JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 Volume 48 Issue 1 $6.95
For change of address or other USHPA business:
+1 (719) 632-8300 info@ushpa.aero
Martin Palmaz, Executive Director executivedirector@ushpa.aero Beth Van Eaton, Operations Manager office@ushpa.aero Galen Anderson, Membership Coordinator membership@ushpa.aero Julie Spiegler, Program Manager programs@ushpa.aero
USHPA OFFICERS & EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Paul Murdoch, President president@ushpa.aero Alan Crouse, Vice President vicepresident@ushpa.aero Steve Rodrigues, Secretary secretary@ushpa.aero Mark Forbes, Treasurer treasurer@ushpa.aero
REGION 1: Rich Hass, Mark Forbes. REGION 2: Jugdeep Aggarwal, Josh Cohn, Jon James. REGION 3: Ken Andrews, Dan DeWeese, Alan Crouse. REGION 4: Bill Belcourt, Ken Grubbs. REGION 5: Josh Pierce. REGION 6: Tiki Mashy. REGION 7: Paul Olson. REGION 8: Calef Letorney. REGION 9: Dan Lukaszewicz, Larry Dennis. REGION 10: Bruce Weaver, Steve Kroop, Matt Taber. REGION 11: Tiki Mashy. REGION 12: Paul Voight. DIRECTORS AT LARGE: Paul Murdoch, Steve Rodrigues, Greg Kelley, Jamie Shelden, Mitch Shipley. EX-OFFICIO DIRECTOR: Art Greenfield (NAA). The United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association Inc. (USHPA) 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 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.
COVER SHOT BY
MIGUEL LUSTRE Kelly Myrkle flying in Yosemite, CA.
WARNING
Hang gliding and paragliding are INHERENTLY DANGEROUS activities. USHPA recommends pilots complete a pilot training program under the direct supervision of a USHPA-certified instructor, using safe equipment suitable for your level of experience. Many of the articles and photographs in the magazine depict advanced maneuvers being performed by experienced, or expert, pilots. These maneuvers should not be attempted without the prerequisite instruction and experience.
New Sportiness The SIGMA 10 continues the story of the legendary SIGMA Series. With an aspect ratio of 6.16 and 66 cells the new ADVANCE XC flagship is positioned at the centre of the EN/LTF C class. The high-tech sportster combines outstanding performance with sporty dynamic and distin guished colours. The best starting point for epic cross country experiences. www.advance.ch /sigma distributor: superflyinc.com, info@superflyinc.com 801.255.9595
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2018 FLY SMART
JANUARY/FEBRUARY
5 LIVE WELL 5 GO FAR
20 YEARLING NOTES CALEF LETORNEY
Midwestern Dream Flights STEVE MARKUSEN
Rolling Thunder JEFF SHAPIRO
28 40
CHASING GHOSTS
EASY FLYER
FROM TOYS TO WINGS In the Forever Bonds of Free Flight C.J. STURTEVANT with DONNITA HALL
46 52
MACEDONIA Balkan Flying at its Best JON ROBINSON
10
12
16
36
USHPA'S NEW WEBSITE
AVIAN PUMA 148
MIND YOUR MANNERS
SPEED FLYING
Be ready for the changeover.
JULIE SPIEGLER
A new option in the USA
STEVE TEDSTONE
Etiquette Primer for Busy Launch Sites
ANNETTE O'NEIL
A Guide to Ski Launching
BEN WHITE
8 8 58 62 62 64
BRIEFINGS AIRMAIL FINAL CALENDAR CLASSIFIED RATINGS
T
his has been one heck of a year for USHPA and free flight in the USA, with both US teams having competed at World Events, a Red Bull X-Alps, and PASA.
We’ve continued to ensure that our instructors move forward and, most importantly, many active USHPA pilots have taken countless incredible flights. We faced growing pains when instructors began to feel the effects of a new system instituted in 2017. But those who signed on early received nearly 20 percent off their previous premiums the next year, due to the organization’s success in raising the bar for instruction and promoting a deeper focus on safety. Although we have a long way to go before the program fully serves all of our members, we’ve made a strong start in a pioneering program that effectively lowered our claims and eventually will help us reach our goal of lowering everyone’s premiums. The team that put together the program and continues
insurance for everything from competing, to opening and
to keep it on track should never have to buy a beer or soda
maintaining a flying site. USHPA has historically done its
again at any public event they attend. If you know one of
very best to provide this insurance as cheaply as possible,
them, listed in the Presidential Citation award article in
even losing money on events at times, in order to ensure
the May/June 2017 issue, please take a moment to give him
success of the events.
or her a handshake and thanks.
For those of you who desire a more tangible benefit to
One person left off that list is Paul Murdoch, who had
your bottom line, look no farther than the Experticity deal
the unfortunate luck of taking over the ship in rough seas.
on the last page of this publication. Advanced- and Master-
I personally spent hours on calls with Paul for months,
rated pilots, as well as instructors, are eligible for industry
reviewing ever-evolving aspects of the entire plan that the
discounts that give up to 60 percent off approximately 100
team helped guide to its current successful position. And
brands that make products for the outdoor industry. One
that was just one of the many calls Paul had every week.
purchase on this site can save you the cost of your year-
We’re lucky to have his service.
long membership to the organization. And we all know
Folks often ask what USHPA does for them, and the answer can vary by user. With dues increases and this
how much we love new gear! The New Year is a time to be thankful. I’m thankful
insurance program necessitating deeper financial obliga-
that we have an incredibly dedicated staff, consisting of
tions from all members, it is a fair question. It is also dif-
Beth Van Eaton, Julie Spiegler, and Galen Anderson, led
ficult to see the national scale when we are all incredibly
by Martin Palmaz. I’m also thankful for the extremely tal-
consumed with our local flying. After sitting in on nearly
ented, passionate, and engaged group of volunteers from
20 board meetings over the last 10 years, I can attest that
around the country who steer the organization through-
we are continually evolving in response to the needs of the
out the year, at great personal sacrifice, with very little in
day and our members. The current members of the volun-
return. And for the crew at the USHPA magazine: thank
teer board are educated, responsible and passionate. And,
you, Greg Gillam, C.J. Sturtevant, Beth Van Eaton, and all of
a few are even pillars of the instructing community who
you who have sent something in to our communal firepit.
year after year donate significant time towards making
Most importantly, I’m thankful for each and every
free flight viable for the next 100 years. They do this for
member who is a part of this wacky group. Look around.
the love of the sport and, often, even at great financial cost
We are an incredible hodgepodge of passionate people
to themselves.
driven by a desire to recreate outside the box. ‘Tis the
Following are a few noteworthy benefits that I see: USHPA continues to update and manage the rating
season. If you feel thankful for someone in your community who makes your flying experience better, let them
system that, while evolving, serves to create a solid base
know—tell them in person, or nominate them for a USHPA
of instruction. They manage and regulate this system to
award!
the best degree possible for a self-regulating body. USHPA enables sites, instructors, pilots, and landowners to obtain
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
7
BRIEFINGS
NEWS + EQUIPMENT + ANNOUNCEMENTS
FLYMASTER BUDDIES
Safe pilot awards
Flymaster is pleased to announce new capabilities for the live-tracking-
Diamond
capable instruments. The “Buddies”
Paul Somerset 61817
feature allows you to follow your flying
Calef Letorney 83469
buddies in real time showing you where they are, how high they are and if they
Gold
have landed, all on your instrument
Robert Lee 96784
display. For more information check out
Bronze:
Flymasterusa.com.
John Gallagher 26461
AIRMAIL
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR During the past year, my dream has
To fly like a bird has always been
aches or pain at the end of the day or
one of humanity’s oldest dreams, and
need for concern about safety. In my
hang gliding probably comes closer to
flights of fancy, I enjoy the same great
I am happy to announce a new product called “The Fenison FlyBar,”
become a reality.
birdlike flight than any other activity.
speed range and roll control allowed
Although hang gliding recently has
in the prone position, minus the achy
but you can call it anything you want.
bumped up against a few obstacles,
shoulders or need for a chiroprac-
Sometimes I call it my “magic wand,”
the dream survives. The dream is here
tor visit at the end of each flight. In
because it has magically transformed
to stay, in many forms.
my dream, I cannot swing head first
my hang gliding experience. I have
through the control frame and break
also, once or twice, called it my “sky
as I have had: I dream that I fly in total
my neck if I crash, because I am not
Harley,” because it feels as if I am
comfort, like a bird, effortless, with no
flying head first.
riding a motorcycle through the sky.
Perhaps you’ve had the same dream
2018 SPRING Board Meeting in GOLDEN, COLORADO March 8-10, 2018 at the AMERICAN MOUNTAINEERING CENTER Awards Ceremony Evening of March 10 at the Table Mountain Inn
https://www.ushpa.org/page/ushpa-board-meeting
8
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
HANG GLIDING
PARAGLIDING &
Martin Palmaz, Publisher executivedirector@ushpa.aero Nick Greece, Editor editor@ushpa.aero advertising@ushpa.aero Greg Gillam, Art Director art.director@ushpa.aero C.J. Sturtevant, Copy Editor copy@ushpa.aero Staff Writers
Photographers
Annette O'Neil
John Heiney
Dennis Pagen
Jeff Shapiro
deformation of the down tubes to take
Jeff Shapiro
simply “the bar,” if you like. But one
place, even under extreme conditions.
C.J. Sturtevant
thing is certain: This simple control
We hope to move this idea beyond the
device has made flying our Rogallo
R&D stage and into production later
wings in the suprone position truly
this year, making it available in time
practical.
for the 2018 flying season.
Call it “Suprone Bar,” “SkyHog,” or
Follow the developments online
With this control device, shown in the accompanying photos, a hang
@ FenisonFlyBar.com, or find us
glider can now be flown in the su-
on YouTube by looking up videos
prone (feet forward) position, with the
titled “Suprone Revisited,” “Suprone
same speed range and roll control we
Seduction,” “Suprone Solutions,” or
enjoy in the head-first position—in
“Something Worth Howling About.” Next season, you might find yourself
comfort. And I am talking totally outrageous, all-day comfort. No modifications to the glider are required, except perhaps a modified
in the air with a pilot who’s flying feet first using the FlyBar. If I am that pilot I will be easy to spot. I will be the
basetube. The device attaches to any
pilot with no neck or shoulder pain,
A-frame in about one minute. It also
drinking a Red Bull, eating a sandwich,
requires a paragliding-style har-
and holding speed between thermals,
ness with a spreader bar. Put all of
while sending text messages. But don’t
that together, and Voila! You’ll have a
worry: I still clear my turns. An aerotowable version of the
completely different flying experience, designed for weight-shifted Rogallo
FlyBar is in the works. I will be posting
wings, although it might also work
online videos this winter as that proj-
well with some rigid wings, such as
ect progresses. Some paraglider pilots who have
the Atos. Fenison FlyBar has been working hand-in-hand with some of our
toyed with the idea of hang gliding might want to check out the FlyBar as
sports’ top designers and engineering
well. Flight-testing this past year has
minds to ensure the airworthiness
exceeded my expectations. Suprone hang gliding is looking
and safety of this product. This device, properly constructed and properly
good. Very good indeed!
mounted to the glider, makes the
A-frame so strong you might never break another down tube. The invention does not allow any twisting or
- Sunny Jim Fenison, FenisonFlyBar, patent pending www.FenisonFlyBar.com
SUBMISSIONS HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING welcomes editorial submissions from our members and readers. All submissions of articles, artwork, photographs and or ideas for articles, artwork and photographs are made pursuant to and are subject to the USHPA Contributor's Agreement, a copy of which can be obtained from the USHPA by emailing the editor at editor@ushpa.aero or online at www.ushpa.aero. HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING reserves the right to edit all contributions. We are always looking for well written articles and quality artwork. Feature stories generally run anywhere from 1500 to 3000 words. 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. 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, (516) 816-1333. ADVERTISING ALL ADVERTISING AND ADVERTISING INQUIRIES MUST BE SENT TO USHPA HEADQUARTERS IN COLORADO SPRINGS. All advertising is subject to the USHPA Advertising Policy, a copy of which may be obtained from the USHPA by emailing advertising@ushpa.aero.
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING (ISSN 1543-5989) (USPS 17970) 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) 6326417. Periodical postage is paid at Colorado Springs, CO and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER Send change of address to: USPA, P.O. BOX 1330, Colorado Springs, CO 80901-1330. Canadian Post Publications Mail Agreement #40065056. Canadian Return Address: DP Global Mail, 4960-2 Walker Road, Windsor, ON N9A 6J3 COPYRIGHT ©2016 United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, Inc., All Rights Reserved; no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without prior written permission of the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, Inc.
ASSOCIATION New Year, New Gear! by the USHPA STAFF
A
s pilots, we love the opportunity to upgrade our gear and look forward to the better performance, safety, and fun that new equipment typically provides. Holiday gifts may also include the latest tech from Apple, exotic vacations, or even colorful, cozy socks.
At USHPA headquarters we've been asking Santa for new technology for a few years, and it looks as if we're finally get-
ting our wish. We are now on-track to cut over to our new association management system (AMS) by early February 2018.
What does this mean? 1. Some systems will be offline for a few days. In order to get all of the information from the old system onto the new system, we will have to stop making changes. This means: No new memberships can be created, no online or paper renewals can be made, and no ratings can be processed. Staff will be available to answer questions, but changes will not be made until the new system is online.
2. Chapter renewals will remain online, using the existing system during the transition. In order to provide ample time for chapters to complete the renewal process and for Recreation RRG to underwrite and issue Certificates of Insurances (COIs), chapter renewals began in mid-December using the same system as last year. Chapter officers should have already received the Chapter Renewal Packets that include current officer listings, links to online renewal forms, a spreadsheet for updating sites and additional insureds, and other reference materials. If you have not received the renewal packet, please contact the office. After collecting the necessary information, chapter officers will be able to update their chapter's information directly onto spreadsheets and use the online forms to complete the annual renewal process. Information for currently insured sites will have already been filled in, saving most officers a considerable amount of time. Keep in mind that accurate and complete renewal applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Start early to provide sufficient time for submitting a complete and accurate renewal—no later thanFebruary 1st. Unfortunately, renewals received after February 1st may not be processed before the policy expires on February 28th.
3. All members will be required to reset their USHPA passwords. To improve system security, all members will be required to reset their USHPA passwords. If you do not have an email associated with your membership, you may need to contact the office to complete this process.
How will the new system be different from the old system? In addition to supporting our public website, managing memberships, and processing ratings, the new system will greatly improve staff efficiency, be more reliable, and provide better information about our organization. It will also ensure PCIcompliance and support better integration with Recreation RRG systems, including acting as a Single Sign-On federated identity provider and OAUTH2-authenticated API producing JSON. The biggest improvements, however, will be found in the features available to our members. New features include:
10
•
Chapter self-service (online access to all chapter information, including sites and additional insureds).
•
Online communities for committees, instructors, and eventually chapters and regions.
•
Community functions that may include forums, document libraries, blogs, wikis, and member lists.
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
•
Extensive online site information.
•
Ease in use as well as increased security for member self-service features (such as profile updates, online renew-
al, and members-only documents). •
Support in adding new capabilities in the future, such as:
Online rating forms
Online rating tests
•
Additional online instructional support for instructors and students.
•
Tools for helping chapters manage their members.
•
Online communities for chapters, which can be used for chapter websites.
•
Online new-member processing.
Our first goal in implementing this new system is making sure that we have all of the capabilities we had in the old system are working. Then we can take advantage of the new features that are built in to the new system. The new system, called iMIS 20 from ASI (http://www.advsol.com/), is one of the leading AMS products in the industry that is specifically designed for managing and supporting nonprofit organizations.
What do I need to do? 1. Plan ahead If your membership is up for renewal or you have ratings to submit, get those in to the office as soon as possible. Be prepared for delays if they arrive in the office during the system transition.
2. Update Chapter API calls If your chapter uses the USHPA API (either with a key or via the public call) you will NOT need to update the URL used to access the information. We are making sure that the URL and output are exactly the same as before. If you need more information, please contact the office.
3. Give yourself extra time The first time you access the new Members Only component, you may need extra time to accomplish your task. (a) You will need to set a new password the first time you try to access the system. (b) The look and organization will be slightly differently than in the old system. We think the new system will be easier to use, but there is always a challenge and increased time may be needed to navigate the new look.
For more information about the transition process and the latest updates on status, refer to the “New Website Technology” article on the USHPA website: https://www.ushpa.org/page/new-website-technology
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
11
GEAR Avian Puma 148 by STEVE TEDSTONE
T
he Avian Puma is a very
years, managed by owner and de-
modify their topless model to a
high-performance kingposted
signer Steve Elkins/Tim Swait. They
kingposted model? Well, in the UK
glider with excellent handling
currently build four hang gliders:
many sites are “hike in” or “hike up”
characteristics and boasting to
the EVO (topless model); the Puma
sites, so several pilots wanted the
be the lightest weight glider in its
(basically an EVO with an added
performance of a topless glider, but
class—a true 63 lbs.
kingpost); the Rio (beginner double-
the lighter weight of a kingposted
surface) and the Fly (single-surface).
glider—thus Steve Elkins developed
Avian (located in the UK) has been in business for approximately 25
So why would Avian want to
the Puma.
ABOVE Avian
Puma, Glassy LZ, South Carolina. OPPOSITE Batten tips (one in place, one shown adjacent with swivel end tip).
12
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
HANDLING The Puma handles extremely well— roll response and roll reversal are fairly easy and very quick in comparison to other high-performance wings, no high siding is required and the Puma feels very neutral and predictable in the air. As with all hang gliders there is somewhat of a trade-off with handling (roll and yaw ability) and tracking ability (with easier handling, tracking ability suffers a little; with better tracking ability, then handling suffers a little). Avian’s focus favors excellent handling characteristics—light and quick roll reversal for tight ridge soaring—so the Puma excels in the handling department, but does get knocked off course a little in bumpy air. However, if you pull in the VG, the tracking ability greatly improves. The Puma has a lot of VG travel and is very easy to pull; most pilots like to fly with 1/4 to 1/3 VG. The Puma has ZERO pitch pressure—none whatsoever; this takes a few hours to get used to. Initially you may be flying along and find the base bar at your chest and realize you are flying too fast; for example, if you pull the base bar in due to turbulence and increase your flying speed, you have to think and remember to push the base bar back out to slow back down to trim speed. After flying the Puma a few times and gaining airtime on this glider, one becomes used to the lack of pitch pressure and you will find yourself placing the base bar in the correct position in relation to your desired flying speed, just as you would with any other glider. CAUTION: Only experienced pilots should be flying the Puma! It would be very easy for an intermediate pilot to get into trouble due to the ZERO pitch pressure. The Puma has a very good glide ratio and sink rate;
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
13
14
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
PUMA 148 SPECS Sail Area 148 SF I weigh 200 lbs. and this glider per-
wands to wrestle with, and it has a
forms very well in light conditions.
unique batten tip fastening system
(I would expect the optimum pilot
(see pictures). The tip swivels and
Span 32.8 FT Nose Angle 130˚
the top tab pops into the grommet
weight to be around 175-180 lbs.)
hole located on the sail, then you
LAUNCHING
Aspect Ratio 7.4:1
pivot the tip to lock in place to the
The Puma has excellent static bal-
batten shaft; this system works very
ance, is very neutral feeling and
well. Carbon airfoil tips are avail-
is very easy to launch. As you will
able as an option and are similar in
notice in the photos, the kingpost is
shape to those found on the Aeros
raked forward at an extreme angle.
Combat. As you will notice in the
However, the side wires do have
photos, the sail remains very wide
some slop and most pilots like to
towards the end of the leading
launch with VG about 1/8 to 1/4 on.
edge—having additional sail area
LANDING
helps to improve sink rate or allows
Landing characteristics are very
a heavier pilot to fly a smaller glider.
similar to other very high-perfor-
If you are in the market for a new
Length 17.7 FT Glider Wt 63 LBS Battens 21 + 4 Airframe 70751
(wide chord) near the glider tips
Hook-in Wt 175 to 245 LBS Pilot Wt 150 to 220 LBS
high-performance kingposted glider,
mance kingposted hang gliders.
Price $7800 to $98002
then you owe it to yourself to test fly
OTHER
an Avian Puma.
Glider quality, fit and finish are all excellent, sail quality is excellent. The sail is laser cut, thus no fraying along the sail edges. The Puma does
Steve Tedstone (Avian Dealer) 864-303-7955 (South Carolina) Please call between 6-9p.m. Eastern time
1
Carbon aft LE and sprogs available 2 Depending on options and exchange rate
NOT have radial tips, thus no tip
GEAR new graphic
TEES HEADGEAR
T-SHIRTS
JACKETS
UNITED STATES HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING ASSOCIATION
UNITED STATES HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING ASSOCIATION
2018
TECHNICAL
charms
for necklaces
bracelets & earrings
SEE THE ENTIRE LINEUP @ ushpastore.com
2018
books + videos + calendars + cards HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
15
Mind Your Manners An Etiquette Primer for Busy Launch Sites by ANNETTE O'NEIL
I
n general, the art of etiquette pins
make launch more dangerous, and
in places like in Santa Barbara or the
itself on maintaining the social
flight less enjoyable, so we all need
Point, where you’re really excited to get
mores that set aside selfish inter-
to take steps to reduce the likelihood
to launch. Remember that your desire
ests for the big picture. For pilots, the
thereof.
bigger, so it’s time for a little more
1. Add etiquette to your checklist.
borhoods and be careless. That can
focus to be placed on this ever-more-
Perennial U.S. Hang Gliding Champion
cause a problem for local communities.
essential but ever-less-emphasized
Zac Majors insists that etiquette
When you’re the visiting pilot and race
skill set.
begins long before you even arrive at
through the neighborhood once, you
As free flight becomes more popular, and the numbers and size of our
the launch. “First, do your online research on the
think nothing of it, but the community will see those bumper stickers and say,
launch sites decline, we can expect to
site and see what rules are already set
‘There goes another pilot. I thought
face ever-more-crowded hills before
down,” Zac says. “Find out where you
these guys said they were going to be
we even get into the ever-more-crowd-
need to go, who you’ll need to talk to
better about that!’ I know you’ve been
ed sky. Add to that the fact that a lot
in order to sign specific site waivers,
driving fast for the last hour and a half,
of schools don’t treat site etiquette as
and what you need to do to join a site-
but remember to slow down as you get
part of the curriculum, and you have
specific club.
close to the neighborhood that adjoins
a flurry of frustrating interactions
“Even as you’re on the way to the
just waiting to happen. The stress of
site,” he continues, “you need to think
a verbal scuffle before launching will
about site etiquette. This is important
BELOW Launching Marshall
16
to take off does not mean that you have the right to speed through neigh-
“big picture” just keeps getting—well—
| photo by Jonathan Dietch.
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
the takeoff and landing zones.” The moment you arrive, look for clear indicators of the rules of the
road, like posted signage, and take a
people will be happy to give it freely,
moment to read it. At that point, look
but there will be others who won’t.
for an area to prepare your equipment where you won’t be blocking or
“Especially if the signage is unclear,”
3. Make “how the other half lives” your business. It’s a rare pilot indeed who regularly
he continues, “your goal is to make
flies both a hang glider and a paraglider, but it’s an everyday occurrence that
inhibiting other pilots in their process.
sure you won’t jeopardize the site by
In order to determine this, you’ll be
doing something that would seem OK
the two free-flight disciplines share a
discovering who is out there and what
anywhere else but isn’t acceptable
single launch.
they’re doing—which is the first step
here. To do that, ask about the par-
towards proper launch etiquette.
ticulars of good or bad conditions that
USHPA director-at-large Jamie Shelden wants to make that neigh-
might not be obvious, such as where
borly relationship more educated and,
magazine editor and US Team Pilot,
you are and are not allowed to land
well, friendlier. In the course of her
Nick Greece. “Whenever I go to a new
and whether there are any ‘hot’ LZs
uniquely extensive travel, she and her
site I find a local and ask them what
with unfriendly landowners.”
“Don’t be afraid to ask,” says USHPA
hang glider have seen more than their
the normal setup, break down, and
If the launch is demanding and
launch and landing patterns of the
you’re the least-experienced pilot,
could benefit from a little more cross-
site are. I then confirm that with what
you’ll want to know about the charac-
disciplinary knowledge.
I am seeing, or ask another local if my
teristics of the launch, before you’re
mental image of the site makes sense.”
stuck in the middle of the hill like
but I only started going to paragliding
a deer in the proverbial headlights,
comps the summer before last,” Jamie
pare your equipment where you won’t
while the pilots around you get more
explains. “It frankly amazed me how
be blocking or inhibiting other pilots
and more irritated as useful-for-them
differently paragliders launch versus
in their process. In order to determine
cycles come and go.
At that point, look for an area to pre-
this, you’ll be discovering who is out
share of chaotic sites, most of which
“I learned to fly hang gliders in 1991,
how we launch. You can have 30 paraglider pilots spread out across a hill
there and what they’re doing—which is the first step towards proper launch etiquette.
2. Get ready to be friendly. Especially for those introverts among us, the social aspect of a crowded launch can be daunting. The prospect of meeting new people can be even more nail-biting than a tricky launch, but you’ll need to put on your best social-butterfly face when you meet other pilots. On a busy hill, it’s a necessary evil. If this is a site you haven’t visited before, the onus is on you to introduce yourself to more experienced pilots in order to learn about peculiarities of the launch. “Start by reading the website and the signage,” Zac insists, “and try to limit your questions to items that aren’t already set out there. You have to be keenly aware that the pilot you approach at the site is likely not being paid to be your site-instruction person. You are asking for their time. Plenty of
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
17
who just start popping up and running
just hapless PG pilots who get in the
off at the same time. They’re so close
way; it’s fellow HG pilots, too.
together— not even one meter apart.
by Jonathan Dietch.
“Be very careful about where you place your glider to set it up,” Jamie
5. Ready to go? Let ‘em know.
cautions. “If 10 guys are there who
If you’re a paragliding pilot, and
look as if their gliders are mostly as-
you’ve done your gear checks and are
scene can fall into, hang gliding is
sembled and ready to go, they are obvi-
confident you’ll be able to launch on
noticeably more disciplined. Hang
ously going to launch earlier than you.
your first or second attempt, congratu-
gliders have lanes. If there’s more than
Don’t set up in front of them and force
lations! You’re clear to proceed to the
one, you can expect the launch lanes
them to have to try to get around you
launch. Bundle up your attached wing
to sit side-by-side but separated, and
to launch. You should set up farther
and proceed to the border of the stag-
you’ll never see both lanes launch at
back.”
That never happens with hang gliders!” As opposed to the catch-as-catchcan chaos that the paragliding launch
the same time. “Even if everyone is lined up in two different lanes,” Jamie explains, “the guy on the right-hand lane will pick up
ing area to signal that you’re ready to go. (Bonus: Bundling prevents an ac-
4. Have everything ready for a long flight and ready to go. “I have all of my instruments on and set
cidental inflation.) Don’t actually leave staging, however, until you spot an open space for you to take off.
and go, and then the guy on the left. It’s
up, cameras on and rolling if I’m flying
very orderly.”
with them, gloves on, and all my pre-
pared and fully focused on having a
6. Enjoy the freedom of being pre-
Because paragliding pilots are not
flight checks completed before I unfurl
fun and successful launch! Launching
constrained by those strict character-
my wing on launch. That way I can lay
is one of the most exciting parts of
istic conventions, the responsibility is
out, focus, pull up and launch without
flying as you get to leave the ground
theirs to take note of the hang gliding
any delays,” says Nick Greece. He con-
behind. Enjoy every launch and if
infrastructure when arriving at a new
tinues, “When I go to a new site and am
you’re not, that is a good thing to focus
site. To do so: Find the HG setup area
stuck behind someone on launch who
on in terms of your training moving
and determine the launch lanes. And
is still fine-tuning their equipment,
forward.
don’t set up in the way. Instead, stay
turning on instruments, or asking if
clear of the launch, until you’re confi-
the red dot is flashing on their GoPro, I
process. It’s helpful for paragliding
dent you’ll be able to launch on your
am usually concerned for their safety.
pilots to recognize when a hang gliding
first or second attempt.
This is very often the first sign that a
pilot is moving toward an imminent
blown launch is on the menu.”
launch (and is going to be carving a
It’s important to note that it’s not
18
ABOVE Photo
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
HG pilots, of course, have a different
fast-moving path directly through the launch area). “We generally set up on launch with
ness is the best way forward. “Just be up-front,” Zac suggests. “Tell your neighbors, ‘I’m new to this site so
the tail of the glider leading toward
I might take a little longer.’ That might
the launch,” Jamie Sheldon explains.
give someone else the opportunity
“When it’s time to go, a hang glider pilot will pick up his glider and turn it 180
they’re looking for to play through.” No matter what: Polite, respectful,
degrees into the wind. At that point,
proactive interactions get the best
you can be fairly certain he’s going to
results.
launch.” Watch for the signs and don’t bumble into that pointy path.
8. Don’t make defeat a big deal. After all: For paraglider pilots, on
6. Think before you kite.
launch defeat is temporary. Don’t hog
If you’re keen to kite, keep your head
the hill as you make a drawn-out last
on a swivel.
stand against the conditions, getting
“If you want to pull up and kite for a
dragged willy-nilly through the crowd.
bit before flying—or you want to kite
If you’re unsuccessful in your first
after landing—just make sure it’s not
two launch attempts, gather up your
causing a problem,” Zac suggests. “Lots
wing in a ball and head back to the
of times it’s totally OK and encouraged,
staging area to think about the errors
but sometimes, it’s not. I’m thinking in
that kept you down. This has two
particular about situations when PG
benefits. First, other pilots will have
pilots kite on launch without realizing
a chance to step in and launch, while
that launch is also top-landable, and
you break down your attempts and
people would be top-landing if others
examine the techniques they demon-
weren’t kiting. Also, kiting in active
strate. Secondly, it gives you time to
bi-wingual landing zones can have
get a little mentorship: You can ask the
huge potential for non-polite, and even
more experienced locals in the staging
dangerous, behavior as the paraglider
area for their best advice. “ If I’m in this
pilot often cannot see hang gliders
position I take a seat, have some water,
who have to land.”
maybe some food and practice a little meditation to do a full reset. Then I
7. Don’t be too polite. “Every once in awhile,” Jamie says,
imagine I’m going to launch for the first time again and nail it,” says Nick.
“you’ll come across a pilot on launch who’s nervous, or uncomfortable with
9. Let it be simple.
conditions, and freezing up. They’ll
At the end of the day, we don’t really
just stand there, picking up the glider
need an article to talk about launch
and putting it back down again, while
etiquette. There’s only a handful of
you’re thinking, ‘This is perfect! What
people in the world that understand
are you waiting for?!’ If you find your-
what you’re going through on launch
self in that situation, you can be direct
and they are the best support network
about it in a friendly way. Just say ‘If
out there. Just like driving a car, if ev-
you don’t mind, I’d like to go around
eryone chips in and is nice and works
you and go ahead. I liked that last cycle.
together, all traffic woes and troubles
Then I’ll be out of your way, so you can
are negated. Think of the folks on the
take your time and get the cycle that
hill as the teammates they are, and
you really want.’”
treat them as you wish to be treated. In
If you are that newer (or less-confident) pilot, the same straightforward-
Former USHGA member Mark Woodhams tells the inside story of how the sport started and spread across the world. He shows how crosscountry flight developed both in the US and the UK, and how glider performance changed so dramatically. This new type of eBook contains text, photos and original video. Download it to your iPad or Kindle tablet for about $11.40.
the end, everyone will have more fun, and enjoy safer times ahead.
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
19
20
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
Easy Flyer by Jeff Shapiro
E
asy flying: Is there such a thing? I mean...unde-
flight. Prone, supine, seated, or a mix of all—it’s all flying,
niably, the genre of hang gliders designed for
and in the end, that freedom and choice makes whichever
introduction into our sport has been slowly and
path gets us into the sky valid. It’s true that the innovation
incrementally improved over the years, resulting in a
and development of equipment we use has been directly
modern single-surface hang glider that’s both easier to fly
proportional to safety and accessibility but, the pure joy of
and much, much more forgiving of the errors a beginner
flight—the dream that has us looking to share time with
is bound to make. However, learning to hang glide can
birds in the wide open sky—is also driven by our imagina-
still be an intimidating process for some. Terms like “head
tion and personal expression.
first” and “high speed” are often spoken during discussions I’ve had with people who were reluctant to get involved. During the last quarter of a century, I’ve had the privi-
So, being a passionate pilot who is empathetic to those who are uninitiated yet interested, when I first saw photos of Wills Wing’s new “Easy Flyer,” I was intrigued. I had questions. Flying prone, or what might be referred to
lege to see our sport practiced in many ways. Both glider
as “conventional” hang gliding, was my first love of sorts. I
and harness design have not only evolved for gains in
naturally gravitated toward the “why” relative to this con-
performance and handling, but also to express the indi-
figuration and wanted to learn more about the experience
viduality that’s such a common trait in all forms of free
in this new and interesting frame. Was it actually easier?
LEFT Mike Meier coming in for a landing in San Bernadino where Wills Wing does their testing. ABOVE Wolfgang Seiss
flashing a little new school style after thermaling up over Marshall's top launch.
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
21
ABOVE Zac Majors
taking on fluids while keeping two feet on the controls.
For years, I’ve been a proponent of wheel landings while doing commercial tandems as a way to virtually remove
In the air, soaring performance is excellent, and control
all dangers associated with getting a non-pilot or new
requires less effort, and is more intuitive than when flying
student to the ground without incident so, the landing
prone; control forces are lighter and, unlike when flying
made perfect sense. But what about launching? What, if
prone, there is no need to control any tendency of the pilot’s
anything, would be changed while in the air?
body to yaw. The flying position is very comfortable, with no
First, I read Wills Wing’s press release about their new product:
strain on the neck or back. After seeing the photos and reading the above descrip-
Under development at Wills Wing (USA) since January
tion, I still had questions. So, I decided to ask the designer
of this year, the EASY FLYER is a light-weight tricycle gear
of the Easy Flyer, Steve Pearson, and one of his partners at
frame mated to a hang glider, with the pilot suspended from
Wills Wing, Mike Meier, to tell me more about their new
the glider in a seated/supine harness. Unlike a conventional “trike” configuration, the Easy Flyer carriage is fixed to the glider, and the pilot swings fore and
product. But, I also wanted further perspective from pilots of varying skill sets and levels of experience. I wanted to learn more about what it’s like to pilot the Easy Flyer from
aft, and side to side above the carriage for pitch and roll
the “everyday pilot” point of view. For that, I was lucky
control.
enough to interview Dave Aldrich. I know Dave to be an
As a result of this configuration, launching is greatly
avid hang glider pilot whose passion about sharing the
simplified, as the wings level attitude of the glider, and the
experience of free flight through epic photography and
proper pitch attitude and angle of attack for launch and
his own beautifully shot films has turned into working
landing, are fixed by the attachment of the glider to the car-
full time at Wills Wing as Director of Marketing. I also
riage. Rolling launches from a slope, or from level ground with
22
wheels.
interviewed Kelsey Pearson. Kelsey is the smart and talented daughter of Steve and Lisa Pearson. Although she’s
an aerotow assist, are almost trivially easy, with no need to
been around hang gliding her whole life and did tandems
lift and balance the glider, and no need to run. Landings are
with Steve at age eight, she started flying solo when she
equally easy—just round out after approach, let the glider
was 17. Now 22, she has recently had the opportunity to
go to trim, and allow it to touch down and roll out on the
try the Easy Flyer both at the training hill and in the skies
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
above Andy Jackson Airpark. Lastly, I spoke with aviation
ing gear mounted on the control bar would have been sim-
legend, Mark “Forger” Stucky, who has flown everything
pler to develop but it’s inherently directionally unstable,
from F-16s to the famed SR71. Forger left the Marine Corps
and would require active steering to follow the tug until
in 1993 to accept a job as a NASA research pilot with NASA
takeoff. The Quicksilver-type structure is just too compli-
Johnson Space Center. At JSC, he served as an aerospace
cated, high-drag and hard to adapt to different wings.
research pilot with primary duties as an instructor pilot
I didn’t anticipate the potential of the EasyFlyer for con-
for NASA Space Shuttle astronauts in the T-38 and the
ventional slope-launched hang gliding until we took it to
highly modified Gulfstream-II Shuttle Training Aircraft
the training hill just before Wallaby demo days. Learning
(STA). Needless to say, his perspective was one I was inter-
to hang glide is difficult because you have to learn so
ested in.
many things at the same time. The most difficult skill
JS: Steve, can you give me a brief synopsis of the Easy Flyer concept?
Steve Pearson: The origin of the EasyFlyer was
is coordinating pitch and roll simultaneously (with yaw interaction). In most other activities like paragliding, you are only challenged with one-axis control. Learning “left-
Malcolm Jones asking me to adapt a “Quicksilver-type”
right” is so much easier than “left-right-in-out,” especially
carriage to a hang glider. “EasyFlyer” was also one of
when the aircraft response is so sensitive, non-uniform
Malcolm’s suggestions for a name. Malcolm was op-
and varies with airspeed. If that isn’t challenging enough,
posed to both trike-type configurations and suprone
you have to balance an awkward 60-pound structure
adaptations of the conventional tandem-aerotow gear.
on your shoulders at precisely the right pitch-roll-yaw
Unpowered versions of trikes have been around for a long
attitude and commit to charging head-first down a steep
time (and been aerotowed at WW demo days) and while
slope on the command of your instructor.
they work for experienced pilots, they have limitations
The EasyFlyer changes all of that! You start seated with
associated with a gimballed wing mounted high off the
a familiar attitude and sight-picture. You don’t have to
ground. A suprone adaptation of aerotow-tandem caster-
pick anything up, set the attitude for take-off or worry
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
23
ABOVE David Aldrich flying in
very smooth air.
about running fast enough, tripping or dropping the bar.
to an all-round fun configuration for recreational soaring.
The static pendulum position of the pilot is perfect for
We still have to develop a quick-breakdown configura-
take-off, trim and landing. It seems like fewer control
tion of the carriage structure to make that last applica-
inputs are required because your center of mass is more
tion more practical but it seems like the potential for the
localized and closely coupled to your arms in the seated
EasyFlyer configuration is much broader than any of us
position so there’s no tendency of your body to swing
anticipated.
around or twist when applying roll control. The pitch authority is comparable to prone but the natural position of your arms on the control bar limits the tendency to make
independently and relative to the standard prone flight
inadvertent control inputs. Altogether the experience is
configuration for hang glider pilots, old and new?
super easy and fun—like a zip line with roll control. With all of those advantages, my initial thoughts were
24
JS: Mike, can you tell me how you think the Easy Flyer will contribute to the “hang gliding experience,” both
Mike Meier: The Easy Flyer is still relatively early in the development and testing phase, so it’s hard to anticipate
how helpful the EasyFlyer would be for transitioning to
precisely how the final product will contribute to the
conventional hang gliding. When we took the EasyFlyer
hang gliding experience. A few things are immediately ap-
to Wallaby right after that initial training-hill flight, I in-
parent, however. Launching becomes much, much easier
tended to have Oliver tow me to low altitude behind a golf
due to the fact that there is no need to lift and balance the
cart but everything seemed so comfortable and familiar
glider, no need to set and hold the wings-level attitude, no
that we proceeded straight to aerotow. That experience
need to set the pitch attitude, and no need to run. Landing
was about as easy and uneventful as I could have hoped
becomes much easier because there is no need to flare, (or
for. On my next flight, I had the opportunity to soar the
time the flare) no need to run, and no chance of nosing
EasyFlyer in light scrappy thermals and was just having a
over. (You do need a relatively smooth landing surface).
ball. Back home, we all started soaring the EasyFlyer with
In flight, roll control is easier and more intuitive because
both Falcon and Alpha wings and we’ve been surprised
you don’t have to deal with the tendency for the body to
that the performance seems comparable to prone. To date,
rotate in yaw that a prone pilot experiences. And, the
these experiences have evolved our expectations from a
seated position offers increased comfort, especially for
specialized aerotow carriage to an effective training tool
pilots who may have neck or back problems.
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
“The goal of the Easy Flyer project is to expand the scope of the demographic for which hang gliding is feasible, and to which hang gliding might be attractive.” JS: Is there a specific wing or type of flying the Easy
if the wind goes tail on short final, you’re just going to float and roll a little farther.
Flyer is designed for?
MM: The goal of the Easy Flyer project is to expand the
The Easy Flyer will be available initially as a complete
scope of the demographic for which hang gliding is fea-
system, with a carriage mated to either a Falcon 4 or an
sible, and to which hang gliding might be attractive. There
Alpha, and including both the glider and the harness.
are two limitations to the Easy Flyer: You need a relatively
The possibility exists to adapt the concept to other glider
smooth launch area and a relatively smooth landing area.
models, but that is not within the immediate scope of the
Some foot-launchable or foot-landable sites will not be
project as it stands at this time.
suitable. But if those two conditions are met, then any-
JS: Dave, being that you’re a technically savvy dude, tell
thing you would do in a hang glider you can do in an Easy
me about the configuration and some of the technical as-
Flyer. It’s hard to exaggerate how much of a difference it
pects of the frame, suspension and wheels. In other words,
makes in the flying experience to know that you’re going
give me the “lowdown” on the Easy Flyer: how it’s made,
to be launching and landing on wheels. Especially land-
what it’s made from, how it sets up.
ing—when you think about coming in to a landing area
Dave Aldrich: No problem! The Easy Flyer is construct-
on a hot, still day, where there is no predominant ambient
ed in house of aluminum with steel gear legs. All parts are
wind, and the wind speed and direction can be expected
CNC machined at Wills Wing. The Easy Flyer attaches to
to change from moment to moment as the thermals break
the downtube corner brackets and to the rear keel of the
off and move through, the idea of executing a foot landing
glider. These attachments fix the glider to the ideal angle
can be very intimidating even for the most skilled and ex-
of attack for flight, so all the pilot has to do to take off is
perienced pilots. Landing on wheels, it just doesn’t matter;
sit there. It’s a tricycle landing-gear configuration with an
Freedom X 13M 14.5M 16M available in 144, 161, and 178 sq. ft. VG - variable geometry sail control high aspect ratio, wider nose angle low-drag “topless” design
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HANG GLIDERS
ULTRALIGHT TRIKES
“I have unusually long legs for my height and it was a bit awkward to decide where to put my feet and how to properly use them.” eight-inch, steerable nose wheel and 10-inch main wheels.
initially flew seated but quickly transitioned to prone. I
The pre-production model weighs 29 lbs (in addition to
have only flown a few hang glider flights over the last few
the weight of the glider.) You set it up by first attaching the
years and they have all been prone but I’ve been wanting
basetube truss/beam assembly like you normally would
to try suprone because I thought it would be more com-
with a basetube. Then, flip the glider over and spread the
fortable, more enjoyable, and afford better crash protec-
wings and tension. Then attach the main gear/mast as-
tion. The Easy Flyer has a castering nose wheel that is
sembly. The current version requires a few tools to assem-
foot steerable and is a simple setup similar to a sled (push
ble and thus isn’t ideal (setup-breakdown) for mountain
forward with your right foot and the nose wheel steers
flying, but eventually it will be a quick affair anywhere
left). This is opposite to how conventional aircraft are
you might be flying. Currently, it’s more intended for flight
mechanized, where a right-rudder pedal input steers the
schools that will leave them assembled in hangars. Future
nose wheel to the right. Since I have thousands of hours in
versions will, for sure, be “tool-less” to assemble.
conventional aircraft I was worried that a sudden need for
JS: Do you need a ramp to launch the Easy Flyer and if so, what specs are required?
DA: Most slopes that are used to foot launch should work with the Easy Flyer, with the only caveat that the
so I made a special effort to mentally chair-fly the corrections immediately before launching. (I do the same thing before reverse launching my paraglider when I haven’t
slope should be relatively smooth and free of long grass,
been flying regularly.) I launched from the long wooden
bushes and rocks. You just need the Easy Flyer to roll
ramp atop the Marshall site, which is relatively narrow
smoothly down the hill. Pretty much any launch ramp
and plenty steep. I put enough thought into this that it
designed for foot launching should work well as long as
went quite well and was not an issue but if I was going
the ramp is wide enough to accommodate the main gear
to fly the Easy Flyer regularly I would either want some
span of 60 inches.
way to lock the rear wheels to prevent the glider from
JS: Hey Kelsey! I heard that you’ve had your first few flights on the Easy Flyer at the training hill and AJX! That’s
rolling or else install some kind of hold back and release mechanism in the wooden ramp. Thus I could commence
awesome! Can you tell me about your experience and your
the launch roll with my feet on the steering bar and the
first impressions of the flying position and control frame?
nose-wheel centered. The steering during the takeoff
Kelsey Pearson: I’ve never flow seated before and it was definitely different, but it wasn’t as disorienting as I expected it to be. It was very fun, comfortable, and easy to fly.
roll was not difficult and the rotation and lift-off were straightforward. I have unusually long legs for my height and it was a bit
It was easy to control the direction of the takeoff, even on
awkward to decide where to put my feet and how to prop-
uneven ground. I wish the Easy Flyer had been out when
erly use them. Initially I thought that I should be resting
I had my hip surgeries because I would have been able to
my feet on the nose-wheel steering bar and using my legs
keep flying!
for most of the pitch and roll control. In the end, just let-
JS: Tell me about launching the Easy Flyer and about landing it, relative to safety and accessibility.
KP: The Easy Flyer definitely took away a lot of the
ting my legs lie over the struts and using mainly my arms for control seemed to work best. One of the nice things about the suprone configura-
anxiety of having a perfect takeoff and landing. It’s pretty
tion is there was no tendency for my body to yaw about.
hard to screw it up. Even though we were flying in some-
I see a lot of YouTube videos of prone pilots straining to
what gusty conditions, or when I accidentally pushed out
turn without realizing they are cross controlling with
because I’m used to flaring, I definitely felt more secure
their torso going in the intended direction but their legs
than foot landing because the worst outcome is bouncing
and feet going opposite. Roll control in the Easy Flyer
a little.
was straightforward, although sometimes in steep turns
JS: Mark, you’ve flown all kinds of aircraft from para-
I found myself using my feet a bit to augment the pitch
gliders to space ships. Tell me about what it’s like to fly the
control. I’m sure that I’d learn even better techniques with
Easy Flyer.
a bit more flight time.
Mark “Forger” Stucky: I began hang gliding in ‘74 and
26
a steering input might initially be in the wrong direction,
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
JS: How do you think this way to fly a hang glider makes
it more accessible, fun, safe, etc. for pilots interested in
teo and how it affects us is the same. The way we interact
flying their hang gliders in this “new” configuration?
with lift, map thermals and make decisions as pilots to
MS: The Easy Flyer is a unique configuration that I feel
navigate the sky all derive from the exact same principles.
will have a niche application for flight parks and similar
The only difference between a hang glider and a para-
locations where you do not have to assemble your glider
glider is the vehicle, how we operate that vehicle and the
prior to flight and disassemble it for transport home at
vehicle’s limitations. As one example, a hang glider and a
the end of the day. Even if the production model has quick
paraglider might have to be safely piloted with different
setup and breakdown provisions, it will still mostly be
considerations relative to wind speed, but the consider-
particularly attractive to those that truly long to fly in a
ation of wind speed relative to the aircraft we’re flying is
relaxing manner and either do not want to foot launch or
the same. Make sense?
have a site that gives them the luxury of not having to foot launch or land.
A
How does this apply to the Easy Flyer? Well, along with making learning to hang glide less complicated in some ways and more accessible and arguably safer in other
fter all this discussion about the new Easy Flyer,
ways, this is just another way for those of us called to the
I’m left with a few very solidified impressions.
sky to learn more, experience more, to break the chains of
These impressions are also influenced by the
limitations and to escape into another world that is “free
fact that in the last few years, I’ve also become an avid
flight.” If the Easy Flyer is a way for us to roll into the sky,
and passionate paraglider pilot. One of the first things I
laugh our guts out in a comfortable and safe configura-
realized after becoming “bi-wingual” is that 75% of flying
tion that’s accessible to people of all abilities, and then roll
hang gliders and paragliders is, actually, exactly the same.
safely back to Earth, given the question: Would you have
The airmass and how we interact with it is the same. The
any interest in trying and flying Wills Wing’s Easy Flyer?
hazards and where they lie are the same. The micro-me-
the answer is, for me, indeed a huge, Yes, please!!
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
27
Yearling Notes by CALEF LETORNEY
28
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
F
or the last eight seasons I’ve been helping novice
You don’t know what you don’t know: In psychology,
pilots fly in the mountains of Vermont. Along the
the “Dunning- Kruger effect” describes the dual burden
way I have picked up a few concepts that I think
presented by a lack of expertise. The first burden is
most yearlings could benefit from thinking about. While
simple: You don’t know what you’re doing, so you’re
some of these ideas are my own, I largely offer an amal-
bound to have huge “areas of improvement.” This is
gamation of prior information for the current audience.
true of nearly every task and especially when emulating
From attitude adjustments to technical advice, here are a
avians. The second burden is an insidious one: The lack-
few things I like to share with yearlings: Play the long game: Let’s agree up front having a long,
ing expertise is precisely what is required to evaluate performance. This explains why not infrequently I wit-
fun, safe flying career is all that matters. Nobody cares
ness a terrifying launch/landing/flight plan/whatever
how long you soar. You can impress your flying buddies
and the pilot later tells me how good they thought it was.
by not doing anything scary. The rest of the world thinks
If you’re not an expert, you’re not qualified to judge per-
we are nut jobs with a death wish; let’s prove them
formance. In Slide: The Avalanche Podcast, Doug Krause
wrong.
describes this as the “too stupid to know how stupid you
Make friends: Paragliding instructors are invaluable
are” phenomenon. He points out “if you have poor gram-
and should not be skimped on for P-0s through P-2s,
mar, you can’t really recognize that it is poor without an
maneuvers training, and when flying in new and chal-
understanding of what correct grammar is. Knowing
lenging environments… but it’s the yearling’s job to wean
how good you are requires the same skills as being good.”
off instruction. Nothing helps ease the transition like
The best way to combat this dangerous knowledge gap is
getting in with an awesome crew. Your flock will help
to seek feedback from experts. Good feedback should be
you pick flying days and decide when it’s appropriate
constructive, but it’s got to be critical. Doug explains this
to launch. Be a good team member by doing your own
comically and eloquently in Slide: The Avalanche Podcast,
forecasting, showing up on time, and always make your own decisions. Feed and hydrate your flock and they may share some secrets. Ask questions. Don’t argue or be defensive when receiving criticism. As long as you are justifying yourself, you’re not learning. Nobody likes playing “rescue the rookie” (especially not the rookie), so be extra conservative when flying with your new friends. Never lose focus on landing: Landing is literally inevitable. Nobody will look down on you for sinking out, but the opposite holds true if you soar your way into the trees. “Dirting” first is the plight of the yearling; do it with humility and grace. Pay your dues and you’ll get yours, I promise. Conditions are everything: When it comes to flying bag-wings, fun is largely a function of the weather. Never forget that conditions change dramatically throughout the day, based on solar heating. For much of the USA, you should not fly in the middle of the day until you’re a rock star. In New England, I try to launch P-2s before 11:15 and again after 4:30. Every place and every day are different, so don’t be surprised to see nuclear conditions at 10:00 a.m. in the desert. P-3s can work the margins a bit more, but some of the meanest air can be found on the transition from the morning preheat to midday.
ABOVE Calef Letorney showing off the view at Mont Yamaska, Quebec, one of the sites where he teaches soaring and XC flying. OPPOSITE The author, Calef, playing around in front of launch at Burke Mt., Vermont. Photos by Ryan Dunn.
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
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LEFT Paul Somerset flying tandem at W. Rutland, Vermont | photo by Ryan Dunn. OPPOSITE TOP The author on glide in New England. BOTTOM Launching. The most critical part of every flight as it is the first time one leave the ground.
prioritizing other tasks ahead of piloting. We must learn to carve smooth, efficient turns in the sky, obeying what Kelly Farina describes as “the Golden Rule” in his book, Mastering Paragliding, by not needlessly turning our height into speed. Dial in your control in calm air, because turbulent air is more challenging and mistakes have bigger consequences. You can’t fake “active piloting”: Turbulent air requires active piloting to keep the glider flying smoothly and efficiently. I think of active piloting as two tasks: pressure management and pitch control. Pressure management is all about catching and preventing collapses. You simply maintain a gentle pressure. I prefer the weight of hanging my hands in a ½ wrap. When you passively hang the weight of your arms, your hands will float up and down like shock absorbers. You can prevent collapses by recognizing a sharp decrease in pressure, stabbing your hand down until you feel it again, and letting up equally fast. In general, pressure management is intuitive, but pitch control takes a lot more practice. I think of pitch control as a four-step cycle. 1) Recognize what the glider is doing. This is best observed with peripheral vision on the risers and swing set sensation in your harness. 2) Decide what the glider needs. If the risers go back and you feel yourself getting pushed forward on the swing set, then go hands up. When the risers dive forward, and you are going back on the swing set, then you need to catch the surge with brakes. 3) Give the appropriate input. Bigger and faster glider movements will require a bigger and faster response. 4) Evaluate effectiveness. And repeat. Run those four steps over and over as fast as you can. The faster you respond, the smaller your movements can be, the smoother your piloting. Don’t get too hung up on where the glider is; it’s where the glider is going that matters. Even if it’s a little which is a masters class in our brain’s capacity to make
behind you, if the momentum is rocketing forward, you
bad decisions and tools to fight back.
need to start catching the surge well before it reaches
Spook early and often: Most bad situation can be
does the need for active piloting. The goal is to make
avoid. This includes the decision to not launch. Be “quick
the conditions look smooth by keeping your glider right
on the uptake” to changes in conditions and developing
where you want it. Most expert pilots can judge active
situations. Dial your wing control: If you’re anything like me, your first flights were herky-jerky, aided by erroneously
30
the ideal stopping point. As the conditions get bigger, so
avoided if you spot them early enough and choose to
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
piloting skills from a half-mile away, so ask your friends how you are doing. The party is out front: We need to end the dangerous
fallacy that scratching at the hill is the best way to catch
In addition to being productive, pushing out front is
a thermal. If you launch into a thermal or find lift on the
always the safe choice, as it gives more ground clear-
first pass across the hill, of course, you should work it.
ance and puts you closer to the LZ, so unforeseen sink
But if you are sinking, take your search upwind (towards
and headwind won’t interfere with your ability to make
the thermal sources) instead of wasting altitude looking
it home for dinner. For all these reasons, my XC adven-
in the same places for a second or third time. Imagine a
tures typically start with finding a thermal out front and
3D line that connects the thermal source (field, often LZ)
coring it continuously to 501’ below cloudbase.
to the top of the mountain or the obvious thermal trigger.
Make decisions based on yourself: Experienced pilots
When you get below that line, you are not likely to find the thermal again, until you push upwind and connect with the line closer to the source. Keep in mind that sink on the mountain is often the result of a thermal cracking off upwind. Many P-2s are hesitant to look for thermals upwind of the LZ, because it resembles going out to land. Forget that thinking; flying out front is not giving up on soaring. In fact, the strongest thermals are often a little bit out front, because they drift downwind less often than weak thermals. When you push away from the hill, you gain ground altitude, so the thermals have more height to coalesce, which is another reason that thermals found out front are often better. An added benefit of snagging a thermal out front is that you can stick with it for much, much longer before you need to worry about your drift behind the mountain.
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will make the nastiest air look smooth, so somebody
way to improve your piloting. And kiting is fun, so make
you. Constantly judge your decisions and required safety
a habit of kiting as much as possible.
margin based on your own skills and equipment. Age, aptitude, and other experiences matter, so make your own decisions. Just because it worked does not make it a good idea: We face so many low-probability, high-consequence
Frequency matters, so protect your flying days: It’s no secret that pilots who fly frequently progress in fewer flights/hours than pilots who fly infrequently. New England gets so much rain and wind that it’s a relatively difficult place to progress. If your home is similarly
events that most bad decisions result in… nothing. Don’t
afflicted, your best option is to travel. Place a strong
let the absence of negative outcomes trick you into think-
emphasis on consistency (how often it is flyable) when
ing a risky decision is worth repeating. Normalizing
picking travel destinations. You can increase your local
risky decisions, even something with a 99% success rate,
flying by consciously guarding all potential flying days.
will eventually catch up with you. Novice and master
Get your chores done when it’s blown out. Be non-com-
pilots alike, we all need to remain honest with ourselves
mittal to non-essential social events. When I get invited
and engage in self-reflection. Remember that a lot of bad
to a BBQ on a Saturday afternoon, I don’t miss a beat in
decisions result in great flying, but that doesn’t make the
saying: “Thanks so much for the invite! I have tentative
bad decision a good one. Everybody wants to fly, but nobody wants to put in the
plans to go paragliding that day... but the weather probably won’t cooperate, so I’ll likely be there!” Tighten up
work: The best coaches recommend five kiting days to
your chore game and BBQ dodging skills and you could
each flying day. What’s your ratio? If you want to fly in
easily rack up another 20 hours per year without quit-
thermic conditions, you first need to be able to launch.
ting your day job to live in a Sprinter van.
If you find yourself aborting or having scary launches, BELOW Calef
32
you’re trying to fly above your skills. Kiting is the best
else flying does not necessarily make it a good idea for
Letorney, leaf peeping at Burke Mt., Vermont.
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
Only launch into thermals if you intend to go up: Over
LEFT Calef Letorney showing off launch at W. Rutland, Vermont. BELOW Calef Letorney flying at Mont Yamaska, Quebec | photo by Ryan Dunn.
lence, it’s good to keep extra ground clearance. Remember, it’s not just the “turbulence” that can get you. You also need to watch out for soul-crushing sink and headwind. Peak climb rates are typically mirrored by peak sink rates, so don’t play near the terrain on days with strong lift. I will end this pontification by asking EVERYBODY to help make smart, conservative decisions. If you see your buddies pushing too hard, pump the brakes for them... because when somebody gets hurt, it affects us all. I humbly include myself in this request. So if you see me getting too wild or demonstrating areas that need improvement, I invite that feedback. the years, I have seen more than a few novice pilots launch between thermal cycles and then fly through lift, hoping for a “short, safe flight.” This move is all sorts of dangerous. If the air is too strong for you to comfortably soar, then the air is too strong for you. Don’t force yourself into a hot LZ: If you’ve launched and decide you don’t like the air, unless it is getting worse (before the peak of the day, clouds are overdeveloping, or there’s other new hazards coming into play), it’s generally not a great idea to force yourself into
Paul Somerset, Calef Letorney, and Ryan Dunn founded Paraglide New England in 2017. The three Vermont pilots have 45 years of combined paragliding experience. PGNE’s mission is to improve piloting skills across the northeastern USA by offering advanced mountain flying and soaring instruction, over-the-water maneuvers training via boat tow, and guided flying trips to some of the best flying destinations in the world. Visit www.PGNE. aero for more info.
a hot LZ. In this situation, it’s often best to try to relax, get as high as you can, and stay as far away from the ground as possible, until things mellow out. This is a great time to go XC towards better LZs. If you really want to get down, don’t force yourself into a hot LZ just because it is where you normally land. Instead, get high, fly somewhere with calm, sinking air, and core the sink into a new LZ. Adjust your ground clearance for the conditions. If you are at a new site and using unfamiliar equipment while experiencing strong thermals, big sink, wind, strong lift, and turbu-
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
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34 HANG GLIDING &&PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE HANG GLIDING PARAGLIDING Magazine
HANG GLIDING 35 Ari Delashmutt in Iquique, Chile& PARAGLIDING | photo by MAGAZINE Chris Hoyte
SPEED FLYING A Primer to Ski Launching by BEN WHITE
W
inter is coming, meaning an onset of short days,
But to scratch that flying itch in
fly within bounds. This leaves the backcountry open, which requires
winter, some people take a sled ride or
knowledge of the tricky game of snow
Some of us have a lifestyle that allows
speed flight and launch on skis. The
travel and avalanche education. Ski-
us to migrate to warmer launches and
benefits of ski-launching are numer-
launching also necessitates an entirely
landings, chasing long days and lift
ous; it is a multi-faceted discipline with
different set of gear. Skis, boots, poles,
year-round. But most pilots stay put,
as much depth as any other discipline
avalanche gear, extra layers, gloves,
since many regions in the U.S. condu-
of flight. A newcomer can be easily
and everything else must be carefully
cive to flying are also great for skiing.
overwhelmed or simply not know what
selected, since you must consider
The Wasatch, Sawtooths, Tetons,
they don’t know.
how these interact with flying gear. In
cold weather, and snow.
Cascades, Sierra Nevada, and many
In order to fly down, one must start
terms of terrain, dealing with snow
areas of Colorado offer both great
up high. In the U.S., most ski resorts
rather than rocks, dirt, and shrubs is
paragliding and an abundance of snow
do not allow users to ride the lifts and
a beautiful double-edged sword. The
ABOVE Ben White
36
in the winter.
experiencing the magic moment between skiing powder and flying.
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
ABOVE Zach
Carbo makes a smooth touchdown back to ski mode.
pros and cons of it can be discussed endlessly amongst enthusiasts, de-
with many more doors open. Skiing out the gate, taking a snow-
dynamic equation—so dynamic that Montana State University offers gradu-
pending on the day and the weather.
mobile, or putting one foot in front of
ate degrees in snow science, and World
Snow can be just as dynamic as air, but
the other all expose us to unpatrolled
War II artillery is used to mitigate
it changes within hours, rather than
and uncontrolled territory. One of
avalanche risk along roads.
minutes.
the biggest cruxes to backcountry
An American Institute for Avalanche
skiing is travel in avalanche terrain.
Research and Education (AIARE) Level
Park City Mountain offer lift access to
Launching and landing can potentially
1 avalanche class could be considered
backcountry gates with great flights,
trigger a slide, but the journey up is
comparable to a P-2, in that it provides
but all of these involve backcountry
also hazardous. Just as in when one is
the user with enough knowledge to
travel skills. Vail Pass in Colorado is
in the air, being on one side of a ridge
begin to venture out into the world,
known to be a reasonable place to
can produce different consequences
but the intricacies of weather and
practice ski launching with the use of
than being on the other side. Gullies,
snow take a lifetime to learn, just like
a snowmobile for repeated laps, but
rollovers, cliff bands and other terrain
paragliding. According to the Colorado
requires a friend with a sled to spend
features all come with their own set
Avalanche Information Center, the U.S.
the day shuttling you up the hill. Very
of problems. The combination of the
has averaged 29 avalanche deaths per
limited options for mechanized trans-
weather of the day and the way the
year in the past 10 years. It is highly
port to the top of the hill leave earning
snow has accumulated in layers over
recommended that somebody seeking
airtime by foot a much easier pursuit,
time during the season results in a
their first ski-launching adventures
Jackson Hole, Aspen Highlands, and
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
37
les can snag lines during setup or inflation if not managed properly, causing frustration at best, or a botched launch and injury at worst. Using the buddy system to double check where lines are on launch and make sure that everything is as clean as possible is incredibly valuable. In flight, the added weight of skis can produce an unwanted pendulum effect, especially during highly banked turns and barrel rolls. ABOVE Brian Clark
executes a perfect forward launch on skis.
Having the sleekest, most compact, easy-to-use gear in the world doesn’t
take nothing less than an avalanche
38
for avalanche survival.
matter if the user does not know how
The added gear for winter travel
to use it proficiently. Some of the un-
the interpretation of information
also adds a huge amount of complex-
initiated have been heard saying, “I
about snow, and terrain choices.
ity. Many hike-and-fly harnesses are
only need to ski for a hundred feet;
Information on where to take these
self-contained enough for summer
then I’ll be in the air and just fine,”
classes can be found by looking up
travel, but adding a shovel, probe, ski
much to the chagrin of more experi-
your local avalanche information cen-
poles, a wing and everything else often
enced pilots. They’re not wrong, and
ter’s website. The perils of avalanches
exceeds the capacity of a reversible
they might even get away with it a few
are intimidating enough, but flying
hike-and fly-harness. Ski poles and/or
times, before they realize that being
adds an additional factor: In the event
an ice axe strapped to the back of a bag
an expert skier first has many advan-
of a slide, a wing and set of lines can
can potentially interfere with inflation
tages. The most obvious benefit is that
potentially act as an anchor or inhibit
and the wing’s coming overhead. Ski
if flying is not an option, the best and
some of the best-practice techniques
tips and tails, bindings and boot buck-
most efficient way back to the car is to
course that covers decision-making,
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
show them the subtleties in exchange for burritos at the end of the day is the most viable option. Those who have the skills are the only ones who can give them away, and seeking mentorship can be daunting, when comparatively so few people ski launch, and very few of those who do want to exclusively teach. Regularly foot launching with people who ski launch, being enthusiastic about learning, and making it easy for them to impart their knowledge will pay itself back in spades. Nobody knows everything, and ski. Much of the terrain that is prime for flying over is un-groomed, black-diamond terrain. Even the most benign
bringing something to the table, even just a good attitude, will make invitation to a ski launch much more likely. Ski launching is a blast. While
launches and landings have flight
winter air doesn’t provide the same
paths over these areas of the moun-
opportunities to thermal, flying down
tain. Also, taking a half-step to the
a mountain is still fun. Boulder fields
side while getting the wing overhead
in the summer become smoothed-over
is much more difficult with skis on,
launches and landing zones when
sliding downhill. It is far easier and
covered with snow. Winter air is often
safer to think about flying the wing,
smooth and still. Skis make running
while your body takes care of the
on launch and landing a non-issue,
skiing part. It is better to have both
and small, very fast wings become
skill sets feel automatic before combin-
easy to launch and land, even with a
ing them. In the event of a botched
slight tailwind. Flying over friends as
launch that ends up in injury, a highly
they ski below, and the magic moment
proficient skier is much more capable
between skiing and flying is a feeling
of self-rescue. Even the sunniest, most
that can only be experienced. There
bluebird days of winter are a harsh en-
is a huge number of factors a curious
vironment in which to have an injury.
pilot and skier must take into account
Immobility due to an injury can lead
before combining the two, but the
to hypothermia, as friends or SAR can
rewards can be greater than the sum
take hours to reach an injured skier or
of the parts.
pilot. Flying with a friend or instructor on launch is always a good idea, and travelling in avalanche terrain necessitates a partner for rescue purposes. The intersection of backcountry skiers and pilots is very small. Formal instruction in the U.S. seems incredibly limited, as the number of people doing it is far fewer than those who foot launch. Going to Europe and seeking instruction there is an option for some, but for others, asking a friend to help
LEFT Ben White flies out the gate into the backcountry off the 9990 lift at Park City, Utah. TOP RIGHT Avalanches can break out above a skier, making for a very tricky situation. MIDDLE Avalanches race down mountains at 60-100 mph and reach those speeds seconds after a release. BOTTOM A very lucky partially buried avalanche victim. A wing can potentially complicate things in a burial situation.
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
39
From
Toys to Wings
in the Forever Bonds of Flight by C.J. STURTEVANT with DONNITA HALL
O
nce upon a time—a time so
what wild, perhaps; definitely adven-
upon a time” days right up to today.
long ago that many of you
turous; often “think outside the box”
Dennis Pagen, one of the young male
had not yet made your ap-
creative types. A miniscule propor-
pioneers who’s been flying these big
tion of those hang gliding pioneers
into existence a brand-new sport.
were women. I’d like to introduce you
Those first flying contraptions were
to one of those women, the only one
and development of modern hang gliding for us all. The amazing thing
“Donnita Hall represents the birth
aptly referred to simply as “kites” but
who fell so in love with hang gliding
eventually those who hung under
that she made it a focus of her life
is she has continued her involve-
them named them “hang gliders.” In
for almost 50 years, from those “once
ment all along to today. Perhaps no
the beginning, almost all of those participants were young men: some-
40
kites almost as long as anybody, says,
pearance on this Earth—there came
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
ABOVE Lake
Tahoe, 1970
other pilot has been involved with
foot launch the 1960s version of his
had inherited Bennett’s 15’ “clown”
hang gliding for so long, and perhaps
foot-launch hang glider in June of
kite sail and Dave built a frame for
no other person has contributed so
1970. We had travelled to Yosemite
it, and for the next couple of years
much to our sport.”
with the plan to auto-tow off Glacier
she and Dave would foot-launch or
Point. However, the parking area
tow up “anywhere we could get away
back in 1969, when she first learned
was too far from the edge for a tow
with it,” she states, listing Coyote
about kites that could carry humans
launch,” and that plan was scrapped.
Hills, Livermore motorcycle park,
aloft. She and her boyfriend back
Disappointed, they headed home, but
Mission Ridge, Guadalupe Dunes, Los
then, Dave Kilbourne, were immedi-
unwilling to accept defeat, when they
Banos, Alviso, and Mountain View
ately intrigued, and before long Dave
spotted some bluffs on the San Luis
among their early flying sites, and
Donnita Arnold was 21 years old
“With only the wind and their own strong legs for power, they ran off the bluffs for a few short foot-launch flights. In those brief minutes, the flight-path for this new sport was altered.” Dave Cronk, Dick Eipper and Taras
had designed and built his own “flat
Obispo reservoir, they pulled off the
kite” to be towed aloft on Lake Tahoe,
highway, set up their kites and with
Kiceniuk as their best flying buddies
behind his waterski boat. (Donnita
only the wind and their own strong
at the time.
defines flat kites as “five-sided kites
legs for power, they ran off the bluffs
She and Dave went on to pioneer
just like the ones kids fly on a string,
for a few short foot-launch flights. In
other hang gliding firsts: in 1970-71
but bigger. They were flown over
those brief minutes, the flight-path
they both enjoyed successful hot-air
water, towed up by boats, with a
for this new sport was altered.
balloon drops at Lake Success near
fairly short tether, and with very
A month later, the pair found them-
Porterville, California. (Bill Bennett
little turn control.”) In the beginning,
selves frustrated by their inability to
had done an earlier drop, but his was
the flyers were all waterskiers, many
get airborne from a small hill in nil-
a bit more dramatic, although in the
of them also skilled designers and
to-light wind. It was back to the draw-
end uneventful).
inveterate tinkerers. “Once Dave
ing board, to come up with a kite
One of their favorite sites was
successfully built and flew a copy of
that would let them take advantage
Mission Ridge, where a landowner al-
Bennett’s Australian water ski kite,
of low hills and light winds. Donnita
lowed access onto his private proper-
several of our water-ski buddies built theirs, and off we went,” recalls Donnita. Working with Bill Bennett, the Australian who introduced boattowed delta kites to the U.S., Dave and Donnita and friends soon abandoned their flat kites and built copies of the delta/Rogallo wing, more structurally robust and with better turn control. Flat kites quickly faded into history. In 1970 this adventurous group took the new sport of flying from the lake to the land, towing their home-built kites behind their autos wherever they could find a suitable strip of roadway. The next step, of course, was to get airborne without the need for a boat or a car. As Donnita remembers it, “Dave Kilbourne was the first to
ABOVE Pigtails,
1972
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
41
“As the lone female in the group, I needed to be as professional as possible, and I absolutely did not want to make any mistakes” ty for this small group of pilots to get
set up his glider. I knew that I had to
sport, enjoying it and not failing it. For some, that was a good role model
airborne. Dave and Donnita were the
stay focused and not be distracted.
only two there when, in September
As the lone female in the group, I
because I was not a jockette, and I
of 1971, Dave launched into a “solid
needed to be as professional as pos-
showed women that it doesn’t take
20+mph wind and remained aloft
sible, and I absolutely did not want to
an extraordinary athlete to enjoy our
for 66 minutes,” Donnita reports.
make any mistakes.”
sport.”
Her photo of Dave soaring made the
As a result of that deliberate choice,
Donnita remained an active hang
she insists that she “did not contrib-
glider pilot for 40 years. “Had I not
article about this flight was first pub-
ute to our sport in any leadership
had the convenient access to Torrey
lished. Not long after, she enjoyed her
or even performance. I am proud to
Pines, I wouldn’t have lasted that
own first-ever soaring altitude gain,
have successfully participated in the
long,” she muses. “During that time
cover of Time magazine when the
flying a borrowed glider at Mission. Donnita doesn’t recall herself as being a leader or a pioneer in those early days. For her, the big attraction of flying a hang glider was simply getting airborne at spectacularly scenic sites such as Yosemite, Big Sur and Telluride. “We had some fun flying in Mexico and South Carolina, but it’s hard to beat the West Coast,” she says, and elaborates: “We all know of those PERFECT flying days when you get that smooth elevator ride up to the clouds and your only concern is ‘how should I try to get down…oh, well, never mind…’” There were some significant challenges to being the only woman in a male-dominated sport. Most men were very supportive and showed respect, she recalls. Some even commented that they wished their wives would join them in the sport, but many of them had children. Donnita, well aware of the risks attached to flying, could empathize with moms not wanting to take those risks. “I can count the number of women I met flying in those days on one hand,” she states, adding, “I very deliberately stayed in the background, trying not to be noticed, and it worked. I didn’t want the attention of ‘Oh, it’s a girl! Are you gonna fly this all by yourself?’ . . . etc., etc. I often let them assume I was helping my husband
42
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
TOP Donnita
on her Fledge. BOTTOM Big Sur.
Fly far
Fly Moyes
Let us take you there. 1979
Steve Moyes completes a 100 mile flight near Death Valley, USA. He is greeted by his mother, Molly, and father, Bill.
2018 What’s your dream?
2017
Corinna Schwiegershausen completes a 255 mile World Record flight in Brazil and is greeted by her ecstatic retrieve crew!
Moyes Delta Gliders Pty Ltd Unit 4/5 Clerke Place Kurnell NSW 2231 Australia +61 (0)2 9668 8686 moyes@moyes.com.au www.moyes.com.au
I did take lessons and earned my private pilot’s license. It was fun to
awarded their use of the sites.” Eventually, though, Donnita began
who were her closest friends. “I am forever grateful to the USHPA, all of
fly an airplane (Piper Warrior and
to dial back on her airtime. “Flying
the clubs and the flying community
VariEze), and take friends and family
at Torrey Pines, often on my way
for enabling our beautiful, exciting,
for a ride, but it wasn’t as enjoyable
home from work, had been so easy
incredible sport. I owe the sport my
as hang gliding and I eventually al-
and convenient—that was one of the
gratitude and assistance,” she insists
lowed the license to expire.”
main reasons I moved to San Diego,”
and adds, reminiscing, “When I
Looking back on those years, Donnita recalls some of the chal-
she says. After her husband Brad had
started in this sport, we were almost
to quit hang gliding due to his bad
considered outlaws. We didn’t have
lenges the entire community faced as
back, she flew less often, and when
the USHPA yet, and the aviation
the hang gliding scene continued to
she retired, they moved to the Bay
community didn’t accept us. So, we
expand, and pilots searched out new
Area to live near family. At that point
snuck around with our homemade
sites to fly, or gathered in ever-in-
she realized that “flying without Brad,
kites on our cars, telling park rang-
creasing numbers at the old ones. “At
traveling to flying sites, and accept-
ers they were tents. It was the hard
the coastal sites, both Fort Funston
ing that my flying skills after years of
work of the pilots, the manufactur-
and Torrey Pines,” she points out,
‘boating around’ at Torrey Pines were
ers, the schools, and the USHPA over
not up to par, it was time to quit. I’ve
the years that gave hang gliding the
“there was a challenge of acceptance by the local community and the park
known of numerous pilots who have
respect and appreciation it needed to
rangers. Complaints to the rangers
seriously injured themselves flying,
be accepted.”
by the locals were concerns about
not recognizing their aging body and
their safety if a hang glider might
its limitations.”
crash on the beach. Over time, the
But after four decades of a life cen-
And then, in 2012, she was approached by the trustees of the Foundation for Free Flight. “I was
flying community was able to dem-
tered on hang gliding, Donnita was
shanghaied!” she says, adding with
onstrate their safety-consciousness
not willing to just step away from
an appropriate eye roll, “Those
and situational awareness, and were
the sport she loved and the people
sneaky devils!” In truth, it didn’t
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
43
LEFT Donnita
kite herself.
designed and built this
take much convincing to draw her back into the thick of the hang gliding scene. As a trustee of the Foundation, she was for six years directly involved in helping pilots to realize their dreams, both personal and community-based, with the assistance of the Foundation for Free Flight, awarding grants and providing support as needed. The Foundation for Free Flight provided Donnita the opportunity to, in a small way, pay back the incredible gift of independent, free flight. For 40 years, she says, she was free to “selfishly enjoy the thrill, adventure and freedom of traveling to extraordinary flying sites, experi-
Donnita and the Foundation for Free Flight by Jayne DePanfilis As the Foundation for Free Flight’s new volunteer executive director, I hope to
many extraordinary pilots, men and
continue to integrate the Foundation into the pilot community. Over 17 years,
women.” This experience, she in-
the Foundation has awarded more than 70 grants to preserve and improve
sists, “certainly impacted my life and
flying sites, support safety and education, assist instructors, and promote U.S.
my being in a unique, special and
pilots in competitions at home and abroad where they serve as ambassadors for
fulfilling way,” and she expresses her
free flight.
forever gratitude.
Donnita’s official volunteer responsibilities included executive director and trustee for the Foundation. She also served as secretary, and as chair for the Operations committee. As though that’s not enough, she also answered your calls, replied to your emails, authored your gift acknowledgement letters and quite simply, served as the consummate volunteer working days and nights, to benefit the pilot community. She fulfilled her roles with such grace! She served us humbly. I will miss her wisdom, her experience, and the elegant way she communicated with everyone. Fortunately, Donnita will continue to be supportive even as the official transition comes to an end and I take over where she left off. I’m teaming up with FFF president Doug Sharpe, and Rudder Pearce, a H-2 and CPA from Jupiter, Florida, and the newest FFF volunteer, to take advantage of new nonprofit fundraising technologies, upgrade the ushgf.org website, and extend our reach through social media and the USHPA chapter network. We’re
44
menting with new versions of hang gliders and meeting and flying with
Now, after six years with the FFF, she’s “ramping down” her contribution to the FFF, and will be leaving the foundation at the close of 2017. “It is time for me to engage in the activities of a 70-year-old. Currently I’m the ‘Dog Lady’ of my neighborhood, taking care of my dogs and my parrot, my neighbors’ pets, and keeping fit with the many dog walks.” As for the future of free flight, this woman who’s been part of the hang gliding scene since Day 1, is optimistic. “I believe our sport will always
automating office processes and enlisting volunteers to expand our fundraising
draw new pilots. I know there is con-
capabilities, both inside and outside of the pilot community. We’re doing it all, in
cern about the shrinking flying com-
an effort to better serve you, the pilots who make it possible. And, for you, we
munity. However, I see that all forms
are very grateful. We owe you a debt of gratitude and we look forward to work-
of aviation continue to survive over
ing with you to preserve, protect and perpetuate free flight. For information
the decades. Humans are attracted
about volunteer opportunities or ways in which you can support the Foundation
to flying and will continue to fly long
please email info@foundationforfreeflight.org.
after we’re gone.”
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
HANG GLIDING HEROINE by Dennis Pagen
have. Dave didn’t have all this figuring in his head, but he did
I have had a number of heroes in hang gliding. Mostly they
realize that with a bigger glider he could fly slower, which
were inspired pioneers, like Otto Lilienthal, Francis Rogallo,
would enhance his water-ski show. (By then, pilot/skiers
Dave Kilbourne, Richard Miller, Taras Kiceniuk and Bill Moyes.
were releasing from the boat-tow rope and gliding down, to
I didn’t know Otto, but I was friends with the rest. And while
the utter delight and amazement of the spectators).
I have been friends with many of the early prime-mover women in our sport—the likes of Tina Trefethen, Jan Case,
One day in the beginning of the ’70s Dave, Donnita and another friend were driving back from the Tahoe area to their
Judy Leden, Linda Tracy and Kari Castle—I have had only
home in the San Francisco Bay area when they drove along
one heroine: Donnita Hall. For Donnita was the first female to
a perfect slope with a wind blowing right up it. The whim to
pilot a hang glider, one of the first humans to foot-launch a
try to foot launch grabbed them and they went for it. Dave
hang glider and indeed one of the pioneers who showed the
tried it first with a couple successes. Then it was Donnita’s
rest of the world how to follow their dreams.
turn. She too was successful, perhaps partially helped by her
I first heard the story of the first free-flying experiences
lighter weight. Some traffic stopped, some thrills were had,
from Dave Kilbourne—Donnita’s boyfriend at the time, and
and without realizing it, they started a new sport for all us
the first human to foot-launch a modern Rogallo-wing hang
pent-up air junkies.
glider. I met Dave at a fly-in near Frankfort, Michigan in
Ever since I began flying I knew the above story in vague
1975. We were sitting around a campfire one evening when
detail. But I didn’t meet Donnita until a few years ago when
he fascinated us all with the “origin” story. To summarize,
I joined the board of the Foundation for Free Flight and she
the first true hang gliders were Rogallo-wing designs that
was on the board. One night after a day of discussion and
evolved from the flat kites used by water skiers in the late
decisions, we plied Donnita with a drink or two and asked
‘60s. These first practical wings were made the same size as
her to recount the tale of her “first time.” It was as I remem-
the flat kites, so they had surface areas about 40% smaller
bered it from Dave, but she added more details. The upshot
than the gliders eventually determined to be proper for the
of that remembrance is that she reconfirmed what a great
average male pilot. The result is the earliest gliders the water
adventure it was, what a wonderful contribution to mankind
skiers used had a stall speed (and thus takeoff speed) about
it was and what a legitimate reason there is for her to be a
5.5mph faster than the proper-sized gliders would eventually
heroine to us all.
LEFT Donnita
with the rest of the FFF BOD and trustees, May 2017. RIGHT Donnita & Brad.
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
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46
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
Chasing Ghosts I
by STEVE MARKUSEN
t is June 26th, 2017, six days after
minute flight covered 179 miles/288
the summer solstice. Days are
km, a new Minnesota paragliding
still as long as the horizon in
distance record. June is prime time for Minnesota
the Midwest, and Thad Spencer and I are chasing ghosts across southern
cross-country flying, so I had been
Minnesota. The ghosts are thermals,
watching the forecast all week. Launch
stepping-stones for cross-country
Code forecast a low dew point, moder-
pilots travelling down a river of air.
ate winds of 13 to 20 mph up to 10,000
Thad, who has been flying paragliders
feet, and a monster lapse rate of 6.5
since 2002, is my mentor, but more im-
degrees per 1000 feet. XC Skies, Chris
portantly, he is an excellent cross-country pilot who holds
Galle’s outstanding forecasting tool, predicted an after-
the Minnesota State Distance Record of 116 miles/186 km,
noon with a 6000-foot cloudbase, strong lift up to 800 feet/
set the previous summer.
second, and “Likely Good XC” conditions from 11 a.m. to 7
It was late afternoon as Thad crossed the Minnesota/
p.m. The National Weather Service in Minneapolis forecast
Iowa border, approximately 110 miles/177 km south of
excellent soaring conditions. The post-frontal Canadian air
launch, and the character of the day had changed. As the
mass driving south would act as a dry sponge across a wet
clouds disappeared, the ghosts became more elusive.
table, pulling the moisture out of rich farmland into dry
Patience became the key to finding lift. After several more
air aloft. The moderate upper-level winds would make for
climbs and another low save, Thad was again on glide,
high groundspeed on glide, but not so strong that it would
heading toward a small town.
rip apart the thermals. The conditions were perfect for a
At this point, Thad knew he had broken his own state
big XC day.
distance record set the year before, so it would have been
That morning, Thad and I traveled to launch together, a
easy to head for the town and call it quits. But determined
90-minute drive west from Minneapolis to the small town
to leave nothing on the table, Thad continued south. Two
of Cosmos. There we met up with Steve Sirrine and his
more times, he found ghosts that lifted him up and swept
brother Neil. Steve, who owns SDI Paragliding Academy,
him downwind for another 30 miles. Shortly after 7 p.m.,
has been flying hang gliders since 1982 and paragliders
with the sun low in the sky, Thad touched down next to a
since 2002. He also manufactures some of the best tow
grain elevator in Lytton, Iowa. His seven-hour-forty-five-
winches in the country, through his company Airtime
ABOVE Happy pilot and author Steve Markusen at St. James Municipal Airport. Photo courtesy Steve Markusen Collection.
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
47
Solutions. Neil is an outstanding tow operator who spends
Point of the Mountain, Utah, where I earned my P-2 from
most of his summers towing pilots in Minnesota and his
Super Fly instructor Chris Grantham.
winters towing in Florida. We are a close-knit group that
Thad launched his Ozone LM6 at 11:15 a.m. and climbed
always welcomes new or visiting pilots. I am continually
to base at 3000 feet. The lift was only 400fpm, with strong
impressed with the camaraderie in this sport. No matter
winds blowing the thermals sideways. It took all of his
where I fly—from Santa Barbara to Jackson, to Point of the
skill to stay in the air during those first three hours of his
Mountain, or Mt. Brace—I am welcomed with open arms by
flight, but he stayed aloft. And by midafternoon, the day
local pilots.
changed. The wind speed dropped to 15mph, lift increased
I came to the sport in 2011, literally by accident. In
the autobahn, leaving lift early, pushing out on glide at 40-
around my right tool. I swung outward, pulling my second
plus mph, and chasing the next ghost.
tool, and fell down 30 feet, on to my left ankle. I walked the
We are blessed with great flying in Minnesota. The cross-
mile back to my car and drove myself to the hospital. I was
country season runs from April to October and offers up
diagnosed with a fracture across the neck of the talus bone
20 to 100-plus-mile days. The flat landscape is crisscrossed
and spent the next three months in a cast, not knowing if I
with paved and gravel roads, affording easy access and op-
would ever walk again.
portunities to tow. From the air you can see 10 miles in any
I had a lot of time to think. My climbing career had
direction, a checkerboard of deep green and brown fields,
spanned 45 years and included expeditions to Alaska, big
dark forests, lakes, and small towns. The scenery is beauti-
walls in Yosemite, frozen waterfalls in Colorado, desert
ful, with sunlight reflecting off the many lakes and rivers,
towers in Utah, and alpine climbs in Wyoming. At age 57, I
shooting forth bright spots of light from the water. You can
came to the conclusion the risk was no longer acceptable; it
land anywhere: roads, hayfields, school playgrounds, town
was time to retire from difficult technical routes.
and state parks, even graveyards. There are no box can-
Something new called. After having spent countless
yons or steep hillsides of scrub oak and no getting blown
hours on ledges 1000 feet off the ground watching cliff
over the back into the lee. You can focus all your attention
swallows dive, ravens barrel roll, and eagles soar, I wanted
on flying. It is a wonderfully safe place to hone your cross-
to fly. So six months after my accident, I headed out to the
country flying skills.
ABOVE Thad Spencer
48
to 800fpm, and cloudbase rose to over 6000 feet. He was on
January of that year, the ice I was solo climbing shattered
going up on tow | photo by Phil Russman.
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
LEFT Steve
Markusen climbing above launch | photo by Phil Russman. RIGHT TOP Climbing to cloudbase to cross the Minnesota River Valley | photo by Steve Markusen. BOTTOM Visiting SoCal pilot Phil Russman above Cosmos, Minnesota | photo by Steve Markusen. It is now 2:30 p.m., and I am in the air on my fourth at-
my glider as it yaws, pitches, and rolls. Up and up we go,
tempt to follow Thad south. By this time, Thad is already
making asymmetric turns as strong winds push the ther-
past the Minnesota River, 70 miles from launch. I am
mal south. It takes less than a minute to climb up 1000 feet.
chasing his ghost. Having lost 3000 feet of altitude during
Still angry, the ghost does not give up trying to get rid of its
my first climb, my ears are filled with the annoying sound
unwanted rider. Finally, at 5000 feet, the ghost mellows.
of a sink alarm. Ahead and below, tractors are cutting hay.
Strong, but more consistent lift carries me another 1000
Hoping to catch a trigger, I head for that field. Nothing.
feet to cloudbase. I turn south, push out my bar, slip out the
Beyond frustrated, I see my altimeter reads 300 feet, as
downwind side of the thermal, and, with one final kick, get
I near the end of the field and a paved road. Finally, my
sent on my way by the ghost.
glider stiffens, sensing the presence of a ghost. The sound
Most of the people we meet flying are Minnesota born
of the wind in my lines changes pitch, and my nose fills
and bred. Some come from families who have worked the
with the pungent smell of freshly mown hay. The vario
land for generations. They take care of their neighbors,
screams as my Advance Epsilon 7 catches a strong thermal,
and that is the way they treat us. When I once landed on a
triggered by the surface wind’s pushing the warm air of
grass strip between a power line and a highway, a man in a
the field against the road embankment.
pickup truck watched me land and came over to talk with
It is a young ghost, strong and violent, like a rodeo
me. Not only did he end up giving me a ride back to launch,
bronco kicking and twisting to throw me off. Cranking
but he also wrote a story for his local newspaper about our
tight turns and hanging my body to one side of my har-
sport. Another time, Thad Spencer and Andy Dahl landed
ness, I grit my teeth, while keeping myself centered under
at the Hector Minnesota Airport. The owner of the airport
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
49
was a hang glider pilot from the ‘70s. He befriended Thad
shared a common bond—the love of flying. Before they left,
and Andy and gave them a ride back to launch in a four-
they gave me the door code to the pilots’ briefing room,
seat Robinson helicopter—arguably, the best retrieve ever!
where I spent the next three hours waiting for retrieve in
I remember a story in this magazine about some pilots
air-conditioned comfort, sitting in an overstuffed recliner
who landed in Wyoming and spent hours walking while trying to hitch a ride, as a stream of pickup trucks passed
reading Aviation Week and Popular Science. Life is good. Steve Sirrine was in his car chasing Thad, following his
them by. That would never happen here. People stop when
“breadcrumbs”—location updates sent from his Garmin
they see us on the side of the road just to make sure we are
inReach Explorer. After picking up Thad around 8:30 p.m.,
OK. We call it Minnesota Nice.
they headed back north and retrieved me at the St. James
It was 5 p.m. and 40 miles from launch as I approached
Airport at 10:30 p.m. I slipped in to the back seat next to
the Minnesota River valley: a two-mile-wide sinkhole of
Steve’s sleeping grandson, Tyler. I softly pried a bag of
forest, swamp, and river that in past flights has been a
cheese puffs from his fingers and grabbed an ice-cold Coke
physical and psychological barrier. It was late in the day and, once again, I faced my nemesis. Patiently searching for lift on the north side of the valley, I flew right into the arms of a strong, gentle ghost that lifted me up to base, which was now over 8000 feet. I pushed bar and crossed the valley. The late-afternoon buoyant air and persistent north wind carried me another 30 miles south. Shortly before 7 p.m., I landed at the St. James Municipal Airport. My flight lasted four hours and 15 minutes and covered 74 miles/119 km, a personal best. I saw several pilots at the St. James Airport when I landed. After packing my gear, I talked with them. We
ABOVE Thad Spencer
in Lytton, Iowa after his record breaking 179 mile/288 Km flight. Photo courtesy Thad Spencer Collection. RIGHT Thad Spencer on glide above the fields of Western Minnesota. Photo by Phil Russman.
from the cooler. We laughed and joked as we shared stories
to improve my skills, and be able to fly with competence
of the day on the 90-minute drive back to our car at launch,
when I am 80 years old. I read Mike Meier’s outstanding
basking in the afterglow that comes with putting oneself at
article Safety: Why Can’t We Get a Handle On It? in the
risk and achieving something special.
September/October issue of this magazine. During my
The flying season in Minnesota is coming to a close.
climbing career, I made a number of bad decisions with
It has been a great year, a breakthrough year. One-hour
good outcomes. The good outcomes ended with my ice-
flights have become three-hour flights and 40 miles flown,
climbing accident and a near-death experience soloing the
now 70 miles flown. Beyond the numbers, something even
Grand Teton in Wyoming. You can read that story, if inter-
more important has changed: my attitude. I have become
ested, in the November 2017 issue of Rock and Ice Magazine.
better at accepting what I have been given and happy for
I intend to enjoy flying and hope to make good decisions.
what I have. I am learning to be more patient.
I don’t need to be scared. I have done scared. I want my
My goals as a pilot are simple: Don’t get hurt, continue
flying career to end with a whimper, not a bang.
TRAVEL Macedonia by JOHN ROBINSON
T
he fields I’m approaching from the air are on fire. The ideal, direct XC route to the city of
turbulence in that smoke. Heads
incendiary haze to clear air beyond, but once in the smoke, I get thrown around a bit, which seems to disrupt
Prelip crosses straight over them,
up!” Just prior to entering the fire
the stay-in-the-air mojo I’ve been
through the smoke that lazily drifts
zone, I hook a moderate thermal and
rocking for the last few hours. Twenty
skyward and to the southwest. Harry,
hang with it, until it peters out at an
minutes later, I’m on the deck in a
aboard the bronze and yellow Iota, is
altitude of 2000 meters. I’m confident
fallow wheat field by a lonely road—
a speck up ahead of me —I’ll never
I’m high enough to glide through the
out of the game, but happy as a clam
ABOVE
52
catch him— and gets me on the radio. “John, I came across some violent
Launch at Tater hill is on a well groomed hill that Bubba Goodman owns and operates.
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
for making it this far in totally engag-
concentrating on my thermal tech-
set a task every day, waypoints and
ing and remarkable flying conditions.
nique. Focus! Get as high as possible.
all, for those in the group who wish
“Macedonia? Hmm. Where the heck is that?” friends ask. And with an increasingly practiced air, I recite: “It’s bordered by Greece to the south,
Patience! Perseverance! Even though our visit to Macedonia
to partake. Typically, the distance is 45-50 km; most of us jump at the
is for recreational XC flying, Toby and
challenge. And today we’re headed to
his business partner, Mike Agnew,
the Greek border, or just shy of it, that
Serbia to the north, Bulgaria to the east, and Albania to the west.” The response to this explanation is typically, “So, where the heck is it, anyway?” If I feel like it, I’ll expound further about Macedonia’s having had a crazily complex history—being, among other things, a part of the former Yugoslavia, the stomping grounds of Alexander the Great, a lightly populated, agrarian country that’s not a member of the EU. But by then, I’ve probably lost them. Through the free-flight grapevine, I heard good things about paragliding in Macedonia—about pilots from all over the world visiting and getting great XC flights in reliable conditions and comps of countries from throughout Europe being held there. I was told it provides a mixture of mountain flying and flatland thermal flying. And beyond that, I heard how kind and welcoming are the people, and how interesting is the culture and history of the place. My friend Toby Colombe, who runs Passion Paragliding, had started guiding trips to the small Balkan state a year previous. So it didn’t take much coercion— OK, none—for me to reserve a spot on the next trip, in the middle of the period of consistent and sweet flying conditions of summer. In the air again, I realize that if I don’t find an up elevator soon, I’m in for a stout hike instead of a lovely XC flight. At least I’m familiar with the mountain terrain below, having run through it on my early morning ex-
Phil Givens soaring above village on Lake Ohrid shoreline. Over the back at Krusevo; facing west. The Paragliding World Cup held an event here last year. BOTTOM Our merry group getting ready to fly from Galicica launch above Lake Ohrid.
ploratory jogs, and I can find my way
OPPOSITE
back to our headquarters in Krusevo,
ABOVE, TOP
if necessary. My Flytec Element stirs to life, though, and away I go,
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
53
city of Bitola in the distance, I know
is: Crossing borders from this non-EU
friend Simon and I get high over the
country to another by paraglider can
Krusevo launch and head out to the
that the last waypoint—goal—is a
make the authorities edgy.
first turnpoint together, hooting and
small, but readily identifiable, lake
I’m heading south over the foot-
hollering in the gorgeous mid-day
just beyond it. I wish I could say that
hills, with the flats of the Pelaginian
conditions. When I spot the gypsy
I make it there, along with a few of
Plain stretching out to the east. My
settlements on the outskirts of the
the other guys in our group, but I have, instead, an interesting “cultural experience” of an out-landing and retrieve. Helpfully, our guides had outfitted us with GPS trackers, which makes keeping up with us easier and provides another layer of safety, in combination with our two-meter radios and cell phones. Besides our guides, Toby and Mike, our group consists of 14 pilots and two Macedonian drivers for our two mini buses. All of the pilots are from the UK, where Passion Paragliding is based, except for my friend Phil and me, the token Americans. We’re staying in the Montana Hotel, high on the upper edge of the genuine-in-every-way town of Krusevo, at an elevation of 1400m. This modest village sits in a bowl in the mountains, a few thousand feet above the plains that lie to the east. Conveniently, the takeoff on the east-facing ridge is just a few kilometers away from the hotel. The launch, at an elevation of 1470m, is huge by most any standards, with room to spread out dozens of gliders. This comp-friendly site even sports an expansive patch of AstroTurf to speed launches, especially helpful when 100 or more gliders take off in a relatively brief launch window. Each day of my trip starts at dawn with a jog on the trails in the mountains above the town. I go out for an hour or so, usually accompanied by a loping, silent stray dog I name Alexander. He and I often head to the huge cross on a peak north of town, a monument to Macedonian independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.
There are great landing and plenty of features to fly in the Macedonian backcountry. BOTTOM Town of Krusevo at dawn. TOP
54
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
Returning energized from my tour of the peaceful, silent forests and
Retired retrieve vehicle. TOP RIGHT Good eats! Phil and Rob enjoy a huge french-fry burger. The Passion Paragliding crew at the Lake Ohrid LZ.
TOP LEFT BOTTOM
fields, I grab breakfast with the rest
I marvel in watching the pop of the
maturely. Our drivers, Valentin and
of the crew and gather with them for
colorful “blossoms” of our paragliders
Dragon, with translation assistance
the morning briefing. Toby and Mike
as they launch off the mountain into
by Valentin’s 15-year-old son Dimitar,
review the previous day’s flying, and
the blue Macedonian sky.
are always queued up to retrieve us wayward pilots.
then project on the computer screen
Normal summer conditions at
our individual tracklogs, which I find
Krusevo include light easterly wind
especially helpful and interesting.
and soarable mornings by 10:30 or so.
Perhaps I am easily entertained, but I
The breeze is usually light enough to
its orientation to the predominantly
find the animation of our flights to be
encourage XC flights in almost any
easterly breeze, another spectacular
extremely cool. Our morning meeting
direction; we seldom find into-the-
site is Lake Ohrid, where we went to
also includes a discussion of the day’s
wind tasks an unreasonable proposi-
fly when a westerly set in for a few days. Its magnificent launch, high
Although Krusevo gets the most free-flight traffic in the area due to
weather conditions, any concerns,
tion. Typically, other gliders are in the
and cross-country flight possibilities.
air—wind dummies—by the time we
in the mountains bordering the east
Then it’s, “Let’s go!”
launch, enabling us to better “see” the
side of the lake in Galicica National
flight conditions and state of thermal
Park, faces across into Albania,
our way to launch. After assessing
development. Additionally, the spa-
whose international border with
conditions on the hill for a while,
cious normal landing field, out front
Macedonia is a north-south line up
we prep our gear and make final
and 805 meters below, makes for an
the middle of the thirty-kilometer-
XC flight plans. It’s time to fly, and
easy retrieve if one bombs out pre-
long body of water. The Greek border
Soon we’re in minibuses, weaving
an ancient Greek amphitheater, an 11th-century monastery, and an early
task (thanks, Toby), and I’m just east
located at an elevation of 1580m. The
Christian basilica. All that and some
of “Storktown,” nicknamed after the
flying here is spectacular, and we
killer ice cream as well.
storks that nest there in the summer.
revel in it. Lake Ohrid has been a desirable destination for visitors in this part of
Back at Krusevo: There might be
The town’s real name defies proper
stifling heat on the plains below,
pronunciation by us visitors. By the
but it’s comfortable and strikingly
way, the storks I’m talking about
the world for at least 3000 years, and
beautiful where I am—1000 meters
build the most spectacularly huge
by the way, the lake itself is known
above the expansive tapestry of the
nests of any bird I’ve ever seen.
as Europe’s oldest lake, having been
Pelaginian landscape. It’s five days
around for over one million years.
into the trip, and we have another XC
distance at the base of the mountains
The lakeside town of Ohrid boasts
day. I’m three-and-a-half hours into
across the flatlands, but today I’m
BELOW
56
navigating a zigzagging, challenging
touches the southern tip of the lake. The launch is spacious, grassy and
Simon Kirsh skirting weather to the north, Lake Ohrid.
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
The city of Prelip shimmers in the
interested in flying to Treskavec, a
encourage me to catch up with them,
out across the valley chasing others
12th-century monastery. This amaz-
I tell them I’m coming. I score a low
still airborne.
ing edifice is situated on a craggy
save near the “white circle” village
peak covered with boulders, a few
en route, but the next time I get low,
We eat well on our Macedonian flying holiday. Local specialties
kilometers north of Prelip. Will I
I just keep getting lower. I’m finding
include finely prepared lamb and
make it there? Can I make it there?
abundant sink instead of sniffing out
potatoes, spicy salami sausage,
The flying gets more technical, as
lift. Twenty minutes later I’ve flut-
freshly baked bread and honey, and
I scratch upwind across the valley
tered to a soft landing. I take my time
all the summer bounty from the
into the late afternoon. I’m in radio
packing up, enjoying the ritual. Not
fertile fields of the valley: succulent
contact with two friends ahead of me
long after, Valentin and the retrieve
tomatoes, juicy watermelons, crisp
who seem to be better situated in the
van track me down, and I join a few
cucumbers. In the evenings after full
air—higher— than I am. When they
pilots already onboard, as we head
days of flying or hiking or exploring ancient sites, our group splits into several parties to try different cafes in town, a 10-minute walk from our lodging on the outskirts of the village. Never disappointed in the fare, the walk back home sometimes take a while longer, because we are full of Spaghetti Milanese or some other delight. On one of our last evenings of the trip, our hosts fete us on the rustic terrace of a log home in the high meadows above Krusevo. Under spectacular starlight, we celebrate our adventure by dining on succulent roast lamb, bedded in onions and potatoes, amid numerous other traditional dishes. Eerie, traditional music enhances the exotic feel of the setting. Local libations flow, friendships are sealed, a fine appreciation for our Macedonian friends is underscored, and fondness for travel affirmed. Soon we’ll find ourselves headed home on the big bird out of Skopje, swept up from this tiny spot on the globe where we’ve experienced yet more free-flight magic, as well as touching and rewarding interaction among very different characters brought together by a common love of foot-launched flight. Before I completely re-enter my “normal” existence, I’ll carefully shelve the memories of the trip into mental volumes to be revisited often, with a chuckle and a gleam in my eye, for the rest of my life.
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
57
FINAL Turtles and Their Spaghetti & Blankets by SEKAI LOKAHI
I
like to watch my Dada fly and do crazy stuff. Other people call him Nova, but I call him Dada.
One minute he’s standing right
next to me and the next, he’s float-
keeps in a big bag. I like spaghetti and turtles, so
Makapu’u in Hawai’i, where I was born. We go back home every year
maybe that’s why I like to watch
to be with our ‘ohana. I love it more
Dada fly.
than Mussel Rock, one of Dada’s
I’ve seen him fly at Mussel
favorite places to fly even though he doesn’t get much height.
ing away. But he looks funny. He
Rock next to the ocean near San
looks like a big turtle with a bunch
Francisco. I’ve seen him fly in
of spaghetti attached to a really big
Boulder next to mountains. But my
higher. He says it’s the best place in
blanket that he folds neatly and
favorite sight is seeing him fly at
the world to be, because if you can’t
ABOVE
58
photos by STANISLAV MAYER
Twisted wingover at Kapikaya Festival, Samsun, Turkey.
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
Dada loves Makapu’u because it’s
fly, you’re still in Hawai’i. He also likes places where he can get refills.
A pilot landing at the Oludeniz Air Games. BELOW Aerobatics competitions are about friends and fun.Jack Pimblett lands here after a run.
ABOVE
Dada doesn’t fly like most people, who look like turtles sitting under
the Aerobatic Paragliding World
happy to represent the U.S.A. I got
the spaghetti and blanket moving
Championships, only the second
see a lot of turtles do crazy stuff all
slowly and making little progress
one they’ve had since 2006. He was
day, one at a time. Sometimes there
through the sky. Sometimes they fall to the ground or hit the mountain, which is bad. Dada said he hit the mountain once doing his crazy stuff, when the spaghetti twisted, causing the turtle shell to go one way, while the blanket went another. He hit the mountain really hard. He was in the hospital for almost two months, because they put in metal sticks to help his bones grow back, which was a very painful experience. Last summer, we took a long ride in an airplane to France so Dada could fly with many of his turtle friends over Annecy Lake in
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
59
Launching is about style and techniques are usually top-notch. BELOW At this aerobatic comp in Turkey, the smoke bombs that the pilots fly with were helpfully removed from the pilots' release systems after they landed. OPPOSITE Every landing is usually performed with a spin so that a run can be finished with as much style as possible. ABOVE
were turtle couples doing the same
Dada says they run off a launch
blanket stays open and smooth.
thing together like when I see that
called Forclaz and fly straight over
It must not be exciting for them,
kid who looks exactly like me and
the lake, so people called judges
because they don’t cheer the turtles
does everything I do whenever I look
can see them. These judges sit in
like the many other people who are
behind the bathroom door. All of the
the same place all day watching
watching. Maybe they’re sad be-
couples were two guys, but it would
the turtles up in the sky make their
cause they have to look up at the sun
be cool if they could be couples like
blankets move all around them.
all the time. Mama says I shouldn’t
Mama and Dada, doing this turtle-
Dada says they give the turtles
do that because it’s bad for my eyes,
couple dance in the sky
points depending on how much the
so I guess I can’t be a judge. I’m glad we were at a lake, because I got to play in it every day and watch turtle after turtle try to land on a big floating yellow square. Dada said the landing has become one of the most important parts of the turtle sky dance, because the public who are watching can see how close the pilots can get to the water and touch the tips of their blankets. He said they can’t really see or understand what’s going on high in the sky with all that complicated crazy stuff, but they really like it when the turtles almost skip on the water. I saw Dada look like a skipping rock one time; another time he landed on the yellow square, and then he landed
60
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
not far away, where he could’ve
turtles for the whole summer, he
swum to me and Mama on the
could do really well in these dances,
beach. He was never happy when
too. Dada says he wishes he could,
that happened, even though Mama
but he has a corporate blah-blah-
and I were smiling and waving at
blah job that pays really well so he
him.
can pay for things—things we need
The turtle who won the one-turtle-
at home and things that make me
flying competition was François
happy. And, he always says he’s
Ragolski from France. He’s a friend
working hard for my future.
of Dada’s and his girlfriend, Loraine,
I don’t know what my future is. It
is my Aunty Lolo, who’s been staying
sounds scary, but maybe he can get
with us recently so she can learn
one on Amazon?
English. She takes me to swim class
It’s getting late now and Mama
and daycare every week where other
wants to read to me so I’m going to
kids like me also come to play. Then
stop writing now. Thank you for
she goes to fly in Boulder. Aunty Lolo
reading my essay on my summer in
and Dada speak French sometimes,
Europe. And thank you to those who
too. François is Dada’s favorite pilot,
helped our family get there, espe-
because he’s really good at making
cially the people at the Foundation
his spaghetti and blanket look nice
for Free Flight.
in the sky and is always smiling and
I hope you like my story of our
has a great attitude. François told
summer trip to France. It was fun to
Dada once that if he could just live in
remember this trip and see Dada in
Organya, Spain, (Dada said he’s been
the sky, because I like to watch him
there twice) and train with other
fly and do crazy stuff. The End
Pick up these hot titles by
DENNIS PAGEN
www.DENNISPAGEN.com Sport Aviation Publications PO Box 43, Spring Mills, PA 16875 pagenbks@lazerlink.com | 814-404-9446
HOW TO USE
CALENDAR &CLASSIFIED
CALENDAR, CLINIC & TOUR LISTINGS can
be submitted online at https://www.ushpa. org/page/calendar. A minimum 3-MONTH LEAD TIME is required on all submissions and tentative events will not be published. CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING RATES - Rates
start at $10.00 for 200 characters. MINIMUM AD CHARGE $10.00. ALL CLASSIFIEDS ARE PREPAID. No refunds will be given on ads cancelled that are scheduled to run multiple months. For more info, visit www.ushpa. org/page/magazine-classified-advertising 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. BUYER BEWARE - 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.
CALENDAR MAR 8-10 > Golden, Colorado - USHPA Spring Board Meeting and awards banquet. Be sure to RSVP if you plan to attend the banquet.
JUN 9-16 > Ruch/Woodrat Mountain, OR. Applegate Open. National Series. Rogue Valley Hang Gliding and Paragliding is sponsoring this paragliding race to goal event at Woodrat Mountain near Ruch, Oregon. Similar in format to previous years’ Rat Race events the Applegate Open will feature a sanctioned race competition and a fun sprint competition along with a training clinic. For more information go to www.wingsoverapplegate.org, or Dane Wells at pdx.dbw@gmail.com, or 503-804-1077.
clinics & tours
JUL 8-14 > Chelan, WA. US Open of Paragliding
MEETINGS
JAN 26 - FEB 3, FEB 3-11 & FEB 11-19 > Rolda-
nillo Colombia - Eagle Paragliding Colombia Tours Eagle Paragliding guarantees unforgettable flying on their 3 tours near Roldanillo Colombia. Pilots of all levels are offered coaching on thermaling, XC Flying, Tandem XC, and race to goal tasks. We have been offering tours for over two decades all over the world. The number of high caliber staff members supporting pilots at Eagle clinics and tours is unprecedented. Let Mitch Riley, Marty DeVietti, Brian Howell, Dave Turner ,and Rob Sporrer support you in achieving your goals for the week. More info: Phone 805-968-0980, rob@paraglide.com, www. eagleparagliding.com
JAN 28 - FEB 4 > Tapalpa, Mexico - Winter fly-
ing in Warm Mexico Parasoft continues its trips to Tapalpa, Mexico for a 16 year! Join us for 6 days of guided flying, airport pack up & delivery, private hotel room and breakfast each morning where we talk about each days objectives---$1,800. P2 week Jan 28--Feb 4 or P3 Feb 4--11th. More info: http:// parasoftparagliding.com/mexico-flying/
Chelan. US OPEN of Paragliding Chelan 2018" will be a Pre-PWC event will the goal, pending approval of running PWC in July 2019 the week after the Nationals. Volunteers, competitors and spectators welcome. Registration open March 1st 2018. More information at www.300peaks.com, mattysenior@ yahoo.com, or 206-420-9101.
AUG 5-11 > Big Spring, Texas. 2018 Big Spring Nationals Series. 2018 Big Spring Nationals Series site of the 2007 World Hang Gliding Championship, the finest cross country hang gliding competition site in the US. Big Tasks (world records), smooth thermals, unrestricted landing areas, easy retrieval on multiple roads, consistent cumulus development at 1 PM, air conditioned head quarters, hanger for setup, free water and ice cream, welcome and awards dinner, live tracking, many drivers available, strong safety record, highest pilot satisfaction rating. More information at www.ozreport.com, davis@davisstraub. com, or 863-207-2634.
FLY-INS
SEP 2-8 > Whitwell and Henson’s Gap, Dunlap, TN. East Coast National Paragliding Competition. Eastern US Cup. FAI Cat 2. Race to Goal format. More info: www.flying.camp.
DEC 28-30 > Cove Mountain, Richfield Utah - Win-
SEP 16-22 > Francisco Grande Hotel and Golf Re-
ter Festival Fly In Come try some snow flying with us, maybe some ski or snow shoe launching, Bring your snow toys and dress warm. Winter is a great time to fly, with smooth air and soft landings. More Info: www.cuasa.com, Stacy Whitmore 435-9790225 stacy@cuasa.com Jef Anderson 435-8967999 jef@cuasa.com
SANCTIONED EVENTS APR 15-21 > Quest Air, Groveland, Florida - 2018 Quest Air Nationals Series. Flatland national-level competition in Florida where the weather is so good so early. Open, Sport, and Rigid wing classes. Pilots from Europe and South America join in the fun. Light winds mean that we can often return to Quest Air. Powerful tugs for quick tows to release altitude. You can find out more about Quest Air, the site of this competition here: http://questairhanggliding. com, and more info about registration and event at www.ozreport.com, davis@davisstraub.com, or 863-207-2634.
sort, Casa Grande, Arizona. 11th annual aerotow competition with both desert flatland and mountain flying. Primarily triangle and out and return tasks with goal at the Francisco Grande Golf Resort. More information at www.santacruzflatsrace.blogspot. com, or contact Jamie Sheldon at naughtylawyer@ gmail.com.
CLASSIFIED CLINICS & TOURS BAJA MEXICO: La Salina Baja's BEST BEACHFRONT
Airsport Venue: PG, HG, PPG: FlyLaSalina.com. by BajaBrent.com, He’ll hook you up! Site intros, tours, & rooms. bajabrent@bajabrent.com, 760-203-2658
Dec - April: Paragliding in Costa Rica with
Alex. Performance flying @ Alex's Rivas Launch, beach landings @ Dominical and easy flying @ Jaco. Cabana accommodations with home cooked breakfast.
FLYMEXICO - VALLE DE BRAVO for Winter and year round flying tours and support. Hang Gliding, Paragliding. Guiding, gear, instruction, transportation, lodging. www. flymexico.com +1 512-467-2529 Paragliding Tours 2018 with USHPA Advanced
Instructor and veteran guide Nick Crane. Jan/Feb/Mar - Costa Rica; Jun/Sep/Oct - Europe; Mar/Dec - Brazil. www.costaricaparagliding.com; nick@paracrane.com
PARTS & ACCESSORIES GUNNISON GLIDERS - X-C, Factory, heavy PVC HG gliderbags $149 Harness packs & zippers. New/used parts, equipment, tubes. 1549 CR 17 Gunnison, CO 81230 970-641-9315
INJURED? HAD A CLOSE CALL?
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FLORIDA LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK - Nearest moun-
tain training center to Orlando. Two training hills, novice mountain launch, aerotowing, great accommodations. hanglide.com, 877-hanglide, (877) 426-4543.
NORTH CAROLINA WINGS & HARNESSES Fly Center of Gravity: The CG-1000 is the original
custom fit, single line suspension harness. Built to last from your H1 through your H4. Choose from our list of options to suit your needs and select your colors and special designs to make the harness your own. www. flycenterofgravity.com; flycenterofgravity@gmail.com
SCHOOLS & INSTRUCTORS 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, hanglide.com.
COLORADO GUNNISON GLIDERS - X-C to heavy waterproof HG gliderbags. Accessories, parts, service, sewing. Instruction ratings, site-info. Rusty Whitley 1549 CR 17, Gunnison CO 81230. 970-641-9315.
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 PROFLYGHT PARAGLIDING Call Dexter for friendly
information about flying on Maui. Full service school offering beginner to advanced instruction, year round. 808-874-5433 paraglidemaui.com
NEW HAMPSHIRE MORNINGSIDE - A Kitty Hawk Kites flight park. The
Northeast's premier hang gliding and paragliding training center, teaching since 1974. Hang gliding foot launch and tandem aerowtow training. Paragliding foot launch and tandem training. Powered Paragliding instruction. Dealer for all major manufacturers. Located in Charlestown, NH. Also visit our North Carolina location, Kitty Hawk Kites Flight School. 603-542-4416, www.flymorningside.com
KITTY HAWK KITES - The largest hang gliding school in the world, teaching since 1974. Learn to hang glide and paraglide on the East Coast's largest sand dune. Yearround instruction, foot launch and tandem aerotow. 1902 Wright Glider Experience available. Dealer for all major manufacturers. Learn to fly where the Wright Brothers flew, located at the beach on NC's historic Outer Banks. Also visit our NH location, Morningside Flight Park. 252441-2426, 1-877-FLY-THIS, www.kittyhawk.com
TENNESSEE 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.
VIRGINIA BLUE SKY located near Richmond , year round instruction,
all forms of towing, repairs, sewing. Representing Wills Wing, Moyes, Icaro, Aeros PG, Mosquito, Flylight,Woody Valley, HES , www.blueskyhg.com
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RATINGS ISSUED SEPTEMBER 2017 RTG RGN NAME
H-1 H-1 H-1 H-1 H-1 H-1 H-1 H-1 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-3 H-3 H-3 H-3 H-3 H-3 H-3 H-3 H-3 H-3 H-4 H-4 H-4 H-4 H-4 H-4 H-4 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2
64
2 2 2 2 3 3 8 9 2 2 3 3 7 9 10 10 10 10 10 12 2 3 3 4 4 8 10 10 10 12 2 2 3 4 4 9 10 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 8 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
STATE RATING OFFICIAL
Attila Kabai CA Terry Garnier CA Mike Kolupaev CA Samuel Zlibut CA Alex Kitay CA Jay Dimter CA Harrison Sylvan MA Fraser Marlow PA Mike Kolupaev CA Darin Bue NV Ed Wiggins CA Gabriele Di Francesco CA Andrew Nygren WI Megan Turner VA Mike Effinger AL Duncan Wierman SC Brooke Quinley TN Paul Kent Colangelo GA Lemuel Stevens Iv TN Peter Biggers NY Toben Green CA Trac Ngo CA Eduardo Sallada CA Jeff Bennett CO Gabriel Gavidia-garcia UT Michael Asel NH M Carolina Orphee AL Juan Orphee AL Daniel Gutierrez Hoyos FL Zachary Hill NY Alex Psomopoulos CA Soham Mehta CA Walter (terry) Heatlie CA Rick Maddy CO Shawn Scott NM Billy Vaughn VA Sebastian Domingo AL Kevin Doyle WA Helen Wheat WA Roger Auble OR Alain Plattner CA Christopher Doiron CA Aaron Mednick CA Crespin Romero CA Baoxuan Yin CA Kyle Barnedt CA Jason Himmelmann CA Charles Bether CA Jason Hernandez CA Amber Carney CA Michael Mccaffrey CA Eli Chevalier VT Bruce Turner MA Adrianne Decotes OR Jonathan Evans OR John Meyer WA Barry Crist WA Brian Cawthorn WA William Joe Dunlap WA Michael Eppers WA Will Adams WA Leighton Evans WA Katrina Lefrancois-hanson WA Claire Grover WA Aura Spann OR Brian Hibberd OR Michal Jastrzebski OR Kim Zollinger OR Roger Auble OR
Robert Booth Robert Booth Robert Booth Robert Booth Greg Dewolf Andrew Beem Robert Stewart-ii Nolan Hollingshead Arturo Melean Robert Booth Timothy Ward Dan Deweese Rik Bouwmeester Hunter Hollingshead Scott Schneider Scott Schneider Alan Friday Alan Friday Billy Vaughn Daniel Guido Patrick Denevan Rob Mckenzie Rob Mckenzie John Heiney Tiki Mashy Eric Meibos Matthew Taber Matthew Taber Eric Hinrichs Matthew Hickerson Patrick Denevan Robert Booth Andrew Beem Dean Miller Mel Glantz Scott Schneider Matthew Taber Maren Ludwig Owen Shoemaker Samuel Crocker Wallace Anderson Jeffrey Greenbaum Wallace Anderson Jeffrey Greenbaum Jeffrey Greenbaum Mitchell Neary Mitchell Neary Jerome Daoust Max Marien Max Marien Jc Perren Calef Letorney John Dunn Maren Ludwig Maren Ludwig Steven Wilson Marc Chirico Andy Macrae Denise Reed Denise Reed Denise Reed Denise Reed Denise Reed Marc Chirico Jon Malmberg Samuel Crocker Brad Hill Christopher Hunlow Samuel Crocker
HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING MAGAZINE
RTG RGN NAME
STATE RATING OFFICIAL
RTG RGN NAME
P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3
CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA NV CA CA CA HI CA CA CA CA CA CA CA HI CA CO CO CO CO UT CO UT UT UT UT CO CO UT UT CO UT MT ID WY MO
P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-4 P-4 P-4 P-4 P-4 P-4 P-4 P-4 P-4 P-4 P-4 P-4 P-4 P-4 P-5
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 7 7 9 9 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 11 11 11 12 1 1 1 1
Karl Allmendinger Jan Safranek David Skilton Katherine Sarasas Gregory Schlomoff Nichole Brown Meni Hillel Glenn Foster James Cooper Carl Olsson Arindam Ashim Bose Kiel Edson Arthur Boessenkool Srdjan Pantic Kiran Reddy Andrew Salisbury Robb Derringer Margot Taylor Bikash Pandey Mark Cromer Buddy Parker Cody Smart George Laperle Sam Nikou Michael Cimo Luigi Bella Jarom Renfeldt David Brecheisen Walter Chapman Tyler Beattie Daniel Schobel Lyndsey Zaccaro Christopher Chelales Hillary Dorsey Glenn Goodman Mallory Millington Paul Keith Phelps Rodney Cyr Ian Cyr Adam Sotkin Dustin Goodman Daniel West Curtis Pons Mike England Craig Fournier Josh Anderson Nathan Thobaben Li Ka Fai Nelson Philip Ilten Mark Vosmek David Anderson Lucie Low Evangeline Wolford Christopher Cheyne Bernd Opitz Kaden Wolford Jan Wortham Mark Wortham Shaina Meitl Matthew Hawksworth Joshua Mallory Thomas Mallory Amanda Marrot Jimmy Lee Brewer Israel Ernani Beneti Marc Shepard Mark Geuss Mike Haase Evan Garcia
WI MN VA DC TN NC GA TN FL FL TN NC TX TX TX TX NY WA AK WA WA
Wallace Anderson Cynthia Currie Jeffrey Greenbaum Jesse Meyer Jesse Meyer Jesse Meyer Jesse Meyer Jesse Meyer Jesse Meyer Jesse Meyer Jesse Meyer Cynthia Currie Denise Reed Stacy Whitmore Jonathan Jefferies Juan Silva Jerome Daoust Jesse Meyer Rob Sporrer Christopher Grantham Rob Sporrer Brad Gunnuscio Rob Sporrer Allen Thoe Rob Sporrer David Binder Stephen Nowak Jason White Kay Tauscher Gregory Kelley Kay Tauscher Chris Santacroce Patrick Johnson Gary Begley Jason White Chris Santacroce Jonathan Jefferies Rob Sporrer Rob Sporrer Jonathan Jefferies Jason White Nathan Taylor Jonathan Jefferies Andy Macrae Stephen Mayer Jonathan Jefferies Kay Tauscher Ma-chiu Kit Heath Woods Steve Sirrine Marc Chirico Nathan Taylor David Hanning Andy Macrae David Hanning David Hanning Denise Reed Denise Reed David Hanning Jonathan Jefferies Chris Santacroce Chris Santacroce Chris Santacroce Stephen Mayer Marcus Santos Marc Chirico Jake Schlapfer Jon Malmberg Matt Henzi
1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 6 7 8 9 9 10 10 11 12 1 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 8 8 8 12 8
STATE RATING OFFICIAL
James Byrd WA Alex Leone WA Blake Fowles WA David Conger CA Martin Canabal CA Gregory Giacovelli Jr. CA Plamen Yanakiev CA Andrew Zoechbauer HI Polina Smirnova CA Miok Lee CA Cesar Lopez De Castro CA Scott Braddock AZ Steven Grezlak AZ John Kear NM Christina Rudy CO Wong Ka Lam Joseph Houle MI Jean Machado MA Gabriel Bass DC Andria Gragg KY Marc Angelo FL Hector Rivera S FL Leslie Graham TX Zoe Sheehan Saldana NY Trevor Larson WA David Fischbach CA Andrew Zoechbauer HI Ricardo Gomes Barbosa CA Scott Horton AZ Ivo Salomon UT Jd Cutler UT Justin Spain NM Matthew Hanson UT William Pardis UT Michael Marino MA Bruno Azevedo CT Tim Coleman NH Jeames Reis NY John Gallagher MA
Matt Henzi Marc Chirico Matt Henzi Mitchell Neary Rob Sporrer Gabriel Jebb Stanley-kyon Ki-hong Pete Michelmore Jerome Daoust Max Marien Jerome Daoust Aaron Cromer Chandler Papas David Prentice Max Marien Peter Humes Blake Pelton Uziel De Souza David Hanning David Hanning Rebecca Bredehoft Luis Ameglio Hadley Robinson Joachim Roesler Denise Reed Max Marien Pete Michelmore Gabriel Jebb Aaron Cromer Patrick Johnson Jason White Charles Woods Jonathan Jefferies Chris Santacroce Peter Humes Uziel De Souza Calef Letorney Marcus Santos Calef Letorney
Take your ratings and expiration date everywhere you fly. Download from the Members Only section of the USHPA website. Print, trim, and store in your wallet. Great for areas without cell coverage.Always available at www.USHPA.aero Save the PDF on your mobile device for easy reference.
RATINGS ISSUED OCTOBER 2017 RTG RGN NAME
STATE RATING OFFICIAL
RTG RGN NAME
H-1 H-1 H-1 H-1 H-1 H-1 H-1 H-1
2 2 2 2 4 4 6 10
Mark Drury Plaridel Caparas Mark Hannum Mark Holsonbake Carter Harrison Iv Neil Diamente Darren Frey Dylan Cruse
CA CA CA CA NM AZ
H-1 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-2 H-3 H-3 H-3 H-3 H-3 H-3 H-3 H-3 H-3 H-3 H-4 H-4 H-4 H-4 H-4 H-4 H-4 H-4 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1
11 2 3 7 7 8 8 8 8 9 9 10 10 10 10 2 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 10 10 2 2 4 5 5 7 9 10 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 6 6 6 6 6 6
Aaron Scott TX Mark Holsonbake CA Sam Holmes CA Ray Neisewanaer Iii IL Kris Brantley IL Jay Whitehair Iii VT Kevin Fluth MA Eric Masterson NH C. Logan Poisson MA Johnathan Herndon MD Donnie Hogue VA Tycho Jaquish NC Ellis Mcmillan SC Mike Downs FL Karen Bergamaschi FL Jesse Meyer CA Richard Xu CA Eliezar Vigdorchik CA Gustavo Eidji Camarinha Fujiwara CA Noel Dilks CA Iraj Shahmohammadi CA Daniel Zehr CO Todd Byers UT Adam Smith TN Marcelo Brosig FL Dmitry Lepikhin CA Guilherme Issao Fujiwara CA Ann Dunlap CO John Lang Chris Florkow Terry Eads IL Jonathan Irlbeck PA Philipp Neumann GA Bryan Becker OR Daniel Morris WA Chris Chomycia OR Ray Williams OR Trevor Wichmann OR Mason Wichmann OR Elliot Ericson WA Robert Onstott OR Donald Wray AK Cary Cleverley NV Anatoly Georgiyvich Pavlov CA Joseph Phillips CA Jeff Fisher CA Heather Maslowski CA Celeste Swatling CA Paul Morgan CA Dzmitry Vadalazhski CA David Flannery CA Michael Gaetke CA Ka Lung Wong Wang Xiao Xing Chan Siu Ning Kong Yau Chau Ma Po Shing Lau Ming Kuen Jensen
P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-1 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2
NC
Eric Hinrichs Eric Hinrichs Eric Hinrichs Lyndon Thomas Mel Glantz Eric Smith Wolf Gaidis Nolan Hollingshead Bart Weghorst Lyndon Thomas Dan Deweese Jordan Stratton Alan Friday Tanyel Yildirok Thor Froh Thor Froh Thor Froh Steve Wendt Johnathon Bland Hunter Hollingshead Billy Vaughn Malcolm Jones Malcolm Jones John Simpson Patrick Denevan Glenn Zapien Patrick Denevan Andrew Beem Dan Deweese Andrew Beem Calvin Hadley Matthew Taber Malcolm Jones Eric Hinrichs Patrick Denevan Mark Windsheimer Bill Soderquist Bill Soderquist Michael Van-kuiken Jack Eckert Scott Schneider Kelly Kellar Denise Reed Kelly Kellar Samuel Crocker Maren Ludwig Maren Ludwig Kelly Kellar Kelly Kellar Ken Hudonjorgensen Arthur Neil Jesse Meyer Jeffrey Greenbaum Jesse Meyer Jeffrey Greenbaum Jeffrey Greenbaum Jesse Meyer Jesse Meyer Marcello Debarros Jc Perren Yuen Wai-kit Ma-chiu Kit Ma-chiu Kit Ma-chiu Kit Ma-chiu Kit Ma-chiu Kit
6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 8 8 8 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
Li Kam Tong Kuok Hong Lou Lam Kok Man Ip Tin Lung Wing Sze Hung Tang Cheuk Kwan Szeto Koon Kau Mun-juen Jeffrey Choi Hui Siu Man Lam Kin Wah Fung Long Yi Yuen Chun Ying Samuel Choy Wai Violet Stephen Wright-eaton Anan Eisenstein-bond Andrea Kirmaier Lucio De Souza Ben Myles Farzad Keshvadian Robert Gebert Mariah Scott Kevin Doyle Dave Wark Chris Brehmer Michael Smith Garrett Ownbey Michael Driesen Christopher Doiron Sean Speer Martin Bialy Kyle Daniels Stefan Bolka Crespin Romero Kyle Barnedt Heather Maslowski Jason Himmelmann Amy Pruss Nicolas Troncoso Tomas Kucera John Langham Dennis Johnson David Flannery Gene Nagata Taylor Rathbun Anton Bauhofer Banning Burt Wilfried Wiebe Ali Kalanaki Noel Famatiga Mark Patterson Michael Moore Lauren Swihart Danelle Herra Andrew Fox Loren Lemcke Charles Bauer Matthew Smith Austin Adesso Tim Carlson Michael Ricci Michael Ortiz Andy Nichols Alec Brokaw Jonathan Grimes Jessica Bohn Peter Kretowski
STATE RATING OFFICIAL
ME MA MA NH OR WA WA OR WA AK AK OR OR WA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA NV CA NV HI CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CO CO CO AZ CO CO CO CO CO AZ UT CO CO NM AZ
Ma-chiu Kit Yuen Wai-kit Ma-chiu Kit Ma-chiu Kit Yuen Wai-kit Ma-chiu Kit Ma-chiu Kit Ma-chiu Kit Ma-chiu Kit Ma-chiu Kit Ma-chiu Kit Ma-chiu Kit Ma-chiu Kit John Dunn John Dunn John Dunn John Dunn David Hebert Steven Wilson Steven Wilson Brad Hill Maren Ludwig Chris Reynolds Jonathan Jefferies Samuel Crocker Jonathan Jefferies Jonathan Jefferies Jeffrey Greenbaum Jeffrey Greenbaum Joseph Seitz Robert Black Jeffrey Greenbaum Jeffrey Greenbaum Arthur Neil Jeffrey Greenbaum Mitchell Neary Christopher Grantham David Hebert Jonathan Jefferies Stephen Mayer Hadi Golian Marcello Debarros Marcello Debarros Denise Reed Stephen Nowak David Hebert Ma-chiu Kit Hadi Golian Hadi Golian Rob Sporrer Rob Sporrer Kay Tauscher Kay Tauscher Mark Rich Aaron Cromer Gregory Kelley Paul Gurrieri Kay Tauscher Granger Banks Jonathan Jefferies Gary Begley Nathan Taylor Granger Banks Granger Banks Andy Macrae Jonathan Jefferies
RTG RGN NAME
P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-2 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3
4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 7 8 8 8 8 8 8 9 9 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 11 12 12 12 12 12 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3
STATE RATING OFFICIAL
Nick Schrand CO Will Jarvis CO Marieta Nicolls CO Clinton Christensen UT Abbey Turnau CO Keith Warren Peter Tapley MT Daniel Thiessen ID Eric Nelson MT Daniel Judy MT Bryce Tokmakian MT Roy Taylor MT Tamara Williams MT Cullan Lester ID Fong Chun Hong Shi Po Lo Shum Kwan Yu Guillermo Enrique Martinez Prieto Yimer Jesus Sterling Sanchez Man Kin Sum Kelvin Lok Kei Tong Zetske Colyn Thomas Scholtz Lam Chi Keung Chan Kin Kwan Darren Kennedy Ong Tze Boon Chui Wa Wong Chun Li Lyle Wilson MI Bruce Prince NH Erik Davitt CT Jason Wallace MA Pascal Liddane NH Marlo Studley MA Gregg Squeglia MA Jerry Gumbita PA Lisa Davis VA Arfas Sait NC Rebecca Graeber NC Alfred Crabtree TN John Rogers FL Jason Moledzki FL Marcus Bacattui NC Nils Simonsen GA Francisco Neri FL Selwyn Facey NC Chris Chaney TX Chris Walker TX Paulo Trevisan NY Emilio Keyrouz NJ Julio Chicaiza NY William Phillips NY Anton Volkov NY Tim Harris WA William Palmer AK Brian Oneill WA Greg Stewart WA Greg Aiello CA Ian Kirk CA Byron Amerson CA Gordon Dollar CA Jan Pauck CA Jason Folker CA Tal Wolf CA Olga Pustovalova CA
William Purden-jr William Purden-jr William Purden-jr William Purden-jr Ted Smith Zion Susanno-loddby Dale Covington Andy Macrae Andy Macrae Patrick Johnson Andy Macrae Andy Macrae Andy Macrae Jonathan Jefferies Tung Ng Tung Ng Ma-chiu Kit Miguel Gutierrez Miguel Gutierrez Yuen Wai-kit Tung Ng Zion Susanno-loddby Zion Susanno-loddby Tung Ng Tung Ng Jonathan Jefferies Rob Sporrer Tung Ng Tung Ng Calef Letorney John Dunn John Dunn John Dunn John Dunn John Dunn John Dunn Heath Woods David Hanning David Hanning Andy Macrae David Hanning Gary Begley Jonathan Jefferies Jonathan Jefferies Jonathan Jefferies Jonathan Jefferies Jonathan Jefferies Hadley Robinson David Hebert Sebastien Kayrouz Sebastien Kayrouz Sebastien Kayrouz William Purden-jr Joachim Roesler Roger Brock Ken Hudonjorgensen Steven Wilson Denise Reed Max Marien Mitchell Neary Andy Macrae Jesse Meyer Jerome Daoust Jerome Daoust Steven Wilson Gabriel Jebb
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RATINGS ISSUED OCTOBER 2017 (continued) P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3
3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 6 6
David Flannery Robert Michiels Andrew Owen Kerry Smeester Jeffrey Parrot June Garcia Timothy Hasselmann Dylan Gray Bryce Tokmakian Roy Taylor Tamara Williams Wong Wan Sang Juan Pablo Ochoa Garcia De Quevedo
CA CA CA CO CO UT CO CO MT MT MT
Marcello Debarros Philip Russman Marcello Debarros Granger Banks Granger Banks Stephen Mayer Jonathan Jefferies Granger Banks Andy Macrae Andy Macrae Andy Macrae Yuen Wai-kit Miguel Gutierrez
P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-3 P-4 P-4 P-4
6 6 6 8 8 10 10 10 11 12 1 2 2
Guillermo Enrique Martinez Prieto Yimer Jesus Sterling Sanchez Li Chi Yan Stephen Verbeek MA Richard Ackerman NH Jan-philipp Stourac GA Aaron Stocum FL John Nolan NC Kurt Leithe TX Jeff Adamiak NJ Aaron Spitz OR Patrick Joyce NV Jarred Bonaparte CA
Miguel Gutierrez Miguel Gutierrez Yuen Wai-kit Peter Williams Calef Letorney David Hanning Jerome Daoust Jonathan Jefferies Jerome Daoust Rolan Yang Steve Roti Jerome Daoust Mike Fifield
P-4 P-4 P-4 P-4 P-4 P-4 P-4 P-4 P-4 P-4 P-4 P-4 P-5
2 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 6 6 6 8 8
Arthur Korn CA Daniel Zaslavsky CA Morten Kals CA James Shelby CA Mike Lester CA Matt Hotchkiss UT David Cox CO Randall Shane ID Michael Yeung Guillermo Enrique Martinez Prieto Yimer Jesus Sterling Sanchez Tom Lanning MA Calef Letorney VT
Jesse Meyer Jesse Meyer Harry Sandoval Gabriel Jebb Jerome Daoust Chris Santacroce Blake Pelton Justin Boer Yuen Wai-kit Miguel Gutierrez Miguel Gutierrez John Gallagher Paul Voight
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