Looking back

The Wedge Tail Eagle attacks (Serpentine Western Australia, Australia)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8ejmP6kWoo

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Gyro hang glider

An oldie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO099D_Do2M

Thanks to Andrew

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Rhett's flight park in Massachusetts

Closer to Boston (Tanner - Hiller Airport, New Braintree, Massachusetts)

http://hangglidenewengland.com

Serving Boston, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.  Located in central Massachusetts 10 miles east of Quabbin reservoir.

http://skyout.blogspot.com/

Randy and then Kip left for ~50 mile (80km) and ~40 mile (65km) flights over my home territory.

http://www.facebook.com/HangglideNewEngland

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National Towing title in the Netherlands

First part of the Nationals (Deelen Air Base, Hoenderloo, The Netherlands)

Sander van Schaik <<sander>> writes:

Upcoming on Thursday we will have the towing part of the Dutch Nationals at Deelen airport.  Twenty six hang gliders will compete for the towing title of 2012.  For online updates, these web sites can be visited:

- www.zeilvliegen.nl

- www.sanderdelta.nl

- http://flyingjochen.blogspot.com

- http://hadewych.blogspot.com

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Wills Wing photos

Fun on their Facebook page (Wills Wing Factory, California, USA)

Françoise Dieuzeide flying the T2C 136 at the 2012 Flytec Race and Rally.  Notice the twelve tuffs on the left wing.

http://www.facebook.com/WillsWing

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Waking paragliders

Into the trees (Atibaia, Sao Paulo, Brazil)

Fabiano Nahoum <<marusco>> writes:

The paraglider had the worst of it, tumbling into the trees below.  Fortunately the pilot was fine.  I found the video remarkable in that the paraglider was literally knocked out of the sky by what appeared to be just a slight touch by the hang glider.

I have no information at all on the abilities and experience of the pilots involved.  Crowded lift bands can be complicated specially when mixing hang gliders and paragliders.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZJ9ZHO5pa0

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Edited video of the swoop at Quest Air

It's an art form (Quest Air, Groveland, Florida, USA)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDYlnR5Nc8M

You can also find it here: http://www.facebook.com/WillsWing

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Thermal Map Generator

For your Garmin GPS

http://www.tmgenerator.com/home

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=109448#109448

TMG is new program produced in Poland, used to generate a map of thermals for Garmin GPSes, eg.  Oregon, 62, etc.  The Garmin GPS supports multiple maps at the same time.  The program analyzes IGC files and creates a map as an overlay on a standard map and shows where we can expect lift

Here you can see screenshot of the map:

https://picasaweb.google.com/goskkawa/MapyTermiki?authkey=Gv1sRgCO_SufTtqYPvpAE

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Water in the west

The Colorado River (Green River, Emery, Utah)

http://watershedmovie.com/trailer/

Sweeping through seven U.S.  and two Mexican states, the Colorado River is a lifeline to expanding populations and booming urban centers that demand water for drinking, sanitation and energy generation.  And with 70% of the rivers’ water supporting agriculture, the river already runs dry before it reaches its natural end at the Gulf of California.  Unless action is taken, the river will continue its retreat – a potentially catastrophic scenario for the millions who depend on it.

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Northern Arizona record attempt

They went after the foot launch record (Seligman, Yavapai, Arizona)

Dustin, an ATOS pilot, Stan Roberts, and at leas three paraglider pilots tried for the "unofficial" footlaunch record launching from a site near Seligman, Arizona on Saturday morning.

Gary Osoba, who was handling weather duties remotely writes:

Dustin went down early and back for relaunch at 2:00 PM.  After his relaunch Dustin flew to Prescott, Arizona, east of Flagstaff, landing around 7 PM.

Conditions were weak at launch and Dustin sank out while the Stan and a paraglider were able to go down the ridge and get away.  Stan didn't have any oxygen and cloud base was 20,000'.  Apparently he was hypoxic from the first climb out soon claiming that he was ahead of where he could be.

Dustin was able to get off around 2 PM and land over 200 miles away at one minute after sundown.  There was sleet in the virga under every cloud.  He uses 1,800 pounds of his 2,000 pounds of oxygen.

Dustin's camelback froze on the first climb out and when he landed it was a solid brick of ice.

The 10,000' winds forecasted for 2 PM.  No cu's and strong lift.

Dustin Martin <<flydustin>> writes:

There was one other flex pilot, Jeff Johnson.  There were at least three paraglider pilots, one of which was the first off the hill at some time around 11:30 and he got away easily.

The forecast looked like it would give a chance for 500 km.  Our plan was to team fly as far as we could stay together and my plan was to be off the hill no later than 11 am.

The localized conditions at launch screwed up those plans and after launching one hour behind schedule, I found myself on the ground after about a three minute flight.  I was extremely lucky when the retrieve driver for the paraglider pilots and two new hang glider pilots showed up and waited a few minutes for me to pack up.  I was able to divide my gear between the two rigs and was ready to go on launch again at about 2 pm.

On the way up the second time I was hearing radio reports that Stan, who had gotten away when I sunk out, was already past Flagstaff, the 80 mile mark, at 16 grand.  I knew that I had missed the day, but decided to see if I could chase him down by sunset.

From my chronically bad radio set up, I was able to figure out that Stan had probably mistaken his position on some of his calls and was suffering a bit of hypoxia.  His driver on 50 watts was coming through a little better and was able to relay some useful condition info, and that together with the sleet over the highway convinced me to veer south.  Because of this we would never team up.  The tracks tell the story.

Normally I wouldn't be so bummed about missing out on a good day, but from many WRE experiences, we know that even though awesome conditions seem common, in fact having conditions that line up in every respect without compromise, is very, very rare.  To have those conditions on a Saturday is something that almost never happens.  I think Saturday was sufficient to make the official foot launch record.

My first 'flight' http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/para/flightinfo.html?flightId=1283339214
my second flight http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/para/flightinfo.html?flightId=1211840384

Approximately 330 kilometers

Stan's flight http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/604676

270 kilometers

Paraglider who launched first http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/para/flightinfo.html?flightId=1150709938

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Lookout Mountain on ABC

She has a great time (Lookout Mountain Launch, Georgia, USA)

Gary Solomon <<gary>> writes:

“Ginger Zee” on “Good morning America” went hang gliding at Lookout Mountain.  She clearly did a lesson package (as opposed to a single tandem).  There were several minutes of airtime devoted to it.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/gingers-hang-gliding-adventure-16334279

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Big flights out of Enjoy field

On Thursday (Enjoy field)

Gary Solomon <<gary>> sends:

It's that time of year.  Nice day at Enjoy field yesterday.  On Behalf Of Krzysztof Grzyb and Kevin Sheridan

Kris' flight distance: 198.0 miles, OLC link: http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/para/flightinfo.html?dsId=2333683

Kevin's flight distance: 101.2 miles (big personal best for this site), OLC link: http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/para/flightinfo.html?dsId=2333866

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The World Record Encampment

Cloud streets (Zapata, Texas, USA)

Gary Osoba <<wosoba>> sends:

http://ozreport.com/wre.php.

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The glider was too big for the pilot

This glider should never have been used with this pilot (Darley Moor Airfield, Derbyshire, UK)

The accident report here.

The manual also quoted a recommended ‘hook in’ pilot weight range of 175 to 275 lb for the Falcon (3) 195 model, based on the compliance testing, but suggested the optimum range is 200 to 240 lb.  It notes: ‘Be advised that pilots with hook in weights within 20 lbs of the minimum recommended will find the Falcon somewhat more demanding of pilot skill to fly.’

The student pilot involved in this accident weighed 134.5 lb.  It was estimated that her ‘hook in’ weight was not more than 150 lb.  In the flying section of the manual it notes: ‘At speeds faster than trim, you will be holding the bar in pitch against substantial force, and if you let go to move your hand the glider will pitch up and roll towards your remaining hand.’

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Being in the present

There is a future, but it's coming up really fast and I've got to do something about it now (Quest Air, Groveland, Florida, USA)

An example:

Before I moved here, I imagined that I would be far too terrified ever to ride my bike in New York City.  I am not what’s called a thrill-seeking personality: I am too scared to go on carnival rides and can only imagine that if I were ever to go ziplining, bungee jumping or skydiving I would turn instantly to stone with terror, a short-lived meteor.  The actual danger of biking is incidental; it’s only an external condition that forcibly focuses my concentration, the same way that the violence of war can serve as an occasion for valor.  If you’re anything like me, you probably spend the majority of your time either second-guessing the past or dreading the future, neither of which actually exists; having to navigate those teeming streets narrows the beam of my consciousness to the laser’s width of the instant I actually inhabit.

When I’m balanced on two thin wheels at 30 miles an hour, gauging distance, adjusting course, making hundreds of unconscious calculations every second, that idiot chatterbox in my head is kept too busy to get a word in.  I’ve heard people say the same thing about rock-climbing: how it shrinks your universe to the half-inch of rock surface immediately in front of you, this crevice, that toehold.  Biking is split-second fast and rock-climbing painstakingly slow, but both practices silence the noise of the mind and render self-consciousness blissfully impossible.  You become the anonymous hero of that old story, Man versus the Universe.  Your brain’s glad to finally have a real job to do, instead of all that trivial busywork.  You are all action, no deliberation.  You are forced, under pain of death, to quit all that silly ideation and pay attention.  It’s meditation at gunpoint.

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/07/fear-and-cycling/?hp

I assume that it is obvious how this applies to hang gliding.

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Moving to the Keys

Help Paradise Hang Gliding make its move (Islamorada, Monroe, Florida)

Scot Trueblood <<paradisehanggliding>> writes:

http://igg.me/p/101598?a=582719

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrqJnSF54uc

Sites like Indiegogo give one the tools to easily access social media and create highly visible campaigns for zero up front cost.  We are trying to replicate the results of other methods such as Groupon or Living Social, but without paying their exorbitant 50%.  Indiegogo gets either 4 or 9%, and you get all of your money at once, plus it is non-refundable.

We are super excited about operating Paradise Hang Gliding in Islamorada.  We will be right next to US 1 and in a very busy marina, only a short run to open water for flying, and always have the option of heading for the bay side of the islands.  When the winds are kicking up 4-6' seas on the ocean side, the bay is moderate chop.

We are going to be right at what is considered one of the top ten kiteboarding locations in the world due to the wind and flat water, and we hope to scoop up a fair number of students there.  In addition, we will be flying right next to one of the top spots in the Keys for enormous "sandbar parties", where hundreds of boats anchor and raft up in waist-deep water about 1/2 mile from shore.  The ultralights that operated there in the past absolutely cleaned up with customers from there.  Another plus is that the parasail operation there is gone.

We need all the help we can get, so if you are not inclined to contribute, please pass it along to friends and family.  Visiting the Keys is always a great time, and we will be offering our same top-flight service in one of the most beautiful locations in the US.

From the web site:

Paradise Hang Gliding has been offering introductory tandem hang glider flights above the Gulf of Mexico in the Naples/Ft.  Myers area since 2008 with many happy customers and a perfect safety record.  However, due to overly restrictive ordinances in both Collier & Lee Counties, we have concluded that we will never be able to obtain a beach vendor's permit.  Without reaching the masses, the business is failing to realize its true potential.

This is forcing us to deal with 3 main issues:

• a lack of "walk-up" business
• we are forced to transport to & from our inland storage location and set up/break down all of our equipment each day of flying, which is an awful lot of work !
• Frequent rough seas and poor water clarity

Our SOLUTION is simple: we have secured an ideal spot in one of the busiest & most beautiful locations in the Upper Florida Keys.  Less than an hour from Miami and only yards off US Highway 1 and adjacent to resorts, restaurants, kite boarding, fishing charters, jet ski rentals, dive operations, etc., there is truly no better place anywhere.  In our new location, we have access to the ocean side or bay side waters with equal ease, meaning we can always choose the side with the smoothest water.  We will also be able to leave our beautiful custom tow boat in the water, highly visible to the public, ready to run with all equipment in place.  The crystal clear waters of the Florida Keys have enthralled generations of visitors, and will provide our guests with a superior sightseeing and wildlife spotting experience.

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Miller's flight in eastern Arkansas

Over open country side (Parkin,Arkansas)

Miller Stroud <<vrodtn>> writes:

Well, all I can say is, "I told you last week it was coming." Parkin Arkansas towing site is located (90°38.7840'W, 35°19.2240'N).

This area is in the middle of absolutely nowhere.  Nothing but fields for two hundred miles north and south, and forty miles east and west.  And I mean nothing!  Roads are rare, forget about seeing any humans.  But what it does have in my humble opinion  is some of the best thermaling and cross country potential in eastern Arkansas.

On Sunday Brent, Bob, Beth, and I, proved my point.  Brent got barely under ninety miles and I got 145 miles in 4.5 hrs.  Cloud streets as far as your eyes can see.  Landing fields as large as some counties.  Sounds like Texas doesn't it.  It's freaking awesome.

I pinned off at 2200' into very burbly lift.  The first 2000-3500 ' was a little work and took a while.  Got down to 1700' before slipping under a fat cummie and climbed out to 5000'.  Downwind were nine cummies in a row and within easy reach of each other.  Lift was 300-500'fpm and route but smoothed out in the afternoon with 800fpm increases.

Winds aloft were 15 or so and before Brent could launch.  I was twenty one miles downwind.  I became the spotter.

I can't emphasize the importance of preflight using Google Earth.  We plotted out a 150 mile course to the NE and that put us at Cape Girardeau, MO.  The Cape had the only airspace that could be of concern and thank God I looked.  I ended up passing about two miles west of the airspace using my Garmin to track my progress.  I arrived there at 3800' and dang it, I was content on ending it there.

It was late, great fields, and the rolling hills were coming up and that would greatly extend the retrieve.  We got home after midnight as it was.

One thunderstorm of concern did pop up to the east and I monitored it as I progressed northward.  It was about twelve miles out and Beth pulled up the radar to confirm it's lack of movement.  It didn't move but it did expand causing Brent to deviate and end his flight.

I saw only one bird during the flight.  At one time I was at 5000' and had seven dust devils directly below me.  Two were absolutely huge in diameter.  One ravaged a group of farmers on the ground and they scattered like ants.

I averaged thirty six miles per hour and most of the flight on glide showed ground speeds to be in the high fifties and low sixties.  Expect high winds on the ground due to the open terrain, but it is smooth air.

We keep inviting people but no one ever comes.  All I can say is your missing it guys.  I've got two weeks off after next week and I'll say it again.  Expect another 100 miler or better.  Send me a request and I'll send you the IGC file.  Thank you Beth for the flawless retrieve of both of us and Bob for the tows.

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