USHPA Hang Gliding & Paragliding Vol36/Iss11 November 2006 by US Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association

Volume 36 Issue 11 November 2006 $4.95

A Publication of the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, Inc.

Lisa Tate, President: lisa@soaringdreamsart.com Felipe Amunategui, Vice President: dr.amunategui@att.net Elizabeth Sharp, Secretary: Elizabeth.Sharp@heii.com Mark Forbes, Treasurer: mgforbes@mindspring.com REGION 1: Bill Bolosky, Mark Forbes. REGION 2: Jim Macklow, Urs Kellenberger, Paul Gazis. REGION 3: David Jebb, John Greynald, Tad Hurst. REGION 4: Steve Mayer, Jim Zeiset. REGION 5: Lisa Tate. REGION 7: Tracy Tillman. REGION 8: Gary Trudeau. REGION 9: Felipe Amunategui. REGION 10: Dick Heckman, Steve Kroop, Matt Taber. REGION 11: Gregg Ludwig. REGION 12: Paul Voight. REGION 13: Dick Heckman. DIRECTORS AT LARGE: Russ Locke, Elizabeth Sharp, Dennis Pagen, Bruce Weaver, Riss Estes. HONORARY DIRECTORS: Bob Hannah, Steve Roti, Connie Locke, Ed Pitman, Jennifer Beach, Dutcher Sterling, Len Smith, Bill Bryden, Randy Leggett, John Harris, Jan Johnson. EX-OFFICIO DIRECTORS: Art Greenfield (NAA). The United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association Inc. is an air sports organization affiliated with the National Aeronautic Association (NAA), which is the official representative of the Fédération Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), of the world governing body for sport aviation. The NAA, which represents the United States at FAI meetings, has delegated to the USHPA supervision of FAI-related hang gliding and paragliding activities such as record attempts and competition sanctions.

The material presented here is published as part of an information dissemination service for USHPA members. The USHPA makes no warranties or representations and assumes no liability concerning the validity of any advice, opinion or recommendation expressed in the material. All individuals relying upon the material do so at their own risk. Copyright © 2006 Hang Gliding & Paragliding magazine. Hang Gliding & Paragliding magazine welcomes editorial submissions from our members and readers. We are always looking for well written articles and quality artwork. Feature stories generally run anywhere from 1500 to 3000 words. If your topic demands more or less than this, you should discuss options with the editor. News releases are welcomed, but please do not send brochures, dealer newsletters or other extremely lengthy items. Please edit news releases with our readership in mind, and keep them reasonably short without excessive sales hype. You are welcome to submit photo attachments, preferably jpeg ﬁles smaller than a megabyte. Calendar of events items may be sent via email to editor@ ushpa.aero, as may letters to the editor. Please be concise and try to address a single topic in your letter. Your contributions are greatly appreciated. If you have an idea for an article you may discuss your topic with the editor either by email or telephone. Contact: Editor, Hang Gliding & Paragliding magazine, editor@ushpa.aero, (425) 888-3856. For change of address or other USHPA business, call (719) 632-8300, or email info@ushpa.aero. U

E D S TAT

NG GLID

The USHPA is a member-controlled sport organization dedicated to the exploration and promotion of all facets of unpowered ultralight ﬂight, and to the education, training and safety of its membership. Membership is open to anyone interested in this realm of ﬂight. Dues for Rogallo membership are $69.00 per year (of which $15 goes to the publication of Hang Gliding & Paragliding magazine), ($90 non-U.S.); subscription rates only are $52.00 ($63 non-U.S.). Changes of address should be sent six weeks in advance, including name, USHPA number, previous and new address, and a mailing label from a recent issue. You may also email your request with your member number to: info@ushpa.aero.

HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING magazine reserves the right to edit contributions where necessary. The Association and publication do not assume responsibility for the material or opinions of contributors. HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING editorial ofﬁces email: editor@ushpa.aero. ALL ADVERTISING AND ADVERTISING INQUIRIES MUST BE SENT TO USHPA HEADQUARTERS IN COLORADO SPRINGS.

HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING magazine is published for foot-launched air-sports enthusiasts to create further interest in the sports of hang gliding and paragliding and to provide an educational forum to advance hang gliding and paragliding methods and safety. Contributions are welcome.

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES IN PUBLICATIONS:

USHPA Ofﬁcers and Executive Committee:

Canadian Post Publications Mail Agreement #40065056. Canadian Return Address: DP Global Mail, 4960-2 Walker Road, Windsor, ON N9A 6J3

OC. INC

Jayne DePanﬁlis, Executive Director: jayne@ushpa.aero Rick Butler, Information Services Director: rick@ushpa.aero Martin Palmaz, Business Manager: martin@ushpa.aero Erin Russell, Ofﬁce Manager: erin@ushpa.aero Michelle Burtis, Member/Instructor Services Administrator: michelle@ushpa.aero

POSTMASTER: Send change of address to: Hang Gliding & Paragliding magazine, P.O. BOX 1330, Colorado Springs, CO 80901-1330.

Ofﬁce Staff:

USHPA.Aero (ISSN 1543-5989) is published monthly by the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, Inc., 1685 W. Uintah St., Colorado Springs, CO 80904, (719) 632-8300, FAX (719) 632-6417. PERIODICAL postage is paid at Colorado Springs, CO and at additional mailing ofﬁces.

Jayne DePanﬁlis, Publisher: jayne@ushpa.aero C. J. Sturtevant, Editor: editor@ushpa.aero Joe Hartman, Art Director: jhartman@brandingironmedia.com Martin Palmaz, Advertising: martin@ushpa.aero Thayer Hughes, Contributing Editor: thayer@ushpa.aero Staff writers: Joe Gregor, Thayer Hughes, Steve Messman Staff artist: Jim Tibbs

RAGLI

The United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, a division of the National Aeronautic Association,

is a representative of the Fédération Aeronautique Internationale in the United States.

An unidentiﬁed pilot launching at Chelan Butte Photo: Natalie Page

Flight Report: First Time Thermal Soaring . . .6

DEPARTMENTS Editor’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Pilot Brieﬁngs: News and Events . . . . . . . . . . 8 USHPA: Committee and Sub-Committee Chairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Put Yourself Into the Picture . . . . . . . . . . . 15

FINDING THE SKY: NOTES ON LEARNING TO SOAR, PART 9 After three years of traveling and paragliding and attempting to justify his lifestyle to the accusing voices in his head, this pilot realizes that he has, in fact, been hard at work all along.

Review: Ki2Fly Harness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 HG Accident Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Foundation: An Old Flying Site and a New ED for the Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Flight Report: Surf Lift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Pilot Proﬁle: Rob McCaffrey . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Comp Corner: Southwest XC League Roan Cliffs Meet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 The 25th Annual Chelan Cross-Country Classic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 New Ratings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Marketplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Classiﬁeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

By Paul Villinski . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

TAKE A TOUR – THAT’S THE TICKET! A newbie paraglider pilot takes a tour to Mexico with the Eagle Paragliding team, and under their guidance and tutelage grows from a tentative student to an airtime-addicted pilot.

By Marjorie Variano . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

VIRTUAL SOARING Winter weather can lead to airtime starvation and rusty skills. Virtual soaring to the rescue – with easilyobtainable add-ons, this simulator allows you to thermal up and take oﬀ XC on a virtual hang glider in conditions and locations of your choice.

One Last Thought . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 By Eric Carden. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Index to Advertisers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

ON BEING A FLYING MENTOR

Volume 36 Issue 11 November 2006 $4.95

A Publication of the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, Inc.

World champion paragliding synchro team, Felix and Raul Rodriguez from Spain, perform a synchronized spiral during the Red Bull Vertigo/ 1st FAI World Hang Gliding and Paragliding Aerobatic Championship in Switzerland last August.

Even the best schools and instructors can’t provide a pilot with everything that needs to be known about every site and every situation. Mentors can help pilots deal with new challenges that arise after they’ve “graduated” from instruction. By John Matylonek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

In a few hours, it will all be recollection. In between, it's why you fly. Why settle for anything less than everything the experience has to offer?

LLS~

Nti

It's all about the flying.

WWW.WILLSWING.COM 500 WEST BLUERIDGE AVE. ORANGE. CA 92865 TEL: 714-998-6359 FAX: 714-998-0647

WINTER ESCAPES: VALLE DE BRAVO, MEXICO Twenty-eight consecutive days of rain is enough to drive anyone over the edge – and, in this case, over the border, for some winter thermaling in Mexico. By Darren Darsey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

THE OSPREY AND THE INDIANS When you ﬂy XC, the adventure often doesn’t end when you hit the deck. Sometimes, that’s when it really begins!

By Sunny Jim Fenison. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

Gallery. . .63

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Web, I immediately contacted Denis to see if we could get a selection of his best photos of both hang gliders and paragliders. Not only did he provide us with a wonderful portfolio of aerobatic pilots doing their mind-boggling routines, but he also answered some of my questions about how he manages to get these amazing shots. You’ll find the brief profile of Denis in the Gallery section, along with some of his favorite images. Most of us will never be able to match the quality of Denis’s images, but many of you send us excellent photos that you’ve captured at your local sites. Staff writer and photo archivist Thayer Hughes begins in this issue a series of articles on some technical considerations regarding digital photos and publication, including how to get your images from your camera to our photo archive, and what we do with the photos once you’ve sent them our way. A couple of pilots whose names you might recognize are profiled in this issue. Rob McCaffrey, who currently flies hang gliders with the Humboldt Wings club in northern California, set the altitude record for hang gliding 30 years ago. Bob Smith details Rob’s incredible balloon-drop flight, from over 30,000 feet, made back in the days when regulations were considerably less stringent than they are today. Don Saito provides the second profile, of another California pilot, Connie Locke. Connie is today the executive director of the Foundation (formerly USHGF) as well as the leaseholder for the Dunlap launch in California. Don’s profile, in the Foundation section, includes information on how to contact Connie for Foundation business, or to fly with her at Dunlap. Our Comp Corner this month has three tales of grand adventures from two meets out West. Karl Decker provides details in words and images of the awesome flying at the Roan Cliffs comp in Colorado. Paul Dees, scorekeeper for and competitor in the 25th Annual Chelan (Washington) Classic, gives the highlights of that unique and popular event. The competition in the single-surface class of the Classic was fierce this year; I had difficulty deciding if Sunny Jim Fenison’s flight into Indian territory should be a Feature article or Comp report. Jim Tibbs’s illustration captures perfectly the spirit of Sunny Jim’s “The Osprey and the Indians” adventure. Staff writer Steve Messman concludes this issue with a humorous reflection on our addiction to all things flyingrelated. I’m addicted, for sure – I’m sitting in a camp chair writing this column with old-fashioned pencil and notebook, after spending this lovely day as the hang glider half of our biwingual team (George was the paraglider half) at our club’s first annual Bi-wing Fling. We had 80 participants, hundreds of flights, many hours of airtime, not a single injury. Can a weekend of flying get much better than that?

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Photo: George Sturtevant

I’m writing this column on the last day of September, a sunny 70-degrees afternoon, at our campsite by the river, just south of the LZ. Today it’s hard to imagine that the season is drawing to a close. This morning, George and I made reservations for a paragliding adventure in Chile, to celebrate our 30th anniversary, which always falls right around Thanksgiving. Today, it’s hard to remember how desperate we’ll be for sunshine, come November… But by the time you read this, the days will be short and we’ll all be getting ready for the winter holiday season. George and I are thankful for the decades we’ve been enjoying each other’s company, and of course for all the other wonderful things that have happened in our lives over the years. Many of you are included in our “wonderful things” – is that cool, or what! If you also have times during the winter when you wonder if you’ll survive the airtime deprivation, Eric Carden’s feature article on Virtual Soaring may provide just the ticket for keeping you sane once the weather turns unfriendly for flying. Or maybe you’d rather go for the real thing, someplace warm and sunny. Hang pilot Darren Darsey and parapilot Marge Variano both joined tours to Valle de Bravo in Mexico last winter, and both contributed Travel articles highly recommending their Valle trips for a winter escape. Check the Calendar of Events to find who’s going to your destination of choice at a time you can break away. Joe Gregor’s Accident Report column this month relates a hang glider pilot’s upsetting encounter with a Texas dust devil, and provides useful information for both hang and para pilots who fly in dust-devil territory. David Jebb’s Master’s Tips column is also relevant to all pilots; David addresses the disturbingly high incidence of accidents this past season, and makes some suggestions that could keep each of us and our flying buddies injury-free. Instructor John Matylonek’s feature article, On Being a Flying Mentor, offers guidance for experienced pilots who’d like to become actively involved with helping recently-graduated-from-school pilots fly safely at new sites and in more challenging conditions. Also obliquely related to safety, Steve Shaw’s tale of his discovery of Surf Lift at Torrey Pines makes interesting reading, but comes with the strongest caution that you not explore this territory without making absolutely certain that you are fully educated and totally prepared. Fly intelligently and responsibly, always, please! Paul Villinski, a paraglider pilot who lives in New York City, concludes his nine-part Finding the Sky feature in this issue. After the horrors of 9/11/2001, Paul found himself needing to spend more time doing what he loves, and discovered that his passion – our passion – is directly related to the realities of day-to-day life. The cover, centerspread and gallery photos in this issue are all courtesy of Swiss photographer Denis Balibouse. Denis has contributed several stunning images to our magazine in the past, and when I came across the gallery from last August’s world aerobatic championships posted on the

C.J. Sturtevant

We who enjoy the air have much to be grateful for – not only for those who visibly support our personal pursuits of airtime, but also to many we may never have met, who make our ﬂying possible. In your local group or club, please be sure to send a special holiday “thanks!” to all the landowners, sponsors, volunteers and others who you depend on for all the fun times during the ﬂying season. Many of these folks get vicariously “high” from watching us sky out or spot land – consider surprising them this holiday season with a cool USHPA calendar, or a gift subscription to this magazine. Ordering information for calendars is on page 54, for gift subscriptions page 25 and on the mailin order card inserted in this issue.

Did you notice that there’s no Air Mail column this month? I hope the total absence of letters means you’ve all been out ﬂying, and not that no one is speaking to me any more! Send your comments to me at editor@ushpa.aero.

overwhelm a pilot’s ability to react quickly enough to avert disaster. No pilot should From GMI: a dedicated paragliding attempt to ﬂy a small glider in high wind camera bracket for paraglider and pow- without being thoroughly experienced in ered paraglider harnesses. More info at high-wind ﬂying on a “regular” paraglider wing.] www.supair-usa.com. The recommended harnesses for the Swoop is the light Sup’Air Radical (no protection), or the Alti Rando Airbag and Escape Airbag from Sup’Air. More information on the Swoop and the suggested lightweight harnesses is available at www.supair-usa.com. New Products From Sup’Air USA

Photos courtesy Sup’Air

APCO Goes Acro!

The Twister is now in full production with deliveries expected to have begun in September. As always, APCO is actively seeking top pilots to compete on their wings. Regarding the Twister, Anatoly Cohn says, “We want to be at the top and APCO is actively encouraging recruitment of top acro pilots into APCO’s ranks – special incentives will be oﬀered.” He adds that the Twister is the only acro gilder that comes with a guarantee: APCO’s usual three years/250 hours. For more information on the Twister, the pilot incentives, or any APCO product, go to www.apcoaviation.com. Paratech Products the Choice of Winners By Gabriel Jebb

Gian Marco Rossi, the five-times World Enduro champion and European Master motorcycle rider, has gotten into paragliding. He had almost every wing manufacturer send him a free glider hoping that he would fly their product, but Gian decided to buy his wing from Paratech. The boys at Paratech didn’t offer him a free glider but he chose to purchase one from them, because in his opinion it flew so much better than any of the DHV 1-2s out there. Mara and Rainer Burger won European Championships in the Tandem category on a Paratech Pbi-5. Their total The Twister score of 900 put them slightly ahead APCO’s new acro wing, the Twister, of the second place team that flew an debuted at the recent Red Bull Vertigo/ Independence Speed and the third place 1st FAI World Aerobatic Championship team that flew an Advance Bi-beta. last August. According to APCO’s In the Swiss Regional Cup Groschau Anatoly Cohn, the Twister was designed (an event that is planned around specific to “look like a god, perform like a devil.” dates, with XC courses that allow pilots Spanish pilot Alex Rodriguez, who to choose their task, similar to the Chelan shares with his brother Raul the title of XC Classic) Stefan Hollenstein won the World Champion in paragliding synchro first day’s 110-km task on a Paratech P44 acro, declares the Twister to be “fantas- XS. He beat out several more experienced pilots on more advanced gliders by tic…the best glider of the moment.” The Swoop is designed to be of interPal Takats, a member of the fourth- a large margin. He found the P44 “very est to pilots wanting to hike with a very place synchro team (from Hungary), has light wing (5.28 pounds for the Swoop more specific comments: “I made some The P44 in the Alps 16 Light) and launch from a mountain nice Infinity Tumblings with the Twister. for a really fast sled ride. A few pilots are What impressed me the most is that the also now using the Swoop to ridge soar tips are very stable and stay open even in wind speed too high for a conventional at the most critical moments when the paragliding wing to fly safely. [Editor’s glider enters from Rhythmic SAT to note: High wind, like fast-flowing water, perfect Infinity. It’s also working very presents challenges beyond a mere increase in well in Helicopter so I think all the other velocity, and can rapidly and unexpectedly maneuvers will work well also.”

Photo courtesy Paratech

Photo courtesy APCO

Speed Flying wings: Unlike the speed riding wings dedicated to taking off on skis only, the new Swoop wings from the French company NERVURES (specializing in light equipment) can be launched on foot or skis and can attain very high air speeds. Available in three sizes (10, 14 and 16 m 2), this wing is for advanced paraglider pilots only. European skydivers, known as swoopers, are beginning to show interest in this wing able to take off from a mountaintop, to get the desired ground effect at the end of the fl ight. The Swoop wing is not, however, suited to jumping out of airplanes.

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Tandem ﬂyers on Paratech’s Pbi-5 enjoying some awesome Alpine scenery Photo courtesy Paratech

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Where Are You Going Paragliding This Winter? How about the Dominican Republic? Ozone is happy to announce the return of the famous Caribbean XC Challenge, on the island of the Dominican Republic. The competition runs from the 4th to the 10th of February. Like last year’s event, the 2007 Ozone Caribbean XC Challenge will not be a “normal” XC comp. The focus is on fun and education, not stress and competition. Like the other Ozone Open events, such as the Chabre Open in France, the Caribbean XC Challenge is an ideal forum for learning about competition and technical XC flying. Top pilots – including Jocky Sanderson and members of the Ozone test team – will be providing XC advice and guidance during the comp. Jocky Sanderson is one of the world’s most experienced XC coaches and guides, and will be available during every day of the meet to assist pilots in route finding, task briefing and debriefing, and safety direction. Entry fee includes the week of flying with Jocky, as well as all transportation, full accommodation in hotels, breakfast, packed lunches, and of course a huge amount of prizes. Every pilot in the competition will win something! There will be five categories, according to the homologation of the glider you’re flying, so everyone has a real chance to win. Prizes will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each of the five categories, plus an Ozone paraglider will be given away in a raffle for the competitors! Information about the event, and registration, is on http://2007.CaribbeanXC

Ozone pilots in the Dominican Republic

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Photo: Rob Whittall

fast and relaxing to fly…It was a very interesting day, the shadings changed with the distances and speeds flown.” Two days later Thomas Griesch made the same fl ight on the same P44 XS that he borrowed from Stefan. He described the wing as “very interesting, sporty, dynamic (even with being over the weight). Thanks, Stefan, for the test fl ight – and the fulfi lling experience.” David and Gabriel Jebb at Torrey Pines import the Paratech line of products; you can contact Gabriel at gabrielj@flytorrey.com, or visit their Web site, www.flytorrey.com.

hang gliding on the peninsular bighorn .com. Registration is open and the number Flying To Resume at Vista Point? sheep. Anyone? of competitors is limited, so begin plan- By Mike Hilberath So now, the BLM has an openning your winter flying trip now! Hang gliding at Vista Point (California) has been banned due to the ing for a recreational planner. IF Or maybe Ecuador? Santa Rosa and San Jacinto National ANYONE KNOWS OF A HANG Kevin Lee of Thermal Tracker Monument Land Management Plan. GLIDER PILOT/RECREATIONAL Paragliding says, “This is not a vacation, Without representation, and with no PLANNER WHO WANTS TO LIVE it’s an Adventure!” He’s been leading data, it was proposed that hang gliding IN PALM DESERT, please let me paragliding adventures in Ecuador since at Vista Point causes harm to the endan- know! Once the BLM has this recreational planner on board, it will be late 1996 and is supported by two Ecuadorian gered bighorn sheep in the area. guides/pilots who know and fly the local The hang gliding community became spring of 2007 before he/she will even sites. Two-thirds of the adventure takes aware of this situation only after the begin to start to look into the issue of place in the high Andean mountain ther- fact, and requested that the issue be hang gliding at Vista Point. Oh, well. mal sites among some of the most beau- revisited by the Monument Action Though the wheels of justice turn slowly, tiful peaks in South America; the other Committee (MAC). The MAC created they do turn... Contact: Mike Hilberath, (949) 683one-third is spent soaring and relaxing the Monument Working Group to look on the warm coast, exploring miles of into creating an amendment to the land 9519. smooth coastal ridge sites, along with management plan. swimming, fishing, and eating great seaThe Working Group held a meeting No Product News From the Hang food to your heart’s content. with concerned pilots and it was decided Gliding World? This Is Not Good News! The tour’s focus will include a very that MAC would not recommend that Surely there must be some new hang high attention to personal comfort, ad- an amendment be added to the land gliding-related products – wings, harvanced coaching, and attaining an in- management plan, instead recommend- nesses, cool accessories – and some hang timacy with Ecuador that only a group ing that other suitable sites be identified glider pilots winning events or having with experienced locals can provide. in the monument in lieu of Vista Point. epic fl ights with the help of this new gear! On April 29, 2005, at the advisement How about it, hang gliding manufacturThermal Tracker Paragliding arranges all details in country (lodging, transporta- of the Monument Working Group, rep- ers, dealers, importers, distributors, clubs, tion, drivers, guides, air shuttle from the resentatives of the BLM, San Bernardino pilots – what’s new and hot in your world? coast, and much more). The accommoda- National Forest (SBNF), and USHPA This magazine has no roving reporter tions are clean and pleasant, and include drove all over the monument and forest staff out there sleuthing for newsworthy family-run pensions, restored colonial in search of a suitable site to accommo- events, so unless someone catches our train stations, and haciendas high in the date hang gliding. Santa Rosa Mountain attention, we may well remain clueless peak, and a landing area located in the – and so will the readers of this magazine. Andes. The professional guides/pilots have Pinyon Flats community, was identi- At least half our readership is disappointover 10 consecutive years’ experience fied as the only possible alternate site. A ed to find in this column no news they leading adventure paragliding tours letter was submitted to the SBNF service can use, nothing related to their wing throughout Ecuador. They are strongly requesting the creation of a “new” hang of choice, no photos to get them excited committed to exploring the ground- gliding site. The work put forth by the about what’s going on in the world of based beauty of this country, from hiking government agencies was unprecedented. hang gliding (and, incidentally, nothing to mountain biking, touring Inca ruins They were actually helping to find a site to induce them to spend their money on to river rafting, exploring jungles to vis- that could be used in the pursuit of hang the latest toys and technology that we iting indigenous villages steeped in his- gliding! all crave). Please include Hang Gliding tory. Non-pilots are most welcome! Book Meanwhile, pilots rallied to the sup- & Paragliding magazine on your mailing extra time to explore after the tour – and port of flying at Vista Point, showing up list for your press releases, dealer updates, don’t forget that Ecuador is the gateway for meetings, writing letters, staying in- and photos: editor@ushpa.aero. formed about the issues. As a result, on to the Galapagos Islands. Two tours are planned: January 3-15 November 5, 2005, the MAC recomand January 24-February 5. Each group mended that the BLM consider amendis limited in size to promote quality, so ing the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa reserve early to secure your space in this National Monument Land Management winter’s adventure. Check out www Plan to allow hang gliding from VISTA In general, I deal with fear by .thermaltracker.com for photos, sto- POINT! After that recommendation, the not getting into fearful situries, and more information, or you can decision to amend the plan was in BLM’s ations. I always like to feel I contact Kevin Lee at Thermal Tracker hands, and also after that point, the BLM have a safe escape route. Paragliding & Aero-Sports, (541) 890- was not accepting any more public input concerning this matter – unless someone 7142 or info@thermaltracker.com. — Chris Arai had new information about the effects of

Safety Tip

November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

Tandem Glider Advisory Povided by the Tandem and the Safety and Training committees of USHPA October 8, 2006

Photo: Peter Darian

Recommendation to all pilots ﬂying tandem gliders utilizing landing gear: Routine inspections of keels and control frames should be performed to look for evidence of metal fatigue and/or fracture that may have resulted from hard landings and/or taxiing over rough ground. This may not be evident on routine pre-ﬂights due to the placement of hardware, brackets, hang straps, etc. Proper inspection may require glider disassembly and as a minimum should be conducted at annual inspection. Particular attention should be paid to bolt holes and surrounding areas where the control frame, king post and tail wheel extension attach to the keel, as well as the region of the keel where the crossbar passes over the keel.

November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

The Winged and the Wild Forever Free! By Frankie Aspinwall Photos by Flora Steﬀan

Sunrise and the horses at Pine Mt.

In the winter of habitat for an incredibly beautiful herd of 2005, Flora and Fran wild mustangs. Steffan purchased Flora and Fran founded the Forever 800 acres of land Free Mustang Foundation in 2004, along the base of Pine after seeing the need for the rescue of Mountain near Bend, these amazing animals. Please take the Oregon. This land time to look at their Web site: www included the training .foreverfreemustangs.org. If it were not hill at the Rock L, for people like this dedicated, horseA flying mustang? and continued up the loving duo, we would lose these animals mountain just past the midway launch to slaughter. and the spine heading on to the west. They The wild mustangs, which live in purchased this land with the intention of herds throughout the western states, are building their home and creating a safe rounded up using low-flying helicopters,

and thus they will bolt at the sight or sound of low-flying objects. This could result in the trampling of the baby horses, injury, extremely expensive vet bills and costly rescues. Because of this concern, Flora and Fran asked us to cease flying over their property this past spring. The request left us with few flying options. In order not to frighten or injure the horses, hang gliding and paragliding as we knew it at Pine Mountain was coming to an end. This left us wondering, will there be a future for pilots on Pine Mountain?

Flora and Fran’s mustangs grazing at their ranch at Pine Mt.

November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

A view of Fran and Flora’s ranch at Pine Mt.

After their request this spring, I asked the Steffans to visit with us. Once Flora and Fran met some of the local pilots and saw us flying, they were able to understand our passion for Pine Mountain. And when they decided to sell part of their 800 acres, they approached the paragliding community about purchasing the land first, allowing us to fly forever free. Flora said, “It’s only right – you guys have been here so long and it just feels right. It just feels right.” This summer, a pilot who

wishes to remain anonymous purchased the land that includes the training hill, the parking lot and the east side of the spine. When you ﬂy at Pine Mountain, you will see on the west side a large arena. It is fenced about three-quarters of a mile in all directions. Please avoid this area, especially if you ﬂy with a motor. If you would like to see the horses and/ or meet Flora and Fran, check their Web site for their phone number. Please call

before visiting. It is important to always treat landowners and their property with the respect that you would want given to you. Good things are happening at Pine Mountain in the high desert of Central Oregon. Come fly with us and maybe you will get the chance to see the horse the Desert Air Riders club is sponsoring – her name is Sky Cowgirl! I would like to thank both Flora and Fran, and the generous anonymous pilot, for securing future paragliding at Pine Mountain. We welcome Flora and Fran, a cowgirl and cowboy of the high desert. They bring with them a love for our mountain, this valley and their horses, and they enjoy taking time to watch us fly. They are truly genuine and caring people. They are not only doing a huge service in their preservation and rescue of wild mustangs, but they are helping save a world-class flying site as well! The paragliding community is very fortunate to have them at its side. For more information on the Desert Air Riders and flying Pine Mountain, check our Web site: www.desertairriders .org.

The mustangs, with Pine Mt. in the background

November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

Put Yourself

Picture

By Thayer Hughes, staﬀ writer and photo archivist

Contributing Photos to USHPA for Publication

As a publication by and for its members, Hang Gliding & Paragliding magazine welcomes editorial and photo submissions from its readers, and your contributions not only are greatly appreciated but also are essential for its content. We are always soliciting well-written articles, photos and artwork from our members, and the quality and content you see within are only possible with your active support. Every issue you receive is an assemblage of the material and photos you and others have sent in, so each magazine truly does represent our membership. Any magazine content, from a 3000word feature story to a short notice in the Pilot Brieﬁngs, can be highlighted with the author’s own included photos or those previously submitted by others. The photos available to select from each month depend on our pilot photographers, be they professional, semiprofessional, eager amateurs, or digital camera holdouts like the rest of us. And although we do receive lots of photos, often the technical quality has been compromised, reducing their usable value as covers, centerspreads, or even general usage. This short series of articles attempts to answer a few of the more common questions that members routinely ask about photos and how to submit them for publication. I’ll also give a little information on how we manage and select your shots for use in the magazine, and oﬀer suggestions for how to get a handle on your own photos and photo library.

Photo: Dick Jackson

Into the

to tens or hundreds rather than tens of Having the ability to readily locate thousands. It also allows us to note and the best possible photo for any particular search for who submitted the photo, the purpose in the magazine is the function of photographer’s name and contact info, the USHPA photo database, which cur- photo location, date, subjects and any rently contains nearly 60,000 image fi les. other information provided. Requests With all those photos to choose from you or stipulations for usage made by the might wonder why we are always asking photographer are displayed, such as required fees. As photos are printed in the you to send in more. Beyond their entertainment value, magazine they are tagged with the date photos are used to support the visions of and issue location to prevent re-use. This the authors and editors, and choosing the would also apply when a photographer’s best appropriate fi le involves a variety of material appears in another publication. But what we have to print all depends issues and technical criteria. Factors include the relevance to articles or themes, on you. workable resolution, the technical quality of each photo and, of course, the subjec- Take Your Best Shot tive value of visual appeal. With the advent of relatively inexpenWith a database containing tens of sive digital cameras, the ability for the thousands of fi les (and growing), USHPA “common man” to get out and take photos relies on data access management tools. has rocketed, but what really makes for a By using embedded metadata, photos in good photo? A great photo tells a story, the database may be easily searched for evokes emotion or interest, and ideally any number or combination of fields such will leave a lasting impression on the as hang glider, paraglider, acro, competi- viewer. The great photographer targets tion, scenic, humor, art, people, tandem, his audience, knows his subject, and will mountains, water, weather, launch and plan the shot in advance of ever picking landing, colorful, vertical or horizontal, up the camera. Even catching those sponthe resolution or size of the photo, quali- taneous shots involves being prepared. In ty, etc. Photos may also be nominated for the same way that the combination of possible use as covers, centerspreads, gal- practice and a true desire will increase leries or for any number of related themes your odds of grabbing that extraordinary such as winter flying, sunsets, fall colors, XC fl ight, so it is for capturing that perbig smiles, cool shadows, acro and so on. fect cover shot. The effort in organizing the fi les really There are countless things that go into pays off when a particular type or qual- good photography, but a few to keep in ity of photo is needed. When choosing a mind are: cover, for instance, the database tools can • Great photos just don’t “happen.” quickly narrow the possible choices down Anticipate or plan the shot. Managing and Choosing Photos

November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

• Know your camera and know your subject. • Catch the viewer’s eye with the use of color, action, an unusual viewpoint, invoking an emotion, etc. • Simplify. • Take lots and LOTS of photos. Only a few will be the jewels worth printing. Traditional Vs. Digital Photography

Traditional fi lm photography has a whole lot going for it. Given the investment of time, money and training, it still outpaces digital in many ways. To match 35mm fi lm would take around 25 megapixels (MP) to achieve the same resolution. But the ease, low cost and flexibility of digital capability are making it more appealing, especially as the level of quality goes up. The advent of relatively inexpensive megapixel digital cameras has given the average Joe-photographer the means to take lots of shots, at a much lower cost, with the advantage of instant feedback. It has never been easier. But the gray matter manipulating any camera, digital or traditional 35mm, hasn’t changed and knowing what to do with the tool in your hands is as important as it ever was. Dedication, skill and creativity still remain the primary factors behind capturing that striking magazine cover that sticks in a viewer’s mind, or an ignominious waste of bits forever banished to the far corners of a hard drive. I’d like to skip past traditional fi lm photos except to state that your editors have the tools and experience to scan all traditional fi lm media for magazine publication whether it be slide or negative, mounted or not, or even printed material. The value of all submissions is recognized and great care is given so that material is

to find any real difference between them. Remember, in order to get twice the resolution of your 3.1 MP camera you’ll need to step up to a true 12.6 MP! Generally speaking, the number of megapixels in a camera has less effect on the image than do other factors. Color and tone are far more important than resolution for image quality, and if you do your research you will learn that plenty of lower MP cameras can make better images than poorer cameras with Digital Cameras Consider that a 17.5” x 11.5” cen- more MP. Don’t get suckered in by the terspread (including bleed, or the extra big MP numbers when buying your next allowance that gets cut off at the print- camera. If you already have a good 3 or 4 ers) at 300dpi (dots per inch) amounts MP camera, my advice would be to stick to 5250 x 3450 pixels, or over 18 mega- with it and work on your skills. pixels. I’m certain very few of you could afford a camera of that capability, and yet Interpolation each month we print the digital photos Interpolation is the insertion of adthat you send in. How is that? Let me ditional false or estimated data based begin with few quick points on pixels, on two known values. A simple exammegapixels and digital zooms, and why a ple would be the comparison of a (4x4) bigger number isn’t necessarily better. sixteen-pixel camera compared with a (2x2) four-pixel camera that interpolates to sixteen pixels. If you took a photo of an object cleanly divided as black and white quarters, the sixteen-pixel camera would accurately record eight black pixels and eight white pixels. The four-pixel camera must interpolate to attain “sixteen” pixels and so it estimates what the “in between” pixels should be, resulting in shades of

returned to the photographer in its original condition. It is always a good idea to contact the editor before sending your slides and negatives. The publication process may be easier with digital submissions, but it is still dependent on the quality of the material provided. I’d like to make a few points that may help you better understand your digital photo options.

Pixel stands for PICture ELement. Put enough of them together and you have a picture. Many camera manufacturers today advertise 5, 6, 8, and higher megapixels (millions of pixels, or MP) in their cameras. It should really come as no surprise that the bargain $150 “12 MP” grey. Our black-and-white source subcamera on eBay is, to be blunt, using a ject, of course, contains no grey whatbunch of BS to appear more impressive soever. In this very simple exercise, had than it is. Looking closer you will more you taken the photo with the four-pixel likely find a 2048 x 1536 (3.1 MP) that camera and NOT interpolated, the result uses interpolation to come up with that would be as true as the sixteen-pixel. higher MP number. Don’t be fooled. If a camera’s CCD (the camera’s Just how much difference does a MP “retina”) is actually 3.1 MP then any make? Well, if you calculate the differ- number quoted above that is skewed. The ence in surface area between a 4 MP and true size of your camera’s CCD is really a 6 MP camera you’ll see that you only all that you get and any low-level faking realize 22% more resolution. You would that the camera performs only reduces be very hard pressed to notice that small the over-all quality possible. difference even with a strong magnifying glass. The difference between 4 and 5 MP is a paltry 12% and I would challenge you November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

Digital Zooms

Digital zooms use a similar technique of “cheating” to enlarge the apparent size of the image at the expense of lost resolution. When you zoom digitally you are actually just cropping, or throwing away, pixels on the borders of the frame and “enlarging” what’s left in the center of the camera’s CCD through interpolation. This is like simulating a wide-screen television by sitting with your nose pressed against the glass of your current TV. Sure, it “looks” bigger in the middle, but it is also fuzzy. Cropping should best be performed during postprocessing with the proper software for the task, not the crude digital zoom of your camera. Optical Zooms

Optical zooms, in comparison, focus a smaller and select slice of the actual light onto the surface area of the camera’s CCD and give the best possible result. When considering the ﬁnal results just remember: optical zoom is good, digital zoom is not good. I would suggest that if your camera has the option, turn oﬀ digital zoom altogether. While on the subject of optics, another point to consider before buying your next camera concerns the lens. Other things being equal, a large lens gathers more light with less distortion than what a smaller lens can provide. The pocket cameras are certainly handy, but they also have smaller lenses. How you intend to use your camera should be debated against its capabilities before you buy. Expecting to be a good photographer and capturing great photos will be considerably more challenging with that $15 plastic Holga camera (but still possible).

Useful URLs and phone numbers: For magazine submissions: http://ushpa.aero/magazine.asp For accident reports: http://ushpa.aero/emailacca.asp For membership info, change of address, and other USHPA business: info@ushpa.aero (719) 632-8300

Next month: File formats, compression, and what NOT to do with your digital photos.

Thayer currently manages the USHPA photo database and has worked professionally in the graphics & design ﬁeld for over 26 years. He can be reached at thayer@ushpa .aero to answer any photo or database access questions.

November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

Ki2Fly Harness Article and photos by Ki Hong and Bill Armstrong

Ki Hong is a professional paragliding equipment designer and factory test pilot as well as a primary tandem and foot-launch instructor at Torrey Pines Gliderport. From 1985 to 1991 Ki designed and tested paragliders and paragliding equipment for the world’s former largest paragliding company, Edel. Concurrently, Ki operated Korea’s largest paragliding school, instructing an average of 40 pilots per week. Since then, secondary to his instructor duties at Torrey Pines Gliderport, Ki continues to design and develop equipment under his own company, Aero Sports Line, Ltd. During the early 2000s, Ki became concerned with common problems that students were experiencing while kiting, launching, flying, and landing – problems that seemed to result from the standard harness design configuration. After watching literally thousands of launches performed by experienced pilots, Ki observed that most of these pilots were using various unsafe methods to sit back in their harnesses. And landings were often complicated by failed attempts to correctly stand up in the harness prior to touchdown. With tremendous insight and background in design and engineering, Ki started focusing on developing a better harness. Ki learned that most pilots were physically uncomfortable from the start with their harnesses, as well as mentally frustrated by the many straps and adjustment possibilities. With the standard harness design, the adjustment capabilities did not completely accommodate the pilot in the many different positions required to effectively and safely inflate, kite, launch, fly, and land. A common design problem with many harnesses is that the strap positions that work for inflation and kiting are not necessarily acceptable for launching, flying and/or landing. Likewise, a harness adjusted for flying safety pulls up during kiting and launching. When the harness is being pulled upward, the waist belt blocks the upper body and prevents the pilot from leaning forward. This in

turn makes it hard to load the wing and accelerate. Even if the pilot manages to lean forward, the leg loops impede running, causing the pilot to prematurely sit back in the harness before the glider loads properly. This waist belt and leg loop design causes the common and unsafe “bunny hop” effect. On landing, this same strap configuration makes it difficult to get out of the harness. Pilots soon discover that by loosening leg loops they can accelerate better. Indeed this makes launching easier, but now with the body hanging low from the harness, sitting back becomes more difficult, sometimes even impossible. Just at the time when the pilot’s attention should be on directional control, climb rate, and/or traffic avoidance, the pilot is now focusing on trying to sit back in the harness. Observations at launch reveal pilots sitting back by pushing against their risers or harness straps, unaware they are pulling brakes to dangerous positions. Some pilots even release their control toggles completely in order to use their hands to push back in their harness.

The leg strap design on the Ki2Fly harness allows it to remain low and stable during kiting.

From Ki’s perspective, the landing consists of equal but reverse functions of the launch. Standing up in the harness should be as easy as sitting back in the harness. Standing up straight in preparation for landing, with landing gear down, is just as important as remaining in a standup position until clearing the hill on launch. Touching down in a leaning position allows for running at landing speed just as leaning at launch provides for acceleration. For safe ﬂying for life, safe landing is very important and in order for that to be possible it is crucial that the pilot be comfortable enough in his harness to move as he chooses. It became evident to Ki that the pilot should be able to inﬂate and kite the wing with the harness remaining stable

Leaning and acceleration are easy due to the harnessís low center of gravity.

November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

Whether ﬂying out from launch or preparing to land, the ìeasy-to-obtain/maintainî stand-up position provides the pilot with a wide view with the landing gear down.

and low on the back, to accelerate the glider for launch by leaning and “moon walking” under the glider until the glider fl ies out from the hill, to fly comfortably in and be one with the harness, and to land the glider in a standing position with shoulders out broad to widen the view and maintain balance. Ki realized that the connection between the pilot and the glider and the pilot’s ability to effectively and safely perform these functions was through the harness. After several years of prototype designs and pilots’ feedback, the production Ki2Fly harness fits like a customized suit, satisfying the many positions required to effectively and safely inflate, kite, launch, fly, and land. The design is simple and not bulky and adjusts easily to accommodate each pilot’s unique dimensions. The low center of gravity combined with the unique strap design and positioning makes sitting back at launch and standing at landing a snap.

The construction of the Ki2Fly harness is unsurpassed in safety considerations. The back support contains eight composite layers of sponge and stiffeners of different pressures, causing impact forces to dissipate over greater areas. There are two layers of side protection. Again, due to Ki’s desire to satisfy all the pilot’s needs and the functions of paragliding, the design of the reserve container causes minimal restrictions when the reserve is withdrawn. The rigid reserve handle stays out in a ready easy-to-grab position. Chances of an accidental deployment are reduced due to a double attachment system. Verification of reserve readiness/integrity is made easy. The container allows for immediate parachute withdrawal whether the handle is pulled outward or upward. The Ki2Fly harness has an extra-large back pocket for storing equipment and personal items. Inside the back pocket are smaller pockets used to secure radios or water containers. Zippered slots allow water tubes or radio wires to penetrate from the pocket to the pilot. The pilot also has two large, easily accessible integrated side pockets for use. The Ki2Fly harness, despite all these great features, is surprisingly light and slim in appearance. Pilot comfort was considered in all aspects of design. The Ki2Fly harness has extra lumbar support for comfort. The flexible folding locations at all carabiners, connection and adjustment points make the harness operate as part of an integrated and comfortable system with the pilot. Due to the special positioning and attachment points of the speed system pulleys, the seat tilts and follows the pilot when the speed bar is pushed, ensuring effective foot pressure with comfort at all times. The Ki2Fly harness literally reacts to every paragliding situation, which is why it’s loved by all kinds of pilots from beginner to advanced. Most Ki2Fly harness owners are advanced pilots who have experienced the common problems resulting from standard harness design. Feedback indicates they will never go back to the conventional design.

November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

Hang Gliding Accident Report By Joe Gregor, air_medal@mac.com

n August 9, a highly experienced pilot participating in an international competition in Big Spring, Texas, tumbled while trying to enter a dust devil in his Wills Wing T2. The pilot successfully deployed his parachute after the glider departed from normal flight, and both pilot and glider suffered minor damage and were able to fly again the next day. The pilot reported attempting to enter the dust devil four times at an altitude of approximately 1000 feet AGL, getting spit out each time. On the fifth attempt the glider entered an unusual attitude (climbing nose-up past vertical) while experiencing 3000fpm lift. The pilot responded by throwing his hand-deployed parachute. The pilot suffered minor

A dust devil snaking up from Chelan Butte Photo: Richard Uhlhorn

sprains, and the glider suffered a broken downtube and damage to one batten. A dust devil is a dust-filled wind vortex created by strong differential surface heating, usually near the interface between different surface types, creating a high horizontal temperature gradient. An example would be an irrigated field next to an asphalt surface. The dust devil forms initially when a pocket of heated air lifts off from the surface, creating a low-pressure area. Warm surface air rushing in to fill the void begins to circulate and rise. Dust devils typically are born under clear skies and light winds where a strong temperature inversion can form between the air adjacent to the hot, dry ground and the air immediately above this layer. The structure of a stable dust devil is well known. A cylinder of warm air circulates clockwise or counterclockwise (dependent on local conditions, and independent of hemisphere) as it rises. Contained within this cylinder will be a solid core of cooled, descending air. This descending air will generally rotate as a solid object, by conservation of angular momentum. Depending on the strength of the dust devil and the type of terrain, dust may be entrained within the rising air, so that in a well-formed dust devil one would observe a ghostly chimney snaking up from the ground. Dust in the dust devil’s inner core is suppressed by the descending motion, and by centrifugal forces. Dust devils typically range in size from 10 to 300 feet in diameter, with an average height of approximately 500 to 1000 feet. They generally last only a few minutes before dissipating, although they may persist for tens of minutes under optimal conditions. Over desert terrain and locations with very light and dry soil, dust devils can reach heights of several thousand feet and last on the order of an hour or more.

A dust devil out on “the ﬂats” east of Chelan Butte

glider is extremely light, and hence exhibits low inherent inertia. They are true weight-shift aircraft, a system that by nature of its design provides extremely limited control authority to the pilot. These factors combine to make the flexwing hang glider a poor platform for fl ight into the lower-level portions of a dust devil. One can just image the effect of flying an aircraft which has a practical speed range of 30 to 40 mph (between max control/turbulence penetration airspeed and min control airspeed) and limited control authority into a wind shear which can represent a 60-mph change in wind velocity over the space of a couple hundred feet. An excellent opportunity

November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

Photo: Ron Gleason

The wind speeds in a large dust devil can reach 60 mph or greater! Once formed, dust devils will typically track with the prevailing surface winds (although they can move on their own due to the effects of the rotating air and surface friction), and will lean with the changes in velocity and direction of the winds aloft. An extremely strong dust devil may be observed paired up with a smaller devil trailing directly behind and following in the same track as its larger kin. A dust devil will persist until it exhausts the supply of warm air near the ground (if stationary) or until it tracks over a cooler surface. This will destabilize the flow, causing the dust devil to dissipate. It is amusing to read academic papers noting, “There is mounting evidence that dust devils form at the bottom of convective plumes” (Battan, 1958; Sinclair, 1966; Ryan and Carroll, 1970). As glider pilots we are well aware of the fact that dust devils usually indicate strong nearby lift, although this lift is not necessarily found directly above the devil itself. The height of the dust column of a dust devil rarely exceeds 3000 feet. But the thermal updraft above a dust devil (the invisible part) will normally extend to the inversion level. The vertical windspeed component of the rising air within a dust devil can be as great as 30 to 35 mph near the surface. The tangential wind velocity (the circulating wind) can also reach 30 to 35 mph, peaking 10 to 20 feet above the surface. Radial velocities can reach 10 to 15 mph, peaking as an inflow near the surface and rapidly dropping with altitude. In a typical dust devil the radial and tangential velocity components will both nearly vanish 1000 to 2500 feet above the surface, yielding a conventional thermal of purely rising air. As we know, the presence of a dust devil is indicative of extremely strong lift in the immediate vicinity. In addition, the winds near the dust devil itself can be strong and the air extremely turbulent due to the relatively small, constrained transition region (between the strong wind in the vortex and the relatively calm ambient air). Hang gliders are inherently light-air machines. The typical flex-wing hang

for unusual attitude practice is likely to present itself! The good news is that dust devils are localized phenomena, and their effects can be practically avoided simply by giving them a reasonable berth. Placing yourself at least a quarter-mile left or right of the dust devil’s track should be sufficient to keep you in the ambient air. Indeed, I often observed multiple simultaneous dust devils while flying in the West Texas region, some exceeding 1000 feet in height; in one instance I landed within view (from the air) of half a dozen dust devils. The approach and landing were thankfully unremarkable. Of course, timing is everything, and

Tempting the Devil at Ed R. Levin County Park in Milpitas, California Photo: Mike Kellogg

Photo: Olli Barthelmes

A dust devil in Hay, Australia

one can never know when a dust devil will form. While flying base to final on another fl ight, setting up to land in a large field, I encountered extremely strong lift – so strong it took all the roll authority I had just to maintain some approximation of level fl ight. I would estimate my altitude at the time to have been between 300 and 500 feet AGL. Once negotiating entry into a strong thermal core and climbing a few hundred feet, I noticed that a moderately small dust devil had formed in the field just downwind of my LZ. I took the associated thermal to base and flew on. Had this devil chosen to lift off a few seconds later and a little farther upwind, the story might not have ended so happily. Indeed, earlier this same week a Dragonfly ultralight piloted by a highly experienced competition tug pilot was fl ipped over and substantially damaged during an encounter with a dust devil on short final. Luckily, the tug pilot walked away without significant injury. Pilots are advised not to attempt en-

November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

tering the thermal plume above a dust devil unless they have sufficient altitude to successfully deploy their reserve. Pilots flying in dust-devil conditions are advised to pick landing fields that display none of the characteristic tracks made by dust devils as they drift across the ground, and that are far from any of the characteristic features likely to promote dust-devil formation. Fly high and safe. Our bi-monthly hang gliding accident columns cannot exist without input from the hang gliding community. If you are witness to or participant in an accident or incident, please submit a report so that others can be aware of potential dangers and take steps to avoid repeating the scenario. The online reporting form is here: http://www.ushpa.aero/emailacc.asp.

Photo: Mishi Richey

Brian Richey catching some early-morning air at Crestline

Finding the Sky:

Notes on Learning to Soar, Part 9 By Paul Villinski September 2002

Four months ago I walked out the front door of the old loft building in Long Island City, a grimy manufacturing neighborhood on the banks of NYC’s East River, where I’ve lived for the last 20 years. A 1985 VW Westfalia camper stood at the curb, loaded with camping gear, art supplies, a small library, my 10 favorite T-shirts, running shoes, and my paraglider. As I crossed the sidewalk to step into the van, I had the strangest sensation, a kind of body-wide lightheadedness, almost like Earth’s gravity had been dialed down around me. I felt like I was about to board a space capsule and leave everyone and everything I love behind – which was not that far from the truth. The preceding autumn and winter had been hellish, the worst I can remember. After the horriﬁc, impossible events of September 11th, New Yorkers

walked shell-shocked through our days, an undercurrent of grief and anxiety permeating every waking hour, and many dreaming hours as well. This almost surreal backdrop was colored for me by yet more heartache when the young poet I had hoped to marry left me abruptly for another. Sometime that October I sank my teeth into an idea that had been quietly percolating in my head for a year or more: Close up shop and take a summer-long paragliding trip to the Left Coast and through the western states. After witnessing 3000 ordinary lives come to an instant, tragic, and wholly unpredictable end, the value of each day was made powerfully clear. The familiar desire to try to live each day as well as possible returned more forcefully than ever. In the strange, pained light of that autumn, it seemed foolish, pointless even, to postpone my

dreams. And one stood out like an open window casting sunlight into a shuttered house. In January I told my family, friends and freelance clients that I planned to go paragliding for the summer. In the middle of May I pointed the camper west toward old Route 66 and Southern California, arriving at Marshall Peak, a premier SoCal flying site, in time for my 42nd birthday. The flying was brilliant, and I got a bellyful of it, getting into the air nearly every day during the first month. Yet, from the onset I struggled with the nagging feeling that I was being irresponsible: According to my received notions, a man at my stage of the game isn’t supposed to leave work for four months to live out of a van and (literally) chase the winds, tossing himself off mountainsides under a minimalist nylon wing at every possible opportunity. Alone in the camper at night I couldn’t

November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

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help but question what I thought I was diminutive bungalow-on-wheels onto “cloud suck.” First full stalls and negative gaining. I wasn’t earning – on the con- some prime real estate by the shore or spins in a maneuvers clinic. First really trary, I was burning up savings that some in the mountains of California, Oregon, “big air” – accompanied by first taste of other middle-aged guy would be shovel- Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming and airsickness. Nonetheless, certain members of the ing into his 401k. I wasn’t making art, or Colorado. I soaked in the varied and advancing my career in any way. I wasn’t expansive landscape of the West as it committee in my head kept insisting that getting the long list of chores done, nor unscrolled before me like an endless I was wasting time, that I should be back at home making something of myself. was I out pursuing “Ms. Right.” I wasn’t Japanese landscape painting. What I’ve come home with are some I ought to be building a life of security even reading the copy of Anna Karenina my best friend had given me to bring great new friends, and bonds one only and comfort and accomplishment, rather along. What the hell was I doing with makes through sharing risk and its re- than the life of a 42-year-old slacker-inwards, roped together on a climb, at sea training. After a particularly glorious my life? Well, on paper, what I did was roll in a small craft, or “coring up” together fl ight they might be drowned out by along two-lane and Interstate super-slab in paragliders, riding the same midday the sweet, sweeping sound of elation, for just under 15,000 miles. (And the thermal. I’ve come home with a logbook but even two months into the trip their old VW ran flawlessly, if slowly, bless its that lists 92 new fl ights at 14 different strained, worried voices persisted. They aging Germanic soul.) I spent all but 15 sites, adding up to 85 hours of airtime demanded I do something productive. I nights bunked in the camper, comfortable – tripling the hours I’ve flown since I could run, but I couldn’t hide. Finally, toward the middle of the trip, and snug as a kid in a tree fort. I camped began paragliding three years earlier. It in state parks and national forests and on was a summer of steadily making my I began to understand that I was doing BLM lands, in open fields or urban park- way up the learning curve, and relishing something productive, that for me paraing lots, on the highway shoulder, or up every inch of it, a summer of firsts and gliding resonates well beyond the minsmall dirt roads that led to streams in the personal bests. Best climb over launch utes and hours spent in the air. Flying, middle of nowhere. Often I slept yards of 5200’. Highest altitude: 14,050’ MSL. learning to soar, had taken on a signifiaway from launch, and found my feet in Longest duration: 3:55. Farthest cross- cance that was starting to sweep into the air at dawn even before my morning country fl ight of 20 miles. First experi- other countries in the map of my life. It coffee. Over the summer I moved my ence of “glass-off.” First encounter with began to seem not too much of a stretch

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to consider paragliding as a sort of model for living in general. Entering the sky under a paraglider encourages, perhaps requires, the pilot to develop certain intellectual, athletic and emotional qualities. As I considered those characteristics, I realized that each was a trait I want to embody in general, to practice in daily life. There’s an Irish saying that one’s actions become one’s habits, one’s habits become one’s character, and one’s character leads to one’s destiny. I began to understand the act of paragliding as an act of becoming myself. While such an idea may appear grandiose, I suspect that it isn’t uncommon among those who pursue their passions with conviction. I know artists and musicians who feel that their work is not just a form of self-expression, but a means of self-invention. I know athletes who, though they may not articulate it in these terms, believe in the far-reaching consequences of their pursuits, whether it’s marathon running or mountaineering. Certainly, practitioners of yoga hope that the qualities their practice develops will reach into other corners of their lives. Perhaps any realm in which we challenge ourselves, attempt to move through our fear, push ourselves beyond the boundaries of what we know, can become a paradigm for our lives in general. When I view paragliding through this lens, I see it not as an “adrenaline sport” but as a vehicle for exploration, a means of growth. The thoughtful pilot is not an excitement junky, but someone pursuing the challenges and rewards available only outside the comfortable confines of the mundane. Over the summer, there were a number of things I began to feel I was learning while learning to fly: Acceptance, and patience, because the sport is so maddeningly weather-dependent and the window of flyable conditions is so small. Judgment, because I have to realistically appraise whether that window is open, or whether I’m trying desperately to pry it open with the crowbar of wishful thinking. (It’s been said that the amount of judgment required to fly an aircraft is inversely proportional to its mass, and there’s no aircraft with less mass than a paraglider.) Humility, because gravity is so much bigger than I am. Selfconfidence and positive thinking, be-

cause I’m just not going to leave the the serene wonder of floating out over mountain top without them. Finesse and the valley at King Mountain in an eveathleticism, because this aircraft needs ning “glass-off,” a mile over the ground, feel and coordination much more than watching the sun set over the pastoral brute strength. The ability to tolerate farmlands and the distant mountains. fear, because I’ve found that fear is usual- We can only tell each other such things ly present whenever I’m doing something are possible. for the first time, and learning to fly is full of first times. The ability to integrate The first eight installments of “Finding the intellect and intuition, because I’ve got to Sky: Learning to Soar” can be found in these use all the intelligence I’ve got up there – issues of Hang Gliding & Paragliding after all, the medium I’m trying to nego- magazine: June, July, November and tiate is invisible, and the craft I’m doing it December of 2005; January, February, in is unpowered. The nerve to forgo secu- March and August of 2006. rity in pursuit of the sublime, because the sublime doesn’t come to me, I have to go Since writing this series of articles in meet it where it lives, and that can lead 2002, Paul has continued to live in New out towards the edge. I’m not suggesting York City and pursue his career as a visual that I’m especially good at these things, artist and exhibit designer, along with his just that I’ve found an area in which to “ hobby” of soaring. Lately, he says, “Flying practice them. I’ve come to see that soar- has influenced my subject matter as an ing can be practice for living. artist, resulting in winged artworks, metaUltimately, the external reality of phoric ‘flying machine’ sculptures, and the learning to fly has an internal counter- use of butterfly and bird imagery. I feel part. Paragliding occurs in two places, very fortunate to have my two passions two landscapes. The landscape of the converge in this way.” His artwork can be actual is where one watches weather, seen at Morgan Lehman Gallery in NYC masters the skills necessary to control (www.morganlehmangallery.com) or on his the wing, hikes up to launch, and enters Web site, www.paulvillinski.com. the sky. The other is an inner terrain, a In August of 2003, Paul stumbled upon landscape of frustration and satisfaction, a glider club in Middletown, N.Y., and doubt and confidence, fear and courage, took a demo flight. “The commercial pilot disappointment and joy. In learning to fly who took me up may as well have been a one traverses both landscapes simultane- drug dealer saying ‘Here kid, try this, the ously, finding one’s way into the sky, and first one’s free.’” By the following January he’d earned his private pilot glider ticket, finding one’s self. In the end, the experience of flying a and that May he found himself trailering paraglider is so utterly unlike anything his “new” 1975 Schweizer 1-35 sailplane else that there’s no reference for it except home from Albuquerque to New York. (Cost: dream. And, just as language is never about the same as a new, high-end hang really equal to the task of conveying a glider.) He’s found the transition from the dream, it falls short here as well. As it 8:1 glide of a paraglider to the 38:1 glide of must: If we could simply experience a sailplane “compelling,” and has logged over a thing through the retelling of it, we 200 hours in sailplanes, including a “Gold might never leave our kitchen tables. In Distance” flight of over 300 km, and wave a sense, then, it’s fortunate that I cannot flights to over 16,000’. Given the improved actually give you the quiet satisfac- opportunities for airtime in sailplanes in the tion of a crisp, controlled takeoff from Northeast, paragliding has taken a back seat. a 3000-foot vertical cliff launch in the But he still loves the “ bare-bones” experiSierras, after months of ground-handling ence of paragliding, and the direct involvepractice learning to manage the wing. I ment with the air one is flying through. He cannot give you the delight of following joins his paragliding buddies on an annual a pair of rambunctious blue-black ravens March trip to South America for his “pure” frolicking aerobatically over the cliffs at paragliding fix. Torrey Pines – merely humoring us awkward human interlopers, their quick snaprolls almost a taunt. I cannot give you November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

An Old Flying Site and a New ED For the Foundation: A Mishmash of Histories By Don Saito Photos courtesy Connie Locke

Unidentiﬁed pilot launching from Dunlap

Not long after the sport of hang gliding first began to get popular in the 1970s, Dunlap was discovered, and found to be one of the best, most consistent mountain flying sites in the entire state of California. That was really its greatest claim to fame: consistency. Most other inland sites required a careful analysis of predicted weather conditions to try to avoid getting skunked, but with Dunlap, it wasn’t nearly as critical; if it looked even semi-decent, there was a good chance you would fly. Being set amidst the foothills of the Sierras, the mountains are “smaller,” and less radical. Dunlap was perfect for getting into shape for the summer XC season, and it was excellent in the spring, summer and fall for intermediate pilots just starting to learn XC skills. With varied terrain containing mountains, ridges, valleys, and flat areas, coupled with multiple XC routes to choose from at various levels of difficulty, the Dunlap flying site was a perfect XC practice ground. If you’ve ever just jumped into hard-core XC without warming up for it at least a few weeks in advance, you know: Those bullet thermals, and escape

missed flying.” Around 1995, while Connie was still in her not-flying state, Pat Denevan of Mission Soaring in Milpitas, California, bought the property and hired Steve Koscis to run the place. The ownership of the property was eventually picked up by Steve, and a few years later, in 2001 or 2002, Dan Fleming acquired ownership. During these years, the flying at Dunlap diminished, due to the rapidly changing status of the site, resulting in access, protocol and fees becoming confusingly variable. Meanwhile, the leaseholders at launch refused to lease the property to Pat, Steve, Dan, or any other pilot. They did approach Connie, saying that only she could hold the lease – if she was not amenable to being the launch leaseholder, they would close the Dunlap launch runs from cumulus cloud suck, can really permanently. Connie agreed to hold the take it out of your hide. Dunlap was great lease, even though at that point she was for getting your “flying muscles” into no longer flying hang gliders, because condition, and dusting off your thermal- she didn’t want to see hang gliding shut ing skills, without raking you over the down in Dunlap. coals too badly. Currently, Dunlap is open and the site In 1977, Connie Work (was Bowen, is flyable for both hang gliders and paraand is now married to Russ Locke) gliders. Members of the Fresno Hang bought from her parents the land that Gliding Club can land on Dan Fleming’s was eventually to become Dunlap Flight property (the old LZ) with his permisPark. In September of 1982, she first sion, and a few hang glider pilots from learned to fly from a training hill at the elsewhere still come to fly, but land out back of the old Dunlap LZ. In less than in the other open fields around the area, a year, she began to compete, and after including the (recently approved) nearby five short years she became a member of elementary school field. the Women’s World Team in 1988. From About the launch, Connie says, “I do 1992 to 2003, Connie took a break from appreciate prior notice when someone is flying, but with the help, support, and coming up flying, and most pilots have urging of her husband Russ, she got back into hang gliding at the Wallaby Ranch Hang Gliding Flight Park, near Orlando, Florida. “Russ took me to Wallaby to get me back into flying. He also wanted to teach me not to use the term ‘never’ in my vocabulary. I had told him he would ‘never’ get me to tow. Of course, he proved me wrong with the help of the very capable staff at Wallaby, and Malcolm in par- Paul Voight taking Connie’s daughter Carrera for a flight from Dunlap ticular. I am glad he did, as I had really

November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

currently the only breakfast place. The Lodge in Pinehurst (the steak house) is still in business, but you should make reservations. The Memories Inn near the post office burned down several years ago, but has been in the process of being rebuilt for several years. The building is now finished and should be open soon. They should also have breakfast when it opens. There is a bar/motel on Highway 180 just past Dunlap Road that offers entertainment. Bear Mountain Pizza, located in Squaw Valley next to Bear Mountain, makes a pretty good pizza and has lots of room for large groups.” Whether you’re an old-time Dunlap pilot who hasn’t flown there for years or a newcomer to the area, you’re invited to contact Connie and enjoy the amenities of this site, famed for its consistency and well enough respected to have been the location of the hang gliding nationals in 1983 and again in 1989. So how did Connie Locke move from landowner/leaseholder of a California flying site to the position of executive director of the Foundation for Hang Gliding and Paragliding (forMosquito Power Harness merly USHGF)? Connie explains: “As a past USHGA director, I have always been interested in the underlying structure of the organization, and have been particularly concerned with issues concerning safety and competition. I began accompanying Russ to board meetings again when we married in 2003. It didn’t Pilot: Paul Mitchell take long for me Two New Options Available to get actively involved. I became • Internal Fuel Tank an honorary direc• High Performance tor last year and Exhaust with Silencer New tank pictured above currently I work Dealers across America and Canada on a few comwww.mosquitoamerica.com mittees involved Traverse City Hang Gliders/Paragliders with overhauling Bill Fifer • Traverse City, MI the competition

been very cooperative. It just gives me the opportunity to make sure everyone knows about any changes, current rules, the availability of lodging (if there are other functions going on in the area) and possible no-fly zones.” To fly Dunlap, all pilots must register with Connie to verify current USHPA membership, hold a minimum H-3/P-3 rating, or be sponsored by an approved host (instructor/observer/etc.), and pay a $20 annual fee to help offset the cost of the lease. There are four places pilots can stay: the Sequoia Highlands offers camping up near launch, with showers, cooking facilities, and cabins available; there are camping facilities at the St. Nicholas Ranch, located down in Dunlap; cabins are available at The Hummingbirds, and there’s the Sierra Inn on Highway 180. Connie offers some updates on a few of the Dunlap area’s amenities: “The small gas station and convenience store on Highway 180 are still there. Also, the Mom & Pop restaurant, where the old road to the fl ight park came out to Highway 180, is still in business and is

system and increasing the number of regional competitions and fun flyins. “Through my involvement with the association I became involved with the Grant Connie Locke committee of the Foundation. I served on that committee for around a year, and once the decision was made to separate the offices of the USHPA and the Foundation, I agreed to take on the executive director position for the Foundation. I still stay involved with the association and with the Grant committee, but my main focus has become the day-to-day operation of the Foundation. “I really enjoy the challenges presented by being the ED and am proud to be an integral part of an organization dedicated to preserving our interests. It gives us great pride to provide clubs with the resources necessary to achieve their goals, to help our top competitors represent our country, and to help fund safety and education programs. We are constantly being presented with new challenges and it is very difficult to have to turn anyone away; we try to fairly help as many as possible. “Our greatest challenge is finding the resources to accomplish the requests we receive. Donations are hard to come by and the support you all give is highly appreciated by those receiving help. It is also a great benefit to have clubs donate back the funds they have been granted in order to further our abilities, as the Point of the Mountain club has been doing. “If you need help with your project or have some help to give, call or email me. And, by all means, come see me in Dunlap so we can go flying together.” You can reach Connie for flying information or Foundation business at connie@lockelectric.com, or call 888-262-4264.

231-922-2844 phone/fax • tchanglider@chartermi.net

November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

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Take a Tour – That’s the Ticket! Article and photos by Marjorie Variano

Kevin McGinley soaring el Torre

November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

On glide over the mesa

It was the middle of winter, and I hadn’t seen my wing in several months, yet here I was in Valle de Bravo, “The Valley of the Brave.” I’d heard this Mexican site is paragliding heaven, with very consistent conditions. I wondered if I, a new P-2, was making a mistake coming to a place where top pilots fly. I was with two USHPA paragliding Instructors of the Year – I knew I’d be OK. People “in the know” from all parts of the country had told me, “If you want to learn from the best, go to Eagle Paragliding and learn from Rob Sporrer and Marty DeVietti.” Before I committed to going on the trip to Valle, Rob and Marty assured me they would take good care of me, I would learn a lot, and I would have a great time. I must say, all of that was complete understatement! I learned more than I thought possible, and safety was always the primary focus. A good time? Given the paragliding, the gourmet dinners by master chef Kevin McGinley, hanging at the gorgeous house with the magnificent view overlooking the lake, being at peace knowing someone would always be there to pick me up and bring me home after landing, the new relationships, I couldn’t have had a better time! There was something really special about all of the pilots staying together in that huge house. The experience was really intimate as we enjoyed music, laughter, and flying stories around the fireplace in the evenings. My first fl ight in Valle was a solo fl ight in the evening glassoff. We waited until the air was smooth so launching and flying would be easier for a newbie, but still my hands were shaking as I unpacked my wing and prepared my equipment for my first fl ight in Valle. I was excited and fearful all at once. It was like the feeling you get as you crest the incline of a rollercoaster prior to the fast, steep thrill-ride down – wonderful and terrifying all at once. Before I knew it, it was my turn to launch. November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

View of el Peñon from the Piano LZ, right below launch

“Breathe… whew… breathe… take a deep breath… calm down… relax… here we go, get focused, you’re ﬁne.” The thoughts ran through my head faster and faster. “Lean back, relax,” came the calming voice over the radio. Oh, yeah, I’ve got to relax. My fears subsided for a second and then my thoughts took over again. Am I getting too low? Here’s the thermal, hands up, now a little more pressure on the brakes. Whoa, there it is, this is it, a thermal, this is what I’m looking for, that bump was my friend. “OK, Marge, turn left, more left brake, lean, good, you’ve got it,” the voice of reason coached me as I climbed higher. The sounds of success from my variometer – beep, beep, beep! – alerted me that I was going higher and higher. Rob radioed me words of encouragement: “You got it, girl!” He was so calm and conﬁdent, and happy for me.

Relax, breathe, I told myself as I continued climbing. I was really thermaling! but my nerves made it too hard to think and enjoy it. After I landed, I realized I hadn’t taken time to savor the fl ight. I had been flying on a beautiful night as the sun was setting and I had forgotten to take it all in! I vowed not to let that happen again, and I did feel more confident and excited. The Eagle gang has some of the nation’s top pilots on staff to give tandem instruction to tour participants, and on my second day in Valle I took my first tandem fl ight. Chip Hildebrand is an incredible pilot, and I felt very safe and eager to learn everything during our excellent cross-country experience. “Look!” was the first thing I remember him saying. To my surprise, I felt neither fear nor panic looking up at the wing and seeing the deflated tip. We weight-

shifted to keep our heading. Chip gave a few quick pumps as we continued to lean in the right direction, and Poof! The wing tip was once again inflated. Chip seemed to instinctively know where to find thermal activity. Throughout the fl ight, he explained what he was doing and why. At one point I mentioned that I wasn’t sure how much I could, or should, lean when I turn. “Lean

The sunset view from the mansion

November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

as much as you can. Here, try it – lean, lean farther, more, you can’t possibly lean too much! It all depends on the type of turn you want to make. You’ll get it, don’t worry.” His calming voice and confidence made me believe I could do it. Allowing me to experience that feeling of leaning drastically, without any ill effect, dramatically improved my confidence and made me realize how much control I had with weight shift. Over the course of the week, I took two more tandem fl ights, one with Rob and one with Marty. Rob and I took off late in the morning after almost everyone else had launched. He’d work an area and gain some altitude, top out, and go in search of another. He had me look for indications of wind direction and any signs that would help us find lift. I was starting to get it. The birds, the land heating up, the wind direction, the smoke from small brush fi res, the slope of the terrain, the clouds forming, the other pilots – all gave us clues. On my tandem fl ight with Marty, we launched early. His tandem was set up with dual controls to allow the student to take control of the glider – but if I made a mistake, Marty could quickly take over. We flew all the way from el Peñon to the lake. It was glorious! Throughout the fl ight, Marty asked me questions and answered all of mine while giving me a clearer understanding of the thermals, the wind drift, the pilot inputs, and the surge control. I was growing as a pilot minute by minute. I had several more solo fl ights that week and with each one I gained confidence and greater understanding. When the week was over, I couldn’t believe how much I had learned and how far I had come. I hadn’t made it on my own over the back of launch, but I’d had solo fl ights that had lasted over an hour, and I felt more and more like a pilot. Returning home, all I could think of was flying. I wished I’d had just a few more fl ights. Maybe I could have gone over the back. Maybe I would have been more confident and stayed up longer. I took my mind off flying by shopping for some bi-lingual books and toys for the children in Valle. The other pilots and I wanted to do something for the youngsters there, so I intended to buy some things and send them back to Valle since the Eagle group would be there for another two weeks. Shipping the items back to Valle, it turned out, wasn’t easy – I jokingly commented that it would be easier to fly back and bring the books myself. Well, one thing led to another, and a few days later, I was on my way back to Valle. The second week exceeded all my expectations. I flew better each and every day. During the three tours Rob and Marty ran, they flew every day, twice a day, and even with all those fl ights and the various levels of pilots, the only injury was a minor finger sprain, and that pilot was back flying the next day. On my last day in Valle, the air was quite active. It was bumpier than I had ever experienced and required a lot of thought and active piloting. I fought to stay up and gain the altitude needed to go over the back. Throughout the fl ight, I was given words of encouragement from my instructors. After reaching 9000 feet for about the third time that morning, I heard Rob’s voice on the radio: “OK, Marge, finish that last turn and follow me. We’re going over the back.” November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

Billy Purden at cloudbase

El Peñon launch: an open slope with good wind conditions

I followed Rob over the back of launch; we glided for a bit then I saw him begin to climb in a thermal. He coached me to circle in the lift and guided me as we drifted farther away from launch. I am going to land at the soccer field LZ, I thought to myself. How cool! But we kept finding thermals and drifting farther and climbing higher. Wow, we had gained enough altitude to make it to Jovan’s restaurant, which is an LZ even farther away! But again, we found lift and climbed higher and higher, gaining altitude faster than I ever had before. Rob reported via radio: “Rob and Marge climbing through 12,000 at Casa.” We topped out in that thermal and Rob radioed: “Rob and Marge heading to the lake.” I looked down at my vario – 13,150 feet! We pointed towards the lake and were on our way to the ultimate LZ, the lake. I had listened to stories of pilots making it back to the lake, the Holy Grail of Valle flying. I’d believed that only the really good pilots made it from el Peñon to the lake, but now I had a guide who gave me the knowledge, confidence and guidance that allowed me to reach it. After we’d glided a while, Rob radioed, “Relax and enjoy the view, Marge – we have the lake made easy.” He was certainly right; we reached the lake at 9800 feet. Rob sped past me, confident that his student would reach the LZ. I watched as he and his glider danced

over the water, spiraling down, gliding through the air with complete delight. I’ll never forget that day, the feeling I felt as I landed, and the smiles on the faces of everyone. Paragliding was no longer a thrill ride. It had become a sport. It’s hard to put into words what my two weeks in Valle with the Eagle Paragliding team has meant. Every time I had a question, every time I needed a reassuring word, every time I asked that something be re-explained, they were there and ready to give me all the at-

tention I needed. Their patience, clear explanations, and exceptional questioning techniques ensure the success of all their students, from the least experienced to those with years of flying under their wing. I felt safe and secure under their tutelage. Very few people in this world ever get to experience the gift of soaring in the air, climbing higher and higher, looking out into the horizon. I am certain I would have given up flying had it not been for the instruction and caring I’ve received from all the team who ran this tour. It is because of them that I will continue to learn and grow as a pilot and be able to experience the pure joy of flying in the air with the wind in my face, feeling the freedom of being in the sky. Surely Dixon White is looking down proudly, watching his protégés carrying on his legacy in such a professional and fun manner. If one two-week tour produced this much magic, what might happen with a second helping? Marge has already booked her two weeks with Eagle Paragliding for 2007, with high hopes and expectations.

On glide to the lake!

November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

L_hjkWb IeWh_d] By Eric Carden

It’s a rainy winter weekend. You’re itching to fly, but it looks like another weekend will come and go with no airtime. You’re beginning to wonder if you’ll even remember how to thermal, if you ever get to fly again. Don’t fret. Within minutes you can be airborne in soarable conditions anywhere on Earth. Just pick the flying site and the soaring conditions you want, and there you are – airborne and looking for lift. You can even invite some flying buddies and fly together, set a fl ight task and race, or just free-fly. Military, commercial, and space shuttle pilots have used simulators for years to improve their skills. We recreational pilots will probably never offer up enough “play” money to have access to such soph ist ic ated fl ight simula-

tors, but if you have a decent computer at home, you can set up a nice little in-home soaring simulator for less than $100. This article will introduce you to PC-based soaring simulation, or “virtual” soaring, using Microsoft Flight Simulator. While this virtual soaring can’t produce nearly as big a grin as real flying, it’s still a lot of fun and can even help you become a better pilot. How realistic can this simulated soaring be? Microsoft calls its Flight Simulator (FS) product a “game,” although most FS users feel a little slighted by this categorization. This “game” is realistic enough that most kids would be bored stiff with it before even getting a plane off the ground. This is one adult game with no objectionable content (unless, of course, you object to aircraft with engines). FS offers about as much realism as you’ll find in any consumergrade fl ight simulator. FS is mainly a simulator for powered aircraft, but there are plenty of freeware programs on the Internet that can turn FS into a decent soaring simulator. There

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are add-ons for more realistic thermal and ridge lift, a hang glider aircraft, an instrument set (GPS, ﬂ ight computer, and audio vario), and more. Because FS has such market dominance and such a network of add-on developers, the vast majority of virtual soaring pilots choose

FS over any available soaring-speciﬁc ﬂ ight simulator. Virtual soaring is a good way to hone

workout, crank up the wind, and make the thermals narrow, weak, scarce, bumpy, and short-lived. If you’re just learning to thermal, make the winds calm, and make the thermals broad, strong, plentiful, smooth, and long-lived. As your thermaling skill improves, gradually increase the difficulty. If you want to practice an XC route, just set up the conditions you want, and go for it. Make several fl ights in different conditions, and learn how to vary your tactics given different ceilings, thermal strengths, wind conditions, and so on. Set a fl ight task, load a fl ight polar, and practice using your GPS and speedsto-fly. Fly with a buddy for competition, to practice team flying, or just to learn from him. Fly with that aggravating local pilot who never sinks out, and learn how he does it. Make a virtual team XC fl ight or two, and my guess is that you’ll be wondering why you haven’t done more (real) team XC flying. In my own simulated soaring, I’ve your thermaling and XC skills. Set condi- learned some things that have helped tions to be as easy or as tough as you want. my real flying. For example, I’ve learned If you’re looking for a good thermaling about what I like to call “fool’s lift.” This

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is lift that ends up being uselessly brief, even though at first encounter it’s very enticing. I’ve lost many a thermal by altering my circle immediately upon hitting a strong shot of lift. Most of the time this turns out to be “fool’s lift,” and I (the fool) fall for it, which ultimately leads to my losing the thermal. I’ve learned to try to ignore these spurious shots of lift and to be more reluctant to alter a circle that’s been averaging a decent climb. I’ve learned to focus more on the average strength profi le of a thermal rather than chasing every little bump in it. I lose a lot fewer thermals when I stick to this rule. Another benefit of virtual soaring is that you can familiarize yourself with an area where you expect, or hope, to fly some day. Imagine you’re planning to fly in a competition next spring at an unfamiliar site. Just talk with someone who’s flown there before, and get an idea of likely fl ight tasks. Get the GPS waypoint data, if you can. Find out what conditions are like there, too. Then do some simulated soaring at this site to prepare for the competition. You’ll learn key places where you need to be high, just how high you need to be in these places, where there are areas of good LZs, and much more. When you show up for the competition, you’ll be a lot more familiar with the area and thus more free to focus

on the all-important task of ﬁnding and working lift. A U.S.-based online virtual soaring “society,” called SOAR, oﬀers a lot more information on virtual soaring. Their Web site (http://virtualsoaring. org) has links to and articles on freeware and payware soaring-related FS addons. It also has a message board, which is a great place to get help with any FS soaring-related questions, like any ques-

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tions that come up while getting your system set up at home. Site contributors occasionally organize and conduct competitions (some of which are multi-player). It’s an all-volunteer organization made up mostly of real-world sailplane pilots. I’d like to see a few more real-world hang glider and paraglider pilots in the SOAR ranks and would love to see an occasional virtual multi-player HG/PG competition. Here’s how you can give virtual soaring a try. First, get a copy of Microsoft Flight Simulator. A new version (FSX, or FS10) is due for release in October 2006, but you can still find FS2004, which you’ll get at a bargain. Expect to pay about $30 for FS2004 or about $50 for FSX. FS documentation will give minimum PC hardware requirements, but if your computer is less than five years old, it will probably do. I recommend using FS2004 until at least six months after the release of FSX or until you’ve made sure that the most important FS add-ons are compatible with FSX. New versions of FS are often incompatible with some add-ons, and it usually takes several months for affected add-on developers to release updated versions of their add-ons. You won’t be very happy with FSX if the add-on that creates thermals has compatibility issues! Next, get a simple joystick. Yeah, it’s unrealistic to fly a hang glider or para-

glider with a joystick, but it won’t bother you for long. After all, the biggest challenges in being a good pilot are in your mind, not in the physical control of the glider. You don’t need a fancy joystick, just one with a thumboperated point of view (POV) “hat” and a couple of t hu mb-operated buttons. The POV hat makes it easy to look in any direction using only your thumb. The buttons are handy to set up for adjusting your pitch trim, which lets you set a speed and fly hands-off till you need to turn. You can find a suitable joystick for around $30. After installing FS and a joystick, download and install a freeware add-on called Cross-Country Soaring (CCS, http:// x-c.home.att.net). CCS gives FS much more realistic thermal and ridge-soaring conditions than Microsoft provides. At this

point, you’re basically ready to go soaring. You’ll probably want a couple of other things first, though. FS2004 comes with only one glider, a sailplane, and it doesn’t even have an audio vario. There are plenty of freeware and payware gliders available on the Internet, and you can even get programs that you can use to build your own FS glider. A good start is a freeware Moyes Litespeed hang glider. This glider has a fairly accurate fl ight polar and a nice instrumentation set (audio vario, GPS, and fl ight computer). Download this glider at http://x-c.home .att.net/litespeed/Litespeed20060304.zip, or search the SOAR message board using the keyword “Litespeed” to look for possible updated versions of the glider released after the date of this writing. After setting up your basic system (FS, a joystick, CCS, and a glider), you may want to expand your setup. You can do basic multi-player flying without any extra stuff. However, most multi-player pilots use a freeware add-on program that allows pilots to connect to full-time multi-player servers, rather than one member of a multi-player session needing to act as “host.” You’ll need another freeware add-on to add voice communications to your multi-player fl ights. With a microphone and this add-on, you can talk with all other pilots in your session just as if you were all flying with two-way radios. Other freeware add-ons give you the ability to plan fl ight tasks, analyze track logs and barographs, manage fl ight polars, hand-place thermals, alter aircraft, and more. Many virtual soaring pilots find and install improved visual scenery and topography data for their favorite flying areas, making their virtual soaring more visually realistic. If you have an add-on in mind, there’s a good chance it exists. I hope the coming months bring us all plenty of good soaring, but if you hit a wet spell, maybe I’ll see you in the air online. If you have questions or need help getting your home PC set up for virtual soaring, post your question on the SOAR message board, or email me at eric.carden@att.net. “Yes, I see you – and I really think it’s you this time! You’re way west of me.” They turned off the rough track they were following. Through dry creek beds and boulder fields they drove cross-country. After half an hour they saw me, standing alone amidst the emptiness. There was not a tree in sight, nothing to distinguish the lonely place I’d landed. ******************* Eric flies hang gliders and paragliders at Keel Mountain near Huntsville, Alabama, where he works as an engineer. His lovely wife, Julie, is very understanding of his soaring addiction, which he occasionally appeases by flying ultralights with engines (only when the wind’s no good for the mountain, of course).

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Andy Akuwits at around 13 grand ﬂying above Anvil Point (see article on pages 55-57) Photo: Karl Decker

Norwegian pilot Jon Gjerde, hang gliding aerobatic gold medalist, otter-sliding across the spot during the Red Bull Vertigo/ 1st FAI World Hang Gliding and Paragliding Aerobatic Championship, held in Villeneuve, Switzerland, last August

On Being a Flying Mentor

By John Matylonek, john@oregonhanggliding.com Photos by Doris Robinson

the instructor can control variables of challenge. Third, most of the judgment regarding what constitutes an appropriate escalation of challenge comes from the instructor. A mentor must accept more ambiguity and choice on the part of the new pilot on all these points. After all, we are each solely responsible for our own flying. So, how does one actually take on the task of mentoring a pilot’s first fl ight at a new site? The mentor should:

John Matylonek providing strategic advice at Cape Lookout.

Mentoring is a term used to describe an advisor relationship. In flying, providing this advice is a very specific kind of activity. This article will describe the responsibilities of mentors, what their limits are, and some common misunderstandings of the role. New mountain pilots have been trained in more controlled and structured situations than what they’ll encounter at the local flying site. In those ideal conditions, the instructor sets up the challenge level to meet the skill level of the student. The learning stages are set so that the student pilot experiences minimum anxiety or frustration, but is still challenged. At first, the emphasis is on physical control or technique. As lessons proceed, the emphasis turns to intellectual or strategic skills. However, even the most thoroughly trained pilots cannot learn from one instructor or school all the strategic proficiency they will need to fly different sites. This is where the mentor steps in. Mentors provide the knowledge, experience and encouragement to help the new pilot recognize and handle unfamiliar sites and situations. While a mentor can steer a new pilot in the right direction to reach his or her potential, a mentor can’t,

and shouldn’t, attempt to inﬂuence a new pilot to ﬂy against his will or beyond her comfort level. Even advanced pilots need advice from local pilots when visiting a new site, so don’t think this article only applies to greenhorns! Mentoring Roles and Responsibilities

There can be some confusion between the roles of instructor and mentor. Describing some of the differences here can be useful and may help aspiring mentors hone their relationship skills. Instructors are paid by the student to provide a USPHA-certified level of teaching. Instructors use this authority to help the student surrender to the proficiency standards of FAR Part 104 of the USHPA Standard Operating Procedures and the training regimen of the school. This situation is far different from the advice given by fellow pilots to a newcomer on the mountain. First of all, the student defers to the instructor because earning ratings depends on it. Second, the student and instructor can accept more frustration and challenge closer to the pilot’s personal limits because the instructor is familiar with the student’s learning history and

• Reflect on the true motivations for becoming a mentor. If wanting acknowledgment and status is part of the intent, to bolster your ego, then you are apt to make your relationship with the new pilot the focus, rather than the successful fl ight. • Create a positive climate for open communication. It is important to avoid treating the new pilot as less than competent, or incapable. Over the long term, a positive relationship will be created by your genuine interest in the new pilot and his or her appreciation of your role. Share your own thought processes and fallibilities with your mentee. This creates trust. • Provide guidance based on past experiences at the local site. This needs to be done sensitively. If mentoring is turned into a boring (or even an exciting) reminiscence session, it will be unsuccessful and will probably prove that your motivation for becoming a mentor is faulty. Guidance should always be as minimal as possible, and should follow directly from the stated concerns of the new pilot. Make sure you understand the new pilot’s emotional state. Remember how anxious and tense you were at unfamiliar sites when you started flying? Even advanced pilots can get nervous at unfamiliar sites. Never rush or demand performance based on your schedule or itinerary. • Request to see the new pilot’s

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structive, specific feedback. If a persistent and habitual (over several fl ights) faulty technique begins to appear, it is very helpful to provide the specific movement or actions that a pilot must use to correct the technique. Simply saying, “That launch sucked” is useless. If you are not sure how to offer appropriate feedback, then recommend a certified instructor. • Offer this constructive criticism in a supportive way, always celebrating what was done right first, before offering suggestions for improvement. Familiarity eases some of the difficulty of providing a proper incremental experience, and lessens the emotional burden on the mentor. So, after the fi rst couple sucHaving an experienced mentor close at hand in unfamiliar conditions is a conficessful fl ights, and after observing other dence booster and an added safety factor for a new pilot. pilots flying in various conditions, the new pilot becomes more reliable at the • Avoid being overly concerned with new site. They begin to exercise personal USHPA card to make sure they are perfect launch and landing tech- limits as they recognize safety margins qualified to fly the site. But do it nique. Everyone regresses under required at their skill level. Once you more like a liquor store cashier than stress, and anyone’s wing can be see your mentee launching, soaring and a Gestapo agent! • Use knowledge of the pilot’s rating lifted or buffeted at any time. What landing successfully you can’t help feelis more important is that the appro- ing somewhat responsible for the flight. AND their currency to help identify priate corrective actions are taken. It’s a rewarding feeling that all helpers an appropriate place and time to fly. Resolve to stop the instantaneous experience – so enjoy! Remember, ratings are simply snapjudgment that occurs right after shots of skills demonstrated at a parlaunch – it’s a nasty habit that can ticular time. • Help the pilot you’re mentoring dequickly degrade to gossip. • Be prepared to offer objective, convelop an appropriate fl ight plan. For most novices, control skills are not the issue. They have already proven their ability at control except in the most extreme or special situations, e.g. high wind cliffs, high altitude, shallow slopes, tow. The fl ight plan should be the safe strategy one would use in the particular situation at hand. Lead the new pilot through the problem-solving processes. Construct the plan as a team solving a particular technical problem. Try to come to the same good solution. • Avoid setting up a situation whereby the mentor is seen to be “checking up” on the new pilot. Remember, we are trying to create independent and self-reliant pilots. This means agreeing when contact will be made or sought and, where possible, leaving it up to the new pilot to get in touch at previously agreed-upon times. Pilot and mentor reviewing flight plan before launch November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

Winter Escapes: Valle de Bravo, Mexico

Article and photos by Darren Darsey

Last January my home city of Seattle was living up to its reputation of being a damn wet place to live. We’d had 28 consecutive days of rain and we were well on our way to breaking the all-time record of 33 when I decided that I needed an escape. I had to see the sun again and I couldn’t wait until summer. Valle de Bravo, Mexico, seemed like the natural choice: warm, inexpensive,

A morning ﬂight above Valle de Bravo

and picturesque. I had heard from some of our local paraglider pilots, who had just returned from the Monarca Open in Valle, that the flying in Valle was amazing and the area had very consistent conditions throughout the winter. One pilot, John “Ole” Olsen, had logged a record 65 consecutive days of soaring. All of this sounded great, but it’s one thing to travel to exotic places with a paraglider and quite a different proposition as a hang glider pilot. The hassle of short-packing my wing and dealing with getting it on an airplane and through customs would be a big drawback in an otherwise fun and exciting week. Luckily this doesn’t have to be a problem for hang glider pilots wanting to fly Valle, as Jeff Hunt of Fly Mexico has a large selection of hang gliders for visiting pilots and, combined with the well-organized and easy transportation to and from Mexico

City airport, the travel experience he provides is smooth and trouble-free. I had learned about Jeﬀ ’s operation through several trip reports that were posted to club Web sites. Everyone had great things to say about their experience there, with the common regret being only that they couldn’t stay longer. I didn’t need much more convincing than that, and I contacted Jeﬀ via FlyMexico .com to organize my escape from the Northwest winter. Valle de Bravo is located on the shore of Lake Avándaro, approximately 100 km WSW of Mexico City. The “valle” is surrounded by hills and pine forests at an elevation of approximately 6500’. The town is very picturesque, with cobblestone streets, wide slanting terracotta roofs, wrought-iron balconies, and beautiful courtyards. It is sometimes referred to as the Switzerland of Mexico; the

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shopping, you’ll find a wide variety of ways to fi ll your belly, from inexpensive street vendors selling all types of tasty delights to a wide range of fine-dining restaurants. The adventure is in exploring the town on foot and discovering all these places on your own. Beyond shopping and eating, there is hiking, biking, sailing, waterskiing, or viewing the hundreds of thousands of Monarch butterfl ies that reside near Valle in the winter. If all that isn’t enough, you can take a short drive to Nevado de Toluca, a 14,000’ extinct volcano with a road all the way to the top and a couple of small lakes in its crater for daring skinny dippers. The views are amazing from the rim, looking out over the valley and the city of Toluca. In addition, if you’re interested in Spanish, Jeff ’s wife offers private Flight from El Peñon back to Valle language lessons to pilots and/or their families, after which you can go out onto comparison may not be completely accu- town again, its streets traveled only by the street and immediately make use of rate, but it expresses the contrast between the locals and part-time winter residents what you’ve learned. conventional notions of Mexican towns going about their day. In short, there is a lot to do here… and Valle’s European feel. Valle serves as My wife was not able to join me on this if you ever get tired of the flying. Yeah, a weekend retreat for affluent residents trip, which was unfortunate, as Valle is right. of Mexico City, and the town’s popula- an ideal place to vacation with non-flying Flying was what was on my mind tion swells a couple days each week with family members. There is so much to do as I woke up to a warm sunny morning the influx – you’ll find some shops that besides flying that there is no chance of and beautiful views of the lake from the are open only three days a week to cater getting bored. Valle has great shopping, multi-story villa Jeff has set up for visiting to these weekend visitors. During the from the Mercado de Artesanias to small pilots. From the villa it’s just a short walk week, Valle becomes a placid hillside craft and textile shops. And as you’re up the hill to the town square or along

The LZ and the BogaBoga Cafe November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

smooth, predictable conditions for landing (and post-fl ight lounging). Once everyone had arrived and loaded their gear onto the shuttle vehicles, we headed out of town toward El Peñon and the nearly 8000’ launch. Along the way Jeff pointed out areas that were good for landing out and explained the local wind patterns and the convergence that often sets up between the lake and the launch. The paved road soon turned to dirt and The market in Valle we wound our way up through the pinethe waterfront to the clubhouse and LZ. covered hills to arrive at launch, a clear, Since it was our first day and we weren’t nicely sloped area on the shoulder of a oriented to the area yet, we met our driver large plateau. in front of the villa and loaded our equipIt was 11:00 a.m. when we started setment for the short ride through town to ting up our gliders and, already, powerful the clubhouse and lakeside landing area. thermal cycles were coming up the hill. The LZ is a small area of manicured grass A bailout LZ lies directly below launch, near the shore, and the breeze coming in but there would be no need for it today. off the lake in the afternoons makes for We all got off the hill quickly and imme-

Setting up on El Peñon launch

diately started climbing. It was going to be a bit of a rodeo in the strong, narrow thermals, and, not having flown in that sort of conditions for six or seven months, I could tell it was going to take a day or two to get relaxed and release the death grip I had on the base bar. As the vario alternately screamed and then went silent, I searched to stay in the narrow cores and climbed to 1500’ over launch, giving me a good perspective on the topography. The dramatic El Peñon stood just to the west of me with rocky cliff faces extending several miles farther and ending in a serpentine spine leading down to the next valley. To the north the conifer-covered hills sloped gradually down over the nine miles to Valle and the lake LZ. To the east lay another valley offering plenty of landing possibilities before the terrain began climbing

making my way twelve miles to another mesa and into a weak convergence that was beginning to form clouds to the east and west. From there I would have a bit of a headwind going back to Valle so I lingered and climbed to over 12,000’ before going on final glide back to Valle and the green grass of the lake LZ. This was the pattern for the entire seven days I was there. Each day ended The view from our villa back at the lake LZ with a beer and a beautiful sunset over the lake. I did land out on a couple occasions, but the Darren Darsey is a freelance photograFlyMexico drivers were right there to pher and self-proclaimed free-flight fanatic. pick me up and get me back to the party He studied English at the University of without delay. California Santa Barbara before moving After an exhilarating week and many to Seattle, where he is now continuing his miles of XC flying, it was time to head “ higher education” as a hang glider pilot and The lakeside LZ home. Jeff arranged for a driver to take serving as vice chairman of the local hang again toward the pass and a 15,000’ ex- me to Toluca, where I would catch a gliding chapter of USHPA, Cloudbase tinct volcano. direct bus to the airport in Mexico City. Country Club. I headed west, exploring the lift along As we drove through the beautiful counthe cliffs and spines. The thermals were tryside, I watched puff y white cumulus sharp, strong, and abundant, and after clouds organizing themselves into streets, gaining some altitude over the plateau, and I found myself already looking forI ventured northeast across the valley, ward to my return to this amazing place.

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Photo: Rich Parry

Steve Shaw above the surf in front of the mansions at Torrey Pines – note how wide the surf line is.

Surf Lift By Steve Shaw

Flying at Torrey Pines (near San the water. In the mushroom head area It extended my time and distance out Diego, California) has its moments. I saw chaotic patterns in the water. It over the water very nicely. And maybe, I Torrey is a coastal ridge-lift site right looked like a fish boil without the fish. thought, the thermals will get stronger in on the Pacific Ocean where the parking, Actually, it looked for all the world like the summer. I can just see you in my mind’s eye. launch and landing zone are side-by-side, what I would imagine a dust devil would “Yeah, yeah,” you say, sticking your feet very unusual for a flying site. Torrey has look like without the dirt. So on one particularly good day I up on the table and swigging your beer, something like four miles of ridgeline rolled the dice and flew out over the rip “this is old news.” But it got me thinking. and is well worth exploring. Personally, I like flying out over the current. I say “rolled the dice” because What exactly is the mechanism here? I have heard over and over that the air ocean. I get to see what the surfers are I am generally possessed by a demonic up to, and look for schools of fish, or anti-genius for finding sink. I had more is one big heat engine. Look for the heat. dolphins playing in the waves, or spot than a strong suspicion that Murphy was I suspect the mechanism here is the water an occasional whale in the distance. It’s just waiting for me out there. The first rolls up on the hot beach, gets pulled out fascinating stuff, except for the distinct result was that all the surfers looked up sharply in the rip current and stops in the problem that there isn’t much lift over and waved. I was not sure this was good mushroom head. Relatively warm water the water. As I am not into hotdog flying – certainly friendly, but not necessarily is surrounded by cold water and triggers off a thermal. I fly under my tandem wing when I can. I good. The northern limit of flying at Torrey But over the head of the mushroom like boating around as long as possible. I recently noticed the patterns of rip I actually, amazingly, did find lift. It Pines is what we call (with much imagicurrents at Torrey. These are quite dis- was not a huge “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride” nation) North Point. At North Point the tinct from the air. Water pulls forcefully or “let’s head for the stratosphere” kind ridgeline comes to a rude stop and there out from the beach in a narrow path and of thermal but I did actually maintain is about half a mile of beach and then the forms a mushroom shape farther out in my altitude and even gained a little bit. Del Mar ridgeline starts. The half-mile

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Rather like dating young ladies, when stuff. I would only try this under my of beach is interrupted by the outflow of tandem. the San Elijo lagoon. I have moaned and flying you had better be prepared to take groaned to all my buddies that I wish we “No!” for an answer… I sank – there’s • Wear a swimsuit, and note caution lift here someplace – and sank – but it’s below. could fly farther. EXTREME CAUTION: Pilots My buddy Dave Metzger, with a par- a really good idea – and sank – it’s gonna ticularly villainous smile, told me that a kick in any minute – and sank… It was – both hang glider and paraglider – have real pilot should be able to fly the ridge only when the surfers started scrambling died from landing in surf and being lift off the rip-rap line over to Del Mar. to get out of the way that I accepted the dragged out and under. Don’t even conThe rip-rap rock is a grand total of 10 feet fact that I was Totally Screwed! sider flying low over surf unless there is I opened up my helmet chin strap, no one in the water who could become high. It breaks at the lagoon outflow for about a hundred yards. I suspected my kicked my leg free of the stirrup strap, entangled in your gear, and you’re good buddy Dave was trying to put me unbuckled my chest strap, unbuckled prepared to bail out BEFORE you conone leg strap and at about 10 feet above tact the water, and you are willing to risk on the beach. But I started wondering if I could use the water unbuckled the other leg strap losing your wing and whatever is attached the rip-current thermals to get me over and stood up. By the by – I think it’s a to it, should Tethys demand payment for to the Del Mar ridge. Then I could point really good idea to keep your helmet on playing too close to her territory! out to Dave what a great pilot I am, and (because you never know what you’re Steve Shaw has been flying paragliders maybe he would wind up on the beach going to find when you land), cross your since 2002, has over 900 flights and has trying to do better. That would be enter- ankles to avoid a straddle and look up as achieved P-4/T-3 ratings. Having come taining. So I have been spending more you drop to avoid losing your helmet. close to being whacked by rotor at launch When I came back up the surfers were once before he is a big believer in “margin time hanging around North Point looking for patterns in the water. How to gathering around. “How come you didn’t for error.” It is totally unlike him to be very keep flying, dude?” What? jump that gap… experimental, though he is quite willing to They pointed to my glider, which was watch you… When flying in ridge lift, you may notice that there is lift at the ridgeline not only still flying but was gaining aland there can be a rebound effect some- titude as it headed to the beach. It was what upwind of the ridge. I have found just one of those ribbon thermals over beach sand and days… thermals over rip-current water. A probI was still lem at North Point is that the ridge isn’t treading water very tall, maybe a hundred feet. when my glider But I believe I have found a new kissed the cliff source of lift. in front of the On my dice-rolling day, when I was mansions and sight-seeing out over the water, I discov- slithered gently ered I was maintaining altitude. I was to the sand. nervous because I was only about 50 feet above the surf. I was keeping a sharp Every report eye on the ridge, and I was astonished needs a lessons at the distance I was traveling without learned section: sinking out. What I learned I began to flesh out my theory: Surf was: water washes up on hot sand, gains heat • My surf lift and rolls back into the surf line. Because works best of the chaotic nature in the surf there is in sunny no gathering heat and triggered release. weather in a Because of the constant disruption of narrow surf the surf, I think the heat escapes in a far line. The more even and gentle flow than standard surf in front pilot-punting inland thermals. of the manHaving the courage of my convictions, sions was I decided to test the idea further and get the very wide, hang of things. The next time I launched as you can at Torrey I went south by the mansions see in the and swung out over the surf. The hangphoto. ing promptly turned ugly. (Did I mention • Surf lift is I have an anti-genius for finding sink?) very light November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

There Ain’t No Mountain High Enough The Rob McCaffrey Balloon Drop Story By Robert Smith

USHGA pilot #103, Robert McCaffrey IV, learned to hang glide at age 14. He took advantage of free lessons offered by Eipper-Formance, in an effort to promote its products and create an interest in the sport in the company’s early days. Class was a 30-minute ground school that prepared the flyer for a beginner’s 20-foot fl ight. The lessons were taught on sand dunes at the beach of Playa Del Rey, California. The dunes were just the right height for a beginning flyer to learn to launch and land. Young Rob flew as often as possible. He learned very fast, and well, and became an accomplished test pilot for glider manufacturers.

On November 21, 1976, at age 18, gear. (At 30,000 feet the air temperahe set a new world hang gliding alti- ture in still air can be -40°C. Add some tude record of 31,600 feet – that’s over airspeed and it gets colder, much colder. 2000 feet higher than the summit of Anyone without protective clothing and Mt. Everest! “There ain’t no mountain an oxygen life-support system could not high enough, to foot launch and set the survive more than a few minutes.) record,” McCaffrey says. These test drops indicated many conMcCaffrey and a team from Free tingencies that had to be planned for Flight Systems, led by Free Flight presi- – burner flameouts, bulky fl ight suits, dent Jerry Albiston, were more than four parachute release systems, breathing apmonths planning the fl ight. Test drops paratus, and communications all needed were made on the weekends prior to to be finessed and practiced to the smallNovember 21, at the Rosamond airport, est detail to make the drop a success. across the valley from Edwards Air Force The balloon that would carry the hang Base. The first drop was from 4000 feet; glider aloft was a Piccard AX-8 airship, the following week another was made 105,000 cubic feet. It carried 55 gallons from 10,000 feet with full high-altitude of propane fuel. Steve Hodgson, owner

McCaffrey suspended below the balloon November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

and pilot of the balloon, had a wife and a three-week-old son. Hodgson’s wife did not want him to go on this highflying adventure, so he asked Gary Cerveney, a former jet jockey who had participated in two previous altitude records, to pilot the balloon in his stead for this record drop. The rogallo wing that McCaffrey was going to fly was a Free Flight Sierra X IV. This glider was considered high performance in its day, with 22X15 (22’ leading edges, 15’ keel), 100-degree nose angle, inflated leading edges, radial batten tips, and one degree of sail billow. McCaffrey, age 18, was a lean 150 pounds and stood six feet tall. After he donned all the necessary fl ight gear he hit the scales at 270 pounds, according to the January 1977 issue of Glider Rider magazine. The Mojave Desert, north of Los Angeles, was the planned site of the drop. A last-minute decision was made by the FAA to have the record drop made from California City, in an effort to keep the balloon and glider from drifting out of the Edwards air corridor. A half-hour before launch McCaffrey and Cerveney began pre-breathing pure oxygen from their cylinders. This process is designed to strip the body of nitrogen and oxygenate the blood,

Rob on an Airwave Klassic Photo: Sandra McCaffrey

identiﬁcation on a radarscope making each blip on a scope identiﬁable from all others.

Photo: Robert Smith

Photo from Glider Rider magazine, 1976

Rob McCaffrey just before his record ﬂight

in order to prevent the aerial version of the bends. The plan was for the pilots to breathe pure oxygen on the ascent, then switch to demand dilution after 30,000 feet. With demand dilution the oxygen is mixed with proportionally larger amounts of outside air as the descent is made. Cerveney, holding an oxygen mask over his face and breathing, was directing Hodgson in placing the barograph, altimeter, radio, and transponder. The transponder is a device that responds to a pre-determined radar transmission, providing a means of positive

Rob McCaffrey in the 21st century

Photo: Robert Emmett McCaffrey III

Rob McCaffrey IV on a Free Flight Systems Sierra 2 prototype

Weather for November 21, 1976: clear to 40,000 feet, light winds to 20,000 feet. Sweet! The adventure got off the ground at 10 a.m. PST – with a wave of McCaff rey’s hand the ascent began. McCaffrey’s parents and sister Sandra watched from the tailgate of their pickup truck, having given all the support they could. Mary McCaffrey, Rob’s mother, had received a speeding ticket for her effort to get to the launch site early! All they could do at this point was watch and hope for the best and pray. The ascent would take 45 minutes to an hour, and so would the glider fl ight back to earth. The first problem occurred soon after liftoff when there was no radio contact. The FAA requires radio and transponder contact before entering the air corridor

above 18,000 feet; without this contact, the fl ight would be a no-go. Shortly after the radio crackled to life, Cerveney told the ground crew and Edwards AFB Approach Control that he had solved the radio problem, but now the transponder was not making contact. By this time the balloon had reached the 18,000-foot mark, and Cerveney had to use all of his tact and diplomacy to get the FAA to let them continue. Meanwhile, McCaffrey was keeping an eye on his rapidly dwindling oxygen supply. Not only were they losing valuable fuel and oxygen during this negotiation, but they dropped 500 feet of altitude as well. Eventually, perhaps because of the controlled conditions of the flight, or possibly due to Cerveney’s persuasive efforts, they got a go-ahead from the FAA.

Even after all their pre-fl ight preparations, there were numerous problems. During the ascent to 30,000 feet Cerveney was kept busy with leaky propane valves. The leak on the cruisecontrol valve – the one that regulates the burners that control how fast you go up or down – was serious. The fitting was leaking raw propane onto the floor of the gondola, creating a mini skating rink. McCaffrey, hanging below the balloon in his hang glider, was wearing a rubberized headgear that was causing him severe pain, and creating a terrible burning sensation on the back of his head. The only way he could get relief was to tip his head as far back as his gear would allow. In addition, his wrist altimeter was as faulty as their transponder. When it read 30,000 feet they were actually at

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Photo: Robert Emmett McCaffrey III

out of the dive. McCaffrey said, “It felt like no glider at all, just a bar. The force of the glider threw me through the control bar. I pushed my arms straight out to come out of it – it was like falling with a piece of metal tubing in my hands. I tilted my head all the way back and still couldn’t see the glider. All I could see was the stirrup where my feet should be, dangling in front of my face.” About 100 feet later he was able to pull out of the dive. He had made it! McCaffrey began his 45 minutes to one hour of 360s that would bring him back to his starting point at California City. As the air got thick enough to breathe again he performed an aerial striptease as he tore off his duct-taped helmet and snapped it to the control bar, peeled off the neoprene headgear that had caused so much discomfort, and pulled off his gloves (one of which escaped his grasp and got lost in the wild blue yonder). For Rob McCaffrey the worries were over. For Gary Cerveney, the problems had just become serious. The delay at 18,000 feet and the ascent to 32,000 feet had taken its toll on an already marginal fuel

Photo from Glider Rider magazine, 1976

32,000 feet. Cerveney wanted to ascend to the altitude necessary to gain the descent speed needed to fill the glider’s sail with air, well above 30,000 feet. The fl ight plan called for McCaffrey to rock his hang glider three times hard to signal his readiness for release. Without knowledge of his exact altitude, he had no way of knowing when it was time to release. What he did know, however, was that his oxygen was getting dangerously low, and if he didn’t release soon he would either have to cut himself loose, or parachute to safety. McCaffrey’s vario was the only indication that the balloon’s descent had begun, so he prepared for release. He thought he heard Cerveney’s voice, on the radio counting (rapidly), “3-2-1-0-release!” and so he did. After release the glider went into a 70to 80-degree vertical 100-mph dive at 31,600 feet above the earth. McCaffrey fought to pull out of the dive, but the air was so thin the glider did not respond. There was no bar pressure. Balloon pilot Gary Cerveney was the only witness to this drama as McCaffrey worked to pull

Rob waving as he is lifted off the ground for his record ﬂight

Rob ﬂying a Delta Wing Phoenix 8 over Simi Valley, California

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keep an eye on it, and when the mouth of the balloon gets soft halfway up and starts flapping, this tells you it’s starting to collapse.” Cerveney parachuted the balloon from 30,000 feet to 1000 feet before firing up the burners. He landed successfully at Boron, several miles east of California City. Mission accomplished! The visual proof of the barograph trace was checked and certified by Bill Aronson, an official Soaring Society of America observer. Robert McCaffrey IV had set the new hang gliding world record of 31,600 feet ASL. All the efforts of Free Flight Systems had paid off in a fantastic adventure and a new world record. Rob McCaffrey still enjoys hang gliding and is a member of the Humboldt Wings hang gliding club in northRob, suited up for flight, walking with his mother, sister and father towards the aircraft ern California. He is 48 years old, and supply. Of the 55 gallons of fuel, only turn the burners on for normal descent, single. three were left for descent. And only Cerveney had no choice but to open the two of those were usable – in the bitter vents and let the balloon go into a free cold of high altitude not all the fuel can fall, at the rate of 1500 feet a minute. As be sucked from the tanks. Unable to Cerveney said, ”It’s a ram-air effect – you

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Southwest XC League Roan Cliffs Meet Article and photos by Karl Decker

The Glenwood Soaring Society and Adventure Paragliding, Pine Pienaar’s paragliding school, hosted a league meet during the weekend of June 23-25 at the Roan Cliffs in Rifle, Colorado. The Roan cliffs are at the edge of the Flat Top Mountains on the western slope of the Rockies. This morning launch site faces southeast and is approximately 3000 vertical feet over the LZ, a three-mile glide away. Launch is a gradual slope going into a semi-cliff launch, but there is plenty of room to get airborne well before the cliff edge. The launch is huge and it usually gets soarable around 11:30 a.m. although it often is a good idea to be there a little earlier. As the sun rises each morning it bathes the cliffs below launch with strong, direct, desert sunlight and, in the absence of any strong prevailing wind, this solar heating will create a diurnal/anabatic breeze drifting right up the cliffs and over the launch, creating perfect conditions. The site and the event together provided a great opportunity to introduce newer pilots to a huge and very exciting flying location. As a more seasoned competition pilot, I was thrilled about this massive layout with incredible XC potential. The weekend was blessed with some of the most booming conditions I’ve ever flown! Due to real-life obligations I was not able to arrive on Friday morning for the first launch of the meet but when I arrived at a set of athletic fields near the town of Rifle, the goal for the duration of the competition, I saw several gliders near the stratosphere racing to the finish of a 40-km task. Greg Kelly arrived fi rst with Pine Pienaar close behind; minutes later Karel Mladec, Tom Spiers and Tomas Pecink arrived, the last of the four pilots to make goal that day. The tasks were kept relatively simple with only a few waypoints to help encourage the newer pilots join in the race. No GPSs were used – all was scored on the honor system. Bill Lotta scratching around in front of launch November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

As is common with most lee-side sites, when the sun approached zenith, around noon, the wind gradually switched around and began blowing over the back of launch, stranding some of the pilots, especially the first day. High-pressure conditions also made the initial climbouts from launch tough, especially for the newer pilots. When we gathered that evening, it was clear who had escaped the LZ just by the looks on their ecstatic faces! Tomas reported reaching 17,200 feet MSL and experiencing climb rates in excess of 1500 fpm. Boy, did I wish I could have been there to fly on that first day! Day 2 dawned similar to the previous day, with the same high-pressure ridge in place and comparable conditions. The main difference was that everyone got ready to launch right after the pilots’ meeting to make sure they had a good long launch window. The task committee – Pine, Greg and I – called a task that would take the gaggle north along a valley created between the Roan Cliffs and the Grand Hogback. I hit a boomer right off launch and was 3000 feet over launch in minutes. The start window was open so my gaggle of five hit some speed bar and headed for the first waypoint, about 10 miles away up valley. We called that task thinking we could simply soar the cliff edge and, if we got low, the mid-day up-valley winds would help everyone along, especially the newer pilots. We were badly mistaken. A strong

Bill Lotta shortly after launching

north prevailing wind (a rough downvalley wind) kicked in after a few miles and headway was next to impossible, even for the fastest of the gliders. Pine and I radioed the rest of the pack that was rapidly gaining on our now parked gliders – we reported the situation and encouraged the pack to abandon the task and simply go downwind to enjoy the great conditions of the day. Many pilots ignored the report, flew for the waypoint, and every one of them sank out short of the first waypoint. Those who abandoned the task had wonderful fl ights downwind along the I-70 corridor/valley. A few flew well over 20 miles and most reached altitudes around 15,000 feet MSL. I was disappointed to

Czech pilot Tomas Pecink ﬂying north, away from launch

have had such a short soaring day but I’d helped the others make the most of it, and what goes around, comes around! Day 3 appeared to resemble the previous two days, so we called a task that took advantage of the conditions we had already seen. This day’s task sent us southeast along the massive cliffs to Anvil Point, an incredibly scenic pinnacle sticking out of the main plateau. The course then returned to launch, back once again to Anvil Point, then away from the plateau to Rifle Gap reservoir, with goal in the green grassy athletic fields near town, a task distance of more than 30 km. As pilots started launching it became obvious that the high pressure was really making things tough – half the pack

Andy Akuwits coring it up near Anvil Point November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

Pine Pienaar announcing the task for the day

landed in short order – but we had to launch early for fear that the prevailing winds would come over the back and close launch altogether. The lucky and the skillful managed to climb out, and conditions got better and better with every foot of gained altitude. I was with two other pilots when we arrived at Anvil Point, and the photographer in me instantly overwhelmed the competition pilot. I glided all over the place to shoot different perspectives of my fellow pilots in one of the most picturesque scenes I’ve ever seen. As I finally turned toward the launch, the second waypoint, I heard a radio transmission that one of the pilots, Ross Robinson, had already tagged the Anvil waypoint for the second time and was really moving fast along the course. The competitor in me re-emerged and, I raced after him. While gliding along the course I realized I did not need to slow down to climb in thermals – the lift was booming and the clouds were forming a perfect street to the next waypoint, Rifle Notch, a huge notch in the Grand Hogback that is dammed up to create the Rifle Notch Reservoir. By the time I arrived at the notch I was pretty beat up – I had been at over 16,000 feet MSL for the last hour. I could no longer feel my fingers at all, and the altitude was taking its toll on me. I just wanted to drop the brakes and stuff as much of myself into my pod as possible. It was a total pipe dream, though, as I was hitting some big turbulence, the kind that comes from 2000-fpm thermals. I hung on for dear life as I began to actively avoid the clouds and use speed bar whenever it seem possible to do so without getting utterly pounded. The last of the course was finished in short order. Ross won the day, Pine was a close second, I was third and Karel Mladec was the final finisher of the day. Pine was the well deserving winner of the competition as well as a great competition organizer. Did I mention there was free beer for all competitors, included in the $40 entrance fee, along with all transportation as well? What a deal! This Southwest XC League event was one of the best competitions I’ve attended, with great people, lots of beer, unreal conditions and zero mishaps! See you there next year!

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Day ﬁve, Chelan XC Classic: Tom Johns sinks out at the Chelan airport while I hold on to drifting thermals for a 20-miler. Floating low over small LZs I’m thanking God I’m on a single surface glider. This brings Tom and me within ONE mile of each other on the ﬁnal day! Day six: Konrad Kurp (third place), Tom and I all thermal out together. I lose track of them and get low over Wells Dam looking for an ace card. Out over the Columbia River I see three red-tails going up like rockets and decide to join them – 1200 feet per minute, to 9500’, drifts me NE towards the Colville Reservation. I can

hear the war drums... I’m getting low over the Bridgeport Dam, barely going to make it to the rimrock on the far side of the dam. I must have triggered a thermal when I unzipped to land because I took a ripper from a couple hundred oﬀ the deck to ten grand! Straight on to Indian country! Can’t make it over the next ridge so I turn back to land a short ways from the east end of Omak Lake – great LZ but as I’m breaking down I’m thinking, I’m in a hole with no phone reception and no radio contact. How am I going to get out of here? Silence, and then, “I got you here, I’ll get you back.” Good enough for me…

The Osprey and the Indians By Sunny Jim Fenison Artwork by Jim Tibbs, staﬀ artist

My peripheral vision picks up the movement, three red-tailed hawks in a tight core, coming up fast. I quickly abandon the weak and fragile thread of lift I’ve been working and slide in next to my three new companions, going up at 1200 feet per minute. Now we’re talking! I ﬂy with full stereo. “Lady in Red” starts pouring through my ears and sends me into sensory overload. Circling up with the three red-tails I start singing out loud: “Ladies in red are dancing with me, cheek to cheek, nobody here, just them and me, it’s where I want to be, I hardly know, these beauties by my side…” We top out at around 9500 feet. My feathered friends take oﬀ west-by-northwest while I head northeast towards the Colville Reservation. Maybe the drums are calling me. I’m in what I call “the zone,” this super-peaceful place where it’s all good,

I’m getting low again, sinking like a rock over the Bridgeport dam, which, in a single-surface glider, means literally “sinking like a rock.” I have just enough altitude left to make one pass along the rimrock beyond the dam. I unzip to land and – maybe I triggered a thermal? I’ll call it a “zipper thermal” – my “zipper” pulled a “ripper” from 200 feet off the deck back to six grand. Keep it floating, “never forget…the way I feel tonight.” Love that song. I spot a good-sized dusty ripping it up along the south rim of the Columbia River, snag the up elevator and take it to ten. The wind is drifting me northeast sink out or sky out, it’s all good. There towards Nespelem, Washington, where is no hang gliding contest. I’m just this Chief Joseph died. Chief Joseph – now there’s a famous drifting piece of spirit thoroughly enjoying every atom of my existence. There’s guy. Relentlessly pursued 1800 miles a big smile on my face like I’m stoned by the U.S. government when he wasn’t or something. I wish I could stay in this even hurting anyone. In fact, the story place forever; I surely do, because there goes that he actually helped the white is no fear in this place. There is no doubt. settlers he met along the way. Not quite All those yapping dogs that constantly so famous was the fact that religious dispester my brain with doubts and fears are crimination played a heavy role in this so far away I can’t even hear them bark- relentless pursuit. The military had grown afraid of a reing. I’m swimming in the “peace pool” at ligious movement within the Nez Perce ten grand. This is day six of the Chelan XC nation whose practitioners were known Classic, in what has been a very close to the whites as “dreamers.” The massacontest in the single-surface division. I’m cre at Wounded Knee, 13 years later, was flying North Wing’s new Osprey pro- another determined effort by the military totype and I’m liking it. Tom Johns has to stamp out the “dreamer” faith. Chief been flying a Falcon 2 and we have been Joseph, who finally surrendered 30 miles trading first and second place all week short of Canada, could have easily eslong. Today, when the throw-away days caped to freedom but he refused to leave drop off, there is less than one mile be- behind the wounded and elderly. Now THAT is the kind of guy we need in the tween our cumulative scores. November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

Photo: Paul Dees

White House! Sounds like I’m a “dreamer” too. I don’t have a radio and I don’t have a driver. I land at the east end of Omak Lake, 48 miles from launch, with no cell phone reception. No one has a clue as to where I am. I have seen only one ranch house from the air in the last 10 miles. This would perhaps be a good time to panic if one was so inclined. I have heard seasoned XC pilots say, “The real adventure doesn’t start until you hit the deck,” and, “Take time to smell the sagebrush, and the baby’s breath, and the wild roses – it’s all good.” But I can feel the fear nipping at the edges of my “peace pool.” I look out at the desert and I think to myself, What now? Silence… and then, I got you here, I’ll get you back. (What? You don’t hear voices? Maybe you’re just not paying close enough attention.) I break down my Osprey and I start walking. That lake is looking pretty nice. I continue walking towards it, and I begin to wonder if I am dreaming. Seven halfnaked Indians, riding bareback, are racing their horses shoulder-deep through the water. The sun is setting low and these slow-motion silhouettes of ﬂying black braids, ﬂared nostrils, and sheer exuberance are images I will not soon forget. It feels like I have just walked onto the Dances with Wolves movie set and I am

Kevin Costner, but there is no one here they feed me fried chicken, which suits to play the part of “Stands With a Fist.” me just fine. We load the horses into trailers and my new friends give me a ride out Too bad. These horses and their riders are prac- to what the rest of us call civilization. ticing for the upcoming Omak Stampede When asked what he thought of suicide race, where they will charge down a hundred-foot embankment, swim “western civilization,” Mahatma Gandhi across the Okanogan River and race into said, “I think it would be a good idea.” I imagine that Chief Joseph would have the Omak stampede grounds. Earlier today, Kelly Harrison charged agreed with that assessment. What is the good of civilization when off Chelan Butte screaming at the top of his lungs like a warrior wrestling free our spirits have died? I am standing here from the restraints of gravity. My mind in the middle of this desert and I can feel my spirit. I can feel the natural rhythm of raced with the similarities. “It’s won or lost in the water,” Robert the earth. I am truly alive. People ask me why I fly. This is the Best tells me, as he hands me a cold beer and turns to watch his son, Zane Best, reason. walk his horse out of the lake. By the way, it turns out that this 48“Needs cotton in his ears,” Zane is telling his father. “Water is getting into his miler wins the meet for me... ears and he does not like it.” Robert nods his agreement and turns to me. “We train ourselves and our horses for this event – the horses love to race as much as we do.” “Battle lust,” I think to myself. “Same thing I feel when I launch.” Good stuff. Stranded in this time warp, I take a swim with the horses, taking special care to steer clear of some rather freshlooking “horse apples” bobbing about. Then I stretch out on the beach and Robert gives me another beer. The air is hot and nobody talks very much, but

Sunny Jim and the Osprey at Chelan Butte

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The 25th Annual Chelan Cross-Country Classic By Paul Dees Photos by Natalie Page

For 25 years the skies over Chelan Butte have been graced with wings of Dacron, piloted by hopeful souls wishing to cross the Columbia River and reel off the miles. This past July was no different, although for many of the 35 competitors it was characterized by a few extra sink-outs to the verdant soccer field park below the butte. We had five paraglider pilots and three rigid-wing pilots, with the rest of us flying an assortment of flex wings. Tom Pierce was meet director for the second year in a row and, with his lovely wife Gerrie’s help, did an excellent job. The Classic’s format is somewhat removed from that of traditional meets. This competition is tailored for the average recreational pilot. Instead of tasks being called, each pilot chooses his or her own destination to (or via) a bevy of waypoints each day, with the best four days out of six being scored. You earn 10 points per mile flown in straight-out distance, and 13 points per mile for an out-and-return attempt that brings you more than halfway back to a designated LZ. Triangles earn a premium of 15 points per mile if you make it more than halfway back on your last leg. Landing in one of the three designated LZs near the butte earns you an extra 100 points. GPS track logs are uploaded for scoring. Cell phones come in handy and everybody eventually makes it back at the end of the day. Here is a brief run-down of all the fun. Day 1 (June 26) brought us record temperatures in Chelan – over 100°, hot even by eastern Washington standards. Meet director Tom Pierce started off with a pilots’ meeting that included the “pick of the day” of great prizes for a pilot randomly chosen from those present. Weatherman Tom Johns briefed us based on the MM5 and other forecasts. Light easterly winds enabled 10 triangle fl ights, including Tom Pierce’s long triangle that actually was a large rectangle. Many of us melted, sank out and “soccered,” landing in the lovely park 2.5 miles from launch

Looking back from across the Columbia River at the soccer ﬁeld LZ and the base of Chelan Butte

and right next to the Columbia River. Day 2 was truly spectacular, with slightly cooler temps and new personal best fl ights by three pilots. Lenny Baron broke the 100-mile barrier with a personal best of 104 miles, landing east of Reardon. Jimmy Culler and Naomi Gray had personal bests of 77 miles and 63.8 miles, respectively. There were five other fl ights over 90 miles with the longest in class being Tom Pierce’s 131-miler and Dave Scott’s 114-miler. And, 11 of us sank out. Day 3 brought even cooler temps and only three substantial fl ights of more than 32 miles. The rest gave it a good try and at best made it across the river to soar the canyon walls on the other side. It was soarable at the butte and on the Farnham Canyon wall above the soccer field LZ, so for many there was airtime to be had, just not big miles. Local pilot Tryg Hoff hosted a fantastic BBQ at his home up in the mountains across the lake from the butte. Day 4 was fi lled with high clouds and even less cross-country joy. The longest XC fl ight was 10 miles, with the rest of

us retiring at ease and with frustration to (where else?) the soccer field LZ. On this day conditions deteriorated in the LZ with strong SE winds and rotors off the trees and buildings. One pilot managed to land in and fall out of a small tree, sticking his keel into the ground and quickly finding himself upside down. Thankfully, only his pride was hurt. Others fared less

Lenny Baron setting up on Chelan Butte

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Serial-class winners Chris and Sarah Galli

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Chris Culler

retrieved by locals riding horses barewell and broke downtubes. Day 5 finally brought back the con- back preparing for the Omak Stampede. ditions that have made Chelan famous. Sunny Jim said it felt like a scene out of There were 13 noteworthy fl ights includ- Dances With Wolves. His article appears ing four triangles and the rest straight- on pages 58-59 in this issue. Tom Pierce handed out the awards out distance. Tandem paragliding couple Chris and Sarah Galli made it 26.7 miles – etched glass plates and mugs made by east, toward Sims Corner. The day was USHPA president Lisa Tate – on Sunday topped off with pizza for all in the soccer morning in the soccer field LZ, and once field LZ. It was a great time to compare again it was time to say goodbye to friends, notes and enjoy the company of fellow new and old. All of us had many of those pilots. Much time was spent analyzing flying moments we will always remember the tightening competition developing and replay in our minds for years to come. in the topless and kingposted flex-wing For me, it was finding lift at 400 feet over the flats, just when I was setting up my classes. Day 6 had another great forecast. At landing. I drifted downwind with it for least half of us had significant fl ights nearly a mile, until it finally died out, enincluding four triangles; the most note- abling me to log one more mile of joyous worthy fl ight was Sunny Jim Fenison’s XC fl ight before a perfect landing. 47-mile fl ight in the North Wing prototype single-surface glider. He landed in the Colville Indian Reservation and was

Top three ﬁnishers in each class: Name Tom Pierce Mike Daily Larry Jorgensen David Scott Kelly Harrison Lenny Baron Jimmy Culler Darren Darsey Mark Salesse Jim Fenison Tom Johns Konrad Kurp Chris/Sarah Galli Conrad Kreick C.J. Sturtevant Pam Nichols James Bender

Class Glider Rigid Atos R Axxess R Axxess Topless Litespeed 4 T Fusion 150 T Fusion 150 Kingpost Laminar K U2 145 K U2 160 SingleSurface Northwing SS Falcon 2 170 SS Falcon 225 PG-Serial PG-S PG-S PG-Open PG-OP

Total 4380 3085 2516 4067 2452 2418 968 802 799 1518 1313 844 407 289 25 172 90

Full results are online at http://cloudbase.org, under Events.

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Gallery

Alexander Muschuh of Austria, a member of the bronze medal synchro team and tenth place solo, at the 1st FAI World Hang Gliding and Paragliding Aerobatic Championship last summer

Featured Photographer: Denis Balibouse

By C.J. Sturtevant

This month’s cover, centerspread and gallery sports, and likes “the challenge of getting a good picture in a two-minute photos come to us courtesy of Swiss photogra- acro session.” Tandem flying, he says, puts him in the perfect position to pher Denis Balibouse, whose images have ap- compose and capture the best images, and being up close to his subject peared in several of our past issues. Denis is not – and unencumbered with the details of staying aloft and out of the way a hang glider or paraglider pilot, but has flown – allows him to be more creative during a photo session. “One of my ambitandem several times, in order to get the per- tions as a photographer is to bring the viewer into the place of the athlete, spective he desires. “Being a passenger allows close to the action and with the viewpoint of the athlete,” Denis explains. me to concentrate 100% on my pictures and not The selection of photos in this issue attests to his skill and success in Self-portrait by Denis Balibouse worry about the navigation,” he points out, and attaining his goal! When he’s not working, Denis enjoys traveling and documenting his adds, “I basically don’t find the time for such a travels with his camera. “I developed a passion for the Scottish landsport – and I am pretty scared of heights!” Denis began dabbling in photography as a young teenager. When he scape about 15 years ago during a trip around Scotland with a bike,” he was offered a month’s position as a staff photographer for a news agency replied when I questioned him about “Scotland” being listed on his Web in Lausanne (Switzerland), he stayed instead for 10 years, and his career site as one of his hobbies. “I am now trying to go back there once a year in photography was launched. “I have been living out of my passion for and continue a personal project called at the moment ‘western wanderthe past 15 years. The first 10 were quite easy,” he recalls. “Now, as a ings’ (it keeps changing). I photograph the landscape using good old films freelance photographer for five years, it is a bit tougher but I am still and camera.” At the moment, this 34-year-old artist/adventurer is a bachelor, but there. I work mainly for newspapers and the Reuters agency as a stringer he hopes to change that in the near future – if all goes as expected, his and also work with Red Bull in Switzerland.” As a freelancer and a member of Red Bull’s photographic team, Denis Australian girlfriend will be joining him permanently in Switzerland in has up-close access to the participants in many active sports activities; 2007. We wish Denis the best with all these plans, and of course hope his favorite subject is “freeride skiing, because it combines great actions, that he will continue taking to the air to capture some of the world’s most great locations and snow.” But he clearly enjoys photographing aerial breathtaking up-close photographs of hang gliding and paragliding. November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

Silver medalist Guido Gehrmann looping above Lake Geneva

Felix Rodriguez going over the top

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Swiss acro pilots Gilles Berreux, Hervé Cerutti and Patrick Lachat making smoke rings

November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

Gold medalist Jon Gjerde of Norway

Lukas Skrbek, Czech Republic, creating a splash during the paragliding solo event at the Red Bull Vertigo

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U.S. “Acrotwins” synchro team, Anthony and Timothy Green

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U.S. “Acrotwins” synchro team, Anthony and Timothy Green

Pilots Guido Gehrmann (HG) of Germany and Mathias Roten (PG) from Switzerland alternating “who’s on top” as they touch each other’s wing in ﬂight. Note that Mathias is hooked into his paraglider facing backwards.

Massimo Dall Oglio of Italy, hoping to gain points for this nearly perfect rooster-tail ﬁnale to his paragliding solo at the Red Bull Vertigo

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Calendar of events items WILL NOT be listed if only tentative. November 12-19: Phoenix, Arizona. Escape the winter cold – fly Please include exact information (event, date, contact name three drive-up sites minutes from the airport and more sites around. and phone number). Items should be received no later than six Details at http://www.parasoftparagliding.com/travel/phoenix.php. weeks prior to the event. We request two months lead time November through March: Prime Valle de Bravo season with for regional and national meets. For more complete informa- FlyMexico. We have over 15 years at this and no one matches our knowtion on the events listed, please see our Calendar of Events at how, facilities, or service. Lower priced packages available without airwww.ushpa.aero. port transportation or instuctor/guide. Week-long base packages, in and out on a Sunday, $895 PG, $1195 HG (includes glider). Base package COMPETITION includes airport transpo, lodging, guide and transpo all day wherever you go. www.flymexico.com, 1-800-861-7198. December 30-January 1: Bright, Victoria, Australia: Australian Free Flight Festival 2007. PG/HG landing accuracy and open XC. HQ December 3-10: Southern California and the Baja Peninsula. Fly and registration at the Outdoor Inn, Bright. Up to $3000 is up for grabs where it is still warm – we pick you up at the airport and handle the rest. (dependent on number of entries) along with barbecues, film nights and Details at http://www.parasoftparagliding.com/travel/Southwest.php. parties. Register now online at www.xcflight.com or info@xcflight.com, December 9-January 20: Valle de Bravo, Mexico. Improve your or call Carol Binder at 0429 403 606. thermal and XC skills with world-team pilot David Prentice. Week-long January 3-10: Forbes (Australia) Flatlands Hang Gliding Champion- tours include, airport pickup/drop off, lodging, transportation, guiding, ship. Aerotow-only, HGFA and FAI sanctioned, 72 pilots max, $200 en- XC retrieval. Plenty of other fun and adventure for the family. More infortry fee includes welcome party and awards dinner, $300 aerotow fee mation: (505) 720-5436, www.earthcog.com. includes unlimited tows from January 2-10. More information: Vicki@ December 31-January 7, and January 7-14: Valle de Bramoyes.com.au. vo, Mexico. Enjoy consistent, summer-like paragliding with good therJanuary 13-20: Mt. Beauty, Victoria, Australia. Bogong Cup Hang maling and excellent cross-country potential. Conditions are appropriGliding Championship 2007. AAA sanction. Contact: Carol Binder, info@ ate for a broad variety of skill levels, however a minimum of P-2 rating is xcflight.com or www.xcflight.com. recommended unless otherwise discussed with Kay. Includes thermal & XC clinic as well as instruction in active flying. Call Kay Tauscher, (303) February 4-10: Dominican Republic. 2007 Ozone Caribbean XC 817-0803 or email info@peaktopeakparagliding.com for deposit and fee Challenge. Seasoned pilots as well as XC apprentices. Experienced XC information. pilots have plenty of choices flying in Vallejuelo, an outstandingly versatile site, with two major valleys and three different mountain ranges January 3-14, 2007: Valle de Bravo, Mexico. Thermal and XC within reach, while novice XC pilots enjoy the expert advice from Jocky instruction tour. For more information and prerequisites go to www Sanderson and the rest of the Ozone team, turning each flying day .twocanfly.com or contact Ken Hudonjorgensen, (801) 572-3414, into a great learning experience. More information and registration at twocanfly@gmail.com. http://2007.CaribbeanXC.com. January 3-15 and January 24-February 5: Ecuador 2007 February 10-17: Bright, Victoria, Australia. Australian Open Para- Adventure Tour. This is not a vacation, it’s an Adventure! Advanced ingliding Championship. AAA sanction. Contact: Carol Binder, info@ structor Kevin Lee of Thermal Tracker Paragliding has been leading paraxcflight.com or www.xcflight.com. gliding adventures in Ecuador since 1996 and is supported by two Ecuadorian guides/pilots who know and fly the local sites. Two-thirds of our CLINICS, MEETINGS, TOURS tour is spent among some of the most beautiful peaks in South AmerNovember 6-12: Las Vegas, Nevada. P-2 training: Join Chris Santa- ica, one-third soaring and relaxing on the warm coast, exploring miles croce and Jeff Farrell for an intensive training session and look forward of smooth coastal ridge sites, in addition to swimming, fishing, and eatto graduating with towing, powered paragliding and foot-launch experi- ing great sea food to your heart’s content. More information from Kevin, ence. Space is limited and only serious candidates will be accepted. Call (541) 890-7142, info@thermaltracker.com, www.thermaltracker.com. (801) 255-9595 to reserve your spot. January 7-14: Mexico with Parasoft Paragliding School. We’ve been November 11-25: Oaxaca, Mexico. Improve your thermal and XC taking pilots to fly in Mexico since 1991. We have been to Valle de Bravo skills with world-team pilot David Prentice. Week-long tours include, air- and Igualla, but Tapalpa is world-class. The P-2 week focuses on long port pickup/drop off, lodging, transportation, guiding, XC retrieval. Plenty easy flights. Mexico P-2 pilot details at http://www.parasoftparagliding of other fun and adventure for the family. More information: (505) 720- .com/travel/tapalpa%20_mexico.php. 5436, www.earthcog.com. January 14-21: Mexico P-3 week. We tailor our weeks to your November 12-December 2: Fly Iquique (Chile) and Mendoza pilot level; second week focuses on thermaling. P-3 pilot details at (Argentina) this November with Luis Rosenkjer and Todd Weigand. http://www.parasoftparagliding.com/travel/colima.php. Luis is a multiple Argentinean Champion and owner of Atlanta ParaJanuary 21-28: Mexico P-4 week. Geared towards flying XC from 4 gliding. Todd is a top internationally ranked competition and acro sites. www.parasoftparagliding.com/travel/iguala%20_mexico.php. pilot from Oregon who has been seasonally guiding, instructing and perfecting his acro and XC skills in Chile since 2001. Multiple tours available. February 10-17: Southern California tour. For more information and Choose your week at www.atlantaparagliding.com. Contact Todd at (541) prerequisites go to www.twocanfly.com or contact Ken Hudonjorgensen, 475-6935, wallowaparagliding@gmail.com or Luis at (404) 931-3793, (801) 572-3414, twocanfly@gmail.com. info@atlantaparagliding.com. November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

New Pilot Ratings Ratings issued during July 2006 Paragliding Division Rating Region Name P-1 1 Bill Arras P-1 1 Jason Brown P-1 1 Stacy Cooper P-1 1 Bryce Kellogg P-1 1 Ross Kellogg P-1 1 J. Kirk Linton P-1 2 Paul Gazis P-1 2 Shahid Ahmed P-1 2 Samantha Bullock P-1 2 Evan Franklin P-1 2 Wesley Stratton P-1 2 Johnny Norris P-1 2 John Corbin P-1 2 Ben Eaton P-1 3 Robert Edwards P-1 3 Joseph Debrign P-1 3 William Morrow P-1 3 J Bosco P-1 3 Tyler Sporrer P-1 3 Lars Callary P-1 3 Maura Obrien P-1 4 Paul Lehmann P-1 4 W Merrell P-1 4 David Okelley P-1 4 Bo Thomsen P-1 4 Paul Joye P-1 4 Naomi Engelman P-1 4 Jason Wallace P-1 4 Angela Triplett P-1 4 Bryce Nichols P-1 4 Jef Anderson P-1 4 Tyson Boyter P-1 4 Brian Stratton P-1 4 Ted Stratton P-1 4 Doug Whitmore P-1 4 Dr Tab Bingham P-1 7 Reto Frei P-1 8 David Gelinas P-1 8 David Kraus P-1 8 Leigh Pinney P-1 10 William Whitaker P-1 10 Patrik Pavlica P-1 10 Ludmila Blazkova P-1 10 Andrew Fenlon P-1 11 Barrett Sills P-1 12 Katrin Parsiegla P-1 12 Karl Link P-1 12 Joshua Sonner P-2 1 Bill Arras P-2 1 Curt Boschek P-2 1 Bobby Arnold P-2 1 Jerry Bowers P-2 1 David Milligan P-2 1 Kelly Smith P-2 1 Matt Cone P-2 1 Stephanie Cone P-2 1 Rod Fox P-2 1 Bryce Kellogg P-2 1 Ross Kellogg P-2 1 William Head P-2 1 Gilead Almosnino P-2 2 Paul Gazis P-2 2 Scott Baruti P-2 2 Hideki Yoshimoto P-2 2 Mark Cotter P-2 2 Mike Fiﬁeld P-2 2 Vipul Patel P-2 2 Robert Posey P-2 2 Amy Posey P-2 2 Paul Fracolli P-2 2 Larry Daniels P-2 2 Krzysztof Kuligowski P-2 2 Samantha Bullock P-2 2 Wesley Stratton P-2 2 Johnny Norris P-2 2 John Corbin P-2 2 Ben Eaton P-2 3 Peter Follett P-2 3 Nikki Johnson P-2 3 Alex Harris P-2 3 Robert Edwards

City Bend Redmond Portland Gold Hill Gold Hill Portland Mountain View Los Altas Crytal Bay Galt Berkeley Pasadena Orinda Crested Butte Kula Aliso Viejo Santa Barbara Lake Elsinore Oceanside Long Beach Long Beach Holladay Sandy Kearns Crested Butte Sante Fe Cundiyo Riverton Albuquerque Green Valley Richfield Richfield Louisville Phoenix Richfield Magna Brown Deer Penobscot Southboro Chicopee Atlanta Lawrenceville Lawrenceville Atlanta Houston Fairport Fairport Salt Point Bend Richland Kapowsin Anchorage Poulsbo Eagle River Seattle Seattle Everett Gold Hill Gold Hill Kenmore Redmond Mountain View Salinas San Jose Auburn Rocklin Fremont San Jose San Jose Fremon Salinas Campbell Crytal Bay Berkeley Pasadena Orinda Crested Butte Papaikou Hickam Afb Laguna Niguel Kula

State Rating Ofﬁcial OR Marty Devietti WA Lawrence Wallman OR Maren Ludwig OR Kevin Lee OR Kevin Lee OR Larry Pindar CA Wallace Anderson CA Jeffrey Greenbaum WV Jason Gilbert CA Jeffrey Greenbaum CA Chad Bastian CA Anthony Wruck CA Rob Sporrer CA Richard Kocurek HI David Binder CA Gabriel Jebb CA Chad Bastian CA Rob Mckenzie CA Rob Sporrer CA Chad Bastian CA Chad Bastian UT Stephen Mayer UT Stephen Mayer UT Stephen Mayer CO Richard Kocurek NM Stephen Mayer NM Stephen Mayer UT Stephen Mayer NM William Smith AZ Gabriel Jebb UT Stacy Whitmore UT Stacy Whitmore CO Chad Bastian AZ Chad Bastian UT Stacy Whitmore UT Stephen Mayer WI Scott Harris ME Chad Bastian MA Jeffrey Nicolay MA Peter Gautreau GA Stephen Mayer GA Luis Rosenkjer GA Luis Rosenkjer GA Luis Rosenkjer TX Scott Harris NY Maren Ludwig NY Maren Ludwig NY Jean-paul Chevalier OR Marty Devietti WA Douglas Stroop WA Brad Hill AK Peter Gautreau WA Brad Hill AK Peter Gautreau WA Douglas Stroop WA Denise Reed WA Denise Reed OR Kevin Lee OR Kevin Lee WA Lan Do Chirico WA Lan Do Chirico CA Wallace Anderson CA Hugh Murphy CA Jeffrey Greenbaum CA David Jebb CA Jason Shapiro CA Jeffrey Greenbaum CA Jeffrey Greenbaum CA Jeffrey Greenbaum CA Jeffrey Greenbaum CA Hugh Murphy CA Tim Kuenster WV Jason Gilbert CA Chad Bastian CA Anthony Wruck CA Rob Sporrer CA Richard Kocurek HI Rick Sharp HI Jason Shapiro CA David Jebb HI David Binder

Rating Region Name P-2 3 Joseph Debrign P-2 3 Johannes Rath P-2 3 William Morrow P-2 3 J Bosco P-2 3 Tyler Sporrer P-2 3 Lars Callary P-2 3 Maura Obrien P-2 4 Lawrence West P-2 4 John Moyer P-2 4 Paul Lehmann P-2 4 W Merrell P-2 4 Gabor Ferenczi P-2 4 David Okelley P-2 4 Cade Palmer P-2 4 Bo Thomsen P-2 4 Paul Joye P-2 4 Naomi Engelman P-2 4 Jason Wallace P-2 4 Jake Kesler P-2 4 Jon Vance P-2 4 Angela Triplett P-2 4 Bryce Nichols P-2 4 Brian Stratton P-2 4 Ted Stratton P-2 4 Dr Tab Bingham P-2 5 James Decarion P-2 5 Beth Toftum P-2 5 Amelia Getty P-2 8 David Gelinas P-2 8 Richard Dale P-2 10 Juan Perez P-2 10 William Whitaker P-2 10 Steve Barrett P-2 11 Richard Milla P-2 11 Mike Wykoff P-2 11 Barrett Sills P-2 11 Greg Despins P-2 12 Katrin Parsiegla P-2 12 Karl Link P-2 12 Eugene Mesky P-2 13 Stephen Grifﬁths P-3 1 James Lee P-3 2 Robyn Orr P-3 2 Saptarshi Roy P-3 2 Timothy Crandle P-3 2 Teresa Kong P-3 2 Toshiyasu Morita P-3 3 Alex Hurtado P-3 3 Eric Gallan P-3 3 Justin Carter P-3 3 Matthew Bohlin P-3 3 Antonella Zampolli P-3 3 Jim Roy P-3 3 Joseph Debrign P-3 4 Craig Magtutu P-3 4 Antonios Printezis P-3 4 Scott Ernst P-3 4 Jason Beach P-3 5 Rick Wilson P-3 5 Sean Becker P-3 5 Brandon Barlow P-3 5 Eric Scharnhorst P-3 7 Donna Woods P-3 7 Charles Savall P-3 8 Lauro Bruno P-3 8 Fernando Catrinck P-3 9 Charles Givans P-4 2 Daniel Curylo P-4 2 Jeff Warnes P-4 2 Peter Rexer P-4 3 Paul Oldenburg P-4 3 Mark Kranz P-4 3 Gary Holley P-4 3 Joseph Popper Iii P-4 4 Dylan Neyme P-4 5 Rick Wilson P-4 5 Jeff Meyer P-4 8 Jarrett Hobart P-4 10 Ricardo Tejada P-4 12 Daniel Retz

City Aliso Viejo San Clemente Santa Barbara Lake Elsinore Oceanside Long Beach Long Beach Albuquerque Prescott Holladay Sandy Aspen Kearns Alpine Crested Butte Sante Fe Cundiyo Riverton Kearns Draper Albuquerque Green Valley Louisville Phoenix Magna Jackson Wilson Bozeman Penobscot Riverside Miami Shores Atlanta Madison Fort Worth San Antonio Houston Portland Fairport Fairport Brooklyn Wales Aloha S San Francisco South San Francisco San Francisco Berkeley Redwood City Los Angeles Fallbrook La Quinta San Diego Del Nar Ramona Aliso Viejo Edgewater Scottsdale Glorieta Midvale Bozeman Bozeman Jackson Wilson Zeeland Milwaukee Melrose Stamford Great Falls San Francisco Carnelian Bay Belmont Makawao Aliso Viejo San Diego Mountain Center Salt Lake City Bozeman Sun Valley Monterey Coral Gables Sussex

State CA CA CA CA CA CA CA NM AZ UT UT CO UT UT CO NM NM UT UT UT NM AZ CO AZ UT WY WY MT ME CT FL GA GA TX TX TX TX NY NY NY OR CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CO AZ NM UT MT MT WY WY MI WI MA CT VA CA CA CA HI CA CA CA UT MT ID MA FL NJ

Rating Ofﬁcial Gabriel Jebb William Laurence Chad Bastian Rob Mckenzie Rob Sporrer Chad Bastian Chad Bastian Chris Santacroce Carlos Madureira Stephen Mayer Stephen Mayer Alejandro Palmaz Stephen Mayer Carson Klein Richard Kocurek Stephen Mayer Stephen Mayer Stephen Mayer Brad Gunnuscio Carson Klein William Smith Gabriel Jebb Chad Bastian Chad Bastian Stephen Mayer Scott Harris Scott Harris Andy Macrae Chad Bastian Alistair Ritchie Gregg Mcnamee Stephen Mayer Chris Bowles David Broyles Paul Greenwood Scott Harris Eddy Petranek Maren Ludwig Maren Ludwig Robert Chevalier Greg Gilliam Kelly Kellar Julie Spiegler Gever Tulley Tim Kuenster Tim Kuenster Tim Kuenster Marcello De Barros Paul Somerset Rob Mckenzie Kyoung Ki Hong Gabriel Jebb Kyoung Ki Hong Gabriel Jebb Granger Banks Gabriel Jebb William Smith Stephen Mayer David Binder Andy Macrae Thomas Bartlett Scott Harris Wayne Bergman Ken Hudonjorgensen Jeffrey Nicolay Marcus Santos Kyoung Ki Hong Tom Moock Gabriel Jebb Tim Kuenster David Binder Rob Mckenzie Kyoung Ki Hong Gabriel Jebb Stephen Mayer David Binder Charles Smith Bohan Soifer Pedro Tirado Bohan Soifer

Photo: Natalie Page

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Hang Gliding Division Rating Region Name H-1 2 Chris Janusiewicz H-1 2 Ricky Townsend H-1 2 Jonathan Frost H-1 2 James Bowe H-1 2 Kurt Jorgensen H-1 2 Ryan Dupan H-1 3 Jeff Weston H-1 3 Jose Barajas H-1 3 Kyle Fox H-1 3 Marysia Karubin H-1 4 Mark Knight H-1 4 Mellissa Riddle H-1 5 Richard Gauthier H-1 7 Hubert Chan H-1 7 Robert Schaum H-1 7 Paul Mattke H-1 9 Brett Cherefko H-1 9 Victor Koshmaryk H-1 9 Kedar Apte H-1 10 Floyd Blevins H-1 10 Herbert Latham H-1 10 Abbey Otto H-1 10 Eddy Cohen H-1 10 Steve Thompson H-1 10 Gary Durham H-1 10 Scott Newkirk H-1 10 Matthew Cox H-1 10 Nate Newkirk H-1 10 James Tharpe H-1 10 Don Towne H-1 11 E Johnson H-1 11 John Johnson H-1 13 David Corbett H-1 13 Ryan Skipper H-2 2 Eric Westcott H-2 3 John Bruckner H-2 3 Jeff Weston H-2 3 Darryl Weaver

City Fairﬁeld San Jose Seaside Morgan Hill Chico San Juan Bantista Blue Jay Anaheim Crestline South Pasadena Tempe Scottsdale Missoula Novi Ann Arbor St Paul Winchester Ellicott City Easton Dunn Columbia Nags Head Margate Chattanooga Stuart N Ft Myers Antioch Nashville Norcross Wildwood Mountain Home Mountain Home Nicholls London Union City Venice Blue Jay Santa Monica

State Rating Ofﬁcial CA Robbie Wellbaum CA Patrick Denevan CA Patrick Denevan CA Michael Jefferson CA George Hamilton CA Michael Jefferson CA Rob Mckenzie CA Rob Mckenzie CA Rob Mckenzie CA Lynden Vazquez AZ Greg Berger AZ Christian Thoreson MT Jeff Shapiro MI Tracy Tillman MI Tracy Tillman MN Gordon Cayce VA J. Michael Cosner MD Adam Elchin PA Ryan Voight NC Alexander Harwood SC Andy Torrington NC Peter Dreher FL H Bruce Weaver Iii TN Christian Thoreson FL Christian Thoreson FL Christian Thoreson TN Gordon Cayce TN Gordon Cayce GA Gordon Cayce GA Gordon Cayce AR Gordon Cayce AR Gordon Cayce Malcolm Jones Malcolm Jones CA Patrick Denevan CA Paul Thornbury CA Rob Mckenzie CA Paul Thornbury

Rating Region Name H-2 3 Jose Barajas H-2 3 Kyle Fox H-2 4 Mark Knight H-2 4 Daniel Gebhardt H-2 4 Mellissa Riddle H-2 5 Craig Johnson H-2 5 Richard Gauthier H-2 7 Dara Winder H-2 7 Hubert Chan H-2 7 Robert Schaum H-2 7 Jeff Edstrom H-2 7 Paul Mattke H-2 10 Steve Thompson H-2 10 Gary Durham H-2 10 Scott Newkirk H-2 10 Matthew Cox H-2 10 Nate Newkirk H-2 10 James Tharpe H-2 10 Don Towne H-2 11 John Johnson H-2 13 David Corbett H-2 13 Ryan Skipper H-3 2 Marc Stelzer H-3 2 Patrick Aiken H-3 2 Leonardo Mizyrycki H-3 3 Joseph Vanderbol H-3 5 Dugan Gravage H-3 8 Gregory Pratt H-3 8 Erin Rapacki H-3 9 Terry Mull H-3 10 Clayton Meadows H-4 2 William Seneshen H-4 2 Brian Foster H-4 2 Douglas Hahn H-4 3 Loren Meck H-4 3 Adrian Van Der Riet H-4 5 Lj O Mara H-4 13 Takeshi Yokoyama

City Anaheim Crestline Tempe Slc Scottsdale Missoula Missoula Chicago Novi Ann Arbor Elgin St Paul Chattanooga Stuart N Ft Myers Antioch Nashville Norcross Wildwood Mountain Home Nicholls London San Mateo Paciﬁca San Francisco Agoura Hills Livingston Exeter Boston Dayton Davenport Sunnyvale Sunnyvale Los Altos Simi Valley Bishop Cody Chiba

State Rating Ofﬁcial CA Rob Mckenzie CA Rob Mckenzie AZ Greg Berger UT Peter Cj Anderson AZ Christian Thoreson MT Jeff Shapiro MT Jeff Shapiro IL Tommy Thompson, Sr MI Tracy Tillman MI Tracy Tillman IL Tommy Thompson, Sr MN Gordon Cayce TN Christian Thoreson FL Christian Thoreson FL Christian Thoreson TN Gordon Cayce TN Gordon Cayce GA Gordon Cayce GA Gordon Cayce AR Gordon Cayce Malcolm Jones Malcolm Jones CA Patrick Denevan CA Jim Woodward CA Barry Levine CA Joe Greblo MT Andy Torrington NH Gary Trudeau MA Gary Trudeau OH Larry Ball FL Malcolm Jones CA Michael Foy CA Eric Hinrichs CA Stanley Boehm CA Andrew Beem CA Mark Windsheimer WY Johann Nield Thomas Graham

Ryan Voight balled up and going down FAST! November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

WWW.PARAGLIDERS.COM

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HANG GLIDING ADVISORY: Used hang gliders should always be disassembled before flying for the first time and inspected carefully for fatigued, bent or dented downtubes, ruined bushings, bent bolts (especially the heart bolt), re-used Nyloc nuts, loose thimbles, frayed or rusted cables, tangs with non-circular holes, and on flex wings, sails badly torn or torn loose from their anchor points front and back on the keel and leading edges. PARAGLIDING ADVISORY: Used paragliders should always be thoroughly inspected before flying for the first time. Annual inspections on paragliders should include sailcloth strength tests. Simply performing a porosity check isn’t sufficient. Some gliders pass porosity yet have very weak sailcloth.

FLORIDA RIDGE FLIGHT PARK is searching for a paragliding and powered PG instructor. Partnership option available. Contact Arnie, (954) 846-8186, arnie@arvp .com. NORTH WING DESIGN – is accepting applications for metal shop/wing and trike airframe mechanic. Also accepting applications for sail maker and sewing machine operator. Send application to: 3904 Airport Way, E. Wenatchee, WA 98802 or Fax (509) 886-3435 (www .northwing.com).

HARNESSES

If in doubt, many hang gliding and paragliding businesses will be happy to give an objective opinion on the condition of equipment you bring them to inspect. BUYERS SHOULD SELECT EQUIPMENT THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR SKILL LEVEL OR RATING. NEW PILOTS SHOULD SEEK PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTION FROM A USHPA CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR.

HARNESSES – 5’0”-6’5”. Cocoons $125+up. High Energy Cocoons $200+up, Pods $200+up. Inventory, selection changes constantly. Some trades accepted. (262) 473-8800, info@hanggliding.com, www.hanggliding .com, http://stores.ebay.com/raven-sports.

FLEX WINGS

DHV-1 TO BUY X-SMALL – good condition. Pilot 55kg. Contact Jan at (718) 937-3848.

2003 LAMINAR 700 – 14-meter, mint condition. Red/ purple $3000 OBO. Call Steve Lee (423) 949-2176. 2004 LAMINAR 07 – 13-meter, mint condition. Purple/ green. $3000 OBO. Call Steve Lee (423) 949-2176. AS NEW AND BEAUTIFUL!! – Full race Moyes Lightspeed S 4.5 with only 2 hours air (FOR REAL!!). Full mylar, Zoom frame, carbon back section LE, carbon dive struts, carbon wands, bird logo, striking dark blue with dark purple trim sail, two spare Zoom downtubes, two spare tip wands. A gift at $5500 (Do the math). bluemax77@ hotmail.com. EVEN-UP TRADES – Looking to move up from your beginner or novice glider, but can’t put up cash? (262) 473-8800, info@hanggliding.com, www.hanggliding .com, http://stores.ebay.com/raven-sports. EXCELLENT CONDITION! 10-meter Pulse 2 with less than 10 hours ﬂight time. Navy/sky blue/white. $1390 N.C. (910) 264-8847, d3kopczynski@yahoo.com. FALCONS CLEARANCE SALE – School use, one season. Falcon 1s and 2s. All sizes $1250-$2500. (262) 473-8800, info@hanggliding.com, www.hanggliding .com, http://stores.ebay.com/raven-sports. VISION PULSE – 10 meters. 15 hours, ﬂies great. Must sell $2100. (646) 379-7479, located in New York City, Email yuri3342@aol.com. WW TALON 150 – Mylar sail, custom undersurface. Low airtime, excellent condition $2500. (970) 879-3935. tom@thomaswoodloghomes.com.

EMERGENCY PARACHUTES INSPECTED RESERVES – For HG or PG $199+up. Used Quantum, all sizes $475+up. Some trades accepted. info@hanggliding.com, www.hanggliding.com, http://stores.ebay.com/raven-sports, (262) 473-8800.

EMPLOYMENT

PARAGLIDERS

SPEED FLYING CANOPY FOR SALE – 10 meter GIN Nano. Perfect condition. $600 OBO. No harness. Free FedEx Shipping. Color: red/white/gray. Contact Matt@ thefreerideguide.com.

RIGID WINGS MISSION SOARING CENTER – Distributor for AIR Atos, world’s most popular rigid wing. New! Atos VX tandem or powered harness, incredible sink rate with a solo pilot. (408) 262-1055, www.hang-gliding.com.

ULTRALIGHTS DRAGONFLY AEROTUGS – For up to $10,000 off the price of new ones! Enclosed trailer available for pickup/ delivery. www.hanggliding.com, info@hanggliding.com, http://stores.ebay.com/raven-sports, (262) 473-8800.

SCHOOLS & DEALERS ALABAMA LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK – The best facilities, largest inventory, camping, swimming, volleyball, more. Wide range of accommodations. hanglide.com, 877-hanglide, (877) 426-4543.

ARIZONA FLY HIGH PARAGLIDING.COM – over 10 years of experience, offers P-2 certification, tandem flights, towing, new and used equipment, the best weather to fly in USA. (480) 266-6969.

CALIFORNIA AIRJUNKIES PARAGLIDING – Year-round excellent instruction, Southern California & Baja. Powered paragliding, clinics, tours, tandem, towing. Ken Baier, (760) 753-2664, airjunkies@sbcglobal.net, airjunkies.com.

DREAM WEAVER HANG GLIDING – Competitive prices, state-of-the-art equipment. Complete lesson programs. Northern California Mosquito harness dealer. Ideal training hill. Tandem instruction. USHPA advanced instructor Doug Prather, (209) 556-0469, Modesto, California. drmwvrhg@softcom.net. EAGLE PARAGLIDING – SANTA BARBARA offers the best year round flying in the nation. Awardwinning instruction, excellent mountain and ridge sites. www.FlySantaBarbara.com, (805) 968-0980. FLY ABOVE ALL – Year-round instruction in beautiful Santa Barbara! USHPA novice through advanced certification. Thermaling to competition training. Visit www.flyaboveall.com, (805) 965-3733. THE HANG GLIDING CENTER – PO Box 151542, San Diego CA 92175, (619) 265-5320. MISSION SOARING CENTER – Largest hang gliding center in the West! Our deluxe retail shop showcases the latest equipment: Wills Wing, Moyes, AIR, High Energy, Flytec, Icaro. West Coast distributor for A.I.R. Atos rigid wings including the all-new VX Tandem Atos. Parts in stock. We stock new and used equipment. Trade-ins welcome. Complete lesson program. Best training park in the West, located just south of the San Francisco Bay Area. Pittman Hydraulic Winch System for Hang 1s and above. Launch and landing clinics for Hang 3s and Hang 4s. Wills Wing Falcons of all sizes and custom training harnesses. 1116 Wrigley Way, Milpitas, CA 95035. (408) 262-1055, Fax (408) 262-1388, mission@ hang-gliding.com, www.hang-gliding.com, Mission Soaring Center, leading the way since 1973. O’CONNOR FLIGHT SCHOOL – Specializing in Safety In-Flight Training & Maneuvers Clinics and Aerobatic Instruction. Enhance your knowledge, increase your level of confidence, take your piloting skills to new levels. Overthe-water safety and aerobatics clinics. Enleau and Ann O’Connor, www.oconnorflightschool.com, (530) 2274055 and reserve your clinic. TORREY PINES GLIDERPORT – Come soar in San Diego! This family-owned and operated flying site offers USHPA certified instruction, advanced training, equipment sales, tandem flight instruction, motorized pg/hg instruction and site tours. We also have an extensive pg/ hg outfitting shop offering parachute repacks and fullservice repairs. Bring your family for our amazing sunsets and dining at the Cliffhanger Cafe. Importers for Para-tech and Independence gliders. We also carry AustriAlpin, Center of Gravity, Crispi and Sup’Air. Check us out online for sales and questions at: www.flytorrey.com, or call toll-free at 1-877-FLY-TEAM (359-8326). Also, tune in to the Internet Paragliding Talk Show at www.worldtalkradio .com every Tuesday 9-11:00 a.m. (PST). WINDSPORTS – Don’t risk bad weather, bad instruction or dangerous training hills. 350 flyable days each year. Learn foot-launch flying skills safely and quickly. Train with professional CFI’s at world-famous Dockweiler Beach training slopes (5 minutes from LA airport). Fly winter or summer in gentle coastal winds, soft sand and in a thorough program with one of America’s most prestigious schools for over 25 years. (818) 367-2430, www.windsports.com.

November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

COLORADO AIRTIME ABOVE HANG GLIDING – Full-time lessons, sales, service. Colorado’s most experienced! Wills Wing, Moyes, Altair, Aeros, High Energy, Ball, Finsterwalder, Flytec, MotoComm and much more. Call (303) 674-2451, Evergreen, Colorado. AirtimeHG@aol.com. GUNNISON GLIDERS – Serving the western slope. Instruction, sales, service, sewing, accessories. Site information, ratings. 1549 County Road 17, Gunnison CO 81230. (970) 641-9315, 1-866-238-2305. PEAK TO PEAK PARAGLIDING LLC – THE Front Range paragliding school, located in Boulder. Offering excellent state-of-the-art instruction. Equipment & tandems. (303) 817-0803, Info@peaktopeakparagliding.com, www .peaktopeakparagliding.com.

FLORIDA FLORIDA RIDGE AEROTOW PARK – 18265 E State Road 80, Clewiston, Florida, (863) 805-0440, www.thefloridaridge.com. GRAYBIRD AIRSPORTS – Paraglider & hang glider towing & training, Dragonfly aerotow training, XC, thermaling, instruction, equipment. Dunnellon Airport, (352) 245-8263, email fly@graybirdairsports.com, www.graybirdairsports.com. LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK – Nearest mountain training center to Orlando. Two training hills, novice mountain launch, aerotowing, great accommodations. hanglide.com, 877-hanglide, (877) 426-4543. MIAMI HANG GLIDING – For year-round training fun in the sun. (305) 285-8978, 2550 S Bayshore Drive, Coconut Grove, Florida 33133, www.miamihanggliding.com. QUEST AIR – FROM 1ST FLIGHT TO 1ST PLACE – From your first tandem to advanced XC racing, fly with the innovators of aerotowing and champion instructors. No-wait lessons. Higher tows = more airtime. 7 Dragonfly tugs. Safer carts. Huge LZ. Demos. Rentals. Storage. Sales & repair of everything HG. Clubhouse with kitchen, PC, satellite TV, cool toys, kegs, snakeboard races. Pool. Hot tub. Shade. Free wireless. Private lake. Rooms. Bunkhouse. Tent camping. RV hookups. Indoor/outdoor showers. Laundry. Bobby Bailey sightings. Flytec Championships. 2006 Worlds. Largest U.S. HG record/comp sponsors, helping to keep it all going for YOU. Minutes from Orlando in Groveland, FL. www.questairforce.com, questair@mpinet.com, (352) 429-0213.

Safety Tip When ﬂying XC in a hang glider, unzip your harness at least 700 feet above the ground, so you are prepared to land if necessary and can focus totally on getting back up. — Mike Barber

WALLABY AEROTOW FLIGHT PARK – Satisfaction Guaranteed. Just 8 miles from Disney World. Year-round soaring, open 7 days a week, six tugs, no waiting, every direction. 50+ nice demos to fly, topless to trainer gliders: Laminar, Moyes, Wills, Airborne, Airwave, Exxtacy, La Mouette, Sensor; also harnesses, varios, etc. Ages 13 to 73 have learned to fly here. No one comes close to our level of experience and success with tandem aerotow instruction. A great scene for family and friends. 10 motels & restaurants within 5 minutes. Camping, hot showers, shade trees, sales, storage, ratings, XC retrievals, great weather, climbing wall, trampoline, DSS TV, ping pong, picnic tables, swimming pool, etc. Flights of over 200 miles and more than 7 hours. Articles in Hang Gliding, Kitplanes, Skywings, Cross Country and others. Featured on numerous TV shows, including Dateline NBC, The Discovery Channel & ESPN. Visit us on the Web: http://www.wallaby.com. Please call us for references and video. 1805 Dean Still Road, Disney Area, FL 33837 (863) 424-0070, phone & fax, fly@wallaby .com, 1-800-WALLABY. Conservative, reliable, state-ofthe-art. F.H.G. INC., flying Florida since 1974.

GEORGIA LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK – Discover why 5 times as many pilots earn their wings at LMFP. Enjoy our 110-acre mountain resort. www.hanglide.com, 877-hanglide, (877) 426-4543.

HAWAII FLY HAWAII – Hawaii’s hang gliding, paragliding/ paramotoring school. Mauna Kea guide service. Big Island Hawaii, Achim Hagemann (808) 895-9772, www.aircotec .net/flyhawaii.htm, flyaglider@yahoo.com. ISLAND POWERED PARAGLIDING & THERMAL UP PARAGLIDING – The Big Island’s source for USHPA certified instruction. Power or tow from a private 25acre ranch. Guided site and flight tours. Equipment rental, service and sales. Call Yeti, (808) 987-0773, www.IslandPPG.com, www.ThermalUp.com.

MARYLAND HIGHLAND AEROSPORTS – Baltimore and DC’s fulltime flight park: tandem instruction, solo aerotows and equipment sales and service. We carry Aeros, Airwave, Flight Design, Moyes, Wills Wing, High Energy Sports, Flytec and more. Two 115-HP Dragonfly tugs. Open fields as far as you can see. Only 1 to 1.5 hours from Rehoboth Beach, Baltimore, Washington DC, Philadelphia. Come Fly with US! (410) 634-2700, Fax (410) 634-2775, 24038 Race Track Rd, Ridgely, MD 21660, www.aerosports.net, hangglide@aerosports.net.

MICHIGAN CLOUD 9 SPORT AVIATION – Aerotow specialists. We carry all major brand hang gliders and accessories. Cloud 9 Field, 11088 Coon Lake Road West, Webberville MI 48892. Cloud9sa@aol.com, http://members.aol .com/cloud9sa. Call for spring tandem lessons and ﬂying appointments with the Draachen Fliegen Soaring Club at Cloud 9 Field. (517) 223-8683, DFSCinc@aol.com, http://members.aol.com/dfscinc. TRAVERSE CITY HANG GLIDERS/PARAGLIDERS – Put your knees in our breeze and soar our 450’ sand dunes. Full-time shop. Certiﬁed instruction, beginner to advanced. Sales, service, accessories for ALL major brands. Visa/MasterCard. 1509 E 8th, Traverse City MI 49684. Offering powered paragliding. Call Bill at (231) 922-2844, tchangglider@chartermi.net. Your USA & Canada Mosquito distributor. www.mosquitoamerica.com.

NEW YORK AAA E-VILLE OUTFITTERS, MOUNTAIN WINGS INC. – Aeros, North Wing (845) 647-3377, mtnwings@verizon .net, www.evilleoutfitters.com, Ellenville, N.Y. FLY HIGH, INC. – Serving New York, Jersey, and Connecticut areas. Area’s exclusive Wills Wing dealer. Also all other brands, accessories. Area’s most INEXPENSIVE prices! Certified instruction/service since 1979. Excellent secondary instruction! Taken some lessons? Advance to mountain flying! www.flyhighhg.com, (845) 744-3317.

PROFLYGHT PARAGLIDING – Call Dexter for friendly information about flying on Maui. Full-service school offering beginner to advanced instruction every day, year round. SUSQUEHANNA FLIGHT PARK COOPERSTOWN (808) 874-5433, paraglidehawaii.com.IDAHO – 160’ training hill with rides up. 600’ ridge – large LZ. Specializing in first mountain flights. Dan Guido, 293 Shoemaker Road, Mohawk NY 13407. (315) 866-6153, IDAHO dguido@dfamilk.com. KING MOUNTAIN GLIDERS – Alluring site plus shop supplying all your HG/PG needs. Instruction, equipment NORTH CAROLINA sales, tandems, complete accessories. Visit our Web site www.kingmountaingliders.com or (208) 390-0205. KITTY HAWK KITES – FREE Hang 1 training with purchase of equipment! The largest hang gliding school in the world. Teaching since 1974. Learn to fly over the East INDIANA Coast’s largest sand dune. Year-round instruction, foot CLOUD 9 SPORT AVIATION – See Cloud 9 in Michigan. launch and tandem aerotow. Dealer for all major manufacturers. Ultralight instruction and tours. (252) 441-2426, MAINE 1-877-FLY-THIS, www.kittyhawk.com. DOWNEAST AIRSPORTS – Paragliding and hang gliding instruction, quality equipment sales. Extended training/tour packages with lodging available. www.downeastairsports.com, in_a_cloud@hotmail.com, Marc (207) 244-9107.

November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

OHIO CLOUD 9 SPORT AVIATION – See Cloud 9 in Michigan.

PUERTO RICO

PARTS & ACCESSORIES

PUBLICATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS

FLY PUERTO RICO WITH TEAM SPIRIT HG! – Flying tours, rentals, tandems, HG and PG classes, H-2 and P-2 intensive novice courses, full sales. (787) 850-0508, tshg@coqui.net.

BIG EARS PTT – $99.95. Includes speaker and microphone, radio connection, sealed ﬁnger switch. Choose the full-face or the open-face model. www.bigearsptt.com, (805) 965-3733.

TENNESSEE

FOR ALL YOUR FLYING NEEDS – Check out the Aviation Depot at www.mojosgear.com featuring over 1000 items for foot-launched and powered paragliding, hang gliding, stunt and power kiting, and powered parachutes. 24/7 secure online shopping. Books, videos, KITES, gifts, engine parts, harness accessories, electronics, clothing, safety equipment, complete powered paragliding units with training from Hill Country Paragliding Inc. www .hillcountryparagliding.com, 1-800-664-1160 for orders only. Ofﬁce (325) 379-1567.

*NEW* AND THE WORLD COULD FLY – And the World Could Fly tells the story of how piloting for the masses became a possibility and then a reality. This is a tale of free flight in every sense of the term. Edited by Stéphane Malbos and Noel Whittall, And the World Could Fly contains contributions from many parts of the world as well as much new writing. Together, the editors have more than fifty years of undiminished enthusiasm for foot-launched flight. And the World Could Fly is produced by the International Hang Gliding and Paragliding Commission (CIVL) to celebrate the centenary of FAI. It is a book which will appeal to anyone with an interest in free flight, whether an old-stager who can remember the early California days or a newcomer who wonders where it all came from. Call USHPA 1-800-616-6888 or order off our Web site, www .ushpa.aero. PO Box 1330, Colorado Springs CO 80901.

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK – Just outside Chattanooga. Become a complete pilot – foot launch, aerotow, mountain launch, ridge soar, thermal soar. hanglide.com, 877-hanglide, (877) 426-4543.

TEXAS AUSTIN AIR SPORTS – Hang gliding and ultralight sales, service and instruction. Steve Burns, (512) 236-0031, sburns@austinairsports.com. Fred Burns, (281) 4711488, austinair@aol.com, WWW.AUSTINAIRSPORTS. COM. GO...HANG GLIDING!!! – Jeff Hunt. Austin ph/fax (512) 467-2529, jeff@ﬂytexas.com, www.ﬂytexas.com.

UTAH CLOUD 9 SOARING CENTER – Once again, we are the closest shop to the Point of the Mountain. Utah’s only full-time PG/HG shop and repair facility. Contact 1-888944-5433 or www.paragliders.com.

VIRGINIA BLUE SKY – Full-time instruction at Blue Sky Flight Park near Richmond. Scooter, platform and aerotowing available. All major brands of equipment, with Mosquitos and Doodlebugs in stock. Steve Wendt (540) 432-6557, (804) 241-4324, www.blueskyhg.com.

WASHINGTON AERIAL PARAGLIDING SCHOOL AND FLIGHT PARK – Award-winning instructors at a world-class training facility. Contact Doug Stroop at (509) 782-5543 or visit www.paragliding.us.

WYOMING JACKSON HOLE PARAGLIDING – A perfect ﬂying day: Launch the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Aerial Tram in the morning, tow at the Palisades Reservoir in the afternoon. Contact: scharris@wyoming.com, www.jhparagliding.com, (307) 690-TRAM (8726).

INTERNATIONAL MEXICO – VALLE DE BRAVO and beyond for hang gliding and paragliding. Year-round availability and special tours, winter 05-06. Fly the extinct volcano, vagabond tours for those with wanderlust and more sites in the Valle area. Standard package in and out on a Sunday, $895 PG $1095 HG - includes all transpo, lodging, guiding and HG rental. www.ﬂymexico.com, 1-800-861-7198 USA.P

GLIDERBAGS – XC $75! Heavy waterproof $125. Accessories, low prices, fast delivery! Gunnison Gliders, 1549 County Road 17, Gunnison CO 81230. (970) 641-9315, orders 1-866-238-2305. HALL WIND METER – Simple. Reliable. Accurate. Mounting brackets, control bar wheels. Hall Brothers, PO Box 1010, Morgan, Utah 84050. (801) 829-3232, www .hallwindmeter.com. MINI VARIO – World’s smallest, simplest vario! Clips to helmet or chinstrap. 200 hours on batteries, 0-18,000 ft., fast response and 2-year warranty. ONLY $169. Mallettec, PO Box 15756, Santa Ana CA 92735. (949) 795-0421, MC/Visa accepted, www.mallettec.com. OXYGEN SYSTEMS – The world-class XCR-180 operates up to 3 hours @18,000 feet and weighs only 4 lbs. Complete kit with cylinder, harness, regulator, cannula and remote on/off ﬂowmeter, only $400. 1-800-468-8185. RISING AIR GLIDER REPAIR SERVICES – A fullservice shop, specializing in all types of paragliding repairs, annual inspections, reserve repacks, harness repairs. Hang gliding reserve repacks and repair. For information or repair estimate, call (208) 554-2243, pricing and service request form available at www.risingair.biz, billa@atcnet.net. TANDEM LANDING GEAR – Rascal™ brand by Raven, simply the best. New & used. (262) 473-8800, www.hanggliding.com, info@hanggliding.com, http:// stores.ebay.com/raven-sports. WHEELS FOR AIRFOIL BASETUBES – WHOOSH! Wheels™ (Patent Pending), Moyes/Airborne & Wills Wing compatible. Dealer inquiries invited. (262) 473-8800, www.hanggliding.com, info@hanggliding.com, http:// stores.ebay.com/raven-sports. WINDSOKS FROM HAWK AIRSPORTS INC – 1673 Corbin Lake Rd, Rutledge, TN 37861, 1-800-826-2719. Worldfamous Windsoks, as seen at the Oshkosh & Sun-N-Fun EAA Fly-Ins. Hawk@windsok.com, www.windsok.com.

BIRDFLIGHT – Otto Lilienthal’s genius in scientific observations and analysis, documented in this work, became the basis for the experimentation of the early pioneers in aviation. The “hero” of the Wright brothers, Otto is considered to be “The Father of Gliding Flight.” Lilienthal’s definitive book has been out of print for almost a century, but is now available to everyone for a wonderful and absorbing journey into aviation history. 176 pages, 16 photographs, 89 drawings and 14 graphs. $19.95 (+$5 s/h) Call USHPA at 1-800-616-6888 or order off our Web site, www.ushpa.aero. PO Box 1330, Colorado Springs CO 80901. *NEW* CONDOR TRAIL, PARAGLIDING THE CENTRAL ANDES – the guidebook to paragliding and traveling in the Central Andes. It’s packed with 256 pages of maps, site descriptions, local lore, free-flight contacts and photos, all the information you need to plan your own Andean paragliding adventure. Most of the launch and landing access throughout the Andes is done with cheap public transportation. Condor Trail gives you bus routes to catch, areas to avoid, traveler tips, and contacts for the local flying communities throughout Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Northern Argentina, and Northern Chile. Call USHPA at 1-800-616-6888 or order off our Web site, www .ushpa.aero. PO Box 1330, Colorado Springs CO 80901. “FLYING BY THE SEAT OF YOUR PANTS: A HANG GLIDER PILOT’S VIEW OF LIFE” is a self-help book written by USHPA member Chris Waugh who started flying in 1974. She uses hang gliding as a metaphor for how you can succeed in a world of change and uncertainty. Full of photos and inspirational flying quotes, it sells for $14.95 and shipping is FREE. Buy it at www.reNvision.com. FLY THE WING! HOOKING INTO HANG GLIDING – By Len Holms. This is the perfect book for those curious about the sport of hang gliding. Written at a level that will not swamp the reader with a daunting amount of technical details, you will learn about hang glider wings and the skills needed to fly them. 84 pages with photos and illustrations. $12.95(+$5 s&h). Call USHPA at 1-800616-6888 or order off our Web site, www.ushpa.aero. PO Box 1330, Colorado Springs CO 80901. SOARING – Monthly magazine of The Soaring Society of America Inc. Covers all aspects of soaring flight. Full membership $64. SSA, PO Box 2100, Hobbs NM 88241. (505) 392-1177, ssa.org.

November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

VIDEOS & DVDS VIDEOS FROM USHPA – WWW.USHPA.AERO *NEW* DARE DEVIL FLYERS – The 94-minute digital video docupicture covers all thirty years of hang gliding and all seventeen years of paragliding. It begins with the Bob and Chris Wills story – they founded Wills Wing, the only surviving American manufacturer/distributor of hang gliders and paragliders. Two legendary pilots guide the audience through these extreme sports with their narrative. The docupic features competition in the extreme sports of aerobatic hang gliding, speed hang gliding and high-altitude cross-country paragliding. Wingmounted POV cameras provide the docupic with an inthe-air thrill ride from the Rocky Mountains to the Paciﬁc coast. Narrator Bobby Carradine threads us through the three decades. Call USHPA at 1-800-616-6888 or order off our Web site, www.ushpa.aero. PO Box 1330, Colorado Springs CO 80901. PURA VIDA FLYING – By GW Meadows. 3 pilots, 3 weeks, 1 jungle, no rules. A trio of competition hang glider and paraglider pilots discover the true meaning of “pura vida” as they enjoy the jungles and beaches of Costa Rica. Hang gliding, paragliding, ultralight towing, kiteboarding and more. Awesome ﬂying. $24.95. Order yours at www.ushpa.aero/store. RISK & REWARD – By Jeff Goin. This 70-min. DVD exposes the risks and rewards of powered paragliding in a fun, action-packed adventure. You owe yourself this inside look that could easily save your life. Three years in the making, Risk & Reward gathers wisdom from a long list of instructors. Spectacular video from around the world sheds light on essential concepts with clarity and realism. $29.95. Order yours at www.ushpa.aero/store.

FELLOW PILOTS! Replace ALL your other supplements with IntraMax, a 415 nutrient, organic all-in-one, economical supplement. Contact Dr. Mike at Dr_Mike@juno. com, www.DrMikesVitaminsandMinerals.com, (706) 6540813. WORLDWIDE INTERNET PARAGLIDING TALK SHOW – WWW.WORLDTALKRADIO.COM. Listen live or to the archives! Live Tuesday 9-11:00 a.m. (PST). Call toll-free, 1-888-514-2100 or internationally at (001) 858-2683068. Paraglider pilots and radio hosts David and Gabriel Jebb want to hear about your stories, promotions/events or insight; they also take questions! CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING RATES – The rate for classified advertising is $10.00 for 25 words and $1.00 per word after 25. MINIMUM AD CHARGE $10.00. Phone number=2 words. Email or Web address=3 words. AD DEADLINES: All ad copy, instructions, changes, additions & cancellations must be received in writing 2 months preceding the cover date, i.e. November 15th is the deadline for the January issue. ALL CLASSIFIEDS ARE PREPAID. If paying by check, please include the following with your payment: name, address, phone, category, how many months you want the ad to run and the classified ad. Please make checks payable to USHPA, P.O. Box 1330, Colorado Springs, CO 80901-1330. If paying with credit card, you may email the previous information and classified to info@ushpa.aero. For safety reason, please call your Visa/MC or Amex info to the office. No refunds will be given on ads cancelled that are scheduled to run multiple months. (719) 632-8300. Fax (719) 632-6417

INDEX TO ADVERTISERS ACE SIM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 ANGLE OF ATTACK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 CRITTER MOUNTAIN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 FLY MEXICO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 FLYTEC USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 FOUNDATION FOR HG&PG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 HIGH ENERGY SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 JUST FLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 NORTH WING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 O’CONNOR FLIGHT SCHOOL . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 OZONE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 SKY WINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 THERMAL TRACKER PARAGLIDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 TORREY PINES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 TRAVERSE CITY HG & PG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 USHPA CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 USHPA DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 USHPA MBNA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 USHPA RENEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 USHPA SUBSCRIBER CARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 WILLS WING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

MARKETPLACE ADVENTURE PRODUCTIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 CLOUD 9 SOARING CENTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 FLYTEC USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 KITTY HAWK KITES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 MOYES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 OZ REPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 SUPERFLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 THEWINDYPLANET.COM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 USHPA BOOKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 USHPA XC FLIGHT AWARDS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

*NEW* USHPA MAGAZINE ARCHIVE 1971-2004 – The DVD set holds the history of our sport, from the earliest days of bamboo and plastic to the present. Within these pages you’ll find the evolution of foot-launched flight from the first days of bamboo dune-skimmers to the modern variety of hang gliders, paragliders and rigid wings. Each PDF file is one complete magazine, just as originally published. Pages with color are produced as color scans, the rest scanned as black and white images. Future issues will be available on an update disk. Each disk includes Adobe Acrobat Reader Version 7 for Windows, Macintosh and Linux systems. $30 for members and $90 for nonmembers. Call USHPA at 1-800-616-6888 or order off our Web site, www.ushpa.aero. PO Box 1330, Colorado Springs CO 80901.

MISCELLANEOUS

DVDS-VIDEOS-BOOKS-POSTERS – Check out our Web store at www.ushpa.aero. An unidentiﬁed pilot waiting for a good cycle on Chelan Butte November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

Photo: Natalie Page

“AEROBATICS” POSTER – Full color 23”x 31” poster featuring John Heiney doing what he does bestLOOPING! See www.ushpa.aero under store/misc for example. Available through USHPA HQ for just $6.95 (+$5.00 s/h). USHPA, PO Box 1300, Colorado Springs CO 80933. (USA & Canada only. Sorry, posters are NOT AVAILABLE on international orders.)

My five-year-old grandson has a cool word: “Yep.” Ask him a question that requires a positive answer. He’ll look at you with a wry little smile that fits his face perfectly. Then he’ll raise an eyebrow like a young Jack Benny (for those of you old enough to remember that name), look at you squarely with those huge eyes and say, “Yep.” That’s exactly the word that rolls through my head when I read the list of addiction signs that follows. • Your heart rate doubles if you see a cleared field at the base of a 100-foot hill. “Yep.” • Your heart rate triples if you see a cleared field within a 4to-1 glide of a 2000-foot hill. “Yep.” • Your heartbeat becomes audible to the person sitting next to you if there are no electric wires or fence lines around the cleared field. “Yep.” • You can identify several individual birds that you know to frequent your flying sites. In fact, you know several crows by name. “Yep.” • Any slow-moving black spot in the sky becomes immediately subject to interpretation: wind speed, wind direction, lift, sink, turbulence…“Yep.” • You hear disembodied whispers that seem to emanate from birds, clouds, rivers, mud puddles. They always talk about the same subjects: wind speed, wind direction, lift, sink, turbulence…“Yep.” • While driving to your favorite flying site, the only thing between you and a speeding ticket is your cruise control. (You know the drill.) • A newly logged clearing on a tall hilltop can only mean one thing. • You consider flat-bottomed clouds with fluff y white tops as gifts from the gods. • Your favorite views from any highway or road always include flags, windsocks, kites, or even streamers tied to tree limbs. • Driving under cloud streets raises little beads of sweat on your forehead and causes guttural, incomprehensible utterances to issue forth from your mouth and throat. • Your significant other talks about the bugs, mosquitoes, insects, fl ies. You focus on the “fly” part.

ticket today. I made the 200-mile trip from my house to fly Baldy Butte in Ellensburg, Washington. I did the entire trip on cruise control. Then, on Canyon Road where the speed limit is 45, I set my cruise and followed it religiously. I hit the brakes to slow around a curve, which of course, cancels the cruise control. Then I saw my destination campground that was going to double as my landing zone today. I put my foot to the gas, and closed to within 300 yards of my final destination when I looked in the rear view mirror at the blue and red lights. The state trooper had been sitting alongside the road in plain view. I passed him while traveling 10 miles per hour over the speed So anyway, I believe – no, I know – I am addicted. I answer limit. For something less than a half-mile, I was speeding. That “Yep” to every one of these statements. I can even add to them. lapse of memory caused by the sight of my mountain and my I get bored when my wife talks unceasingly about her job. Yet landing zone cost me $90. You’d think I would learn. But NO! given the opportunity, I would bore her to death while I talk I’m addicted! incessantly about flying. Or how about this one? I take my classroom to the football field. They are running crazy. I am watching the school’s anemometer. The list goes on. Don’t believe me yet? Then how about this as a statement of absolute proof of my own addiction: I got another speeding

November 2006: Hang Gliding & Paragliding – w w w.ushpa.aero

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