thornton/Kitty Hawk Kites LACKEY, GERALD: Chesterland, OH; J. Whittle/Kitty Hawk Kites MARTINZ, PETER: Orlando, FL; B. Flynn/Central Florida Flyers OTOOLE, KATHLEEN: Lemont, PA; M. Jones/Florida HG Inc OKA, THOMAS: Cincinnati, OH; M. Jones/Florida HG Inc ROSENBERY, DAYID: Strafford, PA; B. Umstattd/Sky High SLOCUM, JACK: Troy, PA; R. Clark/Susquehanna FP THOMAS, JEFFREY: Asheville, NC; B. Weaver/Kitty Hawk Kites WOODS, SETH: Locust Grove, VA; D. Glover/Flying Humans \VOODS, JONATHAN: Locust Grove, VA; D. Glover/Flying Humans Region 10 ALICEA, PETER: Gurabo, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports BETRON, BRIAN: W Palm Beach, FL; J. Tindle/Miami HG BOCCHECIAMP, VICTOR: Bayamon, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports COLON, KEVIN: Rio Piedras, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsporrs CRESPO WILLIAM: Vega Alta, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports CRUZ, JOSE: Rio Piedras, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports CUSHING, STEVEN: Atlanta, GA; C. Thoreson/Lookout Men FP DIAZ, JOSE: Canovannas, PR; R. Rojas/Carribean Airsports DILAN, HECTOR: Carolina, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports FORTUIN, JOHN: Miami Beach, FL; F. Foti/Miami HG FRAN QUIZ, NELSON: San Juan, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports KAWUWANG, ERNEST: Fort Lauderdale, FL; J. Tinlde/Miami HG KIMBRELL, RICHARD: Middleburg, FL; M. Jones/Florida HG LAWERENCE, PAUL: Denver, NC; B. Steele MALONEY, ROBERT: Auburndale, FL; M. Jones/Florida HG MILLER, RAY: Tampa, FL; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP MOLINA, MIGUEL: Carolina, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports MORALES, JOSE: Cayey, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports MOSSCROP, ILIJA: North Bay Village, FL; J. Tindle/Miami HG O'FARRILL, OMAR: Trujillo Alto, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports PONT, FERNANDO: Bayamon, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports RADKE, DAYID: Lyndhurst, OH; B. Brian/Kitty Hawk Kites ROBERTS, RICK: Gainsville, FL; G. McNamee/Graybird Airspts Inc ROGERS, TONY: Boynton Beach, FL; R. Hastings/Morningside FP RUMPH, ROBERT: San Juan, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports SANTIAGO SR, ALBERTO: Salinas, PR; R. Rojas/Carribean Airsporrs SAUTIAGO, ALBERTO: Salinas, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports SAUTIAGO, RICARDO: Salinas, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports SNYDER, KARL: Raleigh, NC; T. Hager/Lookout Mtn FP TIRADO, HECTOR: Canovanas, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports WALDROP, KARIN: Gainsville, FL; J. Hooks/Lookout Mtn FP

HANG GLIDING

Ratings

Region 11 CASTALDO, DOMENICO: Galveston, TX;]. Hum/Reel River Aircraft CURRIE, STUART: Austin, TX; J. Hum/Reel River Aircraft McCUSKER, THOMAS: Corpus Christi, TX; J. Hum/Red River Aircraft WENGER, DOUGLAS: Dallas, TX; D. Broyles/Kite Enterprises WEST, BLAKE: Austin, Tx; J. Hum/Reel River Aircraft

WALCH, PETER: Aspen, CO; K. Ostraancler/Aspen Aero Sports WILLIAMS, STEVE: Tempe, AZ; S. Mish/Banclito Action Sports

Region 12 COLLINS, KEVIN: Rye, NY; B. Weaver/Kitty Hawk Kites FIGLER, BRUCE: Pleasanton, NY; D. Baxter/Morningside FP HIGGINS, JAMES: Cmchogue, NY; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP KENYON, BRUCE: Wayland, NY; D. Jewell/The Flight Works SABO, LARRY: Hopatcong, NJ; K. Gooclspeecl/Fly High Sky School SPYROPOVLOS, CHRYSANTHE: New York, NY; D. Baxter/Mornigsicle FP TUCKER, MARK: New York, NY; B. Weaver/Kiry Hawk Kites

Region 7 BOWEN, GLENN: St. Paul Park, MN; B. Kushner/Raven Sky Sports BREITZMANN, JEFF: Superior, WI; B. Kushner/Raven Sky Sports CURLEY, JULIE: \)(Thitewater, WI; B. Kushner/Raven Sky Sports DRABEK, RICH: McHenry, IL; B. Kushner/Raven Sky Spores GILETTE, RHANOR: Urbana, IL; B. Kushner/Raven Sky Sports GOYKE, GREG: Palatine IL; B. Kushner/Raven Sky Sports LAING, CHARLIE: Sycamore, IL; B Kushner/Raven Sky Sports NIELSEN, PAMELA: Warrenville, IL; B. Kushner/Raven Sky Sports OVIEDO, MATIAS: Chicago, IL; B. Kushner/Raven Sky Sports ROSS, NICHOLAS: Evergreen Park, IL; B. Kushner/Raven Sky Sports SANDAGER, KRIS: New Hope, MN; B. Kushner/Raven Sky Sprots SEELHOFF, ERIC: Aurora, IL; B. Kushner/Raven Sky Sports THOMPSON, LARRY: Ft. Wayne, IN; A. Bloodworth/Lookout Mm FP

NOVICE RATINGS PILOT: City, State; Instructor/School Region 1 BEST, DAVID: Kirkland, WA; C. Blackwell/Payallup HG CRAIG, SCOTT: Seattle, WA; C. Blackwell/Payallup HG GLYDER, HAN: Portland, OR; J. Asher/Endless Thermal HERNANDEZ, DIEGO: Portland, OR; J. Asher/Endless Thermal NORTON, BRUCE: Seattle, WA; W. Robercs/Sourhern Oregon HG SZYMANSKI, MIKE: Bellerrie, WA; C. Blackwell/Payallup HG Region 2 CHAMBERLAIN, MARSH: San Carlos, CA; G. Pornaras/Mission Soaring DUNCAN, DONALD: San Jose, CA; D. Yont/Mission Soaring DUNTON, YVONNE: San Francisco, CA; A. Whitehill/Chanclelle GUROVICH, IGOR: San Francisco, CA; A. Whitehill/Chanclelle HAYWOOD JR, JOHN: Madera, CA; K. Wright/Wright Bros McKENNA, GREG: Morgan Hill, CA; J. Wooclwarcl/Narural Flying McRAE, BRIAN: Santa Margarita, CA; S. Kurth/Air Navrico MORRIS, MARK: San Jose, CA; A. Whitehill/Chanclelle OLLING, CLIFF: Sausalaito, CA; A. Whitehill/Chanclelle SF PESSLEY, PETER: S San Francisco, CA; A. Whirehill/Chanclelle REID, STEVE: San Jose, CA; D. Yount/Mission Soaring Center STEWART, EDWARD: Menlo Park, CA; D. Yant/Mission Soaring TOURDO, STEVE: Corre Manclera, CA; R. Palmon/Skys The Limit WARNER, DIRK: Carrelain Bay, CA; R. Leonarcl/Aclventure Sports Region 3 BELTRAN, GINO: Santa Fe Springs, CA; A. Beem/Winclsporrs Int'l BLOOM, PHIL: Woodland Hills, CA; G. Reeves/Windsporrs lnt'l COURTNEY, ROBERT: Sama Monica, CA; A Beem/Winclsporrs Intl EBINUMAA, OSAMU: Los Angeles, CA; A. Beem/Winclsporcs Inr'l ELLETT, EMILY: Topanga, CA; A. Beam/Winclsports lnt'l ELLETT, GAYLE: Topanga, CA; A. Beam/Winclsporcs Int'l FINGERSON, ROB: San Louis Obispo, CA; S. Kurth/Air Navtico KELLY, MICHAEL: Sama Barbara, Ca; R Brown/Foor Launched Flight MARTYN, JIM: Haiku, HI; A. Engert/HG Maui MYRTLE, TIM: Manhatan Bch, CA; A Beem/Winclsporrs Int'! STRACHAN, MARK: Thousand Oaks, CA; F. Vachss/Ventura County HG Region 4 BORST, ROCH: Lakewood, CO; B. Faris/Front Range HG CONRAD, JON: Lakewood, CO; M. Windsheimer/Golden Wings Inc CROWLEY, BOB: Tucson, AZ; E. Smith/Arizona Airfoils DIEGEL, PAUL: Flagstaff, AZ; S. Mish/Banclito Action Sports FURAUS, MARK: Ft. Collins, CO; B. Faris/Front Range HG GRITTON, HOWARD: Salt Lake City, UT; G. Pollock/Wasatch Wings HEBL, MARC: Tucson, AZ; E. Smith/Arizona Airfoils LOWRIE, AL: Cortez, CO; R. Whirley/Gunnison Gliders McEWEN, JIM: Layton, UT; M. Knowlclen Sr/Rebel Wings MISTRETTA, MICHAEL: Albuquerque, NM; M. Glentz/High Desert HG PARK, CHARLES: Tucson, AZ; E. Smith/Arizona Airfoils PRITCHETT, TINA: Holladay, UT; G. Pollock/ Wasatch Wings SODERSTROM, JENNIFER: Phoenix, AZ; B. Kushner/Raven Sky Sports OCTOBER 1994

Region 6 NUNLEY, JOHN: Tulsa, OK; S. White/White Out UNZICKER, KEITH: Hesston, KS; R. Kenney/Prairie HG

Region 8 SYED, AAMER: Norwalk, CT; A.Daviclson/Tek Flight YOUNG, TED: Cambridge, MA; D. Baxter/Morningside FP Region 9 ANDERSON, JOHN: Vienna, VA; T. Hager/Lookout Mm FP COPE, GEOFF: Wooclriclge, VA; D. Glover/Flying Humans DALEY, ED: Vienna, VA; J. Miclclleton/Silver Wings Inc DAVISON, RUSTY: Catharpin, VA; D. Glover/Flying Humans KEMERER, KURTES: Waynesboro, PA: W. Summers/Lookout Mm FP PROCTOR, DAYID: Laurel, MD; J. Miclclleton/Silver Wings STRUBELL, RANDALL: Dayton, OH; M. Manzo/Skyward Ent VANCE, MICHAEL: Vienna, VA; J. Miclclleton/Silver Wings Region 10 ALICEA, PETER: Gurabo, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports BACCHECIAMP, VICTOR: Bayamon, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports BAKER, KEITH: Cape Coral, FL; C. Thoreson/Lookout Men FP BETRON, BRIAN: W Palm Beach, FL; J. Tindle/Miami HG CAMP, WILKIE: Homewood, AL; R. Lisle/Lookout Men FP CICCIU, GREG: Jacksonville, FL; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mrn FP COKERJR,JAMES: Gaffney, SC; B. Hunt COLON, KEVIN: Rio Pieclras, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports CRESPO, WILLIAM: Vega Alta, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports CRUZ, JOSE: Rio Pieclras, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports CUSHING, STEVEN: Atlanta, GA; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mm FP DeLaMARE, CHAD: Nags Head, NC; D. Glover/Flying Humans DIAZ, JOSE: Canovanas, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsporrs DILAN, HECTOR: Carolina, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsporrs FORTUIN, JOHN: Miami Beach, FL; F. Foti/Miami HG FRAN QUIZ, NELSON: San Juan, PR; R. Rojas/ Caribbean Airs ports FRANZ JR, DAVID: Athens, TN; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mm FP HABER, DOUGLAS: Kill Devil Hills, NC; D. Glover/Flying Humans HUTTON, JOE: Murley, AL; J. Cook/Rocket City Airsports KAWUWUNG, ERNEST: Fort Lauderdale, FL; J. Tindle/Miami HG MALONEY, ROBERT: Auburndale, FL; M. Jones/Florida HG Inc MAZELLA, WILLIAM: Greensboro, NC; R. Brown/Foot Launched Flight MOLINA, MIGUEL: Carolina, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports MONTRIEF SCOTT: Marietta, GA; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mm FP MORALES, JOSE: Cayey, PR; R. Rojos/Caribbean Airsports MOSSCROP, ILIJA: North Bay Villaage, FL; J. Tindle/Miami HG O'DONNELL, TERRY: Longwood, FL; B. Kushner/Raven Sky Sports O'FARRILL, OMAR: Trujillo Alto, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports PLEMONS, JON: Apopka, FL; C. Bowen/Quest Air PONT, FERNANDO: Bayamon, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports ROGERS, ANTHONY: Boynton Beach, FL; D. Baxter/Morningside FP RIFFLE, LEWIS CLARK: Santa Barbara, CA; R. Brown/Foot Launched Flt RUMP, ROBERT: San Juan, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsporrs SANTIAGO, RICARDO: Salinas, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports SANTIAGO SR, ALBERTO: Salinas, PR; R. Rojas/Carribbean Airsports SANTIAGO JR, ALBERTO: Salinas, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports

II Ratings SNYDER, KARL: Raleigh, NC; T. Hager/Lookout Mtn FP TIRADO, HECTOR: Canovanas, PR; R.Rojas/Caribbean Airsports WYATT, JIM: Raleigh, NC; A. Bloodworth/Lookout Mtn FP Region 11 FOREST, JASON: Wichita Falls, TX; D Sharp/UP Soaring Region 12 CASEY, BOB: Scotch Plains, NJ; C. Thoreson/Lookout Men FP ENGLE, STEPHEN: Huntington, NY; D. Meyers/Mountain Wings GIAMMATTEO, PHILIP: Fishkill, NY; D. Meyers/Mountain Wings HERBERT, JIM: Fairport, NY; B. Lyon/Rochester Area Flyers HIGGINS, JAMES: Cucchogue, NY; C. Thoreson/Hookout Men FP KERNS, ROBERT: Clifton, NJ; J. Nicolay/Morningside FP MERRILL, TIM: Allendale, NJ; K. Goodspeed/Fly High Sky School PERRIN, DAVID: Canandaigua, NY; R. Brade/Rochester Area Flyers SABO, LARRY: Hopatcong, NJ; D. Meyers/Mountain Wings SELENT, WILLIAM: Orchard Park, NY; B. Lyon/Rochester Area Flyers SELIGA, EDWARD: Somerville, NJ; P. Voight/Fly High HG TIDMARSH, JIM: N Brunswick, NJ; P. Voight/Fly High HG

INTERMEDIATE RATINGS PILOT: City, Scace; Instructor/School Region 1 POFF DEREK: Missoula, MT; B. Steubs/Moncana Flight Quest SCOTT, DAYID: Lake Oswego, OR; R. Berger/Oregon HG Assoc Region 2 ALEXANDER, LISA: Milpitas, CA; D. Glover/Flying Humans CARMICHAEL, DOUG: Willits, CA; T. Shcg/Western Hang Gliders HETZELL, BILL: Oakland, CA; S. Seebass/Berkley HG MOODY, BILL: Travis, A.F.B., CA; R Canham RUNYON, REX: Milpitas, CA; M. Stevenson SCHAFFER, FRANK: Burlingame, CA; A. Whicehill/Chandelle SUBLETT, ROGER: San Jose, CA; R. Fischer/Wings of Rogallo YOUNG, STEVE: Saratoga, CA; J. Newland Region 3 SEYMOUR, RICHARD: Los Angeles, CA; D. Quackenbush/True Flight HG TREADUP, NICOLE: San Diego, CA; R Mitchell/Eagles Wings Region 4 DOBBINS, TIM: Aspen, CO; R. Kemp/Aspen Aero Sports HEBERT, GARY: Ogden, UT; M. Knowlden SR/Rebel Wings HOIBY, JAMES: Tucson, AZ; R Richardson/Arizona HG Center POISSON, BERNARD: Clearfield, UT; M. Knowlden Sr/Rebel Wings RIEDMANN, JOHN: Glendale, AZ; B. Holmes/Sky Masters Region 7 ANESTON, CHUCK: Matteson, IL; A. Mantas/Spectrum CARTMILL, HUGH: Troy, Ml; B. Kushner/Raven Sky Sports GRAHAM, COREY: Portage, WI; B. Kushner/Raven Sky Sports Region 8 OLIVEIRA, CELIO: Mashua, NH; R. Hastings/Morningside FP SMITH, TODD: Milford, CT; R. Hastings/Morningside FP

DIAZ, ROLANDO: Celba, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports DIESEL, BARRY: Orlando, FL; M. Jones/Florida HG MOLINA, MIGUEL: Carolina, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports MORALES, JOSE: Carey, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports RUMPH, ROBERT: San Juau, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports STINNETT, JAMES: Dalton, GA; D. Sharp/UP Soaring WEAVER, PENN: Bartlett, TN; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP WILKINS, JEFF: Huntsville, AL; R. Patterson/Rocket City Airsports

ADVANCED RATINGS PILOT: City, Scace; Instructor/School Region 1 CONSTANTINO, JASON: Aberdeen, WA; R. Berger/Oregon HG PECK, CHRISTOPHER: Jackson, WY; F. Gillette/Magic Valley Gliders PERKINS, BLAINE: Boise, ID; C. Kastner SCALES, NATE: Boseman, MT; F. Gillette/Magic Valley Gliders WIMBERG, KURT: Wilson, WY; F. Gillece/Magic Valley Gliders Region 2 GIARDINA, CHRIS: Oakland, CA; C. Kastner SHIELDS, MIKE: Monterey, CA; T. Shea/Western HG SPEICHER, ANDREW: Sebastopol, CA; S. Bickford/Magic Air THOMAS, MARK: Men View, CA; D. Yount/Mission Soaring Center Region 3 LABIANCA, MARK: San Diego, CA; R. Mitchell/Eagles Wings LEMPEREUR, YVES: Westlake Village, CA; G. Reeves/Windsports Inc'! MERCADANTE, JAMES: Slymer, CA; D. Quackenbush/True Flight WHEELER, MINDEY: La Jolla, CA; A. Chuculate/Torrey Pines Region 4 BISER, DAVID: Colo. Springs, CO; K. Muscio MALAN, VANCE: Murray, UT; P. Williams NANCE, JOSEPH: Ft. Collins, CO; B. Faris/Front Range Hang Gliders Region 6 BARNS, DAVID: Lonoke, AR; D. Dunning/Central Ark Mtn Pilots Region 10 BROWN, ANDREW: Kill Devil Hills, NC; P. Williams/Sky's Edge DIAZ, ROLANDO: Ceiba, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports Region 12 PEPPER, MARTIN: New York, NY; P. Voight/Fly High HG

MASTER RATINGS LARRY WALLS

FOREIGN RATINGS BEGINNER GOLDMAN, AARON: Toronto, Ontario; G. Thornton/Kitty Hawks Kites

Region 9 BALOG!, LARS: Lexington, KY; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP DALLASEN, THEODORE: Saine Mary's, PA; J. Tindle/Miami HG FARBISH, PETER: Alexandria, VA; J. Middleton/Penn Aerie QUEEN, RANDALL: Fairfeild, OH; M. Boska/Ohio Flyers RALMIERI, JAMES: Roanoke, VA; S. Conner

TANDEM ONE RATINGS

Region 10 ADAMS, MARSHALL: Antioch, TN; C. Thoreson/Lookout Men FP ALECEA, PETER: Gurabo, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports CARDEN, ERIC: Huntsville, AL; R. Patterson/Rocket City Airsports COLON, KEVIN: Rio Piedras, PR; R. Rojas/ Caribbean Airsporrs DIAZ, JOSE: Canovanas, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports

PHIL GODWIN

STEVEN RICH

TANDEM INSTRUCTOR

HANG GLIDING

1st '94 U.S. Nationals 1st '94 East Coast Championships 1st '94 Whiskey Peak XC Classic 1st '94 Cache Creek Meet 1st '94 Morningside Glide Ratio Contetl

308 Miles I.any Tudor \111)rld Reoo!d (ipeoll)igrance 278 . . . I.any S1rom 219... .IDhn Jo"- MzonaS!ale 1111...~ 159... Slele Rllhbun 106111N John Szarek

nd place filliehes in ris 11811rl1154 RamAir utive year in which a

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gliders than any other. new, super fun-to-fly Falcon, to the proven performance of the Spectrum and Super Sport, to the world record setting HP AT and RamAir · the only hang gliders in history to fly over 300 miles. We also offer a full line of high quality hang gliding accessory p:roducts, from harnesses and reserve parachutes to wristwatch altimeters and variometers. So go with the leader in quality and customer service for 22 years - go with Wills Wing!

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[IAskGeeDub

m G"Dub,

you can out of your glider without needing a PhD, then this is for you.

Simple is as simple does, so let's make this way easy. To maximize your glide across the ground in light or no wind, speed up in sink and slow down in lift. Keep in mind that all speeds and rates of climb (or sink) are relative to each other. This means that you don't necessarily fly the same amount of fast in all types of sink or the same amount of slow in all types oflift. If you're flying very fast in 800 fpm down, then you fly less fast (but still fast) when your sink rate turns to 600 fpm down. To illustrate this best, let's look at a couple of figures. Figure 1 shows speeds that you should be familiar with. Please note that these speeds have been given names which are relative to each other, and are not likely to be found in a glossary of hang gliding terms. "Pokey" is the speed at which most of us fly much of the time. It's a good thermaling speed and is good for boating around when lift is plentiful and we're not trying to go anywhere. It's also a pretty standard sled-run speed. "Brisk" is a speed that many hang glider pilots refer to as "best glide," and most of us have this speed in our repertoire. "Pretty dang fast" is a speed with which many pilots are not comfortably familiar. Lots of pilots only fly "pretty

I was very happy to see the dive recove,y article that you wrote for the May 1994 issue. It was simple and to the point. I would like to see the same type ofarticle written about speeds-tojly in modem hang gliders. Keep up the good work.

•

-Grant Hoag PO KEY

Thanks for the vote of confidence Grant. The subject of speeds-to-fly in a hang glider can be as easy or as difficult as you want to make it. If you're the kind of pilot who wants to be exactly on the money when it comes to proper speeds-to-fly, this article is NOT for you. More technically oriented folks should refer to articles by Davis Straub, Dennis Fagen and others, which have appeared in previous issues of Hang Gliding. On the other hand, if you're a pilot who'd just like to have some guidance in this area, and would like to get the best performance

PRETTY DANG FAST

WAY FAST

BRISK

FIGURE 1.

HANG GLIDING

Ask GeeDub I] speed. Between 400 and 700 down we fly "pretty dang fast," and at more than 700 down we fly "way fast" to get out of that area of sink as quickly as we can. Of course, you'll need to be able to see the needle on your vario to monitor your sink rate, but don't fixate on your vario and fly into the ground or someone else who may be fixating on his vario. To maximize your glide path while flying downwind you need to lower all your speeds a few miles per hour (except pokey), since the wind is pushing you faster over the ground and sink rate becomes a factor. The stronger the tailwind the more you lower your speeds. Likewise, the more the headwind, the more you increase your speeds to penetrate the wind. This article was meant to give you a place to start. After becoming familiar with the basics you'll want to experiment and find out what works best for ~ you and your glider. ~

GIANT HEAVY DUTY dang fast" in extreme circumstances (like when the air gets so raspy that they feel this is the only safe speed at which their glider will remain upright). "Way fast" is a speed that too many hang glider pilots don't even know exists. It is, of course, a speed that shouldn't be flown near the ground. All pilots should be familiar with the full speed range of their gliders, and should go out and practice flying at all safe flying speeds. No matter what you call these speeds, remember that your usable speed range is limited to the lowest safe speed at which you can maneuver, and the highest speed that you feel comfortable maintaining. Now we need to determine how to use these speeds to produce the best glide in a given situation. In Figure 2 various speeds have been assigned to a climb or sink range on a vario. If your rate of climb is between 150 fpm down and approximately 600 fpm up, you should be flying in "pokey'' mode. Remember that most hang OCTOBER 1994

/f you're a pilot who'd

just like to have some guidance in this area this is for you. 1

gliders get a sink rate of about 200 fpm, so if you're going down at 150 fpm you're actually in lift. This is why we fly "pokey" here. Notice that above 600 fpm up we fly briskly again to maintain good airspeed for entering and exiting thermals. Once the vario needle starts moving more toward plummet, we need to pick up speed to get through this undesirable air as quickly as possible. It is important to remember, however, that the faster you fly the worse sink rate you get, because you're adding more drag than lift. Between 150 fpm down and approximately 400 fpm down we fly at a brisk

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DEPT. T·l679 ctlOII

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Cornpetition

BOTFOM Waitingfor the start Mrp over Mount PrincelQrl. BELOW: 3.(XJO fie, owr launch.

MONSOON The 1994 U.S. Nationals Mount Princeton, Colorado by Pete Lehmann photos by Geny Charl.ebois

Southern the SW

n. scmonal wind m SW in surrnnci: .. ; mins

ell, sometimes even I he Oxford wrong. lias ::J monsoon season, and it

per· with the dates of this U.S. Nationals held t Mount Princeton from 20. The consequence was meet which two folly valid of and three partially valid ones rhat had the character of a crap shoot. 'J 'hc poor wc:nhcr fix com··

is rhe premiere cvem on the and it is that entrusted to Jim Zeiset (JZ as lie is univcrand his crew from Pendulum arc l he same team that so suc· ast World This as the Mt Princeton launch is air miles from J 's ranch and factory in Poncha ·!'he launch site is located at 12,200 fret MSL on the ofa moumain that is pan of the 14,000-foot chain of Coll Mountains. Behind the m01mtai11 is country, hut in fi·om is a broad valley with ahundant landing areas some fc~ct helow launch. The launch site and its altitude the

what creative of the special under which the rneet was to be Be that as it may, the constntc· tion and road work were completed in time for rl 1c meet's The final clement in the organizational involved the acquisition of' five rental vans which were to be used in conjunction with own two vehicles to provide daily to the top for the pilots and equipment. /\s with everything else in this meet, that too was ;1 complicated mat·· tcr, the: rental company repeatedly lied about the availability of the vans, and it was only at die last moment rhat the transportation problems were resolved. With the org;mization in place it remained ro flying if" the weather would and, a fashion, it did.

Poor weather dictated a shorr task call,

and

launch time the sky had already

and was thrc;1teni11g rain. Much of the flcld decided to launch on the that conditions would only dcterio·· rate fonhcr if' they waited any longer. They were wrong, and all of them decked it within a frw miles of' launch. I\ second group cl1ose not 10 l:iunch until moments before rhc launch window would have closed. These curn1 avoided the gaggle that preceded the rolling out of the

start tarp, and photographed the tarp from the ground prior to Lrnnclii T'hcy chanced into the one briefly of the day, and virtually ;111 of" them made goal, much to the chagrin of rhc earlier launchers. It was a Green kinda led by Eric who smoked Chris Arai by an entire second to win the honors. 'fony Brown, Brad Koji, were followed Lionel Space, Jim Zcisct and ,crry Charlebois. That meant that four of" the nine finishers were Green Tc:am members. The validity formula was 56lJ.{i valid due to the bizarre distribution of the results. ·rhat rneanr that the winner was awarded only 5(,0 poi ms ra thcr than I he customary 1,000 earned on a fully valid the odd results were rhc least imponan t outcome of the day. Dean a pilot from the Colorado area, allowed himself to get low on the side of' a momirain as a small gust front came through the area. He was unable to make it out to the main l and while to land in a good sized alternate field hit a tree on approach and was killed in the subsequent impact with the ground. /\s if we needed ir, it was a terrible reminder of how unforgivingly dangerous this sport can he.

tor, C.W.

numerous In the end the ramps were pletcd, and functioned well meet. one launch was blown, was d nc to poor Other infrastrucmrc problems included the poor of the road launch and the inadequate topside With his "results-oriented" approach to bought himself a bulldozer lO the road problems (with a some· 0CTOl1FR I 994

window l'or contestants to get on course. 'Those who were late photographing the start tarp were shut down by overdcvelop-mcm and rain somc 15 miles out 011 course. Bur for the front half of the field it was a glorious day of racing. Much of the last half of the course ran along a convergence line of clouds that en;ibled the pilots to pretty much fly in a straight line under or beside the clouds. In fact, the lifi was so good that most people arrived at goal far too high. That fact added to another problem: the finishers arrived so soon that the goal keepers had not yet arrived to ti me rhci r arrivals. Fortunately, three drivers (Ann Valdes, Joanna and Dave) were on hand 10 take finishing times by means of binoculars and a decidedly imprecise wristwatch. Of course, there were the usual disputes as to who had really finished where, and red faces on the goal offkials, but it all worked out in the end.

C'hris

NationaL1 winner, coming in on /inal rtt the Princton J,7,

there had been a meet director's worst nightmare, the fatality, and then 1he Forest Service discovered the exrem of unauthorized road work. The two events very nearly led to a revocation of the mccr's spccial use pcrmit and cancellation of the event. Only after a diffkult meeting the next morning was the contest permined ro conri11ue. Unfortunately, if the gods of offlcialdom had been placated, the weather gods had not. The day was lost, and the meet cont inued on Monday.

This tfay proved ro be somerh i ng of a mirror image of the first one. Threatening conditions again dictated a shon task, and just as on the first day, there was a narrow window of soarable conditions. This rime, however, it was the early launchers who copped ir lucky as rain began to fall on launch just ;1s the lead gaggle lcfr 1he arc;1. Almost all of those early launchers made it either to goal or heartbreakingly close. T'he only two finishers were winner Larry 'li1dor l seconds ahead oC Mark Gibson. Most importantly for them, they had just beaten a headwind gust front to goal. All four of the mber pilots who had been with them in the lead gaggle were only minutes behind, and in an otherwise perfl:ct position to glide to goal when the gust front came through and 20

presented them with an insurmountable headwind. Dave Adams and Jim Lee were .OG miles short of goal, and to add to Jim's misery he was slammed inro the ground from 15-2.0 feet by turbulence associ,ited with the gus1 from. (The author feels that while Jim does manufacture excellent hang gliding helmets, quality control resting his products in this fashion is unwise.) Incidentally, Mark Gibson discovered an electric fence ;is he hurried to Jim's assistance. It was nor a pleasant experience. The other 1wo victims of the headwind were Chris Arai and Nelson Howe who likewise landed inside the airport boundary. Just as the Hrsr day bad been devalned, so 100 was this one determined to be only G3(Yci valid. All of the later launchers had bad ro settle for long sled rides from the mountain.

Finally, a folly valid day! The task committee reconsidered a much longer task when it saw an early cu--nimb developing along the proposed route, and went for the s;ifcr one rn Saguache. In all, 20 of the 50 contestants made goal, and they did ir very quickly. The winner, Mark Bennett, took an hour and 13 minutes at an average speed of 3G.39 miles per hour, closely followed by 'fony Barron, Kari Castle, Mark Gibson, Jim Lee and Nelson Howe. Like the first two days, this one also had a fairly narrow

After the wildly unstable atmosphere of the previous days, the weather gods threw a sneaky, stable change up to keep the task committee honest. The weather gods sure fooled us and we blew rhe task call by presenting the f1ilors with a six-mile crosswind kg over rugged, rising country in surprisingly high winds. Only early launcher 'fony Banon, and Butch Peachy accomplished that foat, and went on to make goal, while the third place pilot for the day, Larry 'fodor, didn't quite make one third of the task. Dave !\dams was next, and landed in a tree. (He needed to he informed that while they were not as large as the Australian gum trees he is accustomed to Lrnding in, the pinons arc indeed properly called trees, not bushes.) After that was a sad trail of pilots leading back rn launch. It should be noted that after warning us not LO land near the state prison, our meet organizer did do precisely that. Fortunately, he rapidly broke down and got out of the area quickly enough to avoid any legal conscq11enccs. Once again the anomalous disrrilmtion of the scores led to the day being devalued to, in this case, 55% validity.

That night Jim Zeisct threw a party at

the ranch to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his business, Monarch Manufacturing. While some pilots questioned the wisdom of timing such a blow-out in the middle of a meet (it is awfully easy to get a hangover at 7,500 feet), the party proved to be an enjoyable interlude in a thus far frustrating meet. Along with food and drink, entertainment was provided by Ralph Dinosaur, a fine bar band that is something of a fixture at the Telluride Festival. The evening's only disappointment was that Ralph did not appear until much later in his trademark dress. Actually, the real disappointment was that we didn't know that the next two days were going to be weathered out. Had we known that we might have more fully exhausted the party's recreational opportunities.

DAY FIVE: LAUNCHLEADVILLE AIRPORT - MT. PRINCETON LZ (67.84 MILES) The last day of rhe contest dawned with a promising forecast. That was of great importance, because a valid day was needed to boost the overall value of the contest. The Nationals was to be the last contest which would generate points to be used in the selection of the next U.S. National Team. Those pilots will fly in the World Championships next year in Spain. For some of the pilots who were competing for the last slots on the Team it was not enough that they merely finish well in the contest. They had to finish well in a highly valid contest which would generate many more points for finishers than would a less valid meet. And thus far the Nationals was going to be a low validity meet. On the basis of the forecast a long task was called that went 30 miles northward to a turnpoint at the nation's highest airport (10,000 feet MSL), and then back to the main LZ at Mount Princeton. The forecast proved accurate for once, and almost eve1yone got out on course for the first time in the contest. Still, no one made goal, with Dave Sharp coming up 2.34 miles short, closely followed by a long string of pilots starting with Mike Barber, Mark Bennett, Larry Tudor, Nelson Howe, Brad Koji and Tony Barton. The area around Buena Vista was littered with pilots who had desperately hung out on a small ridge line in hopes of getting that last thermal which would permit them to penetrate upwind the last few miles to goal. The thermal never arrived, as a smoky haze from distant forest foes quickOCTOBER 1994

ly shut down thermal activity. I will get to the overall results of the contest in a moment, but first I need to tell about what happened to Kenny Brown. Kenny successfully made the turnpoint, but on his way back south toward Buena Vista he dropped out and had to land. Unluckily for him he landed on the property of a singularly nasty woman who is pathologically protective of her private property. Kenny thus became the third pilot to be prosecuted for trespass by this venomous unit, and gained the chance to fulfill one of his childhood fantasies by riding in a police car to the Buena Vista police station. I am certain

that he is still thanking her for that chance to realize his youthful dreams.

FINAL RESULTS The winner of the contest was Chris Arai. For Chris the meet had special, bittersweet significance. It was the first meet he has ever won in his long career. Last year he had been second at both the World Championships and at the U.S. Nationals. To have described him as having been despondent at those times would have been understatement. Sadly for him, this first

1995 World Team Selection The struggle for the last two vacant World Team positions was resolved on the last day of the meet, producing a bit of drama and some surprises. The first four positions were never in doubt. Mark Bennett narrowly edged out his fellow PacAir pilot Mark Gibson for first place in the overall national points ranking. For Mark Bennett, who has been smoking hot this year, it marks a return to the Team after an absence of five years. Gibbo and Nelson Howe, on Airborne Blades, are back for the second time, while Larry Tudor on the RamAir has returned after missing last year's meet in the Owens. Jim Lee (RamAir) is again on the Team, but not without a last-day scare when it was found that his primary camera's film was not valid. Fortunately, his backup Blm was good, and he thereby earned enough points to secure his place on the Team. The final spot on the roster was taken by Brad Koji, also flying a RamAir. He prevailed over Chris Arai, Kari Castle and Kenny Brown, all of whom had realistic chances of making the Team on the last day. It was another proof of how deep the pool of talented competition pilots is in this country. Last year there was some controversy over the exclusion of Larry Tudor from the Team, and this year I suspect that Chris Arai's absence will excite similar second guessing. I would hope that critics will be more judicious in their remarks this time around. The U.S. competition scene is so full of talent that the decision to include or exclude a pilot from the Team is made by the thinnest of margins. This should not be taken to imply that a mistake or insult has been made. There are more good pilots than there are places on the Team, and unfortunately a line has to be drawn somewhere. With the U.S. Team now having been finalized, it is time to begin the tiresome but necessary process of raising money to send the Team to Spain next summer. In the months ahead this magazine will contain a number of money-raising efforts such as the famous glider raffle. I urge you all to contribute in some fashion and help the Team in its effort to retain the World Championship won last year in the Owens Valley. This time they will not be competing in their backyard, but a long and expensive distance away. They need your support. Within USHGA'.s general membership there is a general reluctance to support competition. While I recognize that most pilots do not want to compete in contests, I would suggest that many of us are a bit shortsighted in our reluctance to at least support those pilots who do chose to compete. Organized competition is the catalyst and proving ground for virtually all improvements in the sport of hang gliding. That includes gliders, materials (the TRX), harnesses, instruments such as Chris Arai's Tangent flight computer, and, perhaps most importantly, flying techniques. Evety hang glider pilot derives a direct benefit from the competition scene. The "trickle down effect" may be debatable in politics, but its benefits are real in our sport. It is thus in our own best interest to insure that competition pilots receive the support they need. Please do participate in some of the fund raising activities this winter. .a;

m 21

for :hris to

of the finishers' arriv:1ls. l .arry 'l iHfor, followed I .ioncl Mark Bennett, l )ave Nelson Howe and Lee. crude

The

many the Meet Director and the Meet izer. Jim and his crew arc nonetheless to he appl:iuded /()r die sionalisrn with which this meet was rnn. From the of the m1 arrangernen ts, the system, EMT massive number of'

on the r:1tst launrh.

this meet was nm fashion. Unfortunately,

even fcir all of his cannot dictate the weather (though I am sure it was not for lack of

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(ll/93)

Behind The Scenes In Ager At The 1994 Pre-Worlds in Spain by Peter Lardner 24

H A.NG GLIDING

OPPOSITE: Over the Ctl!tle i11 Ager, Spain. Photo by Ne&m HOWi!. LEFT: The U.S. ream, right to left- Mark Gilwn, Butch Peachy, Nel.ron Howe, Jim Lee, Chris Ami. Beww111,thor and driver Peter Lardner. Photo by Beth Whitney. BELOW:Jim Lee and the CrtJwd waiting l(J launch. Photo by Beth Whi171<:)(

n a practice flight during rhe 1994 Pre-\Vorld Championships, United States pilot Mark Gibson runs out of lift and looks for a landing wne, but sees 11othing. The terrain surrounding Ager, Spain's &ee-Aight capital, is anything but forgiving. Steep, east-west ridges roll like bre-.lking ,va\'C-S from the higb Pyrenees, ,heir surface a compound of sharp rubble, desert julliper and the broken r~mnaJlts of sheJJs fro1n :.tn ancient sea. Gibson's vie-.v is especially blcak; a dusty riverbed packed with boulders run, the length of a deep canyon. The sound of bells passing along the canyon walls offers a him of life, buc QcrOBER 1994

Gibson needs lift, and fast. or he's in for son1e d:image. T hen ir clicks. Gibson has heard bells like that before. A night earlier, as the United States retrieval van squeaked th.rough

a tight Romanesque arch,vay on its ,vay home from che village of Socerranya, the vehicle was stopped dead by a thousand of chose bells, each one attached to a sins)e sheep. Tired from a big meal of local wine

and paella, the teen was in no mood to yield to livestock, but the blank stare of a thousand sheep was overwhelming. Gibson, now facing a white-knuckle landing, may have more use for them. A low enough fly-by can scare sheep into a gallop, causing them to kick up a thermal and send a pilot back to cloud base. No luck for Gibson, though. His sheep turn out to be grazing on a steep incline, making a sheep thermal impossible. In the final moments before impact, it occurs to him that a few well-placed sheep might break his fall nicely, but he opts instead for a thick patch of juniper. Injuries are minimal. It takes him 45 minutes to hike up to the closest landmark, a medieval castle ruin, and mirror signal the U.S. driver. As the two Americans haul the glider out of the riverbed to the nearest dirt road, Gibson's bleeding knees begin to bake d1y. He is covered with clay and the fine shrapnel of Pyrenean flora. "Man," pilot confides to driver, "this place is outrageous." That evening, U.S. pilot Chris Arai chokes on garlic grilled rabbit as Gibbo relates the story. Arai, the last to land that day, chose Abella de la Conca, population 22, for an LZ. When the team finally made its way to the town's cobbled courtyard to join him for dinner, Arai was encircled by the entire community, seated in front of the 10th-century chapel for which the town is named. For the villagers, Arai's falling from the sky in a glider wasn't the novelty it might seem; the town sits only 35 kilometers from Ager, where flying men are commonplace. But Arai's handheld global positioning system, which, as he tries to explain, talks to satellites, strikes them as clearly supernatural. "Es molt Gita," declares a town elder in Catalan. It's a thing ofthe Gipsies. A rich history of invasion gives the Catalonians good reason to hold suspect the world beyond their borders. It also explains the region's distinct face and character. Most recently, Madrid's 35-year Franco regime endeavored to squelch Catalan language and culture. Throughout medieval times, Catalonians faced the continual threat of Moorish expansion. The parade of foreign forces seeking control of Spain as a whole was exhaustive; Celts, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Visigoths and Moslems all had their day on the Iberian peninsula. By 718 AD, the height of Moorish rule in Spain, only a handful of alpine regions remained free; Christianity

had been forced into the hills of Catalonia. This explains the area's 1,000 mountaintop chapels, many of them a millennium old. The medieval villages surrounding them resemble floating fortresses, built upon impossibly steep terrain, poised against the steady ebb and flow of Moslem advance. These living archaeological relics adorn some of the most scenic geography in western Europe. The Pyrenees, a 270-mile chain of snowcapped peaks straddling the French border, fall quickly into folds of rose and amber foothills; the runoff feeds fingers of crystalline trout water along the way. Northern Catalonia may be one of the world's best kept non-secrets; Picasso painted it, Hemingway praised it, Caesar, it is said, retired his officers there. Yet the pristine beauty of the place remains almost entirely intact. Enter, hang gliders. July 2 announces itself rudely over Ager's antiquated public address system. In preparation for the championship's opening ceremonies, the meet committee has chosen the Norwegian national anthem to test the speakers. From 9:30 to 10:00 in the morning it drones on tirelessly at full volume. Around town, in assorted $10/night pension houses, 170 hang glider pilots from 24 nations can suffer the sound no longer and surrender their beds. Some are jet lagged, others have driven non-stop from Eastern Europe, and some, like the Americans, have had six long days in the air to acquaint themselves with prospective tasks. The bulk of their fatigue, though, comes from the previous night, when most of them met at Ager's lone tavern, the Speed Bar, to rekindle old friendships, toast new rivalries, talk hang gliding and speculate until four in the morning (as Spanish custom demands). The Argentinean team, exhilarated with drink, commandeered a guitar and stretched the night even further. At the opening ceremony, everyone is tired, including the professional troop of acrobats imported from the distant city of Llerida. Fatefully, strong tailwinds at launch over the next two days make competition impossible, allowing a much needed, if welcome, rest period. Pilots use the time to program flight computers, tinker with radios and commit maps to memory, but by the evening of July 4, nervous energy reaches levels that only a rope swing can alleviated. At a nearby lake, Chris Arai dislocates a finger during a backflip attempt. The next morning, as the Brazilian team begins its 25-minute ascent of the dusty

road to launch, they find the American van pulled over in a state of chaos, its occupants engrossed in chick and diverse debate. Rather than buy the five gallons of bottled water needed for the day, they've stopped at one of Ager's public springs to fill up their camelbacks and some auxiliary bottles. The spring is murky and surrounded by hoof marks. While pilots Tony Barton and Jim Lee consider the water's potability, Brad Koji and Butch Peachy retie the gliders and argue over which bird is a better pilot, the American Turkey Buzzard or the Pacific Pelican. In the background Dennis Pagen can be heard advising freelance photographer Beth Whitney on venomous snakes in the area. Twenty meters ahead, team leaders Nelson Howe and Chris Arai have discovered a large fungus and are taking turns with stabs at its mycological identity. The Brazilian team observes and moves on. The Slovenian and Austrian teams do the same. To the untrained eye, the U.S. squad is an extremely casual, if not distracted, group. But the hang gliding world knows better. Among the USA's ranks are the sport's pioneers and visionaries: two of them taught themselves to fly on bamboo gliders. Brad Koji was the first to cross the front range of the Continental Divide in free flight. Dennis Pagen is hang gliding's leading author and journalist. Jim Lee's solid, lightweight harnesses have offered the sport new speed and safety, and Chris Arai's recently designed Tangent™ Flight Computer will most likely guide hang gliding into the 21st century. The world meets come as welcome opportunities for the pilots to finally collaborate. A giant canopy of color unfolds at launch as 170 pilots and three wind dummies assemble their gliders. Ager's Montsec Range, which looms high over the town's northern edge, is a perfect stepping stone to the Pyrenees. Its southern face plunges 1,500 feet to the valley below, making ridge soaring a constant. The preflight atmosphere is sensory overload. Glider colors run the spectrum. The smell is pure sage, the sound a breezy Tower of Babel. Linguistic firefights break out sporadically beneath the dacron. An English-speaking South Korean is recruited by the Italian team to beg the Indonesians for a small strip of duct tape. An alert South African, eager to help, offers the Italians a camera tripod and a bite of his apple. Meanwhile, the Japanese do verbal battle with their driver, a native Catalonian continued on page 50

HANG GLIDING

Flying In The Pre-Worlds © 1994 by Dennis Pagen t was midnight when we returned to our home base in Ager, Spain. Earlier that day we had flown deep in the Pyrenees, flirted with the clouds along the border of Andorra and reached so far east that we encountered the sea breeze oozing in from the Mediterranean Sea. Although the goal was but 90 air miles away on this particular day, the return home was tortuous through mountain passes, gorges and narrow village streets. This was standard fare during the U.S. Team's two-and-a-half week experience in the Pre-World Competition. Late night returns are not the problem in Spain that they may be elsewhere, for evening meals typically don't begin until 9:00 PM and continue into the wee hours. This matter is all a function of the traditional afternoon siesta, and the fact that Spain is two hours off sun time (midnight is really only 10:00 PM). As an indication of this fact, we often didn't launch until after four o'clock. Our siestas took place in the shade of our gliders on top of Mont Sec, a long ridge overlooking the Ager Valley. Flying the south side of the Pyrenees was a new experience for the U.S. Team. We were eight - Chris Arai, Tony Barton, Mark Gibson, Nelson Howe, Brad Koji, Jim Lee, Dennis Pagen and Butch Peachy - along with two independents, Joe Bostik and Rob Howe. None of us had flown the area previously. What we learned of the complexities of flying in this region will certainly help next year's team. Flying near Ager is complicated, for the terrain rises from hot nearby plains to become long ridges with narrow gorges, then turns into majestic peaks bearing summer snow and presenting sheer cliff faces to the blazing sun. Warm winds from the plains sweep northward, but become confused in the maze of valleys and ridges oriented like strewn timber. Valley flows and the sea breeze combine with thermal generators to produce blue holes, cloud streets, lift centers and natural skyrockets. Puzzling out this conundrum of conditions was a challenge that we successfully met only part of the time. This is not to say that the U.S. Team performed shabbily. We placed a solid second behind the French and ahead of the British. However, we were inconsistent in the sense that we all missed multiple goals. This result was no doubt due to our unfamiliarity with the site. The satisfying point to be made is that we operated very well as a team, and when some members fell short others would take up the slack and speed to goal. Mark Gibson in particular flew brilliantly and served as a spark plug and inspiration. He finished sixth overall. Nelson Howe was his usual consistent self and placed second for the Team at 21st, with Jim Lee and Chris Arai garnering 23rd and 24th respectively. These placings do not reflect the whole story, for most days our top pilots were among the leaders, and since the daily team score was based on the top three pilots of each team, we fared well indeed.

OCTOBER 1994

The French Team was impressive with their cohesive teamwork and accurate read of the conditions. At one point they had pilots in second, third, fourth and fifth places. Gerard Thevenot is back. He hasn't been seen in international competition for many years, but on this occasion he placed third on his La Mouette Racer. However, the real success story features Tomas Suchanek (Czech Republic) and Manfred Rumer (Austria). These two racers were clearly heads above the rest of the pack. In fact, they have been trading off wins all winter in Australia and all spring around Europe. Tomas flies a Moyes Xtralite, a glider he designed. Manfred flies a very similar Icaro Laminar, a glider he developed. During this outing Manfred edged out Tomas. But two weeks later Tomas beat Manfred in the European Championships. Only John Pendry flew in their league in the Europeans. Times are tough for the rest of us. Yet have no fear. Next year the U.S. Team will be leaner and meaner. Only six pilots will be on each team and our top competitors will be there with experience and determination. This year was a learning year. Next year will be a winning year. The Pre-World Championships have become a tradition for the meet organizers to learn their jobs as well. The entry of 170 pilots from 23 countries made this quite a job. In an attempt to relieve the traffic jam at launch and in the air a clock start was designed. This system was literally a large clock on the ground in front of launch. A human clockwork would move the big hand every five minutes. Before starting on course a pilot had to photograph the clock which began his or her time. Thus, we could choose our launch time and our time to begin the course. Decisions, decisions. For the most part post-launch traffic wasn't too bad, with everyone turning the same way. However, one day was so stable that we could only max out below 700 feet. The entire field was milling around in weak multiple cores dodging traffic and screaming at their neighbors for seemingly an eternity until it finally turned on enough to leave. That is one nightmare I never care to relive. That evening pilots were talking about making a T-shirt: "I survived the 1994 Pre-World Death Gaggle." But out on course matters were less stressful as long as we stayed relatively high. We learned to rely on pig farm thermals detected by the scent, particular gullies or formations that sent up regular geysers oflift like Old Faithful, and the few cumulus clouds along our path. One of our favorite spots was a huge cliff face we dubbed vulture ridge for the great griffon vultures that live there in the pock-marked face. These gregarious birds would dive out as we approached and show us thermals time after time. The flying around Ager was as spectacular as it was challenging. The late nights became a matter of routine, and the long retrieves were an adventure, as we took to exploring the various villages and made a tradition of finding a swimming hole on every route. Thanks to our very reliable driver Pete Lardner and his partner Beth Whitney we never had to wait too long for a ride, despite the fact that we would often hit the deck in no-man's land and there were eight of us to collect. Flying in the competition is only half the enjoyment of such a trip. The experience is enhanced by seeing old friends, malcing new ones, checking out the latest equipment and savoring the local culture. Because of the latter and the prospect of some high quality airtime, we can only envy next year's competitors. :..:

m 27

The C:omrnincc altered little from but l feel made a fow Clidi 199/i, It is om intent to encourage (Ill pilots lO report all their I.akcvicw··arca flights, even their sled run.s and This helps the sponsoring a11d merchants lrnow when the arc visi1i11g and and it helps me build a be11cr datab;1sc of there. So, in I instead for the season's overall hcst flight, each momh we do ;1 from all the reports for that with the winner sled n ms 100, to sec them coming in.

The commu11iry members had also come up with a new idea to offor more to community and hang with the triathlon-like team and/or solo events, combined with the traditional and popular Distance l event. This idea had did nor work 01!1 as well as planned. More later. A th is anony .. $1,000

f<)r the longest flight over 50 July I :\, From Black We dubbed this "The ( ;rand X.. ( /\ward. Black is rhc site above Lakeview f;x which the community <le·vel<Jllllll': road launch-

liis year we got off ro I ,OOO<Y<i be11er sran th:m in I 9().1! 1993 came off fine. Sec

Plan ncr for tlic Lakeview Forest Service District, as Chairperson. She for District !lead M. after whom we had named the Butte lau11ch i11 with an

for ;! mr•M1110 Doug f Tildrcrh, Mike Stevenson and me.

as July 30, we records for four of the seven comest sites! The entry fee the $600 X·C contests, the $1,000, and the many Fourth of July Fly In plaques) remained at only and this i11cl11dcd a detailed pilot site This into a fimd ro Black try to get all ro enter. that note, my nomination for the Joe Miller Memorial /\ward H1\NC Cr 1D1Nc;

Competition Corner was Don Betts, who again donated $100 to this LZ fund.)

JUNEX-C In 1992, Richard Wood of San Francisco turned in the only June flight, a 28.6-miler from Sugar Hill. He donated his $100 to the LZ fund. In 1993 we again had only one June flight, a very respectable 63.4-miler from Black Cap by Paul Douglas. I wondered if more pilots would see the "June opportunity" in 1994, and they did. Terry Taggart launched from Sugar Hill on June 30 at 2:20 PM, and landed at 6:47 Plv! three miles east of Flagstaff Butte with a winning 106 miles. He got to 15,500' MSL en route, and had launched in strong 20-30 mph winds. Terry had also flown a third-place 58 miles on June 5 from Sugar Hill, giving him 164 miles for June alone. He also did a non-counting (prior to entering the contest) 27-miler from Sugar on June 2. Terry flies a Sensor 610 E and lives in Gresham, Oregon. His $100 award was donated by Arrow Realty. Other notable June flights included: Jim Spiering, second, 75 miles from Sugar Hill; David Biser, fourth, 27.8 miles from Black Cap; Mark Whisman, fifth, 26.5 miles from Sugar; Terry "Bear" Gardner, sixth, 11 miles from Black Cap; and Darrin Clay, seventh, 9 miles from Black Cap. We had a total of 343.3 miles reported for June - very respectable! Darrin, a rising Hang II, actually turned in nine short flights for June, upping his odds for the random $50 drawing. But Catherine drew Marc Whisman's one flight from the hat. Our thanks go to Arrow Realty and Homestead Restaurant in Paisley for their generous prize donations!

JULY FOURTH HOLIDAY WEEKEND FLY-IN We had 52 pilots entered by noon on Friday, July 1, the first day of the threeday Fourth of July Fly-In. The weekend weather forecast looked good, with this day being a particularly good one. "The Grand X-C" Award inspired some top OCTOBER 1994

We saw (701 miles flown over the three da ys a new Oregon record, plus a new Black Cap record. 11

pilots like Shannon Raby, Ken Muscio, Ramy Yanetz and Mark Bennett to chose

Black Cap over the ever-popular Sugar Hill site. And did it pay offl Ramy Yanetz, the 1993 $500 winner and holder of the Buck Mountain 90-mile site record, launched from Black Cap on his Klassic 155 at 12:50 Pm. He flew downwind to the northeast, landing at 6:50 Plv! at Antelope Flat, Oregon, less than 50 miles from Idaho. This 157.5mile flight set a new Black Cap and Oregon state record. He flew at 13,50015,000 feet MSL, with a maximum climb rate of 1,700 fpm. Ramy reports leaving the Cap at 12,000 feet MSL and flying northeast. During most of the flight he followed cloud streets between I 0,000' 14,000' and only dropped below 10,000' twice. Ramy was invited to spend the night at Mud Flat Ranch by Mr. Westcot, a retired Oregon State Police Trooper, and family. Ramy's plaque for the best July 1 X-C flight was donated by the superb Eagle's Nest Restaurant in Lakeview. Unfortunately, he wasn't retrieved until the next day, costing him a chance to better this flight on July 2. Ramy donated $100 of "The Grand" to the Black Cap LZ fund at the Awards Ceremony, thanking the Lakeview community for all they've done for hang glidmg. Ramy said he almost didn't come until after the Fourth, but he now knows that there aren't the big crowds at the big launches that some folks expect. Both Sugar and Hadley handled the 112 pilots of the 1993 Nationals just fine, and Black Cap's road is now a loop and has five or six launches, plus an upper parking area for spectators and really big groups. Oregon's long-standing record of 153 miles, from Pine Mountain near Bend, had finally, officially, come to Lakeview.

We knew it would. Mark "Gibbo" Gibson has never documented his 155-miler from the Cap last year, the day before the Nationals. Portland's Mike Rabe (no relation to Shannon) had shown the way for many years, and we owe him for it. In fact, Mike came down to Lakeview and would later blast off some good ones from Sugar Hill. July I saw other great flights, with 107 miles by Shannon Raby from Black Cap and 101. 5 miles by Ray Berger from Sugar Hill. There were five flights of 80+ miles, one each of70+, 60+ and 50+, two 30+, two 20+ and one eight-mile flight submitted. The total just for July I was I, 122. 7 miles, all from Sugar Hill and Black Cap! On July 2 we registered a bunch more pilots, and conditions were mellower. Philip Ray of Mill Valley, California, took this day's first-place plaque on his HP AT 158, leaving Sugar Hill at 12:30. He landed at Denio Junction five hours later with an 88.1-mile flight. Philip's plaque was donated by Lakeview Building Material. The next best July 2 flights were by Pat Sheedy (85.9 miles) and Kevin Frost (40 miles). Teny Taggart made two flights of 19 and 27 miles.

SPOT LANDING AND "RUN/GLIDE/RIDE" The traditional Adjusted Distance Spot Landing Contest is held Saturday afternoon for the viewing pleasure of the citizens of Lalceview and for the non-serious X-C pilots, Hang II's, etc. It does require good, safe landing technique, with no basetube drops, bonks or whacks, and a maximum raw distance of 100 feet from the spot at Hunter's LZ. Paragliders and rigid wings are allowed to compete. Your raw distance is the first step before the spot or the last step after. We use raw distance in feet, multiplied by a glider factor (1.0 for double surface), then multiplied by your hang rating, with 1,500 adjusted feet the max you'll see (100' x HS x 3.0 factor for a paraglider). The contest was scored by Mike "Spotmeister" Stevenson, and 23 pilots were entered. Of those, only 11 landed during the designated time periods, and

aw:ird. As mc,nnoncc1, coveted I h X,.(: Miles

miles.

sp(msorc:C! rhis award.

not lc:1st, Yancrz won the new "Crand for Ii is S--m i le record fligl11 frorn Black ( I le collecred his $1,000, then back $100 to the I J:nnd. Don'i who donated the ;1s she or he inrendcd it to lie

We saw 1,701 miles flown over the five away rhan I 00 Feet or for

cize anyone. The n1,,rn11,, for the first went 10: Ii rst,

110011 we cn1cred, wirh a number planning 011 stay for all or part of rhc holiday week. we only received valid conics\ fl for Blad and l 7l>9.7 miles to1al by just

rest

In our next issue we'll review the season in l.al«:vieu1. Fd.

with an

1 lilL I le These aw:irds were dona1(cd Nest Rcst;rnram (a and I .akcvicw 1,11,1r1mn were ftillowcd :i1c:pt11cn Sauerwein (fourth), Ken Muscio

and Don ( :lark (sixth). This the event that splx:r;nors most. One told me stays in town on the Fourth bccrnsc of rhc to watch "The

The "Ride/Glide/Run" comest did nor l ,ocal

latmc:t11ng at 2:;$0 l'M, getting ro the and landing ar

end lake sourh I )cnio." His first-place plaque was donat-· ed Bob's Midtown Cas. Philip's consis-tency gave him a tl1rce--day total of 737. a lot of miles beLwcen him and the ncarcs1 competitor. He would end up with rhe prcs11g1ous Most Accumulative X-(' Miles Award. We had a rnrnorn at the Monday Awards with 70+ folks and several media reps. Chamber President Darrell Bender and I [;111g Gliding Carherine the m;rny awards cnJO'\'Ccl die morning sun tcllmvslllp over free coflce and pas• rrics. hadn'1 al ready done so bought the unique, lwamifrd, StevensonFifth Annual ']~shirts, with the to the and alcoholl995 Gradua1io11 Party Fund for l .akcvicw l School kids. A voice vote gave the Joe M illcr Memorial Sponsrnanship Award 10 Jules now a resident of ( l .akcvicw and ardent supporter ;rnd pro-there. The folks at

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I of tlic situation. This cnahlcs to select information that and 10 lmow where to il)CUS attention. This is called situ at ion awareness. Consider an

the oncl Yon and m:my miles from launch. Yo11 h:ive gone far and ahead of you is terrain that you arc unlit· miliar vvirh. /\.s yo11 this terrain and work i rs look for fields beneath you and norc in back of mind areas r hat look pn11111s111g m1 arc

t111·ec··Dar1 series on in unfomiliar terrain. f'hc f'1rsr pan 10<.:us:cd on winds from indicators that may av;1ilablc 10 the air borne The second part addrc,scd the

( )CrOBIR ·1991]

options from the and co111011r, best appnK1c:11 pa11crns sporting hazards like power lines. This third and flnal pan will dis· stratCl',ll.'S for landing tlm:lll('.ilOl!l the that will cil('.Ctl'velv

pans. While a your senses arc l>ombardcd with infonnation a lot of· it 1rn:lc11a11,t, some of it some of it and sonic of it critical to your sort the pilot dc11cl(ms

a thcr·

mal: Some pilors may "'.l/0 rule," tl1a1 is, as the pilot lie notes where in the turn he had the grcarcst climb rate and cominucs around for 270 and then hrielly levels out. The idea procedme ro center oneself i 11 the strongest Ii fr of the t hcrmal core. l the t hcrnds arc core, the nice and sy1nn1ctnc with a pilot can use this rnlc like an automaton and it will work reasonably well. However, if the thermal is sloppy with multiple cores, the idcr here and

a simation awareness oCrhe thermal, tl1:1t is, a mind's eye of the tlicrmal wirh you in /\s you assemble rhis pict urc f"rorn rlic various

bumps,

:rnd

climb rates,

Roads

Rivers

Towns

& Cities

Figure 15. LZ Possibilities you begin to understand and visualize this thermal. Soon you will know where and how to turn to achieve the best climb rates, and can begin to ignore those minor bumps and bounces that might otherwise be confusing. To a large extent, successful cross-country flying is an extension of this concept. The pilot's mind's-eye view is extended beyond the single thermal to much more around him. He or she grows to understand the terrain, how the air flows and moves, and how terrain and sky interact. During the flight the pilot uses this to take his best shots at finding new thermals. At the end of the flight it becomes a valuable tool in assessing landing conditions and selecting an LZ. The planning and management of landing options begins as soon as the pilot leaves the local airspace of the flying site. At this stage, the pilot is probably quite high and not thinking very much about landing, and is still in airspace that is at least somewhat familiar. Even now, the pilot is starting to visualize the surrounding air while working lift. Thermal drift provides winds aloft information. The pilot is noting cloud formations for indications of lift and avoidance of hazardous cumulonimbi. This also yields information on air movement far removed from the glider. Even though the pilot does not dwell on it at this stage, he is still aware, at least in the back of his mind, of the presence of potential LZ's within glide reach. Landing option management is the process of maintaining viable LZ choices. While climbing, it is merely a matter of not allowing oneself to drift beyond reach of potential LZ's. During periods descent, it is

narrowing choices and occasionally adjusting course to stay within glide reach of potential LZ's. Most regions in which we fly offer some, but not unlimited landing options. Generally, good LZ options can be found around features such as roads, towns and rivers (Figure 15). Often in mountainous terrain, towns and cities will be in the flattest areas available, and will usually have fields on their outskirts so that in addition to being near civilization, they will generally offer better LZ options. In the Western United States there is a lot of open terrain to land on, but because of sparse population density and limited road access, cross-country routes tend to follow roads, towns and cities. Sometimes X-C routes follow mountain ranges such as are typical in the Owens Valley. In these cases, the pilot retains a minimum altitude that is enough to reach a road, which may lay several miles from the base of the mountains. Over the Piedmont and Shenandoah of Virginia, where I have done most of my X-C flying, the terrain is rolling and mostly covered with forest. Here, the Shenandoah, Potomac and James rivers offer plentiful flood plains that make flat, reliable LZ's in otherwise hilly country where unplanned downhill landings are an ever-present possibility. During periods of descent, the pilot engages in a process of elimination of LZ options which doesn't end until either landing or climbing in newly found lift. When one is 5,000 to 10,000 feet AGL, there is often a choice of several general areas, each with potential LZ's. During periods of sink, the pilot will generally fly a straight course at

increased airspeeds to where new lift may be found and/or the best LZ options are available. Often, this is just flying straight downwind; as LZ options are overflown new ones within glide reach are spotted up ahead. This is the situation in which assessing landing options from broad terrain features and winds aloft (introduced in the previous parts of this series) are most useful. Valley winds and other terrain effects on wind flow can be estimated and LZ possibilities picked out. In addition, if it is getting late and nearby mountains with a lot of canyons are falling into shade, catabatic winds become a consideration. Mountains and cliffs are often good thermal triggers and thus provide good spots to search for new lift. If the pilot opts to try this and fails to climb out, there is a good chance of having to land in dendritic terrain around the mountain's base, or possibly negotiating a landing on an alluvial fan. Even though many mountain sires use a field of this type as a designated LZ, extra caution is needed because these fields are often tricky with complex contour shapes, and unlike designated LZ's there has been no opportunity to inspect them beforehand. As the pilot gets lower, many of the options are eliminated as the choice narrows to those still within reasonable glide reach. It is desirable to keep as many of the LZ options open as practical. The focus of attention gradually shifts and narrows from studying full-scale terrain features to more localized features around the LZ options. In an analogous way, attention on wind conditions shifts from winds aloft and gross terrain

HANG GLIDING

effects to beginning a search for direct indicators on the ground, such as smoke columns, flags, etc. Additionally, the pilot evaluates lakes, ponds and rivers, which in addition to providing wind indication can also help him in choosing the most favorably contoured field. This is also the time co begin studying the arrangement of manmade structures (if any) that could point out where power lines are. As the pilot continues to advance, it is possible to note the various LZ options from different positions and perspectives and use this to estimate contours. When you spot multiple indicators for a single factor (such as more than one wind indicator), combining them will increase the confidence of your assessments. For example, if you spot several wind indicators on the ground and they all agree with what you think the wind should be based on the terrain and winds aloft, you can land with a lot more confidence that you have properly evaluated the landing winds. When one or more indicators are in disagreement, it becomes a source of anxiety. Sometimes a quick second look at them may reveal the reason for the disagreement, such as a flag turning out to be too near a building or tall tree. A thermal near one of the indicators could influence it (see discussion in Part I). If disagreements cannot be resolved, the best plan may be to choose a landing direction that may be cross to both wind directions indicated by the disagreeing indicators, but not tail to either. In a like manner, the perspective of the contours gained from flying around a field may confirm your initial estimates based on surrounding geography that you sa,v from miles away. A cut hay field with cuts running in contours may tell you the shape of a field but not which way it slopes. One other clue, such as a pond or stream along one side, may resolve this by pointing out the lowest part of the field. As in this example, generally two clues combined give a better, more reliable assessment of the LZ's contour than either clue by itself At some point, the choice narrows to a few individual LZ's. This is where one makes the last scan for unseen hazards like power lines that have been otherwise missed. Subtle wind indicators such as very light breezes in treetops become readable. A field that is very green with no cattle could mean very tall grass. It is possible that an LZ option that only looked rough from a distance could turn out to be overgrown with 12-foot-tall saplings that would make a safe landing all but impossible. Your low altitude and nearness means that perspective changes quickly OCTOBER 1994

With anxiety in rein and knowledge in hand, you can get high and fly far into the unknown with excitement and increased confidence.''

as you fly around, allowing last minute contour assessments. At this point you still have options that you can switch to if suddenly your chosen LZ reveals an undesirable factor. This is the point where you make your final choice of LZ and decide on an approach. There is a possibility that because of limited choices, having to choose between bad options, or discovery of a major flaw in the LZ after you have committed to land, you may be forced to make sudden and cough choices. Misjudgment of LZ slope may force an overshoot. Is it better to fly into the briars to the left or try to flare over a fence and under the power lines into the adjacent field to the right? The creosote bushes are six to eight feet high and there are joshua trees among them. Do you flare high and try to drop down between them or perhaps fly straight into some of the bushes? There is a 10-foot-deep ditch or gully crossing your path in front of you. Do you attempt to float over it, or perhaps do a hard, early flare to stop short? These are the type of choices the pilot will have to make quickly without the benefit of contemplation. The time to be thinking about this is between flights and in discussions with friends over pizza and beer, considering "what-if" scenarios. Unfortunately, these types of dilemmas do not have simple solutions, and the best choice often cannot be determined in advance, but discussing "what-if" scenarios with friends will better prepare the pilot to deal with such tough choices. The important point is that the correct choice may avoid glider damage, and most importantly, injury to oneself One particular "what-if" scenario occurs when approaching a steeply sloped LZ with an upslope wind. The choice is between a downhill landing into the wind and an uphill, downwind landing. A lot of discussion favors the uphill, downwind option, the argument being that extra energy in the flare co meet the upslope will compensate for the

tailwind. Although I personally have never had to face this tough choice, I have heard two separate firsthand accounts of people having successfully done an uphill landing with a significant tailwind. One of them termed this the "fly-on-the-wall" landing. Landing in this situation using a crosswind, sideslope approach will likely result in dragging the upslope wing tip producing a downwind ground-loop, and this may therefore actually be the poorest choice. Ultimately, in this situation, the strength of the wind and steepness of the slope will be the determining factors as to which landing direction is best. Ir is important to recognize that X-C flying carries extra elements of risk. That unseen wire or other hazard may snare you from the sky, or you may get injured miles away from civilization and medical help. Dealing with landing choices is a process of risk management. You see an indicator that may only be partially reliable, so you seek others for confirmation, and with each successful confirmation, confidence increases and risk lessens. You try to plan and make choices for the least amount of risk, and must accept that a certain irreducible minimum remams. There is also an element of anxiety that must also be managed. Some anxiety is beneficial because it keeps you alert and in control. Too much, however, can paralyze mental processes and the pilot may start letting things "just happen" - a recipe for disaster. This malces anxiety itself a tool; by managing it, you can make it work for you. Mostly this is a matter of controlling it, and this is best done by not letting events get ahead of you (such as realizing that you need to start looking for an LZ when you are only 500 feet AGL and there is nothing but solid forest below for miles around). This three-part series by no means completely covers this complex subject, but hopefully it provides a framework for dealing with this most significant risk in cross-country hang gliding: landing in unfamiliar terrain. If the information and ideas presented here reduce the risk for the cross-country pilot, or help as a tutorial for the would-be crosscountry pilot, or even just provoke discussion and thought among readers, this series of articles have achieved their purpose. So, with anxiety in rein and knowledge in hand, you can get high and fly far into the unknown with excitement and increased confidence, to experience what is perhaps the most rewarding pa:·t of hang gliding ~ - cross-countl)' flymg. ~

U:FT ,~a~nantha tit the 1994 Wrnnen1' World meet in C'hc/4n, Wr,shington.

t's one

or those rare almost-soarable days

at Ed Levin P,1rk in Milpitas, California,

and Samantha Moore drives us up the hcart,stopping road 10 the top launch. On one side rhe mountain looms like a sheer ye] low wall above us; the other side drops away to the glitterintr, Silicon Valley far below. As I clutch the seat heir, trying not to think about this truck's low glide ratio, Samantha says cheerily, "First one to land gets to buy lunch!" S,imantha is a Hang IV pilot and president of the Marin County Hang Cliding Association, which administers Mount 'famalpais sites. She stands a good six feet, and is wearing earrings, freckles, and lipstick that matches her fashionable glasses. She has just returned from the Women's World Championship in Washington slate, where she placed 11th. 'Tm all tired up For competi-, tion," she says, "l want more, more, more!" It's hard to imagine that Samantha represents one of rhe most underrepresented minorities in the sport of hang gliding by most accounts, women constitute less than l 0 percent of bmg glider pilots. "In our culture,

women arc usm11ly " Sarna1nha says. "Being a hang glider pilot takes courage." Her statement finds echoes on rl1c lnterrLct, where hang glider and paraglidcr pilots have been posting opinions on why so frw women join these sports. Many agree with Samantha; they say society encourages women not to take risks like those involved in flying. But many postings also accuse the "macho" of the sport (hang gliding as a death-defying, warrior-like activity) of driving away prospective women pilots. Pat Dencvan, founder of Mission Soaring Gliding School, says he's seen few women cmer the sport, "I think ir's a control thing," he comments. "Women aren't used to being in control, and flying rakes a lot of agf!ress1,,c physical maneuvering." A few moments before Samamha arrives at Ed Levin I watch a pilot come down off the top launch and botch his landing, skimming a herd of cows and breaking his arm as he slams the control bar into the ground. By the time Samantha pulls up, the other pilot·s have ordered ,ll1 ambulance. Samantha then

piles me and two pilor friends into her 4X4 so they can launch ofF rhat same monntai n. She bas enough experience to know a great soaring day when she secs one. "I started 13 years ago," she says. "I had no formal instruction. My friend just rook me to the top of the hill and pushed me of{" The glider on wbich Samamha learned to fly was not nearly as sophisticated as what she flies now. She learned on a Standard, "basically four tubes and a piece of doth that flapped like a bed sheet." Bm these days she flies a top-ofthc-line Klassic, customized in hot pink and purple. "I fly a glider that the guys fly," she says, "but something with a lot of handling." As she sets up her glider, Kevin Cameron and Dietmar Kurpanck, who have hitched a ride with us, unfurl their own. "This is the first time I've brought my varied" says Dietmar, and Samantha replies for the third time during setup, "Always bring everything!" "Always bring everything when you're with Samantha," says Kevin, laughing. I ask Kevin about Samantha's flying style, which she herself has characterized as "conservative but aggressive, or, in other words, aggressively conservative." she's usually way "Well, it's hard to say above me," he says. "She's a good pilot, ccr" tainly more aggressive than I." Samantha admits to a love of acrobatics, and while Kevin spirals lazily clown to rhc LZ and Dictmar floats slowly, savoring the rare ridge lifr, she launches immediately and flies fast, banking hard far out over the brown to make it all the way to Mission and back The biggest disadvantage for women who enter the sport seems to be physical. Women generally have less upper-body strength than men, making ground handling and in-flight maneuvering in strong conditions more diffitold cult. One instructor wrote that he new worncn stndcnts that rhey were more likely to break an arm hang gliding. But, as I saw while T waited for Samantha in the men can suffer broken arms as well. Other disadvantages noted on the lmcrnct include lower body weight (which a few pilots proposed could be mitigated with halbst), and a suggestion that the ability of women to

H/\Nc CuD1Nc

judge is impaired they do not part1c1pate in sports in general. men, have the opportunity to 'calibrate' our brains by practicing various activities where speed is involved," the pilot wrote. But many instructors and pilots think that balance, skill ,rnd enthusiasm are more important than brute strcngrh in hang gliding. "It's not one of the most physically sports," says Lisa Alexander, who works at Mission "Tr doesn't require super strengd1. T mean, we have one student who is 71 years old." "'le) fly a hang glider I have to be fo, but I don't have to be Miss Olympia," Samantha says. Samantha thinks that hang glider manu· haven't focused on accommodating women pilots. "Of course, a woman has a harder time lifting a 70-·pound glider and a lrO-pound harness and running down the hill with it," she says, "hut in addition, most gliders are made for guys with, well, guy weight." Samantha seems to have no trouble wrestling her in a crosswind and landlightly, away from the cows. [ have the honor her truck back down rhe road, marked every 10 feet wid1 signs reading:

DANGER DROP--OFF

FXTREMELY SHARP NO SHOULDER. The

mountain road down toward the valley, and I have to avoid canyon--lii<c.'. ruts while turning Samantl1a's !Tuck around corners so tight that a slight mistake would send me over that sharp drop-off" Meanwhile, my mind careens to a study of fom· posted a French psychologist on the he found that women tended to face and accept their foar while paragliding, while men denied it and consequently had a harder time rationally in dangerous situations. As T drive slowly) down the mountain road lo the I keep reminding and react rationally. myself to accept the l think 10 myself that if I can survive this I cm launch from any kind oC cliff with a nice glider attached to me. When l finally meet Samantha down in 1he LZ T ask if she has any "significant other" out there worrying about her bang gliding. She says no; she thinks relationships are rare for tl1ose involved in hang gliding. The gcner· al she says, is that "the sport takes ltrst priority in your life, and ro hell with the spot1se." Bur most of the women hang pilots on the Internet mention that they fly with their husbands, or that they got interested in the sport From a boyfriend or husband. Satnan a on ship

Ocmnrn I 994

S11manthc1 over Wcstlalee, near San Pmncisco, Califrmiia.

between two pilots has much better chances. I her back her keys and wish her luck in her competitions. Then I head out, waving at Samantha, who remains to watch a pylon race from the top. The cows have graciously moved off the l Z

years hopes to continue learning to f01 hang after her M.A from Stanfrm:I this year.

About the author: Holly Blumenthal is ca7,er to jozn of that small of'pilots who arc female. She her Hang 1 three

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I II Wyoming and Idaho to Frank Gillette until REGION l

GENE MATTHEWS

INCUMBENT

Region 5 is restored in 1996. Please take the time w vote for me to make sure this situa-

tion isn't ove;rmmed. 'lwo years ago J folt that airspace and fly. sites were top priorities; they still arc. I've worked with paraglider pilots in Region 1 since 1989 and believe d1ar we must work together to maintain and increase 1he number of flying sites and keep hang gliding and paragliding free from over· regulation. Your vote me the reassurance to up for when the politics of the USI-!GA Board strays from what pilots in l (and Region 5) want from US!i-

REGION

RAY LEONARD

l have served as 1 Director for nearly six years and want to serve for anotb· er two years. Sturtcvanl and l adminisrer Alaska, Oregon and Washington and have delegated director ,mrbority in Montana, 42

INCUMBENT

For the pasr two years it has been my goal 10 represent the pilots fairly in both hang gliding and paragliding. Integrating the two frmm of flight has been my top priority, and hopefully the results arc headed in the proper direction. In addition, 1 will be chairing the Site Management Committee which has the responsibility of securing new

sites and protecting ones. With the pilots' support in Region 2 I hope to contin· uc my efforts.

REGION

MARCUS SALVEMINI

NOMINEE

I starred paragliding in December of 1987. ln August of 1989 l started Airtck Paragliding and became involved in the American Paragliding Association (APA). In l C)<J l I was elected as Chairman of Safety and 'fhiniug for the APA and maintained thar position during the merger of the USHCA with the APA. l was a founding member and chairman of the Pines Paraglicli11g Associ;irion for two years. I have attended all BOD meetings since the merger with the APA, and have been consistenrly active in Region 3. l currently co--chair the USHGA Safety and 'fraining Commitrec with Clcn Nicolet, and will continue attending all BOD meetings. I feel this region needs a director who is involved more specifically in paragliding because of the growing number ofparaglider pilots, and that the other two directors in the area arc more involved in hang gliding. J look forward to continually setY·

H/\NC GUDINC

the mc:mlJcrsn11p with the of CJ1S1.ff· that our sport continues to grow and

becomes safer.

ft has been an honor and to serve as Director for a of years now. In l J started om as a Dircctor···at· then in 1991 I became one of the

4. who and f have on items of con· cern over the past fow years. This year I am up fcir reelection. I am to conrinue to serve and welcorne your support as one of your directors in 4. /\ lot of you have already met and visited with me. have attended some of club talked and throughout to many within the country, and ilown with you. Others have called on the phone to discuss di/forcnt Some of the we aspects of the have include train l;AA 10 name a started in the late

and flew competiPrescntly I hold an advanced hang pilot and am an Instructor and Observer. While working fc)r the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) I have lived in Ohio and Virginia, worked at F/\A Headquarters in Washington worked in the area as an FAA tvalt.rntor, and arn now a permanent rcsi· dent of New Mexico. Presently I am one of the Traffic Management Supervisors at the Albuquerque /\ir Route '!J·affic Control Center. One of the most important we need in the USilGA is good comnmnica· tion and more frH our mcm· bers. I have provided this by attending all Director and Board We also need more open and shared cornmunication through visits t:o dub and arricles in your individual newsletters. talking to the clubs in our region we can one closer The new folks mterc,stc,c1 in hang gliding within our region also need

OcrOllER 1994

information to encourage new growth. Concentration is needed on Beginner and Intermediate pilots to develop better skills in the safest Jr is important that the as a whole, from be attention in order to m 1·:111t1N1 pilots. I let's and promote FUN fly· to abour flying s;ifoly. accurate accident investigation is ,mnt·I"''. area rhat is important to the of the sport. All accidents need lo be invcstiand the information shared so every-one can benefit. I believe that r can help achieve these goals as Region 4 Director. Over the years have written articles for 1£utm.e- n·1a~:azrnc and have pa1T1c1pat-sporr with panicipatcs in and 'fraining Committee l nssistcd in the rating system and cominue to work with others concern·· the interest in towing, paraglid. tandem and competition. In several parts of the country we have successfully opened altimdes above l 8,000 feet for hang gliding. l will continue to work in the areas of regulation and control fix the benefit of all, without compromising safety. Flying and aviation have been a hig part of my lifo. Soaring is one of my greatest pl(:as1.1rcs. I have a imerest in helping promote both the sport and safety of hang l'-"""ll~· This can be done rhrough cduca· tion and a positive artitudc. My back-ground, education and is avail-able and [ am willing to assist in whatever way possible to help USHC/\ grow in a pos· itivc: direction. Keep in mind that being a small group of aviation enthusiasts we arc ofren misunder· s10od by many inside and outside aviation circles. We need to understand and follow some very simple and b,isic guidelines in onr sport to rn;iiutain independence. /\s one of your regional directors I believe I can con· tribute positively w the benefit of hang glid· and public relations. 4 needs directors who can give ii attention. lt will take a lot of work and time. Your vot·e is an important· dcci· sion, so make it cardi.dly.

REGION 8

RANDY ADAMS

JNCUMBEN'f

I've been a pilot for 14 years and Regional Director for four years. I'm a member of the Western Massachusetts Gliding Club, Connecticut Hang Gliding Association and the Vermont Hang Gliding Association. objective as your Regional Director is to voice to our local pilots at rhc national level. I've passed om questionnaires and visited local opinions and concerns. I hold clubs a regional meeting each year to improve communication in the region. In the next two years T will conccnrratc on preserving and protecting sites and making hang glid-· safer :111d more enjoyable in New England.

REGION9

WILLIAM BENNETT

INCUMBENT

I have thoroughly enjoyed serving as your Regional Director for the past two years. I have made an cffon to travel to and Ay with most of the clubs within our region. I have becll imcresrcd in hearing your con· cerns and representing your interests within the national organization. [ look forward to serving you in the same as your Regional Director.

REGION?

BILL BRYDEN

INCUMBENT 43

REGION 10

BA RB ARA FLYNN

INCUMBENT

As a mcrnbcr of the USHGA in I 0, you will soon be asked ro vote

a regional director. I have hecn one of two regional di rectors in Region JO since January of this year, and I am running for reelection. As a concerned member of the f have attended all USI TGA BOD meetings since November 1990, except two. ln this time period [ attended more board mcctllc1f!S than either of the previous regional directors. Since the direcrion that the USI !GA pursues is decided at these BOD meetings, I believe that i1 is importanr to myself and the rnembersbip m 10 to be present at every BOD 1noctmg.

November, so lam looking forward to hearfrom you and your concerns, prior to this I will serve the membership and the BOD with integrity and profession al ism. Whomever you decide to vote for, please vote. I am looking forward to serving you for the next two years.

GREGG B. MCNAMEE

NOMINEE

l O including

maize tl difference.

sit-cs :md I .ookout

aerotowing in 1989, and like most pilots in the region, I am a nonpilot. l am a student private pilot, USITGA B;:isic lnstructor, and an Examiner/Observer. Since my first BOD mc.:et1mg in November 1990, f have become a member of several USHGA co1nn11t1tccs, and Training, Tandem, and National Coordinating Committees. ln March of this year, J cochaired the Safety and Committee. I also organized USHGA participation at the annual Sun 'n' hm Ay,in in Lakeland this year.

r:oaL, Preserve our Professional and instructors frnprovc pilot system to ao.:m·at<cly reflect pilot skill Consider the individual rnembcr's vicwpoim and to represent rhat at rlic USH GA Board of Directors meet-

Since of this year l have heard from a few members on issues such as the rcwrirc of FAR Part l 03. J the next BOD meeti will be held in Lake 'rahoe during first weekend in

trained and flown in the mountains 011 the East Coast and have flown the West Coast. Lasr foll my wif,; and J toured and flew in Russia wirh the USIIGA delegation. f have worked closely with landowners to establish several new flying sites in Plorida. l have also organized and coordinated competitions and hang gliding nr-n,.rmanccs. I am currently negotiating with the State of Florida to access park a1Jd state lands for recreational hang gliding activities. As your next Regional Director for Region 10, l will represent your needs at the USHGA BOD meetings. I also will promote the sport of hang gliding, safeguard existing sites and seek greater access ro recrC·· mional flight activities and sires. I believe it is important to improve the public irnagc 01 hang gliding by providing the opportunity to learn how to fly saf<::ly. r believe that we, as individuals, need to help make the changes we want to see actively participating and working together to reach our goals. Wr: Are (,'lidint, Lo·rmnu:nz,iv. We can "make it or break it" our actions. ff you w:mt to help, it is important rha1 you get involved and vote. YrJU can

I have been nominated for the Regional Director position in 10. As ;:i nomi · nee wbo desires very much to become the next Regional Director, [ would like lo give a brief overview of my qualifications and attributes. I am currently completing my second year as an I lonorary Director on the US HGA Board of Directors. I have been an :1ctivc member of the and Training, Tandcrn and Committees at the BO[) mceru1}1,s for several years.

As your next Regional Director, l will dedicate my time and energy to achieving the goals you desire. I will keep the lines of commm1icarion open to all regional mern · bcrs. gliding is a dream come trnc fi)r me. l love flying, and I wam to help the sport prosper and grow. Vote fc)r me so that I can do more fi>r the sport of hang gliding, hy making sure your needs and desires arc met through your national organization. Get involved, make a diffrrence and vote! well my friends. Fly and your to the follcst. And thank you m advance fcn yol!r vote of confidence.

NO MIN Im I am ;1lso pasr Prcsidcnl of a state ization, Florida Association Mappers. For the past years l have been a pilot. this time r have achieved an Adv;mced pilot rating, Basic and Tandem Instructor and an Observer f am a Tl)W and Aero tow and a Aero Tug I nstrunor. in Florida, I use various tow methods 10 make "mountains," but l have

I appreciate and accept the nomination for Region JO Director. Most of you in

HANC CIIDIN(;

be bi-wingual. My dad has taught over students in the past year. He is a dealer for UE We fly a lot and have six fomale pilots in our club. Alligator Rock is our launch site here on Saurarown Mountain. Our LZ owner, Larry Ayers is paragliding with me now. Dad flew for three TV shows last year and did two TV commercials. We have a lot of firn. I get my driver's pennit soon and dad really likes that. Vote frir me, THOMPSON, and put a kid into USH· GA. I will enjoy helping Region 10. As in the words of the band, Moody Blues, face piles of trials with smiles for it riles them to believe that you deceive the web they weave. KEEP ON THINKING PREE!

know me; I've heen attending since back in 1986 and I've 10 Director·at·· served as Large and [Ionorary Director for six or those eight years. I've been cl1airman of the Tandem Committee, the Towing the Committee and Flyln Committee. I like the common sense approach to th and would be honored to represent l O as Director. I arn for the USH(;A lcicusing on the things that really matter to the pilots site and really good in the [f you think I will do a good job, then vote for me, but above all, vote.

THOMPSON

NOMINEE

This photo was taken by Chuck Miller of me flying over my dad in Elk Creek, Virginia. Currently I am flying a 25-mctcr Bicla which weighs only 1 pounds and since I am only 15 years old, it is suitable to my weight and size. My currcm ranking in karate is a purple belt. The style I use is a combination Jujitsu and Judo. other hobbies arc

building and flying my control line gaspowered airplanes. On certain days the Yamaha water-cooled din bike comes to life and I tear this mountain up. In bad weather I enjoy playing my two guitars, especially my Fender 'frlcc1stcr. I think the paragliding community needs representation for Region 10. How can someone understand paragliding when they don't fly one or even allow them around. Best way l figure, it is just ignorance. l have a launch in my back yard and dad ('fommy) allows everyone to l think it is great to

REGION 12

PAUL RIKER'T'

INCUMBENT

Send cash or check lo: SPORT AVIATION PUBLICATIONS PO Box 101, Mingoville, PA 16856 Please rush me the books listed below u Understanding tho Sky $ 19.95 r1 Hang Gliding Flying Skills . . $ 9.95 11 Performance Flying . $ 29.95 Powered Ultralight Flying . . . . . $ 12.9S Powered UL Training Course $9.95 Paragliding Flight . $ 19.95 Savo 10% order two or more books! Save 20% order fivri or more booksl Total amount for all books $ Postage and handling . . .. $ 1.95 Add $1 postage for f1 erf. Flying Ovorsoas airmail if desired ($7.00/book · $'12.00 for Perf. Flying) TOTAL ENCLOSED SEND TO (Please print) NAME ADDHESS CITY, STATE COUNTHY/ZIP DEALER INQUIRIES INVITED

0CTOl1rR I 994

1994 USHGA MERCHANDISE ORDER FORM QD'.. 1995 USHGA Calendar - Better than ever, buy one for a friend. Available in September. 10x13 full color .................................. $9.95 OTHER USHGA CALENDARS SPECIFY YEAR: 1994 1991 1990 1989 Excellent Photography- collect them all! .............. @ $1.50 '*NEW" USHGA BARBARIAN RUGBY JERSEYS super heavyweight 100% co\lon embroidered bold 4" ash/navy/purple/fores\ green striped, traditional collar or mock turtle neck. SIZES M L XL (XXL $45.95) ................................ $39.95 COLLEGIATE SWEATPANTS Side pockets, 50/50, elastic waistband w/ drawstring. Sizes: Med. Large XL ................................. $29.95 COLLEGIATE SWEATSHIRT Super heavyweight 11 oz.11eece - 95% cotton, cross-weave w/ side gusset, 3 colors on ash. SPECIFY SIZE: MEDIUM LARGE XL (swealshirVsweatpants combo $60.00) .................................................... $34.95 "FREESTYLE" SWEATSHIRT 9 oz. set-in fleece- 50/50 heavyweight, beautiful multi-color design on white. SIZE: M L XL ........ $24.95 ALSO FREESTYLE T-SHIRT 100% preshrunk cotton Med. Large XL ......................................................................................... $14.95 "LOOP" SWEATSHIRT 9 oz. set-in fleece - 50150 heavyweight, red and white on navy. SIZE: M L XL ..................................... $19.95 USHGA Golf Shirt 100% combed cotton. Colorfully embroidered. Colors: White Red Navy Yellow Jade Black SIZES: Medium Large X-Large XXL (in white, navy & jade only) ..................................................................................................... $24.95 USHGA MTN. GLIDER T-SHIRT 100% collon. Our most popular shirt. SPECIFY SIZE: M L XL COLOR while ash ............ $12.95 USHGA YOUTH MTN. GLIDER T-SHIRT For \hose up and coming pilots. SPECIFY SIZE: S(6-8) M (10-12) L(14-16) .................. $9.95 USHGA MTN. GLIDER CAP Embroidered SPECIFY COLOR: NAVY WHITE PURPLE RED ..................................................... $9.95

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PERFORMANCE FL YING by Dennis Pagen. Covers just about everything for the Intermediate & Advanced pilot ............................. $29.95 "SPECIAL NEW PILOT EDITION" magazine. Specify hang gliding or paragliding (circle) .............................................................. $4.95 DOWNWIND by Larry Fleming. Share the experience o1 over 20 years of hang gliding flight - a true story, well told ....................... $10.95 Higher Than Eagles by Maralys & Chris Wills. The story of early hang gliding and Bob Wills. Hardcover ............................................. $19.95 UNDERSTANDING THE SKY by Dennis Pagen Micrometeorology for pilots. Almost 300 pages, 260 photos & illustrations ............... $19.95 USHGA INSTRUCTOR'S MANUAL by Dennis Pagen. Over 100 pages, plenty of illustrations ............................................................. $10.00 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 ALPHA FLIGHT by Mark Wright Covering all aspects of paragliding, complete with illustrations ......................................................... $19.95 PARAGLIDING FLIGHT - Walking on Air by Dennis Pagen Covering all aspects o1 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 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 RECORD AITEMPT KIT All forms needed tor national and world record attempts ................................................................................ $15.00 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 official USHGA flight log book ........................................................................................... $2.95 USHGA Certification Booklets. Document your skill level sign-off. Specify hang gliding or paragliding ................................................. $1.95

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USHGA STADIUM CUSHION Comfortably protects your assets ..............................................................................................................$5.95 OFFICIAL USHGA WINDSOKT" Pink/yellow or pink/white ................................................................................................................... $39.95 USHGA LAPEL PIN Beautiful multi-colored Mtn. Glider design. Custom shaped pin w/ military clutch and epoxy dome ...................... $3.95 USHGA MTN. GLIDER SEW-ON EMBLEM The most beautiful patch you'll ever own. 12 different colors used ................................... $3.95 USHGA MTN. GLIDER DECAL Full color 6" diameter vinyl decal. Guaranteed to last! .......................................................................... $1.50 USHGA KEY CHAIN "Soft Feel' Plastic. Custom Mtn. 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" or "I'd Rather Be Paragliding" Chrome plated .................................. $6.50 'BORN TO FLY Great flying action, meet Larry Tudor, The Green Team ... Fly Owens, Sandia ... you name it (50 min.) ..................... $34.95 'PARAGLIDE: The Movie Owen's Valley world competition. More action than you can probably handle. 40 min ................................ $39.95 'FLAMENCO DUNE - Special Version Extreme paragliding in Namibia. Superb editing, original sound track. (20 min.) ................... $19.95 'DAREDEVIL FLYERS Ill· THE PARAGLIDING VIDEO The Wills Wing gang paraglides at Telluride, CO (50 min.) .......................... $24.95 'HAWAIIAN FL YIN' video. Hang gliding and paragliding in paradise! Awesome scenery! (46 min.) ...................................................... $33.00 *HANG GLIDING EXTREME video. Let's you see some of the most spectacular sites in the U.S., hot pilot profiles. (50 min.) ............. $34.95 MAGAZINE COLLECTOR BINDER Brown vinyl binder w/ gold lettering. Hang gliding or paragliding (circle one) .......................... $9.00 "USHGA ERIC RAYMOND POSTER 24" X 37'' Eric doing oxygen at 17,000 MSL over the Sierra Nevada Range .............................. $5.95 "USHGA AEROBATIC POSTER 23" X 31" Colorful keel shot of John Heiney looping skyward ............................................................ $6.95 " Posters are NOT AVAILABLE on International Orders-SORRY! SPECIAL - BOTH POSTERS FOR ......... $10.00 ' All videos are in USA/VHS NTSC format.

$ $

$ $ $

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

$ $ $

PAYMENT m11st be iocl11ded with vo11r order FOREIGN orders m11st be io IIS FI/NDS drawn on a 11 S BANK 1

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

$._ _ _ __

SHIPPING (see chart)

$_ _ _ __

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

help you break a fem

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USHGA Reports

USHGA Awards Nominations Solicited

ach year the USHGA recognizes individuals and groups who have made significant contributions to the sport of hang gliding. We are currently seeking nominations for awards to serve this purpose. Nominations for this year's awards should be sent to the USHGA office by October 25, with a copy sent to the Regional Director, for submission at the Fall Board of Directors meeting in November. One may be nominated in more than one category, however, the categories to be considered must be clearly indicated in the supportive documentation. The Awards Committee has set an unofficial goal of recognizing at least one USHGA member in each region with a commendation.

THE AWARDS NM Certificate - Contributions on the national level recognizing safety. Requires letter of support. Presidential Citation - This is the organization's highest, most prestigious award. It is the only award that may be presented to individuals outside the organization. It is presented for a contribution or effort which has resulted in the significant advancement of the sport. The nomination must cite the effort and include names, dates and location as appropriate, as well as the address and phone number of the nominee. The effort need not have occurred in the current year. Chapter of the Year- Awarded for overall excellence in programs and activities for beginners and novices, site procurement, development and retention, safety, membership and development, meetings, and special programs and activities which occurred within the current year. Please

submit the documentation which cites location, dates, achievements and appropriate contact people. Newsletter ofthe Year-Awarded for overall excellence in service to members, layout, article variety, promotion of safety, general enhancement of the sport of hang gliding, and meeting publication deadlines. The newsletter must be published within the current year and must be a USHGA Chapter publication. Nominations should include three issues of the newsletter and names and addresses of the editors if this information is not included in the publication.

Exceptional Service Award- This award provides an opportunity to recognize one USHGA member who has provided the most outstanding volunteer service to the USHGA, for activity on the national, regional or local levels. The volunteer work may have begun prior to the current year, or may be completed at a future date, but must be ongoing in the current year. Nominations should cite activities, locations, and dates as appropriate, and include the name and address of the nominee. Recipients must be USHGA members. Commendations - This award provides an opportunity to recognize members' efforts in providing volunteer service to the organization at the local, regional, or national level that is of excellent quality and/or of significant importance to the Association.

Fall 1994 USHGA Board of Directors Meeting Agenda COMPETITION

ELECTIONS & ALLOCATIONS

• Meet Director responsibility in regards to accidents during competition (S) - Reports/results from major meets - 1994 Women's World Meet - East Coast Championships - Sandia Classic - Big Springs Tow Meet - 1994 U.S. Hang Gliding Nationals - Southern California Paragliding Cross-Country Championships - 1994 U.S. Paragliding Nationals 1995 World Team Meet • PAI sanctioning requirements 1995 Nationals

• Regional reapportionment population study (S)

FINANCE • Long-term financial plan proposal (S) 1995 headquarters salary proposal 1993 audit report results • Financial operations as of September 30, 1994 1995 preliminary budget projections

INSURANCE • Commercial site insurance (S) • 3M liability policy quotes (S)

HANG GLIDING

USHGA Reports I) • Group health insurance for members (S) • 1994 fatality review • 1994 insurance loss claims • 1995/1996 premium projections

MEMBERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT • Affiliate membership with 99s (S) • Junior Membership Program Proposal

• Paragliding ICP Administrator appointments • Certified School status • Peer review committee status • Pilot certification books • Hang Gliding Instructor exam update • Instructor contract • Dave Wills' Observer manual • Paragliding rating structure/tides • Modifications to Class III exam • Airspace regulations • PG ICP package

• Paragliding T-3 modifications

TOWING • Practical test standards for towing administration (S) • Tow Administrator renewal process (S) • Towing SOP (S) • Tow Topics modifications

(S) • One-month membership discounts (S) • Women's sports issue group (S) • Program activity reports -Oshkosh -Sun 'n' Fun

GENERAL SESSION SITE MANAGEMENT • Select Fall 95 BOD site • 1995 Officer Elections

• Policy guideline for site access (S) • Site guide proposal

(SJ - Follow-up items from spring 1994 BOD meeting (R) - Referred from other committee at spring 1994 BOD meeting

TANDEM NATIONAL COORDINATING • FAI sanctioning requirements • Foreign pilots and the need for USHGA membership (R) • FAR 103 rewrite status • World Records - Open Distance & Dogleg Larry Tudor -308 mi. - hang gliding - Gain of Height - Bob Schick 6,550 ft. - paragliding

NATIONAL FLY-IN •

1996 National Fly-In bids

PUBLICATIONS • Editor's reports • Written contract with ParaglidingThe Magazine (S) • Policy for use of USHGA graphical elements (S) • September magazine survey results • Logo redesign consideration

SAFETY & TRAINING

• Tandem Administrators reviews • Practical Test Standards (S)

USHGA Membership (1993/1994) 9/1/94

9/1/93 Region

Full

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

717 1,625 1,359 970 242 176 481 465 850 990 255 560 557

231 310 343 282 95 41 61 53 67 52 42 133

1,019 1,655 1,358 1,042 0 192 519 450 839 1,034 262 582 498

430 375 439 339 0 24 79 75 67 86 60 71 152

TOTAL

9,247

1,723

9,450

2,197

• 1994 fatality review • Status of instructor manuals

OCTOBER 1994

moment there is rdativc caln1. Pilo,s conduce rodio checks and m ake last mittutc adjust.. n1ents. Ground cre\vs quietly gacher loose gear. Drivccs char ground rourc.s. E.veryooc ,va.ics uncil, fi na.lly. che windsock flies true.

Bedlam ensues. As they jockey for posi· don, 170 pilocs struggling under the wdghr of their glid· ers rese1nblc piano...laden emus

hopelessly

Oighdess.

Prcffight coUisions are narn)\\'ly avoided, o r nor. Ground crev.'$

hunker down :ind waddle co stay clear. Frentied officials jot do\vn launch times. Retrieval vans race do\Vf'I the n1ounrain

ltttmch atop Momre Ridgr. Photo by &th Whitney.

hired sighr-wue<:n. An innocent bystander from the Swiss ream becomes cnrang)ed and somcho,v 1nanages to sort it all Otlt. The Swiss speak everything. A group of Ausrr.1lians and Brirons gach· ers on the launch r,mp to watch the progress of the ,vind dummies, who have

just launched. The dummies ;uc finding lifi to che ea.~r. hut ;1 large- bird o( prc:y scc1ns co have a better thcnnaJ ro the ,vest. As co \'Vhcthcr ies an In1perial ()r a Golder~ Eagfe.

the Brits and Aussies can'r quite :1_gre.e. A siren sounds. The task commitccc, comprised of six top pilocs and mee, orga· nizer Pedro Chappa. has reached a verdicc - a str,iight, BS -kilometer sbot co mrn. poinc #3, near the French and Andorran border. Expected fl ighc duration, three hou.rs. PilotS are advised co carry ,heir pass· pons. Drivers are briefed. The inicial wisp of a cun1ulus cloud appears on rhc .sourhern horizon, and rwo more pop to chc norch. The launch window opens, and for a

,AFRO.USA •no.

in a mad cloud of dusc. And grndually... very gradually.. all of the earthly <::alamicy eases into nearly perfect orde.r. The launch sire

clear$, rhc dust settles. and. high above Catalon ia's mediev:\I landscape, a minbow gaggle of the world's hang gliding elite swirls deeper and deeper into a grear blue oblivion. The cransirion is as unbe-Jie\-ablc as it is smooth, but pilot'$ the ,vorld over explain it in much the same w:ty. "Chaos," said one young member of che AustraJi:1n team, "is the fi.rst syn1prom of flighcles.sne.<s."

Prte tu,u th, driver for rh, U.S. rA't Tean, t'n Spain. ~

01s1nbt11ed In No,Vt Amenta &Olety by lkaros Sport Aviati on OSA). M.tiiiog Adoress: 38 41 Di1m;ir$ Blvd Astoria. NY 11105. 718 777 7000. Fa.i 212.942.8155. ViS<! 1.1,; a, ~ -3 1 Newtown Avo., A$1(1(1.a. NY. ExelusNe dealers ol MOYES Hang Gtlders Ptus PaJa(}tdltt$, P.tf\llmotOls Ae,ochutos ~nd M1erotlght.,.

re1

H ANG GUDING

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 downtubes, 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. If in doubt, many hang gliding businesses will be happy to give an objective opinion on the condition of equipment you bring them to inspect. Buyers should select equipment that is appropriate for their skill level or rating. New pilots should seek professional instruction from a USHGACERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR. ROGALLOS AAA MOYES GLIDERS - New. All brands used. Harnesses, parachures, helmets. Afro USA, Micropanel, Cummulus 1 (airspeed, automatic flight recording up to 99 flighrs, air pressure, more) $499. Radios, merchandise & more. (718) 777-7000. AIRBORNE BLADE 153 - Brand new, 10 hours airtime. Top-of-the-line glider, perfect condition. Paid $4,300 asking $2,700. (702) 359- 7943 Reno. AUSTRALIAN PILOT RETURNING HOME XS2 142 $1,900. XS 155 $1,400. Xtralites 137 & 147 $3,500. (206) 293-3282. COLLECTORS - Hang Gliding magazines, 19771993 $3 each. (50 I) 663- 3166.

DOUBLE VISION (909) 674-2453.

<50 hours $1,800 you ship.

DOUBLE VISION - Like new, will ship $1,900 OBO. (907) 479-5538. DOUBLE VISION - New in '94. Factory sent wrong color-you $ave. $3,000. (414) 473-2003. DREAM 145 - Excellent condition. Blue/white plus harness w/chute, helmet and more $1,200 OBO. (818) 362-5721 or (213) 748-2928. DREAM 165 - Three years old, low air miles, orange w/spectrum, 12" wheels included $900 OBO. (702) 323-3400. DREAM 220 - Excellent condition, 10 hours. Black-daglo yellow & pink $2,100. Call Karman (408) 422-2299 days. DREAMS IN STOCK-All sizes, Raven Sky Sporrs (414) 473-2003. FORMULA 154 - Like new condition, 16 hours $2,000. CG2000 w/chute $400. Roberts vario $150. Various other hg stuff. Wife says it goes or I do! (501) 327-5522. GEMINI 134 - Great condition, wheels incl. $600. (303) 349-6590. GLIDER BAGS - Custom made. UV $70, XC $75, standard $85. Sail Wings (50 I) 663-3166 phone/fax.

COMBAT II 152 - Excellent condition, high performance glider with easy handling characteristics. Can send photos. $1,900 OBO. (307) 733-5165.

HANG GLIDER - Like new, harness, parachute, vario, altimeter $1,400. (215) 925-8122.

COMET 165 - New, custom purple/red/lime sail. Tight and beauriful $1,300. (612) 681-9174.

HPl - 100 hours, great condition, giveaway price $350. (717) 476- 6645.

HPAT 145 - 70 hours, w/XC bag & extras $2,200. CG 1000 w/BRS, parachute, swivel, MHo2 system, size medium $1,200. Two Yaesu FT411E w/many extras $600. Flytec 3010 $300. $4,100 takes everything, references available. Please call Robert at (503) 548- 0289. HPAT 145 - 80 hours! Crisp, doesn't tumble $2,550. (415) 621-2199. HPAT 158 - Custom sail, good condition $1,100 OBO. (407) 642-2636. HPAT 158 -April '92, all white, 1/4 bottom panel red $1,800. Raymond harness, 6' +/-3", chute, rocket, matches glider $1,000. Ball 652, base mount, flex necks on air & TE probe $500. Reggie Jones (619) 445-3633. HPAT 158 - Magenta sail, good condition $1,500. Z-3 harness, many extras, for 5'10"-6" pilot $275. Ball M-22 vario altimeter with total energy $300. (310) 393-8494. HPAT 158 - Regional winner, sweet flyer $1,100. (707) 875-2633. K2 145 - (flawless), <4 hours, beautiful crisp sail + extras $2,900. Avsac black, medium harness $250. 20g PDA $275. Kevlar fullface helmet $100. Flytec 3010 $300. (216) 229-1878. K3 166 -

Low hours $2,000. Call (406) 728-2044.

KISS 155 - 50 hours $999. White, red leading, blue under. Gerry (510) 528-1162. KLASSIC 144 - Sandia Classic winner, great climber $2,300. (801) 254-6141. LITE DREAM 185 925-8669.

DESIRE 151 - Excellent shape, 50 hours, excellent glide $2,300. (801) 254-6141.

Bright colors, 30 hours (303)

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 words: Number of words:

Number of Months: Section (please circle) Rogallos Emergency Chutes Parts & Accessories Business & Employment Miscellaneous

Towing Wanted Videos Schools and Dealers Ultralights Rigid Wings Publications & Organizations Paragliders

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

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

@ .50 - - - - - - - ~

@ 1.00

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

L--------------------------------------~ OCTOBER 1994

~~ Classifieds MOYES GTR W/B 151 - New Tracer harness, both $900 OBO. (305) 892-6797 Miami FL.

SPORT EURO 167 - Beautiful glider, excellent condition $1,500. (310) 393-8494.

MOYES GTR 162VG - W/Cloudbase spaghetti harness, great condition $900. (512) 321-1089 eves.

SPORT 167 EURO - Excellent condition, orange/yellow sail, 40 hours $1,600. (612) 681-9174.

MOYES MISSION 167 - Double surface, easy handling glider. New condition $850. (508) 659-6267.

SPORT AT 167 (31 O) 475-6868.

MOYES MISSION 170 - Excellent condition, white with blue leading edge, with floats for boat cowing $1,500. (813) 443-6604.

SPORT 167 Alv!ERICAN - Good condition, flies great $950 OBO. (704) 658-9401.

New condition, pink and grey.

MOYES XS 142 - $1,500. GTR World Beater $800. (208) 726-1709.

SPORT 180 - Very clean, ~30 hours, perfect for tandem or large pilot. Will deliver co Lakeview OR $1,000. (503) 593-5512.

MOYES XS 155 - July 1990, 120 hours $1,500 OBO. TRX 160-June 1991, 60 hours $1,800 OBO. Call Mike Haas (219) 236-3340.

STREAK 160 - Excellent condition, great glide, photos sent, gold and spectrum. First $475 rakes it. (602) 897-7121.

PACAIR MKIV 19 - Excelleur condition, speedbar, cocoon harness with parachute, Ball vario, helmet, Yaesu radio $1,500. (901) 757-5168.

SUPER SPORT 143 - <4 hours, flies great. All the Wills stuff and 2 downtubes $2,950. Also Comet 135, 20 hours $800. Larry (617) 871- 9106.

RAMAIR 146 - 25 hours, like new condition $3,350. (619) 484-7596.

SUPER SPORT 163 - 80 hours, folding control bar. Red LE, gray/blue/violet undersurface, violet cop surface $2,000 OBO. (505) 820-1855.

RAMAIR 146 Calif.

20 hours $3,100. (909) 677-6065

RAMAIR 146 - Brand new. Why wait months and pay more? Need cash, low price! (706) 398-3964. RAMAIR 146 - Red LE, yellow, blue, white. 7.5 hours airtime $3,150. Downtube $55. Spare wingtip faring and air scoop $50. Kurt (303) 661-9307. RAMAIR 154 - Mod's installed by factory team, red/black undersurface. Bought new house-must sell $3,200. (702) 826-1108. RAMAIR 154 (208) 322-7911.

Low hours, excellent condition

RAMAIR 154'5- Two, low hours. (316) 697-2577. SPECTRUM 144 - 1992, black/blue, low hours $1,500 OBO. (303) 530- 9557. SPECTRUM 144 - 1993, brand new $2,300. (406) 586-7182 or (406) 721-6056. SPECTRUM 144- <5 hours, WW harness, helmet. (503) 287-1092. SPECTRUM 165 - <50 hours, immaculate condition, many upgrades $2,000. (602) 924-6132, (310) 908-9434. SPECTRUMS & VISIONS - Bought-Sold-Traded. Raven Sky Sports (414) 473-2003. SPORT 167 AT - Excellent condition $2,200. 1993 Flyrec 3020 w/air $820. (802) 879-3607. SPORT 167 - 1987, good condition, low hours, best offer. (808) 254-1507.

Zl RACER - Plus extras, 13 hours $1,700. Zl zoom unit $1,200. VE19 $1,000. Formula 154, with new warranty and kit $2,500. Axis 15, 12 hours, crisp $2,300. Pulse 11 meter $2,900. Also, new RamAir 146 and Moyes Xrralite 147. Airtime Oregon (503) 998-1220.

TRADE YOUR GLIDER! - We need clean used gliders! Immediate delivery new Ram Airs, Klassics, Super Sports, Pulses, Spectrums. Call Marr, Lookout Mountain Flight Park, (800) 688-LMFP, (706) 3983541. TRX 140 - Flown one season, good condition $1,800 OBO. (407) 642- 2636. TRX 140 - Full race, only 75 hours $2,800. Andy (801) 266-5929. VISION 17 - Excellent, lower wires brand new $1,200. Parachute $200. (805) 239-3483. VISION MKIV 19 - Low hours, fantastic flyer $1,200. Jeff (510) 538-3014. Wanted-Super Sport 163 or K2. VISIONS & SPECfRUMS - Bought-Sold-Traded. Raven Sky Sports (414) 473-2003. \Y/W HARRIER II 187 - Low hours, great glider for larger novice pilot (up to 265lbs). Recently tuned, ready co fly $695. (408) 272-7559.

WILLS \X'ING RAt\1AIR 154 lent condition (208) 322- 7911.

Low hours, excel-

Sell your unused equipment here.

COLORADO HANG GLIDING "Celebrating Over 20 Years of Sales and Support!" REGION IV'S OLDEST, LARGEST FULL-TIME STORE. RESERVE CHUTES, (All Sizes) never used, inspected, repacked w/new bridle and bag .................. $265 VARIOS/ALT ................ (Used, All Brands) ... $150+ NEW, USED PARAGLIDERS ...................... $500+ NEW D.O.T. HELMETS .............................. $49+ NEW PARASAILS ......... (Large size) .............. $1, 175 LT DREAM 220, 145 .... <10 HOURS ........... $1,850 SPORT EURO 150 F.R.<15 HOURS ........... $1,200 LT DREAM 185 ............ <50 HOURS ........... $900 LT MYSTIC 155 ........... <50 HOURS ........... $950 DUCK 160 .................... <40 HOURS ........... $550 COMET 165, 185 ......... <160 HOURS ......... $450ea. PRODAWN, PROSTARII 160 .. ..................................... <25 HOURS ........... $450ea. Equipme11l'IOO% Guaranteed. Since 1972. (303) 278-9566. GOLDEN \X'INGS 1103 Washington Avenue, Golden, CO 80401 ORDER PHONE 1-800-677-4449 Mystic 177 VG .... Grear for cowing ..... $800 Sport Americans & Euro Sports .......... $1,400-$1,800 Several Visions .................................... $800-$1,700 New Spectrums in stock ..................... $Call Call for a complete listing of other gliders. EMERGENCY PARACHUTES A BEST BUY! - $265, never deployed, new bridle, bag (PDA's $300). Inspected and repacked, all sizes. Fully Guaranteed! Colorado Hang Gliding (303) 2789566. ALL BRANDS - Bought, sold, and repacked. Inspection and repack $25- $35. Parachutes, bridles, inspected and replaced, paraswivels installed. AIRTIME OF SAN FRANCISCO, 3620 Wawona, San Francisco, CA 94116. (415) SKY-1177. FLIGHT DESIGNS - 2Ci' conical parachuce, new bridle, never deployed $175. Kure (303) 661-9307.

Our advertising has a two-month lead time plan ahead.

HANG GLIDING

Classifieds ~~ PDA -

20 gore $200. (909) 677-6065 Calif PARAGLIDERS

ALL NEW/USED - $500+. Instruction, tandems. California (909) 654- 8559. NEW AND USED - Paragliders, most brands $800-$3,000. Colorado Paragliding (303) 278-9566. NEW PARAGLIDING RESERVES - Brand new 20ft PDA Skyangel PG reserves $385. (303) 2789566.

ARIZONA HANG GLIDING CENTER INC. The only full time shop in the state! Dealer for all major brands. Cenified training program utilizing extensive tandem instruction. \Y/e can teach you more in less rime, see what a difference full service makes. (602) 772- 4114. DESERT HANG GLIDERS - USHGA certified instruction. Supine specialists. 4319 W. Larkspur, Glendale, AZ 85304. (602) 938-9550. ZONIE HG - Tandem specialist. USHGA, FAA certified instruction, CFil/MEI ATP. 4326 W. Mariposa Grande, Glendale 85310. (602) 582- 4471.

ULTRALIGHTS ARKANSAS DEMON JET WING TRIKE- Zero TT on Kawasaki. $3,000 consider trade. (704) 376-0465. JEFFERSON AERO SPORTS - Trikes and wings. Sales, accessories and training. Info pak $12. 15120 Skelton Rd, Jefferson OR 97352. (503) 327-1730. JETWJNG TRlKE - Demon wing, K440A, 5hrs, excellent condition $1,195. (410) 267-7108. WANTED WANTED - Old issues of Hang Gliding and Ground Skimmer magazines. (518) 398-1069 Tom. WANTED - Used hang gliding equipment. Gliders, instruments, harnesses and parachutes. Airtime of San Francisco, 3620 Wawona, San Francisco, CA 94116. (415) SKY-1177.

ALABAMA

ROCKET CITY AJRSPORTS -

HANG GLIDER EMPORIUM - Best training hill in the west! Full service hang gliding/paragliding shop, established 1974. PO Box 41339, Sama Barbara CA 93140-1339, (805) 965-3733. THE HANG GLIDING CENTER - Located in beauriful San Diego. US! !GA instruction, equipment rentals, local flying tours. Spend your winter vacation flying with us. \Y/e proudly offer Wills Wing, Pacific Airwave, High Energy, Ball and we need your used equipment. PO Box 1049, Lakeside CA 92040, (619) 561-1009.

A BEAUTIFUL SOARING EXPERIENCE Awaits you at Torrey Pines Glider Port, a full service USHGA certified hang gliding & paragliding school located on the most soarable coastal cliffs in the nation. On-site training hill and tandem instruction using the new dual putpose, lightweight carbon fiber XTC 205 for both (fly tandem on the same glider you use on rhe training hill). New/used gliders, equipment in stock. Buy/trade used gliders/gear, rentals, glider repair. Get UP. 2800 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive, La Jolla CA 92037. (619) 452-3202. HIGH ADVENTURE - Hang gliding, paragliding school. Equipment sales, service, rentals at Southern California's mile high site, Crestline. USHGA Instructor Rob McKenzie. By appointment year round. (909) 883-8488.

See

Sales, remals, ser-

vice and certified instruction at Keel Mountain,

Gurley, Alabama. For information send SASE and $1 to 301-A Franklin Street, Huntsville AL 8801. We buy used equipment. (205) 880-8512, (205) 6514422. ARlZONA ADVENTURE SPORTS TOURS - Certified instruction utilizing the world's first man-made training hill plus other sites which all face every wind direction. Dealer for Pacific Airwave, Wills Wing, Ball and High Energy, 1327 E. Bell De Mar Dr., Tempe, AZ 85283 (602) 897-7121. AIRBORNE SPORTS USA - Newly imported ausualian hang gliders. Parts, service & equipment rentals. USHGA certified ground & randem instruction. Guided hg & pg tours in southern Arizona's most scenic mountains. Call or write Tony Barton, Airborne Sports USA, PO Box 2163, Sierra Vista AZ 85636. Ph/fax (602) 459-6305.

OCTOBER 1994

CALIFORNIA

ACTION SOARING CENTER - In Lodi near Stockton. Personalized USHGA certified instruction, sales and service. Emphasis on special skills, techniques, launching & landing. Demo's. Ask about tow clinic. (209) 368-9665.

SCHOOLS & DEALERS

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

OZARK MOUNTAIN HANG GLIDERS - Sales, service and instruction. 160 Johnston Rd, Searcy AR 72143. (501) 279-2480.

FLIGHT SYSTEMS - New location. Dealer for rhc BIG THREE, WILLS WING, PACIFIC AIRWAVE and MOYES. All kinds of accessories. I understand the existing pilots need to get a sweet deal! I need trade-ins. Call me last. ''I'll eat a bug." DAN SKADAL@ FLIGHT SYSTEMS, 1915B E. Karella, Orange CA 92667. 714-(new)639-7777.

AIRTIME OF SAN FRANCISCO - HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING. Complete, safe & fun, USHGA certified training program. Mountain clinics & ground schools. ALL MAJOR BRANDS. Quality airframe and sewing by factory trained repair technicians. Parachute services. Large selection of 2nd hand gear (buy & sell). Rentals available. Next to Fon Funston. The only full service shop in San Francisco! 3620 \Xlawona, San Francisco CA 94116. (415) 7591177. CHANDELLE SAN FRANCISCO, INC. Complete hang gliding and paragliding sales, service and instruction since 1973. Northern California's most complete repair facility. New and used equipment and demo's, lesson packages, clinics and tandem lessons. 1595 E Francisco Blvd Ste F, San Rafael CA 94901, (415)-GLIDlNG. COMPACT WINGS PARAGLIDING -Tandem, Class III certified instructor. All major brands. Yearround flying. Best Southern California site. (909) 654-8559.

...e- e..-s.,~

tt~

.:;~<>'q~

11\ HANG GLIDING oboBICYCLlNG PflllAGLlDlNG

FULL SERVICE SHOP - Located at the base of the mountain on Hwy 74. Dealers oflvioyes, UP, PacAir, flytec, Ball, High Energy, Avocet & more. Call for free area info pack. Open daily 9-6. Rentals available. Visa & Mastercharge accepted. 909-674-2453 31401 Riverside Dr. Lake Elsinore, CA. 92530

~--;

LAKE ELSINORE WINDGYPSY - Airwave, Moyes. Call for site information. (909) 679-8994.

~~ Classifieds MISSION SOARING CENTER - Serving the flying community since 1973. Complete pilot training program with special attention to take-off and landing skills. Custom superlite training gliders. Comfortable training harnesses! Deluxe retail shop. Wills, PacAir, 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. 1116 Wrigley Way, Milpitas (near San Jose) CA 95035. (408) 262-1055. TRUE FLIGHT HANG GLIDING & SOARING SCHOOL - The only shop at world famous Kagel mountain in Los Angeles. We offer USHGA certified instruction and sales of most all major brands of hang gliding equipment. Our shop is fully stocked with parts and accessories, rental gear and all cross country gear. \Y/e have a sewing shop in- house that makes the MANTIS harnesses. We are the most complete full service shop in the Los Angeles area and we have been training quality hang glider pilots for over fifteen years. We are located at 13525 Eldridge Avenue, Sylmar, California 91342. 1-800-894-5433, fax (818) 367-0419. 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 fly with us! 16145 Victory Blvd., Van Nuys CA 91406. (818) 9880111, Fax (818) 988-1862. WRIGHT BROTHERS WINGS - Friendly USHGA certified instruction in the Modesto area. UP, Pacific Airwave, Ball, BRS, High Energy and more. (209) 586-6012 Sonora CA.

FLORIDA

FLORIDA HANG GLIDING INC. FLYING FLORIDA SINCE 1974 AEROTOW AT THE WALLABY RANCH YEAR ROUND SOARING 7 DAYS A WEEK 8 MILES FROM DISNEY/ORLANDO Certified tandem instruction. Demo all the latest Moyes flying machines. Rentals, sales, storage, ratings, xc retrieval. Camping, swimming pool, picnic, family scene. Call (813) 424-0070 ranch phone/fax, (407) 896-7311 evenings. LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK Nearest hang gliding mountain training center to Florida. See ad under Georgia.

NO MORE BUNNY... THE HILL WITH IT!

WE HAVE - The most advanced training program known to hang gliding, teaching you in half the time it takes on the training-BUNNY HILL, and with more in-flight air time. YES, WE CAN TEACH YOU FASTER AND SAFER. For year-round training fun in the sun, call or write Miami Hang Gliding (305) 285-8978. 2640 S Bayshore Drive, Coconut Grove, Florida 33133.

COLORADO GEORGIA GOLDEN WINGS - Lessons, sales & service. USHGA certified instruction. 1103 Washington Avenue, Golden CO 80401. (303) 278- 7181. TELLURIDE AIR SPORTS - Moyes, Pacific Airwave, Wills Wing, Flytec & Ball. PO Box 2076, Telluride CO 81435. (303) 728-9525. CONNECTICUT MOUNTAIN WINGS -

Look under New York.

Our advertisers appreciate your support and patronage. Tell them you saw their ad in hang gliding.

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK America's #1 hang gliding school, since 1978. Find out why four times as many pilots earn their mountain wings at Lookout! Complete certified trainingfirst day to mountain soaring, best facilities in USA. We wrote USHGA's Official Flight Training Manual! Our specialty customer satisfaction. Lesson packages, ratings, glider rentals. Largest inventory new/used hang gliders, equipment. Complete sail/airframe repairs. Camping, swimming pool. Send $2 for information. Route 2, Box 215-H, Rising Fawn GA 30738 (20 minutes from Chattanooga, Tennessee) (800) 688- LMFP, (706) 398-3541. ILLINOIS RAVEN SKY SPORTS - (312) 360-0700 or (708) 360-0700. Please see our ad under WISCONSIN. INDIANA

JJ MITCHELL -TANDEM. UP, PacAir dealer. 6741 Columbia Ave., Hammond, IN 46324 (219) 845-2856.

Sell your unused equipment here. KENTUCKIANA SOARING - See ad under parrs. RAVEN SKY SPORTS - (414) 473-2003. Please see our ad under WISCONSIN. KANSAS PRAIRIE I.IANG GLIDERS - Bed & breakrast. Full service school & dealer. Great towing & XC packages. (316) 697-2577. MICHIGAN PRO HANG GLIDERS - I would like to say THANKS to the flying community for a great response co my services this year so far. If I can serve you, it would be my privilege. Michigan's most experienced school, teaching I 7 years. Advanced Instructor, Examiner, Tow Administrator. Beginneradvanced instruction. Step cow's to 2,000'. Ratings, gliders, equipment. Contact: Norm Lesnow, (810) 399-9433. 569 W Annabelle, Hazel Park MI 48030. TRAVERSE CITY HANG GLIDERS/PARAGLIDERS - FULL-TIME shop. Certified instruction, foot launch and row. Sales, service, accessories for ALL major brands. VISA/MASTERCARD. Come soar our 450' dunes! 1509 E 8th, Traverse Ciry MI 49684. Call Bill at (616) 922-2844. MINNESOTA SPORT SOARING CENTER/MINNEAPOLIS Instruction, equipment dealers for Wills Wing, Pacific Airwave & Edel. (612) 557-0044. NEVADA ADVENTURE SPORTS - Sierra tours out specialty - USHGA certified 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 CROSSROADS WINDSPORTS - Located on the awesome Hobbs Industrial Airpark. Offering platform cowing, tandem instruction, XC guides. Representing UP, Wills & PacAir. Call Curt at (505) 392-8222. HIGH DESERT HANG GLIDING - Moyes, Airborne, Pacific Airwave. Sales, service, instruction. Sandia mountain guides. Call (505) 896-HANG. UP OVER NEW MEXICO - Instruction, sales, service. Sandia Mountain guides. Wills, Pacific Airwave. Albuquerque, NM (505) 821-8544.

HANG GLIDING

Classifieds NEW YORK

OHIO

AAA SOARING CENTER MOUNTAIN WINGS INC. at the base of the ELLENVILLE MOUNTAIN. Full rime professional, certified hang gliding and paragliding instruction. We have been the largest, most complete hang gliding center in the NE for the past 14 years. Dealer for Pacific Airwave, UP, Seedwings, Enterprise Wings. We are the only dealer in the east for Bright Scars "Swift". We also offer Edel, High Energy, CG, Second Chantz, Ball, Flyrec, Cloudbase, Litek, Alinco, Maxon, Brauniger, Kenwood, !com, Yaesu, GPS systems, Wheels, Uvex, Reflex, Trek, Air. We stock full face helmets, books, varios, hand fairings, cubing, speed bars, parachutes, camelbaks, liquipacs, clothing, gloves and more. We offer expert repairs, inspections, sewing, harness modifications, repacks, towing, tandems, seminars and ICP clinics. We specialize in first mountain flights with three way radios. Info on flying Ellenville Mountain and other nearby sites. Demos in stock. YOUR ONE STOP HANG GLIDER SHOP. 150 CANAL STREET, ELLENVILLE NY 12428. (914) 647-3377 OR 1- 800-525-7850. Visa, MC, Discover. Catalog available. Same day UPS on mail orders. Give us a chance to beat any legit price.

MARIO MANZO - SW Ohio foot launched instruction and glider repair. (513) 848-3520 weekday eves.

FLY HIGH HANG GLIDING, INC. - Serving S. New York, Connecticut, Jersey areas (Ellenville Men.). Area's EXCLUSIVE Wills Wing dealer/specialist. Also all other major brands, accessories. Certified school/instruction. Teaching since 1979. Area's most INEXPENSIVE prices/repairs. Excellent secondary instruction ... if you've finished a program and wish to continue. Fly the mountain! ATOL rowing! Tandem flights! Contact Paul Voight, 5163 Searsville Rd, Pine Bush, NY 12566, (914) 744-3317. IKi\ROS SPORTS AVIATION - NYC's only certified hang gliding & paragliding school. Also Paramotors, Aerosuirs and Microlites. Full service and equipment at best prices. Exclusive MOYES dealer. Storage available. (718) 777-7000. SUSQUEHANNA FLIGHT PARK Cooperstown, NY. Certified Instruction, Sales and Service for all major manufacturers. 40 acre park, 5 training hills, jeep rides, bunk house, camping, hot showers, 600' N\v' ridge. We have the best facilities in N. New York state to teach you how to fly. RD 2, Box 348A, Cooperstown, NY 13326, (315) 866- 6153. NORTH CAROLINA COROLLA FLIGHT - America's most experienced tandem flight instructor, teaches utilizing ATOL and Double Vision. Call or write for information Greg DeWolf, Corolla Flight, PO Box 1021, Kitty Hawk NC 27949. (919) 261-6166

TOTAL AIR SPORTS - Area's OLDEST Wills Wing dealer. Certified instruction available. ''I only DEAL with WILLS". 6354 Limestone, Houston TX 77092. (713) 956-6147. UTAH

NORTH COAST HANG GLIDING - Certified Instruction. New & used gliders. Specializing in Pacific Airwave gliders. Mike Del Signore, 1916 W. 75th St., Cleveland, OH. 44102 (216) 631-1144. OREGON

REBEL WINGS HANG GLIDING - USHGA certified instruction. Operations conducted at Bauer Ridge and Jedi Jump. Dealer for UP, PacAir, High Energy, Ball. Mountain tours, service & repairs. (SO 1) 882-7042.

AIRTIME OREGON - Certified instructor emphasizing Safery~Progress. NEW and classic trainers. Sales and service of hang gliding equipment and accessories. Mose manufacturers represented and demos available. (503) 998-1220.

SOUTH\VIND HANG GLIDING INC. - USHGA certified, tandem instruction. Beginner-advanced, yearound soaring, XC clinics. Dealer for: UP, PacAir, Airborne, High Energy, Ball, Brain Bucket. Call Bob Schick at (SOI) 359-6036.

SOUTHERN OREGON HANG GLIDING Certified instruction, ATV retrieval. Pacific Airwave, Wills Wing, UP. (503) 479-5823.

UP SOARING CENTER - Full sen•ice hang gliding & paragliding school. USHGA certified insuuction (year-round) at the nation's most consistently soarable site (minutes away). New/used gliders, equipment in stock. Buy/trade used gear. Airframe/sail repairs performed at factory. Mountain clinics, tandem, ratings, ICP's, rentals, seminars, pilots lounge/videos, near-by camping/morels. 12665 S. Minuteman Dr., Draper UT 84042 (20 minutes from Salt Lake City). (SOI) 576-6460, fax (801) 576-6482. MC/Visa accepted.

PENNSYLVANIA MOUNTAIN TOP RECREATION - Certified instruction, Pittsburgh. (4 l 2) 697-4477. C'MON OUT AND PLAY! MOUNTAIN WINGS- Look under New York. TENNESSEE ALPINE LODGE - At Raccoon Mountain. Private rooms, bunkhouse, jacuzzi, pool. Work program. (615) 821-2546 Chattanooga, Chuck or Shari.

WASATCH WINGS - USHGA certified hang gliding school, dealers for Wills Wing, Moyes and Pacific Airwave. Flight operations at Point of the Mountain. Call Gordon (801) 277-1042. VIRGINIA

HAWK AIRSPORTS INC - P.O. Box 9056, Knoxville, TN 37940-0056, (615) 933-9296. Hang Gliding and Windsoks. LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK ad under Georgia.

BLUE SKY - Quality instruction, custom sewing, repairs, rowing. PacAir, WW, HES, Ball. (703) 4326557.

See

TEXAS A.A.S. AUSTIN AIR SPORTS - Ccnified instruction, sales and service for most major manufacturers. Tandem instruction available. Tow- launched training programs for Hang I-Hang IV pilots. Mountain flying in Mexico year round. Write ro Steve Burns at 1712 Waterson, Austin TX 78703 or call Austin (512) 4741669, Houston (713) 471- 1488, or San Antonio (210) 824-1803. KITE ENTERPRISES - Instruction, sales, repairs, rowing and foot launch. Dallas & North Texas area. 211 Ellis, Allen TX 75002. (214) 390-9090 anytime. Dealer, Pacific Airwave, Wills Wing.

KITTY HAWK KITES -

See North Carolina.

SILVER WINGS, INC. - Certified hg/pg instruction and equipment sales. Proudly representing Pacific Airwave, Wills Wing, Seedwings & UP. {703) 5331965 Arlington VA. WISCONSIN RA VEN SKY SPORTS HANG GLIDING AND PARAGLIDING - Largest and most popular in the Midwest. Traditional curriculum, ridge soaring, mountain clinics, Dragonfly aerorowing & tandems by Brad Kushner. Sales/service/accessories for all major brands. PO Box IO l, Whitewater WI 53190 (414) 473-2003. PARTS & ACCESSORIES

KITTY HAWK KITES, INC. - P.O. Box 1839, Nags Head, NC 27959 (919) 441-4124. Learn to hang glide on Jockey's Ridge, the largest sand dune on the east coast, just south of where the \'>hight Brothers' first flight rook place. Beginner and advanced lesson packages and camps offered. Advanced tandem tow instruction, 1500 fr. plus up. Dealer for all major brand gliders, complete inventol)' of new and used gliders, accessories and parts.

OCTOBER 1994

RED RIVER AIRCRAFT - AUSTIN (512) 4672529. FT. WORTH (817) 921- 6957. Quality instruction, tours/guides/rowing/glider service. Texas' leading PacAir and Wills dealer. 4811 Red River, Austin, TX 78751'"3108 Frazier, Fr. Worth TX 76110.

AEGIS DIGITAL BAROMETER new $35. (904) 481-3322.

Wrist watch,

~~ Classifieds ALINCO DJ-FIT - Two 2m fm radio transceivers. One has plastic cover & helmet headset; other has mag-base antenna & cigarette lighter cord. Both have wall chargers & good batteries. Ve1y small excellent HG radios $475. Kurt (303) 661-9307.

Business Week's Product of the Year

•

VERTJ(/11 l,HTERS CLIMBED

CG 1000 HARNESS - Black wired, yellow, & blue stripes, for person 5'6" to 5'9", with 02 bottle pocket, hookknife, etc $250. Full face kevlar helmet (large) $180. Thermitts $35. Litek vario with "Pep Boys" altimeter mounted w/it $100. Thermal Snooper $35. Camelbak H20 bottle $15. Air-release camera mount system with rubber kink- free line $35. Kurt (303) 661-9307.

AUTO !Hf/ll,\Al COUWER

(URRHH,'MAX/,\VG (11MB RAH

Al TH UDE

ALL NEW ULTRA-LIGHT LAMBIE LID - The lightest, most comfortable hang glider helmet. Aerodynamic, low turbulence, low drag shape. Hightech look. Finish is clear resin over the gold/black weave of the super-strong carbon/kevlar outer shell. Open face, only 12 oz., price $175. Integral full face version, only 17 oz. $235 includes headset installation. Measure around head and from bottom of earlobe over top ro bottom of earlobe for custom fir. From the designer, Jack Lambie, 8160 Woodboro, Anaheim CA 92807. Phone and fax (714) 779-1877. AVSAC - Chure, air rocket $1,100. UVEX HELMET $210., with !com headset $250. (408) 4461862. BALL M50 - With everything $600 OBO. New oxygen systems with oxymizer $150 each. (717) 4766645. BALL VARIO - $250. High Energy pod w/chute and bag, for 6'-6'1" pilot $450. Curt (602) 636-9084.

WE/1.TIHR

NEW! Pilot version now available. Highly accurate temperature compensated altimeter to 60,000 feet in 10 foot increments. Records your highest altitude and best climb. Displays temperature, barometric pressure and trends. Fully adjustable wristband can be worn over your flight suit for quick access and easy viewing. The only light aviation instrument that can record total vertical feet. All functions in Imperial or metric. Only $120 includes U.S. continental shipping within 24 hours. Visa/MC accepted. SATISFACTION GUARANTEED! 30 DAY MONEY BACK, 2 YEAR REPLACEMENT WARRANTY. Call Owens Valley Soaring (619) 387-2673.

CLOUDBASE HARNESSES - Great harnesses at a great price. Factory direct saves you money. Pods, spaghetti's, cocoons, knee-hangers, training harnesses, custom designs and repairs. Quality harnesses since 1972. Cloudbase/Chris Smith, RR 1 Box 660, Rising Fawn GA 30738. (706) 398-3964.

CAMERA REMOTE - Easy, versatile, fits most cameras. No special receptacle required. INTRODUCTORY OFFER $45 (ask about our $10 rebate). Tek Flight Products, Colebrook Stage, \'{!insred CT 06098. (203) 379-1668. (Camera not included.)

BEST 12" WHEELS AVAILABLE - Super tough, lightweight, a must for training, tandem flying. Builtin bushings. Only USA-built 12" wheel. $42.95, quantity discounts. Immediate delivery. Lookout Mountain, (800) 688-LMFP.

BOLT-ON WHEELS - Best removable intermediate/advanced wheels. Sturdy, tough, 6" diameter. Won't pop off basetube like snap-on's. Separate hub has hole for VG string though it, remains on basetube. Removable wheel halves screw together using thumb screws. $99/set, quantity discounts. Immediate delivery. Lookout Mountain Flight Park, (800) 688LMFP, (706) 398-3541.

HANG GLIDER CAMERA MOUNT - Shown on 2-1/2" tube, $39.50 includes shipping. TEK FLIGHT PRODUCTS, Colebrook Stage, Winsted CT 06098. (203) 379-1668 (Camera not included).

HANG GLIDING

Classifieds FLIGHT LOG SOFTWARE - Record your flights, calculate great circle distances and choose various sorts and filters for subtotaling and reporting your logged flights with this "easy to use" computerized log book. Ideal for individual, club and competition logs. PRICES: $28.95 Windows version, $24.95 DOS version, includes s&h. Cloudburst Computer Works, 20120 Broken Sabre Lane, Monument CO 80132.

FAX your classified ad, membership renewal or merchandise order:

(719) 632-6417. We

maxon

HIGH PERSPECTIVE WHEELS-REAL LIFE SAVERS! - 12", light, tough. Fits all gliders. Send $37 + $3.95 shipping per pair rn Sport Aviation, PO Box 101, Mingoville PA 16856. Ask abour our dealer prices.

gladly accept VISA and MasterCard. sP-200J Series

IO-CHANNEL PROGRAMMABLE JvfAXON SP 2550 - 5 watt two-way radio with charger. Three USHGA, three weather, four programmable frequencies. Durable, rugged, easy to use. Nicad barre1y (typical 10 hour). Pilots #1 choice! Special $349. Additional options available. Lookout Mountain Flight Park, (800) 688-LMFP, (706) 398-3541.

NEW BALL Ml9E $325. (303) 589-2319.

Has full factory warranty

OXYGEN SYSTEMS From Mountain High E&S CO. 516 12th Avenue, Salt Lake City UT 84103 USA. l-800-468-8185, local (801) 364-4171, fax (801) 364-6207. Major credit cards.

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) 966-1240. JUST FLY DINGLEBALLS 3596.

$9.95. 1-800-546EDS-70 31b competition system (with TR-55), or EDS-180, both Owen's Valley proven, either system $799.95.

December classifieds deadline: October 20 Can't afford new equipment? Find great bargains in our classified ad department. OCTOBER 1994

NAS RADIO AIRMICS - System eliminates all need for microphone. Virtual hands free operation allows you to talk and hear through a special patented ear plug. Transmission and reception is crystal dear because there is no wind noise. Satisfaction guaranteed. Complete with custom ear fit system. Mountable in ANY helmet. $170ea. (303) 278-9566.

XCR-180, with remote on/off valve and NELSON flow control regulator & oximizer only $349.95. POD HARNESS - Energy Sports, like new, 5'3" $250. (408) 423-8857.

E~ Classifieds Yaesu FTllR $299., !com P2 $339., Alinco DJ180r $229., Alinco DJ180H $259., Kenwood TH28A $329.95, New Kenwood TH22 $289.95. Mobile radio's 50w from $329. All ham radio models available. MARS/CAP MODS available with warranty intact. Antennas: 5/8 wave gain ducks $17.95, 5/8 wave telescopic $20.95, 1/4 gain duck $14.95, 5/8 wave 6" mag-mount $38.95, special antenna mounts available. Tow rope 1/4" poly $35 per 1000', Mason releases $47. Special hook knives $14.95 the good ones! New Flightmate Pro GPS $759.95 includes accessory package. Avocer Flight \'\larch $call, VMitts $26.

74e~:__2, PTT@= FingerSwitch ~~~

New-Updated Design! Full-face helmet headse

SKYBOX MAXX - If you rake your fun seriously, get the best. Learn more by reviewing evety second of every flight. This vario/barograph has it all, at a great price. Get more information instantly by fax-see Polling in your fax manual. Imported by Above All, 3797 NW Wisteria Way, Con•allis OR 97330. (503) 752-6947, fax (503) 752-8449.

ALWAYS JUST A TOUCH AWAY ... EVEN IF YOU TUMBLE Pilots prefer the PTT FingerSwirch radio headset because it offers handsfree radio operation. It features a quality low profile PTT switch worn on the index finger leaving your hands totally free. You get a complete package including speaker, microphone, all connections and instructions. Two headset styles are available: the standard headset for open-faced helmets and the full-face style headset designed for full-face helmets. Both are available for most Alinco, Icom, Kenwood, Maxon, Yaesu and other radios. List price: $105. Please write or call now for more info. PCC Co., PO Box 7031, Tacoma WA 98407-0031. (206) 272-4243.

------- / J

Free airspeed ind1eator with Avocet purchase

V - Flxtec

A - Ball

R -Aircotec I - Davron 0-Tangent S - More

"301 miles ... no tendinitis!" - Larry Tudor, World XC Champion Conquer turbulence in comfort and confidence wearing SkyLife XC gloves featuring soft-drying deerskin and textured neoprene grip strips for safer launches and more relaxed handling. S,M,L,XL $49.95, XXL $52.95, XXXL $54.95. NJ residents add 6% rax. Shipping $2.50. SkyLife, 331 Park Ave., Suite 31, Nutley NJ 07110. Tel (201) 667-0390.

KENTUCKIANA SOARING NEW PRO MODEL

Free airspeed indicator with vario purchase

Vario's vario's and more vario's from 1nost mfg's. Ball M-19 demo $374., Aircotec Piccolo demo $354., Flyrec $call. New Davron $call. New Tangent Flight Computer $call. If you're in the market for a vario, give us a call. We are either the best price or we'll tty to make it that way. We represent most manufacturers: Ball, Aircotec, Flytec, Brauniger, NAS products from helmets, parachutes, paragliders. High Energy harnesses, New Quantum parachutes, helmets from Panoramic and Reflex. Ballistic parachutes from BRS and Second Chant2. Genesys Model T-05 throat microphone w/earpiece $75. New PTT finger switch radio headset, standard $72., full face $86.

Our new motto: "YOU SHOW US YOURS AND WE'LL SHOW YOU OURS" best price. Kentuckiana Soaring, 425 Taggart Ave., Clarksville IN 47129. Phone (812) 288-7111, fax (812) 2844115. Send SASE for current sale flyer.

l1i

$759 QUICK RELEASE CARABINER - $49.95. Extra ball lock pin, $29.00. 10,000 lbs., dealers welcome, patent pending. Thermal 19431-41 Business Center Drive, Northridge, CA 91324. (818) 701-7983.

Our advertising has a two-month lead timeplan ahead. 58

u-~~~

®t@

SPECIALIZING IN ELECTRONICS, COMMUNICATION, GPS NAVIGATION AND FLIGHT DECKS - Allow a fellow pilot and licensed ham help you decide on a system that fits your needs. Radio prices fluctuate, call for the current price and specials. Yaesu FT411 $299., Yaesu FT416 $275.,

Can't afford new equipment? Find great bargains in our classified ad department.

HANG GLIDING

Classifieds More than 10,000 hang gliding enthusiasts read our magazine every month. That's more than 20,000 eyes seeing your ad. SPECIAL PURCHASE Maxon 1w or Tekk 2w, 1 USHGA channel $150 Uvex aramid full-face helmet lib 5 oz $300. Optional visor, headset. Smoke bombs, as low as $4.50. Signal mirror $8. Jack-The-Ripper cutaway knife $15. Silva compass with basetube mount $99. Camelbak $35. Oxygen systems $150-$250. Electronic pulse system $450. Inflatable Aerofloats & hardware to fit your glider $995. PENDULUM AEROSPORTS, INC. 1-800-WE FLYXC

TEK 6" WHEELS - $25 per pair, plus $3 S/H. Tek Flight Products, Colebrook Stage, Winsted CT 06098. (203) 379-1668.

GRADE A SHEEPSKIN hand fairings. REDESIGNED FOR SUPERIOR COMFORT, with NEW MAP POCKETS standard. \Xlarmest hand fairings in the world. Send $49 ro Wyo. Aerolites, PO Box 880, Casper WY 82602. (307) 235- 3367, add $15 for X-large. Custom orders accepted.

OCTOBER 1994

TEHK

T-50

PERFORMANCE

USHGA instructor Tom Sapienza, of Airtime Oregon says, "I've tested and recommend 'Xlind Advisory!" Dependable. Built to last. No batteries required.

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

VHF

· 5 watts

• 4 channels

I~--

$229

TOW PILOTS FIRST CHOICE - All radios ship complete wirh nicad battery, antenna and wall rype charger. Priced with working crystals on one channel. For pricing on complete product line and accessories, call The Shipping Depot and ask for Joe. (708) 8879911. Visa, MIC, Discover, A/E accepted.

UGLY! - What's ugly? The Litek E model variometer? Yeah, it is probably the ugliest thing you'd want on your glider, but it is the fastest responding, most indestructible, faithful, longesr living friend in the air. 16 year old Litek varios are still flying. Includes free speed meter and mount while supplies last $239. Litek (503) 479-6633.

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

WIND ADVISORY - With MOUNTING BRACKET only $24.50, includes s/h. You save $2.50. Sold separately-Indicator only $15 +$2 s/h; Mounting bracket $8 +$2 s/h. Specif)• short or long bracket with your order. Foreign orders add $2 per item purchased. Send check or MO to Pacific Resources, PO Box 9064, San Diego CA 92169. (619) 270-9462. Satisfaction Guaranteed!

DON'T GET CAUGHT LANDING DOWN'XIIND! - 1.5 oz. ripstop nylon, UV treated, 5'4" long w/11" throat. Available colors fluorescent pink/yellow or fluorescent pink/white. $39.95 (+$4.00 S/H). Send to USHGA Windsok, P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933-8300, (719) 632-8300, FAX (719) 632-6417. VISA/MC accepted.

THE IMPROVED 'vlf!NDTALKER IV - Uses an upgraded outdoor sensor, surge protection and heavy construction. Many new features. Still only $895. Litek (503) 479-6633.

IHJSINFSS AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

l'l/LL AND PART TIME

LISI ICA certified

inst-ructor.s. frnwv;-ifive equipmc11r, the Lu-est training

rnethork Soaring Safaris, Send resume Mission Soaring Center, 1116 Wrigley Way, Milpitas CA 950$5, (/iOH) 267 I 055, PUBIJCATlONS &. ORGANIZATIONS

TOWING

HIGHER THAN FAGLFS by Maralys &. Chris Wilk The lifo & times of' BOBBY WILLS, hang gliding Experience the triumphs and tragedies o!' the family ;tnd tl,c evol11tion of Wills Wing, $] 9,95 hardcover (, $/i,00 S/1 !), sec preceding classi ficd for US! !CA BOOKS ordering inh

llANC CLl])[NC & PARACLIJ)JNC MA(;A,, ZlNl•:'S New Pilot Fdition is now available through USI !CA I lcadquancrs, $/i,95 each +$1,50 s/h, Informative anicles and !or's of color throughout, And VFR OFl'IC!AL FAA SECTIONAL Ter111in:1l Arca Charts, All areas, current (up to date New Airspace Classifications), Sectional maps $7 each, VFR Tcnninal Arca Charts $Ii each, Add shipping and (CaL residents only) tax, Dealer prices, Aini me of S,F, (lj 15) 759- l I Tl, fox (Ii 1 5) 759 1182, DOWNWIND From the early days of' the 70's, to the big,timc air of Owen's Valley, DOWNWIND is packed with thrill and exhilaration of cross country adventnre, The perfr,ct for both pilots and nonSJ !ARE Tl lF EXPFRIENC:E, A trnc story, well tokL Available from USHCA Headquarters for only $10,95 (+$2 s/h), PO Box 8300, Colorado Springs CO B09'.l:L

Tl IE "MASON" TOW RELEASE Send $Ii? to Mark Mason, 12:l'J Corrine, Idaho Falls l [) 83/iO?,, (208) 529, 21 ()(,, says it's rhe

TIIF BFST PAYOUT WINCH --A little money can buy, Ready for boat, truck or trailer, Holds up to 8,000' of' Spectra, One person operation shown in Feb, '94 I IG magazine, Training is available, $1,295, l'arafoil recovery and $79,')5, Spectra tow line in stock at bes1 prices, Dealer inquiries welcome, Barry Steele, Appropriate Engineering, 9/ I Fisherman's Cove, Seneca SC

29GTL (803) 885,09/i9, lJLTRALINE

3/1(," 96011 breaking strength, '111/1000', ;)000' $105 included, The original

Ulrraline Source Cajun Hang Gliding Club, 110 Kent Circle, Lafayette LA 70508, (3 l 8) 98 I 8:377,

BJ\(; !'T! If yon don't have your copy of Dennis PERFORMANCE FLYING yet, available through \JSHGA Jlcadquaners $29,95 (+$Ii s&h), HANG GLIDING FOR BEGINNER PILOTS hy Pete Cheney, The Official USHC;A Manual, NOW IN ITS SECOND EDITION, Over 2GO pages, with more than 160 easy,,to-undcrstand illustrarions and photos, Your library starts wit I, this book! $29,9'> (plus $4,00 s/h) Colorado residents add cl% tax, SEND/l'AX/PlfONE TO USHCA BOOKS, l',O, Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 8093,'l 8300, FAX (?19) C,32,,6/i I PHONE (719) 632,,8300, VISA/MC accepted,

SOARING Monthly magazine of The Soaring Society of America, Inc Covers all aspects of soaring flighL hill membership $45, Info, kir with sample copy $3, SSA, J',O, Box E, Hobbs, NM 882/iL (505) 392-IJ

UNLTKE OTIIFJZ SYSTEMS No deployment mechanism required, $85 ,,$5 S/IL I ligh quality Maxon helmets, only $55 +S/ JI, Golden Wings, Colden CO, 1-800,6771i449

HANC GUDINC

Classifieds TOWLINES SPECTRA-Hollow Braided Cold Stretched 2000' or 3000' I Reel Part# ............................ Price ................... Weight SPCB-730 ..................... 14¢/ft ................. <2#/M SPCB-950 ..................... 16¢/ft ................. 2#/M SPCB-1500 ................... 17¢/ft ................. <4#/M SPCB-2200 ................... 17¢/ft ................. 5#/M DACRON-Hollow Braided Heat Set & Stretched 1500' I Reel DCCB-650 ................... 8¢/ft ................. <5#/M DCCB-900 .................. 9<t/ft .................. <8#/M DCCB-1500 ................. 1O<t!ft ................. 12#/M DCCB-2000 ................. 12¢/fr ................. 17#/M

CLEARANCE SALE - USHGA "Oatmeal" long sleeve mock neck $14.00 (size medium only). USHGA shorts $10.00 (specif), regular or long). Add $4 s/h to your order. Limited quantities. USHGA, PO Box 8300, Colorado Springs CO 80933. FLYING MUSIC - Fellow pilot Tom Palmer's new album includes-THE BIRDS WITH NO FEATHERS. Experience flying Big Sur CA in words & music. CD's $10, Cass. $6. (+$1 S/H). Send to: Palmer Enterprises, 4614 Greenvalley Rd, Suisun CA 94585. (707) 864-2611. FREE INFO!UvlATION - Allow the Government to finance your small business. Loans/grant to $687,900. Call 24 hour, free recorded message (313) 825-6700 ext 1385.

Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery, fax orders to David F. Bradley, Braided Products Division, PO Box 95, Hilltown PA 18927. (215) 822-1968, fax (215) 822-5852. VIDEOS & FILMS HANG GLIDING EXTREME & BORN TO FLY By Adventure Video and available through USHGA Headquarters, $34.95 each +$4 s/h. Great to impress your friends or for those socked-in days. Perfect gift for the launch potato turned couch potato.

PARAGLIDE The Movie

HANG GLIDING CHRISTMAS CARDS - Black & white etching sryle. $8.50 for 10, $16.50 for an assortment of 22, $33 for 50. Send a SASE for assortment selection sheet to: Tek Flight Products, Colebrook Stage, Winsted CT 06098, or call (203) 379-1668.

World class paragliding ar the famous Owens Valley. Probably more paragliding action than you can handle in this 40 minute video. Send $39.95 (+$4 s&h) to USHGA Videos, PO Box 8300, Colorado Springs co 80933. (719) 632-8300. MISCELLANEOUS

HARVEST MOON FLYING! Detailed blue/white/purple moon shadow artwork on black, pre-shrunk Beefy-T. Great for fall flying. Specif), S,M,L,XL,XXL. Short sleeve $15, long sleeve $17, add $2.50 shipping. Send check or money order to: Sky Wear, PO Box 544, Signal Mountain TN 37377. (615) 886-7093. "AEROBATICS" - Full color 23"x 31" poster featuring John Heiney doing what he does best-LOOPING! Available through USHGA HQ for just $6.95 (+$3.50 s/h). Fill that void on your wall! Send to USHGA Aerobatics Poster, PO Box 8300, Colorado Springs CO 80933. (USA & Canada only. Sorry, posters are NOT AVAILABLE on international orders.) SPECIAL-Aerobatics poster & Eric Raymond poster-BOTH FOR $10 (+$3.50 s/h).

OCTOBER 1994

VIDEOS BOOKS POSTERS APPAREL - Call USHGA for your Merchandise order form (719) 6328300. DON'T LEAVE YOUR GROUND-BOUND EQUIPMENT SITTING IN THE GARAGE. SELL IT IN THE HANG GLIDING CLASSIFIEDS.

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING RATES The rare for classified advertising is $.50 per word (or group of characters) and $1.00 per word for bold or all caps. MINIMUM AD CHARGE$5.00. Alee of$15.00 is charged for each line arr 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 1 112 months preceding the cover date, i.e. October 20 for the December issue. Please make checks payable to USHGA Classified Advertising Dept. HANG GLIDING MAGAZINE, P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933 (719) 632-8300 or FAX (719) 632-6417. STOLEN WINGS & THINGS DREAM 220, DREAM 185 & VARIOUS HG EQUIPMENT- Stolen along with car, on August 1st, parking lot in TAHOE CITY. The car was recovered Augusr 6th completely torched. The following have not yet been recovered: 220 Dream, white sail, blue leading edge, Adventure Sports printed in large blue letters on the undersurface of the sail; 185 Dream green sail with black stripe; High Energy tracer pod, black with yellow, purple, and green stripe; Ball M-22 vario; Jofa helmet with Yaesu headset custom PTT; Yaesu 411-E radio; 4 PacAir apron harnesses - 3 red, 1 blue; and other equipment too numerous to mention - REWARD. \'({alt Harrison (916) 583-1317 or (702) 883-7070.

INDEX TO ADVERTISERS Adventure Video ................................ 34 AFRO USA ........................................ 50 Arai Design .......................................... 4 Aircotec .............................................. 31 Ball Varios .......................................... 34 Brauniger ........................................... 41 Davron ............................................... 31 Flytec ................................................. 47 Hall Bros ............................................ 31 High Energy Sporrs ............................ 34 Imagination Engineering .................... 30 Inflatable Boat .................................... 11 Just Fly ................................................ .4 lookout Mt. Flight Park ...................... 4 NAS Distriburing .......................... 31,39 Pacific Airwave ..................... Back Cover Portable Garage .................................. 39 Pro Design ......................................... 22 Sport Aviation Publications ................ 45 Tarpaulins .......................................... 17 Trekking USA .................................... 41 UP International ............................... .40 UP Sports .......................................... .41 USHGA ........................... 2,22,23,46,63 Wills Wing ......................................... 15

~ Product Lines © 1994 by Dan Johnson ST. PAUL, MINN. -- Told you last month I had new info on Dick Boone's unusual Climax experimental design. I say "experimental" as that seems appropriate, it being a test bed. Nobody is planning to produce it yet, but perhaps Climax ideas will appear elsewhere or on a new hybrid design from Boone. After all, Dick has something a reputation for contributing notable achievements to hang glider design. ••• His work is continuing. Some expert pilots who've taken a flight on the Climax said they felt completely out of control, partly owing to its joystick linkage and lack of centering mechanism. The net effect apparently was that virtually every control input became an overcontrol. A cable controlling the twist -- attached to the rear spar, where you'd expect to find the crossbar -- runs through the control bar base tube. As Boone acknowledges, "If the cable is centered the glider will fly straight. If the cable is off centered, either to the right or left, the glider will turn to the side that is creating the most twist... there is no aerodynamic force keeping this cable centered." You had to use some force to return the joystick control to center. Dick adds, "Very small amounts of input were needed to put the glider into a turn but a great amount was needed to pull the glider out of the same turn. The cable never wanted to be in the middle position." ••• Eureka! Boone has installed a new system. He explains, "It is a very simple device that has two opposite cams (one for each wire) that creates additional cable tension on the side to which the glider is turning. This change gives the glider a roll stability. Boone has spent time releasing the stick and flying via weight shift. "All seems to be going well," he said, indicating some hardware is being changed to facilitate the new idea. I' 11 keep you posted as best I can. , • , Back to what you can buy today ... Wills Wing announced a new size of their Falcon, the 195 model for pilots hooking in at 150 to 275 pounds. Though they've upgraded the airframe and added larger wires, they've still kept the weight down to only 50 pounds. It's priced at $2,695 which sounds pretty reasonable. Certification was earned in August and production has started. ••• One speculative benefit of the Climax is reduced glider price, a worthy goal. Reviewing Will Wing's latest price schedule reminds me of the way autos are sold. Falcons, for example, sell for a "base price" ($2, 695) but you can add options, many of which you probably think you can't fly

without. If you add all the good stuff -choice of colors, streamlined legs, and folding speed bar -- you' 11 ramp the price up 23% to $3315. Similarly equipped Spectrums go from $2,995 to $3,615. Super Sports and RamAirs are sold as fully equipped ($3,895 and $4,495 respectively). Wills Wing is increasing its presence in accessory items. WW' s Pro Line has become the U.S. Distributor for the Avocet pilot watch (introduced to HG pilots by Owens Valley Soaring) . In addition to supporting their dealer network, Pro Line will also sell direct at retail prices. Such direct-sale products are limited to Tshirts, videos, books, and instruments. Gliders, harnesses, and parts will be sold only through dealers. Besides the Avocet, Wills is also distributing the Digifly VL-100 vario. I've looked over Digifly's powered ultralight instrument and found it laden with features (enough so that you'll have to read the manual to learn it all). The VL-100 is a vario with three altimeters, three audio levels, a timer, and a thermal averager which runs 200 hours on 2 AA batteries. With a one year warranty, it retails for $575. Pro Line will also sell the Flightmate Pro GPS unit for $995. I use one of these and they're just great. When the day's flying is over you can carry it around with you and pretend you're Jordi from Star Trek holding a tri-corder. • , , Putting flight gear prices into perspective, one only need look at Drachenflieger magazine from Germany. Their comprehensive annual market review lists gliders from 28 hang glider manufacturers and 32 paraglider builders. Consumers can choose from over 300 different brands, models, and sizes of paragliders with fewer choices on the hang glider end. And... you think Yankee prices are high? In Europe the RamAir tops the list at the equivalent of $6,175, followed by the TRX at $5,700 and the Klassic at $5,600. Be glad you live in the US of A. The cheapest glider was the VK 3 Rebel from Wujasin for a mere $2,195. Never heard of it? Neither had I, but the German DHV certified it under their rigorous program. • • • Out ta room this month. In November, I'll have some more statistics for you and I'll begin looking at goodies suitable for Christmas giving. If you sell something that fits, let me hear from you. Better yet, just send your literature and a sample if appropriate (evaluation items are only returned if requested). So, got news or opinions? Send 'em to: 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Fax or V-mail to 612/ 450-0930. THANKS! HANG GLIDING

h.$ th.,.¢-rmal

$i5 eacJi

•$3 s/h (h3 shirls)

·S4.50 (4• shir/sl USA & unada ·fnl'I will ••'11· F•, u,!

PO USHGA Box 8300 T'• C,olorodo Sp,-inq• CO 80933

<719l 632-8300

r~, 632-6417