Oz Report

Carabineers

(This topic is in: May 19 Sep.28'04 )

Light weight, inexpensive, and self locking (Quest Air, Groveland, Florida, USA)

These are like the ones used here at Quest Air (on the tow line, of course):

These are $4.50 at the ACE hardware in Clermont.  They are not marked at 500 kg here at Quest Air, nor at ACE.  The site linked to if you click the picture above sells them at much less if you purchase large quantities. 

They are very light, rugged, and if they break, easily replaced at little cost.  They have experienced no problems with these carabineers on both ends of the tow lines here at Quest Air.

If you need a self locking lightweight carabineer you might try one of these:

http://www.camp.it/template01.aspx?codicemenu=75

Not nearly as light as the one above at 3.2857 ounces or 92 grams, much more expensive at $16, but self locking.  24KN/8KN load, aluminum.

Thanks to David Thompson who actually sent me one of these.

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Germany - where's the sunshine?

Dark and gloomy, but still they fly (even in Austria) (THALHEIM, Germany)

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/16/business/worldbusiness/16solar.html

This, in a country that gets an average of only 1,528 hours of sunshine a year, less than a third of the total daylight hours.  That figure is comparable to London’s but it is one-third fewer sunshine hours than in Florence, Italy, and only half San Diego’s, making German solar installations less efficient, and their growth all the more remarkable.

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Harnesses for passengers

Once we get safer harnesses (Francisco Grande, Casa Grande, Arizona)

http://HarryMartinCartoons.com

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Rocketman

With each iteration, an improvement in personal jet flight

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/15/swiss_birdman_backpack_jet_stunt/

Thanks to Stephen Whalley.

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Spectacular - Francis Rogallo beer

(This topic is in: May 19 Mar.22'07 )

A different kind of beer

http://ozreport.com/12.089#3

Jim Prahl writes:

We are all here with the Kitty Hawk Kites gang celebrating the addition of a new beer at The Brewing Station: Golden Rogallo Ale.

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