Product Lines – August 1991

ST. PAUL, MINN — Some times hang gliding news comes from right around home. This is one of those times and the news involves BRS. ••• The rocket-deployed parachute maker has issued a recall on certain hang gliding units delivered between 7/89 and 9/90 (though not all models are affected). It seems an aluminum supplier sold the BRS rocket manu-facturer a bar of aluminum stock which was insufficiently hardened. They know which batch as the company provides certification documents helping the identification. Tests have shown that some motors made from bar stock covered by that invoice are okay. However, during a test demonstration at least one failed. You’ll want to contact your dealer. BRS sells almost exclusively to dealers so they don’t know who final owners are (unless their registration cards were returned). The company plans to test and replace suspect motors at no charge. One benefit, says BRS prez Joe Little, is that "owners whose rockets are replaced will get new ones with an extended six-year life. Previous motors will need refurbishment at four year cycles and some of those being recalled are already two years old." Call Customer Service at 818/443-7070. ••• Also here in the Midwest, ’91 East Coast HG Champs winner, Bruce Case, will be the Composite Man of this year’s Owens Nationals. He is putting the finishing touches on a modified Jim Lee hard-shell harness. Case will fly with a full head enclosure made of clear Lexan. His arms will extend through Spandex sleeves built into the eight-foot-long unit. Case will install a BRS rocket at the very end of the shell with remote handle access up front. Will the harness help Case win? Time will tell. Once again, Bruce will arrive just in time to compete. Working as a corporate jet jockey "allows only standard vacations, so a week’s early practice is an unavailable luxury," says Bruce. It hasn’t stopped him from placing high in a number of contests. ••• While we’re (amazingly!) still here in Minnesota… In mid-June, Bruce Boles became the 4th hang glider pilot to fire his BRS. The side wire on his older Sensor let go while merely entering a thermal at 2,000 feet AGL. The replacement wire set hung on his wall at home. He kicks himself for the obvious, but is pleased his rocket fired perfectly. His standard 20-gore conical canopy let him down very gently, even though he hit upside down laying on his back on the sail. Says Bruce, "the blur of flailing tubes and wires made hand deployment absolutely out of the question." He plans to submit a story with photos. ••• Speaking of wire failures, Warren Perry-Richardson reports a structural mishap on a Lite Dream at the unofficial National Fly-In at Alamagordo. Warren describes it, "…one continuous wire from the nose to tail appears changed to separate wires… one of these pulled loose just before platform launching tandem!" The load was far below HGMA specs. If you’re one of the many using the Lite Dream, you’ll want to check. Warren was unsure which company built the failed Lite Dream (UP or Delta Wing). ••• As you read this, the Moyes Aerotow Tour should be under way. Bill Moyes gave us an early itinerary: July 27-28, they’ll be in Chattanooga at Sequatchie Valley Soaring; August 3-4, aerotowing will occur at Kitty Hawk Kites; on the August 10-11 weekend, they’ll be with Tom Crump. Other probable sites include Morningside, NH; Bridgeman, MI; and St. Paul, MN. More tour is possible into September. If interested, contact Moyes-California at 818/887-3361.••• In conclusion, some "softer" messages, with news from Larry Capps and Airwear Sports of Illinois. The maker of the nifty V-Mitts — they come apart by velcro for easy on/off without control bar disassembly — is also offering the Airflare harness line. The contemporary harnesses sport all the popular features and styling in 30 colors for $600. Airwear also has a lower-priced line of harnesses. Call for more info: 618/942-5317. ••• Topfoto of Boulder, CO has some nicely printed t-shirts in a variety of clever designs that hang glider pilots should like. For more info, call: 303/447-1184. ••• Room’s gone. So, got news or opinions? Send ’em to: 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Call or fax to 612/450-0930. THANKS!