Oz Report

Paragliding Comps in Florida?

Florida|JC Brown|PG

When I spoke with JC Brown at the Paragliding Nationals in the Owens he mentioned the possibility that he would be heading up a national level paragliding competition in Florida in 2003. He didn’t happen to mention just where it would be held.  I think we talked about some of the options.

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The 2005 flex wing Worlds in Florida?

CIVL|David Glover|Florida|Malcolm Jones|Quest Air|Steve Kroop|USHGA|Wallaby Ranch|Worlds

It appears that two bids for the 2005 flex wing Worlds (and 2004 pre-Worlds) will be presented to the USHGA Competition Committee at the BOD meeting coming up this weekend.  One bid from Malcolm Jones at Wallaby Ranch and one from Steve Kroop and David Glover at Quest Air.

I sure hope that the USHGA CC can come up with the best bid or combination of bids to send to CIVL for their consideration.  Last time a bid for the Worlds came out of Florida there was general consternation and Brazil won by one vote.

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Too much sponsorship at the Worlds?

Worlds

The story that I’ve hear is that there was very substantial sponsorship support for the flex wing Pre-Worlds in Brazil.  This is not surprising given the ongoing level of sponsorship support that we’ve seen in Brazil and all the issues surrounding the desire or need to have the goals back in Brasilia.

The concern that was alluded to in an earlier article in the Oz Report was the fact that even with this high level of sponsorship support, this didn’t seem to get translated into reduced pilot entry fees ($400) or sufficient pilot support (no toilets on launch was an issue).

I sure hope that the organizers are making every effort to spread the sponsorship support around so that the competition pilots benefit and not just the organizers.

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No word yet back from Jim Zeiset

Jom Zeiset wrote a rebuttal of my article about the hypothetical sports organization, but then he left the building to get his facts checked.  Well, seems like that is taking a long time, as he hasn’t returned.

Meanwhile I’ve got three great articles about this issue that I can’t publish.  Sure wish the log jam would break loose, especially before the BOD meeting.

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2002 Flytec Team Championship

Bo Hagewood|Campbell Bowen|competition|Curt Warren|David Glover|Exxtacy|GPS|job|John Claytor|Jon Gjerde|Kate Diamond|Kenneth Martin|Paris Williams|Quest Air|radio|sport|Steve Kroop|Steve Rewolinski|tug|weather

Steve Kroop «flytec» writes:

Team Flytec from left to right: Steve (Super Man) Rewolinski, Paris (I fly with 2 chutes, do you?) Williams, Curt (Nice sideburns….Elvis) Warren, Bo (I have 15 sweatshirts left, $30 each, to get me to OZ) Hagewood.

We all had a great time at the Team Flytec Competition: competitors, team leaders, tug-pilots, volunteers, families and friends who were all part of the low-key learning competition.  Talk to anyone that was here.  They are all are going to do it again.

A wide range of glider performance were registered, rigid wings to low performing king posted gliders.  Tim Meaney (Flytec Championship/US Open scorekeeper) verified and scored the comp with and without adjustments for glider performance.  Rigid and current topless gliders received 0.00% bonus, older topless (Fusion):1.05%, king-post (UP-TRX):1.15%, medium performing king-post (Saturn, Sonic, Ultra-sport):1.20%, low-performing king-post (Pulse):1.25%.

David Glover was the Competition Director - he did his usual job of cracking everyone up while at the same time keeping everything moving like a well oiled machine.

Over all winner - Kenneth Martin (Laminar MR700) from California.  Glider performance adjusted winner - John Claytor (TRX) from Virginia.  Only 2 pilots made goal on the fourth and final day and most pilots made over half the course.  Kate Diamond placed third for the day (un-adjusted)!

Top Ten Competitors:

The following emails have been sent to us.

From Jon Gjerde, Norway:

I want to share my experiences at Quest Air with other pilots who may want to get into competition hang gliding or X-C flying or improve in these exciting and challenging activities.

This was a real competition/clinic for pilots at all levels from hg 3 and up (although the top pilots here were instructors for the rest of us). There were 5 instructor pilots: Paris Williams, Bo Hagewood (2000-2003 National champions), Curt Warren, Steve Rewolinski (Fun and super helpful top pilots) and Campbell Bowen - winner of the US Open.

The weather was good with lots of thermals and soaring/xc conditions all 4 days.  The cloudbase were between 3' and 4000 ft every day and it was difficult to cross "blue holes" without getting low and only a few pilots made goal all days.  Tasks were around 20 mile triangles.  The tasks were shorter than a regular comp to encourage completion and easy retrieval.

We had some theory lessons everyday about use of GPS, Flytec vario, speed-to-fly and final glide computer (by Steve), improvement of thermaling, landing, planning of a route, how to fly most efficient in different conditions and a mini seminar on trigger points that went thru the week.

19 competitors were split in 5 groups and were given a new instructor/team mate every day.  So that way everybody could pick up tips and help on planning, setting the instruments and even in-flight instructions as every team had their own radio freq.

Altogether it was more crew than competitors so the whole meet went by without any problems (except Dan who had a bad downwind out-landing and hurt his wrist.  He stayed and got as much out of it as possible anyway). All the helpers did a great job on the towing area, the kitchen, fixing gliders and whenever it was needed.  Thanks a lot.

I had a great time, lots of flying and did most of the mistakes possible and the last day after lot of questions, instructions and corrections I felt more comfortable with all the new information and went for the race.  This sport really is fun and this week convinced me even more.  I had some expectations before coming.  They were all met and exceeded!  It was sure worth the trip from Norway!

From Bill Bowman new Exxtacy pilot had this to say.

Out of all my years of competing in radio control car, boat or plane events this one event has changed my life for the good, "Forever." What I am saying is this: From everyone I have met here,foreign or domestic, all have displayed a greet leadership in sharing knowledge and taking time to help others to perfect their skill at hang gliding and at times facilitate/expedite repairs I have never seen this at any of the r/c meets I have been to.

Most other clubs backstab you, refuse to share knowledge and most of the members will not help you with anything.  The knowledge that was shared has definitely allowed me to double my flight time in a day using of course a Flytec vario.  The experience with Team Flytec, staff and competitors was priceless.  All I hope to do is send the national champs scrambling for better thermal strategy or a new glider.  ha ha

From Kate Diamond of England:

Shameless plug : you know, Quest really is the best place in the world.  They've put on this training competition, we get four days of intense help and training with top guys.  It's been brilliant.  My first day I was teamed up with Mike and Tim also on low performance gliders, and Steve Rewolinski lead us all over the sky - I went places I never thought I could reach on my own.  It gives you so much confidence to have someone looking out for you like that.

The next two days I got to fly with Bo, and then with Campbell, - you can hire guys like these for a day's training, and their daily rate would be about the same as we're paying for the entire four days !! Including tows !! This is real value for money - I can't believe how much time and effort the team leaders (Revo, Paris, Bo, Curt, Campbell) have been putting in with talks, guiding, help with gliders.

And there's just the right number of pilots here, so that you get people marking thermals, but not so many you feel crowded out.  Needless to say, the atmosphere is just brilliant.  (Also, me and my Pulse are currently 2^nd placed kingposted glider so we're having a great time)

Ok, I'll shut up about it, I know I'm sounding evangelical again, but I just never can get over how much value you get out of a place like this.

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Wireless at Quest

David Glover|Quest Air

Wireless network access continues to be a big hit in offices and homes and now it has come to Quest Air.  With two DSL lines and wireless access, Quest is in the forefront of providing Internet access at flight parks.

Tim Meaney, independent network consultant, was the scorekeeper at the recent Flytec Team Competition, and he brought with him a high gain antenna that extended the reach of the wireless network.  He also brought a half dozen wireless network cards than were loaned out to anyone with a laptop so that they could log on.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005B8HO/qid=1034623132/br=1-4/ref=br_lf_e_4//103-5756118-2757412?v=glance&n=908852

I’ve heard that these cards aren’t nearly as effective at long distances as the small USB-connected wireless networking boxes that you would normally purchase for desktop computers, but that can be used for laptops.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005AW1H/qid=1034623005/br=2-4/ref=br_ts_slwth_th_4/103-5756118-2757412?v=glance&n=284716

It’s great to see a flight park entering the twenty first century.  Now I can just download the waypoints for the next meet by walking into the headquarters, and upload my Garmin by waving over the top of David Glover’s head.

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Tow vehicles in Germany

Dragonfly

Jürgen Rüdinger «RUEDING» writes:

The article from Experimenter magazine republished by you in the Oz Report about aerotowing with the Zenith 701 gives the impression that this plane is certified to tow hang gliders in Germany.  This is absolutely not correct.  Fact is, at this time it's only allowed to aerotow with trikes, as there are no certification requirements for stick controlled microlites.

To define this for the future, the German Aeroclub (DAeC) has set up together with the DHV a test to find out the requirements for aerotowing with these types of microlites safely.  The tests include three different planes: Dragonfly, Zenith 701 and TL 232 Condor (which is already certified to tow gliders up to 650kg). Requirements will be defined after finishing the tests at the end of this year.

The findings so far are: the ability to fly slow is only a minor part of towing safely.  More important is that mistakes by the hang gliding pilot can influence the tug in a way that causes a fatality.  Big elevators and rudder's or having a special mounting for the tow rope (as the Dragonfly has) can prevent raising the tail, if the hang glider climbs too high, which is very dangerous, especially in the launching phase.

Aerotowing with these craft is not defined yet, nor which microlite will meet these requirements.  Aerotowing close to the stall speed of the tug can be very dangerous without having proper equipment!

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Launching – the sweet spot

Alegra Davidson

Ben/Alegra Davidson, Tek Flight Products «tek» writes:

The infamous "nose popping up" is usually cured if the pilot has the glider supported on the "sweet spot" of upper arms/shoulders, where the glider is comfortable and hands need do nothing but control pitch and roll.  The pilot needs to be sure to start with one foot in front of the other.

It can take quite some time and work for some pilots to find that magic spot and to have gliders go there automatically every time they pick one up, but the time spent teaching them to support the glider there ultimately helps generate that bulletproof launch.

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Chicken wings - launching

Alegra Davidson|chicken wings|Chicken wings|Pat Denevan

Rudy.Stephen.R «Stephen.Rudy» writes:

I am surprised at the various training schools promoting launch techniques that focus on floating off the hill at very slow speeds.  Statements about 'optimizing the angle of attack' to lift off the hill as soon as possible (versus with plenty of flying speed) seem to me methods sure to result in launch mishaps.  Ben/Alegra Davidson's response matches far better with what I believe ensures success in launching:

1- holding the control bar with enough authority to control the angle of attack,
2- keeping the angle of attack close to neutral and accelerating rapidly to your maximum running speed,
3- allowing the angle of attack to increase to near trim speed,
4- pulling back in some on the control bar immediately after take-off to provide some extra airspeed for safety.

Pat Denevan's illustrations on launch technique all show the pilot gripping the bar from behind.  I believe the chicken wing discussion about using the upper arm to push the control bar also assumes this grip from behind.  I see more and more pilots using that kind of grip and I don't understand why the flight schools are teaching it.

Setting the downtubes across the deltoid muscles, wrapping your upper arms behind and around them, so that your forearms and hands come around to the front of the downtubes provides very solid control over the glider when launching.  My grip has my fingers behind the downtube and my thumb hooked from the outside and around the front of the tube.  This allows me to feel gusts/crosswind/pitch input immediately and I have a solid connection for controlling that input.  My guess is that many flight schools reject this grip because there is more of a transition required as the glider starts flying.  You must unwrap your arms from the downtubes and grip either the downtubes or basetube from behind.

Avoiding the difficulty of learning that transition between the wrap around grip for launching and the flying grip is poor preparation for students that will eventually be taking off in less than ideal conditions.  I feel completely confident launching in turbulent and windy conditions that would terrify me if I had nothing but my hands and the tenuous connection of my shoulders and/or hang strap for controlling the glider

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Nice Swift for sale

Finbar Sheehy|sailplane

http://www.finbar.net/swift.htm

I met with Finbar Sheehy «mailbox» (he is Irish – actually born there – which accounts for the name) on Sunday to check out his little used Swift, now safely stored in its box at the El Monte airport near Los Angeles.  Finbar has purchased a sailplane and it looks to him like he won’t be flying his Swift anymore.

It was in great condition, having only about 60 hours on it. He even had a half fairing for it, although he hasn’t tried it yet.

At one third the price of a new Swift Light, this looks like a great deal.

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Forbes rugby players hurt in Bali

The following is taken from a NY Times article about the bombing of the surf night club in Bali.  Hang glider pilots who’ve been to Forbes will be familiar with the Rugby fields near the camping area.

Among the Australians in Bali were players and supporters of the Rugby Club of Forbes, a wheat and sheep ranching area of 8,500 people 200 miles northwest of here.  On Sunday night, residents learned that 24 of the 25 Forbes visitors were in the Sari Club when it was destroyed.

Three Forbes men are unaccounted for today and two are known to have been airlifted to a hospital in Singapore.  The coach of the Forbes team, Brendan Hayes, said: "It's really terrible.  It's like having 25 of your family over there and not being able to do anything about it."

About 50 players and family members gathered Sunday at the Post Office Hotel in the main street to listen to radio and television reports and make calls for news of relatives to an emergency hot line.

Sue Betland said her two sons, Steven, 21, and Scott, 19, were on their first overseas trip.  "Scott rang this morning to stay he was trying to find Steven," she said.  "We think Steven is in hospital somewhere with burns."

Mayor Alister Lockhart told radio reporters, "In a much smaller way for the people of Forbes this is what Sept.  11 was for the people of New York."

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Virus killer – get them on the server

calendar|Virus killer|Worlds

Ben de Lisle «delisle» writes:

I never even let a large number of viruses across the POP3 link to my computer.  My ISP has Procmail recipes for us which we can customize.  I automatically delete any Windows executables at the ISP level.

{

VIRUSBOX=/dev/null

:0 B

* ^Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64

* name=.*.(exe|bat|scr|pif|vbs|com|dll|vb|dot)

$VIRUSBOX

}

Something similar can be put in to the filters in Outlook which will delete certain attachments based on strings if the virus scanner missed it, but I think it is better to kill it at the server level before it gets your computer.  Check with your ISP’s and see if they can use the above code and Procmail in general.  Note, once in place you will never get email that has the above file types in them.  This code catches several malware apps per week.