USHGA Hang Gliding August 1998

I Lookout Mountd1n Flight 15 years saf¢ly trained ovEir f•Hfll!,lUlll:!'::i to the novicie level than l'"lm.tb.1fh.,.,r Hirth/

No other flight park can match our people, facilities, diversity, dedication and history of excellence. Our only desire is to help you your flying dreams and hang gliding goals.

Lookout Mountain Flight Park is the nation's #1 hang gliding school and first commercial aerotow operation. We provide the most comprehensive hang gliding instruction available. Pilots of all skill levels enjoy consistently good flying and training at Lookout. No other flight park anywhere has this much lo offer.

~J 6 (USPS Ol 7-970-20 - ISSN 0895-433X)

16 The 1998 Atlantic Coast Championships

by Austin Scott Collins sidebar by Davis Straub An extremely successful aerorow meet at Wallaby Ranch in Florida.

24 Ghosts at Torrey Pines

by Mamlys Wills photos by Gil Dodgen and WA. "Pork" Roecker The Wills family and Bertina Gray are given awards for their conrriburions to rhe sport of hang gliding. A lot of old-timers show up.

34 Flying The 3D-FlightPro™ © 1998 ~ Dennis Pagen

Display your flight in three dimensions and color on your computer screen.

38 Flying The Mosquito

article and photos by Gerry Charlebois Launching from level ground wirh a powered hang gliding harness.

44 Cold Fusion

..

by jont1tha11 Sur.rek An incredible 92-mile flight to che Adanric coast from a 400-foot hill.

46 Pilot Report: The Aeros Stealth KPL 13

r) 1r-#c

/ - rJ

__....

© 7998 by Dennis Pagen A look at the new welrer-weighr ropless glider from Aeros.

Columns

Departments

Accident Reports ................................ .. 13

Airmail ............... ............. .......................4

USHGA Regional Directors ................37

Update .............. ...................................... 8

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

Calendar of Events ...............................20 Ratings ............................ .....................28 Classified Advertising ......................... .52 index to Advertisers ................... ..........62

AUGUST 1998

3

l)odgeo, Managing T:ditor!l:ditor in Chio!

Pounds, Art Dimctor Heiney, Gerry Clmrlcbois, llcltina Grny, Grannis, Mark Vaughn l'hotogrnphers 1//ustralOr Pagen, Mark Stucky, Geoff Mumford, Meadows, Jim Palmieri, Sta(fWrilers

r

iI

Dear Editor, I'm new to hang gliding. I recently discovered a nice place at Whitewater, Wisconsin and am taking instruction there at prcsenL 1 have been doing some reading on the subject: and was plodding along fairly well until I came across that lertcr in the May issue of Hang Gliding, "Climbs, Slips and Spins." That stuff looks heavy to me. Do I have to understand it? Will J be able ro catch good thermals and do safe landings without all that knowledge? I hope [ can. Maybe afrer a few years of serious flying I will grasp it.

But here is something I will never understand, and that is how someone can fly for eight hours as did that great pilot from Arizona, John Johnson, and not make a trip ro rhc men's room? How did he do that?

Matt Purlong Lyons, IT.

has existed. As a side note, our history lesson about rhe Indian narion was also extremely informative. l would like to nominate this group of individuals for all categories! 'The nature of the gentlemen would meet every category the article discusses.

James Breshears Milpitas, CA

See Eves '/all this issue.

Erl.

centersprearl photo in

Dear Editor, I'd like to thank the Southern Arizona Hang Gliding Association for putting on a great Miller Canyon Fly-In this year. It was a very well run affair, and we sure felt welcome. Brad Vinccnr's trophies were beautifol (too bad f didn't win one!). 'l<.J all the SAH-· GA fc.Jlks who gave up time and airtime for your visitors thank you!

Robin I Tastings Las Cruces, NM

PrnHMIAS!rER: SEND CHANCE OF Al)[JRESS GLIDIN(i, P.O. BOX D:lO, ilO'lOH \30,

AUCLJST 1g9g VOLUME 2B, lssu1 No. B

Dear Editor, I was recently reading an old issue of !fang Gliding magazine (Oct. 1997) and noticed an article, "USHGA Award Nominations Solicited." I am not per·· sonaUy a hang glider pilot, but T would like to share with your readers an experience J had.

On July 4, J 997 my family and l were vacationing in Yosemite. While we were there we noticed a group of approximately seven to nine pilots flying off Glacier Point. 'f'his fascinated me and my children so we watched in awe.

When the gentlemen landed we had an opportunity to chat with them. 'The group was headed by a fascinating individual named Eves 'fall Chief, an Indian of true American heritage. All of t:he pilots were well spoken and very serious about their sport. We learned of new developments in hang gliding, and about the history of the sport. I was t:ru· ly amazed at the length of time rhe sport

Dear Editor, I would like to congratulate Joe Greblo on his excellent article in the June issue of Hang Gliding. Due to our love of soaring, it's ternpting to anributc all hang gliding accidents to pilot error. 'fhat way we can rationalize away the danger by telling ourselves it won't hap-pen to us if we're careful. Joe had the courage to stand up to our wrath and point out the unfortunate fact thar wc:ight-shifr control has inherent limitations that can cause accidents beyond the pilot's ability to prevent. ln doing so, however, Joe's line of reasoning was unclear. I Jis argument went something like this: According to Paul MacCrcady, the bang gliders of J 975 lacked sufficient control (roll con· trol is implied) to fly safely in winds above 10 knots ( 12 mph). Modern hang HANC GIIDINC

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ir Mail gliders have less control than rhe gliders of I therefore we should be careful flying in winds above 20 mph? Joe was probably trying to soften the blow, hut in doing so he has committed a clear non sequitur. If his argument is correct, we must assume modern hang gliders can only be safely flown in winds under 12 mph, not over. This would relegate safe hang gliding to early-morning sled, rides.

I think, however, an important fact has been overlooked. 'rl1e gliders of 1975 predominantly relied on pure weight shift to achieve roll control. This limits control authority to the pilot's weight multiplied by the distance moved. The power of disturbing however, squares with speed. A wind gust of 20 mph has four times the force of a 10,,mph wind and, consequently, can easily exceed the pilot's control authori,

ty, especially when striking the wing asymmetrically as in turbulence, Paul MacCready did not base his analysis on gliders with deep keel pocket·s and floating crosstubes which can provide a good measure of aerodynamic comrol, given sufficient sail laxity.

Aerodynamic control authority increases proportionally with wind or airspeed, and can remain effective in strong turbnlencc. If Paul had based his study on rhese gliders, we may have found that his safe wind speed cutoff would have been somewhat higher than 1 0 knots.

In comparing modern hang gliders to those of 1975, Joe was probably restricting himself to high-performance wings with tight sails and relatively poor roll control. Few people would claim that the gliders of 1975 handled better than today's beginner or intermediate wings.

The rise in popularity of gliders such as

the: Discovery Skyfloatc:r is no coincidence.

In the July 1995 issue Seth Anderson (a NASA aeronautical engineer) clearly supports this assumption by noting, "When it comes to high,,performance hang gliders, improvements may be need, ed in roll control... But these improvements arc readily available if one is will,, ing to compromise performance and fly a beginner or intermediate class glider."

The conclusion is clear: If you want a reasonable clwnce of staying out of the hospital, park your ego at home, go down a notch or three in performance, choose your conditions, wind speed and flying site carefully, then have fon you remember, die real reason we should be flying.

Brett Snellgrove Makawao, HI

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USHGA 1998 HANG GLIDING CALENDAR Excellent pt1otography ...... (reg $9 915) SALE. 1/b USHGA HG CALENDARS - More excellent photography. (Circle Yr) 1997 ·1991 1990 1989 . . 1/b

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'l'.'<TOWING ALOFT by Dennis Pagen/Bill Bryden. Covers ALL aspects of towing. 372 pgs HANG GLIDING TRAINING MANUAL by Dennis Pagen For the beginner/novice pilot 350 pgs "SPECIAL NEW PILOT" Magazine. Hang Gliding or Paragliding (circle one). Buy bothl SKY ADVENTURES 36 hg stories by 32 hg authors. Informative & entertaining. 240 pgs

.:'<PARAGLIDING-THE COMPLETE GUIDE by Noel Whittall. Comprehensive, color. 200 pgs . 2/b

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PERFORMANCE FLYING by Dennis Pagen. For the Intermediate-Advanced pilots. 340 pgs.

UNDERSTANDING THE SKY by Dennis Pagen. THE most complete book on micrometerology. 2/b

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INSTRUCTOR'S MANUAL by Dennis Pagen. Hang gliding, used in ICf)'s. Plenty of illustrations. 2/b

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PARAGLIDING-A PILOT'S TRAINING MANUAL by Mike Meier/Wills Wing. Covers all aspects. 2/b

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RECORD ATTEMPT KIT Includes all forms needed for national & world record attempts.

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FLIGHT LOG BOOK The Official USHGA flight log book. 40 pages. Log those flights!

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CERTIFICATION BOOKLETS Document your skill level sign-offs. Specify HG or PG.

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$ 2.95 $ 1.95

RIGHT STUFF FOR NEW HG PILOTS by Erik Fair. Reprints of Erik's HG column. Classic. .

ACCESS & THE GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORT ENVIRONMENT by Bob Moorman.

DOWNWIND by l_arry Fleming. Share the experience of over 20 years of hg flight A RISK MGMT MANUAL HG by Michael Robertson. Used in 1c1::i·s, withe Charts of l~eliability

.:'<DUST DEVILS Fly with the Womens World Hang Gliding Team in Chelan, WA (24 min)

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1/b BORN TO FLY HG action. Meet Larry Tudor & C,reen team, fly Owens, Sandia, etc. (50 min) .11/J 11{) PG: THE MOVIE Owen's Valley world competition. Hot action, rockin' soundtrack. (40 min) .

CLOUDBASE PARAGLIDING Great intro. video. Meet the hot pilots, fly the hot sites. (36 min) 11/J HANG GLIDING EXTREME Fly spectacular sites in the US. Meet the top pilots. (50 rnin) ..

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All our videos are in USANHS NTSC format only USHGA PHONE CARD 25¢ per minut,i long distance rate, specify hg or pg card, includes 30 min .. $10.00 WINDSOK'M ·1.5 oz. ripstop nylon, 5'4" long wt! 1" throat Pink/yellow or pink/white (circle one). 21b $39.95 WINDSEEKER Hang glider flying model. It loops & soars. Lots of fun to fly, you'll want two ... 15oz $ 3.00 USHGA EMBLEM DECAL Our original logo, in its original colors, on a 3" circular sticker. .1oz $ .50 USHGA SEW-ON EMBLEM Our original logo, in its original colors, on a 3" circular patch. .1oz $ 1.50 MTN. GLIDER DECAL F'ull color 6" rectangular, long.lasting vinyl decal. Very colorful.

1oz $ 1.50 MTN. GLIDER SEW-ON The most beautifully embroidered patch you've ever seen. . . 1oz $ 3.95 MTN. GLIDER LAPEL PIN Multi-colorecJ, custom shaped w/epoxy dome, military clutch back.

2oz $ 3.95 LICENSE PLATE FRAME I'd Rather Be Nang Gliding or I'd F~ather Be Paragliding (circle one). 11b $ 6[50 'ERIC RAYMOND POSTER 24"x37" Eric 17,000' MSL over t11e Sierra Nevada l~ange Ub $ 5.95 *AEROBATIC POSTER 23"x31" Colorful keel-an\)le shot of John Heiney looping skyward.

1/b $ 6.95 *Posters are NOT AVAILABLE on /ntemationa/ orders··Sorry1 SPECIAL - BOTH POSTERS FOR $10.00 PAYMENT must be included with your order.

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Update the first rime in 25 years - only chis time I ate in che teachers' lounge. School Jee our ac about 3:00 PM and the Fusion and I gar co cap off the day with a two-hour sunset soari ng llighc, in the company of hundreds of mi gracing birds, about 3,000 feet over the reacher's farm.

Thanks Ron!

guide/workbook, Fundarnencals of Instructing, FAA Written Exan1 for the FAA Compucer-Based Knowledge Test. It is priced at $9.95 plus shipping. Derails on chis IC P requiremem are still bein g finalized and will be reported co yo u in the magazines and on die USHGA Web site.

- submitted by JeffHarper

POCKET-SIZED WEATHER STATION

F

GROUND SCHOOL AT SCHOOL

0

n Tuesday, April 7, the scudenrs ar Eastern Lebanon Cow1ty High School in Myerstown, Pennsylvania had a slightly unusual experience during rl1eir gym class. Their phys-ed teacher, Ron Kochera, happens co own a beautiful LZ at the nearby south site "50 1" near Bechel, PA, abouc 20 miles southwest along the Blue Mountain Ridge from Hawk Mountain, a famous location for observing the ann ual rap tor migration along the Appalachians.

After nearly two years of "we sho uld do chis sometime" conversations, the local cerrified instructor, Jeff Harper, sec up a simulator inside the gym and presenred a ground school to five classes worth of kids. We used a block and rackle to arrach a 195 Falcon ro the ceiling (where the old climbin g ropes used to be). A shiny new Fusiori was also ser up so the design differences could be easily seen.

After showirig USHGA's excellem video "Newton's Apple," and boring chem with a short calk, we pulled an average of about six students (and quite a few teachers) up in me simulator for a "ride" during each new class. The stacks of magazines, articles, brochures and "Get A Higher Education" pins supplied by USHGA didn 't Jase Jong! Although teenage apathy is sometimes difficulc ro penerrare, expressions of "Cool!" were nevertheless overheard repearedly rhroughour the day.

In che end, a whole bunch of porenrial riexrgeneracion pilots wenr home with a much more informed perspective on hang gliding man most of the teenagers in rural Pennsylvania. l even goc created ro a high school cafeteria lurich for

8

lytec USA is pleased to add yec anomer insrrumenc ro their produce line, rhe new Flyrec Windwacch. The Windwacch is a pocket-sized, precision, hand-held weather station char indicates currenr, peak and average wind speed, as well as currenr temperature and windchill values. The Windwarch also features a configuration mode in which the user can program the inscrwnem to suir the user's individual requirements. In chis mode the Windwatch can be sec to display che wind speed in up ro five differem measuremem units (mph, knots, kph, m/sec., Beaufort). The ocher parameters char can be ser are the time interval (5 co 40 secs.) for rhe averaging functions, rype of wind speed averaging (normal or peak wind), display imerval for average values, and temperature correcoons.

The Windwatch carries a two-year warranry and is powered by a three-vole, user-replaceable lithium battery (included), and will keep you checking weather conditions for four years or about 100,000 one-minute measurements.

The Windwarch is accurate, compact and rugged, making ir perfectly suited for the weather-dependent sports enthusiast. For more iruormacion contact your local Flycec dealer or Flycec USA ac 1-800-662-2449, or (352) 3328675, fax (352) 332-8676, usaf:1ycec@aol.com.

HEADS UP FOR INSTRUCTORS AND INSTRUCTORS TO BE

T

he Safety and Training Committee recommended at che March, 1998 USHGA Board meeting chat a Fundamemals Of lnscrucrion wricren exam be passed as a prerequisire ro obtaining USHGA Inscruccor Cercificarion. This morion was approved by the Board of Directors. As of chis writing, no effective scare dare has been sec for chis requiremenc, buc ic is expected robe within die next few monilis. This means iliac to successfully complete an ICP, attendees muse pass an FOI exam. In preparation for this requiremenr, die USHGA office now has in scock the scudy

NEW FEES FOR RATINGS AND SPECIAL SKILLS

A

new fee structure has been approved by rhe Board of Directors for processing ratings an d special skills. The effective dace for

die new fees is August l , 1998. The amount charged for all ratings and special skills has been changed co $15. The reasoning behind chis decision is co balance the member's request with the necessary work generated by char request.

TANDEM INSTRUCTOR ANNUAL FEE AND CHANGE IN ONE-MONTH MEMBERSHIP FEES

A

much discussed topic at ilie spring Board of Direcrors meeting was the cost ofa one-month membership used primarily by tandem insrructors to gee scudencs started with their fuse lessons. Two simultaneous decisions were made. Fi rst, a new $50 annual fee for tandem instructor certification was recom mended and approved . Included in rhe annual fee is cen (10) one-month memberships. Second, once the annual randem instructor fee has been paid, additional one-month memberships may be purchased by that instructor for two dollars each. This new fee schedLJ e will be effective as of Augusr l , 1998 .

FALL 1998 USHGA BOD MEETING

T

he decision was made ac me March USH GA Board of Directors meeting co hold the fall '98 meeting in Colorado Springs in order co sched ule the spring '99 BOD meeting in conjunctio n with rhe USH GA national meeting and Ai r Spores Expo in Knoxville, Tennessee. T he fall BOD meeting chis year will be held 5-8 at the Doublecree World Arena, the same place as lase March.

FALCON X-C CONTEST UPDATE

S

o far in the Falcon X-C Co ntest che following flights have been reported: Ben Davidson (4/21/98) , 18 miles from Ellenville H ANG GLIDING

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ro Newburg, NY outskirts (rhe flight was cur short ro land and keep an Exxcacy and Sensor pilot from getting lonely, and maybe ro snicker a little); Ben Davidson (4/29/98), 17. 5 miles from Ellenvi lle ro Stone Ridge, NY; Rob Richardson (5/8/98), 18 miles from Mingus to Sedona, AZ; Ben Davidson (5/31198), 30 miles from Ellenville to Fishkill, NY; Rob Richardson (6/ 15/98), 34 miles from Mingus co a few miles past Munds Park, AZ. AUGUST 1998

1819 CENTRAL AVENUE SOUTH #63 I KENT, WA 98032 I www . personalflight.com I fly@personalflight.com

Prizes currently include: hang gliding simulator software from High Adventure; secondary release, aerorow clinic, V-pull and T-shirt from Wallaby Ranch; hang glider camera mount from Tek Flight Produm. Visit the Falcon X-C Contest Web page at www.angelftre.com/ct!insuucror/falconxc.hrml.

I I

DAVID GLOVER JOINS LMFP

T ookout Mountain Flight Park is pleased to Lannounce the add itio n of D avid Glover to their management staff "We a.re all very excited about Dave joining the fli ght park," com mented Matt Taber, LMFP owner. "D avid has demonstrated a stro ng co mmitment to customer satisfaction and pilot safety, and he will fir in well wirh rhe staff at Lookout and our commitment to maki ng fl ying fun, rewardin g

9

all\1

Davi<l Glover is a USHGA Honorary Director, a.n Advanced I':u1dcn:1Instructot, and has been gliding for 12 years. lfawk Kites prior to moving to Wallaby Ranch as manager. Glover remal'kcd, tile leading flight school orfors an opportunity to grow tbe sport at rhe hang gliding facility."

m;;,.A.nn,.,cit is a new harness from

Delta Gliders designed by Juan Corral and Kra.ig Coomber, It is sleek and aerodynamic, with the comfort, qualland foatures of.its

the

boat-towing Bcrvicc is an exciting addition to the atray of adventure sporrs offered through H.nwk Kites on the Omer ld.awk Kites.

John Harris, along with our othee on land, w,uer and in the air makes this even more attractiv1;, to people seek, OI' vaca·· tion."

Kitty Kites, the world's gliding school, has over 225,000 people to fly since .I 974. This fa.n\ily adventure center also offers kayak cccHoms, sHilboat reinalsand the ouly on the Outer

Banks.

Por rescrvai:ions nnd further information call 1·-800-334,4777.

'fhe Cont:<.jur fc,mires: internal slider

practi.ce rounds have been set aside immediately prior to 1:he competition. 'I'he cnny is $200 and includes all lift rides to the launch point at Coronet Peak, 4,000 feet above the of prizes wJll be awarded. Queenstown is the adven· ture capital of New and is a great vacation spot.

Yon can

your entry fee

to the address hclow. Make payment i.n NZ

dollars

to "Somhern Lakes Hang Glid-

Pa1:aRlidi11g Club." Contact: Geoff

hang gliding on the ..,_,,.,,.,,,.,, Banks of North Carolina launches flyers from the back of a specia.lly

built:, 35 .. foot boar, takes them to 2,000 and lands them. on the water of Cur· rituckSound.

Adxenalinc Water Gliding is offe:ring this operation in conjunction with Kitty Hawk Kites. "It is designed to mal«; it easy for ncrs to experience the thrill ()[hang gliding overwat:cr," says co,·owner Doug Yanda, who offers service with p;utnet Kelly Pfannen· stieL "'fhere is no age or minimum cx1>cn1cn,ce requlrcmcnr," he comments, "bcrr iris bc$t to 230 pounds." S.led,ride flight, .lastl5 to l 8 minutes. ''Adrenaline Water Gl1ding's hang glider

10

towm:d the cash sufficient lubrication from the dub-sponsored This form of entertainment: has co be seen to be believed.

Pilots may compete individually arc unsuccessful at rt team. $30 per team pilot ($120 per and per .lndi.vJ4ual pilot. includes .,~,,-,rn,,~,,., liqtiid refreshments a.nd site-usdces (frir nmi,.sitc Pree flying during this meet weekend for both hang glider and paraglider be restricted to before the competition Window opens and afrcr the CO!n· petition window doses each For information call Paul at 744-3317, 0

11gl!1t1,11e11zht aluminum. frame with webbing

lo:td low·pmfile, body-comomed with line; streamlined side- or front~mounccd chute angled lined chi.rte chute ct; five fully in tema] to house camt'tas, radio, pack-up gear, water, etc.; con· tinuos webbing for added and force: distfibution; oncHo-one, hcad··Up altitude adj1rstment.

The Contour was

by Juan Corm!, one nflumg and one of the world's top· ranked competition pilots. Contact: A1.nerica 753,.9534 "h,,,.,,,th,,\

$::300 .for second, and $200 for

1 "FUN S<)uthern New York Bang Association is a.1.n:ady planning for the 10th annual Labor Day "Fun Meet" at EllcnviJle Mountain, New York.

The are set for September 5.:7.

'J'his now·infornous meet ls toward fun, and accommodat<\, pilots of all sklll m<mnmin skills). 'The meet format involves basic tasks such as duration, bomb drops, spot landing and imbibing. Th~: meet is m score fouJ:··pe:rson teams (with humorous who vie for cash

hat could be better than enjoying Sauratown Mountain's excellent cliff launches in North Carolina during the 1998 Octob<::r's Best Ply-In? (Being able to aerotow as an alternative.)

For die Hrst time, be available before nnd during tbe the "Crossroads" grass located thtee miles sm:1.tht:astofSauratown Mountain's lannch Aeroww than five minutes from the insrn1ction will be availnble and F1i(Oct. 1 and 2) thanks to Rob Bachman of Hawk Kites of the pilots may pa1°t:icipatc tidon by or Saurarown's LZ is now larger and a new ,.,,,"n'n" area has been cleared. 11ree bor show· ei:s arc available. Accommodations are also available in J 5 minutes from the LZ. U.S. Acros and Wills wlll be on site for are invited, As ture June fabulous barbecue chicken dinner with all you can cat for six clollarn. October's Best includes cash and sornc1:hlt1g for everyone. The entry foe is $35 nnd includes a T,shin.

Conta.ct; Doug Rice 994,A377, Mike Nester 11, or Vic Lewellen ar 2.5311@oomnm,cn1c.co.m. A Web site: i" also on-Jim: at: www.gcodties.com/Pip.eline/Dropzo11e/5650. II HANG GUDINC

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D rara~:11<11ni;i ........................... .

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(OJ/97)

In consideration of the benefits to be derived from membership in the USHGA, and the parent or legal guardian of a minor, for themselves, their personal representatives, heirs, executors, next of kin, spouses, minor children and assigns, do agree as follows: ~ The following definitions apply to terms used in this Agreement: I. means launching (and/or assisting another in launching), flying (whether as pilot in command or otherwise) and/or landing (including, but not limited to, crashing) a hang glider or paraglider.

2.

or

bodily

as a result of the administration of

3.

P.'AR;r/E.S' means the following, including their owners, officers, directors, agents, spouses, employees, officials (elected or otherwise), members, independent contractors, sub-contractors, lessors and lessees: a) The United States Hang Gliding Association, a California Non-profit Corporation (USHGA); b) Each of the person(s) sponsoring and/or participating in the administration of P//ot'sproficiency rating(s); c) Each of the hang gliding and/or paragliding organizations which are chapters of the USHGA; d) The United States Of America and mh of the city(ies), town(s), county(ies), State(s) and/or other political subdivisions or governmental agencies within whose jurisdictions flies and/or lands; Each of the property owners on or over whose property launch, fly and/or land; e) All persons involved, in any manner, in the sports of hang gliding and/or paragliding at the site(s) where Pil,,t J"AA'Tll~IPJffE.J' D "All persons involved" include, but are not limited to, spectators, hang glider and/or paraglider pilots, assistants, drivers, instructors, observers, and owners of hang gliding and/or paragliding equipment; and All other persons lawfully present at the site( s) during g) nl'i:fHJllRC,F the PAJ'f/1/JfSfrom any and all liabilities, claims, demands, or causes of action that I may hereafter have for !N)rUR.fES. however caused, even if caused by the negligence (whether active or passive) of any of the nu;;;,r..,;;,,..,u;;;u PAJ7Tll.~S,to the fullest extent allowed by law.

C. I A against any of loss or damage on account of .rP,,R1:r IJVJIJ'Rll.::f.

If I violate this agreement by filing such a suit or making such a claim, Iwill pay all attorneys' fees and costs of the nu;;;,r..1:;;J11.1e;;;,u P;tlf{IJl:J: I shall be and rnn1dr111Pri matters whatsoever arising under, in connection with or incident to this Agreement c:1111tnl"ni::11,, U.S.A. to the exclusion of the Courts of any other State or Country.

E. If any part, article, paragraph, sentence or clause of this Agreement is not enforceable, the affected provision shall be curtailed and limited only to the extent necessary to bring it within the requirements of the law, and the remainder of the Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.

F. I at least 18 years of age, or, that I am the parent or legal guardian of am making this agreement on behalf of myself and If I am the parent or legal guardian of I the for their defense and indemnity from any claim or liability in the event that Pilot suffers SPt'JR1'"S IJIIJIJ'Rlf.::f w11r1,.,,..,. even if caused in whole or in part by the negligence (whether active or passive) of any of the nK;.,r..K;..,,,.,K;.,v P,AR.rJE.S. na;;,r..,;,1,J1&;/V

I have J/d11lt Pilot's fig11at11re

Oate

Sig11at11re ofPilot's Parent or Legal 6i1ardian ifPilot 11nder 18years ofage.

Date

MMR 12-97

zn~ruz,,·zes aboutfr.utd accidents occurring in l 997, since a.few o/these may offer some valt.uzble lessons. ft is our desire to olJir ti surmntzry rmd analysir of'all the 1997/attzli

by Bill Bryden

ties in one hut we have had difficulty qa,!herm,q· details on two o/these. We'll hcwe a report with whatever data WI' mn obtain in the next month or two.

and have seen how

rect:ions have mttde some obsolete. In when it comes to there may be some similar concerns. Fxarnine these 1991 and leeep them in mind while m1dingjoe Greb/o;· comments.

A pilot lf,unches in 22-2R mph windr. the launch run the t..lider'.r nose wing drops and hits the into the hill. is r:testro·vea the pilot fr uninjured A pilot launches his mph winds. '/JJe launch is level but the begins fl handr tire on the doumitu,9es control input is witnessed The turns into hill.

• A pilot is tai,mcfmtr1 through a slot on a are variable orc,zszonr1t I{). J 5 mph in. '/ he pilot Lt11,mci'1es, in the slot and the bottom of'the slot; Jln advrmced pilot lmmches/rom a hill· side in but turns b11ch into hill.

A pilot launches in ronditions, 25-40 mph. He zm;rne1iza,1etv enters fl lefi turn bacle into tf,e hit!.

that Rrad Koji, one competition pilots, competition. W£, are more and will report on this accident more completely next month. j)re'tmun,,1rv indierttion is that he mr,•1J--,imtu1:te tumble and deployed his "/ 'he parachute hridle was allegedly rlttr1ched to the near the shoulder straps. ft thisfacilitmed nech which was brolecn 11!hcn the parachute opened.

We have lflw received a couple of /\l}CUST 199H

by Joe hange is diflkult, sometimes scary, especially when it is preceded by decades of history. lt's not surpristhat we often resist change. We've seen this many times in hang gliding; the need to hold on to those things that we think have served us well. Such was the case with spot landings and figurc--8 and S-tnrn landing approaches. J low dare any· one suggest that we promote landing on a 200--foot line instead of a target, or perform a conventional aircrnfr landing approach (downwi11d"basc-flnal)!

Fornmatcly, some of us embrace change. The Pat Denevan's and the Creg De Wolfe's arc there to give us a tug when·

FIGURE I

ever we get bogged down with old-fashioned lcchniqucs that haven't kept np with other technological changes in our sporr.

One such memento of amiquity that continues to haunt the hang gliding world is the widespread belief that we should lean through the control bar as we develop our launch nm. You'll find this technique described in every training book since the beginning of hang gliding. So it musr he right! Right? Although there arc a few occasions when this is a good idea (natslope launches and flat, short ramps), rnost often it is unnecessary. S0mc1 imcs it can be deadly!

Understanding where this technique

FlGURE

came from can help us evaluate its useful-ness. In the mid 1970's there was an attempt by the US] TGA to standardize irn;truction. ln doing so, we looked to the most experienced instructors for help.

Since almost all flight instruction at the time took place on small training slopes, it seemed everyone that it was a good idea to start every student on flat ground befrne allowing him or her to progress part way up the slope. Only after demonstrating adequa1c pitch, yaw and roll control of rhe glider during this nm would the student be allowed to progress part way up the slope.

During tbesc early days tbe phrase a "jack-rabbit starr" was coined to quick acceleration that caused the glider's nose to suddenly rise as the pilot outran the glider. We also learned that it was easier to controllably accelerate the glider by leaning through the control bar as we pulled the glider along by the shoulder straps, rather than push it: with our hands.

Since this technique worked so well on flat ground, it was just assumed it made sense to continue wirh it during initial slope launches.

Apparently it has worked so well for us that it has becorne one of the "JO com--

FlGORE3

14

rnandments" oflaunch training. Why then do I dare criticize it? Because this technique is one of the prime causes of control loss in windy and rurbulem launch conditions. First, let's discuss why.

When preparing to launch, many (not all) pilots hold the control bar in a com-fonable position with their hands on the downt:ubes as shown in Figure 1. When the glider rises during the run, the control bar also rises along with the pilot's hands.

Combine this hand location with the pilot's wcll--learnecl habit ofle:ming through the bar, and I think you can rec-ognize Figure 2 as the perfect lift--off tech· nique many students lea.rn on the training hill. In Figure 2, however, the pilot is extremely limited in speed range. The position of the hands and the forward body lean have robbed him of the ability to pull the bar back any further than shown in the illustration. Notice the distance from the pilot's hips to tbe basetube.

In this position, pilots may be limited to a maximum speed of only 26 to 28 mph.

Clearly, this angle of attack is not low enough to provide safety in strong winds, gusts, or sudden angle of attack changes produced hy turhulenr air.

Another problem with this technique

FIGlJRE4

is that this limitation does not become apparent: until the pilot begins to fly in stronger conditions, where, for rhe first time, an extended speed range on launch is needed. That's when the pilot Arst violates the sacred oath he swore to bis instructor. You know the one I'm talking about the one in which he swears that he will never begin to go prone or reach for the basetube until well away from launch. But the first time the pilot finds himself in windy conditions without enough speed, and therefore without roll control, do you think he's going to keep his hands on the downtubes? Not a chance! It's basetube time, no matter how close to the hill he is, or whom he made promises to.

With poor body and hand position, pitch and roll authoritJ and range is reduced during launch, motivating the pilot to quickly prone out and reach for the basetube. I can't blame him. I wouldn't wam to stay upright either ifI didn't foci salt, in rough air. But rben it becomes a gamble. The more you fly rhe better you get. '1 'he better you get, the more ccmftdent you become in strong conditions.

The more confident you get, the more you choose to fly in strong conditions.

FIGURES HANG CUDINC

And the more you fly in strong conditions, 1hc greater the chance of getting blasted by a gust, thermal, dust devil, or whatever, just as you're reaching for the basembe.

The fact is, if you plan to fly in relastrong conditions and have a long flying career, you would be well served to develop effective upright launch skills. You can practice these positions safely ar altitude in mid-flight. After topping ou1 in your next thermal consider exploring the di Herem body and hand positions shown in Figure,· 3 to 5. First, unzip your harness and pm your hands at eye level on the dowmubes. Next, relax your posture and pull in as far ;1s possible (Figure 3) while you norc your airspeed. Although your effort will suggest that you're flying fost, you'll be surprised at the distance the base-rube is from your hips, and your low airspeed. place your hands low on the dow111ubcs and rotate your body upright to a folly erect position and pull in all the way (hgurc It). !\gain, note your speed.

/n summari if you re limit your flying smooth and light winds, you may forever away with leaning through the bar and reaching for the basetube early. But in stronger conditions you re simply playing Russian roulette."

mph in Figure 5.

Many flight harnesses make it very difllculr to achieve this position comfr)rtably.

Some amoun1 ol'discomfon can he tolerated, bm if you find it exrrcmcly difficult you m:iy have to make a choice hcrwcen your harness or this technique.

You'll never be quite as skilled flying upright as you arc prone unless you fly upright S(YX> the rime. You may /-ind, however, 1har as little as 10%-2.0% of your flight time is all that's needed for you to be skilled enough ro clearly appreciate the control advantages associated with remaining upright until well away from

!\ncl, finally, do a test with one hand on the hasctube, one low on the downtube, and a li1lly upright body position (hgurc During their altitude training, Novice students can commonly achieve 28 mph in Figure 3, 38 mph in Figure It, and 4-0

In summ;iry, if you're going to limit your flying to smooth air and light winds, you may forever get away with leaning through the bar and reaching for rlic base· mbc early. But in stronger conditions you're simply playing Russian roulette. J'll leave you with a quote from Clint Fastwood: "Did I count six bullets, or only five? Do you feel lucky, punk? Do II

11

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1.)('

The 1998 Atlantic Coast Championships

THE VIEW FROM

THE

by Austin Scott Collins It was Day Five of the Atlantic Coast Championships, but the 4, 000 concert-goers who had settled down on the grounds ofFlorida's famous Bok Tower Gardens fo r an outdoor classical music program had no idea what was going on overhead.. . until one of the competitors landed among them.

udging each other and glancing skyward, they were surprised and delighted by this unscheduled evening airshow: Brian Porter, flying a Bright Star Millennium

16

with a rransparenr full fairing, swooped down and landed on the grassy field as the sun was sening. This was neither the first nor the lase happy commocion to be brought on by the ACC, which will surely be remembered as one of the most unusual

and enjoyable contests ever held. T he Wallaby Ranch, moreover, will surely be remembered as one of rhe best places to hold a meet!

"I can't remember the last time I just hung out somewhere for two weeks and flew," remarked Kari Castle after it was all over, as she looked through pictures and reminisced about the preceding days. Shortly before the ACC began, on only her fourth flight over this flat, sandy, tropical peninsula, Castle had flown a Wills Wing Fusion 96 miles, setcing the new women's state crosscoumry record.

She had nor been the only one to score some serious distance. Several local pilots, including Tyso n Richmond, Mike Pleskovich and "Doctor Don" Nettlow, had flights of over 100 miles during the first half of April.

Many personal records were sec.

Most significantly, the Saturday before the ACC began, Mike "Hollywood" Champlin flew 167 miles, breaking the existing stare cross-counrry record (which he had set himself) by a full 20 miles.

And a mere two days before the ACC, Davis Straub of "The O z Report" (hnp:/ /www.halcyon.com /davis/OZ/) flew 121 miles.

So did tl1e ACC live up to mese auspicious signs? ancy Smith, upon being awarded first place in the king-posted glider class (and after offering an entertaining account of her final day's flight that G.W. quipped "lasted longer ch an the flight did") cold the cheering, clapping crowd, "This is the most fun I've had in a long rime!"

And Ramy Yanetz, who rook first in me rigid-wing class, expressed gracitude ro his friends, family, sponsors and supporters, and then told Ranch proprietor and meer hosr Malcolm Jones, "Thank yo u - this is one of the best events I've ever taken part in!"

Of course, not all the omens had been good. The day before the ACC gor underway, visiting pilot Jim Zeiser and local regular Chuck Barton collided less than a mile away from me Ranch. Chuck's Blade Race was literally !iced in half by the force of the impact; Jim's new green Exxtacy suffered considerable damage. Both pilots threw their emergency parachutes, and botl1 landed safely. Luckily for Jim, the Exx:tacy's designer and the company sales support rep were in town for the ACC! Felix Ruehle and Dave Sharp gave Jim's gli der their expert attention as soon as it had been extracted from the swamp where it had come to rest. Gifted and H ANG GLI DING

generous sail-artist Mike "Z" Ziduanis, who was a competitor, drove all the way to his shop in Saint Petersburg and stayed up the whole night sewing and mending, even though he planned to fly in the meet the very next morning. (Now that's sportsmanship!) Observing that, "Mid-airs are rarely a product of the site at which they occur," G.W. Meadows added, "especially this one!"

Indeed, in all the Ranch's years of operation, this was the first time a hang glider's emergency parachute had ever been deployed.

D espite that unfortunate incident, the ACC itself got off to a fantastic start with a triangle task from the Ranch to an intersection just south of the Seminole Lake Gliderport, then to the Fantasy of Flight interactive aviation musewn, and finally back to the Ranch. Out of 47 entrants, 33 made it!

Many people said it was one of the most fun tasks they had ever flown.

Months before, when event organizer and USHGA President G.W Meadows and Ranchmeister Malcolm Jones firs t decided to coordinate their efforts and hold the (hopefully first annual) Atlantic Coast Championships down here at Florida's Wallaby Ranch Hang Gliding Club/Resort/Shrine, they knew that they were attempting something that had never been done before: a national competition that relied solely on aerotugs, and moreover, one in which tl1e tugs were provided. Also, it wo uld be one in which two different classes of gliders - flex wing and rigid wing wo uld compete together in the same tasks, but would be scored differently, with their unique characteristics taken into consideration. But these men were ambitious, they were optimistic, and they were (and are) a bit nuts, and through a mixture of luck, hard work, esprit de corps, experience, charity, and more hard work, their vision became a successful and memorable reality. G .W had been trying for years to make an event like this happen, and at last it was coming together.

There was plenty of action and excitement during the last week of April 1998, as dozens of the country's top cross-country competitors converged on my former stomping grounds to tear up the skies and have a great time.

For those of you who have never been to the Wallaby Ranch, ask someone who has.

It's a place like no other in the hang gliding world, or, indeed, in the world in general.

An island of aerial recreation situated along the "Florida ridge," it's more like a village, in A UGUST 1998

The author at the controls of one of the five Moyes-Bailey Dragonfly aerotugs used at the 1998ACC Photo by Michelle Cook. many ways, than a flight park. It has its own unique culture, and is known for a phenomenon called "Ranch suck," which draws in oucsiders and transforms them into permanent residents!

I was called out of retirement to help with the meet. (I left the Ranch in July of 1997 to become a flight instructor.) No fewer than six aerorugs were in almost constant use while the window was open each day: four Bailey-Moyes Dragonflies, a Flightstar Loadstar and a Cosmos uike. The Dragonfly pilots were Rhett Radford (who is also the chief of maintenance and rowing operations at the Ranch, and the man prin1arily responsible for keeping the fleet aloft throughout me long days of punishing use),

The exotic, mysterious and alluring Rosane Gibson, AKA "Hozuhni, " whose MiddleEastern dancing enchanted competitors and staff after the sun went down. Photo by Austin Collim.

Kerry Lloyd, Roger Sherrod, Carlos Bessa, Tom Ramseur, Jim Pralu, Bobby Bailey and mysel£ Kamron Blevins flew tl1e trike, and Sparky LaMontaine of Flight Star flew his own Loadstar. Matt Taber of Lookout Mountain also provided a tug for the meet, and BiJI Moyes of Moyes Microlites provided one as well. Quest Air offered both their tug and tug pilots, and practically the entire staff of Quest participated in this meet in some capacity.

We had a blast, and thanks to a fantastic ground crew and cooperative hang glider pilots, it was possible to launch approximately one glider each minute. Such efficiency rivals cliff launching, and the other advanrages of aerorowing were certainly apparent. W ind shifts, for example, meant only the relatively minor inconvenience of moving the launch point from on e part of the field to ano ther. And reflights were a snap - provided, of course, that the competitor was able to land back at the Ranch.

(Woe to the pilot who landed one mile away!)

Surface operations were competently orchesuated by field marshals Jones and Glover. Malcolm Jones, of course, owns the Ranch, and David Glover is the training and business manager. Both men are USHGA Advanced Tandem Instructors. Malcolm also served as the Meet's safety director.

The help of many dedicated volunteers was deeply appreciated. Laurie Croft, Lori Sanchez, Dixon Wickner, Jerry Sweet, TJ Beatty, Jayne DePanfilis, Linda Jones, Eric Gurr, Chris G urr, Prior Powers, Bill Moyes, Jim Appleton, Nick Appleton, Bob Emerson, Ken Allen, Bill and Margo Bennett, Jerry Meibos, Scotty Hubbard, Ray Olsen, Mark Henderson, Charlie Wilson, Mike Pleskovich, John Bauer, our new friends PJ and Bob, Sam Marrin, Russ Hodges, Kurt Warren, Woody Jones and Chady Fishalow helped keep things moving briskly and without interruption. Afte1wards, they had nothing bur sunburns, sore muscles and a sense of accomplishment to show for it. Thanks, folks (and my humble and abject apologies ro anyone whose name I left out or misspelled).

And oh, my... the food! We feasted like royalty during this event. Clay Chandler, a printer by trade, took a week off and generously donated his rime and sweat, manning the grill. He knocked off a seemingly neverending current of hamburgers and hot dogs for IW1ch, and all sorts of great grub for dinner each night, served buffer-style. Entrees

17

grove and returned gracefully to earth there. ry, that she could see a After breaking down, Patti hiked three miles truck coming. A scruffy farmer, obvito a locked gate. She knocked on the door of ously rather drunk, a nearby house and was politely invited in.

Mary (a colorful 51-year-old woman who pulled up alongside smokes two packs a day) and her husband her in a rusry, bangedwere waiting for the school bus to bring their up old pickup, and 16-year-old son home. Patti was offered a cigwith a slmred drawl asked her what a pretty arette and a coke and sat down to watch Star girl like her was doing Trek with Mary until the son arrived, and then she got a lift back co the Ranch - not out in the middle of his field. When she on the school bus, of course - that would be cold him, with her illegal. Let's just say she rode on a large yellow French accent, that she vehicle. She returned lacer with her driver, Seven ofthe women ofthe Ranch: Lori Sanchez, Laurie Croft, Patti had landed a hang Buddy, and the guy with the keys to the gate, Cameron, Kari Castle, C/,aire Pagen, Chady Fishalow and Michelle glider "over in that Eddie, met them there. Eddie was a wedding Cook. Photo by Austin Collim. singer, and he gave Patti a free demonstration meadow," he burst out laughing. He gave her a life, and Claire noticed that the floorranged from barbecued of his talent. Some hang glider pilots are chicken to blackened boards were ankle-deep with empty beer lucky enough to be treated kindly by the peogrouper, with plenty of side cans. The farmer explained that he was out ple they meet by accident on out-landings; dishes to flesh out the menu "looking for his cow." He drove her over to a Patti was one of the few to actually be sere- including <lessens. And a place where five of his buddies were sitting naded by one. table filled with snacks and and proudly cold them, One afternoon when the weather was not drinks was open full-time, conducive to cross-coW1try soaring, the staffed by volunteers. This may have gaw1clec was cluown down by Mark "Gibbo" Gibson (designer of me Xcreme) who chalbeen the finest daily dining in the history lenged nvo Exxtacy pilots (Dave Sharp and of hang gliding meets! Denise Lindquist also helped out here, employing her gommet Davis Srraub) to a glide-off Then Ken Brown, hearing of the comest, jwnped in cooking skills to produce a swnptuous batch with his Moyes CSX. So Bobby, Kerry, Carof pasta primavera chat none of us will never forger. los and I did a four-way cow, climbing in a Denise was a ubiquitous figure at the loose wedge formation up to 2,000 feet where we gave our clients a synchronized, ACC, serving as an assistant to the meet director and also as one of the two goal keepsimultaneous release signal and peeled away. ers. She worked as hard as anyone and harder I'm sure the Blue Angels would be deeply Brian Porter in the faired Millennium. insulted ifI made any comparisons, but it than many. Despite the pressure and stress of sure was fun! No design demonstrated a a difficult and demanding job, the plucky "Look what I found!" T hey got in their own Californian never flagged. (She even showed decisive advantage, bur I want co stress that truck and followed as Claire directed her Dennis Pagen a thing or two about how co this was strictly fooling around, not a test take charge.) The other goal keeper was Brad conducted under controlled conditions. farmer friend to the spot where she had left Bloxham, a paraglider pilot from Idaho who Everyone was very impressed, however, by her glider. She was eventually able to get herhas worked with Meadows on past competiself and her equipment back to the Ranch, Continued on page 50. tions. Sitting out there at goal all day - day but for years there will be six country boys after day- can be a thankless role to fill, who will recall the day especially on days when no one makes it! But a pretty girl with a Brad did it. Thanks co Brad and Denise for French accem landed their rime and effort. a hang glider in d1eir "meadow."

Many stories will be cold about the 1998 ACC. Odd encounters Ir was Monday, and the cask was a trianwith locals were comgle course, landing back at the Ranch. mon. On a 70-mi.le (Landing where there is a pool, a hot cub and cask to Crystal River no need to break down is a wonderful with a turnpoinc at thing!) Four miles shore of the second curnQuest Air, Patti point, Claire Pagen foW1d herself rW1ning Cameron realized that out of thermals. She landed in a pasture west she was going to have of Highway 33, disassembled her glider and to find a place co started walking. She called her husband land. She fo und a nice Bill Bennett (left) and Bill Moyes, the "Australian Birdmen, "sharing Dennis on the radio, celling him not to worfield next to an orange memories at Wal/,aby

18

HANG GLIDING

Flyi In

1p

THEHRSTDAY The forecast calls for a very strong day with doudbase at 6,000' and 20-mph winds out of the south. 'This turns out to be inaccurate. Forecasts this month have been accurate, so this is a bit of a surprise. 'fhe winds are half or less of that forecast, and the lifr very iffy as the afternoon OD's and high clouds cut the lifr even more.

With lots of clouds but few wind dummies (and they don't get up), pilots are reluctant to take off at firs.. Felix Ruehle, Exxtacy designer, and our-of:towm:r, gets off early and gets right to cloudbase. lk's cm our team so we hear the news and get going.

It's 2:30 PM, before I my starr photo, the south end of the white hanger here at Wallaby Ranch. Dave Sharp on an is with me, so we head out, again in the first gaggle. We arc almost to the clouds before the start gate and soon thcreafrcr at 6,000'.

With strong lift we do, in fact, have to work a bit to stay om of the clouds.

With seven pilots out in front we work a bunch oflittlc junk before I stumble into strong lifr four miles north of tbc Ranch and find that I have a lot of friends. Right back to cloudbase.

Goal has been called 44 miles out at Coleman, a small town just south of the and Florida Ti1rnpikc int:erscction. There arc lots of swamps between Wallaby and Coleman as well as a prison.

While we get high ar first, we then go on a long glide of ;ibout 10 miles to south of Quest Air 011 the south side of Groveland, before Dave Sharp, Dr. Don and l get the next thermal. 'fo 011r Glen Volk, Slade Mark Gibson and Mike Barber find lifr and get high quickly. We arc now the second gaggle as they head om west of Groveland with Mike Barber ,1 bit behind.

I find a good line and keep an eye on Mike as we bead to the north side of Groveland getting low, but watching a cloud street heading due north. Erick Ribera, the Mexican champion, got om earlier and we catch him climbing slowly on the north side of 50. The day has turned weak.

Those bd pilots to om left ,ire in a bit of' trouble on a bad line and groveling over the swamps. Mike, Erick and I, with Dave and Don now way behind us, work a bit better lift on the cast side of the swamps, but the going is still slow.

Fifteen miles out, Dave Sharp catches us as Mike higher and away to the north.

Dave and I drifr slowly over the prison, with and me hanging ar 1,500'. I hope they don't shoot up.

'The prison is five miles out from Coleman, and we continue drifting toward goal until we arc two miles our at I ,400'. Finally we can see the orange go:1l linc behind the trees and dive to goo!.

Ramy got ,1 bte srart and did well. Brian Porter, Class 2 World Champion on a faired Millennium, started with Dave and me and landed 12 miles from the start gate for l.ast place for the day. four of the seven Exxtacics made goal, and one of t:hc three Millenniums. Jamie Sheldon on her third X-C flight, flying an went 30 miles.

WE GO IN TRIANGLES The forecast calls for 15-mph winds from the south, but we had reports from the earlymorning tandem pilots that the winds were a lot weaker than rbc day before when they were predicted to be 20 mph. Since they rurned our to be a lot wcokcr yesterday, we figure they would be even weaker today.

The forecast lifr index is -4.2 at 6,000', and with lots of widely spaced puffy cu's, starting at around 10:30 J\M, it looks like just another day in paradise. The task committee decides to call ;.i 35-milc triangle. [ want a 60-milc triangle to Quest Air, back to the west end of Dean Still Road, and then to the Ranch. I am 01.11-vored.

Continued on page 22.

i\ucusr 199B

Calendar of evenrs items WI LL NOT be listed if only tentative. Please include cxacr informmion (event, date, contact name and phone number). Items should be received no later than six weeks prior 10 the event.

We request two months lead rime for regional and national rneets.

antecd. Anticipare a minimum of$1t,OOO Canadian prize money. Contact: (250) 5788402, fox (250) 578-8409, Ian Mc/\rdrnr, ianmc@dircct.ca. For detailed information or to register on the Web visit h np:/ /www.intcractive-ad.com/hanggl id ing AUG. 9-23: Women'., World Meet, Hungary. Aug. 9- 13 rraining days, 14-22 contest days, closing ceremonies on the 23rd.

UNTIL DEC. 31: Second Fcdcon X-C Contest. Wills Wing ralcons only. Four sec·· tions: West Coast, West, Central, East.

Prizes in all sections and classes. Hang 2 and up. Three classes: Pro (Hang 4), Amateur (I Jang 3), Recreational (Hang Towing allowed with maximum release alcirude of 2,000'. No enrry send SASE. Contact: Tek Flight Products, Colebrook Stage, Winsted, CT O(i098 (860) 379-1668, fox (860) 738-3630, rek@>sner.net.

AUG 1-3: Western Canadian !Jang Gliding Championship, Golden, BC. X-C racing al Canada's best world-class site, Mount Seven. $30 Canadian enrry foe, includes tra· ditional free Sunday night beer bash.

Individual and learn scoring. Hand--crafrcd trophies and many prizes. Couract: Meet Director JcffRunciman (403) 293-9027 (h), (403) 250-9077 (w), or Meet Coordinator Karen Keller (403) 293--4008, skyward@lcadvision.corn, www .cadvision.con1/skyward/wcc l 99/l.html AUG. 2-9: 1998 Roldcmillo, Colombia,

International ffrmg Gliding ComJ;•etttzo:n.

Conrnct: Gram Smith, tel. 011 fax011 1-629-6474, grantri:iJsmitbscfair.com.co.

AUG. 20-22: 18th Annual World Aerobatic Hang Gliding Championships, Telluride, CO. Big cash prizes, transporrntion to launch, scoring, awards banquet, smoke bombs, Telluride TIC Festival T--shirt i ncludcd in rnrry fee. Practice and qualifying round on Wed., J\ug. 19.

Contacr: ] .co Van Der Bosch (970) 728 · 6972 (eves.), Laf(Zilinfozonc.org.

AUG. 22-23: Speed Gliding W!JGS l!ssociatc Meet, Ed Levin Park, Milpirns, CJ\. Comacr: Adventure Spons (702) 883·· 7070, advspts'2.ilpyramid.nc1, www.pyramid.net/advsprs.

AUG. 5-10: Crmadirm World Cup X-C and S;;eed Gliding events (no cnrry fee), concurrent with the Canadian National I fang Gliding Championships. Pilors should have X-C and mountain flying experience.

Intermediate ratings acceptable. Organizers arc negotiating with Transport Canada and arc confident about a temporary HAGAR exemption for foreign pilots. Marketing inquiries welcome. Television, newspaper, radio and Tnternct magazine coverage guar·-

20

FEB. 14-20, 1999: W!JGS Speed Gliding tmd X-C contrsts, Govcrnador Valadarcs, Brazil. $20,000 prize money. Contact: J\dvemurc Sports (702) 8837070, advsprsv7lpyrarnid.nct, www.pyramid.net/advspts.

UNTIL SEPT. 7: Yosemite National Parle h11ngp,lidrrjlying, every weekend, Memorial Day through Labor Day (sorry, paragliders arc nol permitted in the Park). I 6 pilots per day. Meet at (;bcicr Point 7:00 AM for sign-in and orientation with Site Monitor.

Must show curren1 laminated Hang 4 card. donation. Monitors arc volunteers from rhc Yosemite Hang Gliding Association.

Call the US HCA office (719) 632-8300 for reservations. Contact: Breck Bens (619) ltI3-974J.

SEPT. 6-12: Wl JCS Spec.:d Gliding World Cup, New Zealand. Three days of practice rounds prior to compcrition. Emry fee is $200 (NZ) includes all lift rides. Loads of prizes. Register by sending entry fee to address below. Make payment in NZ dol· Jars to "Somhern Lakes Jbng Gliding and Paragliding Club." Conracr: ( ;coff Dossctor, I ISA Wynyard Cres, Queenstown, New Zealand, (, 64 631 l (phone/fax), (+64 6269 (home), skvtrck(a'xt.ra.co.nz.

SEPT. 19--20: Rosarito l.ip,ht Airshow and AUG. 3-8: lnterr11Jtioncd Masters Gliding. Owens Valley, CJ\ will host a points meet with cash prizes. Both Class 1 and Class 2 pilots will fly from worldrenowned sites like Gunter, Walt's poim and Cerro Gordo. Emry fee is only $95 ($125 afrer July 4, $200 afo.:r Aug. I). To compete at the greatest flying sites in the world contacr: John Ryan (619) 46 I - J 44 l.

application ar I1ttp:/ /i tdcomm .cotn/ trcctoppcrs/i ndcx. htm I, comact Dan Shell at danshdl@blcdsoe.net, (423) 949-6912, or Bruce Hawk at BHawk@Windsok.com.

Masters o/Frcestyle

Gliding Contest.

Acrorow clinic Sept. I 18. Rosarito, Mexico. Free to rhc public. Ultralighrs, skydiving, powered paragliding, barnstorming, more. Contest entry $250, 15 pilots max. [nc:ludes horc:l, judging, prizes, T-shirrs, rnorc. Got an unusual act? Call. Fm acro-rnw clinic info contact: Joe Szalai (818) 3M--] 987. For hotel reservations contact: (800) (619) 498-8230, 011.52.

66 J .. 2-014-4-. For gencr:11 info contact: Aero Events (818) 7 J 5-9631.

OCT. 3-- 11: 'fr:nnessec Tree Toppers Team Chal!engr', Henson's Gap, TN. Competitors classified by with scoring system awarding less .. cxpcricnccd competitors more points for rhc same distance, encouraging teams to assist lcss-·cxpcrienccd members along comse. Maximum 50-pilot f-tdd.

Bruce Hawk, competition director. Get an

UNTIL SEPT. 30: 1998 Official Lakeview, OR/lying ser1.wn. $ J 00 each month h.H the longes1 flight registered from an official Lakeview flying site. $1,000 to the pilot with die grcarcst four-·momh cumulative total for the season (paraglidcr miles doubled). $50 per month random drawing just fi.)r showing up and registering! Beautiful and plentiful flying sites, friendly landowners, good retrieval roads, and flying great enough to set all rhc current Oregon State distance records for HG and PG. Conract: Lake Co. Chamber of Commerce I) 947-6040.

AUG. 7-9: 2ncl!lnnual Hat Creek Rim Fly--!n and sponsored by the BU7:1.ard Roost Gang and the N CPI YA. This site-irnprovemcm fi.md-raising event promises to surpass even lasr year's success.

Guararueed grear time for all. Includes live musical performances, entertaining conrcsts with prizes, and a chance to fly at one of the most scenic sites in Northern California.

Contact: Par Bl:ickburn 604-2765 or Sonny Compton (530) ultimatehigh@hotmail.com or' ['racey Licerio (530) 6042765, 'l'liceriot'.i1lhotmail.com.

AUG. 8: 22nd Am1ur1l 8eside the Lake Hang Gliding lJ20 ],1mding and Full Moon Fever Contest. Paraglider class. Restricted landing area. Advanced rating and insmance HANC CLIDINC

r required.

Canadian. Barbecue, big parry, laughs. Yon've gor to sec it to believe it!

Contact: [ bno Saunders (250) 31t2-03"i'i.

AUG. I

o/thr:

l1iluridr: HtmR

J\11 previous Festival participanrs arc: invited to a rrnnion to cclchratc 2'i years of hang gliding in '\ 'ell mi de, Colorado. ( '.om act: l .uigi Chiarani (970) /28.J)'j25 or the Tcllmidc Air Force, P.O. Box 456, Telluride, CO 81 lt.35.

AUG.21 Mt. Nl'ho Darcfoncllc, Arkansas, now with launches: sourh, cast and om new northeast. Campsites, cabins and sw11111rnr1g pool on top. Potluck cookour eveni11g of' 29th. US! !GI\ Intermediate or Advanced rating required. Contact: Mark Pousrinchian ("iO I) %7-7057, mpousrivilipa.net or 'J 'ony Middlcron's pager ('j() 1) 8 58-070 I. For campsites or cabins c;1ll (50 I) 229-:3655. J:or more info check out ht rp://www.ozrcch.com/ha nggl id in g/

M111mtt1i11 Reunion, Arkansas. Potluck dinner

SEPT.

t1ncl L/,

Sat. Pree cimpi11g,. Come and Jly the great of Arkansas. Contacr: M:irk Stump ('50 I) 63{i-7l)44, msrurnp(roc;;w.cotn, or M:irk Pomrinchian ("iOI) m pousti(a,j pa.net.

SEPT.

Cltzssic

Bishop, CJ\ Remember the good ol' days the Owens. ( :omc tell stories and fly with your old friends. Fu11 compcri1io11 along with prizes, trophies and a good parry out at "Pish Lake Slew." we'll even the Mr. Quern ru1111i11g! [(ari (760) 8727.087, karicastlc(i1lrclis.org.

SEPT. 19,20: Rth !lnmwl Pinr: Mtn. Pinc Mtn., OR. Con!:lct: Raven Young I) 317 ·8.'300.

SEPT. 19.20: Sixth

F!'stivt1!, McConncllshurg, Fly with us as the Capirol Pl\, Region Hang Clidcr Association and the Maryland Jiang Cliding Association hold their 6th J\1mual f lang Cliding Festival. Proceeds benefit the McConncllslmrp, Rescue Squad.

Hrmg

Auc;usr 1997

Events include for.-fun X·C contest, spot· landing, barbecue, more. Hang ll (wirh Observer) through Hang V welcome.

Registration is$ IO in advance, $15 al the f'estival. Contact: (30 I) hnp://www.rnhga.com/l IC l ;est. 98/hgfcsr_ 98.hnnl.

SEPT. 26-27: Chdm1 e'l' Bi!N: Festival.

Compere in both or either. Spot landing comest at Chelan Falls Park, scored on accuracy and landing form. Tcn .. milc bike ride from Chelan Falls Park up l lwy. f ')() to Chelan, across Dan Cordcn bridge and b;ick. Race or enjoy a leisure sightseeing ride. ( ;rear fun flying event. Proceeds bene·· fit Chelan site hmd. For cutry informal ion/registration contact: Chelan Flyers, Marilyn Raines ('509) 687. 2251 or Andrea Mubck lt25-8900. Camping, motels, family recreation av;1ilablc. Mention rhc event and call the ( :hclan Chamber: ! -8004Chclan.

UNTIi.OCT: Dave Sharp and Mike Ill vanous locations throughout North America.

Contact (";09) 925-5565 for scheduling information for your home site.

Clinir, by AUG. 30: raunch and Pat l kncvan. Covers all aspects of lau11ch and landing. Lecture, simulator pr:icr1ce, hillside training. $125. Advance reservations required. SEPT. 16: Parachute Clinic.

Features lecture, video, care and mainte· na11cc, practice deployments, proper mcrhod of stowing lines. or free with chute purchase from MSC. Comact: Mission Soaring Ccnrcr, l I 16 \Xlriglcy Way, Milpitas, CA 9503'5 (near Sa11 Jose), (lt08) 262-1055, fox (408) 262 I :388, mschg<Zilaol.com.

OCT. 2·A: Ortoher'.1 Best Corne to North Carolina's Saurarown Mountain (iir excellent cliff launching and, this year, aero· Sponsored by SM! JGC Show up hiday or earlier in the week. Low .. key com .. petition fratures X-C, duration and spor.. landing, with trophies, cash and prizes. enrry includes 'J'.shin. Novice to Adv;mced. !Zicc 991t-lt377, Mike Comact: Nester (.13Ci) l 11, Vic l.ewcllcn 702.72.. 5:31 (rr\:ompuscrvc.com.

SEPT.·NOV.: "Owens ttt its Best," X-C!ther to the Owens with Kari Two- to nine-day act ,c11,r1111·es.

Private 011e·01H111e flying, guide service and instruction also available. C:onracr: Kari Castle (760) 872-2087, karicastic(iiltclis.org.

OCT. 1(i .. J 8: 111t '.1 Mountain l ftmR 1:xtmvr11111r,•zr1, Clayton, GA. Bring rhc whole 10 our 23rd annual event. $ l ,000/day prize pmsc with no en try fee.

Includcs free barbecue lunch and limited deluxe accommodations, cooking facilities and rnore. 'J 'ransponz1tion from I,'/, to launch without breaking down. Prize com·· petition fiir duration, spot landing, most flights and the famo11s "Mystery Pilot" awards. Includes Tm's exotic animal pre· serve, live cultural demonstrations. C:on tao: Tut's Mui. J.8()().621 ·1768, (706) 782 6218 or Bruce Hawk 212-4994.

NOV. 5-8: Fall '98 //S!JG/1 Bot1rcl of' Directors /ll!ceting, Colorado Colorado, Doublctrec World place as last March). Cont,1ct: 8.300, www.11shga.org.

OCT'. 31-NOV. 1: !lrmur!l Halloween Wmnm '.r for !IC and PG pilots.

Men and women invited. Costumes, camp· flying, beer, potluck. The country's largest fly .. in. Saddle Mountain is a 2,000 · foor-high, :3().milc ridge offering consistently good l'idgc and thermal flying. Contact: l<ristin Janosky (509) 92."i-7.190, or Kristi11 J\rmstrnng ('509) 621i-'i856.

1

OCT. 2J.25: 110/>!l FXPO '98, l\1\m Springs Convention Ccmcr, Palm Springs, CA. Contact: Warren Momingsrnr (.101) 6')5-21 (12, warrcn.morningstar(ttlaopa.org.

NOV. 12-15: Nt1sic!!ldvanced !CP, by Ray Leonard, J\dvcn mrc Carson City, NV. Contact: (707.)

7070.

NOV. 27.DEC. 6, DEC. J 1.20: Chile '9R '/1;ur, by Worldwide Adventure Tours, in rhe Atacama desert. Additional excursion to Patagonia. Contacr: 1 www.fi1n2fly.com.

FEB. 1999: New 7.et1lrmd Tour by \Xlorldwide Adventure Tours. Tl1rcc types from rugged 10 rit'l.y. Contact: I www.fr1n2fly.com.

21

Continued.fi"om page 19.

Patti Cameron, lined uJJ and ready to go. the Xrreme's perfonn;mce, and it is worth mentioning that an Xtrcmc won rhe Acx-wing class, with Mike Barber flying.

On another d,1y, several of the women who were working ground crew decided LO carry ollt their duties cbd in ba1hing snits and/or shon, brightly colored, skin-tight dresses photo), That, in and of itself, left an indelible impression in rhe minds of numerous competitors. "Only at the Ranch," people were heard to say, grinning and shaking their heads.

On the last day of rhe meet no one made goaL No one, that is, except the great Larry 'Ti,dor, who once again lived up to his repu· tation as an amazing cross--connrry pilot. He flew 48 miles, landing at River Ranch, '] 'here were adventures and misadven-tures, One pilot h:1d ,1 streak of bad luck and needed Ave tows in a row to gel ahove a thousand fccr. (I won't mention his name let's just say rhar his attempts ro ger airhornc went "awry.") He Anally did make it up and out, thanks to our hero, Carlos Bcssa, tug pilot cxtraordinairc, Fallen friends were remembered during this event. I\ silent auction was held ro benefit Carla Howe, the widow of Roh Flowe, who, as many of you know, was killed in an accidcnr during rhe East Coast Championships last year. I\ hang glider, paraglidcrs, harnesses, a CPS, radios and other cquiprncnt were sold, raising over $6,000, The silent auction was organized by Linda Jones and David Glover. C.W. Meadows imro-duccd a new trophy which he created as a memorial rrihure 10 his friend Jeff Meyers, a hang glider pilot whom G.W taught to fly in J 990. Meyers, who died in a hang gliding accidcnr during the Paragliding Nationals last year (the accident was 1mrclated to the competition), worked as a scorekeeper fr)r many meCLS directed by c;,w, The trophy is to honor those who spiral down to assist a Continued on page 50.

22

Continuedfrom JJage 1.9.

The task is to first go northwest 12 mi.les to the intersection of Highway 33 and 474 (the closest paved roads to the north and west of Wallaby), then turn against the wind due south down 33 to the Fantasy of Flight theme park for 14 miles, and then crosswind par·· ,illeling I-4 back to Wallaby. , , •, Around J :00 PM a blue hole opt,ns up over Wallaby and no one IS gettmg up. I he con· rcstants just wait in the hot sun for one set of clouds on either side ro drifr over to us. At 2:00 PM everyone wants to go all at once. T'hey get all of us off in than an hour.

With lots crf trikes tugs, Bobby Bailey and Kamron Blevins, and the regular Ranch tug pilots, this zings. Pilots on carts, get everything ready, and arc yanked up bs than a minute apart: all in one lane.

Lifr is spotty at the start gate (the Ranch) and we all /fail about for about an hour before getting our start gate photos. Robin Hamilton, Mark Bennett and Chris Arai keep complaining about not getting high, and don't get their photos untiJ 3:30 PM. Dave Sharp, Jim Lee and I going at about the same 3:00 PM, and Hy th1; ''"""""11,,, the wbole way. are a fow f<)lks out on the course already, so we have hop. plentifol and strong. Mark Gibson on an . and.Jim Zeiset and Tyson Richmond on arc out in the first Mike Eberle, U.S. distribu:· tor .for Flight is our driver. He is out in front us reports on the conditions l O miles up the course.

Larry 'fodor, on a Laminar is with us and I get a to climb up in a thermal from a fow foct below him to his level. 'rhe with me on it has about a 40-60 fpm better sink rate than Laminar ST with me on it. Lots of pilots are stuck ar the first turnpoint in the shade, but Larry and I get high bd<:H·e getting there and I am able to punch out in front to th<: south over the dry, sunlit fields.

Jim Lee is there in a Fnskm and .is climbing well with Dave Sharp and Ryan Glover right bd~>w. l up with Jim, who climbs extremely well. Dave and 1 arc later able to form a of Jim sandwiches in therrnals, but I am never able to dirnb away from him. worlmii;; south along fljghway 3.3 into the JO-mph headwind we find plenty oflifr. miles imt from· the Fantasy of Flight park we all go on glide together. and I are able to significantly out-glide Jitn to the turn point, Stil!, we have to join Jim .in thermal behind the turn.point to get high for the final ninc"mile glide back to Wallaby: Dave and I head om at 5,500' following Jin1 for a blazing run to Wallaby. Goal has never so good. Everyone loves coming back to the Ranch no need to down the Ffcre's an of what it .is like after the second round: Mark Gibson is the first back to goal an eady start, with 'Tyson and not far behind him.Jim Dave Sharp and] arc able to come in soon after them. Robin, Mark and Chris, with their late start and all their compl.aining, find themsdves in the position. ·f'hey can stay under a cloud and not have to turn, going from the start to the first turnpoirit, Given rhis good start they are able to blaze out on the course.

Most of the pilots (33) goal lots of happy people. There is a barbecue dinner at the Ranch every night at 7:00 PM, so everyone will want to come back. Thfa meet is killing us.

Unfortunately, Felix must fly b,ick w Germany tomorrow.

OUT BUT NO RETURN

What's with this Plorida weather? We first call an out-and-return to (~uest Air and then dark clouds show up to the cast of the Ranch, so in order to out-run them we call a task w the west, I 6 miles to the end of Dean Still Road and back to the Ranch. But, it is not to be, About 15 of us take off and only Nancy Smith, who off early after Campbell at the Ranch under overcast Bowen, up and out of Wallaby. The rest: of us land skies, we wait 20 minutes.

Boom dme and we're back up to 4,800' at .3: 15 PM, 45 minutes before the launch window closes. Most folks leave as soon as they get high and arc rewarded with good lift Continued on J>age 50.

Hi\NC CLIDINC

. ."""',!,\.4~-J'·

.i-! #/!;.!ll-:J..~111 i y'I

'-:.-r."l"l~ """l": ,,_...._ ,-4 ; . ,.,> ... J #

Bobby and Chris Wills were pioneers in the sport of hang gliding. Chris was the first US. National Champion, in 1973, and his brother was runner-up. The next year their positions were reversed In subsequent years the two made the movie Skyriders (with such pilots as Dean Tanji and Chris Price) and just before he was killed, Bobby became the U S. , British and Canadian champion. The Wills brothers founded a company called Sport Kites in the early 1970 's which later became Wills Wing.

Bettina Gray has

been one of hang glidings p reeminent photographers since the early 1970's, and her countless artistic photographs have graced the pages ofGround Skimmer and Hang Gliding since that time. She has also been one of the sport's most enthusiastic supporters, and founded the Gray Prize fo r excellence in hang gliding journalism. - Ed

I

~j

At

Torrey Pines · ·· · ·· · · ·· · ·· · · ·· · · ·· ·· · · ·· · ·· · · ·· · ·· ·· · · · · ·· ·· · · ·· ·· by Maralys Wills ·· ·· ·· · ·· ·· ·· ·· ·· ·· · ·· ·· ·· ·· ··· · ·· ·· ·· ·· ·· · ·· · ··· · ·· ··

O U ARE COM ING

TO TORREY Pines, aren't yo u? O n Sunday, June 28?"

T hat's how our hang gliding friends p ut it when they called us fro m th ree parts of the country - Bobby from Ki tty Hawk Kites in N orth Carolina, Bill Bennett from Torrey Pines, and Mike Meier from W ills W ing in O range, Cali fo rnia. We gathered this was going to be something special, a day we wouldn't want to miss. In their voices we heard mysterious hints, overtones that suggested we'd be revisiting old m emories maybe more of them than we expected.

And so m y son, C hris, and I gathered as many W ills as we could find and we went back to Torrey Pines. And I remem bered , as we drove up, th e way it 24

MaraLys Wilis addresses the crowd alongside Bobby Wilis' son Brandon (holding the Rogallo Award), and Chris Wilis, now an orthopedic surgeon. Photo by Gil Dodgen.

H ANG GLIDING

looked the first time I ever saw ic.

Through a misty veil of 24 years, I fought my way back and stood once more on chat windswept shelf of land. We were all very young then, or so it seems now, and che cliff seemed yo unger too harsher, tougher, more dramatic.

Swept by a fierce wind whose mood was wild and capricious, the cliff had an attitude - a kind of Heachcliff of flying si ces.

The place gave us no quarter. On that pose-storm day, the gale blew dire into our faces and whipped our hair into our eyes and scraighc out from our heads.

The dire and sand kept pushing us back, bur none of us considered leaving, not with our oldest son, Bobby, and Chris forging coward the edge and Bobby, at least, hell bent on setting up his kite, determined co take the winds head on and see what he could do.

Oh, the desolate look of the place ...

At first nobody was there but our family, and we, the uninitiated parems, simply stood and gaped, unsure what co expect.

Hang gliding was new then, with Torrey Pines mostly unlmown except to conventional glider pilots; the few hang glider pilots who knew of it considered the cliff forbidding and inhospitable.

My h usband, Bob, and I brushed sand out of our eyes and kept a grip on our younger children and stared at Bobby. Even C hris scared at Bobby - Chris being the brother with good sense. What Bobby had was a kind of fierce, singleminded daring and an accicude that sized up che cliff and the stormy air and his own skills and concluded chat flying was what he'd come for and flying was what he'd do.

Gradually ocher bys tanders arrived, and like us, they simply gaped. Ignoring us all, Bobby assembled his kite, talked Chris through the process of holding him down by the wires, and suddenly whoosh - he was up! Straight up!

W ithout warning or preliminaries. Up! A UGUST 1998

Joe Greblo regales the assembled crowd with hang gliding anecdotes from yesteryear. Photo

by WA . "Pork" Roecker.

And chen higher still. As though an unseen being had grabbed his kingpos c and hauled him up. I'd never seen anything like it.

And so Bobby flew back and forth in the rising currents, facing the corm clouds, with a turbulent sea and uncertain sun a backdrop co his winged silhouette. And Bob and I forgot everything - wind, din and sand - and simply looked.

The day became more dramatic.

After a while Chris flew too, and now two ki tes criss-crossed the sky above us.

And then more people came and Bobby landed and began talking co the spectators, and first

thing we knew he'd put on a different swing seat. And suddenly he had a passenger! And chen another. And now people lined up and go t out their wallets, and for five dollars a ride Bobby was soon runnin g the world's smalles t airline.

And none of us expected any of it.

Least of all, Bob and I. one of this is what I saw a few weeks ago, in June, 1998. I swear, it's now a different cliff Softer, slopier, more gradual, gen der co the feet, covered with grass. This can't be

Bitt Bennett, event organizer and patriarch of the sport, with hang gliding photographer e.xtraordinaire Bettina Gray.

Photo by Gil Dodgen.

25

Left to right: Chris Wills, Brandon Wills, Mara!ys Wills and Dean Tanji. Photo by Ci/Dodgen.

the spot where they launched all those years ago; the contours can't have changed that much. At any rate, the wind was soft, the dirt gone. Torrey Pines had become Atticus Finch. Cultured, mannered, civilized. Adorned with a building. And even a bathroom!

The sky looked different too. On the day we were there it was filled with paragliders, those rounded loops of silky-looking fluff, with pilots dangling gently, blowing across the sky like so many brightly-colored dandelions.

Okay, so the wind wasn't that good for hang

gliders. But I suspect on a windier day these bright, airborne seeds would still be out there, pouffing along.

Unlike our first visit, the slope was bustling with people and a party-going mood prevailed. Suddenly we began seeing faces that spanned the years, pilots we'd known from way back, all the way back to the early 1970's.

One of our earliest dealers, Joe Greblo, was there, with wife Kris. And he's still a Wills Wing dealer... who hasn't gained a pound!

We saw Bill Bennett, of

Chris Wills, the first US. National Hang Gliding Champion and brother ofBob Wills. Photo by WA. "Pork" Roecker.

26

course; it was he who made the day happen. One can only guess at how many phone calls he must have made, how many arms he gently rwisted. If there's anyone to thank above all, it's Bill - now more than ever the patriarch of the sport.

There were so many others: Eric Fair, now a social worker; Mike and Linda Meier (who, together with Steve Pearson and Rob Kells have made Wills Wing the largest country on the hang gliding map); Gil Dodgen (still a one-man publishing company); and then ... Pork! Who could forget a name like that? Even in the early days when he came into our shop I never knew his real name. Just Pork.

There was Roy Haggard, Dave Jebb, Dean Tanji (remember how weird Tanji looked as a woman in Skyriders? And the grimace he got from his wife, Sue?), Reggie Jones (who once jumped out of a moving truck rather than finish a ride up a mountain with Bobby), Tom Price, Rich Pfeiffer (whose name I saw forever on championship lists), Scott Weiner, Jerry Katz, Sally Graham.

Anne Marie Dowdall told me stories - that her husband, Michael, had once set a time-aloft record at Telluride. It was rwo and a half minutes!

For the first time ever I met Dave Cronk, a name I'd rucked away in my subconscious from the earl iest days, he of the original Quicksilver. He had strong memories of one of us - not me.

He seems to recall my husband, Bob, and his vociferous support of Wills Wings over Quicksilvers. How long ago and how trivial those rivalries now seem.

I wish I'd known Dave then. He's really a good guy.

Eerie feelings came whistling back when I talked to a white-haired Dave Kilbourne. For me, as an author, it was sort oflike running into Shakespeare.

His was such a renowned name in our flying past, Dave, so much the innovator and pioneer. I was awed. My Lord. KilHANG GLIDING

down tubes!

WIiis Wing Pac Air UP

''I/1c Origirud"Joncs, Bettina gmnr:ldaughtcr Megan f,iscomb. Photo by \.V.11. "Por/;:" Roccl<cr.

Laminar

uuu1t,•,,

bourne! I'm sure we've met before. 1 Sl!S·· pect I was star strnck then, too.

And Bettina Cray. How many picrnrcs of hers did l beg, borrow, steal, and maybe even pay for, for my early books.

Who could imagine om sport unrccord-· ed by Benina Cray! Now, in 1998, I saw her from a distance and thought, That can't be her. She's ... wow, she's too young!

Why were we there, then? Certainly not ro fly hang gliders, fen nobody I'd known from the past seemed to be set· ting 11p. Like old army buddies, llOlle us were doing wars any more, just shootI he breeze.

I lad these pilots and their families really come from all over ro sec rhc Wills family and Bcnin,1 Cray get awards? I'd love ro think so for that seemed to be the central idea of the afternoon. With eloquent speeches from Bill Bennett and Joe Creblo, Chris and I, and Bobby's Brandon, stood ro receive a Rogallo Award for the family's contributions to the sport. Nearby, Chris's wife, Betty-Jo, stood and smiled and should have been up there with rhc rest of us, for surely she has spent as many hours on the hill and c:irccned up and down as 1n;iny mountain roads as anyone.

Bettina Cray graciously received her

or

:,on,

Auc;us1 199H

accolades and award, once more part of the group she'd been such an essential part of for all those years. Surely rherc wasn't an old--rimer present who hadn't bid his flying imrnonalizcd in a photograph.

Afrer the presentation, Chris Wills looked out at the spccrators and, with his familiar crap-eating grin, said, "You're all so ... old!" In keeping with the new Torrey Pines, the day ended with an ekganr supper rolled sandwiches, and yes, fresh shrimp!

Like bad pennies, we Wills seem ro keep coming back. As we were leaving, Sally Graham paid me the ultimate com· plimc111: "Mrs. Wills ... you're a stable thing in a flyaw;1y world."

Blanks.

shipping

involuerncnt in the Jport of a hrml cover tttllcr:l H ighcr

UJhich is rl of the trr1w:tlie.s and Since it et/me out in f 992, the boo!< had fr!Ur Copies r1re rwmlablc j;-;r jm·fu,dnw sh1j;pingfimn: Mrzm!ys 1.)(lills, 18 I I Beverly Glen /);'., Srmtr, Ana, C!1 92705.

Ed.

27

flRlJCE RHYMES

Rcgion4 DOOI JTT[ Ii, JIM: I ,iitlcron, CO; B. Guderian/ Airtime Above YOCOM, JAMES: Littleton, CO; J. Tmjillo Region 7 AMORDE, WILLIAM: Superior, WI; R. l\rnwn/Qt1cst Air DEWEY, WILLIAM: Colt1mhus, Ml; N. I .cimow/Hying Adventures Region 8 BORGENICHT, FRED: Dover, MA; D. Clover/Wallaby Ranch Region 10 FlFLDS, SHERI: Panama lkh, Fl.; l ). (;Jover/Wallaby Ranch MYERS, JAV: Panama ( :iry Bch, FL; D. Clovcr/Wallahy Ranch ST JOHN, PAMELA: Chapel I !ill, NC; D. c;Jovcr/Wallaby Ranch WIRRICK, MIC! JAEl .: Miami, FL; M. Joues/Wallaby Ranch

Region I BELL, JASON: Federal Way, WA; B. l\olosky/NWIC EWING, JAMES: Mc ( :hard Afb, WA: R. Wclllm1m KINCi\fD, STEPHEN: Scanlc, WA; B. llolosky/NWlC MUECKE, SAMMI: Chehalis, WA; R. Muecke/Far lJp HC Region 2 DICK, MICHELLE: East Palo Alm, CA; G. Andronaco/Bcrkelcy HC; MACOR, WALT: Livermore, CA; A. Mclean/Mission MARMORSTEIN, DIANA: Richmond, CA; G. Andronaco/Bcrkdcy HG MASURA, PAUL: I.ivcrmorc, CA; P. Dcneva11/Mission SO, HEE: E Palo Alm, C:A; c;. Andromco/Bcrkdcy I JC Region 3 ANGST'EN, GREG: J .os Angeles, CA; S. D0naln1c/Advcnmrcs Unlimircd EPPEIHEIMER, CHUCK: San Diego, CA; S. Stackable/Torrey Pines Glider i'ort HOFFMANN, MARK: Carlsbad, CA; R. McKrnzic/High Advcnrurc

Region 9 NULL, DEBBIE: Alum Creek, WV; C. Thorcson/Lookom Mm FP WIT .COX, CHUCK: Rcsron, VA; S. Wcndr/Blue WOOD, GARY: Blacksburg, VA; J. Richardson/l.ookour Mtn FP Region JO BASSTffT, ROBERT: Meridian, MS; C. Thorcson/1.ookom Mtn FP BERNIER, STEVE: l lead, NC; l'. Vcnesky/Kirry I lawk Kires BRANUM, JAMIE: Chattanooga, TN; C:. Thorcson/1.ookom Mtn FP CAMPBELL, ClIRTS: Smirhvillc, TN; C. Tlrnrcson/l.ookour Mtn FP CARLSON, GRANGER: I lead, NC; D. Haber/Kitty l lawk Kircs FIELDS, SHERI: Panama Bch, Fl.; D. Clovcr/Wallahy Ranch HAGBERG, ERIC: Dccarnr, CA; C. Thorcson/Lookour Mm Ff' HENDERSON, MARK: W Palm Beach, FL; M. Jones/Wallaby Ranch HlJDDI.ESTON, BRYAN: Nashville, TN; C. Thorcson/l.ookom Mtn Fl' LUNN, STEVEN: Chattanooga, TN; C. Thoreson/I .ookout Mm Fl' MTT .LER, MICHAEL: Signal Mm, TN; C. Tl10rcsm1/l.ookout Mt n Fl' MILLER, MORICE: Faycrvillc, GA; C. Thorcson/Lookom Mm FF MORGAN, STEPHEN: Fairfield Glade, TN; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mm 1:p MURDOCK, SUSAN: Chattanooga, TN; C. Thoreson/I.ookom Mtn FP MYERS, JAY: Panama lkh, Fl.; D. (;Jover/Wallaby Ranch PROCTER, JR, DONAI.D: Boynton Beach, Fl.; J. Tindle/Miami TIC SHROPSHIRE, JAMES: TN; C:. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP ST JOHN, PAMH.A: Chapel I Jill, NC; D. ( ;Jovcr/WaliJby Ranch 'fHOMPSON, BOBBY~ Conyers, CA; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP WIRRICK, MICHAEL: Miami, FL; M. Jones/Wallaby Ranch Region 11 RHEMAN, TOM: I TX; P. Bums/Amlin THRASHER, PAUL: Houston, TX: C. Tlioreso11/l ,ooko11t Mm FP TIEVA, MARTIN: Harker I lcighrs, TX; F. Burns/ Austin Airsports Region 12 GIi J .ARD, JERRY: J:im, AE;]. I'm hi/Quest Air GRAHAM, WADE: New York, NY; G. Black/Mountain HFTMAN, CHAD: Fast Brunswick, NJ; C Thorcson/Lookom Mm Fl' KOLLIGS, MARY ELLEN: Middletown, NY; D.S. Jewell/Fly High HG REMlJND, RICHARD: New York, NY; C. Thorcson/J.ookour Mm Fl'

Region 4 BROWN, SILAS: Prescott, AZ; R. Richardson/Arizona I-JG

Region 2 BLOOME, CORY: San J,rancisco, CA; D. Yount/Mission BUR.CHER, HARRY: Capitola, CA; D. Yount/Mission Soaring CARI SON, ERIC: San Bruno, CA; D. Yonnr/Mission HERBERTSON, STFVEN: Beale Afh, CA;(;. Hamilron/Sacrnmcnro J 1(; KIESLING, THOMAS: Mo1·gan Hill, C:A; D. Yount/Mission

Region 6 MORGAN, JOE: Kirksville, MO; C. Thorcson/Lookour Mm FP

FOUT'CH, JOHN: Sama Ana, CA; K. Harrison/Adventures Unlimited

Region 3 HOFFMANN, MARK: Carlsbad, CA; R. McKenzie/High Advcnmrc

Region 7 Adventures DEWEY, WILLIAM: Columbus, Ml; N. I KUBIAK, ANDREW: Minneapolis, MN; J. Rid1anlson/Loolmm Mtn FP Region 8 AlJCT.AlR, SR, DONALD: Wcarhcrsficlcl, VT: D. Hm:rcr!M.on,in:,1,sirlc FP BORGENICHT, FRED: Dover, MA; D. c;lovcr/Wallahy Ranch GUERIN, JOHN: N Andover, MA; I).

Pl'

2B

Region Ii BROWN, SlLAS: Prescott, AZ; R. Richardson/Arizona [JC LONGSHORE Ill, GEORGE: Steamboat C:O; C. t,aug11rnan I Urnh MtnllC MEYERS, MARK: Morrison, CO; M. Windsheimer/ Airtime Above TANGORA, MIKE: Denver, CO; M. Windsheimer/Airtime /\hove

HANC CIIDINC

(,

MORGAN,

Kirksville, MO; C:. Thoreson/1.ookour Mtn Fl'

Region 6 HARRELL, PAUL: Springdale, AR; T. Middleton/Soaring

7 KUBIAK, ANDREW: Minneapolis, MN; J, Ricl1ardso11/Looko11t Mm 1:p

Region 7 TI IEEKE, MICHAEL: Manirou Beach, Ml; N.

Region 8

Region 8 BORGEN!CHT, i:R.ED: Dover, MA; D. c;Jovcr/Wallaby Randi MALEC, TERRY: Lowell, MA; D. Baxter/Morningside J:I'

BORGEN!CHT, 1:RED: Dover, MA; D. c;Iovcr/Wallaby !Za11cl1 CRAWFORD, GREG: Providence, RI: R. Baclm1an/I<i11y I lawk Kites HANLON, GREG: l .eominstcr, MA: J. Fl' 9 GATEWOOD, JIM: Chesapeake, VA; R. Bachm:m/Kitry l hwk Kites PYLE, CHUCK Mclean, VA; J. Middlcron/Silver MI); J. Middlcron/Silvcr RENO, FDWARD: < WOOD, GARY: VJ\; J. lfo:h:mlson/1.ookout Mrn Fl' IO

BAKER, ROBBIN: l .akcland, FL; J. Prahl/Q11esr Air BASSFTT, ROBERT: Meridian, MS; C Thores011/Lookom Mm Fl' BONNELi., GARY: Atlanta, GA; C:. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn H' BRANUM, JAMIE: Chattanooga, TN; C. Thorcson/Looko111 Mrn Fl' CAMPBEL!., Cl IRIS: Smithville, TN; C. Tl1orcson/l.ookot11 Mui FP GREEN, BYRON: Raleigh, NC; C:. Thorcson/1.ookom Mtn Fl' HAGBERG, ERIC: Decatur, CA; ( :. Thorcso11/l.ookorn Mm 1:p I !ENDERSON, MARK: W Palm Beach, FL; M. Joncs/W:dlahy R:111cl1 HOWELL III, JOI IN: Trenton, ( ;A; C. Thorcson/l .ooko1n Mrn Fl' I IUDDLFSTON, BRYAN: Nashville, TN; C:. Thoreson/1.ookour Mtn Fl' LUNN, STEVEN: C:ha11anooga, TN; (:.Thoreson/Lookout Mrn Fl' MILT.ER, MURI CF: Fayctvillc, CA; C. Thoreson/l.ookoti! Mrn Fl' MORGAN, STEPHEN: Fair/1dd (;Jade, TN; C. Thorcson/1.ookout Mm Fl' MYERS,JAY: Panam:1 ( Belt, FL; D. Clover/Wallaby Rane!, NICHOLS, BO: Creer, SC:; C:. Thorcson/Looko111 Mm Fl' PROCTER, JR, DONALD: Boynton Beach, l'I.; J. Tindle/Miami HC; RIVERA, STEP! IEN: Carolina, PR; K. Salko/Tcam J IC WIRRICK, MIC! IAFL: Miami, FL; M. 11 ORFORD, IJONEL: I louston, TX; I'. Bmm/Austin

T!EVA, MARTIN: I larker I

TX; F. Bums/Austin

12

FERRARI, FREDERICK: Flemington, NJ; M. Ranch GILLARD, AF,; J. Prahl/Qrn:st J\ir REMUND, RICHARD: New York, NY; C:. Tlrnreson/1.ookom Mtn Fl'

Region ALLEN, TIMOTHY: Fremont, C:J\; D, Joncs/WOR BRUNS, ROBERT: Sacramento, ( :A; M. Vorhis WIMER, JOHN: l Ial/' Moon Bay, C:A; J'. C:odwin/Wcstcm I IC;

Advenrnres

9 BUCKI.FY, MICHAEL: Baltimore, MD; S.

DlJIJ.AGHAN,JAMES: Alexandria, VA; S. Kinsley GREGOR, JANEi': Washington, DC:; J. McC :,1rty Region 10

DE STEPHENS, EI.IZABETH: Cainesvillc, Fl.; J. Prahl/Quest Air MOS! !ER, JR, CTIARLES: Chapel Hill, NC; D. (;!over/Wallaby Ranch Pf CARD, MARTIN: Tampa, FL: M. Jones/Wallaby Ranch RAMOS, I.\JIS: J\rl:m1a, CA; M. Taber/Lookour Mrn Fl' SANTOS, REY: Rio l'icdras, l'R; IZ. l Spirir I IC TORRl•:S, ALBERTO: Carolina, l'R; R. I lastings/Team Spirit I IC VELEZ, GEOVANNY: Lares, PR; R. I lasti11gs/Tca111 Spirit I IC Region 11 WOLFF, I >YLI\N: Mcrairic, I .A; J. Prahl/Q11est Air 12

DE VII.BISS, WAYNE: Matawan, NJ: M.Joncs/Wallahy Ranch VAN DEN DORPEL, New York, NY: C. Black I Moumain

Region 1 EDRIS, RITA: Seattle, WJ\; B. McMi1111/Paci/Jc NW I IC

3 BROWN, ROBERT: Sama Barbara, C:J\; T.

IIC

1 CORTEZ, STFVF: Allmq11crq11c, NM; J. RILEY, MARK: Phoenix, AZ; J.

JAMESI.EE,JR CRJ\JG AUSTIN DOUG JOTTNSON THOMAS H)RT FERNANDO GONZALES

:, MACKIN, Cl IRISTIAN: Dana Point, C:J\; I<. I larrison/ Advenrun's Unlimited

It MARTIN, DUSTIN: Phoenix,/\'/.; J. Reynolds/Phoenix 11c; SMITH, REX: 1'11cblo, CO; R.

Aucusr 199B

29

8

Windspons International ............................................ 5 Lake Elsinore Sports ................................................... .4 Arizona Hang Gliding Center ..................................... 4 Austin Air Sports ............................... .

Berkeley Hang Gliding .............................................. .4 Rocket City Airsports .................................................. 4 Silver Wings ............................................................... .4 The l~agle's Wings Hang Gliding ................................ .4 l;lyit1g Adventurcs ........................................................ 3 Raven Sky .................. 3 Wasatch ................................ 3 Arizona Airfoils ........................................................... 2 Eagle Airsports ............................................................ 2 Far Up Hang Gliding .................................................. 2 Fly Away Hang Cliding ............................................... 2 HG PG School of Oregon ........................................... 2 High Aclvemurc......................... .. ............................. 2 Maryland School of Hang Gliding .............................. 2 Rainy Day Jiang Gliding ............................................ 2 Susqucharma Flight Park...... .. .................................. 2 Valley Forge Hang Gliding .......................................... 2

9 9 RANK SCHOOL ............................................ BEG!NNFR

9

Lookout Mountain Flight Park .................................. 63 Wallaby Ranch .......................................................... 28 Kitty Hawk Kites ...................................................... 17 Ii Mission Soaring Center ............................................. 15 5 Miami Hang Gliding ................................................. 13 6 Morningside Flight Parle ........................................... ]() Adventures Unlimited ................................................. 8 '1 8 Berkeley Hang Cliding ................................................ 6 8 Team Spirit Hang Gliding ........................................... 6 C) Lake Elsinore Sports .................................................... 5 NW!C ........................................................................ 5 9 C) (~ucsr Air .................................................................... 5 Wasatch .... 5 9 l O Austin Airsports ......................................................... .4 10 Boringuen Airtime ..................................................... .4 10 Fly High Hang Gliding .............................................. .4 JO My Away I fang Gliding .............................................. .4 10 Flying Adventurc ........................................................ .4 10 Mou11r:1in Wings ........................................................ .4 10 Mountain West Hang Gliding .................................... .4 I 1 Arizona Hang Gliding Center ..................................... 3 11 for Up Hang Gliding .................................................. 3 11 Sacramento Hang Gliding ........................................... 3 11 Silver Wings ................................................................ 3 11 The Eagle's Wings Hang Gliding ................................. 3 11 Western I fang Gliding ................................................ 3 11 Windsports Internarional ............................................ 3 12 Evolucion .................................................................... 2 ]2 HG PG School ofOregon ........................................... 2 I 2 High Advemurc .......................................................... .2 12 Raven Sky ............................. 2 12 R.ocket City Airsports .................................................. 2 12 Soaring Wings ............................................................. 2

C)

2 3

9 9 9 10 10 IO 11 1I

11 11

11 II lI 11 11 11

RankingJ were compiledfrom published in 1998 issues ofllang Gliding »w,Tn'7,n

RANK SCHOO!, ................................................. NOVICE 2 3

Ii 5 6 6

'1 8 8 8

30

Lookout Mountain Flight Parle.......... .. .................. '51 Wallaby Ranch .......................................................... 23 Miami Hang ................. 21 Mission Soaring Cemer ............................................. 19 Kitty Hawk Kites ...................................................... 11 (2_uest Air .................................................................... 9 Team Spirit Hang Gliding ........................................... 9 Aini me Above rfang Gliding ...................................... 6 Boringuen Airtime ...................................................... 5 Go ... Hang Gliding ...................................................... 5 Morningside Flight Park.. ............................................ 5

• • •

•

in your pocket. Instant accurate Measure wind or air to 95 MPH. Wind max and average modes. Knots, MPH, KPH, FPM, M/S and Beaufort scales.

Rugged construction, protective slip case.

Large clear digital display. mm,~ l!lt:UJJ.oo Waterproof, floats. mall 1·S1l10•;a1-a112d User-replaceable impeller & battery. i ·year warranty.

........................................·-··· ......_ ..........................- ..............................................................,_..._ .. _ ...,.........- ....... ,... - ...............................- ....J HANC CUDINC

http: //www.icaro2000.com E-Mail: staff@icaro2000.com

Same flights with altitude stretched, using "scaling" software feature.

Same flights using the "fog" orfade-with-distance feature.

· ·-

Zoomed in (close up).

Zoomed in (partially close). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

10 f1lt1·1

L The "3D Filter Wizard" is used for filtering out bad data points or glitches in the flight data resulting from radio interference or bad CPS reception.

34

MrilMedhude

r,;;m;;; j 820/58,t9 II

MnlM•V-

j -1692/1771 llhm

G!e«Ci-dtOUU.

~-,

,l-.g.Gru.Cidt.Grairdspeed~nic:,t,

20 T111o.in:.

j24U3 ...

A-.g2DT111~

~--

The "Properties" dialog which contains Great Circle distance caLcuLations, minimax vario (climb rate), minimax altitude and more.

Begri by haci,g doM'I the 'tll.ACK" tuton located Ot'i

the G1.!(nCS CCl'll) ri I.Ni the meru seieen appe4111 Thlrltalo¥fthe11e9shtedbe6ow-

1.) Oiooie · :A.I.I)( MENU' 2.) 0 - , 'BAROGRAPH' ll Ocose · 'BAAOGRAftl 2: MENU' t I 0.0.:- · 'PRINT FLIGHT'

5.)Selecclhelwj'lll'Ul'ceirlodoori»d

6.) Cmose - fflltn TRACE' 7) Choose· 'COMPUTER' to Stell

"Download Wizard" usedfor downloading flight data from the BaLL Graphics Comp.

H ANG GLIDING

I I p E

Ii L

F L l

\/V\

E

IE W

by Dennis Pagen ang gliding can he a lonely sporr.

Even though you can occasionally wave to a buddy or yak on the radio, you arc essentially up there making all your own decisions and experiencing your own Jin le Then, afrcr you land, other pilots want ro talk about their /lights, not yours. Need we mention your signiflca!H other, who significantly wants to talk ahout anything hut flying? Until now.

With the help of die 31).f.'\ightJlroTM program you can now display your flight in three dimensions and color 011 your computer screen. You cm even pur your friend's flight on at the same time to sec wbo wcnr where and how rl1cy fared, so naturally your friends will be as interested in your flight as theirs.'\ 'he color graphics display, with its flight volume cube :111d thin line recording all the twists and turns of your flight, is so interesting that even your non-flying loved ones will want 10 see what you've done. If you're in one of' those rare, blissful arrangcmcnrs where your "other" is your driver, you cm involve rhcm even more, since they can identify parr of the fligl11 which they witnessed from the ground. The 31}-FlighrPro lcrs you flnally answer those ancient philosophical questions, such as: Who got the high·· est? Why did I lose that thermal? I low much was my drifr? Did I /ind the house thermal? What level produced my fastest climbs? Did I glide a straight course? Etc., c1c. The ability 10 get answers to these questions and more makes the 3D-l:Jigh1-Pro a valuable lc:1rning rool.

THE CRE/\TION 'T'he 3D-Hightl)ro program comes from FlightPro Software, I .LC, a company formed by complller consultants Jonathan Miller and Rutger de Jong. They also hap. pen to be hang glider pilots who had rhc same frustrations as all of us. ·fo wir: I-low do I review al1 the firn I had in the air and how do l communicate it to others? The answer was ro design and produce the 31}]:liglnPro ro display a flight in all irs fantastic twists and turns with a visual image that lets you sec how you wandered J\UClJST I 99cl

through your little plinth of airspace.

THE PRODlJCT The 31 )-P!ightPro is a software package which takes the data from your flight comp111cr :md dispbys it in three dimensions on your home computer screen box for more technical information). Ar the present time the program is compatible with the Ball Craphics Comp and the International (;liding Commission (I(;C) standard file format. \Vhcn these instrnmems arc connected to a CPS unit, they record horh altit11dc (barograph /i.mction) and position data. This information allows the 31 )-HightPro to pinpoint display your cmirc flight.

On rhcsc instruments you can select the sampling rare. l t is recommended that you sample your flight ;1t lcasr every five sec· onds for the most useful display, and every second if you wanr to really sec how smoothly you turn. A shorter sampling rate rcrnlts in less memory duration. (A one·· second sampling rate is good fort hrec hours and 20 minutes on the Ball Craphics Comp.)

When you load a flight into your computer with the 3D-FlightPro program, the first thing you sec is a low and liroad solid rectangle (a parallelepiped). That's because your flight is displayed in real space so the hori,.onral distances arc normally larger rha11 rhe vertical. Ar the bonom is a green smfacc representing the ground (sorry, it's 1101 av;1ilahlc in brown for western pilots) and the solid rectangle containing your flight is outlined with red lines. At the bot· rnm is a grid which provides the latitude and longitude of yo11r position in degrees and minutes (the grid resolution is down to one minute or about a mile). /\long the sides is the altitude displayed in 1,000-foot increments.

But the most fascinaring feature is the turning, spiraling, brilliant, col· orcd line which faith Ii.illy describes your flight. You can sec your uplifting climbs, your depressing bouts of sink and all your probing into lhc nooks and crannies of the sky. ff your recording instrument was set LO

take reasonably short-spaced data poims, you can sec every thermal circle and marvel al the diH<.'rcnccs.

The 3D-FlightPro is great for its pure cntcrtainmenL value, hut in it can also be used as a powerful training tool. It can help you become a better pilot, and who doesn't want that? Herc arc some of the learning tools that inunediatcly come to mind (you'll discovcr more): lfyou fly locally, look ar your flight ro sec iFyou found lift in the same place repeatedly. If so, did you climb the same?

If not, were you slightly displaced from before? How far a pan in time were the !lave you perhaps idcntiflcd a house thermal? By adding a friend's flight you can acquire more data.

Compare flights at the same site on different days to sec how wind differences affc.'.ct the li!t. Did the thermals move more erratically on light·wind days?

On ridge-Ii fr /lights, did you glide through pops that yo11 could have worked? How much did you lose crossing a gap?

At what altitude did you achieve your best climb rare? !low did 1hc thermals drift ;\I diHc'.rcnt altitudes?

When cross-country flying, exactly where did you pick up the thermals?

How much did yo11 vary your course from straight downwind? Did you dolphin • In competition you can compare two flights to sec where each pilot picked up lilt. If you were in the same thermal, who climbed higher? Was the better climber in a slightly diffr,rcm position?

How much did you stray from course line? Was a di/forem track more produc tivc? @

The answers to these and many other questions will gradually teach you where you make good decisions and practice cxpcn technique, in addition LO showing you where you can improve. /\II this is pos· siblc because of the 1nany 3D-FlightPro features.

THE PEJ\TURES The 3l}i:lighrPro program h;1s a healthy bar of rools along rhc top ;rncl side of the screc11. These tools arc simple control foa-· turcs rhat kt yo11 manipulate the display.

They arc idcntilicd with an icon and a label which lets you use all the (i.mctions 3.ri

cxpenly in a few minutes. Each fonction is completely documented in the on,linc Help system.

The first thing you'll want to do is expand the altirude scale which stretches the flight trace vertically to look like a DNA string. Next, you'll probably want to zoom in on details. You can pull in one 360 to fill the whole screen. Want a different view? No problem, you can rotate the entire display left or right, toward or away from you. Once you have inspected the details, you can zoom hack out, then tilt the dis-play until you arc looking down at the flight with a god's-eye view. You can see where you went, when. You can sec the thermal drift rate (tilt is best viewed from the side) and your search pattern. Yoll can see your peripatetic piloting and where you dove to the goal or landing field. 'f'hc main

36

point of this is that you cm see as in insight.

Bm that's not all. Once you have daz· zled yourself and others with the pictures, you can turn to other screens for more darn.

There arc Options, Preferences and Properties. For instance, numbers can be displayed in metric units using the Regional Settings applet located in the Windows Control Panel. Preferences lets you do things like run the prograrn in idiot mode or compurer wizard mode. Another option is to use the 3D Filter Wizard that takes out data points sitting somc:whcre in the wild blue yonder due to altimeter glitches or spikes caused by radio leakage into the GPS through the flight instrument chord.

The best thing is the Properties screen. ·rhere you can read off regular things like the date, time, duration, barometer, max/min height and max/min climb. But

what's really spectacular about the .,ystcm is that it automatically calculates your great circle distance from takeoff to landing and your average ground speed. Even more exciting is that if you simply boat around your home it will calculate tbe total accumulated distance you've flown over the ground, even if all you did was circle dur· ing the whole flight and land where you took off. Many pilots arc amazed at how much ground they cover just hanging out at their favorite sire. Perhaps this knowledge will provide the impetus to try a little CJ'OSS·CO I !ll try.

The 3D-FlightPro program is a valuable addition to any pilot's arsenal. It is fun and sure to improve your understanding of your personal flying. If you arc a computer fan you'll get lost in the many possibilities

Continued on page 13.

1-li\NC C LIUINC

REGION 5 Frank Oillette (R 99) Rt 1 Watercyn B Declo ID 83323 (208) C:554-2615 Watercyn@cyberhi~Jhway.net Tracie Fifer.Welch (H 99) PO Box 8225 Jackson WY 83001 (307) 733·6823 di ..wyo@cornpuserve.com

USHGA BOARD DIRECTORS REGION 1 Bill Bolosky (Ft 24622 SE Mi1TOnnont Dr WA 98027 557-798'1

REGION 6 Jeff Sinason (f~ 99) 12954 Ballantine Ct Saint Louis MO 63146 (3'14) 542-2473 jsinason@itdcornrn.com

Sandy King (H 98) 1425 Dunbar Ln Carson NV 89704 (702) slark@worldnet.att.net REGION Ken Baier 253 11odney Ave Encinitas CA 92024 753-2664 net

Steve Roti 3024 Nt: 1 Ave Portland OR 9721 284-0995 Bob Hannah (H 98) 9920 ['i1" 1 Ave S Seattle WA 98118 (206) 32B 'I 104

Tammy Burcar (F< 99) PO Box 3274 Santa Barbara CA 93130 (805) 692 9908 tburcar@juno.corn

Mike Meier (H . 98) 500 Blueridge Ave Orange CJ\ 926C:5f:i (714) 998-63f:i9 mike@willswing.corn

Gene Matthews (H 98) 15308 111 11 ' Ave NE Bothell WA 98011 (206) 48B· ·1443 skydog@gte.net

r~ob Kells (H 9B) 500 Blueridge Ave Orange CA 92665 (714) 998-63f:i9 rob@willswing.com Alan Chuculate (H C:5709 Salizar St San CA 92·11 ·1 (61 552 Gil 31441 Pkwy . Ste Reho Sta (714) 888gildodgen@aol.com

Ed Pitman (L PO Box 188 Shasta CA 96087 (916) (H Ken '17% Ave San Francisco CA 94122 5) 753.9534

Dan Jot1nson (L 98) 8 Dorset St St Paul MN 55118 (612) 4f:i0•0930 CurnulusMan@aol.com REGION 8 Randy Adams (R 98) PO Box 369 Claremont NH 03743 (603) 543-17(:50 rand yad arns@cybmportal.net

Paul Klemond (H 99) Accident Chair) NE 43rr1 St Seattle WI\ 98105 (206) 525·57f35 paul@kurious.org

Scott c/o San Francisco CJ\ 94112 (41f:i) 282-2753

REGION 7 Bill E3ryden (R 98) (HG Accident Chai!)

6608 North 100 East F<d Seymour IN 4727 4 (812) 497·2327 hrn bbryden@hsonline.net

REGION Mark Ferguson ([~ ·1173 Ridgeview Cir Broomfield CO 80020 931 ·B075 Jim Zeise! (R 13154 County Rd 40 Salida CO B1201 9) 53~).3335

REGION 9 Pete L.ehrnann (f~ 99) 58'11 Elgin St Pittsburgh PA 15206 (412) GC:51 3474 lplehrnann@aol .com Geoffrey Mumford (I~ 98) APA/PPO 750 First St NE Washington DC 20002 (202) 336-6067 gkrn.apa@ernail.api:l.org Dennis Pagen (L 9B) 368 Dunkle f~d Bellefonte PA 16B23 (814) 383·2569 pagenbks@lazerlink.com Chris DuPaul (H 98) PO Box 801 C,ioucester Pt VA 23062 (804) 693-(:37 42 skigolfnut@aol.com Art Greenfield (X) 1815 N f·'t Meyer Dr Ste 700 Arlington VA 22209 (703) 527-0226 NAA@ids2.idsonline.com REGION 10 G.W Meadows (f~ 98) 1125 Harbor View Dr Kill Devil Hills NC 27948 (919) 480-3552 justfly@interpath.com

Matt Taber (f~ .. 99) 7201 Scenic Hwy 189 Rising Fawn GA 30738 (706) 398-3433 airwave@voyageronline.net David Glover (H .. 99) 11305 Dean Still Rd Davenport Fl.. 33837 (941) 424-0700 fly@wallaby.com McNamee (H 98) 14·1 SE :51" 1 Ave Summerfield FL 34491 (352) 245-B263 graybird@praxis.net Greg De Wolf (H 99) PO Box 607 Corolla NC 27927 (919) 453-4800 DeWolf7@aol.com REGION '11 Dave Broyles (R 99) 211 Ellis Dr Allen TX 75002 (972) 72T·3f:iBB broyles@psuedospace.com REGION 1 Paul Voight (R 9B) 5163 Searsville Rd Pine Bush NY 12f:i66 (914) 744.33'17 ryanv1 OO@aol.corn ,Jan Johnson (L 9B).

PO r3ox 2B2 Bullville NY 109f:i1 (914) 361-10B3 fec@frontiernet.net Paul Riker! (L 101 N Broadway White Plains NY 10603 (9'14) 946-9386 hrn Lars Linde (H 9B) 9:54 W Front St Red Bank N,J OT701 747-7845 REGION 13 (Int'!)

Jan Johnson (L 98) Soe 12 Michael Robertson (H · Fm 5 865 Con 7 Claremont Ontario Canada l_ 1Y 1A2 (905) 294-2536 flyhigh@inforamp.net USHGA Executive Director Philip Bachman PO Box 1330 Colo CO B090'1 (719) wk (719) 632··6417 fax phbacl1man@ushga.org

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Presiden\.·G.W. Meadows Vice President-Bill Bryden Locke Treasurer-Geoff Mumford

KEY:

li"ooked in, ready to launch

and I w11s nervous! I have prepared to

launch thousands oftimes over the course rf rnyflying career, but never standing in 11 flat field with a harness making the sound of an idling chain saw. l hctd rr1:y launch cissistant hand me the instructions and I read them one more time. I pid:ed up the glider, bit down on the mouth throttle and started running: Twelve steps into the seven-mph

I I

breeze and my feet were still windmilling as I climbed away ftom the ai~field at 375 faetper minute!

article andphotos by Gerry Charlebois he Mosquito harness is the brain-· child of Swedish inventor Johan Abling. His company, Swedish Aerosports, is producing these harnesses and having a hard time keeping up wirh the demand. Mine took three months to arrive. As always, when waiting for a new toy each day seems to lasr 42 hours instead of 24. Delivery times arc now shorter.

Johan's first powered harness was Aying as far back as 1987, but it had only 10 horsepower and a few hugs to be worked out. Swedish avi,1tion laws govern all air-craft strictly, and he had to submit his equipment to the Swedish governmental agency which is rhe equivalent of the FAA in the U.S. Afrer meeting their safety requirements the harness was approved for use in Sweden, and that enabled him to do more R&D and sell his product.

Ten years and many design improve· men ts have culminated in the 1998 version which features a two-cycle, 15-"horse-power motor spinning a supcr--light carbon/kevlar prop. The whole apparatus weighs 50 pounds withom a parnchutc and folds neatly into a fivcAoot-"long harness bag with a handle that allows it to be carried like luggage. J con1rnutc on planes con·

:rn

srantly to the orher Hawaiian islands and check it without ever incurring an excess baggage charge.

Judging by all the calls and e-mails I received after one of my photos flying with the Mosquito was featured in the January '98 centerfold of Hang C1iding magazine and the cover of S!rywings in Great Britain, many pilots are intrigued with this new twist in free Aying. With launch sites dos ing and the drive to the mountains getting longer, pilots want to get in the air more conven icmly. And as some of us get older and take on more responsibilities, it seems like time fi:Jr personal recreation becomes more limited all the time.

This harness allows you to go 10 the nearest field or beach and set up your glid-" er, hook in and take off. If the thermals arc not working you can push our with the power at full throttle and climb until it runs om of gas. This usually happens as J reach about 9,000 feet (after launching a1 sea level). [ then enjoy a nice, quiet sled ride back to land beside my truck. No drivers. No launchers. No winch operators. 'fhc engine is somewhat noisy at fi.111 throttle so I wear a set of those small foam earplugs and they seem to suffice. The foe] Hi\NC CIJDINC

Armin Engert taking off

BELOW: Armin Engert coming in for a landing, gear down.

Gerry Charlebois buzzing the beach on Kauai.

40

source is a one-gallon aerodynamic fiberglass tank that attaches to the top of the downtubes. Ninety minures is che longest I have stretched out a tank with continuous use. H owever, I usually launch, fly to the nearest ridge, pull into the lift and shut the engine down. In chis case, after a two-hour flight fuel consumption amounts to six or seven ounces.

Getting into the harness seems to be the most awkward aspect of using the Mosquito, due to the fact yo u have to attach the carabiner and then the limiter lines that go from the side of the harness to the crossbar/leadi ng edge junction. These lines serve as restraints to keep the prop from ever swinging into yo ur trailing edge. An assistant is handy at this point because the glider needs the nose held up while you back yourself into the leg loops, pull it up and zip the back up. The keel has been cut off so the glider does not rest in its normal position. T he hand throttle is located by your left hip and it is easy to bump it to fuU cl1roccle when getting in. The result is chat yo ur engine and prop to go max rpm when yo u pull-start the motor. Make sure to add this to yo ur checklist befo re pullstartmg.

I was having a lot of fun flying from level ground when I got the idea to fly the Mosqui to off a mountain (a big mountain).

Lee's go to Maui!

Standing on top of a 10,000-fooc volcano getting ready to launch is an awesome feeling, but knowing that yo u are going to get above takeoff is even better. This launch si te is famo us for its ability to give yo u a 45-minute sled ride to the beach, at the very least. Unforttmately, getting over the top 1s a very rare occurrence.

I was about to put me Mosquito to cl1e rest and had a nice 12-mph breeze coming up the face, so I ran off with the motor idling. Once I was prone it was rime to go full throttle. Circling back to launch I quickly feU below the top. At this altitude the climb rate was diminished, but going up was not a problem. Fuel-to-air ratio is critical for two-strokes, and with no carb adj ustments I was soon in air that was coo thin to provide any horsepower. The engine still sounded fine, but at 12,200 feet it was no longer pushing me skyward. It did, however, maintain me at zero to 50 down.

I hung out and waited for a thermal, and 400 up came before long so I turned H ANG G LIDING

"30 YEARS COVERING THE COMPLETE FLYING SPECTRUM "

ABOVE: The Mosquito in park mode. RIGHT: The north shore beach LZonMaui.

BELOW: Looking into Haleakala volcano crater on Maui from 12,000 feet.

RIGHT: Gerry Charlebois on the back side ofHaleakala.

42

H ANG GLIDING

into it and wined ascending again. The turning characteristics of the glider are definitely affected by the thrust and weight afr ofyom hang point, but alter a few flights you rend to get used ro die slower roll. At foll power, 1lie p.. foctor of the prop is something you need to pay attention to. With ;i clockwise ro1;wion it wants to yaw your glider to the right. This may not sound like a big deal, but during launch you have to pay serious atrention to this, as it feels like the glider wants to lock out to the right if you leave the ground with your right wing low with foll rpm. I icnmd that if J case up on the power when it starts pulling, it will respond to rny input. I neglected to do that once and found myself IO feet up and not able to stop the rotation, and the results were a broken dow11t11be.

There is also a mouth throttle rk1t is used during takeoff Tf your launch docsn'L feel good just spit it out ;ind fly the glider back w the ground. f strongly advise using a large field for launching umil you ,ire familiar with your gear.

Afr er an hour o( ti 1crmal i ng ahove 12,000 ft.:et l headed /c)r the coast and had shut my power off 'The best way to do this is to apply full power, then pull the choke tab. This floods the carb, leaving h1cl to make for an easier air start. Pulling on my VG l wanted to sec what effect a freewheeling prop would have on my glide angle. J did not have a c; PS on board that day ro get a precise glide measurement, b11t I could not detect any drastic reduction in my glide after a 6,0()(). foot cl esccn t.

When I was ;1bovc the top I heard some pil01s asking what conditions were like, as they were setting up gliders on the 5,000-foot launch. J radioed down and told rhcm of my altitude over the rop.

They were astounded, and I thought I wo11ld keep the Mosquiro a secret a little while longer. I was abom eight miles away and 1,000 feet below where they were setting up, so I figured it was time to flre up my lirde iron thermal and pay rhcm a vis· it. Poiming toward them, I flew in a straight line, pushing om, and was lxick up to 7,000 feet in no time. Ir was 1 I ::'>O AM and the air was really buoyant.

As I apprnachcd them l cur the power ro idle so they could nor hear me and told them of rny position. There was some head-scratching going on because condi. tions at this level were not soarahlc yet. I AUClJST I <J()/l

had some fon with them as I wanged down to launch, letting them believe I had some amazing climbing technique. As I came :it them, just at launch level, 1 hit full power and started climbing away again. This thing really is FUN! Those pilots bad :mother hour to wait for ir to get soarable, sol beaded 10 the beach 12 miles away wirh the throttle set so my vario read zero. I was about four miles away when rhc foci ran out, but I h;1d plenty of altitude to glide there. One of the things you have to restrain yourself from is flying around with power and putting yourself in a position where an cnginc··Ollt is going to hurt. Flying trikes for a living has trained me to be very alert as to where my closest LZ is tit all times!

An failure with no safe om can be very hazardous to your health.

Landing seern to be easier than with a normal harness. Having the extra weighr behind you, and the landing skids tfoir drag on the ground as you skim in, causes your hips to stay well behind the CC, resulring in good flaring even in zero wind. Just be sure to get any of the lines from the skids clear of your feet, so upon touchdown you won't pull a landing strut forward, allowing the motor and prop to hit the ground. l now have about 30 hours on my Mosquiw and am really enjoying it. T just finished filming a flying segmcnr for rhc l 990's version of Tsl,md, and rhe Mosquito proved robe very useful when doing multiple takes for ground cameras.

With normal flying J would have had to land and relaunch for every take.

My personal preference will always be launching off a mountain and climbing away, bur this piece of gear gives rbe user another oprion. It enables me to get to soaring sites that arc accessible only by acrorowing a long way, and tbar's why T fo1d it handy. l see a great friture frir this device with many applications. How about pylon-racing around a course at an airport, nr precision team flying?

At this poinr l would love to lwvc ;morher Mosquiro pilot to cruise with. 1f you get a chance to try one you will enjoy it. If you arc interested in more infrinna·· rion you can reach me at (808) 822· 5309 or through my Weh sire ar: www.birdsinparadise.com, e-rmil ar birdip<£Daloha.ner. •

page .36. to compare flights and fuel your fantasies.

Ir doesn't rake much ro get sci up with the 3 I) .. FlighrPro application (see box).

You can gcr it from rite distributor for Ball Variomcters, Inc. l -800-7292602 (Monday··Friday 9:00 AM ro 5:00 l'M MST). For more infcmnation visit the FlightPro Software, LI .C: Web site at: www.flightpro.com.

imu<.c full use of the 3D"FlightPro should have a Ball Graphics Comp or any IGG·eon11x1tiblc flight instrument hooked up to a GPS unit.

Your flight computer manufacturer can help you get c01mccte(t.

Then all you need ls a PC computer (sorry, no Mac) with at leasr a 486 run·· ning Windows Windows 98, or NT 4.0. Yem will need a CD ROM drive and a cable to download the flight insrrnment data into the computer. (T'he Hall Graphics Co.mp manual dL\~cribes this and Ball, Inc. can help you with their unit.) The main thing you. need for the cable is a NUL modem adapter. This is ,1 unit availabJc at Radio Shack (code #RS232C nine··pin adapter). Its purpose is to reverse the pin since your flight inmum.ent is also a computer and has the same port as your home computer, With the computer, program, hard drive and NUL modem cable, in business!

VERSION THE The 4D-PlightProTM llpplication will be available by the end of the year, The main improvement is that you can display flights in motion) or decelerated (slow motion) time. That way you can compare your flight with your buddy's to sec you each were at any moment. 'T'hink of the possibilities: You can see who was climbing the then look down from the top and sec why. Yem can st:c who copped the better g;lide ,uid maybe a bad landing that your buddy tried to hide.

One nice of the 4A) program is rhe ability to chop the back of the trace off to amount yon wish, so a flight (or flights) place in one small area The doesn't too clutter,:d or :3--D can be upgraded to the at any time. Call for prices or visit the Web site,•

43

by Jonathan Szarek Fusion (fyoozhen) n. physics. A nuclear reaction in which nuclei combine to form more massive nuclei with the simultaneous release of energy.

Cold Fusion (kold fyoozhen) v. physics. A nuclear reaction in which nuclei combine with cold sweat at cloudbase to form more massive nuclei with the simultaneous release of energy by shivering which allows you to "go for it"!

April 27, l 998. ]:light Services is calling for west/northwest winds, 21 knots at 3,00() feet with SGlrtcred 10 broken ar 7,000 feet. This looks like rhe day! Sometimes a gm feeling just this is it! tells you Call it late winter or early spring, but the snow on the Ascut· ney Mountain road had not van· ished yet. This mearn no access to the top. My orher option: Morn· ingside Flight Park, the 425,foor, west-facing site in western New l1ampshire. One problem, my Fusion was still being built. Fonunatdy, Jeff Nicolay let me borrow a demo Fusion. Being optirnistic about the day, 1 brought my driver Kevin Marquis along.

Trying to cl ress for 8,000 feet just a little above sea level cenaiDly makes things difficult when the ground temperarnre is forecast to be almost 80°.

Full altitude gear with instrumentation and maps means you sweat until you launch, which could he a long time, and then once you ger high it turns into a cold sweat not a great comfort factor, but part of the sport.

My firsr flight attempt was a one and a half minute effon in what appeared to he ground-seeking missile mode. The second attempt was not much better, and conditions were srarting to get stronger and cross from the north. Th is is not what the Flight Services briefer had promised rne that morning.

The futility of the two short flights while dressed in heavy gear was becoming evident as I loaded the Fusion on the fciur--

4A

I

wheeler for a third attempt. My cotton turtleneck was soaked with swear, bm conditions were changing, and I figured the time spent removing all my gear 10 put on a dry shirt might be the reason I would not be able to get away. [n these parts they say, "lf you arc nor on the bus you arc gonna get lefr at the srarion." This would be a frigid lesson a couple of hours later, so l kept on trucking, wet shin and all.

After a quick threc--minutc ride up !iOO vertical I was once again back on launch. I hooked in and hang--checked once more when a radio transmission

got me there, 50 foer over the rrecrops. A couple of shorr passes had the Fusion and me ha rely 150 fr:ct over the landing field bull's-eye. I was abom to become just another sacrifice ro the Morningside wind gods.

Suddenly, the vario came alive. I looked over my shoulder ar the trees. Just enough room for one turn, and l didn't want to rrce shop glider. J didn't gain lmr I didn't lose. Another rum, and a small gain. The hision's snappy handling was rcassurillg becnuse those trees looked hungry!

Porty minutes later Morningside had f:.1ded into all the other terrain below as l climbed through 7,000 feet. It was getting cold, really cold! John radioed from tbc mountain. He and Steve Arndt were hav-ing trouble climbing to get away. My progress downwind was quick due to strong winds aloft. Tbe terrain behind Morningside climbs to about 1,700 feet MSL, so what your altimeter reads and what your sec are two totally dilforent Add to that 30 miles of dense trees with few flat landing fklds, and it makes progress down-wind diffkult unless you're specked OU

phdtQ by I.iJ1d11 Schipa,ii

broke the silence in my helmet. ft was John Arrison getting ready ro launch at Mt. Ascmney. Drat, the road was open to the top! Was l standing on launch at the wrong site? Shortly after John's transmis· sion the windsock in the landing zone at Morningside swung 90 degrees cross from the north and staned cranking. Boy, it looked bleak! John radioed back l minutes later, 400 feet over takeoff and climb-

Yup.

site!

Morningside some unique characteristics when the wind blows from differ·· ent directions. A stand of pine trees that sits on a 100-foot hill on the south end of rhe ridge work well when the wind is north. The decision was made. \X/ait for a lull, bail off the ramp, and head srraight for the pine trees. A screaming downwind

r.

So there I was, I 5 miles from launch over Lempster at Ii ,500 feet facing a wall of trees. 'I 'he field I picked our eight miles back sud· denly looked less desirable a sloped apple orchard perpendicular to the wind, and this was the best one around! I found light lift and decided to just drifr with it. the time l got to Washington J was back at doudbase, but the climb rates still had not turned on. "fro miles later and Hnally past the toughest pan of the route, all those trees, and I was low ag:iin at Hillsboro. ('Iwcnty years :1go I flew a small site in Hillsboro called Hedgehog.) The Fnsion's nmnster glide put me just over the top this 500foot-high site. l could sec my driver, on the road out from, waiting w collect the parts when the bottom fell out, but luck was on my side this as zero sink turned to 500 fpm

or

hack to cloudbasc. With damp clothes every trip to cloudhasc was an uncomfrinablc but I wasn't at cloud base Climb and glide, climb and glide. Now 25 miles from the Manchester Control

I IANC CLIDINC

Zone,

l had to decide whether to go cast or west of the ARSA. The clouds were bcrrcr to rhe wesr, so the decision was easy, but the next cloud was at bist IO to 1 miles away. The Fusion's superior sink rate and glide had not let me down all but the next cloud died 011 rhe way there. I watched the altimeter unwind. Why is it rhc case rha1 after you get rhrough the roughest part of the lligh t (all trees, no you end up going down?

I picked om a field rhrt'.e"q11artcrs of a mile somh o/' the New Boston Ti-acking Station, and glided on. The siu k got strong right at the point where I could not make it b:ick Lo my last field, and for a couple of agonizing mi mires the large fenced··in compound of the tracking station was the only option shon of an inremional tree landing on Jeff's glider.

Hmmm ... Do! incurthewrath ofrhc U.S. Government or Jeff? lam not sure wliich one would he worse. (Jeff's nickname is Bruno!) Before I h,1d to make rhar decision, 800 lim1 down turned ro zero sink and I had my original flcld made. I 1111zipped, but decided to make one pass on rhe upwind side of the field to leave room for a couple of circles.

Two hundred foct off the ground the up r:1dically and rhc v:irio screaming. After six to eight turns, small. tlic field on the hilltop started to On rhis day with 7.0 25 mph I was climbing almost straiglir up with no drifr.

The averager on my J<'lytcc was reading l ,800 lj)m, and cloudbasc at 8,'700 foet ALJCL'ST 199B

was obtained in less than five minutes, which was of a 25-milc cloud s1reer the past Manchester and the Control '.lone.

All oC a sudden life w:1s good! The first ?.O miles passed under me quickly, but the cold was starting to rake its toll afrcr srayrhis high frlr this long. I wanred to keep speeding lmt my fear was that ;n this rime of day PM and still 35 miles from the coast) l would end up flying myself i!llo the ground. 'fhc street ended at New Hampshire, and rhe clouds were drying up rnward the coast, so I pulled the V( ;, got real small, and headed off imo the blue. My glide was hut with 110 help this flight was going to end up just short of the coast.

With 1,000 foet l radioed my clrivcr with directions ro the field I could reach. During my transmission something small and white flashed in rhc corner oF my eye. Jr was a seagull, rhc most licamifol seagull ! have ever seen in my !if<\ because he was circling. l cased over in his direction to find 30 fjm1 lifr still eight miles from the coast.

Concentrate. Fly with your fingertips.

Don't let this get There wasn't much gain, hut I was closer to that strip of sand and warer. Finally, afrcr drifring for I minutes with a 200-foot gain, the lift died, sol pulled the string and pointed my roes. 'f'his was going to be close! l arrived with enough altitude to do a base tllrn and go onto final. The coast was mine! My driver pulled up before l even nnhookcd. you're aweso1ne!) 'The day ended in a place where I would have wanred, bur never expected to be 92 miles from the little hill that I cur my hang gliding teeth on 20 years earlier.

Some special people helped make rhis flight a reality: the Wills Wing '!cam and Jeff Nicolay for giving me the best glider you can get; Kevin fi.H chasing me over hill and dale on a day we both should have been at work; Randy Adams for teaching me the skills; and 'frd Hascnfos for instilling in me the hunger it takes to off the really long flights. Thanks guys!

45

THE AEROS STEALTH KPL 13 The Avis* Of Hang Gliders © copyright 1998 by Dennis Pagen

This is a glider review with a difference. The glider

li ked the glider after the fo regoing statements and T wish to pass along my likes in the followin g paragraphs.

sweating in the spotlight while we give it the third COST AND PERFORMANCE

degree is the new welter-weight design from Aeros, the Stealth KPL 13. This glider is a new size and updated version of the glider we have reviewed before, so rather than repeat superlatives and caveats we will attempt to enter into new territory with this glider as our catalyst.

1

fim ,h;,g we'll cove, ;, mually o ld territory, bur th e rime is ri ght for me to reiterate my review policy. Over the years that I have reviewed gliders I have not been in the hire of any manufacturer and have been a dealer for most. Hopefull y this sta te of affairs has allowed m e to be as unbiased as poss ible. 1 am a perso n w ho likes change, so l don't rend to beco me fi xa ted o n any particular design style or handling feel. Again, this trait helps me be more objecti ve when I hook in to and wring out a new glider.

T he next point, as stated befo re, is that I only w rite reviews of gliders I like. You will not hear me tota ll y denigrate a product in my reviews because I believe such an approach ultimatel y hurts the sport by causing dissension and possibly serio us econo mic co nseque nces for the m anufacturer. (We all agree that we need mo re manufacwrers, don't we?) Bur you will read certain littl e criticisms in my reviews as I have yet to Ay what I co nsider to be the perfect glider. More importantly, yo u can read berween the lines and assume that if yo u don't see a review of a glider then one of three things is in effect: l) the glider is not readil y avai lable in rhe U.S.; o r, 2) the manufacturer hasn't requested a review or doesn't rea lize the value to potenti al custo mers, which partiall y reAecrs on ma nufacturer reliability and res ponse to user needs; o r, 3) T felt the negati ves of the glider ourweighed rhe positives and se nt it bac k.

To dare I have Aown all the top less gliders ava ilable except rhe E uropean UP and Tecma offerin gs (a mat te r I ho pe to remedy chis summer) so I have a good bas is for co mpariso n. On rap are the new Airwave Extrem e and the Baurek Twiste r, both of which 1 have Aown bur nor enough to revi ew.

Ge tting back to the Stealth 13, it should be obvious that I

46

Recently we have read some heartfelt letters bemoaning the fact rl1ac the cost of performan ce has pierced the cropopause, penetrated the stratosphere and is headed for the ionosphere. We sympathize with these views and worry chat the sport wi ll suffer a decline if the ave rage work-a-day pilot can no longer affo rd to enter the ae rial playground on equal terms with the afAu enc kids on the block. Bue in sneaks the Stealth to dispel th ese worries.

T he Stealth KPL rivals a ny top less glid er in performance.

(Ol eg Bond erchuk took second in che recent World Meet on a co mpetition Stealth 14, having won a cou ple of days.) But relating to a recreatio nal pilot's needs or desires more specifically is the fact that the Stealth costs no more than kingposted gliders of a few years ago.

In fact, after some thought as to what is meaningful to many recreatio nal pilots, I have co me up with a few perfo rmance parameters whi ch are interesting. T hese are cost-to-perform ance compa risons, conveni ence-to-cost co mparisons and conveni ence-toperforman ce comparisons.

Let's look at cost-to-performance. One useful performance measurement is a glider's maximum sti ll-air glide ratio. We wi ll make the educated guess that most topless gliders gee a similar maximum glide and it is around 13 to 1. We can reduce chis to a cost basis for the Stealth KPL by dividing 13 in to the $4,800 sticker price to arrive ar a cost per point of glide of $369.23. This figure is meaningless until we compare ir to others. A topless glider costing $6,000 yields a $461 .54 price per glide point, while a $5,500 cost yields a $423.08 price per point. For co mparison , a fi xed wing costing $9,000 and getting a 15 to 1 glide yields a $600 per glide point ratio. A paraglider ge tting 7 to l and costing $3,500 yields $500 per glide point. A single-surface hang glide r costing $2,500 and getting an 8 to 1 glide yields $3 12.50 per glide point.

If all you were crying to do is maximize performance va lue for rh e mon ey you would choose rhe single-surface glider. However, rhe Stealth KPL is nor much above the cost-for-glide fi gure of the single-surface glider, and is clearly the winner when compared to other topless gliders in chis catego ry. No doubt pri ce is a major factor in the Stealth's rapidly growin g populari ty in chis country.

However, there are factors to co nsider o cher th an pure performance for the dollar when selecting a glider. Let's see if we can quantify chem.

CONVENIENCE COMPARISONS Co nveni ence to me is of lesser importance than perform ance, bur it is sti ll a factor in the equation when I decide to shell out

* Latin for "we rry harder"

H ANG GLIDING

wampum for a wing.

I classify convenience as ease of setup, peripheral hassles and overall weight. We can compare these factors to cost and performance.

To compare convenience and cost, we multiply the convenience factors by the cost with the understanding that a lower number is most desirable. For the Stealth, setup takes me about 20 minutes. Multiplying by cost yields 96,000 convenience units. I could set up my old Klassic in 15 minutes or less and its retail cost was similar to the Stealth, so its convenience measurement was 67,500. Try this measurement with yo ur own glider and see how it compares. A paraglider will win this catego1y hands down, while a fixed wing loses big time.

I expect that the Stealth falls in the mid-range of topless gliders. It is easier to erect than some, harder than others. Here's a rundown on the main unique features: 1) Before yo u spread the wings yo u must put in the twin nose barrens. If yo u forget, yo u will be gnashing yo ur teeth and belittling yo ur mental capacity, for these barrens require gorilla force to position once the crossbar is opened.

2) After spreading the wings a bit, set up the front sprogs (inboard washout struts). To do this you reach in the zipper under the sail and set the cable tube on a post at the crossbar junction. By following this procedure yo u fix the cable up which holds up the sprog. Now put all the barrens in except the outboard cwo.

3) Now yo u should place the hang point rocker arm on its cradle.

Then anach the crossbar haulback and pull the VG tight. The right VG allows you to easily put the sprogs inside the sail and close the lower-surface zipper.

4) Next comes the tip washout strut. This strut must be swung out ro fit through a lower-surface barren hole, then it easily pushes into a hole in the leading edge. Close the lower-surface zipper at the strut, finish with the last three barrens, put in rhe plastic tips and nose cone and you are finished.

Special notes: The baserube does nor swing out, so yo u have to AUGUST 1998

put both ends on with PIP pins, an extra operation.

The corner firring could be easily modified, however, to allow the bar to swing our during packing. The lower-surface battens are very easily installed as yo u simply push them in. The only rime you have to work them into the lirtle slots provided is if you are truck towing (the bouncing can back them out).

The plastic tips are fai rly easily installed with their velcro holding strips. They are conveniently stored with the glider and recognized as being the most aeroric tips in the business. Sometimes the velcro scrips glued to tl1em comes off, but this matter is easily remedied with more glue.

The peripheral hassles mentioned earlier are mainly the stowage of the cover and protection bags. The cover is great in my estimation, since it is big enough, has a rubberized coating and rolls up into a very small package. The all-important upright rop protection pads stay with the glider, so yo u don't have to stuff them in yo ur harness. A keel pad, control bar pad, keel end pad and tip bags all add to the package, but still your harness doesn't look like a glutton on Thanksgiving when the gear is stowed. The Stealth is pretty reaso nable on this basis, but I'm still waiting for the glider whose fittings are so well designed all I need to carry is tip bags and the glider cover. ext, we can make a weight-and-cost measurement by multiplying the cwo. In this measurement, it's only meaningful to compare gliders with similar areas. The Stealth KPL 13 (142 square feet) weighs about 72 pounds, so its weight-cost factor is 72 x 4,800 = 345,600. In this case the smaller the number che better.

You can look up the cost and weight of other gliders in its class to compare.

The final comparison we can make is convenience-to-performance. The simplest way to do this is to divide the setup time or weight by the maximum glide ratio. For the Stealth 13 we get 1.54 for the setup factor (20 min ./13) and 5.54 (72 lbs./1 3) for the weight facto r. For both of these measurements the smaller the value of the factor, the better. As an example, for a fixed wing the setup factor may be 2 (30 min./ 15) while the weight factor may 47

Control bar corner

be 6 (90/15). For a paraglider these numbers are aro und 1 and 5 or less. Compare these numbers with ocher gliders you are co nsidering to help yo u make your decision.

PURE PERFORMANCE Stealth 13

pumform.

I flew the Stealth 13 in the Atlantic Coast Championships at Wallaby Ranch . This was a cow meet and I was able co perform a quanci ry of qualiry performance comparisons. My wing loading was on che upper end of the glider's range, so I traded off some absolute sink race fo r penetration. I can say char on the long glides between thermals I outglided most every orher topless glider.

Only Exx:cacies seemed co beat me. One of the Stealth's higher speed glide secrets is its noticeable flattening of the battens when the VG is hauled in. This VG is fairly easy to pull incidentally,

TESTING GLIDER PERFORMANCE Perhaps you have read of requests for real performance testing of hang gliders rather than simply reviewers' subjective reports. Such testing is desirable, bur not practical without a budget larger than the USHGA and all the manufacturers combined could manage to contribute. The reason for clus is chat special instruments would have to be made and multiple cows to altitude in early morning hours would have co cake place. The problems involved in gathering error-free data are numerous if absolute values of sink race and airspeed are desired (a polar). If simple comparisons are co be made, the cost doubles, because two tugs, two gliders and two tow pilots are required. I expect chat it would cost between $5,000 and $ 10,000 to perform an accurate evaluation of one glider. Then, if another glider is tested on another day, small-magnitude long waves or short waves in the atmosphere can skew the data. Thus it appears necessary to perform both absolute and comparison tests, another increment in cost.

I have never received a cent for resting and reporting on gliders (in fact, it usually costs me a bit). I would not accept money from a manufacturer if it were offered. I do it because it affords me the chance to experience the flying qualities of as many gliders as possible. I would, of course, love to be part of a team paid co objectively and scientifically measure performance, but I'm not holding my breach waiting for offers.

For chose readers interested in learning more about testing performance, see Richard Johnson's articles in May 1989 ("Sailplane Performance Flight Test Methods") and October 1983 ("Ac Lase: An Instrument That Reads Drag!") issues of Soaring magazine.

48

with two full pulls required for full chrow.

My climb was middle of the pack bur I amibuce char co two faccors: I was heavy on the glider, as mentioned, and I was new on the glider. I learned lacer co be more on cop of the glider in broken condicions and co puc ic where I wanted co.

Concerning sink race, the larger size (more appropriace for my weighc) has been geccing raves for how much ic slows in a cum co allow a piloc co circle cighdy, and how well ic handles ac these low speeds.

The glider I had (a demo) handles in a medium manner in choppy air and on cow. In big, regular thermals ic was very easy co coordinace and imposed nice corkscrew cracks on the sky. In mosc cases I found adding about 1/8 VG would stabilize the glider enough in roll that I could best merge with a metamorphosing thermal.

Since I flew the Stealth in a cow meet, I can't say much about launch ocher than the glider is nicely balanced and therefore easy co run with . Landings were straightforward and easy. I had all fine landings (about 10) except on a day of exueme curbulence.

Most pilots wane co know about the pitch stabilicy of copless gliders. The maccer is very difficult co quantify wichouc a rest vehicle, but the Stealth 13's bar pressuce progressively increases as you move the bar kneeward. I had one 10-mile dive co goal with the belly bar on my fingertips and my knees bent. The glider felt solidly positive as I banged through thermals and bashed chrough ground turbulence co skim across goal .

The Stealth 13 is going to rally up a loc of airtime in the U.S. skies, if only because of its attractive price-to-performance ratio.

Bue ocher inducements include its super-dean sail and availabilicy and parts support. G.W Meadows of U.S . Aeros has pledged to keep all material in stock for quick delivery to pilots in need.

The parent company, Aeros of che Ukraine, maintains a busy all-encompassing facilicy with a deterrninacion to make the best gliders in the world. They've made a good scare with the Scealch, which has been refined over che pasc couple of years. If you're in the marker for more performance, arrange a demo on the Avis of personal aviation.

For information on gliders, dealers and demos, contacc: U.S. Aeros, 1125 Harborview Dr., Kill Devil Hills, C 27948 (919) 480-2774, fax (919) 480-0117 , jusrfly@interpach.com, www.juscfly.com. •

STEALTH 13 SPECIFICATIO S 142 sq. fr.

Sail area ... . ... . ...... ..... 13.2 sq. mecers -

Span . . ... . . . ... ... . . . ...... . ....... 9.9 m - 32.5 fr.

Aspect ratio . .. . . .. ... ... ...... ........ . ... .. ... . 7.4 Nose angle . .... ... ..... . . . ......... . .. . . 128° co 130° Pilot weight range . . .. ...... 55 co 85 kg. -

121 to 187 lbs.

Pilot optimum weight . ... . .. . . . ....... 70 kg. -

153 lbs.

Glider weight . ........ . .. ........... 33 kg. - 72.6 lbs.

Minimum sink ...... .. ..... .. ... 0.9 m/s -

175 fc. /min.

Airspeed operation . .. . . . .. 29 to 110 km/h -

18 to 68 mph

Breakdown Length... .. . . .. .. . .. 3.8/5.7 m -

12.5/18.7 fr.

AUGUST 1998

Continuedfrom page 22.

Five tugspreparefor the ~y.

crash victim, and it bas space for names to be added on plaques around a finished wood column. GeeDub plans ro bring this trophy wirh him 10 each competition from now on.

"Nothing pleases me more," he said during the awards ceremony; "than being able to say that no name will be added this time. l am pro_ud to announcc}hat this has been an acc1dent--free meet.

Despite all the great flying, this rneet might be remembered more for 1he afterhours fon thnn for the soaring. Every night there was a parLy. People gathered around campfires to tell stories and jokes. People soaked in the hot tub. People watched movies on TV There was golf-cart mayhem, as revelers commandeered the Ranch's four" wheel electric Hect and tore through the compound, laughing nncl sliorning and generally wreaking havoc wherever they went. l found myself riding on the nose: of such an overloaded cart late one night; Kari Castle declared thar l was "an ugly hood ornamenr." It was rhe first time a person whose name has appeared in the ( ~uinness Book of World Records has ever called me thar. l think it may hnve heen one of the high points of my life.

There was n trampoline for hurning off excess energy, and plentiful swinging chairs and benches for relaxing under the shade of a tree or a thatched-roof hut during the heat of the day. There: were showers and bathrooms. There was plenty of space for campers and tents. 'fhe Willaby Ranch was a virtual nirvana for hang glider pilots and their families and friends. One competitor summed it up in three words: "Life is good." /\s if thnt weren't enough, we were entertained on two different nights by rhe exquis· ite belly dancing of Hozuhni!

Now, before I say anything further about Ffozuhni, Jam obliged to say something about Mark "Gibbo" Gibson. You see, Hozuhni was kind enough to let me take pictures of her for this magazine, and generously gave me her permission to write all abom her c1nd the show that she put on, but

so

downwind all the way to the turn point. A few fools try to back and get lat1ir start times, and arc rewarded with in al1itude have to gmvd out of the Rancb anmder 2,000', drifting in the strong cast sea bn:ci.c. 'fhc day is already late, and after the rurnpoint, heading bac:< into . docs no one any good. Brhin Porter is able to glide back the farthest JllSt past Highway 33, for half the distance backin his faired Millennium, Glen Volk, in a Larninat is the winner among the tlex~wing pilots, with Mike Barber and Mark Gibson in right behind.

BURNING THE SWAMP A stronr flow is forecast and already happening at the . . by mid"mornTh; call is font tum point at Quest Air and then goal a total of7 I miles outto :he northwest at the Crvstal Rivet airport. 'rhe f:c)recast is for lifr. I argue strongly for a turnpoint west at d;c end of Dean Still Road instead of crosswind to Quest, but lose the vote.in the Task Cornmitt:ee.

There have been plenty of cu's during the morning and they start to flHin as we npproach l :00 PM .. I'm first on tow and find plenty of lifr southeast of the: l~anch, b:tt, with the strong winds, I dr.ifr t(J the northwest and tf:e~1 !ose mo.st of.the c!m1b gettmg back to the start gate, tbrec times. Lorn of others are J~mmg me m this fottle , Dave Sharp ,md Jim Zeisetgct over 4,000' east of the Ranch and are the first to head out north on the west side of Highway 27. They don't hit another bump and land eight miles to the north.

After minutes in the Chris Ar<1i and I cllmb out from 800 foetjust east of the Ranch over dark around and a filled~in sky. We arc joined by Mark Gibson at 2,000' and continue to ddfr ~vet the next few fields, s.lowly climbing to 3,500'. Chris off back to the Ranch to start gate photo while a few of us stay in the light thermals, 1npving downwind over shadowed areas, What else is there to do?

Many have gone back to the Ranch to land and opens up a Seven miles north ~f the Ranch. we catch the , . . . . . swamp fire and use the resuitant lifrto stny up Just over 3,000 endfossly circlmg. P.lc1.1ty of icllks are 011 the ground. 'l 'he wind is strong out east and we are dnfong quickly to west of the 1:~rnpoint. Brian Porte.I' has deliberatdy gone down';'ind l 0 miles southwest of the ttu:npoint to under tbe clouds. He up to 5,000 . . . ., I spot a sailplane north up Highway :omh . . just on rhewesu1?e of: the road. 'I'here is a sail.plane port south of Quest Air. the tnne I get r~ear the sailplane I'm down to under 1,000 foctand groveling along, broken stuff qver the ., brownest I can find. Just before I get to the swamp I hit the strongest hit of the day four miles to rh,, west of Quest I'm awai:e than I'm in a 20-mph east wind.

As] ~limb out to .3,000' Bi:ian joins me, hnving dived in from six miles west he saw the sailplane over me. I'm able to climb to 4,000' and d:cn head to tht: rumpoit;i.t, directly into the wind. [ still have to stop balf a mile oJ quest, workl1_ft and drift away from the turn point, in order to get high enough to fmally make 1t there.

Now too l finally get to fly downwind for three to land, Maybe a dozen pilots at:e able to get as far as Mike and Robin .Hamilton goal at Jim Lee i!nd Chris land 15 Brian Porter lands l l miles northwest after making the tumpoint shordy after I do, having stayed in the last thermal to 5,000', Ramy a11dMark Bennett 20 n1iles past Quesr.

J,...._, '"" ,..,, FIVE OF THE CONTEST

in. a Lam.inar the only pilot to make today. Ramy comes the dos" miles ottt. No one else comes dose.

We eall ;i task 48 m.iles to the southeast to Rivet Ranch with a turnpoint at Bok~fow" er, 21 miles ro the south. Pilots arc advised, given thestrong west/northwest wincls,.to stay out ofcomrolled afrspace to the cast <>f Walhiby Ranch. Many pilot has to lenve a thermal to stay under the·3,000' limit east of Highway 27 (the ~f th_c cc~ntrolled altspace).

With strong winds, only an occasional cloud, and mdJcanons of weak or scat-

est,

a

HANC Gl!DINC

only on the condition that [ make the fol-lowing statement: "Ahem. Be it known that Gibbo, also known as 'Superman,' is the greatest hang glider pilot who has ever lived."

Oby, I am now free to tell you about Rosane Gihson, AKA Hozuhni. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, she teaches midclle--eastcrn dance. Many of you may know Albert "Albo" Gibson, the LZ manager at Lookout Mountain Flight Park. .. and Gibbo's clad.

While Hozuhni danced, Albo played the "Alim zills," which he invented finger cymbals on sticks. Accompanying him was his significant other, Donna Hardy, who played the doumbck (a kind of drum). Pral> tically the entire population of staff and competitors congreg,ned in the pole barn for this show. Hozuhni whirled and undulated, changing costumes waving veils and jingling chimes. It was amazing. Everyone cheered, hooted, whisrkcl and clapped. As the show others began to join in the dancing, among them meet assistant Denise Lindquist and tug pilot Carlos Bessa.

What a night! 'JJic performance was completely impromptu just another example of the strange and wondediil things that jttst seem to happen spontaneously at the Ranch.

During rhc awards ceremony there was a raffle, and lots of great little prizes were handed out. Campbell Bowen of Quest Air won a Wallaby Ranch and drew ;1 raucous reaction when he put it on. When all rhe rrophies had been handed our and all rhe speeches had been made, the night became a parry, !i11l oflaughtcr, sw1mE-C1;111cand merriment.

In the end, that's what this competition was really about. le was abour sharing the love of hang gliding, and about competition and comradeship. Not only did everyone have a great and not only did almost "'"'"'"""' to do a lot of' great flying, liut l am to report that we got through the whole thing without any injuries, incidents, or accidents. This is what hang gliding events should be. As G.W. Meadows put it, "We've proven that this type of world-class cmnpct j. tion is the way this group of graying competi· tors want ro go. IDok for more of them to pop up in the fi1rure."

Tlwnks 10 all who came, and let's do ir next year, shall we?

tered lilt, rnost pilots delay launching. Larry Tbdor goes up over Ranch to over 5,000', but no one else is able to stay up.

Finally, at abom.2:30 PM about 10 of us launch and are able to get up and away, only to land about 10 miles to the south. Twenty minutes we launch, other pilots launch at Ranch and then they all come down and have to launch again. Chris Arai has flve separate launches before Carlos, tug pilot extraordinaire, puts hirn .in a thermal. ~orking mixed-up tbermals in strong winds, pilots have ro go upwind as much as possible to be able to get a turnpoint photo of the Bok 1c)wer, 21 miles to south.

Nnme:rous pilots.are unable t~ get l'.ack from their eastward ddfr to get the shot. , Bnan Po~·t(:r, m a ~1ll~nnmm, l:as to go back over six miles afrer climbing out !1:om low. alntude a coup.le of miles east of the tower, and he just makes it back to tbe Bok .I ower. Ile lands there amidst a concert with over 4,000 people. after 4:30 PM, is able to to the Bok Tower and land a fow miles to the Mike Barber lands a .mile short of him.

Jim Lee lands ei.ght miles out from the Ranch, as does Dave Sharp, Kenny Brown, Mark Robm Hilmilton (who was winning the Hex"wing until this last task), and numerous other pilots. It is a fortunate pilot who over 10 miles.

FINAL RESULTS The and final results rt:Jr flex wing, and combined can be found at http://www.jusd1 y.corn.

The top 15 places in the final overall results of the Atlantic Coast Championships are as follows:

Place .... Pilot............................... Glider 1; ......... r,,rniv 1,rnc:cL .................. i:)ntrn1 Star Millennium .,.,1 ........... \._,,.111~

Arai

Wing Fusion

.11 ......... rvw•,e Barber .................. Airwave Exti:eme

4) ......... Robin lfamilton ........... Icaro 2000 Lam.inar ST W.ing l'usion i11ui:K Bennett ......... .., ... Will, Fusion

u, .........

'fodor .................. karo 2000 Laminar ST 9) ......... BrJan Porter Star Millennium 10) ....... Mark ................ Airwave Extrerne l Design ,.,1, ...... 1,1•,m c_,Hiver ................... t\(:tos Stealth ~1v1.1<.1w ...................

Lammar ST

NRW! SMALL HALL (lrcat for hand-held wind mcas11rcrncnl or pa rag I idcr

Airspeed Indicator 11sing Bracket.

Srnall llall..

....... $23.50

Parnglidcr Brackcl ..... $6.50 N11w nvailahlc: Small J la!l for hang gliders,() 10 70 mph

Austin Scott Collins is ti co~nrr.!erc·itd azr·mt.1n1• with instrurnent multi-He is also a USl!(,;l.-rated

AUC\JST 199B

Hall llrothers P.O. Box 1010-11, Morgan, lJT 84050, USA Mastercard I VISA I C.C).D

!'hone (801) 829-3232

l·ax (801) 829-6319

:51

HANG CUDJNC ADVISORY Used hang should always be disassembled bc{orc Hying for lit-st time and inspected carcfttl!y for fatigued, bent or dent· cd downt11bes, mined bushings, bent bolts (especially the hcan bolt), rc--mcd Nyloc nt!ls, loose thimbles, or rusted cables, tangs with norH:ircular holes, on flex wings, s:tils badly torn or torn loose from their anchor points front and hack on the keel and biding edges. If in doubt, many hang gliding business· cs will be happy to give an objective opinion on the condition of cquipmcm you bring them ro inspect.

Buyers should select cquipmcnl that is appropriate for their skill level or rating. New pilots should seek pm· fessional instruction from a lJSI IGA CFRTJFIED INSTRUC:TOR. FLEX WINGS AFROS STEALTH KPT. 142 NEW -fast-clean· nimble. White 1.E, lavender bs. ready to demo or ship $/i,000 OBO. John (805) 6S2-:l48:l.

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AIRWAVF (;UIJERS J'or sale: !<lassie lli/i, bluc/n,1:1ccn1a, Vl'ry good condition $2,600. Klassic l 66, 2 new condition $3,100.

Pulse Vision 9 meter, vctlow·/nttrnllc, 90 homs, good condirion $1,700. (509) 555-81 I').

FALCONS-lJL'J'RASPO!rI -lll'ATI 58 $2,,700. (209) ii35-35%

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1

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Harness, helmet, ins1r11mcnts, oflcr.

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sail is shot. Good for parts $ l 00.

COMPLETE PACKAGE Mark /V/7, good condition $900. Package: glider, CG I 000 harness, Free l'lighr 20 gore PDA, Pcrforma11cc· VZ altimctcr/vario, only $1,500. (505) 821--85/ili.

HPAT I 58 Red/white/blue, excellent condition, low hottrs $1,000. (519) lt53-9% I.

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HANC G!IDINC

VISION M J<IV 17 I .ow hours, l,,miess w/p:naclrnrc $1,200. Call Ted (Ii 1'5) .l81-W7'/.

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KLASSIC I/iii Cood rnndition $1,'500 OBO. Cdl Larry (;'liO) fi(i'l-2022 Ohio.

RAMA JR l 5ft 5)9-5900.

KLASSJC I/iii White & red, nice shape, under 100 hours $1,900. (Ii I Ii) liT>-8800, bradQ1'hang1;lidi111;.corn

SENSOR 51 OC Coocl condition, Hies & performs great $500. (828) 255-00:l:l leavc message.

I<LASSIC 15/i

SPECTRUM I !iii JO hours, cxccllcnr condition $ I ,850. High Energy Tracer harness w/churc and rocket $850. $2,500 rakes all. (li7-3) 6'Jl-li207, jlwl,inJ&rlaol.com

(;ood condition, 60 lirn1rs $),000.

(219) 6%-8'i:l:l.

LAMINAR iii ST

Crear condition $3,500. (61 '))

Crcrn Team colors $1,)00. (719)

793-3432.

LAMINAR 111 ST Fxcellcnt condition, excellent pcrforni:mcc $1,000. (801) 251t-6 i Ii I.

SPECTRUM 16'>, lmmac11L1te condition, rnlors, new flying wires just bcc:mse, exrra UV $2,000. ('SO:l) 62 l-.'357'1, equanirniryvl'eanhlink.ncr

!/\MINAR lit Vxcdknt sh;ipc, yellow l.F, blue tmdcrsttrfau· $2,')00. (815) )1/i 5388.

Owner rearfol, need quick sale Sl'FC:TRLJM 1(,5 $1,200. (5 I 6) 75/i-'/830 chasufoods(1la0Lrn1n

LAMINAR ST, J/i, 13 in stock. WALLABY RANCJ I (94 l) li2/i-0070.

sn:crn.UM CI.FARANCF SALE Three 165 Spcctrnms in 1H::;n new condition, w/all oprion.s $2,liOO $},200. Raven Sky Sports (Ii iii) li7.3-8SOO, hrad~1lbangglidir1g.co111

MARK IV17 - Exccllcnr condirion $1,ltOO. Tracer harness w/1,araclrnte $700. (781) (,62.. 99g l.

MlLLENNlUM 0070.

WALLABY RANCH (9/il) li2ii

MOYES CSX!i -· Topless, ne,nly new, 30 hottrs $:l,'SOO. (li07) 578 89:l'\ xclarryvllconcenrric.ncr

WILLS WIN(; R/\Vl•:N- Crcat trainer, extra control h:ir, downrnbcs, wheels, l'agrn marnial, :JO hours $500.

(71'1) 62'J-.'l%0.

EMERCENCY PARACI IUTP.S DF.PLOYMENT BACS New, ,md new 20/i bri dks, $).Sea. (301) }Iii' 8995.

ROCKFT RFSERVFS $1i75ca. (JO}) :llil-il'J')5.

Two, used LARA and I\RS

),() CORF 20f'r PD/\, hr,1ncl new $:1')0, I only. (:\0\) lli7 89'.J'i.

Many more available. Raven 8800, hrad(rll1ang1;liding.co111

HAR.Nl'SSFS SPORT 167 - Very low hours, mint condition $1,200 OBO. (.10.1) 91\8 77.09. t err;i nee, pa rron G:'':i h.s.com

12.31.

SPORT EURO 167

CLOlJDllASE I IA RN ESSES J\nd Ulrramitts, since 1')72. Chris Smid, (li2.l) 8:n-'i'J/i5.

Fqmli'J,cr harness w/parachme, l .irek vario, Kenwood FM radio. $1,200 rakes all, (702)

1L\l-.!d88 .

... Six fliµ,hrs, black forward wedge, green undnsurfoce $/i,'iOO. (719) 'i39-5'JOO.

SX, XTL, XS:~, XT, etc. New and MOYES CSX nearly new. Available irnmcdiarely. Nation's largest Moyes dealer. WALLABY RANCI I (9/i l) 12/i-0070.

May9/, like new, light/dark purple MOYFS SX/i $2, 'JOO. (50:l) 625-.3<, I F.xcdlcnt condition, I MOYES XTRALITE l'.l7 year old w/sx mods, will ship $2,000 OBO. John (805) 682.14iU. bcellem condition, MOYF,S XTRA LITE H'l docile, one owner, dO hottrs, new Oct 9S, $2,000. (li23) C,98-1 <, 1<,.

MOYFS XT PRO 165 Novicc/imcrmcdi,1tc double surface, 25 hours, gre:ll shape $2,700. (/i iii) lii':\·8800,

SUPFRSl'DR'l 11:l Creat condition, <55 homs, hot pink and magenta $1,600 OBO. (970) 925-5'> I 0.

SllPFRSJ'Olff I !iii ~ lmrnactrlatc, <10 hours $2,500.

Sky Systems harness and durte. (208) 78B .. J/i22.

Topless, carbon fiber frame, new gliders in stock: black, white or red $3,000 l'()B St. Pctcrsbmg, Florida. ACME Glider Company (813) 526--3629 or 'rRGJ ,ll)ERSGilaol.com TIU

TRX 160 - ( ;ood condition $1,000 OBO, 2 avail~ able. 1-888 9'i7-51i.'39.

Ul.TRASPORT lli'l --- 20 homs, cye .. c:rtching dark bltte/111a:1,,T,talycllmv, 2 downtubes, AT relc;rsc, bridle, $},500. Deluxe pod w/7 pockets $li50. vario w/airspccd $:150. WW Lara parnchurc $.\50. Phil (540) li6'3-.'l 130.

!)rad(21)hanggliding.co111

NEW & \JSFD CLJIW.RS At affordable prices. ( '.al! the Soaring Centn roll-free J-88ii-9/ilj.'j,fn.

PULSE 'JM Mim condition, .JO homs. Fxrrns: new helmet, w:llerproo( li;ig, cxrra set of do'.vnrnl',es, training harness $2,300 OBO. Hob (81;() 885-6125.

PULSE I IM Custom sail, hrand new, ilown once only. l'aid :J;,i,600, llrsr $:J,000 rakes it. (7'i7) li20ii3M.

AUCilJST 1 (JC)8

Ul' (;F/v!JNI - 1983, <50 homs, spanwisc rainbow sail, exccllcm condition. Hight Design harness, hclmcr & tr;rininp, wheels included. $850. ('170) 971( .. 5130

NEW, USED And REFURBISHED harnesses.

Buy, sell, rradc, cmrsignme11t. Cunnison Clidcrs, I Sit'!

C:ounty Road 17, Cunni.son CO fl! 2:10. (')/0) (,,j].

93 l'i.

IIICH FNl:RCY l'OD HARNESSES Sizes & styles change monihly, $:30(HOO. CC IOOO's $2'50.

Cocoons $200 each. K11ceh;rngers & stirrups also available. (Ii! Ii) liTl-8800, hr:id~llhanggliding.com

g"· I . -drivcrGi)rnindspring.corn

l llCI l ENERCY TRACFR Excellent ,ondirion, 5' 1"-5'/i", 1liO ,lb, never flown in, $350. (907) :L\ii-

VISION 19 l.il,c new w/lligh Energy harness w/BRS chute, Maxon radio, misc cqttipmenr. Call Dave ((,:>O) 582 2'>(, 1, make o/frr.

9902.

Spae,heni sryle harness, hd.. mer, wheels, paradnrrc, :iirspccd indicator $1,500 or hcst oiler. (219) ,fo2 .. 560'i nonhwcst Indiana/Chicago area.

LMFP CUSTOMl/,FD POD - 5'10" pilot, chmc, foll face helmet. old srylc Rill, storage hag (123) 698-1 C, 16.

ROCKFT CITY AIRSPORTS The fun, safe place you learn and safely pr,1!c:;;sic,nal iusrructors. Grear flights. Three sites and Moycs--Bailcy aeromg rhose "other" I.earn lo acrorow and earn yollr AT raring. Mention this ad, a friend and receive one lesson l /2 price. Call 880-8512 ()t (256) 776-9995.

TJRED OF T0\1(/JNG? Tired of to Flying sires? Crcarc your own, power up rhc way with SWEDISH AEROSPORTS MOSQUITO HAR NESS. Lightweight, import:anr\y·l;1m!

ERS, your U.S. SUPPLIER at 616-922-2814. PS: SEEING TS BELIEVING! video now available, $13 includes shipping.

ARIZONA

THE HANG GLIDING CENTER Located in beal!liftrl San Diego. Hang gliding and paragliding instrncrion, sales and service, condnc1ed ar TORREY PINES and local motmtains. Spend wimcr vacation us. Demo mrr line and cqnipa lways convenient world famous TORREY PINES. We offor !CARO (LAMINAR ST), MOYFS WILLS WING (XC) and all kinds of stuff. Makers of the DROGUE CHUTE. 2181 Charles Way, El Cajon CA 92020, (619) 4611441.

ADVENTURE SPORTS TOURS Lessons nearby Phoenix/Tucson areas. Man-made trainer hill faces all wiud direcrions. Gmirantccd ten !1ights per day!

Tempe, AZ (602) 1!97712 l.

HIGH ADVENTURE J fang p:m,gliding school. Fqnipmcnr saks, service, at Sout hem California's mile high site, C:resrlinc. lJSHGA lnmucwr Roh McKenzie. By ap11oinr1nc11t (909) 8B:l8488, www.cce.c,rg/tm;:/h1:~11,. a,1,•enturc

MOSQUITO POWER HARNESS Demos For sale, 'J50fpm climb. Sec my Jan. '98 ccntcrsprcad in HG, also sec Mosquiro page ar www.birdsinparadisuom $3,000. (808) 822-5309.

31401 Riverside Dr. Lake Elsinore, CA

TJ!E l\EST TRAINJNC IIARNESSES Kid sizes available f,,r those too small to fly, but just rigl1t for a rope swing. McNcnTrainingllarncss (315) li92-l020.

92530 909-674-2453

RJGJDWINGS FLEDCE 1A & Fledge ?.A, including spare parts $500. (604) ')36, 1732.

FULL SERVICE SHOP

Sales, rentals, repairs, guide service. Free 1,roclmre. (520) 6:o2"A I 1tttp:/ /www.northlin k.wm/··aligc

New, SWIFI' Fly fast, go funhcr!

FULJ. SFRVICF SHOP Located on 7/i at the base of rhc Sama Ana mountain range. rcpre· ALL major brands. Rentals available ro qu:rli(> days a week 9am--5pm, dosed on

Vrc,a/1\llastcrcard/A necrrc:tn Express. lllTRAI.IGHTS AIRBORNE FDCE TRlKFS dccrric start,

ARKANSAS Two, 1996, 582,

for acrowwing or 2·-pJace airfare from wcsi- coast to

$15,000. ([ pilot training birdip@aloha.net.

07.ARl< MOUNTAIN !!ANG GLIDERS Sales, service and instruction. 160 Johnston Rd, Searcy AR

MAGIC AIR Located in Northern California.

Lessons, sales, service. ('707) 9(i3-:lli55.

72 Wl. (501) 279-21i80.

trike to Los Angeles.) Certified 000 extra. (808) 822-5309,

NO MOUNTAINS Or tow parks? No problemselHrnnch with the Slip trike and soar! Liberated Flight (911) 7,15.1297,

CALIFORNIA ADVENTURES UNLIMITED school. USHGA ccrci/Jcd mstru,cntm specialist. New & used eq111prm:m, dealer. wv..rw.artnet.nc:c/ ,sk11clc,g/ rndcx.hrrnl 8000.

WANTED

DREAM WEAVER l!ANG GLIDING OLD HANC CUDFRS WANTED For display only. Sails must he in condition. Will pay $ \00$150. Contact Bruce I--800-3'\li-1'777 or (919) 411-2426.

Sales, set·

vice , insrrnction. Area's most INEXPENSIVE prices.

Ideal training hill, new and nscd cqnipment. Dealer for Wills Wing, Aliair, Higli Energy Sports and more.

Tandem instmction. USH(;A Advanced insrrucror Doug Prather. (2.09) '556 .. 0469 Modesto CA.

SCHOOLS & DEALERS H.Y AWAY HANG CUfJINC Tammy Burcar (805) 96 l--276(i.

ALABAMA LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK ad under C;eorgia.

Sanra Barbara.

REAi.ITV Way, Milpitas 1055, fax (408) 262-131!8, MSCIIG@aol.com www.l1sng--gliding.co111

Sec the west! Fnll service hang gl1d11ig/pa1·ag11,c11ng established 19'71, Santa

www.bodytrcnds.corn/par:rncc.l,rm

by more

lS

us I iANC Cllf)IN(i

THE HILL WITH IT! ~1JU@li1lll [Ju!;,lti'.J(s~ rJdiUllPJUIKl( d"" 1

\XIL I Ii\ VE

Hi\NC; CL!DlNC !\ND PJ\RJ\C:l][)lNC l!SI JC;\ cerii/Jcd instruction, tandem flight instr11c· tion, s:1lcs, service, rcpaiL~, p:irachutc repacks, and site tours. S:m Diego's world class soaring center. Visa and

lvbstercml accepted. Cd] (GI 9) Ii 57·')8')8 or check m mtt ;tt h11p://www.f1y1orrey.rn111

The i\erotow Flight Park Satisfaction ( ;11arantccd Just 8 mib from Disney World C:mtral to Attractions

WlNDSPORTS LJ\'.s largest since 1'!7/i. i'if'tecn minurcs from IJ\X. Central to Sylmar, Crestline, 1,'.Linorc ;rnd training sites. Vacttio11 training, flying and glider sales incl11ding lodging and rcnt;tls.

The most popuL1r and l·q11ipmcn1, DC\V ;rnc\ used in stock. Trade in yom old eq11ipmcnt. 325 cLtys each ye;tr. Corne Jly with nsl I(, IIi 5 Victory Vat, Nuys CJ\ '! J/fO(,. (818) 'J81J.fl 11 I, Fax (818) 98818(,2.

COl ,O RJ\DO J\llfflMF /\BOVE 11!\NC CI.Jl)JN(;

l'ttll,time

The most advanced 1rai11ing program 1c;iching you in half the i-imc it takes on rhe J !ILL, and wi1h more in-f'light air time.

WF. CAN TEJ\C:J I YOU FASTER AND Si\FER. !'or yc;ir·round rraining fim in 1he snn, call or write Miami lfang Clidiug (:l05) 285 897B. 7.550 S B:tyshore Drive, Coconut Cnwe, l'lorida 331Y,. known 10 hang

YEJ\R ROUND SOAR!NC OPEN DJ\YSA WEEK • FOUR TUGS, NO WAJT!NC EVERY DIRECTION

so, 1'11C~E demos 10 ny: Topless to Trainer C]idcrs; Laminar, Moyes, Wills, Airborne, /\irw;wc, f,'.xxtaq\ Millennium c,upe1,·J 1,,au:r and more; v:irio.s, etc. also J\gcs 13 To 73 have learned 10 fly here.

lessons, sales, service. ( :olorndo's most experienced!

No 011c comes close to our level oC experience and

Wills Wing, Moyes J\ltair, I ligh Energy, Ball, lcaro and more. (.10:l) 67/i 2/iS I, Evergreen, ( :ol,Hado J\irtimcl J(;(,haoLcom

success with c1ndcm acrotow insi-ruction.

A GREJ\T SCFNF FOR FJ\MTLY AND FRIFNDS ...

QUEST !\TR SO!\RINC CENTER Your vacariot1 gliding location. (J52) ii2').()2 U, f,1x (:l'i2) IJ29

CONNECTICUl'

10 motels & rcstaurams within 5 rnins.,

email us: qucstairfilsundial.net

Visit our website at: www.q11csuirforcc.com or

hot

showers, shade trees, sales, storage, ratings,

MOUNTAIN WINCS

I .ook under New York.

FLORID!\

retrievals) great weather, clirnhing wall, trampoline\ DSS TV, 1,i11g pong, swing, pirnic tables,

GEORGI!\

swimming pool 1 etc.

Flights oF over !Ii O miles and more than 6 honrs. ,\kywings, Cross Cou1111y :md othcn. rcauircd on numerous 'J'V shows, inclJJding ESl'N2. !\rt iclcs in 11,mg (;tiding,

Visit us on rl,c Wch: ht1p://www.wallahy.com Please call us for rcfrrcnces and video.

1805 Dean Still Road, WalLthy Ranch, l'loricla 33837· 'J.l58 (9'11) li21i-0070 phone & fox Conscrv,11ivc \ JSI !Ci\ G:RTI !'JED TANDEM lNSTRlJC:T!ON By McNatnee. /\erotow training l'x ratillgs.

Dealer for major ilight aud aerntow equipment, I hours {i'orn l lisneyworld. Call (:\52) 2/i 5-82(/l. gr;iyhird<:iilpraxis.net ht qi;//www.p;y11zi.c01n/grayhird

Rcli,1bk Sr:11c of the /\rt

.11.C. lNC:./l'LYfNC l'IOR\DA SlNCF 197fi

l'UU. 110()1(..lJPS Laundry, pro1o;1nc, recreation room. j .8()() 80.17788.

Malcolm Jones, l hvid Clover, Rhett Radf,m\, Ryan ( ;Jover, Tom Ramseur,

Carlos llcssa, ( '.hris ( ;un, Roger Sherrod

1001<0\JT MOUNTJ\IN FLJCIIT !'ARK Sc:e ad undL·r ( ;corgia. Nearest mountain trniniug ccntc1 to Orlando (crnly 8 hours).

l 800,803-7788

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN l'L!Cl 1T l'J\RK - Sec our display ad. Discover why H)UR TIM ES as many pilots cam their wings at l.ookout than at any othct school! We wrote US] ](;A's Olfic ial Training Manual.

Om special1y-rns1omer sa1isfac1io1t and /i,n with rhc BEST FAClUT!ES, hrgcsr inventory, ming, more! l'or :t flying trip, intro or lesson

1,ookont Mountain, jnsl. nntsidc

Chatt:tttooga, yom COMPLE l'E tr:1iningl.scrvicc ccn· tcr. Inf,,? (800) 688-lMFP. /\\JCUST 199B

55

The 1998 Women's World Meet will take place in Hungary this August. The U.S. Team members are Kari Castle, Kerie Swepston, Nancy Smith, Lisa Verzella, Patti Cameron and C.J. Sturtevant.

Contributions are gratefull) accepted in addition to raffle ticket purchases. Send your check or money order to Women's World Team, c/o USHGF, P.O. Box 1330, Colorado Springs, CO 80901-1330.

\OTE: The \\omen ·s \\orld Team has officially extended the raffie deadline until September 1.1998

The Women's World Team appreciates the donations of $100 or more from: Sk) Dog Publications. James Georg. \an9 Smith, Darrell Hamb le) . .\I\\ hitesell. Chelan Lanes \Ir. J's Lane Elnen, .\.lar) Clor Sk) \\ ear lnc. (t-shirtsl. Cloudbase Countr) Club. Paul Klemond, Raffie prizes have been donated by: Lake Chelan Flyers. Inc .. Carl Lawrence. \larin Count) Hang <aiding Association. G.\\ . .\.leado\ls .lustfl) (T-shirt printing). Pendulum Quest \ir -1 aero-tow release, 5 assorted T-shirts, 10-pack of tows. free Aerosports. Don Reinhard Personal Flight. Da, is Straub. Que,t \ir. beer for 2 for a weekend, 10,000-foot tow. areo tow training course Hang \n anon) mous paraglicler pilot. (;len Yolk (S500! ). ,John Scot!Bretton U or above (up to 10 fli ghts) \\ oods Forei!(n Exchange. Jon ;\lcConachie. Ralph l\liller. The \\ allah) Ranch - dollies, releases and aerotow technical support \lemorial \\ eekend Galapagos Cruise '98. \\crncr Schnitzler h\ o-( ·an I· 1, - one introductory paragliding lesson $-'O (5 tickets): Tum Lanning. Jean Thoreson. Ohio FIJers. Lee Burns. \ltair - a $200 gift certificate toward the purchase of an Altair glider .Jeff Farrell - two copies of the video Fly Hard Gene .\.lathe\lS, Sam .\.lartin. \'anc) Csser). Paul Hurless 1S501 •. \clam \lountam High - two oxygen systems Bein. Hank Butzel. Kathleen Dunn. l -rsula Ed,1ards. Lauri \lcDanicl. 'iOI - one open-face helmet, one windsok, two $100 gift certifi cates for Joesph and Logan :\ance. Larr) \lajchrzak. Andre,1 DuBois. \like SOL helmets, harness or paraglider \lacon. (;ar) .\.lclntire .Just fl) -one Icaro Integral helmet $25 (3 tickets ): Audre) and Peter Berne). James Gardner. Erica l S \cro, - one set of hand fairings, one X-C glider bag \lo) cs \mcnca - three $100 certificates toward the purchase of a Moyes Koesler. Rita Knufinke. Perr) Jones. Bill Le\\ is. Lowell Tindell. Jeff \\ hite. Om j,., Straub. ,Joe llman. \ ince Collins, George Zatloka. Chad Xtreme or Flex harness Bastain. h.arl Cameron. Tim Delane). Christopher Delanno.,. Carol -ill) Ha" k h.ite, - six hang gliding Tshirts Hang (;lickr and Paraghdcr Fmporium -three introductory paraglidSperr.,. \ alerie Carroll. h.en Hudonjorgensen. Belinda Boulter. Konie ing lessons , an Deest. Ste, e \la) er. Tom (;ardner. Gar) .\.lclntire. Rich Lm rence.

Fl) \Jr,ico - five free fl ying days in Mexico Barbara\\ iedcmann. Jim and Linda Yocom. \lark Heckler. Rich Fh tee l' S \ - a Fl ytec 4005 vario Hubbard. Dante Leonardi. \Ian & Gisele CaJo. J.J. Lamarche. Fred F6 Produch - shirts and sportswear Leonard. Stephen \!urn) ack. Brad Yincent. ( "hristine Weghorst .John Heine) - six aerobatic posters $20 (2 tickets): Sam\\ allab.1 Ranch. Erica Corral. (;reg Kendall.

Paul Hamilton - three videos from Adventure Productions $10 (I ticket): Doug Clark. \like Knapp. Doug Campbell.\\ end) Pendulum \crosports - two-watt raclio & 12-pack smoke bombs Campbell. Bart \\ eghorst. Carl Be, is. Ja) c \ an Haeften, Don Taber.

L SH(;\ - books and calendars (;err) (;ro,,ncgger - nifty little string games Brent \lcCarter. Brad Gr) der. \lark A,en. Da, id Ra) bourn. Phil (the Dm id Beardslee - one tandem hang gliding fli ght Pill I Bloom. Kurt Dille). Grant Hoag, Slade Kennett." Chum" \erolight LS.\ - one Kiwi Evolution helmet .\.lcCnrncls . .\nd) Pr) ciak, Philip \angel. Da, is Straub, Da,icl Crabb. learn - fi ve Icaro helmets Tim Denton • .\lark Gaskill. Bob Helmer, Jeff Hinshaw, Ste,c Niessner.

Cameron Outcn,ear - three neckgaiters \like Smith. Ste, e Stubbendick. Franz\ ettigcr. \lark Windsheimer Team Spirit II.mg Hang Ulirhng - Free day's glider rental Other: \lar) Clor. ',160 for 20: (;eorge Kno," $20 for 2; Rust) Russ.

I)an l ch, til - Wooden hang glider sculpture/trophy Galleried artist <;igi Gclfan - Framed and matted Impressionistic-style SlOO for 12: Sandia Classic. \,1()0 for 12: Dennis Yeomans, $105 for U; \\ a~ nc Sa~ er :i,50. Paul Klemond S60. Jon Solon S50. <,regu Lasel-., Ste, e painting of a cascading waterfall in a forest, about 14" x 16" "" omen fl)!" clothing for team members pro, ided b) Speak lnc. The Skogmo. Ron Knight. '\lark \lodeen . .\.lien Sha". E..J. Steele \~omen Fl) Project O FFICIAL RULES - 1 0 PURCHASE 1 ECESSARY I. Raffle open to U.S. Residenls 18 years or older.

2. For every $ IOdona1ed you will receive a ticket for a chance 10 win the listed prize(s). Tickets may al o be obtained by writing "Go Women's Team" on a 3" x 5" card and mai~ ing it with a self-addressed, slamped enve lope to Tammy Burcar. P.O . Box 3274, Santa Barbara, CA 93 130. One entry per envelope. Al l ticket requ esls m ust be poslmarkcd by May I , 1998. The Team or its affilia1es are not respon. ible fo r any U.S. Mail or human errors.

3. See above list fo r prizes to be awarded. Odds of winning depend upon the num ber of participan ts.

4. Each entranl accepts and agrees to be bound by these rules and the decision of the j udges which shall be fi nal and binding and nol appealable.

5. All Federal and State laws apply.

6. Void where prohibi1ed or res Lricled by law.

r---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------, Please send me Women's World Team raffle ticket(s). Prices: $10 each, three for $25, five for $40. Make checks payable to the United States Hang Gliding Foundation (USHGF) and mail to: Tammy Burcar, P.O. Box 3274 Santa Barbara, CA 93130.

NAME ADDRESS _ __ __ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ _

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CITY

~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

STATE _ _ __ __ _ _ __ _ _ ZIP _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

PHONE (~~~) ~~~~~~~~~~

Your canceled check is your receipt. Ticket numbers will be written on the check.

BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT SAFETY

CRISPI BOOTS MA DE IN ITA LY FDR PILOTS WORLDWIDE

Removable rear insert ond velcro strip for keeping the laces in place.

CRISPI PARATEC BOOTS

CRISP! AIRBORNE BOOTS

Removable side strenghtheners suede

Waterproaf Nabuk. Vibram sole.

Shock proof Kevlar Tip. No Hacks.

Grey with Black color. USS 240

& leather with cordura edge Sympotex

lining and Vibram sole. Multicolor.

USS 210 & Crispi Tinos Purple color.

No Inserts. USS 150

KIWI EVOLUTION HELMET

KIWI PLAIN HELMET

Carbon fiber. Only 20 ounces. Well Podded. Allow maximum visibility and installation of earphones . In color White or Black. USS 220

Composite fibers. Only 22 ounces plain colors White or Black ond protected clear cooling. USS 190

KIWI HYPE HELMET

Composite fibers. Only 22 ounces painted in color White, Black or lead with lhin waler decals ond protected clear coating. USS 210

AEROLIGHT USA, Inc., 1355 N.W. 93 Ct. Unit A-105, Miami, FL 33172 U.S.A., Tel: (305) 639-3330, Fax: (305) 639-3055 Email: paragliding@aerolight.com, Home Page: http://www.aerolight.com

Flyt

4

;i

Send us your hand gliding slides or pictures.

If we use it in our ad you will win a new Flytec 4030 GPS Access. ,r,.PJEl&Se contact Flytec USA for contest rules and regulatlons.

--= FlyrEC

f'I.YTn UM . . . . . . . . . .19'

FLY

::iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiliii

ft I P A X ~ I C.NAll.i UaAPI.VTSCMOL..1-~

~ FAB • PLYTEC:

IW?i;;'.:

NEW YORK

MA FUCHT SCl 1001.

MOUNTAIN WINGS, !NC. .. 22 years experience, foll rime/year round. Full service shop, Ii training areas and a li,500' row l1cld.

Winch and acrn i-owing, tandems and two-place train.

HAN BUNKHOUSE WARM & COMFORTABLF '32 bunks, hot showers, open all year, 2/i hour self registration. 1·800 -80:J. /'788!

HAWAII ll!RDS IN Jli\RA])fSE Hang gliding & ultralighr flying on Kauai. Cerrihed randcm instruction. (808) 822,5309 or (808) 639· 106'7, birdip~Daloha.ncr www. bi rc\si n paradise.com

ILLINOIS lli\NC c;T.JDINC SERVICES i\erorowing tbru Prairie Soaring at Leland Airport, ] hour west of' 'I ';mdem instrncrion. Airport (815) 495-2821, 5)7/il,2250.

RI\ VEN SKY SPORTS Cl l ?.) 360 0700 or (Ii lii) IJTJ.8800. Please sec om ad under WISCONSIN,

IN

NORM I .ESNOW'S Fl .Yl NC ADVENTURES Since l 978. Experience & arc II l. Presenting rlw turbo drngonlly. lmroducrory and fi,11 range of

RAVEN ST<Y SPORTS (Ii H) !iTl-8800. Please sec our ad under Wisconsin. bradG'l>hanggliding.com KANSAS PRi\fRfE HANG CLTDERS Full service school & dealer. Great randcm instruction, towing & XC ages. (.'l16) 375-2995, kcnnyGilpJd.com MEXICO BAJA LA SAUNA

us ;1bont

the mounrain

at a discmrnt. We do it all and we be undersold.

(9 I Ii) 6/i/3377 WWW.FLICJITSCHOOL.NF.T, email MTNWINGS<iMO!..COM or visit us at 150 Canal Street, Ellenville NY 12/i28.

lesson programs frn beginner to advanced. /\crotow

clinics & USIJCA ratings available.

USHCA ccrrified Please contact Norm Lesnow-Master Pilot, Examiner, Advanced Tandem lnsrrnctor, Tow Adminisrrnror. (218) 399-9/i.3:l, FULL.TIME school. www.ScriousSpnrrs.com nlfa@j11no.com

F.LLENVILI.E Fl.!GHT PARK Sales, service, USI !CA ccni/icd instruction. Dealer for AJRBORNE, LA MOlJETTF. TOPLESS, APCO, UK mscov.

ERV, instruments, acu,ssories. 80 1fang C:lidcr Road, Fllcnville NY J?.li28. Call Tony Covelli or Jane, phone/fax (91/i) C,lil-1008.

TRJ\ VERSE CTTY HANC CI.IDERS/PARi\GLlD. ERS FUl.L,TIMJ,; shop. Certified insrrncrion, foot launch and tow. Sales, service, accessories for ALL major brands. VISA/MASTERCARD. ( :omc soar our 1!50' dunes! l'i09 F 8th, Traverse Ml li%81. pa1·ag!l1<11ng lessons & for new and rhe Fly. Call Bill ar (616) Visit our paragliding school in Jackson, Wyoming. Call Tr:Jcic at (:307) Tl9-B620.

FLY JllC;Jl JIANC CIJDINC;, INC. Serving S. New York, C:otmectiwt, Jersey areas (Fllcnvillc Mrn.) Area's EXCLUSIVE Wills Wing Also all other major brands, accessories,

school/instruc-

tion. Teaching since 19'79. Arc,r's most INEXPENSIVF prices. Excellent secondary instntctinn .. .ifyou'vc finished a program ,rnd wis/1 ro continue. Fly rhc mountain! ATOJ. 51 (,:J Tandem flights! Contact Paul Rd, Pine l\mh, NY 12'i66, (91/i)

NEVADA

l,rad@ilhanggliding.com INDIANA

We sell: Millennium, Exxtacy, J\irwavc, Altair, 1\cros, trikes. Woody Valley harness

Sierra soaring tours and ADVENTURE SPORTS sp,,c1any. Hang gliding/paragliding USHCA insrmcrion. Sales and full service shop for Alrair, i\irwave, Moyes, US Acros, \'I/ills Wing. 3<,50-22 Research Way, Carson City, NV 89706 (:/02) 88:l,70/0 plrnnc/fax, email: advsprs(rtlpyramid.nn weh site: http:/ /www.pyramid.net/advspts

NY. Certified lnstruction, Sales and 5 training hills, jeep bunk house, showers, GOO' NW ridge. We: have rhe bcsr in N. New York state to reach you how to lly. c/o Dan Cuido, Box ?.93 Shoemake,· Rel, Mohawk NY I '\li07, (315) 866,6153.

NORTH CAROLINA

HAWK KITES

USH GI\ certified LAS VEGAS HANG GLIDING equipment sales, serinstrucrion, tandems & vice and rentals. lesson and incredible desert nying. (/02) 585·316:o, www.arrncr.net/. skydog/vegas.h1ml

68k from border. Bcacl1-lron1

hg, motorized pg, ct c. 0 I I 52-6 I

NEW JERSEY MOUNTAIN WINGS

Looi, 11nder New York.

NEWMFXICO

MICHIGAN CLOUD 9 SPORT AVIATION i\crotow special ists. Tandem gliding and 11hr:1ligh1 aerotow instruction with reliable rurbo Lug llr::ttrc,ntly Dealer for Wills Wing, High Fncrgy Sports, Flyrcc and many orher major brands. Acrorow cquipmcnr and launch cart kits available. Our new CLOUD 9 FLIGHT PARK and Ioli clnbhor1sc provide convenience, comfort and facilities for and family.

11088 Coon Lake Road West, Ml li8892.

(21i8) 88'7-li516. VISA/MC ACCEPTED.

58

MOUNTA[N Wl•:ST HANC CJ.]J)INC htrmington's only foll service school and Wills Wing dealer. tow and tandem /lights. (505) 6328/ili3.

Instruction, sales, set· UP OVER Nl'.W MEXICO vice. Sandia Mountain guides. Wills, Airwave.

Albuquerque, NM (505) 821-85/i!i.

• TANDEM INSTRUCTION

AEROTOW!NG

• BOAT TOWINC

• PARAGl.l[)ING

MOUNTAIN CI.INICS • FOOT LAUNCH • OPEN YEAR ROUND • BEACH RESORT • FQUTPMENT SALES AND SERVl(:J,:

(800) 334-4777 NAGS HEAD, NC Jmcrncl Address: l1ttp:/lw1Nw.ktttyl.1avvlccom E-Mail Address: ha111f~·1(il,:lc~·1lm.1ter,han l,s. c:0111

HANC CLIDINC

l'ENNSYLVANIA

PARTS & ACCESSORIES

UTA!\

AEROTOW!NG ACCESSORIES Sec TOWlNC, THE WALLABY RANCH (94 l) li2/i-0070.

AFROTOWINC PHILADFI.PIILI\ DRAC:ON'Lrndcm, foot lanncb & pa1·a1(iLd1n1i lTIERS! instr11ction! (610) 527-168'1.

MOUNTAIN TOP RECREATION Certified instruction, Pinsbmgh. (Ii 12) 6'J'l !ilil7. C'MON OUT AND PLAY! MOUN'] '/\IN WIN( ;s

I .ook 1mdcr New York.

PUERTO RICO lll,Y PUERTO RICO Team Spirit HC classes daily, 1,mdem instmcrion Wing dealer. Glider rentals for qualified pilots. PO Box 9'18, Puma SantiaF,o, Puerto Rico 007/i 1. (787) 8')() 0508.

TENNESSEE

UTA! I'S ONLY PUU. SERVICE PARAGJ ID[NG AND IIANC Gl.lDlNC; SHOP AND SC:11001.

We offer AM and PM lessons seven days a week. We ,nc dealers for all mauufacmrers. Crear new and used eq1.1ipmc:n1. We teach al the famous "Point of the McHir1tatn." Free camping right where you learn. Great discoum bargain lodging or luxury accommodations.

Cuide services, n1011ntain tours, site infor111atio11.

AIT,mlabk classes. For a ii-cc information package, call toll free I 888-94/i-Slt.33, email IIBC:3tr0 aol.c:om, fax (801) 576-M82, 126'S5 S Minuteman Dr., Draper UT

BEST l2" WIIEELS 1\VAfLABLF. Super 1011gb, lightweight, a must for tandem Built-in bushings. Only USA-built wheel. $/i2.9'5, quamiry discounts. Immediate delivery. l .ookout Mountain, (800) 688-1.MFP.

81020.

HAWK AIRSPORTS INC P.O. Box 905(,, Knoxville, TN .37940-0056, (li2.'l) 217-499/i. Jiang Cliding and world famous Windsoks.

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN l'l.Jl;JJT PARK

Sec

WASATCH WINGS FOLL TIME USHGA CERTIFIED IIG INSTRUCTION at Point of the Mountain and regional mountain sites. Dealer for Acros, Wills Moyes, Airwave and much more.

Call Zac (80 5'76-0 l li2, w1t1gs(11l,vas,at<:l1.,cotn www, w;isatch. c:0111/ ,,,,wings

VJRGlNlA

ad under Ccorgia.

TEXAS AUSTIN AIR SPORTS INC. Certified foot launch, tow iv tandem tr,tining. Sales/service, Sreve & Fred Bums WINDEMERE (830) 69:J-5805. HOUSTON (281) lt71 !li88.

BJ{AND NEW AJRM!C $65. By NAS (the one that works.) Not for Kcuwood. Talk and hear thrn car, PTT switch. (:l03) 31t7-8'J'J5.

GCL.l !ANC CLIDINC!!!

Jeff Hum, 4811 Red River Sr., At1stit1 Texas 78751. Ph/fox ('512) lt67-2529 jcff~1lf1yrcxas.cnm KITTY I JA WK KlTES

HILL COUNTRY PARAGLID!NG INC Learn complete pilot skills. Personalized USHGA certified training, ridge soaring, f()nf &. 10w launching in central

Texas. MOTORIZED PARAGL]J)ING INSTRlJC T!ON & EQUIPMENT AVAIi.ABLE. (915) :3791185. Rt I, !lox 16F, Tow TX 78672.

KITE ENTERPRISES Foot launch, platform launch and acrotow instmction too. Training, sales, rentals and repair. Airwavc & Wills l )alias, Fon Worth and north Texas area. 211 Allen TX 75002. (972) 390-9090 nights, weekends, www .ki tc·-cn t crprises.com TOTA!. AIR SPORTS Arcc,'s OLDEST Wills Wing dealer. Ccr1i!1ed iustrunion available. "I only DEAL wirli WILLS". 6:l'lli Limcsronc, Houston TX 77092. (71:l) 'J'iG-6147.

AUCLJST 199[l

Sec North Ctrolina,

Sil .VFR WINGS, !NC ·-· Certified instruction and equipment sales. (70.'.\) 53:H 965 Arlington VA. WISCONSIN RAVEN SKY SPORTS I !ANG GLIDING AND PARAGLIDING The midwcst's Premier ,1cr01ow park founded in 1992. Featuring !NTEGRAT-ED INSTRUCTION of foor-launc:1, and acrotow Ianprices to beat any in rhc USA. Seven grassy training hills facing "JI wind 1J1·atrcmtlv tow planes, no waiting! Two tandem gliders on WW Falcons for training from the very first lessons. ultralight and tug instruction. Paragliding tows. Free camping.

Sales/service/accessories for all brands. Open 7 days a week. Contact Brad K nshner, PO Box 10 I, Whitewmer WI 5] 190 (Ii IIf) ltTl-.il800 pbone, (Ii Iii) lf73--8801 fox, www.hanggliding.com, brad<?Z>han1,glidi11g.cont

THE ALL NEW COMPE17TJON "DUST DEVIi." WIND DIRECTION INDICATOR BY BAUER AVIATION PRODlJCTS. The only CO2 ACTlJ. ATED wind direction indicaror on the market. Simply the best method available ro the XC pilot. Whrn dropped from altirndc the "Dust Devil" sends an explosion of chalk on impact, clearly visible from great distances. Fully reusable, to use, and extremely reliable. Poses no thre:tt of fire and CAN BE RELOADED FOR LESS TIIAN '15 CENTS A POP. ft milizcs sundard CO2 cartridges and chalk. small size makes it easy to store ou your harness or dowmuhc.

For complete "Dwt Devil" starter kit, send $/ili.95 +$5 S&H (+$10 shipping non-USA), check or order to: Bauer Aviation Products, PO Box San Diego CA 92193. (619)!15 8/i 10.

CTFTS & TROPHIES Unique, unusual & creative hang gliding related giiis and trophies. Free catalog!

Soaring Dreams, 1171 (, Fairview, Boise Idaho 8371:l.

(208) 376-791 Ii.

59

KFNTUC :KIANA SO/\RIN<;

HEAVYDUTY, WATERPROOF PVC Full Ill 0 zipper, $107 ppd. XC-Camo or white. 115 zipper $65 ppd. Cunnison Cliders, I 5/i9 C:onnry Road 17, Gunnison CO 81230. (970) 641··'>315.

By J,'Jight n,onntcd

Connections. HEAVY···DUTY

switch) con1rn1111icatc with hands 011 conlrol bar or

hrakes. Safer flying and more reliable communications.

90 chty w/repair service available beyond warrnn1y.

Yacsu, ]corn, Alinco, Kenwood & other compatible radios. l'trll face or open helmets. $8') +$3.50 shipping, MC/Visa, dealer inquirc·s invited.

Ave., Cbrksvillc Kcnnrckiana Soaring, 425 N IN li71?.9. (812) 2887111, fax 12) 284-4115. SJ'E.

MINI VARIO World's smallcsl, simplest vario!

Clips ro ltclmc1 or 7.00 homs on batteries, ().

18,000 fr., fast response 2 year warranry. Grear for paragliding too. ONJ.Y $169. Mallenec, PO Box 15756, Santa Ana CA, <JT/35. (71 Ii) 'JG(, J 240, MC/Visa accepted, mrnallcnGi\10!.corn

CIAL!ZTNG IN COMMUNICATIONS. KENTUCKJANA SOARING Communications Specialist!

Best Prices & Best Service! ( \rstomcr Satisfaction Cuarameed!

VARIOS: FLIGHT DECKS .. $CALL

NEW llAll. GRAP! l!C:S PLUS I JIG! I PERSPFC:TIVF WIIEFI.S Real life savers!

12", light, rough. Fits all gliders. Send $Ii 1.95 , $Ii. 50 shipping per pair 10 Aviation, PO !lox JO I, Mingovillc PA 16856. ahotll our dealer prices.

KFN'J'UCKJANA SOAJ([N(;

BAI.I. M 19 FIYTFC

............... $375.00 ..... $(:Al.I.

RADIOS-ALL MODELS AVA!l./\Bl.E Sl'F.Cf/\J..JC:OM T2A 2 meter Plus .................. n.';1'ty·tO·f;O tx/ rx 136-171,

YAESU FT! ...... 5 watt.

KFNWOOD Tl 122 ........... 'i wa11 ..

F/C: l'inr,crs,N11clr/H,cadsct 5/8 5/8 (;AJN DUCK ANTENNA.

...... $250. .. $.~O'i.00 ....... $28')

...$1l9.00 ..... $20.')'5 ....... $17.95 Yacsu Mobile ..... ...'50 wau .. .......... $305.00 TUNE UP w/Warran1y lntau .. .. .... $35-50.00

The worJd .. cLiss XCR-180 up to 3 hours Q/l 18,000 fr. and only Complete kit with harness, cannnla and remote 011/ofl' 1lm¥m1:tcr, only $3'75.00 .

SMALL HFLMFTS Dealer overstock on small/xs kevlar foll face helmets. 7.5'Y<, off] Raven Sky Sports (41 Ii) 473-8800. brad~t1hanggliding.com

TEK Fl.lGHT PRODUCTS PARACIHJTES Wll./.S WIN<; I.AR/\ ... w/Parnswivel ..... .. $CAT.!.

I l!CH ENFRCY QUANTUM. ...$CALI.

ARMADIT.l.O Cl.IDER BA<;s

UV prntecrion more! C:ns1om made hcavy,dury polypropylene w/firll $ I 2.5 (plus $IO s/h.) XC bag also $125.

Kcnnrckiana Soaring, 42 5 N uarns•nm: IN li7129. (812) ;,/l8-7J 11, Include nose &. rnil width, length, widest with.

lil

MISCEU.ANEOlJS /\RM/\l)!L!.0 Clidcrbag .... Regular & XC: .... $125.00 WIND ADVISORY AIRSPEFD WIC:lamp .... $23.00 HALL PC; AIRSPEED ........ Clcarann .... $25.00 HOOK KNIFE. ..$1 li.95 KENTUCKI/\NA SOARING N /\venue 47129 (812) 288 .. / J 11 fox (812) 281-4115 ( :amera mcmm $48.50. Camera remote (ask about rebate) $/i5. Vario mount $15. (," wl1cels $7.').'/5, S& 11 included. TEK FLIGHT Prnducts, Colebrook Sragc, Winsred CT 06098. Or call (860) 379-1668.

a 60

HANC GLIDINC

QUIT YOUR DAY JOB! .

Buy one of' the nation's Rapidly growing derails. Established ovet

V[l)EOS & l'IJ .MS

to fly'

Tl lE ULrlMATF In a full face helmet. All sizes in srock. Menlion this ad 1,,r $30 off dw normal price.

(509) 925 5565.

'J'cnns,

FIRST FJ.ICIIT

l'ollows the :iction of a new pilot's

flr.sf lessons. Thi-, video i.s an

way 10 show

your frirnds and fomily how VI IS l 'S minutes. $20

Wi\NTED 11:ing Cliding/P:iragliding instructors.

Jmmediate f'ttll time openings av:tilable. Live the C,diforni:1 dream .. instrnc:t students ar the San h·allcisco Hay area's prcndcr training site. Service shop ernploymem is also available. Ask for Pat Dcncvan (108) 7.G2- I 0'5';. MSCJ l(;Qilaol.con, www.hang·t2,lidinf\,con,

learn to lly. shipping (nu1y hr !1pplitd to lesson purch11st!). MISSION SOARINC C:FNTER, 1116 Wrigley Way, Milpitas C:A '!5(U'S. (/i08) 2G2, 1055.

PlJBUCi\TIONS & ORGi\NlZi\TlONS C:i\1.1. LISI JC;\ hack issue order Corm. !'mm tlw early Shimmer ro the present I /11117, <;/irling (719) 6:32 8300.

DON'T (;FT Ci\UCrlT Li\NDINC: DOWN WIND! 1.5 oz. ripslop nylon, UV treated, 5'/i" long w/ 11" thrna\. Available colors flnorcsccnt pink/yellow or fluorescent pink/white . .$39.95 ( ,$/i.75 S/11). Send ro USHC/\ Windsok, P.O. Box 1.BO, Colorado Springs, CO 80')01 · U'.lO, (719) 632 8300, fox (719) (,:)2Gli1'7, ushga&1l11.shga.org VISA/MC: aCCi..,'ptcd. ( :heck our web :;itc ww,v.ushga.org

( ;IZF.EN POl NT Fl.VF.RS NEW FROM EAST COAST VIDEO' Wayne's hest video to d:1tc. Shot along the :JOO mile l,akc Michigan coast, liotn eight di/' frrcnt sites. l.iglm,ave :ID anim:ttions and some great moq,hing that you have to sec. 51 minutes of' hang gliding, paragliding) motorized parnp:l1C.llt11,g, po,vtowing, motorized mosquito, cred parachmc. I frnnorous shots, great air to air $'.)2..00 high qualiv1deo,\raJ1ily and much more. ;rnd stereo. intcrestcd in lite aircrali,

BUSINESS&. EMPLOYMENT J,:Vi\LUATF OlJR OUTSTANDING OPPORTIJ. NTTY! Ctpitalizc on: The !to111c··l,;1sccl business boom; The personal development industry; Om free training; Om unpaLillccl Sales Support. Arc yo11 a serio11s cnm·· prenrnr? Do you have ttp to I Or< to start' 1-800-2.79 78/i8 x 1(,2..

HlR S/\1.F: Western 11:ing C:liders, Inc. Full service pa1·ap,l1td1u1; & ultr:1light school. l11cludes ckll11t·ollce bar, located at beatttifid /Vlariua B:1y. hill rii,ltt ottt JOO tlyal,lc your front door. Six mile""'''·""""'" days per year. Reasonable priced, available (SRI\) Coman Phil C:odwin (108) 38/i .. 2,(,2?..

FULLTIMl·'. lli\NC <;UDINC l ns\ rnctors needthe "Famous Point of' the Mountain." aud Novice ratings. ( ;rc:n hendlts insurance, demo flying, we arc dealers 1nanuC1cn1rers, cornmissicms and ;111 ho11rly Make up to $j,000 monthly! Please sencl resume or contact us at: The (:emcr (801) ')7(,.

G!iGO, fax (80 l) 576-6/i82, rn resume: ! 2.G6'5 S. Mit1111eni;111 llt., Draper UT 8/i020, email I l B( :.w,1aol.com MAl<F $30,000 i\ YEI\R Te:1cl1ing hang and You can do i1 with Kiny I l'ltc hang gliding school on the planet! We'll trnin yon :tnd help you build the skills for all your rat ings through undcni. No ratings necessary to start. Join our team. Fax n·snmes to Brwe \Xlcavcr ;11 (')19) /i/i).

759'/ or rnail ro Kirty l lawk Kites, P() Box 18:39, Nags l lc:td NC: 77')'i'J.

ALJCUST l 99ll

If you don't have your copy of Dennis llAC lT! Pagrn's PFRFORM/\NCE FLYING av:tilahlc s&h thrnugh LSI!(;;\ lleadqu:trtcrs $2').'J5 for UPS/Priority Mail delivery). US] !CA, PO Box ITl 0, Colorado Springs C:O 8090 I. 1.. 8()().(i I6-G888 ushga((t\1shga.org

S()i\RING Mont hi)' magazine of' The Soaring Society of America, Jnc. Covers all aspects of soaring flight. htll rnemhcrship $5'5. l11fc1. kit witlt sample copy .i:l, SS/\, P.O. Box E, I Jolihs, NM 882/i I. ('i05) :192 1177 TOWING AEROTOWING ACCESSORIFS ~ I lcadquartcrs for: Tire iinest releases, releases, Spectra "V" bridles, wc:ik links, tandem l:umch can kits, etc.

THEW /\UAlW RANCH (9/i I) liH-0070.

CLOUD 9 SPORT AVIATION flang gliding cqltl!llneut and acro1owing :1ccessories. Launch carts partial kits $350. (7,/i8) 88T.fi5 IG VIS/\/MC ACCEPTED.

IIANC Cl.IDER l.ANJJINC IOI A must for all students at I/?. price of' :t downtube. i\erob:ttic hang gliders al airshows ol' the Southwest: Phoenix, l.:tke Powell, Mexico, 90 minutes. Send $3'5 to: Jel'I Reynolds, 1902 F Sharon Drive, Phoenix A'/. 8507.2..

(G02) 182 972\ .

PARTY i\T CLOUDB/\SE i\ hang gliding nmsic video by Adventure Productions $1 '!.'!'5. POINT OF Tl m MOUNTAlN··Award winning by Fast Coast Video, hg/pg action at this Utah mccc:t $Tl. I !ANG GLIDING FXTREMF &. BORN TO HY hy Adventure l'roclucrious, great hg action $.1/i.CJ'; each.

Hi\ WAIT/\N FLYJN l,y '!, soaring i11 paradise, amazing launches $SI. lJSl lCA (719) G32 inoo, fax (719) G:J?Ai/i 17, email: ttshga~i'ushga.org. Please add 1$/i domcsti, s/h (1$5 for two or more videos).

Great to impress

friends or for i-liosc socked-in

days. l'erkct gift the Ltuncl, potato turned com:h potato. Also, ask us ahout om paragliding videos!

or

61

ifi More than 10,000

STOI .EN WINGS & THINGS BALL GC-70 & GARMIN 15 Stolen from harness bag inside truck at BUFFALO MOUNTAIN, TJ\UHINi\, OK, on June 8, 1997. Both mmmtcd together on a .single lbll Ball CC: serial number 41. Pete Hammer (21 5(i2-1 l 02, email: l'etc.l lammcr~ilM( :I.com STOLEN WINGS ere listed as a service to USHGA members. Newest entries arc in bold. There is no charge For this service and lost and found wings or cqt11p1ne1:it ma1, be called in (719) 632..,8300 or fax it in 632-611·7 for inclusion in Cliding magagliders arc t1s111w w1111 be purged.

TELLURIDE AEROBATICS From the first Telluride Festival in 1981, to the modcrn clay cornp,,1111011. Follow the history of' this C:all US! Jc;;\ (719) 632dynamic t1sl1ga<i1Jt1sliga.org.

8300, fax

Please add +$Ir domestic s/h.

MI SCI" .I .i\NF.OUS

in men) women & sizes, ') different colms and priced from $27.9')·$:J9.95. l'or more info 011 these superior leather gloves contact: Cal-Clove, 2.920 Aulltlrn Blvd, Sacrnmenro CJ\ ')5B7.1. (')16) 181-870!, fox (91G) li81 1168, email: cal,glovcOilj11110.corn VIDFOS BOOKS & POSTERS C:all USIJCJ\ for your Merchandise order form (719) 632-8300, email: 11shgaQ1\1shg:1.org, DON'T LEi\VE YOUR GROUND.,BOUND EQUIPMENT SITTING IN THE GJ\RA(;E. SEJI. IT lN THE 111\NG GLIDING CLi\SSIFIEDS.

"AEROBATICS" Full color 73"x :11'' poster learnt iug John l kiucy doing what be docs hcst---1.0(WfNGt Available tl1rough US! JG;\ HC) $6.95 ( ,$3.50 ro US] !CJ\ s/h). Fill that void on your w:dl!

Aerobatics Poster, 1'0 Box 1300, Colorado Springs CO 80933. (USA & Canada only. Sorry, arc NOT i\VJ\11.i\B[.F. on international & Eric Raymond posters/Ii).

CI.ASSTl'IED ADVFRTTS!NG RATES The ran· fo, classifled advertising is $. 50 per word (or group oi' charac rcrs) and $1.00 per word (,,r hold or all caps. M!NJMUM AD CHARGE $'i.OO. J\ fa, of $15.00 is charged for each line an logo and $25,()() i,,r each phoro. UNFi\RT & PHOTO SIZF NO 1/\RGER TIIJ\N 1.75" X 2..25".

Pbrsc 1111derlinr: words to be in bold prim. l:iyo11ts ol' tabs $25.00 per rnl11m11 inch. Phone· words.

Email or web address .:\words, AD DEADLINES: All ad copy, instructions, changes, additions and rnncdlations 11111st he received in I 1/2 months rhc cover date, i.e. Augttst make checks payable to lJSI !CA, P.O. Box I Colorado CO 8090 I L\30, (71 ')) 6:,2 8300. hix (7 I <J) or cm:til: your das,

:no,

Adventure Prod11c1ions ...................... l 5 Acrolighr USA .................. ,................ 57 Angle of A1rnck ................................. 27 Arai Design ....................................... 19 Braunigcr ......................................... .19 Flytcc ................................................ 57 Hall Bros ........................................... 51 Jligh 5 Icaro .................................................. 31 .Just

Lookout Mrn. Flight Parlc ................ 36 Moyes .............................................. .1 l Neilscn,Kdlerrnan ............................ 30 North Wiug ........................................ 6 Personal Flight .................................... 9 Sport Avi~rion Publications .............. ,.. 5 U.S. Acros ......................................... 2.3 USHCA ......................... 5,6,7, 11 Wills Wing .......................... Back Cover Women's World Tcam ...................... 56

sifted with yom Visa rn M:is1e1·car,d.

www. usl,ga ,org

1

AIRMAN S RENDEZVOUS August 17 -

It's a

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© 1998 by Dan Johnson Sl', PAUL, MINN. Lonq a,o the hang glj d.i nq the yc,Dr, L.he 1998 Nationals otre over ,1.nd we, have wiru,er Well, "we" don' bocamie Uio L:wo Lop-placing pilots in wings (Clam; I) not Amc,ricans. Congra l:u lati.ons to one of the world' ;3 winninger;L pU ots, Manfred Ruhmer, flying his Icaro Laminar ST. second p1Dce waf; a Ukra nian not wel] known to U.S. p j__i_ot,,. Oleg Bondarchuk fl ccw hif_: Aeros Stealth KPL past the Class I American, Chris Arai, in his Wills wing Fusion. AlJ pilots vi rtuaJ r·rnmd of applause. wi l:h otl1er contesl: reporL-_s, 'LI Jeave Lhe mdin story iJ follow-up article::, but edit ion of "Produc L Lines" we' J L look mddc~ 1.ip the f ieJd. Nationa.ls bon, more than D passing t:o the Cocis Championships (bolh directed by USl-lGl\ president GW Meadows, by Lhc:, way).

Among I:lex-w.i lhe eiqht of 22 of the top· l:inishing l:ypes. r,ogc;ing a l:wo kingpo1;tc:,d Al tilir Prc:,daton, in posi tiom; 9 and 23. Like t hui r or not, topless gliders an, apparen L1 y here to stay least i.n t.he wor Ld of compe\'_i Lion Oillell Un1.i. ke the ACC, new rigid wingr: dj d not: make up D subst:,mtial port.ion or the, fic,1d '!'hat did not prevent these new D--cel] construcl:ed madd from doing well, though When you mix Class and Class results (meaning they are not: tbe resuH_s), smallc,r showing of rigid winqs we! 1 three of the four amonq the t·_op 1 pilots wiUi hot shot DaV'e b'harp corning Ln seco:ru:l oV"erall. Veteran pilot Jim Zeiset in I:ourt.h in hL8 mid Uavir, .Strm.ib took tllc, spot, Wi t.11 or:ly two and one n:;rnoved from competition y on ",JJ3") took fi[t:h place in hi8 Millennium. tbe di:c,L:ributor for mew rigid and he rnlrnt be enjoyinq another respecl_ab] pc~rfonnance for the new wing ( one placed J\CC) . J\,, it turns out:, Br:i.an Porter, f:lyi ng prototype-:, Millermium, was Corced Lo deploy J-1is when a tip/rudcfor connection failed in flighl:. Reporl:edly, he had not noLiced pr:i or darmqe in tld Dn,a Gtemming from lmmch crunch the-, weekend, All i c, we·11 with only ;m flyinq the nc:,w wing in the Nal:ionals. winner noL: only by securing place but by havin9 t.l1e largest number of aircraft in the~ mc:,el:: J 3 9] i don; or 2Hs of models ] in Lhe final standfr1gs. Of 13 , 3 them, or 23%, endc-,d up :in th~, top Also with in the L:op Exxtacies ('7'.,% those entered), and Moyes• (43% of entered) . 'I'wo of six llusions into the but tJic:, balance of U1e t.op--fi nishing gJi cfors dif:terc:,nt: one each ot Steal Lh, Millennium, Predator, and Xtremc,. gliders according Lo Lbe were: Laminar at 219<; of the field, the CSX and Stc,c\Jth at JJ_9r,, Fusion al: 10?; and Exxtacy at: 6%. 'I'he tor all rnodeJr3 wit:l1 ruur: exampJc?s r-epresented.

Jn the next " l:hrc:,e of the Predator Dnd Kla;,sic, and two each of l:he Moyes MiLLennium, La MoueU:e 'l'op1-c?ss, 'I'lfl, K'.:i, f,X _ A os of ing} e examp made up 1 :;

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contest remaininq eight gl id,c,rs 'I'he r:-esu 1 t:s 1.i c, ted l:otaJ of 62 DinosDur Nationals were decided rounds of t.:asks r:an9ing from '/B (49 .. 99 mi] ) . eee Wills Wing announced thDt tboy 've reJ ea,oed l:hei_r 135 Ultra Sport w:i certiLi ca Li.on exp(ccted by the ti.me you n,ad Lhis. 'I'bc nc,w model joins tho H7 and 166 Ultra in WW' "bigh perfonnance intcrmedial:cc" glider J inc. n- sells for $3,975 suggested retail. Thie: new 135 model is rated I:or pilol:s wei ghLnq bc,Lween 120 dnd ]115, effoctivE,ly cov(~ring most women pilots and mDles, although Wills says it wiJJ be certi pilots up to :n O pounds. '['he~ company report:,; l:haL i_ \ lws "pleDsant, cc,asy, wc:,11--coordinated hand] characLeristicE, a great climb rate, Dnd extended VG range tor maximi:dng cross-count:ry glide." ••• In related announcements to their dea Wil.Js Lndical:c:,d engineers working on smaller 141 Fusion. 'T'hey are now [lying thc, second prol:otype and reporting that "Lhe resu Ls have been very encouraging_ " WW aJso fie1dec3 questions abou L-_ D rigid wing in their Lut1n-e. l\fl-_er a number of: and customers aslrnd them about one, they state Lha\ present, "We have no sndi plans. Howevc,r, it out that L:h:is type of wing .is whaL a ] percentage of hang qU.de:n, pilol_s wan , we wiU seriour;ly consider sud1 a project." For Lhe present, WW J:eelH that, "It' nol: clear Lhal: c,nough wiJ Jing to pily the substanUally highrc:r price, and pu\ up with the ,rnbsl:antia1 in weiqht and trnnsportat:ion d iff:icul Ly to mDkE, economically fc:,asible for us t:o develop ancl markeL Lhis type of wing." ••• Wrappinq up, Airwave USA is boasting the corrrpet:i tion ;,uccesr-;es of Xtreme 150 topleHs glidc-,r. Dc::siqned by Mark "Gibbo" Gibson at Lookout Mountdin VI ight Park, new glider is creditc,d with win al: l:he 1\CC and Lhc J 9'JB Br.i U.sh Open, J\CC I:Jex-wi ng winner Mike Barber came in LenLl1 ilt the Nat:i onals flying l:he only o:ie entered Gibbo reported tha Airwave (UK) went through iJ reorganb:at:i.on Dnd iic; now guidnd by 'l'oby Parkc,r _ 'I'hey good about their- future with Lhe doing we] I and with World Cbampiorn;hip parciglider in L-_hejr Tn a modern evolution, R&D no longer done al: tl1e f:Dctory, what with Bruce Goldsmi Lh working on pDragliders in l:hc souU1 of: F.rnncE-0 and Gibbo doing his dove] opment in the USA. Gibson n,,ports t:hat work proccc;E-,di nq on a 138 Xtre:me Lo ·join thee alreDdy-certified 150 model. A Depart.ing from the K4, Kl assi c, and ConcE-,pt:, the uGes d "very high iJSpecL, nearly 100% double surface wing with ult:ra st:at:e--of-Lhe---Drt components." Gibbo adds, "ThiG glider shares notlli ng from our past machinec, " 'I'hanks L:o lightened 150 Xtreme weighs only 73 pounds and hilc'> "qreat Htatic bDlancc,_" addition, Lllc, Xt:rerne boasts easy.. Lo--pulJ VG sysl:rnn ( "only one puLI required for full VG"). T'he gli.der, developed behind t:ug, is r;aid to tow well and claims a very widc, flare window. Dc:,Jivery /J-6 wc,eks wiU-1 standard colors and every glider i fJown b_y Gjbbo "Lo a,;surc cusLumcr. sfc1cL.Lo!!." Info: phone 706-39B-95/J5 or E,MaiJ L:o 9ibbo9earl@aoJ.com.

••• That' it J So, qoL newr; or: opinions? SencJ 'em Lo 8 Dornet, St. PauJ MN 5'-'118. Fax or VmDil Lo 612--'1'5() .. (l'J30 or use CumuhrnMan@aoJ . com for eMail. THANKS!

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The latest composite. semi-cantilevered technology yields adramatic performance increase for those pilots who reguire the very top of the line. measured stability levels comparable to conventional designs with unsurpassed sink rate. l/0and high speed performance. Winner of siH out of seven major UJ meets in 19~1. One size -HffiGA certified. ~mailer fusion under development.

With two UJ and one Canadian ~ational Championship titles. and aWoman's World Championship,the "HC" offers proven. competition class performance in amore economical. conventional configuration.

Three sizes -HGffiA certified.

The move-up glider with all the features and performance you need. ~et VG loose. and eguipped with the optional keel mounted stabilizer, it is the perfect move-up glider from the falcon. With the VG engaged, it becomes acapable advanced soaring and cross country machine. The most versatile glider we've ever made. Two sizes -HGffiA certified. Ultra ~port 13~ coming soon.

mindustry standard for entry level hang gliding and pure. simple, recreational soaring. fHtraordinary soaring performance in alight weight hassle free design that isincredibly easy to fly. ijuite simply,the most enjoyable hang glider you can fly. four sizes -HGffiA certified.

500 west blueridge ave, ora nge, ca 92865 usa tel 714.998.6359 fax 714.998.0647 web: www.willswing.com e-mail: comments@willswing.com

Quality a irc r aft f or exceptional pe o ple .

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