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topic: Vince Furrer (21 articles)

Our most recent 2022 Supporters/Subscribers

Tue, Mar 8 2022, 6:29:49 am MST

We so very much appreciate them

Alan Crouse|Barney Hallin|Blue Water Hang Gliding|Daniel Lukaszewicz|David Stookey|Gary Solomon|Gerard Lamarche|Gregory Angsten|Jürgen Pollak|John Dullahan|John Pop|John Simon|Ken Seligman|Koos de Keijzer|Michael Howard|Mike Degtoff|Mike McCartney|Patrick Pannese|Peter Cairns|Peter Feneht|Richard "Ric" Caylor|Robert Buchanan|Robert Caldwell|Scott Seebass|Thomas C. Ide|Tiago Worcman|Vince Furrer|Wallace Anderson

https://OzReport.com/supporters.php

  • Alan Crouse
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  • Blue Water Hang Gliding
  • Daniel Lukaszewicz
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  • Robert Buchanan
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  • Scott Seebass
  • Thomas C. Ide
  • Tiago Worcman
  • Vince Furrer
  • Wallace Anderson

Discuss "Our most recent 2022 Supporters/Subscribers" at the Oz Report forum   link»   »

Supporting the Oz Report »

Fri, Mar 6 2020, 8:02:44 am EST

Pilots are generous people

Alan Deikman|Charles Allen|Larry Bunner|Martin Henry|Oz Report|Vince Furrer|Vincene Muller

TThanks to these special contributors: Ken Lightsey, Benjamin Friedrich, David I McAnally, Collard Collard, Alan Deikman, Larry Bunner, Charles Allen, Martin Henry, Indasky, Vince Furrer, Karl Allmendinger, Vincene Muller, Daniel Guido, and Nicholas Palmer.

This is the month where I ask Oz Report readers for their support. Your contribution pays for hosting our web site and for Gerry's technical support to keep it running.

Here are our supporters: https://OzReport.com/supporters.php

As you know, all we are asking for is a subscription payment of $20/year.

Seems simple enough. Like most content on the internet, you get to read the Oz Report for free. The trouble for us, not you, is that there are not enough hang glider pilots in this world to make advertising pay for our web hosting costs.

Please, help us out. Support something that you find useful so that it can continue to be there for you.

Options:

1) Click paypal.me/davisstraub.

You should see this:

Type in the amount that you want to send in for your subscription.

Click "Next"

You should see something like this:

If you can contribute from your PayPal Balance or from your bank account that is connected to your PayPal account, please do as this incurs no PayPal fee.

2) If instead you are using a credit card to make this contribution, click this button:

3) Another way to do this is, click here: https://www.paypal.com

With this option please click the "Send&Request" tab.

Type in my email address which you can discern from "davis" and I'm at "davisstraub.com". (I have to write it this way as we hide email addresses here at the Oz Report.

Click "Next."

You'll see:


If you consider me a friend then click the "Sending to a friend" button.

Enter the amount here:

If you’d rather just send a check for $20 or more (US Dollars only, please), please feel free to do so.

Payable to:

Davis Straub (Not to the Oz Report)
6548 Groveland Airport Road
Groveland, FL 34736

If you send a physical check, be sure to send me your email address so that I can register you as a subscriber.

These are our supporters (if you are not on the list and have donated to the Oz Report, email me and I'll make sure that you are recognized): https://OzReport.com/supporters.php. Some of you who I've missed in the past did write to me and made sure I knew just how important the Oz Report was to them. If I've missed you, please do tell me.

4) This last option. Come over to the Oz Report support web page and sign up to support us: https://OzReport.com/support.php. Or click here:

Thanks to all our supporters: https://OzReport.com/supporters.php who have kept us going and paying our bills over the last twenty four years.

Discuss "Supporting the Oz Report" at the Oz Report forum   link»  

Please support the Oz Report

Fri, Mar 8 2019, 8:21:28 am EST

Weather

Charles Allen|David Glover|Davis Straub|Oz Report|Tom McGowan|Vince Furrer|weather|Wilotree Park

First, thanks for the generous support from Charles Allen, Vince Furrer, David Glover, Tom McGowan, Benjamin Friedrich, and Cyndia Zumpft-Klein.

We look at the weather forecasts one to four days out and check them against what actually happens. Check out the articles below and our coverage over the weekend.

So to continue…

This is the month where I ask Oz Report readers for their support. Your contribution pays for hosting our web site and for Gerry's technical support to keep it running.

Here are our supporters: https://OzReport.com/supporters.php

As you know, all we are asking for is a subscription payment of $20/year.

Seems simple enough. Like most content on the internet, you get to read the Oz Report for free. The trouble for us, not you, is that there are not enough hang glider pilots in this world to make advertising pay for our web hosting costs.

Please, help us out. Support something that you find useful so that it can continue to be there for you.

Options:

1) Click paypal.me/davisstraub.

You should see this:

Type in the amount that you want to send in for your subscription.

Click "Next"

You should see something like this:

If you can contribute from your PayPal Balance or from your bank account that is connected to your PayPal account, please do, as this incurs no PayPal fee.

2) If instead you are using a credit card to make this contribution, click this button:


3) Another way to do this is, click here: https://www.paypal.com

With this option please click the "Send&Request" tab.

Type in my email address which you can discern from "davis" and I'm at "davisstraub.com." (I have to write it this way as we hide email addresses here at the Oz Report.

Click "Next."

You'll see:


If you consider me a friend then click the "Sending to a friend" button.

Enter the amount here:

4) If you’d rather just send a check for $20 or more (US Dollars only, please), please feel free to do so.

Payable to:

Davis Straub (Not to the Oz Report)
6548 Groveland Airport Road
Groveland, FL 34736

If you send a physical check, be sure to send me your email address so that I can register you as a subscriber.

These are our supporters (if you are not on the list and have donated to the Oz Report, email me and I'll make sure that you are recognized): https://OzReport.com/supporters.php. Some of you who I've missed in the past did write to me and made sure I knew just how important the Oz Report was to them. If I've missed you, please do tell me.

5) Another option. Come over to the Oz Report support web page and sign up to support us: https://OzReport.com/support.php. Or click here:

Thanks to all our supporters https://OzReport.com/supporters.php who have kept us going and paying our bills over the last twenty three years.

6) If you use the "Cash" App, send to .

7) If you use Venmo, just click the "Subscribe" or "Recurring" button above from your Venmo App.

8) Come on over to the Oz Report World Headquarters situated at Wilotree Park, identify yourself, and "show me the money." We're in the brown Spartan 5th wheel facing the lake.

Discuss "Please support the Oz Report" at the Oz Report forum   link»  

Oz Report supporters for 2018

April 2, 2018, 8:38:09 EDT

Oz Report supporters for 2018

Tell me if I missed you.

Alan Deikman|Allan Phillips|April Mackin|Ben Dunn|Bruce Kavanagh|Bubba Goodman|Chris Boyce|Cragin Shelton|Daniel Gravage|Dara Hogan|Dave Embertson|David Glover|David Williamson|Doug Keller|Dudley Mead|Eric Beckman|Gakuta Toba|Gary Solomon|Geoffrey Rutledge|Glen Volk|Gregg "Kim" Ludwig|Harald Steen|James Bradley|James Lamb|Jason Williams|John Armstrong|John Hesch|John Kennedy|John Simon|Jonathan Dietch|Justinas Pleikys|Ken Howells|Ken Kinzie|Krzysztof "Krys/Kris" Grzyb|Mark Stump|Martin Henry|Martin Jaeger|Maurice Wilson|Mike Barber|Miles Fagerlie|Mitchell "Mitch" Shipley|Niki Longshore|Oz Report|Patrick Schwitter|Paul Voight|Peter Bolton|Quest Air|Raef Mackay|Richard Williams|Riker Davis|Roger Irby|Scott Barrett|Scott Seebass|Scott Smith|Scott Weiner|Stewart Midwinter|supporters|Tom McGowan|Vince Furrer|Vincene Muller|Vrezh Tumanyan|Wayne Ripley|William "Billo" Olive|Wilotree Park|Winfried Oswald

Thanks to all who have helped us out. We could not afford to pay http://pair.com to host the Oz Report without your support. 

Adriel Kind Gregg Ludwig Miles Fagerlie
Alan Crouse Gregory Angsten Mitchell Shipley
Alan Deikman Gregory Pierson Nicholas Palmer
Alexandra Childs Hadewych van Kempen Nicole Longshore
Alf Oppoyen Harald Steen Patrick Halfhill
Allan Phillips Heinz Tagmann Patrick Kruise
Allen Ahl Hubert Jason Williams Patrick Pannese
Angelos Mantas J. Russell Locke Patrick Schwitter
Angry Penguin Inc. James (Dennis) Yeomans Paul Kelley
anonymous James Aden Paul Voight
Anthony Armstrong James Bradley Perry Jones
April Mackin James Gibson Peter Adams
Belcourt Industries James Lamb Peter Bolton
Ben Dunn Jan Snydr-Michal Peter Cairns
Bernard Garvey Jason Smith Peter Kelley
Bill Finn Jeffrey Curtis Peter Swanson
Bill Snyder Jim Kolynich Philip Morgan
Billo Jim Prahl Quest Air
Bruce Kavanagh Jim Ramsden Rachel Allen
Bubba Goodman John "Kip" Stone Raef Mackay
Carlos Alonso de Florida John Armstrong Richard Caylor
Carlos Schmitz John Blank Richard Eunice
Carol Sturtevant John Devorak Richard Larson
Catherine Hunter John Dullahan Richard Milla
Chris Boyce John Haig Thompson Richard Williams
Christian Schelb John Hesch Riker Davis
Christian Williams John Kennedy Robert Bay
Chuck and Gayle Warren John Middleton Robert Bradley
Claude Carlier John Simon Robert Caldwell
Cliff Rice Jon Lindburg Robert Dallas
Clive Beddall Jon Thompson Robert Goodman
Cragin Shelton Jonathan Dietch Roger Irby
Craig Carlson Jorge Cano Ronald P. Gleason
Craig DeMott Jostein Vorkinn Scott Barrett
Daniel Gravage Justin Elliott Scott Seebass
Daniel Lukaszewicz Justinas Pleikys Scott Smith
Danny Utinske Keith Barghahn Scott Weiner
Dara Hogan Ken Cobb Scott Westfall
Darrell Hambley Ken Durstine Scott Whittet
Dave Embertson Ken Howells secret admirer at Seminole
David Davenport Ken Kinzie Sky Sports Flying School Pty. Ltd.
David Fynn Kenneth Durrance Stefan Kern
David Glover Keven Morlang Stephan Mentler
David Goto Kinsley Sykes Stephen Parson
David Lopez Knut Ryerson Steven Blackler
David Stookey Koos de Keijzer Steven Boost
David Williamson Krzysztof Grzyb Stewart Midwinter
Dean Engler LakeShore Hang Gliding SvS Design
Doug Keller Larry Huffman Sydney Hang Gliding Centre
Douglas Brown Larry Omara The Passing Zone, Inc.
Dudley Mead Larry Robinson Thomas C. Ide
Edward Andrews Lee Silver Thomas Curbishley
Edward Saunier Luff Line Ltd. Thomas Eckstein
Elizabeth Rothman Luther Thompson Timothy Delaney
Emiel Jansen M. C. Campanella Toba Gakuta
Eric Beckman Marc Deschenes Tom McGowan
Fernando Milani Marcelo Silva Vince Furrer
Flytec USA Marco Gerber Vincene Muller
Frank Havermeyer Mario Manzo Vincent Collins
Fred Kramer Mark Stump Vrezh Tumanyan
Frode Halse Martin Henry Vuelo Libre
Gary McIntrie Martin Jaeger Walter Nielsen
Gary Solomon Matt Taber Wayne DeVilbiss
Geoffrey Robertson Matt Thoreson Wayne Ripley
Geoffrey Rutledge Maurice Wilson William A. Baker
Giorgos Karachalios Max Tunbridge Wills Wing
Glen Salmon Michael Bomstad Wilotree Park
Glen Volk Michael Duffy Winfried Oswald
Glenn Curran Michael Fitzgerald Wings to Fly ltd.
Glenn Nutt Mick Howard
Greg Fergus Mike Barber

The Oz Report March Fund Raiser »

March 6, 2018, 8:23:45 EST

The Oz Report March Fund Raiser

The silent fund raiser

Alan Deikman|Daniel Gravage|Davis Straub|Mark Stump|Oz Report

Alan Deikman|Daniel Gravage|Davis Straub|Mark Stump|Oz Report|Vince Furrer

Alan Deikman|Daniel Gravage|Davis Straub|Mark Stump|Oz Report|Vince Furrer

This is the month where I ask Oz Report readers for their support.  Your contribution pays for hosting our web site and for Gerry's technical support to keep it running.

Thanks for all the support that you have sent in. I wanted to especially thank those who have been extra generous, including John Dullahan, Alan Deikman, Vince Furrer, Daniel Gravage, Stefan Kern, and William A Baker.

Mark Stump, send me your email address.

You know, all we are asking for is a subscription payment of $20/year.

Seems simple enough. Like most content on the internet, you get to read the Oz Report for free. The trouble for us, not you, is that there are not enough hang glider pilots in this world to make advertising pay for our web hosting costs.

Please, help us out. Support something that you find useful so that it can continue to be there for you.

Options:

1) If you have money in your PayPal account and you are in the US click here: paypal.me/davisstraub and send money as a friend

2) With a credit card click this button:


3) Click here: https://www.paypal.com

With this option please click the "Send&Request" tab to send the money and eliminate credit card fees by clicking  "Send to friends and family in the US," if your PayPal account is connected to your bank account, you are in the US, you have money in your PayPal account, and not just to a credit card:

The email address would be davis and I'm at davisstraub.com

If you’d rather just send a check for $20 or more (US Dollars only, please), please feel free to do so.

Payable to:

Davis Straub (Not to the Oz Report)
6548 Groveland Airport Road
Groveland, FL 34736

If you send a physical check, be sure to send me your email address so that I can register you as a subscriber.

These are our supporters (if you are not on the list and have donated to the Oz Report, email me and I'll make sure that you are recognized): http://ozreport.com/supporters.php. Some of you who I've missed in the past did write to me and made sure I knew just how important the Oz Report was to them. If I've missed you, please do tell me.

4) Come over to the Oz Report support web page and sign up to support us: http://ozreport.com/support.php. Or click here:

Discuss "The Oz Report March Fund Raiser" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Friends of Bo

Tue, Aug 17 2004, 3:00:03 am EDT

Help through PayPal to keep our boy going.

Alek Beynenson|Barry Bateman|Bubba Goodman|Burke Ewing|Carol Sperry|Carter Diggs|Daniel Broxterman|Davis Straub|Elizabeth Hagewood|Erica Elchin|Gregory Knepp|Harald Steen|Henry Bittner|John Simon|Kraig Coomber|Lauren Tjaden|Lawrence "Pete" Lehmann|Marc Fink|Margaret Little|Matthew Bower|Maurice Wilson|Michael Christian|Monica Barrett|Nancy Smith|Nelson Howe|Robert Lane|Sherry Elchin|Stephan Tarjanyi|Steve Kroop|Steven "Steve" Pearson|Vince Furrer

I just got off the phone to Bubba Goodman and Beth as they were driving away from Nashville after visiting Bo and his parents. Steve Kroop at Flytec USA «flytec» writes:

Davis, thank you for keeping everyone up to date on Bo and thanks again for setting up Bo’s Paypal account so that your readers can help out too. The cumulative amount collected through the Paypal account is over $5000. On behalf of Bo thank you to the following individuals for their contribution. This is the second list of contributions (after June 5th). It is interesting to note some of the names of people we haven’t heard from in a while and some that appear twice (before June 5th and then again in this list)!

Lauren Tjaden, Elizabeth Hagewood, Michael Williams, Burke Ewing, Marc Fink, Daniel Broxterman, David W Mercaldi, sherry elchin, Joseph A Balbona, Alek Beynenson, Nancy Smith, Matthew Bower, Maurice Wilson, Gregory Knepp, John Simon, Henry Bittner, Harald Steen, Robert Lane, Vince Furrer, Davis Straub, Monica Barrett, Erica Elchin, Steven Pearson, Carol Sperry, Allen R Sparks, Barry Bateman, Kraig Coomber, Stephan Tarjanyi, Nelson Howe, Carter Diggs, Margaret Little, Lawrence Lehmann, Michael Christian.

More Thanks

Sat, Feb 22 2003, 10:00:00 pm GMT

Jim Page|Tove Heaney|Vince Furrer

Oz Report readers have been very generous, many of them way beyond my expectations. Thanks to all of you.

On a slow Saturday morning (most of the Oz Report readers seem to read it at work), I received support from: Vince Furrer, Tove Heaney at Tarago Flight Park (Australia), Jim Page ($20, France!)

Thanks again to all of you who support the Oz Report and continue to do so.

See below on how to send in $10 to help support/subscribe to the Oz Report. I’m looking forward to thanking every one in the Oz Report.

Discuss "More Thanks" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Magic Wallaby

Tue, Apr 25 2000, 9:00:04 am GMT

Andre Wolf|Wallaby Open 1999

Andre Wolf writes:

I came here last year to fly the Wallaby Open expecting just another normal hang gliding competition. What I found was much more. The atmosphere of the Ranch amazed me. I simply felt as if I had found the best place on earth to be. The friendship and happiness were immediately contagious. My first thought was that I could never miss this meet from then on. I also remembered something I read about the Ranch: “You may never want to leave.”

This year these thoughts have even grown inside me. I feel that, in years to come, when I shall retire from competition I will still find myself a one-man comp and for sure it will be Wallaby. Even later, when I could not fly anymore, I would like to be here to help people feel all these emotions that I am feeling now.

At last I would like to address Malcolm a few words and I think I will be speaking on behalf of everybody here in this meet, especially all the Brazilian pilots and families. Malcolm, thank you for creating this little paradise and sharing it with us. Thank you, Malcolm, for all you have been doing for the sport of hang gliding. But above all, thank you Malcolm for being this nice and gentle host we all know that you are.

Discuss "Magic Wallaby" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Gibbo spins his own tale

Fri, Mar 10 2000, 3:15:01 pm GMT

Mark "Gibbo" Gibson|Mary Ellen Fennessey|Mike Eberle|Russell "Russ" Brown|Sarah Bowman|Steve Kroop|Wallaby Open 1999

Mark Gibson, <GIBBOGEAR1@aol.com>, writes:

March 9, 2000, was the day the Georgia boarder was finally crossed!! Flying my spaceship (Ghostbuster) near cloud base looking down at the St. Mary's River was a very special moment for me.

(editor's note: Perhaps Gibbo is remembering ruefully another space ship that took away first place from him on the last day of competition at the 1999 Wallaby Open.)

I'm so busy now in my Trike shop that I'm only able to get out and fly on 100+ mile looking days and so many other pilots can shoot for it daily, luck would be on my side today though!

Mike Eberle arranged a small Ghostbuster get together at Quest Air and 4 of us showed up. I was of course a little late. Mark P, Campbell Bowman and Steve Kroop were already set up and preparing their harnesses. I begged them to wait so we could fly together, but they just laughed at me.

The day was looking so awesome by now that all of us thought we had an honest chance of making the border. Mike Eberle put his money where his mouth is and announced he would pay $1000 dollars to every GB that made the crossing today. Hmm, $1000. Steve Kroop (Flytec man) upped the pot with $300 or a new map GPS for the pilot who used a Flytec vario. Wow, lets go!!!

Quest Air has been getting a large share of the long flights this summer, because pilots are able to get on the unseasonably dry plains north of the flight park earlier, and thus can fly on the fastest part of the course line longer. We were taking off a little before noon and the clouds to the north look like 3:00 PM!

(editor's note: These plains are usually known as swamps.)

I launched last, but quickly caught the other GB's after getting released in a 800fpm boomer straight to cloud base. I pull in the flaps and go on 45mph glide…wow I'm already flying faster then best glide and its not even noon? Slow down Gibbo, I warn myself don't get to excited this early and bomb out!!!

Campbell and I break away a bit, he's in a bit of a racing mood too, so our S2F stays high. We make time to Ocala only getting to 1500 agl once and on more then a few occasions flying wing tip to wing tip in 800 fpm lift right to cloud base (Love the sound of my screaming Flytec!) On one climb we both whited out at the same time. My last view of Campbell he was letting off flaps and retracting them preparing for a dive to the NW. I was doing the same and diving for the NE.

(editor's note: Campbell and Gibbo are big boys, and have the ballast to outrun the other two featherweights.)

After Ocala, Campbell and I split up, he takes a route pretty much over I-75 slightly to the west. I choose to fly even more to the west under a nice line of clouds. When I get to them I'm a little late and they have spread out shadowing the ground. I end up making a real slow climb from 1200 agl back to cloud base.

(editor's note: In a southwest wind Gibbo has positioned himself for a downwind run to the Georgia border.)

I get some good air after this slow point and find myself SW of Gainesville at the beginning of a convergence line that is directly on course to the Georgia finger. For the next 60 miles I pretty much stay between 6100 and 4500 ft! As I'm cruising, I keep looking back to see if any other pilots are making it too, but the clouds are drying up behind me as fast as the are forming ahead. I'm finally fast enough to stay on the front edge of the convergence, unlike so many other attempts when I missed it and bombed out in the blue.

I ask my Dad, Albo, to get ahead of me and check out the LZ's across the state line because on the map it looks like only trees. He reports palmettos and slash piles for LZ's - not really desirable for a carbon space ship!

Luck would continue for me though and I would stay pretty high until St. George, Georgia, at this point I'm down to 2000 ft and its blued out every where. I start searching for a LZ. To the NW of town I spot a green field, awesome! When I get there, of course, there's a power line running right thru the middle of it, well beggars can't be choosey. I pull on the flaps and set up for landing gently touching down 140 miles form Quest and at the top of the Georgia finger!

Awesome!!! Getting the record now means I can work in peace while cloud streets are forming over my shop! ha-ah. I would like to thank all the guys that make my flying possible: Mike Eberle and the guys at Flight Designs for building and supplying me with the most advanced rigid wing on the market today (GhostBuster), Steve Kroop for the best and most reliable Vario/GPS combination and the coolest bracket (Flytec), and Russell Brown for the bitchin' 914 tug and awesome flight park (Quest).

Discuss "Gibbo spins his own tale" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Dave Sharp's ATOS report

Tue, Apr 20 1999, 4:00:04 am GMT

ATOS|David "Dave" Sharp|Exxtacy|George Ferris|Peter Radman|Wallaby Open 1999

Dave Sharp is flying the ATOS in the Wallaby Open. He also works for Altair, the US distributor. He previously was the US factory pilot for the Exxtacy. He both flies the ATOS as a job and represents the ATOS throughout the US.

Here is his report on his experience so far:

So I've been holding off just a bit to tell everyone about this awesome new wing. I wanted to at least get some air time before hand. I can happily report that it should more than meet everyone's expectations.

We managed to get the Atos cleared from customs a day before the meet started. I was down in Miami at 10pm pried open the beefy wood box and found everything in tact with no damage with only one problem NO Sail ?.

I drove back to Quest to crash for the night, (2:30 am)

Saturday morning I met up with Peter Radman we both left for the Ranch right away hoping and praying Felix who arrived that night would have the sail. He did and we assembled the Atos at Quest in a hanger out of the pouring rain.

Felix test flew it, then I got to fly. Next George Ferris who drove 1200 miles just to check it out got to take her for a ride. I've been flying the Atos now for 3 days and have about 10 hours.

First the glider is really 73 pounds, The Carbon Fiber work is very slick. Felix uses a little different carbon fiber fabric on the D-tube the result is lighter and stronger and easier to work on.

The Atos is a foot or so shorter in pack down than similar wings. First you insert a foot long section of 7075 with a carbon fiber rib attached to it then you insert a fiberglass wand that plugs into a delron fitting.

The ribs swing out but stay internal and Felix has designed a very clever and simple pinky size cam that you can tension with the flick of a finger.

The spoilers and flaps attach directly to the sail with Velcro, no spoiler or flap sleeves. At first I did not like the idea of having to peel them on and off BUT you don't have to THEY STAY ON. You just fold over the sail and they lay on top of the glider, VERY NICE.

The sail work is very clean no proto type here !. The aspect ratios is incredible 12:1 and must be the sexiest hang glider out there.

Flying : off the cart it tracks very well with good pitch feed back. The control bar is several inches closer than what I was used to which I like as opposed to way out in front of my helmet. Bar Pressure is a little more than my last glider but I had no problem going 70 mph.Roll is slightly different , a sharp input will give a quicker roll when desired but normal type Exxtacy like handling can be expected.

Stall speed is a mile or two higher, and the glide is a little better with flaps on but still much less than a high performance hang glider. Flare feel is the same but is much lighter when you do the final push out. Glide is about what is claimed, I am consistently seeing a steady walk away from last years rigid wing models. Sink rate is the same but every day I'm getting more dialed into and finding my self on top more often.

In a few week I will be going up to Altair and we will be making an on line manual to show more details. Look for it on the Altair web page.

I have lots of photos of the ATOS , and will be publishing them soon. Even photographic evidence of the weight – 73 pounds.

Discuss "Dave Sharp's ATOS report" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Wallaby Open results

Mon, Apr 19 1999, 4:00:01 am GMT

Wallaby Open 1999

Class II

This is my guess as to the results of day two. The preliminary results given to me by the scorekeepers appear to have a number of errors.

Dave Sharp
Felix Ruhle
Mark Gibson
Davis Straub
Jim Zeiset

Cumulative:

Mark Gibson
Dave Sharp
Davis Straub
Felix Ruhle
Brian Porter

Class I:

Oleg Bondarchuck
Jim Lee
Andre Wolf
Manfred Ruhmer
Dustin Martin
Allan Barnes
Ryan Glover
Sandy Dittmar
Kari Castle
Mike Barber

Cumulative:

Manfred Ruhmer
Oleg Bondarchuck
Jim Lee
Dustin Martin
Kraig Coomber
Ryan Glover
Kari Castle
Mike Barber
Sandy Dittmar
Paris Williams

Discuss "Wallaby Open results" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Practice day for Wallaby Open rained out

Sat, Apr 17 1999, 4:00:00 am GMT

Wallaby Open 1999|weather

It has finally rained in central Florida after more than three months of drought. We have had only one day of rain since we arrived here in mid-January. Forest fires were breaking out over the last few weeks, some destroying homes. Sun 'n Fun, the big air show in Lakeland, FL, just 30 miles from here, was partially evacuated on Wednesday due to a fast moving fire that threatened them from the west.

It has rained here at Wallaby Ranch about 2 inches in the last hour, and we are on the southern edge of the rain clouds as shown below:

Over most of the United States the skies are clear, but when we get to Florida, the radar and satellite photos show a much different story:

Those of us who have been here for a while are celebrating the rains, and look forward to getting rid of the haze which built up a bit over the last week. We expect slower going the next few days with the wetter ground, but with light northwest winds, we should be flying toward the drier areas.

The rains stop in the afternoon and a number of test flights are taken before dusk.

Discuss "Practice day for Wallaby Open rained out" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Watch the race at home or work

Fri, Apr 16 1999, 4:00:01 am GMT

Wallaby Open 1999|US Nationals 1999

The Wallaby Open and the Nationals will be netcast live, so that you will be able to track the race (at least the top five pilots and maybe the top fifteen). While the web site won't be active until Sunday afternoon (Eastern Daylight Savings time, which is 4 hours ahead of Zulu time), you can check it out in advance. You'll find it at http://www.wallaby.com/wallabyopen.

We are hoping that all the glider manufacturers tune in on their computers to see how their boys (and girls) are doing. Of course, the race results will also be published every day at the same site.

Please tell other people about this live netcast and have them tune in to see what is going on. It won't be the be all and end all of live hang gliding competition coverage, but it will be a start.

Also enter the contest at http://www.1800hangglide.com to win a Flytec vario. If you have read previous issues of the Oz report, you should have a pretty good idea of who will place well in the Class I category.

Discuss "Watch the race at home or work" at the Oz Report forum   link»

One slot left for the Wallaby Open

Tue, Apr 6 1999, 4:00:03 am GMT

Wallaby Open 1999

There is only one slot left available for the Wallaby Open. Apparently the Nationals are just about completely full also. Here’s whose coming to the Wallaby Open:

1. Zweykmeyer, Josef
2. Wolfgang (Austria)
3. Alden, John
4. Arai, Chris
5. Barber, Mike
6. Bezenover, Jose
7. Bolt, Mark
8. Bowen, Campbell
9. Cameron, Patty
10. Castle, Kari
11. Coomber, Craig
12. Cutts, Buddy
13. Davis, Gary
14. de Silva, Francisco
15. Funk, Dean
16. Furrer, Vince
17. Gibson, Mark "Gibbo"
18. Glennon, Mike
19. Glover, Ryan
20. Goodman, Bubba
21. Gotez, Rudy
22. Hagewood, Bo
23. Hamilton, Robin
24. Hildebrand, Judy
25. Jaramillo, Nicolas
26. Kendall, Greg
27. Kennedy, Nick
28. Lee, Jim
29. Martin, Dusty
30. Mulholland, Mark
31. Pagen, Claire
32. Pagen, Dennis
33. Porter, Brian
34. Posche, Johann
35. Rhumer, Manfred
36. Rizo, Carlos
37. Rizo, Luis
38. Rogers, Tip
39. Rossignol, Jerz
40. Rowleski, Steve
41. Ruhle, Felix
42. Sayer, Wayne
43. Scarli, Reto
44. Schmit, Betinho
45. Sharp, Dave
46. Shipley, Mitch
47. Simmons, Jack
48. Smith, Nancy
49. Straub, Davis
50. Thevenot, Gerard
51. Volk, Glen
52. Welch, Peter
53. Williams, Paris
54. Wolf, Andre
55. Yocom, James
56. Zeiset, Jim
57. Meier, James
58. Warren, Steve
59. Bondarchuck, Oleg
60. Nenno

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Getting ready to come to ⁢Wallaby »

Sun, Apr 4 1999, 6:00:00 pm EDT

Mike Barber|record|Wallaby Open 1999|Wallaby Ranch

John "Ole" Olson|Mike Barber|record|Wallaby Open 1999|Wallaby Ranch

(?-i)John "Ole" Olson|Mike Barber|record|Wallaby Open 1999|Wallaby Ranch

John "Ole" Olson|Mike Barber|Patty Cameron|record|Wallaby Open 1999|Wallaby Ranch

John "Ole" Olson|Mike Barber|Patty Cameron|record|Wallaby Open 1999|Wallaby Ranch

If you are coming to the Wallaby Open on April 18th, or just to the Ranch in general, you should be prepared to really enjoy your time here. The Ranch is a bit big and its great to have a bicycle to get around from the pole barn/kitchen to the hangers and over to your trailer or tent. If you have a bicycle, bring it with you.

One custom mod that will make life just that much better, is to equip your bicycle (for the time you are here) with comfort pedals. Comfort pedals let you bicycle in the nude (at least as far as your feet are concerned).

Here’s a shot of the feet on comfort pedals, and the pedals themselves. Just $6.95 a pair.

There is a full-scale kitchen and restaurant (pole barn) at the Ranch now. Currently two meals a day are served, but there will be three meals served each day during the Wallaby Open (hopefully pilots will miss lunch).

Jeremy, the Ranch chef, now has two assistants, in order to handle the big load coming up. Meals are by donation. It is hoped and expected that you will like the meals enough to pay $5.00 per person per meal. You can pay any time and will be asked when you check out what you think that you owe for meals.

This arrangement is extraordinary, and it relies on people appreciating the food (which is great, by the way) and pitching in to pay for it. The kitchen is handling up to 40 meals a day now and will be doing more soon. Jeremy goes out and buys food in $500 chunks.

I sometimes get the feeling that Malcolm is not running the Ranch as a business and that he just enjoys feeding people and making sure that they have a good time. Please help out if you want to eat here.

Those of us on site are practicing for the upcoming meets by flying proposed triangles and out and return tasks (unless it looks like a record day). Today Patty Cameron had her best flight ever, a 50 mile triangle from Wallaby to Clermont, Quest and back. Here’s a shot of Mike Barber up close as we head back for the Ranch after making it to Gator, Quest and back.

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Wallaby Open turnpoints – the list

Sun, Apr 4 1999, 5:00:05 am GMT

Wallaby Open 1999|waypoints

You can cut and paste the following lines (starting with Datum) into a text file on your computer and use Waypoint+ to open and read the file and then upload it into your Garmin.

Datum,WGS84,WGS84,0,0,0,0,0
WP,DM,LEEWAR, 29.050640108, -82.0193299942,03/21/1999,13:04:51,DAVIS
WP,DM,COLEMA, 28.486730014, -82.0391101122,03/21/1999,13:04:51,DAVIS
WP,DM,471-50, 28.333120054, -82.0328300215,03/21/1999,13:04:51,DAVIS
WP,DM,17-92 , 28.063740003, -81.3868000746,03/21/1999,13:04:51,RYAN
WP,DM,27-192, 28.208361578, -81.4044029262,03/21/1999,13:04:51,14-FEB-99 18:30
WP,DM,27-474, 28.222172809, -81.4103059318,03/21/1999,13:04:51,14-FEB-99 18:39
WP,DM,27-544, 28.048497629, -81.3898224380,03/21/1999,13:04:51,19-FEB-99 20:18
WP,DM,27-547, 28.094685268, -81.3840256479,03/21/1999,13:04:51,19-FEB-99 20:46
WP,DM,27-I4 , 28.140158367, -81.3903921392,03/21/1999,13:04:51,19-FEB-99 20:57
WP,DM,33-474, 28.225761604, -81.4940069463,03/21/1999,13:04:51,14-FEB-99 18:55
WP,DM,33-DS , 28.155086470, -81.4949950721,03/21/1999,13:04:51,14-FEB-99 19:54
WP,DM,471-98, 28.148938847, -82.0334356811,03/21/1999,13:04:51,19-FEB-99 17:55
WP,DM,557-I4, 28.109400940, -81.4464867856,03/21/1999,13:04:51,19-FEB-99 17:14
WP,DM,AVON , 27.354959893, -81.3165884759,03/21/1999,13:04:51,30-DEC-97 04:4!
WP,DM,BOK , 27.561079978, -81.3467200264,03/21/1999,13:04:51,RYAN
WP,DM,CEDARK, 29.080698586, -83.0288120534,03/21/1999,13:04:51,30-DEC-97 05:01
WP,DM,CHALET, 27.570429254, -81.3597795513,03/21/1999,13:04:51,30/DEC-97 04:40
WP,DM,CHERYL, 28.402861428, -82.0523098495,03/21/1999,13:04:51,29-DEC)97 23:26
WP,DM,CRYSTL, 28.520921540, -82.3445311572,03/21/1999,13:04:51,30-DEC-97 04:56
WP,DM,DS-ROK, 28.155504894, -81.5751298215,03/21/1999,13:04:51,14-FEB-99 20:17
WP,DM,DUNELN, 29.038028932, -82.2263583925,03/21/1999,13:04:51,30-DEC-97 04:58
WP,DM,FANTA , 28.100665522, -81.4843799617,03/21/1999,13:04:51,14-FEB-99 20:58
WP,DM,GATOR , 28.375461054, -81.4817986038,03/21/1999,13:04:51,18-MAR-98 00:52
WP,DM,INVERS, 28.485332918, -82.1878504541,03/21/1999,13:04:51,30-DEC-97 04:59
WP,DM,OCALA , 29.102150893, -82.1335485961,03/21/1999,13:04:51,17-MAR-18 03:22
WP,DM,PLACID, 27.151109862, -81.2479797151,03/21/1999,13:04:51,17-MAR-98 03:12
WP,DM,QUEST , 28.321120572, -81.5076314952,03/21/1999,13:04:51,14-FEB-99 19:23
WP,DM,RANCH , 28.151906443, -81.4108852889,03/21/1999,13:04:51,14-FEB-99 16:45
WP,DM,RIVER , 27.462981033, -81.1153294589,03/21/1999,13:04:51,31-MAR-98 17:09
WP,DM,ROK-98, 28.115831804, -82.0006859090,03/21/1999,13:04:51,14-FEB-99 20:26
WP,DM,WAUCLU, 27.308318424, -81.5292286422,03/21/1999,13:04:51,17-MAR-98 03:10
WP,DM,WILARP, 29.212811327, -82.2836793449,03/21/1999,13:04:51,30-DEC-97 04:35
WP,DM,WIMAMA, 27.395675826, -82.2622045066,03/21/1999,13:04:51,08-SEP-97 21:49
WP,DM,ZHILLA, 28.134559977, -82.0954499796,03/21/1999,13:07:04,MIKE
WP,DM,ZHILLC, 28.131619991, -82.0917100079,03/21/1999,13:08:41,MIKE
WP,DM,98-301, 28.194630009, -82.1125699833,03/21/1999,13:09:22,MIKE
WP,DM,75-50 , 28.314010019, -82.1423999865,03/21/1999,13:10:10,MIKE
WP,DM,TWOJJS, 28.271189994, -82.1246800061,03/21/1999,13:12:48,MIKE
WP,DM,SG4 , 28.170720010, -81.4039999913,03/21/1999,13:17:17,RYAN
WP,DM,SG3 , 28.155480000, -81.4585599951,03/21/1999,13:16:39,RYAN
WP,DM,SG2 , 28.130469977, -81.4337200072,03/21/1999,13:16:00,RYAN
WP,DM,SG1 , 28.155969989, -81.4338400025,03/21/1999,13:14:31,RYAN
WP,DM,UMATIL, 28.553909995, -81.3910199773,04/01/1999,14:39:14,RYAN
WP,DM,MIDFLA, 28.507880020, -81.3780599792,04/01/1999,14:39:53,RYAN
WP,DM,AGRO , 27.396320009, -82.1734999988,04/01/1999,14:40:25,RYAN

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Netcasting the Wallaby Open

Sun, Apr 4 1999, 5:00:04 am GMT

Duncan McBride|Kevin Frost|Lawrence "Pete" Lehmann|Mark "Gibbo" Gibson|Russell "Russ" Brown|Wallaby Open 1999

Over the last few days the Automated Pilot Tracking System (Oz Reports # 19 and #20) has been put to good use as Albo has been tracking right under us. Using one minute intervals works well, and now we’ll try two minutes. The system has been so successful that Albo is ready to buy one to track Mark (Gibson) at the Worlds in Italy

There is a small possibility that the Wallaby Open, and/or the Nationals will be Netcast with pilots using APTS to report their positions to a central computer at headquarters. We’ll see how far this effort gets.

Russ Brown has a few thoughts on these type of systems:

Maybe you guys will help me brainstorm a little thing that's been bopping around in my head. I mentioned it to Duncan McBride a couple months ago and now Ken Rosenberger has asked about it. We've got this capability in APRS to have our position picked up by any nearby digipeater that is "Igate" (internet gate) equipped. Then your icon is displayed on a US map atwww.aprs.net. If you zoom in on an area, thewww.aprs.netmaps are served from Mapblast.com. Other technical details onwww.aprs.netcan be found by searching the APRSSIG archives atwww.tapr.org.

Anyway, say we get our infrastructure all set up. Say every HG site in the country had an Igated digipeater (actually that would come in very handy if it were also hooked into the site's wind talker, but that's another subject) and everybody could log onto the internet on Sat night to view the log file of their favorite mailing list personality, sort of like what Davis has posted athttps://OzReport.com/Ozv3n17.htm.

To get fancy, you could use a product like Delorme 3D Explorer to deliver say, a real-time pilot's view of Pete Lawrence flying up the Owens Valley. Or you could see if Kevin Frost lands in the bomb range. You could go over the back of Frisco with David Taylor and second guess all his flight decisions. Hmm… I guess we'd need a cloud cover overlay from the weather service to second-guess all his flying decisions.

But now for the brainstorming part… If all these disparate, digitally-equipped pilots would want to compete against each other in a "Saturday Cyber League" of sorts, what would the handicap rules be? I was thinking maybe to get soundings from weather service sources nearest each competitor and then handicapping each flight as to thermal tops/cloudbase, tailwinds, strength of lift, etc. Also type of glider could be handicapped. These standings could be calculated instantly and the leader would have bragging rights for a week.

Whaddya think? I think Florida would be the ideal place to kick off a Cyber League since the state is already blanketed with Igated digipeaters and has at least one glider-mounted TH-D7A. The consistent topography in Florida would also make scoring easier, maybe start off with just a glider handicap. Maybe Kenwood could sponsor this and make it really cool.

And:

I plan on flying this Saturday but probably won't go XC since I haven't flown since Xmas (I re-injured a muscle below my scapula). I'll set my TH-D7A to 144.390 (call sign KB6LUD), set my SSID to "small aircraft" and set my path to RELAY,WIDE. I should easily hit one of the 2 IGated digipeaters in the LA Basin. Hey, I've got a 5000 foot antenna :-)

According tohttp://www.aprs.net/aprserve.dcc.htmlthe data is not purged for 12 hours so we should be able to race home and see our last position. The "Client connection" paragraph onhttp://www.aprs.net/aprserve.dcc.htmlprobably holds the key to gathering nationwide data that the Cyber League could use for scoring purposes. Know any programmers? Steve Dimse is a great guy, he would probably offer tech help.

Then, he reconsiders:

WARNING… Don't tune into 144.390 with your glider's GPS unless you want all your waypoints overwritten!! You can disable the NMEA input from the GPS to prevent this.

I think he means NMEA input to the GPS.

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Wallaby Open turnpoints

Sun, Apr 4 1999, 5:00:03 am GMT

Wallaby Open 1999|waypoints

I’ve put up the official list of Wallaby Open turnpoints/goals on my web site. You’ll find it at http://www.davisstraub.com/Glide/wallabyopenturnpoints.zip. Just click this link to download it to your computer.

You’ll need to unzip it (http://www.winzip.com). It is in Waypoint+ (http://www.tapr.org/~kh2z/Waypoint/) format. If you download Waypoint+ (which is a terrific piece of freeware), you can upload the turnpoints into your Garmin 12 or III or whatever. You’ll need a Garmin/serial cable (http://www.blue-hills-innovations.com/products.htm#data).

I’ve also included a text version of the turnpoints below.

The turnpoint checking software to be used at the Wallaby Open and the Nationals will download your track log and your waypoints, including any that you created with Mark, and Enter during the flight. This is an example of what your flight will look like to the person viewing it on the computer:

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US Nationals »

Wed, Mar 17 1999, 5:00:02 am GMT

G.W. Meadows|Quest Air|Wallaby Open 1999|US Nationals 1999

G.W. is going to be putting on quite a show up at Quest Air, right after the Wallaby Open. If you are thinking about flying in these meets, you had better sign up very soon. Because these are tow meets, there will definitely be a limit to the number of participants. Just because you sign up for one, doesn’t mean you will necessarily be able to go to the other.

You can sign up for the Nationals at http://www.justfly.com, and for the Wallaby Open, go to http://www.wallaby.com (there is no on-line sign up capability there).

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GPS turn point verification at the competitions »

Tue, Feb 16 1999, 4:00:04 pm GMT

GPS|Wallaby Open 1999|US Nationals 1999

We are working hard at setting up the Wallaby Open and the US Nationals for GPS use. GPS turnpoint verification will be the order of the day, but we want to make sure that it works for every one.

Previously pilots used their GPSs to tell them when they got close to the physical turnpoint. Now they will be using their eye sight (and their GPSs) to tell them when they get near the virtual turnpoint. The GPS indicated turnpoint is the turnpoint. Hopefully it will be very close to the physical turnpoint.

I suggest that pilots take every opportunity to practice making virtual turnpoints.

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The Wallaby Open »

Sun, Jul 5 1998, 7:56:19 pm EDT

cost|Wallaby Open 1999|weather

The Wallaby Open dates are April 18th-24th. This is the week after Sun 'n Fun (April 10-17th). JC Brown is now the meet director. Malcolm is the meet organizer. The cost is $250. See www.wallaby.com for snail mail address. E-mail is «gloverdh».

BTW, there are money prizes at the Wallaby Open. $3000, $1500, $500 for 1st, 2nd, 3rd in Class I. None for Class II, but I guess if you can afford a Class II glider, who needs money. :-) I asked Malcolm about the weather and he didn't want to talk about it because he didn't want to jinx it. It's been too good for a month now. Last year with El Nino, it rained every day in the Winter.

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