Search Results for : Ultralight April

ST. PAUL, MINN. — Ahh… April, when the living gets easier up here in the long-frozen tundra. All over America, trees are sprouting leaves and the thermals are poppin’. Let’s see what’s news. ••• From the end of last year, Dennis Pagen — USHGA’s rep to the CIVL of FAI — reports that the international organization is concerned about the "decline of hang gliding." Dennis clarifies, "While the sport appears healthy [in America], such a statement [by CIVL] should not come as a surprise for it has been well reported that hang gliding is disappearing in many countries of Europe. Paragliding has superseded it because of the ease of access to airtime paragliders afford. Even if the same process does not occur in our country, the disappearance of hang gliding elsewhere will hurt our pilots as manufacturers sell less, fewer products become available and hang gliding receives less media attention." ••• Disturbing talk.

ST. PAUL, MINN. — April means spring flying just about anywhere in the USA! In this year of the American-hosted World Meet, let’s pray the weather gods see fit to send us abundant thermals. ••• As we enter THE SEASON our attention turns from the new gliders and other major equipment to accessories and other goodies. This month we’ve a interesting selection …but first, a couple international stories that should catch your attention. ••• The big Israeli company, APCO, announced a new world record flight. No, not in one of their hang gliders. Instead two pilots flew 281.50 and 278 kilometers in Apco Astra 30 paragliders. Even when you convert these flights to 176 and 174 miles, this accomplishment deserves attention. The paragliding 200 mile barrier may be broken before long. Alex Louw and Andrew Smith performed these flights at the end of ’92 in South Africa. The flights were documented and FAI filing has been done.

St. Paul, Minn. — You’ll probably be amazed to hear that Wallaby Ranch and Quest have merged. Yes, unbelievably, the two rivals flight parks signed an agreement to become as one. • This stunning development comes just after Wills Wing purchased Moyes “for a song” crooned WW president, Rob Kells. “It seemed like a good idea at the time,” he added. How much more shocking news can you withstand? Well, in keeping with a few fun items elsewhere in this magazine, the above is pure April Fools fiction. I’ll leave more inventive humor to others and return to what this column does best. ••• Amid all the excitement, I completely forgot to blow my own horn… Yup, with the February 2004 issue, “Product Lines” finished 25 years of continuous publishing. In all that time, the column never missed an issue. As I am working to post all these columns on my long-in-development Web site, someday you’ll be able to scan through a lot of hang gliding history presented in a familiar format.

St. Paul, Minn. — It’s almost spring, even up here in the southern Tundra. But in Florida, they’re already hot to trot. THIS is the big month of tow park competitions, made all the hotter by the vigorous business competition between Wallaby and Quest. With their different styles they make an interesting contrast. Both have become vital to hang gliding in the US of A. s As the dueling meets approach, I want to mention that Wallaby was still inviting volunteer help for their April 20-26 contest as this issue went to press. Contact them at 1-800-WALLABY (925-5229) or fly@wallaby.com. The same may apply to Quest a week earlier (April 12-18). FMI: 352-429-0213 or questair@sundial.net. lll Wills Wing has reached a milestone achieved by few in aviation going all the way back to the Wright Brothers and beyond. Out of hundreds of aircraft companies of all types, few can say they’ve produced over 20,000 flying machines.

ST. PAUL, MINN. — A new soaring season approaches and we are now in the month when two major contests will again dominate the news in hang gliding. After several years, the Wallaby and Quest meets have grown beyond their American base. These two season openers now influence the entire world of hang gliding. lll And another de facto annual event has been slated again. The 2003 World Record Encampment that produced two years of record flights in the flatlands will occur again in Zapata, Texas in two sessions. A first session June 15-28 and June 29 to July 12. We’ll hope for more big things from the far southern tip of the USA. If you’re interested in participating, communicate to david@davidglover.com. lll By press time, the move of Betty Pfeiffer’s High Energy Sports should be complete. This longtime vendor to hang gliding (and to ultralight powered parachute producers, by the way) has been stable in its old location for a long time.