Wills Wing
Flytec

Oz Report

Volume 9, Number 134
10 pm, Thursday, June 23 2005

https://OzReport.com
"Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."
Thu, Jun 23 2005, 4:00:00 pm EDT

to Table of Contentsto next topic USHGA

Our mutual third party liability insurance company

PG|USHGA

One of the primary functions of the USHGA is to provide low cost third party liability insurance for pilots and landowners through site insurance.  It is this insurance that allows us to fly at many of the foot launch sites, and provides some protection for landowners that don't have commercial third party liability insurance, such as commercial flight parks.

Third party liability insurance may be the key service provided to USHGA members, the one around which all other services can be seen as ancillary services.  For example, the USHGA universal waiver, a requirement for obtaining USHGA membership, is a requirement because without it we would likely not be able to obtain third party liability insurance.

The USHGA provides a training and rating program which is also a necessary component of its insurance program.  The training and rating program reduce the rate at which claims are made against our insurance (as well as keep us from hurting ourselves as much as we would otherwise).

All USHGA members are kept in contact with the US hang gliding and paragliding community through the HG/PG Magazine.  It is this magazine that provides safety information to the community to again reduce the level of claims made against our insurance policy.

 The USHGA planning committee will soon be developing a planning document that will, if and when it is adopted by the USHGA BOD, determine the future goals of the USHGA.  I wonder if the USHGA can be much more than a mutual third party liability insurance company.

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Thu, Jun 23 2005, 4:00:01 pm EDT

to Table of Contentsto next topic Big Spring Open

And the Super 8

David Glover

David Glover

David Glover «davidhglover» writes:

The Super 8 continues to be very supportive of the hang gliding community when we come to town.  Book now to secure a room.  Poolside get togethers throughout the meet.  Call to get the hang gliding rate during the competition 432-267-1601. Here.

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Thu, Jun 23 2005, 4:00:02 pm EDT

to Table of Contentsto next topic Cloud Base Country Club

Air Times on-line

Vaughn Entwistle

Vaughn Entwistle «ventwistle» writes:

I took over as editor of the CBCC Air Times newsletter in January 2005. We recently switched to an online publication.  You'll find stories here about pilots flying in the Pacific Northwest

Find the Air Times online here.

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Thu, Jun 23 2005, 4:00:03 pm EDT

to Table of Contentsto next topic Dan Burton

Bi Polar

Hugh Miller|PG

Hugh Miller «hugh_kw» writes:

A friend, Dan Burton, took his own life last weekend.  Many will know him from HG contests of the early '90s and many more will know him as the creator of Flight Club, the online hang gliding game at www.xcmag.com.

I've written a tribute for the next issue of Cross Country - feel free to include anything you want in the Oz Report.  A service for Dan will be held at the Brighton Buddhist Centre, Titchborne St, Brighton, UK on Friday 1 July at 2:00 pm, all welcome.

A Chemical Brother: Dan Burton, RIP

If you've ever played Flight Club, the online flying simulator hosted at xcmag.com, then you'll have enjoyed some of the genius that was Dan Burton.

Flight Club was the work-escapist's ultimate ladder over a tough afternoon in the office, and its creator would undoubtedly be proud of the number of lost employee hours the game racked up over the years as one of his many achievements.

Indeed mischief ran deep in Dan's biological blueprint.  A cheeky, life-affirming mischievousness, which showed itself in many ways… from his unique flying attire (80s denim jacket with matching-era climbing helmet) to his disregard for association membership, from his ever-changing jobs to his ever-present wit.  The last time I spoke to Dan, a week or so before his death, he'd rung me to tap me up for a bit of advice on a strapline he wanted to run on the invites he was printing for his summer party.

'Please don't come on the carpets', he said, in a mock authoritative tone, before adding, 'the irony is of course that my house doesn't have any carpets!'

Youth orchestra clarinetist, Oxford university graduate with a first, member of the British hang gliding team, accomplished programmer, electro music maker, paragliding instructor, husband, father, experimentist and experientialist… Dan's determination saw him achieve so much.  The side I saw most of was his extremely natural flying ability, and I enjoyed many missions out to flying sites in Wiltshire with Dan during my London days.

But under Dan's genius lay a chemical imbalance that swung him cruelly from dark, cold shadows into the white light of full beam mania.  Over the last year, the cycles intensified.  When Jerome Maupoint and I took Dan to an Air gig last February he was as vacant and dispossessed as the group's name.  Mere weeks later, he was ringing me up in the early hours, his voice rapt with excitement, describing that he felt 'like I'm on Everest but there's no way I can get off.'

Dan, aged 35, took his own life on Sunday 19th June.  Tim Cox, a school owner who took Dan on as a flying instructor, told me something last December which will haunt me for a while yet.

'These are the special people, the ones we need to look out for.'

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Thu, Jun 23 2005, 4:00:04 pm EDT

to Table of Contentsto next topic Mingus Mountain

Improvements and a raffle

Jerry Dalen|USHGA

Jerry Dalen «diverdriver» writes:

You were wondering some time ago what the clubs and organizations that received grants from the USHGA were doing with the money.  Well, the $10,000.00 we received (in $5,000.00 increments over two years) went into our/your campground.  The largest expense most likely will be gravel for roads and camp spurs if you can believe that.  The next largest expenditure is for the restroom facility.

Everything is being constructed to Forest Service standards in the unlikely event that hang gliding ever ceases at the mountain.  We expect the total cost of the campground to slightly exceed $30,000.00 when fully completed with fire rings, picnic tables, and barbecue grills at the 10 individual camp sites.  The PG pilots have gotten behind the project too, with one individual, Morgan Stine, donating his expertise and heavy equipment to the project.

It's been a long haul, but we are in a position now to complete the bulk of the work this season.  We are hosting a thirty year celebration of flying on Mingus Mtn.  this coming Labor Day weekend.  (Article in the June issue of the Mag.)

Ed Bennett visited our site this spring, and had such a good time flying and camping that he wanted to help us out by donating a nice little Wills Wing Falcon 170 to the club.  We intend to raffle off tickets for the glider on Sunday September 4th at the awards banquet.  A conservative estimate of the glider is $1000.00, so we decided to sell 50 tickets at $20.00 apiece.  How bout it? A one in 50 chance to win a $1000.00 glider?

If you are interested in contributing to this worthy cause, please send a check or money order with your name, address, and phone number to: AHGA P. O. Box 39013 Phoenix, AZ 85069. Lots of information on Mingus and Arizona flying can be found at our web site: http://www.ahga.org

Come on out and fly Mingus with us anytime.  Call me 623 934-6094 or e-mail: «diverdriver» 

Need not be present to win.

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Thu, Jun 23 2005, 4:00:05 pm EDT

to Table of Contentsto next topic New single surface distance for 2005

Pete broke our tie

weather

Lawrence "Pete" Lehmann|weather

Peter Lehmann and I were tied at 41 miles for the longest single surface (WW Falcon) flight so far this year until yesterday.  He flew 57 miles yesterday (the weather has been quite good here on the east coast).

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Thu, Jun 23 2005, 4:00:06 pm EDT

to Table of Contentsto next topic Pre Europeans

In Croatia

Amir Shalom|Robert Reisinger|weather

Amir Shalom|Oleg Bondarchuk|Robert Reisinger|weather

Amir Shalom|Oleg Bondarchuk|Robert Reisinger|weather

No flying the first two days.  amir shalom «amirhang» writes:

Day three was the first competition day.  With dad weather on the course and the task set going the wrong direction, most of the field landed around the first turnpoint.  Oleg won the day going 63km, Mario Alonzai was second.

On day four the weather was a bit better.  A 103km task was called mostly on the ridge.  Christian Chiech was first and Robert Reisinger was second.

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Thu, Jun 23 2005, 4:00:07 pm EDT

to Table of Contentsto next topic The previous photo

Cypress Gardens

Bill Moyes|Doug Lawton|photo

Doug Lawton writes:

Man that picture brings back some great memories.  From left to right, John Williamson, Richard Johnson, Bill Moyes and Craig's Mom (don't remember her first name). In front of the stands at Cypress Gardens.  I'd guess it was taken about 1973 or 1974. Those were the days.

The Gardens used to hold the greatest competitions with large prize money and really tough competition from all over the world.  They treated all of the pilots like kings.  It was a blast.

Ask Craig to post some more of those photos from the old days.

(editor's note: I have plenty more coming.)

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Thu, Jun 23 2005, 4:00:08 pm EDT

to Table of Contentsto next topic Photo/Caption contest

Real midnight flioght

Peter Loeskow|PG|photo|weather

Peter Loeskow «peter_loeskow» sends:

In the Scandinavian flight log, http://www.kkpg.no/index.php3?id=93  Paraglider pilot Lars Markstedt in Northern Sweden wrote on June 22:

"Since this was the lightest night of the summer, I borrowed the son's Vibe and headed up the mountain to take off at one o'clock (the real midnight). Mia assisted me, so I could run to take off speed.  A great experience, and the fog covered the village like a lid."

I commended him on the fine image that he had placed in "loggboka". I asked him for the original, with the purpose of forwarding it to the Oz Report, and here it is.

The winter half of the year is not very enjoyable here, but on the other hand, our Nordic summer nights are really something special.  Lars flew at latitude N65°, whereas I live much farther south in Sweden, at N58°. I can still read a newspaper outside at 23:00 daylight saving time at this time of year, so this fake time feels quite unnecessary.

In about two weeks, when I have recuperated enough from a hernia operation, I intend to drive northward at night, toward the light night sky - a marvelous experience every time!  The Norwegians have a friendly get together at Bodö in early July every year, the Midnight Sun Cup, and for many years I was somewhat tempted to participate, but the long drive was putting me off - that and the weather situation, which looked better for my own area.  And the temperature feels quite alright here - warm, but not as oppressive as it is right now even in Central Europe, not to mention the Mediterranean countries.

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The Oz Report, a near-daily, world wide hang gliding news ezine, with reports on competitions, pilot rankings, political issues, fly-ins, the latest technology, ultralight sailplanes, reader feedback and anything else from within the global HG community worthy of coverage. Hang gliding, paragliding, hang gliders, paragliders, aerotowing, hang glide, paraglide, platform towing, competitions, fly-ins. Hang gliding and paragliding news from around the world, by Davis Straub.

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