ByDanJohnson.com

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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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HENSON’S GAP, TENN. — When I have the opportunity to write from Dunlap, TN — the self-declared "Hang Gliding Capital of the East" — I enjoy writing "Henson’s Gap" at the head of this column. I’m still here and loving it. ••• News this month includes some different stuff. First is a fascinating project just getting underway by my old friend, Tim Morley. Many Californians know Tim and a number of others will remember him as the longtime Wills Wing touring rep (a few souls before Larry Tudor took over nearly a decade ago). After his WW tenure, Tim had an accident when flying tandem. A fairly minor incident injured his spine in a way that took him out of foot-launched hang gliding. Talking to him on the phone, you’d never know, so upbeat is his attitude and enthusiasm for light flight. • Morley’s got a great idea to help disabled folks sample light flight. I say "light flight" as Tim probably won’t fly so-called conventional hang gliders again and neither may others who yet may enjoy the very personal type of flying we all love. He speaks of obtaining some Swifts, a SuperFloater, Cumulus, and perhaps other rigid wing-type hang gliders. • The basic concept is a non-profit corp that will obtain these gliders, provide towing services, and offer instruction to pilots using aircraft specially fitted for hand control operation (which poses no great technical challenge on stick-and-rudder aircraft). Tim knows he’s not the only disabled pilot who’d love to fly, so while Tim figures to get his own air fixes, this new enterprise may help a wider group of pilots and would-be pilots. He’s looking first at an airport near Mt. Diablo on the east side of the Bay Area. Later he may move the operation to Mariposa, just west of Yosemite. • I applaud the idea and offered to help. Morley needs yet to get through the legality of setting up a non-prof corp and other organization matters but will then be able to offer tax-deductible donation status to any funds or equipment you may care to offer. These days, Tim is connected by E-mail. Send to: tmorley@ix.netcom.com but allow time for a response. I’ll have more as the idea gels in this former businessman’s mind. ••• GW Meadows, another enthusiast who doesn’t know the meaning of the phrase "sit still," is also on the move with a new business enterprise. He’s starting GWM, which isn’t his name (though it’s uncannily close) but is rather Great Worldclass Meets. Taking his considerable experience at running major meets like last year’s U.S. Nats, GW will also weave in the Internet in a unique way to hang gliding. For those of us who cannot attend, GW will take photos with a digital camera and post them each day. His staff will also shoot the contest map where everyone pins in their landing spot each day. They’ll also include daily weather briefings and the net effect is that you may think you’re actually present. Certainly, you’ll know the goings on more quickly than ever. • Pilots will still take conventional photos but GWM has purchased its own photo processor to get the results back faster and more reliably. And like last year’s Nats, GWM will produce a daily tabloid gazette complete with their popular Sponsor of the Day advertising. • By formalizing the task of conducting meets, GWM hopes to standardize the "product" of meet running. Using the same techniques and staff (as often as possible), competition pilots should know better what to expect. And since he’s won rave reviews for the meets he’s directed, Meadows thinks he has a strong potential to improve meets. If you’re surfing already, try "JustFly.Com" and watch the site being constructed. ••• Getting back to more hard product oriented news… John Ryan at the new company AV8 reports that European hotshot, Manfred Ruhmer won the Australian Bogong meet flying on the Laminar represented by the new company that Ryan, Larry Tudor, and two other partners founded. ••• While releasing the Laminar results, Ryan also announced that the Hang Gliding Center retail outfit will open a "base camp" at the Lone Pine airport to service pilots flying the Owens. They’ll offer glider storage and a convenient morning meeting place. They also plan to offer X-C retrieval, oxygen supply, plus minimal parts and service and even glider rental. HG Center plans a bunkhouse and a weather station with phone downlink worldwide. Conditions at Walt’s Point will be made available regularly. Want more info or maybe a job opportunity? Contact Ryan at JRAV8@aol.com or call 619-562-1009. ••• Ball Variometers has a new sales rep and VP of marketing, Rami Hyary, who is making some interesting changes. Hyary’s primary job is to listen to the demands of the hang gliding and paragliding community to ensure the big American instrument maker is meeting the needs of the pilot community. Ramy comes from sales of big computer systems. He’s invested in Ball and looks forward to functioning in a smaller business climate. • In addition, Ball Prez, Mark Ferguson, was elected to the USHGA board of directors further broadening his company’s sphere of influence. • Ball has now "fully proofed" their snazzy ‘Comp and offers three models of it. First beta tested in 11/95 and finalized by 4/96, the Graphics Comp top of the line version, the GC70, features new screens for 1997. In addition, an upgradeable GC50 will bring a low entry price of $695 without airspeed, barograph, or speeds to fly. You can add sexy features as you’re able but can start with a basic vario and the usual attributes of a modern electronic flight deck. A GC60 model fills the middle ground and is the ’50 with barograph functions. The Graphics Comp is too much instrument to fully describe here, so get with Hyary and Ball to find out more. You can contact Ball via the ‘Net at www.ballvarios.com. ••• So, got news or opinions? Go back to sending ’em to 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Use my March-to-December phone number of 612-450-0930. E-mail remains CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS!

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ST. PAUL, MINN. — Back from warm San Diego to the "Deep Freeze" of Minnesota, I’m still in shock. It’s already hit 25 below zero and we have an average "snow load" of nearly 40 inches, the most snow ever on record for this time of year. Oh, brother! Good news, though. My wife Randee and I are splitting the snow scene for a two month respite. Yup! We’re headed to Chattanooga for the months of January and February, so you needn’t shed any tears for us this winter. In fact this is no vacation; instead it is an off-site working situation that we’ve been carefully arranging for several years. You’ll note a new address at the bottom of this old-timer column, BUT… the address will change back to Minnesota on about March 1st. So, if you’re one of the many who are kind enough to send along your opinions or news, do so to the address below only through the end of February. Well, enough of this personal stuff. I’ve got big news to relate. ••• Just last month, I wrote about plans and activities at Pacific Airwave, holder of a 25% market share in the USA and the U.S. partner of the big British hang glider manufacturer. In fact, Airwave UK was the majority owner of the operation. I say "was" as the Brits decided to shut the doors of the PacAir, calling it quits on their nine-year-old combined enterprise. U.S. Manager, Ken Brown, is presently out of the picture and all calls are being referred to Airwave USA, a subsidiary of Lookout Mountain Flight Park. ••• WELL… that’s a bit much to swallow, I’d say, representing a very significant change in the already minimal U.S. hang glider manufacturing scene. Perhaps a few industry insiders had some inkling of what was to come. But as recently as the late November board of directors meeting, few seemed aware that PacAir would soon be history. ••• I recall the events when I was still publishing Whole Air magazine back in the early ’80s. Airwave boss, Rory Carter, came to America seeking a new market for his Comet lookalike gliders that were already selling well in Europe. He had a plan and I helped supply dealer names and addresses. We spoke about the geography of this huge country (at least compared to compact England), and about who Carter should see in his pursuit of quality dealer reps. In those days, Pacific Windcraft was being run by Jean-Michel Bernasconi and it had nothing to do with Airwave. ••• In fact, one of the teams Carter eventually signed up were two young guys named Chris Bulger and Ken Brown. Some years after his visit, Carter struck a deal with Bernasconi and Pacific Airwave was born. A while after that, Brown linked up with Jean-Mi and the Airwave Team USA was off and running. It was a great run, indeed. PacAir produced thousands of gliders, both those of Bernasconi’s design and those created on the Isle of Wight base of Airwave UK. ••• In 1987, Airwave in Britain bought a majority ownership of PacAir. A few years later, Jean-Mi and wife Natalie took lesser roles and Brown rose to the leadership position of the U.S. operation. ••• Today Ken says, "Overall, while the closure of PacAir is a sad thing, it opens new doors and opportunities for everyone that was involved with the company." He continued, saying, "Airwave [UK] will now do all of the manufacturing in England. This will allow for a tighter control of specifications and quality. They will rely on Airwave USA at Lookout Mountain, Georgia for the distribution and spares service of the entire Pacific Airwave line. Much of the original tooling and inventory has been transferred to the new venture." In an important sub note, he added, "Recognizing the lower overheads of the new operation, new pricing has been introduced on the Concept, [Airwave’s newest highest performance glider]." ••• Matt Taber, the owner of Lookout Mountain Flight Park (LMFP), confirms his relationship with Airwave. He reports, "We are longtime PacAir reps and it is important to us to give good service to our many prior customers for those gliders." Taber identified that U.S. production ceased as of last summer as overhead for a dual operation was simply too large for the realities of modern day hang gliding. ••• LMFP, reportedly the largest U.S. buyer of both Airwave and Wills Wing gliders in the recent years, will continue to represent both brands. The big shop will not manufacture, instead focusing on distribution. "We’ll soon be receiving more parts from England and we’re presently contacting dealers and making plans to offer proper representation of Airwave," explained Taber. Matt added, "As a retailer, we know what kind of service we like and we aim to deliver that same service to those who will represent Airwave gliders." Effective the end of December, those wishing info or more should contact Airwave USA by calling 706-398-9545. If you like you can send E-mail to: hanglide@chattanooga.net or you can fax to 706-398-2906. ••• Wrapping up this tale of PacAir’s history, Ken Brown put his mood succinctly, saying, "I came to PacAir as an Airwave pilot and I remain an Airwave pilot." Changes are always difficult, but his attitude is commendable. I’d like to wish him and Matt Taber all the best in the new pursuits. ••• Once again, we’re outta room. So, got news or opinions? Send ’em to Rt. 2 Ð Box 80, Dunlap TN 37327. You should dial 423-949-6360 to leave a voice message or send a fax. (This new contact info is valid through February 1997 only.) Send E-mail to CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS!

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SAN DIEGO, CALIF. — Topless fever is coming! Relax! I’m not talking about the famous nude beach in this southern California city which last month hosted the USHGA board of directors. Of course, I’m talking about gliders without kingposts or upper rigging. Only a couple months ago, I relayed the thoughts of a German competition official who felt America was behind the times because our manufacturers were not embracing this new idea. I speculated myself that it might be another fad like scoops were not long ago. But in the months ahead, you will hear about topless entries from Wills Wing and Pacific Airwave. These will add to the Laminar ST, Terry Reynold’s new glider, and of course, the glider that started it all, the La Mouette Topless (although this brand has only a tiny presence in the U.S. market). ••• Rob Kells of Wills Wing confirmed they expect to put such a kingpostless glider on the market in 1997. He was careful to add that they expect to retain their entire present line of gliders including the XC and of course the still-kingposted Falcon series that has been a hot seller in the last year. (Matter of fact, the Falcon’s success helped the biggest Yankee builder regain their former unit volume of the early ’90s.) As is customary for Wills, they released no detailed information nor did they speculate on matters like release date, price, or certification efforts. You’ll just have to wait this one out a while. ••• Pacific Airwave will eventually offer the new Concept in kingpostless form, said U.S. boss, Ken Brown. These days PacAir is delivering gliders mostly produced by Airwave UK. "It’s an economy of scale thing," amplified Ken, adding that the U.S. facility retains the ability to produce, if, for example, heavy demand causes longer waits from England. In other ways, Brown says the two companies are merging operations and their California unit will concentrate on service and support more than manufacturing. Short-run, custom-glider building will continue in the Salinas area, however. ••• After even more exotic ideas were shown earlier in the development (mentioned here some months ago), Terry Reynolds is making a somewhat more conventional TR3 design. However, in typical Reynolds fashion, the Acme Glider Company glider is hardly conventional, using carbon fiber airframe members plus no kingpost or upper rigging (as you saw in photos last month). ••• John Ryan, partner in the new AV8 firm that includes Larry Tudor, indicated that supplies were slow arriving for their first batch of Laminar STs reported here last month. It seems demand is strong and many available units are destined for the pre-World meet in Australia this month. ••• Wow! Still more glider news as I report from the Wills dealer bulletin that they are releasing the Ultra Sport. Formerly known as the Sport XC, the new intermediate glider has completed all vehicle tests and Wills will seek certification at the next HGMA meeting. The Ultra Sport will come out at an introductory price of $3,975. Eventually available in three sizes the Ultra Sport 147 will be offered first featuring a 14:1 VG, rear crossbar haulback system, wingtips, nosecone, kingpost hang point suspension, speed bar, streamlined downtubes, and streamlined kingpost. Specifications of other sizes were not announced. ••• In related announcements, Wills announced a website at www.willswing.com and an E-mail address of comments@willswing.com. So let ’em know what you think of the new Ultra Sport or other products. ••• PacAir E-mailed more info… their newest "bragging rights." The Concept 49 (number meaning 149 sq. ft.; a "59" will also be available) had good initial competition results in Brazil. FYI: This is the kingpost model. The glider took First, Second, and Third plus 5th, 6th, and 8th at the Brazilian Nationals. In the Open Class where foreign pilots may compete, Concepts came in 2-3-4-5 plus 8th and 10th. Scattered around them were three Laminar "topless prototypes," and one La Mouette Topless. A Laminar won Open Class. "Gibbo" sent the report via Airwave UK and was pleased to report his own success: Third place Open Class on a Concept. ••• Airwave reports about the Concept, "We have been able to increase the efficiency, handling, performance, and stability with the system that has been used to replace the luff lines." Ken Brown added, "In the future, when we have devised a reliable mainspar system, [the Concept] will be available with the ‘topless option.’ At this time, with all the prototypes made, we find the biggest advances have been achieved while remaining with the standard airframe structure." In fact though they will produce a kingpostless version, Brown feels it will be "a minute step forward." The present Concept model eliminated the luff lines after careful observation of the many topless European gliders at the 1995 World Championships. To make up for lost reflex stability, Airwave chose to individually support the four outer battens with lightweight carbon fiber ribs — called "Spare Ribs" — giving the wing a wide range of washout-derived pitch stability. Airwave engineers tested the no-luff-line Concept with a "race-tuned" Klassic and a fully kingpostless Concept. The Klassic lost to both, yet Airwave postponed the topless model due to the small performance differences yet substantial extra cost in airframe materials. The no-luff-line model benefits from improved handling that came when they removed the sail-shift restraints caused by the luff lines and a high sail tension. Sail tension can be lowered on the Concept because the supported ribs which provide pitch stability do so over a broad span that keeps washout down. (Excessive washout can decrease high-speed glide.) The increased roll rate and lowered stall speed allows the Concept to thermal slower than its predecessor. Overall the approach sounds like a reasoned response to the topless fever raging throughout the design world. Soon we’ll witness how all the changes fare in competition. ••• Hey! Outta room. So, got news or opinions? Send ’em to 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. V-mail or fax to 612-450-0930. E-mail to CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS!

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ST. PAUL, MINN — With elections behind us (thankfully!) and strains of the "Little Drummer Boy" already driving us a little crazy, we’re in the Christmas season once again. I wish all of you warm holidays with family and friends. Now, on with news in hang gliding. ••• In recent years and months, the glider building business has been remarkably stable (or is that "quiet?"). Wills Wing continues to display dominance of the U.S. scene and also populates sites in Europe, Japan, and elsewhere. Pacific Airwave holds the second seat securely after recovering from the usual trauma of a move. Downwind from these leaders the field is less distinct. Seedwings labors along with their beautiful machines, albeit in smaller numbers but maintaining a ferociously loyal following. Moyes proved to be an import star in last year’s survey and we’ll soon see if the new one you received last month shows a continued success. Meanwhile though… changes at other companies: one import, one homegrown. ••• Larry Tudor faxed to relate big changes in his life. He got married, had a baby girl, and now, he’s left Wills Wing, his employer of many years. He says that a lot of reasons influenced him to quit Wills, "the biggest is escaping from L.A." He intends to move to Flagstaff, Arizona in the near future. In addition to these personal adjustments, the long distance champion will form a new company, "to handle the importation of the Laminar ST hang glider from Icaro 2000 in Italy." (ST is Senza Torre, or "without tower," meaning no kingpost.) The name of Tudor’s new company is AV8, Inc., and he lists the owners as Orlando Stevenson, Lee Terpstra, John Ryan, and himself. AV8 "will be the exclusive source for Icaro in the USA, Canada, and Mexico." He reports they plan to develop aspiring competition pilots, and happily announced that hotshots "Nelson Howe and Al Whitesill have joined the team and plan to compete on the new Laminar without kingpost at the Pre-World Championships in Australia this January." Until the Tudors move, you can contact Larry at 714-997-7057 (also fax capable). ••• A new glider manufacturer has arrived on the scene! Freshly named Altair has bought the Predator design developed by John Heiney. By the time you read this, Altair will be headquartered in its new facility five minutes from Utah’s famed Point of the Mountain soaring site. Master sailmaker Dick Cheney will continue to build all the Predator wing sails. U.S. 4th ranked racer, Dave Sharp, will fly the glider in the competition circuit. Heiney promised more info as the move continues, but said the change was a positive one for all parties and will allow the glider to move forward in establishing a market. ••• In a slightly different development, Bill Moyes wrote from Australia to say, "Apart from the Dragonfly [tug] and Tempest [ultralight sailplane], we will begin to build The Silent Racer." This German-made trike uses a totally fiberglass cockpit with the engine mounted internally. Their powered division, Moyes Microlites, complements their well-known glider building company, Moyes Delta Party Ltd. Bill adds, "The Gliders have bought a new factory." They planned to move in at the end of October. "Microlites will stay in the old factory." Moyes’ built a company around Florida designer Bobby Bailey to pursue projects like the Dragonfly and Tempest which are both Bailey creations. ••• Recently I attended the AOPA convention and saw some friends who work at Microsoft. A couple pilots have found their place in the giant software firm promoting the company’s long-popular Flight Simulator "game." Bruce Williams (with whom I worked when I sold Whole Air magazine to the General Aviation News & Flyer publication back in ’86) and Steve Wilson were at the San Jose convention center to push the Windows 95 version of Flight Sim. Of particular interest to hang glider pilots is a "resident thermal" at the Chelan, Washington flying site. You don’t (yet) get to catch it in a hang glider but can use their Schweizer 2-32 sailplane. Wilson said, "Over the top of the Butte the easy, big thermal can take you to 15,000 feet. We also mapped the roads and other features" which allow a pilot to navigate to Spokane on the state’s eastern boundary. You can also soar in ridge lift over the Seattle area’s Tiger Mountain and you can find lift in the San Francisco Bay Area as well as above the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles. The new Windows 95 version includes new and better scenery, new cities, new challenges, and new planes, one of which is an aerobatic-capable Extra 300S. It looked fascinating running on computers the two pilot reps had in Microsoft’s booth at the AOPA event. ••• Outta room for the last time this year, diver fans. So, got news or opinions? Send ’em to 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Fax or V-mail to 612-450-0930. E-mail to CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS!

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OSHKOSH, WISC. — In a different location this month, "Product Lines" comes from the headquarters of the EAA or Experimental Aircraft Association, the folks who build their own aircraft. The occasion was the assembly of the USHGA Board of Directors Planning Committee. This group of some the industry’s most important leaders gathers with the goal of looking longer range for the health and capabilities of USHGA. It was my pleasure — and honor, I must admit — to keep company and work with this group. • The PlanComm meeting took place at EAA after Executive Director Phil Bachman and I had met with EAA president Tom Poberezny last May. He offered their venue (versus an hotel somewhere) and we jumped at the chance. After Tom addressed the committee on two occasions, most felt satisfied that we had gotten some sound advice. EAA represents 165,000 members, has 145 employees, and an enormously impressive facility which includes a very professionally executed museum. They are clearly doing something right and the group benefitted from meeting in Oshkosh. • Capping the event was a special hop-around-the-patch in a beautiful 1920s Ford Tri-Motor aircraft. The widest grin was sported by our co-pilot for the flight, Wills Wing’s Mike Meier, who had the controls for most of the curcuit. The Tri-Motor experience was a unique way to take a break from two intense days. s The committee will relate its work to the full board first and then announce plans to the membership. I’ll only express that I felt energized by the spirit I witnessed. If just some of the ideas born in Oshkosh are implemented, USHGA will remain a vibrant organization, I believe. This kind of leadership is tremendously valuable… and by the way, like always, the director’s time is volunteered. Included were Tim Herr, Gregg Lawless, Mike Meier, Russ Locke, GW Meadows, Dennis Pagen, Claudia Stockwell, Randy Adams, Bill Bryden, Phil Bachman, and myself. ••• On to product news… I haven’t gotten all the way through the pre-print version of Jim (Sky Dog) Palmieri’s new book, "Sky Adventures, Fantasies of Free Flight." We’ve had a few books Published in Hang Gliding Magazinehang gliding but this is proving to be one of the most readable I’ve found, for a couple easy-to-understand reasons. First, Palmieri is the editor, only writing one of the 36 tales himself. The writers actually form a broad group of names, some of which are not well known, but some that are, for example John Heiney (who also contributed the cover photo), John Harris, Paul Gazis, Claire Pagen, Davis Straub, Dave Broyles, and Samantha Jo Moore. Artist Mike Vorhis does the illustration work. What surprised me was the consistent readability of the stories I read. The 36 pieces are each relatively short, typcially 4-6 pages This breezy style makes for quick, interesting reading without loading up unmercifully on arcane detail. Some stories are humorous, others educational, but all I read were quite well written. My impression was that hang gliding has its share of good writers and story tellers. Jim Palmieri’s ability — along with numerous helpers including his wife, Maggie, to whom the book is dedicated — shows in his choice of writers, story ideas, and in the editing he added. I think "Sky Adventures" is an excellent gift choice for the coming holiday season and I think most readers will find it entertaining, the book’s stated goal. "SA" will have some advertising in it and Palmieri reports, "A portion of the proceeds from this book will go towards supporting the United States Women’s World Hang Gliding Team. All ad dollars will go to this purpose." Buy the book for $14.99 plus $2.50 S&H. Call 540-772-4262 or E-mail jpalmieri@pen.k12.va.us. ••• In preparation for (oh, dread) winter, Earth Cog Industries has released a new bar mitt design which is different by being removable in flight. They say, "…these trick mitts attach to the bar via velcro grip pads and velcro palm patches. The most positive grip you’ve ever had in a bar mitt and you’re not stuck on the base tube." Now handling your VG control won’t freeze your hand on cold days. Standard mitts are said to come with map pocket, grip pads, custom add-ons, and something called a "snot patch," about which I don’t think I want to know any more. These be-all mitts retail for $75. For this and other Earth Cog products (like their Speed Sleeves), call 505-242-7373. ••• Finally I want to clear up some confusion about the statistics presented in the May ’96 issue. I stated that paragliding seemed to be slipping in its growth and that hang gliding was strengthening slightly. The info did not represent membership statistics, but rather survey results of the aircraft respondents are flying. Paragliding continues to grow modestly but steadily according to current USHGA records. The figures in this column related to the PG glider brands surveyed pilots said they owned. As such, Edel was clearly in the lead at about a quarter of all types. My material was picked up by France’s Vol Libre who published it. Chief Editor Noël Bertrand reports, "Trekking is not OK with this!" Trekking feels it accounts for a quarter of all U.S. sales in the last year. This may or may not be true. I used statistics on what pilots own now, NOT what they bought most recently. My regrets for any misunderstanding. Statistics are useful, like polls, but both can be misleading. ••• So, got news or opinions? Send ’em to 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Fax or V-mail to 612-450-0930. E-mail to CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS!

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ST. PAUL, MINN. — Our Just Fly U.S. Nationals are over and I heard little about the influence of the so-called topless gliders. I didn’t think much about this, being unsure if this idea is good design or merely good marketing. ••• However, German team leader Ernst Schneider sent E-mail which suggests that topless acceptance by contest pilots in Europe is much stronger. He writes, "Kingpostless gliders have gained popularity amongst competition pilots in Europe very fast this year and showed very good results at recent competitions." The results he listed put topless gliders in winning positions at the German Open (a Guggenmos "Cut RCS" won, followed by a UP "Speed") and six of the top ten at the German League were topless. Interestingly, though they showed well in the latter meet, the top three were "conventional" hang gliders. ••• In a related item, this German correspondent also states, "Market share of U.S.-built gliders in Europe has decreased significantly during the last years and it rather looks like this will continue." He notes that Americans may regard European gliders as having low standards of quality, safety, and performance, but adds, "…it looks definitely that the U.S. manufacturers ignore the latest technology step on gliders without kingposts." As I’ve expressed before, time will tell if this is the newest direction of hang glider design or just another short-lived idea like air scoops. Thanks to Schneider for his info on glider technology and trends. ••• One of those non-topless glider winners was eighth-time (!!!) German champion, Bob Baier. As Moyes was happy to observe in their latest mailing, he won flying an Xtralite 147. This was his sixth consecutive national title. The Down-Under company also congratulates winner Mark Tulloch at the Canadian Nationals — the first, by the way, to be held from a towing site; 32 pilot participated. Naturally, Moyes also spoke to their contest performance at the Dinosaur Nats, with their newest SX4 finishing in second (Suchanek), fourth (Brad Koji), and eighth (Brazilian Andre Wolfe). • Moyes is also promoting their newest glider cloth, called "Airfoil Diax," available in opaque or with hologram spectrum colors. ••• As long as we’re hopping around the globe so easily, Mexico is coming back as a winter flying destination. Following a couple years of less news on south-of-the-border tours, two operators are again pursuing Yanquis who want some good air while the chill winds blow up north. • Returning is well known Ole Olson. "We’re going to base [Safari] Sky Tours in Valle de Bravo this year." He’s used this location before as two sites are within a half hour. La Torre (The Tower) is known for its gentle breezes and consistent ridge soaring. El Peñon del Diablo (The Rock of the Devil, or simply El Penyon in gringospeak) is a "booming thermal site where… we sky out on a regular basis," says Olson. He claims to have gone to Peñon 212 times and never been unable to fly due to conditions. Olson reports many tour takers have raved over Peñon, quoting Paul Voight as saying, "What is it with this place anyway? Is it always this good? Don’t you ever get a day off?" • Olson reports that he and partner Eric Rasmussen will offer tours both for hang glider and paraglider pilots. Watch for Safari Sky Tours’ announcements in HG, or you can E-mail to Elvolador@aol.com. ••• A newer operator is Mexican-based Chal Hale and his Fly Mexico enterprise. Also serving both HGs and PGs, tours are available from $350 a week and can include accommodations, breakfast, ground transportation, and instruction. Hale advises, "Organize a group of four or more other people and you get to come for free!" He adds that the optimum season is from November to April. [From the USA], dial 011-52-726-20082. ••• Zapping back home again, good news up in New York where Mountain Wings owners Greg and Judy Black have again secured a facility to perform static towing. A bureaucratic battle went on for eighteen months but you can again get tows for either hang gliders or paragliders should the winds not favor the popular Ellenville mountain launch site. For details, schedules, and prices, call 914-647-3377. ••• On the Lighter Side… popular cartoonist Harry Martin has launched his new Internet page where newsletter editors can take his offer of free clip art. "Due to steady requests for artwork to place into newsletters, I’ve decided to set up a home page to make some artwork available to non-profit organizations only," says Martin. His service is aimed at HG/PG newsletter editors and offers artwork in the standard GIF format. Editors can also request artwork they don’t see now. He’ll update the page monthly and a limited number of available files will grow, he promises. Here’s his URL — http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Harry_Martin_. ••• Geek Reporter Dept.: When describing Peter Birren’s new towing release, the Linknife, I neglected one kinda important detail. The point was how it works… which is by cutting the actual weak link that is used on nearly all tow launches. After relying on the weak link to do its job enroute, the release is made by pulling on a cord that causes the two razor blades to cut the weak link. My apologies for any misunderstanding. This thing is so modestly priced you may have overlooked it. Try again by E-mailing Birren at RHGPA@aol.com. ••• So, got news or opinions? Send ’em to 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. V-mail or fax to 612-450-0930. E-mail CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS!

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ST. PAUL, MINN — The 1996 U.S. Hang Gliding National Championships — this year known more briefly by its sponsor name: the Just Fly Nationals — is over. Several tidbits of information resulted from the gathering and good ole, late-breaking "Product Lines" is here to tell you some of them. Since Meet Director, GW Meadows, is a regular Hang Gliding writer, you’ll read a thorough article in a later issue. But as I write this at the end of July, Meadows is presently enroute from the Nats to the giant Oshkosh airshow. He was willing to stop along the way and call in a few stats to my voice mail… so, thanks in part to the layout of this back-of-the-book page, you can read a few essentials now, barely after the meet is over. (As this column was completed, the rest of HG is already done and in final preparation for printing. "Product Lines" enjoys some last minute news potential because of the way this page is presented. Enjoy!) ••• Sponsored in large part, wholly organized by, and meet directed by Just Fly proprietor GW Meadows, the 1996 event was different than any in recent memory. GeeDub says, "This meet was the largest Nationals in modern hang gliding, with 144 competitors and pilots from 11 countries." He indicated that, thanks to the large and highly qualified turnout, the ’96 Just Fly Nats will definitely offer "the most WTSS Points of any non-World or non-pre-World Meet in the U.S." ••• The meet was "incredibly successful," says GW, obviously pumped up from the satisfying experience. "We flew seven out of eight days." Lots of pilots told Meadows it was the best meet they’d ever attended, that the organization was good. Oh, I’m sure a few bellyachers will surface. What was it Abe Lincoln said about pleasing all of the people all of the time? ••• "We also had really good workers," GW reported, relying as he did on a small bunch of folks to assist his direction. As promised, the staff also had a cache of prizes to give away and give away they did. While not a required part of the Nationals, such incentives add fun and interest beyond the rigorous flying. ••• The main prize was victory of course. Here’s what you’ve been waiting for… The winner was Manfred Ruhmer, hot pilot of the Italian Icaro gliders. He was followed by Tomas Suchanek on an Aussie Moyes glider, while Larry Tudor came in third in his Yankee Wills glider. Tudor thus becomes the National U.S. Champion. Congratulations, Larry! In addition, kudos are due to Kari Castle, the Women’s National Champion. The Sportsmanship Award went to Tony Barton, who was beset by various troubles during the meet including a car break down that cost him an entire day. ••• Cross country-wise, the event was also a success, with lots of pilots making goal and turning the event into a qualified distance meet. While the tasks weren’t a cakewalk in challenging DinosaurLand, many completed goal. GW’s wife, Jan, told me Ruhmer made goal every day. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that’s how he won. However, other top ranking pilots also made goal regularly. Dinosaur, Colorado is clearly able to deliver the goods this time of year. It’s done so in the past and, if GeeDub has his way, it will do so again. ••• Meadows says he’ll bid for the World Meet using the site. However, he’ll submit nearby Vernal, Utah as the base of operations. A larger town than little Dinosaur, Vernal could actually handle the throngs of a World Meet. "Dinosaur couldn’t," declares Meadows. ••• Obviously a businessman himself, and one who has been asked to partially sponsor other meets (that he didn’t direct), GeeDub set about assuring that all those who helped him got a fair shake on the advertising value. While not the main point of the Nats, his efforts may help increase the likelihood of future meet organizers finding sponsors. One such idea was the "Sponsor of the Day" program, a limited-slot opportunity for one company to "buy" a day. A company in which I have an interest, US Aviation, was willing to purchase one of these days. Meadows priced it reasonably and promised to take care of sponsors, making it a reasonable gamble. Too often in the past, donations to meets earned virtually no measurable results, making the cost of sponsorship hard to justify. Sponsors are needed to do it up right. Why, look at the Olympics just concluded. They can win or lose depending on their extensive, multi-million dollar sponsorships. Same for many of the individual teams. ••• Meadows had also gone to great extents to reward any pilots who chose to come and compete with the world’s best. Prizes were part of it but other distinctions helped entice as well. For example, several competitions-within-the-competition allowed others to take home some glory of the U.S. Nationals. Well, a more detailed story is coming, I know. I can’t wait! Concluding for now, I want to offer a hearty congratulations to GW and all the pilots, participants, and staff members of the Just Fly Nationals. Job well done. Be proud! ••• Oshkosh awaits. Let’s see what new aerial toys are offered. So, got news or opinions? Send ’em to: 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118 USA. Fax or V-mail to: 612-450-0930. E-mail to CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS!

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ST. PAUL, MINN — Airshow season is here. About the same time we hang glider pilots are heading out to sites across the country to catch the big thermals of summer, millions of non-pilots (and pilots) will attend local-area airshows. They’re America’s second largest public spectator event after baseball, quite a statement in a country known around the globe for having countless choices of entertainment. At how many of those airshows will the millions see hang gliding? Darn few! ••• One man is changing that by succeeding as few before him have done. Dan Buchanan performs despite physical challenges (a vehicle accident if you don’t know Dan’s story). He was able to fly the main airshow at Oshkosh last year, no small feat since the Wisconsin convention is one of the world’s largest events with close to a million people attending. Some pilots have waited literally years to get in, that is, to volunteer to perform; no pay is offered. Dan tows up — using step-towing to sustain longer at lower, more viewable altitudes — so his act is suitably mobile for the airshow circuit. Last year he flew Oshkosh on the concluding days when some of the top act departures make room for new discoveries. For this year’s event, though, he’ll be one of the headline acts, reports Yoo-shga Executive Director, Phil Bachman. And, in a recent news release, the 27th Annual Arlington (Washington) EAA fly-in has given top billing to Buchanan. They’re impressed with Dan’s "courage and empowerment to perform at airshows nationwide." After mentioning Dan and his hang glider, they go on to list and promote the other impressive acts they’ve booked. Good work, Dan! ••• Getting hang gliding in front of a big percentage of the general public is useful if we ever hope to gain entrance to the Olympics. A Wall Street Journal story documents 19 sports that are hopeful. Among the others are such mainline activities as golf, racquetball, roller skating, surfing, and water skiing. Other sports seeking admittance are ones hang gliding might compete with more easily: ballroom dancing, jai alai, underwater swimming, disk sports (Frisbee), and korfball. The story relates that the Olympics are very healthy, with 197 countries represented in Atlanta. Over 10,000 athletes are expected, up from 7,000 in the 1984 L.A. Games. The writer stated, "…by virtually all accounts, [the Olympics] are already too crowded…" Since entrance practically requires a sport to be dropped before a new one is added, several of the above sports have worked hard to become pre-qualified so they have a place in the line of succession. Why all the effort? Notoriety, of course, and swelling association memberships. But it’s also about money. A water ski association official notes, "Sponsorships come much easier if you’re an Olympic sport." ••• Worldwide hang gliding could use a boost. Numbers are slipping everywhere. Measured over a year (3/95 to 3/96), USHGA hang gliding division membership was down 5.4%, although a modest rising trend was occurring as 1996 got underway. (Overall membership is virtually the same because paragliding division membership is up 14.5% over the same period.) Yoo-shga leaders are discussing membership issues and the future; new plans may be announced. In Europe, it’s worse. Indeed this explains why some European club leaders and businessmen are pushing so hard for Olympic participation. If the opinion of experts means much, however, don’t look for progress on that front anytime soon. ••• Tow Launch Systems, or simply TLS, has announced a new "self-contained true fluid controlled pay-out winch." The line tension is governed by a patent-pending "silicone fluid metered through a variable flow restrictor." (Sound enough like Star Trek technodoubletalk?) Proprietor Chris Gagliano also has a powered winch with a 20-horse Honda four-stroke engine running through a variable speed transmission. The two systems seem fairly priced at $2,195 and $3,495. TLS supplies winch systems across the U.S. and several foreign countries. They have a dealer program and invite inquiries. Call TLS at 210-824-1803 or fax to 210-805-8386. ••• Peter Birren is promoting his Linknife. Saying it is a departure from the "old parachute technology [3-ring circus] used for HG tow releases," he calls the Linknife a "radical departure." The basic idea rests on the premise that most tow pilots use a weak link. Often these pilots use a new piece of string for each flight, to be sure it functions correctly (materials are cheap). This weak-link string can serve its safety purpose but can also aid separation from the towline. True, pilots don’t like giving up methods they know and that’s often a wise policy. However, this idea is fresh enough to capture attention. Birren has literature to send that will explain his low-priced $15 device. Call 847-640-1071, fax 0208, or E-mail to RHGPA@aol.com. ••• That’s it for this month… So, got news or opinions? Send ’em to 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. V-mail or fax to 612-450-0930. E-mail to CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS!

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ST. PAUL, MINN — About as you’re reading this, the "Umpteenth Annual 4th of July Festival of Foot Launched Flight" in Lakeview, Oregon is about to begin. If you live on the west coast you could read this and still attend, so, consider it a last minute invitation. • July 3-7 are the dates and they promise an interesting roster of activities. A cumulative cross country contest will award a $1,000 cash prize to the winning hang- or para-gliding pilot. Don’t want to hassle with cross country? Try their Trophy Dash, a timed race (Speed Gliding?) good for $100 to the winner. • Or, you can earn your aero tow rating, a mildly ironic sign of the times since the event calls itself "…Foot Launched." Hungry Joe Szalai and Bill Martke of Moyes will bring a Dragonfly tug and will offer aerotow training to pilots who want a break from running off the several mountain launches at Lakeview. At last report, the Reno, Nevada SuperFloater dealer also planned to make the trek. • Factory pilots from several manufacturers will also be present to allow demo flights on Wills XCs; Blue Sky Predators; PacAir Klassics or Visions; or Moyes Xtralites. In addition, paragliders were expected from several sources. Sounds like a full menu, so if you’ve nothing more exciting planned this weekend, head to Lakeview. For last minute info, call the Chamber of Commerce at 541-947-6040. ••• Thinking about cumulative cross country contests and tow launches brings me nearly back home to the Mother’s Day Cosmos Classic in Cosmos, Minnesota. The days were cool and didn’t look able to produce gangbuster thermals, but they did… 1,400 miles worth all told! In fact, Illinois pilot, Larry Bunner, almost broke the state record with a very strong 129-mile, 7.25-hour flight. Bunner and the group of 25 pilots enjoyed a superlative day of soaring. A member of the winning team, Bruce Bolles, says, "Oh yeah, they’ll probably always hold the Classic on Mother’s Day now, forever trying to repeat 1996." The weekend winner was a local pilot, Gerry Uchityl, who did well both days, racking up 185.5 miles. ••• Now all the way back east, the 24th Annual (they can evidently count higher than the Lakeview gang) Kitty Hawk Kites Hang Gliding Spectacular was a success, as is traditionally the case. Like so many hang gliding gatherings that endure this long, it becomes a great place to run into old friends from the early days of our sport. In spite of Kitty Hawk’s reliable and well used sand dunes, the longtime shop has an airport facility as well. A 5,000 foot runway — with overruns that add up to 8,000 feet — assures good high launches for tow pilots. The ’96 Spectacular had a tow competition one day of the event, putting a number of pilots at a 6,500 foot cloudbase, "…a ton of incredible flying," exclaimed owner John Harris. The airport is about 45 miles northwest of the shop’s beach location. Since it’s on the mainland, it offers a different type of flying only a reasonable drive away. Call 919-441-4127 for info or for their Internet site address. ••• Finally wrapping our little tour, we zap back across the country and up into Canada. James Swansburg E-mailed to say he’s built a Bed & Breakfast on a lake at the base of a 3,000 foot site in the Canadian Rockies. "I’ve equipped it with lots of toys for the hyperactive pilot." Since the enterprise is located within view of launch, Swansburg says, "Family and friends can hang out on the beach while you hang out at cloudbase." Info is available via E-mail (swanys@ cyberlink.bc.ca) and you can inquire about their web pages. ••• Geek Writer Dept. — As reported in my April column, I mentioned Rex Miller as the last Class II World Champ (in the story about Kari Castle becoming the first American to be Class I World Champ’). Californian Steve Morris was kind enough to enlighten me that I’d left out the current Class II World Champ’, Brian Porter. Of course this takes absolutely nothing away from Kari, but it was shameful of me to omit Porter and his lovely Swift. Sincere apologies to Brian and the Swift Team. Thanks for setting me straight, Steve. ••• Well, outta room once again diver fans. So, got news or opinions? Send ’em to 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. You can V-mail or fax to 612-450-0930 or send E-mail via CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS!

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ST. PAUL, MINN — As we circle into the soaring season, I have an eclectic group of topics. But first… ••• Like it or not, it appears some kind of FAA rule change is coming. Our reps to the ARAC group meeting with FAA are Dennis Pagen and Mike Meier, two solid individuals who will present our position well. It’s simply too early in the process to report what’s happening as the game could change following the response FAA requested of the ARAC industry group. Nonetheless, it appears certain that some changes are imminent. If more information is available by next month’s column I’ll provide more on this subject. Meanwhile, back at the grassroots… ••• I’m personally pleased (being financially involved with the project) to report that the Cumulus ultralight motorglider flew. Under development since 1993, the pace quickened in the last half of 1995 and the motorglider flew in March 1996. Four pilots have put a dozen hours on the machine. Performance appears about as expected although it’s too early for measurements. The target of 20:1 and sink rate under 200 fpm should be achieved. At present, the Cumulus requires additional work on the control system. Aileron response is presently too weak for flying in strong thermal conditions, and overall, the three-axis controls need to be better harmonized. However, developers are "pleased with the initial flights" and refinements to a proof-of-concept aircraft are expected. As US Aviation moves to continue development work, a preproduction prototype kit will be built next. This second aircraft will incorporate changes suggested by the proof-of-concept version and the #2 Cumulus will essentially be the first kit. ••• On a related note, US Aviation’s SuperFloater is now settling in at early sites in Florida, Texas, Nevada, Utah, and Europe. A new batch is coming soon and will be flying shortly after you read this in Arizona, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Iowa. As production continues, Tennessee and Minnesota will be added plus a west coast tour is under consideration. Response from those renting the ultralight glider at flying sites has been quite favorable, and the SuperFloater has proven to operate particularly well in the company of hang gliders. US Aviation has a video tape for $10 postpaid that shows foot launches at Point of the Mountain in Utah. ••• While the SuperFloater has demonstrated foot launch and foot landings, the overwhelming percentage of flights has been via aero towing. In fact, as you read here last month, towing now provides launches for nearly 30% of all hang glider flights nationwide (with aero towing accounting for 10% of all launches nationwide). Given this, more aftermarket items for towing is no surprise. ••• Florida entrepreneur Ron Rarick has created a quick release for hang glider and paraglider pilots which he says, "will release the tow line with or without line tension." Once the "firing pin" is released a spring holds it open and it will not close on the tow line. Made of Delrin and stainless steel, the $69.95 device never needs lubrication. Write Rarick at 614 Pinellas St., Clearwater FL 34614. You can E-mail to RipRarick@aol.com. ••• Barry Steele of Appropriate Engineering believes he’s got a way to lower the cost of building a winch for ground-based towing. In late ’95, Steele completed a 70-page guide called the "Payout Winch Construction Plans Manual." In addition to a step-by-step instruction set for building a winch, he covers towlines, line recovery ‘chute systems, tow bridles, nose releases, glider racks, and flotation systems. "Although the manual describes the complete construction of all parts of the tow system," Steele recommends, "a checkout by a skilled tow operator for critical parts (i.e., line tension settings, tow speeds)." The manual — which I did not see — claims you can build a winch for under $300 and is said to include dozens of illustrations and a complete parts list. A sample illustration generated on computer looked very proper. Order the Manual for $39.95 plus $3.50 S&H from Steele at 971 Fisherman’s Cove, Seneca SC 29672. Call 803-885-0949. ••• Hang Gliding on the ‘Net is alive and well, says computer guru, Bob Mackey. While doing a regular review of home pages he’s created, he found that in the previous 12 months, about 6,000 people have been to the "school" page on his site. "I would assume the majority of these are not pilots but wannabes," says Mackey. He admits to being surprised by the figure but suggests, "instructors on the Web should look into getting a page for their business." View his page at http://www.mainelink.net/Skyadventures/school.html. ••• Speaking of the ‘Net, I mentioned Britain’s Skywings magazine home page back in the April issue. What I didn’t know was that editor Joe Schofield’s work on the BHPA rag won him the 1996 Bettina Gray Prize for "editorial production and excellence." Gray has been awarding such prizes for a number of years but I missed her anointment of Skywings. Congratulations, Joe! ••• Finally, west coast pilot, Paul Dees, is building a replica of the biplane glider that Octave Chanute flew 100 years ago this summer on the southern shore of Lake Michigan. Paul is done with fabrication of individual parts and starting assembly. "I am using original materials, or close substitutes, such as aircraft quality Sitka spruce," he says. "I want it to look good enough that a museum would want it for display." He’ll trek back to Michigan in July in time for a 100-year celebration planned at the original site. Dees noted that Chanute’s glider "had hundreds of safe flights with no injuries, which was certainly better than the unfortunate fatal crashes of Otto Lilienthal and Percy Pilcher." Fascinating… Good luck, Paul! ••• Outta room. So, got news or opinions? Send ’em to 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Fax or V-mail to 612-450-0930. E-mail to CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS!

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ST. PAUL, MINN. — This month is my review of the product-oriented aspects of the USHGA’s annual survey. Since it comes with the ballot, a high percentage are returned. Because of this Yoo-shga enjoys more reliability in its surveying than do most organizations. ••• The overall statistics haven’t have shifted much but a couple surprises do reveal themselves, notably increases in hang gliders flown (relative to paragliders anyway) and more women than ever flying. While more and more leaders are becoming convinced of the need to expand hang gliding, the commercial industry which serves present enthusiasts continues steadily with few changes. ••• One non-product item worthy of note. Our "maturing" sport has now crossed a benchmark line: The average age slipped quietly by the fortysomething figure, coming to rest for 1995 at 40.4, up half a year from last year. Fortunately, personal income also crept up, stopping at an average $51,295 per member. We continue to "gray out" even as leaders search for answers on bringing in more young enthusiasts. However, balancing that is USHGA’s success at encouraging women to fly hang gliders. That number has now passed the ten percent figure, reaching 10.5% for 1995. In my wide-span view of aviation segments, hang gliding is doing measurably better at bringing female participants into the fold. ••• The once-closely-watched glider brand shares have become almost boring (a boredom industry leader Wills Wing probably enjoys). The WW brand inched up to 44.0% from 42.7% last year. In the ’90s — a period for which I have records close at hand — this performance is the highest Wills has reached. Their success with the Falcon may have helped. Second position Pacific Airwave slid slightly to 28.4% from 29.6% last year, a change so tiny as to be statistically irrelevant. A recent factory move doesn’t seem to have hurt the central California company. UP/Blue Sky held on to about seven percent, sliding imperceptibly to 6.8% from 7.3%. In the earlier ’90s, they had just over 10% of the market; we’ll see if the new company’s Predator can change that. Seedwings crept back up modestly from 3.6% to 4.0% reversing a continuous slide from early periods. The success story in a well-entrenched market is Moyes, who wins the "Most Improved" market share, moving up 28% from 7.1% to 9.1% of the total community. In the earlier ’90s they sat below 5%, and have advanced steadily since then. The "Others" category declined sharply from 6.0% a couple years ago to only 2.9% in 1995. This suggests non-U.S. brands are still struggling to establish any American presence. ••• In regional strengths, Wills leads in ten of thirteen USHGA Regions (1 through 8, plus 10 and 13). Pacific Airwave owns the remaining three (9, 11, and 12) with Moyes showing particular strength in Regions 3 and 10. Seedwings has some brighter spots in Regions 6 and 12. Wills Wing lead seven regions in 1994, so picked up several points in this analysis. PacAir had lead five regions but declined to three, however, PacAir has the largest plurality of all in Region 12 where their gliders represent 52% of the field. ••• The number of gliders owned per member continues upward, as always, reaching 1.9 gliders each (the last two years were 1.8 and 1.7). The number of pilots saying they’ll buy a new glider dropped from 22.8% to 20.5%, translating to a forecast 1,900 new gliders that may be bought in 1996. ••• The fractured market of paragliding is split up among 14 brands plus "Other." Edel is the clear leader with a solid 24.2% of the community. ProDesign is a distant second at 12.7%, followed by Flight Designs (10.8%), ITV (7.3%), and Firebird (6.9%). American representation is well down the list, with UP in eighth at 4.6%, followed by PacAir in a tie for ninth place at 3.8% and Wills in thirteenth at 1.9%. ••• By the way, industry leaders say paragliding is experiencing decline in Europe where they think "the market is saturated." This tells me PG is simply maturing as hang gliding had done earlier. Conversely, hang gliding is now enjoying modest growth in Europe. Indeed, in the USA, for the first time in the ’90s paragliding lost ground. Of all types of wings flown, paragliding dropped over eight percent, from 29.6% of all wings to 27.2 percent. Hang gliders increased from 73.6% to 78.5%, with rigid wings also growing 25% from 3.2% to 4.0% of all wings. A four percent share calculates to about 375 rigid wings flown, a figure down slightly from two years back. ••• In other trends, towing continues its inexorable climb relative to foot launching… possibly related to the aging of the pilot population? In 1994, foot launching accounted for four out of five launches (79.4%). Last year, foot launches sunk to 72.7%, possibly due to the strength of three busy Florida tow operations which helped lift the category to 27.3% of all launches. All three types of towing: aero, platform, and stationary — were up, but aero towing did the best, accounting for over ten percent of all launches nationwide and one third of all tow launches, up from only a sixth two years ago. ••• Well, I’m off to Sun ‘n Fun in Florida. Let’s see what hang gliding news results from that gathering of 750,000 aviation enthusiasts. So, got news or opinions? Send ’em to: 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Fax or V-mail to 612-450-0930. E-mail to: CumulusMan@aol.com. THANKS!

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