ST. PAUL, MINN. — In another month or so, the soaring season will once again kick into high gear. At least, I hope it’s another good year with abundant thermals and perhaps a new record flight or two. It’s up to you, of course… you and you diver. Which brings me to an observation after reviewing the January issue of Hang Gliding. ••• Because I have flying interest that straddle several aircraft segments, I see about two dozen aviation magazines a month. I’ve been watching a trend in all of them, dating back into the early ’80s or even before. By my perception, aircraft manufacturer ads are steadily giving way to what I’ll call aftermarket ads. This is true in every aviation magazine I get and it looks like it’s happening in Hang Gliding, too. ••• "So what," you ask? Here’s what: if folks selling accessories items (instruments, helmets, parachutes, clothing and more) are buying more and more of the ad space while aircraft manufacturers are buying less, what does it tell you about the future?
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Product Lines – December 1995
ST. PAUL, MINN. — Up here (too) near the arctic circle, it’s clear that winter is just ahead. It didn’t appear that way in Orlando, Florida at the end of October when You-shga’s board of directors got together for another of their twice-a-year meetings. In addition to the business of the association, many directors took flights at one of the two airparks near Orlando. For some of these leaders, the operations provided their first chance to see aero towing happening in an enthusiastic way. For others it was their first chance to be aerotowed. ••• The Quest Air bunch at Groveland Airport (just west of Orlando) hosted the Thursday night "Ice Breaker" party that forms the first assembly of the board. Many directors arrived early enough to tow from behind three Dragonfly tugs present. (One is operated by Quest Air, and the airport is the new home of Bobby Bailey’s Dragonfly building enterprise.) After sundown, Quest Air and friends put out a superb Mexican Buffet and served beverages in their newly remodeled clubhouse.
Product Lines – October 1995
ST. PAUL, MINN. — Fall is here and your soaring will soon take place over a sea of colorful foliage. A lot of this may take place thanks to towing. True, "Product Lines" has focused on towing a lot lately, because I’m hearing plenty about it. Now this can be a self-fulfilling "prophecy," I realize. I write about towing and those with an interest in towing respond with information so I have still more to report. A cozy little circle. Yet in fact, I submit to you that I’m hearing about more towing because more towing is happening. If that’s true, then towing is indeed a subject worthy of more ink. I don’t portray this as supplanting mountain foot launching. Not at all, in fact, I’d say one complements the other. My opinion isn’t important, but if my perception is correct about towing occurring on a more consistent basis, then it deserves the coverage.
Product Lines – June 1995
ST. PAUL, MINN. — In April, USHGA continued what is now something of a tradition by having a strong presence at the massive Sun ‘n Fun airshow, one of the ways we can reach out to other potential new members. The Florida extravaganza has been closing on the world’s largest airshow — Oshkosh — and in 1995 nearly tied the big Wisconsin event for attendance. These conventions are the largest gatherings of pilots in the world, and I think it’s terrific hang gliding is represented. Even if you’re one of those who don’t desire growth, we need to be recognized among the greater community of pilots, if for no other reason than having some clout and contacts when one of our flying sites is threatened. ••• As if to show the effort is paying off, UNpowered ultralights were recognized in several significant ways this year. • A window was created daily to allow one hour of solely unpowered flying.
Product Lines – March 1995
ST. PAUL, MINN. — Does hang gliding need to reach out for new enthusiasts? The question raises bothersome issues about declining and aging memberships, but is nonetheless a valid concern. ••• Industry leader, Wills Wing, is doing something about it by starting a new "division." They call it ProLine and its their vehicle to sell certain accessory items. Nothing new about this, you say? True, but Wills expects to do more than sell varios to their WW-brand customers. "It is our intention to use ProLine to develop products that can be marketed OUTSIDE the hang gliding industry", says a recent statement in their dealer newsletter. Naturally, they expect to raise their revenues but they further hope to increase hang gliding exposure to the public. They plan to advertise "in high circulation action sports pubications" once they have a "well developed product line." Each ProLine shipment will eventually have the USHGA color flier as well as the name of the closest WW dealer school.
Product Lines – November 1994
ST. PAUL, MINN. — Ready or not, another holiday season is upon us. We’ll look at some gift ideas… which means you should be sure those who buy gifts for YOU know about the nifty things you want. Face it. Many spouses feel hang glider pilots are hard to buy for; they only want expensive stuff. In the next couple issues of "Product Lines," I’ll try to highlight some more gift-priced items. But first… ••• Some results have been tabulated from the survey card that came in your October issue. Over 300 cards arrived in a short period, a large enough sample to get reliable information. • Asked if you believe hang gliding has a growth period ahead, a split response resulted. Slightly more than half (54%) feel it can grow, but 46% apparently see obstacles. • When asked if you desire to see hang gliding grow, an overwhelming 86% answered yes, with 14% not inviting growth.
Product Lines – July 1994
ST. PAUL, MINN. — On the Political Front: ARAC Committeeperson, Dennis Pagen reports some improved news from the May 23 meeting. He cautions that FAA is squirrely to pin down — you’re surprised!? — but that it appears the agency will not certify pilots under Part 103 (great!), or issue aircraft airworthiness (we’re doin’ fine already), or mandate training (we have this pretty well in hand also) [comments mine]. Even better than the above, FAA has apparently decided that separating unpowered ultralights (us) from powered ultralights is reasonable. FAA may also give the U.S. Ultralight Association a weight increase for single-seat ultralights. This will allow the Dragonfly ultralight tug to legally aerotow, assuming it has a ballistic ‘chute installed… (24 pounds of extra weight is allowed when such devices are permanently mounted). Several trike tugs should also benefit. Pagen also indicated that the tandem exemption may be written into Part 103.
Product Lines – June 1994
ST. PAUL, MINN. — The season is hot and the thermals are poppin’! ••• Moyes has been having one heckuva year. Says boss Bill, "Glider sales have never been so good and we are producing 30 a week" (an annualized rate of over 1,500 gliders). Further, Moyes Microlights is "having a run on Dragonflys" thanks to good publicity and a very workable tug machine. On a roll, Moyes is enjoying good airpark activity with their financial and other interest in Malcolm Jones’ Wallaby Ranch in central Florida. ••• Recently Moyes California sent out their spring newsletter (late April). Besides telling a short story of surviving the Northridge Quake — only two miles away from their Canoga Park shop… whew! — they also identified the U.S. operation in more detail. "Almost every one of the Moyes gliders sold in America are built in Australia. Moyes California serves as a distributor for Moyes hang gliders in North America." That’s a change.
Product Lines – September 1993
ST. PAUL, MINN. — The 1993 Worlds is history and Team USA brought home the gold for the first time ever. Hearty congratulations to the Team and all support members. ••• A number of calls or faxes arrived after the mention last month of new rigid wing developments. While rigids have yet to make a measurable impact in the market, interest in these "alternative" hang gliders remains keen. After observing this segment of our sport for nearly two decades, I see more interest and activity today than at any time prior. ••• First, let me pass along contact information (most requests directed to me ask for this info). • Want more on the Swift? Contact Bright Star at 707/576-7627. By the way, I may have sharply understated the cost of the Swift. Obtain pricing from the factory. • If interested in Don Mitchell’s last design, the Stealth II, contact Tim Morley and Jeff Harlan at 209/523-6652 or 209/632-6684.
Product Lines – May 1993
ST. PAUL, MINN. — May is always a special time of year for me. You see, each May I start another year in the "Product Lines" logbook. I appreciate your loyal readership as I conclude 14 years and begin No. 15 of writing this lil’ ole column. My "THANKS!" at the end of each column couldn’t be more sincere. I’ll work hard to keep your readership as another year passes. Well, on with the show… ••• Lots of well-deserved hoopla for Wills Wing’s 20th Anniversary. I visited the factory just before all the action (for a story that will appear on Wills Wing in the July ’93 issue of Kitplanes… look on newsstands everywhere in late May). WW Prez Kells gave me a thorough tour — well, that is, after they hid any new goodies they might have so you don’t read about ’em prematurely in this column. The tour ended in the design offices of Steve Pearson.
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