Oz Report

Big Spring International Registration is open

Finally, David let's us register (Big Spring, Texas)

http://goflyxc.com/2008/bigspring

David Glover <david> writes:

Space limited - register now.  Big Spring has the most incredible, consistent and best flying weather and conditions.  Eight day contest this year.

You really have to muck around to find the actual registration, what a pain in the neck.  Sometimes I wonder about Mark and his site.

Discuss Big Spring at the Oz Report forum   link»

White Lightning?

Wax your zipper (Francisco Grande, Casa Grande, Arizona)

http://www.aerotechdesigns.com/whitelightninglube.htm

There was so much dust at the Santa Cruz Flats Race that it was imperative that pilots do everything to keep their harness zippers clean and lubricates.  The dust would just eat up the zippers.

I was using silicone lubricants and cleaning the zipper after every flight.  One suggestion was candle wax.  I bought a cheap candle and have been rubbing the zipper ever since with it.  It seems to work great.  I wonder if this bicycle lubricant (which I use on my bikes, and like very much) would be a good idea.  I don't want it to get on the harness itself.

I've placed it on the zipper of my harness.  It's easy to keep off the harness itself.  We'll see how it works.

Discuss White Lightning at the Oz Report forum   link»

Canadian Wills Wing Prices

Ah, the strength of the Canadian dollars (Steinbach, Canada)

Barry Morwick <adventure> writes:

In response to all the talk on the Oz Report lately about glider prices and specifically Wills Wing Prices - Pilots across Canada are already aware that the lowest prices have always been available from "Adventure At Altitude" www.altitude.ca - a dealer in Central Canada located just one hour north of the USA border from Minnesota.

Just check out the back cover ad in "AIR", our national Canadian Hang Gliding and Paragliding Magazine to find that there is a $500 discount offered off the retail price for orders placed this spring.  With the Canadian dollar still at par value 1:1, the USA price equals the Canadian Price.  For USA pilots who don't receive "Air Magazine", check out these spring 2008 prices:

Falcon3 $2875
Tandem $3275
Sport2 $3875
U2 $4275
T2 $5775
T2-C $7785

Not included in the price are any options you choose, and approximately $200 for crating and shipping directly to your city's freight terminal.  There is no state/provincial sales tax on Mail Orders for anyone that does not live in Manitoba.  But Canadian residents only would have to add the 5% GST.

Wills Wing is currently quoting a ten week delivery time, so orders placed in May will be delivered the first week in August.  Be sure to support your local dealers, but if you don't have one call Barry at (204)333-WING or email <adventure>.

Discuss Canada at the Oz Report forum   link»

Weather on your GPS

Convergence, yet again, XM radio and your GPS

http://www.bushnell.com/gps/gps_onix400.cfm

Navigate using an actual satellite photo of your surroundings - layered with all your tools, waypoints and other points of reference.  Subscription access to real-time XM weather and more than 170 channels of XM Satellite Radio programming featuring news, sports, talk, entertainment and music.

Introducing the world’s first handheld GPS to combine navigational aids, satellite photography and XM weather on a single screen.  It shows you the perfect pinch point for this wind.  And how you should dress for the day.  NEXRAD weather data down linked via XM Weather, layered over a georeferenced satellite map of your location keeps you prepared.  It’s all housed in a rubberized defensive armor built to XPX7 waterproof standards, with a high gain SIRF GPS receiver.  In your palm.

Thanks to Thermalr fly

Discuss GPS and weather at the Oz Report forum   link»

Lumby Air Races

(This topic is in: May 16 May 22'07 May 23'06 May 17'06 --> )

The rates will rise. (Lumby, B.C.)

Randy <randy> writes:

Get Ready For THE THIRD ANNUAL LUMBY AIR RACES June 13,14, 15, 2008 For Hang Gliders and Paragliders in conjunction with Lumby Days.

$50.00 advance entry fees before May 15th includes dinner and dance and the MEGA FIRE OF LIGHT Saturday night.  Entrants after May 15th will be $75.00.

This is a fund raising event that helps the Lumby Air Force ( L.A.F.) to improve Coopers Launch and Saddle Mountain Launch

Maximum 50 Pilots $2500.00 in cash prize money has been secured so far for this year.  More may follow as in past years.  $2000.00 was awarded in 2006 and $5000.00 was awarded in 2007.

The Lumby Air Force Eagle Trophy will be Awarded again to the winners and their names will be added.  Other prizes will also be awarded.  This will be a fun filled event with multiple flights allowable per open window as last year.  Two classes for Hang Gliders and Two classes for Paragliders.  Best flight per day will be used for scoring.

Saturday and Sunday starts allowed for people that can't make the Friday start.  The format will be valley triangle and rectangle racing around the town of Lumby and spot landings, Friday, Saturday and Sunday in conjunction with Lumby Days.

Helmets, Parachutes, HPAC liability insurance and GPS will be required.  10 hours minimum airtime and foot launch ability required.  Maximum 50 entrants.  $50.00 advance entry fees before May 15th includes dinner and dance and the MEGA FIRE OF LIGHT Saturday night.  Entrants after May 15th will be $75.00.

On site camping with fire, sauna and wireless Internet and cell coverage only $10.00/night or $20.00 for 4 nights of Race.

Please make cheques or money orders payable to the Lumby Air Force and send to: #249 Mabel Lake Road Lumby BC, V0E2G5 To pay by credit card go to www.PayPal.com and send to <randy>  For online banking use interac email transfers and send to <randy>

For more info on flying in the Lumby Vernon valley and past Lumby Air Force events go to www.LumbyAirForce.com  Contact person Randy Rauck 250 547 6841

Discuss Lumby at the Oz Report forum   link»

Can we have safer harnesses?

What's the deal with the back plate? (Francisco Grande, Casa Grande, Arizona)

Alejandro Isaza <alejandroisaza> writes:

After reading the article in the Oz Report "The problem with landing" (and see here) about Zac Major's bad landing in Santa Cruz Flatlands.  I realized I have being doing just the same in many landings, that is pulling too hard on the downtubes to "rotate up" and to "add some speed", resulting in the opposite effect of reducing the speed.

Today, the harnesses we use, racing, cross country or competitions harnesses have the fiberglass backplate that gives them the nice shape on the back and make them more aerodynamic, etc.  But this backplate makes our landings less safe, why?

The backplate does not allow the pilot to fully stand up (rotate up), so the pilot has to grab the downtubes much lower and land in a more flying (down) position and get straight only at the moment of flare.  We rotate up because of a natural reaction or instinct, after all you are about to land.  So "rotate up" (straighten up) pull out your "landing gear" and prepare for a landing.

Now if my instinct is to "rotate up" but my harness doesn't fully allow me to do so, then I am in a dangerous situation.  This instinct or natural reaction and the full rotation (not half way) of the pilot to a straight position before final, should be respected and should always be permitted by the harness construction.  I think the great majority of pilots land in a full up position (rotated up), instead of the flying position (low - head on) even if this is a good landing technique.

Johnny Durand landings are excellent (perhaps that is what we should all do), but approaching the ground 1 or 2 meters high at 30 miles per hour still in a flying position (head on) takes a lot of nerve, especially if you are flying in rowdy air, rocky terrain, having a emergency landing, or simply in one of those very fast landings we have to make often.

Many accidents and bad landings have occur because of problems with harness and we should put better attention to their safety, and demand from the manufacturers more safety.  Today new pilots are already beginning to use this harnesses and you can't tell them "hey, before you land, rotate only half way".  I think it is just a matter of design, better and more creative designs of the backplates and harnesses can solve this problem, allowing pilots to fully rotate up and down.

If you think about it, the backplate is not a problem during take off (on the contrary it may help the pilot rotate down and grab the speedbar), neither it is during the flight, is just for landing that it becomes a problem, so why not change the shape or position of the backplate (harness) or bend it somehow or retract a part of it with the help of a string, etc.  (invent something), for the landing.

Yes, this harnesses have being around for many years now, but it is never too late to correct something that is not safe enough.  In my opinion Zac Major's bad landing was not his fault, because he was landing in rowdy air and the normal reaction is to grab the downtubes strongly, rotate up fully and add some speed, it was the harness' fault because of its limitations.  By the way, is there any safety standards or specifications a harness should meet?  Are harnesses being evaluated by any safety organizations, like helmets or hang gliders are?

I think that back plate harnesses are safe, and keeping your hands low on the down tubes is actually a good thing.  Pilots using these harnesses just have to be aware that they need to pull in, not down.

Discuss Harnesses at the Oz Report forum   link»

The Marina Festival of the Wind and Hang Gliding Steeple Chase Race

The final results? (Marina Beach State Park, CA, USA)

http://jonnydurand.blogspot.com/

Lee Gardner <lgardner01> writes

We had two great days of Racing along the Bluffs of Monterey Bay.  There was a bit of controversy over the final results as you will see.  I spoke with the parties involved and all has been rectified.

Saturday's course was a race from the launch ramp at Marina St.  Beach to the Indianhead parking area (old Stillwell Hall) and back to a finish line just to the south of the Hang Gliding set up area for an out and return distance of 5.6 miles.  Fastest time for that day was 8 min 5 sec.  Set by Kraig Coomber.

Sunday's course was a race from the launch ramp at Marina to Sand City and back to the same finish line for an out and return distance of 10.32 miles.  Fastest time for that day was 13 min 59 sec.  Set by Kraig Coomber.  A new record for time over the Long Course.

Final Results

- Topless Class

1st - Kraig Coomber - Moyes Litespeed RS
2nd - Ken Brown - Moyes Litespeed RS
3rd - Jonny Durand - Moyes Litespeed RS

- Kingposted Sport Class

1st - Don Martin - Moyes Litesport
2nd - Al Gardner - Wills Wing U2
3rd - Urs Kallenberger - Icaro Easy 14

I'd like to thank all the pilots who attended and raced till their arms were worn out.  The volunteers that did a great job of launching, timing, turn points, and finish line judging.  And a special Thanks to Stephen Wasson for helping me keep it together with the race timing results.

The Wind Festival Committee was impressed with the Quality of the event and is looking forward to Sponsor this event again next year.

Discuss Marina Beach at the Oz Report forum   link»