USHGA Hang Gliding April 1999

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01.1.7 fax website: justfly.com I

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(USPS Ol 7-970-.W- ISSN 08'J5-4J3X)

16

From Paragliding To Exxtacy

by Mike Eberle, ph()l.!)S by Russeff Broum "l,,vo paragl ider pilots discover high-performance hang gl iding at Q uest Ai r.

20 Better Launches And Landings - Part VIII a program by Pru Denevm1, rtrtide rmd illus/.rrttions l~y Greg i>haw The last installmem: Final 1·ouchdown.

24 The 1998 Masters Of Freestyle Hang Gliding Contest And Light Airshow

by Dino DiNtiso, photos by Gregory Eynmndsmr, Insight !ntern11tiont1L An airshow extravaganza in Rosarico, Mexico.

28 Adventures Unlimited

by Scott Jewell A unique program rhar introduces various forms of recrearion ro developmentally disablcd people.

34 Gehrman The Airman © 1999 by Dennis ?agen, photos courtesy Cross Counrry m11,~11zine An interview wirh Guido Gchnrnrn.

46

Flying X-C With My Sister by the Farnsworth sisten

C.J. inrroduces Ginny ro rhc joys of X-C Aying.

Columns

Departments

Wing Tips, by Rodger Hoyt.. ..... .......... .5

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

Lncidenr Reports, by Bill Bryden ......... 51

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

USHGA Directors ............................... 43

Calendar of Events ............................... 14

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

Ratings ...................... ..... ......................44 Classified Adverrisi ng .......................... 52

Index to Advertisers .............................62

Gil Dodgen, in C11iof Dave Pounds, Ari John Heiney, Gerry Charlebois, Leroy Grannis, Mark Vaughn, Dob L.owe Photogr11phe1:, Harry Martin, lllus1rator Dennis Pagen, Mark Stucky, Geoff Mumford, G.W. Meadows, Jim Palmieri, Bill Dryden S1affW1ilets Phil Bachman, Execu1ive Jeff Elgart, Advertising, fjel1~nrt@ushga.org Joann() l'etcrso11, M,m1ber rjpr;ferson@ushµ:a.org Elaine Elgart, Web Aclminis1ralor, e111olg,1rt@ushg;1.org Natalie Hinsley, Merchandise Services, njhinsfr)y@ushga.org John Halloran, Adminis1rntivu Dirr.x:torjghalloran@ushgn.org

come, and illustr,111io1•1s u111cerning

the material is to be return envelope musl be 11'1<1de of submission lO olher hang Hi\NG GLIDING n1agazinr.) resNves contributions where m,cessary, The Associati(Jll ,md publication do nol responsibility for 1hc n1ateri .. al or opinions HANG GLIDING edi!ori,, al offices: 3'1441 Pkwy., Suilc A·2S6, Rancho Santa phone (949) 81Jf, ..

7363, fax (949) GilDodgen@;10l.com, The USHGA is a rncmbeH:ontmlled sport m11;anization dedicated to the exp/ora!ion ,ind promotion of unpowcrcd flight, and to the eoucau:on, ,1nd memlwrshlp, Membership in this re,1lrn of Dues $1', ($65 11011·

subscription rates only me $35 nnn..\JSA).

Changes of arldross should be sent six weeks in advance,, including nmne, USHGA number, previous and new ,.1ddress, and a mailing label from a recenl !SSU(-\

·r Mad WOMEN'S APPRECIKfION Dear Editor, I would like to thank Keric Swepston for writing an outstanding article about the wonderful experience we all had at the meet in Hungary. I would like to add a Few words of sincere thanks ro the guys who traveled with us w help at the meet.

Mike Barber, Aaron Swepston and George Sturtevant were an integral part of our success while we were competing.

Without their comributions we would have been tmable ro manage.

Mike, ream leader, spent many hours in team leader meetings every morning.

Because the organizational skills of the meet directors were sketchy at best, the morning meetings were always challenging for Mike as he helped ensure that fairness and sportsmanship prevailed. Mike helped with tactics, dolly setup and launching. He would then go our and individually help the team competitors along the course, and with retrieval. Every night, Mike fixed radios, varios and other equipment, not only our team but for other teams as well.

Every day, Ceorgc and Aaron helped get us out to the grid, find our spots and set up our gliders. They spcnr countless hours running back and forth, helping all of us to be dolly-ready for our tows. If you were not ready, you would lose your launch tum, so at times these guys were really hustling. J\s soon as we were all off and on course, the guys jumped in the retrieval cars and were off to find us. Because we were all so far away from home and did not speak the Ian· guagc, it was always a comforting thought to know that they were close by.

J\s far as attitude goes, we were greeted every morning and all day long with smiles and positive words of encourage· ment from all the guys.

George S1urtevant was our flnancial manager, and made sure that all expenses (house, rental cars, i-ow rokcns, entrance Fees) were taken care of This was a huge

responsibility.

POSTMASTER: SEND CHANGE or ADDRESS TO; HANG GLIDING, P.O. BOX n:rn, Colorado Springs, CO B0901 ·I '.BO.

APRIL 1999 VOLLJMF 29, ISSlJI No. 4

We just wanted to let you guys know how much you were appreciated. Thank you! Thanks also to all rhe pilots and com .. panics who sponsored us.

Dear Editor, I just attended a great chute clinic hosted by f jsa and 'fracey at Cloud 9 Hang Gliding in Central Washington.

Betty Pfeiffer presented the clinic and supervised rhe repacking. Ir was the most thorough and informative clinic I have ever attended. 1 am very fortunate to have had my parachute inspected and packed by an expert with Betty's experience.

I am concerned, however, by the lack of standardization and certification of packing and packers. I have had my chute packed by six different but very knowledgeable individuals at shops and clinics during the last IO years. Every time my chute was packed with a different tech,,. nique and the particular packer criticized the previous pack. 'Tll me this is very dis-· concerring.

Certainly there is more than one technique that will work in an emergency sim ation, but there must be a "best" or "better" way that has evolved from deployment analysis. Is this cause for standardiza.,, tion of chute packing and perhaps ccrtifi,, c:1tion of packers? I would nor mind paying a little more for the confidence of knowing that my chute was packed in rhc most dependable way, and would seek out a certified packer. The liability implications would nor be any greater than for an instructor, and perhaps less if a standard practice were adopted.

Bob Reich fort Wayne, IN

Dear Editor, This letter is in response to the letrer from John Mayer in the Pebruary issue of Hang Gliding. John was commenting on my report of the double fatal accident in Greece where the pilots ascended into a thunderstorm. He believes the pilots were "almost certainly" killed by a large voltage gradient in the cloud. I am not so certain, but was intrigued enough to go back to my sources and research the question.

The U.S. Women's World Team HANC GLIDINC

ir Mail Unfornmately, most of these sources were nor particularly illumin;iting. My air-· plane books (about l O) do nor mention lightning as a hazard other than the possibility of knocking om avionics (instruments). More useful was an article cmitled "The Electrific:ition of Thunderstorms" by Earle Williams, Ph.D., rhat appeared in the November, J 9gg Scientific Arneriam.

This piece, along with the book The Body F!.ectric by Robert 0. Becker, M.D., helped jog my memories of tlm,e matters.

(My degree is in electrical engineering.)

Not much is known about the microphysics of the process that allows for static electricity charges to build up. We still don't know why you can walk on a carpet and touch your cat's nose and create a spark as well as an enemy for life. We do know, however, that the fi·eezing of ice crystals under certain conditions causes them to be charged negatively (a piezoelectric effect resulting from the fact that water expands as it We also know rhat a band of highly negatively charged ions exists in a thunderstorm aroullcl the 20,000-friot level where the temperarure is typically 15" C: F). A more difftisc area of positive charge occurs above this level and a weaker positive charge exists at the bottom of the cloud along with a strong negative charge on the earth. These imbalances of ch:irge arc what rcs1 dt in lightning csscnt.ially a gargantuan spark that parti,1lly equalizes the charge imbalance.

A typical lightning bolt represents a potential difference of'several hundred million volts. This bundle of cncrgy certainly is enough to split an oak or a brain stem. !Iowcver, away from a direct lightning strike, can we be injured from strny currents? 'l'hc electric field in a thunderstorm can be on the order or one million volts per meter. This may sound dramatic, hut perhaps you'll be shocked to find ollt that the potential difference between your finger and the cat's nose can be l 00,000 volts at a distance: ofa couple of centimc-tcrs. 'rlrns, the static charge buildup in a thunderstorm is similar LO that in your body when you drag your feet in a carpeted room.

It is not voltage rhar injures; it is rnrrcm. Fven though our bodies arc reason-

ably good conductors, all the voltage in rhe world will do nothing if there isn'r a supply of' electrons w provide a currcnt.

The situation with static electricity is that once the local supply of electrons is depicted, current no longer flows, so the effects arc limited to a small spark and a poke.

'J'he air in a cloud is a very good dielectric (insulator), even when iris saturated with water droplets. (Remember from high school science class that distilled water doesn't conduct electricity?) Consequently, a current doesn't flow until a tremendous potential diflcrcnce has developed and a leader, ionizing the air, creates a path for the lighrning. So it appears that :my current flowing across your body parts will be small and short-lived since you will quickly deplete the supply of electrons which can flow from one point to the other.

Besides, wouldn't your glider's airframe carry any available current induced by an electric field around you? Remember, aluminum conducts electricity better than copper.

John relates the process taking place in a cloud to that of an electric eel stunning its prey. As far as l can remember (i·om another Amcriam article, the eel maimains a weak electric field which it uses to detect prey by monitoring the distortion of the field. Then, when it wants to stun, it sends out a powerful Held which induces the stunning current.

A rapidly--varying field is nor a feature or thundcrstorn1s.

All that being said, I should mention that I have talked to a pilot who reported /ccling tingles or sparking in his hands when flying near a thunderstorm.

Furthermore, I do not have confidence in the coroner's report covering the Creek accident because, for one thing, l'rn pretty sure he wasn't informed that electrocution cou Id have been a cause of death.

Therefore, I think the matter of elcctrocu-rion in a thunderstorm (not in rhe path of lightning) is moot and needs more research. I intend to do this and would welcome all reforcnccs and copies of pcninenr source material. [fl discover useful information, I'll report it in a future article.

Dennis Pagen Spring Mills, PA

by Rodger H~yt

usr because you're getting old and wrin-

kled is no reason to let the same fate befall your harness!

Jn the off.sc:ison, or during any prolonged period of non-flying, unfold and hang your harness. Some harness hrnnds have tail loops specifically for this purpose. With others, hanging ir like a jacket on a stout wooden coat hanger will suffice. Simpler yet (and easier on the shoulder strap padding), just lay it out flat on the floor if you have room.

A smoother harness not only looks better, it's more streamlined!

Jl,is tip is fi'.mn Jay New York

ou're on an X-C flight when suddenly you fall our of your thermal. Where should you look for it, upwind or downwind? 'li-y searching upwind flrst. ff it's not there, you can always go downwind. But if you fly downwind first and fail ro locate it, you probably won't have the altitude to get back upwind!

ffyou have a hot tip, send it to "ITTng J zps" do Hang Gliding.

APRIL 1999

o/Chittmango,

PJ31C:::J; USHGA 1999 HANG GLIDING CALENDAR Excellent photography **CLEARANCE** USHGA HG CALENDARS More excellent photography. (Circle Yr) 1998 '97 ·9·1 '90 '89.

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31/J HANG GLIDING TRAINING MANUAL by Dennis Pagen For the be9inner/novice pilot. 350 pgs 21/J

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"SPECIAL NEW PILOT" Magazine. Hang Gliding or Para9liding (circle one). Buy both'

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SKY ADVENTURES 36 h9 stories by 32 hg authors. Informative & entertaining. 240 p9s

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i',PARAGLIDING-THE COMPLETE GUIDE by Noel Whittall. Comprehensive, color. 200 PrJs

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UNDERSTANDING THE SKY by Dennis Pagen THE: most complete book on m1crometerolO(JY 21/J

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i',TOWING ALOFT by Dennis Pagen/Bill Bryden. Covers ALL aspects of towing

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

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f<AERONAUTS Hang gliding documentary, great effects & interviews. F8ntastic video.(43 min) 11/J

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PG: THE MOVIE Owen's Valley world competition. Hot action, rockin' soundtrack. (40 min) 11b CLOUDBASE PARAGLIDING Great intro. video. Meet the hot pilots, fly the hot sites. (36 min) 11b HANG GLIDING EXTREME Fly spectacular sites in the US. Meet the top pilots. (50 min) 111> HAWAIIAN FLYIN' HC & PC in Paradise. Arnazing launches & awesome scenery! (46 min) 111> All our videos are m USA/VHS NTSC format only

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USHGA PHONE CARD 25¢ per rrnnute long distance rate, specify hg or pg card, 111cludes 30 min .. $10 00 ....JJ./..e._ WINDS0K 1M 1.5 oz. ripstop nylon, 5'4" long w/11" throat Pink/yellow or pink/white (circle one). 21/J $39.95 WINDSEEKER Hang glider flying model. It loops & soars. Lots of fun to fly, you'll want two .. 15oz $ 300 USHGA EMBLEM DECAL Our ori9inal 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 Full color 6" rectangular, long-lasting vinyl decal. Very colorful.

1oz $ 1.50 LICENSE PLATE FRAME I'd Rather Be HanrJ Gliding or I'd /'<.at/Jer Be Paragliding (circle one). 11b $ 6.50 *ERIC RAYMOND POSTER 24"x3 7" Eric 17,000' MSL over the Sierra Nevada F<ange 1lb $ 5.95 *AEROBATIC POSTER 23"x31" Colorful keel-angle shot of Jol111 Heiney looping skyward.

11b $ 6 95 *Posters are NOT AVAILABLE on International orclers-Sorryl SPECIAL - BOTH POSTERS FOR $10.00 PAYMENT must be included with your order.

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SUBTOTAL Colorado residents add 3% tax

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Shipping (see chart) ., ______,__________ _

Send To. ·-··--···-·,--.--- ·--··-·--··-----·----··-··------·--------------------- ..-----·----·--· ..

Gliding Assn,, www.ushga

, Colorado Springs 80901-1330 (719) 17 email ushga@ushga.org

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The best help you'll get next to your instructor. Covers every aspect of learning to hang glide from the beginner to the intermediate level.

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I High fa1ergy Sports offers a variety of comforlable harness styles. Each harness is cut according to your· body dirnensions. You customize your harness with your choice of colors and options. We have over 30 different harness options available. You only pay for the options you order.

I IN

you can A reserve par,1chu1e is one of the most important purchasc:s you will rnake. If properly cared for, your parachute will outlast your glider and your harness. A parachute can be your last hope for surviv,11 in a very bad situation. Make sure you have lhc besl. .. rnake sure you have c1 Quc1nlurn Sc1·ies Parachute by High Fnergy Sports.

1S2 I E. McFadden #H, Santa Ana, CA 9270S phone: (Tl 4) 972-BI B6 fax: 4) 972-1430 beltp@aol .corn

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(formerly

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regardless of battery condition.

Orher noteworthy features include: windspeed, temperature and wind-chill display; temperature-compensated altimeter co 30,000'; barometric pressure, current and 16-hour trend; real-rime clock; progran1mable units of measurement; variable windspeed averaging interval; calibrarable temperature and windspeed; water resistant, rugged, ergonomic case; rwo-year battery life (user replaceable) ; low battery indicacion; rwo-year warranty.

For more information on the AlriWindwarch contact Flycec USA at 1-800662-2449 or (352) 332-8675, fax (352) 332-8676, info@flycec.com.

E-7 SPOILER-CONTROLLED,

CARBON FIBER RIGID WING CALL FOR HANG GLIDING CALENDAR PHOTOS reecings hang photographers. Ir's chat rime again to scare digging thro ugh chose wonderful slides you shot last year and send rhem in fo r consideration in rhe N EXT MILLENNIUM Year 2000 USHGA H ang Gliding Calendar.

Our Photo Selectio n Committee is well reseed and ready to critique your bes t material . Launching, landing, setup, soaring, etc. - we wane to see 'em all. T he light cable is warmed up and rhe loop has been cleaned. We can't wait to see your pies.

Immortalize yourself and your glider, represent yo ur club/region/site, gain world recognition, be admired by your peers and astound your non-flying friends. Don't be shy - chis is your chance to shine! Send us rhose beautiful slides. Who knows what fame and fo rtune might be awaiting you if your pho tography is chosen?

Because of the staggering lead rime, the deadline for photo submission is MAY 3 1, 1999. So ace now and send your transparencies co: US H GA CALE DAR, Arm: Jeff Elgart, PO . Box 1330, Col orado Springs. CO 80901- 1330. All contributors will receive confirmation of receipt, and photos will be dutifully returned.

Go e questions? Call or e-mai l Jeff Elgart at 1-800-6 16-6888, jjelgarc@ushga.org.

Lee's kick off the new millennium right, with the most awesome hang gliding calendar ever. It all starts with your photo entry today!

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FLYTEC'S NEW ALTIMETERWINDWATCH lycec USA is pleased to introduce the new Flycec Al tiWindwarch. Flycec, manufacturer of state-of-rhe-art aviation electronics, has improved rhe very popular Windwarch by adding subscan cially increased funcrionaliry to the precision handheld wearher station.

The Alci-Windwacch, in addition to displaying current, peak and average wind speed, current temperature and wind-chill val ues,

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also indicates alrirude in three-foot increments, current barometric pressure, 16-hour barograph, and current rime. The Windwarch also feacures a configuration mode in which the user can program the instrument to suit individual requirements.

Because it samples in one-second intervals, the Alti-Windwatch is at least 10 times faster rhan wrisrwarchrype altimeters, making it better suited for aviation use. In addition, the Alri-Windwatch indicates alcirude in three-foot increments, is temperature compensated, and displays all funccions accurately

oe Guggenmos makes the Buller series of gliders and rhe RCS copless in Germany, in a manner similar to due of Bob Trampenau of Seedwings in the U.S. He has an outstanding repucanon d1roughouc Europe for manufacturing rhe highest qualiry hang gliders with amazing attention co derail.

He first designed and built the E-7 carbon fiber rigid wing in August of 1998 and has been flying and testing it ever since. Ir was recendy DHV certified and has been pur into production at the Guggenmos factory in Germany.

The E-7 is similar in configuration to the Exxtacy, however, it has a tapered wing (both chord and D-cell cross-section) requiring a separate right and left mold. This particular aspect of rhe design has reduced the weight of the finished product by a considerable amount. Ir has control bar-activated spoilers which are nor inserted into dacron sleeves, 152 squares, a 10.43 aspect ratio and 39-foot span. The spoil ers and flaps fo ld up with d1e glider to 18 feet in the bag, and the glider weighs only 68 pounds.

Joe claims a grea rer than 17: 1 glide, a sink race of 137 fc./min. , and char it handles better than any od1er control bar rigid currently on rhe market. The spoil-

J

H A G GLIDING

•. fl ers are moumed ar che high poim of che airfoil on a line rhrough rhe center of pressure, which preemprs any nose-up moment when deployed. This characrerisric makes rhe E-7 a pleasure to chermal.

Norch American distribution is through Pendulum Aerosports Inc. The glider is available for $10,200 FOB, Salida, Colorado. Delivery rime is eighr weeks.

Contact: Jim Zeiser, Pendulum Aerosporrs, Inc. , 13154 Counry Road 140, Salida, CO 81201, 1-800-WE-FLYXC, fax (719) 539-3900, www.pendulumaero.com, jimzgreen@aol.com.

ALTAIR TO DISTRIBUTE THE ATOS

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ltair is pleased to announce rhe ''l addirion of rhe ATOS to irs product line. The ATOS is a new high-performance glider designed

by Felix Ruh le. Felix has formed a company, AIR, to manufacture the ATOS in Germany. Altair will be rhe exclusive U.S. importer of the ATOS and will distribute it through a dealer nerwork.

Altai r is instituting a comprehensive program to train ATOS dealers. This will ensure customer access to qualiry service at the local level. David Sharp will be spearheading chis training program .

The ATOS is attracring a lot of interest and demand for the glider is high.

Customers are already placing orders for che glider which is scheduled to go imo production in May. The ATOS will be DHV certified before deliveries commence.

For information contact Altair, (801) 523-9544, or alcair@micron.nec.

combined wich her tremendous skill, fierce dedication to record setting, and che oumanding performance of rhe new Srealch 2, will put her in che fasr lane toward reaching her goals. "Cross-counrry flying is my passion," Tiki comments, "and wich che blazing performance of che Scealch 2, I'm srylin'."

ADVENTURE PRODUCTIONS RELEASES FREE HANG GLIDING STREAMING VIDEOS ON THE WEB

A dvenrure Productions has just ..!"\released screaming videos on the Web. Using che newesr and most advanced software from Real Video, video clips can now be viewed over che Web wichout waiting for a long download. With che Real Video Player, rhe size of the clips is about 10% rhe size of the rypical AVI computer video dips wich only a slight degradation in qualiry.

To run che videos yo u must download the newesr version of che Real Video player software which is free. Once Real Video G2 Version 6 is loaded, there are 10 specracular video clips lasting about 30 seconds each char can be viewed.

Go to che Adventure Productions home page and follow the links co "Video on che Web." Adventure Productions has a direct link co download the free copy of Real Video software with instructions. The Adventure Productions home page is www.advenrurep.com.

join tomorrows Flight Design ... hang gliders, ai rplanes, paragl iders and the exxtacy. For all pilots who dream our dream of flying !

TIKI MASHY JOINS U.S. AEROS .W Meadows, President of U.S. Aeros, has announced chat che Aeros family is extremely excited char rwo-cime world and national record holder Tiki Mashy has decided to join che Aeros ''A" Team. Her 19 years of dedication to che sport of hang gliding,

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APRIL 1999

WINGS OF ROGALLO YEARWNG X-C CONTEST

D esulcs are in for 1'.rhe Open Division of the 1998 Wings of Rogallo Year-Long X-C Contest. Points are awarded for rhe cumulative coral miles of a pilot's cop

FLIGHT DESIGN

North American Paragliding, Inc. Post Office Box 4 • 111 East Fourth Ave. Ellensbu rg, WA 98926 USA ema il: napi @eburg.com • www.fun2fly.com PH : 509.925.5565 Fax: 509.962.4827

1.800.727.2354

three flights anywhere in the country. fn first place; for the second year in a row was Wallaby Ranch's Michael "Ffollywood" Champlin with a three,,flight total of 694 miles on a Moyes CSX4. (T~at's an average of 231 miles per flight!) lfoHywood bear his 1997 totitl of 678 miles (an miles ped1ight).

I·fr1llywood a r.011 for his mon· ey last year was second-plac:e fotisbcr Ram.yYanetz, flying a Bright Star Millenniutn. Ramy's three-Hight tota.l was 654 miles (an average of 218 miles per flight).

Ramy made a commanding move;up from his third-place finish in J99T In third pl.ace lastyear was the everconsistent Gcoff Loyns, who finished with a threc,,flight total of460 .miles (an average ofl53 miles per flight) on a Lam· ina.r ST. Despite improving <m his rota! from 1997 (when he averaged 142 m.iles per flight), Geoff dropped from second to third place h1st year, due to the m1i.ch stiffer cornpetition from Ramy. for further informati<m, as well as informatio.n on the winners of other dJvi,,. sions, visit http://mcmbers.aol.com/worx:c.

e are pleased to am10.tmce tlrnt the two hang gliding .world record chi ims submitted by Tild Mashy been ho/:rlofogated by the Federntio11 Acronaqutiquc Internationale are now offkial wc1rld records. The records are in 0, Sub-Class 1, Feminine: Distance to a (ioal 190..5 statitte miles/307,7 km; and Straight Dista:nce 219.4 statute i:nilcs/353.l km. You will recall that her s.ix:~hour, I 5~minufo world record flight was made in l1c)bbs, New Mex:ic<J last su.nmu:r. Congratulations Tiki! (See Sept. '98 HG for her article.)

G

rayBird .AirSports is cha]lemging all .hang glider and parnglider pilots t<) come to the Dunnellon airport and set site records. They arc currently contacting tnanufactw:crs to spommr. prizes for this yearlong challenge.

While they are seeking other prizes, GrayB.ird is offoting five free aerotows to pilots who fly from Wallaby or Air 10

to the Dunnellon airport. Also offered is free retrieval to pilots who fly from Dun· nel!on to Quest or Wallaby.

GrayBil'd has schedult'.d AT Clinics every weekend through April for $150.

Please register in. advance; participation is limited. Florida tun<;-/".up flying is also available through April for the upcoming x.c and meets in Horida.

B.. McNamee, SW 111 th St., Dunnellon, 489 .. 9969, fly@graybirdairspo1ts ..c.::om, www. graybi l'·· dairsports.com.

NEWS ountain Wings Ffang Ciliding and Eastcoast Paragliding arc now d,)ing bus.iness in Ellen:ville, NY as Ellenville Air Sports. 'fhe office and shop are still at 150 Cana:!St. along with the flight park on Ffang Glider .Rd, They alsooperate at the Ellenville airport at the of the mountain only one mile from the shC>p.

T'hey offer ultral)ghcsales and instmc.. tion with a certified BPI and a two-scat Flight Stat. Aerorowing, winch towing of both hang gliders and paragliders, tandems, and Mosquito powered harness are offered. Carnping,fishing, bathrooms., and available: Mountain Wings to be the Northeast dealer/rep .for the Mosquito powered They will be offoring instruction selHng and stocking this device which is. powered by a. 15-hp engine. It d.imbs at over 400 fpn1, weighs only 44 lbs., sets up i11 five minutes, hooks into the glider's hang strap .like your harness., and folds i1p like a pod harness. Flyi rig the glider does not change, so there is no need to learn to fly something new. 'fhe. Mosquito is nota ultralight, but an accessory for your glider, dcsig11cd to be soared with .the motor off T'hc Mosquito sells for $4,695.

Contact: Black (914) rn tnwings@aol.co.rn.

M

the article "Flying With Daedalus" in December issue of H::lng Gliding we neglected to credit the photographer.

Many tbanks to Margaret Little for her fine photography.

Association National Cl'1anmion:s'1.1,tJS at Quest Air Soaring Center in Grove.land, FL, April 25 through May 1, 1999.

More than 100 male and. female pilots from atound the world are expected to compete in the competition, including pilots from Japan, New Zealand, Ukraine, Czech Republic::, Enghtnd, Italy; Colombia and all 50 states.

Pondarchuc, the numbcr..one pilot in the world from the Ukraine, and three-time Wodd Champion Thmas Suchanek from the Oz.,;ch Republic, who won world championship .in Australia., arc two of the pilots expected to battle .it out in the skies over Lake Coun-· ty. Tc)p.. te1Hanked Mitch Shipley from Monterey, a naval nuclear submai;in,: commander, ts.also slated to participate in the event. For the first time in U.S. hang gliding history the competition will ture aerornwlng. [n additkm to the com.petition, visitors can (fotno glidedlights and rake an introductory Hight at Air, beginning at noon daily during the cornpetir tion. Glider flights range in.price.from $68 to $160, d<:;pending on the altitude the would like to ex:t1edence. ho1usit1e is .located a.t: the Best Western at 20329 N. U.S. Jlighway 27 ln Grnveland,which is offc.ting a special U.S. Hang Gliding Association room rate of $39.95 night. For more informa· tfon, call Western at (352) 429-903.3. l);S. Hang Gliding Natfonal Ch,unpionship is governed by two bodies, the lJ .S. Gliding Associatio11 in Colorado CO, and the Commission International de Vol Libre (CIVL), the Paris-based international organizatkm governing hang gliding, Lake~ County, "on the countryside of Orlando," is an off-the-beaten-path destination than one hour from Central Flori dis famous attractions, but light-

HANG CLIDINCi

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In consideration of the benefits to be derived from membership in the USHGA, (PilofJ 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 as a result of the administration of

n11>irc::nn,:;,I Or fin«lln(ial bodily sustained by Pilot's parents or legal guardians, as a result of THE SPORTand/or as a result of the administration of any USHGA programs.

3. 1rc,r..1:J;1.:111:,v P,/IR;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 Pilots proficiency rating(s); c) of the hang gliding and/or paragliding organizations which are chapters of the USHGA; d) The United States Of America and of the city(ies), town(s), county(ies), State(s) and/or other political subdivisions or governmental agencies within whose jurisdictions Pi/otlaunches, flies and/or lands; Each of the property owners on or over whose property Pilotmay 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 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) DISCH,~R(iE the PAJflTll=:ffrnm any and all liabilities, claims, demands, or causes of action that I IN}YR,fES, however caused, even if caused by the negligence (whether active or passive) of any of the ru;;,1.u;;p1.;i,a;;u may hereafter have for PAJrTll:S, to the fullest extent allowed by law.

C. I A against any of the loss or damage on account of If Iviolate this agreement by filing such a suit or making such a claim, Iwill pay all attorneys' fees and costs of the nc,r.x::li1.Jc.u P.'AR.TIEI I shall be and rn111c::tw-11111>11 All cusputes Court located in 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 AND the for their defense and indemnity from any claim or liability in the event that Ptlot suffers even if caused in whole or in part by the negligence (whether active or passive) of any of the n.tc:,r.tc:'11..,a;;,v PIJR:m=:r.

I have M11/t Pilot's Jifnat11re

0,1te

fignat111P off1/ot's Parent or Legal 611ardia111f fJ!ot 11nder /8 years ofilge.

Oate

MMR ll-97

years away. Quaint inns, graceful wlling hills, dean lakes, preservarion areas and a family-friendly atmosphere attract visitors looking for Florida the way it used to be, and the way it is today in Lake County. for nwte information on the 1999 lfang Gliding Association National Ch,tmpionship, call Air at 429-0213 or visit www.questairforce.com or www.justfly.com.

orm Lesnow's Flying Adventures is 110 longer associated with Cloud 9

and he has as. Vice; President of the dub. Norm now has a 914 turbo-· charged Dragonfly tow plane and is a new organization, the Southeast Michigan Soaring Club.

Norm has been involved in aerotowing since 1980 and has towed with tr.ikes and other ultralights. dub will be otJering tandem and solo tows ,lt. a new flying just north of Detroit. Out~ofs.tate pilots are welcome and marry amenities are available.

During the spring and summer, Flying Advemures will offer ddge,,soaring camps.

There arc four sites within one or two hours of Detroit, and all sites are driveup. 'Tandem flights are offered for pilots with 110 ridge soaring ex11,er1w1ce.

Ultralight instniction o.nd mg pilot training is also offered on the Dragonfly.

Nonn is a Master-rated pilot, Advanced 'fandem Instmcto.1; Ultralight Flight Instructor, and a Examim,r/( 1h,'"'"''"''' who can rate pilots from Beginner to Maste.t~ Also available are takeoff and hmdingdinics on thm:

FINAL STANDINGS

1998 Idaho X-C Challenge

OPFN CLASS

Place Pilot 1) John Woiwode 2) Kurr Wimburg 3) Eiji Yokocb Ii) Ken Cavanaugh Al Whitesell 5) 6) Kevin Frost Frank Cillene 7) 8) Mark Mason 9) Dave Kriner

Site King Mrn. Big Southern Butte Big Southern Butte Big Southern Butte King Mm. Pickle Butte KingMtn. King Mtn. Big Southern Butte

Place Pilot ]) Fiji Yokoda 2) John Woiwode 3) Ken Cavanaugh

Site King Mm. King Mm. King Mtn.

Date

Miles

8/13/98

102

l /lt/98

100

7 /3/98 l("i/98

89

10/9/98 4/25/98 7/11/98

%

lit 71

10/9/98

70 68

7/3/98

25

Glider Laminair STlli Stealth KPI. 130 Moyes CSX 137 Millennium Moyes SX5 Fusion 1'50 Moyes SX 5 Moyes CSX 1It 9

DECLARED COAi.

different training hills. Plying Adventures has been in business since 1978.

"Ju,.,.,,..,c, Plying Adventures, (248) 399 ..9433, nlfa@juno.com, www.serloussports.com/nlfa.

L

ast year was not a booming year for flying Cl'OSS··COUl,try in Idaho. In fact, only one Idaho pilot, John Woiwode, beat: the century mark, which was good for first place in the Open Class. A Wyo.rning pilot, Kurt Wlmberg, just made 100 miles which was good for second. Eiji fokoda and Ken Cavanaugh to<>k advantage of the July 4th holiday and flew 96 and 89 miles respectively for the t:op local pilot slots.

D,ae

Miles

I 0/9/98

74

8/22/98

70

4/22/98

li2

(~'lidl'I' Srcalrh KPL 130 Laminair 14 Moyes CSX 137

The Declared Goal Class was tricky as usual, with no pilots getting to take credfr for their longest flight oft:he year. Ken Cavanaugh got a 42-miler to Double Springs Pass in .late April that stood for exactly four rnonths, until JW flew 70 miles to the airport at Challis. However, Eiji punched offKing Mtn. in early October and flew 74 miles to Ellis for the fast big flight of the year. 'fhe Idaho X-C challenge is an infrff·· maI open-distance contest held all year by Eiji 'fokoda to encourage cross-country flying. In addition to the classes shown, there is a 50-mile class to cncom:oge new pilots to compete. The comest is open to all pilots who fly Idaho sites. Contact Eiji or any local pilot for details.

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S" Dia. /\BS Plastic Wheels $24.00/pair

llall Brothers. P.O. Box 101011. Morgan. lrl 840.'iO, llS/\, Maslcrcar<I/VIS/\/C.O.D Phone (80 I) ii29 32:l2. hlX (80 I) 82') Ci349 ha! lbros(o)cnrt lili 11k .net

Calendar of events items WJ LL NOT be listed if only tclltative. Please include exact date, contact name :md inforniation phone number). I terns should be received no later than six weeks prior to the event. We req11est two months lead time for regional and national meets.

V(lorld UNTII. DEC. 31: I 999 Soaring Chr,llenge, for paragliding, hang glid-

sailplancs. No entry fee or registration, $GOO first pri1.c. Pilots arc scored by how far they fly relative to a site's distance record points for flying 75 miles at a site ,vidi a I 00--milc record, 1,100 points or breaking the record). Flights submitted on the honor system. !<'or more details comact: John Scott (31 O) li/i7·G234, fox (:31 O) 447()237, breno nwood s~1\,1 nail. msn .com, www.ha11ggliding.org.

APRIL I 8-24: W,dlahy Open Gliding Competition. 450,point aero· ,,n'J.)"'uU[/f[H

tow meet at Wallaby Ranch, rloricla, site of the 1998 ArLmtic Coast Championships.

Meer Director: Jim /.ciset/J.C:. Brown. $5,000 cash prize, welcome barbecue and grand awards ccrernony. Hotels within two miles will he offc:ring a discounted rate for pilots. ( ;real food on site all week! Come early and fly with World· ream Academy's Mark "Gibbo" Gibson and Mike Barber Conract: (9/i 1) li2li-0070, fly(dlwallaby.com.

APRIL 2/i,25: I 4th Annual Oceanside Open hang gliding meet, Oceanside, Oregon.

Sponsored by Oregon I lang (;Jiding Assn.

Saturday evening dinner. Com:1ct: Rob Stephens (503) 6814%/i.

APRIL 25,MAY 1: I 999 US. llang

Nationals cmd Atlantic Comt Chrnnpionships, presented hy (;real WorldC:bss Meets at Quest Air Soaring Center near Orlando, Florida. Pour .. class aerotowing competition: ropk:ss flex kingposted, rigid wings, single·surfacc. hm daily cross . -country com· petitions and spot landings, bomb drops, etc., fc>r non-serious cornperirors. I .ors of fim sruff for the e111ire family. Contact: C.W. Mtadows fox 4800117, WWW.lllSll.lV.U:JJIL

14

APRIL 30,MJ\Y 2: '/ 'he Las! Air Rau ofthe Centmy!World Open lnvitr11irma/. The Fon Funston Air Races arc hack! Five-mile Ollt· and-return course. Think you arc fast? Prove it! Come fly and race with the best. Cash prizes, awards, T-shirts ;md barbecue. Enrry fee$ l '50. l·'.nrry musr be received by April 1G. For more information comacr: David Ruiz, 1268 A 25th Ave., San Francisco, CA 9/i 1 (4 I 5) 56/i '720;1, davidr(t1lroscwood.his.11csCEDU, or e·rnail Alan Sakayama ar av8cr_2(t1lyahoo.com.

APRIL 30-MAY 2: 13th Anmutl Stewflrt Smith Tournrtment, Moore Mtn., Pnry I.owe Orchards, IO miles north of Taylorsville, NC: oH!wy. 16. entry includes· r-shirt, barbecue, clan wurnarnent.

Tasks: spot landing, bomb drop, duration and x. c:. Trophits fo1· 1st through 3rd in each event. Conr:1cr: Travis Bryant (828) 758,9331, or Ben Burril (704) 3iJ2 . 37G5.

MAY 14-16: Region 7 01ampirmships, at I .eland Airport sourhwcst of' Chicago. Crear x. c potential in excess of' I 00 miles. Fun mccr for any class. Comact Rik Bouwmcestcr (414) 681,82/iG, Clo11dbascJ(thaol.com; or Arlan Birkett (815) 741-2250, Outland I 0(t1\10Lcom.

JUNE 18-20: J0th Annual Wilrl, Wild V<les/ !(FO'um·11/c x . c suitable for all skill lcv els. Party, hot springs, 'I '·shirrs, lots of fun.

Great for competition trnining. $ I 00 until May 23, $125 thercafrcr. Comact: Advcnrurc 883·7070, advsp1s(t1lpyramid.11ct, www.pyramid.net/advspts.

JUNE 25,27: 1999 Mount11in Meet, near Moore, Idaho. $/iO entry fee includes shirr and daily prizes. Pro and Recreational classes. Cool trophies! Discount for early reg· istrarion. Conract: Lisa Tate, Meet Director (208) .'376-7914, /oolisa(tilaol.con1.

JULY 5.. 10: Che!m1 Cro.1J Country C/,1jsir. Pilots crearc their own tasks from among triangle, om . and·rcrurn, and open disrance. Exrra points for corning back. $70 ($65 before June I Cheap camping available ar the airport and above the high school football field, show· crs. ( :onract: Peter Cray at pctcrgray(t1lfrlxinrer· nct.ncr, (206) 2708M2. Write to: li532 36th Ave. W., Seattle, WA 98199-1154.

JULY3J .. AUG. 2: Western Crmadirm !lr.mg 01r1mpionship, ( ;olden, British Columbia, Canada. Mount 7 is considered by most to be Canada's premiere X.C mountain site with plenty oC good landing areas and easy retrieval. 'The meet is a good chance ro experience some of the best X--C: flying in Canacl:1 in a fon and frirndly com .. petition. Contact: Karen Keller 403·293· 4008 skyward(71lcadvision.com www.cadvision.com/skyward/wcc 1999 .html.

AUG. 7·8: Regional 11 Iinu Contest, nrnnic ipal airport at Hearne, TX. Fun comperirion and taxi-way parry. Hang gliding and paraglidillg. awards fr)!' spot-landing, X.-C, dmarion, etc. Camping at airport. Contact: I ,en Smith (281) (,93 .. 7311 , lconard.srnitb(thsroncweh.com.

SEPT. 2·8: Red Hull Over Aspen, CO. U.S. National l)aragliding Championships and hang gliding acrobatics competition. Open Class and DHV 2.. 3/ Afoor Performance Class for paraglid . ing. $25,000 in prize money awarded down ro 10th place in both hang gliding and paragliding. Nightly panics, live music, big fim. Register early to ensure a posirion.

Contact: Red Bull Wings Over Aspen, P.O. Box 10835, Aspen, CO 81612 (970) 6183038, fax (970) redbullwoa(tilaspen.com, Aspcn.com/rcdbullwoa.

APRI I. 1() .. J 1: First Ii nnuttl !learne Iim1·Fr:.,t, municipal airport at Hearne, TX. Fun competition and party. Hang gliding and paragliding. Awards for spot· landing, X-C:, duration, etc. Camping at ;1ir.. port. C:o!ltact: Len Smith (281) ()93·7311, leonard.smitl1(tilsrnnewcl1.com.

MAY 1·2: Mriynr,y flt the Point ofthe Mount(lin, to raise money fr)r local charity.

All free.flyers welcome for a wcekcnd of fon, food and fancy. Only $20 plus UHGA membership. C:ontact: 1.isa Vcrzella at alrair(tilmicron. net.

MAY 7 . 10: 27th Armurd flrmg Gliding SjN'tte1cul{!r rmd Air Garnes ar Jockey's Ridge Stare Park, Nags Head, NC and Currituck

I li\N(; CLIDINC

r County Airport, Currimck, NC. The oldest cominuous hang gliding competition in the world and airspons expo including skydiving, paragliding, ultralights and more. Dunc competitions begin on the 7th.

Demonstrations, aerorow competition, street dance and awards ceremony. C:onrncr: Ann Thompson, Kitty Hawk Kites, inc.

441-4127 cxr. 11, annie(i1)kinyhawk.com.

MAY 14-16: J999 Sou th Carolina .S;m·n[!,time ar Classy Mountain near Creer, SC:. Corne enjoy /lying and competing (spot, duration, X-C, balloon toss, at this beautifi_il south--focing mountain.

Plaques awarded to all I sr, 2nd and :3rd place finishers in al\ competitions (except balloon toss). $20 entry f,:e for competition flying, $10 for fim flying. Fly-In T-shirts and sweatshirrs available. Classy bunch is l, 500' AC L. Contact: Paul Peeples, P.O. l~ox 2121, Brevard, NC 28712 (B28) BB5-25%, phran ncnp(rtlcitcom.net.

MAY 22--SEPT. G: Yosemite Nr1tirmr1l Pr1rk hrmg e/Jcry wed:tnd. Memorial Day weekend tlmrngh l.:ibor D:iy weekend.

(Sorry, paraglidcrs arc not pennined in the Par!<.) 16 pilots per cby, meet ar ( ;lacier Point at 7:00 J\ivl sharp for sign-in :md orientation with the Site Monitor. Official YHCA Monitor must be present for permission to fly. M usr show current [ fang Ii card. Vi donation. Monitors arc volunteers from the Yosemite Hang Gliding Association. Call USH( ;A oflice (719) 6:32-8:300 for reservations and information.

MAY 29-31: 22nd !lnnual S1r1r Thistle ] IC and PC, Woodrat Moun1ain in southern Oregon. Barbecue, prizes, excellent flying and a whole lor of' fon. Contacr: (cj/i 1) 899-7:327, chriswic(rllsharcd.ner.

MAY 29-31: l 9rh Annual Dry Canyon rly-fn, AL:imogordo, New Mexico. Comests, trophies, barbecue and good air! One of flying's premier events. $20 entry fee includes Sunday barbecue. T-shirts exua. Hang gliding meeting ar 9:00 J\M Saturday, paragliding meeting at{,:()() PM Friday, in the LZ. Comact: Robin I lastings (505) 54 l or Tommy West (505) 437-521:3.

JUNE 25-27: 11th P/l Ultralzj;ht Ickes Public Ultralight Air Park, RT. 1, Box Al'RIL 1999

300A, Ostcrburg, PA I 60(17. Sponsored by LAA Ulrralight C:lub #UM. C:011tact: (814) or send SASE to 276-3553, address above.

/\lJG. 2:3-28: 261h !lnnurd Jr,lluride !lirmr:n '., Rmdewou.r. Six days of firn flying with 25,000' ceiling, foll launch staffwith EMT's, regular convoys, Tshin, panics (fi-ee beer!), contests, prizes, special events :md much more! Fnrry $75. Contact: Catherine Souner, hodyworksvD1 na ii. indcpcnclcncc. net, or Nick Kennedy (970) 72B-:3905.

OCT. l-J: Ortohcr'.18f'st at Samarown Mountain near Winsron--Salcm, Norrh Carolina. The cvcm's eighth edition welcomes paragliding fi:ir rhc first time at a new slope launch on the mo1mrain's top.

Still foarnring rhc East ( :oasr's fl nest cliff launch, "flow--through" ramps, a variety of usable wind directions. Acrotowing returns for a second year as docs a fi1ll-timc cafrtcria in the I Z. Events start Friday morning wirh judging Saturday and Sunday. For skill level and orhcr info contact: Doug Rice (3%) 994 -/i3T7, AppaPhoto@>aol.com (hang gliding), or !~en Thomas (336) 723-0B21i. k/izq1(11lbcllsouth.nct (paragliding). Web site linked ro USHCA.

UNTIL APR!I. 17: Floridr1 rrosH·ount1y for 1999. I:\orida X-C: meet and the Nationals. C:omacl (;regg at CrayBird AirSporrs, 245-B263 or 4 B')-99(19, flyvilgraybirdairsports.com.

APRIi. 3: /,mmch Clinic, by Pat Dencvan. Covers all aspects: weather, equipmcnr, pilot habits. [ ndudes lecture, simulator hillside training. $12'5.

Adv:111cc reservations required. APIUI. 3 & JUNE 5: hJrl hmston (,'lidl'l' Demo /)rzys.

APRIi. 10-11: /)uni.tip Ny!n rmd !)emo /)(lys. $10 per day, I fang 3 and 4 APRIL 21: !'rm1Chutt C!inir. I .cctmc, video, care and mainrcn:rncc, practice dcployrncnts, proper rnethod of stowing lines. $50, or free with chute pmchase. Coman: Mission Soaring Center, 111 (1 Wrigley Way, Milpitas, CA 9'5035 (near San Jose), (408) 262-10'55, fox (liOB) 2()2 I 5B8, mschg(rhaol.com. l ().] J: lltrotow din in. Please APRIL book in advance. $150. Contact Crcgg at CrayBird /\irSports, 2/i 5-8263 or O"i2)/iB9 9%9, fly(i1)graybirdairsporrs.com.

APRIL 2-4: 'lt!ndcm Oinirwitl1 John Ryan in San Diego, CA. Contact: The I Lmg Cliding Center (61 ')) /iG I l!i/i I. APRIL 2/i: flrtml'hute Clinit by lkny l'foiffrr. $35 includes clinic, repack, practice dcployrncms and lunch. Specially discount· cd acrotows for clinic parricip:mts.

Reserv;u·ions :1dviscd. ( :omact: I ,aura, Ariwna Hang Cliding Ccmcr, (S20) C:32IJ 114, ahgc0ilnorrhlink.corn.

MAY l :,- J 6: I I' mid Instructor's Worl<shop at Tck Flight Products. l'n:--rc,g11;rr::111c,n required. C:omact: Ben or Davidson, Tek Flight Prod11crs, Winsted, CT 0609B (EGO) 379 16<,B, tckv1lsnc1.ncr.

JUI .Y 26-:30: "Totally .SjJr:c/ced Out" Cro,1'.ilJNTI I. MI\ Y: Mosquito Cl.in irs, presented

by Bill Fi for throughour North America.

Call (616) 922 2B4/i for scheduling information in your area.

THROUGH NOV. 1999: "Owens Valliy at its Best" i hermalguide to the Owens Valley with Kari Castle. One- to nineday adventures. Private onc-01Hmc flying, guide service and instruction ;1lso available. ] like 'n' fly the peaks of the Sierras and White Mrs. Contact Kari for more inforrna· tion: karicasdc(t1)tclis.org (7(i0) B72-2087.

Country hosted hy The m ( ;olden, British C:olumbia, ( :anada. I .owcrlcvcl pilots will learn how to fly cross-conn· try safely from higher-level pilots in a friend-, ly competition r;irmar. Nightly discussions on many topics. l-'.xpcric11ccd pilots can share their knowledge and get to know the range bdc)l'C the Western Canadian ( :h:m1pionships. Prizes awarded in many catcg,oric,. $20 cmry.

Contact: Ccof'Sclrncidcr (li0:3) 286-:3T70, scept er( 1lspors.ab.c:1.

6Y Mike E'b .1 erte ph

otos 6'.Y Russel!Br.own

'

W

e (Denton M .

Inland N e1er, the n orrh L-araglidi wesr

ous hang 1·d· idenr, wiJ Club presg 1 ing no pr · experienee, and Iev1H ang II Firom current exp · years ago , b ur ·th ' a fi'.·sr day anJnence) arrived 1a':': no Air in Flo .d made our wa on the local fixr n a. Once ther/Bro Quest ure tu ·1 ' udd greeting , ? pi or and 0 flr . y, a comm1 . nc1al some ofth e Q tree, mtrod uced · mg pilots · w, uesr personnel wew · an dus ·to· e next . ere eager t v1s1rth We b mornmg. o get starred orh star d alo f rand ems on thre off WJt. h a co .e V2 with B uple so a great t go overs ug pilot. We o, who is rowing flo1:1e of the basi were able to , ymg d c pnnci I to see us d ' an how th ey p es of O quick luncho bur approaches A:anred · ruter h. reak R c ief insrrucro. ' ussell Bro a more ad I, took us u c wn, our vanced p ror r speeds to fl maneuverin . a 1ttle high- and Jy, emergency g including ow-s protocol on and ff peed oscill . , and anons b th o tow W, my fu-sr f1i h . ow, and I th o however ? ts were excirin ought for jusr me a great a g. T~is did, was 1 stable th. ppreoarion a or of fu rngs can b . problems R n_correcting ch e _a nd it By uss induced e mmor . sunset b · nred after oth Denton wenr to en ?ur seven flights ;d I were Jar e o ;oy a relaxin . . e all g broup of ii g dinner . p ors at a With a gourme runwa t restaurant ar th top-notch y. e edge of th You · e migh th· appointed b trh ink rhar we y e next co I were disup e ofd ays

1;:;e

of unflyable weather, buc in reality Quest is in che perfect location for everything. We spent those days visiting various Disney parks and also went on some excellent rides in Old Town, including a reverse bungee chair and a "sky swing." In addition, for those of you who like clubbing, Pleasure Island is a hoot. It was especially neat while we were there because of the severe weather.

Massive amounts of sheet rain and 40 to 60 mph gusts kept us happily in the Beach Club from about midnight until 1:00 AM , when we were finally able to move onto the Jazz Club. Numerous tornadoes couched down throughout che area that night. Ail in all we had a lot of very pleasant experiences (and I haven't even cold you about Busch Gard.ens). What fun\ My only regret during chose two days of "off time" was that I missed out on visiting with Jim Zeiset (Colorado Exxtacy competition pilot and lead dog of the infamous Green Team) when he stopped. by looking for me. Even though the conditions were a bit strong for us to fly, Jim did get a chance to fly the Exxtacy with the Quest wheel sys-

tern and was .

(See the news i~: lillpbressed as I was. ,em a out h' tem on page nine ,r t: is wheel -91s- Ed) o; the February issue.

The next fl ab] d into the Exxt y c e ay we hooked acy 10r the c. · tllne.

Ro berr Co m bs (you mayurst fr kn h" wm the recent "W: . ow Im cle in this ma . acer Glider" ani. h. gazme) was .. tot t 1s time oui 111strucbocl1 ab] around, and we were e to make four tandems w r or five . wow, what d=rr The Exxtacy all a urerence! re ywas · easier to tow because it tracked so well I much easier to con .. _r was also m pitch and roll. No bod E turn it Yco !' ng sh was needed to • U JUSt m and mak ove the control b e your turn E ar both very J·azzed. b . asy. We were ·J a out th fl · ne1t 1er Demo e ymg, but n nor I w . at al I. Web mCJ e1e nervous 0 . !e t our pr . · was gomg well d og1ess1on an wew so Io. In fact cl J ere ready to ' 1e ast se al fl. were basicall ver ights y made on our own

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T'hc glider doesn't know that there is 110

I a pro,~ram by Pat Denevan, article and illustrations hy his article is the third and flnal pan

of our landing discussion. Following the organized approached we rned 10 understand the launch, we break rhc landing sequence down imo a series of steps rhat we can talk abom one at a rime: I) Pick a final approach path.

2) Establish a stable.: glide 01i rhc final

approach path.

3) Rotate to an upright flying position.

Ii) Enter imo ground cllect the roundour.

5) MAINTAIN course and altitude as glider bleeds e11er1:,ry.

6) DETECT the opening of the flare window.

7) MOVE hands up ro flare position.

8) PUSH out from cemer of mass to flare.

PREPARATION POR TOUCHDOWN: GLIDING IN GROUND EPFECT Adjusting angle of attack during the roundout has stopped your descent, and you ;ire now gilding at ;1 srable altitude in ground effect. No distractions now. Your concentration must be focused on rnaintai ning a precision path and altitude, and that calls for siruarional awareness. You must be sensitive ro the smallest changes in the glider's position and anirudc:. And you rely most on your eyes and fingers for that sensitivity.

The mark of a pilot nearing a successh1l

20

Shriw

landing is :1 gaze fixed well ahead of the glider (Figure 1). I Tc has the big picture.

He can tell if the glider is tracking his planned course, or if it is drifting. I lis speed cues arc not confused by the ground blurring under his feet, and he is able to maintain a ;ilritude over the ground.

Flying the correct speed on a pre--planned course is critical to a successful flare and touchdown. This is the secret to making the dreaded crosswind landing easy. Note the emphasis on flying along a line, a planned course. Simply flying toward a target doesn't work. fr results in a spiral path, with the glider consrantly banked to correct the d rif1 away from the target. Use the same trick we discussed to determine glide path: T1kc in the entire picture with the eyes, and look for sideways shifts of fore·ground objects against background objects (Vigurc If the picture is steady, the path is straight and the glider is stable.

When our eyes have the picture and we fc:cl in control, iris easier to keep a light touch on the glider. That same light touch that served so well during the precision launch works its magic during landing. A light touch allows the pilot to sense energy changes in the glider and glider feedback.

Near the ground, early sensing/early response is the skill to have. Remember that we cm, and must, fly the glider until it is resting on our shoulders. Gc:nc:rally, your task will hero keep the glider ha lanced and stable along the flight path, IJtn small roll corrections may be necessary to keep your flight pmh aligned wirh the landing line in the foce of changing wind direction and speed. Remember our trick of pulling the control bar comer toward the hip, your center of mass, for the best roll response.

Light touch and changes in energy?

Let's get back to that concept. Rc:mc:mbc:r that to a glider must create lifr. The lifring energy comes from forward motion, and the energy to move forward is gained by going down, trading potential energy fr)r kinetic energy. Near the ground, we can't go down any more, so we can't replace the energy lost maintaining lifr (known as drag). Instead, we use up the energy remaining ill the glider's forward motion.

more altitude to burn, so ir still wants to go down. You will have to increase: the glider's angle.: of attack to start trading speed for the energy to rnakc lifr. 'fhc glider slows as that energy is used up. And as you lose speed, you need ever-greater increases in angle of attack to generate the lifr you need. Use a light touch to monitor the whole process, because the glider clues you to what's happening through bar pressure:.

SENSING THE FLARE WINDOW A glider is normally tuned to a hands-off trim speed of four or five mph above stall speed. The rouncl--om in ground dfoct will usually slow the glider to this speed, and you will soon he able to relax your pull-in to zero pressure. As the glider slows and tries ro settle, you will need to start pushing out. You arc looking for that point where bar pressure and rate of push-om start to increase: rapidly, signaling the approach of stall and the opening of the flare window.

In a normal landing, the window opens when pushing out rapidly won't cause the glider to zoom back up into the air. The window closes when the wing is so close to stall speed that the flare won't stop your forward motion.

By attuned ro those changes, and conrinuing to respond, you will naturally perform a "flare." Pushing out with increasing force and rapidity rotates the glider into, in effect, an air-brake and stalls the wing. hirward motion is stopped, and the glider drops gently to your shoulders. ·rhc:rc: arc those who advocate the "go ahead and zoom up, then paraclH1tc: in" or the "slam the bar out with such force that you stall before ,.ooming" techniques, bur these approaches arc mostly designed ro com pen-sate for using guesswork to identify the flare window.· !'hey only work some of the time because they can't be tuned to changing conditions and they aren't based on feedback and pilot response.

STAY TUNED WITH A LIGHT TOUCfI 'lwo things have a major impact on a pilot's ability ro control the glider: sensitivity and glider feedback. The first requires our old friend, the light much. A tight grip on the down tubes greatly reduces one's ability ro detect pitch pressure changes. Jn class, we try this experiment. We rake two identicallooking 12" lengths of round down tube material. One has an extra eight-ounce Hi\NC GI ll)INC

I )rifting off'coursr

2,i: !VJ,iir.1ta.rnznrz course

Foreground objects shift relative to background objects

Foreground objc1cts are stationary relative to background objects

weight inside. Wirh a tight grip, iris impossible to recognize the heavy tube; wirh a light touch, rbc diffr:rence is obvious immediately. In the range of light pressures near rrirn, how far off can your speed be if you can only a pound or more or pressure dillcrence? You could be off five to ten mph, and that is the: speed range of your flare window.

You can also sec, from this discussion, the irnporr:rncc of glider and tuning.

Cliders with excessive or minimal har pressure, or miss-tuned gliders, with trim set too high or low, will be harder to land. The Wills Wing RamAir had such light pressures over the speed range that Wills pro· vidcd speed indicators to help pilots keep tliei r nnder conrrol.

A glider rrimmed too fast will build excessive har pressure long before ir's time to llarc, a11d a glider trirnmed too slow will leave a pilot most of the way through the flare window when he relaxes rhe bar lo

rrim position. In any case, rhe pilot's ;ibility to sense the opening of rhe flare window is limited. He has to judge whc11 the glider is at rhc correct airspeed with only his eyes. Remember, we can't see airspeed, only ground speed. And ground speed can be a very poor and confiising indicator of air-

speed.

SPECIAL CONDlTlONS THAT CHANGE TIIE FLARE WINDOW There arc two cases in which timing of rhe flare must be adjusted: uphill and downhill landings. In the first case, a zoom is actually desirable, since you will be atrcrnpti11g ro fly uphill. You 11111st approach the roundour wirh IO mph or more extra airspeed to assure yom ability to climb, and to :iccoum frir the much steeper entry angle into ground cH<.'.Ct. An early flare and zoom will simply contour rhe slope (Figure 3). By contrast, in a downsloping landing area, your task will he to slow as close to stall as

3: l lphill downwind lcmdinF,

GlidE:1 upslope Appproach with as glider extra speed slows Roundout close to hill

WIN

1999

THE RUN-OUT I.ANDJNG In any case, in a downwind landing, you must be prepared to nm ol!l rhe landing. A run-out landing is a valid technique in any landing. We teach our studcrns a flarclcss run-out landing in their first lessons, long bdcirc we teach them to flare. The flarelcss Liuding requires the long--stridc run and upright posture we learned for the precise rakcoff As 1hc glider slows in ground dfoct, you begin to "moon walk," touching the ground wirli long, glider-supported strides.

As the glider loses lifr and slows, you transit ion your weight to your and keep flying the glider until it settles to your shoul dcrs. Most pilots use rhis rc:clmique more ofrcu th:rn they real izc whenever the wind is strong in the landing area.

RAISE IIANDS AND PUSH FROM

Flam early

Al'RII

you can to degrade your glide ro match the slope, then fbrc late to avoid any altitude gain from a zoom. ln essence, an uphill landing has a huge flare window and a downhill landing has a very small window.

Si nee it is so easy Lo srop a glider on an uphill slope, even a tailwind is of little con· sequence. You can sec why uphill-downwind landings arc prefrrablc to downhill-· upwind landi11gs.

Note that we haven't mentioned a special technique for a downwind situation.

That is because the normal precision flare remains the best answer. No flare technique will make a glider acmally back up in the air; we have no reverse So no technique will stop a glider relative to the ground in a tailwind. The only reason a "slam-itout" technique seems to be better than a normal flare is that in downwind situations pilots look at the ground rush and tend to flare too late. If your flare is based on glider feedback, as discussed above, a normal flare will optimize your chances of bringing the glider to a stop relative to the air, and that's the best you can expect from the situation.

THE CENTER OJ: MASS TO FLARE As you pilm your glider across the landing field, slowing down in anticipation of the flare window, you still have your hands low for control. As you sense that the flare win dow is near, you need ro move your hands up the control bar to abour shoulder level.

This change in position maximizes pitch rotation by shortening the pitcl1 lever arm.

When it is time lo flare, push with the greatest cflcct by pushing directly away 21

have a chance of letting go.

Center of Mass

from your center of mass (Pigure Ii). It is the same point betwecn yom hips that you pull the control bar corner roward to get the best roll response. Use the same push-out you use when Oying prone. You don't do a puslrnp on the basctubc! That doesn't change pitch ar all. Fort he same reason, you don't push straight ;1way from your chest in order to flare. All that docs is push yom head back :md your feet frirward, with little dfrct on glider pitch. Jmaginc that you arc still prone, and push the way you always do when fly. ing. As we have said before, takeoff and Lmding is just flying near the ground, and the only difference between flying and flying near the ground is that you arc closer 10 rhe ground.

CROSSWIND LANDINGS Rcmrning to our landing flare discussion, notice that we have not mentioned cross-wind landing tcclrniquc yet. That is because the precision landing we have been discussing is a crosswind technique. If you set up your landing to maintain a precise path along the landing line, you will autornatical-· ly be prepared for any crosswind compo· ncnt, and automatically adjust for any changes along the way. No need 10 worry about crabs or beadings, or crosswind components and vectors; just correct as necessary to fly 1he course, and the rest takes care of itself; even during the flare. Just as we noted looking at the la1111ch, if the glider is balanced and stable, gliding along a straight path, changes in of attack (such as the flare) will be unevcnrfol.

THE "THREE R'S" OF LAUNCHES AND LANDINGS: LIGHT ANGLE OF COURSE Nore how many of the sl<ills you learned perfecting the precision takeoff apply to Lmding a glider: l) Maintain course (situational awareness) 2) I .ight touch

:3) Angle of anack (airspeed control) 4) Running with long strides 5) Upright posture G) Roll control move the control bar corner to your hip

FlY THE GLIDER flaring docs not mean rhat you stop flying the glider. Even during the flare you arc maintaining your flight parh on the landing line course. Roll inpur is possible during rhe flare or run-out. That is another problem with rhc all--our, lic--man flare; you arc no longer controlling the glider, and any roll deviation goes uncontesrcd. The he-man flare can't he done with a scnsirivc touch, and witl1ou1 a light touch, you arc our of control.

As a side note, it's worth noting another safety aspect ofa light roucb. Crashes on landing often result in broken arms, and the most common reason (cJr those broken arms is failing ro let go ofthc control bar. As the pilot falls through the control frame he twists his upper arms as his lower arms arc levered outward and b;ickward by the downtubcs. Let go and rhc arms come along pcacchdly. A tight grip usually gets only righter in a panic. With a light touch, you 22

This is the reason students at Mission Soaring Center spend so much rime practic-launch technique on the training hill and in the launch and landing clinics. The easiest way rn learn to land is to perfect the launch.

The first three items on rhat list arc the real pillars upon which all launch and landing (and for rhat rnattcr, all flying) technique is based. We have spent so much time exploring the details, it is easy to lose sight of the simple basis of succcssfu 1 flying. Keep in mind that everything you do, from thar first step on launch to the last step on landing, is flying. If you fly the glider with precision at all times launch, landing and in the :iir you will be succcssfol.

A sensitive touch is our communication with rhc glider. Nothing else tells you as precisely or quickly what the glider is doing, allowing you the greatest chance of making the glider do exactly what you desire.

A precision course is your communication

with rhe surroundings. It is the measure of your comrol decisions and your glider's actions. Wid1out some basis ro gauge response, yonr control inpm is effectively random, and yo11 arc out of control. With .. out some hasis, you cannot tell if your glider is unbalanced and deviating from a stable path. Keep your eyes looking forward to keep tfon path in view.

Maimaining course allows a successful transition from canh to to earth again.

When applied to the landing situation, our landing line concept will bring amazing focus and controlled, panic-free decisionmaking to your landing efforts.

Angle of'attttck is your communication with the glider's store of energy. This is just a really poetic way of saying that flying is a game of energy management, and angle of anack is the throttle. Through control of angle of artack, you control lift:, speed, ahi-rude, glide, and even roll. (Remember our note abour how roll can he aggravated by pitch?)

Mission Soaring Center training hill exercises arc remarkably simple, considering the apparent complexity of launching and land .. ing a hang glider. We teach pitch control and maintaining a straight path. In fact, most beginner rating tasks focus on flying in a straight line. lfyou can maintain a precise, straight path, everything else is easy. Remember the mantra (Light Tbuch, Angle of Attack, Maintain Course), and you will be well on your way to better, precise flying.

Precision requires practice. Ir's one thing to work it all out on paper, and another thing entirely to get rhe body w respond quickly and with the appropriate moves when things get busy and distractions mount in that turbulent landing field. When rhc skills arc second nat urc, the pilot suddenly has time for dccision .. rnaking, time slows down dramatically, and launch and landing become as much fon as the flight in between. Cood technique serves you best in all conditions and simaricms. It doesn't hurt when conditions arc optimal, and it will save the bacon when rhe situation is marginal.

We have spent a long time in this series, mulling over the nature of launches and landings. J hope you have been inspired to seek out a training hill and/or a launch and landing clinic, to pur some ofthis theory into practice and rnakc your hang gliding experience as safe and as enjoyable as it was meant to be. II

HANC CLIDINC

Altai

12379 South 265 West, Draper, Utah 84020 • E-mail: altair@micron.net • (801) 523-9544

?REDA.TOR

Saturn

ATOS

O

ur little convoy

had just crossed the border into

Mexico, and we were minutes away from

Rosarito when it hit me.

The

Mexican officials had nor detained us ar rhe border because they knew who we were! In past years, these same Mexican officials had looked over our aircraft, listened to our goofy "Spanglish" explanations, and scratched their heads quizzically. Now, it was our rhird year presenring rhe "Masters of Freestyle Hang Gliding Contest and Light Airshow," and we had become part of rhe local consciousness.

Throughout the weekend there were many gratifying moments as we wouJd meet people who wouJd recognize us, smile, and say that they had seen rhe even r last year or rhe year before. They rhink of us as an unusual alternative to rhe gigantic events that feature off-road racing, bicycling, or jogging that draw tens of thousands of people to their lirrle rown each year. Our group, known collectively as ''Aero Events," has grown over rhe years, and we have put on several different events. The Rosariro light airshow has also grown and is now attracting irs own subs ran rial crowd.

We were rerurning ro the lavish resort known as the Rosarito Hore! and Spa. Our gracious host and sponsor was Mr. Hugo Torres, and once again he and his staff, led

by Ms. Carmen Gonzales, showed us wonderful hospitality by welcoming us ro their superb facility. A lor of rhe behind-rl1e-

24

scenes work required ro put chis evenr together was done by Tony, Jamie and Heidi Rosquillas. Many thanks go to them for making it all happen.

Rosarito is great. Like ro party? We do! The night life here must be experienced to be believed, and while the sun is still shining there are miles of sandy beaches, excellent seafood, and lots of shops full of inexpensive and exotic scuff to be explored. And listen up - gringo glider junkies - 10 minutes down the

coast from the hotel is an excellent ridgesoaring site called La Salina.

This year, for our competition and airshow, we had 10 freestyle competitors, four trikes, five powered paragliders, a Dragonfly row plane and four skydivers.

In addition, a good number of recreational hang glider pilots showed up to tow and cake in the event. During past Lighr Airshows we have performed stunts such as the candy drop, skydiving and barnstorming (don't ask).

H ANG GLIDING

Yes, the show is in M exico, "Land of the Freer, Home of the Braver," but chis does not mean chat we present any aerial demonstrations without much careful forethought and planning ro ensure everyone's safery. For chis, our third year, l wanted to do a new stunt chat a friend had described ro me. The idea is ro make an announcement chat a performer is going ro jump from an ultralight without a parachute, and here's how ic was supposed ro be done. A guy in a jumpsuit APRIL 1999

waves ro the crowd, then climbs aboard a trike chat flies off down the beach. The trike lands as soon as it is out of sight, and a dummy, dressed in an identical jumpsuit, is substituted for the passenger.

The passenger cakes off his jumpsuit and rides an ATV back ro the staging area.

He then joins che assembled airshow staff. They grab the large spot-landing carp, running back and forth under the trike chat is circling low above chem. The trike pilot rosses out the dummy. le falls ,

the tarp crew tries to catch it, they miss, and the dummy smacks the gro und! The original trike passenger jumps under the carp, pulls on his jump suit, stands up, waves his arms, and runs to the cheering crowd. The dummy is rolled up in the carp and carried off with no one the wiser. Stupid? Sure! But there's more to the srory.

A week before the show, our most enthusiastic assistant, one Earl Douglas, showed up lace one night to help with the preparations. ] marched him ouc to the shop and spread out parts for the dummy. Earl jumped on the job with real vigor. Seeing his work, ] said, "Earl, it looks like yo u've had some experience with this sort of thing before." He looked up, responding, ''I've gor a Nixon. " ] nodded my approval . He then added, "I've got a Reagan too. " Spock-like, I raised an impressed eyebrow. Then he added proudly, "I've also got a Speaker of the House. " "Newt would be the logical choice," I responded, shaking my head in disbelief. Soon our dummy (Earl?) was finished. le had no identiry, however, so the next day Earl and ] stood perusing masks at che local costume shop. The most normal-looking was a mask of Dan Quayle, but they wanted 20 bucks for it.

There was a sale on masks of Middle East leaders for a more reasonable $9.95. The Saddam Hussein mask looked roo angry, but che Moamar Kaddafi mask looked friendly, and strangely familiar, so we bought it. We put the mask on the dummy, then cook it out back for a little "abuse testing." Juan Corral, who once again created stunning artwork for the event, was in the shop preparing his trike for Rosarico. Suddenly it occurred to me who our dummy looked like. I yelled, "Hey Juan, this dummy looks just like you!" Earl and ] then proceeded ro give the dummy a good thrashing. Juan was not amused.

Back in Rosariro, the day before the show, tug pilot extraordinaire "Hungary" Joe Szalai was conducting a row clinic.

He was busily rowing all comers down the beautiful Baja coastli ne, and some of che competitors, especially X-C guru Bill Soderquist, started ripping through the sky, practicing their freestyle routines.

Rooms were assigned with the idea of putting like animals in the same space.

Lake Elsinore's infamous "E" Team had again turned out in force. Aero pilots

25

ABOVE: Rosarito beach -plenty of space on the beach in the ''Land of the Freer and the Home ofthe Braver." RIGHT: Joe Szalai towing up Eric Delf.

26

HANG GLIDING

Mitch McAleer, Dave Biddle and Eric "Clock Boy" Del(' were put in a splendid suite of rooms right under the pier bar.

The roorn's patio offered a great view of rbe doings on the beach, and a bonus frature of this location was that waiters would stop by to take drink orders. The tile nom inside the room was a freaky green and yellow swirl partern that dcfi nitely set the mood for the "E" Team's headquarters.

On the evening before the show a pilots' meeting was held in the hotel con· frrence roorn, rhe "Maya" room, and a little ceremony was carried our as a rribute ro the local Mayan gods. Our jump master, Bill Reher, was our holy man.

With a blue rablc cloth draped across his shoulders, Bill delivered a tortilla chip smeared with potcm Chipotk chili paste to the outstretched tongues of all who would kneel before him. After we had honored the gods, we hashed out the wherefores of the event. The assernbled group was made up of experts from rhc various air sports disciplines. They listened and contrihurcd as the agenda was presented.

Our ground crew wa, up and out early the next morning. Organized by the dependable "driver" Jim Robison, tl1cy had a splendid rnnway fenced ofT on the beach. With this, the M:1sters of Freestyle Comest began. The airshow play-by-play was called hy our announcer, Ken Man· nat, who supplied nonsrnp, clever commentary with music during the entire two-day show.

One afrcr another the contest pilots were towed to the acrobatics hox, the rop of which was 2,500' over the water directly in from of the hotel. After rclcasthc towline, competitors were rrcarcd ro a lirrlc show just for them. "Hungary" Joe would throw the agile Dragonfly tow plane into a past--vcnical spiral dive. Even with ;i]] the high-speed acrobatic mancu· vcrs during their routines, the glider pilots arrived at rhc hcach afrcr Joe! Unlike other freestyle competitions, a serious spot -landing contest was incorporated imo each round. In this way, specta tors were treated to a /111c demonstration of precision landing. When Clock Boy sufforcd a little towing mishap 011 rhc sec-· ond day of the comest, he made a wild landing approach and piled in as hard as the sofr sand would permit. He dcf1nitcly entertained the crowd and secured the APRIi 1999

"Whack" with that interesting landi11g. l .cgcndary acrobatics hang gliding pioneer, Ron Young, had been rcsur-· rccted from the freestyle retirement home. He was flying a TRX that we dubbed "hankcnstcin's glider." Ron had assembled the monster with parts taken from no fewer than three other gliders. In rnastcrft1J style, he pcrfcHtned the famous "square loop" and rhc rrnly gooly "look ma, no hands" routine by flying with only his feet on the control bar.

Speaking of odd glider names, I've fdr that pilots should name their gliders in the same way that captains name their ships. If you ask him about his boat, a captain will reply with a charming name specially chosen for his crafr, not the name of the manufacturer! I have referred to my last two gliders as Sky Blasters I and 2. Bur, as it turned out, thar wild man Earl was way ahead of me with this idea. When he set up his glider and l beheld the dramatically hand-lettered sail of his "Nitro CTR 'forbo World " I was stupefied!

Each day, after rhc con test rounds were completed, the sky was given over to the airshow pilots. 'l\·ike pilots Bubba Elze, Joey Presqttcz, Juan Corral and Kris

Creblo, blasted off and zoomed down the beach.

Joey rrcsqucz was unstoppable again this year, not 0J1ly :1s a competitor, lnn as a people mover too. Joey would compete in the contest, thcll jump inro his trike and power off with skydivers, c1mera people, or anyone else who wolllcl ask!

S1)(:cial thanks go to Lorraine and Marisa Gorl<ie for once again bringing lots of candy carefully tied to long paper stream· crs. Wirh these, we presented the "Pifiata from Heaven" stunt. Deiter Corkie w:1s towed up so rhat he could homh the spectators with candy. We also loaded these colorful sweets into the trikes :111d watched as kids and parents alike chased afrcr the goodies that frll to earth.

In the afternoon the winds kicked up to 15 to 20 mph from the south, and the five stalwart powered 1xu:1glidcr pilots, led by Sebastian I !asscl, were intent on riding against the wind. They took of( bobbing along rhe beach. Sorncrimes, even with their motors running at foll rilr, they hung morion less like bizarre, buzzing, lrnoys.

Skydivers Bill Rehr, Abraham, Dave Biddle and Spike, wowed everyone by Continued on page 1U

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27

HAT WAS THE REACTION (W JOJ!N 'fHERlOT AFTER TAK-· INC HTS FIRST TANDEM LESSON. JOHN'S FLJGHT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY A GENEROUS DONATION TO ADVENTURES UNLIMITED BY FLY HIGH flANG

2B

LTD!NG AND AEROMAX.

John Thcrior was rhe first ro participate in a unique program that introduces clifforern forms of recreaLion into devclopmemally disabled people's lives. Adven· mres can range from baseball card trading 10 hang gliding. Unlike programs such as Make A Wish, which is intended to give participants a "one-shot deal" at fulfilling 1 IAN(; G11DINC

as wcl/ as his J,rovmm " ternpontry USF/(,'A

cart!.

3 time

1998 Women's World Chan1pion

r iust soar the local dunes with a couple of mates, there's a Moyes glider for occasion.

Become part of the Fly a Moyes a fantasy, Advcntmes Unlimited strives to enrich people's lives for 1he long haul by connecting people with developmental dis;1bilirics with people who arc willing to share and reach whatever iris they love to do.

Where did Lhis program come from?

Well, to make a short story longer, l was Al'RII 'J 099

John helping to set up the Falcon 225. offered a job by friend and co-hang-· junky, Jan Johnson, ro work as a service coordinator for a nonprofit agency that provides case management fi:>r develop mentally disabled people. Jan felt my lack of experience would be made up for by my enthusiasm. Normally, l earn money in the off-season by filling my lungs with second-hand smoke while bartending. I took Jan's advice and started working as a service coordinator.

While at an office Christmas party l was approached by the president of the board, Sally McGlynn. Sally had learned of my involvement in flying and other recreational endeavors and asked if T would be interested in writing a proposal to their Board of Directors for a new recreational program. Less than one year later, with the help of more people than I can possibly name, Adventures Unlimited was operating cm a shoestring budget with fontastic results. Currently, we draw money from one grant, but our Executive Director, Joe ()'Connel, is tirelessly writing and applying for more substantial grants, while I try to find individuals and businesses who arc willing to donate their time and services. 'lcl get started in the program, imerested people, friends, or family members simply fill out an intake and waiver stat·· ing what activity they would like to lc:m1 and participate in. With that infc)rm:nion,

30

bcr temperatures ever recorded, you just knew it had ro rain. And rain it did! But that was when John surprised everyone with his PR powers. He completely charmed Ll1c reporters. He stated, "] know we can't fly, but today's lesson is about "hang waiting." fortunately for John, however, his patience paid off and the rain subsided the next day.

With a fuJl .. sizcd VHS camera on the wing and a news crew on the ground, John and I exited stage lcfr. Once we had achieved 011r maximum row altitude, we released. Using all or· the knowledge he had learned in his ground school, John took control of the glider. His instincts were nothing short of natural. When we got down to the altitude where l took over, John's only words were, "Can we do a loop now? Just like the ones you do?"

After explaining rhar we could only do a loop "once" while flying tandem, we buzzed the camera crew and came in for a safe landing.

John's flight went off without a hitch I consult my files and find someone to (despite the media coverage). Later, John connect them with. We call this "recrerevealed to me that he was most scared ational case managcmem." '[ 'he number when he bad to confront the rcporrers of interested people is staggering! on rhc ground. With the assistance of Now, about John. John Theriot is 23 Adventures Unlimited, John will be paryears old and diagnosed with PDD and ticipating in training hill lessons rhis mild mental retardation. 'fo say he's got spring, courtesy of Fly Tligb Hang Glid"personality" is like saying the Pope is a mg. little Catholic. I have been John's case Everyone who flies has memories of manager for a year. During the course of' how hard it was to get started, or how that year John has tough it was to expressed great inter· become a Hang ll. est in hang gliding.

However, we at least He has come out to had the means to an both rhe Ellenville end. 'There are peomountain site and ple who have the Randal airport (home same desires as you of Aero max) to watch and r, but who are and help me work. denied access to With a complete lack activities such as of inhibition and a hang gliding simply friendly, outgoing because the guy on ' , lirll1£/fli~lltlllttirf11/ia1 'QJJlit?J personality, John has the street believes 1!/Jl;tifll/l!fa'fl(!Jfl/Hi • , . made friends with that people with many of the local developmental dis .. pilots. When the time came to kick off abilities don't have the means to achieve this program, l knew exactly who to give Lhc same ends. the maiden flight to.

Wid1ou1 question, they do. Just ask Star dare: 12/5/98. Location: Randal John. airport, Middletown, New York. Clider: Wills Wing Falcon 225 (the hcst tandem Scott Jewell is a I fang V 'fcmdern glider on the planet). All forms of media runs Fly High Sky School, and 1.uorl:s with were present. \l(/irh all this coverage, a Paul Voight //~Rh Hmig C;fiding. Ill sunny forecast, and the mildest Dcccm ..

!'

HAN(; Cl IDINC

erhaps no ocher hang glider pilot has experienced the meteoric success of Guido Gehrman. He began flying in 1991 , got seriously involved in competition in 1995, and was crowned World Champion in Australia in January 1998 at the tender age of 23. Was chis success a lucky fluke, a result of careful preparation, or the bloom of natural talent? We can probably rule om luck, since Guido has continued to perform near the top of the pack and shows no sign of lagging behind. As far as the ocher two factors are concerned, you can judge for yourself after reading about his thoughts and actions in the following inrerview.

I caught up with Guido during the 1998 Pre-World meet ar Monte Cucco in Iraly. We had the day off due co high winds, but the warm breezes stimulated our talk about flying . Two things struck me about Guido as he delivered his fatfree version of superior flying. First and foremost was his enrhusiasm. I don't chink I have met another pilot who conveys the pure joy of flight more than does Guido. Second was his purely inruicive approach to competitive flying.

Again, I have never met anyone who flies so exclusively by feel and has reaped such success.

Guido's attitude and natural talenr do not leave much room for analysis of flying techniques or situations. However, because or in spice of chis trait he has presenred me with some of the most insightful and valuable ideas I have come HANG GLIDING

across in this series of interviews. 'lei

This article is part rf the author'.r; continuing series rf interviews

discover how Cuido developed illlo the fine pilot he is, where he acquired his interest approach to flying, :md how

which 11tternpt to uncover the secrets of the world'.r top pilots. These

he excels at competition, lcr\ begin at the l l r l l l'l{Y

interviews have alrettdy included Tomas Suchanef..:, Manfted Ruhmer

11('{'1

Bob

A dozen more ttre pl1mned including those with

S.

DP: Guido, you saidyou starttdflying in 199 l, but you don't fool: thm old to mt.

I w:1s only I G when I start eel.

I found a Ccrrnan school near Mulhausen in hance and learned in one rhen went back :mol her week for irnprovemcm. I had been a gymnast before diat since the age of eight or nine and I think d1ar experience helped me with body coorclin:nion, positional awareness, spatial judgrnem and other things related to !lying. When l started doing :1erobatics it was like being a gymnast all over again even rho11gh I quit gymnastics when I started flying.

DP: Why is that?

GG: Well, Jiang gliding was something I could clo on my own without as much involvement with coaches and structured practice. 1 lclr more inclcpe11dcnl and certainly didn't get the support of my parents. They were like most parents and didn't want me rearing up the skies. But I immediately f<Jund great pleasure and a positive influence: from flying, so I was extremely motivated to contiuuc and excel. I think I wa 111 eel to fly. ex·/j>('rtenr·e when 1 sina I was to get f<'eling of/light on andjurnping. Now I sld ti whi/r:, winter/lying Iii/IS ·1c,u us how you dew/oped and when you started compet-

GG: I had only bccn !lying one year and 1.vas l when l entered my flrst competition. I had never flown crosscountry heforc because l didn't have a cir or means of retrieval. So I l1gmecl I would compete and lw able to get rides. first compcririon was memorable. ! skipped school and rode ro the rncet on ;1 rnotnrcyclc. l didll't have a cross-country licc11sc yet (in ( .1•rmc:,nv a cross-counrry license is theoretically

nt:ry magazine, and excerpt is used by permission. For those who are interested cross-count~y flying, competition, new products tmd the latest hap-11erzzn,'!s around the world, the author recommends ·who missed the earlier intervieuJs and would like to le11.rn from the masters may wait fiJr the book required in order to fly cross-counrry), hut I talked the org;mizcrs imo letting me fly. I hurried my takeoff and had a poor run. My hasetubc grazed the ground and knocked 111y vario off l didn't rhi11k l could compete without it.

I did a 180 and landed fly-on-the-wall back on rhc slope. · !'he organizers said [ was crazy and wouldn't lcr me launch again But aficr that I went to more compcritions and wasn't so unlucky. l was always motivated because, besides the fun, I had somcthillg in the back of my head_ One day 011 the training hill a well-known pilot, Ewald Wiuenauer, who designed the Rapace hang glider and /\dvance paragl iclcrs, said abom me, "He will he rhe fut me World Champion." I worked to improve with added desire afrcr thar.

1

DP: \I;ell, Fwa!d rertain!yfiJresaw the I wonder i/hc mn recommend some good iJwest1;1ents. Whru did he see in you that made him say that?

GC: I think he saw how easily [ learned and how hard I worked. Because I was younger than the others by 20 or more years, usually I had more energy and drive. I would be walking up rhe tr:1inhill and trying new things long afrcr die older pilots were lying around with rhcir wngucs hanging out.

GG: In 1995 I got in1 o the Ccrman League with the Junior and Ladies Challenge. I was flying a Sensor Ci l 0 (European) rl1rn and st:1rrccl doing he1 · tcr. By the end of the year I was 1Ii th in the Cerman League. I competed in the J>re-Europeans that year and saw kingpostless gliders for rhc first time. Ir was love, or I should say, desire at first sight! The next winter, January 199G, I got accepted as an ;1ssistan1 ro the Cerman Women's ·1(:am in Australia. I helped the girls in their rnect and got to compete in the Ausrrali:lll meets myself I didn't do so well (my highest placing was ahour 20th in the Bogong Cup), bur I learned many valuable lessons and had some great experiences which motivated me to compete even more.

DP: 1 remrn--1bcr meetingyrmfrJr the time at the Worner/, \Ylorfd /\lleet in /lustralir1. All the wrmun pilots u11mtn! to meet you (he laughs)_ The next tinu' l rnetyou UNIS at Cr'rfmrd Thrfvcnot'., housr' in Dijon, hnncc. It wm then th11t yo11 bccarnr' rt l.11 Mour:llc pilot. Tell us about thttt.

GG: Tn 19% I had a Moyes Xtral igl11 and wanted ro take off rhc kingpost and put in a graphite crossbar. [ asked the original kingposrlcss glider designer, Christof I<ratzner, about it and he Christof' said to go lO Ccrard. designed rhc general to1)lcss setup for

owner of La Mouette, the company with the first produc-tion kingpostless glider.)

So I went to Gerard's in March of 1996 and after some discussion he offered me a deal to Ry for his company, I .a Mouctte. I have been flying a TtJpless ever since and h:we had grear success.

Thar spring l competed in f-t1ssano and took second behind Manfred R11hrner. In rhe autumn l was third behind Manfred and Tommy Suchanek in the Europeans. The following winter (1997) J won the Brazil Rally, took fourth in the Australian Pre-Worlds, second in the Bogong Cup, and won the Cennan and Italian nationals. That was my best year. So far in 1998 l have won the row meet at Hay, Australia and

the World Meet at Forbes (Australia).

DP: I'd like to explore the reasonsfrJryour sudden phenomerud success, but befr;re we do, let me into a matter that has piqued my curiosityfr;r some time. I was at C7emrd'., doing the flying to writr' up the Jhpless al the time you mentioned be/rm, March 1996. I saw your first flights on the fhpless, but I alrn smuyou do your first loop. I didn't hrwe the opportunity to ask you then, but now I wrmt to !mow: What y,1,we you the confidence, desire cmd ability to start looping the Ihp-

GG: Well, first l knew the glider is very

strong because Gerard told me abou l the tests and I had seen the photos of people hanging off the ends of the crossbars without them breaking. Also, l knew [ could loop and be very com1-lANC Ctl[)!NC

forrable at all stages because, after all , I h ad do ne hundred s o f loops, flips, twists and o cher things in gy mn as ti cs from different heights on different ty pes o f gea r. Gymnastics prepares yo u very well for ae robatics because it reach es you a body se nse th at keeps yo u o riented.

T he d esire ca me from the beginnin g because l always wanted to be free in th e air to ac t like a bird. Aero bati cs is my way of feelin g liberated fro m the gro un d, because it is only the earth that says what is dow n and what is up . If I can d o aero ba tics, I have cu t o ne mo re chain o f gravi ty. Of co urse, we ca n't be to tally free, bu t we can cry. And loop in g o r perfor ming aero bati cs with o u t th e ri ght training o r equipment is d angerous. When I fi rst fl ew the To pless I knew it had th e speed rete ntion to loo p eas ily if I co ntroll ed it right.

DP: I heard about your half loop experience at the !linx aerobatic competition.

What happ ened?

GG: Ilin x was great beca use there were all these pil o ts wh o were serious abo u t ae robati cs. T hey weren't t ryin g to slow m e d own, they were enco uraging me.

Bu t du ring the m ee t l lost co nce n trati o n and entered a loo p too slow. I stall ed upsid e dow n, but hun g on as if it were a gymnas ti c high bar. T he To pless proved its strength because it fl ew ve ry ni cely upside dow n! Afte r a bit I moved to the side and the glider roll ed upri gh t. T hat was exciting, bu t I won't d o it again in te ntio nally.

D P: D id you think about throwing your chute?

GG: No r imm edi ately beca use l was busy ho ldin g on and checkin g che win g. Everything looked all right and I had pl enty of heigh t, so l d ecided to turn ir over.

I wan e to m ake it clear that I'm not trying to be crazy o r brave, b ut I have a lot of prac ti ce at unusual positi o ns so I think th at helped me. I don't think people should d o ae robati cs if they don't have the necessary experience. T here is pl enty o f joy to be found in fl ying just from the pure ace of leavi ng the earth for a whil e and wandering through the heave ns.

A PRIL 1999

DP: Thank y ou Guido. I can't imagine anyone having more Jim in the air than you. Your attitude around flying is infectious. I wish you luck and good winds.

T his co ncludes the first part o f G ui d o's interview. T he rem aining two pares appear in Cross Country m agazine.

U nfortunately, we were no t allowed to p rint them , but here is a summ ary that appears with th e last article.

SUMMARY G uido's ideas ca n be eas ily summarized in a few sentences, sin ce there is an underlyin g prin cip le that unifi es everythin g he d oes related to fl ying. In truth , there is a stru cture wherein everything is co nn ected . le goes like thi s.

His great joy and enthusiasm for flyin g crea te an extremely positive attitude whi ch in turn produces absolute confid ence. T hi s absolute co nfidence is a necessary facto r fo r lecri ng go of the forceful , analyci cal, logical, linear thought process ch at craps m any of us . With chis co nfid ence he is free co fl y in a to tally in tuitive mann er which, in face , m akes him a natural.

Do yo u see the fi nal link-up ? Flying intuiti vely, sensorially o r naturally, adds co th e joy o f fli ght, fo r like a dolphin cavo rtin g in th e wa ter, or a d an cer in a ray o f sunligh t, yo ur w hole being, your wh ole so ul is awash in d elight. The wave of joy feed s th e who le process again in a co nstan t circle.

G uido provided m e with the m ost in sigh t in to this intuitive thought p rocess , w hi ch was a big part o f th e reason we bega n this b rain-picking series of interviews wi th top pilo ts. I expect that most o f the to p pilots operate to a large d egree in th e sam e way he does. H e is totally aware of tryin g co be unaware in hi s co nsc io us mind . It has worked for him . I also lea rn ed a bi t more about w hat makes a "natural" pilo t someone who see ms to learn effo rclessly and get good qui ckly. To me, the secret lies in the abi lity co get all the senses, from spatial j udgm enc co subtl e tacti le input, wo rkin g at full strength all the time. H e does ic fro m habi t and an ability to relax whil e focusing. Hopeful ly ch e rest o f us ca n d evelo p the sam e by adopting G ui d o's cred o: Fly for Fun. •

/lnq e.r busy season ... hrii (,. - ade. we.re. top 2 US pilots i, Clwss I at the. Nats. Ramy, Chris (,. J\i'tt were. top :S at tlu~ /lCC. Swa11.1p Tl ang Lre.aks hii. Florida record . , angenti. on top again. t

IF consistent success doei.n't C'fvince you, how aLout thii.:

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1998 MASTERS OF FREESTYLE HANG G LIDING C ONTEST Results

Place Pilot

Glider

Points

Prize

1)

Ron Young

UPTRX

2464

2)

Dieter Gorlcie

Moyes SXL

2443.2

3)

Morgan Hall

Altair Predator

2399

$400 $300 $200

4)

Dave Biddle

Seedwings Sensor

2390

$100

5)

Mitch McAleer

Wills Wing Fusion

2375

Tandem certificate

6)

Paris Williams

Altair Predator

2365.6

Tandem certificate

7)

Joey Fresquez III

Wills Wing RamAir

2321

Book

8)

Eric Delf

Moyes SXL

2304

Hal l airspeed

9)

Dino DiNaso

Altair Predator

2257

T-shirt

10)

Bill Soderquist

Wills Wing XC

2187

T-shirt

Continuedfi'om page 27 leaping from the trikes - sometimes two at a rime! Spike had brought his basejumping rig char opened very quickly. He tumbled our of the trike at much lower altitudes for short freefalls and snappy deployments . All of the jumpers exhibited expert skills and precise, safe landings on the beach.

The whole airborne melee was managed by our flight directors, D ave and Pat Barton. These folks were tireless in their attention to everyone's safery. This was their second year of politely keeping our gang of aerial deviants in line and we owe them a gigantic thank you.

The days were filled with flying, and the evenings were filled with all manner of celebration. I recall puuing on a stunning pink airshow T-shirt and being possessed by the Mayan demon spirit of spoiled cactus juice. This caused me to lead some of the "E" Teamers in an ultrapsychotic version of rhe "hokey pokey" in the kareoke bar. This bar was always a place of strange power. At breakfast, they showed weird, hyper-speed marital arts cartoons in Spanish. Was ir only a coincidence that Mitch's bed was directly underneath ir? The rear doors of this bar opened our onto the pier. Ar the end of this yet-to-be-completed pier, we placed 40-foot posts that had a bright paper ribbon strung between them. Pilots could dive through the poles to cut the ribbon, if they dared. And some did! This was also where the contest judges sat to watch the competition.

40

The judges gor wind of my plan to toss the dummy from rhe trike and nixed char idea. T hey commented that even in Mexico a stunt like that might be taken the wrong way. Okay, so maybe it was a dumb idea, but in this part of rhe world ir seemed appropriate to present a little entertaining mayhem. Indeed, wasn't chis the same culture char gave us the "Day of the Dead"? Nothing seems to surprise chis crowd! For example (this happened right in front of everyone during rhe show), a guy rented a Wave Runner and cruised aro und in it until the sear became uncomfortably hot. Then he jumped off, just as the thing was blasted to bits by a powerful explosion. T he rig sat there in flames and the guy ran around screaming and swauing at the back of his swim suit.

No one was the least bit impressed!

Sunday's flying started with rounds three and fo ur of the freesryle contest.

Our super gro und crew - Jim, Earl, Edric, Dan, Erish and Terry - were there on the beach again, managing the tow operations, judging the spot landings, and generally malcing the whole operation run smoothly. Our hats are off to all those who volunteered their time and talents for the event; we could nor have done it without them . "Rad" Dan was among the crew managing the runway activities. He was trying to move people away from the end of the runway by shouting to the spectators in his questionable Spanish. Some of the people heard his requests and began picking up bits of trash from the beach. A bilingual

spectator explained to a flustered Dan chat he had been yelling "CLEAN the area! " instead of"CLEAR the area! " If yo u hold an X-C meet and it's not soarable, you don't have a co ntest. To hold a valid freesryle hang gliding contest yo u need lots of smooth air. By bringing freesryle down from the mountains to the sea, and employing aerotowing, we have demonstrated the way of the future foe H ANG GLIDI NG

freestyle hang gliding. Yep, the pilots think the peaceful ride to altitude is just swell. But when they get to the box, release the towlin e, pop the smoke and point their gliders at the surf, the fun meter goes to redline!

By round four all of the competitors showed marked improvemenr in their flying. Some of the pilots were throwing rolling maneuvers past 180 degrees. The APRIL 1999

rules had been modified lase year to properly reward chis type of flying. Some of the goals of the Masters Comest are to promote the evolution of freestyle rules and encourage communication among the aero pilots, as well as among pilots and judges.

Ir was cool to see Mitch and Ron schooling "Pretty Boy" Paris Williams on the finer poinrs of freestyle flying. Like

Paris and Morgan, I flew a Predator in the contest this year. Surely the Predator is the most awesome hang glider for freestyle ever made! But make no mistake about it, this glider is not just good for aerobatics, it has handling characteristics and a speed range second to none. I say to all intelligent hang glider pilots everywhere, forget all the hype and get yourself a flight on a Predator.

41

The judging staff, led by R.C. Dave Freud, was comprised ofJuan Corral, Eric "The Life Guard" Smith, Scott Stuart, and past Masters Contest winner Chris Bolfing. We could not have wished for a more qualified judging staff. We have drawn on their skills for each of the Masters Contests, and their participation has certainly made chis competition the most valid freestyle hang gliding contest to date.

At the end of it all, the awards ceremony was nothing short of sublime. Held on

a huge patio next to one of the pools, everyone relaxed in reclining chairs as the sun set over the beach. The proceedings were presented in a wacky game-show style, with Tara Singer as our lovely assistant. She was smartly decked out in her cheerleader outfit as prize hostess and sexy trophy girl. Her hand gestures over the prizes would have made Carol Marrow from the old "Lets Make a Deal" TV show proud. Tara was also encouraged to give a little special something to each pilot accepting his prize, and some took

.

-~

• APRIL 18 - 24, 1999 -

CROSS COUNTRY HANG GLIDING COM-PETION Site of the 1998 Atlantic Coast Championships SS000.00 Cash Prize. Meet Direction: Jim Zeisct I J.C. Brown Contact \\/allab~· Ranch : (9-11) 42-1-0070 or flyri!;wallahJ.com 42

more than others. The trophies were shiny steel pyramids made and donated

by Chris DiNaso (thanks bro!), with the engraving done by Bruce Carr. The results of the four rounds were tabulated and soon it was clear. The winner was ...

"The Grand Daddy of Freestyle Hang Gliding," Ron Young! Second place went to "Super Sportsman" Deicer Gorkie, and third went to "the Cinderella boy ourra nowhere," Morgan Hall. (His first contest!) Cash purses and a variety of fabulous prizes were awarded. The spot-landing contest winners were Deiter and Bill.

Mitch appropriately ended up with the "Mr. Death and Mayan God of Gravity" statue. Thanks go to Free Fl ight, David Jebb and Bill Bennett for donating some of the nifty prizes.

Lacer that night, Moamar, our dummy, showed up at the "safety debriefing. " He must have had a little too much to drink and was probably depressed about being denied his performance. What happened next was a bit confused and chaotic. He starred acting erratic, and brandished a knife at someone. We took the knife away from him and he was promptly ejected from the room. A few of us followed him outside in hopes of reconciling the incident. We found him trying to launch the glider simulator. As soon as we approached, he produced two smoke grenades, pulled the pins and scuffed chem into his jumpsuit. We were all being overcome by smoke when our quickthinking demolition man , Mitch, jammed a huge, lit firecracker into the malcontent's mouth. That little taste of fine Mexican street explosives proved to be just the thing to calm Moamar down.

After the blast, he Jay peacefully smoldering in a dream state. We poured a beer on him and he didn't bother anybody for the rest of the evening.

Mission accomplished. We had both flown and partied hard to make Rosarito '98 a success. It was after noon on Monday when one last pass was made through the hotel grounds. Members of the "E" Team were found still seated at the main bar, deeply immersed in a marathon "safety pow-wow. " The ever-suave Eric Delf was there, stealthily groping and otherwise entertaining the lady tourists. An exhausted bartender called after me as I walked away. He gestured to the "E" Teamers, pleading, "Senor, please! Take them with you!" • H ANG GLIDING

Tracie Fifer-Welch (H PO Box 8225 Jackson WY 83001 (307) 733-6823

99)

REGION 6 ,Jeff Sinason (R 99) 12954 Ballantine Ct Saint Louis MO 63146 (314) 542-2473 jsinason@itdcornrn.com

USHGA BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGION 1 Bill Bolosky (R 00) 24622 SE Mirrormont Dr Issaquah WA 98027 (425) 557-7981 bolosky@microsoft.com Roti fR 99) NE 18h1 Ave Portland OF\ 97212 (503) 284-0995 paragliding@compuserve.com Paul Klemond (L · 99) Acciclent Chair) NE: 43rc1 St WA 9810!5 (206) 525-5765 paul@kurious.org Gene Matthews (H 00) 15308111 111 Ave Nl:: Bothell WA 98011 (206) 48B- '1443 skydog@gte.net Bob llannah (H - 00) 9920 51 51 Ave S Seattle WA 98118 (206) 328 1104 paraskr@aol.com

advspts@pyramid.ne1 F\USS Locke

(I~ 99) 868 S Mary Ave Sunnyvale CA 94087 (408) 737-8745 rsslok@aol.com

Scott Gasparian (R- 99) c/o LWHS 755 Ocean Ave San Francisco CA 941 ·12 (650) 738-8376 Ed Pitman (H 00) PO Box 188 Shasta CA 96087 (916) 00,c,•··,.,,,c,,.

Ken Brown (H '1795 40 111 Ave San Francisco CA 94122 (415) 753-9534 kennyb2u@aol.com

REGION 3 Ken Baier (R 00) 253 Rodney Ave Encinitas CA 92024 (760) 753·-2664 airjunkies@worldnetattnet John Greynald (f~ 99) 2774 Puesta Del Sol Santa Barbara, CA 93105 (B05) 682-3483 throgrog@aol.com Gregg Lawless (R 99) 27 Bittercreek L.n Diego CA 92129 (619) 484-2056 glawless@sempra-slns.com r~ob Kells (H 00) 500 Blueridge Ave Orange CA 92665 (714) 998-6359 rob@willswin[J.com Alan Chuculate (H 6709 Salizar St San Diego CA 92111 (619) 292-1552 g____ achucu@qualcomm.com Gil Dodgen (Editor) 31441 Santa Margarita Pkwy Ste A-256 r~cho Sta Marg CA 92688 (949) 888- 7363 gildodgen@aol.com REGION 4 Mark Ferguson (F\ 00) 1173 F<idgeview Cir Broomfield CO 80020 (303) 931-8075 rnark@ballvarios.com ,Jim Zeiset (R 99) 13154 County l~d 140 Salida CO 81201 (719) 539-3335 jimzgreen@aol.com Larry Sanderson (H 00) Soaring Society of America PO Box 2100 Hobbs NM 88241 (505) 392-1177 Larryssa@aol.com REGION 5 Frank Gillette (R 903 East 500 South Declo ID 83323 (208) 654-2615 Watercyn@cyberhighway.net

(02116199)

REGION 7 Bill Bryden (R 00) (/--IG Acciclent Chair) 6608 North 100 East Rd Seymour IN 47274 (B12) 497-2327 hm bbryden@hsonline.net Dan Johnson (L 99) 8 Dorset St St Paul MN 55118 (651) 450-0930 CurnulusMan@aol.com REGION 8 Douglas Sharpe W 00) 401 Silver Hill Rd Concord MA 017 42 (978) 318-9714 dsharpe@tiac.net Randy Adams (H 00) PO Box 369 Claremont NH 03743 (603) 543-1760 randyadams@cyberportal.net REGION 9 Pete Lehmann (f~ - 99) 5811 Elgin St Pittsburgh PA 152.0G (412) 661-3474 LPLehmann@aol.corn

Gc-:)offrey Mumford (R 00) APA/PPO 750 First St NE Washington DC 20002 (202) 336-6067 grnurnford@apa.org Dennis Pagen (L - 99) Fm 3 Box 25413 Spring Mills PA 16875 (814) 422-0589 hrn pagenbks@lazerlink.com Chris DuPaul (ll-00) PO Box 801 Cloucester Point VA 23062 (804) 325-1051 Krisdupaul@aol .com

_ Art Greenfield (X) 1815 N Ft Meyer Dr Ste 700 Arlington VA 22209 (703) 527-0226 NAA@ids2.idsonline.com REGION 10 G.W Meadows (R - 00) 1125 Harbor View Dr Kill Devil Hills NC 27948 (252) 480-3552 justfly@interpath .corn Matt Taber (f\ ·· 99) 7201 Scenic Hwy 189 F~ising Fawn GA 30738 (706) 398-3433 airwave@voy.net

David Clover (H · 99) 1696 Creek Rd Wildwood GA 30757 (706) 675-8485 dave@hanglide.com Greg De Wolf (H 99) PO Box 1268 Stanardsville VA 22973 (804) 990-9071 DeWolf7@aolcorn John Harris (H 00) PO Box 1839 Nags Head NC 27959 (252) 441-4"124 ucanfly@outer-banks.com Steve Kroop (H · · 00) "14018 NW 23'd Ave Gainesville FL 32606 (352) 332-8675 usaflytec@aol .com REGION 11 Dave F3royles (F~ 99) 211 Ellis Dr Allen TX 75002 (972) 727-3588 broyles@psuedospace.com REGION 12 Paul Voight (R 00) 5163 Searsville Rd Pine Bush NY 12566 (914) 7 44-3317 ryanv1 OO@aol.com ,Jan Johnson (L -- 99) PO Box 282 Bullville NY 10951 (914) 747-7845 ryanv1 OO@aol.com Paul Riker! (L 101 N Broadway White Plains NY 10603 (914) 946-9386 hm Lars Linde (H -· 00) 954 W Front St Red Bank NJ 07701 (732) 747-7845 larslinde@compuserve.com REGION 13 (lnt'I) Johnson (L 99) Reg 12 Michael Robertson (H RR 5 865 Con 7 Claremont Ontario Canada L 1Y 1A2 (905) 294-2536 flyhigh@inforarnp.net

00)

USHGA Executive Director Philip Bachman PO Box 1330 Colo Springs CO 8090'1 (719) 632-8300 wk (719) 632-6417 fax phbachrnan@ushga.org ushga@ushga.org EXECUTIVE. COMMITTEE President-Cregg Lawless Vice Pres.-Chris DuPaul Secretary-Russ Locke Treasurer-Geoff Mumford KEY: (R)-Regional (L.)-At Large (H)-Honorary (X)-Ex Officio

BEGINNER-TANDEM RATINGS Region '7 FARIS, KEN: Ann Arbor, Ml; M. Zidziu11as/Wallaby Ranch OLSEN, PAUL: l\cllcvillc, Wl; D. l lanowicz/High Expectations Region I I ZAMARRA, PAULA: Austin, TX; S. Burns/Austin Air

Region 6 BlJTLER, JOSEPH: Conway, AR; T. Middleton/Soaring DUNCAN, VERNON: Wichita, KS; S. Whirc/Whitc Out ZEMAN, NEAL: Cabot, AR; E. Smith/Arizona Airfoils Region 7 SPRING, BERNARD: Detroit, Ml; N. l J\dventmes TERRIS, RICHARD: Brighton, Ml; T. 'J'illrn:m/Cloud ') Sport Aviation

BEGINNER RATINGS Region 2 NOONAN,

Plcasanron, CJ\; c;. I lamilton/Sacramcnro I [(;

Region:,

BRITO, DARIO: Omario, CA; R. McKenzie/liigh Advcmmc KEVIN: C:osra Mesa, CA; S. Tucker/Thrills ofTlying Region 4 MC CAIJJSTER, KENNErTl: Srn1th Fork, C(); R. Whitley/Gunnison Gliders Region 6 DUNCAN, VERNON: Wichita, KS; S. Whirc/White Om MEAGHER, KEVIN: Sherwood, J\R: C:. Price/Ozark Mm J Jc; TOY, BRIAN: Sherwood, AR; C:. Price/Ozark Mrn I IC Region '7 FARTS, KEN: J\1111 Arbor, MI; M. /,idziunas/Wallaby Ranch OLSEN, PAUL: Belleville, WI; D. I larrowicz/High Fxpectations Aviation TERRIS, RICHARD: Brighron, Ml; T. Tillman/c:loud 9 THOMPSON, SR, TOMMY: Palatine, lL; B. Kushner/Raven Sky Sporn

Region 10 CAPUANO, SAMMY: N Miami Beach, FL; F. Foti/Miami I lC CROFI:ORD, JOHN: Indian Tri, NC; B. c;rydcr/Foothills FP MOORE, FRANK: Miami, Fl.; J. Tindle/Miami I IC Region 11

FERRO, CHRIS: Ho11ston, TX; F. Burns/ Austin Air Sports TIM: Kyle, TX; S. Burns/Austin Air SATTER, KAY: I lousmn, TX; F. Bmns/J\ustin Air Sports TOLIN, KFN: Weatherford, TX; D. Broyles/Kite Fmcrpriscs

Region 10 CAPUANO, SAMMY: N Miami lkach, FL; F. Foti/Miami fl(, FAIRAIZL, ANDREW: Hickory, NC; B. Gryder/Foothills J:l' MOORE, FRANK: Miami, i:t.;J. Tindle/Miami I Jc; ROSADO, EDUARDO: Sabana Grande, PR; R. [ lastings/Team Spirit I Jc; Region! I JOHNSTON, TIM: Kyle, TX: S. !\urns/ Austin Air Sports 12 ALLISON, ANTHONY: Fast I lamp1011, NY; J. Tindle/Miami f JG

13 DFCATOR, STEPHEN: Canada; T. Tillman/Clo11d 9 Sport Aviation

INTERMEDIATE RATINGS Region 1 FOY, MICHAEL: Trout Lake, WA; P. Dcncvan/Mission Soaring SCHULTZ, ERON: Porrland, OR; R. I IC Assoc.

Region I HJBFR, SCOT: Petaluma, C:J\; I. Jones/Sonoma Wings SCHILLER, MARK: hcmonr, CJ\; D. Yount/Mission Soaring

3 BARTON, PA'f: La Crescent a, CJ\; J. Szalai ! IOU AND, MARK: Honolulu, I II; J. J:orlms/Clo11dhasc Enterprises ADVANCED RATINGS Region 2 BUTRYM, CHARLES: Merced, CJ\; C.D. Prather/Dream Weaver HG

Region 12

ALLISON, ANTHONY: East Hampton, t'--IY; J. Tindle/Miami HG Region 13

DECATOR, STEPHEN: Canada; T. Tillm:m/Cloud 9 Sporr Aviation VOORTMAN, ROB: C:anada; C. Thorcson/Lookom Mm FP

NOVICE RATINGS Region 2 MAC DONALD, MICT IAEL: San Jose, ( :A; D. Yount/Mission VENEMAN, DAN: Modesto, CJ\; CD. l'rarhcr/Drcam Weaver HG Region 3 BRITO, DARIO: Onrnrio, CJ\; R. McKenzie/High Advenrmc GROW, DAVID: l laiku Maui, I II; G. l'urnum/l lalculrnlu I IC

Region 3 BROWN, BARRY: Sanra Barbara, CA; T. J\way !JC & pc; DE BRUIN, JOHANNf,~'i: Sanra Barbara, C:J\; T. Burcar/r:ly HG & PG HARMER, KIPP: Santa Barbara, C:A; T. Burcar/Fly He; & pc; TANDFM ONE RATINGS Region 4 DENTON, TIM: Lirrlcron, C:O; J. Tmjillo Region 8 POST, KENT: Cambridge, MA; J. Tindle/Miami I IG

Region 10 WOOTEN, R: Statesville, NC:; C. Bryan/Foothill H

Region 4

MC CALLISTER, KENNETH: South Fork, CO; R. Whitley/Cunnison Clidcrs MC CALLISTER, STEVE: Albuquerque, NM: R. Whitlcy/(;unnison C;liclcrs

44

f-lANC Ci IDINC

HANG rronl volcro for ousy Oil/ off unc.l vontrnri sloovo fo1 nosy 111 / out onc1 wrnrnth FXPl.01,!R[Vv'Olm cornlortc1tilo N/\VICf\-,'.JI< (lull lrn,qll·, upper mop COlvlPEll()t;, (crr,:ulrn dolc1lcl1ccttJlc rnop culll / Silos - t1 colors. (Gluo, looL Poet f\1rplo)

TANDEM INSTRUCTOR RATINGS Region 1

CAMPBELL, S DOUG: N Sumner, WA; T. Jolrns/C:ascadc Region 10

GRYDER, BRADLEY: I liddcnitc, NC:; P, Vo1Pll1/l•Jv lligh I IC Viowol)lo 'unc1ior1s Sofoly strc1p. /\djl1sls 10 olr11ost ony rodio Volcro's lo shouldor s1rop. 1;oci or t)luo

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Austin 1·nrsp,or1s ............................................... ,1 Mountain Wings fnc ...................................... .4 Raven Sky Sport:s ............................................ /1 Silver Wings ....................................................... ·,

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RAN!( l Lookom Mountain Flight Park ...................... 32 2 Wallaby Ranch .............................................. 12

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5 (i

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High Mission Soaring Center ................................... 8 Mountain Wings ............................................. 7 Kitty f"Iawk Kites ............................................. 6 R,iveu Sky Sports ............................................... ., Austin Air Sports ............................................. ::,

Fly Away Hang Gliding ................................... 3 Fly J,Jigh ........................................................... 3 Air ......................................................... 3 Team Spirit Hang Gliding ............................... 3 Windsports

We :ire ofkring ONE H<.EE AHZOTOW tu :di ano1uw rntcd pilots :1ttcnding. Our 4 day event will h:1vc for xc, dun1tio11 and spot landings. Conw and sec why CirnyF\ird is Florid:1's :md lws1 Acrntuw Flight l'.1rk.

The 1999 Year long \ ,r·aylSll'll l'.h,itlk:ng,c pilots tu come and set the ( records for While 0·11 hr·"""' more turcrs :md flight pmks, we me offering 1,1 pilots the first time th.n fly from ()uest Air ur W:ilL1hy to C,rnyBird's Fli1{ht !'ark. We will also provide FREE rctricv:d to pilots flying frnlll tu either m Wall:1hy.

Contact

Rctnkings were compiled frorn published in April 1999 issues ~fllang Gliding ma:eazme.

al 3 5 2,489,9969 or email:

B. McNamcc /

11:mg Clidin1: :md Ultrnl

Instruction

15072 SW I l I th ST Dunnellon, FL 344 l2 rd:ii rsporl s.com f\y@gr:1ybinL1 i rs port s.C(l!11 Ai'Rii 1999

is a in Calif'ornia'.1 Bay Area. She's rdrn the hig sister, hy seven inch es, and flies a J12 XC. She learned Lo hang glide in the summer of' 198.3, a planned with to Yosemite got diverted to a u;eekend in /)unlap. summer, wa., ti pilot and met Wril!y, who, with his bear, rudwig von Bearthoven, out this/lying.family.

is tZ middle school rnath tmd science te11chcr in the Seattle area. She'.( also the hig sister, hy seven yem~I'. rmdflies a 132 XC. She'., heen since the lateft1ll of' I 982, when and her husband took lessons together. Since then, Geory,c, CJ. and her teddy hear co-pilot; h,,;r,d,1r,,,. Snufp, have hecn schlc 1pinf, their 1 around th!' country and around the world, collecting quality airtirnc.

Every pilot knows that the fun factor

of any flight increases in direct proportion to the quality of the companionship.

Going X-C has alw;1ys hcen a part of C.J .'s flying. 1n Chelan, just across the moumains from home, everyone makes a point of landing anywhere oilier than the

junky:1rd LZ. It was no big deal when, dming her first season of Chelan flying,

C.J. took her 134 Gemini across the Columbia and beyond the power lines for her first I 0--milcr. Ginny, on the other hand, is a coastal pilot who loves soaring at Mt. 'Eun and landing on the beach.

She loved her I 50 Sport, had never gone

Cf and 46

tthovr:

X-C:, and never really wanted to.

But one day Ginny test-flew a 142 XC, and promptly retired her Sport. She lobbied for the annual Farnsworth sisters reunion to he in l .akevicw, halfway between C:aliforni:1 ,md Washington.

"Cotta take this XC X-C," w;is her thoughL Her goal: ro get 11p and away and land out, even if'"out" was only a field or two beyond the designated I ,Z. C:.J. and Fuzzfacc, having just competed at the Lakeview Nats rhc week before, were designated rnur guides. Wally, George and Ludwig declared themselves team drivers, photographers and cheering

section. Sugar Hill was the: starting point, Lakeview the goal.

July 30 frltmd the sisters setting up their Xe's on Sugar Hill, launching and scratching, and finally climbing om together. There's real magic in circling in a thermal wirh your sister! C.J., with memories of big sink between thermals fresh in her mind, wanted 12,000' before leaving 1hc hill. Coastal pilor Cinny thought I 0,000' looked plenty high and happily set off on course from that altitude:. C:.J. recalled rhe best lih being in the hills; Cinny liked rhc security of hei ng over the open fields our in the val-

Hill.

H/\NC CiiDINC

Famiry portrait: Ludwig von Bearthoven (in Ginny's control bar), Ginny, Wally, CJ and George. ley. C.J . landed with another pilot in a field just 16 miles beyond launch; Ginny continued on another three miles for a perfect landing 19 miles from launch, her first X-C and the longest flight of the half-dozen pilots flying Sugar chat day!

M ission accomplished - and then some!

Two days later the family headed up Blackcap in the lace afternoon, hoping fo r conditions chat would allow George to fly his paraglider while the sisters ridge soared their XC's. Wally, needing another day to rest hi s week-old knee tweak, once

again designated himself driver/photographer. C.J. laun ched in almost too-light conditions, then George, then Ginny.

Wally shot the rest of his roll of film before he and Ludwig headed down. Ginny and C.J. gained alci cude slowly, until they were several hundred feet over launch.

"George is all packed up here in the LZ; you gals can come land any time now and we'll find us some dinner," Wally radioed up. But G inny, bitten by the X-C bug, had ocher plans. "H ow about we go

up and land at Jules' field ?" she radioed back to C.J. and the ground crew. "Or," with a quick glance at the nearly-setting sun, "however far we can get beyond that. .."

So, wing tip to wing rip, C.J. and Ginny left the LZ behind and cook their XC's north in the butter-smooch, buoyan t evenmg ai r.

Even a five-mile flight can be memorable when you land out, at sunset, with your sister! •

11ioMotll# I ALL !4Wi~a~~ ~lf,,ij}'it1,ty)s MOTHER'S DAYWEEKEND - MA Dune Competition at Jockey's Ri dge Flight Park Competition Clinics, Demos & Speakers Street Dance (we've taken it BACK to the STREETS!) Rogallo Foundation Awards & BBQ Demo New Gliders from Moyes.Wills Wing & US Aeros

HANG GLIDING SPECTACULAR APR IL 1999

SPONSORED BY KITTY HAWK KITES CALL 1-800-334-4777 OR CHECK AT www.kittyhawk.com

47

because Rob never said a word r couched the controls. We felt we were ready, but Russ wanted one more tandem with him to make sure he felt we were ready.

On the third day we soloed. Russ and I went up for a morning check ride and, wow, was it ever bumpy. uss was almost nor able to make the flight without couching che controls, but in the end it was fme, just bwnpy. Yes, the bumps translated into some great lift, and after about ha.If an hour of soaring

48

the Exxracy my hands were numb and I wanted down. Fun only goes so far if you are not dressed for it. I pulled i~ the flaps and starred looking for smk, and finally found some upwind of Quest. A mild spiral dive rook me down to about 500 feet so I eased back to the field, made my approach, and brought us in for a nice landing despite the conditions.

"Good job," Russ exclaimed, "but it's way too bumpy right now for you to solo. Let me do another check ride with you in calmer air and then you can solo." Postponing for smoother and warmer air sounded good to me!

The weather stayed strong all day; bur by evening, conditions were looking good. Since I got to soar char morning, Denton went up with Russ for his check ride fuse. After a successful flight, Russ hopped out and Denton was ready for his first solo. "Wind 'er up, " he said, and the rug started moving. Ir was a perfect launch and tow to 2,500 feet. Wow! Perfect setup

and a nice soft landing. No one could ask for anything better, except for Denton, and, since he was already in the harness, he went up again to 1,000 feet.

I was getting a bit nervous now, after seeing how well Denron had done.

Another perfect showing for Denton and then the pressure was on me.

Russ and l hooked in and cook her up to 1,000 feet for a quick check ri~~Everything went well and all my a_nnc1pation faded away. I felt g_ood hav_mg done a check ride immediately prior to my solo. "I can do this - no problem,"

Yesterday's Technology

I thought. After doing all my preflight checks, I told my wing man that I was ready to go. Bo wiggled the elevator on the tug, indicaring to me that he was about to go, and I scarred moving.

Faster, faster, and rhen I pushed out just a couch. I was airborne and climbing smoothly - five feet, ten, twenty, twenty-five - SNAP! I pulled in, dove, and gained speed. Five feet, three feet, and I let the bar float out and flared.

Nor a bad landing considering that this was my first weak-link break and first solo. Actually, it was a good landing! Of course, we had talked about weak link breaks and even practiced them up high, bur it was very comforting to know that I could put my knowledge to use without even rhinking about it when I needed it. Thanks Russ, Rob and Bo, for hammering rhe training in.

I was soon back in position and hooked up again. I was ready. The elevator wiggled and I was off, this rime to alcirude with a very smooth cow. A few minor pitch correcrions were required to keep the horizon between the wings and

APRIL 1999

the wheels of the ruoo• and even tiewer

roll corrections were needed "T h ' .

I" I th . lS LS

?eat. ought. T he sun was easino0 mto the west and th e 5ky was rurrnno. orange - what a day! Bo gave me rh: wave and I hit the release and turned nghr .90 degrees. I had 1ors of altitude to enJoy the experience before settinoup .my approach. I let the bar float o:t a b1r soon, bur still had a nice land' oThe flare window with the flaps fu~~~~ seems to be huge. There was just enough rime for one more quickie to 1,000 feet ' time, . aft . before sunset · Th1s er a lmle playing around, I landed ~own by the club house and han ars JUS~at sunset. A perfect day. g oth Denton and I were ecstatic' We made a couple of solo flights and only needed. three more each to get our ranno-o· We had a mornrng . aerorow fl. ighr out on United, so we figured that we would need to finish our tow rating some . rhi other time· We were discussmg s when both Bo and Russ gracious! offered to do some daybreak to y d . h ws esp1te t e sub-freezing temperatures

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chat were forecast. T hey said chat if we could handle the tempera ture so could they. We made three more fli ghts the next morning and then che race co the airport began.

We mad e it with minutes to spare.

CONCLUSION Denton and I have no illusions chat we know everything about hang gliding, however, we are getting an Exxcacy to share and will co ntinue our fl yin g and learning.

We may do so me aerotowing up in British Columbia or western Washington if we can arrange it.

We also want to foot launch (of co urse), and that means another lesso n o r cwo with so meone fam iliar with the Exxcacy. However, towing for a wh ile wi ll be just fin e for us, especially since we will have the Quest landing gear to m ake things easy. (I hope Kevin Frost is not too disappointed in us!) We are both caking our girlfriends on a

trip to Quest this spring during the Natio nals. T hey will love it and it wi ll be a snap for chem to learn .

T he Exxcacy is a higher-performing glider than any ocher hang glider we have flown in the past, and it easily doubles the performance of our paragliders, but neither Denton nor I felt chat it was an "adva nced " glider in terms of handling. Ochers will have to make that decision for themselves. •

by his month's message is old, very old, hut nnfonunatcly one rhat needs to be repeated to c111plws1ze the seriousness of' the iss11e.

J\ pilor commences a foot···hunch tow.

The glider raises, then the pilot realizes rhar he is not hooked to the glider. l le releases the rowline. J\frcr hooking inro 1hc glider, he launches sm:ccssf'ully.

J\ pilot ancrn1ns a fcJOt·lnmch tow. The glider lifrs, then noses over with the pilot falling ro the ground while rclcas· It is thrn determined that rhc pilor w:is nor hooked in. J\ shoulder injury results.

In lighr and switching winds, a pilot backed off bunch several times waiting for ;m acceptable launch When one rolled rhrough, he launched hut was not hooked in. [-le foll and rumbled down a steep, rocky slope, sufforing serious head and neck injuries.

Several assistams aided in la1mchi11g a pilot from a ramp in light con· ditions. As die pilor launched, he real izcd he was nor hooked imo the glider and clung ro the hasctubc as the cleared the edge of rhc ramp. The 011 the hasetube caused the glider to dive and the pilot released his grip when near the ground, hur su/Tcrcd muliiplc limh fracrnrcs and injuries. ft is so incrcdilily easy to get into a mind·set oC "Thar will never happen 10 me. I'm roo cardid (or consistent or what· to ever hunch unhooked." Believe me, I know liow you can develop this :mitudc. The unhooked pilot first 011 rhc list above was me. Yep, me. It was ahoul two years and I included it with repons from past year ro help make the point.

It can happen to you! It has happened to rhe very best of· pilors Dennis l'agen, Pete I ,ehman11, Si.eve Moyes and the list goes 011.

Vari011s Slll";f!,<.:st 1:or1s liavc been made over tlic years as ro how to avoid launching unhooked. Various mecha11ic1l and elcc tronic gizmos h;wc been invented to "lix" the prohlern with technology. Bur rhe solution I've seen with any reasonable likeAl'RII

I qq9

lihoocl of success is rhe J\ustralian method of simply connecting rhc harness to the glider during assembly and prcfligh1ing it as pan of' die glider, then never unhooking the harness except when disassembling rhc glider. Thar means emcring and the harness when checking a batas,;csi;mp; rhc wind, or between tow flights. The is only unhooked whrn the glider is being broken down.

People argue against this method by claiming rhar you need ro better observe conditions to he sure about selecting a safo bunch Or they argue (especially western pilots) rhat a dust devil may trash you while on I he ground and hooked in.

However, in reviewing some of the acci · elem data from the last several years, no 011e w;1s reported to have been killed, seriously injured, or even involved i11 a minor trashed by a dust devil incident from while hooked in, or because they couldn't adequately assess conditions. [ fowcver, people were seriously i11jured and even killed in each of rhose years from launchunhookcd. hypothetically, there is a very slight possibility thar a dusr devil ross you if ycm arc liookcd in bd<.irc 01110 1 he launch ramp. But, unequivocally, the odds arc rrcrncndously higher that you will launch unhooked if you wair until before launch 10 hook Ill. like driving, boating, hunting, else in lifr, involves cleand ments that arc a gamhlc. Why co11sciously choose the opiion with lower odds? Play the much stronger percentages and keep thar harness hooked ro the glider.

The ClllTelH rrcnd in harness design forther facilitates case of' harness and egress. Wirh some models it is almost easier to doff and don the harness rhan to unhook and re hook I he carahiner. For iris clearly hest to leave rhc harness COllllCCtcd 10 the Over the past year we have made several rcf,.:renccs to sirn;11io11al awareness.' l'hai is the process of conrim1ally yom situation for various problems, with a con'"''"''''"'' plan predetermined in your mind. So, f'or each launch site, whar is your "''""',;~"'"-Y plan should you find yourself" launching unhooked? When devising rhesc plans in your mind, co11sider several items. remember that you can not hang J\s a test, hang from a branch,

pull-up bar, or something, and rirne yoursclF umil your grip our. 'kn seconds? a fidly loaded harness. 'li·y ir ·fo simulate some mrbulrnce, put anorhcr 30 10 50 pounds in your harness. Now liow Whatever your pl:m, it is bcs1 1101 to assume that you will be h;mging your hands for long. !\ second consideration is rh:11 tl1e con· trol har on most gliders is wcll l<Jl"Ward of the hang point. 'I 'his me;ms thar if'you hang on rhc control bar, or even rhe down· tubes, the glider will dive. J:or some slope launches it is better 10 let go of' rhe immediately. 'liirnhling and rnlling after launch may be signiflcrnrly less injurious tfoin on while the glider accclcrates in a impacts with much greater velocity down the hill.

Third, unless your has a cable strung through the control bar or an 1111mually strong har, you will likely break the comrol bar if all yom or ported in the middle, cirher hanging. Then the glider folds up.

J\ fourth consideration. J\ flat, conical parachme requires a rravcl disrnnce of I '50 to 200 frer to inflate, a pulled-down apex abom I00 to 1 foer, and some of tlw new high-aspect· rario annular chute as little as 50 to frcr. IF falling vertically, that travel disrancc equates to the altitude required for rhc chute ro first open. I in a glider flying from launch in the lift hand, rhat distance equates 11rctty much to horizomal distance. an optio11 is 10 hold 011 for a frw moments, toss your chute and wair for it to snatch yom hands free from the glidn.

The importance of hang checks cannot be but when pilots continue to launch unhooked, clearly something better is required. The Aussie method of'connecting the harness dming scrup and not unhooking it is the besr option developed ro date. Some pilors flnd numerous excuses ro argue this hut there arc no sraristical data to argue that the risks outweigh rhe bcndi1s of the J\ussic method quite the contrary. And we all need 10 add a launching-unhooked contingency plan ro our pre lam1ch checklists lO enhance our siruarional awareness dming rhat critical phase flight. l;ly and hook i11. Ill

or

l!J\N(; CL!DlNC ADVISORY Used hang gliders should always l,c disassembled hcforc for the first or dent time and inspected card,dly for cd dowmubcs, ruined hushinr;s, bcm bolts (especially rite heart bolt), re-used Nyloc nuts, loose thimbles, frayed or rusted cahks, tangs with non-circular holes, ,rnd on flex wings, sails badly torn or tom loose from their anchor poinrs front and back on the keel and leading edges. If in doubt, many hang gliding businesses will be happy to give an opinion on l he

DRFJ\M no -·· Tandem ship. Orange/white. Only lli High rs! Complcrc set of floats. $ I ,750. (970)

EXXTACY NEW & USED TN STOCK, DEMO DAILY. WALLABY RANCH (94 l) 424-0070.

I !PAT lli5 Flies great, still crisp, will throw in Ball vario $1,200. (925) ')(J.'l.

I !PAT l!/5 - Cood condition, new leading edge cloth Sllt>CJ'l)feii1Eill, $] ,400.(fi J /i) /iTJ-88()0,

FALCONS 140, 170, 195, 225 new and used.

WAI.l.ABY RANCH (9/i l) 42/i-0070.

l!PAT158 3322.

FALCON 195, HO $2,200. (5]()) 521-2566.

Almost new, < 10 hours

HPJ\T 158 Creal handling glider, many new extras $950. (970) 728-3905.

HPAT I 58 Vcry good condi rion, blue/white $950.

(72/i) B98-l219.

FLF.XWJNGS

FJ\I.C:ONS C:LEAR/\NCL SA\.F. School use, one season. All sizes $1,250-$7.,500. (/1]/i) liT\-8800, l,rnd<,ilJ1anggliding.com

/\EROS STF.Al.TH 142 New, e,isy handling, white LE, grcrnlorang,· $5,500 OTIO. (50.l) 5/iJ. H:l I, 1x:an1<,11J,011ldcrnews.i11ti.nct

FLY T:rndem gliders, three 10 choose from, $2, l 00 ;ind up.

(Ii 1 ii) 1/.3-8800, bradvr)hanggliding.co1n

AIRBORNE Bl.J\IW !Iii Crear condition, 25 hol!rs, teal I.E, yellow ondcrsmfoce $1,500. (719) 687 li218.

FORMULA l•H time, dean and wheels, extras. 1uH1errson

condition ol equipment you them to inspect.

Buyers should select equipment that is approptiatc for their skill level or ratini;. New pilots should seek pro· fessional instruction from a USHGA CERTIFIED JNSTRUCTOR.

downu1b<\

])()lJBI.E VISION Like new condition, extras $1, 9'/5. BRS-li-l !C rocket $ J:~5. l/VEX foll face, like new $1 (,' cocoon lwrncss $ I I 0. (Ii l ')) 589-li 17/i

HJSJON 150 ·· (116) 697,21\25.

FUSION 424--0070.

SO hours, magenta & real $3,500.

USHGA

Kl.ASSIC 155 - w/vvin,:lcrs harness wldrnrc, (black lent $500. Ball 652 wltotal $2, I 00! Make olfrr! (')70)

Buy it all for

LAMINAR ST, J!i, 13 in stock. WALLABY RANCH (91 l) ft2/i.-0070

to single surface.

Ranch (941) li21i-

LA MOUETTE TOPLESS - Demo daily. WALIA

BY RANCH (941) li21i-0070.

Call/email for current list.

DREAM l <,5 I 987, good condition $'\00. (707) 935--'JO I 0, frccdoan(,1)vom.com

KI.ASSIC 11/i Ycllow/whirc, absolute mint condilion, 5 hours use and rhen stored indoors for $2,800. Klassic I S'S, 80 hours, clean $2, I 00.

I Ii) li73-8800, brad{[_ilhanggliding.corn

Demo daily. WALLABY RANCH (9,11)

Ohio.

DOUBLE VISIONS &. FLY2 New and used.

WALIAlW RANCH (9/il) 424-0070.

Kl.ASS IC 133 Swccr handling, wlwinglets, < I 00 hours $1,'100 OBO. Lisa (801) li'J5-0l'l3.

hclirn,r. Al I

for $1,500. (%0) 379-0389.

AIRBORNE SHARK, BLADF RACE, STING, BUZZ. New and nearly new. Demo daily. THE WALLABY RANCH (911) 42/i-0070.

Pim new downtubes $500. (352) /i81

0070 Plorida, gliders(,r>w;illaby.corn

Mll.LENNIUM IIPJ\T Ili5 Pristine, <JO hours $1,750 OBO. CC 1000 wlall options, two chutes, BRS, etc., up 10 5' I()" $/00 OBO. Ball (,52 v:1rio/alti/air. Reynolds $1 ('iO'S) ')81J-')872 evenings, or

ADVERTISING ORDER FORM

50 cents per word, $5.00 minimum Boldface or caps: $1.00 per word. (Does not include first Jew words which are automatically caps.) Special layouts or tabs: per column inch. (phone numbers: 2 words, P.O. Box: 1 word, E-mail or Web address: 3 words) photos: $25.00, line art logos: $15.00 (1.75" maximum) DEADLINE: 20th of the month, six weeks before the cover date of the issue in which you want your ad to appear (i.e., June 20 for the August issue).

Prepayment required unless account established. No cancellations or refunds allowed on any advertising alter deadline. Ad insertions FAXed or made by telephone must be charged to a credit card.

Please enter my classifir~d ad as follows:

WALLABY RANCH (941) 42/i-

0070.

SX, XTL, XS3, XT, etc. New and MOYES CSX nearly new. J\vailahlc immediately. Nation's largest Moyes de,tlcr. WALLABY RANCH (9/i I) -124-0070.

Number of months:--····---..-----·-·-·---·_ ....... - ..SECTION IJ Flex Wings 1..l Emergency Parachutes IJ Parts & Accessories l..l Business & Employment IJ Miscellaneous 1.l Paragliders IJ Videos

l:.JTowing IJ Schools & Dealers IJ Ultralights IJ Rigid Wings IJ Publications & Organizations

UWanted U Harnesses issue and run tor _____,,__ ..,._ .........

Begin with

consecutive issue(s). My .l check, 1..l money order is enclosed in the amount of NAME: ............................. ____ ,,____ ··-.. ·····--· ....,......... _..___..... ·--·--·- __ -·····-··----.,..ADDRESS: ____ ........ .... _.,.....-...... -..... ,

,

CITY: ___ .................... _ ................_. ____ ........... -·--··· .. ..

Number of words:___ ............._............... -_@$.50 Number of @$1.00

1:;2

USHGA, P.O Box 1330, Colorado Springs, CO 80901 (719) 632-8300 • fax (719) 632-6417

HANC Ct IDINC

MOYES SUPER XTRJ\LITF Perfect condition, orangc/wl,itc, iwo bags $2,000 firm. l<urr (61 ')) (,ft,j.

9900.

MOYES SlJPFR XTIZJ\1.11 E lM 12 hours, battens, xc hag, 2 downu1bcs, green bottom le11crs $3,400. Dale (/02) li:\'5·250 I Las Vegas.

MOYES XS I GO Very good condition, harness, parachute $900. (86/i) li87·930ii leave message.

MOYES

XTRAllTE

137

Well kept, (Ii iii) 17,8800,

MOYF.S XTRALITF I :3'7 Coml sha1,e, srnall con trol har $1,500. (970) M 1 5(,5/i, 11driver(i1Ju,,a.net

SUPFRSPORT 153 tonypG.Vco.pit kin .co.us

Make offor. ('J70) 925,86G9,

SlJl'ERSPOR'J' I '>3 Excellent condition, very low hours, foldi111; spccdbar, white/lime grccn/hlt1e $1,500. (?52) 6J!/.9/i55.

Sl/PFRSl'ORT 153 ·-· Superncat rnstom sail, very low homs, WW fin indmlcd $2,100. (11 It) 173·8800,

!)nHlG.bha11ggliding.com TRJ

Minr/ncw condition,< 10 hours, reel l.E wired $2,200. (502) 25/i J4/i2 xliJO, (502)

TRX 158 (;reat shape $1,.300. Kit 160,super clean & crisp $1,000. C:dl Scotty (71 ')) 687 975:1 evenings.

USED, ClJARJ\NTFFD 2.0' and 18' diameter, military spccific:1tions $:lOOea. (303) 3ii78995. $19').

MOYl•:S XT PRC) l 6'i Novice/intermediate double surfoce, two avaiJ;il,Jc $1,600., $2,.'lOO. (Ii Iii) li'l.l

Many more available. Raven 8800, bradG11J,anggliding.rnn1 IIARNESSFS

PJ\C:J\IR KS Jli8 Still crinkly sail, white/gray, pink I.F, black Airwave lettering, last (]own Aug I 1)96, wheels, helmet $1,750. ('i 12) 89?.. 2601.

I 00 gliders in srock. Lookout Mountain, (706) 398· 35/i I, www.hanglidc.com

AIRTIME HARNESS COMPANY NEW l'OR 1999! Jetstrcam II, $725. The f,t and comf,,rt oi' the /ct stream has hccn inqm,vcd wit!, the add it inn oi' :i sin gJc.suspension hackframe and slider to eliminate drag.

La/er $6')'!. Om more llexil,lc l..1/:cr harness rc1,1iJJ.1 its original Ccaturcs. Contact Airtime I l,unvs,~ Company, (9:15) lili7·627'i, www.airtinll'·harncss.con,

U/. f'RASPORT J!i/, JM, Rc111al gliders at fligh1 low hours, clean, priced ro sell. (11 Ii) /i7:l.8800, The Exclusive lmponer of the WORLD CHAMP].

ONSHIP GLIDER 11,e I.I\ MOUETTE TOPLESS and TOP SECRET Rigid Wing. It Kicks J\ss 1 Just ask Mil«- l\arlwr. J\vaiLihlc in three sizes: 121, iii I atld l18sqfi. illtroducillg th,· TOP SECRET, 2nd tion Rigid Wing. Don't w:istc your time on old stuff. Dealer inquires invited. C:onract l'FRSONAL Fl.JCHT FLORID/\ and ask for c;;bho,

V!SION:i & PULSES Bought Solc\.'J'radcd. Raven Sky Sports (It iii) !iTHl800, hrad(ilhanggliding.com W/1.LS WINC ATTACI< DUCK !GO~· Coml con clition, 50 hours $500 OBO. Call Bob :ifier 6pm !,ST, (8J,i) 8/Vi,6125, Wlll.S WING l·AI.C:ON 7.25 11 hotJrs, hlue/t111a~.en1a, folding speedbar, Wills wheels, 7. down· tubes Dale (702) li:l5,2501 I.as Vegas.

l'lJ!.SFS I'! VISJONS il011gh1 Sold Traded. Raven Sky Sports (Ii I Ii) li7.'\·8BOO, brad\i()hangy,liding.com SENSOR (,JOI'

c;ood condition, 120 hours $1,200

OBO. (5/ii) l1T'J591i.

SPECTRUM I G'i red/orange/white, J Gli2, kn:,.at1derwnl1(;ilt,'le.r1ct

,. ',() hours, (.l(U) ')}).

SPEC IFUM CLFARJ\NC:F SJ\LE Tl,ree JG'i StJecirnms in near new condition) w/all op1ions N,,'l\,,u· . 0.,,,wu. Raven Sky Sports (111) liTl·8800, hrad~1lhanggliding.cont STF.J\ITI 12 lli2 Creat condition, excellent pe1for· m:rncc, includes tips $3,000. (5/i()) 'i52.0liliG wsaycr&11usir.11ct SUPl'RSl'ORT lli3 2566

APRIL 1999

150 !toms $1,,iOO. ('i IO) 521

WW SUPERSPORT 153 .... Immaculate condition, only J-lown onn\ ;1Jways stored indoors in a storage tube $1,700 Oil() Charles (775) li23,800/i, bronco 1J([i\1iinc.corn W\X!XC: J1i2, 15S · Low hotJrs, clean and nice condi tion $2,900 each OHO. (Ii Iii) iiTl 8800, hrad(hhattggliding.com

NEW, USED J\nd REFCRBISJ!ED harnesses.

Buy, sc!I, trade, consign111cnL Cu11nison ( ;!idcr~, ! 5/i() County Road 17, CnoJJison CO 81250. (9'/0) MI 9315, http://gunnisonglidcrs.com/ lllCll ENEI,CY POD IIARNESSFS Sim & styles $'.JO()./iOO. C:C l ()()O's $250.

Cocoons l.Ml'I' pod, 5'9" $1iOO. Kncchaogcrs & stirrups alsn available. (Ii 11) li'/5 ·8800, lll'ad~1ll tat 1gglid ing.corn

XC J Fxccllcnt condition, 2S hours, white upper, red/orange lower $2,700 01\0. (li08) 795·220').

New du:mc(ilpsnw.com, (5'55) 281 1708.

sail

$1,975.

TIRED OF TOWINC? Tired EM ERG ENCY P /\RAC! IUTES SECOND C:ll/\NT/.

Wing mount, l.1\RJ\ para chute with swivel, never deployed $'JOO. (520) 226 .. 0lli'i.

Create your own, power up the SWED ISi l i\FROSl'ORTS MOSQlJITO l!A.RJ\/l~'iS Lightweight, powerliil, affonlablc and most impon:mtly l·'tm' C:111 BfLI. o( T.C. HANG GLIDERS, yoJJr U.S. SUPPUF.R at 6 J 6.922·28/ilt. I'S: SEEJNG IS l\El .!EV ING, new video made $13 iucludes shipping. I clta1t1,1:1td,·rtf''1u110.,c:om

PARAGLIDERS

I l!CI I i\l lVIC:NTURE l lang gliding, parag11d111g school. Fqnipmcnt sales, service, rc111als at Southern California's mile high site, Crestline. USJICA lnstntctor Roh McKenzie. By appointment year round. (')()')) 88:l-8/i88, www.eec.org/b11s/high adventitre

II<AROS SPORT AVIATION WWW.P!YH)RFUN.Nl':r

RIGID WINGS 1998 FXXTACY Exccllc111 rnndi1ion, 20 hours, blne/whitc $7,500 OBO. Ball Comp/C:armin CPS combo .t890. (702) 677-227-6 Reno.

IXBO --- l'ron, Tccma. Your best choice of production rigid wing. FL,wless fit and finish, snpn performance.

Why set1k f,,r less 1han an IXBO? C;,IJ for dc1ails on a test Sec the IXBO on Teem;, websit c: ht tp://mcrn bcrs.aol.con>. tccmasport/ I list ributcd in USA by Ken Brown DBA Moyes America, (Ii 15) 75'.P.l'i."lli l'lyaMoycsG1\tol.co11,

MK!i needed. 1-800-688-%37.

I.AKE ELSINORE SPORTS - Fl/LL SERVICE SHOP with a focus on student pilo1 needs. We ARE the area s only walk in shop. Open 6 \Oam-(,pm, closed on Mondays. (')09) ,,1,·,-1111,

Wingkts fot Ran1i\ir 155, reasonably WANT!'.[) priced. (<JO I) 382-2.191.

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alil'orni,i.

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Om comprchrnsive instr11crio11 program, located at the San I<'rancisco Bay J\rc:/s prcrnic1 site, feat ores

MILLEN\lJM Wow! Nothing cut 10uch it, siuk or Nearly new with rnstom harness, skid shoe and Tri-gear too. Extras. $7,300. Might deliver Wa/Or/N.C:a. Evenings (.J60) 5W-23Wi.

sloped "bunny hills," snpcrlitc liarncsscs1 "FIRST

TOP SECRET -· Rigid wing, al111ost here. WALLA-BY RANCH (941) li2!i 0070.

Ii

l/LTRAI.IGIITS ANTARIES TRIKE 80 hours, loaded, set np for call f,,r more dc1:1ils $ lll,000 OBO. (Tlli)

NATIONAL SCHOOL NFTWORI< RINGS LOCAi.LY. For information cdl ll;ivid (70(,) 657·

ll<AROS SPORT AVIATION

ALABAMA

and corn," a video is available for only $2.0 including shipping he 12pplied to your lesson purch«sts). Om delnxc retail shop showcases the latest jn hang gliding innovations. \Xie srock 1ww and 11scd Wills, Airwavc and Moyes gli,krs, !'I .\JS all the hottest new harnesses. Tradc-·ins ,ire wclconw. Take a on om amazing new VIRTU/\1. /light simulawrl 11 IG RF/\l.lTY hang Way, Milpitas Srm Jose) CA 950:l'\. (408) I 055, fox (108) 2G7--1588, MSC! ICGflaol.com www.hang-gliding.com

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l lANC CL! Ill N(; AN ll PA RAC LI Ill NC The Exclusive Importer of I.A MOUFTTE/COSMOS UITRAI.IGHTS. ln1roducing du: SAMBA. The truly soarahlc lightweight trike. l'its most gliders, 2 La Mouctrc wings Topless & single smface, durable Lmd ing c,isy to fly, in -air restart. The Che,pcst Flight Money Ctn Buy' Contact PFRSONAl. l'l.lGHT FLORIDA ,md ask for Cibbo Ph & Fx: 90/i./ili I 5/i58, W\Vw.pcrsonalfligl1t .coin, www.!amot1cttc.con1, c-m~1il: gibbogcarl ((i\101.corn

TJ(]SOARUS Soaring 1rikc, fokLtblc, /ihrT I', cxcelle111 condition .tLJOO OBO. (5/il) .1179'59/i.

WANTED 01.D 111\NC Cl.lllERS WANTFD For display only. Sail mnst be in good condition. ( :omact llrnce Weaver 1-8003.3/ili/77 or (25)) li41-·2/i2(,.

ARKANSAS 0/ARK MOll\/TAJN I IANC CL]l)ERS Sales, service and i11stntctio11. 16() Johnston Rd, Searcy AR 72lli1. ('iOI) :.>797./i80

inst rue and site soaring center. Visa nnd Mastercml accepted. C,11 (<, 19) li52-98'58 or check us om at http://www.flytoncy.com

CALIFORNIA

WI NI JS PORTS

tion, sales, service, repairs) tours. San I )iego's world

minutes from! AX. DREAM WFAVER I li\NC; C:L\DINC Sales, ser vice , instruction. Area's most INl\XPFNS(VE prices.

Ideal training hill, new and used eq11ipmc111. Jlcalcr fot Wills Win[;, Altair, 11 ip,11 Fncrgy Sports and more.

Tandem instruction. lJSI J(;A Advanced instntctor I )oug !'rather. (209) 556-0li69 Modesto ( A

since 197/i. l'ifrccn to Sylrnat, Crestline, flying and

Elsinore and trnining siivs. Vacuion

rentals. Tlw

[,li,kr sales

inclurliug lodging

most

and equipment, ncv.1 and used in

stock. in your old cquipmc-nt. :ns St!IIIIY days caclt year. Come fly wirh rn 1 I6 M5 Victory Blvd., Van NHys C;\ '.l J /iO(,. (818) 9gg.() I I I, Fax (8 It\) 988- I 86?..

l·LY AWAY JfANC CLll)lNC/l'AR/\CL!ll!NC: Sama Barbara. Tammy l\11rcar (80'5) 692 -9')08.

COLORADO

Tl IF I IANC C;LJDINC; CENTER 2181 Charles Way, Fl Cajon C:A '!2070, ((,I')) ii(, I 1!iii I.

lessons, sales, service. Colorado's most experienced!

AIRTIMF. AWlVV Hi\NC CL!DINC Will, Wi11g, Moyes Altair, l and more. ('HU) 671 7-li51,

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E11crgy, l\all, learn Colorado

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Fl.ORIDA

The Acrorow flight Park Satisfaction Cuarantcecl 1·800,8031788

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lJSl IC1\ CFRTIHFD TANDF.M INSTRUCTION Acroww traioing & ratings.

and acrot0\\ equipment) 1. S IJJSnnwol'ld. C,IJ 052) 48') .. 9')(,9. flyvilgrayl,irdairsportv.,·orn www.graybircbirsports.com 1

LOOf(OLT MOUNTAIN l'LICI IT PARK

Sec

ad under ( ;corgia. Ncm..'sl moun1:1in I raining center to

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• YFAR ROUND SOARJNC • OPEN DAYS A WEEK • FJVF TUGS, NO WAITING • FVERY DIRECTION

'SO I N.lCE demos 10 fly: Topless to Trainer ( ;[idcrs: I .an1inar, Moyes, Wills, J\irhornc, J\irwavc, Exxrncy, Millennium J,a Mm1cttc, Sensor; also harnesses) v:uios, etc.

HILi. I IOOl<..LJl'S l,au11dry, propane, recreation room. ].8(J().8()JT7g8.

I.OOKOlff MOUNTJ\IN l'l.ICI IT !'ARI< Sec our display ad. Discover why H)lJR TIMES as 111;1ny pilot.scam their wings ~lt l,ooknnl tl1;rn at any 01lii.:r school! We wrote USI lCJ\'s Oflicial Traini11g Manual.

Om speci:dty·rnstomer satisfoction and li111 with the BEST FACll .!TIES, largest i11vcn1ory, campiug, swim· ming, volleyball, more! l'or a flying trip, intro flight or lesson packages. l.ookout Mountain, just outside ( ~hattanooga, your COMPLETE trnining/scrvicc cen-

BUNNY...

THE HILL WITH IT!

Ages I :1 To Tl have learned to fly here.

ter. Info? (800) 688··LMFl'.

No one comes close to our level of experience :rnd success with tandem acrorow instruction.

A GREATS< :ENF FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS ... l O motels & rcstrnrants within S mins., camping, hot showers, shade trees, sales, storage) ratillgs, XC rctricvah, grca! weatlicr, climbing wall, trampoline,

iAI O(;ti l};l ll G[l <;;l l11l (f,j ~i\ lL IJ f.P) il GU 0.\ WF l !AVF The most advanced training program known to hang teaching you in half' the time it takes 011 the JIILL, a11d wirlt more in.flight air time. YES. WE CAN TFACH YOU FASTER AND SAFER. For year·round training fi,n in rhc sun, call or write Miami Hang Cliding (30'i) 285, 8978. 2550 S llayshorc llrivc, Coconut Crc,ve, Florida :33133.

DSS TV, ping pong, picnic tahlcs, swimming pool, etc.

Flights of over 167 miles and more than 7 honrs.

Articles in H1111g (,'/iding, Ki1plr1ms, ( .',-oss C:ou11t1y and others. l'caturcd on numcro11s shows, including FSPNJ..

BUNKIIOVSF WARM & C:OMFORTAlll.E bunks, hot showers. open ;111 year, 2/i hom sclf rcgistnuion. I.g()().80}·'7788!

Visit us on rite Web: h1tp://www.wallaby.com HAWAll Please call us for rdcrcnccs and video.

1805 l km Still Road, Disney Arca, l'L Tl8:l'/ (91 I) 121,0070 phone & fax Conservative• Reliable• State of tlw J\n

BJRDS lN PARADISE I Jang gliding & ul1rnligh1 flying on Kauai. Ccnilicd tandem instruction. (808) 8).2.'i309 or (808) 6'.l')· l 067, birdipfflaloha.1H·t www.birdsinp~1r:nlisc.com

.l I.C. lNC/FLYINC FLORJI)A SINCE 1974

IJJ.!NOIS

Malcolm ./<mes, Ryan ( ;Jover, ( :,1rlos Bcssa Mike/,, I,aurie ( \oft, Jeremie l lill, Kerry I .loyd Tom Ramsc11r, Roger Sherrod, Rhcu Radford

l lJ\NC: C:LJJ)E C:l llC:ACO 1\cro1owing thru at LeLrnd Airport, I hom west of instruction. Airport (8 I 5) li9'\.

RAVEN SKY SPORTS .. (:\I?.) .%00700, (815) 18').')700 or (Ii ]ii) !in 8800. J hours fi·orn 90 minute, Crom l'ala1i1tc or Libertyville. best i11s1-ruc1ors, the equipment) the best results in QUFST AIR SOAR.INC CFNTFR Your vacnion hang gliding location. (.152) li29··02 I3, fox (352) 12'J. 'l8/i6. Visit our website at: www.q11cstairforcc.com or email us: qucstairfhs1mdi,1L11c1

APRIL 1999

the midwcsL Training program for combincd/intcgrat

eel f,101 la1111ch and aerotow certification. Apply I 00')1, of your intro lesson costs to ccrtif'ication program

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USHGA PO Box 1330 Colorado Springs CO 80901 1-800-616-6888 www.ush9a.or9 fax (719) 632-641 7

for Hang Glider Pilots Important Reasons to Request Yours Today!

Save j1J;Joney ~o Annual Fee Low foed Introductory Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on cash advance checks and balance transfers l million Common Carrier Travel Accident Insurance with the Plati1111m Plus Card*

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Call 1·800·523-7666 Ple11se ,1Je11tio11 Priori(!' Codejllf/0 Wbeu Ctdliug.

Choose between the United tales Hang GLiding Association Plali1111111 P/11 Visa• or the Preferred Visa Each time you make a purchase with your USHGA V1sa, you are helping to support USHGA's elfortS in preserving our flying sites

There are costs associare<l wirh rhc use of this c redit co rd . You may contact the issuer ancl admin istrator of this

program. M13NA Arm:rica Bank , to request specific information about the costs by calling 1-800-523--666 or by w riting to PO Box\ 5020, \Xfi\mingrnn, DE. 198)0. *Certain restriccions apply to this benefit and others describt,d in the materials sent soon after }'our account ts opened. Prfferrtx:l Card Cuscomer benefits differ from Plari1111111 Plu1 benefirs: Common Carrier I ravel Accidenr Insurance covemge is up ro S 150,000: and there are additional coses for Registry benefics. i\ffi1 A America, .MBNA, and Platinum PIIIJ arc service marks of MBNA America Bank, 1 .A. Visa is a federally registered sen ,jce mark of Visa U.S.A. lnc., used pursuant to lict=nse.

© 1998 MBNA Amecico Bank, N.A.

ADG-IACE-9/9

News Fla sh !

AD-09-98-0010

Ma rk Gibson "G i bbo " and Mi ke Barber j o in Personal Flight, Inc . !

The unprecedented winner of both the Australian Pre -Worlds and World Champio nshi p, La Mouette's TOPLESS is the proven world leader in exceptional hangglider performance and co nt rol.

Sizes 121, 141, 148 • Optional carbon faired speed bar • Horizontal tail plane • DHV Ce rti fi ed

..,(

:,·

Personal Flight, Inc. () 1999 Personal Right.Inc.

Other Hanggliders available: ATLAS : The original single surface fun machine. • Sizes 150, 175, 200 TO P SECRET: A truly 2nd generation Rigid Wing! • Early 1999 Cosmos SAMBA A lightweightTrike with outrageous soaring capabilities. Equipped with La Mou ette's Topless win g for exceptional soaring pe rformance or can be purc hased alone to fi t your existin g hangglid er.

La Mouette gliders and Cosmos Trikes are imported exclusively through Personal Flight, Inc., your One-Sto p so urce for fl yi ng.

PERSONAL FLIGHT, INC.™ I 43 Beechwood Dr i ve I Ormo n d By Th e Sea, F L 32 1 76 904.441.5458 I 904.441 .9561 (fax) I www.personal f light.com I G i bboGea r 1@ao l. co m

INDIANA

MTNNESO'rA

(!t l It) ltTl-8800. !'lease sec RAVEN SKY SPORTS om ad under Wisconsin. bradvj)hanggliding.co111

RI\ VFN Sl<Y SPORTS (6 n) 3/i0. \ 800 or (Ii lli) !fTl-8800. Please sec om ad under WISCONSIN.

KANSAS

NEVADA

l'RAJRJE I 11\NC C:L!DERS Full service school &. dealer. Crcm tandem instruction, towing & XC pack· ages. (31 ii) :,75-29')5, kcnncy~1)pJd.co111

ADVENTURE SPORTS 'I 'ours, acrotr,w1ng,

MEXICO

tion for hang Sales and service. :l65() .. 22 Research Way, Carsou City, NV 89706 (T75) 883·7070, www.J>yramid.net/aclvspts I.AS VEC:J\S /\IRBORN W1\TERSPORTS - l lang gliding&. toms, lessons, sales, service. (702) 566-:l'Jli 5 www.virtualhosts.net/skysail/rn,1in.h1m

IKA ROS SPORT AVIATION NYC s first and only cert ilicd hang gliding. paragliding, microlights (trikes), Distriburors for Avian.

Dealers Frill service and equipmost friendly service in the 29 31 Newtown Ave., Astoria NY. Phone (718) 7Tl-7000, WWW.flYFORFUN.NET SlJSQUEIIJ\NNA l'LlCJ IT !'ARI< -- Cooperstown, NY. Ccnif,ed lnstn1ction, Sales and Service for all major rn:mttfoctmcrs. 10 acre park, 5 training hills, jeep rides, hunk house, hot showers, 600' NW ridge. We have the best in N. New York state to reach you bow to f1y. clo Dan Cuido, Box 2')3 Shoemaker Rd, Mohawk NY l:lii07, (315) 866-615'.$.

NORTH CAROLINA

NEW JERSEY

HANG GLIDING

PARAGLIDING MOUNTAIN WlNCS ,- l .ook under New York.

BEAUTJFLJ[. VALLE DE BRAVO Open to all, rent or bring hg/pg. Basic pa,c:!Gtges: $100/day hg, $(i'J/day pg. J .8()0 86 I ·7198,

NEW MEXICO

W\Vw.flyn1cxicc).C<)r11

CROSSROADS WINDSPORTS

Hight Park State-o/~thc-,\l'I

training with .stationary simuLnor, BoornBar) tandcn1.s)

.\1!Cl llGAN

video coaching. Towi 11g for hang and parnglidcrs .

Rentals. Camping on rhc Airpark' Call C:urt (;raham

J\crorow spcci:ilCLOUD 9 SPORT AVIATION iSls. Cliders, cquipnwrn and launch can kits available.

('505) 5'>2-8222.

Call for spring landcm k.ssons and flying appoi1Jtmc111.s

MOUNTAIN WFST I IJ\NC CLI])fNC: Farmington's only full service school and Wills Wing dealer. Offering low and tandem {lights. (50'5) 6.'l2 8/ilil.

with the So:tring Club at Cloud ') Held. l 1088 Coon Ro:td West, Wchhcrville Ml Ii B892. (517) 22:l-8(18:l. C:lond9sav1i,10J.corn hn p://tncrnbcrs.:iol.corn/cloud9sa MICIIIGAN SOARING Offering Al.I. major brand gliders & accessories. (;reat deals 1 (iilii) 8821i71i/i, wit1g1na11((h1Taversc.co1n

lJJl OVER Nl'W MFXJC:O - Instruction, sales, ser vice. Sandia Mountain guides. Wills, J\irwave.

Albuquerque, NM (SOS) 821 H5/i·1.

NEW YORK

N

IN

NORM l.F.SNOW'S FLY!NC AlWENTURF.S Since 19'78. Fxperience & arc Ill. Presenting the turbo dragonfly. lntrod11ctory and fi.,ll range of

AJ\J\ Fl.lC:I IT SCHOOi MOUNTAIN WINGS I Fl.1.1'.NVJU.E /\JR SPORTS. hill service shop, /light park, lt500(i. tow i,cld, winch and ,1cro towing, tandems, two-place U.L. training. Airwave, Altair, .\lloyes, /\eros, karo 2000, Flight Star U.1.., MOSQUITO li;1rncss, WOODY VALLEY harnesses in The V-MITTS $29.00.

(91 Ii) 617-3377 150 Canal S1., El\cnville, NY 12128. The most complete 11(; Jlro .. shop in the North East.

lesson prograrns frn beginner i-o advanced. J\crotuw

clinics & USIICJ\ appropriate ratings available. \JSI!G/\ certified school. Please contact Norm l.csnow .. Jvlastcr Pilot, l'.x:nniner, /\dvanced Tandem 1nst ructor, Tow J\dminist rat or. (218) :l'J')-91i :n, l'lJLI. .. TlME school. www ..1erio11sSports.com 111 fo&ilj 11110.coml 11\fo

ET.l.ENV!l.l.E FLTGI IT PARK - S:dcs, service, USHGJ\ certif,cd instruction. Dealer for AIRBORNE, I.A MOUETTE TOPLESS, APCO, UK DISCOVERY, instrumcn ts, accessories. 80 or Jane, Ellenville NY 12ii2B. Call phone/fax (91/i) 6li7- I 008.

TRAVERSE CITY lIANG Gl.lDERS/l'ARAGL!D ERS FULLTIME shop. Ccrriiled instruction, foot launch :ind tow. Sales, service, accessories for ALL major brands. VISA/MASTERCARD. Corne soar om li50' dunes! J 50') E 8th, Traverse Ml 4%84.

Oflcring powered l,,r the Fxplorcr & nsed units.

Bill at (61/i) ')),2 . 28lilt, tchanggliderQDjuno.corn. Visit om paragliding school in Jackson, Wyoming. Call Tr:icie at 00'7) Tl'>-8620.

FI.Y I JICI I I !ANC CI.IDINC, !NC. Serving S. New York, Connecticm, .Jersey areas (Ellenville Mrn.) Area's F.XCLUSIVF Wills Wing dealer/specialist. Also all other major brands, accessories. Cntified school/instruction. since 1979. Area's most INJ•'.XJ>ENSIVE prices. Fxccllcm secondary instruc-

• TANDEM 1:-JSTRUCTJON • AFROTOWING • BOAT TOWJNC • PJ\RACLlDINC • MOUi'lT/\lN C:LlNlCS FOOT LI\ ll N( :J I • OPEN YFJ\l, ROUND • BFJ\C:11 RESORT • EQUIPMENT SALES AND SERVJCF

(800) 334-4777 NAGS HEAD, NC Internet Address: hnp:/lw•Nw.i(lttylli;nvk.cotn E-Mail Address: ha11g·1;h,Jc~1'0111c11·-h:anl,s.c:om PENNSYLVANJA J\EROTOWJN(; PJJIL/\DEI.PlllA DRJ\CON · Tandem, foor launch & paragliding FLJF.RS! instruction! (Ci 10) 1687.

MOUNTAIN TOP RECRF.J\TION C:cnificd instntction, Pimburgh. (Ii 12) 767·/i882. C'MON OUT AND PLAY! MOUNTAIN WlNCS

tlon .. .iC yon'vc finished

prograrn and wish to cont·in-

11e. l'ly the mountain! ATOJ. Contact Paul 16:, NY 1256(,, ('l 1Ii)

Tandem flights!

Rd, Pinc Bush,

Look under New York.

PUERTO RICO FLY PUERTO RICO Team Spiri1 Hang Cliding, I IC classes daily, tandem instruction available. Wills Wing dealer. ( ;!icier rentals for qualified pilots. PO Box 978, Punta S:mtiago, Puerto Rico 007/i I. (787) 8500508, tshg<ihcoqui. net

H/\NC Gl!DINC

TFNNFSSH:

VIRGINIA

PARTS & ACCESSORIES AEROTOWING i\CC:t·~SSORIES Sec TOW INC. THE WALLABY Ri\NCII ('!ltl) ltllt-0070,

BLUE SKY

I ligh quality instruction, equipment towing snpplics, Glider Savers. Call Steve lil26'557.

llAWK AIRSPORTS INC P.O. Box 905(,, l<11uxvillc, TN T7')/i() 00'5(,, (Ii/:\) 21) li9'Jli. Hang ( :liding :md world Ennmi.s Windsoks.

l<ITTY 111\WI< KITFS

l.OOl<OUT MOUNT,\IN l'LICI IT PARK ad under ( ;corgia.

s11.vrn WlNCS, ]NC. ( :crii(lcd instrnction and eqnipnwnt s:1lcs. (lo:,) 'i:l3-1 %5 Arlington Vi\.

Sec

Sec J\'.orth Carolin:1.

TFXAS

WISCONSIN

AUSTIN i\lR SPORTS, INC: I l:111g gliding instruction since I'!/8. ( )nc of the !cw schools olkring instruction and ccrti/icllion in all b11nch mcd10ds-f'oo1,

RAVEN SKY SPORTS 111\NC: Cl.lDINC AND l'I\R;\(;J,]f)IN(; The midwc'1's Premier aerotnw flight park, l<mndcd in I '>'>2. l'c,uuring INTEGRATED INSTRUCTION o( foot--1:iunch ,md acrotovi tandem skills, at p:icbgc prices to bc,11 any in the USA. Seven hills facing all wind directions. lwarnilitl, gras.1y Follr Drngonfly tow no waiting! Three \andcm gliders on whl'cled 11nckrcarriagcs. \V\X! Falcons for ,mining fi-0111 the vny '1rst lessons. lJSUA ultralight and insrruc1io11. I\1rag!idi11g rows. 1:rcc '"'"l''"i'\· c.:1llcs/'sc1·v1Cc/:icccsson,es for all brands. Open a wed,. Contacl llrad 1<11,\hncr, PO Box ID I, \Xlhitcwater WI 'ill 'JO (Ii IIi) !ill 8800 phone, (Ii J!i) li/3-BilO I f:1x, ww1v.J1a11ggli<ling.co1n, br:Hl(11)J1anggliding.com

tow and acrotovv. T,rndc·m i1Jstn1c1io11 behind otn

Dragonfly tug or yo11 can :1ccekr:11e your !lying skills with a combination package. J\crotow or 1d1rnliglll instrnction available l a week near Austin, TX, contact (8:lO) 6'Yl-'i805, Foot launch and rn1ck iow instruction ,1vaibhlc hy appointment, (281) /i71-lii88, 1\11sri11Air~!laol.corn. Visit om website

at www.austinairsports.com.

CCLI IANC: CLllllNC:11! - Jeff I lull\, li8l l Red River St., i\11st in Texas 78/'5 I. Ph/fax (5 I 2) ·1672579 jeff(,1>fly1 cxas.com I Ill.I. U)\JNTl,Y PARi\C:l.ll)JNC INC -- I.cam complete pi/or skills. Personalized US/ IC;\ ccr1i/1cd 1r;1ining, ridge soaring, Coot & tow launching iu central Texas. MOTORJZED Pi\RAGI.JDING INSTRUC TlON & FQUJPMFNT AVAll.i\BU:. (915) 179 l lil5. IZ1 I, Box J(,J:, Tow TX 78(,J;,.

KITE ENTERPRISES

discounts. lmrncdiatT delivery. Lookout Mounuin, (ROO) 688-1.Ml'I'.

BRAND NFW Only s1mll, medium $'JO. 3/li styk large, x-1:irgc $,15. ll.OT. CiO.l) :lli7-S'J'J5. School discounts.

l'l.lCI IT CONNECI JONS, IN( . PIT II

Foot l;iunch, pl:11for111

launch a11d acrO\ow instr11ctioll too. Training, :-.,1lcs, rcn1:1ls and rq,;1ir. i\irwavc & \X;'ills Wing. Dallas, Fort \Xi'orth and north Texas :irea. 2.1 I Fllis, Allc11 TX 7'5002. (')72) :J')(l.'J()')() nights, weekends, vvww.kit<._'··c11tcrpriscs.nrn1

ll/(ST 12" \V/ffFl.S i\VAl!.ABLJ: Super iough. tandem /lying. Built-in lightweight, a must lc,r wheel. $/i7.'l\ quantity bushings. Only LJSA-bui/1

AFRO l'i\RI< - ;\ rl'crc:11ional airpark NW of Milwaukee olfrring ultralight instruction, certilfod lligl11 instruction, bar & grill and of course hang

lessons, ~ales and service. rnotm~

TUT;\!. AIR SPORTS - Area's OLDEST Wills \X!ing d,·:der. Ccrtilicd instrncrion av:1ilahlv. "I only DFJ\l. with WILIS'. 1612.1 Lakeview, llouston TX 770li0. (7U) 937 861/i.

UTAll TIIE SOARING CENTER

1-888 '!it li-51.n.

WASATCII WINGS Utah's only litll service hang gliding \tliooL Point or d1c Mountain, regional motm t:1i11 sites, towing. I kdcr !cir i\eros, Altair, Wills Wings, Moyes, i\irwavc and 11111ch 111ore. ( :all /.ac (80 I) 57(, 0 l li2, wings(11 \vas,1tch.com www.wasatch.com/ ,wings www.poi11mfihernountain.com -- J:or great inforn1a"

tion on one of the top U.S. hang gliding and paragliding, training and soaring sites! Point of the Mountain

Paragliding, (80 I) J:I .Y-A W J\ Y.

APRIL

l 999

(7]

We

' New and Improved Water/I )11st Resistant 1'11.1h Burton Field Replaceable Switch 1 lcavier Caugc Plugs • Increased Strain Relief at Al.I. Joints 1"

l111rocl11c1ory price $89.9'5. Extr:1 finger switch i1/i.')'i w/purchasc. Dealer inquiries welcome. ( :all (') 1.l) 2(,87')/i(,.

MC/Vis:1. \/isii 011r web.site :tt WWW, fl igl l l con] l .C01 l1

TEK FUGHT PRODUCTS

B

C:ATE Si\ VERS Send $5 plus $ I s/h to Rodger l loyi, 956 Clengrovc ;\ve., Central Point OR 97502, (51 I) 664-5915.

CJFTS & TROl'lllES hang j\liding related Soaring Dreams, l (},08) l76-79H.

Unique, unusual & creative and trophies. l'rec caralog!

Fairview, Boise Idaho 8371:l.

HEAVYDUTY, WATERPROOF PVC Full 1110 zipper, S 107 ppd. XCCtmo or white. 115 zipper $65 ppcl. Cunnison Clidcrs, 15/i<J Connty Road 17, Cunnison CO 812.10. (')70) 6/i 1-9315, lu tp:// gnnnisonglidcrs.com/

MINI VARIO World's smallest, simplest vario!

Clips to helmet or chinstrap. 200 hours on batteries, 0 18,000 Ii., fost response and 2 year warr,mry. ( ;real for paragliding too. ON LY $169. Mallettec, PO Box 15756, Santa Ana Ci\, 92735. (714) 966-1240, MC/Visa accepted, www.mallcncc.com

The world,·class X( '.R. \ 80 up to :> lrnms @18,000 ii. and only Complete kit with harness, cannula and remote on/off novvm,,ier, only $:375.00.

CROUND WIND DIRECTION INDICATORrYlrrrnrlv visll,lr environme11tally than downrnbcs and broken egos. $:l5 each, $65 plus slh. (51 O) 223-6239. Send check or money order: C.W.D.I., c/o lloh Ortiz, 1103 Manor Rd., Fl Sobrante Ci\ 9ii803.

mounts

Camera mount $18.50. Camera remote (ask about rebate) $1i5. Vario mount $1 (," wheels $29.75, S&l l included. TEK Fl JG] IT Products, Colebrook Winsted CT 06098. Or call (860) 379-1668.

DON'T GET CAUGllT LANDING DOWN WlND! 1.5 o,,. ripstop \JV treated, 5'/i" long w/ 11" tl1roa1. colors fluorescent pink/yellow or lluorcsrcnt pink/white. $39.95 (., $/i.lS Sil I). Send to US! lCi\ Wint!sok, l'.O. Box 1'.l.30, Colorado CO 80')0 J. 1330, (719) 632-8300, fox (71')) I VISA/MC: accepted. Check 1he mc:tcl1ar1tlisc sire www.ushga.org for a color picture of this awesome windsok.

BUSINESS & EMPLOYMENT FLIGHT PARK MANAGER

PICCOLO PLUS $390 5 altimeters, memory, Swiss nude. (30'3) .,liT8995.

Full-time, year round position which includes bencf,ts such as health, liO I K, and vacation to name a fow. The successfol candidate should have some managerial skills (i.e. budget ing, payroll & scheduling). Must be willing to travel as needed and have one or more of' the following ccrtificarions: tandem pilot, tandem insrrnctor, and/or ultralight i\11 imercstcd should comacr Bruce Weaver at !iii l-21i7.6, or mail resume to: Kitty llawk Kites, Inc., PO !lox 1S:l9, Nags ]lead NC 27959, Ann: Bruce Weaver.

I IICH l'ERSPFC!WF WI !FF.I.S

Real life savers!

12", light, rough. Fits all gliders. Send $Ii 1.95 , $Ii.SO shipping per pair to Sport i\via1ion, PO 1'ox IOI, Mingovillc PA 16856. Ask about our dealer prices.

60

us 1-.Ji\NC CLIDINC

s NOTICF TO BIDDERS: REQUEST FOR PRO POSAI.S 16-Rl'l'-R90l l Scaled proposals will be received hy the NC Dept of Environment & Narnr:il Re.sources for a ( :onccssionairc to provide h;1ng gliding instruction:il services 10 the visiting public of Jockey\ Ridge State Park, Nags I lead NC ions & i nsrruct ions may he obtained in person Crom: NC Div Purchase & Services, 512 N Salisbury St, Room (,/iO or by mail Crom NC Div of Pmchase & Services, J'() Box 27687, Raleigh NC: 2'7611 7687. Phone ('>I'>) 715-:3889 or fox (919) 715-068/i lO request that spccil1cations he rn.-iilcd. Spccil!Carions & instructions c:1111101 be (1Xcd

Something Completely Di/'lcrent 1

V]f)FOS & l'll.MS

or

to rcq11cstors.

Specilicatiom may ,dso he obtained by accessing tlw lNTFRN ET address: Int p:/ /www.ips.statc.nc.11s/i psi pt tl,rnain .asp.

Closing date: MAY 11, 1999 The ~tatc invites & encourages participation by husi-· nesses owned hy minorities, women & the disabled.

SAN FRANCISCO I JANC CI.IDINC CENTER Is :tcccpting applicttions fi·om certified tandem instruc· !CHS interested in living and working in the San Francisco area. Top dollar, no trai1ting hills, only tande,m. ('i IO) 57.B-2:lOO. SUMMER IS crnv!INC And ii 's 100 hot in the southern states. ( :ornc to New York. We arc lookiog for summer 1imc hang gliding inslructors, t:l11dcm instructors, tug operators, and shop help. TOP PAY, perks. for n,on.' i1tfo, contact Creg ar ('JI Ii) (ili7<rl77 or mtnwingsGt):101.com

Sl'J.ECTED WORKS A chronicle of original, u11convc11tio11al, non-rogallo, flcxwint\ I JC designs, lrnilt/rcsted between I ')82 and 19')7. Sec review by Dan Johnson in l'roduc/ /.incs-Novcmher 19')8 is.sue of l [(; magazine. The format is a cross between an cngi·~ ncering report ,rnd an artists pordi,lio. 8. 5"x 11 ", I 00 pages with /i,11 page illustrations and 12 color plates. $GO i11cludes shipping, check or money order. Bob Rouse, 71 Ii Woodrow 111 :,, I louston TX /7006. Please allow :l A weeks l,,r delivery, I am printing/as.mnhling each of these mysclL SOARINC: Monthly magazine of The Soaring Society of' America, Inc. ( :overs al! aspects of soaring flight. l'tdl rne1nber.ship $55. Info. kit with sample copy $.l. SSA, l'.O. Box ?.100, I lobbs, NM 887/il. ('iO'i) YJ211 TOWING

WANTED I fang Cliding/l'aragliding instructors.

Immediate full time openings available. l.ive the C:aliforni:t drea111 ... instruct stmlents at the San Francisco Bay :1rca's premier training siLc. Service shop employment is also available. Ask for !'at Denevan (/i08) 2(,2-1055. MSCTIC~haol.rnrn www.ha11g-gliding.com

Pl JllL!CATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS CAI .I. UST ICA --- For a magazine back issue orckr form. From the early (,'round Shimm!T to the present !Jang

AEROTOWINC ACCESSORIES Headquarters fi>r: The finest releases, .secondary releases, Spectra "V" bridles, weak links, tandem wheels, hunch can ki1s, etc.

TIIE WALLABY RANCH (9/i 1) 12/i-0070.

CI.OlJD 9 SPORT AVIATION Jiang gliding equipment and acrotowing accessories. l ,arntch cans $500, partial kits $.150. (71i8) B8/-/i51(, ( :loud'>SAv1\10l.com REEi. AIR TOW SYSTEM Complete, pro/cs;ionally lrnilt, trailer platl,irm tow system, many extras $1,.'l'iO. Call for details (')70) 7:18-3905. l/LT!l.i\UNF. In stock, ready to ship. 3/16" X:,1)0()' $105., j/1(," x!iOOO' $i!i5. Shipping included. Cajuu !Ling C:liding Club, I IO Kent Circle, l.afaymc I.A 70508. (l 18) 981 Bl72.

CRFF.N l'OJNT Fl YFRS NF.W FROM FAST COAST Vll)f'.(lt Waym:s best video to d:tle. Shot the 300 mile Lake Michigan coast , fiotn eight sites. J,ightwavc :31) ;inirnation.'. and some grc.ll morphing that you have i-o sec. 51 minutes o/' p:uagliding, motorized t11g & sL1tic towing, JlHHorizcd mosquito, Swift, and B11ckcyc':., powered l lurnorol!s training shots, air to :iir vidcogr;1phy ;1tu1 much more.

Video high quality, digital and stereo. Anybody interested in lite aircraft, this video is a m11s1! Send check or mo11cy order, 1$.) shipping to: Fas! ( :oast Video, 80 F. Lincoln, Mnskcgon I lcigl11s, Ml ii')lilili.

(G 16) 7.,'J. ·,JG.1. (W:tync'.s other video, Point of' the Monntain, is also avaiLtblc l,ir $2.').)

1

*NEW' AERONAUTS HANG CI.IDINC MASTFRS, by Photographic Fxpeditions. A d"'urnentary of hang gliding today. Superb footage, graphics & interviews. This is the video you sliow your Limily :rnd friends' Ii.I min $29.'J'i.

GREEN POINT FLYERS - by East Coast Video.

They II lly anything in Michigan. Fntcrt:tining, grc·at graphics, 50min, $52.00 PARTY AT CI.OUDBASE A hang gliding music video by Adventure l'rnductions $1 'J.'J'i. llANC GLIDING EXTREME & BORN TO FI.Y hy Adventure Produc1ions, great hg action $Ti.t)') each.

HAWAllAN FT.YIN by Space 'J, soaring in paradise, amazing Lnrncltes $:l:l.00 Ctll lJSI ICA (7 I 9) 6l2-8JOO, fox (71 'J) 6,2-(,~ 17. email: or order off ottr web page www.ushga.org. l'lca.se add +M dome.st ic s/h (, $5 /,,r two or 1nrnT video.s). Crcat to impress yo11r friends or /,ir those socked-in days. Perfect for the l:rnnch potato turned couch potato. Also, ask w, aboui- our paragliding videos!

YARNEii. STATIONARY WINCI I 2.2hp Onan engine, hydraulic sy.'.lcrn, constant pressure, have done step towing with it $/i,000. Contact Norm (7,/iB) :l9'J'J/il)

BAC IT! rr you don't have your copy of Dennis Pagen's PERFORMANCE !'LYING yet, available through US! ICA J leadquaners $29.'!5 (, $5.50 s&h for UPS/Priori1y Mail delivery). LJSI !CA, I'() l\ox J:350, Colorado Sprine,s CO BO'JO 1. 1-800-G I (i .. (,H8B www.t1sl1ga.<)rg

!\PR\\ 1999

a hi

s VIDEOS BOOKS & POSTERS Call \JSI IC/\ for your Merchandise order form Cl 19) !i'.l2-8'.l00, email: ushgaCr1)ushga.org,

or

check

our

web

page

DON'T LEAVE YOUR GROUND .. BOUND EQUIPMENT SITT[NG TN THF GARAGE. SEU. IT IN THE HANG GLIDING CI.J\SSIF!EDS.

SPEED GLIDING: TEAR lJP THE SKIFS By Adventure Productions $2/i.95 Covers the speed gliding contest in l<amloo1is, British ( :ol11rnhia and thrn onto Telluride, Colorado. S11perior grnphic anim:1rion) great camera angles. 2/i minutes TEI.I.URIDE SPEED CI.IDING: By Tat11m Productions $19.95. ( :omplctc coverage of' this event.

The sound o/' the passing through the control gates is 101ally awesome. ~r~ minutes Call USIICA (719) 6128300, fax (719) Gl2Gli17, order from our wch site www.ushga.org. Please add +$Ii s/h in the USA.

CI.ASSfflED J\DVFRTISING RATES The rate for classi11cd advertising is$. 50 per word (or group of char .. acters) and $ i .00 per word for bold or all caps. MIN[ ..

MUM AD CHARGE $5.00. J\ fee of $15.00 is charged for each line art logo and $?.5.00 f,,r each photo. l.INEJ\RT & PHOTO SIZE NO LJ\RCER THAN 1.75" X 2.25". Please underline words to be in bold print. of tabs $25.00 per column inch. Phone number words. Email or web address~.lwords. J\D DEADLINES: All ad copy. instrnctious, changes, additions and cancellations 11111st

be received in writing l' months preceding the cover d:11c, i.e. April 20th f,ir the June issue. Please tnake checks payable to l JS! [CJ\, P.O. !lox I TlO, Colorado Springs, CO 80')()1 .. JllO, (/l'l) (,:12 .. 8300. Fax (119) (,:$2 .. (i!i 17 or email: yom classified with your Visa or Mastercard. ASK US ABOUT ADVERTISING ON OUR WEB PAGE. WWW.US! IGA.ORG

Adventure Producrions ......... ,.... ,....... 13 Alrnir ................................................. 23 Angle of At rack ................................. 62 horn the Tcllmide Festival in 1981, to the modern day freestyle competition. Follow the history of this dynam ..

IC $21.95 Call USI [CA (719) (,Ufnoo, fox Cl I')) (,:\2 .. (,ii 17, order l'rom our web site www.ushga.org. Please add 1$1 domestic s/h.

MISCEUANEOUS

Arai Design ....................................... 37 Br:rnnigcr .......................................... Ii<)

Flight Design/NA Pl ............................ 9 Flyrec: ................................................ 3<) Craybird Airsporrs ........................... .45

Hall Bros ........................................... 13 High Energy J11s1 Kirty Hawk Kites ............................. .47 l.ookont Mrn. Flighr Park ........... 2,7, 19 Mastadon ............................ .45 Moyes ............................................... 29 Ncilscn .. ](cllcrman ........ ,..................... 6 "AEROBATICS" ...... Full color 2:3''x 31" poster fcamr ing John I lcincy doing what lw docs bcst--1.( )()!'IN(;!

Avail:1blc through lJSI !CA I IQ for just $6.'J'i ( 1$/i.OO s/h). Fill that void on yom w:dl 1 Send to US! [CA Acrobatics Poster, PO Box 1.'lOO, C:olorndo Springs ( :o 80')33. (USA ,"x C:rn:1cla only. Sorry. posters ,uc NOT J\ V J\11.J\Bl.F 011 international orders.) Sl'FCJJ\J. . . J\crobatics postn & Frie Raymond postn· BOT! I FOR $10 (1$/i.Ti s/h). Check the merchandise· section of our web site www.11shga.org for a color pic-

ture oi' rhcsc beaut ifid posters.

62

North American Paragliding ............. 57 Personal Flight .................................. 57 Sky Dog Publications ........................ 19 Sports ......................................... 57 Sporr Aviation 1'11blications ................. 7 lJ .S. Acros ......................................... 3 I lJSHCA ....................... (,, 11 Wallaby Ranch .......................................... /12 Wills I 9, Back Cover

HAN(; CIIDINC

@ 1999 hy Dan Johnson J<NOXVILI 0dH:ion of "l'roclucl L,i ne'"" comec: 1J) you from the combined conv·ention of the Soarinq /,oci /\mc:rica, U.SllGl\, US llltn1l ighl AE,soc i on, \·he, Intc:rrn11':i.ona·1 Club ,Siqns showed the, qenera publ i how l.o ent0r, re[cn:inq Lo the event ,3:impl y cJ:'3 "Air Expo 99." 41111110 ·rhank,-; to milc;tandinq pn,paraLory work by Yoo··shqa Executive Dir0cl:o , Phil Bachman, event qc,nercJ IJ.x'!

I cngcc amount o [ 'JV, radio and newspap0:r attenti.on Al: Jeafil frn.n l ivc, broadca::;t:c: occurTc:d from L:he conv0ntion l:Joor, al I tl1rc:e major rn~l:work c1ave covc:,ragc,, and ALJC af ate: Chanm .l 6 n,pc,a\:c dly m,c:d l:.bc daily thc,me "Flying High Week" I c adinc1 up to I he convent.ion. Hadi o on 9fl ·7 gave· d F,tcady ;c;c,ri e:3 of adc, to gel Lhc:i 1" place on I.he radio dial pi: inLc,cl on c:onvcn\ ion badgc::,s. I'm not' aware of Uii.,,; sort· or market media saturation since dLI the, Chal:lanooga 'TV affiliat.e:i and ncw,::papcr.s f:awnc,d ovc::1,. /\mc ci can Cup ol s back in t·he 1970,,.

One rc:,.;ult: over 2,000 mc,rnber·s of the g·eneral public showed 1ip and l'urkod over $ cacl1 to sc,o ,.;:1ow. 'Though t r1u ~~SA ha,; r.·un t.hei convcmt.ion ill: back l.o :1970s tor1c,y'vc, before l.ri.cd to soli il the public:, maki.ng L·.his year·' non .. pi Lot aU:c:ncfoncc count vc,ry l:i.ng Who know,, what could l'1appen in the years abc,,c1cl !

Hang gliding di :,play,: and vendors increased sevcra I U mo,; over l,1,;\ year' Orcqon conv1c:nt ion. spok0: to many vc,ndon; and mo,3\ oxprc,c;sed dc,:J iqhl: par\. i pa Li on. US Ac::roci, L,ookou \ Mountain, l'ilU] llami It.on ( Lhc v·i dco king) and ur;JJGl\' mcrchm1di czar, CJohn Ha]] oran, l :J said sa were subc;t.antia L: was qood e;nough that the ncc:w pr·esidcnt of I h0 Balloon Federation c?xpr0c;,;0d .::tronq convicl:.ion that his qcoup par·ti cipal:c? in t:r1r, nc;x c?vc,nt in Albuquerque, New Mc,x:i co in <?arly 2000.

'I'wo Ju1·1 days ol .inl:erestinq r:peakc,n; wer0 ,H;c,cmb I cd to enter L.a in t:hc? lJSHG/\ membership wlii h i de:; within a rca,.;onab Le of Knoxvi l IC' (a LI had been 1-0d) .

Pi lot:; ,;c:omed t.o Love 1:oo. 'I'hic, event qn,,w nice] y and many f!G/P(; enUmc;i c:xprc•c;sed exci\(,,mcnt about· Air Expo becom.ing a si;;:able funcl.ion that can draw Jarqc'r and lin:qcr: rmrnber·s of prc,,scnl: F:ntl,u,;ia,;U; well a,; L·l1(-· cwneral puhUc. T,ol:'3 o[ old e;ncb got tocJc,l:her; pen;ona Lly, 1 ran into f Pw yinq budd.i 1 hddn'l ,;e0n for ycaG,.

Gee, U10re' mon,, bul i1 'JL have lo wai unti·l a sub,3equenl im;uc when an ,ffl: i c10 and phol.cic; c3J:1ouLd i:lppe,E. ••• Mcanwh i Je;, on l:o product. nc,w::; ... Rigid wing fever con1 i nucs t:o rage After the Exxt.acy paved way with i l.:, Ira LJ bJ ,ni.ng cfosign, f'oJ Lowers came, but· more amm-::i nq to me :i l:hc ",;econcl gene ca l:iun" of dc:;iqn. ix Riihlc hac; introduced n0w ATOS to qu buzz of: t· own and J :ind th.i ign i h cant. 'I'hough Manl:a ':, Flcdgl incr trom l:h0 1970s cl:id 90 l:hcouc;h a crnJple of generations of: it.s own, [ don' l:lic clwnge,; be:i nq antj c i pa 1~0:d so lycoad·!y.

In those? day~:; lex wJngs wore ascc:ndan\., improvinq rap:idJy wit:h c"ach pa.',sing season. r,i qi.d wimJS n0vc'r caucJht. on t:oday. rn recent 1:d:i 1:.i ons oJ thi :0: column, r·ppor\ed Moyes America' import of t:hc ref incd IJi:l::x:) and J 've annmmc:cd t.hc: coming u f Acros' yc,t unnDmed ri CJ i.d c::nt·.ry as wcl J the comincr and pils,;inq oJ Icaro' Lumina.. Nil l:ura11y, Bri.qhtstm ' &'wift, which ed t·u Lhe r ol] ow-on Millennium, ton; to th.i exc:i temc'.:n\. .. ycl:, l..hc at·.c-11 i9hl comm0,rc:i al shout, "'!'here' " more! " Ul.ah-ba :;c,d Altair won U1e distribution Lor the /\'!'OS. The· Pr0cfo tor and Saturn [)l"Oduccr boar;ts Uwl:, "/\E, cxpe;ctc'd, Exxl:.acy 0

0

0

0

1

)

1

Al'RIL 1999

cJonc2s arc now :;howing up in the marl,cl: bu I: they cannot match t:hc pc,rformancc? of: UJEc, Nro~; wbich cl ca rly iJ mon' advanced clc,; i qn with i ncrcac;c:d ac;pect ratio of abouL 20% dncl a ic,rnl.ly dccrca:;ed Lat:.ic wc0 igh\."

All.a ha:; Uw c,xcl u:c;.i.ve d:i stribu tion ri gbts and has cnqaqed J:ormc, r Exxt·acy Dave Sharp, i riqid winq speciaLic,t. E:arLier it war; n,ported that· wuuJ hav0: distribu\:·ion and s for ol.her More i.nfo: f501-':i23-9''i4/J man, Jim "JZ" Zeiset , h:i c, Pendulum Aerosports L:wo Lhc, new E-7 ci qicl winq Josef Guggenmos; tile, f:our c3JiouJd i vc, ,,;oon '!'he new carbon fibc,r 1)-ccJ I wino has German Lion cl lready and waE, built with sornc, consuJL:ation lrom /\'I'Cl,'1 creator ROblc.

Sc.I.Ling or 10,200, it is di. nguiHhcd by it:[: l:apcrinc:r winer (while t.lw ExxLacy has a com,li:lnL chord). 01:.l1c,r iom; include: 1'52 10. 4 AR, 39-foot· :;pcln, 6fl pmmdci w0ighL. caide i,; claimcxl Lo be 17: 1 ,mcl ink very low 13"/ J:pm. f;poilers and f1apc3 arc ,;aid t·:o fold up with the gl i dcr: ( removcxl on Exxtacy and [xbo) crnd the which arc· mounted al tile airfoil':; h:iqh camber po.int, "preempt any nose-up movement. when deployed." Mor0 in[o: ilOO WE-J,'J,Y-XC (or flOO 933-')992). ••• f3ack :in the· world of r;l ill.·-dominant_ winqs, Rob Kells stron9 year I:or Will,;, ba,;cd on winter t_hal wrn; ;:-:;o acLivc l-:.he SoCal compa.ny cou dn't bu-iJd up inventory a[, fac;t cm U1cy'd prefc:r. "Normally we'd have :I SO qli in st.ock for tl1e c;princJ rnsll," i.d Kc,11,;, "thi.c; y0ar we;'ve c;ol 50 and WE, need mon,." 'm ,mre lhc;y' boost: producl:ion to satisfy pilol:s, but· it':, good to :hear the markcL 1(~ader trumpcL-.inq an c?nt:husidc,tic c;L:arl: to the sc'.:ason. Vis:i I incr wil.h r,ob a I: L:lie Air asked if he '.'.'low bel the' WW-bnmd .is the in U10 wocl cl. HE~ referred Io c1ood porformancec; by r,a Mouet:1.e, Moyes, and co, but hqurcd that Wills will sell more gliders in 1999 than anyone. 13,wed on what: r hear, 110 may be' dqht . ••• US Aeros announced more, mcmbcn·, of l.hci 1: growinq tc,mn. Lonqtime pilot:, Mike D0qtotf, hm.; lc:fl E,c,cdwingfl to join ns Acros. Mu·1 t.ip] women' world rT'conl holder, Tiki Masby, gave up the 'J\/W Jocw I:or the Ukrainian brand. Succes,,fuJ contc:st pi Jot::, Mark Bennett, ha,, a I so added l,i,: name to the coc; t.c:r ac; Borrada .i J Je. d:i d Cana dim, World 'I'oam member, 'I'y] 'I'he,,e pilots will join Mitch .ShipJcy and Mark Elol.\ from c' l:eam, wh:i le top-ranked Oleg Bondarchuk continue,, to burn up t.hc competit:i on US Aeros boErn, G. \;I). Meadows, 1-.J 1a t "Oleg i now oEticially the: 111 ranked n the wor] d' " ••• Las I: bu L: far from ] E"a::;t, JIG market.er David Glover of: Lookout~ Mounl.ain, sayr; hi,; 1-800-·HANG GLIDE ,;cheme enjoying good ini I :id] reE>pon::,c. Unde.r thP businesf3 name Flying Humans, GJovc,:r propm,cs l.o f'ced intere,,l:cd pcn;ons L:o fliqht c;chools acro:Jl, the country ur;i nq the eas:i 1 y-rcca] led phone number.

Schoo.I buy ,1rc,z1 codes in 1·.h0ir area th0 sysU.:m fec,c:l,; a .inquir:i cc; with tho,3C' codefl Lo Uwi r busi.m~r,::;. A i ck proqram, l ho phone, numbc,r and c,ystcm seems very kcly help more, i.nd haner <Ji i diner and p,ffilg.Ld i.ng. IMHO, the pE,op l biqcw:;t: problem r:aci.nq bang qLLding' 9rowtl1 s.imply the.: prob] e.m of: 1ocatinq a l.o qcl Jc,;som; and ,idv.icc. Flying llumans' ambit :i cfoa may chanqc Uiat. ••• Wow, outLa room w:i.t:b more info waiU.ng. So, got. news or opinions? /]end 'em l.o fl Don;c:t, St. Paul MN 5'51Ul. Fax or· mail t:o 6 1,I 450·0930 or ,,encl e-mail to CurnulusMan0Jao1.com. ':l:~'U

63

fusion 141, 150 Composite technology e nh anced , competition c l ass top level performance , now more affor dable than ever.

cross country 1 32,142 , 155 .

Ser i ous XC capab i lity in an econom ic al conventional configuration.

ultra sport 135,147, 166 An unmatched combi n ation of high performance and ease of use.

falcon 1 40, 170 , 195 , 225 The world wide standar d for en t ry le vel flight and un limited soaring fun .

We make high quality soaring aircraft designed and built to fulfill your flying needs for years to come.

That 's what we 've done for 26 years.

That 's what we ' ll be doing tomorrow.

~

LLS~

Guality

aircraft

Nti for

exceptional

people.

I