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topic: Tennessee Tree Toppers (78 articles)

Proximate Cause of the TTT's Position re: Flying Camp, etc.

May 16, 2021, 4:42:12 pm MDT

Proximate Cause of the TTT's Position re: Flying Camp, etc.

A few responses to my questions

Dan Shell|Dave Hanning|Risk Retention Group|Tennessee Tree Toppers|USHPA

Dan Shell <<email>> writes (excerpted by me):

What follows is not an official Tennessee Tree Toppers (TTT) statement, but my answers to your comments.

This and more information on this topic may be found in our most recent newsletter, Branches, 2021:1.

While the TTT has many more similar experiences resulting in a more profound compromise of trust, we nevertheless had approved conditions for resolution of insurance problems and our cooperation with SVS/FC/JF for the benefit of our members who wish to launch from SVS/FC/JF sites and land on TTT property. Almost immediately thereafter, manipulations and deceptions from SVS/FC/JF continued, inviting further infractions of our Flight Regulatory Program (FRP) and placing TTT assets in jeopardy.

Regardless of SVS/FC/JF claims to the contrary, none of their insurance policy and/or internal pricing adjustments satisfactorily protect the TTT, but that didn't impede their continued directions for TTT FRP violation and abuse of TTT assets without any communication with the TTT. At this point, with abuses continuing despite our persistent and diligent efforts to alleviate this problem, it became inescapably obvious that any positive cooperative relations with this sort of character are impossible.

Therefore, we voted in our May 15, 2021 meeting to rescind our conditions for cooperation and to cease any efforts to reach some mutually beneficial situation, as it has been clearly demonstrated to us that such an arrangement with such character is an unreasonable expectation.

Why the words of one commercial operator of questionable repute proceeding from a history of manipulation and deception are preferred over the true statements of the USHPA, the RRRG, and the TTT is indeed mysterious.

Mark Dunn <<overdunn>> writes:

Davis, this is Mark Dunn, I am the current president of the TTT and I have been extensively involved in managing the club and creating and managing its assets for over 30 years. You asked for some background on what influenced our most recent statement about interacting with Flying Camp. While this is not an official TTT statement I’m confident that many board members would agree.

After years of interacting with Dave Hanning, the TTT governing body has lost any hope of honest interactions on Mr. Hanning's part. Here are just a few reasons why:

Copious quantities of evidence show Dave Hanning lied to the RRRG, this resulted in a retroactive loss of insurance for our chapter for one year creating a significant liability risk.

Again copious quantities of evidence showed Mr. Hanning lied to the USHPA resulting in the loss of his ratings and certifications.

As our safety officer he lied about accident reports which further jeopardized our insurance and increased our liability.

Most recently he advised pilots, including students, to wantonly ignore our flight regulatory program, TTT and USHPA regulations and to lie about emergency landings.

He has encouraged nonmembers to trespass on our property.

He has encouraged vandalism and 4 days later vandalism was done to our property.

All of the above statements are verifiable. Again, these are just a few of the many transgressions we deal with on a regular basis. Simply put, the Tree Toppers do not work with such a dishonest person and do not feel it’s in the best interest of our club to put our assets at risk by entering into contracts with someone of such questionable character.

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Tennessee Tree Toppers Statement

May 15, 2021, 8:08:27 pm MDT

Tennessee Tree Toppers Statement

Re: David Hanning

Tennessee Tree Toppers

Tennessee Tree Toppers write:

As a result of our experience with David Hanning's treatment of the Tennessee Tree Toppers (TTT) since 2017, we will no longer consider any relationship whatsoever with David Hanning or his operations. This includes any and all flights originating from his properties and/or his operations.

If you join the TTT, please follow our rules. If that is an unacceptable condition, please don't join the TTT. If you have joined and refuse to abide by our agreement, your membership may be suspended or revoked. If your membership is suspended or revoked and you continue to abuse our assets, you may be arrested and we may press charges against you.

TTT membership is a privilege, not a right. If we lose members as a result of these defensive policies, we will be in a less hazardous position. It is the responsibility of the TTT Board of Directors to protect our association from hazard and defend it from abuse which threaten our assets, regardless of erroneous interpretations to the contrary.

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Statement from Tennessee Tree Toppers

April 17, 2021, 1:48:04 pm EDT

Statement from Tennessee Tree Toppers

In response to statement from David Hanning

Dave Hanning|Risk Retention Group|Tennessee Tree Toppers|USHPA|video

Katie Dunn <<bretzgirl3>> sends:

Does this really sound like good advice?

Some of you have recently received the following message from David Hanning. While most of it is riddled with inaccuracies, there are a few statements that should be of concern to pilots everywhere. Read for yourselves:

Dave Hanning states:

“Hey ya'll we are all good as we never need TTT property...so I don't know why they cry so much so loudly...the insurance situation is set to be capable of excluding others not associated with USHPA or insured by RRRG. The chapter site insurance does not cover flight activity originating from a non RRRG insured site if it is a commercial site...meaning did you pay for access, t-shirt, membership ...and its not RRRG insured....then the chapter is not covered if you have an incident and sue the club, TTT...USHPA /RRRG legal team (Tim Herr) will not defend the chapter if this occurs...weird. that's not the kind of insurance I buy as a land owner...plus I know waivers, indemnification clauses, TN recreational land use laws and FAA far 103 all protect land owners plenty for a situation such as TTT is fear mongering about.

Now. TTT can do as it likes and threaten to have you arrested for trespassing...which means the 2nd time the police come for you they could arrest you except that FAA rules say your good and locally law enforcement isn't interested in such pettiness from the few in control. As a ttt member you are an owner and so...hard to arrest an owner for trespassing. Just a thought.

I recommend always pick safest lz and make a good landing. Then pick up and walk off property to pack. This ensures land owners can not harass you for trespassing. And no police officer would arrest you in such a position as your no longer trespassing. Video evidence is not enough for them to arrest you. Usually a warning at most...but the if I have to come back here for you...then...but again your protected by "emergency" landing...FAA laws.

Now as pilots flying you are covered....it's just the club that is not...how weird is that...make a exclusion so that you can keep pilots from flying unless they are on your side of the fence.

While I am buying more insurance coverage to resolve the complaints from TTT...it is expensive and I get no benefit from insuring TTT so you all can fly and land there...ill note even when I do have this new insurance that TTT has already added wording specifying RRRG only insurance. Thus there is no solution to TTT being a problem unless members and pilots stand up for their rights as members and pilots. Certainly your voice matters more now then ever before at USHPA. RRRG and ttt levels. I suggest you go get in the face of those creating and maintain this situation. We are the only ones experiencing this blockage...elsewhere no one cares to enforce this exclusion.

Everyone, you are the dog in this fight. Time to turn and bite that hand that beats you.

The 15$ landing fee from one of our generous land owners is a message...he does not want all the solo traffic happening because TTT is pushing you all out by cutting off your access to that lz. The fields are for hay for cattle and horses. I lease property access so I can fly from my property here at Henson Gap. TTT will arrest me if I go on TTT property. (I am a lifetime member and now they make moves to kick me out all together. Just got the summons to their May punitive hearing. We should all go! Hahaha).

And now all the other land owners in the valley will become sensitive to this increase in pilot usage of their lands...how much longer before all land is a DNL (do not land)...do we have to wait for such a desperate dire situation before we get involved and force the solution you all deserve and the one that USHPA should be forcing by any means possible. Some inside of USHPA want to help (thank you).. but don't have enough influence. Most inside of USHPA don't care about you the members. RRRG doesn't care. TtT doesn't care. They want you to turn your back and leave.

I won't. And ill always fight for you and access so we can fly. Ill invest thousands of dollars to enable the community because I know the value of friends and flying. USHPA is harming you all...time to let them know what you want.. and remember that these are people who are pilots and they volunteer for the job so please be respectful...even if you feel disrespected by all that has happened here these past 3 years and continues with no end in the foreseeable future. Respectful actions and attitudes get you farther every time.

It's your game...get in it and play like your playing to win. Not for me, but for you and all your flying friends. Never have we all needed to come together to make solutions for all pilots

Need email address or wanna talk about it.. call me...I'm open to any and all conversations. +1423.XXX.XXXX

BTW...if that fence got taken down...the current cost of lumber would probably make it more difficult to reconstruct. Lemme know if you need to borrow any tools.

And...this weekend is looking very good! NW is best.. Saturday afternoon and Sunday looks amazing. BBQ Saturday night. See you here for flying, friends and fun! Fear not.. they can't stop us from doing what we want...but they will threaten you with rating revocation and you should tell them to shove it. Or just ignore them. What ever works best.. so we can all get on with enjoying flying and our friends. Club and org be damned if they can't and won't do what is required to enable you all to fly and be safe.

Time to enact change however suits you best. We can all play a roll in shaping the future.

Much love from the Flying Camp crew.”

TTT Response:

We have shared the contents of this letter with the Sequatchie County Sheriff’s Dept. and have discussed with them the implications of a pilot falsely declaring an “Emergency Landing” in violation of FAR’s. We strongly recommend pilots NOT use this as a defense.

We have also contacted a FAA “liaison” for advice who after “unofficially” consulting with his counterpart with the FAA sent us the following recommendation:

“I spoke with my FSDO contact. He said that you should get some video proof. He said that for you to call XXX XXX of the Nashville FSDO and ask for his assistance in the matter. He said that if that many people are having an emergency, the FAA would be interested in reviewing his operation.”

Despite the endless claims you have heard from Flying Camp, our intent is not or never has been to shut down Flying Camp. The last thing any of us want is FAA involvement. We simply ask our club members to follow our rules and the flying community to respect our property and not jeopardize our assets.

If the FAA does get involved, it is 100% the consequences of misinformed pilots following David Hanning’s illegal advice by intentionally violating FAR’s by falsely claiming “emergency landings.”

One of the reasons our club has flourished in this valley for 45 years is the relationships we have built with the local landowners. Imagine how different our relationships and our reputation would have been if we had told every land owner that asked us not to land on their property that they could not stop us because it was an “emergency landing.” How would your local community respond if all clubs everywhere adopted this approach? We are simply asking that our property rights be respected just as we expect our club members to respect other local landowner’s requests.

As if we haven’t already beaten this dead horse enough, we would be remiss in our duties as a board if we did not address the insurance issues that are brought up numerous times in the Hanning message. We are going to be very blunt here. First you need to go to the link that was sent to you by USHPA earlier this week regarding new insurance exclusions and why they became necessary. In a nutshell, David Hanning’s RRRG insurance was not only cancelled but cancelled RETROACTIVELY to his application date because of the issues (and many others) mentioned in the RRRG letter. Our club was named as additional insured on Flying Camps policy. Cancelled retroactively means that our club was not covered by the insurance we were assured we had due entirely to deceit on David Hanning’s part. This is what the RRRG had to say about insuring Flying Camp:

“When this fraud was discovered, we cancelled Flying Camp's insurance and expelled Flying camp from membership in Recreation RRG. Flying Camp is ineligible for insurance from Recreation RRG and we will not directly or indirectly insure the operations of Flying Camp or any other organization where Mr. Hanning is involved in decisions related to the management of risk.”

If a professional insurance company cannot trust a company or an individual enough to be associated with them in any way, how can we, as a club be expected to accept what is claimed to be “adequate insurance coverage” from someone who has already proven himself to be less than trustworthy and willing to put our clubs assets in jeopardy? Quite simply, we will not. Period

The bottom line here is very simple. If you want to legally land in the TTT Henson LZ:

1. You must be a current Tree Topper member.
2. You must be a minimum of H2 or P2.
3. You cannot launch from any SVS/Flying Camp launches at Henson or Whitwell Launch.

How hard can this be to understand and comply with? Yes, we have heard the argument that you are a TTT member and should be able to land there regardless of where you launch. Unfortunately, that is not the case because of insurance issues directly caused and very well documented by others, not us. We are NOT going to risk the club’s assets because a small handful of our members think they have a point to prove. When you signed your application, you agreed to abide by the club’s rules and this is one of them.

TTT is not taking anything away from TTT members wanting to use the TTT LZ.

If you want to Land in the TTT LZ, Launch from a TTT Launch. It’s that simple.

If you want to launch at SVS/Flying Camp, pay the $15 user fee at the SVS/FC designated LZ. It’s that simple. Not wanting to pay the user fee is not a valid excuse to abuse the TTT.

To be perfectly clear, the issue the dual SVS pilots are having are a direct results of Dave Hanning’s actions. It’s that simple.

Well that certainly went down a road we did not want to go on but sometimes we have to cover some rather unpleasant topics. Thanks to those of you who were willing to read this far. Now that you know how easy it is to fly here (despite what you might have been told), here is the good part.

We would like to extend a personal invitation to all pilots everywhere who might be concerned or confused by this latest disinformation campaign to come and see for yourself what our club has to offer and why it is so important for us to do what is necessary to protect it. For the next 3 months, if you are willing to come and check it out for yourself, we will waive the 30-day membership dues of $40. You still must join the club and sign the waiver, but the first week is free. One of us might even offer you a beer (after flying of course).

Please share this with all of your fellow pilots and help pilots everywhere continue flying with minimal “help” from the FAA and the continued support of you non flying neighbors.

Thanks for your help and understanding,

TTT BOD

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Civil and Criminal Actions

April 17, 2021, 1:33:00 pm EDT

Civil and Criminal Actions

The breaking point

Flying Camp|JustFly-SVS|lawyer|PG|Tennessee Tree Toppers|USHPA

Previous Oz Report stories on this issue:

https://ozreport.com/toc.php?25.043#2

https://ozreport.com/toc.php?25.044#1

https://ozreport.com/toc.php?25.044#2

https://ozreport.com/toc.php?25.056#1

https://ozreport.com/toc.php?25.057#1

The USHPA has issued Insurance Exclusions for Flying Camp and SVS locations. If you are a USHPA member you can find the notice and historical justifications for these actions here: https://www.ushpa.org//member/2021-insurance-exclusions. The previous stories in the Oz Report go over some of these justifications. Here is an excerpt:

Tennessee Tree Toppers has announced to the hang gliding and paragliding community that their landing zone is off limits and has requested that no pilot use it as a landing zone on flights originating at JustFly-SVS or Flying Camp. Instead of honoring that request, JustFly-SVS and Flying Camp communicate to their patrons and students that the Tennessee Tree Topper's landing zone is the "best landing zone" and that they should use it notwithstanding the Tennessee Tree Toppers request not to.

The Tennessee Tree Toppers have reached a breaking point and have decided to pursue legal action - civil and criminal - against pilots who continue to land on their property when launching from JustFly-SVS or Flying Camp. Unless we add JustFly-SVS Flight Parks and Flying Camp to the "Excluded Locations" in the USHPA GL Policy, we anticipate having to defend numerous USHPA members in civil suits brought against them by Tennessee Tree Toppers for using the Tree Topper's landing zone without permission. Providing coverage in this way would be counterproductive to USHPA's goal of having a sustainable source of insurance to keep the sport alive and healthy. It would also be rewarding pilots for violating the property rights of the Tennessee Tree Toppers.

RRRG Insurance for sites/clubs

April 3, 2021, 11:09:56 EDT

RRRG Insurance for sites/clubs

Checking for answers

Bill Bolosky|Dan Shell|insurance|Lookout Mountain Flight Park|Risk Retention Group|Tennessee Tree Toppers|USHPA

Dan Shell replies

We've been dealing with this problem here for some time, through numerous conversations with the RRRG, and have had some other experience with coverage for litigation, so I may be able to answer this question:
 
Q: If a site has RRRG site insurance why would that site insurance designate who can or who can't land there? If a hang glider pilot flew from a flight park in Florida and landed at the TTT LZ, why would the TTT not be protected from any suit that the hang glider pilot brought against them?
 
A: According to my understanding of the RRRG's position, the TTT would not be covered for claims against the TTT by the pilot flying from an uninsured Florida flight park to a crash landing in a TTT LZ because that flight is defined as (associated with) "commercial operation" by the RRRG. However, claims for damage to the onlooker's car parked along Davis Loop Road, into which the Florida pilot crashed, or injuries to the onlooker when the noseplate went through his windshield, would be covered under the USHPA member's third-party liability insurance.  

This has confused a number of our members and seems to be a cultivated confusion, reappearing from the same source repeatedly after repeated clarification. It seems the best answer to "why would that site insurance designate who can or can't land there" may be the insurance company's desire to maximize predictability and minimize claims. The account of local failures and deceptions regarding "risk management" related by Mr. Bolosky do not air the "dirty laundry" which raises even more questions. These questions may even go so far as to undermine confidence in our pilot-proficiency program. Why would the USHPA continue to rate pilots from a school employing the same curriculum and risk-management practices for which the proprietor's instructor ratings and the school's insurance policy were revoked? Do they just not pay enough attention to detail? Can any USHPA chapter or commercial operation have any confidence in the skills claimed by the membership card under such circumstances?
 
Dan Shell
 
P.S. While I think it's an educated one, it's my opinion. While I am on the TTT Board of Directors, I am not speaking for them, but as openly and honestly as possible about our situation from my perspective.

I ask Dan:

Thanks for chiming in.
 
Unfortunately, I'm still confused.
 
My issue is with why there is a difference in the RRRG insurance for TTT between pilots who launch from any random site where "commercial" activity is taking place and pilots who launch from a site where there is no "commercial" activity?
 
I'm not addressing the RRRG 3rd party liability insurance that USHPA pilots carry.
 
Don't we want TTT to be covered no matter where the pilot came from?
 
Can't TTT just say that pilots launching from commercial sites may not land on their land? Do they need to reference a higher authority to make this a rule?
 
For sure, as you say, the RRRG can limit their exposure by disallowing a certain "class" of pilots, but that just increases TTT's exposure. It's hard to understand why this particular class represents any increase in risk (although as you reference in your email that could easily be the case in your circumstances).
 
Do we know the history of how the RRRG came up with this rule? Were they thinking specifically of TTT? I can't figure out where there would be another site where there would be an issue. Do you know of others who would want this kind of rule?
 
As I wrote to Bill I certainly understand where a site that wasn't designated as a training site would not want to have tandems and pilots under instruction landed at its LZ.
 
Can you help me (and my readers) out here?
 
One more confusing part. If the pilot was flying from a USHPA insured site that was a USHPA/RRRG/PASA insured instructional site, would this rule apply? That is does the word "commercial" refer only to non USHPA/RRRG/PASA instructional sites?
 
No dog in this fight.

Dan replies:

We definitely "want TTT to be covered no matter where the pilot came from." It's just that in this circumstance, we aren't. I'm not sure that the restriction is on "any random site where 'commercial' activity is taking place," but does apply to those sites which are run as commercial operations (without satisfactory TTT coverage). Thanks for clarifying that you are not conflating coverage of the USHPA third-party liability insurance for pilots, which is part of the confusion for every new batch of beginners or visiting pilots around here with the help of a little persistent misdirection.

Yes, TTT should "just say that pilots launching from commercial sites may not land on their land," and we have (See TTT FRP, Section A, Insurance Requirements).   Unfortunately, others feel entitled to undermine the rule-making authority of the annually elected board of directors, insisting that those rules are invalid and unenforceable, and encouraging their violation among students and other clientele. I think the closing statement in a recent proprietor's post says it all: "Please ignore the whole TTT BOD." Of course, this practice of continual defiance will place TTT assets in constant jeopardy. In the face of misleading information suggesting that those restrictions were of TTT creation and/or preference, we have sought clarification from the RRRG, from which those restrictions originate.

Unfortunately, the RRRG can see all too well "why this particular class represents any increase in risk," as Bill Bolosky outlined in his brief history of the relationship. They wish to avoid a situation where they are forced to cover commercial operations, especially questionable ones, where no premium has been paid or coverage extended. You are correct in that it increases our liability, but only if this restriction is disregarded and our members (et al) continue to end their commercially originated flights in our non-commercially insured LZ. Presently, the disregard extends to misdirection of beginner students and (TTT) non-members to land in our LZ, a clear violation of our "Flight Regulatory Program" (FRP) under any circumstances, regardless of insurance. The RRRG is aware of this climate.

I do not know how the RRRG came up with this rule or if they were "thinking specifically of TTT," but as Mr. Bolosky said, it's not a problem anywhere else. In Tennessee and many other states, property owners are already protected from litigation by the "uninvited visitor" in a law passed with the intent of encouraging more hospitable recreational use of private property. Of course, this doesn't apply to our operations or any commercial free-flight operations, so we carry the neighboring properties on which we're likely to land as "additional insureds."

I can't imagine anyone "who would want this kind of rule." We do not want to tell our members that they can't land in their LZ. Why would anyone? It is a condition entirely imposed on us by the circumstances Mr. Bolosky outlined.

As I understand it, this rule would not necessarily apply to a "site that was a USHPA/RRRG/PASA insured instructional site." Mr. Bolosky references this situation: Lookout Mountain Flight Park is a flight park that is insured by Recreation RRG.

Lookout Mountain Flight Park has obtained from Recreation RRG additional insured chapter and landowner coverage for the TTT and the other emergency and bail out landing zone landowners at Henson Gap. So if a student or patron of Lookout Mountain Flight Park wants to land on TTT or other landowner properties at Henson Gap, there is coverage under the Lookout Mountain Flight Park policy for the TTT and the other landowners.

So, this is a unique situation not of our making and over which we have little control except the enforcement of our FRP for fulfillment of fiduciary responsibilities and protection of assets.

I hope this helps. We appreciate your interest. Of course, we would welcome the change in RRRG policy or the particular commercial operation insurance coverage that would just make this problem go away, but it really shouldn't be a fight at all, it isn't anywhere else, and is only so here at the insistence of others.

Davis thinks out loud:

It is very interesting to me that Lookout Mountain Flight Park's insurance specifically covers various land owners, not just TTT. While I believe that it is the case that none of the Florida flight parks carry liability insurance it would be hard for me to imagine what land owners would be covered even if they did. We've got a few tens of thousands out there.

RRRG Insurance for sites/clubs

April 1, 2021, 8:29:37 pm EDT

RRRG Insurance for sites/clubs

A question for Bill Bolosky

Bill Bolosky|insurance|Risk Retention Group|Tennessee Tree Toppers|USHPA

Bill has been very generous with his answers to my questions which you'll notice if you go back a few issues. I've asked a few more, two times and am still waiting for the answers. Here are the questions:

Hi Bill,

I still have a question or two.

https://www.ushpa.org/member/insurance

The RRRG provides/sells 3rd party liability insurance for pilots so that if someone sues them for damages that they cause while hang gliding the RRRG will provide a lawyer and/or pay for damages. This is true even if they are not sued.

https://www.ushpa.org/member/insurance-sites

https://www.ushpa.org/member/insurance-schools

Likewise the RRRG provides/sells 3rd party liability insurance to sites and schools (and instructors through PASA certified schools).

As you noted before landowners (say any random one whose property we land on here in Florida) is not covered by RRRG 3rd party liability insurance. This includes all the Florida flight parks that don't carry 3rd party liability insurance.

So this means that the landowners are not protected by RRRG insurance if a hang glider pilot sues them. (I'm ignoring event insurance.)

If a site has RRRG site insurance why would that site insurance designate who can or who can't land there? If a hang glider pilot flew from a flight park in Florida and landed at the TTT LZ, why would the TTT not be protected from any suit that the hang glider pilot brought against them?

I can certainly understand how a landowner with RRRG site insurance, but not insured as a training site, would prohibit flights involved in instruction from landing at their property, because they are not covered for that activity. But it seems that they should be covered for any random recreational not involved in instruction pilot showing up and landing at their LZ.

Does this make sense?

Where have I made an error?

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Your coverage

March 12, 2021, 7:14:13 EST

Your coverage

As a pilot you have liability coverage from the RRRG

Risk Retention Group|Tennessee Tree Toppers|USHPA

<bill.bolosky> writes:

You are correct that the Florida flight parks are uninsured, as are any landowners for outlandings. We have never covered landowners for outlandings, and neither did the pre-RRRG policy. Landowner coverage requires the landowner to be listed as an additional insured on the policy, which obviously isn’t possible for an LZ that you didn’t know about ahead of time.

The *pilot* however, is covered. So if you cause damage landing on something somewhere, even if you launched from an uninsured commercial operation, then your liability coverage is the same as if you’d launched from a non-commercial site. This is also true of someone launching from Mr. Hanning’s flight park and landing at the TTT landing zone: the pilot is covered, the TTT (and Mr. Hanning’s operation) is not.

There are three main exceptions to this pilot coverage: 1) if the pilot is flying in a USHPA sanctioned competition for which Recreation RRG does not provide the insurance, 2) if the pilot is engaged in instruction, mentoring, observing, examiner, administrator, or tech activities as defined in the USHPA SOPs, and 3) if the pilot is providing services "for hire" or "conducted for compensation". An operation, activity or service is one provided or conducted "For Hire", or "Conducted For Compensation" whenever performed or conducted by a "For Hire Professional". This is true even if the For Hire Professional offers a free lesson.

We offer insurance for comps that will cover the pilot, the comp and the organizer, as well as landowners for designated launches and LZs. We also offer professional liability insurance for schools and instructors that will cover that case.

Please note that the above is only a top level general description of some of the coverage provisions, and this email is not meant to and does not change, supplement, modify, or constitute any insurance policy. To determine actual coverages, please consult the USHPA GL policy, copies of which are available to all members of USHPA.

I hope this clears this up. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

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Read Carefully About Our RRRG Insurance

March 11, 2021, 7:52:50 EST

Read Carefully About Our RRRG Insurance

Insuring Landowners

Bill Bolosky|Dave Hanning|insurance|Lookout Mountain Flight Park|PG|Risk Retention Group|Steve Kroop|Tennessee Tree Toppers|USHPA

RRRG Board: Bill Bolosky, Mark Forbes, Steve Kroop, Randy Leggett, and Calef Letorney respond to my inquiry regarding the insurance situation at the Tennessee Tree Toppers:

Summary: Past history prevents Recreation RRG from insuring Dave Hanning's commercial operations. He and his insurer are responsible for providing equivalent coverage for landowners including TTT. Recreation RRG does not insure risk from commercial operations, including launching from a flight park, except for those operations insured by it. See detailed discussion below.

In the good old days, USHPA was insured by the traditional insurance market under policies that did not do a good job of differentiating between commercial risk and non-commercial risk. As a result the old USHPA policies ended up defending and paying on commercial claims for which no premium was collected and, where in many cases the commercial operations were uninsurable. Due in no small part to the effect of these claims, USHPA ultimately lost coverage in the traditional insurance market.

When Recreation RRG was formed, it was imperative to a successful business plan that the policies issued by Recreation RRG not inadvertently provide coverage to the benefit of commercial operations for which no premium is charged or to commercial operations which are not insurable.

For that reason, the USHPA GL Policy coverage for Chapters and Landowners does not include liability arising out of the provision of any services for hire or the provision of any services for compensation of any nature. (See policy form RRRG 8104). This means that a Chapter and a Landowner are not covered under the USHPA GL policy when the loss arises out of any type of commercial activity - such as the operation of a flight school or a flight park. When one uses the facilities of a flight park to launch, that flight is a commercial activity. Any loss related to that flight arises out of the provision of a launch service for hire and/or compensation.

Ordinarily, there is a really simple solution to this gap in coverage for the chapter and the landowner - the commercial operator simply purchases additional insured coverage for the chapter and landowner from the same insurance company that insures the commercial operation. And this makes sense, as the risk involved is that of the commercial operation and so that operation should bear the full costs of its operation - including any insurance cost and claim costs. All across the US, Recreation RRG provides just such coverage to chapters and landowners as additional insureds on policies that Recreation RRG issues to flight schools and flight parks.

Lookout Mountain Flight Park is a flight park that is insured by Recreation RRG. Lookout Mountain Flight Park has obtained from Recreation RRG additional insured chapter and landowner coverage for the TTT and the other emergency and bail out landing zone landowners at Henson Gap. So if a student or patron of Lookout Mountain Flight Park wants to land on TTT or other landowner properties at Henson Gap, there is coverage under the Lookout Mountain Flight Park policy for the TTT and the other landowners.

In the case of Flying Camp Paragliding / JustFly SVS Flight Parks / Dave Hanning and the TTT, the problem is solely one of Mr. Hanning's own making beyond our ability to fix.

Mr. Hanning's businesses require a landing zone to operate - you cannot have a flight school or flight park if there is no place for students or patrons to land. But, Mr. Hanning does not own any landing zone. The TTT owns the Henson Gap landing zone. There are also other landowners in the valley that own land upon which Mr. Hanning encourages his students and patrons to use for landing. It is Mr. Hanning's obligation to obtain permission from landowners for the use of their land as landing zones for people who use Mr. Hanning's flight school or flight parks. It is Mr. Hanning's obligation as a business person, to arrange for insurance that satisfies the needs of the landing zone landowners. It is not the obligation of Recreation RRG to provide insurance that covers the business risk of Mr. Hanning's flight school or flight parks.

When Recreation RRG started, we took an application from Mr. Hanning for the operation of a flight school - Flying Camp. Without airing all of the dirty laundry in public, there were accidents and incidents involving Mr. Hanning's operation that caused Recreation RRG to investigate the risk management practices at Mr. Hanning's school. We found those practices lacking and asked Mr. Hanning to correct those practices. Mr. Hanning promised in writing to correct those practices. When we discovered that he was not complying with the risk management practices to which he had agreed in writing, he told us that he had never intended to comply, and only signed the agreement in order to trick Recreation RRG and cause Recreation RRG to issue him an insurance policy. Mr. Hanning made it perfectly clear that he would not modify his risk management practices. It was likewise clear that Recreation RRG could not rely upon promises made by Mr. Hanning - in writing or otherwise - thus we lost trust in Mr. Hanning.

Due to his failure to maintain appropriate risk management practices and the loss of trust, neither Mr. Hanning nor his operations are insurable by Recreation RRG. And Recreation RRG terminated Mr. Hanning's membership in Recreation RRG.

Since we terminated Mr. Hanning's membership in Recreation RRG, Mr. Hanning has obtained insurance for his school from an insurer that provides coverage for those who would otherwise be forced to go uninsured or self-insure their risk. The coverages under Mr. Hanning's insurance differ in significant respects from the coverage that Recreation RRG offers to its member flight schools and flight parks. For example, the coverage that Mr. Hanning has obtained for additional insured landowners and the TTT applies to a much narrower range of risks faced by those landowners and the TTT when they allow Mr. Hannings' students and patrons to use their lands as landing zones. It is our understanding that the TTT has told Mr. Hanning's insurer what it requires as additional insured coverage under Mr. Hanning's commercial flight school and flight park policy in order to fully protect TTT. Because it is Mr. Hanning's commercial operations that are posing the risk to TTT, it is Mr. Hanning who needs to supply insurance to TTT to cover that risk.

Recreation RRG cannot not provide that coverage to TTT or the other landowners for risks arising out of flights originating from Mr. Hanning's operations, because Mr. Hanning's operations are not insurable by us. Recreation RRG is required to report to the insurance regulators that license us - the Department of Financial Regulation of the State of Vermont. Those regulators are aware of the cycle that resulted in loss of insurance coverage for USHPA in the traditional insurance market and will not allow us to make an exception for Mr. Hanning or any other commercial operator whose operations we have found do not embrace good risk management practices and have lost our trust.

Should Mr. Hanning demonstrate that he has indeed changed his risk management practices and that he can be trusted at his word, he would have the chance of becoming insurable by Recreation RRG again. But that is not now the case. And for now, Mr. Hanning needs to provide TTT with additional insured insurance coverage that fully protects them from the risks associated with students and patrons of his school and flight parks using TTT properties and other landowners' properties as landing zones.

Tennessee Flying

Thu, Jan 7 2021, 10:34:07 pm EST

The top flights

James Stinnett|PG|record|Tennessee Tree Toppers

From TTT:

TTT Flight of the Year 2020

The TTT awards jury was made aware of four outstanding flights for consideration of TTT Flight of the Year 2020.

James Stinnett - May 30, 2020 from Henson Gap to Albertville, AL.

We all know James has many years of hang-gliding experience from many competitions. James made the switch to paragliding around four years ago and has about 225 hours on paragliders. He flew a high B wing for this record flight.

https://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/2551593

https://usaparaglidingdistancerecords.com/

Cory Barnwell - May 30, 2020 from Henson Gap to Albertville, AL.

We think many are aware of his h4 resume and competition experience.

https://ayvri.com/scene/49j7d3lzje/ckbf5fo5c00013c6fhl57b7va

https://www.xcontest.org/2020/world/en/flights/detail:haddieman/13.06.2020/17:55

Ivan Manasiev - May 30, 2020 from Henson Gap to Scottsboro, AL.

Ivan was a P2 at the time of his flight. The flight was very similar to JC Goodwin’s. We currently do not have the track log, but will publish if able to obtain.

JC Goodwin - June 13, 2020 from Henson Gap to the Scottsboro, AL High School.

JC was a P3 with about 140 hours on PGs at the time of his flight. JC had flown hang gliders for about 7 years and went bi-wingual 4 years ago. This flight was JC’s personal best by over 25 miles.

https://www.xcontest.org/2020/world/en/flights/detail:Uajc/13.6.2020/18:48

https://ayvri.com/scene/nxkwg9lw58/ckg4lk8qb00013b684g39xt1p

Below are the jury’s findings:

James Stinnett had the longest flight, which is also now a TN state PG record. James also had a number of low saves along his route, where others were able to stay high along their route. There seemed to be no significantly more interesting or more impressive factors to outweigh James’ flight. And, it’s pretty hard to discount the State Record.

James Stinnett is awarded “TTT Flight of the Year”.

Cory Barnwell is recognized for “TTT Flight of the Year – Runner Up”

Honorable mention: JC Goodwin and Ivan Manasiev for similar PG flights, both to Scottsboro, AL. Both were about 30 miles shorter than James, by PG pilots with less experience.

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David Hanning's Reply

September 28, 2020, 8:54:01 MDT

David Hanning's Reply

Come Fly

Dave Hanning|PG|record|Tennessee Tree Toppers

Dave Hanning <<dave.hanning>> writes:

I am sorry that Mrs Dittman is disappointed in the way we operate our flying activities. I can not claim credit nor responsibility for her real estate decisions, her husband’s flying decisions or their feelings about the community.

We continue to be excited about the future of flying here in the Sequatchie Valley because each year we see more pilots flying and more pilots from out of state visiting us to stay and fly here in Tennessee. What was once an empty launch and LZ are now full of flying enthusiasm from pilots of all ages and wing types. We see an increase in access for paragliding across the region with new site development and old sites getting renewed, used and loved by the new generation of pilots and an enthusiasm for flying that has reached every corner of the Southeast. New state distance records are happening every year. More events are happening each year. Pilots are flying every day at a place that was lost and forgotten to all.

The growth here in Tennessee is real and We all have a rich resource of flying sites here in the Southeast USA with incredible weather for flying. Tennessee Sequatchie Valley has 2 World Class flying sites (Whitwell and Henson Gap) with an incredible and ever growing community of caring, active pilots.

None of us are happy about the ongoing discord created and maintained here in our neighborhood. Both sides lose when these kinds of issues are not laid to rest. We hope everyone will join in and enjoy the evolution of Free Flight being experienced in Tennessee and the Southeast USA, but we understand change is hard and that not all of the pilots see the changes as good for flying in Tennessee. We remain hopeful that the new pilots joining our sport will remain committed to the club and org, so that the incredible assets built by those who came before us all will not disappear from lack of support or use.

I want everyone to know that all are welcome here in Tennessee and @ JUSTFLYSVS Flight Parks. As direct neighbor and as a lifetime member of the TTT, I fully support the club in all of the efforts to maintain and improve flying paragliders and hang gliders here in the Sequatchie Valley of Tennessee. My focus remains enabling people to become safe pilots and to helping them to access the sky here in Tennessee and around the world.

I believe we all have the same desire to “just show up and fly”.  It is our hope here in Tennessee @ Flying Camp, that moving into 2021, we can all enjoy the reason we are a part of these great flying sports without further dilemma or drama occurring from either side of the fence.

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the letter you have posted in the Oz Report.

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Sequatchie Valley Hurricane

September 25, 2020, 10:34:36 MDT

Sequatchie Valley Hurricane

A writer in distress

Facebook|PG|Tennessee Tree Toppers|video

Jessie Oliver <<oliver_jessiem>> writes:

Hello TTT Members/Community,

I'm writing to let our TTT community know what's going on with our family and our community. We have been very stressed and upset by the lies and manipulations caused by David Hanning and Fly Camp.

My husband and I continue to struggle with the idea of staying in the area at our forever home, or whether it’s time to leave this beautiful place because of how saddened we've become.

My husband has been coming here for twelve years and fell in love with the area and with TTT. He chose to fly Henson over Lookout because of the great valley and the way the community made him feel like family. Also, the TTT parties, events and the weekend meetups with friends made this place more desirable than anywhere else he flew. The camaraderie was wonderful and heartwarming.

I came here about ten years ago to visit my husband during a team challenge. When my weekend visit was up, I didn't want to leave. The valley was so enticing with beauty and outdoor fun, and I was having such a good time with the pilots here. I remember Curly was one of the first locals I met and how friendly he was. He shared all kinds of stories with us, told us about the great places to hike and gave Matt advice on hang gliding in the valley. He was so nice and always took the time to answer questions. I enjoyed his good mood and smile. We both loved this place and continued to come down from Ohio to visit.

Fast forward about four years ago when we decided to search for land to build our dream home. We looked in Colorado, where I grew up, and here in Dunlap because of my husband's love for hang gliding and paragliding. It was his dream to live somewhere he could just walk to a launch site and fly anytime. No driving involved. We also wanted to be a part of the TTT community to help maintain/take care of this beautiful property for future years to come.

A year and half later we bought our property a few blocks away from launch. Two and half years later we moved in with our new four week old baby girl.

Since we moved in, our experience has not worked out the way we had hoped. Honestly, for the last year and a half our experiences at launch have gotten more uncomfortable than we ever would have imagined. We forced ourselves to believe that life around Henson's would get better with time. Time heals, right? Unfortunately, not in this case.

Life at Henson's has changed once David Hanning wanted to establish his business here. Rick Jacobs also changed and became more distant and unfriendly towards the club. Since then, our local community has been split. Friends and David's former employees have left, couples have left, couples have divorced, families have decided to not to move here and our TTT community is getting smaller.

We started off neutral to both sides. Wanting to stay friends with everyone. My husband and other TTT hang glider pilots learned how to paraglide from David, and we were referring people to Fly Camp to take lessons on this up and coming sport.

Since we remained friends with TTT members, David and Elena constantly questioned us if we were spies for “the other side.” My father was even asked at camp if he was a spy. After a while it wears on you. We were told by David that the other side wasn't really our friends. That if you crossed them they would turn on you. These people who would supposedly turn on us were the ones that invited us to dinner when we were camping, offered us a place to stay when the nights were raining or cold, they came over to help us build our house, raise our walls, and put in our foundation framing. They were just a phone call away anytime we needed them. How could this community be the bad egg. We were supposedly "Drinking their Kool-Aid''.

They never lied to us or told us to stay away from Fly Camp. So if "Drinking their Kool-Aid'' meant that we were kind, generous and helpful people then by all means I'll have another drink.

David Hanning said we were friends and we were there for a while. Until our friendship was tested. Everything he said we realized was a lie, just words, no true meaning behind them. One day my husband voiced his opinion to a supposed friend about what he thought David was doing wrong with the TTT and David found out and sent Rick over to our property to confront us. It didn't end well.

From then on we were “bad people”, shamed and cast out. After that my husband and I have never felt comfortable going up to launch. It's been about a year and a half since my husband has flown at all. At the time it was hard for some pilots to focus on flying safely when there are people videotaping you, calling out names at you or making obnoxious noise in hopes that you mess up and they can catch it on video to use against TTT. In that situation how can anyone feel comfortable enough to show up to launch or fly safely.

I know a lot of you think David Hanning is a nice guy, and he is when you're a customer and you’re not challenging him on his way of doing things. There are also a handful of people who don't stand up to David because they fear they might lose their flying privileges at his flying sites. They might also end up being belittled and called names by David. There is no excuse to continue to support a man who lies, makes people feel small and who takes advantage of a situation for personal gain. It hurts me, and makes me feel sick to my stomach thinking of everything he has put people through.

David is a smooth talker, very persuasive and conversational. He says the things people want to hear. I again feel a lot of people who support him don't know that he can be manipulative, vindictive and has a very abusive side to him. They have never seen it because they've never had a confrontation with him. If you're one of his previous or current customers remember that he will always be sweet and kind to you because he wants referrals, good reviews, repeat business, anything that will benefit him. Why would he ever want to look bad in front of you?

David also talks a lot about people being mentally ill because of their actions. I have a real big problem with people making fun of mental illness. It is nothing to make jokes about. Also, calling my husband a bad father just to get a reaction out of him is horrible and wrong. He is a wonderful father who takes great care of our daughter.

David is not a good influence on our community. He may be good to the paragliding community but locally he doesn't support or help out the Henson community. He is only here to make money on property that was given to him. He also pushes potential clients to join TTT, not because he supports the club but because he wants to run all the locals out so he can have control of the club. Much of this has been insinuated on Facebook. If his clients join the club they can use TTT parking, bathrooms, clubhouse, camping and top and bottom landing fields while they are learning from him. Nothing to do with supporting a local club and being a part of the TTT community.

There are so many of us that David has hurt, and too many people who have turned a blind eye. This is now the time to stand up against a bully and put a stop to his intimidation and manipulation. It’s in all our best interest that we should stand together and help the Henson community become a happy place for locals and visitors.

If that means the community builds a fence to separate his business from the club, we should do it. Or any other proactive actions that will bring a more peaceful environment. We need to stand together for the betterment of Henson and TTT.

TTT has stood the test of time and I would hate to see it slowly disappear. Thank you for taking the time to read this, I appreciate you. This was our dream location and it has been anything but that. We spent 2 1/2 years building this home by hand. My father, who is a carpenter by trade, designed it. We want to feel at home here. Please help take a stand against David and Fly Camp, and bring our community/friends/flying family back together. We need each other during this stressful time.

Thank you and Namaste,
Jessie Dittman

The fence has been built.

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The Tennessee Paragliding Record

June 18, 2020, 9:59:58 MDT

The Tennessee Paragliding Record

92.5 miles

James Stinnett|PG|record|Tennessee Tree Toppers

James Stinnett|PG|record|Steve Lee|Tennessee Tree Toppers

James Stinnett writes:

I launched fairly early from the awesome new TTT Burnside paraglider launch around 11:30 local time and almost sank out right away in a flush cycle.  However, I managed to find a climb and dribble along to the south on various mediocre thermals hoping for clouds.  The great cloud street was just too far to the east on the heavily treed plateau for my liking so I continued on right over the edge of the ridge and crossed the deep river canyon at the safest, spot.

Not too much drama other than one particularly fortunate low save at around the 30 mile mark.  And once I got up here I was better able to move east and line up on the clouds and fields since this area of the plateau has a lot of treed stretches on the western side.

Things were going along slow but climbs were within reasonable glides. When I was around the 50 mile mark I saw a white leading edge of a hang glider coming towards me.  It was Cory and he was about 3 nice clouds back.  It had really turned on behind me and he caught me around what I remember was the 60 mile mark.

We flew together for several miles and then he glided off.  I was able to keep him in sight for all but one 20 minute period when he pushed west.  As I was decently high and gliding towards what was to be my last attempt at a climb in the dying day, I saw Cory lower and behind me turning in something.  He was out of reach and not worth going for.  My climb was not to be either and so I glided across the western side of Boaz for a nice landing.

The final result was a new Tennessee PG record of 92.5 miles (148.86 km) on an Ozone Swift 4 beating Steve Larsen's previous record of 74.1 miles (119.2km).  XContest has the measurement further but wrong as they don't appear to use true point to point measurements which I calculated using Google Earth. 

I was in the air for 5 hours 45 minutes of pretty sweet air. Slow but fun. Cory came away with a kingpost record of 89.5 miles. He beat Steve Lee's really old kingpost record by 1 mile. Nice job Cory.

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Thinking about Trouble in the Valley

November 4, 2019, 7:37:31 PST

Thinking about Trouble in the Valley

Acting as part of a community

PG|Tennessee Tree Toppers

https://ozreport.com/23.179

"Robert Lee" <<sirqlars>> sends:

This is related to the Oz Report topic, "Trouble in the Valley." Perhaps some are misinformed or uninformed about the troublemaker in the valley. My observations of that are part of my journey into aviation, paragliding specifically, that started in 2015, in the Sequatchie Valley of Tennessee, at the TTT (Tennessee Tree Toppers) association with the Flying Camp/Just Fly SVS business entity.

I have been advised that parts would be objectionable to some. The story seems too long for a forum entry. But it only makes sense to me to share it as a whole. Perhaps this email introduction and link might be appropriate. That would spare those not interested in it, from it.

"Idiot" is fundamentally related to "Political issues", such as in the list of things in the Oz Report article. From the Greek root - Those who did not contribute to politics and the community were known as Idiotes, originating from the word Idios, which means the self.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/18kvp2mYkWiOV52z3fQ9fd9m3qhdsdztAv27vdU-te_E/edit?usp=sharing

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Expansion at the Tree Toppers

February 7, 2018, 8:45:49 EST

Expansion at the Tree Toppers

Buying more property on the hill

PG|Tennessee Tree Toppers

https://tttmember.org/2018/02/property-acquisition-intro/

The Tennessee Tree Toppers (TTT) is purchasing 5.8 acres on our north property line at the Henson Gap launch from Bryan Burnside, a founding member of the TTT who found Henson Gap originally! Another founding Tree Topper, Honorary Board Member and an old friend of Bryan’s, Mike Nash, stepped forward to offer negotiation assistance as Bryan and the TTT began to express mutual interest. Thanks to his efforts and those of our Board of Directors, we are now moving toward closing.

This purchase will enlarge our footprint on the mountain from four acres to almost ten. It includes what is perhaps the best location anywhere in the vicinity on the ridge to launch anything. We intend to construct a paragliding launch there quickly, answering the need for a TTT owned paragliding site established in our 2015 Bylaws revision. Of course, it will also offer much needed extra event camping area, a potential RV area, and perhaps even a glider shop and storage area. The possibilities are considerable!

As you may know, the TTT’s priority of site ownership is written in our bylaws, so it should be no surprise that we’ve been saving since our inception for the inevitable and expensive opportunities that arise from time to time. An LZ within reach of our Whitwell launch has been our priority for decades. Because we will be using part of our Property Acquisition or “Landing Field” Fund for a down payment, it is imperative that we raise funds as quickly as possible to pay our debt and restore our savings.

Wills Wing Demo Days »

April 4, 2017, 7:33:24 EST -0400

Wills Wing Demo Days

Many places

Tennessee Tree Toppers

David Aldrich <<designbydave>> writes:

Cowboy Up Texas - April 8 -9

Wallaby - April 12 - 15

Tennessee Tree Toppers - April 16 - 22

2016 Team Challenge Update

March 22, 2016, 8:39:16 EST -0400

2016 Team Challenge Update

April 17 - 23

James Stinnett|Oliver Gregory|PG|record|Risk Retention Group|Steven "Steve" Pearson|Tennessee Tree Toppers|Tennessee Tree Toppers Team Challenge 2016|weather|Zac Majors

Oliver Gregory <<olliettt1955>> writes:

TTT Team Challenge is coming up soon. We anticipate a great teaching meet with one of the best lineup of cross country mentors ever! Fifty one of sixty slots are taken, but there are always last minute cancellations and opportunities to participate! Sign up now folks! We are having a great spring so far with thermal tops over 7,000 above launch and many personal bests already! We have two launches on both sides of the valley so we can handle a crowd!

As many know, Wills Wing is bringing Demo Days to Team Challenge. Pilots can try out one of the fabulous new WW gliders! I can't wait to run a demo off one of our super easy launch sites! Steve Pearson, Zac Majors, Matt Barker, Corey Barnhart, James Stinnett, Maria and Pedro Garcia and many other cross country dogs are coming to lead cross country seminars and mentor teams!

Paragliding pilots will be excited to meet Koen Vancampenhoudt who has the Belgium cross country record of 383km in Brazil and is coming to give seminars and share his great flying experience! So far it looks like we will have 1/3 para and 2/3 hangie pilots this year!

We have great plans for seminars, parties and raptor exhibits to keep the learning and fun going full speed all week! Good food is available all week on site. Camping is great at the Henson Gap launch site.

Go to http://tttmember.org and register now. If you've donated $175 or more to the RRG after January 9th, that donation can serve in lieu of payment for Team Challenge registration! So just send us a copy of your donation receipt, join the club for $100 and come fly!

Free fliers and lift technicians are welcome before and after competition launch Windows and during lulls in the competition launch cycles. Come camp with us and enjoy the spring weather, the seminars, parties and great flying!

The registration/check-in is set or Saturday afternoon, April 16th. The meet starts Sunday April 17th and finishes with the award party Saturday April 23rd.

Looking forward to seeing you at the Tree Toppers! We are going to have a great time!

Biwingual Team Challenge »

Wed, Feb 17 2016, 8:24:25 am EST

Biwingual Team Challenge

Hoping for good weather

Ollie Gregory <<olliettt1955>> writes:

Hope it's warm and sunny where you are! The Tennessee Tree Toppers are moving along with preparation for the Biwingual Team Challenge set for April 17-23. Spring brings phenomenal soaring to the Sequatchie valley. The cool nights and warm afternoons generate the kind of thermals that dreams are made of, and make camping a joy as well! We have 40 pilots registered with about a third paragliding pilots so far. We cap at 60. We have four nice launches now, two on each side of the valley! We can handle a crowd and welcome free flyers before, after, and during lulls in the competition action! TTT is thankful for all the great support from our sponsors and the legends in the sport who have made TC the premier educational event for learning and mentoring XC flying. Special thanks to Mikey Barber and Denis Pagen for years of support! We want to give back! This is going to be an extra special Team Challenge! If you are getting good at thermal soaring and want to connect the dots to go some where, this TC is for you! If you want to get ready for some of the sport class or open class competitions and would like to learn how to put it all together, this meet is for you! If you are a grizzly soar dog with thousands of miles of XC experience and want to pass this treasure of knowledge on, we need you! Bring it!

OK! This is how TC rolls. We'll meet, greet and register all afternoon Saturday April 16th at our Henson Gap Pavilion. We will build teams Saturday night and Sunday morning. Our mentoring format pairs skilled A pilot mentors with B and C pilot team mates. A typical team would have two A pilots a B and a C pilot. Each team chooses a task committee member and a safety committee member. The scoring program normalizes every team, no matter the make up, to be able to achieve a maximum score of 1,000 points. The C's are weighted more heavily than the B's. The A pilots are significantly handicapped, though they have a big job to do, and longer, more challenging tasks.

Tasks are designed to offer a good chance for the various level of pilot to make their XC goals. Typically, the C's XC goal is fairly close. The B Pilot goal is often twice that distance or maybe an out and back. The A goal may be two times the distance of the B goal, or require a valley crossing. To win, a team must get their C's and B's to their goals. A Pilots help their team win by flying wing man until their peeps have their goals. A's are typically in the air for hours to do this and then go on to complete their longer tasks! This has been a great format! When task legs overlap, there are thermal markers everywhere!

A typical day offers many opportunities to learn from the best! We have breakfast and weather work up together under the pavilion. The work up is projected for all to see. This offers those interested in the weather a chance to peer over a weather guru's shoulder, ask questions, then fly the day! Knowledgeable locals will make suggestions to the task committee of various routes. This will all be projected on Google Earth so pilots new to our beautiful Sequatchie Valley can be well oriented! Once tasks are chosen by the task committee and ratified by the safety committee, we move to get ready for flying. After the flying day is done we have debriefing and seminars from leaders in the sport of free flight during and after our onsite evening meal. Then repeat all week!

Our beautiful Henson Gap site affords great camping right by launch. We will have healthy affordable food on site all week. Wills Wing, Lookout Mountain Flight Park, Flytec and more are contributing bling that A pilots will distribute to their peeps during the evening debriefs.

Ya can't miss this! The meet runs from Sunday April 17th through Saturday April 23rd. We have a crazy fun karaoke party Friday night so think of a fun Freeflight parody song and win something! The meet wraps up with an awards celebration party after flying is done Saturday. The hand thrown pottery trophies are awesome! The Blues Devils will be playing for us!

Now the coolest part! The TTT is accepting donation to the RRG in lieu of registration as long as those donations are greater than or equal to $175 and happen between January 9th and March 1st! This is our best way to help free flight! For those donating to the RRG, Participation in the Tennessee Tree Toppers Team Challenge only requires a TTT membership! Come fly in our great teaching meet and help the sport of Freeflight remain secure into the future! TTT Membership for a year is only $100.

And the other super cool bits! Steve Pearson is bringing Wills Wing Demo Days to Team Challenge! Zac Majors is coming to teach and lead a team! Steve is teaching and leading a team too! It will give me great honor to fly with these hang gliding superstars, but it'll be more fun when my team beats em!!! Don't miss it!


To register visit https://tttmember.org/team-challenge/

For detailed instructions on completing the registration process visit https://tttmember.org/registration-help/.

To explore more about the Treetopper's Team Challenge check out this blog post by Jamie Shelden: http://naughtylawyertravels.blogspot.com/2012/10/tennessee-tree-toppers-team-challenge.html.

and this video by Cory Barnwell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_xkg7esWkE.

To read about the exceptional conditions we can get in spring, check out this article from the TTT newsletter: http://videos.tennesseetreetoppers.org/TTT News Magazine Spring Issue April 2011FINALproof.pdf#page=5.

Discuss "Biwingual Team Challenge" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Team Challenge Update. Register now and donate to the RRG!

January 26, 2016, 8:48:40 EST

Team Challenge Update. Register now and donate to the RRG!

Your registration fee goes to the USHPA RRG

Oliver Gregory|PG|Risk Retention Group|Steven "Steve" Pearson|Tennessee Tree Toppers|USHPA|Zac Majors

Oliver Gregory <<olliettt1955>> writes:

The Tennessee Tree Toppers Team Challenge is coming up soon! We are thrilled that Steve Pearson and Zac Majors are going to help out with seminars and as team leaders! Steve is bringing a trailer full of gliders for a Wills Wing demo week at Team Challenge! What a great opportunity to foot launch demo some fabulous wings from one of the best launches on the planet!

TC is Bi-Wingual again this year. We have registered many pilots already with about a third being our paragliding buddies. The paragliding TTT members are bringing in some some great para pilots mentors to help out as well.

Team Challenge starts April 17th and wraps with a fun awards party April 23rd. It is always fun! There is on site camping and on site food all week. Pilots desiring a week of intense education in flying XC and beginning competitions should join up! Experienced pilots should consider this a wonderful opportunity to mentor developing pilots and give back to the sport! Join up as soon as you can!

Now the real reason for this update, we want people to register now! As you know, we are accepting donations to the USHPA RRG funding in lieu of registration fees to help fund the RRG in time for the meet! As of this note, TC is half full with 30 registered. Only a few registered pilots have paid, and there are plenty of slots open. Everyone who can should join up and donate to the RRG!

As many know, we raise club funds through membership fees and registration fees for Team Challenge. This year, TTT is going to support the RRG by accepting new, after January 16th donations to the RRG of amounts of $175 or more in lieu of registration fees! This will help USHPA fund the liability self insurance efforts in time for TC.

Here's how that works: A maximum of 60 slots are available to be reserved in Team Challenge 2016. Any TTT Member who donates at least $175 to the RRG fund between January 9 and the ?March 1 deadline will have their $175 comp fee waived. If the event fills up, that could represent an additional $10,500 in RRG funding. Even if no one else registered for Team Challenge between now and ?March 1, that would still represent $5,250 in funding from the 30 pilots already registered.

This also means that any current TTT member can, during this period firmly guarantee their Team Challenge slot by just "checking a box." Bring proof of your qualifying donation to the event (or just email it to <tc16> ) in order to sign in for free.

Help TTT and USHPA ensure our wonderful sport continues to survive and thrive!

Donate: https://ushpa.aero/freeflightforever.asp
Joint TTT: https://tttmember.org/join-or-renew/
Sign up for TC 16: https://tttmember.org/team-challenge/

Team Challenge 2016

January 11, 2016, 8:27:27 EST

Team Challenge 2016

In April

Facebook|Oliver Gregory|PG|photo|Risk Retention Group|Steven "Steve" Pearson|Tennessee Tree Toppers|USHPA|Zac Majors

Oliver Gregory <<olliettt1955>> writes:

The TTT 2016 Team Challenge is right around the corner!  Steve Pearson and Zac Majors are coming to teach, lead teams and showcase the Wills Wing line of wing with the first ever TC Demo Days.  We are ecstatic here at the TTT!

Team Challenge is scheduled to start Sunday April 17th and wrap with a super fun awards party Saturday April 23rd. We have had a several year run of good flying this time of year, and with Steve's generous offer of a spring demo days here, we moved the meet!  Our highly regarded team teaching format will continue.  We will have a mix or hang gliding and paragliding teams.  As always, the emphasis is on safety, fun, education and XC tasks that are scaled to pilot skill level.

However, that brings to question whether we will even be flying if the USHPA can't fully fund the RRG by then.  The current liability insurance we rely on to protect our club and the sport is set to expire on 2/29/16!  I know USHPA has been working wonders to pull this off in time, but the newly seated BOD wants to help all we can to ensure the goal is met in plenty of time for TC.

As many know, we raise club funds through membership fees and registration fees for Team Challenge. This year, TTT is going to support the RRG by accepting new, after today, donations to the RRG of amounts of $175 or more in lieu of registration fees!  This will help USHPA fund the liability self insurance efforts in time for TC.

Here's how that works: A maximum of 60 slots are available to be reserved in Team Challenge 2016. Any TTT Member who donates at least $175 to the RRG fund between January 9 and the ‪March 1 deadline will have their $175 comp fee waived. If the event fills up, that could represent an additional $10,500 in RRG funding. Even if no one else registered for Team Challenge between now and March 1, that would still represent $4,375 in funding from the 25 pilots already registered.

This also means that any current TTT member can, during this period firmly guarantee their Team Challenge slot by just "checking a box." Bring proof of your qualifying donation to the event (or just email it to ‪<tc16>) in order to sign in for free.

Help TTT and USHPA ensure our wonderful sport continues to survive and thrive! 

Donate: https://ushpa.aero/freeflightforever.asp
Joint TTT: https://tttmember.org/join-or-renew/
Sign up for TC 16: https://tttmember.org/team-challenge

Team Challenge

August 6, 2015, 9:16:40 CDT

Team Challenge

Soon

Tennessee Tree Toppers|video|weather

Oliver Gregory|Tennessee Tree Toppers|video|weather

Oliver Gregory <<olliettt1955>> writes:

TC starts off Sunday 8/16 with a great BBQ dinner to help fund raise for the Keel Mtn AL flying club! We will have great talks and video clinics through the week so folks can come hang out and maybe learn a thing or two! The wildly fun Karaoke Party is Friday nite 8/21 and the Awards Party with Phillip Dabney's band The Blues Devils is Saturday nite 8/22! We have breakfast, lunch and dinner on site all week. The TTT welcomes free flying/wind technicians before and after the competition launch window as well as during lulls in competition launching! Gonna be fun! Love the dry weather and high thermal tops!

Discuss "Team Challenge" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Team Challenge 2015

January 13, 2015, 8:31:34 EST

Team Challenge 2015

Paragliders, also

Lucas Ridley|Ollie Gregory|PG|Tennessee Tree Toppers

Ollie Gregory <<olliettt1955>> writes:

Many of you know I have been helping organize the Tennessee Tree Toppers Team Challenge mentoring competition for many years now. The Team Challenge is held in the beautiful Sequatchie Valley near Chattanooga, Tennessee. We organize a week of a team format, educational competition with mentoring from some of the best in the sport. Teams of 3 or 4 cross country ready pilots are lead by experienced "A" level pilots for a week of XC flying and educational seminars.

I am pleased to announce we will include paragliding teams in 2015. Yep, we are recruiting world class mentors from both sports to lead teams and present seminars and lectures during the week of Team Challenge. The TC lectures and seminars will allow people to pick and choose to fit their areas of focus and break out for small groups as needed.

This is a mountain foot launch competition featuring the famous Henson Gap Radial Ramp. The best launch ramp on planet earth. Paraglider pilots will use the adjacent slope launches managed by the Southern Para Pilots Association which are walking distance from the hang gliding launches.

We encourage pilots not yet ready to go XC to join in, fly and learn along with the competitors. TTT membership is required for flying the hang gliding sites and will allow launch on the SPPA sites. SPPA membership is required for the paragliding sites.

We will have on site catering of meals for a reasonable fee. On site camping is free for competitors, TC members, volunteers and friends. I am recruiting hang gliding mentors now for this August 16th through 22nd meet. Rick Jacob and David Hanning are recruiting paragliding mentors to lead teams and seminars.

This will be the event of the year for a unique, fun and educational FreeFlight adventure in 2015! I am so excited! Hang glider pilots can contact me, Erik Grabowski, Eric Carden, Lucas Ridley, Bryson Harper and Tom Dwelley for more information. Paraglider pilots will contact Rick Jacob of the TTT and SPPA. The TTT site will soon be refreshed to reflect the schedule, updates and registration for paraglider and hang glider pilots.

Plan your vacation schedule around this event! I can't wait!

Discuss "Team Challenge 2015" at the Oz Report forum   link»

2015 Team Challenge results

Wed, Oct 15 2014, 9:53:35 am MDT

They flew for five days

Dennis Pagen|Flytec USA|Lookout Mountain Flight Park|Mike Barber|Mitchell "Mitch" Shipley|Mitch Shipley|Ollie Gregory|Tennessee Tree Toppers|Tennessee Tree Toppers Team Challenge 2015|video|Wills Wing

Ollie Gregory «Ollie Gregory» writes:

TC 2014 was a blast. Had five flyable days with someone soaring all of them. The seminars were amazing with Dennis Pagen, Mike Barber, Mitch Shipley, Eric Carden, Maria and Pedro Garcia helping us out. We had fun and flew a lot. It was light on several days, as it often is this time of year, but we had plenty of flying and many pilots got out for some impressive task completions. Our A pilot to B or C pilot ratios were one to one this year which really helped with the cross country coaching and mentoring efforts.

The excellent video launch clinics and landing seminars again proved to be the most important thing we do to keep pilots flying safely. The rest is all gravy! The soaring and XC seminars were super this year with the pros tag teaming most of them. The karaoke and awards parties were the most fun ever! Hope more people come out next year. We will do a better job of promoting TTT Team Challenge in 2015. This exceptional event is held at the fabulous Tennessee Tree Toppers club in Dunlap TN, hang gliding capital of the East.

The results were tabulated using a unique scoring program which looks at TEAM scores equating 1000 for a perfect day. Fair no matter the team makeup. Thank you Eric Carden for figuring this all out.

Thanks to Flytec USA, Wills Wing, Lookout Mountain Flight Park, Moyes USA and our most generous TTT member, Kip Stone for all the support.

Hope we have a crowd next year.

1 Clowns & Jokers 844
2 Wind DumbyZ 635
3 Blind Squirrels 610
4 Altitude Deficit Disorder 385
5 Critical Mass 382
6 Sky High 223

Mitch's portable dune

September 11, 2013, 8:30:48 MDT

Mitch's portable dune

ET at the TC

Lookout Mountain Flight Park|Mitchell "Mitch" Shipley|Mitch Shipley|scooter tow|Tennessee Tree Toppers|video|weather

Mitch Shipley <<elektratow>> writes:

Just got back from the 2013 TTT Team Challenge. Great fun and a fantastic learning experience.

One highlight for me came the last day doing pro-bono Elektro Tow (ET) tows in the valley at George Galloway’s 3K foot grass runway. George has graciously let me tow off his property (about as big as Quest!) the last two years. He stopped by with his daughter Valerie as we were packing up the last day and asked if I was doing demo flights. “Of course!” was my answer. Over the next hour we got Valerie seven intro flights. I manned ET and expert Kitty Hawk Kites dune instructors Joe and Jackson handled the instruction on the 225 Condor (crispy new glider courtesy of Lookout Mountain Flight Park’s Matt Taber).

That intro demo was a perfect example of what an ET type of system might best be used for. Using about a football field length of George’s real estate, we re-aligned the system directly into the prevailing wind which had been switching more Easterly. Then in less than an hour we took an excited college student from “I’ve never been near a glider” to “Wow, I flew a hang glider!” Easy. Quick. Quiet. Pictures to share. Family watching and cheering. Essentially a portable KHK dune intro flight where ET was the dune that traveled to them and could align into the prevailing wind. Great fun. Checkout some pics of the training and the video of Valerie’s last flight.

Some might think “It’s just a scooter tow and we have had that for years”. Well as the engineer PhD geek and advanced hang gliding instructor that has worked with this system over the last three years I’d offer it is significantly different than scooter tow. Quiet. Nice for both those being towed and the neighbors. Flip of a switch starting in any weather. Rechargeable for about two bucks of electricity. Inherently linear tow force Vs speed characteristic that provides a self-adjusting tow force without operator action. There is more, but I’ll save other discussion for the forum.

Great possibilities for bringing new pilots into the sport and I just had to share!

http://ozreport.com/pub/images/Valerie'sPerfectFlight.avi

Tennessee Tree Toppers Team Challenge 2013 »

June 4, 2013, 8:59:44 EDT

Tennessee Tree Toppers Team Challenge 2013

Registration reminded

Dean Funk|Tennessee Tree Toppers|video

James Dean <<kreebog>> writes:

This is a reminder to all that the TTT Team Challenge 2013 Registration is still open! Head on over to the TC2013 registration page ( http://www.tennesseetreetoppers.org/tc2013/TC13Home.asp ) to reserve your place in this amazing competition. If you’re interested in learning about the sport of cross-country hang gliding, or if you're looking for a safe, gentle introduction to hang gliding competition, then you don’t want to miss this event!

The competition is open to H3+ pilots only, though H2 pilots are more than welcome to attend and will be able to participate in the seminars and festivities, and to enjoy the great free-flying opportunities to be had in the beautiful Sequatchie valley. You’ll learn a lot, meet a ton of great people, and have a blast!

Wondering what to expect? Read my blog covering my very first Team Challenge back in 2010: http://kreeblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/getting-ready-for-team-challenge.html  (navigation on the right, read from the bottom up) for a first-hand account of a newbie's first competition and cross-country experiences.

Never flow the Sequatchie Valley? Check out this amazing video by Dean Funk to see what you've been missing: http://vimeo.com/52526556 .

If you're interested, read the following article and go sign up! If you have any questions just send me an email (<kreebog> ) and I’ll be happy to answer them!

Discuss "Tennessee Tree Toppers Team Challenge 2013" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Jamie Shelden⁣ on the Team Challenge »

Tue, Nov 13 2012, 1:58:16 pm MST

She liked it

Flytec 6030|Jamie Shelden|Tennessee Tree Toppers|Tennessee Tree Toppers Team Challenge 2012

http://naughtylawyertravels.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/tennessee-tree-toppers-team-challenge.html

Day one of the Team Challenge and I'm loving the relaxed attitude/learning environment the club has created here. What's really nice for me is that I'm totally off the hook for doing anything and I get to be 100% tourist - it's really heaven. The Tennessee Tree Toppers (hang gliding club) own the land where the launch and landing fields are situated. There's a huge campground on launch with a clubhouse and anything and everything a pilot could need - including nice fast wifi for me ;-). There are nearly 50 in the competition here, plus heaps more free fliers - most are camping at launch

http://naughtylawyertravels.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/flytec-school.html

Mitch is the resident 6030 expert and he's teaching us everything from the most basic functions of the instrument, to the best set up of fields for each page, to how to use all the various information we can get from a 6030.

http://naughtylawyertravels.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/team-challenge-task-1.html

http://naughtylawyertravels.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/tennessee-tree-toppers-team-challenge.html

What's most impressive to me is that there so much chatter here in the US about supporting our competitions program and encouraging more pilots to enter. But no one really steps up to the plate the way the TTT's do. I knew before coming to this event that it was a "training" event. But, I really had no idea how much they did apart from just teaming up newer pilots with experienced comp pilots.

I was really overwhelmed by all that they do here. I'm not talking about half hour talks in the evening, I mean full on 2+ hour sessions on cross country flying, how to use your 6030, reviewing and critiquing launches and landings, etc. etc. all afternoon and into the evening. It made me feel like crap for what pilots get for their money at my comps ;-). When we can't fly at the Rally or Santa Cruz, my first thought is how soon can I run off and do something without a bunch of nutty pilots. Here was exactly the opposite - they made incredibly good use of every minute. I hate to say it, but for the money, the Team Challenge is a way better deal, by far!!

TTT Team Challenge 2012 - A (figuratively) Soaring Success

October 24, 2012, 9:08:25 MDT

TTT Team Challenge 2012 - A (figuratively) Soaring Success

Things to do other than flying

Jim Rooney|Mitchell "Mitch" Shipley|Mitch Shipley|Ollie Gregory|Tennessee Tree Toppers|Tennessee Tree Toppers Team Challenge 2012|weather

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=29723

Yeah, the weather at the Tennessee Tree Toppers 2012 Team Challenge sucked. It rained, then it poured, then it got foggy and teased us with day after day of “almost-ready-to-go-off” conditions, then it got windy (cross and tail, of course), then it got cold, and then the comp was over. Most unfortunate, but even the bad weather wasn’t enough to spoil TC 2012 because the Tree Toppers have managed to create what others have long claimed impossible: A weather-proof hang gliding competition.

On the day before TC 2012, everyone arrived to ridge-soarable conditions with generous thermals and pilots took to the sky with glee. The normally roomy and peaceful stretch of ridge near the famous Henson Gap radial ramp was crowded with colorful, swooping wings as pilots who hadn’t seen each other in a year greeted each other with waving, whoops, and hollers. It was a lot of fun for those soaring the ridge lift, and even more fun for those that figured out how to step-climb the elongated thermals to get up to where the lift was more organized. It was a great start!

That night, however, the rain started… and the next morning the contingency plan kicked in. Seminars, stories, lessons, and discussions on everything from the finer points of flare timing to how to use weather radar to see a gust front before it hits. Cross country skills, using equipment, assessing conditions, risk management, choosing an LZ from the air, gaggle flying, communications, team flying… the seminars were plentiful and valuable! Ollie Gregory held back his sleep-inducing weather seminar this year and talked instead about practicing cross-country flying skills on every flight, sharing techniques that will make any pilot who uses them more capable of safe and efficient cross-country flying.

See much more at the link above.

In the mornings, Mitch Shipley and Jim Rooney used Mitch’s mighty electric winch, “E.T.”, to tow pilots up for real-life landing practice with immediate feedback and suggestions. Several pilots, especially a couple of the younger ones, were astounded at how easily they fixed their landing flaws after participating in Jim Rooney’s landing technique clinics.

Ollie writes:

After a couple of bummer weather years, and a trend for less experienced “C” pilots registering for TC, I have decided to move the meet to earlier in the year.

Team Challenge schedule

September 25, 2012, 8:37:00 MDT

Team Challenge schedule

A few open slots are still left!

cart|Jim Rooney|Mark Stump|Mike Barber|Mitchell "Mitch" Shipley|Ollie Gregory|Tennessee Tree Toppers|video|weather

Ollie Gregory <<olliettt1955>> writes:

Get ready to get the most out of Team Challenge. Mostly just bring a good attitude and we'll have some fun!

Everyone coming to the TC that might be interested in trying out some ElectroTow with Mitch Shipley should bring their tow releases etc. Mitch is putting on a landing clinic with the ElectroTow system. He says 3 point releases work well to start with. Intermediate gliders are apparently fun to learn to foot launch, but topless should start out on a cart. He's bringing all this equipment from Quest for the Team Challenge week. Jim Rooney will be around all week to help out with the launch and landing clinics. Of course our biggest supporters Mike Barber and Denis Pagen are coming to help with all the XC clinics and seminars.

We've put a bunch of money and sweat into our Whitwell launch site. Feel free to contribute a little loose change to help pay for this huge improvement. We still have a little more dirt work and erosion management to complete, then seed/sod the new giant launch mound.

Team Challenge starts Sunday Sept 30th, so get ready! If you are on a team already, be thinking of a cool team name. If you aren't on a team yet, Mark Stump specializes in working the teams out, so be there Saturday night for this fun process! Dick Stern is coming out Tuesday night to talk to everyone about how TTT got started.

Wednesday night John Stokes and Dale Elaine Kernahan are putting on a bird of prey show in the local elementary school gym. The show is open to the community, so bring all your friends and all the kids you can handle. Their shows are great! Of course we'll have seminars and video clinics and evening debriefings till our tongues hang out! If the weather cooperates, we'll do a lot of XC too!

There will be breakfast and dinner on site for reasonable prices. We need to know how much to buy, so go to TennesseeTreeToppers.org and sign up. If you want to help out a little, there is a sign up list to bring stuff like toilet paper, paper plates and cups, napkins and paper towels etc...

There's gonna be a crazy fun on site karaoke party Friday October 5th that highlights hang gliding parody songs. Anybody out there that can sing Dire Straits "Money for Nothing" needs to p.m. me as soon as possible! Everyone else get to creating some fun hang gliding parody lyrics! We'll have several real singers show up too, so you can pull your fingers out of your ears now and then! Tina Smith-Theeke is gonna bring some talent!

The big show will wrap up with a huge awards banquet and Octoberfest party Saturday Oct. 6th. Super cool trophies for the top teams have been created by Eric Donaldson! I sure hope my team gets lucky and wins some! We still have a few open spaces from late cancellations. Sign up or show up! You won't regret it!

2012 Team Challenge fully paid up

Tue, Sep 11 2012, 8:03:52 am MDT

2012 Team Challenge fully paid up

Register and fill out the sruvey

Jim Rooney|Lucas Ridley|Mitchell "Mitch" Shipley|Mitch Shipley|Ollie Gregory|scooter tow|Tennessee Tree Toppers|Tennessee Tree Toppers Team Challenge 2012|video

Ollie Gregory «Ollie Gregory» writes:

The Team Challenge is full with everyone paid up! We need everyone coming to go to the website, register and fill out the survey http://www.tennesseetreetoppers.org/TeamChallenge12.html.

All the drivers, guests, volunteers, launch and landing clinic participants, Team Challenge pilots and family members should register so we can get a good head count. We need this for meal plan and launch and landing clinic planning.

Jim Rooney and Mitch Shipley are coming to help people learn about scooter tow with ET and improve their landing and launch techniques. This will be a great clinic for anyone wishing to improve technique. Hang 2s may fly from Henson Gap and participate in this clinic or work with Mitch and ET. Come learn more in a week than you can in a year of free flying! Don't miss out! We encourage all who would like to volunteer to come and help out. We will need some team drivers too!

Camping is free for TTT members and guests. All TTT members are welcome to come to the seminars. If you want to fly in the clinics, eat with us, or both please register and do the survey!

We are canceling the ham radio testing due to lack of interest.

Here's a link to my friend Lucas Ridley's video of some cool Henson Gap flying with Tipper! Our radial ramp is the best! Check it out!

http://youtu.be/cykHENutlkI

Discuss "2012 Team Challenge fully paid up" at the Oz Report forum   link»  

2012 Team Challenge filling up

Fri, Aug 24 2012, 9:16:17 am MDT

A few slots left

Dennis Pagen|Facebook|Jamie Shelden|Jim Rooney|Joe Bostik|Mark Bolt|Mark Stump|Mike Barber|Mitchell "Mitch" Shipley|Ollie Gregory|PG|Tennessee Tree Toppers|Tennessee Tree Toppers Team Challenge 2012|Tom Lanning|video

Ollie Gregory «Ollie Gregory» writes:

Team Challenge 2012 is filling rapidly. If you plan to participate in this awesome event, please register and send in your fees to hold your place. We'll cap Team Challenge at 10 teams of 5 pilots each. Right now we have 40 pilots on our list. I'm not sure how many have paid to hold their spots, but those not paid up by August 30th will lose their spots. We have some super people coming to help out this year, so get on board while you can! Jamie Shelden is coming to help lead a team! Mike Barber, Dennis Pagen, Mitch Shipley, Jim Rooney, Mark Stump, Mark Bolt, Tom Lanning, and more experienced hang gliding leaders will be here to help you learn more in a week than you could in a year of free flying. Joe Bostik is gonna be there, so it'll be crazy fun for sure! Don't miss out! Register now!

Don't forget! Hang 2 TTT pilots may participate in the launch and landing clinics for the week and enjoy all the seminars, camaraderie, camping, and fun stuff for $50 to be paid on site. This Team Challenge is going to be special with our paragliding friends participating in many of our seminars and discussions. The party is gonna be a blast!

Register at www.tennesseetreetoppers.org and go to the Team Challenge link. You can pay with the paypal button!

http://vimeo.com/31648164

Go to our Facebook page and see more pictures and videos. https://www.facebook.com/Tennesseetreetoppers

Ham radio⁣ exam at the Team Challenge

Mon, May 28 2012, 7:47:41 am EDT

Study first

Ham radio exam

Ollie Gregory|radio|Tennessee Tree Toppers|Tennessee Tree Toppers Team Challenge 2012

Ollie Gregory «Ollie Gregory» writes:

Another nice thing we have going for Team Challenge 2012. Many pilots fly with 2 meter radios these days. Of course we encourage this as the most effective way to help our Team Challenge team mates once airborne. However, to operate a 2 meter radio, one should be licensed by the FCC. As you know the tests are easy and inexpensive, but a can be a bit of a hassle to organize. TTT members have found several excellent resources for study and practice testing for the technician level amateur radio exam.

If there is enough interest, we will schedule an exam so people can get it out of the way. Pilots should study and practice the tests ahead of time so the exam will be easy. In a few days, the pilots who pass will be able to get their license numbers from the national amateur radio association. We will also have a very practical seminar on how to best use those intimidating radios most of us carry. Check out www.tennesseetreetoppers.org and follow the links to a list of useful sites for study and practicing the test.

Discuss "Ham radio⁣ exam at the Team Challenge" at the Oz Report forum   link»  

2011 Team Challenge

October 4, 2011, 9:02:28 MDT

2011 Team Challenge

A pilot's story

Dave Hopkins|Dennis Pagen|Mike Barber|Rick Brown|Tennessee Tree Toppers|Tennessee Tree Toppers Team Challenge 2011|Tom Lanning

Keith Smith writes:

I have been coming to the Team Challenge for seven years. I had only flown once this year when I left for the Team Challenge, but I ended up leading a team. My team was called the Scatter Birds, because we came from many different area in this USA..

Unfortunately, the conditions were not suitable for flying on Sunday and Monday. We flew Tuesday and everyone took his or her sled rides to the Henson LZ. Ollie Gregory got a small thermal on the Southwest face. So Colin Hodsdon and I went to the southwest face. We all sunk out to the LZ (Even Ollie). Wednesday the wind was too cross and switchy to launch all the C pilots (10 teams of 5 pilots each). There were some free flyers on Wednesday. They all said they had good flights.

Thursday the launch was strong 12 - 14 mph but straight in. We were using a wire assist crew in the active air. All the launches were good to great. The C pilot's task was from the Henson launch to Dr. Dale's landing field 8.3 miles away. The B pilot's task was from the Henson launch to Dale's water tower, 9.25 miles and back to the Henson LZ for a total of 18.5 miles. The A pilot's task was to fly with the C and B pilots, getting them to their LZ, then head on to Pikeville north of the Henson gap and back to Dales.

I lost one of my C pilots, Megan Kloudt, three quarters of the way to Dale's, she got low and went out to the valley. She could not talk on the radio, so when we lost sight of her, she was on her own. She climbed out of the valley twice but could not get past the first gap. She had a great landing in what we thought was a good field. It turned out to be the southern edge of a DNL, so she scored 0. Fortunately, Dennis Pagen brought us a great driver, Jouette Travis (the Negotiator). She sweet talked the land owner and even made points towards us getting access to his fields for landing use.

I did manage to escort my B's, Cliff Rice and Rick Brown, to their goals. My other C Rick Maddy made goal on his own ahead of us. I then headed on my task and made goal. My flight was 32 miles, 3 hrs and 27 min. It was a great 3rd flight of the year. Those were the only tasks this year because conditions on other days were not suitable for all the pilots.

Friday was blown out. There were five pilots that I helped launch on Saturday in challenging conditions. We then shut down the launch because it became too strong and switchy. A couple pilots took late flights after the conditions mellowed.

My team finished in 6th place out of ten teams. The seminars have been awesome all week. We have had seminars with Mike Barber, Dennis Pagen, Tom Lanning, Terry Presley, Dave Hopkins and others. You can't put together a much better group of mentors and they are all in here at the TTT Team Challenge. The Party is going on right now as I finish up my story. Be here next year. I am honored to call so many of these great people my friends!

Team Challenge 2011

August 19, 2011, 7:23:57 CDT

Team Challenge 2011

Help out

Tennessee Tree Toppers

Oliver Gregory|Tennessee Tree Toppers

Oliver Gregory <<olliettt1955>> writes:

Team Challenge 2011 is pretty much full. You can join the waiting list by registering at our website. We'll have awesome nightly seminars lead by some of the best mentors in the sport of hang gliding, so come and learn something even if you aren't in the competition. We welcome all Tree Toppers to come and fly with us during TC, but free flyers will need to work flights in around the competition. TTT has secured on site breakfasts and catered meals every night for a reasonable fee, so everyone will be able to stick together and enjoy a nice meal while the seminars are going on. The on site camping in late September is sweet. The flying can be unbelievable! Don't miss it!

We need Team Challenge volunteers and drivers! If you can help out, please give us notice on the TTT chat group or by contacting me directly. You can locate email addresses for the chat group and the TTT board of directors from our website at www.tennesseetreetoppers.org. TTT runs on volunteerism!

Also, we are going to have a pre Team Challenge work party after the TTT board meeting Saturday, September 10th. We need volunteers with strong backs and willing attitudes! Bring your weed eaters, limb loppers, chainsaws, tool boxes, camel backs and work clothes. After cleaning and fixing up the bath house, pavilion, camping area and trails, we'll feed the masses and maybe enjoy some home made ice cream. Again, let us know if you can help out!

Discuss "Team Challenge 2011" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Team Challenge 2011

January 25, 2011, 8:02:28 AEDT

Team Challenge 2011

A learning experience

photo|Tennessee Tree Toppers|video

Ricker writes:

TTT Team Challenge is going to be in full swing and this year TTT plans to have some very special prizes and learning processes. The Team Challenge is designed to assist in a large way to help pilots learn about cross country flying, mountain launching technique, team flying and more. There is simply no other place that you can learn this much at any other place in the world in such a short amount of time. Photos, videos and more of you flying.

The TTT property is a very intimate camping facility, provided bath house as well as a shaded set up area. If you prefer more creature comforts, you can stay at the bottom of the mountain hotel and enjoy more luxurious accommodations. In any case, there are many options to choose from but the roster fills up fast.

So, register now and reserve your spot. Learn, enjoy and make new friends. The Tennessee Tree Toppers Team Challenge 2011 is sure to be a lifetime experience and will help you to be safer in the sky.

http://www.tennesseetreetoppers.org/

Discuss "Team Challenge 2011" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Tennessee Tree Toppers Board of Directors Ballot Correction

November 21, 2010, 9:47:06 PST

Tennessee Tree Toppers Board of Directors Ballot Correction

Dan Shell's name is on the ballot

Dan Shell|Dean Funk|Michael Bradford|Ollie Gregory|Tennessee Tree Toppers

Buddy Cutts|Dan Shell|Dean Funk|Michael Bradford|Ollie Gregory|Tennessee Tree Toppers

Buddy Cutts|Dan Shell|Dean Funk|Michael Bradford|Ollie Gregory|Steve Lee|Tennessee Tree Toppers

Ollie Gregory <<olliettt1955>> writes:

I was in charge of getting the mail out ballot for TTT Board of Directors for 2011. I let it loose before catching a mistake. I mistakenly left Dan Shell's name of the list of nominees. Dan has served on the TTT board of directors for many years. Dan has been active in all TTT projects and has lead the important By Laws committee.

For many years Dan lead the very challenging membership committee. Dan is local to the club so has been a regular for all TTT projects.

To help correct my mistake, we have undertaken an emailing to all active TTT members to point out this mistake.

We have a big board. Members should circle fifteen names on the ballot for BOD 2011. The ballot also has a list of nominees for Tennessee Tree Topper of the year. There is no doubt in my mind who should win this, but all TTTers should take a look and decide for themselves who should receive this honor.

Below is the corrected list of TTT members who were nominated and accepted their nomination to run for TTT BOD 2011! Again, I left Dan Shell off the mail out ballot. Active members may vote online at www.tennesseetreetopper.org Inactive members may join online and vote once their membership is confirmed. The online version will have the corrected list of Board of Director nominees. Also please vote for the Tennessee Tree Topper Of The Year 2010 and RSVP for the Xmas Party at the Blue Orchid Bistro in Dunlap TN to be held Saturday December 11th at 6pm EST, 5pm CST.

Corrected list of (17) BOD nominees:

Dan Shell, Rick Jacob, Steve Lee, Kathy Lee, James Anderson, Buddy Cutts, Jeff Nibler, Barry Klein, Dean Funk, Rob Dallas, Miller Stroud, Michael Bradford, Kenny Sandifer, Trevor Childress, John Cory, Ollie Gregory, Clark Harlow

Please use this list to choose your fifteen BOD members.

Tennessee Tree Topper of the Year Nominees (8) for 2010:

Ricker Goldsborough, Michael Bradford, Jeff Nibler, Steve Lee, James Anderson, Marco Weber, Roger Sherrod, David Sweiggert.

Thanks for you participation!

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Team Challenge and The Superman of the Sequatchie

September 1, 2010, 8:52:48 MDT

Team Challenge and The Superman of the Sequatchie

Openings for pilots at the Team Challenge

Dennis Pagen|Foundation for Free Flight|Mike Barber|Ollie Gregory|Tennessee Tree Toppers|video

Ollie Gregory <<olliettt1955>> writes:

Come to the 2010 TTT Team Challenge. We have plenty of spots left so anyone who is interested, please sign up! The Foundation For Free Flight has donated 5 Team Challenge registration fees to help us recruit pilots who are interested in bringing the concepts taught at Team Challenge home to their local flying communities. If you are interested in furthering the team teaching format in your area, come join us and learn more about it with the Tennessee Tree Toppers. All you need to do to apply is write up something about your flying credentials and history, then tell us how you will help your local flying buddies learn more about safe fun XC flying with what you experience at the 2010 Team Challenge.

Check out our competition website: http://sequatchiecompetition.com.

TTT hoped to introduce a new "open distance around turn points competition" this year with the Superman of the Sequatchie Open meet, but there has been very little interest with our ailing economy. We have decided to cancel this meet and focus our energy on the 2010 Team Challenge.

Get your teams ready or come alone and join one of the great pick up teams. Mike Barber and Dennis Pagen are going to help us with lectures and video launch and landing clinics. If you are lucky you might land on a team with one of these legends of hang gliding! Or, you might end up on my team and get to ride in one of the junkiest hang gliding vehicles imaginable. At least it has the best hang gliding rack ever bolted onto a truck.

Come join us. If you want to apply for one of the FFF scholarships, send your information to me at <olliettt1955>. Don't miss out! You can register online now at the competition website.

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Team Challenge 2010

August 2, 2010, 9:34:18 pm GMT+0200

Team Challenge 2010

Filling up fast

Dennis Pagen|Foundation for Free Flight|Lookout Mountain Flight Park|Mark Stump|Mike Barber|Ollie Gregory|Tennessee Tree Toppers|weather

Ollie Gregory writes:

It’s time to sign up, gear up, brush up, team up, and get uppity. Team Challenge 2010 begins Saturday, September 19th and the early registrations indicate this year’s winning team may already be out there, putting last year’s lessons into practice.

If you are a Hang 3 or 4 foot launch pilot and you’re eager to learn and help others while soaking up the wisdom of the Old Ones of hang gliding you may be their worst nightmare. Come to Team Challenge and you may well be on a pickup team with a master of the sport. Your flights will score more than theirs, and the winning team is most often the one that learns the most, listens best and helps each other along during the week.

Just to show that everyone gains at Team Challenge, you could also wind up on my team. That will be guaranteed fun! (And you could make me a winner.)

For the first time, thanks to a grant from the Foundation for Free Flight, there are five scholarships to be awarded for TTT members to who want to attend Team Challenge. To apply for one those slots, send me (Ollie Gregory) an email about yourself and detail what you would like to do with the knowledge imparted through TC, to promote hang gliding. You can find me at our club website. If you have paid for a slot and are selected for the scholarship, your TC fee will be refunded.

We’ll have continuous learning regardless of weather, with seminars from Dennis Pagen, Mark Stump, Mike Barber and others. The beautiful Henson Gap campground (now with WiFi) has ample camping space, hot showers and indoor plumbing. The clubhouse is being renovated and readied to make us even more comfortable. If you haven’t been to Henson Gap or a Team Challenge, ask someone you know who has.

Read more at: http://sequatchiecompetition.com/team_challenge.html

Sing up online at: http://sequatchiecompetition.com/tc_reg.html

Nearby Lookout Mountain Flight Park is hosting their September Fest, September 17-19. Come early and get your Fest on.

Superman!

Plan to stay for the week following Team Challenge, and show your mettle in an “I’ll take the high road,” flat out Open Distance XC contest as we host the first Superman of the Sequatchie September 26 thru October 2.

Tennessee Treetoppers is a worldwide hang gliding community of pilots and friends who gather to fly in the beautiful Sequatchie Valley of Southeast Tennessee.

The first Sequatchie Sprints over Memorial Day weekend

May 17, 2010, 8:32:36 EDT

The first Sequatchie Sprints over Memorial Day weekend

Cheap competition

Ollie Gregory|Tennessee Tree Toppers|video|weather

Ollie Gregory <<olliettt1955>> writes:

TTT wants to invite everyone to our Mayhem Party Saturday May 29th! Barry Klein is our new social director and has dictated that the dinner shall be pot luck and dishes shall be created with an aeronautical theme in mind. Hmmm? Turbulent Tacos and Hot Buffalo Wingovers! I hear someone has donated at least one keg of beer. We'll have spot landing contests, streamer drop contests and fun flying for Tree Topper members. Mayhem with the TTT will be a low key, fun flyin with lots of things to do for pilots and their families. The Mayhem Party will be the kickoff party for the Sequatchie Sprints. If we have winds for the fabulous Henson Gap Radial Ramp, mountain launching Hang 2's can join in the flying fun!

TTT is hosting the first of three "Race to Goal" Sprint type races over Memorial Day weekend - May 29th to May 31st. The Sequatchie Sprints format is spectator friendly with course turn points close to launch. The final turn point will be centered on launch with the finish radius in the LZ, so it should make for some photogenic and video friendly flying. We expect the races to be in the 10 to 20 mile range. A typical race should take 1.0 to 2.0 hours if the weather is good.

OzGap 2005 or a similar scoring program will be used to score the event. We will have Sequatchie Sprints over Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends. There will be cookouts, bonfires, hiking, biking and hanging out for families. There will be plenty of coaching and support for pilots new to "Race to Goal" contests. Take a look at the Google Map examples of possible 14.5 mile tasks at our Whitwell and Henson Gap sites.

We'll have Kingposted, Topless and Rigid wing classes. Originally we were planning to charge $60 for the weekend of racing, but we reduce the cost to $20 for three days of racing! I believe the Sequatchie Sprints will be a great way for pilots considering entering races like Big Spring to get meaningful exposure to the "Race to Goal" format in a friendly atmosphere with super easy retrieval. The Sequatchie Sprint format will also allow entertaining viewing for friends and family. Come enjoy the comfy camping and southern hospitality with the TTT! Read more about it at our website: http://www.sequatchiecompetition.com/index.html.

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Tennessee Tree Toppers on-line competitions for others

April 28, 2010, 9:36:10 EDT

Tennessee Tree Toppers on-line competitions for others

You can use their server

Tennessee Tree Toppers

Jeff Nibler <<jeffnibler>> writes:

The TreeToppers want to give a limited number of clubs the ability to use our OLC website for free, or for a small donation to the TTT. We will host the site on our web server, but each club will have their own separate view and administrative console for their local contest. This will be part of a case study for the bigger improved national version in the works for later this year or next.

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Tennessee Tree Toppers Competition registration

March 25, 2010, 8:48:57 EDT

Tennessee Tree Toppers Competition registration

All sorts of competition registrations open up

Tennessee Tree Toppers

Jeff Nibler <<jeffnibler>> writes:

Registration is now open for the TTT Superman of the Sequatchie open distance meet, all three Weekend Sprint races, and the Team Challenge. Details and registration forms available at: http://sequatchiecompetition.com/.

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On-line from the TTT

March 18, 2010, 9:34:22 EDT

On-line from the TTT

Check out these documents

PG|Tennessee Tree Toppers|USHPA|video

http://videos.tennesseetreetoppers.org/TTT%20Scoring%20App.pps

http://ozreport.com/docs/OAC-3_9.ppt

http://sequatchiecompetition.com/

The TTT folks are creating a complete on-line competition support system for scoring all types of hang gliding and paragliding competitions. They have started with their weekend series, but they are moving on to other local and regional contests. This is a superior effort with great flexibility.

If you have a local or regional contest, maybe a weekend series, check out these documents to see if you can use this system. Then contact the individuals involved to be included in future plans.

The USHPA BOD is fully behind this effort. As is the USHPA office.

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TTT weekend series begins

March 10, 2010, 8:41:03 EST

TTT weekend series begins

This coming weekend

Tennessee Tree Toppers

http://sequatchiecompetition.com/

The Tennessee Tree Toppers are making a big push to increase opportunities for our members to participate in fun competitions in 2010. Tree Toppers are going for it, with several different formats planned, and competitions spread out over the entire flying season. We intend to host the most comprehensive competition schedule in the nation!

We are hosting a monthly fun Weekend Series, a Race to Goal Sprint Series, an Open Distance within the Sequatchie Valley Meet and of course another Team Challenge!

A total of 31 days of organized competition hosted by the Tree Toppers! It promises to be an incredible year for hang gliding!

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Tennessee Tree Toppers - on line contest »

March 3, 2010, 9:13:11 EST

Tennessee Tree Toppers - on line contest

They are creating their own for themselves

CIVL|Tennessee Tree Toppers|video

No need for a track log. Does non cross country tasks also. Hooks up to Google Earth. Will be available at some point to other clubs and hook into the WXC (CIVL's OLC).

Download the Power Point Presentation: http://videos.tennesseetreetoppers.org/TTTScoringApp.pps.

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Tennessee Tree Toppers »

January 30, 2010, 9:34:45 AEDT

Tennessee Tree Toppers

The upcoming year - thirty one days of competition

Dean Funk|Ollie Gregory

Ollie Gregory <olliettt1955> writes:

The Tree Toppers have an ambitious year of events planned. We intend to host a great year of hang gliding competitions. We have events for pilots of all skill levels and are trying out some innovative competition formats. Take a look at our new competition website designed by Dean Funk! It is worth a visit for the slide show alone! Click on the various events to see a description.

We have thirty one days of scheduled competitions in 2010! Yep that's thirty one days of organized competitions with formats for pilots interested in Race To Goal , Open Distance and friendly educational flying for fun events. Check out the website! Ollie

http://www.sequatchiecompetition.com/index.html

We hope everyone will support our push to offer more to the hang gliding community! Come to the Volunteer State and join in the fun! Come on Springtime!

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Tree Toppers - USHPA web site of the year

December 18, 2009, 8:16:39 PST

Tree Toppers - USHPA web site of the year

Getting some help lately.

Buddy Cutts|Dean Funk|Facebook|Tennessee Tree Toppers|USHPA

Buddy Cutts writes:

I received a letter in the mail today from USHPA stating that our web site (Tennessee Tree Toppers) has won the Web Site of the Year award for 2009. I have been invited to attend the spring BOD meeting to accept the award. I will do my best to make it there. I am very honored that our website was selected.

Thanks to whomever nominated it and thanks to everyone for all the help and suggestions along the way!

Jeff Nibler has been a tremendous help and does a lot of work in the background, Dean Funk is back and is going to use his expertise to make the site even better. I look forward to another great year of volunteerism with the TTT!

We just put up a new Tennessee Tree Toppers Facebook fan page.

Thanks to Dean Funk

Hang Gliding Death at ⁢Henson's Gap

Fri, Nov 27 2009, 8:32:17 pm PST

Blown launch

Chris Thale

Christopher "Chris" Thale|fatality|Jeff Nibler|Tennessee Tree Toppers

A pilot reports the following:

We had a fatality at Henson's Gap (the Tennessee Tree Toppers main launch) today. Mr. Chris Thale from Indiana. A 66 year old pilot blew his launch. His left wing dropped, his nose popped up and he spun into the rock face. Nasty.

Jeff Nibler was the first on the scene. He is pretty shook up about it as you would expect. Three or four others were there as well.

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New TTT Weekend Competition Series

November 23, 2009, 8:30:00 PST

New TTT Weekend Competition Series

Monthly soaring and cross country competitions

Ollie Gregory|Tennessee Tree Toppers

Ollie Gregory <<olliettt1955>> writes:

As the Tennessee Tree Toppers (TTT) competition committee chair, I thought I'd report on some Tree Topper plans for 2010. The Tree Toppers intend to host a season of monthly soaring and cross country competitions on the second weekend of every month starting March 2010 and finishing November 2010. All that is required is a healthy enthusiasm and, of course, completion of the release forms.

We'll have duration, spot landing and streamer drop competitions both days so everyone from hang 2 on up may compete. The spot landing competitions will be handicapped by hang rating. The pilots with the most winning spot landing points and streamer drops over the year will become the TTT landing skills champs. I expect these categories will go to someone on a Falcon or Sport 2! No Clark, you can't win it tandem with rolling landings!

Categories will include single surface, kingposted, topless and rigid wing divisions. Contests will include cross country, spot landing, streamer drop, total number of flights and duration. Winners will be announced after every flyable week end. Points earned at every competition will accumulate toward the 2010 TTT Weekend Series winners. It will be a blast to compete regularly and add points for your Series total score. Awards for spot, streamer drop, total duration, total number of flights, and total XC points in single surface, kingposted, topless and rigid wing categories will be presented at the 2010 TTT Xmas party! Maybe we can we get some sponsors?

We intend to have these fun and low stress competitions every second weekend of the month from March through November! We hope to host great community dinners after Saturday's flying all during this season long event. Of course, we'll compete on Sunday too!

Coordinates will be posted for several predefined straight line to goal, out and back and triangle tasks. Predefined tasks will range from short and simple to challenging! Pilots will choose a task or open distance to fly each day. Scores for all predetermined tasks will be posted so you can easily see how much each flight is worth. Predetermined goal, out and back and triangle tasks will be weighted to reflect their increased difficulty. Partially completed goal, out and back and triangle tasks will be scored as open distance, but with a factor to handicap the more difficult return legs.

We will have tasks designed for hang 2s, hang 3s and advanced pilots to choose from. Scoring will be self reported on line and automated with easy log ins. Scoring will be run by the honor's system like everything we do with the Tree Toppers. Jeff Nibler will adapt a scoring program to help us with this new contest. Rapidly updated announcements of weekend winners and total standings for the year long contest will be available on our website! Soon we should be able to score and post it from the TTT clubhouse. Many TTT members have pledged money to get an internet connection going there!

TTT is doing this in addition to the Team Challenge and Mayhem Fly In. As we develop the tasks and handicaps, we will report this on our club's group forum called Flymail. Of course we will need volunteers for these events. All volunteers interested in helping us out are encouraged to chime in and assist us in the development of the next great TTT contribution to our sport! Check out what is going on at www.tennesseetreetoppers.org. We'll have the rules, tasks and Google Earth map of the valley and turn points up soon!

It will be a blast! Thanks to Barry Klein and Jeff Nibler for helping me brainstorm! I can't wait for it to start

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2009 Team Challenge

October 6, 2009, 8:13:30 PDT

2009 Team Challenge

The last three days

Davis Straub|Dennis Pagen|Foundation for Free Flight|Jim Lamb|Lookout Mountain Flight Park|Malcolm Jones|Mark Stump|Mike Barber|photo|Steve Kroop|Tennessee Tree Toppers|Tennessee Tree Toppers Team Challenge 2009|Tom Lanning|video|weather

Brandon DeKock <<bkdekock>> sends:

http://hickarus.blogspot.com

Here’s the report from Thursday at the Tennessee Tree Toppers Team Challenge. I want to cover something very important before I get into the day’s flying activities. An important announcement was made by the Foundation for Free Flight, represented by Randy Leggett. The FFF will be giving out five scholarships for pilots to next year’s TTT Team Challenge. The TreeToppers will be choosing the recipients for the scholarships.

The TTT believes that competitions of this type are a great benefit to the sport and think there should be more of them around the country. Thus, scholarship selection will be based mostly on the applicant’s plan and ability to encourage fun educational events similar to the Team Challenge in their local area. Documents describing how the TTT Team Challenge meet is run are available on the tree toppers web site (www.treetoppers.org).

Onto the flying: There was SE flow very early gong SW (parallel to valley) by noon so we headed to the Whitwell launch. The winds were light at launch and Dennis Pagen put on a short “how to launch here today” clinic for those who felt an ounce of prevention and knowledge is worth 45 pounds of bent aluminum.

The launch window opened at 12:45 and a few folks went but there was a mass exodus starting around 1:30 because it looked like there was potential for it to cross up or blow down and become unlaunchable. The lift at the ridge was weak and coming up in small, short-lived bubbles. At times there was a bit of a disorganized bar fight on the ridge, and it was only mitigated by the fact that most folks couldn’t stay up very long. Most pilots who couldn’t find anything to travel with chose to land in the Church LZ, the primary for the site. I didn’t count just how many topless gliders landed at the church, but it looked like more landed there than got up and landed further along the course.

Of course, a few pilots got up and away. No C pilots made the C goal (Galloway airport, about 11 miles downwind). One B pilot, Bryon Estes, made the B goal (Whitwell to Galloway for 11 miles, then another 4 miles downwind and across the valley to Henson's Gap LZ). Only one A pilot, Tom Lanning of Team Aerosnauts, made the A goal (Whitwell to Galloway to Henson’s, then back upwind to Galloway). Just to make the rest of us feel better, Tom admitted it was challenging most of the way. To make us feel worse he let us know it was hard to get down at Galloway at the end of the course.

The evening activities included giving out some of the awesome stuff generously donated by our sponsors (in no particular order), Steve Kroop of FLYTEC, Kriag Coomber of Moyes USA, Maui Jim Sunglasses, Davis Straub of the Oz Report, Jim Lamb of AIR ATOS, Red Bull, Rusty of Gunnison Gliders, SPOT GPS, ICARO, Matt Taber of Lookout Mountain Flight Park, Malcolm Jones of Wallaby Ranch, and Greenlife Grocery.

I’ve also included some photos from the day’s flying. There’s two depicting the barfight on the ridge to get up, one of Matt Dittman getting ready to hang check, one of Erin Rapacki holding her glider’s nose, and one of Leigh Sheridan showing off her hang glider necklace while stuffing battens. Thanks, Brandon DeKock

Friday we had rain and lots and lots of seminars! The weather forecasting seminar made many fall asleep and a few cry. We also had cross country landing fields and how to pick 'em, launch technique and then video launch clinic. We snuck in a few landing videos as well to stimulate discussion of landing techniques. Earlier in the week pilots enjoyed the hands on exercises of gps/flight computer geo cache racing (which was won going away by the comp pilots with Flytec 6030s and a thermal etiquette exercise that was pretty kooky, but effective for pilots who don't have a lot of gaggle time.

Saturday we had a bit too much wind to call tasks for the C's so we gave 'em more seminars. We wrapped it up with a round table question and answer seminar that I thought was very valuable. We simply asked the pilots what they wanted to hear about, then created a list on the dry erase board! The panel of experts knocked 'em off one by one! This gave us time to fill in the gaps left in some of the lectures and get a feel for what we'll need next year.

Whew! It was a lot of fun and intense learning. I'm sure it was the most comprehensive week of hang gliding education on the planet in 2009! We celebrated everyone's great success with a fine meal and party with a DJ, karaoke and a Tara Murphy to entertain us. The awards ceremony was a lot of fun and every pilot attending received gifts and prizes donated by our sponsors.

Unfortunately the weather was below par for TC this year, leaving us with only three days with called tasks, but we held so many excellent seminars, video launch clinics and soaring exercises that the time flew past! Pilots flew on 5 of the 7 days. I continue to learn new information at every Team Challenge. I've been a student of hang gliding for a long time and nothing comes close to this educational experience. Our C and B pilots were awed by this incredible opportunity to learn from the best teachers in hang gliding! I heard some pilots talking about the feeling of Team Challenge, "Its like a fun sports camp for grownup kids." Many thanks to Dennis Pagen, Mike Barber, Tom Lanning, Mark Stump and all the others for helping us understand our sport better!

We had another great year! We are working right now to make it even better next year!

Erin Rapacki

Leigh Sheridan

Matt Dittman

bar fight

2009 Team Challenge

Day One

2009 Team Challenge

September 27, 2009, 9:25:49 pm MST

A.I.R. ATOS VR|Bill Watters|Dave Hopkins|Dennis Pagen|Jim Lamb|Mark Stump|Mike Barber|Oliver Gregory|Tennessee Tree Toppers|Tennessee Tree Toppers Team Challenge 2009|Tom Lanning|video

oliver gregory <<olliettt1955>> writes:

The morning was beautiful with the valley filled with clouds. The view from the ramp is always so beautiful here.

The forecast was for ridge soaring conditions and good lift to cloud base at 5000' msl. We were concerned that it might be rough. By the time the launch window opened, we had nice west northwest winds and a sky streeted with cumulus clouds.

Since this was our first day, the task committee chose a simple task to Dr Dales for C pilots, Dr Dales and back to Henson's for B's and Dr Dales, Henson's and back to Dr Dales for the A's. It was not a gimme task for any of us since the task went cross wind to the cloud streets and there was enough sink between the streets to make the ridge lift fade out. We had lots of pilots into their goals, so everyone seemed pleased.

We have 40 pilots and 8 teams from all over. More on this later. We are waiting for some of the TTTers at Santa Cruz Flats Race in AZ to join us and take advantage of Mike Barber's coaching for the rest of the week.

It was a fun day with none of the rough stuff until time to land when the wind was switchy and made for some interesting landings. After we loaded up and returned to Henson's Gap, hungry pilots enjoyed fabulous hearty soup made by Wanda DeBerger and Dick Heckman. We did our debriefing and heard a great talk from Mark Stump on how we choose to fly.

Provisional scores are: In first place Team Area 51 lead by Jim Lamb on the Atos VRQ. In second place is Kinghts in White Dacron with Dave Hopkins on an ancient Atos. In third place is Team Acrosnats, lead by Tom Lanning on his Litespeed RS. In forth is Team Ooooos lead by yours truly on my VR. In fifth Team Xplorers Xc Xceptional lead by Dennis Pagen on his Lightspeed, but one of his pilots hasn't pinned in yet, so they may jump to first place when that happens. Team Tow Heads are lead by Miller Stroud on a VQ. Team 4Fs is lead by Bill Watters, and finally, Team Tree Topplers is lead by Jeff Laughrey and Steve Larson.

Our team of Cliff Rice, Leigh Sheridan, Jerry Keller, Barry Klein and myself had radio problems so only Jerry was talking to me. Mike Barber was helping out as a free flier today and did a good job with the only Ooooo, besides me, to have a working radio. We are all ham operators! Why would our radios let us down? As my buddy Mark Stump says, "Ya got radios, ya got radio problems." Anyway all the C's with radio problems made goal. I couldn't get out of there and landed with them. It was a fun day. Our team was very happy as 2 of our pilots had their first XC today!

We start video for the launch clinic tomorrow and will have that clinic going soon. High winds are predicted, but we had much lighter winds than predicted today. We have a blogspot for our scores http://hickarus.blogspot.com

Team Challenge slots available

September 6, 2009, 1:31:56 pm MDT

Team Challenge slots available

Fly with Dennis Pagen

Dennis Pagen|Jim Lamb|Kevin Carter|Mark Stump|Mike Barber|Ollie Gregory|Tennessee Tree Toppers|USHPA|video

Ollie Gregory <<olliettt1955>> writes:

Dennis Pagen is team leader without a team. We have 4 slots from recent cancellations, so register now and have a week with Dennis Pagen as your A+ team leader and coach! His team has won in the past, so come and learn from the number one hang gliding author on the planet. This years clinic agenda is packed with talks from Mike Barber, Dennis Pagen, Jim Lamb, Mark Stump, Kevin Carter and others. We are going to focus on very practical skills and basic XC knowledge again this year. We will have our super successful video launch and landing clinics with every launch and landing we can capture is reviewed by the experts. Dennis wants to focus on the Launch Clinic since that is an new interest for him. The video launch clinic improved my mountain launch technique 100% last year, and material from the clinic resulted in a wonderful article for the USHPA magazine.

We will have clinics every night except party nights. On night we will go to a local restaurant for hang gliding parody song night with the best parody song winning nice prizes. Don't worry, I have some local singing talent to bail us out so we won't have to listen to Dennis Pagen and Dick Heckman sing all night. At this point we have about $2000 in prizes donated to the TTT cause, so don't miss out! A million thanks to all our sponsors!

Registration is easy, just go to our website and follow the links. At this late date, the registrations will only be held for those serious about coming for this great week of hang gliding and XC skills development. We need A B and C level pilots, so bring it on! Check out TTT's website for more information and read about Team Challenge on the Oz Report. www.tennesseetreetoppers.org

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Tree Toppers

May 26, 2009, 9:59:57 EDT

Tree Toppers

The Newsletter.

Tennessee Tree Toppers

http://www.tennesseetreetoppers.org/branches/TTT Newsletter June 2009 RevB.pdf

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Team Challenge Registration is open

April 13, 2009, 8:29:17 EDT

Team Challenge Registration is open

The stepping stone to competition

Dennis Pagen|Jim Lamb|Kevin Carter|Lookout Mountain Flight Park|Mike Barber|Oliver Gregory|Tennessee Tree Toppers|USHPA|video

http://www.tennesseetreetoppers.org/tc_re.asp

http://www.tennesseetreetoppers.org/

Oliver Gregory «olliettt1955» writes:

The Tennessee Tree Toppers Hang Gliding Club (TTT) is pleased to inform you that registration is now officially open for Team Challenge 2009 (TC09). Everyone interested should check out our site at www.tennesseetreetoppers.org and get registered as soon as possible. We expect registration to fill up quickly. TC09 starts with onsite registration on Saturday, September 26TH. TC09 will start the day after the Lookout Mountain Flight Park's Women's Flyin which is scheduled for September 24th through September 26th. TC09 begins Sunday, September 27TH and ends with a great party Saturday October 3RD. Hopefully many of the Women's Flyin participants will join us for TC09. TC09 will be held at the TTT's Henson's Gap site and campground that is only 32.5 air miles to the north of LMFP.

For our TC09, TTT will keep the emphasis on safety and quality hang gliding education with a multi media teaching format, nightly seminars by the experts and video launch and landing clinics. We'll have great food and great camping at our Henson's Gap site. Of course we'll have a fun party and awards ceremony to wrap it up. The exceptionally effective video launch and landing clinics are going to continue again this year so bring your video cameras to help out. We have several former world team members including Mike Barber, Kevin Carter, Dennis Pagen, Jim Lamb and Terry Presley presenting and coaching at our seminars and clinics.

We have two classes this year. Of course we'll continue with our super successful Team Challenge format that is designed to help up and coming XC pilots advance their skills.

The TTT require membership in USHPA or foreign equivalent, full membership in the TTT, and a minimum hang 3 rating with solid foot launch, cliff launch, thermal soaring and landing skills to participate in the TC09. Each team of five will be lead by one or two "A" pilot mentors who will encourage and hopefully escort their less experienced team mates to goal. We handicap scores based on pilot experience and wing performance. "A" pilots are very experienced XC pilots capable of lending wisdom and guidance to their peers. "B" pilots have a little XC flying experience, but will gain additional confidence and expertise with help from their expert leaders. "C" pilots are capable pilots with solid launching, landing and thermal soaring expertise, but have never put it all together to go XC.

Our handicapped scoring format is evolving too. TTT board member Jeff Nibler has written a neat program for us that automatically normalizes each A, B and C task to a score of 100, and multiplies by the wing performance factor to equalize the playing field for everyone.

We'll call tasks that handicap for pilot experience. "A" pilots will fly a long and challenging task that overlaps (sometimes several times) the "C" and "B" pilots courses so they may assist their mates. "B" pilot courses are of moderate length and challenging enough to keep 'em interested. "C" pilots will fly easy tasks that serve to build confidence and get them familiar with navigating to and landing in new fields. Once the "A's" have dropped off their charges, they'll go on to complete their more challenging task. "A" pilots receive big bonus points for directly assisting their mates to goal so it "pays" to stick with the less experienced pilots and help as much as possible.

The latest evolution of our teaching meet is the Gettin' Ready to Race Class. TTT created this class to help pilots who are interested in moving up to the XC racing competitions. The Gettin' Ready to Race Class will be a high level learning experience with Mike Barber and Kevin Carter providing the leadership. Kevin and Mike will have 4 pilots each to instruct on the ground and in flight. They will focus on efficient XC flying with added emphasis on start circle staging, on the course strategies, and final glide tactics to get their charges ready to race XC. This class will be scored as Kevin and Mike choose, but will not be scored against the standard Team Challenge pilots. However, the Team Challenge pilots filling the sky will serve as convenient thermal markers for our budding racers! The "Gettin' It Class" will be the most fun, intense and rewarding learning experience for up and coming XC racers in the US this year! This class will cost a bit more, but the "Racers" will be getting a week of coaching from Mike Barber and Kevin Carter along with some perks in the staging line for launch. It is one of the best values in hang gliding instruction ever!

TTT encourages everyone to join us for this great event. We will have free flying before and after the launch windows for the Team Challenge. All TTT members are welcome to participate in any or all of our wonderful seminars and join us for the award ceremonies and party. Check out old Oz Reports of recent Team Challenges for more information. This is the best learning experience for the up and coming hang glider pilot in the US. So don't miss it!

In addition to our revolutionary scoring processes, strong focus on safety, world class pilot mentors and famous radial launch ramp, this year we are looking forward to having some special sponsorships allowing for door prizes, raffle items and registered pilots gift bags. Specifics about our generous sponsors will soon be provided.

Tennessee flying

March 26, 2009, 5:05:28 pm EDT

Tennessee flying

It was good last weekend

James Stinnett|Ollie Gregory|Tennessee Tree Toppers|weather

Ollie Gregory «olliettt1955» writes:

The dry spring has been gifting us with some wonderful flying in the Sequatchie Valley. James Stinnett and I did a fun 100K triangle Sunday. We were getting to 8000'AGL with solid 500fpm climbs and made it back against some stiff winds.

The weather is so nice now. If the dry spring continues, the TTT's Mayhem Flyin is gonna be epic!

Discuss Tennessee flying at the Oz Report forum   link»

Tennessee Tree Toppers Mayhem Flyin

March 19, 2009, 8:35:46 EDT

Tennessee Tree Toppers Mayhem Flyin

Memorial Day

calendar|Ollie Gregory|Tennessee Tree Toppers|weather

Ollie Gregory «olliettt1955» writes:

Mayhem Flyin with the Tennessee Tree Toppers will take place over the Memorial Day Weekend. We'll have a covered plate dinner Saturday evening May 23rd and Flyin stuff to do Saturday thru Monday May 25th. Locals will have daily weather reports and some fun things to do for pilots coming to enjoy Tennessee Tree Toppers' hospitality and the Sequatchie Skies.

Tennessee Tree Toppers' Team Challenge is scheduled to start Sunday September 27th and run through Saturday October 3rd. We will open registration in April. Look for information on the Oz Report and on the «TTTFlymail» discussion site. It's on the Oz Report calendar.

Discuss Tennessee Tree Toppers Mayhem Flyin at the Oz Report forum   link»

Tennessee Tree Toppers support the US National team

March 17, 2009, 9:26:27 EDT

Tennessee Tree Toppers support the US National team

A club that has its act together

Ollie Gregory|Tennessee Tree Toppers

Ollie Gregory «ollieTTT1955» writes:

http://www.tennesseetreetoppers.org/

I just got home from the Tennessee Tree Toppers board meeting. Tennessee Tree Toppers is the greatest club on the planet! The Tennessee Tree Toppers board voted to contribute to the US National Team fund! We collected donations from the usual suspects and some from our general fund. Expect a check soon for the sum of $500! Board member Jeff Nibler also put a link on our website to encourage Tree Toppers surfing our site to donate to the US National Team. The Tennessee Tree Toppers is behind you guys and wishes you all the best as you represent us this year!

Discuss Tennessee Tree Toppers support the US National team at the Oz Report forum   link»

Tennessee Tree Toppers »

March 6, 2009, 8:16:18 CST

Tennessee Tree Toppers

Their newsletter

Keith Atkins|photo|Tennessee Tree Toppers

Buddy Cutts|Keith Atkins|photo|Tennessee Tree Toppers

Keith Atkins «bluemonkeyglider» writes:

The first issue of the Branches Newsletter for 2009 is now loaded on our homepage and ready for download courtesy of our web master, Buddy Cutts. I want to thank all the authors and photographers that made this issue possible; it's another great one! Like earlier issues, there are a variety of terrific articles and beautiful photos for your enjoyment. Go to: www.tennesseetreetoppers.org and click on the quick link "TTT Newsletter March 2009". This will load a PDF file you should be able to download and print. I recommend printing the newsletter in color for full effect. If you have any problem with the download, or know someone without internet access who needs a printed copy, send me an email. Please pay special attention to the list of our friends and sponsors on page 2 and show them your support with your purchases and letters of appreciation.

We have so many experienced and smart members who have valuable information and entertaining stories to tell. Please consider submitting an article for a future issue. Click the 'Newsletter' link on our homepage for details on the publication schedule, article/photo submission guidelines, and PDF files of prior Branches issues. We would appreciate you sharing this message with your hang gliding friends in other clubs around the country.

Discuss Tennessee Tree Toppers at the Oz Report forum   link»

2008 Team Challenge, Day 2

September 30, 2008, 4:00:19 pm MDT

2008 Team Challenge, Day2

Scratching

Dennis Pagen|Mike Barber|Oliver Gregory|Tennessee Tree Toppers|Tennessee Tree Toppers Team Challenge 2008

oliver gregory «olliettt1955» writes:

www.tennesseetreetoppers.org

http://lucasridley.blogspot.com/

We had a great talk on 'Scratchin' last night by Dennis Pagen and got to try some of it out today.

Tasks for C pilots was Henson's to Dr Dale's for 8.3 miles. The B's task was Henson's to Dr. Dales then turn into the light winds to goal at Galloway AP for 13.7 miles. The A's task was 25.54 miles from Henson's to Dr. Dales, on to Galloway, then Henson's and back to Dr. Dales. A's are always charged with the tough task of helping their C's and B's go XC!

It was a tough high pressure day with a slow start. High pressure kinda wait around day on launch with only bubbles for the birds and no one wanting to launch. Expert wind technician Greg Heckman couldn't get up initially. Eventually it got good enough for a few to start some climbs close to the LZ. After a few low saves and lots of weak climbs, it started looking like there was enough for people to give it a try.

Still was a tough day for some of the C level pilots to climb and many made more than one flight. Many, many soared. Several made their goals. I launched early and saved from over the LZ, then thermalled for almost 4 hours. It got good late. Top of the lift late was 8350 MSL or 6000' over take off.

Tonight, Mike Barber is giving us a great talk about Soaring and XC decision making with what we did today as fodder for discussion. Lots of great questions from excited pilots! FUN!

The TTT locals fed us till we are all about to pop with grilled chicken, pork ribs and loads of sides! Thanks Lee Team and everyone! Tomorrow looks like a lot of clouds, but west winds and decent early. May shut down early with a weak, almost dry frontal passage. After that we will fly till we're too sore to soar!

Tennessee Tree Toppers »

September 12, 2008, 4:50:49 pm MDT

Tennessee Tree Toppers

The October PDF newsletter is out

Keith Atkins

Keith Atkins «bluemonkeyglider» writes:

Thank you for the tie down straps. They arrived today.

The antennas work great and the sweat shirt will keep me warm at cloudbase. Cafe express lost my first sweat shirt shipment, but immediately sent another, at no charge, once I contacted them about it, great customer service!

Many thanks for your continued support of the Tree Toppers. I included a 'thank you' to you and your Oz Report in the 'Sponsors' list of the Tree Toppers' October issue of the newsletter. It is available for download from our web site: www.tennesseetreetoppers.org click on the October 2008 newsletter link.

Discuss Tennessee Tree Toppers at the Oz Report forum   link»

Team Challenge Update

June 24, 2008, 10:37:18 pm +0200

Team Challenge

It's full.

Dennis Pagen|Jim Lamb|Kevin Carter|Mark Stump|Mike Barber|record|Tennessee Tree Toppers|video|weather

Dennis Pagen|Jim Lamb|Kevin Carter|Mark Stump|Mike Barber|Oliver Gregory|record|Tennessee Tree Toppers|video|weather

oliver gregory «olliettt1955» writes:

After all the great feedback from Team Challenge 2007, we've enjoyed exceptional interest in our fall teaching meet this year. The Tree Toppers hope to outdo themselves with an even better experience this fall. Team Challenge will start Saturday September 27th with a pilot meeting at 7PM. The meet will start Sunday, September 28th and end Saturday, October 4th. We'll have a fun party mid week and a big awards dinner party at the end of the meet. We have an incredible line up of talent helping us with talks and workshops again this year.

Mark Stump will give his fabulous "Fly4Fun/Is It Safe" talk to start us off Saturday night. Mark's is my favorite hang gliding talk and will set the tone for the meet.

Dennis Pagen will present a "Video Launch Seminar", a "Gaggle Flying and Scratching" talk, and help with all our other seminars.

Jim Lamb will give us an "Essentials of Thermal Soaring" talk to help us stay airborne.

Terry Presley will give us a "Restricted Landing Field Technique Seminar" with video enhanced learning for when we venture from the nest.

Mike Barber will present his great "XC Decisions" talks, contribute to other talks and help out.

Kevin Carter will do his "Good Landing Techniques" and "XC Strategies" talks with video enhanced learning and everything else he does.

New Englander Lindsey Chew will do a "SeeYou Seminar" with Stan Roberts helping. We plan to download a team's GPS tracks and run them simultaneously on SeeYou over Google Maps to relive the "Thrill of Victory and Agony of Defeat" thing with the team that wins a good day. This will provide fodder for our panel of experts to comment on the flights.

We'll have a "Weather Talk for the Attention Deficit Disordered." No! I will never make anyone suffer through one of my weather talks again! This talk will be fast and furious weather for the point and clicker with help from Nate Newkirk, Jeff Nibler and me. We'll have hand outs! Nate and the gang have come up with some amazing stuff. It's guaranteed to blow your socks off!

OK! Lets count 'em! That's five Former US National Team Members, A World Record Holder, A World Champion, some New Englanders that talk funny, a couple of not too shabby old Arkansans and some incredibly talented up and coming pilots in this group.

NOW FOR THE BAD NEWS!

We haven't even tried to promote it and we are already full! We set up online registration a couple of months ago on our TTT website www.tennesseetreetoppers.org and were pleasantly surprised by the incredible interest. TC2008 filled with registered pilots a couple of weeks ago. Now we have an online waiting list at our website. Now we have an online waiting list at our website.

With all this interest, we will allow willing teams to have 6 or 7 pilots on the team for the same cost as a team of 5. This would be a cost of $550 to be shared among the pilots. Only 5 pilots from a team will be allowed to compete each day due to setup and launch area restrictions. At least one "A pilot" team leader must fly every day to lead their teams! Teams bigger than 5 will decide which pilots will fly or drive each day. All pilots must be members of the TTT to participate. Teams already registered should contact me if they are interested in adding extra members.

Slots will open up, so keep checking in. We have accepted registrations without payment to hold slots. On July 15th, pilots who have not sent in their checks for registration will be dropped off our list so more slots may open then. We'll make an announcement on the Oz Report and the TTT website when slots open up.

Team Challenge 2007 was a fantastic success for all who participated and TC2008 will be even better. The early fall weather is great for flying, camping and hanging out in the Sequatchie Valley of Eastern Tennessee. This is a beautiful place with lots of friendly people who are all jazzed about hang gliding. We welcome pilots to join the Tree Toppers and participate in the great experience as volunteers, wind technicians, drivers and merry makers for the first Team Challenge with our Revamped Radial Ramp! Visit our site at www.tennesseetreetoppers.org

Keep checking in for the slots to open. I'm looking forward to all the fun and learning. Can't wait!

Actually it was promoted, in the Oz Report.

Discuss Team Challenge at the Oz Report forum   link»

Henson's Gap⁣ Ramp Update

Mon, May 5 2008, 8:46:22 am EDT

Gap News

Ramping up

Jim Lamb|Oliver Gregory|Tennessee Tree Toppers|USHPA

Oliver Gregory «olliettt1955» writes:

Our Tennessee Tree Topper Revamp the Ramp project is going great. The decking on the new radial steel structure is almost finished. People say it looks like a cathedral from underneath. It is incredible. We are truly proud and honored that so many people helped out. We'll soon have it all done except for the ceremonial last board! The final board will be put in place by Jim Lamb our most illustrious benefactor! After all, this project was Jim's idea from the very beginning! When Jim puts down the last board, he'll have the official first launch off TTT's newly recreated Henson's Gap Radial Ramp! Then we'll party!

MAYHEM MINI MEET AND FLYIN REMINDER:

TTT is also hosting a low key XC meet and Fly In for the weekend of Memorial Day. Registration will take place at Friday at 6PM on 5/23 and continue on the morning of 5/24. The meet will run from Saturday 5/24 thru Monday 5/26.

This will be a low cost meet with Team Challenge like handicapped tasks. We'll also have fun spot landing and drop streamer bomb drop contests. The gliders and pilots will be handicapped in the same format as the Team Challenge so everyone has a shot at winning! We'll have prizes for the winners. To enter the XC contest, you must be a current TTT and USHPA member with a Hang 3 level rating, mountain cliff launch and thermal soaring experience. Hang 2 Tree Toppers may participate in the bomb drop and spot landing contests.

The cost of the XC contest will be $25. The bomb drop and spot landing contests will cost $10 to enter. Pilots may participate in all three contests. We'll give every pilot who enters the bomb drop contest a personalized Arkansas Drop Streamer made by a real Arkansan, ME! We still need a few more volunteers to help out, but the volunteers can certainly fly in the meet. Volunteers should contact me at «olliettt1955»

Here's how it will work. We have preregistration up on a link from the www.tennesseetreetoppers.org site, so get on the list. The tasks will all be called to equalize the challenges for every skill level and glider performance with emphasis on fun and learning. We expect all of the tasks will be called to keep contestants in the Sequatchie Valley with the goals being TTT approved LZ's. Low pressure and fun is what you should expect. This will be a good warm up for those interested in flying The East Coast Championships in Ridgley MD and the TTT Team Challenge this fall.

The Tree Toppers will have a nice dinner on the Saturday the 24TH. . We'll have a covered plate dinner provided by the local TTT supporters and anyone who can help with a dish. The Mayhem Mini Meet tasks and Fly In fun will work up hearty appetites!

There will be other fun things to do for pilots and friends too. Camping is free for Tree Toppers and their friends at the Henson's Gap site with nice bath and shower facilities and our club house. We expect to have wireless inter-net connection available too. All proceeds will go toward the TTT's many projects including the Revamp the Ramp Project and the Landing Field Fund. It's gonna be a blast! I'll be flying in it!!!!

Stay tuned to the Oz Report for updates and check out our website at www.tennesseetreetoppers.org for even more info on Tree Topper events like Team Challenge 2008.

Discuss "Henson's Gap⁣ Ramp Update" at the Oz Report forum   link»  

TTT Mayhem Mini Meet

April 1, 2008, 7:13:13 pm PDT

TTT

Mixing things up in the Sequatchie valley

Tennessee Tree Toppers|USHPA

Oliver Gregory|Tennessee Tree Toppers|USHPA

oliver gregory «olliettt1955» writes:

Hello Tree Toppers and flying friends, TTT is hosting a low key cross country meet and Fly In for the weekend of Memorial Day. Registration will take place at Friday at 6PM on 5/23 and continue on the morning of 5/24. The meet will run from 5/24 thru 5/26.

This will be a low cost meet with Team Challenge like handicapped tasks. We'll also have fun spot landing and drop streamer bomb drop contests. The gliders and pilots will be handicapped in the same format as the Team Challenge so everyone has a shot at winning! We'll have prizes for the winners. To enter the cross country contest, you must be a current TTT and USHPA member with a Hang 3 level rating. Hang 2 Tree Toppers may participate in the bomb drop and spot landing contests.

The cost of the cross country contest will be $25. The bomb drop and spot landing contests will cost $10 to enter. Pilots may participate in all three contests. We'll give every pilot who enters the bomb drop contest a personalized Arkansas Drop Streamer made by a real Arkansan, ME! We still need a few more volunteers to help out, but the volunteers can certainly fly in the meet. Volunteers should contact me at «olliettt1955».

Here's how it will work. We have online preregistration up on the www.tennesseetreetoppers.org site, so get on the list. Just go to the website, click on the link for Mayhem and sign up. The tasks will all be called to equalize the challenges for every skill level and glider performance with emphasis on fun and learning. We may have an open distance Saturday or Sunday if conditions are favorable, but expect most or all of the tasks to keep contestants in the Sequatchie Valley with the goal being the TTT LZ's. Low pressure and fun is what you should expect. This will be a good warm up for those interested in the Team Challenge this fall.

The Tree Toppers will have a nice dinner on the Saturday before Memorial Day. We'll have a covered plate dinner provided by the local TTT supporters and anyone who can help with a dish. With the Mayhem Mini Meet, we'll get to work up hearty appetites!

There will be other fun things to do for pilots and friends too. One will be the Calcutta Auction of Pilots for the XC contest with winning "owners" receiving valuable prizes. All proceeds will go toward the TTT's many projects including the Revamp the Ramp Project and the Landing Field Fund. It's gonna be a blast! I might be flying in it!!!!

Stay tuned to the Oz Report for updates and check out our website at www.tennesseetreetoppers.org for even more info on treetopper events like Team Challenge 2008.

Discuss TTT at the Oz Report forum   link»

The Ramp

February 16, 2008, 5:37:45 GMT+1100

Ramp

Fix the ramp

Keith Atkins|Ollie Gregory|Phil Brown|Tennessee Tree Toppers

Buddy Cutts|Keith Atkins|Ollie Gregory|Phil Brown|Tennessee Tree Toppers

Buddy Cutts|Keith Atkins|Oliver Gregory|Ollie Gregory|Phil Brown|Tennessee Tree Toppers

Buddy Cutts|Keith Atkins|Oliver Gregory|Ollie Gregory|Phil Brown|Steve Lee|Tennessee Tree Toppers

oliver gregory «olliettt1955» writes:

If you have ever flown from our great RAMP or ever hope to, we need your help now! Y'all send in the bucks! The Tree Toppers are fund raising to get our great radial ramp rebuilt. It is the most recognizable hang gliding launch in the world, but it needs a lot of work. We have accepted a bid to replace the old wooden trusses under the radial portion with rolled steel beams that will tie in with the present steel beams under the flat portion.

We need to replace the decking as well. The bid for the steel radial portion is $15,300. The decking will be about $3000 and TTT labor will replace the decking. Overall cost is projected to be $20,000. We are raising money, but still have a ways to go! We have many pledges, but need your checks! Here's a list of the Ramp Fund contributors who've sent in checks:

Steve Lee «tttprez» wrote: If you made a pledge to re-vamp the ramp but have not mailed your money yet, please send the funds now. The club has received donations from the following members:

  • Ollie Gregory (BOD member)
  • Buddy Cutts (BOD member)
  • Jeff and Allie Dodgen (BOD members)
  • Steve and Kathy Lee (BOD members)
  • Keith Atkins (BOD member)
  • Steve (Flytec) Kroop (member)
  • Nate Newkirk (member)
  • Ray Helman (member)
  • Terry and Linda Presley (members)
  • Donald Banas (member)
  • Phil Brown (member)
  • Kinsley Sikes (member)
  • Tom Primavera (member)

Show your support for the #1 club in America by sending your donation to: Re-vamp the ramp: TTT, PO Box 1286, Dunlap,TN, 37327, Attention Bill Colvin (Interim Treasurer)

We need your help! You can send donations for the Revamp the Ramp project to the address on the TTT website. www.treetoppers.org or www.tennesseetreetoppers.org. We are about to pull the trigger on the construction and will need to cover the start up costs very soon. Thanks in advance for all your help. We are in need, but we know our flying friends will help us get this great job done!

Click here to donate whatever you can: donate

You can go to the website, or send checks marked for the TTT Ramp Fund to TTT Attention Bill Colvin interim treasurer PO Box 1286 Dunlap, TN 37327

Come join us for our Mayhem Mini Meet with Team Challenge like tasks, Arkansas Drop Streamer contests, spot landing contests and a great covered dish dinner provided by the locals. We'll have great prizes for the winners and costs will be nominal ($25 to enter). All proceeds will go toward furthering our many projects to promote hang gliding at the #1 hang gliding club in America! Look forward to more information on Tree Topper activities soon.

The Oz Report has sent $200 to the fund.

Discuss Ramp at the Oz Report forum   link»

Help rebuild the ramp at ⁢Henson's Gap

Wed, Jan 30 2008, 12:55:44 pm MST

Rebuild Ramp

"Purchase" one board at a time.

Jim Lamb|Oliver Gregory|Steve Kroop|Tennessee Tree Toppers|weather

http://www.treetoppers.org/

Oliver Gregory «olliettt1955» sends:

The Tennessee Tree Toppers are beginning a fund raising project to revamp the famous Radial Ramp at our Henson's Gap site which was originally built way back in 1986. It was carefully designed to promote smooth air flow and ease of launch with LOTS of vertical dive room. It is still beautiful, but getting old! The ramp had a decking face lift many years ago, but the time has come for a major makeover of this hang gliding icon.

The radial section of the ramp is supported by wooden trusses. These will soon need replacement and the planking is quite weather worn though solid for the time being. The initiator of this effort is our fellow Tree Topper Jim Lamb of A-I-R USA. Jim was one of our great team leaders during the 2007 Team Challenge. During a pleasant dinner out one night, several Tree Toppers were talking about how much the TTT club meant to the hang gliding community and lamenting about how tight our funds are for just keeping up with the basics. We were hoping the Team Challenge would help our bottom line which it did to the tune of a little over $1000 net profit. The TTT net profit for the year of 2007 was just a little over $3000, half of which goes, according to our bylaws, into our LZ fund for purchase of a landing field at our Whitwell site.

Anyway, Jim wisely reminded us of our responsibility to maintain what we have. He strongly suggested we focus on fixing up the ramp to tip top condition with any funds we could raise. Then he generously offered to match our fund raising efforts! What a guy!

Early bids for replacing the wooden radial trusses with steel beams and new concrete foundations comes to around $15,000! The steel beams under the flat part of the ramp are still in good shape. We have yet to get estimates for the cost of replacing the decking, but expect that to be in the several thousand dollar range. A TTT board committee is being created to supervise this important project. At this point, we would like your help to promote our "Revamp the Ramp" fund raiser kickoff.

We are CALLING ALL TREE TOPPERS and all who love hang gliding to help by donating to our REVAMP THE RAMP fund. We have been selling "Planks" and have many generous donors so far including Mike Nash for 10 of the $100 planks and Steve Kroop of Flytec for 6 of the $100 planks. Many others have donated items and pledged their efforts to make this work, but we have a very long way to go.

If you would like to help with this great project at the "Hang Gliding Capitol of the East", please check out our website at www.treetoppers.org for information on how to donate. We hope to raise enough funds to complete the project before Team Challenge 2008 which starts September 28th.

Thanks for all your help with this. I'll attach a photo or two that would be nice to include in this announcement. Again, we at the Tennessee Tree Toppers thank you for all the help in promoting this and want to thank all those who have contributed already and all those who pledge donations or efforts toward this necessary project. The original Wooden Radial Ramp at Henson's is one of the most recognizable hang gliding symbols in the country. Let's preserve it!

Discuss "Help rebuild the ramp at ⁢Henson's Gap" at the Oz Report forum   link»  

Tennessee Tree Toppers - record setting »

October 16, 2007, 11:44:02 EDT

TTT

Stan and Dave go far

Dave Hopkins|record|Tennessee Tree Toppers|weather

Dave Hopkins|Oliver Gregory|record|Tennessee Tree Toppers|weather

Oliver Gregory «olliettt1955» writes:

On October 7th, Stan Roberts and Dave Hopkins had long flights off Henson's. It was launchable from both sides of the valley. The Lee Team launched from Whitwell a little late and got out about 45 miles. Stan and Dave launched early from Henson's at exactly the right time to get some big miles.

Sounds like Dave has a new record at about 135 miles! That is a great distance here since they had so many obstacles to dog leg around. Landed near my old home in Florence, Alabama! Hope they'll tell the tale soon, but from what Stan's wife Sandi is saying on the TTTFlymail on yahoogroups.com site, they were probably in the middle of a long retrieve. Stan was planning to break the new record on the 8th and Dave intended to defend it. Yes, it looked like record breaking weather again today for sure!

If it doesn't rain soon, these flying buddies from NY are gonna set some pretty high goals for the Lee team to chase! Sure hope they'll write their impressions of the meet and their great flights. Hope other clubs try out what the TTT pulled off this year. Sure was fun. Stan and Dave both talked about how much they were learning this week! Guess they are putting it to good use!

If other clubs would like to use the format for the scoring, the task committee and safety committee, they are welcome to pick it up from the www.Treetoppers.org site or from the TTTFlymail on yahoogroups.com site in the files.

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AIR ATOS VQ

He wants one.

VQ

October 15, 2007, 10:44:04 EDT

A.I.R. ATOS VR|Jim Lamb|Mark Stump|Tennessee Tree Toppers|weather

Mark Stump «mark489» writes:

Jim Lamb came down to the TTT Team Challenge and spent all week supporting the Atos pilots and anyone else that needed help. He brought the Atos VR and the new VQ. I have been looking forward to seeing what the latest wing out of Felix's brain would be.

Jim flew the VQ and stayed specked out all week. He let me fly it the last day of the meet which was the best weather with 500fpm up and sweet clouds at 6000+ AGL.

The VQ weighs 85 lbs, same as my V. Nice! On Jim's 7th time of setting it up he had it together in 10min and that's while answering a lot of questions.

The sail slides down the D-spars about 3' allowing the first 6 ribs to stay attached and you never need to open the sail in this area. It's super clean at this sail/flap junction.

You open up the trailing edge at the second to last rib opening and slide the tip tubes in. They have two ribs attached to them just like the VR. Plug in the tip wand that stays attached to the trailing edge. (super clean no opening for tip wand levers. Not needed.)

Go to the root and pull the sail toward the root with a long cord and pulley system. Simple, clean, quick.

Once it's together you place the root rings on the pins and cam one side in. Then zip it closed.

As you pull the sail to the root all the ribs swing into place along with the tip wand loading up. Too Cool!

The back half of the keel is now a carbon tube with the tail stand molded into it also. It's black and white and reminds me of a slick killer whale.

The static balance is neutral with the bags in the nose. Launch is easy.

The double spoilers like the VR are very far out. The roll rate is quicker and lighter than my V.

It's super stable in a wider range of bank angles. In a steep bank it stays put, not requiring any spoiler input to stay banked up or to keep it from steeping up.

It flies / thermals at least 5 mph slower than my V. I climbed turn for turn with Jim in his VR when we were together at the start. I did not see Jim again until we were at goal so I can't comment on the glide vs the VR. We went diving down to help our teammates. Huge FUN!

It glides good at 45mph with the flaps off. The flaps are the same width as the D-spar which makes them about half as wide as the ones on my V or the VR. They seemed to work just as good as the wide ones.

It lands really nice with a lower stall speed than my V and a wider flair window. It reminded me of landing the 2000 Atos, sweet, just walk it in.

I sort of wish I had not flown it because now, I want one really bad. It's the most "FUN" glider I have ever flown. Send Donations to: Mark Stump.

We've heard rumors of an AIR ATOS VQ accident in Germany within the last week, which the factory is checking out. If you know more about this please contact me at davis@davisstraub.com.

2007 Team Challenge, day 7

October 8, 2007, 10:02:04 PDT

Team Challenge

The weather gets good again

Bill Estes|calendar|Craig Stanley|Dave Hopkins|Dr. John "Jack" Glendening|Jim Lamb|Keith Atkins|Kevin Carter|Kraig Coomber|Lucas Ridley|Marc Fink|Mark Stump|Mike Barber|Ollie Gregory|PG|Rob Kells|scooter tow|Steve Kroop|Steve Prater|Tennessee Tree Toppers|Tennessee Tree Toppers Team Challenge 2007|video|weather

Various folks write:

Ollie, here. I’m sitting in my reclining chair on launch at Whitwell. We couldn’t have written a script for a better day. It’s 3 PM and friendly cummies are everywhere. The launch window is open till 5 PM. Winds are 8 to 12 straight in with nice thermal cycles blowing through. I’m hearing “bird right out front” from our launch crew.

The crew is launching the 5 or 6 pilots who missed it the first time. Everyone else is gone XC! There is a 10 point bonus for re-flying so our re-launchers can still make it to goal at Kimbal 13.6 miles away and actually score 10 more points than the guys who picked a bigger cycle earlier. The only penalty is setting up twice! I think any of the relights have a great shot of making it to goal.

Clark Harlow launched tandem with Peter Kane’s girlfriend Kathy about 2 hours ago and is still yo-yoing up to base at 3000’ above. It is an incredible day. The task committee thought the B’s and C’s should go to Kimbal Park and the A’s are going to come back to land at goal at the little airstrip in Dunlap for a total distance of 41.6 miles.

This morning we let the new weather geeks report the weather to the task committee with some help from the locals. I feared they had grossly overcalled the A+ and A task since winds were forecasted to be 16 knots and NE at cloud base starting at 2 to 3 PM. They were going to have to come right back into it. Now it looks like the day was under called. I’m glad it worked out that way since tonight we have the big party with hand made pizzas put together to order on site! Wow what a great last day!

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Now, it's 4PM and A’s are coming back over our heads and moving on toward goal at Dunlap International! Turns out that the cloud base head wind the local pilots forecasted was only about 9 mph and more east than northeast. I saw my best old buddy Mark Stump come over on the VQ Jim Lamb encouraged him to fly today! Made me grin!

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Now, it’s about 7PM and folks are rolling in to Henson’s with big grins on their faces and big appetites for the pizza that Lupi’s is cooking up for us right here tonight. We had an idea about how to report this thing. We are gonna ask pilots who flew or helped out to right a brief report on what they got out of this great week. Best learning experience I’ve ever been involved with for sure! I’m leaving the computer set up for people to have access and we’ll send it to you with some good pictures and stuff! Hopefully we’ll have a lot of good Oz Reporters!

I’m Ben de Garis. I launched my Moyes Litespeed from the Whitwell launch at approximately 12:45pm and quickly caught a thermal to the left of launch, which took me to 2700’ over the launch. Then I flew south 13.6 miles to the first turn point (Kimball, TN). I arrived at the Kimball turnpoint with 2600’ above. Then I worked UPWIND 25.1 miles to the designated goal of Galloway’s Airport to complete the task for the “A” (ranked) pilots. My airtime for this flight is 3.5 hours and 37.2 miles. My total air time for the event is 7.5 hours and a total of 96 miles!

This is my first competition and my first time to complete a task and make goal! I have enjoyed the TTT Team Challenge more than any other Hang Gliding Vacation I’ve taken in 32 years of flying. The seminars from the world class pilots have been very educational.

K. Dawkins here.This is my first year to fly the TTT Team Challenge and it was very informative as far as safety, weather to fly, thermal clinics and general instruction in the art of XC, everything it was supposed to be!!! Learned more this week than in the last five years, even though I read all the articles I can get my hands on. They are great, too, but this puts them into practice and perspective. Thanks to Ollie, Steve, Kathy, James Anderson and EVERYONE who helped out.

My name is Eric Donaldson. I just got back to camp after an amazing flight. 37 miles, most of it into the wind. As I flew back over launch on my way to goal I noticed people standing around so I yelled YEE-HAWWW I LOVE HANG GLIDING. I heard a few people yell back. I think that sums up the feeling I have. Team Challenge is a great event and every year I learn more and more. We were fortunate to have some of the world’s best pilots here to fly and share their knowledge. Life is good.

Dan T here. Ollie taught us how to read Dr. Jacks and Skew Ts. Kevin Carter taught us how to land. The sky taught us a little humility and the Tennessee Tree Toppers taught us the meaning of Southern Hospitality. A great time was had by all. Thanks everyone.

W. Jordan here. This has been a wonderful week. We flew Whitwell the whole time. Thanks to all the sponsors for the generous items that were handed out daily for individual accomplishments. If you are thinking about attending something like this, do it. You will learn more in a week than you can imagine is possible. I’m grateful for my trusty Flytec 3010 and Wills Wing U-2 for delivering me to goal at Kimball Park Tuesday. Barron helping from above on his ATOS helped out also. Thanks to all the Tree Toppers for putting something like this on.

J. Nibler here. I came, I flew XC, I learned so much. If these were held monthly, I’d find a way to get the time off at any cost. I can’t recommend this event enough to anyone interested in learning to increase their soaring abilities or learning to XC. Thanks to everyone who helped us new guys and a HUGE thanks to Ollie who really made this event shine. Can’t wait till next year!

S. Prater here. This is my third time at Team Challenge but the first year to take part. I’m a low time H3 and the last day of TC I was able to put all of the teaching from the fantastic people here into play. I got high and went far. Flew to goal…WOW, my first XC. When I arrived I couldn’t believe that I was the first there. I was greeted by a crowd of people with food and drink. And now I'm a rock star because one of the kids asked for my autograph!! Incredible week. Incredible people. Good and friendly people in the valley. Yall come now ya hear.

Mark Stump, Arkansas Air Hogs here. What a great week of learning and flying. I have been flying since 1975 and to spend a week trying to help new pilots go XC has been as hard, frustrating and rewarding as flying any task at any meet I have ever flown. I learned a lot from the nightly seminars with Kevin Carter and Mike Barber that will help me fly better and safer. Jim Lamb was living on the edge by letting me fly the best day of the meet on his new ATOS VQ. Light, fast, best sink rate and lands like a dream. Thanks Jim, now I got to go back to work.

The Tree Toppers have the formula for the best learning experience for all new pilots to learn how to fly XC safely. Ollie Gregory is the best supporter of hang gliding I know. Thanks for all your hard work.

Cathi Hayes aka IdreamOfFlying here.This was my first trip to the Team Challenge and it exceeded my expectations. I am a Hang 2 pilot that attended as a supporter and driver…hoping to get a little foot launch experience and learn as much as I could from others. The last day of the meet was unforgettable…I had the opportunity to foot launch at Whitwell tandem with Clark Harlow.

We launched at about 1:30 pm EST and flew for over and hour and a half! We did not have a vario and my camera’s SD card filled up with video and stopped, so we don’t have an exact time on the flight.

The conditions were awesome!!!! Every time we thought we would have to pick a landing site, another thermal would come greet us with sweet lift. How could we resist so much lift? We finally spiraled down to land since I was the designated driver…oops! for the Pig Sticker’s today.

Thank you to Clark for the great thermaling lesson!!!! Everyone that participated in the Team Challenge did an awesome job! Everyone was friendly and eager to help other pilots learn. A huge thanks goes to Ollie for all of his hard work! Team Challenge will be on my calendar next year.

Richard Milla, North Texas Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (Fort Worth TX, via London, England) here. TTT TC 2007 rocks! First time. What a fantastic event. So much experience to learn from here and the most wonderful willingness to share it all, it’s amazing. I even learnt how to get my tip wands in and out easily – thanks to Air Hogs Keith and Steve for that. Mega thanks to Kevin Carter for tuning my glider. 6.5 miles worth of tuning today – my first XC in a hang glider! You the man, Kevin; big thanks also to Wills Wing and Flytec for helping Kevin so he can help the rest of us. And huge, huge thank you to all the volunteers, especially Doc Ollie. If you wanna improve your flying, come to TTT TC 2008.

Barron McKinley. Arkansas Air Hogs. here. TTT Team Challenge 2007. What a great vacation! This has been my greatest Hang Gliding vacation of all time. 5 out of 7 flying days. Awesome weather. All down time was spent learning about XC, thermaling, weather, and safety. Great food and great camaraderie. Thanks to the Tennessee Tree Toppers for putting on such an excellent event, and a special thanks to Ollie Gregory.

What a great day to end a fantastic week of fun and learning at this year’s team challenge! Mark Stump is my friend and a friend to everyone who knows him. He escorted me on my first XC attempt and cut the apron strings to known LZ’s when I wasn’t looking. If he’d had a tow rope he’d have pulled me across the gap to goal. Kevin Carter tuned my U2 and transformed it from a Sherman tank to a Ferrari with power steering. Special thanks go to my friend Ollie Gregory for making this meet such a success. Keith Atkins, Memphis, Arkansas Air Hogs

Great air Great valley Great times Clark Harlow transplanted Floridian

What an awesome event! As a C pilot, and a new H3 I have learned so much in such a short time from some of the best! And I have increased my flight time by ¼ in just a week, and got my first XC flight, got to cloudbase for the first time, and soared the highest I ever have! A lot of personal bests!!! Met knew friends and became closer to those I already knew, I am looking forward to next year. Some highlights on the Pigsticker’s team was Eric Donaldson being the only kingposted glider making goal today, and the only other flex making it was a topless. Way to go Eric! Tuesday our team (Pigstickers) worked flawlessly together, staying in sight and radio contact, helping each other out, it was like no other kind of flying I’ve done – fun flying as a team. I hope every one pencils in next years Team Challenge, what a great event, loved flying with everyone. Big THANKS to Ollie! Pigsticker: Lucas Ridley Lucas is going to put a great video of his team together on Youtube soon.

TTT knows how to lead one great comp. I don’t know anyone that did not have fun. My team had pilots from all over – Virginia, Tennessee, Illinois, and Puerto Rico. There is no better way to get airtime, and learn from some of the best pilots in the world. What would be really great is to see similar events all over the country. This keeps interest and participation in the sport high, and is great for spectators. With the multiplication factor based on skill level and wing type, and a bonus for A pilots escorting beginners to goal, everyone has the chance to be a contributing member to their team. If you missed it this year, sign up early next year! It’s an event that should not be missed. Craig Stanley, Romantic Sheep BAAAA!e

ONE MORE ACCOUNT from just another monkey in the everyday: After six years of lump jumpin throughout Ohio, this northern fella came to this valley about 1980 to repair an old triangle wing (standard regallo) and was told “you can’t fly that thing here”. Little did I know what was in store for me. I was welcomed by most everyone in the area, given everything I needed to become an actual flying man! 10 or 12 years later I got the “LAZY” attitude for the string tow, thus leaving the mtn. Been doing it for the past 20+ years. Static, A-TOL, Trike, Tug, Scooter, and even light trike. You name it. I heard that there was going to be a XC talent based format at the Tree Topper site and could not, NOT! Make this scene. I have never in 33+ years of trying to pilot a hang glider had so much help to do just that. Though the team I was placed on did the point making, I was drug along with them to first place despite my poor performances. If you EVER wanted to do an XC flight….Think TTT!!!.......”TEAM CHALLENGE” They will get you there! Forget the BLUNDERING, start the MILES!! Primavera

In my 30+ years of flying and flying competitions, I have never witnessed a meet with more pilot involvement and cooperation. The interaction between team members as well as teams was nothing short of amazing. All of this in conjunction with fully attended informative seminars created a FUN learning experience. What a Concept! Way to go TTT. Mike Nash

It’s Ollie again at Team Challenge day after report. I’m little hang over after the great party! The most impressive thing I saw everyday, all week long was a willingness to help out, fix it, teach it and show you how to do it by all the pilots and volunteers. Right now the day after it ended, two of our super volunteers are helping me with all kinds of computer tricks. This would never have happened with out Alain and Candice Azurmendi! Thanks so much!

Here’s butt one more example of Stump helping some one out! He’s putting wire man hold downs on Jim Lamb’s VQ on the first day of the meet. Lamb paid him back a week later with a VQ flight on the best flying day of the meet. Now Stump’s gonna have to get a job! ARKANSAS AIR HOGS!!! What a great group of guys!

If you want to see some youtube of this great event here’s a great link

Team Challenge 2007 Whitwell, TN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leVLCY7fGik

Super C Lucas Ridley is planning to put a video of the Pig Stickers team flying XC on Youtube soon. I gotta stop writing and head home soon. Thanks Jackie for loving me and being so wonderful!

Oh Yeah! How did it all turn out? Who got what? Thanks WW and Rob Kells, Moyes USA and Kraig Coomber, LMFP and Matt Taber, North Wing, AIR USA and Jim Lamb, Ben DeGaris, and of course Flytec and the most generous man in hang gliding Steve Kroop for all the great stuff we got to pass out to the happy pilots. Jim Lamb donated a great GPS that went to our newcomer, and most talented C pilot Lucas Ridley of Lookout!

Our winners: In seventh place were the Leaky Radiators led by Jeff Laughery and Ben DeGaris as the A pilot mentors. On their team were Kelly Scroggins-C, Richard Milla-C and Tim Rhinesmith C.

The Arkansas Air Hogs took sixth place with A+ mentor Mark Stump and A pilot Barron McKinley at the helm. Walter Jordan-B was voted Most Helpful B Pilot. Steve Prater-C got his first XC. Keith Atkins-C was voted Most Helpful C Pilot. Their driver, Colin Hodsdon was given his Hang Driver 3 rating by Wayne Walker this week.

In fifth place were KC and the Sunshine Bandits lead by super-duper A++++ leader and mentor Kevin Carter. He led Keith Smith-B, Kevin Dawkins-C, and John Small-C.

Fourth place was taken by the Romantic Sheep, led by A pilot Marc Fink on the Attack Falcon. He was assisted by A pilot Bruce Engen who helped mentor the team of Dan Tomlinson-C, Craig Stanley-C and Edwin Ayala-C (from Puerto Rico!)

In third place were the Pig Stickers and Topless Dancer, led by Most Helpful A Pilot Eric Donaldson, who out flew every flexwing pilot except Kevin Carter. Eric is flying an old pink Airwave Concept with a right hand turn! He and Peter Kane-A lead their Pig Sticker buddies Alex Holstead-B, Lucas Ridley-C. They were chased by Hang 5 Driver Wayne Walker, the world’s most coveted hang gliding retrieval specialist.

Second place was taken by the E Team. A pilots Dave Hopkins and Stan Roberts battled it out all week for top dog and did an outstanding job of leading their C pilots Lindsey Chew, Bill Estes and Bryon Estes, the comp’s only father and son team.

And in first place by only a few points were the T-51’s lead by Jim Lamb of AIR USA and importer of the ATOS line. Jim was the team’s A+ pilot. Jim and Steve Larson-A, they lead and mentored their team of Tom Primavera-B and Jeff Nibler-C to victory by just 3 points! Shoulda done one more reflight Lindsey!

This was great fun. We’ll do it again next year! Ollie

2007 Team Challenge

October 4, 2007, 2:26:48 pm PDT

Team Challenge

Teams, teams, teams.

Craig Stanley|Dave Hopkins|Jim Lamb|Keith Atkins|Kevin Carter|Lucas Ridley|Mark Stump|Mike Barber|Oliver Gregory|Steve Lee|Steve Prater|Tennessee Tree Toppers|Tennessee Tree Toppers Team Challenge 2007|video|weather

oliver gregory «olliettt1955» writes:

I have an new respect for what it takes to get this stuff out after a long day. I'm tired but very pleased and happy to be involved with such an incredible bunch of volunteers and pilots. I have a few things attached and hope you can link them in. Jeff Nibbler has a C pilots report on yesterday with some pictures. Lucas Ridley has a YouTube video of his first ever XC where he made it to goal with his buddies helping him along and caught a quarry dust cloud explosion!

Sure are having fun here! It is impressive how smoothly things are going. We have a bunch of nice people all having a fun time and helping each other out. The seminars here have been truly exceptional with Mike Barber and Kevin Carter teaching our eager Cs, Bs and A pilots as much as they can absorb every evening.

We have a neat format with every team supplying task and safety committee members. Glider performance, pilot experience and number of team members are all weighted to keep the emphasis on A pilots helping the Bs and Cs get to goal. Local pilots just give the task guys the weather forecast, and suggest fun options to run. After a little discussion they choose what they want to do for a task and everyone gets going. It's been fun with good weather the first 3 days. See the Jeff Nibbler's report attached about day 3's task.

Today, day 4, we had an incredible Blipper forecast, but we saw lots of clouds to our south that looked like it could move to us and sure enough it did. We had a cloud deck with a few tiny holes move over us. Launch conditions were sweet, but it sure didn't look like a soaring day. Terry Presley (T2), Mike Barber (Litespeed S), Alain "Frenchie" Azurmendi (Talon) and Steve Lee on the VR were our super wind technicians. They proved it was soarable with a little ridge lift and soft thermals blowing through. Several teams got someone off with the E-Team launching their entire team, Kevin Carter launched with some of his guys and other teams sent a few competitors. The Cs and Bs that launched were smooth and generally making good decisions, but pilots that didn't hop on every opportunity to climb above the ridge in the light thermals were soon in the Whitwell LZ. Bryon Estes (E-Team) on an antique Ram Air made it out a few miles to score some XC points!

It was light conditions, but the lift was soft and friendly. We had sweet launch winds all day. Sure looked like fun till the cloud deck started dropping a patch of drizzle here and there. Mike, Terry and Steve went out to land at the Church LZ not wanting to land out and get wet, but wiley old Jim Lamb on that new beautiful VQ, wiley old Dave Hopkins on my first old ATOS, Stan Roberts on the Phantom, and Kevin Carter on the T2 hung on and moved away from the Whitwell launch area. There were very few holes in the cloud deck, but it was obvious that the deck was generally thin with only had a few scattered areas dropping the light drizzle. Unfortunately a couple of spots with the moist stuff lined up on launch and forced a lot of pilots to wait.

We have such a helpful group of pilots. While the little drizzle line moved through, Steve Larson noticed a problem with one launch assist loop on his Exxtacy. Mark Stump and a few others jumped on it and had a new system set up quickly. Steve finally launched ahead of the next line of drizzle and made it out 6 miles to land just past the Gaps to the north of Whitwell. There were more little wet patches scattered around here and there.

It seemed like it was all over, but it was better than it looked! We were all watching for a sign but it was almost completely overcast. However we heard from some of the big dogs on course that it was light and smooth, but doable. Eric Donaldson an A pilot on the Pig Sticker Team flying an old Concept got his guys motivated, and sure enough a few swallows started climbing right in front of launch. Eric, Alex Holsted (B) on an S2, Peter Kane (A) on his T2 and Lucas Ridley (C) on an UltraSport launched into some super smooth, super light air. Peter chose a little different line and ended up at the church LZ. Lucas missed a bump and had to leave his brothers and land at the church LZ. We all gazed in amazement as Eric and Alex flew smooth circle after smooth circle and moved very slowly down the ridge and out of sight. Sure looked like fun! Kinda looked like magic! Alex was really getting everything possible out of the S2, "I had the VG all the way on and heard the vario beep now and then, but it was the smoothest lift I've ever flown in!" Eric got only 4.6 miles out, but no one on launch (except maybe me!) Thought anything but a sledder was possible. Alex was milking everything and made it out 8.2 miles for a great score!

Meanwhile, the A pilot leaders who had survived long enough to watch their Bs and Cs land were moving on toward the first turnpoint to the north 11.5 miles away. Dave Hopkins landed at 7.5 miles. Stan Roberts on the Phantom landed at 9.6 miles. Kevin Carter was running with Jim Lamb with the VQ. Jim was a little higher and sitting pretty. Kevin said, "He took me along till the gaps, then left me in nursery school!" Kevin had a great flight and landed at 10.8 miles.

Jim was able to get out and ahead of the cloud deck. A few miles past the gaps he found some less shady and eventually partly sunny sky and nice lift in the 200 to 400 fpm range. He made it to Sandifer's field for a great flight of 33.6 miles. The day was over called by the task committee with goal for A's to come back from Sandifer's to Dunlap. Jim decided to land at Sandifer's rather than go back under the cloud deck. This was the B pilot goal called this morning when Dr Jack was making everyone think the day was gonna be incredible.

It was an incredibly fun day at the TTT Team Challenge!

Tonight we've enjoyed another great talk from Mike Barber. Kevin and Mike along with our local experts have been so generously sharing their knowledge! Incredible stuff every day so far!

After 4 fun days, here's how it stands. The Air Hogs from AR are in first place in the how much fun and how much can I help my buddies competition! Soooiee!!!

With the weighting for their 4 member team helping them, the T-51 team led by Jim Lamb and his super C pilot Jeff Nibbler are in first place! They've had only 3 pilots on day one and 4 pilots since then. We've tried to prorate for teams with fewer pilots which in some ways favor the smaller teams with a hot shot A+ pilot and a solid C pilot.

The second place E-Team has been flying well with As getting good scores on the first couple of days and Super C Byron Estes scoring every day. Their As were holding their own today.

Third place is the "Pig Sticker" team from Lookout. They are all king posted except Peter Kane on his T2. I don't think they have anything against the Air Hogs! . With only 4 pilots and super C Lucas Ridley kicking butt the prorating seems to be helping them too!

Forth place team is the Romantic Sheep lead by Mark Fink and his super C Craig Stanley.

In fifth place are the Leaky Radiators led by local Jeff Laughery on his Talon and Ben DeGaris on his Litespeed.

In sixth place are my favorite team the Arkansas Air Hogs. Mark Stump and Barron McKinley are helping Walter Jordan (B Pilot), Keith Atkins (C) and Steve Prater (C) get XC experience. Walter had his longest flight yesterday, flying 13.6 miles to GOAL!!! The day before the entire Air Hog team and their driver Colin Hodsdon helped a local land owner put out a big grass fire resulting in everlasting good will for the Tree Toppers!

In seventh place is the KC and The Sunshine Bandits team. Kevin Carter is the hardest working A+ pilot here for sure. I hear report after report of how he's trying his best to help his guys, but they have had some bad luck even though Kevin had done his best. After his team mates have flared, he's run on for solid scores.

Here's a report on day 3 from Jeff Nibler. Jeff is one of the C's in the meet. He's on Jim Lamb's team and doing very well. Very bright young man.

Day 5 is a rain day with light sprinkles mostly and a nice shower now and then. We've had so many clinics and talks, it is like going to soaring college!

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Tuesday, Day 3 by Jeff Nibler

The wind was forecasted to be less than Monday which was a good thing; about 6-8 knots from the East and the lift about 450fpm. The Skew-Ts showed a substantial inversion at about 4k and that seemed to be accurate from what I experienced during my flight. The task called was 13.6 miles for both the B and C pilots. This was due to the lack of available "officially designated" Lzs in the down-wind direction so the first available was chosen. "Officially designated" simply means the club has received specific, recent permission for a large number of pilots to land there. Aside from the official Lzs, many fields dot the valley making landing out generally very easy. The A-pilots had to fly over the B and C goal then fly back to land at the LZ below launch in Whitwell.

Pilots launched a little earlier today, the first in the air at about 12:15. Two out of the first five got up to the right (down wind) and the other three sunk out to the Castle LZ. From what I saw, nothing was working right out in front of the launch; pilots had to glide a long way to the right before they seemed to hit the first spot that was working. The rigids seemed to have the easiest time, arriving in the lift with decent altitude. Some other pilots tried to reach it but failed as the spot was cycling and not always on. There was no ridge lift today due to the crossed wind direction so if you didn't get up in a thermal, you couldn't rely on the ridge lift to buy you time.

I backed away from launch twice thinking I wouldn't be able to make it to the lift with enough altitude to work. Finally a thermal cycle came right through launch. I got back in line behind Richard Milla from Fort Worth Texas. I watched him launch, shoot up into the lift, then head to the right. The thermal was too close to the ridge to circle, but hopefully it would be enough to stretch out my glide to the working portion of the ridge. I launched seconds later and headed for the gaggle. Along the way I hit a few small bumps and some zero sink, but thankfully no huge areas of sink. By the time I made it to the active thermal, I was just below ridge level.

Three or four of us worked that thermal to about 1k over launch. At this point the inversion was obvious…. A thick brown haze on the horizon. I never broke through it and it seemed only a few other pilots were able to. Steve Larson was my escort, flying an Exxtacy. Because he is on the safety committee, he was required to launch last on our team. Steve caught up to me in this first thermal and we climbed together to the inversion.

Most of the pilots seemed to hang around the lift at the bottom of the inversion, possibly hoping to break through it. Since the lift had given up on me at the inversion and since I didn't have clear radio communication with Steve, I decided to go on glide at only ~1200 over. As I looked back, I saw at least eight gliders gaggled at lift I left behind.

This was my first real XC so I spent most of my glide time eyeing the fields trying to determine the best and safest LZ, and the rest of my time looking out for other gliders thermaling ahead of me. A few minutes later, I saw a topless and a rigid pass me from above. I recognized the rigid as my team-mate Steve Larson. He must have seen me go on glide and wanted to continue escorting me toward goal. Up ahead, just past the next gap, I saw two gliders carving hard and going up incredibly fast. Steve and the topless ahead of me made it and joined him, but I got there too low and too late. It looked like it was all over for me so I turned out to the valley, unzipped and started my approach over a nice looking field. I luckily hooked a nice tight thermal 500' over this field and rode it back to ridge level, then lost it and found another closer in to the ridge. That took me to 2k over the ridge. By this time Steve assumed I landed out so he had pushed on. I was on my own, though I did notice a yellow and white topless circling above me. I later found out this was Jeff Laughery.

I continued on, climbing and going on glide several more times without getting below ridge level. During my fourth climb, I could see what appeared to be the goal. I was using a GPS and radio generously loaned to me by my team-mate Tom Primavera from Ohio. I wasn't used to the GPS so about all I could tell from it was that I was nearing goal. The description given of the goal matched what I saw so when I hit the inversion again, I pointed out toward the valley and went on final. As I neared the field, I saw one glider on the ground and another on approach so I knew I'd made it.

After an almost eventful landing (eight feet off the ground, a thermal moving through the LZ kicked my right wing up quite a ways), I joined Eric Donaldson and Lindsey Chew in the LZ. Shortly after I landed, Lucas Ridley landed as well. Two C-pilots achieved their first XC today, Lucas Ridley and myself; making goal made it all the sweeter. My total air-time was one hour and twenty two minutes. Two other C pilots made goal today including Bryon Estes and Lindsey Chew, both from Ellenville NY. All the commotion in the LZ was too much for the locals; a couple of friendly law enforcement officers showed up along with a local news crew who interviewed a few of the pilots.

Kevin Carter impressed quite a few people by repeatedly sacrificing a ton of altitude to dive down and help the B and C pilots on his team who were struggling down low.

At 8pm, we gathered back at Henson's to discuss the day's events. Topics included how accurate the forecast was, what tactics worked and what did not, as well as a play-by-play of Kevin Carter's flight log projected up on a screen and some comments from other pilots. Dr Jack's forecast ended up being just about spot-on. After the talk, pilots gathered to share stories and the B and C pilots hounded the A pilots for tips and tricks. I have probably learned more in one day here than I have in six months of recreational flying. The information and feedback you receive about the day and your flight from the A and B pilots is invaluable to making you a better pilot.

Team Challenge Update

September 15, 2007, 3:51:13 pm MDT

Team Challenge

It's full

Jim Lamb|Kevin Carter|Lookout Mountain Flight Park|Mark Stump|Mike Barber|Oliver Gregory|Tennessee Tree Toppers|video|weather

oliver gregory «olliettt1955» writes:

Here's a final update on the Team Challenge. Right now it looks like we're going to have a very big turnout and are declaring the Team Challenge full. If you haven't registered yet, come anyway! We need volunteers! The Tree Toppers welcome visiting pilots to free fly before and after the launch window and join in the great learning experience as volunteers and landing clinic members. This year's Team Challenge should be one of the best ever for pilots hoping to learn about XC flying.

Our clinics and talks are going to be exceptional! Kevin Carter will give excellent landing clinic talks with video enhanced learning as many evenings as soaring conditions will allow. Mike Barber plans to help out with talks on XC and thermal soaring. Mark Stump will give a great talk on how to have the most fun safely. I'll help out with a practical "how to" weather seminar on forecasting soaring conditions. Anyone can participate in the landing clinic for the low cost of $25. We hope to have 2 or 3 video landing reviews during the course of the week and as many clinic flights as possible to provide video fodder for the clinics.

World team pilot and AIR importer Jim Lamb is coming this year! He's bringing the 2008 line of AIR gliders for all to drool over! Jim is showing off the the AIR lineup including the new, quick setup, light weight VQ, a high performance rigid wing designed for the advanced recreational XC pilot. Jim will have the VQ, VR and VX at Lookout Mountain Flight Park Friday 9/28 and Saturday 9/29. Go take a look at the best. Jim is going to join us for the Team Challenge and participate as one of our team leaders.

Camp out and enjoy the party! The Sequatchie has beautiful weather this time of the year with leaves just starting to change. However, the leaves may turn early since it has been so dry for so long. We'll probably have some cool nights, so everyone should bring warm clothes for the evenings and shorts for the hot days. With the high cloud bases we've had lately, pilots should plan to dress warm for cloud base flying. The end of the meet party is also our Oktoberfest Party with food, fun beverages, a live band and the awards ceremony for Team Challenge!

You can review recently updated information on the TTT site at www.treetoppers.org The Tree Toppers look forward to seeing our old friends and meeting all the new members of our great organization. There will be lots of fun flying in the Sequatchie Valley and maybe beyond! See y'all soon!

Stolen Gear

June 10, 2007, 7:34:05 pm EDT

Stolen

Wills Wing XC

Dan Shell|Flytec 4030|Tennessee Tree Toppers

Dan Shell «danshell» writes:

WW XC 155. White upper surface, white l.e., asymmetric blue and green lower surface with XC logo. Chris Smith Cloudbase pod harness, purple. Lee full-face helmet, red. Flytec 4030 Race with airspeed. Taken from TTT Henson Gap LZ late afternoon Wednesday, June 5, 2007. Dan Shell at «danshell», (423)949-6912, or (423)667-9457.

Dish Wifi

November 1, 2006, 9:10:00 pm PST

Dish

Picking up signals from outer space

"Diver" Bob Maloney|Bob Maloney|space|Tennessee Tree Toppers

http://ozreport.com/9.61#8

"Diver" Bob Maloney «Maloney45» writes:

I am sending this e-mail from the TTT clubhouse @ Henson's Gap. My dish is pointing thru the 2nd floor window down into the valley. I estimate 1-2miles at least. Signal =250-300Kdown and 60-100Kup. I had hoped to be able to see networks in the valley but communication both ways was more than I was expecting. When I tried this last night I found 3 networks right away(all unsecure) and was able to sign on no problem. What a hoot working a signal this far away, that no one thinks is strong enough to get next door.

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TTT

October 6, 2006, 6:53:29 PDT

TTT

The Challenge is on

Dan Shell|Tennessee Tree Toppers

Dan Shell writes:

Team Challenge is well under way and will conclude with OktoberFest, the annual TTT Fall bash, this Saturday evening, October 7. It promises to be one of the best ever! Social Committee Chair Mark Poling's slate for entertainment includes a band, a bonfire, and a bird show. Kathy Lee's organizing a fish fry and pot luck dinner. Check out our website at http://www.treetoppers.org/oktoberfest.html for details. Join us on the mountain for a great pilot party this Saturday night!

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Tree Topper Spot Landing Contest

Wed, Aug 30 2006, 7:35:40 pm MDT

TTT Spot

Careful placement required

Harry Martin|Tennessee Tree Toppers

Harry Martin, Casper, WY http://HarryMartinCartoons.com sends:

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Tennessee Tree Toppers 2006 Team Challenge

Mon, Aug 28 2006, 7:34:11 pm MDT

TTT

The Challenge is on.

Dan Shell|Tennessee Tree Toppers

Dan Shell writes:

The Tennessee Tree Toppers 2006 Team Challenge is October 1-8 in the beautiful Sequatchie Valley. The Team Challenge information and registration pages on the TTT website have been updated, so check it out and sign up for some friendly cross-country competition in "The Hang Gliding Capital of the East."

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2006 Team Challenge

July 5, 2006, 8:44:35 EDT

Team Challenge

The fall meet in Tennessee

Jono Fisher|Tennessee Tree Toppers|Tennessee Tree Toppers Team Challenge 2006|USHGA

Jono Fisher «jono» sent:

Mark Furst, 2006 Team Challenge Meet Director
October 1-7, 2006
TTT Henson Gap Dunlap, Tennessee
See www.treetoppers.org for info and application.

Pilots' Meeting Saturday, September 30, 6:00 PM CT

Team Challenge Mission Statement:

The Tennessee Tree Toppers Team Challenge is an event focused on providing Hang 3 pilots a fun learning experience in safe cross country flying and beginning competition skills. Teams will be led by experienced pilots who will guide, coach, and mentor their less experienced pilots in the discipline of cross country flying.

The primary purpose of this event is to encourage and expose hang 3 pilots to the challenge of flying hang gliders cross country in the Sequatchie Valley, one of the best cross country sites in the world. Additional opportunities for learning are provided with nightly presentations by local and national cross country hang gliding experts.

The rules reflect the focus on encouraging hang 3 pilots and aim to discourage stacked teams of A pilots or teams with multiple rigid wings.

1. All competitors must be current USHGA and TTT members.

2. Pilots will be scored by mileage flown. All flights will be pinned on the clubhouse task map. GPS is optional.

3. Pilot Rankings:

"A" pilot: hang 4 & 5s and all rigids and all of the regular cross country guys. Scored 75% of mileage flown.

"B" pilot: All other hang 3's and new H4's with no cross country experience. Scored 150% of mileage flown.

"C" pilot: hang 3's with no cross country experience. Scored 200% of mileage flown.

All pilot rankings will be reviewed in the first pilots meeting.

4. "A" pilot-scoring rule and bonus:

a. "A" pilots may score an additional 25% by escorting B And C team pilots into goal, giving the A pilot 100% of total mileage. Only one bonus will be given per B or C pilot making goal.

B. No more than 3 A pilots per team

Teams will be comprised of 5 pilots. H3 is required to fly at the TTT Whitwell site. There are no NTSS points available for this competition.

These rules are designed to give new hang 3 cross country pilots all the advantages and encourage their participation. Ideally, the winning team should be comprised mostly of C and B Pilots flying intermediate king-posted flex wings, with only one or two A pilots per team.

The Tree Toppers will even sponsor selected up-and-coming hang 3 pilots with free entry. To apply, email Mark Furst at mk1st@idcnet.com. Describe yourself, your hang-gliding experience, and why you think you should be here. Competition prizes will be awarded, in a ceremony at the closing party, to the top five teams based on overall team points. Other prizes generously donated by various manufacturers will also be presented.

Competition headquarters will be the TTT Henson's Gap launch near Dunlap, Tennessee. The club site features a clubhouse, pavilion, great camping, electrical hookups, and showers available on-site.

Join us over the beautiful Sequatchie Valley for some great gaggles and downwind Sprints in the Hang Gliding Capital of the East, home of the Tennessee Tree Toppers.

Team Challenge

Fri, Aug 19 2005, 5:00:01 am EDT

The Tennessee Tree Toppers Big Event of the Year! 

Dean Funk|Dennis Pagen|Ollie Gregory|Steve Lee|Tennessee Tree Toppers|video

http://www.treetoppers.net/

Dean Funk writes:

Oct. 1 - 8, 2005

It's that time of year again, the 2005 Team Challenge is about 6 weeks away. There has been a lot of excitement since my announcement earlier this year about the "New" Team Challenge. I have been hearing from pilots all across the country, there is a BUZZ in the air. This will be the premier hang gliding event of the year for the advancing Hang Glider Pilot. Rules and additional info at our website.

Many are planning on returning. I have heard from pilots and teams forming from Virginia, Pennsylvania, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, New England, Arkansas and out west. We have had over 60 pilots in the meet in past years. I have also heard from H3s seeking sponsorships, we will be sponsoring a small group of H3 pilots with free entry, please contact me for more information at «deanfunk»

The Sequatchie Valley is a perfect place to do your first mountain XC flights, 40 miles of ridge line, lots of great landing fields, friendly land owners, easy retrieves and TWO of the best mountain sites on the east coast. If you haven't flown at Henson's Gap or Whitwell before, please come early. Windy cliff launch skills are important, some of our best days require a "wire" crew. Launching at either TTT site is extremely easy. Almost all Florida tow pilots come to Henson's Gap to get their mountain skills, this is a great place to learn and advance your skills.

The themes of this event will be safety, learning and teaching. We have nightly speakers lined up to cover subjects including: cross country skills, thermaling techniques, medical emergencies, equipment & GPS, woman in the sport, mental aspects, local land owner issues, out landing skills, local HG history and hang gliding photography. Be prepared to learn from local experts on how to fly well in the Sequatchie Valley. Dennis Pagen, Ollie Gregory, Kathy Lee, Jean Carmichael, Steve Lee, Mike Nash, Claire Vassort and myself are just some of the speakers we have lined up to lead our nightly discussions.

Also in the name of safety all aerobatics, reckless flying, hot dogging and ramp diving will not be permitted during the event. We will not tolerate risky behavior that might spoil the event. With that being said, we will be acknowledging pilots with the best and worst launches in our daily pilots meetings, this sport is all about safety and we plan on showcasing it!

We have had a wet summer here in the south east but the long range forecast is calling for a dry October. If you have never done this event before you will be in for a real treat. Mountain top camping at Henson's Gap is very nice in October, and we should have early fall color and just enough of a slight chill in the air for campfires. There is plenty of camping available. We normally have a great fall season with excellent flying. Http://treetoppers.net/qT2.html - This is a short video I did of a flight last October. This is the only place to be this fall!

We will also have non-comp flying events for H2's at Henson's including: duration and spot landing. The launch will be open after the comp window for free flying. And all free flyers are invited to the nightly talks.

The Video Project: I will be producing a DVD of the event that will include Video and Photography. I am also encouraging everyone with a Mini-DV camcorder to bring it (bring your cables). Each team should equip their drivers with DV camcorders and digital cameras - we will have nightly videos of the days flying and everything will be complied on DVD afterwards. We will have a video presentation on the final night, everybody will be included. If I can swing it, it might even be in High-Definition video. Http://treetoppers.net/qT1.html - this is a short video I did of the team challenge a couple of years ago.

Please come to learn, teach, fly and have fun with us!

For more information check out the website at: www.treetoppers.net contact me at «deanfunk» 1-770-314-0198

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New Team Challenge

Wed, Apr 6 2005, 4:00:06 pm EDT

Back to its original purpose.

Dean Funk|Tennessee Tree Toppers|video

Dean Funk «deanfunk» writes:

The New Team Challenge, October 1-8, 2005 Dean Funk, 2005 Meet Director

We tried a great experiment over the last two seasons by sanctioning the “Team Challenge” as a national points meet and attracted top ranked US pilots to fly as individuals. Even though we had successful events in 2004 and 2003, we (The TTT BOD) feel that we have lost the original focus of what the event is about; we had less participation by H3’s, less club membership, less enthusiasm by local pilots, less fun and learning.

With that thought I would like to outline our new Team Challenge Mission Statement:

The Tennessee Tree Toppers’ Team Challenge is an event focused on providing Hang 3 pilots a fun learning experience in safe cross-country flying and beginning competition skills.

The concept of this event is for teams comprised of experienced “A” pilots to guide, coach and mentor their less experience “B” and “C” pilots in the disciplines and skills of cross country flying. And to provide additional learning with nightly “lectures” given by local and national experts on cross country flying.

The primary purpose of this event is to help encourage, teach, and expose the advancing Hang 3 pilots to the challenge of flying their hang gliders cross country in the Sequatchie Valley, one of the best cross country sites in the world.

We are putting the focus of the event on the Hang 3 Pilots. The new rules are designed to give these pilots all the advantages and to encourage their participation. What we would like to see is the winning team be comprised of mostly “C” and “B” pilots flying intermediate king posted flex wings, with only one or two “A” pilot per team.

We also want to encourage Hang 2 pilots to attend this event as free flying will be open at the Hensons launch and all TTT members will be welcome at all pilot meetings, nightly flying lectures and social activities.

Sponsorship The Tree Toppers will also “Sponsor” selected young pilots with free entry. We know it can be very expensive to participate in a weeklong event. Please contact Dean at « deanfunk» for more information about sponsorship.

The Tennessee Tree Toppers Challenges Every Club In The World! Attention all clubs, put together your best team as outlined, and make plans to spend the best week of your life flying in the 2005 Team Challenge. Let’s bring this classic event back and make it even better than ever. We need you!

Registration, more information, pictures and videos at http://www.treetoppers.net/

Team Challenge 2005 – New Rules

Over the years, we have learned much about running the team challenge. These rule changes reflect the new direction and the new focus of encouraging Hang 3 pilots. These rules are also devised to discourage “stacked” teams comprised of all “A” pilots or teams with multiple rigid wings. “Teams” will be comprised of 5 pilots.

1. No NTSS Points

2. Pilots will be scored by mileage flown – all flights will be pinned on the club house task map. GPS optional.

3. New Pilot Rankings: ”A” Pilot – Hang 4 & 5s and ALL Rigids – score 75% of mileage flown. ”B” Pilot – All other Hang 3s – score 150% of mileage flown ”C” Pilot – Hang 3s with NO XC Experience – score 200% of mileage flown

All Pilot rankings will be reviewed in the first pilots meeting.

4. “A” pilot-scoring rule and bonus.

A. “A” pilot scores an additional 25% by escorting “B” and “C” team pilots into goal, giving the “A” pilot 100% of total mileage. Only one bonus will be given per “B” or “C” pilot making goal.

B. No more than 3 “A” pilots per team

5. Awards will be given for top 5 finishing teams, Top Sportsman’s Award and Best New Competitor.

Come fly with us!

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Team Challenge

Fri, Oct 15 2004, 5:00:01 pm EDT

It's next fall.

Dan Shell|Tennessee Tree Toppers

Dan Shell «danshell» writes:

TTT BOD's just scheduled the 2005 TTT Team Challenge for the week of October 1-8.

Discuss Treetopper sat the Oz Report forum

2003 Team Challenge »

Thu, Jul 17 2003, 3:00:02 pm EDT

aerotow|competition|David "Dave" Glover|David Glover|GPS|NTSS|scoring|sport|Sport Class|Tennessee Tree Toppers|towing|USHGA

Jeff Dodgen <windgypsy@bledsoe.net> writes:

Team Challenge 2003 is September 21-27. David Glover will be the meet Director and Tim Meany will be scorekeeper. David is applying for USHGA regular and Sport Class sanctioning. The field will be limited to 70 pilots so register early ($125 early registration).

The Team Challenge has historically been a fun meet with a competitive edge. It is an opportunity for experienced pilots to mentor new pilots and new pilots to learn cross country and competition skills. David is planning a meet that will allow nationally ranked pilots to earn NTSS points. These ranked pilots will be teamed up with less experienced pilots interested in learning cross country and competition flying skills.

Scoring will be designed such that the more pilots from the same team that make it to goal and the closer the entire team makes it to goal, the more team points will be awarded to that team. This will benefit all by encouraging the current nationally ranked pilots to mentor and coach their less experienced teammates.

Distance to goal and time to goal will all be considered. Foot launching is the priority with towing available based on conditions.

You must be Intermediate (Hang 3) for Whitwell launch and have an aerotow signoff to aerotow prior to the meet. You will need a GPS for national point scoring, but will not be necessary for team scores. This is a good time to get a GPS and learn how to use it!

The Tennessee Tree Toppers will host a party the night before the competition starts on Saturday September 20th. A $10.00 donation will be waived for registered competition pilots, but otherwise required as this party will be catered.

The Awards Pizza Dinner will be held on the last night of the event at the dome. If you have some great videos - bring 'em. If you have some vintage slides - we'd love to see those too!!

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One theory – it’s a better glider »

Sat, Jun 29 2002, 1:00:04 pm EDT

Curt Warren|One theory|Tennessee Tree Toppers

Well, I guess I asked for it when I asked you to send in your theories about why the Moyes Litespeed was so well represented among the top ten gliders in the Europeans. Scot «Hang4av8r»

My theory about the Litespeed is that: it is a sky-Harley, very stable yet easy handling, extremely pleasurable to fly but stable and reassuring, great top-end but easy to handle in heavy traffic. I have one of the early Litespeed 5's and it is nice to know that the airframe has not changed since early 2000.

Here in theUSA, Kenny offers support on par with GW (Aeros) and much can be said for both these gentlemen.

I spent some time on an Airborne Climax 14 and a Talon 140, neither even came close to the pleasure I've had flying Litespeeds (I also flew Curt Warren's old glider at the TTT Team Challenge last fall). The Climax had great top-end performance, but was quite difficult to fly at low speeds (scratching), and the Talon felt just plain squirrelly, very easy to fly but not connected.

As far as I'm concerned, any form of factory backing has nothing to do with (never towed either one) who flies these Litespeeds. It is simply the fact that they are absolute thoroughbreds in the sky, great performance and wonderful handling. My guess is that the Laminar is the same, for some reason I get the impression the Wills gliders are not quite the same.

(editor’s note: Well, this theory doesn’t help us understand why there aren’t more pilots on Laminars in the top ten at the Europeans, nor does it help explain why there isn’t a better representation from other European manufacturers.)