Product Lines – May 1997

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!