USHGA Hang Gliding February 1996 by US Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association

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

16 Dinosauring by Mark Bennett A preview of chis year's U.S. Nationals.

34 Hang Gliding Interviews: Super Dave Taylor by Jim "Sky Dog" Palmieri This up-and-comi ng Urah X-C piloc is after Larry Tudor's world record.

40 Gary Johnson, A Friend Of USHGA by USHGA Executive Director Phil Bachman Meec New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, a big hang gliding boosrer.

43 Part Of A Larger Community by Vic Powell, President, Rogaffo Foundation

Hang gliding's place in me recreation and tourism industries.

48 Pilot Profiles: John Harris

Columns

Departments

Accident Reports, by Luen Miller ........... .7

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

USHGAReports, by Dennis Pagen ........ 15

Update ..................................................... 10

Competition Corner ........ .............. .........21

Calendar ofEvent.s ................................... 19

Cartoons, by Russ Brown ................... 27,28

Ratings .................................................... .45

Hawker & Vario, by Harry Manin .........53

Classified Advertising ............................. .54

Product Lines, by Dan Johnson .............63

Index co Advertisers .................................62

FEBRUARY 1996

Gil D0dge111 Edito1!Art 0/r<:ctor John Heiney, Ge1-ry Charlebois, teroy Grannis P/ueito1,n11>hc•rs Harry Martin, Dennis Pagen, Mark Stucky, G.W. M1.'adows, Jim Palmieri SJart Wril.er, Tim Rinker, Dave Pouml,1 Design Consul/iints

Air Mail WIRI~-ASSISTED LAUNCHES

Phil Hachma11, fxecutivH Director Creg Huller,

& ICP's

Jeff Elgart, Acl\1erlisirw O. D1ia11 Lcyl.'rlc, lnsur,mw & Mcmb,,rship Services Karen Simon, Momber Services Marisa Halton, MNch;indis<. Sorvk:os 1

,md fxocutive Commillee:

Bill Bryden, /'ms/dent Randy Adams, Vite President Russ Locke, Socn.•filly Oan Johnso11, Treas,irer Sturtcvan1. REGION Ca%is. REC,JON Lawless, RECION 4: Glen Nicolet, Jim Zdset. :'i: !'rank Gille1te, REGION 6: Ron l<cnnoy, REGION 7: Bill llrydcrL RECION fl: Randy i\d,11ns, REGION 9: Pde Ld,mann, William ll,1rn1ett. RECION 10: C,W, Me11dows, M,1U TabeL REGION 11: Jeff Hunt RECION 12: Pmil Rikcrl.

Marcus

DIRECTORS AT LARCI': Dave

Paul

Dan

,10,c;1<,,1m1, Ed l'il1mm, Brown, Lu,111 Mc1ic,r, Rob Kells, Fred Slcickwell, McNamcc, Michael Robertson, Greg Fifer, EX·OFFICIO DIRECTORS: Art Gmcn(ield (NA!\). J\ssodd1ion Inc. ls an air

the, National Acro,mulic Ass.ociatic>11 (NAAI which is tlw official of the Fed1,ratio11 Ac,ronau1 ique (F Al), of the world for sporl avidlion. The which

:;\

has

to tho

supervision of hang record i1lte111pts and competilion HANG GLIDING ma;;a7inc is published for '""'Ii 1,;11.,111 14 sport enthusiasts to create f1mher inlerf)SI in tho to provide an educational forum !() advance ""''!\ 1;11v,i,,; methods and Contribulions arc, wdcorne. cor,tril:,ulo articles, photos, and illu1,lra1ior1s <1clivities. If tho rna1eri:il is 10 be, mus\ Notilic:,11i,m must Im made of lo g1i,'Jin1s pul)lica11ior1s. HANG GLIDING m,tga, lo edit con\rilllJlicms where nc:cns. ;\s,:oci,Hirin ,rnd do no! :issumQ res1>0111sibilitv for the or opinions of contributors, ,,c11,111'1<..• edit,irial officc:s: C,950 Circle, Suite 6, Buena Park, CA 90620 (7J!!) 'J'J,1.,.J11,,u.

The USHGA is

Dear Editor, After witnessing many scary launches over the years, and recently hearing abour an accident at my local site, I was prornpted to write. Many pilots fail to communicate well with their wire crews or fail to clear them. A dangerous turn resL1lrs from a wire person holding on too long or suddenly rcleasi11g pressure on one side wire. The pilor' s life is 011 the line, and ir should be his responsibiliry to rel! his wire people what to do. It is also his responsibility to make sure the side wire people arc not holding pressure at the moment oflaunch, and to clear them before moving frnward. Wire helpers may try to hold the glider down, inadvertently pulling against each other and not allowing the pilot 10 feel the on rhe wing. The pilot nrnsr have side wire people reduce pressure until he frels what the wing wanrs to do. Ir the wing isn't balanced one tip may be rotated forward or backward to equalize the lifr on each wing. Sometimes ir may be easier to lower the lifting until ir becomes balanced. Many pilots have a hard time understanding this last technique because they have heard the phrase level" so many times, brn with lifr being produced it is more important that you arc "wings balanced" as you launch. As the glider gets close to a balanced position the side wire people should let the pilot know when they arc "neutral" or have "no pressure." Ar this point their hands should be close to the wire, standing by, bur not acrnally pulling on the wire. They should be ready fix the pilot to yell ''Clear!" or to pur pressure back on rhc wire should he need ir, Wire helpers may be necessary ro keep a pilot (i-om being blown over and ro help manipulate the glider imo a balanced posi· rion. Just make sure they arc communicating wirh you and arc allowing you to fr:cl when the glider is b;1Janced. Kelly Harrison Adventures Unlimited

HANG GLIDING (ISSN 01i'J:; .. ,11:Jxl the United S1c11es

Pikes Pmk Ave.,

·1 en,

Colorado flO')Ol..'.3657 (719) 632·HJOO, FAX Ci417. SECOND-CLASS l'DSTAGE is ill Colorado

Springs, CO and at additional mailing POSTMASTER: SEND CHANGE Of' ADDRESS TO: HANG GLIDING, P.O. llOX 'I :JJO, Colorado Springs, CO fl090I, 1330.

FEBRUARY 1996

VOLUME 26 1 ISSUE No. 2

Dear Editor, The Rio Grande Soaring Association (located in sourlicrn New Mexico) wol!lcl like ro notify pilots of site-reglllation changes

ar Dry Canyon, La Lm and Long Ridge. These sites arc all currently insured by our club and arc located near Alamogordo, New Mexico. Our club was recently no6fled thar rhe U.S. Porcst Service was very concerned ahour rhc recent "safety record'' at Dry Canyon. This comes alter many years with no major injuries at: rhe above-mentioned sites. 'I 'he City of Alamogordo and local Forest Service personnel have, up to rhis point, been very cooperative. Please help us keep these sires open by observing sire rules and protocol, and using common sense. These arc not beginner or novice flying sites. Use of rhem by unskilled pilots (advanced cliff launch skills required) and by pilots using equipment that can be overpowered by local conditions (e.g., paragliders in anything bur light conditions) will continue ro invite disaster. The Forest Service has indicated that use of Dry Canyon by more than 10 pilots at one time will require on-site EMT person-· ncl. 'This is not good news. We need to improve our safety record al these local sites! Dave Church

CONCERNS AND BUCKING ORTHODOX WISDOM Dear Editor, Reading some recent accidcm reports prompted me to write. l hesitated because what I have to offer bucks orthodox wisdom, l have li:rnr marrcrs ro discuss.

Pod Harnesses Look through the accident reports over the last year and count the number involving pods. 'The November issue reports that Rohen McKenzie died ",,.with his feet still in his unzipped pod harness." Most of the pod accidents happened when pilots couldn't unzip for whatever reason. We can only speculate about what happened in Robert Mcl<cm.ie's case, but two d1ings arc obligatory at landing time: I) pods must not be zipped, and 2) pilots must be upright. Of course, foilure in #I which has happened all too many times in the past year pre·· eludes #2. Conventional thinking about the pod nms so deep and wide that prominent authors, most shop owners and instructors do not even offer, let alone explain, orhcr options. Pod users receive rhe requisite schooling

Air Mail about opening the zipper well before the intended landing. But rhis docs not give account for conditions in which the pilor is suddenly faced wirh an emergency landing that requires him to focus all resources on just getting the glider down safely. What happens in such a dilemma if rhe zipper is sruck or rhe zipper string isn't immediately and easily available? Emergencies trigger an avalanche of sensory activity that quickly overloads the central nervous system to the point where we ,nay lock up entirely or only be able to manage one or 1wo events. I u an cHcirt to control inpm, the brain may even Alter visual information by restricting the vision f'icld to that which ir deems mosr critical, resulting in straight-ahead, "tunnel vision." With a cocoon, there is no such thing as landing with the feet still in rhe harness. There ought 10 be a lot of discussion about harness selection. !;or me, whatever benefits the pod offers (there arc some obvi·· ous ones, to be smc) d1cy are not worrh the inherent risks.

Prone or [lj1right? My second issue is body position on landing approach. There is only one position, and rha1 is upright. Period. However uncool ir may appear to dangle like a rag doll on approach, our legs and feet cm absorb roughly IO times more energy than any 01:her part of the body. If you doubt this, hang your prone harness three feet over the garage floor, get in and have your house mare sud .. denly release you.'] 'hen compare that with jumping off a chair omo your foct. (Actually, for 1his experiment to be successful you should jump off the chair first, especially if your house mate is unhappy wi1h how much you have been hang gliding lately.) No mat .. tcr how much more alleged control pilots think they have, rhe transition ro upright, when lcfr ro the last: minute, can be fatal. For me, whatever benefits rhe prone position may offer arc outweighed hy the inherent risks.

Lcmding ApprMch My third issue is the landing approach. I was taughr a banked approach, and wherever I go l hear remarks ro the effect rim one should not bank near the ground. While it is agreed rhat banking near the ground is an advanced technique, in most landing config.. urations it is actually Long, straight-in finals may he fine when there is a huge 1Z and mild, predictable condi1ions. In the real world, however, cross.. counrry flying rarely

guarantees such niceiics. I once had the only option oflanding in a school playground surrounded by popLir trees (they arc the trill babies) and power lines. I banked about 60° into the field right against the obstructions. With a straight-in approach rhc only question about damage would have been how much. Do you think that we could avoid many bnding ;iccidcnrs if rnorc understood and pracl'iced the banked approach?

Glider /1 uitur.le The forrh mancr is about extreme pitch and roll attitudes. I have logged most of my l, l 00 hours on the coasr where I have done thousands of extreme pitch/roll maneuvers. Friends who qucst"ion my interest in this ;1ctivity insist that I'm making a dare with the Grim Reaper. Quite the contrary. Whar is it like to be rather comforrablc wirh your glider at 90° in any axis and at speeds near V NE? Scoffers m;1y someday wish that they felt comfonablc when nature throws their glider into a radical attitude, which may cause disorientation and pilot-induced oscillations at high speeds. If one takes the time 10 work gradually to rhc extremes, ii affords him 1hc luxury of ft.ill glider control and clcar--headed thinking in an emergency, instead of rhc above-·mcmioncd sensory overload.

imagine that you arc suddenly caught in an emergency on an X-C flight. 'l 'hc terrain is unfamiliar, but you sec your only option: a small field with obstacles at the approach end. You have already let things go too long and arc too low because you tried 10 scratch your way out of trouble a very narural inclination. Your insrnnt:ly goes over the side of your cocoon and you arc upright. You bank rhc glider over t:o set up your approach and arc sharply buffeted by a rau· cous thermal that grcmly increases your bank angle. No biggie. You've been there many rimes before, except ir has always been inren1ion,1l. Your concentration isn't broken, because this isn't an emergency on top ofan emergency. Your field of view is still wide so that in your peripheral vision you are aware of the tree corning dose ro your left wing and rhc barbed-wire fence ro the right. The only thing you have ro worry about, now that yon arc safdy on the ground, is how you arc going to get your siJly hun out to the nearest road, 15 miles away.

MORE ON TOWLINE DANGERS Dear Editor, In the January issue, Kevin Lewis recounted a horrifying situarion in which a srnall powered plane almost hit his towline. We have static towed at many sites around Chicago and quite a few pilots have had close calls while on tow. Only once since 198/i have we had Kevin's nightmare come true a plane did hit rbe line. The hang glider pilot was ar 1,500' AG], wirh :3,000' oflinc beneath him when a private plane came from behind ar 1,000' AC [,. Those on the ground radioed to alcrr the glider He just held on, hoping the weak link would make it easy on him by breaking. The plane's wing, at a point several fecr m1t from the fi.1sclagc, very cleanly cut the towline. The hang glider pilot said he didn't feel a thing except for 1hc release of tension. The powered pilot saw the line ar the last second, could not avoid hitiing it and said he felt norhing. The only damage was some lost line dropped after the foct out of fear and $1,000 worth of sheet metal damage to the plane's The private pilot came back later and paid for the line as he knew we for a lookwere then: and had just come sec. Larcr we discussed the incident and real· ized thar a 1ight line, while presenting a haz .. ard, is less of a problem to everyone than dropping rhc line out of fear that a collision may occur. When the long line falls, whether from a static or payout winch, it "rains" down in a snake-like fashion. lf a plane were ro comact a falling line t:he consequences could he much more severe. Imagine it gc1 .. ring wrapped around a rail or prop, caught: on landing gear or [;tiling loosely over a wing. It would likely bring the plane down. While this is only one incident out of many close cncmmrcrs, it will hopcfoJly provide more insight into understanding our place in the and our responsibility roward all 0L1viatio11. Pcicr Birrcn Elk Crewe, IL

Kent Tl ark er San Jose, CA H/\NC CurnNC

by Miller; Accident Chairman

Pilot:

Davie! Eilts

44 Site: Date: Glider:

Cause:

Triw road near fndianola, lowa December Ci, 1995 Olympus 180 Unrated, Novice or equiva· lent skills, l 00 flights, sec· ond tow flight Lockout on tow foral head, neck, inrernal

On bis second row flight the pilot performed a good launch. As he passed through 25 feet the glider began a gentle ru rn to the right. The pilot never correct·· cd, and rhe observer reports that be might have leaned into the rum. The glider quickly entered a lockout. Seeing the pilot flying on his right, the driver immediately stopped. Ar the same time, the observer radioed to do the same. At 50 to 75 fret the glider contin .. ued to roll until it was hanked past veni .. cal. Still locked out, the glider began diving steeply toward I he ground on a bearing directly away from the tow vehicle until it hit the ground. The pilot suffered massive head, spinal and internal injuries. He died immediately upon impact or shortly rhcrcafrcr. The glider was fcmnd to have a slightly bent right downtube and other minimal damage. 'The speed of impact was described as "moderate." Approximately six to seven seconds elapsed from launch to impact. At some point f'ollowing lockout the weak link broke. At no time was the pilot seen attempting to release.

On the day of rhc accident rhc victim Erst flew eight to tell times from all adja .. cent training hill. Conditions were good. During the pilot's Erst tow launch the FFBRUJ\RY 1996

The direct cause of this accident was an uncorrected turn which developed into a lockout"; putting the glider into an unrecoverable attitude/' 11

weak link broke as a result of an exces .. sively high angle of attack. "He recovered well, corrected his flight path into rhe wind, and landed well." Preceding the second !au nch the proper angle of' attack was discussed. The tow system used was a Hewett bridle (ccnter.. of-mass system) on a static towline with a two-loop release. 'f'hc weak link system had been tested and consistently broke at 200 lhs. 'J'he har .. ness, bridles and release were all checked bdc.irc the flight. I.inc tension had heen maintained at 1(i() lbs. on the first tow. On the second tow the driver decided to reduce line pressure to 140 lbs. in order to help reduce har pressure and the glider's angle of anack. Line pressure was l 40 lbs. at the point where the turn began. This pilot was experienced at other forms of aviation. He received his general aviation license at 16. He had worked as an aircraft mechanic for some years. He had extensive experience with ultralights, including those controlled by weight shifr. He had been involved in hang gliding on and off for several years, and had recently begun flying again.

The USHCA Visa® Cold and Preferred Visa cards provide you wi1h rnore savings, rnore benefits, and more services than just about any other credit card you may be carrying. "'Issued free of an annual fee. 111

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!'lease be sure lo use priority code IIXX when you call.

The direct cause of this accident was an uncorrected turn which developed into a lockout, putting the glider into an unrecoverable artitude. Recommendations for the prevention of futmc accidents of this type have not been completed, pending a more thor .. ough review of the tow system used and instructors' commcni-s.

I horn am cos ls ussociatmJ with the use ot tlieso cards. You may co11t8ct the issuer and uclministrator of this pror1ram. MGNA Amoricu. lo rnquust specific information aboul lho costs by calling 1 800 Bl/-/3/ll or writinn 10 MBNA AmQrica, I' 0 flux 1!i020, Wil111inqlon, IJl 1!lWiO Visa rs a federally reuislorerl sorvicr1 mark of Visa ll.SA Inc., used pursuan1 to license MBNA /\monca' is a ferlornlly ror1istmorl smvico mark of MBNA /\mmico fla11k. N./\ /\O(i,l·11!J:i @El% MllNA Arnmicu lla11k, NI\

/\IJ(i-1AC1·11/!l:i

•• ,·

,---- ---------., Yes! I want to save money a nd help USHGA with every long-distance call I make!

I I !ellSesend me t:SHGA Telecard(s)at$l5each! I I P(includes 20 minutes of alr1ime) I Name I Address._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ I a~·/l,)ate/Zip I Phone ( _ ) I O Enclosed is my che<:k !or

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• -~ ~~ I I Signature _ __ _ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ _ __ __ I I Mail poy!llent io USHGA, P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs. CO 80933-8300. For I I information or IO order by phone, call (719) 632-8300. I Fax (719) 632-64.17. ..I L

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•The USHGA Telecard saves )'OU 40%-50%owr smndard calling cards...abou125% on international t'allS! • Use )'OUr USHGA Telecard 10 call anywhere in the U.S. :ind 197 countries wodd11ide! • You pay only25 cents a minute 10 call ru1ywbere in dte U.S.,

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• Every call )'OU make helps support 1he United Slates Hang Gliding ASsociationl •Throw a1>11y )'OUt otlter calling cards Md gel one for )'Ourself, your spouse, ooUege students, v,·ork ~ <>dates and others!

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u 2000 ADVISORY Two incidents have been reported in which the main webbing of a C-G 2000 harness slipped off the side of the frame. 'This causes the pilot to hang off to one side of the harness, making it difficult to control the glider. On the C-G 2000 the slider moves far-· ther forward than on the l 000, putting pressure on the metal clips that keep the webbing in the center of the frame. Eventually they work loose and rhe webbing moves. This can be easily fixed by removing the loose clips and duct taping (1/8" thick wrap) the webbing in place on the frame. All harnesses should be inspected on a regular basis. If you have any questions please con-· tact Center Of Gravity, Inc. at (31 5)-6873724.

NEW Just fly announces the addition of a new shirt design to their line. Not wanting to be accused of being too serious, they

NEW The Southern New York Hang Glider Pilots Association will again be managing the Ellenville, NY soaring site in 19%. Wirh the new parallel rating systems for hang gliding and paragliding, the site rules are easy: 1) Ellenville is an lntermediate-and..above site. 2) Novice pilots will be permitted to fly only under rated instructor supervision (first 10 flights). 3) Subsequently, novice pilots may be permitted to fly under observer supervision, with the instructor's endorsement:. The 19% flying fees are also stream .. lined and simple: 1) Annual membership costs $ 150. 2) Until February 29 an "car.. ly-bird" annual membership costs only $130 (save $20), 3) Single-day passes arc $10/day, available only from the "white house" in the LZ. Only.four day passes will be issued to any one pilot. 'Io request an application for 199G membership call (914) 744-3317 and leave your name and address. Early-bird payments must be postmarked by February 29, 1996. Send to: SNY.. HGPA, 5163 Searsville Rd., Pinc Bush, NY 12566.

MOUNT MAGAZINE, ARKANSAS

now offer a "Just Fly Hang Gliding learn" shirt. ]'he lefr chest area of the shirt identifies the wearer as ;1 member of the team and the rear of the shirt announces the team's status. Primed on a "pebble" gar"" ment dyed shirt (100%1 cotton) it's avail· able for $16.95 plus shipping. "Io order the shirt or to receive a catalog contact Just Fly at 1-800-546""3596.

Last fall, a ceremony was held at Mount Magazine in /\rkansas to commemorate the development of the mountain as a state park. With rhe Governor there to present the first: check, symbolically initiating the process, local pilots felt it was a good opportunity to make sure bang gliding was included in ll1e plans. Before the ceremony we set up two gliders at the periphery of the cere· mony site. Wayne rfobbs and his "Arkansas, The Natural State" hang glider were an instant success, and we fielded wuffo questions for more than two hours. Contact was made with the head of state parks as well as numerous state representatives. We were assured that the future of hang gliding looks very good in the state

Wayne Hobbs presents Arkansas Governor ]irn Guy Tucker a 1996 USHGA calendar as]irn I!ale looks on. Wr,yne'., glider is.featured in the calendar. parks of Arkansas. Governor Tl!cker was given a 1996 hang gliding calendar which features Wayne's glider. Calendars were also given to the state parks supervisor as well as to several state representatives. Mount Magazine is the highest point in Arkansas, and offers a 2,000-foor vertical launch and a large landing zone. ft is located within the Ozark National Forest. It is one of our premier sites and its preservation is paramount for the crosscountry and recreational fliers of Arkansas. We held our 20th anniversary fly-in last year, but some of the "real'' oldtimers say that they flew the sire even longer ago than that!

submitted by James Hale

From March 1 3 the FAI/CIVL and Europe Airsports will hold an International Technical Conference which will be attended by delegates from national hang gliding and paragliding associations around the world. The conference will be held in Augsburg, Germany so that it coincides with TNDLJGA, a major international exhibition for the two sports. Augsburg is less than one hom from Munich. The goals of the conference arc: pro .. motion of responsible scli~regulation of hang gliding and paragliding throughout HANG CiiDINC

U,FT Drm Buchanan (in whcclrhczir) looks on r1s Rrzy Leonard conducts ground schoolfr1r the Colden

What co11ld your heart pumping or your adrenaline rushing more than bailing om · I 30 at I ,000 fret? Just ask the Colden Knights elite skydiving team and they will tell you paragliding --- which is what they experienced recently at the Bl11e Angels Fallon Air Show at the Naval Air Station in Fallon, Nevada. With the in the background, the Knights took their first lessons on the tarmac of the naval base. All rheir didn't rhe thrill experienced when, after the grn1md school, they were takrn to a ridge 10 make their first flights. Jeff was first, as decided by tl1e rest ohhe group, followed by Brem, Mario, Don, and Billy. All the guys did excellently considering the limited training time. Once ,1irliorne they were at home, a11d landing in the boulder fields didn't slow them down one hir. Thar 11ighr they wouldn't lcr us buy ourselves a drink at the bar; the guys were really appreciative for being shown a new way to fly. Their parting comment was, "Don't be to sec paraglidcrs in the Black and ( ;old colors as part of' the show." thanks to Dan Buchanan and his spectacular Colors" for pmting on a show at Fallon and for setting us up with the Colden Knights.

Advcmure Producrions, formerly Adventure Video, announces two new low··cost videos of the most spectacular hang gliding and paragliding in the world. The two new 2.0-minute music video products arc "Party at Cloud base" (1 O(Hlci hang gliding) and "Masters at Cloudbasc" (l ()()(Ji1 paragliding). Both arc digitally edited for high resolution ,md fe::aturc CD· quality stereo for the best sound available. The videos sell for $19.95 plus $4.00 S/H. Contact: Paul J lamilrnn/ Adventure Productions, 'I tJwnsitc Road, Reno, Nevada 8951 I (702) (ph./fax).

suhmitted by fired Feoruzrd

the world; promotion of flying in every country dmmgh the !PP! card; interchange and related information through tl1c establishment of an FAT/CIVL network (using Jmcmct and fax and a better understanding of test procedures /()r improved standardiz,ition. All this should result in improved flight and h1rther the development oF our sports. Tri accmnplish we will begin and on a worldwide information about flJlRU/\RY 19%

national administrntion and operational national standards for pilot training and licensing systems, and airworthiness standards (including glider maintenance). Al though the conference is for invited Ll''"''"'"l"·" there will be a forum open to the public which will be pan oF the !NDUGA program. Contact: FA I, Boulevard du 75006, Paris, France. Tel: E1x: +33· l 38-88.

The "flew in

it arrived in the UK Photo

l JS Avir1tion.

US Aviation announced rhc appointment of Pegasus Aviation as its European agent and distributor. Pegasus will handle the SuperFloater ultralight sailplane exclusively throughout 1996. In a related statement the company indicated rhat shipments have begun after a period of' and extensive prepara.. tion to manufacture the fully-built air· craft. Effective immediately, all inquiries from Furopcan countries should be sent ro: Aviation, Elm '[1·cc Park, Manton Marlborough, Wilts, Ann: Mr. John rel: +44 (O) 1 861 +44 (0) l 861578.

u The SuperFloater has entered production and shipments have begun, approximately one ye;ir afrer inception of rhe design. Load testing was completed hy accepted methods with successful results. Since the SupcrFloatcr enjoyed a good sales response following its debut at Sun 'n' Pun 1995, the initial production run sold out quickly. Orders taken in the new year will be available for delivery starring in February 19%. More than GO pilots have Aown the SupcrF!oatcr to date, and all have been highly complimentary of the flight characteristics and the level of performance. "We have been gratified hy the enthusiastic reception," said designer Larry Hall. The SupcrFloarer is built ready to lly and comes equipped with a Hall wind speed meter. A BRS rocker-deployed parachute system is highly recommended for safrty backup. One can be factory inscalled for a modest price. A Ball MI 9e d igiral vario with altimeter is available with mount. Interest in the SuperFloater has been split among three gro11ps, reported US Aviation. "Ultralight or microlight airpark operators and hang glider tow operations see the potential for rentals, and the sailplane community views the SuperFloater as a fun alternative to all--mlt racing sailplanes. 'T'hey also like the low price," said Dan Johnson. Inquiries in the U.S. about the SuperFlo:1ter or US Aviation's ultralight motorglider, the C11mulus, should be directed to: US Aviation Corp., 265 Echo Lane, Sourh St. Pa11l, MN 550'75 (Gl 2) 450-0930.

Over the Christmas and New Year hol-iday Pac Air packed up nine years worth of memories and moved. The distance ofthe move was a mere l O miles, but Pacific Airwave will now he able to test fly gliders j11st outside the hack door of the final assembly area. Ken Brown, President of Pacific Airwave, Inc. is ecstatic about the move. "'T'he building we've moved into originally 12

housed a helicopter flight simulator for the U.S. Army and is built to military specifications. It has proven ro be ideally suited to the produc-· tion of' ultraligln gliders. The location will ,1llow us to keep our costs down while improv-· ing the quality of our prodticts. There are many other benefits to the move that our customers will enjoy for years to come. We are looking fixward to being here for a long, Former Second President, John Dunhmn ((econd long time." "Having the opportunity .from lefi), 11ppears with several BRS stdjj'members fr1llowing to design, from the ground a meeting at BRS' offtce in South St. Priul, Minncsot11. up, a production facility is Pictured.from lefi to arc: Ellsworth, US. 5ales something that only happens Manager; nunh11m; M11r/:: Thomas, C'hiefOpm1ting Offlcer; once in a great while," com-rmd Boris J>opov, .founder and Chairm11n o/the B0c1rd. rncnt:ed designer and production coordinator Kamron Blevins. He conDunham had resigned from Second tinued, "We arc finding ways to save steps Chantz prior to the company's decision to and improve the process that we never cease operation, making it possible for him to continue using his long experience in knew existed. Flight testing of new products ;ind vehicle testing of' prototypes will the fklcl of emergency parachutes. The be streamlined to a new level of efficiently. former Second Chantz leader will assist I am especially excited, as R&D project BRS marketers in their efforts to reach cusleader, because new ideas can be tried most tomers seeking new systems, and offer his every day. This will result in more innovaexpertise in installing the units in various aircraft. tions in the sport by Pacific Airwavc. Come by and check this place out." Managers at BRS feel rhe dcpartmc of Second Chantz from the world market Pacific Airwave extends an invitation to could give BRS the extra size it needs to anyone who may be in the area to visit the expand and grow for the benefit of all new facility. Please call for directions and pilots. While both companies have been to arrange a tour. running modestly in the black, addirional The new address and phone arc: Pacific capital is needed to take the state of the an Airwave, 791 Neeson Rd., Bldg. #521, Marina Municipal Airport, M:1rina, CA to even higher levels. BRS projects rev· em1es growing from about $1.2 million for 93933 (408) 883-3600, fax (408) 883· BRS and $'750,000 for Second Chant,. ro .%05. nearly million for the combined operation. "With the opportunity to serve a larger number of cuswmcrs, BRS can keep prices low and better serve customers in many ways," said Chief Operating Officer, Mark Thomas. He believes the extra revenue will Afrer a recent surprise announcement allow the company ro offer superior serthat Second Chanrz was leaving the busi-· vices. Faster delivery in the main season, ness by year end, former Second Chantz more aircrafi: installation designs, new president, John Dunham, approached BRS and offered his assistance in helping parachute designs, more research and testserve customers with their ballistic paraing, quicker turnaround on repair chute system needs. Dunham and BRS and improved customer service will all believe that combining their expertise is in receive increased attention, he explained. the best interest of pilots and the industry. HANC CIIDINC

S/ipstreain f-frirness The Windcrafi: Division of I ,mlkout Mountain Flight Park (I ,Mfl1 ) has been making highquality, individually hand-crafted harnesses for more than five years, including training harnesses, knee hangers, cocoons and pods. They have been designed by pilots and constructed by craftsmen. Recent improvements in pro·· ducrion facilities now permit them ro offer their newest pod, the Slipstream, to die general flying public. The Slipstream features a triple spreader bu system, adapt·ability to your body size for a custom fit and exceptional comfort, and an easy front··entry system which utilizes imported German stainless steel locking buckles. Continuous webbing and two types of high-density /clam go into each harness, maximizing security, reliability and comfort. Windcrafi:'s harnesses have been designed for minimal shoulder pressure, great leg support and ample srnragc. Other features include a bullet hoot srnff plate (constructed of flush-moumed leather fix durability and minimal wear and tear), in· flight head up or down adjustment, hook knife pouch, acrotow loops and crntom colors. The harness may be customized with numerous options to suit a pilot's individual tastes and flying needs. Polar Mitt J land Lookout Mountain Flight Park's sewing shop is pleased to introduce their new line of Polar Mitt hand foirings for rhc discrim inating piloL The mitts arc available in three styles and replace the neoprene hand fairings that were previously offered. The advantages over neoprene foirings arc improved wicking of moisture away from the skin, improved durability, and much more comfort and convenience. 'rhc three styles include: a one-piece sheepskin mitt made of premium sheep·· skin pelts; a vclcro·rcrnovablc min made of extremely durable yet supple chap leather with foam insulation and polartec lining; and a mitt with an exterior made of parapack harness material with foam insulation r:1rmUAl~Y 19%

and polancc lining. All three styles arc very warm and breathable with outside map pocket and sheepskin gasket on the cuff Polar Mius arc designed to go over and work nicely with the thick rubber padding thar is standard on both Wills Wing and Pacific J\irwavc bascrubcs. The prices arc as frlllows: sheepskin, $59.95; vclcro parapack, $69.95; velcro chap leather, $79.95. Satisfaction 1OO'Yci guaranteed.

New WheeLr l ,MFP also announces the arrival of cigh1.-inch pneumatic wheels, specially designed for hang gliding applications. These wheels arc designed for the pilot who occasionally lands on them. They help ro relieve stress on the glider control frame by absorbing the shock of a hard landing and dissipating energy. T'hey also permit smoother landings on varying terrain when wheels arc needed, and accom-modarc a side load better than the traditional snap-on or solid wheels. Removable cover plates protect the wheel and valve stern from ground debris yet allow easy access to the valve stern for inflation. The new wheels arc intended to be used by intermediate to advanced pilots and should not he used in place of rhc 12" wheels used by novice pilots or in tandem applications. 'J'hcy arc designed ro flt stall·· dard J ... J /8" basctubcs. They sell for 95.

'le) order any of these new products or for further in/cmnarion contact: Lookout Mountain Flight Park, Route #2 Box 21 Rising Fawn, ( ;A .30738 1-800688-LM H~

Steve Wertheimer: I flew farther than my buddy all summer Aong. I thin·k it's the Tangent. You'll find Tangents here ... Chris Arai, 94 & 95 US National Champion John Pendry, 9S. British National Champion 6 TFCs in the top IO at the 95 US Nationals Gibbo # I pl~I 3 more TFCs in the top 5 at the EC Challeijge elson Howe # I plus 3 mor.e TfCs ke top 4 spots at bbs Tow Jam

The following arc the latest contributors to the U.S. Women's World Team fund-raiser/raffle. 'T'hc final total is $19,786! The raffle drawing took place in December and the grand prize winner is Jon McConachie, a Hang II from Los Gatos, California. He hasn't made a final decision on which glider he wants. Further raffle results will appear in the March issue. $15 Dennis Allen David Barnhan Dave Best Chris Randy Chaffin Chris Christfanscn John Coleman Ernie Comacho Dave Duperon Tad Eareckson John Everest

'J 4

Paul forina Kathy Franz Robert Greer Joe Gregor Grant Ifoag Paul llorncy Diane Jai:obsen Curt Knutson Dave Lindberg Douglas Martin Jeny Martin Joe Matyk

Steve Owens Chris Smith John Stokes Steve Wahl Edward Waldman Rick Wallick Steve Warren Kurt Westergaard Larry Wright

$25 Randy Amos Mark Arnold Bryan Benedict

Bryan Patrick Brede! George Bucholz Dolores Burke Mike Chevalier Jason Constantino Mark Dale James Elchin Mark Frasca Mike Hall Steve Hall Pete Hammer Mark Hansen Richard I !caly

Christine Henderson Aase Huggins Sharon Johnson Steve Johnson David Jones Presson Karrsje Jim Kolynich Linda Kramer Will Lanier Larry Lessa rd Michael Loga Bob Lowe Angelo Mantas Dec .J McGoniglc Bruce McKclhr Rick McMahan John Middleton Armand Petersen Joel Ratner W,rrrcn Schirtzinger CliffSchmin Mic Sherwood Norm Stevens T;rschc Streib Don 'faber David Taylor David Thibeault Dan Uchytil

Gerry Uchytil Javier Villanueva Robin Walter Ken Ward Jeff White .John Wright

$35 Roy Mahoney

$50 Paul Baldyga K.C. Benn Peter Birren

Jack Coddington Vince Collins Leslie Conally Michael Connel Claire Curtis John Elling Jim Elliott 'fbomas Rt:x Ellis Mark Fascher Ferrer

Rik Fri1z Dieter Goerke Kimber Heaton Jim H.crrmann

Jan Holm Paul Hurless Roger Johanson Duff King Mark Merrill Dave Nichols Pam Nielsen Dan O'Hara JimO'Ncal Erik Olofson David Proctor Lew Riffle Robin Riner Frank Schwab Dutcher Sterling Robert Stout Peter Swanson Steve Tedsrnnc

$100 Russell Brown Rich Collins Mike Gregg L. E. Herrick Tom.Johm Anthony Laurence Dennis Nelson Lou Schuler

HANC GLll)INC

he World f Tang Cliding Series (WHGS) is ready to start up in a big way in 1996 with five sched· ulcd meets. The series begins in June wirh three meets during succeeding weeks in Spain, continues in Reno, Nevada, USA in July, then finishes in Slovenia at the end of August. 'fhe meets arc strategically scheduled around the American Cup meet (in France, July l IO), then follow the US Nationals (in Colorado, July 13 20), and finish up afrer the European Championship (in Hungary, August 8-18).

For those unfamiliar with the WHGS format, these meets arc a series in which pilots accumularc poi ms toward an overall championship title. Since each flight or round is scored separately, and only a pilot's best seven rounds count, it is possible ro win rhc series without going to all the competitions. The ftrst year iris imcnded rhat all interested pilots may enter the series (provided sites arc nor overcrowded). A yearly ranking will be maintained for awarding

rr 'Another important purpose of WHGS is to '-t-11 ::-,_.. hang gliding to more of the public through television. 11

prize money, seeding and entry purposes. Consequently, it will be t·o a pilot's advantage 10 compete the first year in order ro establish a place in the seeding system. These series of meets arc an attempt 10 provide pilots who are not on their national team with good-quality interna·· tional meets. Another important purpose ofWHCS is ro expose hang gliding to more of the public through television. 'fo that end, we have adopted three exciting formats: Freestyle, Speed Gliding and CrossCountry. Freestyle is carefully controlled, choreographed aerial maneuvers in which

a pilot earns points in compulsory and optional formats. Speed Gliding is a downhill pylon r;1cc much like gianr slalom skiing. Cross-Country is the famil·· iar rakeoff-and--race-to-goal format with the idea of running triangle courses wherever possible so the media can catch the action. A pilot may enter one, two or three of these events at every WHGS meet. The scores will carry through and a champion will be crowned at the end of the series in each event. ln addition, awards will be pmsented to the winner of each rneet. Our intent is to attract sponsorship ;is well as media interest so th;ir prize money may be forthcoming. We hope all pilots interested in competition will enter one or more of t-hc: WI -I GS meets, or at least come to cheer on their favorite pilot. '!'he 1996 schedule IS:

Castejon de Sos, Spain June 8- 14 Granada, Spain June 16-22 Piedrahita June 23·29 Reno, Nevada, USA July 2-4-3 J Prcddvor, Slovenia August 20.25 for more information on whom to contact about these meets, write the WHGS secretary: World ]-Jang Gliding Series, Joe Jlaylcr, 65 Cornwallis Ave., Tc:rnhridge, TN l O 4E'I; Great Britain, tel./fax: +44 l T32 :-\6341

Certified as HANG and PiRAGLIDING helmets to the European CE95-0497 requirements! •Dealer inquiries welcome•

FrnRlii\RY 1996

Competition

The author flies east beyond the diminishing escarpment ofCliffRidge (foreground). The high Yampa P/,a,teau is in the distance in the folds cut by the Green and Yampa rivers. Photo by Mark Bennett.

1996 U.S. Nationals Preview July 13-20, 1996 Dinosaur, Colorado by Mark Bennett

he Yampa Plateau offers sweeping vistas at all points of the compass. To the north and east one can see the folded terrain of the relatively recent Cretaceous period,

through which the Green and Yampa rivers sculpt the red rock for which the Colorado Plateau is so fan1ous. Continuing clockwise through the southeast one can gaze across the vast high desert toward the snowcapped

Rockies on the horizon, which lie beyond twisted lower ridges that form the maze of valleys we will be soaring over on crosscow1t1y treks. To the south and west is the heart of the

HANG GLIDING

The author over the western end of Dinosaur National Monument, with the spectacuh.r escarpment of Cliff'Ridge defining the southern end ofthe Yampa Ph.teau. Photo by Mark Bennett. famous Utah red-rock country beyond Moab, and the confluence of the Green and Colorado rivers, which over rhe eons have carved Canyonlands , Arches, Bryce, Zion and Capitol Reef National Parks out of sandstone wi th such poetic names as Entrada, Carmel, Chinle and Moenkopi. And, finally, completing the 360-degree panorama, to the west and north is the immense massif of the High Uinras, capped with snow nearly year-round as the they stretch above 13,000 feet. David Brower, longtime champion of the wilderness and chairman of the fledgling Sierra Club, played a key role in saving the spectacu lar gorge behind rhe Dinosaur launch from yet another desert lake during the dam-building frenzy of the middle pan of this century. In doing so, he grudgingly accepted the necessary reality of politics compromise - and bartered away the building Glen Canyon Dam, which had an irreversible impact. Lake Powell rose ro forever cover untold somhern-Utah treasures behind the dam's massive, shimmering wail of concrete. Yet, there is still untou ched canyon wilderness - rwisted, red-rock cliff wails cut deep in the plateau by a sparkling nver. At this year's Nationals we will be piloting our wings near perfect cumulus clouds, rwo or three vertical miles above this indescribably gorgeous panorama. One of the best-attended U.S. Nationals was held in 1990 at Dinosaur, Colorado. In FEBR UARY 1996

in Dinosaur's Yampa Plateau at the confluence of the Yampa River from the east and the Green River from the north. Sheer walls of sandstone rise hundreds of feet at a time, in shelves totaling thousands of feet. We follow the Yampa Canyon on a typical route from the Cliff Ridge launch. One of my favorite flights from Cliff Ridge will serve as a rour of this terrain. The

reality, the event was in Utah, as the Cliff Ridge launch is just a few miles east of the Colorado border. An unlimited setup area spreads beyond the orange- and ash-co lored cliffs, nearly 2,000 Feet above rhe barren and arid terrain traversed by U.S. Highway 40, which runs from Salt Lake City, through Stean1boat, Colorado, and over the Rockies to the east. We are indeed fortunate to be remrning to this venue in 1996. It is not uncommon ro reach nearly 18,000', and westerly winds ofren make a 100-mile goal a pre cry sure bet from Dinosaur. On light-wind days, doglegs, triangles and out-and-backs will give drivers and pilots a break from long retrieves. Launch is reached from town on a rwowheel-d ri ve road, as are most reasonable ourlanding areas en route to the myriad goals. Some people camp on launch or at nearby free public BLM land areas; others stay at no charge in the city park next to free showers. The town of Dinosaur has three quaint morels, and Vernal, 25 minutes away in Utah, is a full-service town . Ir is just past the mrnoff to the famous Dinosaur quarry at the foot of the National Monument we soar above. John Wesley Powell - probably still spinning in his grave from having a lake named after him which has risen up to forever flood his beloved camps along the Colorado - marveled at the distinctive natural beauty of Echo Park, hidden deep with-

Mark Bennett hunching his Airwave Kiss from CliffRidge. Photo by Nikki Driver.

y J\ "Beyond Cross Mountain the terrain loses its ii,;

,, ':

vertical dominance, but offers one of the most stunning panoramas I have ever seen from the air. .. Shadow and light, feature and form, and shades of orange, umber, blond, scarlet, gray and white all combine to create a stunning seemingly infinite threedimensional picture. "

vertical nature of the south-facing rocks rends co make for sceady conveccion, which is generally easily soared while sniffing our thermals that regularly form clouds 8,000 co 12,000 feec above launch. But on this flighc, still a bit early in che day, I am crying co break away from a large gaggle of cautious pilocs who are struggling with weal{ thermals Lmder a thin overcast. Low over the plateau, rising under the diminishing east-west cliff line, I make a break for some better-illuminaced hills acop the southern edge of the great gorge of the Yampa, at the far edge of the SLlll block. Call ic a hunch, inruicion born of experience, or jusc dumb luck, after a few minures of desperate circling over those minuscule bumps a greac mass of air releases, canying me, Mark Gibson and Kari Castle (who make the same gamble) along with it. By che time the pilots in the death gaggle realize that they should cover our move, we are out of reach in a thermal chat has gone from 100 up, co a steady 500, co a screaming 1,200 fpm or more. Ir is as smooth as a baby's behind. The Grand Canyon is grand, but the Yampa Gorge is a hang glider pilot's personal playgroLmd. Hitting cloudbase at 16,500' we pick up a few wing men, bur Gibbo and I stop for nothing less than 500 up as we follow the southern rim of the Yampa, east to Cross Mountain. T his is a north-south ridge, in an otl1erwise east-west-orienred plateau, whi ch rose up slowly enough over the cenruries that the Yan1pa was not forced around it, but cut a swath through it like a hot knife through a cube of butter. Beyond Cross Mounrain the terrain loses its vertical dominance, but offers one of the most stunning panoramas I have ever seen from tl1e air. The convoluted walls of the great gorge twist like a gigantic snake coward the foothills of the Uinras far co the west. Shadow and light, feature and form, and shades of orange, umber, blond, scarlet, gray and white all combine to create a stunning, seemingly infinite three-<linlensional picture. I am obl iged to al low that scene to recede, as the Rockies beckon 80 miles to the east. Having traveled so far and so quickly, to reach the end of that stretch of remarkable scenety, we feel we can boldly proceed across the flats to the distant goal withour fear of landing out in the vast open terrain. And so we do. Droves of happy pilots often rain from the sky at goal after a fligh t from Dinosaur, boasting of low saves, massive altitude gains, cloud dancing and fast times. Only one pilot will win, but all will leave Dinosaur witl1 memories of remarkable flying advenrures in the big skies of the vast West.

See the calendar of events for more information on this year's Nationals which wiff be directed by G. W Meadows and spomored by just Fly Aviation Gear. - Ed. .....:

THE SENSOR 61 OF W /Interconnected Flaps & VG

SIMPLY OUTCLIMB THEM A New Way To Fly Sailplanes and Paragliders camber their wings at will. The Trampenau Flaprn system, not only boosts your climb-rate, but also allows slower an d smaller concentric turns. Yo u've never experienced a glider that performs at such a high level, yet handles this easily.

Climb Fast, Glide Far Loosening the VG lowers the flaps, increasi ng camber into a high lift, slow speed, thermaling airfoil. Dominating every core, yo u'll fi nd yourself climbing fas ter than yo u ever thought possible. Tightening the VG raises the flaps and reduces the airfoil camber tra nsforming your wing into a blade fo r maximum speed-range and glide ratio.

Launch And Land With Flaps The launch advantage is becoming airborne with more marg in and control. Landing with flaps has dual benefits. You may accelerate above 30 MPH increasingly building drag degrading you r glide. When it's time to flare, your touch down SP.eed will be noticeably slower!

New SpeedFoiJ™ Tubing Lower drag, our new airfoil tubing for the king post and control bar boost the glide ratio adding a point or more at higher speeds. Other fea tu res on the Sensor 610F are: computer-optimized, lamin ar-fl ow airfo il ; twelve shear ribs; control bar apex aft of the CG; Kevlar band & dacron cord TE hem; 7075 T6 LE and ribs; semi-cantilevered cross tubes and a simplified 12 minute set-up. \Ve all knew that eventually hang gliders would be this good!

-THE SENSOR 610F WITH FLAPSWHAT YOU ALW AYS WANTED FLYING TO BE ... SEED WINGS 41 Aero Camino Santa Barbara Ca 9311 7

•

Ph. 805/968/7070 Fax 805 / 968/ 0059

H ANG GLIDING

r Calendar of events items WILL NOT be listed if only tentative. Please include exact information (evenr, date, comact 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 FEB. 10: Fifth Women'.\' World Hrmg Gliding Championships, Bright, Victoria, Australia. Conuic1: Ian Jarman, rel. 61--69-472-888. UN1'IL MARCH.: Governador Valadares, Brazil, HG and PG/lying. The best X-C site in South America. $50/day includes accommodations, transportation, rerrieval and guide. Organized roms from the U.S. Contact: Ramy Yanetz (41 5) 9648326. FEB. 1-4: Rasic of.the--a rt teaching techniques presented. Intermediate and Advanced pilots welcome. PL tow rating, tow raring and CPR also available. Cost Hosted by Steve Kroop, aurhor of "20,000 Flights Over W:ner." for an appointment contact': Miami Hang Gliding, 2640 S. Bayshore Dr., Coconut Cnwe, Fl. 33133 (305) 285-8978.

offered. Learn lo fly tandem with a certified 'Erndem Instructor at your side. Includes one day of flying over beautiful Biscayne Bay, FL, one full day over land, and one day of classroom instruction. All l ntermediate· to' fandem I I-rated pilots welcome. Please bring yom own harness and helmet. Re-certification also available. Contact: James Tindle, Mi:1mi Hang Cliding, 2640 S. Bayshore Dr., Coconut CrcJVe, FL 33133 (305) 285-8978. FEB 29-MARCH 3: Fly + Fun Indugct '96, silent airsports convention, Augsbmg, Cermany. Contact: tel. 0821 fax 08-21-2-5769-85. MARCH !-OCT 31: Region 7 Settsonlong X-C Competition. Monthly-rallied X-C competition. Flights must originate from a sire in the Region. Scoring determined by best three open out--and-return or triangle flights per month. Pilots will vie fi.ir slot in the Nars to represent Region 7 (March through June). Send $10 entry and flights reports lo: Peter Birren, 502 Shadywood ] ,;me, Elk Grove, l L 60007. Info, rnles and scoring formulae will be sent. Momhly scores published in

Launch and randing by Pat Dcnevau. Covers all aspects including equipment evaluation, weather and pilot habits. Lecrure, simulator prac-· rice, specific hillside training exercises using Grip Alen. Cost: Limited space. Advance reservations required. APRIL 26-28: Ad1Janced ICP/Thermcd Soaring MAY l: Parachute Clinic. Contact: Mission Soaring Center, 11 I (1 Wrigley Way, Milpitas, CA 95035 (near San Jose) (408) 262-1055, fax (408) 262-1388, e-mail mschg(rhaol.com. MARCH 7-10: Floridct'.1 X-C Clinic. Learn how to fly longer and forrher. I .arry 'ft1dor and Florida's top X-C pilots will lead the clinic. I ,arry will conduct a ground school on weather, thc:rmaling and strategy. 'lh1ck tows and retrievals provided by Mia rn i I Jang Gliding. I !ang III with PL row raring required. Contact: James Tindle (:'>05) 2W5-8978. MARCH 7-10: !CP. Intensive four day training course with Michael Robertson. Cost $250. Advance reservations required. Send check to: Steven Makrinos, lkaros Sport Aviation, :38-11 Ditmars Blvd.f/110, Astoria, NY 11105 ('718) 777-7000.

ReefNews. : Fourth Annual Pacific Airwcwe Adv1mced Hang Gliding Clinics. All gliders provided by Pacific

MARCH I FEB. 10-1 I: JI th Annuct! !st B,m/.:

Duluth/Sky Dog Hang Gliding Festival. Fly--in in conjunction with annual winter sporrs festival sponsored by 1st Bank Duluth. Spot bnding contest, great party Saturday night, great trophies. Platfi.irm and static towing. Pilots' meetings and accommodations at Barkers Island Inn, 1-800 34415. Ask for reserved hang gliding rooms. Comact: Doug Johnson (218) 723- I I )an O'Hara (218) (i214 500, or Craig Austin (218) 5254048. FEB. 23-25: Pamgliding !CP. Contact: Adventure Sports (702) 883-7070. FEB. 23-25: low Clinic. Advanced H-li, 'fondem I, Trndem II and 'Erndem Instructor ratings FrnRLJ/\RY 1996

MARCH 1-3: Httng gliding Basic dr Adwmced !CP. MARCH 9-10: '/cmdcrn Clinic. Contact: Advemme Sports in Carson City, NV (702) 883-7070. MARCH 2-9: Venezuela Nr:ttiona!s, La Victoria. $200 entry includes retrieval. 'The dollar is worth more than ever! Contact: Jose (801) 4866224, Salt Lake Ciry, UT. MARCH 6: Mission Soaring P11rachute Milpitas, ( :A. A must for all pilots. Lecture, video, care and maintenance, practice deployments. $50 or free with parachute purchase. Advance reservations recommended. MARCH 29-APRIL I: Rr,sic !CP. Call /cir details. Advance rc:giscration required. Limited space. APRIL 7:

Airwave. Aerotowing clinic March 15-17, Instructor Certification Clinics (Advanced) March 1 (Basic) 18-20. Tandem Clinic March 21-21. All clinics nm hy C.W. Meadows. Contact Pac Air at (408) 122-2299. MARCH 21-24: Torrey Pines Wind,prints, I .a Joll,1, CA. Sponsored by UP San Diego. (l\1ragliding races April I G-21.) Hundreds of spectators. Figure 8 and rnini-X-C. Entry $185. Contact: Bill Bennett or Roger Crecnway, UP San Diego, 2800 Tcirrey Pines Scenic Dr., La Jolla, CA 92037 (619) fox (619) 452-9983.

r APRIL Miami 1-ltmg Gliding Parachute Clinic, by Betty Neiffer. If you haven't repacked your chute in the last six months here's your chance. MAY 9-13: Miami !-fang Gliding Cliff'

11nd Foot-l.aunch Clinic. Transportation, gliders, hotel included. Contact: MtTC (305) 285--8978. APRIL 13-20: 1996 Er1st Coast Challenge in the beautiful Sequatchie Valley, Dunlap, TN. USHCA Class A+ sane·· tioned competition. Fntry fee $250 per pilot plus a Tc:nnessee 'free 'foppers cluh membership. Non-· refundable $50 deposit required. All rnemherships and deposits must be sent by April 1, 1996. 60 slots available. Daily prizes and party as usual! Contact: Katie Dunn (423) 949-6278 (7:00 AM 5:00 PM CST) (423) 9494965 after 7:00 PM CST

Great Race, Lookout Mtn., Chananooga, TN. Prize money, prizes and awards. Contact: (706) 398-3541, fax (706) 398-2906. MAY I 0-13: 24th Annual Hang Gliding 5j;ectacu!ttr. Pilots and spectators from all over the U.S. come to Jockey's Ridge State Park to enjoy the oldest continuous hang gliding competition in the country. Both novice and experienced pilots compete in a variety of fun flying maneuvers. t-:eaturcs spectacular flying, an outdoor street dance, fine arts reception and an awards ceremony with guest Francis M. Rogallo, the "Fmhcr of Hang Gliding." Beginning hang gliding lessons will be given during the event. Make reservations well in advance to learn to fly during this exciting com .. petition. Pre-register at Kitty Hawk Kites. AUGUST 15: 48th Anniversary

development of the flexible wing. OCTOBER 19-20: Pacific Airwavc Vision Classic. Fun-filled weekend of flying. Pac Air brings their latest gliders to Jockey's Ridge for a fun competition on the sand dunes. Soar, maneuver and land on a targeted course. Open to pilots of all skill levels who have a Vision, regardless of model. Pac Air will host a barbecue on the 23rd for all entrants and guests. Prizes for all levels supplied by Pacific Airwavc and KHK. Registration at KH K. Con tact: Kitty Hawk Kites (MP 13, Nags Head and Jockey's Ridge State Park) or call (800) MAY 25-27: Dry Canyon Memori11l Day Fly-in, Alamogordo, New Mexico. Sponsored by Rio Grande Soaring Assn. Pun flying, contests, dinner, etc. Meet in LZ at 9:00 /IM each day. Entry $20 in advance, on site. Contact: Dave Church (505) 5270844, or Tommy West (505) li3752 l 3. MAY 25-27: Arizona XC Open, from Merriam and Sheba craters. Foot or tow launch. Bring your tow system. 'f-shirts, trophies, awards party and portable toilets provided. No whiners please. Benefit for Northern AZ Soaring Assn. Emry Contact: Stan Mish (520) 527-3346, or Nick Kennedy (970) 728-3905. JUNE 8-14: WHGS meet, Castejon de Sos, Pyranees, Spain. Contact: tel. 1 fax 34-3568-2903. JUNE 16-22: WJ:-ICS meet, Sierra Nevada, Granada, Spain. Contact: tel. 34-58-488560, fax 34 58488726. JUNE 23 .. 29: Wl ICS meet, Piedrahita, Central Spain. Contact: tel./fax 34-20-362215.

rf the Rogallo Wing Invention. Ceremony honors EM. Rogallo, inventor of the flexible wing. Learn about the history of kites and gliders, enjoy refreshments and have a chance to meet Mr. Rogallo. You won't want to miss this special opportunity to learn about the significance of the

JUNE 9-16: S1.mdir.t Classic, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Sixth annual 450 WTSS point meet at Sandia Peale The premier meet of the season! Price includes: entry fee, top-quality X-C tasks, glider and pilot transportation to launch, turnpoint film and processing, compUl'erized

scoring, full-time paid staff, free oxygen rcftl!s, gift ceniflcates from local businesses, convenient meet headquarters, awards barbecue, 'T-shirt and more! Sixty pilot maximum field, 45 spots reserved for pilots ranked in the top 80 USHGA or top 100 PIRS. Remaining entries will be based on ranking, cornpcrition experience and flight experience. First-time entrants must have: USHCA Advanced rating, all Special Skills, 100+ hours mouritain thermal experience. CPS highly recommended. Early registration $300 if postmarked before M;iy 1, $350 after. Refundable until April 30. Contact: Mike Gregg, 12117 St. Mary's Dr., Albuquerque, NM 871 I I (505) 275-5978 or Mark Mocho (505) 298 2922. F'...mail to mn1.ocho0Jrt6G.com

JUI Y ] 3-20: U.S. National Hcmg Gliding Championships, Dinosaur, CO. "The best mcer of rhe decade." Several meets within a meet. Compere in multiple divisions while flying in the Nats. Included arc Over li5, Rookie, lntermediatc Glider, and Never Made the 'fop 50 divisions. Driver competition and "wildest turn poi 111 photo" contest. Organized and directed by G.W. Meadows. Sponsored by Just Fly Aviation Gear. Terns of prizes. Lodging information and confirmation available. Entry foe by January 30, afrerward. Contact: C.W. Meadows, l~O. Box 450, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 (919) 480-3552.

JUl:Y 28-AUG. 5: Fly West Hang Gliding f.td. Jiang Gliding and Prmigliding XC Invitational, Golden, BC Canada. $20,000 in prize money! Three categories in borh sports: lightweights (50-300 hrs.), middleweights (300-600 hrs.), heavyweights (600 hrs. plus). Entry deadline May 15. $200 U.S. entry fee payable to rly West HG. Contact: Hy West HG Ltd., 199 Marlyn Place, Calgary, Alta., Canada T2A-3K9 (403) 27204 50, e-mail porteou r(2i)cadvision .com.

HANC Clli)INC

Rocket ( :i ty Alabarna's only flighr school, announces 1har d11: 1995 Alabama x. (: competition winner is Rohen Patterson. On June 1 1995, Rohen flew from Rudy's Ridge, Keel Mountain, ( ;urlcy, Alabama (20 miles cast of Humsville) to Wallace State Junior College at Hanceville (30 miles north 01 Birmingham), a disr;mcc ofli9 rnilcs, The award goes to the pilot who makes the longest X·C flight originating from an Alabama site, Rocket ( :ity J\irsports operates three of Alahama's seven sires from Keel Mountain. Call (20'5) 880·85 l to emcr the 1996 Alabama X-C: C:ornpct ition,

This meet runs from March 1o Scptcrnber and the winner is the pilot with the greatest total distance in three open distance X-C /lights. Results: f1rst, Pete Hammer, and longest /light in the contest miles); second, Rick l·'loyd; third, Clifron Mark l .ipford. Plaques were presented ar a Nonh Texas l lang Gliding /\ssociarion mc:et111g as all rhc winners arc from this

Telluride, Colorado. The results arc as follows. Region IV Championships: l st, [1ob Faris; 2nd, Nick Kennedy; 3rd, Brad Koji; /irh, Ric Lee; James Zeiser; 6rh, Ken Crubbs; 7rh, John Coyne. World Acrobatic ( :harnpionship: Ist, Aaron Swepston; John Heiney; 3rd, Dieter ( ;ocrke; lirh, Steve Alfiml; 5d1, Creg Adler; 6th, 'Jh1jillo. The 22nd Annual 'lc:lluridc Hang ( ;]iding Festival was so spectacular that ir is hard ro come 11p with words to describe ir. 'I 'he weather was good and friendly, and many pilots flew eight days in a row. One or the f:worite things to do was launch ro the cast at l 0:00 i\M and go

1 Ii

area.

Orhcrs who participated in the minimal.entry rrophy quest were: Michael Dcgto/{ Syd Ulvick, Z:mc Hudson, Recd Mmray, Jeffrey Hunt, Tim Doogs, Cmtis Graczyk, Dave Broyb and Art Stallings. In 1996 they will use the same format bur the season will nm from April through end of' November. The$ IO entry Ice goes toward the trophies. The local pilots express their decpcs1 as longtime pilot Mike Dcgtoff cnth,r,,d a flying injury in a parricularly nasty localized weather sysrern near Carrizozo, New Mexico. He is likely out fc)r the season.

om Low of Belmont, California won rhc $ l 00 July Best X-C J."Jigbt Award, donated by the I .akevicw Lodge. Tom's flight on July 5 was from Sugar Hill on a RamAir. He made ir l 02. J miles (CPS) to Frencliglcn, on the road ro Page Springs Campground, l .8 miles cast of town. 'fom is ::i Master, Advanced fnsrrucror, Observer and Examiner, but this was his first 100-milcr. The July Random Drawing Award from rhc rest of July's flights went to Jim """''''"" of Forest Crewe, Oregon. The award was donated hy Eagles Nest Restaurant.

Both these events were held during the

Telluride Hang Gliding Festival in FE13RLJJ\RY 1996

right up to l 5,000' or l 6,000'! With no serious accidents and more than 100 pilots in attendance the fostival flew straight and level, downwind, all week. There arc nm many places where you can go to a meet, become a sky party hard all week and rhcn get treated to a sit· down, ftve-star dinner and an awesome awards ceremony. M:my thanks to all those 'lclluride Air Force members who worked so hard, 1101 just during the Festival but all to keep the sire open and pull another great mccL Anorher low save for the TAF!

July, which includes all the flights from the July I Fly-In, produced 7/i valid reported flights totaling l, 105. l 9 miles, for a ! li.9/i ·mile average.

Laleeview Volunteer

'I 'lie month or August saw 13 more pilots register in the 1995 June through Scprcmher l~ly-·111, bringing the total 10 152. Only seven pilots turned in valid flight report forms bm we assume more /c)lks flew licrc.

$50 Random Wlinncr Mallory I won $50 donated H1111tcr's RV Mallory is a very active Rogue Valley HCA pilot fiom the Ashland/Crams Pass area. He also took third with a 65.3,milcr, and flew a total of 165.3 miles in August, all from Sugar Hill except the 10-milc random drawing winner. That 1O··tnilcr earned him $5.00 a mile.

Best August X-C Flight Winner Seven pilots reported August flights, and the best was by Ray Berger of Beaverton, Oregon on his Moyes Xtralire l 47. Ray, who flew 152.2 miles in just six July flights, came hack in August with even more determination. From August 8- 12 he flew 70.9 miles in four flights. Then from August 26-30 he racked up another J 61 miles in flve flights, for 231.9 miles for the month, and 384. 1 fen the summer. Ray won the $100 prize (donated by Burger Queen) for a 76.3-milc flight from Sugar Hill on August 26. Ramy Yanetz was second with 75.1 miles and Mallory Lynch came in third with 65.3 miles. Both flights were from Sugar Hill on August 25. 81G Magic Air August 24 was the day of the glass-off; and several pilots went X-C in dead smooth air. Rarny Yanetz said he got 1"0 9,300' MSL over Sugar, turned north along Hwy 395 in the perfectly smooth air, and gained slowly to I 0,000' MS!. by the time he got w Lakeview without a rnrn! He continued north, losing altitude slowly all the way to Simms' Ranch. When did you last make a /i4-mik flight in a glass-off? That's I,akeview for you.

August 21 landern Accident at Sug,ir Hi!! A Canadian pilot and his passenger crashed behind Sugar 1--Jill, apparenrly as a result of being rotorcd. Lakeview can be big-air country. While Novices can fly here safely at the right times, skills should include mountain flying in sometimes BIG turbulence, with due caution for the altitudes, winds and other conditions common to high-altitude desert sites. A total of 872.60 miles were flown in August.

flight reports. The big lure was likely the "Grand X-C' event. In 1995 there was again $1,000 riding on flights from the site overlooking, maintained and cominu-· ally improved by the city of Lakeview Black Cap. "'fhe Grand" was for the most cumulative valid miles flown frorn "'The Cap" by one pilot during the fi.111 fcrnrmomh fly-in. The September $50 Random Drawing Award (donated by Lakeview's Java Stop and Chocolate Penguin) went to paraglider pilor Mark 'Jc~lcps, who set a new Sugar Hill paragliding record with a 23.4-mile flight on September 5. A record number of l 5 paraglider pilots registered for the fly-in in 1995. Terry T'.iggart of Crcsham, Oregon made 13 fl ighrs from September 1-17, racking up a total of 236.1 miles from Black Cap and a total of 265.7 for the month! Terry's winning Best September X-C Hight was an 82.'7-miler from Black Cap on the 15th. He reported getting to 15,900' MSL, wirh cloudbase estimated ar 17,000'. This great flight earned Terry $100 from P'rI Communications of Lakeview. I-le also ended up wirh the second, third and fourth best flights of the month!

As yon might have guessed from die September results, Tc:rry Taggart i-ook "The Grand" with his 236.1 cumulative miles from Black Cap on his Sensor 61 OE "fhe $1,000 award was donated hy Lakeview's Pacific Power & Light, Thorton's Drugs, Arrow Realty, Jndian Village, and Pro-Jim: Building Supply. He said he plans to huy a new Sensor (Jl OE Our congratulations to Terry, and our thanks to all these BI c; prize money spon· sors!

Final Results ofthe 1995 Fly-In The month of September saw J 8 more pilots register in the June through September Ply·-ln, bringing the total to 170 pilots. T'hirteen pilots, some who reg· istcred and flew as early as June, turned in a record number of 56 valid September

So how'd we do for the Hang Gliding Capital of the West's Sixth Annual June through September Fly-In? Maybe the best ever, in terms of awards, pilot registration and safety.

'The X-C weather conditions were not as good as in l 994, resulting in 2,481.7 valid miles flown, compared to almost 5,000 in 1994. Tom Low of Belmont, California bad the only 100+ miler, with his July 5 Sugar Hill Ram Air flight of 102. l miles, which took the July $100. In J 995 Ramy Yanerz garnered a total of 492. 5 miles in IO flights, for an impressive 49.2-mile average. That's why I nick· named Ramy "Mr. Lakeview" last year. He's good on his Pac Air Klassic 155! We had 170 pilots register, compared to 121 in 1994. Of those, more came in September rhan ever before, and we bad a record number of 15 paraglider pilots cntcrlastycar. In 1994wehad 161 valid reported flights; last year we had 170.

New Site Rffords For I 995 ln addition to Mark '!Hep setting a new Sugar Hill paragliding X·C record oC 23.4 miles, Jim Woodward of Morgan l lill, California set a !lCW '!ague's Butre record of LJ:3.0 miles on his Pacific Airwavc Klassic 155. However, Nathan Whelchel of San Jose, California, flying a Paciflc Airwave 1<4, broke Jim Woodward's one-day-old 'fague's Butre record with a 56.46-milcr!

The Joe Miller Memorial Sportsmanship Award, donated by Summer Lakes Hot Springs, went to I.ucn Miller, who gave up a day of flying to retrieve Shannon Raby.

Please consider patronizing the sup·· portive Lakeview merchants, and thank them for being sponsors. 'T'hey need to know we are aware of their support. \l(!hat other hang gliding event offers$] ,700 in cash prizes, eight plaques and three gift packs in return for a $5.00 entry fee, which is going to buy us an LZ? ff you haven't flown any ofLakeview's eight sites you're in for a treaL We hope to sec you there, in the air, in 1996!

HANC GLIDINC

Glider Revic\v

Phou, I - 71,e l'rr:dator pkmform, similar r,, the TRX, i, d;.stit1cti1Jt'. Note th<! I00% d()1,bk-surfi1« tip.

Blue Sky Aircraft

predator js a crc:aturc who's r~sumC re.ads : "Tr.1i ncd and equipped co prey upon less for-

glider rrom Blue Sky Aircraft - apdy narnetl rhc Predator - bri11gs to Jnintl aU

slw't'-1 a lo, of characteristics wirh che TRX,

these i111.igcs.

cnidahle bcascs.1' A prcd:uor of <he air bring.s to mind a swooping pcccgrinc or perhaps a rapacious pcerosnur. The nC'\v

The PreJotor is i.hc laccsc glider on che market. It i, the next seep up from rhe UP l RX. Showing irs hcrirage, the Predator

face. n1any innovations on rhc Predator are

FEBRVA~Y 1996

bu, there ,re plcnriful difTe,cnccs as well. In unique m hong gliding and m:ty point the way co new design caccics. I was forn111atc enough 10 get a Pccdacor

]

from ,he socond brood Blue Sky produced. I have been seizing ever")' reasonable oppoi-runity to fly lt i 1'I che late-a.ucumn Ptn nsyl\lania skies. Fi na.Jly. a tremendous burden of snow hos blocked most of our sice,, so ir's time to colJect our inlpressions and pass along \vl1at \\"e have le::trned about this audacious 0\1ian. When all is said and done, I am sure you ,viU learn, as I have, noc co mock a killing bird.

THE LINEAGE We begin with a licde background since both the glider and company appear to be ne,v. Bue appcar;ince.s are deceptive:. Blue

3) 11,ey wanocd to ch:illenge the competition in performance. 4) Thev wanted ro introduce some ince;esting innovations inco hang gliding design. Our review will illunlinatr: ho,v they ,ch,eved their goals. [n the course of discussing the Predator witb pilots I have heard a few quesrion the viability of this upstart company. Besides the face chat .il i$, in face. nor :111 upscarr, iL should also be known that for almost rwo decades Dick's sail loft has produced sails for ulrralight companies and conrinues to do so. This means rhat Blue Sky is a much bigger

operation than lt appears :tt a glance, and ,heir furure should remain cloudless.

Sky, the core, hos been around os long as any cnanufacturcr, for l)ick Cheney, the princi-

ple, has been making sail, for the likes of Manta WiJ\g and ochers .~ince rhc mid1970',. l.01er, Dick ram UI' during the heyday of the TRX. Finally, with a little rcm:ganiz.ition, he creared Blue Sky to produce the Predator. Another mtcgral p,, rc of rhe company is John 1-lemcy, a pilot long kno"11 for his Aying excellence. Togerher, Dick and John developed the Predator with several goals in mind: I} They w,uued to update and upgrade thcTRX. 2)

They ,v:tnred co maintain the same

graphi1e aiiframc.

made from carbon graphirc. This makes tl,e TRX the ligh1e.1t glider in its da;.s with corresponding c:isy handling. Graphtce airfra1ncs make a lot of sense since ,ve are fooc•launchlng :'lficionados. Despite some early skeptici,m, graphice bas proven its viabilicy as hang glider airframe material, :ind ( for one bope LO sec n1orc. T

think I'll get my wish, as I hear that other co,npanies arc adoptiug the technology. Blue Sky is dcfmitcly in the catbird ;eat on this issue since they h,1vc several years eicpe~ riencc in tl,e Geld. Not only docs the Predaror use the TRX airframe technology, but ir uses rhc "rRX nirfamu:. That's one of the successes of the Prcdacor design project. A currenr TRX owner can si1)1ply purchase a riew sail and some hitrtl 'l\'atc firdngs and connect their

THE PREDATOR HATCHES Perhaps you can picrurc in )'Our mind an angry Litde chick chipping away ,vith its egg rooth until it bursrs from it> ,hell, unfurls its ,vin~ in a stance of defiance and focuses its adamanti ne eyes co find ~on,cching co devour. Bue our PrcdaLor "'ias nae quite w precocious. for it ,pcings from a very mildmannered parem - d,e TRX. One of ,he main concepts of the Predllor design i, the use of rhe TRX airframe. For those few pilots who have been stationed nn the moon for the pasc several year,, we should point out that almost chc entire TRX airframe is

TRX lO a Predator. This oonversion will not be cheap, since sails arc labor intensive, but it will cerrainly bear buying an all-new sJider. The idea is thar the airfran1e ,vill oud:1sc several sails. \Vie wish to make ir clear ,hot ,he Predator is not a TR,'X. It has expanded the

~rRX performance envelope and there arc handling difl'erences. The Prcdaror shares ,he airframe and planform with its progenitor and you can cell it comes from the same family, but ic does no, feel entirely the same aB we shall sec.

HANG GLIDING

PREDATOR INNOVATIONS Perhaps che best woy to introduce you ro the Predator is to en,1rnc:r:t re i1~ oovel fea• rures. A whole lor of thought wenr inro rhe Pl'edacor's rip area. so let's bc:gin rhere.

Curved Lower Tip &run, If you happen w look ar your outside rip in a rurn. or either tip in a di,-e, you may be able ro tell that they :ire nor doing much except going along for ,he ride. In fua. chm ongle of arrack will often be dose w 1.ero and chey are contributir1g orlly drag - no lift - ro your pcrformMce package. This

area undersurface is stable and shrugs off debil itating parasi,ic drag. The lower tip battens ,,re e:i.sy ro inserc and arc hc;ld in with plugs on the upper battens (Photo 2).

lnggk Srr1tt, and Ttp Plug The next noreworrhy Predator dlange is rhe toggle Strlll. This srrur rakes the place of a tip batten and comes off che rop of the leading edge r:1rher than rhc bottom ;is rhe tip batten did on the TR,X. To install this strut you plug irs rip in. then lever it straight and slide down a slccve co hold it in place (Phoco 3), Bccau,e the coggle b•er accion and

scare of affairs is due r.o ,ving r\\•ist or

btcause the scruc is located on cop or rhe

washout which is nece.ssary for picch srabiliry. We ha,,e to live wirh ir, bur we don't have to let it bring us down. Designers have approached this problem with various solutions, such as opplyir1g 100% double surface at che tips (Prodesign series and Solar Wings d,esign) or using internal webbing tO define a low drag, low angle-of-arrack airfoil (RamA ir and Laminar). TI1e Predator incorporates rhe 100% double , urfacc rrick (= Photo I) and adds a new nvisr ro che w:ishour problem: rwo cambered (curved) und.crsurface bancm at the tip help make this= lower drag by creating a semi-syrnmecrical airfoil. The lower-surface baneos are each oouplc<l with an upper barren to produce this effect. rn Oight you can observe chat rhc Prcdat0r's tip

leading e,lge, ic effeccively helps reduce rwisr. As rnencioncd. twj!ll is oece~ary for srabiliry, bur coo much huns perfotmancr by reducing lift produced by ,he outboard area of chc wing. Titc Predamr appears to have the lease amount of twist of any glider I have viewed (more on chis below). The coggle tip can be adjus,cd in length simply by

FEBRUARY 1996

cum.ing a SCIC\V in or our.

While we are regarding ,he , ip area we a,u~t 1na.kc aocc of Lhc ncv.• tip fairings. Gone are Lhc huge, clear ..aqui'lriunl'" rips of the TRX. The Predator tips arc still made of ,he same cough PETG pla>tic, bu, cltey arc 1nuch smaller. lighccr and infinitely easier co put in. l suppose you could S!ill use chem for aquarium;, bm only for guppies, nor koi carp.

The ocher cip feamn: i, a oew skid thac

has no scams in rhe wear areas. The broad tips of chis de-sign v.•arr.mt :tuch a protector,

and the Predato r's skitl is an iL11portan, improveinent over the TRX!i ,vhich v.•as a pm of cbc fairing. Wirti'X G:neraton Alrighc, now we'll look at the feacure rou've all been waiting for: voriex gencrar01,. Many pilots have cxprcssec.l wonder ar these snazzy lirclt doodad.,, An: they for real? Do thc:y work? Are ~,ey tl1c tcdrnology of the fucure? ~rhc short an~,vcrs arc: yc:s. ye., and I ch ink so. The complete answer demands tbat ,vc understand son1e princi· pies ofho"· 1.hc air mass3gc~ our "'ings. fu air flo,vs over lhc: top of a \\•ing it ls

slo,vcd near lhe ,ving ~urface due to friction

(viscous drag for you ,eel, types). As chc flow progrc.'$SCS toward the rear of the wing, chc ,lowed surface layer gets thicker. The higher the anttlc of anack, rhe more pronounced this process. In faa, at some high angle of arrack the air nc.u the Surface reverses its flov,· direction, the over11l flo,v detaches from chc wing and a srall occurs. We all know che consequences of a s,all, and they raogc from bad (we nre limi,cd in how slow ,vc ca.n circle in ::i thern,al) to \Vorse (we Jose control in a spin or dive}. The role of \'Ortex generators is to help delay ,he; onset or srall by ··energizing" rhe sluggish layer ncxr ro rhe wing surface. They

do ,his by creating mini-swirls - rurbulence or vortices if you wW. These vortices mix rhe faster-flowing air further away from che wing wirh che slower surface flow ond chus help prevent che reverse Aow that i11itiatcs a stall. Of course. vortex gencrarors cannot delay a srall forever, buc rhey do allow che amt of the wing they inllucace co go co a higher angle of arrack than normal hefore onm of a stall. Vortex gcncracors a.IC' nae a DC\\' idea in

;1Viation; they d!C usc:<l on plenty of high• wing-loa,Ung ai'l'lan.,,,, Bue they arc more or les.; new co hang 19i<ling. (Other, le,, dTcccive generarori have been tried, and the "trip suipi' ,11 the leading edge of faired down, ul>es work on the same principle.) The Pre&itor vor1c:c generators co 1ne i n

threes. One is pbced about 2-1/2 feet From the rip and the next r\vo continue inboard ;tbout a foot apart. 'fhcy arc

m.ide from ;1 pic:u: of folded alun)inu 111 thnt creates cwo angled ,al>,, ahou, I/2 inch high (Photo 4). They are held on wirh a sev.1 n slee,·e- anti can on ly be rc1novcd i( rhe lt:.u.ling c:<lgc is rcn\ovcd.

The vortex gcncracors shou.Jd not be removed, for they serve a very dcfinicc purpose. 0Ltc l(J

the reduced ,vashout of rhc

P/101(} 8 -

Predator, rhe """g will spin readily without the vorccx generators. ·rhis means the in.liide \.\'ing i.n a turn is scalling cxccnsivefy. Wi1h tJ1c generators applied, you cannot spin the glider in loose VG setting (l tried). So the

generators do work ou tJ1e Predator and they allow i I co get away with lower twist, wbich has irs own rewards as we discu;s bclow. Will we see some form or generators on ocher designs, Tbelieve ,o, for right now every hang glider wing could benefit from a delayed stall on the inside wing in a turn. Such a delay wnuld allmv d,e glider ro slow more in a chc.rmal and chus ger a bercer climb care.

The Predaror vonex genera.rors .are loc:i.ted on the k·.tding edge, partially co prevent wear during scoragc. l don't think wear w,[I be a problem as long as gliders aren't sracked, and Blue Sky intends to have a pad in ,he cover hag to speci11cally address thrs qLtescion.

loll/er Surface Control The next mo.11c inreresring Predator innovacion is che incerior lower-surface conlrol system. This systc1n consisrs of a -~erie.s oi laced lines char pull up the lip of cl1e lnwer <urfuce Mylar when the VG is tightened (see Photo 5). The purpo.sc of this system is m diminish drag by bcncr fairing in the leading edge in rhe tighter VG seuings. There also may be SOll\C effective reduction of thcairfoil Lhickness sinc.c the lines are routed from the airfoil high poinr co rhe rear of che leading edge . (Nore; The German Thalhofer glider has a similar sysrem intended ro camber up the fou~r surface for l>euer performance ar /o,,..,,.speeds). ·rnese Jines work auiomaticaUy since rhey are conoected from side to side. Whrn rhe nose angle widens as the VG is pulled, the liues bocomc cighccr aad perTh,- l'rrdmorfittings are clmfl, simple, fimaio,111/ and'"'mg. Corm their job. You can warch them work inside the sail while a HANG GLIDING

friend plllls the VC rope. 'T'here is little concern about wear on the lines since they experience light tension, and even if they break, both sides will equalize.

Setup!Rretd:down We include scrup and breakdown of the Predator in rhis "innovations" section because the system is cornplctcly different From the 'TRX, and the kingposr system is unique in the industry. Setup of the Predator begins nicely with a pip pin in the conrrol bar corner (a bolt is optional, as is a frilding basetubc). Then the process is standard: turn the glider upright, spread rhc stuff barrens. Once the battens arc in you pull the haulhack ar the keel to pop open the wings, then fo the keyhole tang over a stud and insert an ingenious little AN saf<ity pin (Photo 6). This pin has a straight with a loop, so all you have to do is push ir in and it snaps securely over the stud. 'fo remove it you simply lift the loop and ir slides out easily. I'd like to meet the clever /\N elf who designed this elegant device. J do know who designed the clever kingpost John Heiney. 'The Predator's kingpost erects automatic1lly when you pull on the haulback, for the nose cable routes rhrough a pulley and back to the haulback (Photo There is no need ro hook up reflex hridlcs 011 the Predator since they remain on the kingpost. The only other setup item we must note is the safety cable inside the sail Lliat must he placed on a stud and secured with another of those slick AN pins. T'hc procedure is simple because the Predator's lower surface has three well-designed zippers that allow you easy access to all t lic inside plumbing.

Otha Predt1tor fratures 'fo help distinguish the Predator from the TRX and other gliders, we'll provide a list of rhe more notable fcarnrcs. The VC system incll!dcs a looser and effectively tighter setting than available 011 the TRX. This aids borh handling (loose) and high-speed performance (tight). The VC rope itself has a full pull of42 inches and is easy to haul since all pulleys arc blessed with ball bearings. The jam cleat itself is the stainless steel sailho;it type that should never wear our. An item I really like is the neoprene bootie that covers the kingpost hole as well as the hang straps for an airtight fit. I used to handmake these for my gliders, and now someone has finally provided them h:ir the public. ln the same sense, I really like the hang strap system inherited from the TRX. This system consists of webbing and a spreader bar from rhc ki ngpost, then another loop over the spreader bar. Such ;1 setup allows a very easy hang height change. The Predator comes stock with the official 1.2-mctcr (47.2-inch) distance between hang and basctubc. (Although we have been promoting this standard for several years some harness rnanufocrurcrs arc still not up to speed.) All the fittings on the Predator arc CNC: machiued 6061 Tc; alu minum (Photo 8). They arc completely different from those on the TRX. They should prove to be a hir more rugged and arc certainly easy ro access when changing cables, downtubcs, ere. The glider l had w;is equipped with aluminum downtuhcs and kingpost, but graphite in these three tubes reduces the glider's weight by almost three pounds. Also available as an option is a rowing ri11g (/cir truck towing) that fits over the keel at the nose. This is the only such system on a productio11 glider. Along with this system you get an extra zipper slider so the lowcr·-surfacc zipper will open from the nose as well as the rear. One thing l like about the Predator is its easy C:C adjustment which consists of a series of' holes in rhc keel. You simply move a bolt forward and back for a roral I /2 inches of adjustment. FiflRUi\RY 19%

When a new glider comes out the /Jrst thing everyone wants to know, naturally enough, is how it performs. I will do my best to infrirm you, but please note: Because of weather factors and time constraints, l could only get flvc flights and 6-112 hours on the glider. l never did get a chance ro compare it with my known measuring sticks in meaty thermals. Also, with my winter weight and clothing my wing loading was 1.8 lbs./sq. Ii. on the 142 Predator, whereas normally I fly at around 1.67 lbs./sq. ft.

Hrmdling The Predtttor Anyone coming from a TRX to a Predator will fr:cl right ar home with the turn technique. The Predator handles more easily than the TRX and coordinates the same (1 had rwo flights on a TRX just before the Predator arrived). ln looser VG settings the handling is quite pleasant, and these gliders respond ro the "punch mrn" trick better than any J know. 'I<) pcrfrmn this trick, ;my time a wing gets sticky or doesn't respond immcdiarcly rn roll input, you apply a quick pitch out and hack OH the bar and you have an instant turn. Some pilots use this technique wirh every turn (be warned thar it does not work with all glider designs). For those not familiar with TRX handling, let us point out that the glider has a wide span and a stiff airframe, so the glider readily notices a wafr of errant air under one wing, bm the light airframe and flexible sail allow you to maintain an even keel as easily as with other gliders in its performance class. Because rhc Predator has its tips held down more firmly, l foci ir docs not offload a wayward gust quite like the TRX, but it still responds so quickly that handling the glider in turbulence is no problem. /\ TRX pilot should foci right at home turning the Predator. A pilot new ro the general

design should be comfcmable in short order. The pitch trim on the Predator is a departure from mosr other gliders. Usually, when you pull the VG on tight, die trim slows a bir because of the weight of the crossbars moving rearward (even though some wing twist is removed). With the Predator, however, pulling on the VG speeds the trim up noticeably, which is what we would expect if the outboard area is truly flying better. With foll V(; the liar wants ro settle near your upper chest, and bar presstires at higher speeds get very light. As a result, you have to push out to fly at minimum sink, but can perform furious dives with little tiring bar pressure. Even though the bar force is very light in the full VG n1ode, it will still return to trim if you let go of it.

Jaf.:eoff'and

1_,/lfHMIIX

The Predator launched very easily, even with my 1.8 wing loading and clumsy boots in snow. The glider is fairly light (67 lbs., which is up from the TRX due to the aluminum downtuhes and kingpost as well as the additional features) and perfectly bal, ancecL Since the ye; loosens more than that of the TRX, the side cables arc slacker on takeoff'. although a small amount of VG pull is reasonable in 11011-rurbulcnt launches. I

sclf~launched the Predator in variable conditions a couple of times and had no prob .. fems. Landing is straightforward (Hgurativdy) even if you aren't going straight fc)1ward (lit· erally). I found this out when I tried ;i slight turn in ground effect to check its response. I didn't have the wings exactly level, yet the glider was forgiving enough that there were no repercussions (figuratively or literally). The glider settled gently and that sett.kd th:n. You will find that the Predator lands easily with a broad flare window. I did find ir to have a strong pitch trim with the vc; off which was noticeable the first time I stood up for landing ([ had to pull in to keep my speed up). But this was no problem once ! was prepared. 'fhe factory suggests landing with some VG on in smooth conditions, but ! did not find this necessary and only tried it once.

Sin!.: Rate As near as 1 can determine, the sink rate of the Predator is 11t least as good as the

competition with a similar wing loading. In tests in Salt ] ,ake City it has been reported to me by a third party (not aHiliated with Blue Sky) that the Predator readily rops the stack in the evening boatoffa.

Capital Tarp will send any of the above size tarps to anyone who reads and responds to this ad before the next 30 days. Each giant heavy duty tarpaulin is constructed of extra tough,100% waterproof, high density, triple-ply fabric and has nylon reinforced roped, double-locked stitched hems, electronically welded seams, with #4 ('I /2 dia.) metal grommets every 3 feet all around and reinforced triangular corner patches so they can be roped down and secured extra tight. Specifically designed for all heavy duty uses, on boats in tl1e severest storms, trucks carrying heavy duty bulk and pallet riding materials, tractors, extra heavy machinery, awnings, tents, sports equipment, grain, hay, tools or any equipment for industrial or private use, kept outdoors in hot or sub-freezing weather. Each tarpaulin is accompanied with a LIFETIME GUAIWITEE that it must perform 100% or it will be replaced free. Add $7 handling and crating for each tarpaulin requested. Capital Tarp pays all shipping to your door. LIMIT: (10) any size tarp per address. Any letter postmarked after 30 days will be returned.Send appropriate sum together with your name and address to: Dept. 309-T, Capital Tarp, 4470 Sunset Bl., Suite 305, Los Angeles, CA 90027. Or for fastest service from any part of the country:

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/\s mentioned earlier, I did not get a chance to rruly compare the broad range of its thermaling capabilities. l did work light thermals with my wife Claire a couple of times and found her 1 lhs./sq. fr. wing loading and expert skills hard to heat, hm, naturally, a person my size would be flying the larger model (sec hclow) in most cases. My conclusion is that the Predator will climb at least as well as the TRX, and thar is well indeed, as 'fony Barton, Dave Sharp and Burch Peachy prnved when they were ream pilots.

5'JJC1:d

Glide

Testing the maximum LID of a glider is extremely difficult short of performing multiple flights in dead calm air from a relatively low hill or off tow. I didn't have the oppor·rnnity to perform such a test, but wirh irs reduced washout l expect rhe Predator will outglide mosr gliders. Something I did test was the Predator's glide at speed. I did this by doing runs at various while flying next to other cooperating pilots. I fouud I could notice· ably walk away from the others. My wing loading notwithstanding, I now believe the Predator is the fastest rhing in the I have flown all the fost gliders except the four kingpostless gliders in Europe. The Predator oursnips anything [ have flown, and I doubt a glider without a kingpost will be showing its tail feathers to the Predator. I attribute this rop speed performance to the Predator's stiff leading edge (at high speeds a more flexible n1bc bows hack and

You 1/I find

folks

Sky have effort

make the

as and as possible." out the sail), washout control, interior lower su rfoce cont:rol and smoorh lower sur.. face at. the tips. High aspect ratio gliders aren't known f'or their top end, but the Predator has managed ro bear the odds with a few aces up its sleeve. On one flight the wind picked up to over 20 mph. I lound I could easily stay above all the other gliders. Afrer I landed [ found out why. At times, they had to fly with their control bars almost at their w;iists, while I was barely pulled in. With a Predator will you he caught short in a penetration struggle? Highly unlikely. Will you he late to a thermal Quite doubtfol. Will you be at the tail end of a dive to goal? Probably never.

The Predator 142 is in production, and hy the time you read this will he certified. A si1.e somewhere between 155 and l (JO square focr is being developed as you sleep and should be ready soon. This larger size should have all the fine characteristics of

the 142 and be very easy to Jly, if we cm use the TRX 160 for cornp,iriso11. As with all gliders we urge you to ny the Predator before you buy it, if at all possible. The factory can tell you where the nearest demo is available. While you're admi this new bird, rake time to notice rhc line workmanship and attention to detail. You'll find the folks at Blue Sky have spared no effort to make the Predator as sleek and neat as possible. Now go set the sky ablaze with a flight, and be sure to keep an eye out for your natural prey: other gliders. For more information, contact: Blue Sky Aircraft 4054 West 2825 North Mountain Green, UT 84050 Td: (80 l) 876-3003 E1x: (801) 87 6-3002

!lrea ,SjJan !l.1pect ratio Airframe No. o/hcwens per side

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US Aviation • 26S f~~o ln • ~oul~ SI. ~aul

MN SSO?S • U~A • lelifa~: 612i4S0-09~0

by Jim "Sky Dog" Palmieri

nyonc who surfs che airways of either rhe Inremet or the areas surrounding Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah, knows David Taylor. Having Jived in Provo for two years and visited the area frequenrly, I appreciate the glory and fury of the mountains. There is a reason that the Mormons call this area of the west "God's Country." Larry Tudor currently owns the world cross-country record, but keep your eyes on David 1aylor, for he is out to capture the record.

I have followed David's progress in the sport, and to say that he was born to fly would be an understatement. Sit back and visualize grear snow--covcred mountains, large expanses of land and 'big air" as I introduce to you David '[\1ylor.

later (l 991 ), I got back from an eight rnonth incarceration at IBM, Rochester, with enough cash to give it a go, and T did. Big tirnc.

J. P: So where did you go to !earn tofly and what was yourfirst hcmgt,lider?

. Dcwid, pleme

p!low pi!o ts.

to your

D.1'.: Well, I'm Dave, Super Dave if you arc on the r;idio. I got that name for launching off rhe north side of Heber, or maybe (iH smacking the hill 500' over launch at the Point of' the Mountain. Twice. I lard. On the same: day. [ guess you could call me the good linlc: Mormon boy of hang gliding, since 1 never fly on Sundays. Of course, J make up for that by being the: charter mernber of the Weekday Fliers Club, cutting grad school, work and whatever else presents itsc:lf to go fly. You might even call me the f;riscoholic, since I usually end up at Frisco Peak at least once a week during the summer even though it's 200 miles from my house. What a site! The Highway Patrol calls me an easy target, mainly as a result of said Frisco trips. I'm just somebody who is hopelessly addicted to hang gliding.

When did you hrmg gliding?

hear ahout the sport of'

D.T.: I literally heard ir for the first time when I was about 13, while riding my bike near the Clcndora foothills in L.A. Somebody really pounded it in at a field raised above street level. It was really loud. I had never seen one before and didn't get a chance 10 sec this one, since my dad was with me, b111 it stuck in my mind.

D.'J'.: At the Point of The Mountain outside of Salr Lake City. My instructor was Gordon Pollock of Wasatch Wings. He: is the best instructor I have ever seen, although I might he biased. I hope he's still teaching in Oregon, where he lives now. I bought a Javelin after my nimh lesson. I pm 60 hours on it in 30 clays, sometimes (lying as many as six days a week at rhc Point. J was completely addicted, and that's an undersu1temcnt. Luer in the summer I took another five lessons from Gordon to learn mountain flying skills, and you know what rhe mountains in Utah can do to your head. I just about didn't graduate.

FEBRUARY ] 996

when you

D.1'.: I sometimes worry about tumbling or getting hurt on launch. I hate launching. Apart from that, I don't think about the bad stuff much while flying.

ahout the USH(,'A

D.T.: [ learned from everybody who flew, whether they knew it or not. I like to watch and listen to everything, because it all comes in handy at some time. I did manage to make: Rose Carter a little mad becanse I kept flying too close to her. She came over and ripped the faded red streamer off my glider in disgust th rec: weeks afrer she: put it on, after I managed to stay up one day when she sank out, and I still like to fly with her.

How didyou get into "hig air" mountain flying.

1 was hining the mountains, and those

Utah mountains get their hooks into you J).'L When I was 17, Wasatch Wings ran an ad for a half-price special intro lesson in my college newspaper, and since I didn't have a car at the time I had lo convince my grandfather to sneak me: out to the hill without my parents finding our. I went out and was completely slack-jawed wirh wonder at the time, even though the lesson was terminated a mid-morning thunderstorm. I came back For the last part of' the lesson, and my last flight ended in a heauriful full ground loop, glider upside down (undam-agc:d). T was still excited, but penniless. I resolved to fix things so I could do this /cir real, or at least check it om better. Six years

J.P: What 11re the demons, hang:z,iide?

Who were your mentors when you first lettrned to fry?

D.'L About two months after I starred flyJTow were you introduced to the sport?

D.T.: Big miles, playing in the clouds, flying with big birds, and talking with everybody in the state from up high. There's just nothing like flying around a cloud that looks like you could run your fingers through it, or watching a hawk show off as rhough it is feeding off your emotional state. Everything, really. Even the time my grandpa, Bill Scott and I got stuck overnight in the mud norrl1 of Pahvant Butte and I walked abom 25 miles to find a way out. But the steak the next morning was worth it. Thanks, Bill.

hard. T live right by them, and they call to me on a distressingly regular basis. Oh well, who needs a real job anyway? It just made the addiction worse, since I could now explore all kinds of flying instead of pacing back and forth al rhe Point.

Have you ever dropped out of/lying? D.T.: I dropped out once for three weeks (and nearly went insane), but I passed my qualifiers and came: back with a vengeance thc:rcaficr.

D.T: USHC/\ membership is required for about two percent of Utah sites, and l like the magazine, hut the only real use I sec for the rating system is to keep unqualified pilots from flying big sites.

Have you witnessed any serious that resulted.from the D.'T.: except for the beginning of my second season. Another totally new guy and l were nearly going nuts in rebruary waiting for the season ro start, so he 100k his truck and fcimHi a great launch on Timpanogos at ;ibout the same elevation as Inspiration Point. We: went to it the next day a primo first taste of spring and set up. He launched first, foiled to clear his turn, and smashed hard about 30 fret below launch. He broke his arm and was in big pain. It pretty much trashed my season. Hang gliding ccm he stressful on outsidr: relationships. How hcwe you h(l/anced them in your life and what role do your ,md rc!zRion plcty in your passion for D.T: J really don't have any scriot1s personal oursidc relationships. My family is interested. My grandfather is my driver and my dad wants to try it (after l showed him a demo ar the [Joint), but my mother won't even look at the video I have: of one of my flights

at Inspiration Point. As for religion, when I started flying [ promised God I would never fly on Sundays and try to avoid doing stupid things if He would help keep me out of rrouble and give me the ability 1 needed. T feel strongly that 1 have been protected from serious injury several rimes, and l still will never fly on Sundays. Unfortunately, Sunday is always the best day of the week in Utah. I guess it means that I will never compete, either. J.P: What arc some of your most memorable flights?

D.1:: By far, my top flight is the l 80-milcr I made on July 29, 1995. I'm still high from that (sec sidebar). My first X-C, a 26-rniler from Francis Peak, still sticks in my mind. It was the first tirne I got: over cloud base beside a cloud, and the only rime I ever had to hitch back to my car. And rhen there was my first flight in 1991. I got six inches off the groulld and flew 20 foet. My whole brain was on fire after T landed.

intend take the world from Larry Tudor: I thought I had it in July; but I landed three hours early. Blastf 11 /

land, and as accidents result in the closing of existing sites. Of course, a Republican could be elected in I 9%. In that case, legal and environmental rcft)rm will throw open hundreds of sites. It will be easier for people to learn, public exposure will increase, and the pilot population will skyrocket:.

J.P: What are yourfa1Jorite gliders? D.T.: I have owned a Javelin, an XS and a RamAir, which I Hy now. l have flown just about everything else, living so close to the Point. (Can you say, "Demo Days rule"?)

J.P: Have you had any particulc1rly harrowing flights?

J.P: What equipment do you /ilce to/61 with?

D.T.: 1 just about got sucked into very

I).'L Hmrnm. Let me

nasty-looking prefrontal clouds on Thanksgiving day as a snowstorm was sweeping across the Salt Lake Valley, driving the last warm air of the year into towers over Lone Peal<. A close second would be my fcmnh flight off fnspiration Point. T noticed I was below the shack in a single-surface glider and without alternate LZ's. I flew straight tow;ird the LZ, a mile away, and nearly bad to lifr my legs to clear the power lines on University /\venue. I landed 60 feet into the park.

J.P: What do you see as yourfitture in hang ,~iiding?

you my wish list, since 1 am just now getting enough cash to buy a few things. I want a GPS, because Bill Scott's is totally cool and I am something of a gadget fre,ik. l want a Mountain High 02 unit, because l need more endurance when it's cold up high. I want a vario with a temperature sensor, because I am always curious about how cold it m1lly gets when I can't water out of my bicycle water bottle. I want a P'r'J' switch and a camelbak. And it might be nice to fly with a harness. It's getting really hard to hold on to all my equipment and stay with the glider too. J.P: How do you "wettther" the rnany personal-

D."L I intend to take the world X--C record from Larry 'fodor. I thought: I had it in July, but I landed three hours early. Blast! I will probably still be flying when I'm I 00. I'd also like to make hang gliding slalom an Olympic event when the games come to Utah in 2002.

ities found within the hang gliding and paragliding communities? You live in an area heavily flown for rrutny years, and territory and politics must enter into the flying. What impact has this had on you and what role, if any, have you played? D.T.: Everybody here is cool. I don't think I

J. P: Wlhat do you see as the fitture of hang gliding in the United States? D.T'.: 'fhe sport will stagnate and gradually die as the population of the U.S. nukes it more and more difficulr to find uncontrolled

have ever been augry at any local pilots, even the paragliding variety. Every site except the Point is so huge that there is never any conflict (at least that [ know about, but I try to steer clear of that kind of idiocy). I am the editor for the UHGJ\, so I don't really con--

tribute much to the politics, al though my Web site might make some of the more reserved members of the UHGA pale with anger once it frilly on line.

J.P: What have been the greatest contributions you have rnade to the sport ofhang gliding?

D.'L T helped put up a sign at the Soutb Side this summer, and I will build a new outhouse soon. l haven't been around long enough to do anything else worth mention· ing, although l support all the efforts being made by the club to keep the Point open. J.P: If.you could give a piece of advice to new pilots what would it be?

D.'I:: Fly a lot. 'fry to avoid landing. Make sure both your wings are clear of the bushes before you start your launch run. But that's anod1er story.

J.P: lfyou could give a piece ofadvice to long:.. time pilots, whrtt would it be? D.T: 'Jalk more. If ir's not a record day and you are feeling laid back, And a new pilot botching it in a thermal and thermal up past him. It's most instructive. Make sure both your leg straps are fastened before you start your launch run. But tlrnt's another story. J.P: When didyoufirst hear about the Hang

Gliding Forum on the Internet? D.'L I think I had heen flying for about a year, and T was reading "rec.aviation.soaring"

and they mentioned it. l was still pretty new, so I almost never posted. As to impact, it has been very useful, although not quite as uscfi.il as talking to the locals. I like to suck up everything I can from all available sources. Bob Mackey's responses to my descriptions of my flights in the Owens and some of Gary Osoba's recent "dronings" helped me our a loL on my long flight last summer.

J.P: 'You've gained notoriety on the Forum. !low did this come about and what are your feelings about it? D.1~: I guess T'rn just a big showoff at heart, so I like to write about my good flights. I like people enjoying what l write, and f will admit ro getting a certain sadistic pleasure from being able to fly during the week and torturing the nine-to-fivcrs on the Net with my thermal talcs.

Hi\NC GL!DINC

I r •

I by David Taylor 9:00 !'/VI I am looking at the weather channel and sec that Saturday is going to be a Frisco day. a primo Prisco day, and l have volunteered ro put up signs at the Point of the Mounrain tomorrow. ] 0:.30 PM Zippy calls. He cannot get: the backhoe until next: week. Oh drat. "~at;urti,ZV, 7:00 !IM

I am loaded up and on my way to gr;mdp,1\ house for a nice bowl of oatmeal and plate of cantaloupe. Ummm, good. 9:00 !IM

We arc rocketing down the deserted highway to Mi!Ford. notice thar the sage and grass arc waving a lot. lt looks like it will be blown out. Of all the blasted luck! wait, those shrubs aren't blowing at all. wait, those are kicking up dust. Worry, worry, worry, dr.ivc faster, worry. (Insen sound of glider bU?:;;ing on rooC) /0:00!IM

The final gas stop. I sec Chuck, also on the way to Frisco. I do not see him again until just before l launch. Some people drive soooo slow.

10:45 !I/VI Arrive on launch. Run to the edge. The tower is roaring ..Blast. Wait! 'The tower is silent! A light breeze floats up rhc ... ROAR-· RRRR. Ffmmm, looks like five gusting ro 25. The weird cycle ends mid the wind is light. Yes! l can fly! l take the glider off the truck and set it up rapidly. 11: 15 AM I am set up, but unwilling to launch until either the wind picks up to near my max or 12:00, whichever comes first. l go lie down on launch and take a quick nap. When [ wake up, the wind is a steady 15 with peaks over 25. Looks like it's now or never!

11 :.30 AM A good dean launch, with an .instant climbout to 11,500'. Not quite 14 grand, but a good start. I remember my patience lessons, and am rewarded with a gradual loss of altitude back to launch level 30 minutes later. Cumics arc beginning to street heavily on the range fO the west, and the drift foels like 20+. I arn impatient. 12:30 PM l've had it. I can't break ] 2 grand and l am going to go over the back in the next thousand up. And here it is! Circle, drifr, circle, drift ... 12,000 ... 12,200 ... and the thermal tears apart one mile behind launch. And r begin to feel the wrath of Frisco. I try to fly

FEBRUARY 1996

north but am getting knocked more than 90 degrees off my course in a distressingly consis·· tent manner. I'm down to 9,000',

pening. My first real street! "Grandpa, go to Leamington Junction and continue to Eureka." I get to the Gilsons and nm out of valley, but the wind seems to be streaming up the low hills. I'n1 abk to bounce between 9,000' and 12,000' as I elect to shoot for the mountain south of 1Jtah Lake instead of running it up the west side under what looks like a dying street. I am down to 8,300', but I will make the base of the mountain, so I send grandpa to Goshen and start to hunt. Drift, drift, bounce, thweeeeeeEEEEEE. I can't lose.

barely five miles from the peak, when it: hits me: the street isn't" over the mountains to the west, it's over rhe valley! A voice from my past tells me to work the val· lcy in high wind, so I say to myself, "What the heck. I'm going down way too fost here anyway." "Grandpa, bead for Black Rock Road, I can make it that far (I think)." Thrash, thrash (8,000') thrash, bump ka tunk (7, 500') hump, glass (7 ,300') float, float (7, I 00') This is ludicrous. I drift to the float (7,000') hor, HOC east of Skeet (the n10untain float, bubble, float (I got Black south of Utah Lake) and out Rock for sure). over the lake. [ am worried r•p1·•r1•1, 500 up. about crossing the lake, but my Yes. Go baby. Yes (7,500'). 'fhis worries are unfounded as I get to thermal is huge! I better turn: 13,400' in the thermal and point 7,800', 8,200', 800 up, drift, it toward Timpanogos. drift, 1,000' up. DRTFC 9,500', Something has to go wrong; this 10,000', l l,000', 13,000', can't be happening. DRIFr, DRIPT, 14,000', 16,000'. [ can hear a whole 4:30 tM hunch of pilots sinking out at (Track five from Vangelis Graff Point, and Chuck being "The City" playing in my head.) retrieved at Black Rock Road. I'm passing over Provo Airport at "Grandpa do you copy?" "Yes" 11,400' and I hear a voice on the "Go to Delta, on the double! I'm Looleing south from .Mount Timpanogos Brighttm Young University. radio. "This is Bigfoot. Are there at l6 grand passing the Lime Pit The lnspinttion Point launch is under the hcirness. any pi.lots flying today?" and rny downwind speed exceeds Mygosh. The Bigfoot stuck on 85 mph!" (Hey, you better stop climbing; you've got no oxygen launch one of the top pilots in the state and I, a mere neoand this looks to be a long flight.) phyte in the local scheme of things, am pulling off the flight of the The street extends to Delta, 25 miles ahead, which I have on an century (at least to this point). l've flown 150 miles and] still have easy glide, and I am MOVING. (Oh boy, don't get excited. You four hours of daylight left, and if I keep this up, the world record is only have 45 miles so fa1: Think about flying.) ] . Time to mine. MINE! (Insert hypoxic laughter.) "Bigfoot, chis is Super get down. I point: it north and bury the bar. Talk about speed! Dave. I'm over Provo Airport off Prisco Peak and heading for Cloudbase is 19,500'+ so that isn't even an issue. Timponogos. Any advice?" (f think I said some other stuff too, but it's a bit fuzzy.) 2:00 PM 1 am losing altitude and might not n:iake Timp, so I head for ("Marooned" from the Division Bell playing in my head.) Holy Inspo. I arrive at 8,000'. Then it hits me. There is a massive sourh smokes. The desert below me looks like a scene from Dante's wind. I have flown 150 m.iles. It isn't even 5:00 I'M and I'm at Inferno. I am consistently passing up and down through 14 grand, Inspiration, my personal s.ite, from which I have nearly 200 flights, and it isn't even cold until I get to 17,000'. J have just crossed and I have enough to get up. Yes! YES!! smack over downtown Delta. That normally sinky, vast green YAAAAHHOOOOOO! Time to dig into the emergency enerpatch has thousand-foot, monster dust devils one block wide going gy reserves. Suddenly I fi:~el like I've just launched, and I feel through the center of town. If I land in this valley I am screwed. ] STRONG. I will get up, no matter what it takes. I don't care if I am now even more motivated to stay up. have to land in the canyon. I am invincible. Phoenix Jim comes on Thermals abound under the street, and J begin to think about the radio to ask me where I am, and l reply, 'Tm looking for lift big records, and big whacks, as the drift is now up to 35. I sdecr like I've never looked before!" I rernember 'fodor's advice and head Lance's route over the Gilsons, and point it north yet again. 'F.vclve straighr for the foothills of Timp, sinee there is no lift to be had grand, work it up; J 6 grand, fly it down. 1 can't believe this is hapnear launch in the strong south wind. I have no idea how hot it is

Hi\NC CUDINC;

down below, but T begin to get a taste of ii as parts of my lips arc cracking and falling off I want t:o grab my water bottle, but it is sky or die tirne, and it takes every onnce of effort looking for and turning in even the smallest bubbles corning off the scrub oak-covered slopes. I finally hit a good one near Baldy, and get up w its peak. J run its south-facing ridge back to the main body of southwest-facing 'fimponogos where the lifr .is smooth and everywhere. "Grandpa, go to the mouth of Provo Canyon and wait." 9,000' . .10,000'. 11,000'. Peak kvel. 12,000'. I arn in contact with Heber launch again. Bigfoot tells mc about the guy who got to l 7,000' on Timponogos and got mega-drilled over the back, landing in Tibble Fork Reservoir. My thrcshold is 14,000', and T'm going to do it cvcn ifl have to land on Robert Redford's front lawn. They say it's blowing on launch, and r believe them, because I am beginning to have penetration problem~ in what is clearly a monstrous wave. Unbelievable 13,000', drifring backward slowly. 13,500', 14,000', THRESHOLD. "Grandpa, go to Midway Junction. I'm going to see how high I can here befrlre I commit:." 14,200', 14,500', 500 down. I am now a half mile behind the ridge and have fallen out of the bottom of the wave. I immediately turn toward Deer Creek .Reservoir and encounter no sink. It only takes me about a minute and a half to get to t:hc reservoir. I still wonder if the people on "T'imp IUdgc" were ever able to figure out where the distorted-at·rhe-top-of-the-lungs rendition of "We Are The Champions" was coming from. I see clouds forming over Fleber launch, and I tum toward them, passing over the launch without finding anything as tbe clouds dissipate. Down to 10,800'. My crnb angle is ludicrous, and there is no way T am going to land up there, so with one more mile to the site record I tum north ready to get my butt kicked in the wind shadow. "Hey Bigfoot, where do [ have to go to get the state record?" information is given out on a need-to-know basis." (Laughter in the backgro11nd.) "J NEED! I NEED!"

The Frisco street

"Coalville." I can see it. One little thermal and I have it. lt's only 5: 15 PM. I'm going to trash it utterly. r am now sinking fast and rhe Park City area is at 7,000', so I don't have much time to find it. 8,500'. Ka thunck! Whash! Bonk! Whoa, foeling a little more tired now, getting lower, LZ in range, 400' over, .300' over, last chance on those little hills, nothing, 200' over, BLAST 'Target LZ kitty-corner to the power plant. Pull WAYYY in! Boink, grunt, 50' over, 20' over, 2' over, kabonk. Whooooo. Whuttaday. Only 5: 15 PM, but it gets me a new personal best, so I am way happy. The next weekend I see everybody at l-Ieber (and sink out miserably) but J sure have a big grin on coming up the mountain. In fact, I still can't wipe the grin off my face writing this, even afrcr reading it a hundred times. Hang Gliding Rules!! Prisco grunt, snort. Frisco slobber, drool.

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Vic Powell, jJrf'sident o( the Rogallo /·11undatirm rmd Jctyne I )cp1111/i!is, North Ctimlirw" hooth mentioned in the uxt. flrmgglidin,~lpmngfiding was dis· tributcd to Hoedown attendees. Photo h)I Mirhcffc Drnusrm. 1na'rk1·'tzrw director o/Xitty Haw!< Kites, 111 the

hen an activity is comparatively small it can be helpful to have powerf'1il friends. One of the efforts of the Rogallo Foundation is to serve in rhc nation's capital as a rcprcscnrarive of hang gliding/paragliding (hereinafter referred to as hang gliding) to rhc large and expanding omdoor recreation industry and the rourist industry. Bringing an awareness o( hang gliding activities to these industries offrr., an opportunity to participate in critical pro· grams and speak fcir the needs rhe sport at meetings.

An example was the Ninth Annual Southeast Hoedown, a program of the fl llRLJ;\l~Y 19%

Somheast 'fourism Society which represents IO States in the southeastern section ol' the nation. The event was conducted 011 the National Mall next to the National Air and Museum in Washington, DC:, October 11, 1995. In the Nonh Carolina booth, as part of the "Camp North Carolina" exhibit, Kitty Hawk Kites (Kl-[K) displayed a hang glider and provided hang gliding literature 10 members of Congress, Congressional staff and invited guests attending the day-long event. KH K also demonstrated its mobile climbing wall which was a big hit with the crowd. The exhibits provided op port unities to meet lawmakers and express to it1fluet11ial mcrnhers of the audience the needs of: and dcvelopmcnrs in hang gliding. ln!t1rma1ior1 was sh:1red wirl1 rccrearion industry executives such as Derrick Crandall, president of the American Recreation Coalition (ARC),

and Ellen Wilson St. Clair, /\Re's vice dent. ARC is a nonprofo Washington, DCbased federation that provides :1 unified voice for recreation interest., to ensure their hill participation in govcrnmclll policy rnakiug on issues such as public land man .. agemem, liability and recreation fees. ARC :'s membership consists of more than 100 organizations, including national and regional as~ociations and corporations that represrnt a major share of the $:300+ billion recreaticm/kisurc industry and groups repre· scnting millions oC rccrcationists. · I'he Hoedown is a major progr:un of' the bringing attenSoutheast 'I <iurism tion to Congress and others that tourism in these states rurnlcd billion in J 994 in direct and i11/lt1c11ccd revenue. 'fouris111 gen .. crates 2.3 million jobs and billion in tax revenue in the ten states. Hang gliding is pan of that ecm1omic

Outdoor recreation is a major component of tourism. A report released in Washington, DC and sent to members of Congress has detailed aspects of recreation's contribution to the economy. The Outdoor Recreation Coalition of America (ORCA) and the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) Outdoor Products Council produced rhe publication "Buman·· Powered Outdoor Recreatiou State of the Industry Report." The Report notes that hurnan-powcred omdoor recreation is a growing pastime, and is rhe basis of an industTy that contributes billion to rhe national economy. ORCA is the nonprofit trade association represent-· ing the lum1;rn·-powcred outdoor recreation industry. Its membership includes 1,490 manufacturers, retailers, distributors, suppliers and other organizations. The Rogallo Foundation is a member of ORCA. SGMA is the national trade association fc)r North American producers of arhlctic apparel, footwear and sporting goods. It serves its 2,000 rnem bers through prod uct-spcci fie councils. Both ORCA and SCMA arc members of the American Recreation Coalition. The joint industry report states that out· door recreation is enjoyed by a wide crosssection of the American public. Over 75%J of people age 1(1 and older participate in some form of outdoor recreation. T'hc largest group of human-powered partici· pants consists of white males, age 24-40, with an annual income of $50,000 or more and at least sorne college education. Statistics of interest include: women arc parti ci pati ng in greater numbers than ever before; participants arc aging; and the ethnic :ind racial background of participants is gradually becoming rnore diverse. 'These factors arc also reflected in hang gliding. 'The "Human-Powered Outdoor Recreation" report also provides details about the associated revenues that participants create. Associated revenues is a c1tcgory that includes expenditures for travel, food ,llld lodging. Much of this money contributes to rural economics where outdoor recreation activity occurs. The report pro· vides a sample of trip-related expenditures; 75<Yc> of trip expenditures are for food and gasoline. T'hc state of Colorado estimates rhat visitors to its state parks alone spend $692 million during an annual season, providing needed revenues and employment in rural areas.

F!.!.en St. vice president o{the /lmerican Recrer.t.tion Coalition, Derrirle Cn.mdt1ll, president o{ the American Recreation Coalition, t1nd Michelle Dc1wson, board member o{ the Rogallo Foundation rntjish served at the Southeast Hoedown while hang gliding activities. Photo by Vic Powell.

/ndustry representatives are beginning to regard hang gliding as an ....... ,. . . . and valued contributor to the outdoor rer:re;1t1c,n industry. 11

µc ..........

The report concludes that human-pow· creel outdoor recreation is a positive influence on our society. It promotes healthy lifestyles, nurtures our relationship with the omdoor world, and builds self:.confidcnce and self.esteem. lt supports a vibrant and growing industry, and must be nurtured and encouraged. The greatest threat to outdoor recreation is inadequate support for rhc acquisition, maintenance and operation of these special places where people go to enjoy recreation. The outdoor recreation industry tnust exercise its considerable influence to ensure continuing outdoor opportunities for all Americans. 'f'here is an elemclll in the report that is a significant foctor for the future of outdoor recreation sports such as hang gliding. The report says that rhe biggest dercrminanl in

participation is whether one was involved in omcloor recreation with his or her family as a child. ·rwo-d1irds of those who recreate ourdoors were introduced to their favorite outdoor activity before age 1 The need 10 introduce children to outdoor recreation is a challenge to the industry. Research indicates that participation among children in outdoor recreation is on the decline. Enlarging the number of teenage participants will prove ro be one of the best determinants in the future for outdoor recreation, and to the outlook for the sport of hang gliding.

While each of the various sports and activities represented in exhibitions such as the Southeast Hoedown have differing needs and concerns, there is much that unites them. The industry publication, "HumanPowercd Outdoor Recreation State of the Industry Report," provides statistics and insights that apply to hang gliding. Industry representatives arc beginning 10 regard hang gliding as an accepted and valued contributor to the outdoor recreation industry. The Rogallo Foundation appreciates the opportu· niry to represent hang gliding to the industry and discuss common interests in outdoor recreation and tourism.

Hi\NC CLIDINC

JOE SIMMERS

DAVfD WHITEHALL

Region 10 FLEISCHER, KEITH: Baca Raton, f;L; J. Tindle/Miami HG PRIETO, RENE: >-I Miami Beach, Ff.; J. Tindle/Miami HC

Region l MICHELSEN, MARTY: Ridgef,dd, WA: J. !Zey·nolldsihll' Up !JG

HUNG: San Jose, Cl\; J. Woodward/Natrual CONNORS, PAUL: Sunnyvale, CA; I'. l )cncvan/Mission DE VRIES, BRANDEN: Palo Alro, C:A; I.. Alexamb/Mission Soaring FRAZIER, CLIFFORD: Sacrarncnro, CA; C. llarnilton/Sacramcllto TIC LEW[S, GARY: Walnut CnlVc, C:A; C. I lamilton/Sacramcnro I IC I.U, SHERWIN: San Jose, CA; E. Hemicks/Natural MALTSBERGER, JOHN: Marri11c1., C:A; C. Andronaco SEIDLITZ, BRIAN: Car.son NV; R. l.conard/Advcnturc Spom SHISHIDO, MELODY: Santa CA; S. Rodrigues/Mission Soaring Region 3 CARHART, MARK: Sanra Monica, CA; A. Bccm/Windsports lm'l MITSUOKA, KAORI: Arcadia, CA; K. 1larrison/Lake Elsinore 1-f (; Region Ii HENES, AL: Flagstaff'. AZ; S. Mish/Bandiro J\crion Sporrs SANTOS, SHELLEY: Rio Rancho, NM; M. Clantz/I ligh Desert HC Region 6 MILLER, PAUL: l lannibal, MO; C:. Thorcson/Lookmn M1n Fl'

ERIC: Madison, WI; B. Kushner/Raven

Region l MICHELSEN, MARTY: Ridgdicld, WA; J. Reynolds/Far Up H(; Region 2 HOOD, MIKE: Modesto, CA; D. Prather/Mother Lode Riders KARAM[, HAMID: Concord, C:A; I'. Dcnevan/Mission MAYEDA, RON: Foster City, CA; D. Youm/Mission Soaring PAYNE, THOMAS: Sausalito, CA; B. Ream/Mission SHU, INGAR: Berkeley, CA; B. Ream/Mission WONNEIJ.,, TRACY: Walnut Creel<. CA; I). HC C:luh Region 3 BARSKY, FYAL: Los Angeles, CA; A. Bcern/Windsports lnr'I BEYER, CARL: Van Nnys, CA; U. (juackcnbush/Trne ]'light HENSON, BRAD: 1.akcwood, C:A; I'. Phillips/Lake Elsinore KUBICKI, ADAM: 29 Palms, CA; I'. Phillips/Lake Elsinore Spons MILLER, MICHAEL: Studio City, C:A; A. l'\ecrn/Windsporrs lnr'l MITSlJOKA, KAORl: Arcadia, CA; K. llarrison/Lah' F.\sinorc HG SWANSON, ST'EVE: Temecula, C:A; I'. Phillips/1.akc Elsinore Spons Region Ii EDGAR, CAREY: 1.ittleron, CO; S. Dewey/Quiet Flight HC HEN ES, AL: Flagsra/{ AZ; S. Mish/llaudiro Action Sport., LTENEMAN, ST'EVE: Phoenix, AZ; R. DcSrephcns/Zonic I JC TORRISI, Al.FRED: Mesa, AZ; R. DcStcphcns//.onic I JC Region 6 MILLER, PAUL: I lannibal, MO; C. Thoreson/1.ookom Mm 1:p Region 9 MALICK, MARK: Vienna, VA; C Bowen/Quest Air Region 10 ALLRED, CHRISTY: Asheville, NC; B. Hunt/Blue Ridge BAATH, ERIC: Opclib, AL; T. I Ligcr/1.ookom Mrn FP COOK, JAMES: BlufTron, S( C. Thorcson/1.ookom Mm FP FLEISCHER, KEITH: Baca Raton, Fl.; J. Tindle/Miami I Jc; FUNK, DEAN: Austell, (;A; T. Hagcr/1.ookom Mm !;I' l lAT.L, VICTOR: Gainesville, Fl.; C. Bowen/Quest Air I JANSON, BERNIE: Knoxville, TN; A. Clovcr/1.ookout Mm FP JACOBY, JR, RAY: Birmingham, Al,; ·1·. lhgcrll .ookout Mtn H' KEITH, THOMAS: l-liilsboro, Al.; J. Cook/Rocker City Airsports KINDT, SPENCER: Kissimmee, Fl.; D. Glover/Florida HG PRIETO, RENE: N Miami !leach, J<I.; J. Tindle/Miami HC TENDA, MICHAEL: Casselberry, Fl.; M. Jones/Florida J-l(;

DO UGI.AS: Pittsbmgh, PA; J. l losdcr/Mounrain Top Recreation BUFFAM, WILLIAM: We.st Chester, PA: J. I larpcr/Vallcy Forge HC

Region 11 KORESKO, CHRIS: Austin, TX; J. Hunt/Red River Aircra11

Region 10 BAATl-1, ERIC: Opelika, Al.; T. I lager/Lookout Mm J,'Jl COOK, JAMES: llluffron, SC:; C. Thorc.son/l .ookour Min FP FUNK, DEAN: A11.srcll, CA; T I lagcr/l .ookout Mm FP JR, RAY: Birmingham, AL; T. I lager/Lookout Mtn FP TI !OMAS: I lillsboro, 1\l.; J. Cook/Rocker City""'""''" KINDT, SPENCER: Kissimmee, Fl.; D. Clover/Florida I-IC PRIETO, RENE: N Miami Beach, FL;J. Tindle/Miami If(; SOl .AZZO, STEVEN: Charlotte, NC:; B. Burril/lJltralighr f·'.quip TENDA, MICHAEL: Casselberry, Fl.; M. Jones/Florida 11(;

Region 12 DEI.ARDT, CRAIG: Vahitic, NY; T. Hager/Lookout Mm Fl' MC CABE, MICHAEL: Baldwin, NY; D. Meycr.s/Morn11ain Wings MILLER, THAD: Denville, NJ; D. Mcycrs/Moum,iin Wings ZAUNER, MARTIN: Brooklyn, NY: D. Meyers/Mountain Wings

CABE, MICHAEi.: Baldwin, NY; D. Meyers/Mountain MILLER, THAD: lknvilk, NJ; D. Meyers/Mountain Wings

Fr1wuARY I 99CJ

Region 2 HORGAN, BRIAN: Modesto, CA; K. Muscio PEREZ, JOEI .: Modesto, C:A; K. Muscio WADSWORTH, TERRY: Salinas, Ci\; C. Rcevcs/;\irwavc

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Region 3

BURDY, JACK: I,akc Flsinorc, CA; I(, Harrison/1,ake Elsinore HG ELLENBERG, BOB: Sunland, CA; J. Grcblo/Windsporrs Tnt'I RUDAKEVYCH, PAVLO: Los Angeles, CA; P. Phillips/Lake Elsinore Sports WESTFALL, TODD: Imperial Beach, CA; R. Mitchell/The E1glcs Wings Region 4 BARTON, MEGAN: Hereford, A'/,; T. Barton/Airborne Sports USA PIANKA II, EDWARD: Tijeras, NM; G. Nicolet Region 6

PECK, ROBERT: Tulsa, OK; M. Tlair/Sport Wings Region 9 VANCE, MICHAEL: Laurel, MD;I. Woods Region 10 1-IOWERTON, MICHAEL: Huntsville, AL; R. Patterson/Rocket City Airsports O'HARA, DANCEL: Cumming, GA; R. Hubbard WIKNER, TONY: Clermont, FL; C. Bowen/Quest Air Region ll PETERSEN, ARMAND: Dallas, TX; K. Robinson/Clouds1rcc1s

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RATINGS Region 2 DAL CAN'rO, RICHARD: Stanford, CA; R. Fischcr/Fly'n Further REID, STEVE: San Jose, CA; R. Fischer/Fly'n High TAYLOR, DAVID: Sanra Clara, C:A; D. Kurpanek/Wings ofRogallo Region 3

BECKER, JEFF: Sama Barbara, CA; J. Craham/Foot Launched Flight Svcs CORRAi., ERIKA: Pasadena, CA: M. Spinelli

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Region 7

BARNHART, GREGG: Lowell, IN;]. Mitchdl/]J Mitchell HG

lessons taught daily, year-round. Soarable condilions 300+ days a year. • Smooth grassy ridges "made for soaring". "' Lesson packages for beginners or your first 100 mile X-country. "' Tandem/Solo Hang gliding & Paragliding lessons. "' Pro site guides for 2,000' 5,000' mountain launch sites. " Demos & glider rentals. " Sail & airframe repairs by factory experts. Full service shop with products from most dealers. "' Free Camping at the launch. " ICP's and aerobatic clinics. , <>

Region 10 REINHART, DAVID: Delray Beach, FL; M. }mes/Florida HG SIMMONS, BOB: Norcross, G/\; C Thoreson/Lookout Mm FP Region 12

SPIER, DANIEL: Fulton, NY; D.S. Jewell/The Flight Works

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HI\NG GLIDING

ABOVE: Pboto talun rim, I975. Back rom lefi 10 righr. Ralph Buxron. John Harris. Tom Haddon Pd Grttn, Glm Hocket. Front. left to rzghr: Chur:k Ammrong, 1om Glasgow.

BELOW': The Kitty Hawk Kir~s complex toda_y.

have been involved in the bmincss end of hang gliding for more chan a <le<.,ide, and have come to chc conclus,on ,hac you c.1n be a good businessm,m or a good hang glider pilot, but neither is sufficienc when iL comes co nm.ning a hang gliding business. l'n1 sure tht!rt {Ire pJcnty of ocher idiosyncratic niche marketS, but a successful hang glicung busmess demands chat one adapt bis busine&S skills to fie inco a special mold re<Jutred by the potential hang glider ptlot. The necess:uy skills arc so rare chat only a fc:w calcnted people in the counrry have figured out the formula for running a h ighly-successful hang gl iding school. I'd like to ceU you abou1 one m.n who h:ls achieved this success. John Harris is a fumiliar name to most you, buL n1any ne\ver pilots n-1:i.y not be .&"'-'are of che conrribucions he has made (and is still making) co our sport. I sat dovm over breakfast wich John and got ,he stot)' of his early days in hang gliding, and how Kitty Hawk Kites, che world's larges, hang gliding school,

FEBRUARY 1996

Thefamous Kitty Flawk Kites

came to be. Here is that story. John was born in 1947 and grew up on a dairy and beef farm in Missouri, where some of his earliest memories are of flying kites he constructed from homemade spars and paper from grocery bags. His kite designs came from pictures in magazines combined with ideas of his own. In a high school drafting class John picked a sailplane for his term project. He had always been drawn to flight, and when as a teenager he first flew in an old Cessna John knew that flying was very special to him. At the University of Missouri at Rolla he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, with the idea of becoming an oceanographer. It was during his college years, while working at Lockheed Missiles, that he met Ralph Buxton, a man who would figure greatly in his future. He and Ralph spoke often of starting an engineering company when they graduated and gained some experience. After graduation Ralph got a job in the Washington, DC area, and John started working for We.stern Electric in WinstonSalcm, Nonh Carolina. While working at

at the annual 11tmg Gliding Spect1icular

this job in l and making plans to go back to grad school, John saw a pboto in the Winston-Salem /ournal of a man named Dick Cheney flying from the Point of the Mountain in Utah on a Rogallo hang glider. The idea of such portable and affordable flight intrigued him to rhe point where he could think of absolutely nothing else. John got in touch with Dick Cheney and bought his first glider from him: a 1(i-foot Rogallo with no kingpost and a swing scat. 'fhe glider/harness cornbo came complete with an 8mm film oflaunches and landings. After receiving the glider he called Ralph, and convinced him and three other friends to meet in Nags Head, Nonh Carolina, where John bad traveled previously, to attempt some flying from Jockey's Ridge, the large.st living sand dune on the East Coast. The spot was just south of where the Wright Brothers used to soar their gliders during the first few years of the century. After all the dreaming he'd done about flying this wing John was a bit concerned that it wouldn't meet all of his expectations. Well, afrer some trial and error they finally got the glider airbome, and John was over--

1974).

whelmed by his first flight. It indeed lived up to his expectations and then some. This first flight set in motion a series of events and decisions that would define his life from that point on. It was the summer

oF 1973. One of the first things he did was to move his graduate studies to Old Dominion College in Norfolk, Virginia, since it was less than a two-hour drive from Jockey's Ridge, where he flew every cbance he got. He stayed in touch with Ralph, and they talked frequently about how they could introduce others to this wonderful new sport. John and Ralph worked on a business plan during the fall of 1973, and John journeyed to California to learn all he could about haug gliding. He learned a lot about operating a school from Bob Skinner of Hight Realities in San Diego, and became familiar with the ins and outs of servicing hang gliders through Dave Muehl of Eipper Formance in Tcirrance. Then, in Mard1 of 1974, John, Ralph and a few friends from work started Kitty Hawk Kites. KHK had a bumble beginning in a garage attached to the Casino Nightclub

HANC GUDINC

flying this John was a bit that it wouldn t all his U'-/VLH

rv,Mf"'''>f"'nfV'i

wen and error they and/ohn was overwhelmed by his first flight. It lived up his CXL)CCitatllJ!lS

across the street from Jockey's Ridge, hut the business showed enough promise that John dropped om of grad school in the spring of '74 to work on it full time. Ralph drove down from DC: for the first two years to work weekends, until rhe company could afford to pay two full-time salaries, and for rhe first five years it was a hand·t<H11outh operation, But all along they both knew the business would grow. l""iowevcr, it wasn't until early 1979 when they made the decision ro buy a small strip of land just north of the Casino Nighrclub and build a tW<Htory, 2,300, square"Ioot building rhat the business took off The new building gave the hang gliding school an air of professional, ism, and provided much-needed retail space for selling string kites, clothing and other merchandise, which helped fill in the cash, flow valleys and provided income on bad, weather days. John recalls rhat one day, when they were about to open the new facility, he looked across the street and saw a ranger planting a sign near Jockey's Ridge, It read: "No Hang Gliding Allowed." 'T'his turned our to be one of many times he would have to deal with roadblocks to using the Ridge for hang gliding, When they fost started flying at Jockey's Ridge it was privately owned. But it became a state park in 1 and it took eight years for the state to finally work out a concession agreement with Kitty rfawk [{ites, Until 1983 Kl·If{ had only a tempo· rary permit to reach hang gliding on the dune, Tciday, Kitty Hawk Kites is the "World's Hang Gliding School." They have FrnRUARY I 996

more than 30 instructors on sraJF during the summer season, and l"each more than 10,000 students in a typical year. Kitty Hawk Kites' hang gliding students not only have rhe option of dune training, they can get tandem aeroi-owing instruction at Currituck County Airport which is less than an hour away, During the warm months they can also platform row from a boat on scenic Currituck Sound. With all these oprions it's not hard to figure out how Kitty Hawk Kites has given more than 200,000 hang gliding lessons, All this is not an accident. Kl TK's slogan is: "'leaching the World 10 Fly." John makes a habit of surrounding him, self with good folks, In fact, many of the most notable names in hang gliding instruc> rion have spent rime teaching at Kitty llawk Kites, To name a few: Matt Taber of Lookout Mountain; John Ryan of San Diego's Hang Cliding Center; Dan Skadal o/Tlang Flight Systems; Steve Wendt of' (the original) Blue Then there was Jim Johns, who, in the early I 980's afrcr work, ing for John at f<HK, was scnr to Marina, California to open Kiny Hawk Kites West. The bmincss did well and Jim bought ir from John in the mid '80's, renaming it Western Hang Clidcrs. Other notables with professional tics to KH K include: (;corgc Reeves Airwavc; Ed Miller, a former mover and shaker in our sport; Torn Haddon, former National Champion; David Clover of Wallaby Ranch; and yours truly There arc many, many more. The current staff is headed up by Bruce Weaver, who's been on the job for more than five years now, KHK has a formidable list of alumni, and John is proud 10 have planted rhc seed for so many major contributors to the sport of hang gliding, But even with all of his accornplishmcnts John isn't sirring stilL As I write this he has a crew running a boar-tow tandem operation in Florida during the cold months, introducing folks spending the winter in rhe Sunshine State to rhc exhilaration of our sporr. John has never rested on his laurels, C:onsrnnrly in a state of expansion, Kitty Hawk Kites now has seven retail locations and is one of the best-known businesses on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Everyone in this part of the state knows where Kitty I:fawk Kites is! How many hang gliding schools can claim that? With all this talent, ability and success, John surely has some ideas we could all hen"cfo from, When I asked him what we need to rejuvenate the sport and sec a rebound in

When I asked John what we to rejuvenate sport and see a rebound in its popularity he commented Ws expensive; we ve got bring down the equipment and instruction. John we gliders that are expensive simpler more forgiving. 11

its popularity John commented, "It's too expensive; we've got to bring down rhe cost of' equipment ,rnd instruction." John feels we need gliders that arc less expensive, simpler and more forgiving. This would make training less inrensive and more affordable as well. He added, "We have to promote the idea that hang gliders can be launched and landed on wheels," John says that the progress rhc Florida folks have made in the use of wheels has the potential to allow many more people access to hang gliding. Add to that the tremendous accessibility that acrorowing is hringing to the public, and he feels we have the recipe for a potential resurgence in the sport. John is definitely doing his part in helping rhc sport grow. Knowing rhat ;ill successful businessmen get a lot of inspiration from people they admire, f asked John abom the people who have inspired him, I le mentioned Wall Disney and Hugh Morton. I !ugh owns and promotes Crandfather Mountain, a major wurist attrncrion in the mountains of North Carolina where the Masters of I Jang Cliding Competition was held for years with major corporate sponsorship from Piedmont Airlines, Vince Lombardi provided motivation for John, as did Bill Moyes. John says, "Bill has given a lot to our sport, He really smck bis neck out with the development of tbc Dragonfly tug; it may be years before he ever secs a monetary return from that contribution," Another inspiring person aboLJt whom John is quite passionate is Francis Rogallo, He comments, "Rog has given freely of his time to help people in rhc sport of hang gliding for years. This is a man who had a dream, developed his wing,

and then, when he was 62 years old, decided ir was time co learn to fly it! If that's not an inspiration to us all, J don't know what is." On the subject of' contributions 10 our sport, John Harris has made more than a fow. Nor only did he create the first frill-time hang gliding school on the Fast Coast, he was the first pilot to fly off Grandfather Mountain, giving great exposure to hang gliding is this pan of the country and around the world. A UPI photo of that flight was picked up by newspapers as far away as Japan and lcehmcl. John and David Harris produced the first 16mm hang gliding train· ing film, and hosted the second-ever USHCA Instructor Certification Prograrn on the Fast Coast, as well as the first JCP for ultralights. Kf-JK continues ro sponsor the oldest cominuously-nm· ning competition in hang gliding, the Hang Gliding Spectacular, held every May since I CJ73. Wirh the incredibly large number of students who have been exposed to hang gliding rhrough KH K, John h,is had a significant imp,ict on the public perception of our sport. He has promoted hang gliding in such a way that, for m:my, its image h:1s changed from a daredevil sport to one that anyone from eight to 80 can try. John is quick to point out that these accomplishments arc the result of the efforts of the Kitty I Iawk Kites tcarn. As if he weren't busy enough promoting hang gliding, this fonner vice president of the USHGA has been very actively involved in the local civic arena. As a former president of the First Flight Society, a nationally known organization that promotes the celebration of the successes of the Wright Brothers, John was instrurncntal in getting Prancis and Ccrtrude Rogallo inducted into the Wright Brothers Shrine on December 17, 1CJ95. He's been a director of the North Carolina 'fr:ivd Council and is a charter member of the local Rornry Club. One of Joli n's greatest honors was his ;ippointment by the governor of North Carolina to the First flight Centennial Commission, a group of notables in the state that is promoting a celebration of the I 00th anniversary of powered flight in 200:'J. John intends to keep Kitty [ fawk Kites at the forefront of hang gliding through cominucd promotion of tandem aerotowing and boat towing, plus the development of an Instructor Academy for individuals interested in making hang gliding a career. John's philos ophy is to hire the best people, them the hest tools, and spend the money needed to miin them properly. Sounds like a winning fcmnula LO me! When I asked John whar contribution to the sport he'd like to be remembered for, he rcforenced his goal of helping overcome the insurance woes that Jiang gliding schools suffer when ancmpting ro conduct lessons on public and private lands. I find this quire typical

of John wanting to be remembered for something he hasn't accomplished yet. The man is definitely goal driven. So what ever happened to Ralph Buxton? 1n the early l CJ80's, when wind surfing was beginning ro get popular, John and Ralph had the lciresighr to sec its potential on the watcr..encircled Outer Banks, and started a separate company called Kitty Hawk Sports. A fow years back, John ;ind Ralph split the two companies and went their separate ways. John kepr the hallg gliding business and Ralph took rhc wind surfing business. Ralph and Kitty Hawk Sports are very sucecssfu I as well. Speaking of starting new companies, a couple o( years ago John saw the potential of kayaking around the Outer Banks and created Outer Banks Ourdoors, a combination adventurc/ecotour company with a retail base as well. Look for it to become another formidable Omer Banks business. This article was meant to be about John Harris the man, but appears to have turned into an article about Kitty Hawk Kites. There's a simple reason for rhat: John Harris is Kitry Hawk Kites and Kitty I lawk Kites is John Harris. You simply cannot separate them. How he finds time for all his other obligations (including his 12-ycar--old son Jonathan) eludes me, but he docs it. Always the opti· mist, J doubt tbat "we can't do th;ir" has ever entered his mind. John Harris is a man of vision, and [ thought you'd like ro know more

about him.

For infrmnruion tthout Kitty Hawh Kites, or

like to learn more

11bout their Tnstructor !latdemy, call 'They Ctln also be frnmd on the Internet 1tt http://www.kittyhawk.com/kittyhawk. Send e-rnail tfi

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inspect. Buyers should select equipment that is appropriate for their skill level or rating. New pilots should seek professional instrnctiou from a USHGJ\ CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR.

FALCO]'.; 195 -· New, zero airrimc, immaculate, trade or offrr. (:360) 3/8 .j(JIJ I.

AIRBORNE BLADE RACE, STING, BUZZ. New and 11<\1rly new. Demo daily. THEW J\LLJ\BY RANCH (91 l) liH-0070.

FALCON )25 1:lown Cour months, white/blnc/grccn, inspection included $2,800 OBO. (805) 9/i0-720').

Clearance S,1lc. AIRBORNE llEMO C:I.JDERS Blade Races I Ii 1 & I 53, Blades 111 & 153 and S1ings. New & used J\irhorne Edge Call now. us J\irhorne (509) 21i3-li988, r,1x 21i3 .. li757

FALCON 195 & $2,100. (801) 7.54-(,1/i]

J\XJS 15 - <30brn $'JOO. C:ome1 II 165 $1tOO. lcom radio w/cxrras $275. Ball 652 $250. l larness/parachmc $225. (:lO:l) 8/i0-2931.

'89, good ili,·r $950. (61 ')) li.'ll-6699.

l<LASSIC lli!i with winglm, 60 homs, flies great $2,500. (801) ) 54 .. <, ]Ii I. UTE DRFJ\M Iii 5 (303) 278 9566.

F.xcdlcnt, new, I st $1,(J50.

DRFAMS CLEARANCE SALE-. All si1,es, $'500$1,500. Dream 220, custom buncdly art $ l ,300. Raven Sky Sports (Ii 1Ii) li73-B800.

FLEX WINGS

AIRBORNE Gl.IDERS Winter clearance on new & demoed Blade Races, Sring, Buzz. Rock bo11om prices. Contacr AlRBORNF SPORTS USA (520) J7871/i2.

I IPJ\T 158 Cusrom sail, good condition, must sacri/Jcc! $750 OBO. (li07) 6/i2-2.6l(,.

Fun gliders, IO homs

FALCONS CLFARJ\NCI' SJ\LF School nse, one season. All sizes $1,500-$2, 500. (Ii\ Ii) liTl-8800. FLY TWO '')5 PacJ\ir tandem glider, one season, rop shape $2,900. (Ii 11) 473-8800. 111 nearly new, !.(kl() l'C)RMUI.A Jli;j'S (3) hours. 112 good condition, new leading rns1orn sail colors/design. !!?, condition. \Xlesrcrn Gliders (108) or (719) lili4-0681 for

Excellent condition, <50 I.ITF MYST1C 155 hours, clc.in, crisp sail, black 1.1,:, orangc/grccn/whirc u11dcrs11rface $1,1()0 OBO. (619) 4G6-55'>:l. MJ\CIC: KISS I 'iii 1988/89, ahon1 I 00 hours, very good shape $900. llrncc (505) 299-5953. Vision Mark IV, cxccllrnt MAKE AN OFFER condirion, <50 hours. High Lncrgy Sporrs harness with parachmc, 1raining harness, vario, speed bar and helmet. (910) 8/i2.-7878. MARI< IV 19 & 17 Fxccllcnt condition $1,300 & .'{; 1,000. Richard (301) 2J(i .. ()'S2(,. MOYF.S CTR i 6JVC Fly high, land easy. lJS!lGJ\ instmctor inspection available $5?.5. (813) rni -85:39. MOYJ,:S XS 1 ly. Moyes Mega 8800. MOYES XTRAI.ITE H7

BRAND NEW, :l

Flourcsccnr orange, flourcsccnt lime green,

AXJS 15 c;ood condition, six sc,1so1rs, 3 extra downtubcs $600. (801) 591i-lt181

c;FMTNI 131 Spare downmbcs $800. i\PCO Aviation harness $250. (909) 394··0540.

DESIRE 151 's One almosl new $1,500. ( )ne clean high-time $500. (It 12) (,61 31i7/i Pi\.

New sidcwircs & hangstrap $1000. HPAT 158 (.3 l 0) 39.3-849/i Los A11gelcs.

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: per column inch. (phone numbers: 2 words, P.O. Box: 1 word) photos: $25.00, line art logos: $15.00 maximum) DEADLINE: 20th of the month, six weeks before the cover date of the issue in which you want your ad to appear (Le., June 20 for the August issue). Prepayment required unless account established. No cancellations or refunds 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:

awesome colors, extra downmbe $J,li00. (501) 83/i167.0.

Number of months: ___......... ·--···--·· .......-...-... - ..-·. . - ........-.. SECTION IJ 1=1ex Wings

U Emergency Parachutes IJ Parts & Accessories u Business & Employment U Miscellaneous

U Towing U Schools & Dealers IJ Ultralights IJ Rigid Wings IJ Publications & Organizations

IJ Paragliders

IJ Wanted

u Videos

IJ Harnesses

Begin with ........................-_.......- ....... ··--,. . _... _ issue and run for--····-............... _. consecutive issue(s). My O check, J money order is enclosed in the amount of NAME: ..--..··-..- __. __ .._.....--..-.. . . -..... - ........·-···-·-..- ....................- . . .-

...........

ADDRESS:·-·---...---·-..---·-........ _ .... -----...... - .......... -...-....._-._.......

Number of Numberof .. u,~u·--..- .. - · - - · - ....- .... - - - ~ ~

USHGA, P.O Box 1330, Colorado Springs, CO 80901 (719) 632-8300

HANC CL!DINC

MOYES XTRAUTF. - XS, XS3, XT, XL New and nearly new. Availahlc immediately. Nation's Moyes dealer. Tl IE WALLABY RANCH (941) 0070.

PULSE') MFTFR Exccllrn1 condition, great beginner/intermediate, don bk rnrfocc, approx I 0 hours. (li08) ti:n . 1058 Santa Cruz, Cali/".

ALI. BRANDS --- Bought, sold, and repacked. Inspection and repack $25-$35. Parachutes, bridles, inspected and replaced, paraswivcls installed. AIRTIME OF SAN FRANCISCO, .%20 Wawona, San Francisco, C:A 9/i 116. (Ii 15) SKY-1177. BRAND NFW !IC RFSFRVES 20 and 77./"1. l'llA's $385,, $-i25. Colorado I Jang Cliding (303) 278 .'J5/i6.

RAMAm 146 ONLY $2,200. Lightening las1/s11nplc setup/breakdown. Number one glider ou speed glides. faccllcnt condition. (805) ')67

HARNESSES

i!i')O.

TRIKE WINC: ~.. Chaser, new plus new Mosler engine and parts for trike base $5,000 OBO. ('i20) 88(,-34/i2. TRIKI·'. WINC/IJC Demon 1"75, liO hours, very good condition $B'S0 OHO. Call (70(,) .>')8-),085.

7000 phone/fox. TWO l'ASSFNCER Airborne trike w/Moyes 2/iO square foot wing. Includes ballistic chute, fo, towiug, low hours, cxcellen1 condition. (7 li71i /i887.

RAMAJR 15/i JO hours, cxcellcnt condition $2,9'-50. (IOI) 4/i'J-O'l I l.

WANTED

RAMAIR 15/i · 20 homs, flies pcrfrctly, very fos1. l\rif;ht colors $'.\,000. (505) 822-9017.

l'LEDGF .JFT Or Voyger, any condition (805) 581-li 5:lO CiliL, call anyrime.

SF.NSOR 510 VCl'> -- Cood condition, best oiler. (704) 626-2099.

SCI 1001.S & DEALERS

hours, folding specdbar, wingtips$?, I 00. ('Jl 6) /i55-5 I 77. Sl'FC: rRlJM 1(,5 .,5 homs, colorlid sail, 1;,Jding !iared kinv,post & downrnbes $1,800. (9 I G) I.

SlJPFRSPORT l/i.1'S (2) One- I 50 hours $ I ,liOO. Oue-brand new, whi1e/m,tgen1a!teal $3,100. Falcon I 'J'i $1,900. (71 ·i) li%-8000 Angie.

AC:HINC BACK' --- llave you tried a CLOUDBASE harness' Custom TAILORED harnesses since 1972! Producer of ULTRAMITTS. Discounts ou IlRAUNJGER varios. (706) 398-3%/i. COMHlRTABLE TRAINl'-lC HARNESSES light, dnnthle. Four sizes. Call hilly padded, I .and, Sea & Air (:l 1 li'!2 -1 ()),0,

ALABAMA CI.OUDBASE CORI'.

dha Rocket C:ity ,\irsports.

Salcs 1 rentals, service and certified i11s1ruction at Keel

Mountain, C:urlcy, Alah,1111:L l'rH information send SASE and $1 to I'() Box li22, Curley AL )5//i8. (20'5) 880-8512., (205) 77G--9'J 12.

I.OOl<OlJT MOUNTAIN FIICI IT PARK -- Sec RAYMOND COCOON With advanced churc for 5'6" pilot $7.25. (70,i) (,26 2099.

ad under Ccorgi.i.

ARIZONA SUPER SPORT lli:l 20 hours, beautiful, \,Jue/lavender sail, folding basc1ubc $2,.300 or best ofkr. I ligh F.ncrg,y harness, 5'7" $60. \\all 652 vario $75. Call Joel (li15) 61"/3:l18.

.J'RA( :F.RS 6'2." 20()// & 5'8" I fl()// $1i00 each. l ligh Energy pod rear zipper, for G'/17011 & several

SUPERSPORT 1'5:> Excellent co11di1ion, I.OW \IV exposure, lots of TLC:, flrst $1,990 gets it. (209) ii3 l-9698.

PARAGf.lDERS

SlJPFRSl'ORT 1(,3 Low honrs, extr;t cle,u1, just inspected $?.,200 will ship. (.105) 8/i(,--8186. SUPERSPORT 163 ---- <'50 HOURS. DEMO IT lN U[ATTANOOGA $2,100. JEH (ii23) 629

/i206.

other sizes rn choose from, $300 each. Cocoons, many sizes $200 each. (Ii I Ii) li7."l-8800.

ADVENTURE SPORTS TOURS Daily certified instruction utili1.i11g rhc world's flrs1 man-made trainer hill plus other sites which all face every wind direc t ion. Dealer for major brands. I :l27 F Bell-de mar Drive, Tempe Al. 852.8.1. (602.) 8')7} 121.

ALL BRANDS New/used $800-$2,'\00. Colorado Paragliding (:303) 278-95(,6. BRAND NEW !'C: Rl'SFRVES 37 and liOsq/rn NAS brand. $J85,, $/i25.DOJ) 278-95(,(,, PJ\RA(;I.I DERS $600-$1,000 for your old eqnip-· mcnt. New l'crche, Apco, ltv, more. lSA (718) 7777000 phone/fox.

UP 229 J,'I .OATER 1979, helmet, wheels, harness. $500 or trade for paraglidcr/harncss, 18511,, (219)

RIGID WINGS

ft(,5-0214.

VISION MARK IV :l available! Call to seci11-c. TIIE WALLABY RANC!I (9llt) li21i-0070.

SlJPERF!,OATFR ULTRALIGHT SAIi.PLANE Two in stocl,, available for 1es1 flights, Allen TX (near Dallas). (}, IIi) ')% 770G weekdays, (21 Ii) 390--')090 evenings & weekends.

WWXC: I 'iii !iO logged l10ms, grc:11 ship, great shape $:l,'iOO. Jersey((, I 9) 79."3-'.lii:32.

XC: 155 ---- Superb condition, unique colors $:J,(,00. ("lOl) 82l90/i5.

F.MERCENCY PARACHUTES

$JOO. Colorado l Llllg

I Ell\WAl,Y 1996

ULTRAJJGHTS

BlJIID/FLY Your own BACKPACK POWERED PARACHUTE ltH Clln/prolit. Takes off from level unassisted. Safe, inexpensive. No rcqllired. Detailed and somce book for beginner include~ info on to huild yours {(>r as lirt!e as $'JOO. Now only $19.95. FasylJp. 1089 Medford ( \·n1er 112/ilig, Medford OR 9750/i.

ARIZONA IIANG GLIDING CENTER INC We arc a foll 1ime, FOLi. SERVICE h,rng gliding shop located jnst minu1es from the BEST site in Arizona, lvtingns Mountain. \Xlc have the rnosi comprchcnsivl' tandcrn training progr;1rn available and can reach you 10 lw a SAI'F pilot in less 1ime! We stock gliders, h,m,esses and instnimcms {i·orn Wills, PacAir, Moyes, l'lyrcc, Ball, I Energy, CC and many more! We need your

Certified instructor

Roh Rich:trdson. 55.i llyahlc days last year. 'j7JJ-2.B Rohen Road Prescott Valley A/, 86.l I Ii 520-7/2-li 111

ARKANSAS

COLORADO

OZARK MOUNTAIN JIANC CLll)FRS Sales, service and instruction. J 60 Johnston Rd, ,\carcy AR

GOLDEN WINGS Lessons, sales, service. US]ICA certified instructors. Dc,1lcrs for Moyes, Wills Wing, Blue Sky Aircraft ( '.o. and PacAir. 15/iO I W. ')rh Ave., C:oldcn CO 80/i()J. (303) 278 .. 'J I 8 I.

721/i\. (501) 279-2180.

liflN<i <iLIDING ,..,131cycL1NG Pflltff<iLIDING

SAIL WJNCS

CONNF.CrJCUI'

f'() Box 5 593,

.'l 1(,(, tel/fox.

CALIFORNIA

ADVFNTURES UNLIMITED

Orange County's

school. US! I( ;A certified instruction and rnn· New & nscd equipment, Wills Wing dealer. (714) 196,./'WOO. AJRT!ME OF SAN FRANCISCO JIANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING. Harness manufac·· turer a1H.l repair specialists. llSHC:A paragliding instruction, tandem. All major hrnnds of pa1·agll1d1ng and hang equipment (new and Next to Fort Funston. only full service shop in San Francisco! 3610 Wawona, San l'rancisco ( :A 9/i 116. (115) 759-1177.

Cl!ANDEI.I.E SAN FRANCISCO, INC. Complete hang gliding and paragliding sales, service ,\lld instruction since 1')Tl. Northern California's most New and used eqnip· ment and clinics and tandem lessons. 1595 F l'rancisco Ste F, San Rafael CA 'J/i901, (Ii I 'i)-CI.IDING. HANG GLIDER EMPORIUM - Besi training hill in the west! l'ull service shop, established 197/i. PO Box 1339, CA 93110 1339, (805) 965,JTrl. THE HANG GLIDING CENTER I .neared in bcamifid San Diego. US] ICA instruction, equipment rentals, local flying tours. Spend yom winter vacation flying with us. We proudly offer Wills Pacific Airwavc, High Energy, Ball and Manufacturers of THE DROGUE CHUTE. PO Box 1019, l.akesidc CA 920/iO, (619) 561-1009.

MJl.l. SERV!C'.J' SHOP l .ocated at the base of rhc motmtain on Hwy 7/i. Dealers of Moyes, UP, PacAir, Flytec, Ball, High Energy, Avocct & more. Call for free area info pack. Open 9-6. Rentals available. Visa & M:tm·rcl,arf;e

FLORll)A

LAI<F F!.SfNORE WINDCYPSY Airwave, Moyes. Call for site information. (909) 679-8')9/i. MACIC AIR Hang gliding and pa•ragJtc1.tn;r,. Located in Northern California. Lessons, vice. US] !CA cc:rtifiecl and thermal clinics. (707)

Our imrruction program, located at the Bay training site, fratmes sloped "bunny " winch rowing, supcrlitc and comfortable 1raini11g harnesses! FLIGHT," a video of our beginner lcs· son program, is for only $10 ship· lesson pu;,·/'n,asr,c;. ping (mrty be applied to Our deluxe retail shop the latest in hang innovations. We stock uew, used and demo, and P,tcAir gliders. Trade-ins arc welcome, l'ccl free to demo the hottest new harnesses in our custom simulator! 1116 Wrigley Way, Milpitas (near Srm Jost) CA 95035. (408) 262· 1055, fax (408) 262 1388, MSCJ-JG~1\1ol.com w\11w.hai1g ...g/tcJrn,g.c,,m

(818) 367-0li19.

Look under New York.

')()<) .. (,74 .. 2453 31401 Riverside Dr. Lake Elsinore, CA. 92530

TRUE FLIGHT !JANG GLIDING SCHOOL DONALD QUACKENBUSH has rhe only shop at world fomous Mountain, l.os Angeles. Offering of hang gliding with making MANTlS over fifteen years. 13111 Ave., California 91342. ] .. 8()0-8':)ft.51t:l:l,

Jll(;JI ADVI\NTURE Hang paragliding school. Equipmcnl s;,les, service, at Somhcrn California's mile high site, Crestline. USllCA lnstrncror Roh McKenzie. By appointment year round. (909) 883-8188.

MOUNTAIN W!NCS

WlNDSPORTS since I 9'7/i. Fif'tcen minutes from I.AX. to Sylrnar, Crcsrline, Elsinore and training sites. Vacarion training, flying sales packages including lodging ,111cl The rnos1 popuLir gliders and equipment, new and nscd in stock. Trndc in your old equipment. 325 snnny days each year. Come fly with us! 1(, 115 Victory Blvd., Van Nuys CA 91 /i06. (818) 988-0111,

JNTROD1JCFS QUEST AIR SOARINC CENTER. ( :ome l'ly wirh the Otiginal DRAGONFLY TEAM I .earn to l la up; ( ;tide with slalc-ort he-arr tandem eqtttp111c11t and get a llti11im11m of6 to 8 hours llang ?. we can accclnatc yom rake tis for a tandem soaring flight in prime time air! lishing and swimming availahlc, also close to Ceniral Florida Attractions. lntcrcsrcd in hccomiug a TUG PILOT? Come learn to fly the Bailey/Moyes Acto Tug on one o/' rhc oldest Central l'lorida, with two 1100 over 80 acres of wide open can get yom own Aero Tow or Flight Park started. Moyes Microlights Assembly and Training l'acility on site, FOlJR NEW TUGS IN STOCK. Bobhy Campbell Bowen ,rnd Russ Brown arc USUA lJSHGA Certified Tandem Instructors. GLIDER &. EQUIPMENT SAi.ES AND SERVICE OPEN SF.VEN DAYS A WEEK CALL FOR MORE INFO (90/i) 429-0213. CRAY!l!RD AIRSPORTS INC USIICA &. \JSUA certifJcd instructi()n. Beginner thru advanced hang glider pilot Landcm acrotow tn1ining & ratings. USUA ultralight pilot ihru hasic flighi insiructor training & ratings. 3 axis stickrirne for Swif't, Superfloater or I )ragonfly pilot training. [nstruction 7 days a week by appointment. Dealer for all flight and aerotow 15 minutes from Springs, 1.5 hours Disneyworld. Call Crq;g B.McNamec (90/i) 2/iS-8263. LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FI.ICI-IT PARK

Sec

ad under Ccorgia. Nearest mountain training center to Orlando (only 8 hours).

!'ax (818) 988-1 8(,2.

HANC GLIDINC

MINNESOTA

GFORGIA LOOl(OllT MOUNTJ\lN FLlCHT PARJ<

Sec

Olli display :id. Discover why FOUR TIMES as many

pilots earn their wings at Looko1n th:111 at any 01he1 school! We wrntc US! lCA's Official Training J\;f;inuaL Our ,~pccialty·c\lsromt.T sarisfanion ~rnd fun

SPORT SOARINC C:ENTFR/MINNFI\POLIS Instruction, eqtnp::ncnt de:tlcrs for Wills Wing, P:icifk J\irwavc& (Gl2)G88-0181.

NF VADA

with the BEST FACILITIES, i:Hgcst inventory, c:nnping, swimming, volleyball, more! !'or a Hying trip, intro f'light or lc~son packages, Lookout

WF I II\Vlc The most advanced training program known to hang glidinE, tcacl1ing you in hair the time it takes 011 the trainillg--lHJNNY HILL, ancl with more in-flight air time. YES, WE CI\N TEACH YOU FASTER AND SAl'FR. For year round 1raini11g lim in the snn, call or write Miami l-lang Cliding ('305) 285 8978. 26/iO S Bayshorc Drive, Coconut Crove, J'lorida :rl I Tl.

,\llountain. jusr 0111side Chattanooga, your COMPLF'fF 1r:1illillglscrvice center. lnfi,, (800) 6881.Ml'P.

YFAR HOUND SOARING 8 Mil.ES FJ<OM DISNEY/ORI.ANDO

I lernos: 20, )':LL<)_\ RENTALS 10 try X1rali1e, XC, Klassic, Blade Race, XS:l, XT, XL Lan1inar, Predator, Sting, Bmz, Ml<[V, i'alcon, be. Ages 1:l ro Tl 1 lave I .e:1rncd 10

i'\ll instructors l\dva11ccd Rated &

Ta11clcrn. Tandem lnstrnelion: Beginner to Advanced all day, every clay.

NF.WJERSFY

BIRDS OF PI\RADlSF I-!ani\ glidint\ & nltralight flying on Kauai. Certified tandem instrnction. (808) 82:!-':ilO') or (808) C,J') I OG7.

MOUNTAIN WJNCS

lDAllO

,MOUNTI\IN WFST 11/\Nc; CUDINC

SUN VAI.LFY SKYSPORTS Idaho's only fitll service gliding and paragliding shop. Dc:tlers lc,r Wills Airwavc, Edel, Advance, lligh and Flytec. Call for a list of stock gliders 1,,r l\asic-Advanccd instruction, tandem na1-,1>>!1d1111, instn1t:t ion, local site and XC guides. 3332.

area. ('i05) G'.l2-81JIJ:l Farmington NM.

ILLINOIS

!\AA Fl.l c; HT SCI! OU L MOUNTAIN W!NCS and EAST COAST l'ARAGLlDlNG in Ellenville NY. the largest, MUST PROJ'FSSJONAL training in the NF with 1'i years experience. foll time instructors) 'l exclusive bills. We stock av:iil:ihlc for pilots and & service AIRWAVF, BLLJF SKY ,llld now WILLS WING, :ilso SWIFT, SUPERFLOATFR :ind ALL PARAGUDER BRANDS. llnheatahle prices on gliders. hill rime towing facility, t;rnckrns, IC!\ clinics. We do it all. \ 800-S2'5-787(), (') I It) (,lt7 :J:377. I 50 Canal Street, Fllcnvillc NY I 2.li28. OUR EXPERIFNCE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.

ratings, XC retrievals.

Camping, Nice c:lilllhing wall, t r,nnpolinc, ping pong, Mcga-Bungcc-Swillg, picnic, swimming pooL etc.

Look under New York.

NEW MEXICO

Offering sales, service, instruction in the Follr Corners

(:112) ;l(,0-\1/00. Please RAVEN SKY Sl'ORI'S sec our ad under WISCONSIN. INDJA!',;A

( ;reat scrnc l,,r F:imily and Friends. Rcrnab, sales,

'.%50-}2 RcscJrcl1 Way, Carson City, NV 89706 (702) 88:l-7070.

IIAWA!l

The Original & Most Experienced l\crotow l'ltp,ht Park

.OJ'EN DI\ YS A WEEK FOUR TOGS

ty Pacific Airwavc, Wills

67.l:l Colnmbia l\vc., I l:1mmond, IMS 7856. KI·'.NTUC:I<l;\NJ\ SOJ\RJNC

S,,e om displ-.iy :id.

UI' OVl'.R NLW MEXICO -- lnstrnction, sales, snvicc. Sandia Mountain gt1ides. Wills, l'acilk Airwavc. Albuquerque, NM (505) 821-R'ililt.

NEW YORK

Ri\VFN SKY SPORTS (It I Ii) 473-8800. Ple:ise sec our ad under WISCONSIN. Dmation 6 !tours 34 minutes. Read aliom us in l [ANG Cl.lDINC Aug. 19'!/i Oct. 1995 KITl'I.ANES Jan, l 995, Sl<YWINCS &. the Web: h11p://www.wallal,y.com/wallaby/wallahy.h1ml

KANSAS PRAIRIE !IANC GLIDERS~- Bed & breakfast. Full service school & dealer. Great tandem instruction, 1owiug & XC packages. (:,IG) 697-2577. MJCJIJGAN

Plca.sc ask us for rdl:rcnccs in your area.

I 80'i Dean St ill Ro:id, Wallaby Ranch, l'lorida :l:'8.'l7 (9/i l) li21i-0070 Ranch phone & fax.

NORM LESNOW'S l'IYJNC: ADVENTURES Ridge soaring, foor-launch hang gliders and paraglidcrs,

State

or the Art

Conscrv:Hivc

F.11.C. INC.ll'LYINC FLOR][)!\ SINCE l 97/i Malcolm Jones, David Clover, Rhett Radford, Kerry ! .loyd, _/;1111ie Buck, Ryan Clover & Jim Appleton

frnRUi\RY 19%

lns\ructor, l ~xarninl:r, Tow 1

;\dministrator, kssons. Call Norm (810) .399-'Jlt:U. TRAVERSE CITY HJ\NG CUDERS/PARAGUDFRS FULL-TIME shop. Ccniflcd i11s1ruc1ion, foot Lnmcl, and I ow. Sales, service, accessories for ALL major brands. VISA/MASTERCARD. C:ome soar Olli lt50' d11ncs 1 1509 E Srh, Traverse City MI li%8G. Offering lessons & a disrri\mror WHISl'FR. Dc:ilcr inquiries (G 16) 922-28/ili. Visit our paragliding school in Jackson, Wyoming. Call Tracie at ('.,07) Tl'J-8G20.

New York, Conuectictll, Jersey areas Mn1.). Area's EXCLUSIVE Wills Wing dcaler/spc ci:i list. Also all other Jllajor brands, accessories. Ccnified school,insrrncrion. Teaching since 1979. Area's mnst INEXPENSIVE l'xcellcn1 secondary i11struc1io11 ... i( a program and wish to continue. Fly the mo11n1ai11! I\TOL rowing! Tandem /lights! Contact Paul Voight, 1(,'l Scarsvillc Rel, l'inc !lush, NY 1256(,, ('!11) 7iiii-.l'.ll7.

NYC's only certiII<AROS SPORT AVIATION fied hang gliding, paragliding, rrikcs school. Disu-ilnnors, dc:tlcrs for ll<ARO :WOO, AHl.0, FIN STERWALDER, APCO, I.A MOlJETTE, COSMOS, MOUNTAINEER TRIKFS, A!R CRE ATION, and more. hill service :rnd cq1,11r,rn,·nt ,ll hcsr prices. The most friendly service in :irca. h,r 19% CATALOG send $4 to I.SA, :38 11 Ditmars Blvd. II 110, Astoria, NY 1110'5. Store address: 2') .l l Newrown Ave., Astoria, NY. Phone/fox (718) 7000.

F LI c; HT P/\RK SUSQUEH/\NNA Cooperstown, NY. Certified Instruction, Sales and Service for all major manufacturers. liO acre park, 5 training hills, jeep rides, bunk house, campillg, hot showers, 600' NW ridge. We have the best facilities in N. New York state to teach yon how to fly. RD 2, Box .348/\, Coopcrsrnwn, NY J 3326, (.31 'i) 86(, .. 615.,.

SOUTHERN ORFCON HANC Cl.!DJNG Certified instruction, /\TV retrieval. P,1ciftc /\irwavc, Wills Wing, UP, Moyes. (503) 179-5823. PENNSYLVANIA MOUNT/\lN TOP RECRF./\TTON Certified instnrcrion, Pittsburgh. (Ii 12) 6'J7-li477. C'MON OUT AND PLAY!

NORTH CAROLINA MOlJNT/\TN WINGS America's most experienced COROLLA FLICl fT tandem flight instructor. reaches utilizing /\TOL and Double Vision. Call or write for information DcWoll; Corolla l'lighr, PO Box 1021, Kitty NC: 27949. (919) 261-6166

Look under New York.

TENNESSEE Ar Raccoon Mountain. l'rivarc Al.l'INF LODCF rooms, bunkhouse, jacuzzi, pool. Work program. (615) 821-2546 Clr:manooga, Chuck or Shari.

THE SOAR.IN<; CENTER Full service gliding & paragliding school. lJSHG/\ certified instrucrions taught at famous Poinl of the Mountain, "soarabk: .300 days a year" located 5 minutes from orn shop. For more information call or wrirc 12665 S. Minurermn Dr. 111, Draper UT 84042. (80 l) 5766460, fax 576-6182. E-mail sharpdavevi\101.com

Since 197,j VIRGINIA KITTY HAWK KITES

Sec North Carolina.

WISCONSIN

l!AWK AIRSPORTS JNC P.O. Box ')056, Knoxville, TN 37940-0056, (42:l) 9:l:l-92%. llang eliding and world famous Windsoks.

RAVFN SKY SPORTS IlANC CL!DlNC /\ND P/\R/\GUDIN(~ Largest and most popular in the Midwest. Tradirion,rl curriculum, ridge soaring, mountain clinics\ acrorowi11g & tandems by Brnd Kushner. for all major brands. 1'0 Box IO l, Whitewater WI 5:l 190 (Ii Iii) 47:J.8800.

T.ct1rn to fly r1t the world'., lrny;cst hang gliding school lomted on the Oum· l!rml,s o/NC'. • Foor 1.annch off the Fast Coast's Highest Sand Dunc • Tandem l nsrructio11 • Acrotowing O Boat Towing • Camps • Mountain Clinics

• Equipment Sales and Service • Paragliding • Lesson Packages • /\II Rarings Available • Open year round • Beach rcsorr KITTY HAWK KITES (800) .'3:34-4777 or (919) 411-li]2/i l nrerncr Address: lmp://wwv,r.lc11tvl1:rwk.com E-Mail Address: llang-gl1clc(,JJ0111c:rb:111l,:s.com

LOOKOUT MOLJNT/\JN i:JJGHT P/\RI< ad under Georgia.

Sec

TEX/\S Ccnified foot A./\.S AUSTIN AIR SPORTS launch, tow & tandem training. Sales/service AUSTIN, TEXAS Steve Burns, 1712 Warcrson, 78703, (512) li74-1Ci69. HOUSTON (713) 471

NORTH COAST H/\NG Gl.lDlNG -·- Ccrrifad l nstruction. New & used gliders. :,pcc,al1:z111g in Pacific /\irwavc gliders. Mike Del W. 75th St., Cleveland, Oil. 44102

shop. Qualiry service and insrnrcrion. Winter Mexico tours .. .4811 Red River Sr., /\usrin TX 78751, ph/fax (5 l 2) 167-2529.

TOT/\1. /\IR SPORTS Area's OLDEST Wills Wing dealer. C:errif1ed instruction available. "! only DEAL with WILLS". 6354 l.inrcsronc, Honsron TX 17092. (713) 956-6 lli7. UT/\11

OREGON

more.

AfRCOTEC AUB! VARIO Works great $JOO. Reserve chute, new $350. Full face hclrncr $12'\. (li07) 753-0200FI.

KITE ENTFlU'RlSES Instruction, sales, repairs, aud foor bunch. J )allas &. Norrh Texas area. Allen TX 75002. (21 Ii) 390-9090 anyrime. Dealer, Pacific Airwavc, Wills Wing.

RED RIVER AIRCRAFT/GO llANC CUD!NC Jc/T Hunr--Owncr. Texas's mosr active school and

/\IRTIMF OREGON Ccrrificd instruction on mockrn equipment. Year-round foll service sho1, wid, lots of gliders, harnesses, cbmcs in stock. Dealer for Blue Sky, Moyes, Pac/\ir, WW, I.cc, Reflex, Panor:rmic, CG, lligh

AEROTOW!NG ACCESSORIES Sec TOW !NG. THE WALLABY RANCH (941) li24-0070.

1188.

OHIO

MARIO M/\NZO. SKYWARD ENTERPRISES Foor launch instruction, weekend. glider repair. Wills Wing, PacAir, 000. Evenings (51:l) lla,vton, Ohio.

PARTS&. /\CCESSORlES

WAS/\TCH WINGS US1 IC/\ cerrified hang glidschool, dealers for Wills Wing, Moyes and Pacific operations at Poinr of the M ounrain. Call /.ac (80 I) 217 l Oli2.

The ALL NEW UlTRf\.. Ll(~JTT LAMBIE UD lightest, rnosr cornforrablc glider helmet. /\crodynamic, low turbulence, low shape. 11 ighrecl, look. Finish is clear resin over gold/black weave of the su;ier-srrong carbon/kcvlar outer shell. Open face, only 12 oz., price $ I 60. lntegral Full face version, only 17 oz. $ J 99 includes headset installation. Measure around head and from honom of car· lobe over rop to borrom of earlobe for custom fit. horn rhe designer, Jack Lambie, 8160 \\/oodsboro, Anaheim C/\ 92807. Phone and fax (71 Ii) 7'79-187'7.

state. Eugene area

HANC GUDINC

ALTJMFTER/VARIO gbl8000 $21i9 fast, acrn rare, small (lixL Sx I. 5). I lang gliding/p,nagliding. Satisfonion gtwramccd and yt·;n warranty. J\1 your dealer or contact: CLOUDBASF INSTRUMENTS, }.!\(,Ii Fl Camino Real, Sllitc J.20, Sant:i Clara CA

Real life· savers! l llCl I PERSPECTlVE Wl IEFLS 12", light, to1tgl1. i'its all gliders. S,:nd $Ii 1.95 $Ii. 50 shipping per pair to Spori Aviation, PO Box JOI, Mingoville l'A 16856. Ask about our d"aler pricl's.

95051. (,i(l8) 2/i)-(,07, I.

BALL MSO i'I.ICI II COMPlJTER Vario with TE proh,-, dlJal altimeters. airspeed, air temperature, h:trotnetric pressme ,md more $1i00 OBO. (.l(J I) 77(, :lliOI. CAMFlU\ RFlv\OTF ?.(l', J'its most cameras. Snaps Oil over existing shutter release. $1i5 (ask about our in1roductory $10 rcha1c). Tl'k Products, Colebrook Sr:ige, Willsted CT 06098. 1101 included.)

THE INCREDIBLE EARTAI.K ·- Just put it in your car (no microphone). Fa.sy for :-;ending out or

receiving .signal.<,. Pm PTT control piece on glove OJ harncs.s :rnd 1ransmit/adj11s1 voice. $93.'l\ include.<. shipping. IS/\ (718) 777 7000 phollclfo. I<F.VLAR l lEl.ME BAR MITTS $25 ()uick vekro 011/offco111rol h,n. MAP POCKFTS. Warm, made of nylon !:tbric. Well i11.1ulatcd. Most colors. Foreign orders add $5. Srnd check to Diego I krnandcz, PO llox 2MO 1, I .as Vvgas NVWJl12.

New. largl', full facl' $ I DO.

(70ii) 62(,-2099.

CLF/\RANCF SAi.i: l'RJCF New Ball M-l 9F ST37 with free :iirspccd indicator. (812) 288-7111. I<cnwckiana Soaring.

TI IF LlTFl< VF.,5 variomctcr has instant response, and a smooth 250 degree true

BEST 12" W!IFELS AVAIi.ABLE Super light\lv t:igln, a nrnq ((1r \raining, tandem in bushings. Only lJSA-,built I quanti1y di~connts. lrn1ncdia1c delivery. Lookout Mountain, (800) <,88-LMl'I'.

movc·mcrn (No

liquid crys1al display rhar can or l,,g up and need rcplaccrncn1). And ir also has the classic Litck sound. Only $195. Litck ('iO:l) li79 (,6:l:l, /i.l2(, Fish I la1chcry Road, Cr.1111s J'cm OR ')7'i27.

I !ANG GLIDER CAM ERA MOlJNT 1/2" tube, $.l'J.50 includes

Shown on

TFK

l'I.ICl !T PRODUCTS, Colebrook Winsted ( :T 06098. (860) j'7'). I 668 (( :amcra not included).

FEBRUARY 1996

WISH VAR!O'S: FLfGI IT DECKS NFW BALL GRAPH JCS PLUS .................. $C/\J.L

BAIL M 19 ... B/\1.J. M 1') ...

..... 1994 ...... $3.,7.00 . ..... 19')5 DEMO ......... $1i05.00

i\l'RO. HYTECl005 .

.... DEMO .................. $CAL1. ..DEMO. ..$415.00 FIYTEC .'l005Sl ........... DEM0 .................. $1\59.00 FLYTEC 3020 ............ DEM0 .................. $630.00 .... DFMO..... ....... $721.00 FIYTEC: 30\0 A!RCOTEC !'!COLO PLUS ... DFMO ....... $1-11.00 BR/\UNJCER BASJS. ... $4'iO.OO BRAUNJGFR CLASSIC.. . ... $680.00 HRAUNIC;tO:R COMPFTITJON ........ $750.00 ........ $300.00 WASMER AI:rl/V ARIO

MALLFTTFC:.

. ..... $159.95 .. ..... $CALL

TANGENT.

MINI VARIO

World\ sm:rllcst, simplest vario!

Clips to helmet or chinstrap. 200 hours on batteries, O-·l 8,000 h., fast response and year warranty. Creal

for paragliding too. ONLY $169. Mallencc, PO Box 15756, Santa Ana CA, 92735. (71/i) %6-12/iO. MC/Visa accepted.

OXYGEN SYSTEMS ............ FlJI .L FA( :F .......... $1 G0.00

PANORAMfC LEE.Fl. IEE F2 ....

... FULL FAC:E .......... $150.00 ....... $230.00 .$280.00

LFF ARC...

PEI.J.F UVEX.

roads arc

planning local and cross country

solid oak frames arc available for maps with :rn , Specify STATE MAPS: Arizona, Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Monr:ma, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsyl v:rn ia/N cw Jersey, Texas, lJ tab,

Washington, Wyoming. OTHER RAISED RELIEF MAPS INCLUDE: United States, Mexico, World. Most National Parks, Shen:rndo"h, Yosemite, Crear Smokey and many more. Sizes rn:ncly 21i"x28". Other maps Send +$:l s/h (u11framcd) or $5/i.95 +$5.50 s/h (framed) to: Dale Robinson, 23 Tyso11s hml Road, Newark DF 19711. (302) 731,8507.

HEI.METS

RHLEX ......

bring the Mmrnuilnsj rivers,

......... $320.00

... HJU. FA<:t· .......... $1(,0.00 .... FULL FACE. ..$290.00

RADIOS-ALL MODELS AV/Ill.ABLE YAESlJ FT! JR ....... '5 wan ...... $305.00 l<FNWOOD TH22 ......... $285.00 PTT FINGERSWlTC :I l/J l!ZADSET. $89.00 5/8 TELFSCOPTC ANTENNA. $20.95 5/8 CAJN DUCK J\NTf'NNA. $17.95

FAR TALJ< .. SPEAKFJUMJC SYSTEM. $84.00 VC:22 YAESLJ VOX/FTT. $58.95 MOBILE ..... 50 watt ......... $375.00 TUNF UP .... w/WARRANTY INTACI ..... $.35.00 MAXON 2550. ..... $31i9.00

The world-cla,s XC:R- 180 operates up to 3 hours @ll 8,000 fr. and weighs only 41b. Complete kit wirl1

cylinder, harness,

cannula and remote

on/off flowmctcr, only

PARACIJUTES From I IFS, Wills Wing WJLLS W!NC LAHA ... w/1':miswivcl .......... $CALL I JES QUANTUM.... . .. $CALL

OTHER Nl'.AT STUFF WIND ADVJSORY AIRSPEED W/C! .AMI' .. $2.:l.OO 1IALL l'AR/\(;J.!l)F.R AIRSPEED .. .$28.95 11001< KNlFF. .. $1ii.')5 TOW RELEASE ........... MASON'S .. $52..00 BAR MITTS-U MITTS. ...... .... $35 $90 SKY W/\T(:IJ AIRSPFE!) .... .. $69.00 KFNTUCKIANA SOARINC

TEK 6" WHEELS $2'5 per pair, plus $3 Sil 1. Tck Flight Products, Colebrook Stage, Winsted CT 06098. (860) .179- 1668.

TOO 1:/\T TO FLY?

Improve your wing Call Lynn today at (706) 398-14 5'). You'll be inp; om with the others in no rime .

QUICK RELFASE CARABINER $49.95. Extra ball lock pin, $29.00. 10,000 lbs., dealers welcome, patent pending. Thermal 19ii31 ···Ii I Business Center Drive, Norrhridgc, CA 91.124. (818) 701-7983.

Avenue li712') (812)288·7111 fox(812)28iiliJ15

(719)

your

and us

HANC CJJDINC

PUBLICATIONS & ORGAN[Z/\TIONS

form. Fi om tlw early I !ailg <,/iding. (719) 632·8:300.

JllCHER THAN EAGLES hy M:ualys & Chris Wills. The life & times of BOBBY WILLS, hang gliding legend. Fxpcrience the triumphs and tragedies o/' the Wills family and the evolution of Wills Wing. $19.9'5 hardcover (+$1.00 S/11), .sec classilicd for US! IC/\ BOOKS ordering

ur:rRAM ITTS Now with chemical llAND· WARMER pockets and !MPROVFD wris1C11ffs. I<ccp yom hands toasry WARM! (70(,) .i')8:l%1. VARIOS New Digifly VLIOO $/iOO. Nc:n r1cw Flytec 3005 $:3'15. (801) 25/i(,Ili I.

US HCA instructor ·1 ·0111 Sapiema, of /\inimc ( lregon says 1 "I've ir'sterl 11nd rcrommr'nd W1ind Advlsrny/''

I leprndablc. llnilt to last. No b:111crics required.

DOWNWlND horn the cirly clays of the 70'.s, w air of Owen's Valley, DOWNWIND is with thrill and exhilaration of cross com11ry advemurc. The perfect gif'L for both pilots and non pilot.s. :,[ !ARI•: Tl IE EXPER!ENCF. 1\ trm· well told. /\vailahlc from lJSHCJ\ I lcadq11ancrs only $]0.95 (,$2 s/h). PO Box i:no, Colorado S1,ri11gs ( :() BO')O J. \ ~:-\0. HANC Cl.lDINC I '!'JO-I ')9/i. Plus 20 Cround Skimmer magazines. Make offrr. John (305) 70/i').

HA(; IT! If 1ott don't have your copy oC I )ennis !'agcn's PERFORMJ\NCF FLYIN(; yet, available through US! ICA I leadquaners $29.95 (1$/i s&h). WIND ADVISORY With MOUNTING BRACKET only $2.li.'50, i11cludes s/h. You save $ I 'j +$2 s/h: Moul11ing

Sl'ECl/\1 NEW 1'11.0T ErnTION · Hang (;Jiding & Now availal,le Liirough lca,rlcl\Ll.rl<:rs. $/i.')5 each tSl.':iO s/h.

slwn or long

bracket with your order. Foreign mdcrs add itc'rn purch:rscrl. Se11d check or MO to Resources, PO !\ox ')OM, Sa11 lliq;o C/\ ')2 ](,<J. ((, 19) 270 'Jii62. S:11isfaction C11:rra111ccrl!

I JANG CLID[NC FOR BFGTNNER PILOTS

by Pete Cheney. The O!Ticial lJSHCi\ Training M:mu:d. Over 260 pages, with more than 160 understand illustrations and photo::,. Your

starts with this book 1 $29.95 (plus $/i.00 Colorado residents add 5%, rnx. SFND/FAX/PI IONF TO USllCi\ BOOKS, P.O. l\ox 1:no, Colorado Springs, CO 80901-1)$0, l'/\X (719) 6l7-611 l'l lONE (71 ')) !d2·8.l00. VISA/MC accepted.

TOWING

i\EROTOWING ACCESSORIES Headquarters for: The finest releases, second,uy releases, "V" l,ridlcs, weak links, tandem wheels, kits, etc. THE WALLABY lli\NCI I (94 J) 42/i 00'70.

OI F!CIAI. Fi\/\ SEC:TIO\l/\1. And VFR Terminal /\rca Charts. 1\ll areas, rnrrcnt (11p 10 date New Airspace Classif'icalionsl. Sectional maps $7 each, VFR Terminal Arca ( '.hans M c:rch. Add ship· ping and (Cal. residents ouly) tax. Dealer prices. i\irrirnc or S. I'. (Ii 1SJ 7'i'J- l 177, fox (Ii 15) /'i9 1187.. DDN"l' CET C/\UCllT 1./\NDINC: DOWN WIND! 1.'i oz. ripstop r1ylo11, UV treated, 5'/i" long w/ 11" throat. J\vaiL1hlc colors rluorcscc111 pink/yellow or f'ltiorescent pink/white. $.l9.95 (,$/i.00 S/JI). Send to USl!Ci\ Windsok, l'.O. Box 1.DO, Colorado Springs, CO 8090 J. I :no, (71 'J) (,}2·8}00, fox (719) (,l2 61 I 7. VlSA/M<: :rcccptcd.

rrnRU/\RY 1996

TOWI fli;\J) Cll'T EXTRAOl)fNAIRE

/\TOI.

launch system, like new, hardly 11.\cd. Contact Ron

Kenney(} I(,) 697 ?,5//. COMl'l.ETF. TOW RIC person op,cTat1on. winch.

to go, nms great, OllC $2,600. Will sep:uate

pilot··or,cratc·d nose 3 recovery release, liOOO' spectra, chures, 2 tow bridles. Mounts to boat ski pylon, can also truck/rrailor mount $2,li95 (regular $:1,500). Appropriate 971 Fisherman's ( :ovc, Seneca SC 29672. Phone 885-0919. SCOOTER TOW STATIONARY WINCH c,e,i111m:cc: with training for instruction $2,500. Dave Allen TX (near Dallas). (2Jli) 996-'7706 wcetutavs. (214) 390 9090 evenings & weekends. ULTRAI.INF j/JG" 9601/ breaking strength, 3000' -$ J 05 shipping included. Volume discounts. Cajun Hang C:licling Club, 1 JO Kent Circle, Lafayette LA 70508. (:ll 8) 98 J B372.

vmEOS & FILMS FIRST FLIGHT l'ollows the aCiion of a new pilot's flrst lessons. This video is an entertaining to show friends and family how yon VHS 15 minutes. $20 includes shipping learn to (m11y be t1jJ/ilied to lesson purchme!). MISSION SOAR· INC CENTER, 1116 Wrigley Way, Milpitas Cl\ 95035. (li08) 26?-1055. /\ward winning

by Fast Coast Video, hg/pg acrion at this Urnh mecca $29. HANG GLIDING EXTREME &. BORN TO FLY by Adventure Video, great hg action $.3/i.'J5 each. HAWAIIAN FLYIN by Space 9, soaring in par· adise $33. Call or fax US! lCA ('719) 6:~2-8300, fox (7 l 9) 632.6'11 '7, please +$1 domestic s/1, (r $5 for two or tnorc videos). ( ;rcaf to impress

friends or for

those socked-in days. l'crf,:ct gifi the launch pota· to turned couch potalO. Also, ask us about our paragliding videos!

"DANCJNC WITH THE LADY" Watercolor an depicted on the from of a white pre-shrunk T. l.,Xl.,XXL. Shon sleeve $15, long sleeve 17. order shipping. Send check or money Wear, PO Box 5/i!i, Signal Mountain TN 3737'7. 88(,-6391. Dealer inquiries wel·

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING RATES The rate classified advertising is $. 50 per WOl'd (or group characters) and $ I .00 per word for bold or all caps. MINIMUM AD CHARGE $5.00. J\ frc of $15.00 charged for each line arr logo and $7.5.00 for each photo. LINEART & PHOTO STZE NO Llll'-'-•L''THAN !.75" X 2.25". Please underline words ro in bold print. Special layouts of tabs $25.00 per umn inch. AD DE/\DUN ES All ad copy, instrnctions, changes, addition.s and cancellations must be received in ing J 1/2 months i.e. October 20th for issue. Please checks payable to US[{(;/\ Cl:issified /\dwr1cs11cw Dept. l !/\NC CL!DING M,1\C/\ZJNE, P.O. 1 TlO, Colorado CO 80901-1.3:30 ('119) 8300 or fax ('719) Mastercard. STOLEN WINGS &. THINGS

come.

JS YOUR CLUB HAVING i\ l'J.Y-IN? Looking for something diffcrenr to give yom pilots' You can have club's or the event's design imprimcd on mugs, coolers, 'J'..shirrs, key chains, frisbees··you name it, we can do it! Make it unique and me1norahlc. Don't take you business ro a ground dweller who doesn't understand the discriminating rnsres of hang gliding pilots-support a pilot instead' Call me, SUZI, at AlphaPerforma l'romotions (706) 398-2888. Over 7.50,000 producrs. Grear service at great prices! /\re design available!

I.FT Tl!E GOVFRNMENT FfNANCE Your small business. Grams/loans 10 $800,000. !'rec recorded message: (707) !i18-0270(FY7).

RAMATR 154 Stolen from home in OAKLAND, CA on December 14, 1995. Blue/purple LE, undcrsmfacc. (510) 339-6263. RAMAm 151 Stolen from the HAWJ\flAN 111\NG Gl.lDINC ASSN C:LUBIIOUSE, PUU HI, d11ring the first week of September, l 995. White l.E, d11e undcrpand. Reward! C:all 533-li I 'J3.

Adventure Video .,,,,,,,,,,,.,,,,,,,.,,,.,,,,,,.47 Ai rco tee,,,.,,.,.,,,,,,.,,,,,,.,,,.,.,,,,.,,,,,,,,,,,, 4 2 Arai Design,,.,,,,,,.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 13 Brauniger ,,,,,,,,,.,,,.,.,,,.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,31

MISCELLANEOUS

Coby Pins ,,,,.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.,.,,,,,,,,,.,,,,,,,,.,47 Colorado Paragliding ,,,.,,,,,,.,,,,,,,,.,.,,,46 Flyrec ,,,,,,,,,,,.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, .. ,,,,,,9

Hall Bros .... ,, ... ,, .. ,,, .. ,,,,.,,,,,, ... ,, .... ,,,,,,52 High Energy Sports .. ,, .. ,,,,,,,, .. ,,,,,,,,,,,,:39 ] US\

"AEROBATICS" - · Full color 23"x :l l" poster lcall1ring John Heiney doing what he docs best-LOOP !NC! /\vailahlc through USHCA I IQ for just $6.')5 (+$:,. 50 s/h). Fill that void on your wall! Send 10 US! !GI\ Acrobatics Poster, PO Box 1:)00, Colorado Springs CO 80933. (lJSA & Canada only. Sorry, posters arc NOT AVAJl.AllLE on intern,11ional orders.) SPECIAl.-1\erohatics poster ,'x Eric poster-BOT!! FOR$ IO (+$3. 50 s/h).

"MOONSIIADOW" Highly detailed bluc/white/pmplc artwork on black, preshrunk Beefy. T. Speci(y S,M,L,Xl.,XXL. short sleeve $15, sleeve $17. Add $2.50 per order shipping. Send or mon,·y order ro: Sky Wear, PO Box 544, Sign:il Mountain TN 373T/. (li2:l) 886-(,391. llealct inquires welcome. VIDEOS BOOKS & POSTERS Call US! !GA for your Merchandise order form (719) 632 8300.

]

Kcnruckiana Soaring ........... ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.42 Lookout Mtn. Flight Park .. ,,,,,,,,,, .... ,,14 MBNA ...... ,,,,,,,,,, .. ,... ,, ... ,,,,,,,, .............. 7 Mojo's Gear ..... ,,,,,,,,, .. ,,,, .. ,,,,.,,,,,,,,.,,.52 NAS .. ,,,,,,.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.,,,, ........ .4 Pacific Airwave ... ,,,,,,,,,,,, .. ,, ..... ,, ........ /12 Scedwings .. ,,.,,,,, .. ,,,,, ..... ,,,,,,,,,,,,,.,, .. ,,, 18 Soaring Center ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,46 Sport Aviation Pnblications .. ,,,,,,,,,, .. ..47 Tarpaulins,.,,.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ... ,,,,,,,, ......... 28 Thermal Pro flier.,,,., .... ,,,,,, ........ ,... ,, ... 29

DON'T LEAVE YOUR GROUND-BOUND EQUIPMENT SITTING IN THE GARAGE. SELL lT IN TIIE HANG GLIDING CL.ASS!.

USHC;/\,,,,,,,.,,,,,,,, ....................... 2,8,30

F11ms.

Viking Films ,,,,,,.,,,,,,, ....... ,,,,,,,,,,,,, .. ..41

US Aviation ,,,, .. ,,,, ............................. 31

Wills Wing,,,..,,,,,,,,,,,.,,,, ... ,,.Back Cover

HANG GUDINC

rt:" "';)

1 by D . an ) ormson

S'J'. PAUL, MINN. In anol:her mouth or so, Uw soarinq sea:;on wilJ onc0· kick i 11 lJl 11 i gh 7\1: <c,as l:, hope qood year wi abundant a nc,w record fli9r1t or two. It' up to you, o course... you and you diver. Which br 119 me to observation reviewing tl1e ,January Hang CUiding 111111111 have Llying that straddle a:i rcra f 1 seqmon aboul: two dozen ation maqazinos a month. bc<]n watcl1inq trend in of them, hack ·into Lho 'HOc: or <even bc,forc,. By my percep I: :ion, airc;raft manufac;turer ads re, teadJJy giving way to what '11 call aftermarket true in every aviation hdppeninq magazine and il ·1 oaks like i in Hanq Gliding, too. Ilen:,' what: if folks (instrumenU:, lwlmets, cLol:hin9 and more,) u re huyi ng more and more of the ad space while aircraft manu buy.i ncJ I what· it t< ,11 you abou1 the future? In the ,January J.996 of: Hang G.liding, only five glider builders totaling 1hree pages of ads, only two and hal of which w<c;re for hang gl:iders. Tl1is time of year slow(:r, though, and more page": wLLJ I ikely be so·1 cl :in

•@•

or summc~r iss1J8f3.

noL L:his slow 1 ssue trument

To compare on

Lhc:: ba.sis

di Tided l h<c• other ads :in 1:he Eollowinq categorie::;: J\ c c e c, or i <e s ( i n c l u d i n CJ rn ss books & video and clothin9); (shops and scrwo.ls, some of which l'eatur<? accessory te>rns I.heir ); SE?rvi e· and GI der Manufd ur0•rs. The biggest was Accessories w.i th 3 7 :;; ad substantially ahead of Manu al: 2.2% (wil:h only lfl% n,presenting llanq glider builders). Glider buildc)rs were closely by (mo L:ly USHCA) ilt [nstruments l: 16%. RcLai brouql11 up l:hcc rear ilt only '/ 9o, bul most· shops can't aff:ord nationa] dispLay adverl::i Now, aU precc?c,din9 applied sol<c;ly l:o d:i ay space. Classified ads looked plentiful, and they are a widely accc,pLed measure o magaz lied 11:h. Class:i eel pag s in ry werf, t:y cons s enL wiLh trend pa9es. Tllis an 50% of ad and did not i dent· C'c1ch ad represenL:ed. What does this mean? 'J'he magazine is one of thee lJ~,HGA membership' mosi' vi,,ible ben0,fi and l:rade magazine heal th considered to he a good benchmark for i~e health of an industry. So? we bee nq more orien on UH,' clftr,rmarke g new gliderr; Aro bung glider manufacture becoming endangered r,pecie,; We" don't have enou9h i11forma1·ion t.o make an informed decision. Plus the industry is dynamic; ii.- Cdn go from sinking Fi13RUARY 19%

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to skying out out in dead stron9 lift in jus\: rew monU1' s Lime. Fortunat.e1y here in 0,urly 1996, each or: our manul:aci:urers appear to be en:joyi.ng ddequate to good business, so perhaps iL's mereLy normal trend in a maturing industry. Whi] a p,irad i gm f:h i Ct may be underway, be glad all l.hese tine folks are bu~Jdin9 or stuf[ we wanL and that th(,y buy ad space to L:eLI you about t·.h<c,m. @Ji®III On t:o ano topic... my sc,vera] co lumnP, on towing over last I was mdde aware, 'd t out one faction: L·.he knc,w abou stationary winch. fact, them, havinq owned and operat0d one of Paul Yarnall w:inches. But subsoquen t· the cleve.l opments of: platform t·owing and U10 arriva] of aero I.owing, I ,idmi overlooking si:ationary winches. 1.'his type of winch the most popular form of towing in E:urope, especia lJ y ,:;o [or he sai ]plane ommuni ty. Perhaps du to America':; vac;tly greater supply of open land, we platform towing. An :interesting side note: aciro towing may be about- equal :in each conL j rwnt. e10• l\s sta winch operator, Greq Black, say,;, [platform wincl1c,s] "arc, hydraulic b:r:·akes not. hydrmJJic winches." Correcl: he, we main1y use pay-out: wincr1ec, not wind·up w:i nches. Iles ides own operat:1on in Ellcmv:i1le, NY, Black knew ot other stationary winches in al Tok Vlighl (CT), a deeply experienced Mike RoberLson (CAN), 2rnd h:iqh t::i.me winch king, Norm [,esnow (MI). 111111411 Another f,La ionary winch used by hanq gliding airs how pilot, Dan Buchanan, in hif, colorful air s bow d c L:. Both Buchanun and Roberi:f,on step towing, one of the unique ways :31:ationary winches can be used. l:his technique which may have" ori ginal:ecl in Europe ot: l.ow0;d toward the w.inch, 1.urninq finally and flying away from the winch, puJ Ling thci tow J:Lne wi t:11 liim. When he ceaches correct distance he lflOs again toward Lhe winch and the winch resumes w:inrling in pulling t.hc0 gl icier ldgher. Buchanan cLeverly uses L.his l:echni que to remain at an altitude where pubLic can t1is cl W:i.J-l'1 only thin Line connectin9 him to his stal:ionary winch wh:i.cl1 out of :d.ght to c1l.l but: t:hof,e in the Eront rows, his ability to sustain altitude Looks almost ma9i cal. 111111111 Robertson, 1 onqti a ]·1ang gliding j nstruc 1-.or, uses h l:a onc1ry winch seven days d week, and reportedly hds students step towing within a short . Black l:old of h:i own exper.ienc0• getting 7, c!OO of ine out while !:owing a pilot for minuL.es. "Trolling for thermals," h(, called it. 1·h0, point: thal-. towinc:i offen; at l:hree main that can do credible ob. As Lowing qrows part of overall launches, ava:i lable r,ystem,; are important. ••• Well, cliver we're, cutta room a9ain. So, got news or opinions? Send 'em Lo 8 Dorset, St. Pau·1 MN !551l8. Fax or V·mail to 6 /4':iO 0930, or E·ma i 1 to: Cumul usMan@aol. corn 'I_HAl).JK/::Ll

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