Dan Johnson, Author at ByDanJohnson.com

Product Lines – November 1998

By Dan Johnson || February 28, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

ST. PAUL, MINN. -- Following on bits left over from October's "Product Lines"... ••• In the land of hurricanes and tropical storms, we find the East Coast's Turbulent Talent Triangle... I'm referring to the movement of talent, to headhunting (yes, within our little sport!) and to new relationships among leading east coast centers of hang gliding activity. But let's set the record straight. The east may not have the mountain peaks or the sky-high reputation of the west coast but more students are trained in the east than anywhere in America. Look at the list published every month. Nine months into '98, three schools accounted for 45% of all Hang Is issues and 35% of all Hang IIs issues (LMFP has 28% and 24% by themselves). From these flight factories come people with experience and that's the point here. • David Glover, until recently manager of Wallaby Ranch is now at Lookout Mountain Flight Park. In doing so he completes a tour that included Kitty Hawk Kites and Wallaby Ranch, the Big Three of flight schools. In fact, many "trainees" came out of Kitty Hawk's University of Hang Gliding Management & Marketing. Longtime LMFP owner Matt Taber himself apprenticed in the Outer Banks. • In turn Wallaby gave another bunch their jump-off, the group everyone now knows as Quest. So Wallaby's success has spawned managers for two other sites as Kitty Hawk has probably done for more than a dozen schools. Kitty Hawk even had a west coast influence with the operation in Monterey, California. • But most of this torrid moving around occurred in the east. You could wonder if this has any connection to airparks. Certainly, hang gliding is steadily moving toward being able to provide training at more sites. This brings new students to spend money and create jobs which need management and marketing. Private sites allow commercial developments needed to add students and jobs. More of those seem to exist in the east. ••• For example, this summer I heard from the Rocket City Airsports bunch who told me they've "been enjoying our Moyes-Bailey Aerotug and the super skills of Aerotug pilot Mark Cizek since last October ('97)." They fly every weekend from the LZ at the foot of Keel Mountain, a site which saw Alabama's first 100-mile XC last year. Foot launching is also available as are tandem lessons from experienced instructors. Local operator Rocket City Airsports is about two hours west of Henson Gap and Lookout Mountain, near the space-business capital of Huntsville. The business owns the Keel Mountain site and recently, "purchased eight more acres adjacent to the launch area and are building a better access, parking, storage, and plans for a new shop at Rudy's Ridge." Training director Jeff Cole uses Falcons, has a great safety record they report, plus RAS offers a full line shop and, doggone it, they're (rightfully) proud of it all but add, "Sometimes we feel that we are the best kept secret in hang gliding." You can eMail them at robtepat@ro.com (Robert Patterson). ••• Speaking of unsung heroes, Bill Genteman and Arlan Birkett have been serving the sport as Aero Wing in the Illinois/Wisconsin part of the country. I spoke to both these fellows at the giant airshow in Oshkosh last summer. Bill says he's the owner of prototype Kolb tub (demonstrated for the crowds at the show BTW) and Arlan is Bill's partner. Heartland individuals like these two show a quiet revolution is going on in hang gliding, a slow move toward towing (though mountains still dominate launches... we think). Midwest pilots can get information at 414-659-8594 (Bill) or 815-495-2821 (Arlan). ••• Here's the Something Different Dep't: If Amazon.com doesn't have "Harry and the Hang Glider," they ought to... this is a dandy book for kids. I'm not sure of the age target as the book actually delves into introductory terms and techniques quite deeply, but it is beautifully done. Using 38 all-color pages, "Harry & the HG" is lavishly illustrated in detailed cartoon drawings by D. D. Mullins and typeset text. The book tells a story about a cottontail who finds a hang glider that has fallen off a hang glider pilot's truck. The happy owner -- a hang glider school it turns out -- is glad for the rabbit's honesty in reporting the loss. Skyhigh Hang Gliding offers lessons which the delighted hare eagerly accepts. Harry goes through intensive (always proper) training and finally flies while his little bird friend Ollie watches. It's, well... cute, and you know what, kids might go for it. Better yet, bookstores might. Need a $25 kid's gift anytime soon? Call writer and publisher Randy Kerchill at 520-628-8165 or eMail at skyhipub@flash.net ••• In the Way-Different Dep't is the not-for-sale "Selected Works of Bob Rouse,1982-1997." Not sure what I had in my hands at first, I became more and more amazed at the scope of what I was viewing. This 90-page book is literally a work of 15 years that starts with Bob's early store-bought gliders, a Leaf Talon and a Phoenix Mariah. That's when he began his own tinkering, joining parts of a Seagull IV with the Talon and the Phoenix to make an original glider. "Weird but dull," you say? Unusual maybe, but "Selected Works..." proved to be quite entertaining as I moved through the years with Bob. His artist's studies -- work leading to the actual art -- showed fascinating development over the years. • Again you ask, "Is this just a hobby?" I'll let Bob answer his way: "I design, build, and test fly original concepts in Hang Gliding -- as an artform (his emphasis). I have a working studio in an artist colony called 'Mother Dog' in the old warehouse district of downtown Houston. I complete one glider per year and show it during the annual 'Art Crawl' -- when the entire art-warehouse district opens simultaneously." A formerly active pilot, he says "all this fell away as I became more focused on my creative work." • As I got deeply into Rouse's "art," I realized just how much energy he was spending on this. "Crazy!" you say? Maybe not. Listen to Bob's story further: "At least one individual is investigating concepts that are non-rogallo and non-paraglider. And even though all my designwork comes from my personal bias and whimsy, it is still possible that I might stumble across something that is practical, or that contains elements/ideas of use to other designers. • By the most recent years Bob's work has taken on some genuine birdlike appearances, elaborate constructions of immense detail every one of which Bob actually flies! Yet these unusual wings can sometimes also pack down to very small lengths. Too bad you may never see this compilation of art and artistic labor; Bob Rouse's work deserves mention. ••• Well, couldn't get to all the news. Next month, we'll talk about some Mexico tours that are booking up already. Until then, for those that know they like these flying escapades, try Jeff Hunt's Flymexico at 800-861-7198. ••• Got news or opinions? Send 'em to 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Vmail or fax to (new area code/same number) 651-450-0930 or eMail to CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS!

Published in Hang Gliding Magazine

ST. PAUL, MINN. — Following on bits left over from October’s "Product Lines"… ••• In the land of hurricanes and tropical storms, we find the East Coast’s Turbulent Talent Triangle… I’m referring to the movement of talent, to headhunting (yes, within our little sport!) and to new relationships among leading east coast centers of hang gliding activity. But let’s set the record straight. The east may not have the mountain peaks or the sky-high reputation of the west coast but more students are trained in the east than anywhere in America. Look at the list published every month. Nine months into ’98, three schools accounted for 45% of all Hang Is issues and 35% of all Hang IIs issues (LMFP has 28% and 24% by themselves). From these flight factories come people with experience and that’s the point here. • David Glover, until recently manager of Wallaby Ranch is now at Lookout Mountain Flight Park.

Product Lines – October 1998

By Dan Johnson || February 28, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

ST. PAUL, MINN. -- I very rarely refer to something already Published in Hang Gliding MagazineHG mag, but this time I feel driven to make an exception. The subject is accidents, a topic eruditely addressed (as always) by Mike Meier in the September issue. ••• Before getting to his essay, I first read what I viewed to be a disturbing set of statistics: 10.1% of respondees to USHGA's survey (of 1,169 members) reported an injury accident. Two thirds of these among hang glider pilots and more than half the time medical or professional treatment was needed; one sixth required overnight hospitalization. Good heavens! Odds of one in twenty needing a doctor in the next year are not encouraging. Over half appear to be at launch or landing. ••• Combine those sobering facts with Meier's compelling message about pilot decision making as the primary determinant of safety. We'll need to work hard if we are to alter the scenario. And, paragliding may be worse! ••• In the July 1998 issue of their combined magazine, Skywings, the British HG/PG association (BHPA) published their own accident investigation. Their overall figures were much less at 2.2% of members injured, however, that broke down further to only 1.6% for their 2,188 Hang members. Balancing the scale was a significant 4.5% of their 4,276 Para members. As disturbing as the American figures was a high degree of moderate or major injury resulting for 69% of Hang pilot injuries and 58% of Para injuries. ••• Look, very few people like to read this type of information, but when the stats are this glaring, they need consideration... PLEASE fly safely! ••• Turning to cheerier news but drawing from the same USHGA survey, you could read for yourself the mix of glider brand market share enjoyed by various manufacturers. The numbers are self-explanatory, but I think I might add a little perspective that mere recitation of the facts won't bring. Market leader Wills Wing has been on an upward track, gradually but steadily taking an ever-increasing share of the American market. The new survey showed them at a 1990s high of about 47%, no surprise to anyone, right? Maybe... but I say it's got to be higher, maybe a lot higher. Pacific Airwave is long gone, yet they claimed 25%!? That can't last and next year or the year beyond, WW will be branded on 60% or more of all gliders sold in America, I'd guess. • Another sleeper is the consistent growth of Moyes, now up to over 12% of the U.S. market. Certainly, new Moyes America director Ken Brown deserves some of the credit for this, but the pattern has been long forming. They've grown steadily since I started following closely in the early 90s when they had a modest 3% of the market. • Seedwings remained small but steady at 3% of the U.S. output. Exxtacy, Millennium, or other rigid wings didn't show up on the radar at all, nor did Predator, Laminar, Extreme, or Topless, further showing how these statistics lag behind current events. ••• In fact, rigid wing expert Dave Sharp (who claims he's really a mild mannered family man, not a "hot shot") compiled a few stats of his own. He states, "With the exception of the Nationals, the [D-cell rigid wing] Hybrids have won every major meet this summer." He lists the ACC and Millennium, Sandia and Exxtacy, the U.S. Nats title and an Exxtacy, Region 2 Regionals and a Millennium, the Chelan XC meet and an Exxtacy, plus the Wild West and a Millennium. I don't know the validity of the survey and I'd say it doesn't matter much. This new wave of wings is more pervasive than anything in years. Even topless flex wings don't look quite as new in their shadow. • Since Dave also referred to the wave of rigid wings as "Stiffys," I guess it shows we still don't know what we want to call these aircraft. "Rigid wings" doesn't sound as accurate as we once thought. Oh well, such heavy issues are better decided over beers or sodas in the LZ. ••• But all this is hang gliding. The other world we inhabit is paragliding. And that carries us to yet another survey. The "combined issue" of Hang Gliding in July had a survey form in the centerfold. As of late August, nearly 700 had arrived with a reported 8-10 more included in every day's mail. • Did you like it? The early answer: 15 said they were NOT satisfied, but 406 (64%) stated they were "highly or medium highly satisfied." The bigger question is, "Do you think it is time to combine our flying activities into one magazine?" Out of 655 responses, 17 didn't answer, 454 "voted" to combine, 183 "voted" not to combine. That breaks down to 71% FOR and 29% AGAINST the idea (discounting "No Answer" replies). Voters included 62% Hang pilots, 26% Para pilots, and 12% Both pilots. • Executive Director Phil Bachman, in okaying the early release of figures said, "Be sure to point out that this input is only one of the several factors that must be brought into the equation before the Board of Directors can make a decision to combine or not combine." He cited examples of cost analysis, advertiser's schedule and related cost effects, subscription revenues, and other details. • Obviously, it's too early to tell much, but the topic is less contentious than I thought it might be. Cheers to tolerance! ••• Stories ahead include more towparks, a book review, Mexican wintertime flying, and the East Coast "Turbulent Talent Triangle." ••• So, got news or opinions? Send 'em to: 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Vmail or fax to (new area code!) 651-450-0930 or eMail to CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS!

Published in Hang Gliding Magazine

ST. PAUL, MINN. — I very rarely refer to something already Published in Hang Gliding MagazineHG mag, but this time I feel driven to make an exception. The subject is accidents, a topic eruditely addressed (as always) by Mike Meier in the September issue. ••• Before getting to his essay, I first read what I viewed to be a disturbing set of statistics: 10.1% of respondees to USHGA’s survey (of 1,169 members) reported an injury accident. Two thirds of these among hang glider pilots and more than half the time medical or professional treatment was needed; one sixth required overnight hospitalization. Good heavens! Odds of one in twenty needing a doctor in the next year are not encouraging. Over half appear to be at launch or landing. ••• Combine those sobering facts with Meier’s compelling message about pilot decision making as the primary determinant of safety. We’ll need to work hard if we are to alter the scenario.

Product Lines – September 1998

By Dan Johnson || February 28, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

ST. PAUL, MINN. -- Response to the mention of Mondial De L'Air (the French light aviation airshow) was surprisingly strong. Though I believed Americans were only mildly interested in international hang gliding news, evidently some readers perceive that European innovations are worth following more closely. Examples of recent impactful developments include topless gliders and D-cell rigid wings... both ideas sailed across the Atlantic to significantly affect the wings we buy and fly here at home. Fascinating. • Anyway, let me provide an address to write for info (several of you asked). Contact: Edition Retine (the same as the publishing office of Vol Libre), 3 rue Ampere, 94200 Ivry-sur-Seine, FRANCE. Call: 011-33-1-46-72-74-60 or fax to 011-33-1-46-58-97-52. Though a 1999 event appears certain, no date has been announced to my knowledge. ••• John Heiney's new Altair company is about to offer their new Saturn hang glider, proving this isn't a one-glider company. Every now and then a new glider comes along, but failing to acquire enough market mass, it disappears without a follow-on design ever emerging. Altair appears to have passed this point. • However, while we await more news on the Saturn, Heiney is justifiably proud of achievements by his kingposted Predator in a competition world of topless gliders. John writes, "Paris Williams -- who travels for us on the demo circuit -- flew his first season of competition this year, and so far he has finished ninth overall at the Sandia Classic and ninth overall at the Nats. Of course the foreign pilots whipped up on the Yanks again, but Paris finished third among the Americans." Understandably impressed with Williams, Heiney added, "And this on a stock, kingpost glider (Predator, of course). With the tragic loss of Brad plus the retirement of Lee and Howe, Paris could be one of the new world team boys. The thing about Paris that impresses me is his consistency. He finished right around ninth every day of the Nats. He really enjoys competition and wants to make the world team." ••• Davis Straub and his "Oz Report" kept wired pilots informed of meet results out in Washington state (a familiar stomping ground for Straub). The Chelan XC Classic attracted almost as many pilots as big national contests, known as it is for excellent over-the-desert cross country potential. • The unofficial results according to Davis show an impressive performance by the Exxtacy -- and odds are this isn't just because Exxtacy is what Straub flies these days. Both top spots were filled with Exxtacy gliders, in the hands of Scott Rutledge in first place and Dave Sharp in second. Wayne Leuth took third in a SX. The first ten places included a total of four Exxtacys, two Fusions, and one each of the SX, a CSX, a Klassic, and a Ram Air. • Though kingpost and topless had more equal numbers than the Atlantic Coast Championships or the Nationals, the continued success of the Exxtacy may foretell the future of competition gliders. No question -- certainly when you add the Brightstar Millennium -- D-cell rigid wings are enjoying their time in the limelight (although we've seen no proof they'll knock off topless or even the better kingpost gliders). • Straub himself ended up in sixth place. Thanks for the news, Davis! ••• Also out west, the 1998 King Mountain Meet drew well, counting 38 pilots with a score at the end. More notably than at the big national meets with top-ranked pilots, the King Mountain event seemed to deliver fun in a contest environment. Anyone who supports competition agrees that such regional meets are important to develop top pilots for world meets. • Letters via eMail give lots of credit to explain the enjoyable experience many had. "Lisa Tate did an excellent job as meet Director and kept it safe and fun," wrote Kevin Frost. Agreeing that it was a well-run meet, Randy Chaffin added, "Lisa Tate... deserve[s] all the credit in my book." • The winner was Heiner "Pete" Biesel, followed by Al Whitesel and Ken Muscio in third. • Among product observations in the contest (a hallmark of "Product Lines" reporting), Frost expressed, "I didn't notice the topless gliders really doing much better than the blade wings... but the Exxtacy clearly was a superior wing." ••• To finish, we return to the Mondial story from July's column. You may recall I wrote excitedly about a French D-cell glider called the Ixbo. Since that story broke, Moyes America honcho, Ken Brown, faxed to say that his organization has secured the distributorship to Tecma's Ixbo. He expected to have two on hand as you read this, and will sell them at $9,495. To see more on this high performance wing on the Internet, use http://members.aol.com/tecmasport. Call 415-753-9534 or eMail: FlyaMoyes@aol.com. • Moyes America also felt required to note that the replacement Moyes sails available from Airfoil Sales of Australia (mentioned in July 1998 edition of this column), "are not in any way similar to an authentic Moyes Delta Gliders Replacement sail." The U.S. Moyes distributor detailed their comments saying that Airfoil Sales patterns, "are over five years old and do not include factory specified updates." Airfoil surely thinks their sales will work fine and that the customer should choose. Moyes agrees adding, "Buyer beware." • Moyes America is proud to announce that six more Dragonfly tugs are up and running since it took over Moyes distribution in the USA. A great plane and improved support, "are encouraging flight parks to utilize the Dragonfly as the primary tool of the trade," boasts Brown. ••• Outta room again. So, got news or opinions? Send 'em to 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Call (new area code!) 651-450-0930, or eMail: CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS!

Published in Hang Gliding Magazine

ST. PAUL, MINN. — Response to the mention of Mondial De L’Air (the French light aviation airshow) was surprisingly strong. Though I believed Americans were only mildly interested in international hang gliding news, evidently some readers perceive that European innovations are worth following more closely. Examples of recent impactful developments include topless gliders and D-cell rigid wings… both ideas sailed across the Atlantic to significantly affect the wings we buy and fly here at home. Fascinating. • Anyway, let me provide an address to write for info (several of you asked). Contact: Edition Retine (the same as the publishing office of Vol Libre), 3 rue Ampere, 94200 Ivry-sur-Seine, FRANCE. Call: 011-33-1-46-72-74-60 or fax to 011-33-1-46-58-97-52. Though a 1999 event appears certain, no date has been announced to my knowledge. ••• John Heiney’s new Altair company is about to offer their new Saturn hang glider, proving this isn’t a one-glider company. Every now and then a new glider comes along, but failing to acquire enough market mass, it disappears without a follow-on design ever emerging.

Product Lines – August 1998

By Dan Johnson || February 28, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

ST. PAUL, MINN. -- Long recognized as the premier hang gliding contest of the year, the 1998 Nationals are over and we have a winner. Well, in a sense, "we" don't because the two top placing pilots in flex-wings (Class I) are not Americans. Congratulations to one of the world's winningest pilots, Manfred Ruhmer, flying his Icaro Laminar ST. In second place was a Ukrainian not well known to U.S. pilots. Oleg Bondarchuk flew his Aeros Stealth KPL past the first Class I American, Chris Arai, in his Wills Wing Fusion. All three pilots deserve a virtual round of applause. As with other contest reports, I'll leave the main story to a follow-up article, but in this edition of "Product Lines" we'll look at the gliders that made up the field. ••• Certainly the U.S. Nationals bore more than a passing resemblance to the Atlantic Coast Championships last April (both directed by USHGA president GW Meadows, by the way). Among flex-wing models entered, the first eight placing gliders and 21 of 22 of the top-finishing hang gliders were topless types. Logging a respectable performance were two kingposted Altair Predators in positions 9 and 23. Like their prices or not, topless gliders are apparently here to stay -- at least in the rarefied world of competition flying. ••• Unlike the ACC, new rigid wings did not make up a substantial portion of the field. That did not prevent these new D-cell constructed machines from doing well, though. When you mix Class I and Class II results (meaning they are not the official results), the smaller showing of rigid wings did very well. • Exxtacy put three of the four entered among the top 15 finishing pilots with Utah hot shot Dave Sharp coming in second overall. Veteran pilot Jim Zeiset came in fourth place in his Exxtacy and Davis Straub took the #15 spot. • With only two entered -- and one removed from competition early on -- John Borton (aka "JB") took fifth place in his Millennium. JB is the western distributor for Brightstar's new rigid and he must be enjoying another respectable performance for the new wing (one placed first at the ACC). As it turns out Brian Porter, flying the prototype Millennium, was forced to deploy his parachute when a tip/rudder connection failed in flight. Reportedly, he had not noticed prior damage in this area stemming from a launch crunch the previous weekend. All is well with Brian, but this left only JB flying the new wing in the Nationals. ••• Laminar was the winner not only by securing first place but by having the highest number of aircraft in the meet: 13 gliders or 21% of models listed in the final standings. Of these 13 gliders, 3 of them or 23%, ended up in the top 15 places. • Also with 3 in the top 15 were Exxtacy (75% of those entered), and Moyes' CSX (43% of those entered). Two of six Fusions also fit into the top 15 but the balance of the top-finishing gliders were different: one each of Stealth, Millennium, Predator, and Xtreme. ••• Looking at all gliders entered according the final results list were: Laminar at 21% of the field, the CSX and Stealth at 11%, Fusion at 10% and Exxtacy at 6%. The preceding accounts for all models with at least four examples represented. • In the next "tier" were three each of the Predator and Klassic, and two each of the Millennium, La Mouette Topless, TR3, K5, and Moyes SX. • A series of single examples made up the remaining eight gliders entered. The final contest results listed a total of 62 participants. • The Dinosaur Nationals were decided based on six rounds of tasks ranging from 78 to 158 kilometers (49-99 miles). ••• Wills Wing announced that they've released their 135 Ultra Sport with certification expected by the time you read this. The new model joins the 147 and 166 Ultra Sports in WW's "high performance intermediate" glider line. It sells for $3,975 suggested retail. This new 135 model is rated for pilots weighing between 120 and 145, effectively covering most women pilots and lighter males although Wills says it will be certified for pilots up to 210 pounds. The company reports that it has "pleasant, easy, well coordinated handling characteristics, a great climb rate, and an extended VG range for maximizing cross country glide." ••• In related announcements to their dealers, Wills indicated engineers are working on a smaller 141 Fusion. They are now flying the second prototype reporting that "the results have been very encouraging." WW also fielded questions about a rigid wing in their future. After a number of dealers and customers asked them about one they state that at present, "We have no such plans. However, if it turns out that this type of wing is what a large percentage of hang gliders pilots want, we will seriously consider such a project." For the present, WW feels that "it's not clear that enough pilots are willing to pay the substantially higher price, and put up with the substantial increase in weight and transportation difficulty to make it economically feasible for us to develop and market this type of wing." ••• Wrapping up, Airwave USA is boasting the competition successes of their Xtreme 150 topless glider. Designed by Mark "Gibbo" Gibson at Lookout Mountain Flight Park, the new glider is credited with a win at the ACC and the 1998 British Open. ACC flex-wing winner Mike Barber also came in tenth at the Nationals flying the only one entered. • Gibbo reported that Airwave (UK) went through a reorganization and is now guided by Toby Parker. They feel good about their future with the Xtreme doing well and with a World Championship paraglider in their line. In a modern evolution, R&D is no longer done at the factory what with Bruce Goldsmith working on paragliders in the south of France and Gibbo doing his development in the USA. Gibson reports that work is proceeding on a 138 Xtreme to join the already-certified 150 model. • Departing from the K4, Klassic, and Concept, the Xtreme uses a "very high aspect, nearly 100% double surface wing with ultra state-of-the-art components." Gibbo adds, "This glider shares nothing from our past machines." Thanks to lightened parts, he says the 150 Xtreme weighs only 73 pounds and has "great static balance." In addition the Xtreme boasts an easy-to-pull VG system ("only one pull required for full VG"). The glider, developed behind a tug, is said to tow well and claims a very wide flare window. Delivery is 4-6 weeks with standard colors and every glider is flown by Gibbo "to assure customer satisfaction." Info: phone 706-398-9545 or eMail to gibbogear1@aol.com. ••• That's it! So, got news or opinions? Send 'em to 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Fax or Vmail to 612-450-0930 or use CumulusMan@aol.com for eMail. THANKS!

Published in Hang Gliding Magazine

ST. PAUL, MINN. — Long recognized as the premier hang gliding contest of the year, the 1998 Nationals are over and we have a winner. Well, in a sense, "we" don’t because the two top placing pilots in flex-wings (Class I) are not Americans. Congratulations to one of the world’s winningest pilots, Manfred Ruhmer, flying his Icaro Laminar ST. In second place was a Ukrainian not well known to U.S. pilots. Oleg Bondarchuk flew his Aeros Stealth KPL past the first Class I American, Chris Arai, in his Wills Wing Fusion. All three pilots deserve a virtual round of applause. As with other contest reports, I’ll leave the main story to a follow-up article, but in this edition of "Product Lines" we’ll look at the gliders that made up the field. ••• Certainly the U.S. Nationals bore more than a passing resemblance to the Atlantic Coast Championships last April (both directed by USHGA president GW Meadows, by the way).

Product Lines – July 1998

By Dan Johnson || February 28, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

Tallard, FRANCE -- Across the big drink this month for an airshow lending some international flavor to "Product Lines." ••• Perhaps the most fascinating thing I observed was the proliferation of D-cell wings. The question in my mind is no longer IF D-cell wings will proliferate, but perhaps instead, "Will flex wings survive?" In truth, I don't see the end of our popular, lightweight, easily folded, easily foot-launched and -landed wings. But I'm less sure of this forecast than I once was. ••• I saw a slightly different version of the Exxtasy called the Revolution (aimed at powered trikes) and two new free flight entries from other manufacturers. • One D-cell wing was from Icaro 2000, builder of the Laminar ST topless flex wing. The other was the Ixbo from Tecma, a French company that few Americans know. La Mouette did not show their Top Secret model. • Icaro's Lumina is nearly identical to the Exxtasy but uses ailerons versus spoilerons and hooks the pilot's harness to the controls (versus Exxtasy's control bar linkup). This allows a side-wired control bar that feels tighter on the ground. • Tecma produces a line of flex wings in France. However, their take on the Exxtasy wave has features that may give it different appeal (meanwhile Exxtasy producer Flight Designs is enjoying great popularity with a reported 400 units delivered in less than two years). Editor Noël Bertrand of France's Vol Libre hang gliding magazine indicated that Tecma's Ixbo has completed vehicle testing and has logged several hours in field testing perhaps showing the Ixbo is more market ready. • Tecma's Ixbo uses the same carbon fiber D-cell and ribs as the Exxtasy as well as similar spoilerons and flaps. However, small details appear to offer improvements over the established leader. For example, the ribs do not use double purchase string tensioning as on the Exxtasy. Rather, a clever lever arrangement allows the pilot to tension the ribs without the hand abuse of the strings. Since the lever scheme also tucks away, a tiny bit less drag is generated and the trailing edge is visually much cleaner without the Exxtasy's dangling strings. • Also, I watched Exxtasy pilots struggle to get the right fit for flaps that fit snugly into the aft pieces of the ribs and into a center hinge point. I don't know if a difference of operation exists but the Ixbo's sewn hinge is cleaner looking and appeared effortless to fit as one slides in the flap insert during setup. • Icaro's big difference uses pilot movement to directly actuate ailerons (though I have no info on the improvement this offers), and their Lumina employs carbon-fiber flaps and ailerons without a Dacron sleeve. In contrast Exxtasy and Ixbo both use a loose control bar method of activating the spoilerons, although this is said to be helpful for foot-launching in windy conditions. (The technique is to leave the control bar flat on the ground where the shifting wings will automatically move the spoilerons the right way to keep the wing level.) ••• I also saw an Exxtasy mounted on a very lightweight trike prototype built by a local HG instructor. For me, this resolved a question wondering if D-cells might take over for those powered ultralight trikes which currently employ flex wings. In addition to La Mouette's Top Secret, rumors suggested Air Création (perhaps the world's largest trike producer) also has a D-cell wing in development. ••• As long as I'm mentioning trikes -- and here I refer to trikes aimed at hang glider pilots, not powered ultralight pilots -- I saw a unique entry called the Relax which featured a tiny little engine, retractable main gear, and a fiberglass structure. These superlight trikes are obviously aimed at soaring flight as are the Cosmos Samba and Lookout Mountain's Freedom Machine. ••• Swifts were abundant at Gap/Tallard. No Millenniums were present but with the keen interest in Swifts and Exxtasys, sales may follow for the new Brightstar entry. ••• A few flex wing hang gliders were displayed, but from my perspective they labored outside the limelight enjoyed by the D-cells and soaring trikes. More activity surrounded numerous paraglider and powered paraglider producers. ••• The airshow, called Mondial De L'Air (roughly: "Air World"), was produced by French leader René Coulon's organization and appeared to have started a new event featuring the light end of aviation. Exhibitors were plentiful, crowds were strong, the weather was superb, the food fascinating, and the French Alps in the south of France made for a stunningly beautiful venue. I hope to attend next year as well. ••• Back in the U. S. of A., I have some items left out last month... from Danny Stephens' Angle of Attack, who brought you Grippies hang gliding bar gloves, comes Attack Tubes, a line of custom manufactured air foil-shaped down tubes. Why is this newsworthy? One reason tells it all: price. With down tubes running $70 apiece, AoA's models for half that may find plenty of takers. Yep, Stephens is selling his line for a mere $37.50 each and already has stock for Wills Wing, PacAir, UP, and Seedwings. Order 10 or more at a time and get them for only $35 to include free shipping and handling. Some dealers report AoA's price is less than their factory dealer cost. You can also order three Attack Tubes and get a free pair of "Semi" Grippies. Stephens says they've tested the replacement tubes for strength, quality, fit and finish. Info: Call toll-free: 888-530-9940 or eMail: hydrotex@pacbell. net. ••• Speaking of replacements, Airfoil Sales of Australia faxed that the now-independent company "has been doing a brisk business in replacement sails, particularly [for] the [Moyes] Xtralite and CSX." Proprietor Michael Pendleton says he is "selling all standard makes and models of the XS, Xtralite, SX, and CSX [sails] with Mylar or Dacron/Powerrib mainsail [with] your choice of undersurface colors for approximately $600. Info by fax: dial 011-61-2-4323-3869. ••• In France, the U.S., and around the world, Sport Aviation Publications is doing well with their newest book called "Towing Aloft." Written by Dennis Pagen and former USHGA prez, Bill Bryden, the 384 page book covers all aspects of towing hang gliders. The useful compilation addresses the ever-growing interest in tow-launched hang gliding and sells for only $29.95 plus $3.50 P&H. Info on their web site: www.lazerlink.com/~pagenbks, or call/fax: 814-383-2569. ••• Finally, after years of flying the Big O, "Hungary" Joe Szalai has produced a flying map for the Owens Valley. Popular hang gliding locations are found in bold letters, so the map can be easily used by pilot and chase crew. Best of all, Joe's map is free. Send a self address, stamped envelope to 25 Whistling Isle, Irvine CA 92614. ••• Got news or opinions? Send 'em to 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Vmail/fax: 612-450-0930 or CumulusMan@aol.com for eMailers. THANKS!

Published in Hang Gliding Magazine

Tallard, FRANCE — Across the big drink this month for an airshow lending some international flavor to "Product Lines." ••• Perhaps the most fascinating thing I observed was the proliferation of D-cell wings. The question in my mind is no longer IF D-cell wings will proliferate, but perhaps instead, "Will flex wings survive?" In truth, I don’t see the end of our popular, lightweight, easily folded, easily foot-launched and -landed wings. But I’m less sure of this forecast than I once was. ••• I saw a slightly different version of the Exxtasy called the Revolution (aimed at powered trikes) and two new free flight entries from other manufacturers. • One D-cell wing was from Icaro 2000, builder of the Laminar ST topless flex wing. The other was the Ixbo from Tecma, a French company that few Americans know. La Mouette did not show their Top Secret model. • Icaro’s Lumina is nearly identical to the Exxtasy but uses ailerons versus spoilerons and hooks the pilot’s harness to the controls (versus Exxtasy’s control bar linkup).

Product Lines – June 1998

By Dan Johnson || February 28, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

ST. PAUL, MINN. -- The season seemed to take off in particularly significant way for me and about a hundred others, as the Wallaby Ranch hosted top-ranked pilots at the Atlantic Coast Championships (ACC). The place was a hotbed of activity as the event opened, right on the heels of the Sun 'n Fun airshow only 35 miles away. After four days and four rounds, the action was slowed a bit by weather. But I've got preliminary results for you as this issue goes to press. You are sure to see a thorough report in the magazine. And those of you on Davis Straub's eMail list got daily updates. In fact, after fetching results from the web (GW Meadows' JustFly site) on most days, I got the final figures from Straub's eMail list. Thanks, Davis! Wired pilots can subscribe at ozreport@kurious.org for no cost. ••• From that report, here's a summary: After flying consistently for the whole meet, Ramy Yenetz won the rigid wing and overall class flying a new Brightstar Millennium that he borrowed for the contest. He flew one of three in the event. • Mike Barber, flying a new Airwave Xtreme -- developed at Lookout Mountain, Tennesse -- won flex wing/topless class. He came from behind to unseat Robin Hamilton on a Laminar ST; Hamilton had been in first at the end of four rounds, but suffered with many other pilots as Round 5 served up uneven mileage (only Larry Tudor made goal the last day)... it was a tough day, evidenced by second place finisher, Chris Arai, reportedly taking no fewer than five tows before departing on course. (His determination was rewarded and he moved up to second from third place.) • Nancy Smith won the kingpost class on a Moyes SX2. Look for fuller coverage and official results from meet organizers; all information here is preliminary and unofficial. ••• The distribution of gliders at the ACC reveals the dominance of the topless glider concept, at least for competitions. Through Round 4, topless gliders -- flexwing or D-cell -- made up the first 35 positions. Of 46 competitors listed, only five kingpost gliders were entered. Rigid wing pilots on a Millennium or an Exxtasy represented over 21%, the highest I can recall since the glory days of the Fledgling in the '70s. • The Stealth from U.S. Aeros generated the most contestants. Nine of them competed. Given nearly 20% of the field, the Ukrainian glider is showing its sales strength as reported here last month. • In a four-way mix for a nominal second place were eight AV8 Laminar ST models that have found many new customers; seven Moyes' entries including the down-under company's topless CSX model (5 competed); no less than seven Flight Design Exxtasy D-cell gliders; and six Wills topless Fusion gliders. Each of these four brands had roughly a sixth of the field. • Grouped in the final tier of the field were three Airwave Xtremes, three Altair Predators, and three Brightstar Milleniums, making their first competitive excursion (bet they're glad they came!). ••• Results from the contest show interesting results considering the makeup of entry models as we just saw. As the last results were tallied, three models had two-thirds of their entries in the top 15 finishers. Wills Wing's Fusion had an excellent showing with four of six in the top 15 (including 2nd, 5th, 6th, and 15th). Brightstar should also be happy with two of three entries in the top 15 plus the winner's circle (1st and 9th). The U.S.-developed Airwave Xtreme also showed well with two of three entries in the top 15 (in 3rd and 10th). Having eight Laminars in the field, the three in the top 15 gives them 38% in the higher ranks. Exxtasy placed two of eight in the top 15, for a 29% representation; the CSX had one of five in the top 15 for 20%; and the Stealth had one of nine entries for an 11% showing in the top 15. Please note that these are merely product observations that claim no contest validity. ••• Performing a 450-point contest via tow launch is no longer the rare event it once was. In fact, towing continues its inexorable climb to put more gliders in the air. I have more reports of towing developments, and they seem to arrive every month. • I misplaced one eMail advisory... forgive me, fellahs, but some pilots west of Chicago have ordered a big-engined Dragonfly and plan to operate from a crop dusting strip (run by one of the partners). If you'll give me your name and number again, I'll mention it so area pilots can come by and see what you've got. • Gregg McNamee has enlarged and improved his central Florida operation. He's now based at the Dunnellon airport in the town of the same name near U.S. Highway 41, a few miles west of Interstate 75. The airport is an old Navy base used to train glider pilots for WWII so it seems natural that Gregg is using it to train hang glider pilots. He says, "We've got 500 open acres in a square with 7,000 acres of open pasture to the north and more to the west." The airport also supports aerobatic training (in conventional aircraft) and Gregg indicates that the upside-down crowd are glad to have him present. McNamee's Graybird Airsports kept their same phone for info: 352-245-8263. • And a couple months ago, I made a weak attempt at humor by referring to farming hang glider pilots. I heard from farmer/pilot Jim Watson of Changing Winds Farms. He wanted to tell me that, "Ohio has a great towing setup in Columbus. He often tows behind Willie Hill, who is "tried and true as our tow pilot, as he loves his trike and towing us where ever." Watson also reminded me that Columbus is home to Matt Kollman who is manufacturing his rigid wing Raptor. These new D-cell gliders are definitely on the rise, and Watson added that Kollman "pretty much whips us all." Jim didn't provide me a phone, but here's his eMail address for Ohio pilots who want to check out the operation: changingwindsfa@webtv.net. ••• Lots left for next month. So, got news or opinions? Send 'em to 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Fax or Vmail to 612-450-0930. Send eMail to CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS!

Published in Hang Gliding Magazine

ST. PAUL, MINN. — The season seemed to take off in particularly significant way for me and about a hundred others, as the Wallaby Ranch hosted top-ranked pilots at the Atlantic Coast Championships (ACC). The place was a hotbed of activity as the event opened, right on the heels of the Sun ‘n Fun airshow only 35 miles away. After four days and four rounds, the action was slowed a bit by weather. But I’ve got preliminary results for you as this issue goes to press. You are sure to see a thorough report in the magazine. And those of you on Davis Straub’s eMail list got daily updates. In fact, after fetching results from the web (GW Meadows’ JustFly site) on most days, I got the final figures from Straub’s eMail list. Thanks, Davis! Wired pilots can subscribe at ozreport@kurious.org for no cost. ••• From that report, here’s a summary: After flying consistently for the whole meet, Ramy Yenetz won the rigid wing and overall class flying a new Brightstar Millennium that he borrowed for the contest.

Product Lines – May 1998

By Dan Johnson || February 28, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

ST. PAUL, MN -- Well, I don't know about you, but I was most impressed in March when I looked at the then-new Hang Gliding. The issue was full of new four-color ads. These were from American companies, too! Terrific. ••• Welcome to eye-catching displays from U.S. & UK Airwave for their Xtreme, developed at Lookout Mountain, Tennessee; from Thinair Designs on behalf of manufacturer Brighstar for the Millennium; and from U.S. Aeros for their Stealths and gear. They join regular color advertisers Seedwings, Wills Wing, and Altair. ••• All totalled, I counted no less than nine suppliers of gliders and that's the best news I've seen in a while. Of these, five brands are Made-in-America gliders. Welcome newcomers! I can't believe the established brands have much to worry about; their wings have weathered other foreign invasions and new domestic brands. More hopefully, perhaps such combined efforts will help in enlisting in new enthusiasts to the sport. ••• Still the way-ahead market leader, Wills Wing reported some price adjustments to their line. The best news for latest-and-greatest buyers is a price decrease in the top-end Fusion. Yep, WW is lowering the cost of an inventory (that is, not custom colored) Fusion to $5,495. Even a custom job went down $95. • On the other end of their performance scale, the hot-selling Falcon went up $100, to $2,895 retail. Wills announced no change for the Ultra Sport, "in spite of continually increasing costs." The Southern California company said deliveries were running eight weeks as of March, although Wills has long maintained a lengthy list of in-stock gliders. Info: 714-998-6359 or see any dealer. ••• Even with a full order book and lowered prices, WW's success appears to be having no effect on one of the "newcomers." GW Meadows and his U.S. Aeros partner are quite pleased with their penetration into the American hang gliding marketplace. According to GW, sales are way higher than planned when they wrote their business plan. On an annualized basis, sales are up 500% over target, as the Kitty Hawk, North Carolina-based importer reports already exceeding their year-long forecast for glider sales in the year's first quarter. • Sales are concentrated on the top end model, the Stealth KPL (kingpostless) which accounted for 70% of their orders. A spring sale may have helped and Meadows is realistic that they may not be able to maintain the torrid sales pace. Nonetheless, U.S. Aeros is gearing up in a big way. • "Pilots have expressed concern over the availability of spare parts," GW said. The response? "We will double our inventory and intend never to be out of stock. One way to assure this is to American-source some parts, for example, downtubes. They've bought enough material to make 400 of them. • The tremendous sales surge caught the importer off guard, suggesting a trip to the Ukraine factory to discuss production. The former Soviet country regards Meadows as "their capitalist" in marketing matters and welcomed the visit by GW and partner. "A new production system is in place now," reports Meadows. "We're quoting 6-8 weeks delivery." • There's enough excitement about the Aeros brand that even Bill Moyes has requested the distribution for Australia. And three-time World Champ' Tomas Suchanek has reportedly asked about being the Czech rep. • In related news, Meadows also reports that a 142 Stealth KPL is undergoing British glider certification, which will add to the 130 and 150 models that already have approvals. • "We're incredibly impressed with the know-how over there," glows GW summing up his visit to the old country. Info: 919-480-3552. ••• Among other importers, new La Mouette/Cosmos rep, Don Reinhard and his Personal Flight business are gearing up to push the French combine's well-established goods. Since Don can promote both the glider line -- including the trail-blazing Topless -- and an ultralight trike line, he has a wide spectrum of flight hardware to offer. Though a top world builder, La Mouette has never made much of a dent in the U.S. market, but Reinhard hopes to change that. He's also ordered a few Cosmos Samba trikes, including one for himself. The littlest model of the powered line, the Samba features a Topless wing complete with hang strap that can be used either as a hang glider or a trike. The trike itself is extremely light and may find favor with soaring enthusiasts as a form of motorglider (much like the Freedom Machine Trike that Matt Taber is also promoting). Info from Personal Flight is available at 800-685-8238 or perflight@aol.com. ••• Running-Out-of-Time Dept.: In case you were avoiding the big crowds for their 25th anniversary last year, Kitty Hawk will host -- yes, once again! -- the 26th Annual Hang Gliding Spectactular. Surely the sport's longest-running event, this year they're focused on the Kitty Hawk Air Games, which they describe as "an air extravaganza." All forms of light flight will be featured including aero towing, paragliding, paramotoring, parachuting, ultralighting, kite flying, and a trade show plus seminars. The event takes place May 8-11 so you still have time to attend if you move quickly. Info: 919-441-4124 extension 11. ••• Outta room with other worthy items; watch here next month. So, got news or opinions? Send 'em to 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Vmail or fax to 612-450-0930; eMail to CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS!

Published in Hang Gliding Magazine

ST. PAUL, MN — Well, I don’t know about you, but I was most impressed in March when I looked at the then-new Hang Gliding. The issue was full of new four-color ads. These were from American companies, too! Terrific. ••• Welcome to eye-catching displays from U.S. & UK Airwave for their Xtreme, developed at Lookout Mountain, Tennessee; from Thinair Designs on behalf of manufacturer Brighstar for the Millennium; and from U.S. Aeros for their Stealths and gear. They join regular color advertisers Seedwings, Wills Wing, and Altair. ••• All totalled, I counted no less than nine suppliers of gliders and that’s the best news I’ve seen in a while. Of these, five brands are Made-in-America gliders. Welcome newcomers! I can’t believe the established brands have much to worry about; their wings have weathered other foreign invasions and new domestic brands. More hopefully, perhaps such combined efforts will help in enlisting in new enthusiasts to the sport.

Product Lines – April 1998

By Dan Johnson || February 28, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

ST. PAUL, MN -- Folks, right off, I have a couple items of interest that don't relate to hang gliding products. ••• In the December '97 issue I wrote about industry leader, Ken Brown. The story mentioned Ken's employer, a man named Jim Lee, who was killed in an ultralight accident. I didn't focus on Lee as the story was about Brown. However, perhaps I should've spelled it out. Some readers thought I meant Jim Lee, the highly ranked hang glider pilot. THIS IS NOT TRUE. I wrote that the other Jim Lee was an ultralight developer based in the East, while hang glider Jim Lee is not involved with ultralights and lives in the west. Some pilots read the story in December and erroneously put that news together with a reported death at the World Meet in Australia in January, concluding that Jim Lee the hang glider pilot had lost his life. To make matters worse, concerns were expressed to Kathy, wife of Jim Lee (the HG pilot). This surely scared the daylights out of her, so to be even clearer, let me restate: Jim Lee, the hang glider pilot, is very alive and well. ••• Unfortunately, I have bad news of my own that is accurate. As many readers know, I am associated with the Cumulus ultralight motorglider under the business name US Aviation. In late February, after several deliveries had been made on this long-awaited project, designer and manufacturer Jim Collie was killed while flying the factory production prototype. It appears the problem related to a delamination of the D-cell skin which lead to a catastrophic failure of the left wing. Jim was a talented engineer, a man of great integrity, and a credit to the light aviation industry he loved. To say he will be missed is an huge understatement. Many hang glider pilots have inquired about the Cumulus and some had met Collie. Shipments are on hold pending the completion of an investigation. • Now let's turn to brighter news in the hang gliding community... ••• Yet another Tow Airpark has sprung up, this one in the west which makes it the first of which I'm aware. (If you know of others, please let me know!). The newest addition is the Sierra Dragonfly Club near Carson City Nevada. Currently the club is located at an ultralight park called Parker. They plan to move to Minden, a well known name among sailplane pilots who enjoy the area's reliable soaring. The Sierra Dragonflyers are expecting designer Bobby Bailey to bring and build their new tug by about mid-May. For more details contact Ray Leonard's Adventure Sports at 702-883-7070. ••• In additional to aerotowing you'll be able to see the Millennium since the facility is planned to offer factory service for the new D-cell glider from Brightstar. Sales are initiating for the new competitor to the Exxtasy. I am somewhat aware of the final developments as I've just been sent new photos of the wing in flight (looks good!) and because my other employer, BRS, is finalizing a custom-made emergency 'chute system. The earlier Swifts were sold with a ballistic 'chute. John Borton, head man at western distributor Thin Air Designs, believes "80% of the purchasers of this glider will opt for a ballistic 'chute." ••• Speaking of 'chutes, Mike Sandlin wants to give his away. In truth, after being inspired by Charlie Baughman's Inverted Hang System giveaway, Mike says, "I have a similar non-product." He refers to his "keel-stabilized hang glider drogue 'chute." He's had drawings and text guidelines on the Internet for a year at www.wallaby.com/mackey/drogue. After becoming satisfied with the finished version, Mike now wants to share it... although you'll have to make your own. He says he's been flying with it for seven years and uses it on almost every flight as it makes landings easier and safer. Sandlin reports, "The effects on glider handling are minor and the steep glide and short ground skim are major confidence builders in tight situations." Also check the hang glider home page for more details and then, help yourself! ••• Wallaby enjoyed a huge event as Wills Wing launched their 25th Anniversary Celebration. In three days of good weather (thanks, El Nino, for backing off a little), the Ranch logged 426 tows! Three tugs ran consistently and manager David Glover says no one ever waited more than ten minutes. Altitudes reached 5,000 feet and many pilots recorded four hour flights. Not much cross country occurred because of an impending party under the "big tent." Over 130 pilots were present, including representatives from no less than 42 WW dealerships, both U.S. and overseas. The best news: zero problems, zero injuries. Amen! ••• However, since nobody wanted to leave the party, Wallaby's $1,000 prize for the first flight to reach Georgia went unclaimed. It could happen! The previous record was 147 miles and that's getting close. If your own glider isn't good enough for the gold, rent one from the Ranch. Manager David says they have topless gliders plus the Exxtasy and Millennium available. They've sold over a dozen of the D-cells already and deal in both. ••• Coming up soon -- also at Wallaby (don't these guys ever tire?) -- is GW Meadow's Atlantic Coast Championships. This event will take place the last week of this month, precisely placed right at the end of the big Sun 'n Fun airshow. Mike "Hollywood" Champlin is organizing a Cross Country and Competition Symposium. He says he's already enlisted "name flyers" like Mark "Gibbo" Gibson and Mike Barber. He has also tentatively lined up Larry Tudor, Jim Lee, Brad Koji, and Chris Arai (if all elect to compete). The all-day event is planned for Saturday 4/25/98 just before the contest begins. Info: Wallaby at 941-424-0070, or mechamplin@flinet.com. ••• Outta room. So, got news or opinions? Send 'em to 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Fax or Vmail to 612-450-0930. Post eMail to CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS!

Published in Hang Gliding Magazine

ST. PAUL, MN — Folks, right off, I have a couple items of interest that don’t relate to hang gliding products. ••• In the December ’97 issue I wrote about industry leader, Ken Brown. The story mentioned Ken’s employer, a man named Jim Lee, who was killed in an ultralight accident. I didn’t focus on Lee as the story was about Brown. However, perhaps I should’ve spelled it out. Some readers thought I meant Jim Lee, the highly ranked hang glider pilot. THIS IS NOT TRUE. I wrote that the other Jim Lee was an ultralight developer based in the East, while hang glider Jim Lee is not involved with ultralights and lives in the west. Some pilots read the story in December and erroneously put that news together with a reported death at the World Meet in Australia in January, concluding that Jim Lee the hang glider pilot had lost his life.

Product Lines – March 1998

By Dan Johnson || February 28, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

ST. PAUL, MN -- Back home in the not-so-cold north (with a surprising "thanks" to El Nino), the year started off with some unhappy news. ••• In mid-January, Acme Glider Company boss Terry Reynolds wrote all TR3 owners and other interested parties. "We have given it our best and we just cannot go on any longer. We have to cease operations," he expressed. • After facing the true cost of building his exotic glider in small volume Terry concluded, "There is no chance that we can charge enough to cover reasonable costs of production and distribution at present volumes." Acme says the TR3 had direct manufacturing costs of $8,000 per glider, before accounting for R&D payoff, office expenses, and any other non-manufacturing expenses. • Acme made arrangements with Lookout Mountain's Matt Taber to provide future support for their gliders. "Matt has assured us that he is wholeheartedly enthusiastic in taking on this project," the company reported. Taber is prepared to handle airworthiness directive work as well as lesser tasks. Info: 706-398-3541. • Sailmaker Mike Zidziunas will still do sail repairs and replacements on a part time basis. Info: 813-526-3629. • However, even as he closed his factory doors Reynolds left an opening saying, "If someone who is qualified, [and] has the resources... would like to pick it up from here, GenTech Corporation would be happy to sell Acme Glider Company and the rights to build the TR3 for $10 and other valuable consideration." Ever wanted to be a glider manufacturer? • It's significant to add that Reynolds reported, "Everybody [suppliers] got paid, and everyone who ordered a glider received it." That hasn't always been the case and it's to Terry's credit that he's taking care of business professionally. Reynolds also wanted to acknowledge the "huge amounts of time and effort freely donated to the project by people whose only motivation was the desire that it succeed." • I am always regretful when a manufacturer leaves the business in hang gliding, especially when people work at it as hard as did Terry and his supporters. Thanks and good luck, Terry! ••• While aero towing steals much of tow limelight these days, other forms are alive and well as proven by Canadian Francois Thibodeux's Dumbo winch system. His product is a stationary, self-contained winch on a trailer. A slick product brochure shows a very professional-looking system as good as anything I've seen on a European Aero Club field (which says a lot; they're heavily invested in such gear throughout Europe). • Compared with operating one or more tug aircraft and having highly experienced tug pilots, a stationary winch might be less cost and hassle. With good operators step towing has become routine, allowing launches to thousands of feet above a field. • Powered by a brand new Volkswagen industrial engine, the Dumbo winch should provide many years of launches. Tandem loads are easily handled by the 1.8 liter, four cylinder engine. Since it's also four-stroke, noise and fuel economy should be better than an aero tug. • These things aren't cheap, but at $17,849, the Dumbo winch is still a lot less than some aero tugs, and it may require less maintenance (or at least less often). Info: 514-343-9611. ••• Matt Taber offers yet another way aloft, other than aerotowing, winching, or mountain launching. His new Freedom Machine is a powered trike built for hang glider pilots, priced fairly at $5,500. Hook it up to your hang glider, the trike carriage tips the scales at only 90-95 pounds. The Zenoah 250 engine is in-air restartable, and even better, this thing comes fully assembled and ready for set up. • Taber has earned a reputation for correctly reading the hang gliding market and developing products for the community. The Freedom Machine is F.A.R. Part 103 legal, meaning your current abilities are enough to fly this powered aircraft without an FAA license (though of course, some training is needed for those with no power experience). Info: 706-398-3541. ••• Two new harnesses have recently come to my attention. One is from Taber and called the GT Race, for $899. Loaded with long list of features, Lookout Mountain says the harness is for those who "demand top performance... without compromise." ••• The other is from hot-selling U.S. Aeros, who now backs their Ukrainian gliders with a new harness of their own. GW Meadows says it, "could not be any more streamlined unless it didn't have a main hang strap." U.S. Aeros sells it for only $699, inviting Meadows to state, "We're determined to lower the price of hang gliding." • By the way, GW added near the end of January, "Aeros [gliders] are kicking some royal butt in OZ (World Champs)." The details may be known by the time you read this. Info: 919-480-2774. ••• Just down the bluff edge from the Tree Toppers' magnificent Henson Gap flying site, an old friend from Dunlap, Tennessee is making hang glider clocks. A longtime artisan, Charlie Yowell has created some interesting flight Objets d' Art over the years. His new Cloud Clocks are 100% wood, painted to bring out the contours of the clouds which make up the face of his wall-hanging timepiece. The hour, minute, and second hands are tipped with colorful hang gliders which circle round and round in an endless thermal. A 7-jewel movement assures the correct time. The Cloud Clocks -- which sell for $45 plus $5 S&H -- are 16-19" wide and about 12" tall so you can see them easily from across the room. Further info: Rt. 2 - Box 80, Dunlap TN 37327. ••• To close, an update on the Superior Dragonflyers. A oversight caused omission of the other members helping Minnesotan, Doug Johnson. He reports, "I have 7 partners." Doug wants to acknowledge their valued cooperation. Info: 218-723-1738. ••• Outta room again! So, got news or opinions? Send 'em to 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Vmail or Fax to 612-450-0930. Send eMail to CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS!

Published in Hang Gliding Magazine

ST. PAUL, MN — Back home in the not-so-cold north (with a surprising "thanks" to El Nino), the year started off with some unhappy news. ••• In mid-January, Acme Glider Company boss Terry Reynolds wrote all TR3 owners and other interested parties. "We have given it our best and we just cannot go on any longer. We have to cease operations," he expressed. • After facing the true cost of building his exotic glider in small volume Terry concluded, "There is no chance that we can charge enough to cover reasonable costs of production and distribution at present volumes." Acme says the TR3 had direct manufacturing costs of $8,000 per glider, before accounting for R&D payoff, office expenses, and any other non-manufacturing expenses. • Acme made arrangements with Lookout Mountain’s Matt Taber to provide future support for their gliders. "Matt has assured us that he is wholeheartedly enthusiastic in taking on this project," the company reported.

Product Lines – February 1998

By Dan Johnson || February 28, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. -- Well, we're into 1998 and news is already starting to provide advance notice of an interesting year. ••• But first, I want to go back a few months and reflect on comments I've written about the so-called "decline of hang gliding." At the November '97 USHGA board of directors meeting, a few leaders took me to task for "being negative." As I explained to them, stating the facts (of factory closures or other leaders' comments about what might be done to "fix" hang gliding) does not mean I think hang gliding is in a death dive. Hardly! • What I related are business realities -- such as Airwave shuttering a plant where paragliders were produced. (More on that below.) To ignore that the hang gliding community has challenges is to stick one's head in the sand. I won't do that, yet I've been a hang gliding cheerleader for 25 years and that won't stop either. This is still a terrific sport with a bright future. All I meant was that we needed to be aware of our shortcomings and to do something about them. It is further true that while some enterprises fail and go out of business, others are doing well. Among them are, to give only two examples from opposite coasts, Pat Denevan's Mission Soaring and Malcolm Jones' Wallaby Ranch. Each reported a good year. I'm positive more hang gliding businessea are also thriving and for that I'm thankful. You can help by telling me about successes. I promise to faithfully report both the good news and the bad... anything less is deceptive to readers of this column. Well, enough of that. Here's some fun news for the new year! ••• First, Airwave. As heard from Lars Linde and Greg Black of East Coast Paragliding, Airwave is still making paragliders and had the "best year ever, with John Pendry winning the Worlds." I'm pleased to hear that of course. (The earlier column reported that they closed a plant in England, but this was only a change and not a permanent ending of their activities in producing paragliders.) As do the majority of paragliding manufacturers, Airwave sources canopy sewing from Asia. In fact most manufacturers -- of anything -- often bring in components from other builders and assemble them at their own plants. This is the way of the global economy and HG/PG producers are merely being modern. ••• Greg Black also related his experience with Matt Taber and Gibbo's new Airwave Extreme hang glider. The Lookout Mountaineers developed the glider and succeeded well enough that Airwave UK bought the design and will manufacture and distribute it under their brand name. • Black expressed that he was very pleased with its great static balance and its performance. The Extreme is small, only 137 squares, but has demonstrated well for pilots hooking in at 215 and 250 pounds. I guess my age is showing, but I remain amazed at how much performance contemporary designers are wringing out of so few square feet of wing. ••• Greg and partner Lars are importing the Woody Valley harness line from Italy. While not well known in the U.S. (yet), the brand enjoys wide acceptance across the Atlantic as it is reportedly used by La Mouette, Icaro, and Flight Designs -- maker of the Exxtasy who values the clean harness as speeds on their D-Cell glider are higher. Here at home, Black reports that Dennis Pagen, Jim Zeiset's Green Team, and Nelson Howe have flown with the harness (although see below on a Howe update). One distinguishing feature is a fairing arrangement that works to streamline the harness when you pull your arms in close. In fact, Greg claims, "[It's] the most aerodynamic harness on the market." It is available in four different models. Info: 732-747-7845. ••• Brightstar has firmed up distribution of their new Millennium D-Cell glider entry, appointing Mountain Wings as the east coast rep to complement Thin Air Designs who has exclusivity for all lands west of the Mississippi in America and Canada. While Wallaby Ranch reports brisk sales of the D-Cell Exxtasy, Mountain Wings boasted an early three sales of the Millennium, even before any marketing occurred. ••• One big change in the who-flies-for-whom scene is Nelson Howe joining the Wills Wing competition team. WW announced in their December newsletter to dealers that the number one ranked U.S. pilot will fly with such top guns as Jim Lee, Chris Arai, Chris Muller, Mark Bennett, Pete Lehmann, Mitch Shipley, and Mitch McAleer. Howe was to compete in the World Championships in Australia. He already placed second in the Pre Worlds last year. • Wills also reported finishing development of a keel fin or "Stabilizer." They say, "It has a noticeable effect on yaw stability, making any glider easier to fly straight, and is especially helpful for towing." The WW Stabilizer is available as a retrofit kit for any glider, including a sleeve and pin to modify the rear keel to accept it. The retrofit kit retails for $86.25. See any Wills dealer. • By the way, this month kicks off activities for Wills Wing's 25th anniversary featuring a tow fly-in at Wallaby. Info: 714-998-6359. ••• U.S. Aeros continues to establish the Ukrainian brand in the America, thanks to efforts by proprietor GW Meadows. Cost is one advantage as the models carry prices well under any brand I know. The Stealth KPL (kingpostless) "is selling exceptionally well," claims GeeDub, and the middle 142 size should be European certified by the time you read this. However, price isn't everything and Meadows lists a few other attributes that are grabbing pilots. • According to GW, all models "tow very straight," important in our increasingly tow-oriented HG community. Another reason for the sales success is the "active camber" system featured on the Stealth KPL which lets the wing grow fatter during VG-off settings and thinner during VG-on settings. Unusual among hang gliders, the control bar is raked aftward which "gives the pilot a lot of flare authority" allowing for easier landings, says Meadows. U.S. Aeros stocks loads of replacement parts including downtubes, which can be exchanged without tools. • These things are good, but you simply can't ignore the savings. For example, to help place Stealth KPLs around the country, U.S. Aeros is offering an extra-special deal until March 1st. Before that date, you can order the topless glider for only $4,320 through any of their dealers. Meadows says, "That's $1,700 less than the nearest priced topless glider on the market." You can have your choice of colors and take delivery in six weeks. Seems worth a call, doesn't it? Info: 919-480-2774. ••• Hey! Outta room with news remaining. See ya next month. So, got news or opinions? Send 'em to 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Vmail or fax to 612-450-0930. Send eMail to CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS!

Published in Hang Gliding Magazine

SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. — Well, we’re into 1998 and news is already starting to provide advance notice of an interesting year. ••• But first, I want to go back a few months and reflect on comments I’ve written about the so-called "decline of hang gliding." At the November ’97 USHGA board of directors meeting, a few leaders took me to task for "being negative." As I explained to them, stating the facts (of factory closures or other leaders’ comments about what might be done to "fix" hang gliding) does not mean I think hang gliding is in a death dive. Hardly! • What I related are business realities — such as Airwave shuttering a plant where paragliders were produced. (More on that below.) To ignore that the hang gliding community has challenges is to stick one’s head in the sand. I won’t do that, yet I’ve been a hang gliding cheerleader for 25 years and that won’t stop either.

Product Lines – January 1998

By Dan Johnson || February 28, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

ST. PAUL, MINN. -- A couple months ago, this entire column focused on D-Cell gliders. Now a new story seems to be emerging, even in the depths of a cold winter. The operative words in the story are: Tow Airparks. Actually, several terms are used to describe these flying places, but nothing obscures the trend of more and more dedicated places where towing occurs. I view this as a tremendously good thing as it makes hang glider far more available than mountain-based flying alone can. ••• Of course, we're all familiar with the big Florida tow airparks Wallaby and Quest plus Gregg McNamee's operation. And most of you know Lookout Mountain offers aero towing. Over on the coast John Harris' Kitty Hawk Kites doesn't miss a trick, offering their own tow operation at the nearby Currituck County Airport. Just north of Chicago in southern Wisconsin is Brad Kushner's enterprise. "He's now grown to 150 members and four Dragonfly tugs!" reports Doug Johnson of Duluth, Minnesota. ••• He should know, having recently discussed tow operations with several of bigger businesses. This is in preparation for his own Dragonfly towing activities that will commence by summer '98. Yep, way up in Duluth, Doug plans to offer regular tugging and tandem. After visiting Kushner's site, an airport operator in Superior, Wisconsin approached Johnson offering him space at the airport. Doug had been platform towing, but liked the potential of aero towing. "It's the #1 teaching method," he feels, and certainly he thinks he can do more instructing with towing than by seeking out limited training sites near Duluth. Superior, Wisconsin is just across the state line from the northern city. Info: Skydog@cp.duluth.mn.us or 218-723-1738. ••• Back east a bit takes us to the lower section of Michigan and two more Dragonfly tugs. They'll operate together at Lisa and Tracy Tillman's 80-acre sod farm which will now become a... you guessed it -- tow airpark. A few months ago, I reported that the Tillman's Cloud 9 Aviation took delivery on a 914 Dragonfly (the numbers standing for an especially potent, 115-horse engine that drives it up spectacularly). Behind that workhorse, Norm Lesnow provided tandem training. Due to excellent activitiy -- over 120 tandem tows in the last six weeks before winter -- Norm has purchased a second 914 Dragonfly. Let me tell you, folks, this represents a substantial investment... by all operators. Norm also went through the process of getting properly certified for tandem. The tug duet will be operated under the banner of the Drachenfliegen Soaring Club, says Lesnow. Info: Cloud 9 Aviation at 313-669-8449. ••• Nearly all the operations depend on and therefore thank Bobbie Bailey for his design of the popular Dragonfly tug. His association with Bill Moyes has resulted in increased production and worldwide representation. When he's not wintering in Australia with Bill, Bailey is based at Quest where buyers often receive training and ideas for their own sites back home. Interestingly, Doug Johnson reported that Bobbie will come to his site to build the plane and train the buyer... a fascinating variation of doctor house calls. ••• For that majority of you who're still intent on jumping off mountains, Ole Olson offers you a great warm choice this winter. Recently he announced that he'll have new gliders from Altair, AV8, and Moyes for demo flying. Ole will do his guide thing from December through April while as some of us remain frozen solid. Sites this year include Valle de Bravo, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende and Nevado de Toluca (featured in the July '97 centerfold photo). "Interest has been good," says the energetic Olson. Info: Skytours@juno.com. ••• In another month, Wills Wing turns 25!, something of a milestone in our sport. In their anniversary month the big glider builder will celebrate at one of the tow airparks that has consumed most of this column. Wills has selected Wallaby Ranch to host a fly-in Feb 18-25 plus a dealer seminar on the 25th. "Factory demos of our entire product line will be available..." throughout the week, they say. • Pat Denevan will bring his Nintendo 64-based virtual reality flight simulator. I've flown this recently and its a trip that you won't want to miss. • The Wallaby-Quest Corridor is a fertile soaring area (a sailplane operation is in between) that offers loads of other activities for the family or non-flyable days. For a great winter escape, go south and join WW's party for their 25th Anniversary. ••• Later in the season, GW Meadows will host his Atlantic Coast Championships at Wallaby Ranch in yet another concession to the impact of these Tow Airparks. More on that as we get closer, but plan on the last week of April, just after the nearby Sun 'n Fun airshow ends. ••• Wow! Outta room once again. I'll have more good stuff for next month. So, got news or opinions? Send 'em to 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. V-mail or fax to 612-450-0930, or send eMail to CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS!

Published in Hang Gliding Magazine

ST. PAUL, MINN. — A couple months ago, this entire column focused on D-Cell gliders. Now a new story seems to be emerging, even in the depths of a cold winter. The operative words in the story are: Tow Airparks. Actually, several terms are used to describe these flying places, but nothing obscures the trend of more and more dedicated places where towing occurs. I view this as a tremendously good thing as it makes hang glider far more available than mountain-based flying alone can. ••• Of course, we’re all familiar with the big Florida tow airparks Wallaby and Quest plus Gregg McNamee’s operation. And most of you know Lookout Mountain offers aero towing. Over on the coast John Harris’ Kitty Hawk Kites doesn’t miss a trick, offering their own tow operation at the nearby Currituck County Airport. Just north of Chicago in southern Wisconsin is Brad Kushner’s enterprise. "He’s now grown to 150 members and four Dragonfly tugs!" reports Doug Johnson of Duluth, Minnesota.

Product Lines – December 1997

By Dan Johnson || February 28, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

ST. PAUL, MINN. -- Can you believe another year is about to slip away? Sure seemed to fly by to me. I'll bet the same is true for Ken Brown. He's had quite a year since about this time last fall when we discussed activities at Pacific Airwave. ••• As you are all aware now, the Salinas company became history shortly after that conversation in late 1996. By the Sun 'n Fun airshow in Florida last April, Ken was working with Jim Lee, a producer of float-equipped trikes. It looked like a great business opportunity, putting Lee's expanding business together with Ken's experience in wing making. (Smaller trike builders often buy wings from other suppliers for trike carriages they manufacture themselves.) • However, Lee was tragically killed while flying a modified ultralight-type aircraft at Sun 'n Fun. Ken's future with Jim's company faded quickly for reasons beyond his control. • After more adjustments, Brown has landed what appears (to me) to be another excellent chance to stay in the fly biz. He will now become "the independent Moyes Distributor for the Americas." He takes over from Moyes' Vicki who spent four months in the U.S. during the summer of 1997 building the organization. Ken thanks her for "putting [it] in order only to turn it over to [Brown] who she'd just been introduced to." • This is a somewhat familiar scenario to Ken. He once was the Airwave distributor when that company first entered the American market. PacAir subsequently got involved with the brand, then became majority owned by the UK firm. Still later Ken joined them, ending up as President of the company before Airwave UK shuttered their U.S. operation. • Moyes has long been a substantial seller among imported brands and with Ken's experience, it could become a major player. Moyes might fill the void left by PacAir, although high-flying Wills Wing will easily retain an overwhelming share of the American hang glider market. • Ken announced Moyes America's glider lineup like this: Ventura * Sonic * Max * Super Xtralite * Carbon Super Xtralite * and, X2. They run the range of skill level. Ventura is a single surfaced beginner-type, fun-to-fly glider. (I personally love these single surface wings; their ease of operation is the best and if cross country isn't a goal, they're great fun.) Next comes the Sonic, a double surfaced novice/intermediate glider; followed by Max, which adds variable geometry for improved performance under more conditions. Moyes' Super Xtralite -- the present-day culmination of an evolving glider design -- is now billed as a recreational performance flying machine. Moyes' current top-of-the-line glider is the Carbon Super Xtralite, or CSX, recommended for competitions or distance cross country flights. X2 is a double surfaced, higher performance tandem glider. • In announcing the arrival of Northwing's Kamron Blevins to the Moyes America team, Brown credits Kamron for the Ventura design, while Juan Corral will continue to work on certifying the Sonic. I'm sure you'll join me in wishing Ken and his associates the best of luck. • In San Francisco, phone or fax Ken at 415-753-9534; or eMail to FlyaMoyes@aol.com, an easily-remembered electronic address. ••• Speaking of manufacturers, another guy who's been busy is Florida's Terry Reynolds, builder of the unique TR3. I can't imagine you've missed his development so far, but quickly... the TR3 is an outgrowth of the TRX which Terry also developed years ago with the Utah-based edition of UP before the famous old brand disappeared from the U.S. TRX was taken over by Blue Sky Aircraft which then evolved into Altair and its Predator. So, while the TRX lives on in the spirit and form of John Heiney's highly-modified Predator, Reynolds went forward on his own this time with the TR3. He uses the company name Acme Glider Company, which his letterhead says is a subsidiary of GenTech Corporation. • The most distinguishing characteristic of Acme's TR3 is its topless configuration, in keeping with the state-of-the-art in high performance gliders. He wasn't some laggard copying everyone else, as he reports the TR3-155 actually won HGMA certification before any other American topless design -- way back in April this year. • This fall Acme sent a letter to Hang IV pilots offering them special purchase opportunities on the TR3. Since Acme is a small manufacturer, dealer markup is lower than bigger outfits offer, so retail businesses showed less interest than in higher-profit gliders. To get the TR3 ball rolling, Acme made special offers to experienced pilots. • According to Terry, "The two most important and unique features of the TR3 are its extraordinary light weight and elimination of top rigging." Pilots I've spoken to express appreciation for the light weight. He says a comparison of other brands shows many are 20% heavier than the TR3's current weight of 65 pounds. Reynolds clarifies the comparison saying that his center structure is actually heavier but it's lighter outboard, which he says accounts for lighter handling. Perhaps this is the reason why he adds, "The TR3 handles properly and tracks straight without the added weight and hassle of plug-in tips, winglets, or curved tip wands." Terry also boasts that the TR3 is "amazingly easy to land," a quality he links to weight and twist distribution which he says makes the "flare window... particularly large." The high performance glider benefits from having what Acme calls the "largest span (35' 2") and the highest aspect ratio of any current glider." The company also reports use of the latest in sail material employed for racing sailboats. "Extremely strong, UV-resistant fibers are bonded in a transparent medium to produce a fabric approximately three times as strong as typical sail materials," reads the promotional mailer. • To get still more info, you can contact Acme at 813-526-3629 (also fax) or eMail to TRGliders@aol.com. ••• As with my sentiments for Brown and Moyes America, I wish Terry Reynolds and Acme Glider success. Even though Wills continues as the country's (or the world's?) preeminent glider manufacturer, pilots need choices and I'm sure my friends at Wills agree. ••• So, got news or opinions? Send 'em to 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Vmail or fax to 612-450-0930, or send eMail to CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS!

Published in Hang Gliding Magazine

ST. PAUL, MINN. — Can you believe another year is about to slip away? Sure seemed to fly by to me. I’ll bet the same is true for Ken Brown. He’s had quite a year since about this time last fall when we discussed activities at Pacific Airwave. ••• As you are all aware now, the Salinas company became history shortly after that conversation in late 1996. By the Sun ‘n Fun airshow in Florida last April, Ken was working with Jim Lee, a producer of float-equipped trikes. It looked like a great business opportunity, putting Lee’s expanding business together with Ken’s experience in wing making. (Smaller trike builders often buy wings from other suppliers for trike carriages they manufacture themselves.) • However, Lee was tragically killed while flying a modified ultralight-type aircraft at Sun ‘n Fun. Ken’s future with Jim’s company faded quickly for reasons beyond his control. • After more adjustments, Brown has landed what appears (to me) to be another excellent chance to stay in the fly biz.

Product Lines – November 1997

By Dan Johnson || February 28, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

ST. PAUL, MINN. -- Whew! I've never seen rigid wing fever like this. Based on several reports received -- plus intensifying chatter on various Internet lists -- these gliders have more inertia than during any of the 19 years that I've been writing this column and reporting on rigid wing developments. Throughout that long period, rigids as a group held a fairly steady 4-5% of the market, but they never found the mainstream. ••• That may be changing! One glider in particular, the Exxtasy from Germany is showing some serious market strength. Reportedly, producer Flight Designs has already sold more than 150 copies including better than a dozen in the USA. However, Exxtasy is not alone and the others appear to be benefiting from the general excitement surrounding these wings. ••• To date, I am familiar with the Exxtasy, the Pegasus, and the Millennium. Less well documented (as of late Sept. '97) are stories of similar designs from other rigid wing builders, and this statement: "It is rumored that all major hang glider manufacturers will be designing similar gliders over the next two years." Via eMail on the ultralight soaring list, Deane Williams further expressed that if this happens, manufacturers will fight for market share leading him to speculate that glider weight and price will fall and performance may get even better. ••• In one case, this trend is starting. A European writer says the Pegasus developer, German Jürgen Lutz, has already teamed up with France's La Mouette to "establish better production." The path-blazing Pegasus had been individually built and as such was not cost competitive with the Exxtasy, which is built at a company with large staff and adequate funds. Since La Mouette knows about volume production and is already producing the Topless with a carbon fiber spar, this could vault Pegasus into serious contention. ••• Exxtasy is being produced by Flight Designs (apparently following a deal with designers Felix and Christoph of Blue Sky). Flight Designs brings good credentials as they already build a slick microlight called the CT, a composite construction, powered aircraft. ••• However, though the Lutz Pegasus and the Flight Designs Exxtasy are said to be very similar, Fight Designs has taken a huge lead and is making the D-Cell Gliders look like they might achieve a market energy not found by other rigid wings since the Manta Fledgling. Honestly, I can't ever recall this much enthusiasm among hang glider pilots about a non-flex wing. The Fledge' left the scene more than a decade ago and no designs have filled the void since -- though the Swift did credibly well despite being expensive and heavy. ••• Brightstar hasn't been sitting still through all this, of course. They have their very own D-Cell Glider entry, the Millennium. According to eMailer Deane, the "main differences include supine cage for pilot, full aerodynamic control via stick and elevons. Price ($8,500) and weight are similar to the Exxtasy. Made in California, too." Recent reports indicate the Exxtasy is selling for $9,500. ••• Brightstar's Eric Beckman goes a little more conservatively with the news, in fact, stressing "we've always been hesitant to talk about our developments until we feel confident the product is ready..." Nonetheless, he added at the end of September that, "Millennium flies wonderfully, and the test flight program is virtually complete as of this writing. We have just begun the performance evaluations, and should have some good numbers in the next week or so (weather permitting)." Given their success with the Swift, Brightstar's Millennium is a contender in any new D-Cell Glider race. • Still quoting Beckman, "The Millennium was designed to address the three main complaints about the Swift: too heavy, too expensive, and doesn't fold into a bag." He says they also wanted it to be "less intimidating" while yet delivering an excellent sink rate and glide of 20:1." Assuming the Brightstar Boys again achieve their goals, this would leave Millennium winning the glide angle contest among the new D-Cells. ••• All of these wings -- Exxtasy, Pegasus, and Millennium -- have quick folding systems that sound easy and fast. All apparently end up looking, as Wallaby's Malcolm Jones put it, "like two hang gliders laid beside one another in a single bag. ••• Finally, Internet writer Williams reported that "Baillet Composites is working on production of another similar folding rigid wing, the Raptor." Based on some conversations and a videotape I saw a couple years back, this must be the one developed by a Matt Kollman. Originally I believed this to be a one-of-a-kind, but evidently it, too, could join other producers in the New D-Cell Glider Race. OK! The more the merrier. ••• Various writers on the ultralight soaring list have provided quite thorough and factual pilot reports. One reporter bought. One didn't, but might. One has a commercial connection. One expert observed others and reported what he saw. Based on this fairly balanced series of reports, I have to surmise that the Exxtasy is going to sell in the USA and around the world. Including Millennium, Pegasus, Raptor and newer-yet designs, the D-Cell Gliders may trigger a movement toward gliders of this type with models possessing less or more complication, offering choices to pilots. Will it challenge flex wing sales? Probably not, I'd guess. A terrific sales performance of a couple hundred units in the first year or so would steal a few rag wing sales away, perhaps, but it might spur more total interest in free flight. Flex wings have weathered other such invasions. Then again... if one of the leading flex wing builders jumps into the fray in a big way, all bets are off. Down under in Australia, it's reported that hang glider and trike manufacturer, Airborne WindSports, will deal the Exxtasy. Hey, who knows!? I'll try to keep you informed. ••• So, got news or opinions? Send 'em to: 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Fax or Vmail to: 612-450-0930. Send eMail to CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS!

Published in Hang Gliding Magazine

ST. PAUL, MINN. — Whew! I’ve never seen rigid wing fever like this. Based on several reports received — plus intensifying chatter on various Internet lists — these gliders have more inertia than during any of the 19 years that I’ve been writing this column and reporting on rigid wing developments. Throughout that long period, rigids as a group held a fairly steady 4-5% of the market, but they never found the mainstream. ••• That may be changing! One glider in particular, the Exxtasy from Germany is showing some serious market strength. Reportedly, producer Flight Designs has already sold more than 150 copies including better than a dozen in the USA. However, Exxtasy is not alone and the others appear to be benefiting from the general excitement surrounding these wings. ••• To date, I am familiar with the Exxtasy, the Pegasus, and the Millennium. Less well documented (as of late Sept.

Product Lines – October 1997

By Dan Johnson || February 28, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

KINGMAN, ARIZ. -- Where? Kingman is north of Phoenix and isn't far from the popular soaring site of Mingus Mountain. Why am I here? Because BRS hires a large aircraft here to drop heavy weights as the company conducts final R&D tests for the Cirrus parachute. Cirrus will certify their four-seater SR20 early next year and it comes standard with a BRS 'chute system. • Now to product news... I told you last month that I had some accessories I couldn't fit it. ••• First off is the Dust Devil, a wind indicator but with a difference. You won't have to go to a landing field and set up poles and flags or wind socks. Instead you can carry the indicator with you, whether on a local or cross country flight. Huh? Yep, Ray Bauer of San Diego has developed a simple, low cost device that should help all your landings be into the wind. It is a small aluminum tube (about 4" long by 1" diameter) that contains a CO2 cartridge and a quantity of orange chalk that raises a dust cloud two or three times a man's height. It floats or is blown downwind. You load it up -- the process is easy and directions clear -- and carry the Dust Devil with you in flight. When landing at a field without a wind indicator, you dangle the tube from its ten-foot-long ribbon tape and release. The Dust Devil always tries to orient itself straight down to hit squarely on a hammer that punctures the CO2 cartridge. From most altitudes, you should easily be able to determine the wind. • Dust Devil sells for $39 but it can be reloaded easily with supplies you can find at many hardware stores. The chalk dust is used in snap-lines that any carpenter carries and the cartridges are used in CO2 powered guns. • Bauer Aviation Products sent me three Dust Devils with supplies of chalk and cartridges. We used them during the BRS drops and they performed as promised. They were easy to see and provided an an obvious wind indicator. In our experience during 20 mph winds, the cloud didn't go high but spread in the line of wind across the ground. Either up or across, it was quite visible. To order or get further information, write P.O. Box 23462, San Diego, CA 92193 ($39 plus $5 S&H). ••• Next is another neat idea that I've heard about for years, literally, although I've never seen a finished article. Longtime enthusiast, Charlie Baughman has developed an inverted hang system. Yep, with his idea, you can be more sure that in a tumble, you'll be able to maintain a grip on the control bar base tube. As most of you know, if a pilot could stay in the pendulum position relative to the glider airframe, control might be maintained and flight resumed (assuming of course that the pilot's considerable mass doesn't hit any tubes). "A strong, stable glider could recover to normal flight," says Charlie. • Obtaining this system won't cost you a dime, because he's giving it away. That's right, free! Drawings will appear in an issue of HG soon. It makes sense, really. Why should Charlie confront the legal liability of selling them... especially when the system is so wonderfully simple? Baughman is not marketing this to encourage aerobatics (though certainly some will embrace it for precisely that reason). Rather, it could make hang gliding safer. • This system -- which Charlie says he's worked on since tumbling in 1995 -- will allow a pilot to "fall" toward the airframe only 15 inches. It works via attachments to the control bar corners. A line runs from one corner through rings attached to the harness and back to the other corner. This permits full lateral movement. "You can stand up for landing and have full push-out," says Charlie, "though the flare is incomplete unless you release the line on one side." That's exactly what he does; "I'm not hooked up on take off or landing," Baughman adds. • Soon, he proposes to test it with a "flipped glider." The reality, he says, is that when you tumble you don't even have time to think about holding on. "The glider takes off -- gets ahead of you -- and you lose control quickly," testifies Baughman. As a member of the Been There/Done That crowd, he knows the feeling intimately. • I have heard at least a dozen bright folks in hang gliding say they were going to tackle inverted hang systems, but Baughman's effort is the first time someone claimed (to me) to have succeeded. I think it is an important addition to the hang gliding scene and I strongly commend Charlie for persevering. ••• Maybe it isn't as momentous as Baughman's inverted system, but Peter Birren eMailed to say he's now sold over 450 of his Linknife Releases. His latest customer: NASA, who bought them to answer a need for a "sure-fire, light weight method of cutting away the initial drogue chute of a new re-entry vehicle." NASA bought four, "not at $600 each but at the normal amount of $15," says Birren. (Thanks for saving us tax payers a few bucks, Peter.) • To get more information, call 847-640-0171. Send eMail to: RHGPA@aol.com. He's got a web page, too, so you Netheads can seek him out for faster info (search under Linknife or post an eMail. ••• Sales success is also coming to Flytec USA and their nifty instruments. With prices starting at $475 (3005 model), you can get into electronic flight decks quite inexpensively. Or you can spend $1,100 on the 4030 model that has all the bells and whistles. Flytec USA also released their GPS Access version to the US market after extensive software work with Tomas Suchanek and Larry Tudor. • After selling out of the first two batches "almost immediately," they've started taking further orders. They will also stock the year-and-a-half-old 4010 and 4020 models ($585 and $850). "The new line can be interfaced with a PC to up/download flight information and vario settings," with shareware available on their website. Call for info at 800-662-2449 or eMail to USAFlytec@aol.com. ••• One last neat idea... A New Zealand pilot, Nigel Leigh, is offering software called FlightView that will take vario download info and turn the data into a 3D file. The file can then be displayed "on the PC screen in full color and three dimensions," says Leigh. "The image includes the track of the hang glider superimposed on a user-entered 'map' of mountains, towns, lakes, etc.," he continued. The user can pan up, down, left, and right, zoom in and out, or view from a different angle. He even included a "Fly" button "which sets off a miniature hang glider flying the course!" FlightView is written for Windows 95 only at present. Call 970-544-0720 or eMail to nleigh@rof.net. ••• Gee... outta room again. I'll have news of Brightstar's new Millennium and Flight Designs' Exxtasy next month. So, got news or opinions? Send 'em to: 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Fax or Vmail to 612-450-0930. Or eMail to CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS!

Published in Hang Gliding Magazine

KINGMAN, ARIZ. — Where? Kingman is north of Phoenix and isn’t far from the popular soaring site of Mingus Mountain. Why am I here? Because BRS hires a large aircraft here to drop heavy weights as the company conducts final R&D tests for the Cirrus parachute. Cirrus will certify their four-seater SR20 early next year and it comes standard with a BRS ‘chute system. • Now to product news… I told you last month that I had some accessories I couldn’t fit it. ••• First off is the Dust Devil, a wind indicator but with a difference. You won’t have to go to a landing field and set up poles and flags or wind socks. Instead you can carry the indicator with you, whether on a local or cross country flight. Huh? Yep, Ray Bauer of San Diego has developed a simple, low cost device that should help all your landings be into the wind.

Product Lines – September 1997

By Dan Johnson || February 28, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

ST. PAUL, MINN. -- As I prepare for the big Oshkosh Airshow (like getting ready to meet an 800-pound gorilla, say some), I'm baffled by surging interest in powered trikes. For years, European producers have tried to sell these machines to Americans. It was always slow going because those who knew weight shift, delta-winged flying (that's US!!) overwhelmingly didn't want to fly with power. And the guys who wanted engines on their birds didn't know weight shift. How to bridge the gap? Whatever method they used -- it isn't clear to me and I'm a close observer -- trikes have gotten much hotter lately. Sales are happening and pilots are flying. • Now... why do I prattle on about this in a hang gliding magazine!? Because these people are showing an interest in our kind of wings, that's why. • USHGA leadership is taking steps to find new members to grow the association and along comes a new and growing number pilots who at least like the type of wings we have. A connection? Could this mean some spark of interest might develop among other pilots for truly free flying in hang gliders? We'll see... meanwhile, I'll keep selling hang gliding as a great way to fly in the powered aviation magazines that print my stuff. ••• Well, on with this month's Product Lines. But since I mentioned powered trikes, I've got to tell you about one that actually might interest hang glider pilots. From one of trikedom's big companies, it's the Cosmos Samba. However, they haven't been pushing the model at all. In fact, according to John "Ole" Olson, it had "fifteen years of dust on it." He visited the big La Mouette/Cosmos operation in Dijon, France as he has parlayed his hang gliding background into a leadership role among trike enthusiasts in the U.S. Not truly a salesman for Cosmos trikes Ole is perhaps better described as an evangelist. And since he continues to be tightly connected to hang gliding, when he saw this tiny little trike and knowing La Mouette had the Topless wing, he and Cosmos boss Renaud Guy put the two together, and, as the French say, "Voila!" (There it is!). • I had the chance to fly the Samba trike with Topless wing at Sun 'n Fun, and I am telling you loud and clear, "This thing is fun!" It handles great, zooms fast, climbs well, and is light. Trikes, especially the two seat ones, may be deluxe aircraft but they are trucks to steer around the sky. Not so with the Samba/Topless... not at all. I loved it!Since it also carries a modest price AND -- very important to hang glider pilots -- the Topless is exactly the same as the foot-launched variety. A hang strap dangles down while you fly in trike mode. Ole says, "You can take the Topless off the Samba trike and go hang gliding" ...just like that. Cool! I recommend you check it out. Best of both worlds, that kind of thing. Reach Ole via eMail (elvolador@aol.com) or by phone: 602-285-4094. ••• Speaking of big operations, Wills Wing continues to crank out the gliders even while parts of the hang gliding industry seem to be going through gut-wrenching changes (see next two items). WW-brand has completed flight testing and is now involved with vehicle testing of the Ultrasport 166... the large Ultrasport. Using parts from their top-end Fusion, the US166 boasts tighter side wires and easy ground handling. Plus, anhedral won't change when you alter the VG setting thanks to a "cam plate arrangement" that at the same time makes the VG easier to pull. Projected flying weights are 180 to 280 pounds because, "The glider carries weight really well," they feel. Wills added that it has "very low stall speeds and climbs great." Even though it has more materials everywhere, they've held the price as low as their US147 at $3,975. • In another WW accomplishment, they've passed 2,100 deliveries of their "Z" harnesses. At these kind of numbers, the harness line must be one of the best successes among all accessories for hang glider pilots. More info: 714-998-6359. ••• Wills may be satisfyingly busy, but Airwave of England continues to slip and slide. Their paraglider factory was shuttered on the Isle of Wight, which still remains home an AW hang gliding plant. Such a new austerity move on the heels of their closure of Pacific Airwave here in the States paints a rather dark picture for the onetime leader and builder of a reported 1,500 gliders a year. Britain's SkyWings magazine also published, "For the first time in over 15 years, not a single hang gliding League pilot is flying a new Airwave wing." The downsizing forced the departure of several top pilots which SkyWings opined, "represents a serious loss of market-friendly talent for the company." I sincerely hope Airwave recovers as I see them as part of the global fabric of our industry. ••• Meanwhile in Paris, I visited René Coulon, founder and publisher of Vol Libre and Vol Moteur plus owner of the country's largest mail-order operation. Coulon and his wife Martine have run these enterprises for decades. René certainly has one of the best perspectives in all of hang gliding. Yet he told me that his hang gliding virtually stopped three years ago. He still flies paragliders and ultralights when a busy schedule allows. • But his hang gliding passion is recently directed at German's new-generation rigid wing design, the Exxtasy from Flight Designs. I'll plan to tell you more about the Exxtasy in the next months. What is significant here is Coulon's bubbly excitement over this wing, "Performance beyond flex wings, good handling, and very easy landings, what more do you want?" Goodness! Especially contrasted with his grim outlook for hang gliding, Exxtasy bears deeper inspection. ••• Running short of room; some accessory items will have to hold till next month. So, got news or opinions? Send 'em to 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Vmail or Fax: 612-450-0930. Send eMail to: CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS!

Published in Hang Gliding Magazine

ST. PAUL, MINN. — As I prepare for the big Oshkosh Airshow (like getting ready to meet an 800-pound gorilla, say some), I’m baffled by surging interest in powered trikes. For years, European producers have tried to sell these machines to Americans. It was always slow going because those who knew weight shift, delta-winged flying (that’s US!!) overwhelmingly didn’t want to fly with power. And the guys who wanted engines on their birds didn’t know weight shift. How to bridge the gap? Whatever method they used — it isn’t clear to me and I’m a close observer — trikes have gotten much hotter lately. Sales are happening and pilots are flying. • Now… why do I prattle on about this in a hang gliding magazine!? Because these people are showing an interest in our kind of wings, that’s why. • USHGA leadership is taking steps to find new members to grow the association and along comes a new and growing number pilots who at least like the type of wings we have.

Product Lines – August 1997

By Dan Johnson || February 28, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

ST. PAUL, MINN. -- Summer's hot and so's the season. Here we go as the summer thermal season reaches a zenith. El Niño is predicted to cause fluctuations in worldwide agriculture this year, acting up as it reportedly does on a ten-year cycle. Dependent as we both are on weather patterns, Niño is also of interest to hang glider pilots... (Gee, do we have any hang gliding farmers?) ••• I was excited to hear through air show hang gliding pilot, Dan Buchanan, that Brightstar is nearing the end of development on their new Millennium. This is a folding wing Swift-type glider based on that same sexy planform and computer-enhanced aerodynamics that made the Swift a winner. It will use a D-cell construction with very light fabric wings. Dan reports the ribs cleverly fold against the D-tube as part of the folding process. • He also relayed an impression that it flew slower and appeared easier to fly than the Swift. Its also less complicated -- no flaps on this one -- to appeal to a wider pilot audience. Brightstar is said to be aiming for an $8,500 pricetag. If they can achieve that in production and if it comes reasonably close to the Swift in performance -- and given more hang glider-like foldability -- Brightstar might finally move the market for rigid wings. For years, rigids have formed a 4-8% share of the U.S. glider market, showing the best strength during the Manta Fledgling years. Millennium just might have some effect, what with topless hang gliders hitting the $6,000 mark. • Brightstar also plans a two-place trainer, Dan said. (Hmmm... wonder if he's considering a Millennium for his popular air show act?) The Brightstar gang had a pretty good run with the Swift, reportedly building nearly 60 of the glass wonders (not including what their European licensee built). Of course, it compares to only a few weeks production at Wills Wing in unit numbers, but the Swift was expensive (over $13,000) and the mainstream hang gliding population wants conventional weight shift. Yet since pilots also want more cross country performance Millennium could find more sales at the lower price. We'll watch and see. Info: 707-576-7627. ••• U.S. Aeros, seller of those Russian hang gliders, reports that they've taken orders for and have delivered "a good number" of their Target intermediate glider. No wonder perhaps at $2,650 retail, but pilots also reportedly like the very light pitch and roll pressures. Performance is pegged at something a bit more than the beginner Falcon, closer to a Pulse. At Kitty Hawks big 25th event last May, the Target showed off in front of big crowds by outsinking everyone. That may not be cross country performance, but it sounds like it delivers what a lot of us like: an easy ride up and lots of fun loafing at cloudbase for an hour or three. Info: 919-480-2774, or see former PacAir road warrior, George Reeves, as he tours for U.S. Aeros ••• I wonder how well AV8's new marketing plan is being received by pilots? The idea of buying a glider with up and downgradeability is novel I think. Their "RST" (for "Recreational") version of the ST topless is achieved with what they call a "degrade kit" which eventual sellers of Laminars STs can install to render the hot bladewing a bit more tame. AV8 has not said how this kit works. Info: 888-422-7620. I recall Wills Wing's Raven once had a cable restraint device fitted to the tall keel pocket which reduced PIOs resulting from the glider's snappy roll rate. ••• North Wings reports hiring Jose and Maria Gonzales, two longtime sailmakers for PacAir. Proprietor Kamron Blevins says their 12 years (each) of experience assure quality repairs for PacAir and Delta Wing gliders. It's nice to see someone doing a good job of helping out stranded pilots. Info: 408-883-9142. ••• North Wing makes a tug wing for powered trikes, and it's best to have choices. But the king of tugs remains Bobbie Bailey, now partnered with Bill Moyes. They must be close to, or even over, 50 units flying by now. The latest iteration, which I first saw at Sun 'n Fun '97, is powered by the awesome Rotax 914 Turbo. This four cylinder powerplant puts out 115 horsepower for long enough to get a hang glider to altitude (after a few minutes you must back off to only 100 horses). WOW! It really makes short work of single place tows, and reportedly can reach 1,000 fpm even tandem. The price must keep rising, what with the engine alone going for $14,000 retail in the USA. However, these things are airborne tractors, worked unbelievably hard at times. Power makes for reliable towing and the four stroke operation should help the engine run a long time between major maintenance. Even gas economy should be fair, though clearly fuel miserliness isn't the objective. Info: 352-429-0213. • Tracy and Lisa Tillman and their Cloud 9 Sport Aviation enterprise have acquired one of these potent flying beasts. They sent out a notice that they're planning an aerotow operation near Ann Arbor, Michigan, inviting interested pilots and Wind Walker club members to get together to discuss techniques. Norm Lesnow will provide aerotow tandem training. Especially as we often seem to face loss of our precious mountain sites, these all-private tow operations seem to offer another path to growth in hang gliding. I wish the Tillmans well. Info: 313-669-8449 ••• Outta room. Next time some accessoary items that just wouldn't fit this time. So, got news or opinions? Send 'em to: 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Fax or V-mail to: 612-450-0930. Or, send E-mail to: CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS!

Published in Hang Gliding Magazine

ST. PAUL, MINN. — Summer’s hot and so’s the season. Here we go as the summer thermal season reaches a zenith. El Niño is predicted to cause fluctuations in worldwide agriculture this year, acting up as it reportedly does on a ten-year cycle. Dependent as we both are on weather patterns, Niño is also of interest to hang glider pilots… (Gee, do we have any hang gliding farmers?) ••• I was excited to hear through air show hang gliding pilot, Dan Buchanan, that Brightstar is nearing the end of development on their new Millennium. This is a folding wing Swift-type glider based on that same sexy planform and computer-enhanced aerodynamics that made the Swift a winner. It will use a D-cell construction with very light fabric wings. Dan reports the ribs cleverly fold against the D-tube as part of the folding process. • He also relayed an impression that it flew slower and appeared easier to fly than the Swift.

Product Lines – July 1997

By Dan Johnson || February 28, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

DUNLAP, TENN. -- Back in the Chattanooga area and up at Henson Gap for Memorial Day weekend, I was hoping to do a lot of soaring on the newly completed Cumulus motorglider. However, with only one day remaining, a stationary weather system was foiling those plans. Meanwhile I had some time to put out another "Product Lines." So, on with the news, as promised last month. ••• First off, congratulations are deserved for friend and fellow USHGA Board of Director member, Pete Lehmann. He can now claim he flew the longest flight in the east, no slight feat after worthy accomplishments in the past. Previous marks had been held by Mike Neuman (135 mile Penn. state record), the more difficult 157 mile East Coast Record by Tony Smolder, and the east of the Mississippi record by Larry Bunner (178 miles). Pete managed an excellent 182 miles on May 7th. He's already written an interesting account of the accomplishment but I wanted to add my appreciation of fine flying by an excellent pilot. Attaboy, Pete! ••• U.S. hang glider manufacturing is taking a new turn, in my view. I see increasing orientation to what I call niche marketing. Here in the late '90s, we have one major manufacturer in Wills Wing who supplies the bulk of new gliders in a full lineup of four models. Following that is a series of much smaller builders reinforced with some import operations. The oldest and best known of these is Seedwings and Bob Trampenau's beautiful Sensors. Now Seedwings is trailed by Altair, John Heiney's new company to supply the innovative Predator. In Florida is Terry Reynold's Acme company finishing the TR3 carbon fiber glider. In addition, Kamron Blevins has begun North Wing Design. ••• Kamron is known to some enthusiasts as he once ran an enterprise in Washington state encompassing a full sail loft, school, and dealership. Since then he's done stints with PacAir and Delta Wing. Now that they've left the business, Blevins has established North Wing to fulfill several needs he perceives. • First are items for PacAir or Delta Wing gliders. Kamron says you can get "parts, sail repair, and professional technical support" for PacAir gliders. He adds, "We can also supply all airframe and rigging parts for the Dream line." He invites any pilots or dealers flying those gliders to contact him for parts or sail repair. • Secondly, and perhaps the main thrust of North Wing, is wings for powered trikes. Blevins says he saw, "...a need in the trike market for a high-quality U.S.-made wing designed by a professional, not a copy of a hang glider like a Dream or an old Demon." He recognizes that hang gliders and trike wings are "different animals and that a hang glider should not be used as a trike wing." Many ultralight trike dealers agree with this assessment. • North Wing is making three trike-capable wings. The Mustang 19 was "designed around aerotowing," and will reportedly fly at 28 mph while towing. Blevins says it is great for two place training as well. Next is the Mustang 16, a smaller and sportier wing with a speed range up to 65 mph. Finally, he has the Contour 14.5, an 88% double surface wing that can race to 72 mph while landing at only 22 mph, says Blevins. The top-of-the-line Contour is intended for cross country touring and training flights. • North Wing is not entirely focused on trike wings and therefore hang gliding dealers may be quite interested to know that the new company will make 190 and 220 Eaglets, which, interestingly!, are available in kit form. • Prices and availability on hang gliders, trike wings, and parts from North Wing can be obtained by contacting Blevins at P.O. Box 128 in Marina, CA 93933. You may also call 408-883-9142 or 672-8659. ••• While Wills, Seedwings, Altair, Acme, and North Wing are Yankee enterprises, several import operations are also thriving. These include long-established Moyes, of course, but relative newcomers AV8 (Laminars from Italy), U.S. Airwave based at Lookout Mountain (Concepts from England), and now, GW Meadows' U.S. Aeros, Inc., which will import gliders from Russia, of all places. This newest operation has a lineup of three glider models • The Target is a single surface glider available in 145 and 180 square foot sizes. While similar to WW's hot-selling Falcon, the Target adds a mylar L.E. insert, and a lower twist wing, says Meadows. Lighter pitch and roll pressures than the familiar Dream come from using a kingpost hang point. "I believe [it is] the only single surface [glider] ever to do that," observes GW. The customer gets a choice of sail colors for only $2,650. • The Stealth (with kingpost) is only available in a 158 square foot size. This double surface model glider has all the modern features like rope VG and rear haulback and sells for $4,100. Like the Target it uses Polyant Dimensions sailcloth from Germany which Meadows says is "the same supplier as Wills Wing." • However, the "head turner" is the Stealth KPL (kingpostless). Like all the Aeros brand gliders, says GW, "It has the same great finish and sailwork... but has a built-up aluminum spar for the cross bar." He continues, explaining, "Where the majority of other manufacturers are using carbon fiber (much more expensive; same weight), the KPL uses a conventional spar that has been proven in general aviation for over 60 years." The KPL is presently available in 132 and 152 square foot sizes and according to Meadows, "The 144 is still being finished up and should be undergoing the initial pitch and load test [for the German DHV] before long." Perhaps the real surprise is the quite modest $4,800 price in the USA, which includes the shipping and import expenses. GW claims this is $1,000-1,200 less than all other topless designs. • I'll have more on the U.S. Aeros operations in a future "Product Lines," but you can call for further details at 919-480-2774. You can also fax to 919-480-0117. ••• Say, we're outta room once again. Next month I expect to have some breaking news on Brightstar's new Millennium (a partially cloth wing, lower-priced follow-on to the Swift). So, got news or opinions? Send 'em to: 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Fax or V-mail to 612-450-0930. Or E-mail to CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS!

Published in Hang Gliding Magazine

DUNLAP, TENN. — Back in the Chattanooga area and up at Henson Gap for Memorial Day weekend, I was hoping to do a lot of soaring on the newly completed Cumulus motorglider. However, with only one day remaining, a stationary weather system was foiling those plans. Meanwhile I had some time to put out another "Product Lines." So, on with the news, as promised last month. ••• First off, congratulations are deserved for friend and fellow USHGA Board of Director member, Pete Lehmann. He can now claim he flew the longest flight in the east, no slight feat after worthy accomplishments in the past. Previous marks had been held by Mike Neuman (135 mile Penn. state record), the more difficult 157 mile East Coast Record by Tony Smolder, and the east of the Mississippi record by Larry Bunner (178 miles). Pete managed an excellent 182 miles on May 7th. He’s already written an interesting account of the accomplishment but I wanted to add my appreciation of fine flying by an excellent pilot.

Product Lines – June 1997

By Dan Johnson || February 28, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

ST. PAUL, MINN -- Back home after attending the big Sun 'n Fun airshow and just before that another USHGA board of directors meeting in Colorado Springs (the HQ of the association for those of you just back from another planet). ••• One of the evenings involved a little party at Yoo-shga offices. While the directors and a crowd of perhaps 50 persons milled about, someone pulled old copies of this magazine off the neatly organized shelves. Editor Gil Dodgen, myself, and several others enjoyed the memory lane trip of rifling through the old rags. • As many of you recall, this column, starting its nineteenth year with this issue (!!), is a take off from the old Bill Allen "Flying Bull" column that ran back in the late '70s. When Bill had to step down, he called for a writer to succeed him. When none came forth, I adapted -- and always gave credit to Bill for -- his style within my own Whole Air magazine. • Funny though... I believed I was closely emulating the look and style of the man who gave birth to the format. Yet as we all looked at "Flying Bull," the truth is, I've changed it a lot. The typewriter look came from the early days of Whole Air when we bought type outside rather than compose it on a Mac' (which didn't yet exist). "Flying Bull" was professionally typeset. Neither did Bill use the "•••" separators of today. His separators were all boldface capital letters. However, the basic "feel" of the column is genuinely similar: folksy, newsy, and somewhat lighthearted. • The real yucks, however, came from Pork's Hang Diving magazine parody. Its weird and wonderful humor literally had a number of the directors in stitches. Don't be surprised if Gil uses some of the seemingly ancient humor again some day. It hadn't lost it edge. (Thanks, Pork!) • Well, so much for reminiscing. Let's get back to products and stuff, the true hallmark of this "Product Lines" version of "Flying Bull... ••• Hey! The flying season is off and happening, as evidenced by a state record distance flight from Florida's Wallaby Ranch. Yup. Mike "Hollywood" Champlin rented a Moyes SX4 and flew 147 miles to within a few miles of the Georgia border! Nice job, Mike! For his efforts, he got more than a clap on the back; he won the Wallaby standing prize of $500 (which no doubt covered the glider rental fee and tow quite nicely). On the same day, book writer Davis Straub also managed over 100 miles. They had some dandy conditions. Two days earlier, I also got a good one, skying out in a Falcon 195 to 7,300 feet (pretty high for Florida, I'm told). One of those, "couldn't get down" days... excellent! Thanks to Malcolm and his Ranch Hands. ••• Up at Quest, some fine flying by females was set to occur just after Sun 'n Fun and hopefully they, too, got some of the great southern air. I'm sure we'll hear more. ••• Still more followed Sun 'n Fun in the form of the ECC or East Coast Championships, the now-traditional season-starter contest. According to my old friend and meet director, Rick Jacob, the event went very well with seven of eight days good flying. Rick reported, "The topless gliders are outperforming the gliders with kingposts by a substantial margin." • This Tree Topper club-sponsored event racked up 3,182 miles of flying including one 46-mile task to Lookout Mountain's LZ. Nelson Howe won on a Laminar and was trailed by topless gliders through sixth place as follows: 2nd Jim Lee/Fusion; 3rd Pete Lehmann/Fusion; 4th Brad Koji/CSX; 5th Mark Gibson/FR; and 6th Larry Tudor/Laminar. • Regretfully one tragic accident cast a cloud over the event. Rob Howe of the Chicago area was killed when he lost control and struck the cliff. Our heartfelt sympathy to his wife and family. Jacob will complete and file and accident report. • At the event, several new topless gliders were seen. Jim Lee's Fusion was done barely in time and Koji's CSX was reportedly the same one used for truck testing. For some of the meet Dennis Pagen flew the Russian Stealth which is being imported by GW Meadow's Just Fly. Different than all the rest, it has a riveted aluminum crossbar in lieu of carbon fiber which no doubt helps bring the price tag down to nearly $4,000 delivered (as opposed to over six grand)! ••• These events need trophies and a new source just emerged. Lisa Tate started an enterprise named Soaring Dreams and she prepares awards for HG meets. She's already done the Owens Valley XC Champs, the US Nats, the Manufacturer's League Meet, and several regional/local contests. They're all hand crafted in glass, wood, metal, or plastic. Give her a jingle at 208-376-7914 (evenings). ••• More on the big Telluride Festival... first, that the dates shifted a squeak to August 18-27, but also the list of particulars grows. Luigi Chiarana will be the director and he called to say that some big names are coming. Bill Lishman of C'mon Geese and Hollywood's Fly Away Home fame will show along with fellow birdman, John Stokes. Michael Robertson -- who did the Easy Riser flying in Fly Away Home -- will also attend. Ray Leonard, one of the few U.S. pilots who knows the Speed Gliding format personally, will direct that part of the Festival. Of course, Jim Zeiset's Pendulum is offering that $15 Grand prize dough that will surely draw far and wide... HA!, like the event needs more draw. It ought'a be great. To keep up-to-date on the developing news of the Festival seek out their web page at www.pendulumaero.com or call 800-WE-FLY-XC. ••• Back east and out west at the same time, Greg Black's partner Lars Linde bought out Jeff Greenbaum's Airtime with another partner, Greg Smith. Lars had been running the EPC and will now add the WPC, or West Coast Paragliding Center. Black stays in the loop as partner of the hang gliding operation in the Bay Area shop. • Lotsa news from Greg as he says Mountain Wings took over the local Ellenville, NY airport as FBO (that's Fixed Base Operator to you non-general aviation pilots). Kind of a big deal when an HG biz takes over a GA airport, I think. Greg says business has bounced back nicely from last year, in fact, he's already ahead of all last year and the season is just beginning. • The airport will be the site of a big July 4th event which is open to any commercial sport aviation enterprise who'd like to find some new customers. The town's doing up fireworks on a grand scale, Black reports, and pilots like John Heiney and Larry Tudor will be present. ••• Tudor is traveling on his familiar Road Tour, except now it revolves around his AV8 business selling the Italian-made Laminars. (More on them, GW's import biz, and Kamron Blevin's new North Wing manufacturing operation next month as...) ••• We're outta room. So, got news or opinions? Send 'em to 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Messages or fax to 612-450-0930, or E-mail to CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS!

Published in Hang Gliding Magazine

ST. PAUL, MINN — Back home after attending the big Sun ‘n Fun airshow and just before that another USHGA board of directors meeting in Colorado Springs (the HQ of the association for those of you just back from another planet). ••• One of the evenings involved a little party at Yoo-shga offices. While the directors and a crowd of perhaps 50 persons milled about, someone pulled old copies of this magazine off the neatly organized shelves. Editor Gil Dodgen, myself, and several others enjoyed the memory lane trip of rifling through the old rags. • As many of you recall, this column, starting its nineteenth year with this issue (!!), is a take off from the old Bill Allen "Flying Bull" column that ran back in the late ’70s. When Bill had to step down, he called for a writer to succeed him. When none came forth, I adapted — and always gave credit to Bill for — his style within my own Whole Air magazine.

Product Lines – May 1997

By Dan Johnson || February 28, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

ST. PAUL, MINN -- We're in the high season now, and except for the excess moisture in some parts of the country, hopefully it'll be a year for some excellent flying. One place this will happen in in North Carolina at the oldest ongoing hang gliding event in the world. ••• In just a few days, the Kitty Hawk Kites 25th Annual Hang Gliding Spectacular Competition will combine with the USHGA National Fly-in. Those of you who can ought to trek to Jockey's Ridge in Nags Head, NC and make the event. It should prove memorable... and not just because it is probably the oldest HG event in the world. • Stars will be present: WW prez, Rob Kells; long distance king, Larry Tudor; writer/meet director/gear seller, GW Meadows... oh, the cast of characters goes on. • An action-packed event is planned with a key element being the flying. A great time of year on the Outer Banks, you can soar the famous sand dune that has trained more hang glider pilots than any other in the world, or you can aero tow at the relatively nearby Currituck Flight Park. • A first, an Air Sports Expo, will showcase flying equipment from a number of vendors in a classic airshow setting. A Rogallo Foundation Hall of Fame award will be given to the first deserving recipient. • Proprietor John Harris is promising parties every night of the four-day event with a big street dance as one of the highlights. John has been working hard to promote his quarter-century-old Spectacular. • All in all, it ought'a be a great time. Be there! For details, call 800-441-4124, voice box 11. Or call 919-441-4127. You can also E-mail information@khkinfo.pdial.interpath.net or investigate their website at http://www.kittyhawk.com/kittyhawk. ••• In a related event of long standing tradition (barely one year younger than KHK's Spectacular), the Telluride Festival is happening over August 18-23. This year's event is expanded further to include not only the World Aerobatic Championships but also a Speed Gliding Champs endorsed by the WHGS (World Hang Gliding Series). Like many others, I'm very enthused over the potential for speed gliding as a way to offer great views to media that might help promote hang gliding, and I think Telluride ought to be a dynamite setting for such a dash down the mountain. Jack Carey is the director again and this year Jim Zeiset's Pendulum Aerosports is providing big-time sponsorship to the tune of a $15,000 purse (half for the speed gliding portion and the other half to the aerobatic champs). This is a massively attended event in a stunningly beautiful location and you should consider attending. For more details, E-mail jimzgreen@aol.com or jack_carey@infozone.org. You can also call 719-539-3900 (Pendulum) or 970-728-4759 (Carey). ••• Seedwings wrote to announce "three new flapped Sensor 610 models." It's been a while since Trampenau sent information to Product Lines, but that may very well be because he's been putting extra design time on his new birds. The 610s are available in three sizes: a 135, 142, and 150. The new flap system goes the old system one better, literally lowering the stall speed "another 1 mph from the previous 4 mph reduction of the original flap system." He also claims that sink rate is 10-20 fpm better on all models while yet maintaining Never Exceed speed at 65 mph. For further information on the newest Sensors from Santa Barbara, call 805-968-7070 or fax to 805-968-0059. ••• Former PacAir boss, Ken Brown, wrote to say, "It's official! I am now working for Lakeland Ultralights, the water flying specialists." Ken will move his wife Julann and year-old son Avery to Sharon, Pennsylvania where Lakeland UL is based. "We're excited about all the new opportunities. It appears the ultralight market is on a bit of a rebound and water flying is such a blast." He'll be working on a trike ultralight fitted with a float system and named the Sea Wing. Since I expect to see -- and perhaps even fly -- the bird at Sun 'n Fun, I can tell you more about the work he's doing in a future "Product Lines." Good luck, Ken! For those who'd like to contact Brown, use the E-mail address of kenb@ijlee.com. ••• Larry Tudor informed Product Lines that importer AV8 "is now getting regular shipments of the Laminar ST kingpostless glider." He also reports, "We are getting a great response on its performance and handling." • Additionally, the new company is accepting orders for the Laminar 13 ST (about 140 sq. ft.), and the European M2 harness as used by Silver Medalist -- and top U.S. pilot at the Pre-Worlds -- Nelson Howe. For further information from AV8 on their line of gliders and gear, E-mail Tudor at voador@InfoMagic.com... or see their ad in this issue. ••• Finally a clarification: Greg Black's APLOR (Automatic Pre Lock Out Release) mentioned here last month is intended to be a system that can be added to virtually any tow release mechanism. While Black also sell releases, he meant the APLOR to be a safety gizmo that might help newer pilots avoid lock out situations. Call 914-647-3377 for greater detail. ••• Well, diver fans, this concludes yet another Product Lines, and also concludes the 18th year of this column. • So, as usual, got news or opinions? Send 'em to 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Fax or V-mail any info to 612-450-0930. Or, you can E-mail to CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS!

Published in Hang Gliding Magazine

ST. PAUL, MINN — We’re in the high season now, and except for the excess moisture in some parts of the country, hopefully it’ll be a year for some excellent flying. One place this will happen in in North Carolina at the oldest ongoing hang gliding event in the world. ••• In just a few days, the Kitty Hawk Kites 25th Annual Hang Gliding Spectacular Competition will combine with the USHGA National Fly-in. Those of you who can ought to trek to Jockey’s Ridge in Nags Head, NC and make the event. It should prove memorable… and not just because it is probably the oldest HG event in the world. • Stars will be present: WW prez, Rob Kells; long distance king, Larry Tudor; writer/meet director/gear seller, GW Meadows… oh, the cast of characters goes on. • An action-packed event is planned with a key element being the flying. A great time of year on the Outer Banks, you can soar the famous sand dune that has trained more hang glider pilots than any other in the world, or you can aero tow at the relatively nearby Currituck Flight Park.

Product Lines – April 1997

By Dan Johnson || February 28, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

ST. PAUL, MINN -- Back home in cold country after a couple delightful months in the Chattanooga, Tennessee area. Soon the season will heat up... and so will the soaring. News surrounds that pleasant development. ••• Moyes has introduced their version of the topless phenomenon that appears to be sweeping the entire design world. The down-under company will call theirs the CSX, saying it is based on the Super Xtralight SX series. • "Due to its use of carbon fiber," Moyes says, "[it] draws upon the technological leaps and bounds made by the massively funded America's Cup yachting industry." They explained further saying, "The CSX's center crossbars and divesticks come courtesy of one of the foremost yacht-makers who have been utilizing composite fibers for years." • Moyes also says it is using "Sail Propensity, or SP," which they define as, "an exciting new sail twist innovation which alters the sail's wingtip loading based on the glider's angle of attack." • While most glider builders do all their fabrication in house, Moyes continues to outsource work like the carbon fiber parts and even sail making. They say they "prefer to contract out [this work] to companies who are solely grounded in such highly-specialized tasks." They admit this raises their production cost, but feel it also "ensures the high integrity" of their gliders. • Full of announcements, Moyes also says that the CSX uses springtip battens that fit into enclosing pockets of the trailing edge, decreasing drag. In combination with the Moyes Deflexor System, they claim the springtip battens will extend high speed glide. • Though they are obviously enthusiastic with the topless CSX, they say they are still committed to the complete SX line, both CSX and SX. ••• Thinking of Australia, you'll read the definitive report elsewhere, but I wanted to add my congratulations for fine Pre-World Meet performances by Nelson Howe (second!) in his Laminar ST, and to Ryan Glover, who managed ninth place in his first year of competition flying. Brother David -- manager of the Wallaby Ranch -- brags of his sibling that, "Ryan's only been competing for nine months, yet he beat all other American team members except Nelson." Sure enough, even long distance king, Larry Tudor, came in 22nd in a strong field of top international pilots. Congratulations also to an old friend, Frenchman and La Mouette boss, Gérard Thevenot, who won on his Topless. ••• Among accessory products, I've had a couple looks at Greg Black's APLOR tow system. The Automatic Pre-Lock-Out Release is intended to stop a lock-out from ruining a tow launch. The adjustable arrangement pins off the line if a glider gets too far out of line. I didn't get a chance to use it, but it appears a workable system. Some aero towing enthusiasts don't see the need while others applauded it. In my experience, towing equipment -- considered highly personal gear by most pilots -- can generate more "expert opinions" than virtually any other accessory item. • Black says "The concept is out of the mind of our paragliding instructor, Phil Hirst." Greg refined it and began building it at his Mountain Wings shop for the towing operation they run at an airport where they recently gained access. He says it can be used with any release system as long as it attaches to both sides of the harness, whether at the shoulder, waist, or leg strap area. It can be used for both PG and HG, he reports. "To set the automatic release point, you simply tighten or loosen the knots in the 205 leech line attached to the release pin and bridle. The shorter the lines, the quicker or sooner the off-line situation will release you," Black says. For more info, call 914-647-3377 or E-mail at MntWings@aol.com. ••• Mark Mallett of Mallettec fame continues to refine his tiny little vario. Now with Surface Mount Technology (which gets better production reliability, he says) and new circuitry to slightly increase the volume, the Mini Vario nonetheless still remains a paltry $169 with a great two-year warranty. • The Mallattec is ideal for hang gliding, Mallett claims, by "eliminating any chance of damage to the instrument during landing, unlike bar-mounted, more expensive flight decks." He advises you use the Mini Vario for winter/recreational flying and as a backup during the summer/XC season • In an interesting side note, Mallett says he has adapted the Mini for use on hot-air balloons. Built in an "inverted" mode, the upsidedown Mini helps alert balloon pilots -- who can become engrossed in XC flying duties -- of an increased descent rate. The unit is basically an "audio 'down' variometer," says Mark. For info, see his ad or call 714-966-1240. ••• Before I close, I should tell you (since I work for the company... it's my job, y'know) that BRS has experienced two new parachute "saves" of interest to many hang glider pilots. Last year, not one but two Dragonfly tugs used their on-board BRS 'chutes. Nearly all D-flys have them installed and given their workhorse duty, this appears to have been a very wise decision by designer, Bobby Bailey. Flown hard in tow after tow, the Dragonfly is pushed harder than most ultralights, so it may be no surprise that one particular plane, based at Wallaby Ranch, has now recorded it's second save on the same canopy. This is a unique experience for BRS saves: One canopy, one airframe, two parachute deployments, both successful. ••• Hey, outta room again! So, got news or opinions? Send 'em to 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Or, V-mail to 612-450-0930; E-mail to CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS!

Published in Hang Gliding Magazine

ST. PAUL, MINN — Back home in cold country after a couple delightful months in the Chattanooga, Tennessee area. Soon the season will heat up… and so will the soaring. News surrounds that pleasant development. ••• Moyes has introduced their version of the topless phenomenon that appears to be sweeping the entire design world. The down-under company will call theirs the CSX, saying it is based on the Super Xtralight SX series. • "Due to its use of carbon fiber," Moyes says, "[it] draws upon the technological leaps and bounds made by the massively funded America’s Cup yachting industry." They explained further saying, "The CSX’s center crossbars and divesticks come courtesy of one of the foremost yacht-makers who have been utilizing composite fibers for years." • Moyes also says it is using "Sail Propensity, or SP," which they define as, "an exciting new sail twist innovation which alters the sail’s wingtip loading based on the glider’s angle of attack." • While most glider builders do all their fabrication in house, Moyes continues to outsource work like the carbon fiber parts and even sail making.