USHGA Hang Gliding April 1992 by US Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

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INSURANCE INFORMATION

The cost of the insurance is included in the full membership fees with the member as additional insured. USHGA provides a C.Ombined Single Limit Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability Master Policy in the amount of Sl,000,000 per claim wbJcb covers an recreational flying. USHGA's insurance is valid ONLY while flying in the U.S., U.S. Properties, Canada, and overseas

while

USHGA

*Fordgn payments m111t

approved

be in U.S.

business.

FUNDS drawn on a U.S. BANK. USHGA, PO BOX 8300, COWRADO SPRINGS, CO 80933

(719) 632-8300

FAX (719) 632-6417

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• Internal composite tip tensioning strut to reduce drag • Composite graphite frame construction (TRX) • Faired control bar uprights and kingpost • Clean recessed clevis bolts throughout to reduce drag &sail wear • An abundance of protective pads and covers

5. Flying Characferlitlcs • Comfortable bar pressure throughout entire range • Extremely easy landing with large flare timing window • Excellent handling • Good static balance • Gentle stail characteristic • Superior Glide • Superior Perfom,ance

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Payment: CHECK or MONEY ORDER to: "Schutte Sails" CROSS cou NTRY 752 Casiano Drive #B, Santa Barbara,· CA_93105 USA

(USPS 017-970-20)

Features

Columns 13 Safety Forum

18 The Next 20 Years?

by Robin Hastings

by Rodger Hoyt

Using the buddy system.

Prognostications on the future of hang gliding.

26 Accident Reports by Doug Hildreth

20 Lakeview Fly-In

Accident statistics.

article and photos by Dave Baleria Flying at the hang gliding capital of the West.

42 Competition Corner

28 Flying Costa Rica

I 991 Rocky Mountain HGA X-C Competition and the East Coast Open.

44 Tow Lines

36 Hang Gliding Spectacular

by Bud Brown

by Vic Powell photos courtesy Kitty Hawk Kites

Finding a place to tow.

63 Product Lines Page 28

A look at the world's oldest hang gliding meet on its 20th anniversary.

by Dan Johnson Manufacturer news, video review.

46 Hang Gliding In Central Norway

Departments

by Michael Boska Exploring the site of this year's European Championships.

Page 36 COVER: Skip Brown cranks and banks over High Rock, Maryland. Photo by Skip Brown.

CENTER.SPREAD: Pt. Calderea, Costa Rica. Paul

7 10 14 51 58 58 60

Airmail Update Calendar of Events Classified Advertising Index to Advertisers Stolen Wings Ratings

Gibney soars over a mangrove swamp in super smooth coastal air. Photo by Skip Brown.

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES IN PUBLICATIONS: The material presented here is published as part or an information dissemination service for USHGA members. The USHGJ\ makes no warranties or representations and assumes no liability concerning the validity or any advice, opinion or recommendation expressed in the material. All individuals relying upon the material do so at their own risk. Copyright© 1992 United States Hang Gliding Association, Inc. All rights reserved to Hani Glidin1s and individual contributors.

APRIL 1992

Gil Dodgen, Editor/Art Director John Heiney, Leroy Grannis Photographers Harry Martin, Illustrator Dennis Pagen, G.W. Meadows, Rodger Hoyt, Staff Writers Tim Rinker, Design Consultant

Office Staff Jerry Bruning, Executive Director Greg Huller, Ratings & ICP's Cindy Evans, Member Services PJ More, Special Projects & Competitions Stu Clark, Insurance & Member Services Jeff Elgart, Marketing & Advertising D. Dean Leyerle, Merchandise Services

USHGA Officers and Executive Committee: Gregg Lawless, President Paul Voight, Vice President Russ Locke, Secretary Dan Johnson, Treasurer

REGION 1: Gene Matthews. REGION 2: Lynda Nelson, Russ Locke, Connie Bowen. REGION 3: Joe Greblo, Sandy King, Gregg Lawless. REGION 4: Mark Mocho, Glen Nicolet. REGION 5: Mike King. REGION 6: Ron Kenney. REGION 7: Rod Hauser. REGION 8: Randy Adams. REGION 9: Pete Lehmann, Jeff Sims. REGION 10: Matt Taber, Rick Jacob. REGION11: Jeff Hunt. REGION 12: Paul Voight, Paul Rikert. DIRECTORS AT LARGE: Dan Johnson, Jerry Forburger, Jan Johnson, Dennis Pagen. HONORARY DIRECTORS: Ken Brown, Lisa Tate, Jim Zeise!, Doug Hildreth, G.W. Meadows, Tom Kreyche, Mike Meier, Rob Kells, Fred Stockwell, Terry Reynolds.

The United States Hang Gliding Association Inc. is a division of the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) which is the official representative of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), of the world governing body for sport aviation. The NAA, which represents the U.S. at FAI meetings, has delegated to the USHGA supervision of FAl-related hang gliding activities such as record attempts and competition sanctions. HANG GLIDING magazine is published for hang gliding sport enthusiasts to create further interest in the sport, by a means of open communication and to advance hang gliding methods and safety. Contributions are welcome. Anyone is invited to contribute articles, pho· tos, and illustrations concerning hang gliding activities. If the material is to be returned, a stamped, set/addressed return envelope must be enclosed. Notification must be made of submission to other hang gliding publications. HANG GLIDING magazine reserves the right to edit contributions where necessary. The Association and publication do not assume responsibility for the material or opinions of contributors. HANG GLID· ING editorial offices: 6950 Aragon Circle, Suite 6, Buena Park, CA 90620 (714) 994-3050. HANG GLIDING (USPS 017-970) is published monthly by the United States Hang Gliding Association, Inc., 559 E. Pikes Peak Ave., Suite 101, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903 (719) 632-8300. FAX (719) 632-6417. Second-class postage is paid at Colorado Springs, CO and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: SEND CHANGE OF ADDRESS TO: HANG GLIDING, P.O. BOX 8300, Colorado Springs, co 80933-8300. The USHGA is a member-controlled educational and scientific organization dedicated to exploring all facets of ultralight flight. Membership is open to anyone interested in this realm of flight. Dues for full membership are $49.00 per year (of which $15 goes to the publication of Hang Gliding), ($55 Canada & Mexico, $60 foreign); subscription rates only are $35.00 ($40 Canada & Mexico, $50 foreign). Changes of address should be sent six weeks in advance, including name, USHGA number, previous and new address, and a mailing label from a recent issue.

APRIL 1992

Volume 22, Issue No. 4

AIRMAIL Steve Aden recently sent this letter to NAA President Mal Gross, Art Greenfield of NAA, Jerry Bruning, Gregg Lawless, Gene Matthews, Joe Greb/a and Mark Mocha. Mal has been particularly aggressive in helping to secure or reopen hang gliding flying sites in his capacity as president of our prestigious national aero club. A number of his supportive letters to those who control these sites have crossed my desk, and we owe him a big "Thank you!"~Ed.

Flying Site ARSA Dear Editor, The members of the Valley Ville Hang Gliding Association are expecting to wait quite a while before hearing anything official from the FAA regarding the proposed Eugene, Oregon ARSA, and our proposed modification to it. In the meantime, I just wanted to express our gratitude to all of you for your swift support and response to my letter. Frankly, I was shocked by the number of supp01iing letters and phone calls you made on our behalf to the FAA. I think the FAA was impressed by the positive nature of our proposal, compared to the extremely negative input they received from the general aviation organizations. We're not out of the woods yet, but we made a very good stmi. It is very easy to take a national association such as USHGA or NAA for granted. Your help on this situation has made it very clear to me how important it is to work together to protect the interests of hang gliding and sport aviation. I won't be taking the USHGA or NAA for granted anytime soon. Steve Aden Corvallis, OR

Flying Site Rebuttal Dear Editor, A recent letter to the editor by Don Underwood regarding Point Sal/Guadalupe Sand Dunes stated that our Chapter 0159 has no jurisdiction over the site. I feel the following response is necessary.

Our chapter has been using both sites since 1985 and we are proud to claim one of the best safety records in the industry. Since 1985, we have had hundreds of students and pilots use this site and since then we have had only one accident with one broken mm. It is the chapter's responsibility to monitor and administer the site and it is also the chapter's responsibility to establish minimum rating requirements for safe use of the site. It is due to that fact that we have established a safety program that requires beginner and novice pilots and non-rated paragliding pilots to fly there only with a chapter-approved certified instructor. All pilots violating these rules will be cited by park authorities and lose their flying privilege. Large pa1is of the sand dunes have been acquired by the Nature Conservatory and they have set up specific guidelines as to what sites can be used. Guadalupe Sand Dunes is the home of the nesting terns which are listed as an endangered species. Picking up or destroying eggs during the nesting season is a federal felony. It is only our safety record and our compliance with the Nature Conservatory requests that has kept the site open, and we urge all pilots to follow the guidelines set up in our flying regulations. Let's keep Point Sal/Guadalupe Sand Dunes open and safe. Achim Hageman Santa Barbara, CA USHGA Certified Instructor (A+B) President of Chapter O159

Why No Full-Face? Dear Editor, I'm new to hang gliding and am a little puzzled at the lack of full-face helmets in this sport. Being an avid motorcycle rider, the choice between an open-face helmet and a full-face helmet is obvious where protection is concerned. My question to you (and any readers with valid input) is, "Are there risks involved when using a full-face helmet as opposed to an open-face helmet?" I applaud the effo1is of the USHGA to improve safety in this spo1i, and I admire all of the safetyoriented pilots with whom I have flown. This is what has puzzled me so much: not one pilot I know uses a full-face helmet! I'm trying to resolve this question before

AIRMAIL purchasing a new helmet so any input you might have would be appreciated.

something from the people Down Under before more of us are down under.

Mike J. Rogers Evanston, IL

David Kincheloe Graham, NC

Good question. l know that some Colorado pilots are adamant about the use offull-face helmets.-Ed.

More Hook-In Advice

Down Under Advice Dear Editor, I want to commend Warwick Duncan for saying the obvious, that "both glider and harness should be considered a single entity." Since we supposedly teach safety first, it seems that this should be taught in the first lesson. It bothers me to see "students" walking around on a "training hill" with a harness on that is NOT hooked into a glider. What are we teaching these people? Don't we expect any of them to become real pilots? Recently I was flying with one of these students from one of the world's largest hang gliding schools. He was on the tow trailer ready to launch and I pointed out that his biner was not locked. He said that he wasn't used to locking his biner because the biners they used where he was learning were nonlocking types. Maybe if we did teach safety first we could get a 90% fatality rate decrease. One of the reasons I've heard for not hooking in before getting into the harness is that the pilot is afraid that the glider might get blown away before launching. How many pilots have been killed getting to the launch ramp or on the launch ramp as a result of being hooked in? Another reason I've heard is that the pilot can't walk the glider to the launch ramp while the harness is hooked it. Walking around can-ying the glider is something we were supposed to learn in ground school. This is too important an issue for us to put it in the "we've always done it that way" category . Many harnesses are easy to get into after the glider is fully assembled, but some are not. I suggest that this should be an important factor in the design of all harnesses. If you can't get into your harness after it is attached to the glider, get another harness. Let's learn

Dear Editor, In searching for a hook-in check and procedure a pilot wrote in last year, and more recently in Doug Hildreth's column, about a procedure that entails tying a line from the nose of the glider. At hook-in this line is also hooked into the carabiner connection. If this line is dangling, you are not hooked in. This seemed like such a simple and easy method that I adopted it. I only used it twice. The second time the rope caught the lip of my helmet and for just a few seconds I was unable to get prone off launch as my head was held sideways and my run was severely affected. Just try running with your head twisted sideways. Luckily it slipped off and normal flight ensued. The problem with this procedure is that you want this rope as short as possible without it interfering with the carabiner in normal flight. On launch run the carabiner is forward, putting slack in the line, and letting it fall easily below helmet level. Put a bungee here or there and it starts to get complex. Remember, we want to keep things as simple as possible. The procedure I now use, and one that an Aussie wrote about in February's issue, is the best. Hook in your harness, pre-flight the total system, climb into your harness, and if you unhook at all, go back and do it again. Joel D. Godin King,NC

Glider Size Mysteries Dear Editor, I enjoyed Davis Straub's article very much. These kind of technical articles are always of great interest to me. The results on his graphs relating to ballast were no real surprise, however in relation to glider size they were surprising. I really need two more bits of information in order to interpret these results. Are these graphs based on actual tested values, extrapolations of a few tested

values, or purely theoretical? Also, are these two gliders identical, differing only in size? It seems to me that if you have an Xo/o smaller glider with an Xo/o smaller pilot flying it, all else being equal, it should perform identically to the larger version, being in essence a scale model. This should be true whether you choose to define the pilot/glider ratio based on wing loading, span loading or some other factor. However, Davis' data seem to indicate something inherently inferior in the smaller glider. I realize that, for a number of reasons, there will likely never be two identical gliders, differing only in size. However, if we are discussing theory we can have this ideal, and if we are discussing reality we must know what two gliders. Manufacturer A may have a superior "145 class" glider while manufacturer B's "160 class" glider may be superior (in a pure performance sense). I really appreciate the work that goes into submitting this type of article and hope that Davis will continue these efforts. This sort of information is both interesting and useful. Thank you. Mike Tryon San Diego, CA We'll see ifwe can get some further commen ts from Davis. The subject of glider scaling is an interesting one. You can scale a glider but you can't scale air molecules. In addition, there are myriad variables involving materials, ai1foils, aeroelasticity, etc. Historically, one size of a given hang glider model seems to fly significantly better than the others. See the upcoming New Pilot Edition of Hang Gliding for an interesting and informative article on glider design.Ed.

Recreational Class Dear Editor, A second classification should be developed to encourage greater participation in hang gliding competitions. There are many pilots who would enjoy competing at a lower skill level. Current competitions cannot accommodate everyone who is interested. This is my proposal: Use the same formats and rules as in current competitions. Make the points worth half as much as other comparable events. Restrict ent1y based on HANG GLIDING

AIRMAIL total points from past competitions. Set up regional competitions and one national competition. Use intermediate sites and conditions. Move competitors up in class as point totals increase. Hopefully this would increase participation, and a third classification could be developed. Controlling the numbers in a competition based on classes and pilot point totals would be better than just refusing entry. Paul Eckerson, Lincoln, Nebraska

Performance Control Dear Editor, How pleased I was to see Mike Sandlin's article about his performancereducing, keel-stabilized drogue chute. As an inventor of one of the first usable spoiler systems for hang gliders back in 1980 on my Sensor 5 lOA, I enjoyed the benefits of having control over my glider's performance for years. Like Mike and others who have experimented with performance-reducing devices we have come to know the many benefits of having such a system. I just hope the manufacturers of gliders will take note. Imagine getting sucked up into the clouds and you just can't get down. Maybe that T-storm is clumping some rain at the other encl of the valley and is sending a gust front your way-sure would be nice to be on the deck! You're downwind of launch a hundred miles or so and there's only one small landing area. It only has one entry point, lots of obstacles and no room for low, quick roll reversals. Wouldn't it be nice to arrive high, line up and dump the spoilers? Ten years of experience has taught this pilot that properly-placed spoiler systems are very effective. They not only add drag but destroy lift, and they can be used for turning. Pitch stable? When done right, you bet' With a properly-placed system trim neutral to slightly pitch positive is preferred. They can actually add to pitch stability. Way to go Mike. Keep working on the chute. Maybe the manufacturers will get the idea: pilots want such devices as standard equipment, factory installed. I feel the only thing that's keeping a 38foot span, easy turning, super sinking, long gliding and landable glider on the drawing APRIL 1992

board is the Jack of a spoiler system. Having control over performance actually allows us to get more of it. Larry Smith Maiden Rock, WI

While these home-gro11·11 e.\periments are interesting, it should be kept in mind that they are potentially dangerous, and that there are many poorly-understood variables involved. We advise pilots not to modify their gliders. -Ed.

Digital Hang Gliding Forum Dear Editor, Hmmm ... Altitude computers with the ability to talk to a personal computer, weather forecasting software for the PC, demographics that would seem to indicate a welleducated population of pilots, and yet I haven't read anything about an electronic forum for hang gliding! I'd like to propose that the USHGA investigate the establishment of a Special Interest Group on one of the major information services such as Compuserve. In fact, I'll do more than propose it; I'll volunteer to the do the legwork required. The membership, and hence the USHGA, could benefit from the improvernents in communication that such a service provides: site information, product reviews, calendar of events, and some good 'ol chit chat with other pilots! I don't want to ruffle your battens and have you run off thinking that I'm trying to replace Hang Gliding with a computer. There will always be a need for the magazine; lots of pilots live voluntarily in self-declared computer free zones. And there's no way I'm going to give up the great photos that show up every month. And what about the great articles? And the ads? No. there will always be a need for Hang Gliding. I'm just suggesting that we can improve our communications by going a little bit electronic. And who knows, maybe you could accept articles submitted electronically and end up with a few more great contributors!

Another Professional Book Dear Editor, I am writing regarding the review of Hang Gliding for Beginner Pilots written by Gil Dodgen. Gil is right, in my opinion, in his praise of the fine layout, slick appearance and wonderful photography in the book. However, he makes a statement that this book is the "first truly professional flight training manual for our sport." Professionalism is different things to different people, for while an editor may be pleased with attractive formats, an instructor may look for something else in a training manual. As a long-time hang gliding instructor I must point out that Dennis Pagen's training manuals have taken a professional approach to safe instruction for over 15 years. They are organized to follow the approved method of training and do a thorough job of explaining the necessary details of hang gliding techniques and technicalities. In their comprehension and understanding of the problems the new pilot encounters, they are professional. Dennis was first to introduce a number of important matters to hang gliding, such as the proper glider attitude on various degrees of slope during takeoff, the setup of a system of angles on landing approaches, side slope landing techniques and proper stall practice (all in Hang Gliding Flying Skills). His illustrations are artistic in a manner not duplicated with computer design. Finally, he delivers his thorough information for onethird the price of the fancier book in the review. Hang gliding is a complex subject. A pilot needs all the information he or she can get. For this reason the USHGA Safety and Training Committee adopted both Matt Taber's and Dennis Pagen's books as official training manuals. Matt and Dennis agree that both of these books should be read by pilots and used in hang gliding schools. This professional instructor thinks likewise. Joe Greblo Van Nuys, CA

Arlen Fletcher Mount Vernon, WA ! love electronic comributions!-Ed.

UPDATE work quickly and properly should you need to deploy it. You can learn to repack your chute yourself (as well as practice the proper technique for deploying it) at Lookout Mountain Flight Park's Parachute Clinic, scheduled for Saturday, May 23 (Memorial Day weekend) at the Flight Park, near Chattanooga, Tennessee. Pilots will get several opportunities to throw their parachutes and then repack them, under the supervision of experienced chute packers. For more information on these clinics contact: Lookout Mountain Flight Park, Route 2 Box 215-H, Rising Fawn, GA 30738 (404) 398-3541, FAX (404) 398-2906.

Wills Wing Hang Loop Advisory

1993 1993 USHGA Calendar Photos! Don't be shy-give us your best shot! Remember that one outstanding slide you took last summer, and in the back of your mind you thought, "This photo is worthy of

Spectacular In 2Q1h Year Since 1973, hang glider pilots and their friends have gathered annually on the dunes at Nags Head, North Carolina, to participate in the Hang Gliding Spectacular. This reunion of hang gliding enthusiasts is now in its 20th year. The Spectacular has played and continues to play an important role in hang gliding history. Come share the fun and excitement May 5-10. Make this a great event by joining us. Contact: John Harris, Kitty Hawk Kites, P.O. Box 1839-N, S. Croatan Highway at Jockey's Ridge, Nags Head, NC 27959 (919) 441-4124, FAX (919) 441-7597.

Hang loop must be passed through itself.

~ Velcro is used to cinch loop tightly to keel.

the USHGA Calendar!"? Well, dig it out and send it in-TODAY! We're waiting for them. Submit your best to: USHGA Calendar Photo, ATIN: Jeff Elgart, P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933-8300.

Tandem And Parachute Clinics At Lookout Mountain Pilots wanting to earn their tandem rating can do so at Lookout Mountain Flight Park's Tandem Clinic, scheduled for Saturday-Sunday, May 16-17, at the Flight Park, near Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Clinic will be taught on Lookout's training hills, off Lookout Mountain, and possibly by aero towing using Lookout's Dragonfly ultralight aerotug. Repacking and inspecting your parachute on a regular basis is one of the most important things you can do to ensure it will

The main and backup hang loops on all Wills Wing Spectrums and Super Sports are attached to the keel by passing the hang loop around the keel and back through itself as shown. On the main hang loop there is a short piece of velcro sewn to the hang loop. The purpose of the velcro is to cinch the main loop tightly against the keel in order to prevent the loop from sliding along the keel. Recently it has come to our attention that a pilot attached the hang loop by passing only the velcro tab around the keel, and looping only the velcro through the open end of the hang loop. When the loop is attached in this manner, only the velcro joint is supportHANG GLIDING

UPDATE ing the weight of the pilot. The use of this attachment method will very likely lead to the failure of the attachment of the loop to the keel, and the pilot falling either onto the backup loop, or completely free of the glider. Either situation is extremely dangerous. The hang loop must be passed through itself to provide an attachment of adequate strength. (Please note that the illustration is meant to show only the initial routing of the hang loop and velcro tab through the open end of the hang loop. Prior to flight, the portion of the hang loop which extends below the keel should be positioned directly under the center of the keel, and the velcro should be cinched tight and attached to itself.)

Action Adventure Expo This one-stop consumer Expo will be held April 11- I 2 at the Fairplex in Pomona, CA, June 6-7 in Seattle, WA and July 25-26 in San Francisco. It will feature more than 200 booths offering action-packed adventure and travel ideas for the sport, outdoor and travel enthusiast. Demonstrations will offer a chance to experience the excitement of bungee jumping, hot-air ballooning, hang gliding, white-water rafting, scuba diving, cycling and more. Joe Greblo of Windsports will be holding demonstrations at the Los Angeles Expo. Tickets are $7 and are available only at the door. Seniors (65 and over) and children under 12 are half-price, and children under 5 are free. Contact: Dennis Karle at (818) 9721062.

he will automatically be authorized to control radios on the USHGA frequencies since he has already demonstrated that skill, similar to the other signed-off skills that may be on his card (RLF, A WCL, etc.). In another action it was decided to have the radio quiz administered by instructors as well as observers. No one will be permitted to sign himself off for this authorization. All previous members who qualified for authorizations any time prior to Dec. 31, 1991 will be grandfathered into the new program at no cost to the member. The radio communications committee reviewed the code of federal regulations as it pertained to these changes. It was determined that as long as the office maintains an active list of who is authorized to operate under its license, and that number of authorized personnel does not exceed the number of units stated on the license, the code will be complied with. The office will soon be sending observers and instructors a new radio authorization and study guide.

Cloud Dancer Joins "Green Revolution"

Rocket 'Chute For Cessna 150 Passes Critical Test

Radio Authorization Changes - Effective Jan. 1, 1992 Pilots wishing to maintain their radio PA and VA sign-offs from year to year got a shot in the arm at the fall board meeting. The safety and training committee voted to delete the $5 annual record-keeping fee and make it a one-time$ !O fee for each sign-off. This one-time charge and demonstrated knowledge of the rules will qualify the pilot to be authorized to control transmission on the three USHGA frequencies (151.625 MHz, 151.955 MHz and 151.925 MHz). When the pilot sends in his next year's membership fee APRIL 1992

their products are 'green'." says US Aviation. The company feels the Cloud Dancer is environmentally friendly because it uses very little fuel (only one gal./hr. at 60 mph) and is quieter than most ultralights. Erwin Rodger's 1984 design is respected for its clean lines and graceful flight. With a 40-foot span, a cantilevered pod and boom shape, and three-quarter pilot enclosure, the Cloud Dancer achieves "an honest 15: l glide and 250 fpm sink rate," says factory pilot Phil Kadlec. Many home-built aircraft are built clean to go fast. The Cloud Dancer is clean to optimize soaring flight. "As far as we know, this is the only ultralight motorglicler in the world," says Bill Young, a shareholder in the small Minnesota-based operation. It is a niche market US Aviation hopes will grow, offering an extension for the hang gliding, ultralight, or sailplane enthusiast. ''Sailplane pilots have told us, ·Yeah, this [Cloud Dancer] glides as well as the Schweizer trainer I learned to soar in, but it's cheaper'," says Kadlec. Aging hang glider pilots may find soaring flight relaxing in the Cloud Dancer, yet with all the same thrill of finding that elusive thermal. Power pilots of all kinds can find a new challenge if they'll give soaring a try. "In strong enough conditions, any plane could conceivably soar," reasons Kadlec. ··The Cloud Dancer is efficient enough to offer soaring on mild clays and to relatively inexperienced soaring pilots (hint: you can restart for a few minutes of climb)."

SOUTH ST. PAUL, MN-Any large American corporation trying to make itself popular with consumers has "green" products under development. A so-called "green product" is one judged environmentally friendly. "We admit it's a novel way to promote aircraft products. Yet we saw what had already been done by the IBMs and AT&Ts which are spending heavily, advertising how

SOUTH ST. PAUL, MN-The lengthy effort of gaining FAA approval to install rocket-deployed emergency parachutes in the Cessna 150 passed a critical test, paving the way for the program's acceleration. "The static [non-flying] test was witnessed and approved by an FAA Designated Engineering Representative and showed full compliance with all FAA regulations," said Project Manager, Tony Kasher. "The test illustrated the ability of the Cessna 150/152 structure to survive the parachute opening shocks at speeds up to 140 mph."

UPDATE In the static test, an actual Cessna 150 fuselage was installed into a giant steel I-beam "torture rack," so the maximum opening load plus 150 percent could be simulated. Hydraulic pistons exerted forces at various angles testing the airframe attachments and the innate strength of the Cessna cabin when exposed to these forces. Over 7,800 pounds of canopy-opening forces was simulated. "The test was especially difficult since Kasher and his team had to assure the little Cessna cabin could withstand forces beyond its original design requirements," said BRS Board Chairman, Boris Popov. "Their design passed the test with flying colors." BRS has begun phase two and three testing. The company anticipates receiving final FAA cettification by August of this year. BRS Incorporated pioneered the concept of parachutes-on-airplanes. This innovation brings the entire aircraft down under canopy (the occupants do not leave the aircraft), saving craft as well as people. Since the BRS unit's introduction in 1981, over 8,500 sales have been made worldwide (non-certificated aircraft). Customer usage has resulted in the saving of 54 lives, the company's most satisfying achievement. Publicly-traded BRS stock is listed on the NASDAQ exchange (symbol BRSI).

High Energy Sports Distributes Camelbaks The Camelbak Hydration Management Tool is now available through your High Energy Sports dealer. High Energy Sports is now distributing both the Camelbak Thermalbak drinking system and replacement bladders. "We feel the advantage of the Camelbak System is that the pilot can drink in flight without having to remove his or her hands from the control bar," says Betty Pfeiffer of High Energy Sp011s. The Thermalbak model straps directly onto the pilot's back, thus circumventing the need for any harness modifications. For pilots who prefer the water systems built into their harness, High Energy Sports can retrofit most harnesses with the Camelbak blaclcler. For more information contact High Energy Sports or your local dealer. 12

Understanding The Sky

UNDERSTANDING

THE SKY

appendices are included to cover more intricate details, while a glossary and a complete index render the entire book user friendly. Understanding The Sky is available for $19.95 from your dealer, USHGA or: Sport Aviation Publications (acid$ 1.95 for postage) P.O. Box IOI, Mingoville, PA 16856.

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The Buddy System by Robin Hastings I t was my first flight at the Guadalupes, in Southern New Mexico. It was also Parker's first attempt at soaring. I was in the middle of assembling my GZ 155 when I saw him at the windy launch. An event of this magnitude was something worth running over to see. He got off and went up-a great first experience for him. I returned to set up my glider with a warm feeling, "checked" the glider and took it to launch. A hang check, a good wind, and I was off. I flew for more than two hours, got thousands of feet over, and enjoyed an outstanding flight before heading out to the distant LZ. A few wangs would have been appropriate, but I was so low I didn't even turn-just made a straight, smooth final and a fine touchdown. Great clay, huh? That was before I started to disassemble. Then I got the shakes. My control bar apex pin was just hanging from its safety wire, completely uninserted. All that held my glider together, during the entire flight, was tension and some incredibly good luck. Anyone want to bet his life on it working out that way again? What resurrected this from the turgid terrors of my subconscious was an accident report in a recent issue of Hang Gliding. Someone else pulled the same dumb stunt, and didn't get away with it. "Significant injuries," it said. The reason for these accidents is distraction during assembly, but the solution is more than just the watchwords "Be Careful!" Since my own nasty shock, I have been a great promoter in my region of "The Buddy System." Any scuba diver knows about this already in a modified form: you don't dive alone. You watch out for your buddy and stay alert, not only for your mistakes but for those that others may make. Of course in hang gliding we can't spend all our time in the air looking after someone else, but we can certainly improve the odds while we're on the ground. APRIL 1992

Any scuba diver knows about this already in a modified form: you don't dive alone. You watch out for your buddy and stay alert, not only for your mistakes but for those that others may make. Of course in hang gliding we can't spend all our time in the air looking after someone else, but we can certainly improve the odds while we' re on the ground." It starts with a careful, meticulous preflight check of your glider, as has been detailed in previous Hang Gliding articles. Then, go to another pilot who's in about the same stage of assembly. (No other pilots? Have your driver or a bystander help. Nobody around? Just what do you think you're doing, and who's going to help if you blow it?) Ask the other pilot, "Have you clone your preflight yet?" If not, wait until he or she has done it, then follow up with, "Would you mind taking a look at my glider? I' 11 take a look at yours, if you don't mind. I've always wanted to see how a [such and such] is put together." This isn't always agreed to. In some parts of the country pilots have an extremely odd and casual attitude toward safety. But in Southern New Mexico, where the sites are rough and rugged, the request has never been turned down. Having obtained permission to inspect, look at your friend's glider. If it's an unfamiliar model, so much the better-

everything will seem unusual, and you'll check it out all the more carefully. Still, some things are common to almost all hang gliders. Bolts must either have a locknut or a safety pin. Wires must be free of frays. Downtubes must be straight, and all tubes free of clings. Are any battens out of their pockets, unfastened, or strangely bent? Are luff lines or washout tubes caught beneath a batten tip? (I have personally caught both of these.) Are there any tears in the sail that you wouldn't care to fly with? (Try thumping the trailing edge with two fingers-hard. If it's going to tear, then let it tear on the ground!) Is the nose cone on, nose batten in place, kingpost wire fastened to the keel? Are there any bolts or pins that should be fastened and aren't? Finally, if the harness is there, take a guick glance at it too. Wouldn't it be embarrassing if your flying buddy's main straps or biner failed'7 When you're finished with your buddy's glider, report your findings, and see what the report is on your own. Does this process take extra time? Yes indeed. I've seen it take as much as two whole minutes. Is that two minutes wasted? Well, our current running average is about one safety hazard found in every ten inspections. (I won't say how many of them were mine.) If 10% of the time gliders are taking off in an unsafe condition, and it could be prevented, then I' cl say that a couple of extra minutes at launch is well worth it. What is the reward for this extra time') It's the extra peace of mind that a second opinion offers when you're soaring in big air. And on the ground it's the feeling you get when that other pilot says, "Oh my Goel. THANKS A LOT!" Be alert, and look out for each other. Fly safely.•

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS Calendar of events items WILL NOT be listed if only tentative. Please include exact information (event, date, contact name and phone number). Items should be received no later six weeks prior to the event. We request two months lead time for regional and national meets. Until May 24: 1992 Region 9 Championship. Weekend X-C from any site in the Region. Thee best flights totalled to determine winner. Flights limited to max 60 miles each. Rookie and Open Classes. For entry forms and rules contact: Pete Lehmann, 58! l Elgin St., Pittsburgh, PA 15206 (412) 661-3474 (before 9:00 PM) FAX -3436. Until Dec. 1: 1992 Region 9 Year-Long X-C Contest. Fly from any site on any day. Winner will be the pilot with the single longest flight of the year. Open and Rookie Classes. Contact: Pete Lehmann, 5811 Elgin St., Pittsburgh, PA 15206 (412) 661-3474 (before 9:00 PM) FAX -3436. Until Dec. 31: East Coast X-C Contest. Send descdption of longest East Coast flight to: Randy Adams, P.O. Box 369, Claremont, NH 03743. Flights may be foot- or tow-launch and must originate east of Mississippi.

Skills checkoff). June 20-21: Glider maintenance clinic. June 27: Summer Therma!ing clinic. Contact: Lookout Mountain Flight Park, near Chattanooga, Tennessee (404) 398-3541. April 11-12: Central Texas ICP, enrollment limits. Contact: Red River Aircraft (512) 467-2529. April 11-13: Basic & Advanced ICP, $150. Contact: Airtime of San Francisco (415) 7591177. April 11-18: East Coast Championship, 450 WTSS points, sponsored by Sequatchie Valley Soaring Supplies and the Tennessee Tree Toppers, in the beautiful Sequatchie Valley. Limited space available. Contact SVS at (615) 949-2301. April 13-19: (Apdl 20 rain date) Torrey Pines World Paragliding Race, ToITey Pines Flight Park, La Jolla, CA. Contact: Joe Bill Hemy (619) 452-3202. April 21-22: Paragliding Tandem Rating Clinic, ToJTey Pines, CA. Contact: Marcus Salvemini (619) 452-3202.

April 3-5: UP International Demo Days/Fly-In, Soboba, CA. $5 barbecue. Contact: G.W. Meadows at UP (801) 876-2211 or Don (818) 367-6050.

April 24-May 3: International Mexican Open, Guanajuato. Contact: Aero Dinamica, Reforma 30 piso 3, Col. Centro G.P. 06040, Mexico D.F. tel. (525) 379-2140 FAX (525) 370-6243.

April 4-5: 7th Oceanside Open, Oceanside, OR. Fun meet open to all. Hotels and camping. Contact: David Raybourn/Oregon HG Assn., 14185 SW Yearling Court, Beaverton, OR 97005 (503) 524-7709.

April 25-26: Towing Safari (Hang II-V). Clinic available. Rating sign-offs. $150 prepaid. Sign up by April 1 (or you might have to pay more). 100 miles+. It's EZ with the right crew. Action Soaring Center (209) 368-9665.

April 4-5: 2nd Southem 1/linois Fly-In, HaITisburg, IL. Platform and aero towing. Fun meet. Contact: (618) 724-2328 or (618) 942-5317 or (618) 932-3558.

April 25-26: Mountain Wings Glider Showcase at Ellenville, NY flying site. Interested manufacturers and distributors invited. Camping, towing. Contact: Mtn. Wings, 150 Canal St., Ellenville, NY 12428 (914) 6473377.

April 4-10: The Great Race. April 4-10: LMFP Demo Days (Ball varios, Pacific Airwave, UP, Wills Wing and more). April 18-20: Easter weekend fun fly-in. April 25: Assisted Windy Cliff Launch clinic (to receive your A WCL Special Skills checkoff). May 2-3: Aero Towing clinic (to receive your AT Special Skills checkoff). May 9: Spring Thermaling clinic. May 16-17: Tandem clinic. May 23: Parachute clinic. May 23-25: Memorial Day weekend jun fly-in. May 30: Glider Tuning clinic. June 6: Assisted Windy Cliff Launch clinic (to receive your A WCL Special Skills checkoff). June 13-14: Aero Towing clinic (to receive your AT Special

April 25-26: Not So Great Race, Lumby, BC. Entry $25. Camping. Contact: Randy Willford (604) 547-6190. May 2-3: Stewart Smith Memorial Fly-In, Moore Mountain, NC. $40 entry fee, includes dinner, t-shirt and$$$ p1ize for 1st & 2nd place. Contact Travis Bryant (704) 758-9331 or Ben BuITil (704) 392-3765. May 5-10: 20th Hang Gliding Spectacular at Jockey's Ridge, NC. Contact: John HaJTis, Kitty Hawk Kites, P.O. Box 1839-N, S.

Croatan Highway at Jockey's Ridge, Nags Head, NC 27959 (919) 441-4124, FAX (919) 441-7597. May 9-10: Paragliding demo days, Men-iam Crater, Flagstaff, AZ. Come fly the latest products & canopies and Smartow winch. Contact: Brad Lindsay (602) 863-9909. May 9-11: Jeff Scott Challenge, sanctioned meet at Sylmar, CA. Jeff Minet (818) 543-1695. May 9-17: 13th Lariano Triangle Competition, Como, Italy. $350 ent1y, $10,000 in prizes. Contact: Franco Rinaldi tel./FAX 39-31681245. May 15-17: Tandem Clinic, at Morningside Flight Park, NH. Contact: Paul Voight (914) 7443317. May 15-17: Bavarian Open, Lenggries Germany. Contact: DHV, Miesbacher Str. 2, D-8184 Gmund am Tegemsee, tel. 0049-8022-7031 FAX 0049-8022-7996. May 16-18: Saskatchewan Hang Gliding Open. Three days ofX-C competition. Truck towing. $30 enuy. Contact: C. Lawrence (306) 692-9455. Hosted by ATLAS Towing Club in Moose Jaw, Sask., Canada. May 22-24: Region 6 Towing Championships. Open Regionals, Elkhart, KS. Contact: Ron Kenney (316) 697-2577. May 23-25: Starthistle Meet, Rogue Valley HOA, Medford, OR. Fun fly-in, Hang III or Hang II with instructor release. $20 entry includes Sat. night barbecue. Participation in events not required ($5 helmet sticker requested but not required). Portion of profits goes to local community. Camping. Contact: Newt Stevenson (503) 773-I 187 (days), or Jan Bailly (503) 779-2516. Rain date June 6-7. May 23-25: Women Just Wanna Fly. Registration Friday 6-9 PM and Sat. 7-9 AM, Washoe St. Park at LZ by entrance. Donation $10. For site guide send SASE to: Adventure Sports, 3650 Research Way, Carson City, NV 89706 Attn. site guide. Other info contact: Tammy (707) 965:0411 or Sue Christie (408) 4496156 7-9 PM M-F. May 23-25: D1y Canyon Fly-In, Alamogordo, NM. You liked it last year--come for the sequel! Entry $20. Contact: Robin Hastings (505) 382-7446.

HANG GLIDING

CALENDAR OF EVENTS May 27-June 11: 8th European Hang Gliding Championships, Vaga, Norway. U.S. team and pilots welcomed. Preliminary entries before March I, 1992, final entries before April 15. Contact: Norwegian Aero Club, HG-EM 1992, P.O. Box 3869, Ulleval Hageby, N-0805 Oslo 8 NORWAY. May 31: "Soaringj7ight" essay contest deadline, ages 14-22. First prize $500 in sailplane lessons. Entry forms at any U.S. soaring site. For a list contact: Soaring Society of America, P.O. Box E, Hobbs, NM 88241 (505) 392-1177. May 31: 1993 USHGA calendar photo deadline. Contact: USHGA Calendar, Attn: Jeff Elgart, P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs CO 80933-8300 (719) 632-8300. June 7-14: Sandia Classic, Albuquerque, NM. 450 WTSS points. Contact Mike Gregg (505) 822-8586, or write Jeff Wolford 3 l00-E205 Jane Place NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111. June 12-15: Region 5 Fly-In, Whiskey Peak, WY. Prizes, trophies and T-shirts. Entry fee. Contact: Keith Myhre (406) 245-6090 or Kevin Christopherson (307) 473-8655. June 19-21: Wild, Wild West Regionals, $90. Contact: Adventure Sports (702) 883-7070. June 22-July 7: Cross Country Classic lntemational (pre-Worlds). Bishop, CA. Preparatory contest for 1993 World Hang Gliding Championships. Contact: Tom Kreyche, Cross Country Classic. P.O. Box 873, Mtn. View, CA 94042 USA. tel. (415) 965-8608 FAX (415) 965-1361 Telex 49610244 Cross Country. July 9-12: lntemational HG Competition of the Montaiguille, France. $25,000 in prizes, $5,000 1st place. June 14 registration closing date. Contact: Alain Folmer, rue Louis Ripper, 38710 Mens, France. July 13-18: Manufacturers League Meet, Dinosaur CO. 450 WTSS points, Hang II-IV w/ signoffs. Entry $250. For more info send SASE to: Nick Kennedy, P.O. Box 1026, Telluride co 81435 (303) 728-3905. Aug. 1-3: Western Canadian Championships, Golden, BC, Canada. Hosted by the Rocky Mtn. HG League. Entry $30 (includes $5 national team levy). Contact: Ken Shackleton (403) 295-1575.

Aug. 1-7: Oshkosh Airshow, Oshkosh, WI. The largest aviation gathering in the country. If it flies, you can probably sec it at Oshkosh. For more information, our USHGA Rep. is Rod Hauser (608) 269-6304. Aug. 8-9: 2nd Lilienthal Meet, Point Sal, Guadalupe Dunes. Fun fly-in for beginner to advanced. Free camping, T-shirts. $40. Contact: Santa Barbara HG & PG Center (805) 962-8999. Aug. 16-22: Solar Wings British League Final, Laragne, France. Deadline May 1, entry £50. Contact: Jim Bowyer, 2 Lion Terrace, Gilwern, Abergavenny, Gwent NP7 OBU England, tel. 0873-831667 FAX 0873831068. Sept. 5-12: 1992 U.S. Nationals, Telluride, CO. Triangles, out-and-return, race to goal. Entry $295. For more info send SASE to: Nick Kennedy, P.O. Box 1026, Telluride CO 81435 (303) 728-3905. Sept. 14-19: 19th Telluride Hang Gliding Festil'{I/. Speakers, dances, clinics, films, swap meet. Coupled with Nationals. Contact: Hugh Sawyer (303) 728-4772 or Joel Parker (303) 728-6070.

Oct. 15-18: USHGAfa/1 Board of Directors meeting, San Francisco, CA. Open to the membership; come and bring an opinion. Contact: USHGA Headquarters (719) 632-8300.

Jan. 15-29, 1993: 2nd New Zealand Hang Gliding and Paragliding Safari. Beginner to advanced. Limited group size. Contact: Santa Barbara HG & PG Center (805) 962-8999.

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The Company: Founded in 1973 on a simple idea: Build the highest quality equipment for personal soaring flight, and back those products with an unmatched level of customer service. Wills Wing has provided continuous service to the hang gliding community for nineteen years. The People: At Wills Wing we love flying . All four of Wills Wing's corporate officers are active pilots, and we fly everything from paragliders and hang gliders to sailplanes and multi-engine airplanes. Our production personnel and test pilots are the most highly trained and most experienced in the industry. The Means: Product design at Wills Wing is a synthesis of basic engineering fundamentals, advanced computer analysis, and nearly two decades of practical experience. Product development involves extensive and painstaking vehicle

and flight testing, to insure that our own personal standards for flight characteristics, performance and safety are met.

The Products: Wills Wing offers the most complete and highest quality product line in the industry. All Wills Wing glider models are HGMA certified before the first customer unit is delivered, and every Wills Wing glider is factory and dealer test flown prior to being personally delivered by the dealer to the customer. THP AT - In 1984, Wills Wing pioneered a revolutionary new configuration in competition class hang gliders with the introduction of the first of the HP series of gliders. By early 1990, continued innovation had given rise to the HP AT 158 and HP AT 145, the most highly refined and most often imitated competition class gliders on the market. In 1991 HP AT pilots won 1O major domestic and international

championships. Through the '91 season, HP pilots had logged 20 cross country flights of over 200 miles, nearly twice as many as all other glider models combined. In 1990, Larry Tudor flying an HP AT 158, picked up two FAI world records by recording the first ever three hundred mile flight in a hang glider. In 1991 , Jim Lee set the world triangle distance record on an HP AT 158, and Kari Castle, on an HP AT 145, made the first flight over 200 miles by a woman pilot, setting a world record in the process. Through 1991 , fifteen out of the last twenty U.S. World Team pilots had selected Wills Wing gliders as their glider of choice for world championship competition. TSpectrum - In 1990, with the introduction of the Spectrum, Wills Wing changed the nature of entry level hang gliding. For the first time, the new pilot was given access to true high performance, along with the type of advanced technology normally

Pilots Choice of Gliders

_ _ _ Others

1991

1987

1991 & 1987 morkel shore data from USHGA member surveys 1980 data from Whole Air Magazine reader survey

10 Wills Wing Test Capability

L 0

Industry Minimum Test Standards

a d

s 2 O + - ~ ~ t - - ~ - - - - t ~ ~ - +~

~--1--~~~

100

Positive Load - Vehicle Test . Speed

l! associated with top of the line competition class gliders. Available in two sizes for pilots from 110 lbs. to 240 lbs., the Wills Wing Spectrum offers the advancing novice and casual recreational pilot an unmatched value in quality, performance, and soaring enjoyment.

TSuper Sport - Brand new in 1991 , the performance and flight characteristics of the Super Sport lie directly between those of the Spectrum and the HP AT. Designed for the intermediate and advanced soaring and cross country pilot, the Super Sport features technology derived from the HP AT, including the HP AT airfoil, airframe technology, and general sail planform. At the same time, the Super Sport's handling qualities and landing characteristics are more reminiscent of those of the Spectrum, yielding a glider of extraordinarily accessible soaring and cross country performance.

The Result: A true dedication to quality in products and services results in a high level of customer loyalty and support. In every year since 1984, more U.S. pilots have chosen Wills Wing gliders than any other, and the percentage continues to grow year by year. In 1991 , more pilots owned Willis Wing gliders than the next three most popular brands combined, and ninety-six per cent of the pilots who purchased new Wills Wing gliders rated the service they received from Wills Wing to be good to excellent. As a member of the international family of Wills Wing pilots, you

can enjoy the benefits of Wills Wing quality service from more than 200 professional dealers in 35 countries all over the world. The Future: We're working every day to provide all of our customers with better products and better services. If you're already a Wills Wing pilot, we'd like to thank you for your support, and ask you to let us know how we can serve you better. If you've never owned a Wills Wing glider, we cordially invite you to talk to your Wills Wing dealer, and take a demo flight on a new Spectrum, Super Sport or HP AT. We're looking forward to building your next glider.

LU~

1208 H. East Walnut Santa Ana, CA 92701 Phone (714) 547-1344 FAX (714) 547-0972

~//

Y/1,

The Next Twenty Years] Bizarre Prognostications of the Future of Hang Gliding by Rodger Hoyt 18

HANG GLIDING

Who would have thunk it? A wacko thrill concocted by sun-demented beach bums survives over two decades of evolution to became a viable, quasi-respectable formofrecreation~ yea, even aviation. It's impossible that those languid surfer dudes could ever have visualized that their daredevil diversion would one day be striving for Olympic acceptance. Or that variations of their bamboo and visqueen machines would eventually propel pilots hundreds of miles at tens of thousands of feet. Or even that pilots would be called pilots. Hang gliding has progressed faster than cloudsuck from a cumulonimbus. During those embryonic days of the late 60's and early 70's no one could have predicted the advances our incipient sport would achieve in a mere 20 years. And now, like an accelerating avalanche, the inexorable evolution continues unabated. What will happen to hang gliding IO years from now? What will our sport be like 20 years hence? If hang gliding's brief history is any indication, we may feel free to let our imaginations stampede uninhibited through a plethora of possibilities. For those whose prescience is a little rusty, however, we provide a whimsical flight of fancy into hang gliding' s possible future ... Hooray! Hang gliding finally becomes an Olympic event, gaining worldwide exposure and recognition. In America, however, the general populace flocks to the sport with about the same enthusiasm they did for the luge. All is not lost however. In the introduction to Wide World of Sports, the famous ill-fated ski jumper is permanently replaced with footage of an endover-end, glider-demolishing crash landing to illustrate "The Agony of Defeat." Celebrities are attracted to hang gliding. Pee-Wee Herman orders a "crotchless" harness from High Energy Sports. An exasperated Rich Ffeiffer explains that the option is properly called a "Higgins Hinge." Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Roseanne BatT immediately order similar models. Madonna later achieves hang gliding notoriety when the pointed breast cones she installs interfere with a parachute deployment and she lands in Jerry Bruning's pool. To appease the egos of senior members, the USHGA Board of Directors creates a new Hang VI rating, "Omnipotent Deity." Paul Voight claims to be more omnipotent than Dennis Pagen and says he has the log book to prove it. Gregg Lawless vehemently contends that Dr. Ruth cured his omnipotence. Steve Moyes out-lands in the Outback and APRIL 1992

is rescued by Crocodile Dundee, Olivia Newton John and an aborigine riding to Sydney on a kangaroo, leading a koala and singing "Waltzing Matilda." Doug Hildreth takes a respite from writing the accident reviews and reruns vignettes and statistics from IO years ago verbatim. Since there's virtually no difference in accident scenarios, no one notices the substitution. The World Meet is held in Orlando, Florida. Dumbo the Elephant wins the event but is subsequently disqualified for using an illegal VG system. The protest, it is rumored, was filed by the Flying Nun. The USHGA Tandem Committee enacts new regulations so stringent that they are forced to smTender their own tandem ratings. When later interviewed, the Committee Chairman proudly declares, "That oughta keep the FAA off our backs!" The United States Surgeon General proclaims hang gliding "hazardous to your health"; recommends wearing condoms while flying. Assuming "if it's bad for you, it must be fun," people swarm to sign up for lessons. "Peanuts" gang takes up hang gliding. On his first altitude flight, Charlie Brown lands in the "kite-eating tree." While giving Linus a wire assist, Lucy refuses to let go, intentionally sending him into a ground loop. ATOL founder, Jerry Forburger, returns to Lubbock to open a hamburger stand. Forburger sells only four burgers: he has no choice but to return full time to his towing operation. Elvis Presley is spotted as a tandem passenger at 17,000 feet in the Owens Valley. Witnesses maintain that the pilot in command was a blue crocodile and the sky around them resembled a Salvador Dali painting, complete with drooping, melted clocks. Malfunctioning oxygen regulators are immediately recalled by the manufacturer. Larry Tudor is caught carrying his glider one mile farther up the road after landing at the 399-mile mark. When confronted by the FAI he claims he was just running out a downwind landing. Bill the Cat applies for his Advanced rating. Regional Director rejects him clue to a demonstrated lack of responsibility and maturity. Calvin and Hobbes apply for a Tandem rating with similar results. Hang glider pilot wins $100,000 Grand Prize on "'Funniest Home Videos" for spectacular footage of his blown launch. In post-show interview from the Intensive Care Unit he con-

fesses, "It really wasn't all that funny." German glider manufacturer introduces a new glider, purportedly with an intangible quality called "Fahrvergnugen." Consumers, insulted by this idiotic concept, boycott the product. Conceding their error, the company changes the glider name to "The Beetle." Ozone depletion is discovered to enhance thermal generation. Pendulum Sports begins marketing "Green Team" line of aerosol cosmetics. X-C records escalate. Mark Gibson flies 500 miles, then nms for President of the USHGA. People magazine wants an interview. Kari Castle flies 600 miles and runs for President of the United States. Playboy magazine wants a centerfold. As USHGA membership continues its maturation, glider manufacturers begin offering senior discounts. Hang Gliding magazine lands its first major national sponsor: Geritol. Russ Locke, world's oldest hang glider pilot, is interviewed while filling his Liquipak with prune juice; says the news is "Groovy." Researchers are unable to decipher this arcane term. Competition between glider manufacturers intensifies. Pacific Airwave enlists an advertising agency which clevises slogan, "We' re Number 2. We try harder." Other manufacturers like the motto and agree that PacAir was full of "Number 2" all along. Seedwings' new CAD-designed Z-model Sensor suffers incurable divergence. Company owner Bob Trampenau recalls the entire production run, vowing, "That's the last time I'll buy software from a door-to-door salesman!" Seeking a more approachable corporate image, Wills Wing triumvirate of Kells, Pearson and Meier change their names to Huey, Dewey and Louie. Huey Kells says he prefetTed the trio's alternate choice: Larry, Moe and Curly. UP International introduces the world's first hang glider with a 100% xenotanium airframe. For most pilots, however, the price is Too Ridiculously X-pensive. Recessionary times and rising equipment prices trigger hang gliding's first major economic crisis. Burgeoning numbers of "Gliderless" are seen haunting America's flying sites. Partisan dealers blame the situation on President Kari Castle's fiscal policies. The ensuing political scandal becomes known as "Glidergate." Die-hard enthusiasts revert to bamboo and visqueen; declare hang gliding to be fun again. • 19

The author over Black Cap with !he city of Lakeview, Ore!;on below.

(formerly

and photos by Jc'!)!TOR'S NOTR: This arlicfr was ori[;innlly sub,nitted in timefrJr the January /992 issue. We had published afc:w small items 011 /hefly·in, and at that lime ljd1 !his was [;Cttin[; lo be old news. However, 11/ierji.trther reflection I decided that we had not done juslicc to the han[; gliding get-toge/her in the history olthe sport, so we'll wke II nostalgic look at J,akcvicw '91.

199 l Lakeview, Oregon Gliding Capital of the West" Umpteenth J\111111al Fly··ln, July 4·6, had a very large altcndance. Our pilot total hy the last day was 165 pilots. However, we believe that more than 300 pilots attended, since we kept talking to individuals and groups that had not but had just come to rly the area during the event. On July 3, reportedly, USHCJ\ f•'M radio com1mmicalion indicalcd that a 12-car group of'30 pilots Crom Ohio had arrived and were

Umpteenth Annual

volunteer Fly-1n Director setting up at Doherty Slide, the eastern-mos I or the six established Isake County sites! Barb Gover, Excculivc Director of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, claimed 280 pilots by Saturday, July 6, counting those who came the week before and signed the Visitor Center guest book. l believe that this l(i5-pilol total is a 1991 U.S. hang gliding event pilol registration record, and possibly a new all.time national record for a hang gliding event. I challenge anyone to dispute this, especially any USHGJ\ historians out there. Seriously, docs anyone have any data? The 1991 Dry Canyon National Fly-In in Alamogordo, New Mexico drew "over 50 pilots," the I9th Annual Hang (lliding Spectacular in May at Head, North Carolina had "exactly 50 pilols," and the 1991 East Coast Championships attracted 42 pilots. Sure, these were more serious "money" meets with entry fees, but it just shows that lhc/i.111 family flyin is ver)' popular and will draw many more pilots to a good area.

HANC: CurnNC

sign. Lakeview, opened its arms to sport of hang gliding, but the Hang Gliding Capital of the West.

A The Lakeview, Oregon event began in I 976 when the Medford, Oregon based Rogue Valley HGJ\, USHGJ\ Chapter t/45, Jed by veteran pilots Doug Hildreth and (,reg Christiansen, began guiding the annual treks. These were !ow-key July 4th holiday trips. I became involved in I 986 as a Novice. J\ whopping l 9 pilots attended the last informal l 989 RVHGJ\ Umpteenth Annual Lakeview Fun Family Fly-In. Our chapter had always made a point of thanking the locals and Jelling them know why we were spending our gas, motel or campground, restaurant and grocery money there. The pickups and vans with long fahric,.baggcd folded wings on racks was becoming a familiar sight, and hang gliding was earning a reputation as a silent, clean form of recreational tourism, good for the Lake County economy. Lake County has more square miles (8,251) than people (7,5:U) and they needed more economic diversity. In late I 989 the I ,ake County Chamber of Commerce contacted the RVIIGJ\ with the idea of formally promoting the Fly-In. Our Chapter was glad to help. The Lake County Chamber then secured a $2,000 matching funds grnnt (state lottery economic development money) from Oregon Tomism to promote hang gliding tourism there. Several RVHG1\ members began meeting with !he Bl ,M, Fremont and Paisley National Forest Service District representatives to advise on launch site improvements and priorities. A nGw, much needed south J\bcrt Rim launch, which our Chapter later named after Lakeview head Ranger Joe Tague, was started. Meanwhile the Chamber began securing the Department of Transportation's approval for an official Oregon hang gliding highway sign (which was J'inally reecivccl just before last year's event). The city also began work on imprnving the Black Cap launch above town. We began reporting this very positive relationship lo Hang Gliding and in our Chapter Ridge Nunner newsletter and helping Lake County plan for the next event. The new Lakeview Umpteenth Annual Fly-In drew just over 100 registered pilots in I 990! The word then really spread about this bcantirul high desert and tall·timbered area, with 11,000-foot+ glass-offs and l 50· mile+ X-C potential from eight sites, plus friendly, welcoming locals. Dave Hopkins do11blcd existing 40.milc+ records with a new 85-milcr (sec June, l 99 I, !fang Gliding). APRIL 1992

Other Dates and Locations To Be Announced

... If you missed us, please see the dealer in your area about a demo flight on the model of your choice ... (Turn the with for a list of demos in stock!) 21

1 The BLM and Lakeview, Paisley and Modoe, California Forest Service districts had pooled more than $2:l,000 to create and print both a free 199 l updated version oft he detailed Hang Glider Pilot's Site Guide ( 1() pages!) and a new color I ,akcview hang gliding brochure (Rfr-FRE-002-9 I, Stevie Ruda). We again had no entry fee, but Lake County merchants (listed below) offered I I plaques, :md various merchandise was donated by Patagonia and scvcrnl or the hang glider manufacturers. l ,akcview Building Materials generously donated I $:lO beer certificates to go to the first five pilots each day who flew over their new blimp and read tht: number on it, plus a $200+ gas barbecue for the pilots' rnffle. Both the Shell station and Hunter's RV Park (Chevron) offered gas discounts, plus the camping discount at Hunter's RV Park where many pilots slay and land in their new landing zone they created in 1990. Based on our in I990, we expected 150 200 pilots. We encouraged pilot registration but---maybc because: there was no entry fee number of and this was again to he a/i111 fnmily fly in~ we had a pilots, even from the RVI !GA, who never filled one out. Sornc we talked lo said they just came 10 fly the area, and we asked them to enter, for the Chamber's sake, even if they were not serious about the events. J.akcvicw nceds this data to justify the grant. The actual registered pilot totals were:

State California Oregon Ohio Nevada Utah Washington Indiana Maryland New York

6 I

6] JO

38 7

lt?

Total 109

3 3

Colorado Kentucky Montana N. Carolina Texas Wisconsin Who Knows r•:ngland Totals

UK ()

i\PC'

The official contests were scheduled l'or'l'hursday, July 4, through July 6, with awards planned for Sunday morning on the 7th. including RYii(,/\ editor Mike Stevenson, his wife Karen, arriving June 28, both to help with the Fly-In as well as f'or some pre-event flying. We lrndjust had a week

Above New Pinc, looking south to Sugar. Goose Lake at right

or stormy weather pass through, then went under a massive high pressure system that caused a stable, light easterly J'Jow to settle in. The typical Lakeview winds arc srn1lhwesterly to westerly and so arc most launches, so this was not ideal. On July I Dave Hopkins leading a number of pilots down to the llorsc Mtn.-Eaglcvillc, California site (about 41 ° I :l' 2:l" N, 120° 7' 58" W, advance rated, with FSL and CL) ht: had pioneered. It's southeast (29 miles) or Allums on the cast side of the southern end of the Warner Mountain Range, about a 1()0-milc drive from Lakeview. Pilots were getting up to 68 milers from then:, north along the cast side ol' the Warncrs lo Fandango Pass (about 44 miles), to l<'t. Bidwell and beyond, or then crossing up hmdango Valley to the traditional west side of' the Warncrs. RVHGA's Rodger Hoyt made one 68-rniler back to Lakeview from this new site (Rodger now holds the record or J08 miles to north of Paisley, Oregon with a flight from there in August). Rodger reported about 50 pilots launching there that day (the :lrd), with om'. coastal ridge soaring type pilot getting snagged by a tall timber. Fortunately he was not injured. Yon will undoubtedly hear more about this mini-Owens Valley site in the future. II has I90-milc+ potential (north .. northeasl to Buchanan, Oregon). Others went to the then only cast .facing Lake County site, Summer I ,akc, hut there were no similar notable nights. On the second I met with the very supportive Paisley Forest Service head ranger and recreation specialist, then marked the Summer I .akc site for more brush removal, and later Hadley for launch ramp and access road earth-work rccomrncndalions. I spent the afternoon in Summer l ,akc dealing with the state Summer Lake Wildlit'e Refuge: on a landing ,.one problem. It seems it's okay to kill migratory birds there (during hunting season and provided you buy a license) hut landing in the: one open, unfenced, unmarked an:a just north of the rest area --which they say is also theirs -is not good, since we might stc:p on an egg. We did finally get permission to land in a difficult, high sagebrush private field northwest of'thc rest area. Until we get a helter LZ I recommend you spend your recreation money somewhere other than S11mmcr Lake. shallow I ladlcy Bulle site at Others tried the north-northeast the south l'.nd of Summer l ,ake with similar results, although one pilot got lo Paisley on July I (anyone beyond that''). On .July 2 it was still light. due cast and a large group tried Hadley and some tried Summer l ,akc. We saw some very demanding and thin safety margin July sled rides from the HANC: CIJIJINC

demo these Northwest Region Chandel/e Hang Gliding Center Pacifica, CA 359,6800

11P AT 158, 145;

165, 144

Supor Sporl 163, NPAT 158, 145; Spectrum 165, 144 S11prH Sport 153

Muller Hang Gliding Cochmno, Alberta, Canada 932-6760

/-IP AT 158, 145; Super Sport 143

Gr!Orge Borradaile Surrey, BC Canada 574·1121

/-IP AT 158; Spectrum 165

Slick Rock Flyers Nampa, ID 467-5963

/-IP AT 158, 145

U/traflight Systems Hang Gliding Waterford, CA 874-1795

NP AT 158; S11per Sport 153

Cascade SoAring

/IP AT 145; Spectrum 144

Bellevue, WA 454·1989 Southern Oregon Gmnts Pass, OR

Gliding

Super Sport 143

Pilots Supply Cameron Park, CA 677-4953

Super Spar/ 163

Hang Glider Contml Eugene, OF/ 344,5144

I/PAT 158; Spectrum 165

Southwest Region

very shallow Hadley site into the crossed, light flow. Sandy and I then explored for a helter cast launch above Paisley. Three separate hang glid· ing couples all ended up eating a sit-down dinner in Paisley's small restaurant that night-·-an ex·· ample or our economic benefit to the area. Upon return to Hunter's, Bret (I lilliker? of Cameron Park, California) advised thal he and several olhers had pioneered a new east .. faeing site between Adel and Plush (on Lynch's Rim, 42° I 5'N, 119° 5]' W, 2,400' AGL). I le described the launches there, one needing some brush removal development and the other a pure eli!T launch. One or their t1ying group had achieved a westward 20-miler by flying the rim JO miles north to Plush, then 15 miles back southwest, down the Plush Cutoff Road to Highway 140, then west along 140, a strnight-Jine 20 miles to the west end of Camas Prairie. I was ecstatic over the discovery or a new I ,ake County site dose to J,akeview, since it is a very welcome cast-racing addition. The Stevcnsons and Balcrias ventured there on July 3. l wanted to gather details for a Site Guide update, plus get a decent flight. We still had an cast flow, but light by 2:00 P.M. Not having done a pure vertical cliff launch, l chose the tight, obstructed sloped one below the rim edge. I blew the difficult 6,820' MSL launch, either dragging the left tip or stalling at the lip of the short slot, and turned back to the left, impacting just below a vertical rock band, thoroughly snapping my right upper arm. The safety equipment (Kevlar fuJJ.face helmet), Medic Jiirst !\id training, and remote site accident planning paid off. Now Mike got stuck with all the upcoming meet work, which r really felt bad about. I left f'or possible orthopedic surgery but returned the afternoon of the sixth to help.

{n addition to mine and the above,rnentioned tree impact al Eagleville, another pilot reportedly got to 17,000', got hypoxic, and flew down somewhere believed to be in the deep, timbered Crane Mountain canyon area. He chose a tree landing rather than trying to put it into a small opening, apparently without injury. Another pilot broke his elbow after a 50-milc Eagleville flight on a demo glider, trying to prevent damage to it on his landing, also on July ::i. On July 4, day one of the official Fly-In, a APRIL 1992

Windsports VA!, Nuys, CA 988·0111

I-IP AT 158, 145; SprJctr11m 165 Super Sport 153

Bolder Flight Boulder, CO 444-5455

/IP A T"/58, 115

1/nng Flig/11 Systems Santa Ana, CA 542·7444

/-IPAT145, 158; Super Spo11 143,

High Adventure Hanu Gliding San Bernnrdino, CA 883-8488

,..,11,llAr" .V)fl/"T 153

Up Over Nr,w Mexico Albuquerque, NM 821-8544

/-IPAT/58, 145 Super Sport 153

Upward Bound Palm Sprinus, CA 322·9214

UP AT 158, 145

Nang Gliding Center San Diego, CA 450··9008

liPAT 158, Super Sport

1-/.~ng Glidor Emporium S11nln Barbara, CA 965,3733

Supor Sport 153

Go/don Wings Golden, CO 278-7181

HPAT158

Owens Valley Soaring l3ishop CA 387-2673

11P AT 145

Wasatch Wings /folladay, UT 277· f 042

Supl'H Sport 153

144, 165

Eastern and Central Region Fly Nigh Nang Gliding Pine Bush, NY 744·-3317

HPAT158, 145; Supor Sport 163,

'/65, 144

Sequatchie Valley Soaring Dunlap, TN 949-2301

HI, AT 158, 145;

165, 144

Morningside Gliders Claremont, NH 542-4416

/-IP AT 158, 145; Spectrum 165 Super Sport 16~1

Loo/rout Mountain Flight Park Flisinu Fawn, GA 398-3541

/-IP AT 158; Super Sport 163, 153

Central Florida Orange City, FL

/IP AT 158, 145

Miami /·tang Gliders Miami, FL 573-8978

Super Sport 153

Tok Flight Products Winsted, CT 379.J6(!8

/JP AT 145; Super Sport 143

U/trafig/Jt Flying Equipmont Hunlo1villo, NC 392-37(55

HP AT 158, ·145

Sky Sailing Ontario Etobicoko, Ontario Canada (526-2227

Super Sport 163

Distanco Vol Libre Montreat, Quo/Jee. Canada 395-5221/

/-/PAT 158

Flaven Sky Sports Waukegan, IL 360-0700

Spectrum 165

Silver Wings Arlington, VA 533-1965

Super Sport 153

Prairio Wind Flight School Winnipog, MB 254·405(5

Spectrum 165

Supor Sport 163,

1208 H. Feast Walnut• Santa Ana• CA• 92701 • Phone (714) 547-1344 FAX 547·0972

Sugar Hill northwest-Goose take below.

View to the northwest from Tague's toward Summer Lake.

pilot was not confronted by anyone al Black Cap before he launched on a very old glider, without a helmet! IIe crashed on launch, breaking a downtubc. Another Black Cap pilot failed lo hook in and broke a leg. I' rn told that this Newburg, Oregon pilot, not registered in the Fly-In, had a prior failure lo hook in accident! On July 5 another Black Cap pilot flew back into the hill after flying (scratching) a while, cutting his lip. There was a hard landing at Hunter's that subsequently resulted in an ambulance run, possibly the one reported sternum injury. A very nasty shear with past-vertical, near-tumble turbulence apparcntlyrotorcd overt he back (northeast) suddenly at sunset at Tague' s Butte and Black Capon both the fourth and fifth. One pilot without his radio was unable to heed Doug 1-!ildrclh's call lo head southwes1 to outrun it, caught a tip and spun into 1-luntcr's LZaf'lcr a low, dangerous turn al 20 feel AGL on a 50 mph downwind groundspccd leg. Another hit a spectator's car, knocking a chrome stripoffil and came very close to a more serious crash. Some guy flying a noisy ultralight (not a hang glider) low over/near the Hun1er's campground and parking lot crowds, rnise;d Jillie sympathy when his engine quit just after a steep 1akeofT and he crashed, apparently without injury, into the pond. One Hunter's spectator pilot referred lo it as a "winged Cuisinart." On a somewhat more positive note, on July 1 l the l,ake County Fxarniner reported that Hang IV pilot Paul Sussman of Daly City,

California had taken 84-year-old Mac Holloway l'or her second tandem lesson, Mac having first flown with Silent Fligh1 orftow at the airport in l 990. They stuffed the launch from Black Cap in marginal conditions, luckily without injury. She flew again with Silent Flight on the seventh, again an airport tow. That's determination! We apparenlly had seven reportable injury accidents by the end of the Fly-In. Doug Hildreth fce;ls thal was no1 surprising, with 300+ pilots making 500+ launches a day, in poor wind and launch conditions. Furthermore, many pilots were trying oul demo gliders, which is a ne;w unknown, and generally the gliders were rated a level higher than the pilot's current glider or his rating. How many of the demo accidents or bent tubes were the result of this factor plus the pi lot's first launch al a new mountain site, with a density allitncle maybe 1housands of feet higher than normal? Doug's data reveals that four of the seven injury accidents happened on demo gliders. Were a number of pilots not heeding the Site Guide protocol recommenclalions as to minimum site ratings and how they change with time of day and conditions?

(Bank financing available)

HANC GurnNc

Competition

Other Notable Items

The competition results were announced at the July 7 morning awards ceremony over free coffee and donuts:

John Heiney gave Joe Tague a tandem lesson from Tague' s D utte, a fitting gift of thanks by one of the greats of hang gliding. It was just a sled run but it was a very big thrill for Joe. We also roughly estimate that hang gliding that week brought $40,000 to $60,000 into the Lake County economy. "Thank you" letters to the community care of the Lake Cou!lfy E.raminer-P.O. Box 271, Lakeview, OR 97630-are encouraged. Be sure to mention the ELM, Fremont Forest Service Headquarters and Modoc, Lakeview and Paisley Districts, the Chamber, and especially the sponsoring merchants and Lake County citizens.

July 4th X-C: Jim Herd, Hang IV, Pleaston, CA, WW HP AT l 58, 28.5 miles, Sugar Hill to Hunter's. July 5th X-C: Shannon Raby, Hang IV, Sonora, CA, 66.5 miles, Sugar Hill to N. Abert Rim. July 6th X-C: Terri· Taggart, Hang IV, Gresham, OR, PacAir Magic 166 FR, 69.0 miles, Sugar Hill to east of Doherty Slide on Hwy 140. Best 4th-6th: Ramy Yamete;, Hang IV, Palo Alto, CA, AA Santana, total X-C 83.0 miles, 4th-IO miles, 5th- IO miles, 6th-63 miles. Best Male: Pete Watenvorth, Hang I, Chula Vista, CA, PacAir Kiss 155, Black Cap, 20.0 miles. Best Female: Terri Low, Hang IV, La Honda, CA, WW Sport 150, Black Cap. Adjusted Spot Landing (feet x hang rating x glider factor): l st Tom Lo\\', Hang V, La Honda, CA, WW HP II 170. 2nd Lionel Space, Hang IV, Glacier, WA, WW HP AT 158. 3rd Enzo Fatica, Hang IV, San Francisco, CA, WW HP AT l45. 4th Robert Vogel, Hang III, Hayward, CA, WW HP II 170. 5th Patricia Elsie, Hang IV?, Somewhere, CA, WW HP AT 145. Aerobatics: 1st Enzo Fatica, Hang IV, San Francisco, CA. WW HP AT 145 2nd Pat Page. 3rd Brad Jenkins. Gas Barbecue (raffle): Jan Bailly, Hang I, Medford, OR, Lite Dream 165.

L r-:=s

u·"o~.c

Hang gliding in paradise! Makapuu Haleakala The incredible Kaaawa Valley Introducing paragliding to the islands. From the producer of Flatland Flying, Mountains High and

TELLURIDE!

APRIL1992

Sponsoring Merchants We are very grateful to all the sponsoring Lake County merchants: AA Motel, AA Cafe, Shamrock, Happy Horse, Burger Queen, Shell Gas, Polar Bear, Hunter's Lodge and RV Park, [ndian Village, Papa Dan's, and Stewarts Marketeria. We especially want to thank Lakeview Building Materials, which donated $ l O beef certificates to all the winners and the $200+ gas barbecue for the raffle. The event was covered nationally by CNN and locally by Oregon Public Broadcasting. The Oregonian newspaper and Sunset magazine did pieces on it.

1992? At this time I've heard of no plans by the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce, although they have formally adopted the title of "Hang Gliding Capital of the West." Now that 100 miles has been achieved here, and 200 is possible, [ expect we' 11 be hearing more about this incredibly beautiful and welcoming area.•

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ACCIDENT REPORTS

Accident Statistics by Doug Hildreth, USHGA Accident Review Chariman

want to publicly thank Chris Gagliano for his comments in the January 1992 issue of Hang Gliding regarding Karen Schenk's fatal accident. This is exactly what I want to happen, and am really pleased to see it occur. The original idea was to publish something and then wait for someone with more information, more knowledge or a different point of view to write in and expand, elaborate and teach us all something more. Unfortunately the response has been somewhat less than overwhelming. Chris picked up the ball, supplied fresh information and made some observations, giving us a new and different perspective in a wellthought-out and well-written article. I also want to thank Dan Buchanan for doing the same thing. The only difference is that I know Dan, I knew he had a special insight into the situation, and I called him up and told him he really should write something or I would step on his foot. All of you who have something to say on the subject of safety should say it. Please, if you have more information, a different viewpoint, an original thought, or a response to something I've written, respond. It is very important for all of us to gain as much information and consider as many facets of each accident as possible. Please do your part. Chris and Dan did!

Hang Gliding Statistics First, the bottom line. In 1991 at least 40,000 people participated in the sport of hang gliding. That means in 1991 our fatality rate was 22 per 100,000 participants. There are many ways to compute fatality rates; utilizing the number of participants is the most widely accepted method in other activities and sports. Therefore, our denominator is the number of participants. The primary reason some aviation activities go to other types of denominators (air hours, flights, air miles, etc.) is that the fatality rate for participants doesn't compare favorably.

"All of you know the problems hang gliding has had with the press and news media. They use an improper denominator when calculating our fatality rate, and then compare us to other sports. So, as I've written before, what we need to do is to provide everyone with the correct data. But don't hold your breath for the headline 'Hang Gliding Is Really Safe After All.' That won't sell many newspapers." They try to produce statistics that represent their activity in the best light. But for hang gliding, not only is it virtually impossible to obtain accurate data regarding number of flights, air hours or miles flown, but expressed in those ways, we don't look particularly good. United Airlines flies a lot of miles. And ifwe are trying to compare our sport to others, it is hard to equate the number of hang gliding flights with ttips driven to the store, numberof rocks climbed, number of bulls ridden and number of rounds boxed. Our fatality rate is composed of two factors, how many die each year, and how many participants there are. Obviously, the larger the number of participants the lower the rate (fatalities being the same) and the better we look. My attitude has always been that we want the munber to be realistic and honest so that our rate will

reflect what the risks of our sport really are. All of you know the problems hang gliding has had with the press and news media. They use an improper denominator when calculating our fatality rate, and then compare us to other sports. So, as I've written before, what we need to do is to provide everyone with the co1Tect data. Butdon'thold your breath for the headline "Hang Gliding Is Really Safe After All." That won't sell many newspapers.

Collection Of Data Many of you know that for the last few years I have been trying to establish a denominator for our fatality rate. That means finding out just how many different people took at least one hang gliding flight in 1991. We pointed out that

ACTIVITY

Fatalities/100,000

Timber faller/logger ........................ 129 Airline pilot ....................................... 97 Power line installer/repair ................. 50 Fireman ............................................. 49 Peace Corps ...................................... .42 Garbage collector .............................. 40 Truck driver ....................................... 40 Roofer ................................................ 32 Flight attendant ................................. 23 Real estate agent.. ................................ 7 Editors and reporters .......................... .4 Driving a car ...................................... 28 15-25 year-old male driving ............ 50 Motorcycle rider ................................ 80 Motorcycle in Arkansas ................ 250 All terrain vehicle .............................. 36 Airshow ........................................... 500 Home-built aircraft .......................... 300 General aviation .............................. 145 Ballooning ......................................... 67 Sailplane soaring ............................... 45 Skydiving .......................................... 25 Hang gliding ...................................... 22 number of deaths

fatality rate per 100,000 10 12 15 17 20

For further details seeHcmg Gliding magazine, Dec. '89, pages 7-8. HANG GLIDING

ACCIDENT REPORTS if a student during his first lesson killed himself, he would certainly be counted as a hang gliding fatality. So too with a tandem student-passenger. In fact, there were two tandem student fatalities in 199 l. (You bet we had to count them.) To determine the number of students, tandem student-passengers, and non-USHGA pilots, we sent out over 1,000 questionnaires to all certified instructors and tandem rated pilots. We also asked in this magazine for any noncertified pilots to report their instructional and tandem experience, and many did.

Results From the questionnaire it was evident that for every JOO USHGA pilots, there were about 20 non-USHGA pilots. Obvious! y regions differed; in some areas almost all the pilots are USHGA members, in others they mostly non-USHGA.

I believe the non-USHGA pilots are undercounted, because all the publicity was aimed at USHGA folks. In the same area the USHGA respondents would report no nonUSHGA fliers and the non-USHGA respondents would report a significant number of nonUSHGA pilots. Pilots within the system tended to know and fly with only USHGA pilots. So, I think that 1,600 non-USHGA fliers in the U.S. is a very conservative number. There were 230 questionnaires returned. The instructors reported a total of 18,567 students who took at least one flight in 1991. The tandem pilots reported a total of8,697 different student passengers. USHGA PILOTS NON-USHGA PILOTS STUDENTS TANDEM STUDENTS TOTAL

8,060 1,600 18,567 8.693 36,920

Let me reemphasize that this figure is very conservative. I am sure that the 1,600 figure for non-USHGA pilots is low. The 700 instructor/ tandem folks who did not respond to the questionnaire may not have doubled our numbers, but they certainly would have pushed us well over 40,000. I want to express a sincere thanks to all of you who answered the questionnaire. Because of you we have made significant headway in the documentation of what the risk of our sport really is. The denominator of 40,000 participants per year is very conservative and very honest. Hang gliding still has risks of injury and death. That will never change. But the risk of injury or death has decreased dramatically over the years. That risk will continue to decline as long as we all learn from our mistakes, learn from the mistakes of others, and help our fellow pilot avoid mistakes. •

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Skip Brown scratching well below treetop level at Dominica!, Costa Rica Hite. Photo by Skip Urown.

I TANC CLIDJNC

We had spent a day and a half driving to the coast over the spine of Central America searching for potential flying sites. We f'ound this one last night and returned to elem hrnsh and broom grass with machetes. It was now ready for launching, hut still we hesitated, for the nearest visible landing field was an 8-1/2 to l glide away through a gap in an arena-shaped bowl. We were located at the furthest point l'rom the gap. Who knew what combination of lift or sink, turbulence or glass air awaited us? The possibilities were these: We could climb up effortlessly and easily f'ly oceanward lo the front We could gain only a few hundred feet and jump the ridge to the left to lam! in a previously scouted but non-visible field. We could fail to soar and have to plant ourselves on the side of a few 45° slopes below with an ugly retrieve. None of' us was cager to wager on these possibilities, hu1 finally the airhorniest pilot among us, Paul Gibney, catapulted his Magic into the air and wafted gm· ciously upward. The rest ofus readily followed with lemming-like disregard for all consequences. We soon found ourselves yo-·yoing in the punchy sea breeze thermals and sink. One by one we reached our stress limits, topped out al about 1,000 over and headed for the upwind hills. Once there we worked patchy lift to eventually complete a short X-C south 10 om accommodations at the beach. We created such a sensation as pioneer pilots in the area that we were offered free rooms for the remai nc!crofour stay al Dominica 1, a casual surfer's hideaway. We felt like stars, but inf'lucnccd by plentiful beer later that night, we all admitted to being as nervous as Woody Allen ata termite convention and confessed that none of us had ever flown with such a doubtful landing field reach. We were sky explorers on a rnission. This whole expedition began as a lark at hang gliding's largest and most disreputable party that takes place annually in Vcrmont. Ti was in this ambiance that Paul introduced Eric Castro lo Skip Brown. Eric is a Costa Rican citizen living in Massachusetts. He began rlyAr'RIL 1992

Peter soars the cliffs al Caldera. Photo by Peter Gray.

ing in the U.S. and longed to return to Costa Rica and try his wings. Skip is a professional photographer who had traveled to Costa Rica the previous winter on a shoot. Their discussions about the place led to a determination to put together a trip. As the details came together early this wint.cr they recruited Peter Gray, flying buddy. Two weeks before the departure Peter, whom I have know since the late 70's, called me and mentioned Costa Rica. ltdicln't take me long to volunteer my presence. The five of' us made a nice ercw with much travel experience and high hopes or opening up Costa Rica for hang gliding. Costa Rica..-,,-rich coast--was so name by Spanish Conquistadores with great expccta·· lions in llicir religiously-sanctioned, demented quest for gold. They didn't find much but jungle, poor Indians and malaria. It was the later colonists who found the riches as they cul down the. forests and set up fruit and palrn oil plantations. Costa Rica became lhc archetypical banana republic. After World War fl Costa Rica enjoyed a fate unique "south of the border." Enlightened rich landowners instituted a benevolent democracy, abolished the army and created a gem in an isthmus that has known revolution and warfare for a ccnlury. As a result, the people seem to be content and reasonably well off. The previous president, Oscar Arias, won a Nobel prize for initiating peace in the region while Ronald Reagan was doing his best to wage war. Costa

Rica suffers from none ol'thcahjcct poverty that is evident in places such as Nicaragua, Mexico or cities in the U.S. As a result of' Lhis political almospherc, Costa Rica is an ideal place to take a winter vacation. No sho1s, no visa and very Jillie money is needed for a U.S. citizen. Rooms (who needs air conditioning?) in beach cottages cos1 us from $1.40 to $4.20 a night when they weren't free. We often ate red snapper dinners with a foot-long fish for $2.50, allhough you could spend as much as $5.00 if you were extravagant. Beers cost 70 cents in restaurants. Incidentally, by a quirk or culture the monetary unit at about l 40 lo the dollar is the "colon." Leave your polyester leisure suit at home when you visit Costa Rica. All you need in this informal counlry is a pair of shorts, a pair or thongs, a T-shirt and a jacket for higher elcva,. lions. Don't forget your harness though, for we're going flying.

We arrived in San .lose, the principle city, lalc January 25th. The next morning we met the local pilot contingent as we assembled our gliders at the house of' Arturo Iglesias. Art is the most experienced pilot in Costa Rica, but a bad accident (rolorcd behind the mountain in impenetrable winds) left him and local hang gliding in limbo for the last couple of years. Art is only now returning to health and renewed inter29

View from the Dominica] launch with the landing field top center. Photo by Peter Gray.

csl in flying. I le has acquired several sites around San Jose and another on the coast which we flew later. the time we got our gliders together and rushed up the hill it was late arternoon. The northeast trade winds were honking and a t'light would have had a high risk to pleasure ralio. The tra(lc winds arc a constant this season so we rel ired to Eric's family home and resolved to hit the coast at a lower elevation, in hopes or encountering westerly upslope and sea breeze l'low. The next morning we arrived in the vicin"ity of.Taco, a beach resort. We scouted potenlial landing fields, round a road into the mountains and went prospecting for launch sites. After a l ,500-f'ootclimh we came to a grassy knoll with an orthogonal wind. We employed a Swiss army knife to clear some vegetation and we had us a site that was our initiation to the tropical skies of' Costa Rica, a vista or jungle-clad ravines cut by walcrl'alls and a distant landing l'icld. This time we only had to achieve: a 6 to l glide, 1ml the whole night was in a ravine or canyon. Paul Thanks to his quick-setup "Tad" Gibney was first 10 launch in a pattern that repeated itself throughout our slay. Not only was Paul an expert wind dummy, but an cager one as well. True 10 !'orm he went straight up. Ile was J'ollowc:d by Skip who went up, then me who wenl down f'or a humble sled ride. When [>ctcr launched next and also soared I had

to rind something to rationalize away my anguish. It was lhcn 1 realized that I had aural vertigo. The entire countryside sings with the voices or myriads of insects. One particular creature sounds just like a beeping vario. Obviously I had heard this when I was scratching and had circled in sink, not lift! The next day we new the same site. Only Paul and Skip managed to get off as it turned

downwind. On the third day we again flew this site we dubbed Cascada de Carracla. This time we were more successful with thermals taking 11s lo 1,500 above and eventually enabling Skip to fly some 20 miles to the beach al Jaco. He showed us the worth or such a night as we arrived to !'ind him surrounded by gangliastimulating natives in bikinis. Obeying the creed of'truccxplorcrs, we set out the following day for Puntarcnas to Lake the ferry to the Nicoya Peninsula and the town of Montezuma, a microcoslll oJ'thc 60' s preserved for the benefit or all. We tried to fly in the: area but couldn't locate the right combination of cliffs, wind and landowners. Desperate to fly, we returned lo Puntarcnas and the nearby oceanside cliffs of Caldera. Here we got airlilllc by carcrully eking out altitude in the launch area, then jumping at a diagonal to a higher and longer stretch of' cliffs. The flights al Caldera were memorable for several reasons. First, convergence overt he bay allowed us to follow the frigate birds far out to sea for a view or the reconstructed caravels or Columbus. They were anchored nearby for the filming or the movie due out this year. Second, the bountiful lift and light thermals made it playtime in the air with plenty of photo ops. Finally, we had our own private campsite on launch courtesy or the estate's caretaker at which we basked in the glow of glorious sunSe'.!S.

(con tinned on page 34)

Looking down on the Carrera, Costa Rica site, the bes! site they pioneered. Skip Brown made a '15-milc flight from here lo !he beach town of Jaco, landing 011 the beach in front of lhc disco. Photo by Skip Brown.

HANC GurnNc

Flying With Your Glider The

most stressful flight you can make with your glider is when it accompanies you on an airliner. Baggage handlers are not accustomed to SO-pound packages with an overall length of more than 12 feet. So it was that we watched with anguish from our window on a 727 as a baggage handler held one encl of a glider and rolled it until the other end dropped from a trailer seven feet to the tarmac. After a repeat performance, another worker arri vecl to help him unload the third glider as gently as you please. Our fourth glider was left on the runway as the captain announced takeoff clearance. Only by running to the front and banging on the cockpit door were we able to stop the plane and assure loading of the last glider. Lesson learned: choose a right-side window seat if you want to monitor the tribulations of your glider. Not all airline personnel are as careless as our baggage handler, but baggage is generally treated roughly and oversize packages can bring out the beast in mankind, especially if key individuals have had a taxing clay. This short guide will help you minimize air transport problems. There is a thick book that sets standards for international flights. All airlines use this book as a starting point but also may acid their own rules. For instance, Continental has a rule disallowing hang gliders as baggage (reversing this rule would be a good USHGA project). Other airlines allow gliders, but charge varying amounts to haul them. Normally you can get by with one unit excess baggage which costs $60 to $70 each way. In truth, this should be two units, one for overweight and one for overlength. However, checkin personnel are usually unaware of such details and will normally settleforone unit if you volunteer information in a neat package such as: "Well, one unit is what I've always been charged before." On busy international flights, a supervisor is often assisting operations. Unf011Unately, supervisors are a bit more knowledgeable and can be anything from very helpful to autocratic. We have had some supervisors help load gliders and wish us bon voyage, while others would only allow the gliders on as air freight. The latter situation is the worst case, since the glider must then go through customs at your destination (and may take hours or clays to clear), is not guaranteed to be on the same plane and costs hundreds of dollars to transport---each way. The best policy for maneuvering through all such obstacles is to call the airlines (they all have 800 numbers) to find out if they transport hang gliders. If they say no, offer a polite thank you and hang up. Then call the next day and ask if they take wind surfers. They'll all say yes. Now magically transform your glider into a wind surfer (that's what you do with it don't you?) and tell the airline employee the dimensions, weight and what flight you'll be taking it on. They will double check to make sure that the baggage compartments can accommodate your package and tell you how much it will cost. Also, make sure they put the note that you have excess baggage

APRIL 1992

into the computer and get the name of the person you're talking to. Both of these points are to use as ammunition to argue with a recalcitrant supervisor. Next, arrive two hours early for your international flight (one hour for domestic). This is very important because it gives baggage handlers time to do the special loading required and supervisors are less haniecl at the beginning of check-in. Offer to help carry your glider clown to the baggage staging area. Generally they'll accept your offer and you'll be able to prevent abuse of the glider for at least one stage of the journey. I have heard of pilots shipping their gliders full-length, but this only increases the chance of damage and airport hassles. Modern gliders break down to 12-13 foot packages quite readily with no tools. On the flight to Costa Rica I was informed that the compartment length was 155 inches. This is one inch shorter than my HP AT forward leading edge. Consequently, I took along my old Sensor B (with a three-hour breakdown resulting from the need to remove wing bolts, ties and bushings). Skip took along his Axis, which is almost 14 feet broken clown. It fit into the plane on a diagonal. Once your glider is broken clown, pad it generously and judiciously. The tubing ends tend to be most vulnerable so protect them well. Perfectly-fitting dowels inside the ends are the ideal fix. We suggest you pull your mylar out and roll it in a tight cylinder held with a rubber band, otherwise it may be badly wrinkled. This mylar cylinder is a fine tubing encl protector as well. Here are a few additional notes to make your passage more trouble-free: I) If you travel with your glider often, get a ballistic bag for its protection. Cindy Drozda of Boulder, Colorado makes a good one with handles and padding at each end. It will set you back more than $100. 2) Be conversant with airline terms so it sounds like you know what you're doing. The key words are excess baggage and one unit ovenveight. Remember, you're allowed two bags of85 pounds each. If you have only one bag but its over 85 pounds, it will cost you more than you can believe, so use two bags. 3) Fly the airlines of the country to which you're heading if possible. We had trouble once on Air France, but the Greek, Brazilian and Costa Rican airlines were more than happy to take our gliders, sometimes for no charge. Be aware that these national airlines don't always have as good deals, so shop around and look for charters. 4) If you pass your glider off as a wind smfer, be familiar with that sport since people will ask you what's in your long package, then want to talk about it. Hopefully you will avoid the fate of Skip, who once shipped his glider as a batch of pole vaults only to find the check-in clerk was an ex-pole vaulter. Skip spent several nervous minutes inventing his highest vault,jumping style and pole design.•

Land of the Two F's The highlight of Costa Rica, nicknamed "the ecological country," is the flora and fauna. About twice the size of Vermont after a big meal, Costa Rica sports more species of trees than all of North America. Eric had previously worked in the national parks and could name many unique looking trees, but for the most part it was hopeless. All I learned is not to set your glider up under the tree with all the orange flowers. I did so for the shade it afforded and ended up with a sail that looked like someone used it for a fried chicken picnic. The tree drips constantly! Everywhere we flew with soaring birds. At Cascada de Carrera in particular we soared with black vultures, turkey vultures, a king vulture, a scissortail kite, a white kite, a caracara, an ibis, an osprey, various hawks and falcons as well as toucans and macaws that floated around launch scolding at our intrusion. Elsewhere frigate birds and pelicans were our constant companions. My favorite pastime was to find a thick gaggle of black vultures turning in unison and join their thermal turning the opposite way. The confusion was complete and I' cl get a multitude of close-up dirty looks delivered as only a black vulture can. In Dominica! we' cl watch these feisty birds raiding garbage cans only 20 feet away like so many alley cats. Black vultures are the best birds to fly with since they duplicate our perfor-

mance and always are in the best lift. They would be the ideal pet for a pilot with their low feeding cost-all you need is a shovel, a bucket and a nearby highway.

Metamorphosis: Stage 3 By our second week in-country we returned to San Jose for clean underwear and decided to head south to higher mountains. We climbed the Pan-American highway to its highest point of nearly 11,000 feet at Cerro de la Muerte (peak of death). Despite its name, this place has potential with its wide-open launch areas and 9,000-foot drop in a matter of miles. Unfortunately, it was socked in with clouds far below so we opted to pursue our site ranging further down. Future expeditions may find that Cerro de la Muerte offers flights similar to those at the Haleakala crater in Hawaii. We arrived in Dominica! on the coast and found our previously described dubious site. Despite the tension it produced, we flew it again the next day and all had great flights over the mountains and down the coast to the beach. Peter cashed in on airtime and remained alone on the mountain to see a curious sight. Far below another glider had begun to set up. As the lift was dying, Peter left to work his way home. In the meantime I had borrowed the police motorcycle to retrieve our truck. (In deference to propriety, the policeman did unhook the odometer so such unofficial use wasn't registered.) When I arrived at the top, imagine my

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surprise to find Rick Jacob from Tennessee almost ready to launch. I knew that he, Mike King and other pilots were also due to tour Costa Rica, but I didn't expect to find him on our freshly pioneered site. I briefed Rick and increased his anxiety by telling him how much altitude he needed to gain to make the landing field. As it turned out he could only garner 300 feet and kindly tested our alternate field for us.

Our final days were spent shuttling between our known sites. The northeast trade winds backed off and conditions became more consistent. This prompts us to recommend flying in Costa Rica some time after the first week or two in February. There is obviously much exploring left to do for hang gliding interests. Mike King headed north to the high volcanoes and enjoyed some success. His report is eagerly awaited. When our pioneering, prospecting and bushwhacking is over, Eric and others may run tours. Until that time, I highly recommend Costa Rica to the adventurous pilot. It isn't all paradise (chiggers, gnats, mosquitos and black flies sometimes treated our bodies like their personal larder), but the change of scene, friendly Ticos (the native nickname) and low cost are a poweiiul attraction for winter-bound pilots. Next year I look forward to another exploration of BananaLand. •

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1992 USHGA MERCHANDISE ORDER FORM QTY.

TOTAL

1992 USHGA CALENDAR 12" x 12" full pictorial of the sport you love ................................................................................................. $6.00 "NEW" USHGA Golf Shirt 100% combed cotton. Colorfully embroidered. Colors: White Red Navy Yellow Jade Black SIZES: Medium Large X-Large XXL (in white & navy only) .............................................................................................................. $21.95 OTHER USHGA CALENDARS SPECIFY YEAR: 1991 1990 1989 1988 More Excellent Photography - collect them all! ....... $3.00 USHGA SCRAMBLE KNIT SWEATER by Nutmeg Mills Embroidered with Mtn. Glider emblem, 100% Cotton, "Natural Color'' SPECIFY TYPE: CREW NECK or VEE NECK and SIZE: SMALL MEDIUM LARGE X-LARGE ............................................... $39.95 USHGA LONG SLEEVE T-SHIRT 100% Cotton "Simplistic" Design SPECIFY COLOR: WHITE or GRAY & SIZE S M L XL .......... $18.95 USHGA MTN. GLIDER T-SHIRT White-100% cotton. Our most popular shirt. SPECIFY SIZE: S M L XL .................................... $12.95 USHGA YOUTH MTN. GLIDER T-SHIRT For those up and coming pilots. SPECIFY SIZE: 8(6-8) M (10-12) L(14-16) .................. $9.95 USHGA NEON LOGO T-SHIRT 100% Cotton Our beloved official logo, color revised of the 1990's. HOT! SPECIFY TYPE: WHITE TANK TOP or BLACK T-SHIRT & SIZE: Small Medium Large X-Large ............................................. $9.95 USHGA MTN. GLIDER CAP Embroidered SPECIFY COLOR: NAVY WHITE ................................................................................... $9.95 USHGA CORDUROY CAP Embroidered with "Glider Trails" design SPECIFY COLOR: ROYAL BLUE OFF-WHITE ..................... $9.95 USHGA EMBLEM BASEBALL CAP Foam white front, colored mesh back. SPECIFY COLOR: RED NAVY GOLD ORANGE .......... $5.00 USHGA LAPEL PIN Beautiful multi-colored Mtn. Glider design. Custom shaped pin w/ military clutch and epoxy dome ...................... $4.95 USHGA 1988 WORLD TEAM PIN Commemorating the world meet in Mt. Buffalo. AUSTRALIA ............................................................ $2.95

PARAGLIDING· A PILOTS TRAINING MANUAL Produced by Wills Wing. Everything you wanted to know about paragliding .......... $19.95 HANG GLIDING FOR THE BEGINNER PILOT by Pete Cheney The Official USHGA Training Manual. Over 200 pages .................. $29.95 PARAGLIDING FLIGHT-Walking on Air by Dennis Pagen Covering all aspects of Paragliding. Over 140 illustrations ................... $19.95 HANG GLIDING FL YING SKILLS by Dennis Pagen Our most popular book. For the beginner to intermediate pilot .......................... $9.95 HANG GLIDING TECHNIQUES by Dennis Pagen Continues where FLYING SKILLS left off. For intermediate to advanced ............... $7.50 UNDERSTANDING THE SKY by Dennis Pagen Micrometeorology for pilots. Almost 300 pages, 260 photos and illustrations ......... $19.95 RIGHT STUFF FOR NEW HANG GLIDER PILOTS by Erik Fair Overview, humor, techniques and personalities ................................. $8.95 FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS 1992 Federal Regulations covering ALL types of aviation ......................................................... $8.95 USHGA DELUXE LOG BOOK 72 pages. Covering pilot ID, ratings, rules, maintenance, inspection, terminology ... and more .............. $4.95 USHGA X·C LOG BOOK 64 pages. Very clean! For those who like to document their flight. ............................................................... $3.95 USHGA FLIGHT LOG BOOK 40 pages. The Official USHGA Flight Log Book ...................................................................................... $2.95

$ $ $ $ $ $

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

s $ $

s s

OHicial USHGA Windsok 1' 1 Pink/yellow or pink/white .......................................................................................................................... $39.95 USHGA DELUXE LOG BOOK COVER Gray colored and debossed with the Mtn. Glider design. Show off your flights ....................... $9.95 USHGA MTN. GLIDER SEW-ON EMBLEM The most beautiful patch you'll ever own. 12 different colors used ................................... $4.95 USHGA MTN. GLIDER DECAL Full color 6" diameter vinyl decal. Guaranteed to last I .......................................................................... $1.50 USHGA DRINKING MUG w/HANDLE Unbreakable 14 oz. frosted plastic mug. Mtn. glider screened in blue ....................................... $1.95 USHGA KEY CHAIN "Soft Feel" Plastic. Custom Mtn. Glider shaped. Screened white on red .............................................................. $1.50 USHGA SEW-ON EMBLEM Our original logo, in its original colors on this 3" circular emblem ............................................................... $1.50 USHGA EMBLEM DECAL Our original logo, in its original colors on this 3" circular sticker ..................................................................... $ .50 USHGA LICENSE PLATE FRAME "I'd Rather Be Hang Gliding" PLASTIC-white with blue lettering ........................................ $5.50 METAL-(zinc) with white on blue lettering ............................ $6.50

$ $ $ $ $

s s $ $ $

MAGAZINE COLLECTOR BINDER Brown vinyl binder w/ gold lettering. Wire inserts to hold 12 issues of HG .................................... $9.00 'USHGA ERIC RAYMOND POSTER 24" X 37" Eric doing oxygen at 17,000 ASL over the Sierra Nevada Range ................................ $5.95 'USHGA HANG GLIDING POSTER 22" X 28" Colorful nostalgic standard rogallo flying into the golden sunset. (Circa 1977) .............. $3.95 'Posters are NOT AVAILABLE on International Orders-SORRY!

$ $

PAYMENT must be included with your order. FOREIGN orders must be in U.S. FUNDS drawn on a U.S. BANK!

CHARGE MY CREDIT CARD* 'add $2.00 handling fee VISA or MASTERCARD (circle one) acct#_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _exp. ____ Signature ____________

SHIPPING .01 - 9.99 ADD $3.50 1000 - 19.99 ADD $4.00 20. - 34.99 ADD $5.00 35. - 49.99 ADD $6.00 50. + ADD $7.50 Canada & Mexico add $1.50 extra lnt'I surface add $4.00 extra lnt'I air add S15.00 extra

SUBTOTAL

$_ _ __

COLORADO RESIDENTS add 3% TAX

$_ _ _ __

SHIPPING (see chart)

$_ _ __

($2 handling fee') 'if applicable

$_ _ _ __

TOT AL ENCLOSED

$_ _ _ __

SHIP TO: (Street address if possible) NAME _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ USHGA#_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _~ CITY/STATE/ZIP _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ UNITED STATES HANG GLIDING ASSN. P.O. BOX 8300

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80933-8300

(719) 632-8300

FAX (719) 632-6417

his is ens News in New York calling. Mr. Haywood II.lie Broun wants to know 111orc about this hang gliding mecl scheduled in Head, North Carolina on July 1st." They really do read their mail, I thought. A few clays earlier I had sent invitations to every TV network, hang glider numufacturer, publication and individual who was known to me as interested in the new sport of hang gliding. In 1973 there were precious few in each category.

I was using this effort to help solve a rew problems: There weren't any hang glider flyers in my area and I was intent on attracting people lo this sport; I was having difficulty information about the activity and its equipment; and I didn't know how to fly a hang glider. I had all Lhe latest stuff but wasn't getting airborne. Self instruction wasn't cutting it. I figured there were probably several oth· ers in the same sit1rntion. I !olding a meet would likely attract participation. Sending the invita-

lions nationwide would help assure the word got out. It sounded as though the message was spreading. Jr CBS al!endcd, the information it broadcast about hang gliding would he ex" panded to an even bigger audience. And providing a first impression or people having fun on sand dunes would make it difficult to spin the story as a hunch of high-risk, death"wish hip· pies. Haywood Hale Broun 1 He was the equiva· Jent or today's Ray C,andolr on ABC-TV who docs weekend reatmes about unusual or different items in sports. Big"time stuff was coming to visit hang gliding. HANC GLilllNC

J by Vic Powell

A Primal Response All this was the result of an article I had read in National Geographic magazine in l 972. It was about a bunch of guys in California using bamboo and plastic sails having fun flying down hills. The thought of doing that struck a basic chord in my being and captured me. I had always wanted to fly. As a kid I had jumped off the garage roof holding onto an umbrella. I caught hell for turning it inside out on the way clown. It hadn't slowed my descept; I landed hard. Later I built and flew radiocontrolled sailplanes. I had flown powered aircraft with my brother. But this-to glide down a hillside skimming the surface and landing at the bottom-Wow! [ had to try it. I ordered a 17' kite from Eipper-Formance in Torrance, California. It came with harness and an instruction sheet. On one side were ten steps to assemble the kite. On the reverse, ten steps to teach yourself how to fly. An important item not mentioned was how steep the hill had to be. Being cautious I tried flying on the rolling hills of the Manassas, Virginia battlefields. I could never truly get airborne; I achieved long hops but didn't really commit aviation. I pointed the kite into the wind, ran hard, and all the stuff the instructions said. A few runs like this in 90degree heat made me realize I needed professional help. I'm sure anyone watching would have agreed.

Roundabout Route To Get Instruction I suspected that I needed a steeper hill, one with good winds. Remembering my radio-controlled sailplane flights on the dunes at Nags Head, APRIL 1992

photos courtesty Kitty Hawk Kites North Carolina, and my aviation history-the Wright Brothers had selected a nearby dune for the same reasons-I decided my next attempt would be on Jockey's Ridge. I thought about the problems facing this young sport and if I could help. Hang gliding was so new that the number of people involved in it was a mere handful. Therefore almost everyone else in the nation had the same problem I was facing with finding an instructor. Bringing people together to share information about flying and teaching techniques, seeing the latest equipment, and meeting leaders in the sport was a needed activity. Putting that together in a format offering fun could be an answer. A meet! I'd hold it at Nags Head and address all these problems at one event. It would turn out to be the first national hang gliding meet in the U.S. Duration and fun were to be the tasks. An area was designated for manufacturers to display their wares. On the day of the event they ignored it and set up where it was convenient, which was also where the people were. I called it the Tactile Flight Meet-tactile for "touch." Hang glider flyers feel the air. Its forces are translated to the control bar where the flyer feels the input. Everybody said, "Saywhat? Tac-wha?" Well I tried. Two years of this and the meet's name was thankfully changed to Hang Gliding Spectacular. A sensible improvement in communication.

Day Of The Meet People from all over the nation showed up, including two flyers from Canada, and two representatives of the South African hang gliding association. Twenty-five gliders were flown. Sixty-three participants registered and got to

meet several of hang gliding's early leaders. To illustrate how small the sport was at that time, the person who built my kite in California, Dave Muehl, attended and taught me to tly. Telling him ofmy experiences, Dave test flew the kite and then promptly took me to the top of the dune. In that happy, no-problem manner of his, he said it was obvious I just needed a steeper hill. After my first attempt, while I nonchalantly flicked sand from cable abrasions on my body, he yelled down that I should remember to push out before impacting at the base. I put the two together on the second flight and, Eureka! It was so fantastic I used the shaking in my knees to jitter my way back up the dune for another flight. Hooked. Thanks, Dave. The New England group consisted of Al Mulazzi of Zephyr Aircraft, and Tom Peghiny of Sky Sports. Al, who had a marvelous confidence inspiting win-you-over and make-youthink-you-can-do-anything personality, taught a bunch of people that weekend. He was also especially appreciated in the 90+ degree afternoon heat because he gladly shared his multigallon water supply. The West Coast was represented by Pete Brock and his son Hall of Ultralight Products; Bob Keeler and Mike Koman of Seagull Aircraft; and Steve Wilson, Dave Cronk, and Dave Muehl of EipperFormance. Colorado's Chandelle was represented by Max Tufts. The Midwest was represented by Chuck Slusarczyk of Chuck's Glider Supplies; and Icarus II by Roger Bodley of Cincinnati, Ohio. The Southeast by several flyers with water tow kite experience. This latter group said foot-launch was much more easy to conduct and more fun. The variety of hang gliders at the meet spoke of the creative experimental energy in the sport at that time. There were high- and lowsweep Rogallos, high and low aspect ratio mono37

planes and biplanes. Dave Cronk flew the Quicksilver monoplane. Tom Peghiny ancl Roger Bodley demonstrated the performance of the Icarus JI. Mike Koman flew a newly designed 38

monoplane. Chuck Slusarcr,yk flew his new design, a high aspect ratio Rogallo with spoilers for roll control, and a tail. At the pilot's meeting that Sunday mom-

ing I served as meet director and said that the event was being held to achieve three to enjoy the sport of hang gliding and all it offers; to conduct as many safe l'lights as possible; and to provide a forum Cor lhG exchange of i11forma·tion and techniques through personal contact, seeing the latGst equipment, and watching others l'ly. i\lso speaking al the gathering was Francis Rogallo, the father of our sport. I le said he was glad to have had a part in bringing so much pleasure lo so many people. In the suc-ceeding years Rog has been involved in prescnling the awards, a mcmornble and priceless addi(ion for the winners, and an opportunity for all aHendccs to meGt the man who made it possible for us to /'ly. Winds were Jighl southwest making all flights short. The longest was 25 seconds by Dave Cronk flying the Eipper-FormanceQuieksilvGr. Pete Brock or Ultralight Produc!s came in second wi!h the hl~st--performing Rogallo flight of 24 seconds. I laywood 1-lale Broun had a ball at the base of the dune. lie was stoked by the huge butterflies lifting people off the dunes and depositing HANC: GUDlNC

at the bottom. His reaturc the folSaturday night 011 CBSil'V gave the sport positive coverage and also included fool age or activity at Torrance Bc11ch, California. His story noted that hang gliding is now a national sport, its participants and ob· servers pleasure. It was a good boosL

I want you to do yoursc:lf a favor. Circle on your calendar the dates May S-10, l 992. They mark the 20th annual Hang Gliding Spectacular at Ridge State Park in Nags r lead, North Carolina. The tasks have changed since the early days in order to better demonstrate the vastly improved flying equipme;at nnd impressive skill ol'the But the purpose remains the same: rlying fun. The meet is unique in that all flyers with various skill levels arc flying the same dune hut are rated differently. Beginners aren't compel· against higher category flyers. The system offers a superb opportunity for everyone to improve their flying skills. /\ncl having flown in !he 20th will be something you'll always re member. The associated activities arc really Cun too. Big doings arc plmrnccl. Since year two John Harris and ihl: cn:w at Kitty I lawk Kites have placccl the Spectacular under their care and guidance. Their work and leadership have as·· sured that the meet has been held annually, thal it has been operated efficiently, and that it provided an excuse to party. They deserve a round of applause. For a schedule of events ar the meet call them al (919) 441 A 124.

/\l'frn. 1992

There is a dilTerencc in the energy generated and received at a small hill training site com· pared to a mountain cliff launch site. Both arc fun, but different. /\ta mountain cliff the visible potential for disaster is apparent tu every onlooker. The

energy received hy them is gut gripping, high in tension and anxiety. It's a relief when the flyer successfully lmmehcs. /\t a training hill the energy has mon'. to do with happiness and pleasure. lt can he tense !'or the rlyer, hut to the observer there is a visible lack of horrendous danger. The night is made entirely in view the observer. /\lkr landing, whether stand-up

are experiencing life to the max and happiness spills out of them; it cannot be contained... are filled with and everyone enjoys the occasion. Maybe that's why noticed people express having more fun at training hills than in the mountains." or nol, the viewer can sec the adrenalin dance and hear the whooping of excitement that often occurs after beginning flights. The flyers arc experiencing life lo the max and happiness spills out of them; it cannot be contained. It's infectious. Faces arc filled with smiles and everyone enjoys the occasion. Maybe that's why I've noticed people express having more fun at training hills than in the mountains. J\nd they arc participating in the low and slow flying. Capturing that high spirit of laughing fun has always been one of the big attractions offered by the llang CJliding Spectac11lar. Come join us this year at the world's oldest annually-conducted hang gliding meet, to p.irticipate or watch. If you have energy remaining alkrcluning it most of the day, I recommend the street dance that evening at Killy Hawk Kites. There's a loud hand, big crowd, and prizes. Let the adrenalin pump your knees too. Enjoy yourself. You'll sleep like a baby that night. That's part or hang gliding too. Ill

THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT VIUfll<

f'(Mlll

OF FOOT LAUNCHED HANG GLIDERS

JULY l, 1973

ON NOlffH CAROUNA'S OUTER BANKS NEAR 111[ WRIGHT BROlHERS NAIIONAL MEMORIAi.

H'\NC GI.IIJINC

i I

May

5-10

1992

Order Your Spectacular T-Shirts Today (Featuring above design)

1 (800) 334-4777 For registration information contact Bruce Weaver (919) 441-4124

COMPETITION CORNER

1991 Rocky Mountain Hang Gliding Association X-C Coinpetition Unless it is about one of the major gettogethers (Nationals, Telluride, League Meet) you probably don't read much about Colorado in this magazine. This year and in following years we hope that changes. Each year we run a low-key competition for the enjoyment of our members. We have several classes to enable pilots of different experience levels to compete against their equals. This year we increased the number of classes to five, as follows: Class A - for those with flights of 100 or more miles; Class B - for those having flown over 50 but less than 100 miles; Class C - 50 miles or less; Class D - the single longest flight from Lookout Mountain, Denver's local site; and Class E - for paraglider pilots. We award plaques and cash prizes to the top three places. Cash is based on the number of class entries, with all fees being returned to the pilots in some fashion. This year we were also fortunate enough to get prizes from Ball Vario, Wills Wing and Pendulum Sports. A couple of years ago we changed our mies so that, except for class D, the standings are decided by the total of the top three flights from each pilot in his class. We are trying to prevent that wonder-day flight from killing the rest of the year's competition. We also gave bonus points for: out-and-return, triangle and dog-leg flights. This was to help spark interest in X-C by reducing the need for long retrievals and long days. There was also an additional bonus for declaring your flight beforehand. The maximum bonus was 300% for a declared triangle. We had a total of 23 entties with the majority (nine) in class C. A lot of fun was had by all. Scott Comeaux sent a copy of his log book as pmt of his documentation. It notes: "It felt so good flying by both of them ... (Jim Yocom and Dave) ... on my first REAL X-C flight." 42

Last year was a year for exceptional flights and days. A wonderful cold front on April 28th saw four personal best flights by pilots in A, B, C and D classes. Jim Yocom, Chip Verrill, Dave Crabb and Brad Koji made their career-best distance flights with 63.6, 96, 97.6 and 180.4 miles respectively. Brad's flight also set the state distance record. The longest flight for a paraglider was turned in by Todd Bibler. He had an IS-mile flight off tow! While this flying was going on up north, Jim Lee of Taos, New Mexico was down in southern Colorado setting an official FAI record. Launching from Wild Horse Mesa he

flew a declared triangle of 121.92 miles. He has submitted his documents to receive a world record for this flight. Seems like Colorado must be a pretty good place to fly! Final standing were as follows: Pilot

Class

Place

Points

Jim Lee Brad Koji Thomas Wood

A A

I st 2nd 3rd

591.5 318.4 153.0

Dave Crabb Jim Yocom

B B

!st 2nd

225.4 200.7

Chip Vmill Rick Sebastian Scott Comeaux

C C C

!st 2nd 3rd

132.0 l 12.1 64.3

Brad Koji

!st

180.4

Todd Bibler Circ Toepel

E E

1st 2nd

42.0 14.4

We would like to thank Ball Vario, Wills Wing and Pendulum Sports for supplying prizes. •

East Coast Open X-C by Randy Adams East Coast X-C flying is much more difficult than X-C flying in the West. A lower cloud base, limited landing fields and fewer good days (usually only after a cold front) are some of the reasons. The purpose of compiling the year's flights is to encourage X-C flying and to foster competition in the East, while recognizing the differences in flying conditions there. Conditions last year were generally poor in most areas. The exception seems to have been New England, which saw an exceptional year. The Midwest had a poor season with the most promising days overdeveloping. This is an area which has traditionally had the longest flights. The current X-C record of 175

miles was set there by Larry Bunner several years ago. The middle and southeast areas saw some good clays, but cold fronts were generally weak and never pressed far enough south for good X-C flying. It did change somewhat in the fall, and three 100-mile towlaunch flights were made in Florida late in the year. Fatther north, New England had great weather with those same weak cold fronts coming through all season long. Few days were blown out and five flights were stopped by the Atlantic Ocean in the 90- to 100-mile range. Here are the flights, by region, and the final top ten, which were sent to me. I'm sure I've missed some long flights, but if I don't know about them I can't list them. HANG GLIDING

COMPETITION CORNER Region VII Mike Fitzgerald Larry Bunner Larry Bunner Matt Toveson Larry Bunner Larry Bunner Randy Adams LaLTy Bunner Larry Bunner

85 63 63 60 60 55 55 51 50

Ten Longest East Coast Flights For 1991 (One flight per customer) l)

2) 3) 4)

5) 6) 6)

8) Region VIII Randy Adams Ted Hasenfus Rich Laporte Randy Adams Randy Adams Randy Adams Ted Hasenfus John Szarek Jeff Burnett Randy Adams

110 108 95 95 94 92 82.5 82 75 71

Region IX Pete Lehmann Tony Smolder Bill Bennett Dennis Pagen Tony Smolder Tony Smolder Larry Ball Ron Dively Claire Pagen Tony Smolder

82 69 69 53.5 37 31 31 30 28 26.5

9) 9) 9)

Mike Barber Randy Adams Teel Hasenfus Rob Keyes Rich Laporte Jeff Laughrey Mike Fitzgerald Tip Rogers John Szarek Gary Engelhart Pete Lehmann

111 110 I 08 104

95 85 85 84 82 82 82

I'll compile this list again in 1992 (Jan. I - Dec. 31 ). Your flight must originate (tow or foot launch) east of the Mississippi to qualify. Please send your flights to: Randy Adams, P.O. Box 369, Claremont, NH 03743. Watch out for those flatland pilots in Region VII. Let's hope for better weather and longer flights in '92. •

oWENS v.ALLEY' so.ARING

We will be on the road again this season, so test fly the UP glider ofyour choice. April 3-5

Owens Valley Total X-C Tours

April 4-10

Wa'/1 tska ca,a of tha data/ls so you can cancB11trata an the flight of your Lffa!

April 11-18

EXPERIENCED GROUND CREW - to meet you with Region X Mike Barber Rob Keyes Rob Keyes Jeff Laughrey Tip Rogers Gary Engelhart Steve Lee Greg Hackmay Jeff Reynolds Joel Godin Region XII T.S. Young Dean Williams Tom Nejamine Tom Johnson Fuzzy Pruit Ben Davidson Tom Nejamine Ben Davidson John Hamlin Wayne Wripley APRIL 1992

Ill

104 102 85 84 82 78 68 49.8 46.2 57.5 53 52.7 48 47 35 34 34 33 32

4WD retrieval and cold drinks al!er your longest, highest, bes! ever X- C. Local guides - USHGA lnslruclors/Observer wilh over 1OYears and 1500 hours of O.V. experience !here lo help you in lhe air, on !he radio. Lodging - Double occupancy, air-conditioned accommodations included. Plus - Mountain Biking, Sierra Hiking, and Rock Climbing included if lhe day is non-llyable. Sites Include: Horseshoe Meadows ( home of lhe firs! 200 miler) Gunler Launch (home of lhe '93 World meet). and much, much more. Complete, lull service sales and service sho wilh glider and oxygen renlals available. . ~ Only $695 gats you 7 days at maf8 ml/sag and a/rt/ma than you can stsnd!,'7;-_----o.Call for reservations and more informalion. /

April 25-26

/7 ·

May 23-25

(619) 387-2673 , ·~ ;~)'L ,· .

May23-25

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~[ii-

May 1

May 5-10

May 15-17

May 30-31 June 6-13

True Flight Concepts Fun Fly-in & B-B-Q (Sat. Night) SabobaCA 818-367-6050 LiJokout Mt11 Flt Park Rising Fawn GA 404-398-3433 Sequatchie Valley Dunlap TN. 404-398-3433 Mo1111tai11 Wi11gs Ellenville NY. 914-647-3377 UP Soaring Ce11ter of San Diego Grand Opening Celebration San Diego CA 801-876-2211 Kitty Hawk Kites Hang Gliding Spectacular Kitty Hawk N.C. 1-800-334-4777 Sky Hook Ha11g Glider Mmet Island FL 407-452-8143 Hy11er View Fly-i11 Hyner View PA 801-876-2211 Adventure Sports Girls Just Wanna Go Fly Fly-in Carson City, Navada 702-883-7070 Le11oir/Morga11to11 Airport Fly-In Lenoir, NC 704-758-9331 or 919-385-9075 l1r!arks Wings Sandia classic Alberquerque, N.M. 505-298-2922

TOW LINES

A Place To Fly by Bud Brown !11 the last issue, the 11ext-to-last se11te11ce under "circle towi11g" should have read: "It appears that f11ture altitude tow records will not be set with circle towing. "-Ed.

Whether you fly ultralights, paragliders or hang gliders, finding a new place to fly can be bewildering, especially if you've never had the experience. Finding a place to tow hang gliders, with the need for a long, smooth surface of 3,000 feet or more, sounds like it should be relegated to the same category as trying to find a flea on a Tasmanian Devil. While we're at it, why not look for a one-mile or longer, private/abandoned road or an old, forgotten military runway? Why not indeed, for these sites have been found and are now being used! Even dry lake beds several miles long have been pressed into service. Another category which seemed to be an unlikely option is uncontrolled, general aviation airports. Once again I was surprised, for there are quite a few being used for towing hang gliders. After going through or observing the process a few times, an outline emerged for a process which has a good chance of success. One way to stmt the process is to set up appointments with airport Fixed Base Operators or managers in the area you are interested in. Share the rental of an aircraft with two or three pilots and fly into these airports armed with photos, videos and a brief presentation. This procedure allows you to check out the airport from the air and presents a good impression for the FBO. It seemed that municipal airports were the most likely to entertain the idea. Other airports were possible if you were lucky enough to have the big ace in the holesomeone in authority knew you or a member of your tow club. This came about on occasion because a tow pilot was taking flying lessons or renting an aircraft at the airport, and the topic of different ways to fly

came up. He may have found that the airport manager or fixed base operator harbored an interest in hang gliding because he had seen it on TV, had tried it in the sport's primitive infancy, or enjoyed watching hang gliders flying al his vacation spot. Yes, he would like to see a demo at his airport. The hang glider pilot who holds an FAA flight ticket is a good resource because of his knowledge of general aviation procedures, and he is much more likely to be accepted by a general aviation type. "Why would a fixed base operator or airport manager even consider a hang glider towing operation?" you ask. The reasons vary. One operator simply wanted all forms of aviation around him at his airport. He got a natural "high" out of it. His airport had ultralights, gyrocopters, motorized parachutes, hang glider towing and light aircraft, from tail draggers to jets. Another wanted to attract more people in the hope that he would have more potential students for his aviation school. Although some never asked for remuneration, one manager decided it was a way to help survive lean times. There's only one way to find out what your chances are. The acceptance process for a municipal airport may take months. Hopefully you start the process with your "ace," but it's not mandatory. Preparation in the form of a wellwritten letter to the airport owner, manager, fixed base operator or airport council could be the first step. There's usually one club member who has a computer with a word processor and someone to help draft the letter. It should contain a semi-formal request to allow a demonstration, the purpose and strncture of your tow club, details of your insurance, and maybe photographs of towing. Reference to the acceptance of hang glider towing at the Oshkosh meet by the EAA and FAA might help as well. In addition, you may want to make a drawing of the airport and a draft of some guidelines for the tow operations. One airport council provided us with a

copy of the operating guidelines for a defunct sailplane towing operation, which we modified. (They made enough of a nuisance of themselves that they "vaporized" after the one-year trial period.) The guidelines may then be modified by the manager or FBO, and if they are not approved at this level you may need to appear before the airport council. The guidelines are not only for the tow pilot's use but will be made available to the general aviation pilots so they will have an understanding of the operation. The council consists of volunteers, made up of the pilots who use the airpott, so you will need to have your act together and be ready to answer some tough questions. Let them know you want their input so that the operation will be mutually acceptable. Choose someone as a spokesperson who will represent you well at the council meeting. This person will present the request and talk briefly about the operation in a convincing

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TOW LINES manner. If he/she is the only person talking, there shouldn't be any conflicting thoughts or confusion. Put yourself in their position and try to get a feeling for the doubts you might have if a new form of flying was trying to share your flying site. Hmm, that rings pretty close to home! Tune in to the message the airport manager relays to you about tow operations. Each manager will have a different interpretation of the safest way to mix hang gliders with general aviation. One may want you to use the standard airport pattern and another will want you to stay completely out of it, by using the other side of the airport. There are some "extras" you may want to invest in for airport towing. Communication is obviously of extreme importance. Radio communication between the tow pilot, tow crew , and spotter is a very good idea at a busy airport. These radios could be USHGA FM radios or ham radios. CB radios (in our

area) seem to have enough traffic that communication is not predictable. Don't forget the licenses. Many aircraft announce their presence and intentions, so a hand-held aircraft radio tuned to the airport traffic frequency is a big plus. Some airports require a spotter, who is responsible for keeping track of aircraft traffic, just as a control tower controller does. He could also monitor the airport frequency, while visually scanning for aircraft. One of his jobs is to spot potential problems, like the radio-less tail-dragger which is on a two-mile final at low altitude! This may sound a little unusual, but was a scenario suggested by an airport manager, who went on to say that this aircraft would have the right-of-way as far as he was concerned because these people were paying the bills and keeping the airport open. Hence, the spotter. This not only made for a safer operation, but also kept the general aviation pilots from dumping a lot of flak on the

EAST COAST VIDEOS by Wayne Bergman

HENSON'S GAP & WHITWELL TENNESSEE 1991 - Air shots and tandems. 55 min. MICHIGAN HANG GLIDING Greenpoint, Sleeping Bear, Pyramid Pt., Empire Bluffs, Muskegon & Thompson'vi\\e towing. 77 min. OLD TIME MOVIE (1975-1980) High Rock MD, Lookout Mtn. GA, E Brady PA, Warren Dunes MI, Hynerview PA Regionals 78-79, Melvern OH, Frankfort MI. Water & Land Towing. 93 min.

$29.00 each + $3 shipping (Michigan residents add 4% tax) (Foreign orders acid $10 extra) Send Check or Money Order to: WAYNE BERGMAN, 80 E. Lincoln, Muskegon Heights MI 49444 (616) 739-5363

APRIL 1992

manager. One manager asked for a flashing yellow beacon on the tow rig, similar to the ones on the airport service vehicles. They're about $50 at truck accessory stores. Each airport will have some idiosyncrasies that you will hopefully find out about beforehand. We were using the grass median between the runway and taxiway for landings and later found out we had bent some of the pilots' noses out of joint. It seemed that some of the local pilots used the median on a regular basis to practice grass strip landings! One airport would routinely accept the tow rig in line, waiting our turn for takeoff, whereas another airport would require long waits until there was no traffic. Special thanks to Nick Caci, the president of the Sky Lines Tow Club in Massachusetts for much of the information on airport acceptance procedmes. His persevnance, patience and positive attitude worked wonders.•

Would you pay 35¢ for a magazine you didn't receive? Your USHGA now pays 35¢ for every member who moves and doesn't report his or her address to us in time to make the change on the mailing list for the next issue of Hang Gliding magazine. The Post Office returns undeliverable magazines to us and charges us 35¢. In the final analysis we are all paying for magazines that never get read. Please remember to let the USHGA know immediately when you move. Thank you for your cooperation.

\j_

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was off on another business trip, as happens several times per year for me. However, this trip was going to be different. I was going to Norway for a magnetic resonance school in midJune. I reasoned, and rightly so, that any country famous for its skiing had to have mountains for hang gliding. So I packed my harness and instruments up along with the rest of my luggage in hopes of finding a glider and a guide. The school in Trondheim, Norway was a quick hop from the port of entry, Oslo. I was quite amused when I landed in what I thought was Trondheim, only to discover that I had landed in the neighboring town of Hell. Was this some kind of a cosmic joke, or an omen? I was soon to find that, indeed, I had gone through Hell to get to heaven. This place looked like a pilot's dream-mountains and ridges wherever there was not water (the fjords). Now all that I had to deal with was the minor problem of a glider, transportation and finding the sites. Picking up the local yellow pages, I looked up hang gliding, aviation and (remembering a little German from college) drakeflieger. I was disappointed to find no shops. But wait, what about the index? Here, under drakeflieger I found Condor Sports. Calling on Sunday yielded no results. Not surprising, since many shops are closed then. What I didn't realize was that I was not calling a shop; I was calling the home of Rune (the pronunciation of which I butchered badly, but sounds sort of like airrroonay) B0rsting. Rune is a local instructor in Trondheim and a dealer for Wills Wing and Moyes. I finally contacted him on Monday, and he said that he would rent a glider to me and help me contact the local club so that a car pool could be arranged. I was also delighted (relieved, since I don't know any Norwegian) that Norwegians speak very good English. Now we were cooking, or so I thought. I talked to Rune again on Tuesday and he had sold his glider (he was going to rent me his personal wing) and had no more modern highperformance wings in stock. However, he had a vintage 1984 Steinbach glider and a trainer (Moyes Mega). I ended up flying the Mega. He also told me that he was going to Norway's center of hang gliding that weekend. A place called Vaga, which is about 150 miles south of Trondheim. Since I was there for a school, I opted to go to the school during the week and fly that weekend. The school went throughout the weekend, but one must keep an appropriate perspec-

"Norwegian pilots have a hang gliding safety record to be quite proud of: 1,500 pilots (in a country of four million) have managed to fiy year round for the last 10 years with NO fatalities." tive during times like these. Around June 23, the summer solstice, Norway never really gets dark. At 11 :00 PM the sun dips slightly below the horizon (unless you go another 150 miles north ofTrondheim, where it never sets) and appears dusk/dawn-like until the sun comes back up at around 3:30 AM. This is hell on the sleeping patterns of an already jetlagged American. However, it is good news for air junkies since the wind often blows through the night, and there are launch sites in every imaginable direction in this area. Although I did not experience midnight flying in Norway, the locals consider it a very special experience. The area around Vagais the site of Norwegian national cross-country records and a beautiful place to fly, as welL There are several

launches in the area accommodating different wine! directions. For these reasons, Vaga is slated to be the site of this year's European Hang Gliding Championships. When in Vaga, most pilots stay in a group of small huts which is just below the launch site and about a half-mile from the landing zone. There are four beds, a refrigerator and a small table with two chairs which can be rented for NOK 195 pernight(about $35). There is a set of bathrooms and a coin-operated shower at one end of the grounds. These huts are a good starting point for finding pilots flying the local area if you are touring. During a weekend nearly half of the huts are full of pilots. These huts are also a very cheap way to survive in a relatively expensive country. Two of the most expensive examples (due to high taxes) are also two of the most heavily-consumed fluids by many hang glider pilots, gasoline and beer. Gasoline is $3.50-$4.00 per gallon and a six-pack of beer will run you $10.00 in a grocery store and $4.00-$5.00 per glass in a bar. Restaurants also tend to be a bit expensive ($12-$35 per meal). However, it is possible to contain costs by cooking for yourself and car pooling. When Saturday came rolling around the wind was blowing over the back (northwest) at the Vaga-area launches. There are plenty of other possibilities in the area, however. One of the most spectacular ones is good in a northwest wind, so we flew from a site next to the summer ski center of ltmasshii. This site is quite close to the highest point in Norway. Directly behind launch, the ski resort was in full operation. There are several launches on the front of this mountain. In addition to several launches, the lowest launch is next to a camping resort named Raubergatulen. This campground has large fields in which to lane!. If the wind is blowing in at lower launch, the pilots just park there, launch and come back in to top-land after working their way up into the mountains for a couple of hours of aerial fun. Otherwise, the campground serves as a meeting point for pilots car pooling to the top, as well as the landing zone of choice. On Saturday the wind was light and we decided to go to upper launch (the highest one, there are several) and waitforthe thermals to build. After 3 PM the thermals started pushing up past our altitude and the flying began. Lots of pilots and, later in the day, several paragliders flew. This can also be a site for a fun cross-country flight by flying the 30 miles back to Vaga. Nobody (continued on page SO)

APRIL 1992

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?•

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Jurrasshci, one of !he most Norwegian si!es, is quite close to the highest point in the country. There arc several launches on the front. of the mountain and a ski resort directly behind this launch.

went cross-country on Satmday, but the thermals were allowing long f'lights. Sunday, tile wind direction turned around and we went flying at the ridge above Vi\g{1. There arc two launches, a lower launch (Vole) which is top--landahleand located dirccily above the landing zone. The lower launch is good in a south to southwcsl wind. There is a higher launch (next to the high point on the ridge, Salknappcn) whieh is a couple of miles from the landing zone. This launch works well in south through cast wind. The wind was oul of the south and we went to the higher launch. The conditions were good early in the day as we were treated to an unstable day with I0--15 mi leper-hour winds blowing directly into the ridge. /\gain, a good time was had by all. The men has a third launch called Frya which is good in southeast to southwest winds and is the launch site of' the longest f'light in Norway. The rtx:ord flight was flown by a Norwegian air force pilot named Stcinar 50

/\hrnclid. Stcinar flew to an area north of /\ndalsncs for a distance of 176 km. The second longest flight originalccl f'rom the lower launch at (Vole) and terminated near Val set for a total of 151 km. This flight was accomplished by a pilot named Trond Olsen. The longest out-and--rcturn flight was ac· complishcd by flying from Vole to Frya and back for ,1 round trip distnncc of' l 34 km. This flight was performed by Mats Wcmg. The area is popular for hang gliding for yet another reason besides the beautiful scenery and good cross--country potential. The local weather is dryer than anywhere else in Norway, providing more good days of flying than anywhere else in the country. Norwegian pilots have a hang gliding safety record to be quite proud of: l ,500 pilots (in a country of' four million) have managed to fly year round for the last IO years with NO fatalities. I'm not certain whether this is due to the flying conditions, the training programs which

they use, or both, but they definitely arc doing something righL These pilots arc serious about keeping their good safety record, so any pilot lower than advanced ralcd should bring log·· hooks demonstrating their extensive flying ex· pcriencc if they expect to be able to fly there without any problems. The natural beauty and consistent flying conditions make this a site to consider if cm·· barking on a European flying adventure. I found the other pilots helpful and friendly. I laving an open invitation, lam sure that I will be back, next time with more lime and my own glider to take full advantage of this fantastic area. 11111 /)r. Michal'/ Boska, Ph.D., is an ossistanl pro· fessor o/hiochemistry at Wright Stme University (110 kidding) in Dayton Ohio. Formerly o Northern California pilot, he has an advanced rating and in the region of' 500600 hours of' airtime. The author can he rrnched at (5 !.,) 435R622.-Fd. HANC GI.IDINC:

CLASSIFIEDS ADVISORY Used hang gliders should always be disassernbled before !lying for the first time and inspected carefully for fatigued, bent or dented downtubcs, ruined bushings, bent bolts (especially the heart bolt), re-used Nyloc nuts, loose thimbles, frayed or rusted cables, tangs with noncircular holes, and on Rogallos, sails badly torn or torn Joose from their anchor points front and back on the keel and leading edges. If in doubt. many hang gliding businesses will be happy lo give an objective opinion on the condition of equipment you bring them to inspect. Buyers should select equipment that is appropriate for their skill level or rating, New pilots should seek professional instruction from a USHGA-certilicd school.

FOIL COMBAT l 52 - Excellent eastern glider with very little time. Like new condition. $3,200 (615) 949-2301. FORMULA 144-New in stock. We need to sell this glider "bad". Make us an offer. (619) ..\50-9008. FORMULA 154-Full race, metal cloth, halfribs. Also CG I 000 harness w/chute, Maxon 5 watt FM, Performance VZ vario/alt.. Sports 02, helmet. S3,500 takes all. Mark (505) 823-6619. FORMULA l 54 -

Low hours, $2,395 (219) 845-2856

Indiana.

LITE DREAM 165 - Excellent condition, low hours. Sacriftce, need to sell this glider bad. Make offer. (213) 4334443. MAGIC KISS 154 - Good condition. Pink, grey, blue, white. Sl,500/offer, Russ (415) 545-3043. MOYES MISSILE 180 - Good condition. Gold LE, light blue undersurface. Economical first mountain glider. S500 (804) 295- 2585. MOYES XS 155 665-1520.

Low time, clean. $2,000 OBO, (415)

ROGALLOS A PAIR OF - 167 Euro Sports, one full race, both in excellent condition. Your choice $1,650. (615) 949-2301. AXIS 13- Hot pink surfcoat LE. Black, magenta, white sail, 150 hours. Good performance for smaller pilot. $1,000 (303) 440-3579. AXIS 13 - l 988, good shape, sweet tlyer, 75 hours. $1,000 OBO, price negotiable. I can ship! (707) 527-8091. AXIS 13 -Like new, Sl,000 OBO. (707) 965-04! l home, (707) 963- 3455 work, Tammy. AXIS 15 - Excellent condition, early version-easy handling, sail crinkles. S l ,200. Sacramento Hang Gliding. (916) 373-0551. BRAND NEW - 1991 165 Spectrum Plus. Includes 2 extra faired downtubes, safety wheels, pai1s kit, owners manual, W.W. hat, tax and shipping tube-Only $2,900. Save $883.85 The Hang Gliding Connection (916) 241-6974. Cl 165 - Very good condition. Recent airframe inspection new bottom wires, quality sailwork, camera pockets. Gold LE, red tips, spaghetti harness (black). $650 (803) 327-1252. C2 l 85 - Good condition, rainbow double smface. Under 150 hours. $450. Paul Robinson (714) 391-2812.

GARAGE SALE! - BROTHERS FIND GARAGES OVERFLOWING with gliders' Must sell' Two Sensor 5!0C's Sl,!00 each. 152 Foil Combat $2,100.139 Combat $2,600. Chris Arai, (5 !0) 53 l-226 l.

COMET III - New condition, <15 hours, custom colors. $1,800 (714) 674-121 l. COMET 165-Low time, good condition. $400 OBO, (918) 272-90 l O Tulsa. DOVES WANTED - Electra Flyer, Doves A, B or C, wanted by instructor for school use. Any condition. Raven Sky Sports (708) 360-0700. DREAMS 220 - Two for sale, $1,000 or $500. Call Greg De Wolf (9 l 9) 261-6166. DREAM 240 - Custom inlay sail. Low hours, excellent shape.$ l ,900. Assorted harnesses and other used gear, (615) 949-2301. DREAM 240 - Pc1t'ect tandem glider for the larger pilot. $1,500 OBO, Dave (619) 582-4414. DREAMS IN STOCK - All sizes, including !45's. Many other used gliders available. Raven Sky Sports (708) 3600700. DUCK 180 - Good condition, $550 OBO. Litek VE-12 vario $ I 00. (209) 221-7428.

APRIL 1992

MOYES XS 155- "Absolutely Pristine", must sell. $2,850 (303) 728- 3905.

GEMINI 164 - Rainbow colors, excellent beginner/intermediate glider. Just serviced, great shape, with harness & helmet. S775 (818) 896-0924 eves.

MYSTIC 155 VG - Low hours, excellent condition, references. $750 OBO, (619) 270-6867.

HARRIER 147 -$700, good condition, spare tubes. (415) 621-5108.

NEW GLIDERS - Best prices! Pacific Airwave, Wills Wing, Seedwings, Delta. Silver Wings (703) 533-3244.

HARRIER II - Beautiful, clean, crisp sail. Very low hours, Keller pod harness included. $675 OBO (805) 544-8190.

NEW -

HIGH ENERGY COCOON -For6' 165 lb. pilot. Like new, black with rainbow colors and extra pockets (8/9 l HG centerfold). $235 OBO, (708) 623-5298.

Super Sport 153. $2,900 (209) 874-1795 CA.

SENSOR 510 B-C - AU mylar, fast, great sink rate, excellent condition. For a paltry $900. (619) 575-4939. SENSOR C - 75 hours, excellent shape, new wires. Midwest glider, $995. (612) 735-9130.

HIGH ENERGY - pod harness and WW Flylite deluxe cocoon harness. S 125 each, (3 !0) 820-3548.

SENSOR C -All white, airworthy. $450 (714) 492-4389.

HP II-Performance at recession price, $850. Crisp sail, 110 hours, (415) 62l-5108.

SENSOR C - IO hours, orange/white, excellent condition. $1,500 OBO, (312) 286-6678.

HP AT 145-Like new, 20 hours, speed bar. Red-white-blue. $2,750 OBO (619) 438-7804.

SENSOR 510E - Full race, custom features, great condition. Only asking S1,950. (505) 984-9872 eves.

HP AT 158 -

SKYHA WK 168 - Excellent condition, low time, harness included. $1,200 (918) 234-8376.

199 l $ l ,800. (702) 452-5554, call after 6pm

Pacific COMET II +/STRATUS VB - Harness, helmet, vario, chute. All new to excellent condition. Make offer (916) 2445001.

MOYES XS 155-Dealer's, mint, <15 hours$2,995. Raven 229, $575. Condor 178, $375. (406) 549-1010.

time. HP AT 158-Pink, black, green. 36 hours. $2,350 (602) 7910816. HP AT 158 -Flo lime green and red spectrum. Very good condition with extra XC bag-$2,000 OBO. Red Airstream pod harness-$250. Ball 65 l vario with alt/airspeed-$300. (303) 932-2437. HP AT 158 - Excellent condition, clean sail, low hours. $2,500 Rich (303) 939-9348.

SMALL PILOT PACKAGE -135 COMET, vg condition, Flight Designs harness w/parachute, ,·aria & altimeter. $800 OBO, Diane (505) 989- 4663. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA USED GLIDER REFERRAL - BUY-SELL-CONSIGN, ALL MAKES, MODELS. CALL TODAY (619) 450-1894 OR (619) 450-9008. SPORT 150 EURO (209) 431- 9698.

Good condition, a steal at $1,295.

K2 145 -Custom and Double Vision. (503) 479-5823.

SPORT 150 - White with fuchsia. (619) 473-9743 home, (619) 441- 0707 work.

KISS/K2 - 5/90, Kari Castle's 7/91 USHGA Calendar glider. Two world records, excellent condition. $1,700. EUROSPORT 167-good condition, $900. (209) 523-8671.

SPORT AMERICAN 167 - 1987, all white. Personalized signature series. $1,500. Sensor !80B, red & white, $500. Reggie Jones (619) 445-3633.

KISS - 1989 full race, extra undersurface rib, beefed-up trailing edge. $1,500 OBO, Dave (619) 582-4414.

SPORT 167 - Excellent condition, race cloth, 40 hours. White and rainbow. $1,500 (703) 989-1737.

KISS 154- '89, clean. Pink LE, gray, white. Sl,900 OBO (602) 967- 8081, (602) 935-6255 weekends.

SPORT 167 -Good condition, crisp sail. $1,050 (808) 7372058 Honolulu.

LITE DREAM 165 -Excellent condition, low hours $900. Raven 209, good condition $250. Ball 652 vario, good condition S500. Streamline harness, 5' JO" $50. (818) 3478266.

SPORT 167 (USA) - Red, white, blue. Flies nice. $900. High Energy cocoon w/chute $200. (916) 246-5642.

CLASSIFIEDS SPORT AT 180-5 hours $2,100. Sport 167 Euro $1,800. Skyhawk 168 $1,000. All in excellent condition. (509) 3754271, (509) 627- 3624. TANDEM GLIDER/SUPER FLOATER (UP) $795 080, (415) 665- 1520.

269 Condor

TANDEM PARACHUTE - 22 gore $285. Dream 165, $700 080. C3 185, $1,800. (916) 938-2641. TEXAS - Trades, new, used, locator service. Call RRA (512) 467- 2529. UP AXIS- 20 flights, delivered 9/90, 7075 and 2 extra ribs. All extra's, beautiful colors. Lance (801) 222-9707. VISION MK JV 17 -Speed bar $1,700 OBO. Parachute, 20 gore $300. Av Sac harness $300. Alto variometer $300. Tow harness $30. Helmet $30. All equipment 1991-likenew (used I hour). Pkg: $2,400 (305) 666-6645. VISION MK IV 17-Neon yellow, trilam LE, 5 hours, like new. High Energy harness w/chute, Litek vario and helmet. Whole package $3,100. (804) 978-7957 leave message. VISIOK MK IV 17 - <2 hours, with helmet, bag, chute, wheels, rack. Everything new. $1,800 OBO (818) 334-6623. VISION MK IV 17 - Brand new condition, less than 30 minutes TT. Rainbow sail, speedbar. S 1,500 (713) 879-4500. VISION MK IV 19 828-4343.

1989, mint condition. $1,400 (615)

VISION MK IV 19 (619) 265- 1874.

Full race, good condition. $1,250

WANTED OLYMPUS 160 - Must be in mint condition. Will pay top dollar for the right glider. (717) 249-6905. WANTED 180 SPORT AMERICAN City, OR 97814.

PO Box 23, Baker

WW DUCK 160 - $600. DREAM 220-$700. PRO AIR 180-$300. San Diego (619) 569-0870.

COLORADO HANGGLIDJNG (303)278-9566 24 HOURS Region !V's oldest, largest, full time shop. Paragliders (all brands) ............ $1,500-$3,000 Helmets (all brands, styles) . .. $58-$260 Used harnesses . .. .......... $75-$500 Varios (demo's, all brands) ...... $75-$500 Never used chutes (all sizes), each inspected, repacked w/new bridle and bag ............... $265 Equipment I 00% Guaranteed/Major Credit Cards We trade/buy used equipment and gliders. VISION MK lV'S 17, 19 ......... <5 HOURS ...... $2,000EA. VISION ECLIPSE 19 ............. <60 HOURS ..... $ I, 100 LT. MYSTIC 166VG, !77VG <40 HOURS ..... $1,000EA. PRODAWN 155 ....... GOOD SHAPE $1,000 LT. DREAMS 185,205 ........... <60 HOURS ..... $800 EA. HARRIER I l 77 ...... ...... <20 HOURS ..... $800 PROSTAR 166 ........... <40 HOURS ..... $800 VISION ESPIRIT 17 ............ <60 HOURS ..... $700 COMET I, II 165, 185 .. ..... GOOD SHAPE $600 EA. PHOENIX 60 .......... ... GOOD SHAPE $600 LANCER !80. . ....... $450 SEAHA WKS 140, 170 ...... $375 EA. All offers considered. Equipment is I 00% guaranteed, inspected, shipped anywhere. COLORADO HANG GLIDING (303) 278-9566, 24 hrs.

EMERGENCY PARACHUTES ALL BRANDS - Bought, sold, and repacked. Inspection and repack $20.00 - Parachutes, bridles, inspected and replaced. Airtime of San Francisco, 3620 Wawona, San Francisco, CA 94116. (415) SKY- 1177. PARA GLIDERS EXCELLENT BEGINNER PARAGLIDER-Corvette 25, harness, 2 bags, trim tabs, other extras. $1,400 OBO, (415) 665-1520. PARAGLIDING IN PARADlSE - Alpine paragliding in Crested Butte, CO, 24 flying sites. LZ@ 9,000+ MSL I No Wimps!, Videos $32.50, shipping included. Peak Performance Paragliders, P.O. Box 213, Crested Butte, CO 81224, Steve (303) 349-5961, Rusty (303) 349- 6384.

GOLDEN WINGS l 103 Washington Avenue, Golden, CO 80401 TOLL FREE ORDER PHONE 1-800-677-4449 or (303) 278-718 l Mystic 177 VG ... ............ Exe. cond ........ S1,300 .......... Exe. cond ........ S1,800 Vision 19 (used) ... Several Sport 167 ............ $1800 - $2,200 HP AT ...... Demo . ...... $2,800 Many other good used gliders .. $450-$1000

WILLS, UP'S, ETC - $795 +up.Instruction, equipment, southern California and European tours (714) 654-8559. ULTRALIGHTS FD JETWING TRIKE - with Deamon 175 wing. Black with multi-color rainbow, 30 hours TT. 440 Kawasaki engine, 3 blade ultraprop on Heagar cog belt redrive. Includes gauges, trailer and rocket chute. Kept in top flying condition! Sacrifice at $2,600. (410) 771-4621.

OWENS VALLEY SOARING HP AT 145 ......... In Stock ................ Call Sensor510C .......... Full Race ........ $1,650 $1,800 Moyes XS 155 ......... <IOO hours Moyes XS 155 .... ......... <150 hours ... $1,750 Magic IV 155 ...... ........ Full Race .............. $1,200 GTR WB 162 ............................. $950 Z-3 Harness-New.. .......... Many Colors, Sizes $595 18, 20 gore PDA Reserves .... New. . ........ $399 Mt. High 02 Systems ........... $260 and up 2 Meter Radios.. . . .. All Brands ........... Call Call (619) 387-2673.

luSHGA CLASSIFIE;-ADVERTISING ORDER--;ORM-

I 50 cents per word, $5.00 minimum. I Boldface or caps $1.00 per word. (Does not include first few words which are automatically caps.) Special layouts or tabs $25 per I column inch. I (phone numbers-2 words, P.O. Box-1 word) I photos-$25.00 line art logos-$15.00 Deadline-20th of the month, six weeks before the cover date of I the issue in which you want your ad to appear (i.e., June 20 for I the August issue). I Prepayment required unless account established. No cancellations and no refunds will be allowed on any advertising after deadline. Ad I insertions FAXed or made by telephone must be charged to a credit I card. $2.00 credit card charge. I Please enter my classified ad as follows: I I Number of words: I Number of words:

TREASURE VALLEY HANG GLIDJNG Moyes GTR 162 Race Red/white, good shape, flies great .. .... $550 Magic Kiss 154 Hot pink/yellow, fast & handles perfectly ... $1,750 Magic IV 177 Blue/white, very clean ...... $750 OBO Z-4 160 ... American Windright's hottest yet. Turquoise/yellow, VG, safe-edges, clean & perfect..... ...... SI ,500 OBO (208) 376-7914

Number of Months~ Section (please circle) Rogallos Emergency Chutes Parts & Accessories Business & Employment Miscellaneous

SKYWORLD PARAPLANES - Orlando. Solo in a powered parachute after one hour instruction. Sales, service. (407) 351-45 IO. TRIKE & CHUTE - Double surface. S 1,600 080 or trade for vehicle. Also, Soarmaster, 4 hours TT, $200. (509) 6845158.

Towing Wanted Schools and Dealers Ultralights Rigid Wings Publications & Organizations Paragliders

Begin with 19_ _ issue and run for conseculive issue(s). My check 0, money order 0, is enclosed in the amount of $ NAME: ------------------~ ADDRESS:

I I I I I I I I I I I

I I USHGA, P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933 (719) 632-8300 I PHONE:

@ .50 = @ 1.00 =

L--------------------------------------~ 52

HANG GLIDING

CLASSIFIEDS WANTED FLEDGE III E.T. -ANY CONDITION! (310)-156-29-ll. \V ANTED ~ Near new 185 Lt. Dream, cheap. (303 J 2789566.

WANTED OLYMPUS 160 - Must be in mint condition. Will pay top dollar for the right glider. 1717) 249-6905. \VANTED- Oxygen sys1em (on-demand or canula), (310) 820-3548. \V ANTED -Used hang gliding equipment. Gliders, instruments, harnesses and parachules. Airlime of San Francisco, 3620 Wawona, San francisco, CA 94116. (415) SKY-1177.

HANG GLIDER EMPOR!Ulvl-The best training hill in the we5L is in Santa Barbara, a hang gliding VACATION PARADISE. High quality PERSONALIZED instruction focusing on the skills that most affect your SAFETY. Call for vacation info and glider in\'cntory. Tnes.- Fri. I0-5, Sat. l0-4. 613 N. Milpas. Santa Barbara. California 93 I03 (805) 965-3733, THE HANG GLIDING CENTER - Located in beautiful San Diego. USHGA instrucLion, equipment rentals, local flying tours. Spend your winter vacation flying with us. \Ve proudly offer \\'ills \\ling, Pacific Airw~ffe, High Energy. Ball an<l we need your used equipment. -1-206-K Sorrento Valley Bl\'ll., San Diego, CA 92121 (619) 450-9008.

·$

---~~i~~

SCHOOLS & DEALERS ALABAMA

Li\·1FP -

Two hours from Birmingham {sec our ad under

Tennessee.) (-!0-l) 398-3541.

ADVENTURE SPORTS TOURS -

Certified instruction

utilizing the world's firs! man-made training hill plus other sites which all face every wind direction. Dealer for Pacific Airwave, Wills Wing, Ball and High Energy, 1327 E. Bell De Mar Dr., Tempe, AZ 85283 (602) 897-7 I 21. DESERT HANG GLIDERS - USHGA Certified School. Supine specialists. 4319 W. Larkspur, Glendale, AZ 8530-t. (602) 938- 9550. ARKANSAS SA!L Wl>IGS HANG GLIDING - Sales. service. instruction. Pacific Airwave, Enterprise Wings, Moyes, UP. P.O. Box 5593, Little Rock, AR 72215. (501) 227-4920. CALIFORNIA ACTION SOARING CENTER - In Lodi near Stockton. Personalized USHGA certified instruction, sales and service. Emphasis on special skills, techniques, launching & landing. Demo's. Ask about tO\V clinic. t689 Armstrong Road, Lodi, CA 95242 (209) 368-9665. AIRTIME OF SAN FRANCISCO - HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING. Complete, safe & fun, USHGA & APA ce11ified training program. Mountain clinics & ground schools. ALL MAJOR BRANDS. Quality airframe and sewing by faclory trained repair technicians. Parachute services. Large selection of 2nd hand gear (buy & sell). Rentals available. Next to Fort Funston. The only full service shop in San Francisco' 3620 Wawona, San Francisco CA 94116. (415) 759-1177. CHAND ELLE SAN FRANCISCO, INC. -Complete hang gliding and paragliding sales, service and instruction since 1973. N011hern California's most complete repair facility. New and used equipment and demo's, lesson packages, clinics and tandem lessons. 488 Manor Plaza, Pacifica CA 94044, (415) 359-6800. COMPACT WINGS PARAGLIDING - Wills Wings, UP and others. APA & USHGA Class II instrnction. Great flying year-round. Soulhern California and European tours. Located at best paragliding site (SobobaJ. (714) 654-8559

APRJL 1992

COLORADO COLORADO CLOUDBASE - Guided tours, drivers, videos. accessories. (719) 630-7042. PO Box 16934. Colorado Springs CO 80935. COLORADO HANG GLID!NG/PARAGLIDING - 1st USHGA certified school in U.S.A. Region's largest and oldest. Operating full time since !972. (303) 278,9566. EAGLE'S NEST SCHOOL OF HANG GLIDING/ PARAGLIDING - USHGA & APA certified instruction. Sales and service. P.O. Box 25985, Colorado Springs. CO 80936 (719) 594-0-198. GOLDEN WINGS - Sales, ser,ice. USHGA certified instruction. Dealers for Wills Wing, Pac Air. 1103 Washing, ton Avenue, Golden, CO 8040 I. ( 303) 278-718 l.

ROCKET CITY AIRSPORTS~Certified instruction. sales, service. glider rentals. Send S 1.00 for brochure. directions. accommodations. etc. lo: 106 South Side Square, Huntsville AL 35801. (205) 533-6605 or (205) 776-9995. ARIZONA

WlNDSPORTS -LA 's largest since 197-l. Fifteen minutes from LAX. Central to Sylmar. Crestline. Elsinore and training sites. Vacation training, flying and glider sales packages including lodging and rentals. The most popular gliders and equipment, new and used in stock. Tracie in your old equipment. 325 sunny days each year. Come t1y with us! 16145 Victory Blvd., Van Nuys CA 91406. (818) 988, OI JI, fax (818) 988,1862.

HIGH ADVENTURE- Full service facility located on site at Southern California's famous mile high mountains, CresLline. From sand hill to XC lhermal flying, our20tanclcm accelerated !raining program is quick and thorough. Instructor Rob iV1cKenzic. Dozens of new and used gliders for sale or rent. Other services include. weather infonnation, mountain shuttle. towing seminars, XC trips, repairs, ratings (714) 883-8488.

LID ENTERPRISES -Sail and harness repair- Equipment manufacturing - Towing supplies - 5000 Butte #183, Boulder, CO 80301 (303) 440- 3579. PEAK PERFORMANCE PARAGLIDING SCHOOL Paragliding instrnclion/equipmenl sales, videos S32.50, shipping included. PO Box 213, Crested Butte, CO 81224. (303) 349-5961 CONNECTICUT

MISSION SOARING CENTER - Serving the llying com· munity since l 973. Complete lesson program with special attention to quality takeoff and landing skills. All major brands of gliders, parachutes and instruments sold. Sail repair and air frame service available. I I I 6 Wrigley Way, lvlilpitas, CA 95035. (408) 262-1055.

MOUNTAIN WINGS -Look under New York. FLORIDA

PERFORMANCE DESIGN PARAGLIDING SCHOOL - Excalibur, Edel. UP, and many more. APA & t:SHGA certified instructors. \Vorld wide tours, accessories. Call for free catalog. (714) 697-4466. TORREY FLIGHT PARK, INC. - At the launch of the world famous Toney Pines Glider Port, one of San Diego's highlights! Unmatched convenience for pilots and spectators. Refreshments and souvenirs at the Clifflrnnger Cafe. Certified Training program featuring tandem soaring lessons. New. used, rental and demo equipment by Delta Wing and UP. 2800 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037 (619) 452-3202. TRUE FLIGHT CONCEPTS - USHGA Certified Instruc· tion, Sales & Service. Become a better pilot in less time with our small personalized classes & tandem instruction. Our head instructor has over 12 years leaching experience. Only minutes from our local Kagel ?\ lountain flying site. 13185 Gladstone Ave., Sylmar, CA 91342. (818) 367-6050. 1

ULTRAFLIGHT HANG GLIDING - Wills Wing, Scedwings, Moyes, High Energy and more. Servicing Lake McClure area. (209) 874-1795 Waterford, CA.

WE CAN TEACH YOU FASTER AND SAFER, I\HAMI HANG GLIDING, INC. has the most advanced training program known to hang gliding today. USHGA certified school specializing in personalized flight training. Full service shop handhng all makes and models of gliders. For more info call (305) 573-8978. LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK Tennessee. (404) 398- 3541.

See ad under

GEORGIA LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK under Tennessee. (404) 398-3541.

See our ad

SEQUATCHIE VALLEY SOARING SUPPLY our ad under Tennessee

See

IDAHO TREASURE VALLEY HANG GLIDING - Maximize your airtime! Professional service featuring Airwavc, i\r1oyes, UP, See<lwings. Demo's, ratings, tours. (208) 376-7914, 11716 Fairview, Boise. ID 83704.

CLASSIFIEDS ILLINOIS RAVEN SKY SPORTS HANG GLIDING AND PARAGLIDING - Largest and most popular in the Midwest. Traditional curriculum, ridge soaring, mountain clinics, tandem by Brad Kushner. Sales/service/accessories for all major brands. 300 N. Green Bay Rd., Waukegan, IL60085 (708) 360-0700.

FLY HIGH HANG GLIDING, INC. - Serving S. New York, Connecticut, Jersey areas (Ellenville Mtn.). Area's EXCLUSIVE Wills Wing dealer/specialist. Also all other major brands, 8Cccssories, Cc1tified schooliinstmction. Teaching since 1979. Area's most INEXPENSIVE prices/repairs. Excellent secondary instrnction .. .if you've finished a program and wish to continue. Fly the mountain! ATOL towing! Tandem flights! Contact Paul Voight, RD 2, Box 561, Pine Bush, NY 12566, (914) 744-3317.

INDIANA JJ MITCHELL- USHGA certified instructor. PacAir and UP dealer. 6741 Columbia Ave., Hammond, IN 46324 (219) 845-2856 (219) 762- 5365. KENTUCKJANA SOARING ing.

See ad under parts & tow-

LOUISIANA RED RIVER AIRCRAFT -

see ad under Texas.

MICHIGAN GREAT LAKES HANG GLIDING, INC. - USI-!GA certified instructors. Dealers for Moyes gliders, new & used equipment. Located near Warren dunes (616) 465-5859. PRO HANG GLIDERS-Congratulations Dan Dubay and Shane Lesnow on your first ridge soaring flights. Great job guys! Allow me to instruct your lessons. USHGA school since '78. Sales & service, Wills Wing specialist and other brands available. Norm Lesnow, 569 W Annabelle, Hazel Park MI 48030, (313) 399-9433. MINNESOTA SPORT SOARING CENTER/MINNEAPOLIS - Instruction, equipment dealers for Pacific Airwave, UP & Wills Wing. (612) 557-0044.

SUSQUEHANNA FLIGHT PARK - Cooperstown, NY. Certified Instruction, Sales and Service for all major manufacturers. 40 acre park, 5 training hills.jeep rides, bunk house, camping, hot showers, 600' NW ridge. We have the best facilities in N. New York state to teach you how to fly. RD 2, Box 348A, Coopcrstowu, NY 13326, (315) 866- 6l53. THERMAL UP, INC. -Most complete hang gliding shop in area. Located on top of Ellenville Mountain. USHGA Certified Instructor and Observer. Concentrating on hang gliding instrnction with emphasis on launching and landing techniques. Dealer for all major brands. Offering expert sales and service with lowest price in area. Large mail order inventory. Tom Aguero, P.O. Box 347, Cragsmoor, NY 12420. (914) 647-3489. NORTH CAROLINA COROLLA FLIGHT - America's most experienced tandem flight insttuctor, teaches utilizing ATOL and Double Vision. Call or write for infonnation Greg DeWolf, Corolla Flight, PO Box 1021, Kitty Hawk NC 27949. (919) 261-6166 KITTY HA WK KITES, INC. -P.O. Box 1839, Nags Head, NC 27959 (919) 441-4124. Learn to hang glide on Jockey's Ridge, the largest sand dune on the cast coast, just south of where the Wright Brothers' first flight took place. Beginner and advanced lesson packages and camps offered. Advanced tandem tow instruction, 1500 ft. plus up. Dealer for all major brand gliders, complete inventory of new and used gliders, accessories and parts.

NEVADA

PENNSYLVANIA MOUNTAIN TOP RECREATION -Certified instruction, Pittsburgh. (412) 697-4477. C'MON OUT AND PLAY! MOUNTAIN WINGS -

Look under New York.

TENNESSEE HAWK AIRSPORTS - New and improved hang gliding! Attention Novice and beginners! New 360 degree training hill designed and built specifically for you. Conveniently located. Fun! Fun! Fun! Clinch Mtn. -The longest ridge, two launches. The popular light wind indicator Windsok. Bro-

chures available. Your satisfaction is the key to our continued growth and success. Hawk Air Sports, Inc., P.O. Box 9056, Knoxville, TN 37940-0056, (615) 453-1035. LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK - Since 1978, Southeast's largest USHGA-certified mountain flight school. Complete training, from grassy, gently-sloping training hills to soaring high above Lookout Mountain. Our specialty getting you your first mountain flights. Lesson packages, USHGA ratings, glider and mountain bike rentals, camping, local sjtc information. Largest inventory of new and used hang gliders and mountain bikes, harnesses, helmets, instrumcnts, T-shirts. Repair services. We buy used gliders, equipment! Send $1.00 for brochure, rates, directions, accommodations information. Twenty minutes from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Route 2, Box 215-H, Dept. HG, Rising Fawn, GA 30738. (404) 398-3541 or 398-3433 SEQUATCHIE VALLEY SOARINGSUPPLY-Certified, two place flight instruction and first mountain flights arc our specialties. Rentals, storage and ratings available. Dealers for all major brands. Located in the "Hang Gliding Capital of the East". For personal. professional service you can trust, call SYS, RT 2 Box 80, Dunlap, TN 37327. (615) 949-2301 STAY WHERE THE FLIERS STAY - Crystal Air Sport Motel. Private rooms, bunkhouse, jacuzzi, pool. (615) 8212546 Chattanooga, TN.

OHIO ADVENTURE SPORTS - Sierra tours our specialty USHGA & APA certified school and ratings. Dealers for Pacific Airwavc, Wills Wing, UP, Enterprise Wings. Fly the Sierras with a full-service shop. 3650 Research Way, Carson City, NV 89706 (702) 883-7070. NEW JERSEY MOUNTAIN WINGS -

Look under New Yark.

TEXAS MARIO MANZO-SKYWARD ENTERPRISES-Certified instruction, inspection, repair, CG-1000, Dayton and Chillicothe, OH (513) 256- 3888 (wkd. eves.) NORTH COAST HANG GLIDING-Certified Instruction. New & used gliders. Specializing in Pacific Airwave gliders. Mike Del Signore, 1916 W. 75th St., Cleveland, OH. 44102 (216) 631-1144.

NEW MEXICO

OREGON

UP OVER NEW MEXICO - Instruction, sales, service. Sandia Mountain guides. Wills, Seedwings, Pacific Airwave, Delta, Moyes. Albuquerque, NM (505) 821-8544.

AIRTIME OREGON - Certified instrnction. Dealer for PacAir, UP and American Windwright. (503) 998-1220.

NEW YORK AAA MOUNTAIN WINGS HANG GLIDING CENTER AND FLIGHT PARK - Now offering PARAGLIDING instruction and sales. Base of ELLENVILLE MTN. Four exclusive training hills. Area's only dealer for Pacific Airwave, UP, Seedwings and Delta Wing with demos in stock. We are the largest, most complete H.G. accessmy and repair shop of its kind in the country. Many new and used gliders in stock. RIC supplies and kits, Ultra Pod camera systems. VISA and MASTERCARD accepted. Stop in and get your flight pass and gate combo. 150 Canal St., Ellenville, NY 12428 (914) 647-3377. In N.E. l-800-525- 7850.

HIGH TIMES OVER OREGON - USHGA certified tandem instruction. If you've wondered what it's like to fly like a bird, or if you'd like the find out if hang gliding is for you, this is your opportunity. You will fly from famous Woodrat Mountain (2,000' AGL). Explore hang gliding basics with a USHGA ce11ified tandem instructor. Camping available. We have site guides for LAKEVIEW and Southern Oregon. Ask about our white water river trips. Call for brochures. Jeff & Vicki Jernigan (503) 862-2922. SOUTHERN OREGON HANG GLIDING - Certified instruction, ATV retrieval. Pacific Airwave, Wills Wing, UP. (503) 479-5823.

AAA ALTERNATIVE AVIATION OFAUSTlN-We'rc hip, we'reeool and we got no broken bones! (512) 261-7073. AIRTIME! - Red River Aircraft, based in central Texas, service ranges far and wide. Turning students into pilots. USHGA certified instruction, trading new and preowned wjngs and thlngs, towing supplies, fu11 service repair. Ternporarily unhip Jeff Hunt, 48 l l Red River, Austin TX 78751. (512) 467-2529, FAX (512) 467-8260. AUSTIN AIR SPORTS - Still the one in central Texas, quality service since 1978. Instrnction, sales, rental, and a complete airframe & sail repair facility. 1712 Waterston, Austin, TX 78703 (512) 474- 1669. KITE ENTERPRISES - Instruction, sales, repairs, platform towing, Dallas, North Texas area. 211 Ellis, Allen, TX 75002 (214) 996- 7706 daytime, (214) 727-3588 nights and weekends. Dealer Pacific Airwave. UTAH VULTURE GLIDERS - The Frame Shop. All glider inspections/rcpair by FAA cet1ified technician. USHGA certified hang gliding school. Dealer for Pacific Ainvave, Center of Gravity harness. (801) 254- 6141. WASATCH WINGS - USHGA certified hang gliding school, dealers for Wills Wing, Moyes and Pacific Airwave. Flight operations at Point of the Mountain. Call Gordon (801) 277-1042.

HANG GLIDING

CLASSIFIEDS WIND RIDER WIND SPORTS INC. - GET AIRTIME! USHGA certified instruction at superb training site & nearby mountains. Local flying tours, soaring clinics, tandem flights and SAIL REPAIR available. PO Box 17675, SLC, UT 84117. (801) 272-6908. Sail repair: (801) 273-0557.

INSTANT X-COUNTRY DISTANCES - figured using latitude-longitude program. Enter your turnpoints once for repeated use, single keystroke recalculation. Requires Lotus 1-2-3 or Excel 3.0 with mouse. Send SI 0.95, SASE, specify disk. Jim Schwerin, PO Box 1867, Woodland Park CO 80866.

VIRGINIA KITTY HA WK KITES -

See North Carolina.

SILVER WINGS, Inc. Certified instruction and equipment sales. (703) 533-1965. PARTS & ACCESSORIES BALL 652 - Airspeed TE probe, brand new. PARACHUTE, 20g, recently packed, good condition $200. Airstream POD HARNESS, radio pocket, water bag. Goll Racer pod harness, excellent condition $185. Message at (310) 475-6868. BELL SOARING HELMETS - White, blue, red. S132 plus. For nearest dealer. (303) 278-9566. CAN'T TOUCH THIS - Save S mail orders. UVEX full face S260., NEW- MAXON SP2000 15 ch. w/tone $367., VOX S69. HAM RADIOS, YAESU Ff 41 IES319., MOD $30., ICOM 2SAT $319. MOD $40. Dealer for Aircotec Alibi varios, Ball, BRS, High Energy, Sarewhecls, V Mitts, Raymond, Second Chantz. Towrope 1/4" poly $30 per 1000', 3/16" poly $25 per 1000'. Send S.A.S.E. for sale llyer or call Kenluckiana Soaring, 425 Taggart Ave., Clarksville IN 4 7129 (812) 288-71 I I Calls returned collect.

FULLFACEPROTECTION'Strength!Quality'Lightweight Carbon/Kevlar mix! Great visibility! Visor/side padding removable to increase wind sound! D.0.T./Snell approved! Iv[uch greater impact strength than just D.O.T. standard! Does your helmet carry an approved strength rating? Send measurement around the largest part of head. Only $207 (white). Color graphics-add $13. CA orders add .0825 sales tax. PR, AK and HI add S 14. Promotions Unlimited, 8181 Mission Gorge Road, Suite I, San Diego CA 92120-1600. (619) 286- 5604, after 7 p.m. Pacific. GLIDER MARKING INTERNATIONAL - Creates a state-of-the-art advertising medium by applying names and logos on hang gliders, parachutes, paragliders, sails, etc. P.O. Box 451, Glen Cove, NY 11542 (516) 676-7599.

COMPUTERIZED HANG GLIDER'S LOGBOOK Tracks dates, places, time aloft, equipment, wind, etc. plus notepads and calculator! Calculates total time aloft based on your criteria. Report options for printing logbook entries on printer or screen. For IBM and compatible with 512K. High density floppy or hard drive needed to run. Send Sl-t.95 to: Personal Computer Service, 26105 Tall wood Dr., North Olmsted OH 44070. Ohio residents add 7'7c sales tax. Specify 3.5" or 5.25" diskettes.

HIGH PERSPECTIVE WHEELS-REAL LIFE SA V ERS! - 12", light, tough. Fits all gliders. Send $37 + $2.95 shipping per pair to Sport Aviation, PO Box IO I, Mingoville PA I 6856. Ask about our dealer prices.

APRIL 1992

MAXON RADIOS - $349. VHF FM 5 watt crystal, includes 3 USHGA clrnnnels, charger, case, clip, antenna and I year warranty. Maxon I watt, S175. NOHYPOXYGEN III OXYGEN SYSTEM-5 l/4 lb., only S350. ARAMID FULL FACE-Superlite helmet. Excellent vision, yet cold weather protection, S325. Visors $25. Built in headset and/or VOX. $30. XC SMOKE BOMBS-$5. Large signal mirror, S8. Jack the Rippercutaway knife, S 15. Silva compass, SI 00. Pendulum Sports, Inc. 1-800-WE FLY X-C

MINI VARIO - World's smallest, simplest vario! Clips to helmet or chinstrap. 200 hours on batteries, 0-18,000 fl., fast response and 2 year wmTanty. Great for paragliding too. ONLY $169. Mallettec, PO Box 15756, Santa Ana CA, 92705. (714) 250-3100, 1-800-334-3101 Mark Mallett. PARAGLIDING EQUIPMENT FOR SALE - A complete line. of equipment and accessories available. \Vhatever your needs, from Alpine descents to ocean, thermal, and ridge soaring, we have it. Videos, $32.50, shipping included. PEAK PERFORivlANCE PARAGLIDERS INC., P.O. Box 213, Crested Butte, CO, 81224. Tel/Fax (303) 3495961.

EASY TO USE, TOUGH TO ABUSE - Get instant response and the Litek sound. The E model is available from your full service dealer at only $249 (not incl. Ball clamp) or direct at 503-479-6633 (VISA, MC, AMEX). Available in ft/ min or meters/sec dial. Free brochure. LITEK, 4326 Fish Hatchery Road. Grants Pass OR 97527.

Need help writing your ad? Call Jeff (719) 632-8300.

THE FAMOUS "LAMBIE LTD'' - Aerodynamic hang glider helmet, $85 postpaid. Full face version, S 120. State size and three choices of color. 8160 Woodsboro, Anaheim, CA, 92807 (714) 779-1877.

HIGH QUALITY HELMET -at an affordable price. D.O.T. Brushed nylon liner with high strength polycarbonate shell. ONLY S55.00 + $4.00 S/H. Great for schools. GOLDEN WINGS, 1103 Washington Avenue, Golden, CO 80401. (303) 278-7181 or TOLL FREE 1-800-677-4449.

Due to production schedules, we work two months in advance. Please place your ad early to avoid missing a particular issue. 55

CLAlSSIFIEDS I

SKY-TALKER II The Sky-Talker II, 2 meter FM antenna, will boost the transmitted and received signal by 3 times, and will not interfere with your vario. Internally installs in 5 minutes and automatically sets up and breaks down with the glider. This antenna is pre-tuned and ready to go. Send $30 + $3 shipping and handling to Sky-Com Products, PO Box 530268, San Diego CA 92153.

XCR-NEW & IMPROVED - Now includes holster and on/off control valve "toggle switch". Conceivably still the simplest, lightest refillable composite fiber oxygen system on the market. Comes complete, including Oxymizer. XCR 240 (liter) is just $474.95, and the XCR 480 (liter) is $494.95. ($15 S/H). OXYMIZER-Uniquecannula reservoir design

PARA-SWIVEL - Don't leave the ground without one! $84.00 + $4.00 S/H. Dealer inquiries welcome. GOLDEN WINGS, 1103 Washington Avenue, Golden, CO 80401 (303) 278-7181, 1-800-677-4449.

accumulates continuous oxygen flow normally wasted dur-

ing exhalation, saving up to 66% over standard cannula's (in most cases). Works with many other supplemental oxygen systems. Only S 19.95 ($3 S/H). Mountain High Equipment & Supply Co., 516 12th Ave., Salt Lake City, UT 84103. (801) 364- 4171 Major credit cards accepted. Ask about our SportsOxygen systems. SYSTEK II VARIOMETER - Designed for thermal f1ying. Hang glider and paraglider pilots. Perfect for entry level pilots. Adjustable audio set-point, mount included, other options. Affordable$ 185. Systems Technology Inc. PO Box 7203, Knoxville, TN 37921 (615) 531-8045. ULTRAPOD CAMERAS - Infrared remote $179., Thermitts, designed for comfort bar $39. (714) 654-8559. QUICK RELEASECARABINER-$49.95. Extra ball lock pin, $29.00. I 0,000 lbs., dealers welcome, patent pending. Thermal 19431-41 Business Center Drive, Northridge, CA 91324. (818) 70!-7983.

WANTED - Hang gliding instructors, full and part time, must be USHGA certified. Teach on sand dunes. Call Western Hang Gliders (408) 384-2622.

useless snoopers!

Sensors attach at each wingtip, 7 .5 x 3.5 x I inch unit mounts on downtubes. Sensitive to less than 1/20 F change from-40 Fto +100 F. Made from Hi-Quality MIL SPEC components. -LCD display -Dual Battery. Patent Pending!fechnology Licenses Available/Sailplane Version.

FOR SALE - Hang gliding business. Includes retail store, USHGA certified school and workshop all located at Marina State Beach near Monterey, CA. Inventory training equipment, fixtures, tools, office equipment, established dealerships and customer base. This school has been in operation teaching hang gliding for 11 years. The concession contract allows paragliding as well as surfing and windsurfing sales and instmction. Serious and qualified buyers only please. Jim Johns, Western Hang Gliders, Inc., P.O. Box 828, Marina, CA 93933 (408) 384-2622. KIITY HAWK KITES JS HIRING - Certified tandem, basic hang gliding, paragliding instructors. Send resume to John Han-is, Kitty Hawk Kites, PO Box 1839, Nags Head NC 27959.

RADICAL NEW FLIGHT INSTRUMENT TECHNOLOGY! -Thermal Rider-THE ONLY Airborne Thermal Mapping Instrument. HEATSEEKING INSTRUMENT detects Thermals LONG before a Vario will. • Find Thermals before they find (or miss) you. Detect and avoid sinking air. Know what direction to tum to enter an approaching Thermal. Find the true center in drifting or broken Thermals. NEW 3 Sensor Technology not to be confused with

1-Year Warranty Parts and Labor/Satisfaction or your Money Back Guarantee. Introductory Price $220.00 good until July I, 1992. Call Today (301) 474-3095. Computer Doctors, 9204-B Baltimore Blvd., College Park MD 20740.

BUSINESS AND EMPLOYl\lENT OPPORTUNITIES

DON'T GET CAUGHT LANDING DOWNWIND! Perfect that no-step landing by watching our Windsok. Constructed with 1.5 oz. ripstop nylon. UV treated to maintain its brilliant color. 5'4" long with an 11" throat. Available colors are fluorescent pink/yellow or fluorescent pink/white. $39.95 (plus $4.00 shipping/handling) Colorado residents add 3% tax. Send to USHGA Windsok, P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933-8300, FAX (719) 632-6417, PHONE (719) 632-8300. VISA/l'v!C accepted.

WANTED! Pacific Airwave is looking for high energy, professional Dealer,/Instrnctors for their hang gliding and paragliding distribution network. Minimum requirements for eligibility include: ]) USHGA or APA certified instruction. 2) Business license/resale number (where applicable). 3) Business brochure. 4) Yellow pages ad. 5) Minimum 6 Novice or Class I ratings issued in past 12 months. 6) Required minimum invento1y .Dealers exceeding these minimums merit enhanced benefits under our professional incentive program (PIP). If your business is bringing new people into the sport, you deserve factor)' support. If you are an individual considering becoming a full- or part-time sport

professional, we want to help you. Contact Ken for details today! Phone (408) 422-2299 24 hours. PUBLICATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS GLIDER RIDER MAGAZINES $60. (50 I) 663- 3166.

1978-1981, 38 issues,

HANG GLIDING MAGAZINES 1984-92. (415) 665- 1520.

Back issues, 1973-78,

HANG GLIDING

CLASSIFIEDS TLS PLATFORM LAUNCH SYSTEM - $1,800 complete or trade. Raven Sky Sports (708) 360-0700.

MISCELLANEOUS

TOW ROPES - Make the move to quality. Spectra-proven state-of-the- art tow rope. A vailablc with fiber bonding synthetic finish, longer lasting, easy to use hollow braid. Trade in your ultraline' Call David F. Bradley (215) 7231719 or fax (215) 453-1515. TOW ROPE&RELEASES-1/4" poly $30per 1000', 3/16" poly $25 per 1000'. Kcnluckiana Soaring, 425 Taggart Ave., Clarksville. IN 47129, (812) 288-7111 (eves.) HANG GLIDING FOR BEGINNER PILOTS - by Pete Cheney. The Official USHGA Training Manual. Learn to fly with the world's finest hang gliding manual. Complete flying instructions from the training hill to soaring lechniques. Over 260 pages, with more than 160 easy- to- understand illustrations and photos. Guaranteed to satisfy the most inquisitive pilot. NOW AVAILABLE FOR S29.95 (plus $4.00 shipping/handling) Colorado residents add 3% tax. SEND/FAX/ PHONE TO USHGA, P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933-8300, FAX (719) 632-6417, PHONE(7 I 9) 632-8300. VISA/lv!C accepted.

ULTRALINE!N STOCK-3/16" X 3000' delivered $105.00 3/16" X 4000' delivered S 140.00 From the original Ultraline source-Cajun Hang Gliding Club, 110 Kent Circle, Lafayette LA 70508, (318) 981-8372.

This is the one I I

U11u:~aver

By Golden Wings

~~,,

I\n DON'T FORGET YOUR HANG DRIVER - Buy them an I'd Rather Be Hang Gliding license plate frame for their retrieval vehicle, $5.50 for a plastic frame, $6.50 for a metal (zinc) frame. Please add $2 S/H (CO residents acid 3% lax) SEND TO USHGA, P.O. BOX 8300, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, 80933. USHGA LONG SLEEVE T-SHIRT-Our long sleeve tshirts are colorfully screened with a "simplistic" hang gliding design across the chest and down the left sleeve, I 00% cotton! Now in GRAY or WHITE. $18.95 (plus S3 S/H) Please specify color and size (S,M,L,XL) when ordering. Colorado residents add 3% sales tax. SEND TO USHGA. P.O. BOX 8300, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80933.

Tow line recovery System Nothing attached to pilot or bridle. UNLIKE OTHER SYSTEMS, no deployment mechanism is required. Fully self actuating when tow line is released. Reduces wear on line & rewind motor. Reduces turn around time. Two sizes. S125/S 135 incl. shipping. Check or money order. Also available, 3/16" braided Kevaler GOLDLINE towline, $99 per 1,000 feet. Golden Wings, 1103 Washington Ave., Golden CO. 1-800-677-4449 PARAGLIDING -A Pilot's Training Manual. Produced by Wills Wing and written by Mike Meier, in its revised 3rd edition. From an overview of the sport, to equipment, to flying and micrometeorology. Beginner through advanced skills covered, and much, much more. NOW AVAILABLE THROUGH USHGA. Send $19.95 (plus $3 S/H) to USHGA, PO Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933-8300 PARAGLIDE USA - Subscribe Lo North America's most widely read paragliding magazine. 12 issues just $25. Send check or money order to 425 Rider St., Ste. B7, Perris CA 92571 or call (714) 657-2664 or FAX (714) 657-4062 with your credit card information. SOARING -Monthly magazine of The Soaring Society of America, Inc. Covers all aspects of soaring flight. Full membership $45. Info. kit with sample copy $3. SSA, P.O. Box E, Hobbs, Ni'vl 88241. (505) 392-1177.

UV GLIDER PROTECTORS Sail Wings (50 I) 663-3166.

XC bags and full covers.

VIDEOS & FILMS DAREDEVILFLYERSIII-THEPARAGLIDERS-by Tatum Communications. Paraglide with the Wills Wing team & friends, in scenic Telluride, Colorado. Breath-taking footage, flying paragliders in this beautiful selling. Witness Class II maneuvers by the pros. This is a MUST HA VE for any video collection. (-50 min.) Available for $24.95 (plus $3 S/H) through USHGA, PO Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933. Colo. residents add 3% tax. (719) 632-8300, FAX (719) 632-6417. We also proudly cany HAWAIIAN FLYIN' & HANG GLIDING EXTREME.

TOWING ANNOUNCING IN TEXAS - Towing supplies from Red River Aircraft. Bridles, releases, recovery chutes, platfonns and more. (512) 467- 2529, FAX (512) 467-8260. COMPLETE TRUCK TOWING SYSTEM -ATOL winch type, pilot controlled release, automatic pressure regulator, 5000' of line, includes vehicle. Needs minor work, must sellI've moved (system is in Delaware). Best offer over $2,000. (415) 321-7966.

APRIL 1992

Hang Gliding Classifieds FAX line (24 hours) (719) 632-6417

USHGA POSTER! - Full color, 24" X 37" poster of Eric Raymond doing oxygen at 17,000' MSL OYer the Sierra Nevada Range, $7.95 USHGAPoster, (CO Residents add 3% tax) P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933 (719) 6328300. USHGA & WORLD TEAM APPAREL CLEARANCE SALE 20TH ANNIV. T .............. Medium only ........... $9.00 '91 WT SWEATSHIRT ... S, M, XXL only ....... $15.00 '89 WT SWEATSHIRT ... S & XXL only ......... $10.00 WOMENS WT T .............. S, M, L White .......... $9.00 .......................................... S, M, L Blue ............ $9.00 SHORTS (LARGE) .......... Red & Yellow .......... $8.50 SHORTS (XL) .................. Red, Blue, ....... Yellow, Green ......... $8.50 USHGA JACKET ........... Medium Blue .......... $15.00 ............................. ....... Large Yellow ........... $15.00 ·'BARS" T ........................ S, M White ............. $7 .00 ......................................... S,MYellow ........... $7.00 ORIG. LOGO T. .......... Medium Tan ............ $6.00 ...... S, M Blue ................. $6.00 UGLY CAPS .............. Navy, Red, Orange .. $4.00 Act fast-limited quantities. PLEASE BE SURE TO ADD $3 S/H TO YOUR ORDER. USHGA, PO Box 8300, Colorado Springs CO 80933.

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GONE

CLASSIFIEDS LOOK COOL & SUPPORT YOUR NAT'L ORGANIZATION AT THE SAME TIME. BUY USHGA MERCHANDISE! CALL FOR YOUR FREE CATALOG TODAY.

WW Z-2 HARNESS - Navy blue with red/white/blue striped. BRS & hand deployed parachute, Roberts vmio. Taken at Owens Valley (Janies) May 25th, 1991. $100 Reward (714) 677-6065 lcave message

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING RA TES The rate for classified advertising is $.SO per word (or group of characters) and $1.00 per word for bold or all caps. Minimum ad charge, $5.00. A fee of $15.00 is charged for each line art logo and $25.00 for each photo. Please underline words to be in bold print. Special layouts of tabs $25.00 per column inch. AD DEADLINES All ad copy, instructions, changes, additions and cancellations must be received in writing 1 1/2 months preceding the cover date, i.e. October 20 for the December issue. Please make checks payable to USHGA Classified Advertising Dept. HANG GLIDING MAGAZINE, P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933 (719) 632-8300 or FAX (719) 632-6417.

MAXON 6 CHANNEL 5 WATT PROGRAMMABLE FM RADIO-Picked up/stolen from Oceanside, OR on April 6, 1991, 500 P.M. Taken from meet director while meet was in progress! Serial NO. 01009862 $100.00 REWARD - NO QUESTIONS/GAMES. Jas. Asher, OHGA FLT. DIR. (503) 245- 6939 or 828 S.W. Chestnut St, Portland OR 97219.

STOLEN 'WINGS STOLEN - While in Santa Fe, NM over the holidays. WILLS WING 223 PARAGLIDER, serial# 21003. Purple w/gray & pink (canopy only). Gray Wills Wing bag wired stripe. APCO AVIATION HILITE 3 23, serial # 857486. Flour. yellow w/green (canopy only). Yellow & pink Apco bag. APCO AVIATION JETSTREAM HARNESS-NEW, turquoise blue w/flour. yellow storage bags and pink base in turquoise & flour. yellow bag, size medium, serial #433. Free Flight PDA 20 gore chute, #1055B. Brown leather gloves, red UVEX downhill ski helmet, AIRCOTEC Alibi 11 #4425. KELLER INTEGRAL HARNESS, well used. Pink w/lavender, size 150-170, w/18 gore PDA chute. Orange freeflight helmet, gray Calgary 88 gortex gloves, Patagonia jacket-red with blue lining, w/Wills Wing on the back. And other nonHG items. Willi Muller, (403) 932-6760, FAX (403) 9326760. LOST - Blue High Energy Pod, PDA parachute, full-face carbon fiber helmet, at Ed Levin Park, Milpitas CA. Please call Alan Kenny (408) 942-1773. FOUND-A lti-Vario, at Ed Levin during the Silent Airshow. Must identify! (916) 452-0787 work & home. (CA) WW Z-3 HARNESS - SANTA ANA CA Stolen from car in Grand Ave area. Wills Wings Z-3 gray & red cordura harness bag with the follov,-'ing contents Z-3 harness, elcc. blue w/ plain gray side panels, serial # 170; Kenwood TH27 A ham radio (w/broken antenna) serial# 21100746; Litek V -12 vario & Cloudbase 1350 altimeter; white Bell helmet; pink & white 22 gore parachute w/ red bridle and paraswivel, attached to Applied Air Research ELAPS rocket deployment system. Also taken was briefcase containing log books (and other items). Mike Heilman (808) 638-5543. STOLEN -Pac Air Formula. Pink LE. black to pink to gray undersurface. UP cocoon harness, black w/pink stripes. Ball Vario. Scott Meehleib (619) 295-1261. LOST -Battens on June 8th, 1991, near White Cliffs Beach, Plymouth MA. Call Donald Saccone (617) 857-1031 wk. DREAM 220 - Blue LE, wavy rainbow pattern. Front to back red, blue, green, white, red, purple white. Dark green bag. Taken from LZ near San Jacinto College, San Jacinto CA (Soboba flying site) on 8/10/91. Call (800) 734-0622 STOLEN ON 7/19/91 - From a car in Hollywood, CA Knee-hanger harness, green with a ''Finstuwalder label; white parachute mounted in red pocket. Reiner Kaiser, 7848 Manchester #1, Playa Del Rey, CA 90293 (213) 823-7383

FROM DOWNTOWN CHATTANOOGA TN - Febrnary 1991 Brand new magenta spaghetti strap harness and white bike helmet. Call eves. (615) 267-7908 ONE OF A KIND - camouflage A VSAC harness. Second Chantz rocket- deployed chute mounted on left side of harness. Two helmets. One full face with "Cpt. Laytex" painted on the front. One "White Stag" one-piece ski suit. Call Richard (916) 577-3504.

BALLISTIC l 0.6% to 23.4% INONEYEAR! That's over 1,000 new buyers! According to 1,431 USHGA member surveys from late '91, pilots "going ballistic" leaped from l 0.6% to 23.4% since '90.

BRS' popular "Quick Draw" CORDLESS model can be easily installed on many leading harnesses,

$499.

STOLEN WINGS arc listed as a service to USHGA members. Newest entries arc in bold. There is no charge for this service and lost and found wings or equipment may be called in to (719) 632-8300for inclusion in Hang Gliding magazine. Please call to cancel the listing when gliders arc recovered. Periodically, this listing will be purged.

INDEX TO ADVERTISERS Adventure Sports .............................. 24 Adventure Video .............................. 15 AirWorks .......................................... 12 Ball Varios .................................. 34,59 Bradley Co ....................................... 13 Brauniger .......................................... 48 BRS .................................................. 58 Cross Country Magazine .................... 4 East Coast Videos ............................ 45 Hall Bros .......................................... 45 High Energy Sports ............................ 4 Kitty Hawk Kites ........................ 41,49 Lookout Mt. Flight Park ..................... 6 Morningside Hang Gliders ................. 4 Moyes ............................................... 62 Pacific Airwave ............ 48,Back Cover Paragliding Magazine ...................... 59 Robert Reiter Video ......................... 25 Sequatchie Bluff Lots ....................... 24 Sequatchie Valley Soaring ............... 39 Sport Aviation Publications ............. 27 UP International ............................... 43 U.S. Aviation .................................... 44 USHGA .................................... 2,35,49 Wills Wing ........................ 16,17,21,23

THANKS FOR YOUR BUSINESS ! Now,totheother76.6%ofyou ... We can think of many good reasons you should go ballistic today. Here's four of our very best: JEFF WYNS (7 /89) BRS Save #35 GREG ROSSIGNOL (6/90) #40 CARL SHORIT (8/90) #44 BRUCE BOLLES (7 /91) #52 BRS has documented 54 saves thm 12/31 /91

I BRS sells rocket models which

• swiftly (in under 1 sec) deploy your chest-mounted parachute. Ask your harness maker about their "BRS Option" so you can quickly add our CORDLESS rocket.

MAKING FLIGHT SAFER

BR S • 1845-HG Henry Avenue South St. Paul, MN 55075 • USA 612/457-7491 • FAX: 612/457-8651

~-----------~ HANG GLIDING

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lllfllfwlimlllillt'lla(u 1111--....wa ............... +27111 ........... .

• Bllnmelrlc ,.-re (Ilg or hedo pasclll) In ~with~ • I foot or I meter Incremental second altim• eter (relative) • 1000, 1500 fpm or 5 mis analog variometer with peizo audio • Adjustable audio threshold for lift and sink • Adjustable audio volume and choice of sound type (variable or beep) • 5 stage vario damping • RF shielding • Back-up battery system • Mounting system Y1lrio avenger

olcolor

Be lt!/brmed I

B11ck /ss11eg Av111111/l/el 3314 w. 11400 s.

Subscriptions: $24/year U.S. $36 Canada - $44 overseas Back Issues: $5.00 each - all back issues (4) $14 (both include postage)

South Jordan, Utah 84065 Bus 801-254-7455 • Fax 801-254-7701

• Glider Reviews • Competition News • European Unclate •Who's Who • Facts &. Figures f 11/I Color M11111zl111

RATINGS SAFE PILOT AWARDS BRONZE

BOB KOOSER BILLOFFUT ROBERT RICHARDSON DEANE WILLIAMS SILVER BOB LAFAY GEORGE STEBBINS

GOLD KONRADKURP

LILIENTHAL AWARDS BRONZE

AUDREY FISCHER SILVER KLAUS KOCH

SAEGER, DAN: La Mesa, CA; S. Kurth STURTEVANT, EVAN: Camarillo, CA; K. DeRussy/HG Emporium Region 4 PAZOS, FELIPE: Glendale, AZ; B. Holmes/Sky Sails of AZ Region 6 PARKER, JACK: Little Rock, AR; D. Dunning Region 7 AXELSEN, LARRY: Sparta, WI; R. Hauser/WOW NAUDI, DAVID: Hanover Park, IL; B. Kushner/Raven Sky Sports Region 9 OMERZA, CHERYL: Cleveland Heights, OH; M. Del Signore/N Coast HG Region 10 BENITEZ, LUIS: San Juan, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports LYON, ZACH: Raleigh, NC; S. Burns/Austin Airsports OVIEDO, MARIA: Miami, FL; F. Foti/Miami Hang Gliding RODRIGUEZ, MIKE: Santurce, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports ROMERO, JAVIER: Guaynabo, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports Region 11 JONES, TODD: Pasadena, TX; S. Burns/Austin Airsports

BEGINNER RATINGS PILOT: City, State; Instructor/School Region 1 BROWN, KEITH: Kirkland, WA; T. Johns/Cascade Soaring STAFFORD, MARK: Eugene, OR; L. Kellar/Hang Glider Central

Region 12 SLOBODIEN, JACK: Mamaroneck, NY; G. Black/Mountain Wings

NOVICE RA TINGS PILOT: City, State; Instructor/School

Region 2 BORKIN, BRIAN: Anderson, CA; P. Sergent/The HG Connection DEETKEN, BRUCE: Reno, NV; R. Leonard/Adventure Sports DUTTON, BRIAN: Fremont, CA; R. Engorn/Mission Soaring FITZGERALD, PAMELA: Berkeley, CA; R. Patterson/Berkeley HG Club FOOTE, BRIAN: Chico, CA; P. Williams HARADA, KENJI: Santa Clara, CA; R. Engorn/Mission Soaring NADELL, DAVID: Fremont, CA; R. Palmon VASILIK, KENNETH: Scotts Valley, CA; J. Fritsche/Mission Soaring Region 3 DENNIS, DANIEL: Oceanside, CA; D. Skadal/Hang Flight Systems GRAMBERG, KARL: Perris, CA; R. McKenzie/High Adventure HOLMES, MARK: Fountain Valley, CA; D. Skadal/Hang Flight Systems MOOG, GORDON: San Pedro, CA; J. Ryan/Hang Gliding Ctr PETERSON, STEVE: Maryland Heights, MO; J. Ryan/HG Ctr PETROVICK, GARY: San Bernardino, CA; R. McKenzie/High Adventure RUYLE, GARY: San Diego, CA; J. Ryan/The HG Center of San Diego

Region 1 JERNIGAN, VICKI: Murphy, OR; J. Jernigan/High Times over Oregon STAFFORD, MARK: Eugene, OR; L. Kellar/Hang Glider Central Region 2 DEETKEN, BRUCE: Reno, NV; R. Leonard/Adventure Sports LOHN, FREDERICK: Los Gatos, CA; B. Ream/Mission Soaring Center MERCADANTE, JIM: Sylmar, CA; B. Scott/True Flight Concepts Region 3 DENNIS, DANIEL: Oceanside, CA; D. Skadal/Hang Flight Systems GRAMBERG, KARL: Perris, CA; R. McKenzie/High Adventure HOLMES, MARK: Fountain Valley, CA; D. Skadal/Hang Flight Systems MCSWEENEY, SHAN: Los Angeles, CA; B. Scottffme Flight Concepts MOOG, GORDON: San Pedro, CA; J. Ryan/Hang Gliding Center PETERSON, STEVE: Maryland Heights, MO; J. Ryan/HG Ctr PETROVICK, GARY: San Bernardino, CA; R. McKenzie/High Adventure RUYLE, GARY: San Diego, CA; J. Ryan/HG Center of San Diego

HANG GLIDING

RATINGS SARRAILLE, RICHARD: San Clemente, CA; J. Heiney STURTEVANT, EVAN: Camarillo, GA; K. DeRussy/Hang Glider Emporium WEBER, DEAN: Camarillo, CA; K. DeRussy/Hang Glider Emporium Region 4 MILLER, JONATHAN: Golden, CO; M. Windsheimer/Golden Wings SMITH, ORRIN: Tucson, AZ; B. Holmes/Sky Sails of AZ Region S ARCHEY, PHIL: Boise, ID; L. Streib/Slick Rock Flyers Region 9 CUNNINGHAM, JACK: Roanoke, VA; R. Bachman/Blue Ridge HG MYRON, KEAN: Lynchburg, VA; R. Bachman/Blue Ridge HG

Region 9 RICKENBACH, JEFFREY: Horsham, PA; W. Heruy!TmTey Flight Park Region 10 SIMMONS, TIM: Birmingham, AL; D. Murdoch/Alabama HG Assn WORMSLEY, THOMAS: Doraville, GA; C. Thoreson/LookoutMtn.FP Region 11 PAV, MICHAEL: Killeen, TX; S. Burns/Austin Air Sports Region 12 WOLKOFF, DMITRI: Brooklyn, NY; P. Voight/Fly High Hang Gliding

ADV AN CED RA TINGS Region 10 FASCHER, STAN: Atlanta, GA; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mountain FP FRYE, DOUG: Warrior, AL; J. Hooks/Lookout Mountain FP LYON, ZACH: Raleigh, NC; S. Bums/Austin Airspmts MORRIS, DA VE: Nags Head, NC; R. Coxon/Kitty Hawk Kites ROMERO, JAVIER: Guaynabo, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports

Region 1 PATTON, MIKE: Grants Pass, OR; W. Roberts SANDERSON, DALE: Spokane, WA; J. Reynolds/Capital City HG

INTERMEDIATE RATINGS

Region2 BORTON, JOHN: Sunnyvale, CA; J. Johns/Western Hang Gliders

PILOT: City, State; Instructor/School Region 1 JOHNSON, JOEL: Mount Vernon, WA; J. Bowman Region2 CONNOLE, DAN: Brentwood, CA; R. Palmon DOCKTER, ART: Newark, CA; R. Palmon GODWIN, PHILIP: Bayside, CA; P. Sergent/The HG Connection KENNY, ALAN: Milpitas, CA; J. Diffenderfer/Wings ofRogallo KIRKLAND, CRAIG: Fremont, CA; R. Palmon KOEHM, JOHN: Reno, NV; R. Leonard/Adventure Sports LANCE, REBECCA: San Francisco, CA; J. Woodward/Natural Flying

PILOT: City, State; Instructor/School

Region 3 FENISON, JIM: San Diego, CA; W. Henry/Torrey Flight Park Region 4 STUMPE, KEN: Tucson, AZ; T. Barton/So. Arizona HG Assn Region 7 LICATA, JOHN: Chicago, IL; R. Hauser/Wings over Wisconsin Region 9 COMPTON, ROBERT: Gambrills, MD; W. Kautter Region 12 TREVISAN, PAULO: Riverdale, NY; G. Black/Mountain Wings

Region3 FRENCH, LARRY: Honolulu, HI; J. Forburger/ATOL Region 4 BRUDER, KEN: Mesa, AZ; B. Thompson Region 5 BUTZEL, HENRY: Missoula, MT; K. Wolfe l\tIILLER, PETER: Pinedale, WY; M. King/Treasure Valley Hang Gliding ZIMMERMAN, MICHAEL: Missoula, MT; K. Wolfe

MASTER RA TINGS BRADLEY REAM

FOREIGN RA TINGS ADVANCED: RODRIGUEZ, JOSUE: Lima, Peru; J. Tindle/Miami Hang Gliding

Region 7 FISCHER, AUDREY: Chigago, IL; D. Hartowicz

APRIL 1992

THE Tomas Suchanek, the XS King, is the undisputed world champion. His performance with the Moyes XS has been truly outstanding in 1991 and 1992. His achievements are the envy of all: Australian Nationals 1992 1st Flatlands 1992 1st Flatlands 1991 1st Bogong Cup 1992 1st Moyes Delta Gliders Pty Ltd 173 Bronte Rd., Waverley, N.S.W. 2024 Australia Tel: (02) 387 5622 (02) 387 6455 FAX: (02) 387 4472

Moyes California 22021 Covello St., California 91303. Tel: (818) 887 3361 Fax: (818) 702 0612

KING World Championships-Brazil 1991 1st Czech Nationals 1991 1st French Nationals 1991 1st Ever since Tomas started using the Moyes XS he has never looked back, going from strength to strength. 1992 should continue to be another year of XS domination, so don't be a knave, prince or queen ... join the XS King and win, win, win.

~ rnc:,<r-~s

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- - - - - - - - - - -~ -

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ST. PAUL, MINN - Lots of news as another soaring season begins to take shape. Interestingly, even as the mainstream news media microanalyzes the country's recession, the hang gliding industry doesn't seem to be suffering badly. Pockets of sluggishness are countered by areas with early, brisk activity. • Notable perhaps, is Wills Wing's expression of gratitude to its dealers and customers. "We feel very fortunate :::o have such high sales in spite of the current economy," reports their nev1est bulletin to dealers. L1deed! Increasing sales is a long-term thing for the Santa Ana company, illustrated effectively by their use , of market share graphics in their tvw-page ad. In the last year alone, their piece of the U.S. pie is up 16% or 6 points from 37% to 43%. In another importact area, ,. .JV'1·has done very ,,.·._1ell with their Z3 harness, but such products aren't surveyed. • Where is Wi 1 ls f i:-i_ding those extra sales? We' re all pretty sure it isn't the tidal wave of new student buyers. Truth is, those sales have come from every other Yankee manufacturer. After inc:ceasing :narket share , every year since Jean-Michel founded the company, Pacific Airwave slumped 9% (or 2.6 points) according to '90 and '91 figures generated from USHGA's annual survey. Nonetheless, PacAir remains very solidly the #2 A--t1erican builder (at 25%), well ahead of #3 UP (at 10%). Those leaping on the "Buy American" bandv,1agon may take comfort in ',;J'o/J' s success, given their statement, "[\1,.le are] the only wholly U.S. m,med manufacturer," besides ' Seedv1ings. It's true. Other builders PacAir and UP have majority foreign O\',.r_--iers~--iip. Ironically thoug-h, everybody's sail cloth comes from non-American sources. • In spite of remarkable reception to their TRX offering last year, UP slipped slightly ( 6% dm·m) . Hhile the company has e:--ijoyed great publicity, sales still don't match WW or PacAir. • Seedwings plummeted 39% (to 3.3%), and of course Delta Wing dropped sharply (26%) when they ceased manufacture (but see bel0v./) . • Curiously, two gainers are non-American manufacturers. Moyes increased their share by 11% l_to 5.1%, for 4th place) and La Mouette inched upward to 1. 2% of the U.S. market. Enterprise \1,Jings wasn't counted separately though they have shown well at several competitions. • PacAir won't sit still under new management by Ken Drown and Briggs Christie. Tr_ey began the year by collecting the company's top ten dealers in 1

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Salinas. At this meeting they revealed prototypes of their subsequently-named Vision ' Pulse, which replaces the Vision Mk 1-V after many successful years. • Features of the new intermediate offering include a light 52 pound weight, a lower aspect ratio (6) and superior low speed capabilities and handling. "We currently have a 10 meter and 11 meter size. An 8 or 9 meter size is coming soon," reveals prez Brmm. The 10 meter modei has 164 ft: and fits pilots weighing 120-195 pounds. • Neither will UP be sitting still, recently hiring GW Meadows to hea_d UP America, a new U.S. marketing arm of UP Int' 1 (they also have a UP Europe and UP Japan). More on this later. • Next month, ' we'll also tell you more about the reemergence of Delta Wing's Dream under the direction of Kamron Elev ins ( former ovmer /manager I designer of Northwing, a custom glider b.1ilder from \I.Jashington state). And we' 11 give you an update on Danny Howell's Apex rigid wing development. • This month, we' 11 review the Windsong Video Helicopter Hang Gliding at Lake Berryessa. This $29. 95 tape runs about 55 minutes. Opening with an i~teresting graphic effect similar to posterization (if it was print media), the tape is backdropped with original, synthesized music written just for the video. HHG offers a glimpse of 20 pilots pursuing a unique experience: site exploring via chopper. The goal is intriguing, but the tape drags at ' numerous places. The music is pleasant, though ethereal. It doesn't detract; neither does it excite. Some interesting video effects spark the tape, but only spottily. While HHG should satisfy ocher pilots, you probably won't want to show it to that nev.J girlfriend or boyfriend you've been trying- to impress. Though it lacks the slicker production, faster pace, and glorious color wrapper of last month's HG Extreme, most pilots will find the Helicopter Hang Gli_cling worth viewing. Next month, we' 11 look at Pork's Torrey Pilots tape. • As you read t~is, you've only a few days to call in sick, pack your gear, and head to the annual East Coast Championships at Henson Gap in Tennessee (April 11-18). The event has not only become the season-opener contest, it draws widely, offers many CPS points, and occurs during a beautiful time of year in Chattanooga. Call Rick Jacob at Sequatchie Valley Soaring at 615/ 949-2301 for info.• Room's gone. So, got news or opinions? Send 'em to: 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Or call/fax: 612/450-0930. THANKS! 1

Since the early 80's, the Vision series has put performance in the hands of pilots of all skill levels and continues to improve and evolve.

THE BEST SERVICE IN THE WORLD

Sure that's a lx>ld claim, but at Pacific Airwave we've made it a way of life to be the leaders in service and the rest of the industry is struggling to catch up. No other manufacturer can offer you: • One-day parts service on all models. • The hang gliding industry's only one-year warranty.

Pacific AJRWAVE P.O. BOX 4384 SALINAS. CA 93912

• Pacific Airwave's Technician Training Program, where authorized Service Centers are encouraged to send their staff to our Salinas factory for intensive hands-on training in glider inspection, construction and repair. • ...and the latest effort in service, the Worldwide Service System The new K3 is being produced at lx>th Airwave factories (US and UK) to the same specifications, allowing any Airwave customer to buy any K3 part from any Airwave dealer anywhere. Our goal: to offer this unique service for every new design from the Airwave team. Imagine buying your glider in California and being able to buy a leading edge in Austria... Pacific Airwave, the best gliders in the air, the best service on the ground. Contact your authorized Pacific Airwave dealer today.

PHONE (408) 422-2299

FAX (408) 758-3270