Gaithersburg, MD 20877-1315 MD Gaithersburg, 15914B Shady Grove Road #L-197 Road Grove Shady 15914B
NEXT CLUB MEETING: Wednesday, July 27, 8pm
Meeting Location Wanted! Since the unfortunate demise of Lasick’s Restaurant in College Park, Maryland, the club has yet to find a new long-term meeting location. The April meeting was held at the 94th Aerosquadron Restaurant on the grounds of the College Park Airport. The general consensus was the 94th didn’t work well for our needs, so we are still in search of a regular club haunt. We’d like to hold meetings in D.C. and Virginia (in addition to Maryland) to make attendance more convenient for club members in those areas. Count on the July meeting occurring in Virginia or D.C. and please let Daniel Broxterman have your suggested locations. A Look at Helmets... (from page 5) accommodate differently-shaped heads. Pre-Flight: Scott Wilkinson (One example is Arai.) Also, to check for currently have its own standard.) visibility, swivel your eyeballs up, down, Sometimes 21st-century life can be HG/PG helmets are manufactured to left and right. It will give you an idea of so relentless we lose perspective. That be comfortable, lightweight and let you how much peripheral vision the hel- happened to me. After a winter of snow- hear the wind. They are less expensive met offers. If you can’t see the helmet, boarding, I’d almost forgotten this news- than a helmet with more protection, such it doesn’t interfere with your visibility. letter. Work and family commitments--- as a motorcycle helmet. Shoei and Bell/Giro have motocross along with a good dose of irresponsible If you like more shock protection than CHGPA helmets under 1400grams. As a com- procrastination---kept me from producing what an HG/PG helmet offers, you’ll Capital Hang Gliding parison the Charly “Insider” (a dedicated this issue on time. Friendly remind- want to go with a motorcycle helmet. and Paragliding ers from Daniel Broxterman provided HG/PG helmet) weighs 650 grams. Association While the standard motorcycle helmet some much-needed motivation to get it If your helmet has been in a crash, The Capital Hang Gliding provides good protection, it is usually buy a new one. You should also replace and Paragliding Associa- done. My sincere apologies to all, and too heavy for the typical pilot’s neck. tion represents pilots from your helmet if you see deep scratches a renewed commitment to keeping the Motocross helmets are lighter, and the the Washington, DC / Mid- newsletter coming out on a timely basis! or damage to the padding. Small falls Atlantic region. CHGPA is more money you spend, the lighter they (such as a helmet rolling down the hill) committed to the safety, I understand this newsletter is not only a get. Motocross helmets also provide growth, and solidarity of reduce the effective lifespan of the hel- permanent record of our club, but is also good visibility. Like standard motorcycle hang gliding and paraglid- valuable for keeping landowners aware Kate immediately chose the latter! I think met. ing. CHGPA is Chapter #33 helmets, they are tested to DOT stan- of the United States Hang all my tossing Kate around in the air as Dan Tomlinson, who has done quite of our activities and attracting new dards (Department of Transportation) Gliding and Paragliding As- members to the club. a baby paid off, as Tex said she was a bit of research on helmets and elects sociation. and the more stringent SNELL (a pri- Being so caught up in snowboarding completely calm and happy in flight. The to fly with a motocross helmet (as does Board of Directors vate foundation) standards. Motocross over the winter, I have little to report on atmosphere was so clear they could even Richard Hays), has provided the follow- PRESIDENT helmets are definitely more expensive see the Blue Ridge mountains 60 miles ing website, in case you’re interested in Daniel Broxterman my own flying experiences. My commit- than HG/PG helmets, but if you need [email protected] to the west. more detailed SNELL and DOT informa- ment to the sport was reinforced, though, your brain on a regular basis, you may VICE-PRESIDENT by buying a new glider (a Wills Wing It’s been a good spring for many pilots tion: http://www.smf.org/articles/dot.html. Matthew Graham not mind. so far, and the summer ahead looks Fly safe, speck out, and treat your [email protected] Eagle 180), which I’m sure will provide Helmets should fit snugly. Some not TREASURER promising. Somehow the number 30 is helmet gently. —Ellis Kim plenty of happy airtime in the future. And only come in different sizes, but Hugh McElrah significant. Something must have been [email protected] if I’d temporarily drifted away from the FLIGHT DIRECTOR club through the colder months, Daniel’s very special in the air of 1975! This sum- Ellis Kim column (see “Prez Says” in this issue) mer is the 30th anniversary for the Hyner [email protected] SECRETARY jerked me back to awareness that we are Fly-In, the High Rock Fly-In, and Steve Ralph Sickinger incredibly lucky to have such an out- Wendt’s entry to the sport of hang glid- [email protected] standing group of pilots in this area. ing. (Steve is owner of Blue Sky flight The SKYLINE On a beautiful spring evening a few park and USHGA Instructor of the Year.) The Skyline is the quarterly weeks ago, I was able to arrange a tan- Another first coming up is the East Coast newsletter of the Capital dem flight at Blue Sky for my daughter Championships at Highland Aerosports in Hang Gliding and Paraglid- ing Association. Kate, who is 13. I was excited that she Ridgely---a first for the park, and hopeful- EDITOR was finally able to share what I’ve expe- ly the first of many more. New ratings are Scott Wilkinson rienced, and I was every bit the “stage being earned by many club members, [email protected] dad,” capturing each moment with the and new gliders are being bought at a PUBLISHING Linda Baskerville video camera. Holly hung Kate up in her vigorous pace (spurred on by everyone’s Email content to Scott harness in a simulator and showed her newest favorites, the Wills Wing Sport Wilkinson at the address the basics of weight-shift control. Then 2 and U2). Paul and Lauren Tjaden are above, or mail to P.O. Box 26, Shepherdstown, WV Tex Forrest did a great job gearing Kate even migrating back north with the geese 25443 up and briefing her on the flight. Given a from Florida, so all is well in the club and CHGPA choice between a calm, steady flight, or the world of free flight. 15914B Shady Grove Road the “wild-and-crazy roller-coaster flight,” #L-197 Gaithersburg, MD 20877-1315 www.chgpa.org On the Cover: Soaring the ridge at Woodstock, Virginia—one of the club’s most popular mountain sites. Gliders set up at the Photo by Ralph Sickinger. Woodstock, VA launch. Allen Sparks flies overhead at High Rock - photo by Ralph Sickinger
May 2005 Skyline Page 2 Page 15 May 2005 Skyline Jan. Meeting Minutes (from page 7) The Prez Sez: Daniel Broxterman rect fields. A Talk Fly-In’s Christmas Landowner Gifts experience here. The list of sublime mo- Hyner With Brian Vant-Hull reminded the club that there are David Bodner sent Christmas gifts to most of the ments is long. That’s what Marc meant. View two big anniversaries this year - 30th for Hyner landowners. A gift for the landowners at Daniels I’ve also learned over the last few Christy 4th of July and 30th for High Rock. MHGA needs was approved by CHGPA but the information did years how Mid-Atlantic pilots are lucky in July 4th: to find a volunteer to run the fly-in. not get to David. Ellis will get the contact informa- Huddle tion of the landowners and Matthew will make sure another way. I believe there is no other Be There! Shawn McDuff will be running the Hyner party and the gift is sent. region of the U.S. that surpasses our (continued) needs people to send in dues early to help finance concentration of talent. Sure, it’s cliché the party. No gift was sent to the Woodstock landowners to say that the people in a particular com- because of confusion regarding the contact person. Kite Festival The club decided to send the annual gift to Lynn munity are the best around. But when I Matthew is organizing the festival and will need Fishburn. say it, I can back it up. She’s flown about volunteers to work and also to set up their gliders. USHGA seems to agree. For the As one of the most 680 hours, 1,400 XC The festival date is Saturday, April 2nd. Matthew A motion was passed to send an Easter gift to second consecutive year, the Association beautiful launches in miles, 72 different is trying to get permission to kite paragliders at the Woodstock & Daniels LZ owners and to Roger has honored a local-area pro as national the country, Hyner high sites, 10 flight festival. Rittenhouse. They will be included in the Christmas hang gliding instructor of the year. Con- View State parks, and 36 differ- gifts in following years. Park in central PA is ent gliders. Parachute Repack gratulations to Steve Wendt, one of the an epicenter of hang We discussed Ralph was going to organize it as part of his Flight Land Priorities I grew up on the high desert of New Mex- hardest working people in the sport, for gliding culture on the some of the regional Director duties. If he is unwilling to do it now that Tom & Bruce had volunteered at a previous meet- ico in the long shadow of Sandia Peak, succeeding Sunny Venesky in winning he no longer holds that position, Brian will manage ing to form a committee to appraise and prioritize East Coast, flying sites for their a legendary hang gliding and paragliding various character- it. Brian would hold it at Ridgely. Hugh will check land issues. Daniel will check in with them. this honor. It’s so great that USHGA has and has become istics: High Point with Greg Mick so that our repack is not held at the site (10,700 MSL/5,000 AGL). One can formally recognized Steve’s dedication an equal favorite of (Cumberland MD) same time as Betty’s. imagine how skeptical I was a while ago and thorough approach to teaching. He paragliding pilots as is her favorite for when Marc Fink said to me some of the is such an asset to our community. Right well. July 4th the best opportu- New Restrictions at Daniels best hang gliding in the U.S. is to be had now you have the privilege of reading the parties of the past nity to go XC and Pilots need to be a member of CHGPA or the have passed into Central VA club. Visiting pilots must be taken there in the Mid-Atlantic. USHGA newsletter of the year. best chances for legend, and the 30th by member sponsor, and the sponsor must have Huh? Scott Wilkinson, with a professional getting up in light anniversary party flown there at least 10 times or have a P3 or H3 What passes for mountains here folks air, and Woodstock communications background, continues (celebrating the day for the view. Sites rating. These restrictions have been implemented call foothills out West. The East Coast Skyline’s tradition of excellence as dem- Dennis Pagen first she’s flown that she because of accidents and people landing in incor- has practically as many airspace restric- onstrated by the award for the outstand- pushed a picnic table wasn’t thrilled about tions as trees. Winters aren’t easy and included Richies ing editorial work done previously by up to the wall of the Knob (now closed) it rains or snows on 30% of the days in a Renaissance Ralph Sickinger. Speaking scenic overlook) with its rock-filled typical year. How could anyone call the of Ralph, congratulations are in order for promises to bring access road, Spring Mid-Atlantic a free-flying haven? Ralph has won the Bettina Gray photog- back the glories of Run PA (rarely used) We were at Woodstock that day. raphy award. We are lucky that we get to the past. There will with its rock-filled Standing at launch for the first time, I be drag races, so launch; Massanutten learn by analyzing the launch sequences started to understand: WE ARE LUCKY. he captures digitally and posts on his guys: start hitting the Peak back when the thrift stores! Really, all free-flight pilots are fortunate. launch ramp was a website, www.photos.sickinger.net. He Situated on a plywood sheet with a The way we experience the natural world is also the technical guru responsible for knob overlooking big hole in the middle -- the intimate connection with our wings, automating club business, wiring helmets the Susquahanna of it; and Fetzer’s the view of the earth from above, the Gap, across from for PTT and constructing the perfect River, the launch Woodstock, with wind in our faces -- is unique and glori- windsock. can accomodate its 12:1 glide to the ous. But Marc was saying something Let me add a few more examples of a 90° variation in nearest LZ. Well more. Here in the Mid-Atlantic, we are extraordinary talent at work in the Mid- wind direction with before she was able perhaps a little luckier than the average Atlantic. In addition to his role as the the northern half of to fly the high sites, pilot elsewhere. For within a reasonable the slope being wide Christy volunteered Region 9 Examiner, CHGPA member drive from D.C., we can soar along a 30 Joe Gregor does a huge service to all open and nearly to redo the CHGPA idiot-proof. This is mile ridge overlooking the idyllic seven site guide. She fig- free-flight pilots by analyzing the prob- primarily a thermal ured that would be bends of the Shenandoah River’s North able causes of major hang gliding ac- site, but given that a good way to get to Fork, cliff launch in the hills surround- cidents and suggesting lessons to take the state constructed know where the sites ing Camp David, and from the air above were. She’s also away from disaster. When something a road up to the top put in time in many the Delmarva Peninsula watch the sun goes wrong, major or minor, and Colonel just for the view, other ways, including set over the Chesapeake Bay. You can Gregor offers an opinion, we all know to even the 1300 foot sled run across the several years on the RARE PHOTO: This photo, from an anonymous source, proves a series of top-secret test insert your own favorite transcendent pay close attention. Want a one-stop boards of both river is worth the trip. flights of the Wills Wing Heron 170. The fate of the design (and the pilot) is unknown. Continued on page 13 CHGPA and the Continued next page... Mountaineer Flyers.
May 2005 Skyline Page 14 Page 3 May 2005 Skyline CHGPA Observers: Treat Them Well! Hyner The following CHGPA members have earned USHGA observer status and Training View 2005 generously volunteered to assist qualified novice-rated pilots in safely flying local Methods: July 4th: sites. Before contacting observers for the first time, please go to the CHGPA web- Pros and EAST COAST site and read the excellent article on the “Care and Feeding of Observers,” Be There! www.chgpa.org/Education/h2.guide.html. Cons (continued) HANG GLIDING HANG GLIDING CHAMPIONSHIP John Dullahan 301-203-8281 [email protected] Matthew Graham 301-270-1862 [email protected] There will be camp- Joe Gregor 202-544-5378 [email protected] ing, fireworks, Richard Hayes 410-527-0975 [email protected] Foot Launch swimming, a host of Hank Hengst 540-933-6146 [email protected] bonfires, topped off PROS: Steve Kinsley 202-544-8305 [email protected] with a catered din- • independent, free flight Tom McGowan 703-204-0139 [email protected] • required skill for flying ner Saturday night. in the mountains Folks will begin to John Middleton 703-533-1965 [email protected] Kelvin Pierce 703-255-1297 [email protected] • gain experience at a arrive as early as variety of flying sites Wednesday night. Cragin Shelton 703-922-6472 [email protected] New arrivals may Allen Sparks 301-766-0485 [email protected] CONS: sign up for weekend • may require more fees, but once you’ve PARAGLIDING driving to different sites • must carry glider uphill been here chances Ellis Kim 703-536-3209 [email protected] are you’ll pony up for Allen Sparks 301-766-0485 [email protected] annual membership. Aerotow Tandem Waivers must be signed before flying: PROS: • longer high-altitude bring your USHGA flights from start card. Hang 2’s must • hands-on, in-flight own or borrow a The Prez Sez (from page 3) instruction radio. For more source for soaring-related weather? • can experience information, go to Take your pick from the THREE web- soaring flight sooner www.hynerclub.com sites maintained by CHGPA members: CONS: Jim Keller, www.users.adelphia.net/ • not solo flight Hyner View ~toweringqs; Alek Beynenson, www.we • does not teach foot ather.nostepper.com; and Cragin Shel- launch skills ton, www.members.cox.net/cragins. • limited ground handling June 5-11 If I wanted to split an atom, I’d ask those Highland Aerosports three to form a committee! A published Scooter Tow adventure travel writer, Matthew PROS: Ridgely, Maryland Graham, handles our media contact. • longer, higher solo The current top-rated US hang glid- flights from start Highland Aerosports will host their first major competition this spring: the 2005 ing pilot, Kevin Carter, is a CHGPA • less dependent on East Coast Hang Gliding Championship. Competitors will need H4 (H3 with wind direction member. And finally, we fly in a unique approval), XC, TURB and AT ratings, have previously flown in a USHGA aerotow • no hills to climb regional cross-country competition orga- competition or have written approval (acquired prior to registering) from the meet nized by and reported on in the USHGA CONS: director, and have a GPS device. magazine by Pete Lehmann, a hang • school locations For non-competition spectators and pilots, this will be a great opportunity to see limited gliding world record holder (321 miles to some of the country’s best free-flight pilots! • tethered flight a declared goal).
Volunteers to help run the event are needed and appreciated! If any- Yes, Marc, I agree, the Mid-Atlantic is one is interested, please contact Highland at 410-634-2700, or email a free-flying haven! [email protected]. http://www.aerosports.net Coming in for a landing at Daniels
May 2005 Skyline Page 4 Page 13 May 2005 Skyline Notes from the Board... A Look at Helmets... Ellis Kim Hello from your newest flight director. injuries, but needed major face recon- Another Meeting Schedule Moving out of the Area I’ve been asked to write a regular col- struction. Richard says they never looked Last year we voted to meet quarterly Alek Beynenson was so afraid we might view umn about safety, so let’s start by talking the same again. Most people started instead of monthly. The monthly meet- make him a club officer that he moved to about helmets. Recently there has been flying with full-face helmets after that. on helmets: ings were rolling around so frequently that New York. His parents still live here, so some discussion on the listserver about Nothing like having you or a friend hav- the Board of Directors were searching for I hope to see him at local sites. Best of Open-face whether we should require pilots to wear ing an accident to make you realize that agendas and attendees. Now that we luck to Alek and his partner Julia! full-face helmets during the Pulpit fly-in. I some safety equipment might be worth is better... have a few quarterly meetings under our have no interest in reviving that debate, the price. belts, the Board feels we have cut back Lauren Tjaden was so afraid we might but some nice nuggets came up during Even benign sites like Bill’s Hill have too far. We’ve had too much business to re-elect her as president that she moved Competition pilot the discussion that I’ll reiterate here. sharp rocks, as one HG pilot discovered discuss at meetings and so on behalf of to Florida and took Paul, her horse and Rohan Holtkamp In general we agree that a helmet is a when he ripped open his chest after a the Board, I proposed and the motion car- the neighbor’s cat with her. We miss you says, “When I first good thing to have. But should it be a full- bad launch. This pilot wore a full-face flew with a full-face ried that the meeting schedule for 2006 guys! face or an open-face helmet? helmet and didn’t need reconstructive helmet, I did poorly and beyond be as follows: January, There is debate among competition surgery, nor did he have any spinal inju- because it obscured March, May, July and October. Thank You’s pilots as to whether a full- my peripheral and Thanks, Kelvin and Susan Pierce, for face helmet affords enough downward vision. In January the club will elect officers hosting the January club meeting at your visibility for flying in large I couldn’t get the and hand out the traditional annual beautiful home in Virginia. normal ground gaggles. I have no experi- awards. We moved the second meeting speed information ence with that kind of flying up a month to March to provide a safety Thanks are also due to outgoing board and couldn’t find the and suggest if you expect session prior to the spring flying season. members Karen Carra (Secretary) and [thermal] cores right to be flying in largegaggles, At the May date, we will organize a para- Lauren Tjaden (President). Karen took away. So I threw you bring up that discussion the helmet out. chute repack session. The July date over mid-term as secretary and per- on the national listserver. Most of us agree accommodates planning for the McCon- formed the duties of the position depend- Keep in mind, that even top- that full-face hel- nellsburg Festival and finally in October ably. Lauren’s trademark enthusiasm as pilots are not in agreement mets cut down on we will give the awards for McC-Burg president was contagious, providing the on whether the increase in your perceptions. and prepare for the Christmas party. club with a welcome influx of energy and visibility is worth the potential I am very con- The Christmas party has customarily excitement. cerned with safety; risk to the noggin. replaced an end-of-year meeting. I think I run one of the Arguments against full-face this schedule fits well with the club’s an- People with New Wings largest schools in helmets include one scenario nual activities and believe we won’t need Lauren Tjaden, Steve Kinsley, and Karen Australia and safety in which the chinguard gets to tinker with it again anytime soon. Carra - Wills Wing Sport 2 is what I preach. caught on something during Consider this: I Paul Tjaden, something sponsored by ries. Maybe we can should make a case a crash and causes severe injuries to know two guys who Board Meetings Viagra (e.g. rigid) for wearing breast plates, but that’s for the neck and spinal chord. This rationale had crashes with an The CHGPA Board held an extremely Hugh McElrath, John Middleton, and another column. echoes the discussion on whether or not open-face helmet productive meeting on February 4th and Kelvin Pierce - Wills Wing U2 If you think paraglider pilots are im- to wear seat belts. In some accidents it and the doctor said again met on March 25th together with Ellis Kim - Aerodyne Jumbe mune, ponder this: last year I tripped on might be better not to be wearing a seat they are lucky they the MHGA Board and the Pulpit Treasur- Ralph Sickinger - Wills Wing Falcon 2 launch, fell, but the wing was happily fly- didn’t have a full- belt, just as it might be better not to have er. We took care of usual business such Wesley Comerer, Chris Donahue, and ing. Unfortunately it did not hit any lift and face because their a chinguard. But in more common ac- as site insurance renewals and landowner Scott Wilkinson - Wills Wing Eagle I was dragged face-first through bushes chin took the im- cidents a full-face helmet (or a seat belt) gifts and voted to spend $600-$800 for and across rocks. I am sure that had I not pact, not their neck. will provide significant protection. Person- I feel less indestruc- John Middleton teach- improvements to the paragliding launch at People Most in Need of New Wings worn my full-face helmet, I would have ally I choose to protect against the more tible with an open- ing a footlaunch class the Pulpit. Linda Baskerville - not sure what color had to deal with more than a dirty face common accident scenarios. face helmet, so I fly at Oregon Ridge near that Falcon is/was, maybe blue? and embarassment. Baltimore, MD. A full-face helmet can save your face more conservatively New Ratings Carlos Weill, your Pulse is delaminating Regarding helmet options: most folks from major reconstruction should you on takeoff and land- David Bodner cleared the last hurdle to faster than a sunburned red-head around here fly with hang gliding or para- be so unlucky to have blow a launch or ing and I choose my his Hang 3 when he passed the written gliding helmets. If you opt for this, you landing at one of our sites. Instructor conditions carefully. exam at the Christmas Party. Congrats, should make sure they are (at a mini- I’m more conserva- Richard Hays knows of two pilots wear- David! Other new Hang 3s include Daniel mum) tested for CEN standard EN966, tive setting up my ing half-shells who blew their launches at Broxterman and Alek Beynenson—big which is a European standard for sport approach. High Rock. They survived with no spinal congratulations to both! aviation helmets. (The USA does not From “Secrets of Champions” by Dennis Pagen. Continued on page 15
May 2005 Skyline Page 12 Page 5 May 2005 Skyline Region 9 Ratings Statistics Excerpts: The Secrets of Champions Christy According to current USHGA data on 16. Randy Grove (PA) - 6 Following are some flying tips from some On Flying In Clouds... Local Huddle’s ratings issued over the past 3 years, 17. Robert Lane (FL) - 6 of the world’s best competition pilots, “With today’s gliders you cannot white- Hang local instructors Steve Wendt and John 18. Stephen Mayer (UT) - 6 gleaned from Dennis Pagen’s excellent out for even 15 seconds or you’ll probably 1995 Middleton were near the top in ratings 19. Paul Pearce (SC) - 6 book, “The Secrets of Champions.” end up spiraling with a good dose of ver- Gliding Escapade granted to Region 9 pilots. 20. Allen Sparks (MD) - 6 tigo. What I recommend—if you can’t dive Instructors Region 9 consists of Washington, DC; 21. Ray Leonard (NV) - 5 Visualizing Moving Air... out of the cloud—is to slow down to best into the Delaware; Kentucky; Maryland; Ohio; 22. Chad Bastian (CA) - 4 “I have spent time canoeing, and watch- glide and be flying straight and level when and Clouds... Pennsylvania; Virginia, and West Vir- 23. John Bilsky (PA) - 4 ing the water drift around rocks and logs the clouds engulf you. Do not turn, but Dealers ginia. The list below shows the top 25 24. Ken Hudonjorgensen (UT) - 4 helps me visualize the wind behavior over aim straight. Don’t move your head, but As reported in instructors/observers who granted ratings 25. Rob McKenzie (CA) - 4 hills and mountains.” only your eyes to avoid vertigo. Maintain a The Skyline... to Region 9 pilots—the instructors and —Tomas Suchanek steady body position...be patient and wait Maryland School of Hang Gliding, Inc. observers listed may have also granted Region 9 HG/PG Ratings, 5/02 - 5/05 to fly out of the side of the cloud.” GUACAMAYA, Richard Hays ratings to non-Region 9 pilots as well... Hang Gliding Finding Lift on Blue Days... —Jim Lee 410.527.0975 VENEZUELA - “Imagine a table cloth spread out with Christy del Lago H1 125 46% www.mshg.com reported having been Region 9 Ratings Granted, 5/02 - 5/05 H2 106 39% hang glider models on it. Now you pull On the Definition of “Low”... Certified instruction, 25 years experience. saved from becoming up the center and what happens? The “Well, that depends on the place. In 1. Christian Thoreson (TN) - 43 H3 34 12% Richard Hays is a Christy del Jaguars models roll away from the center (their flatlands, if you are at 2,000 feet you are 2. Steve Wendt (VA) - 38 H4 9 3% USHGA advance- by her hundred dollar wing closest to the center lifts more) but low. In mountains you can get much lower rated Instructor-Ex- Silva compass while 3. Dwayne McCourt (WV) - 30 TOTAL: 274 drift inward. It is the rolling/yawing/drifting and still get up except when valley winds aminer. Specializing flying in the 10th Annual 4. John Middleton (VA) - 19 in footlaunch flight Campeonato Internacio- action that you must learn to detect.” suppress the thermals. In flatlands you 5. John Alden (OH) - 17 Paragliding utilizing Wills Wing nal de Icaros. 1500fpm —Rohan Holtkamp can rely on getting up from low only part 6. Andy Torrington (NC) - 15 P1 46 32% Falcons and radios for of lift blasted her up 7. James Tindle (FL) - 14 P2 52 36% of the time. You have to stay high and fly instruction. Authorized through 3000 vertical On Working Sink Like Lift... the sky.” dealer for Moyes, feet of cloud, despite 8. Greg Mick (VA) - 10 P3 34 24% 9. William Umstattd (PA) - 10 P4 11 8% “Most people can pull in the bar and go —Manfred Ruhmer Wills Wing, Airwave, her 52mph resistance ef- High Energy Sports. forts, and out the top for 10. Steve Bernier (NC) - 9 TOTAL: 143 fast through sink—the basic speed-to-fly concept—but what many don’t realize is New and used gliders an unplanned 7.3K gain. 11. Chris Bowles (NC) - 9 in stock. Baltimore/ The otherwise solid un- 12. Richard Hays (MD) - 8 Note: The Skyline makes no claim that just to the left or right they may encounter Washington. Oldest dercast was broken by a 13. Paul Venesky (MD) - 8 these figures are 100% accurate; the data 400fpm less sink. I try to work the sink like Wills Wing dealer. small hole. 2600fpm sink most people work lift; even high up.” Seven training sites was also experienced 14. Bruce Weaver (NC) - 7 comes from the Ratings Issued tables at —Mike Barber within one hour of before popping out on 15. Kevin Coltrane (NC) - 6 the USHGA website, www.ushga.org. Baltimore. the more conventional side of the clouds. As On Following Your Instincts... Silver Wings the next available fields “I think a pilot should practice when John Middleton were 12-15 miles away, free-flying to stop being conscious of ev- 703.533.1965 the easy glide to the In the Skyline 10 Years Ago... ery decision. Try to quit talking to yourself www.silverwings airport was opted for. hanggliding.com Christy ended up 29/35 • Mike Chevalier, Tex Forrest, Nelson Lewis and others built in your mind. Leave thermals when you Established in 1980, in the competition with a a retaining wall of railroad ties at Daniels. feel an urge, go in a direction that ‘feels’ Silver Wings is a com- longest XC of 19.4 miles • Chris Miller launched from Woodstock, then crashed right, fly to a spot that you ‘will’ to produce prehensive hang glid- and a log amended with back into the slot and ended up in the hospital. a thermal. Certainly you’ll make some ing business providing 11:13 worth of time. • There was concern about military air traffic around mistakes...but the goal is to develop the instruction, sales, and Says the people down service of hang glid- there are great, gas is the Pulpit; arrangements were made to contact the ability to listen to the inner urges.” ing equipment in the 12 cents a gallon, and Ops desk at the Air National Guard when flying there. —Bob Baier Northern Virginia, DC, she plans to renew ac- • Bacil Dickert did a presentation at the CHGA meeting and Maryland areas. quaintances next year. on reading sectionals. On Female Pilots... Owned and operated • Geoff Mumford replaced Danny Brotto as The Secrets of Champions by John Middleton, an “In regards to women, so many times advanced certified in- MHGA President. men want to do everything for you. If you The World’s Top Hang Gliding Pilots structor who has been • Donna Barker was publishing the newsletter, and Brian accept too much help you never learn to Show You How to Get Better an active hang gliding Hardwick suggested creating a website (this was do the things yourself. I see lots of women pilot since 1975. bleeding edge—the web was brand new then!). lost without their significant other. If you ISBN: 0-936310-15-4, $30 http://users.lazerlink.net/~pagenbks/ • People still used floppy disks. make it a point to carry your own glider champions.htm • Pete Lehmann sold an Enterprise Wings Desire 151 for $1300. you build strength...and confidence.” • Eric Logan sold a Mark IV 19 for $1500. —Kari Castle
May 2005 Skyline Page 6 Page 11 May 2005 Skyline April 2005 Meeting Minutes: Ralph Sickinger January 2005 Meeting Minutes: Karen Carra
Area New Faces: per year on the schedule of Jan, Mar, May, Jul, The meeting was held at Kelvin and Susan Charlie Fielden - from Leesburg, interested in Oct.; Vote: 16 for - 1 no vote - Motion is carried. Pierce’s house, with approximately 21 people in at- Old Business Hang paragliding tendance. The Board of Directors was represented John Middleton checked out the area north of the Gliding Chris Donahue - from Arlington, John Middleton’s Action Items: by Matthew Graham (VP) and Hugh McElrah Pulpit where Eric Logan wants to create a new student Dan Broxterman - contact Buchanan State Forest (Treasurer). Karen Carra filled in as minutes-taker. launch and said it wasn’t a reasonable launch site. Flight and make sure that they are happy with us. Officer Reports: Matthew Graham - follow up with Andrews Air New Faces New Business Parks and Treasurer: the club has approximately $17,000 in Force Base Gunter and Liz - Paraglider pilots from Germany BOD elections... assets. Ralph Sickinger - send out email announcement Andrew ?? - Paraglider student of Allen Sparks President: John Middleton nominated Daniel Brox- Dealers VP: the Kite Festival was cancelled on Saturday, to all members prior to the next meeting. terman. Nomination seconded and carried. and Matthew decided there was no point in partici- Flying Stories Flight Director: Ellis Kim was nominated by pating on Sunday because of the high winds. Matthew Graham reported on a fantastic flying Matthew Graham. Nomination seconded and Blue Sky Flight Park We still need another work party at the Pulpit to try day on New Year’s Day. You could stay up as long carried. Matthew will continue as VP and Hugh is Steve Wendt to raise the PG launch another few feet (and pos- as you wanted in the smooth lift. Linda Baskerville staying on as Treasurer. Ralph has volunteered to 540.432.6557 or sibly jack-hammer some of the big rocks). got her first mountain flight that day and take over the duties of Secretary. 804.241.4324 President: We have had 2 productive board meet- Karen Carra had her first mountain flight in her www.blueskyhg.com ings (including Pulpit JBOD meeting). We are still new Sport 2. List Server: Quality hang gliding working on a parachute re-pack event; likely at Mark Cavanaugh has provided an online forum (to instruction with foot- Manquin. John Middleton also flew New Year’s Day - in replace the email-only list server) that is within the launch and scooter New Zealand. He said that he saw lots of tandems CHGPA web site. tow training; truck Old Business: near Queenstown, South Island. Advantages: consolidation of multiple lists to sin- and aerotowing also Awards: Ralph Sickinger won the Bettina Gray gle locations, information can be organized better, offered. Equipment USHGA award for his outstanding photography Daniel Broxterman flew Jan 25th with Sparky & the search abilities are much better, image galleries sewing and repair; Awards: Ralph Sickinger was awarded the Bruce Engen. He thought he was going to have to are possible, etc. Hangola might be brought in after a full line of custom CHGPA Exceptional Service Award do a lot of work on the rock and got there 2 hours consulting with Judy. accessories; dealer
for Wills Wing, Moyes, early with salt and shovels to find that the Rock The separation of forums (HG, PG, stuff for sale, US Aeros, plus Mos- Two-year terms for office: was totally dry. He got 18 minutes and enjoyed Off Topic, perhaps BOD only) might discourage quito and Doodlebug It will be harder to get volunteers for the board if landing in fresh snow. Sparky arrived without a flame wars since not all of the content will go to powered harnesses. they are committed to two years up front. No mo- glider directly from work. Bruce lent his glider to one place. Paraglider towing also tion made; issue dropped. Sparky who flew and landed in the snow in his suit To access forums, go to www.chgpa.org/forums. available. and dress shoes. Registration is required to post to forums, but the Land Procurement committee: postings can be read without registering. You can Highland Aerosports The committee has met and held a few discus- Awards also have the forum postings forwarded to your Flight Park sions, but they haven’t led to anything yet. Flight Distance - Tow McGowan - 60+ miles from regular email box. Sunny Venesky and Cumberland, MD Adam Elchin New Business: Mandatory full-face helmets for 1st High Flight 2004 - Linda Baskerville - solo tow Meeting Schedule and Location: 410.634.2700 Pulpit Fly-In 1st High Flight, Mountain Flight, Soaring Flight Hugh asked whether everyone was satisfied with www.aerosports.net Matthew would like to make full-face helmets - Wesley Comerer quarterly meetings or whether there was a need Tandem aerotow mandatory for pilots competing at the Pulpit fly-in, 1st High Flight, Mountain Flight, Soaring Flight for more. Dave Proctor pointed out that when the hang gliding instruc- as a symbolic gesture to show that we care about The view over launch at Jacks Mountain, PA - Ken Swingle meetings were held every month it was easier for tion, solo aerotowing, helmet safety. Opposing comments: possibility for 1st High Flight, Mountain Flight, Soaring Flight new pilots to find us. Other club members brought equipment sales and legal liability if we require a specific type of helmet - Scott Wilkinson up the low attendance at meetings when they were service for US Aeros, for the competition. Exceptional Service Award: Ralph Sickinger. held monthly. The meeting schedule is presently Airwave, Moyes, Wills Motion: All competitors at the Pulpit Fly-In will be The club needs to find the award so that it can be January, April, July and October. Daniel B. volun- Wing, High Energy, required to wear full-face helmets. presented to Ralph. teered to try to find a new meeting space to replace Flytec, Brauniger and Vote: 2 for - 14 against - 1 abstained - Motion is Best Frozen Tree Landing Award - Brian Vant Lasicks. more. For more infor- NOT carried. Hull, for successfully landing in a tree (even if he mation, please visit did fall out of the tree after unhooking from the Treasurer’s Report our website. Number of Meetings: glider) after being blown back behind High Rock Checking - $2,000+ Current schedule is Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct; proposed Screwing Up a Fly-In - Chris McKee, for a 2004 Site Maintenance: ? Kitty Hawk Kites would be Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Oct.; the current High Rock tree incident that involved 2 helicopters Site Acquisition: ? 800.334.4777 schedule doesn’t really leave enough time for and about a million paramedics Money Market: $5986 www.kittyhawk.com conducting all of our business. Also, we are basi- Worst-Kept Secret Award - Ellis Kim for her tree CD: $5590 Since 1974. Certified cally missing our early-spring safety meeting before landing at Daniels that involved shutting off the Pay Pal: $1486 instruction from the the flying season starts. The proposed schedule power for the surrounding community sand dunes to tandem results in only one extra meeting, but that would be Air Hog - Mark Cavanaugh, who always launches The bills for site insurance have already been paid. aerotowing. Full-ser- the one for the Safety meeting. One comment was first and lands last, and was the only person to fly The PayPal account will mostly be for reimburse- vice flight park, dealer that the inconsistent schedule would be hard to after Chris McKee crashed at the High Rock Fly-In ment to Daniel B. for Pulpit Fly-In costs. A wintry northwest view for all major manufac- remember. On the other hand, meetings are sup- Most Annoying Flight Reports From Florida of the valley from High turers and a full-ser- posed to be announced in Skyline, and with email - Lauren Tjaden This is the first time the CD hasn’t rolled over Rock - photo by Ralph vice shop. Lesson from the Secretary, so that shouldn’t be a big deal. Best Imitation of a Paul Tjaden Downwind before we had chance to do something with it. The Sickinger packages and camps Motion: To change the By-Laws to hold 5 meetings Landing - Karen Carra club decided to have Hugh will put more cash into available. Open year the CD. round. Continued on page 14
May 2005 Skyline Page 10 Page 7 May 2005 Skyline From a A Talk With Christy Huddle tended to nose over.”), the Wills Wing XC (“It innertube tied to the front of the keel (inside Wire instructor again until he willingly drove all the was too small and the next size up was too the sail), and her harness floated. Other than Natural way out to the Red House, Maryland train- big, but I really learned how to thermal on it.”) being really frazzled by the experience, she Crew ing hill, watched her take three flights, and and her Moyes Litespeed 3 (topless). Her fa- was not in too much danger of drowning. History of signed off on her Hang 2 rating in June of vorite glider is the Litespeed because there is Trip partner Kevin Madden rechristened her Basics... 1989. so much time to find lift (although she would “Christy del Lago” after that episode. (Hmm, Clouds... Christy’s first mountain flight, (though not like it if her landings were better). [Editor’s gotta check to see if my secondary is too her first soaring flight which occurred at Red note: Christy has been eyeing the new Sport long). House on the training hill) followed soon 2 lately for its lighter weight with good perfor- Another incident occurred in Venezuela after at Zirk’s near Cumberland, Maryland. mance.] during a competition when she was flying Then, on the 4th of July weekend, she had Christy gives credit to skilled pilots with the course and ended up getting sucked into 14 mountain launches at the Hyner Fly-In be- whom she hung out for contributing signifi- a cloud when over a tiny valley. Once she tween arriving on Friday evening and leaving cantly to her hang gliding skills: George Steb- remembered the big boat compass she’d pur- The citizens of ancient bins, Bill Bennett, and Mike Chevalier. She is posely put on her basetube (brought it along Greece believed Monday morning! The trick at the time was to haul the glider back up on a vehicle without also thankful for other luminaries in the hang after reading a Dennis Pagen story about a that clouds were the gliding community. One day she decided pilot who’d been sucked into a cloud), she thoughts and feelings fully breaking it down, making turnaroundtime much quicker. to learn how Roger Ritenour managed to realized she needed to stay over the little val- of Zeus himself, that Christy Huddle and Scott Wilkinson celebrate after Although she flew sailplanes when she always fly higher than the rest of the crowd, ley if she wanted to be sure of having a safe when they looked up Scott’s first mountain flight at Zirk’s. One of CHGPA’s so she simply followed him, and decided he place to land. In one direction it was 11 kilo- at the sky they were few Hang 5-rated pilots, Christy has mentored many lived in France prior to getting into hang new pilots over the years. gliding, her preference evolved in favor really knows how to call his thermals. That meters to the nearest field. Using the boat seeing directly into was also a day she flew the length of the compass as a false horizon (doable since it the Divine mind. The of hang gliding---being the sport where the On assignment to interview and write up pilot is least removed from the elements. Her Massanutten Ridge for the second time. She wasn’t a turbulent climb) she spent the next priests of Israel taught the first of a series of conversations with also learned a lot by participating in competi- 15 minutes counting to 60 as she flew toward that the sight of cloud other current pastimes include paragliding, pilots flying regularly around the Capital Club hiking, non-U.S. skiing (she admits to being tions, and from lessons with Mike Barber on each of the four cardinal points. 4500 feet substance, lying as it vicinity, I jumped at the opportunity to talk to her old K-2 (which she retired after he said it later, she popped out of the cloud, and was did halfway between a Euro-ski snob after enjoying better condi- Christy Huddle. I’d met her at Ridgely last tions and lower prices in Europe), motorcy- flew “worse than a bagwing”). relieved to see she was still over the valley! the material and Summer when I was training, and I had heard spiritual realms, was cling, and reading. She enjoyed Bill Bryson’s a lot about her exploits from other local pilots. humor in “A Walk in the Woods” and “A Short as close as mortals At the CHGPA Christmas party this winter we could come to seeing History of Nearly Everything”, but her inter- CHGPA Hang 5 pilot Christy Huddle has flown... found ourselves in the kitchen along with Kar- ests run the gamut of subject matter; as long the face of God. The en Carra (eavesdropping on Dave Bodner’s • Almost 700 hours • 1,400 cross-country miles great American land- as it “is well written.” History has captured “grilling” by the H3 committee), and I enjoyed her attention lately. • 72 different high sites • 10 flight parks • 36 different gliders scape painters of the the opportunity to talk with her extensively last century, Frederic From the time she earned her H2 rating, about some flying concerns I was beginning Christy has regularly traveled to wide-rang- Church, Thomas Cole, to develop as I got a better taste of what the She obtained her H3 rating in December, Then there was a time she drifted too far and Alfred Bierstadt, ing flying sites, and feels that flying the same scope of the sport could be. Christy has a lot old sites around home can get a bit boring. 1989---she’d been flying quite a bit. I hesitat- downwind in a thermal, and unable to pene- were fascinated by of experience to offer the inquiring pilot, and ed to ask about her most significant moments trate back to the LZ, found herself heading for the skies and painted She translates similarities from more familiar she is a willing and dynamic story teller. sites to the newer sites, taking into account in hang gliding, because they were bound the one spot of ground that wasn’t covered by them obsessively. Christy got her start in hang gliding in to be related to near-misses or real crashes, trees or buildings. The last fifty feet was flown “I go forth each after- the differences, and enjoys the challenges of 1975, in California where she was living at flying new sites. Her hang gliding road trips and sure enough, there were some hair-rais- ten feet above the ground over someone’s noon and look into the the time. She had heard on the radio about ing moments. Christy admits that she got backyard---and it would have been unevent- west a quarter of an have taken her across the U.S. and sites in a guy offering hang gliding lessons, and she France, Venezuela, Colombia, Guatemala, herself into these situations on her own, but ful if the landowner hadn’t put those metal hour before sunset, and a couple friends went to check it out. In feels her ability to make quick decisions, rath- stakes along his property line. A quick flare with fresh curiosity Mexico and Canada. Just about very year 22mph winds, the instructor launched her she takes at least one two-week road trip to a er than panicking, has saved her each time. cleared them for a crash landing into the ...” Thoreau wrote in off a 300’ hill in Kettleman City, resulting in Most of the time it is no more than a moment shrubbery on a vacant lot nextdoor. A slightly his notebooks. “Can new site. a long, uncontrolled swooping flight around On her first real road trip, she headed out between saving your hide or worse. bent downtube was the only damage. Whew! Washington Street or to the backside of the hill, where she crash Taking the cake for Christy was the time Still another close call happened the week- Broadway show any- to Utah as an H2. On the way, she stopped landed, breaking a leading edge but nothing in Colorado to try truck towing with Dave her primary hang strap broke when she was end before a scheduled road trip to Utah. She thing as good? Every worse. The friend who launched after her on safari with Ollie Olsen in Venezuela. With found herself flying towards three barbed day a new picture is Broyles (a developer of the truck towing landed safely, but the other friend crashed method) just prior to the opening of one of the only the secondary to support her but placing wire fences as she tried to make the Spruce painted and framed, and sustained a bit more damage to himself her too low to maneuver the control bar (they Knob, West Virginia bail-out LZ. She figured held up for half an first National Fly-ins in Hartzell. One of her and his glider. She decided the whole hang favorites sites is Loma Lisa (near La Victo- had been swapping gliders around daily and she could clear the first two, but not the third. hour, in such lights the gliding thing was crazy and let it drop. the secondary hangloops were not being ad- So she chose to turn left which put her on a Great Artist chooses, ria) in Venezuela since she went back four It wasn’t until 1988 that she met George years in a row. She recommends that pilots justed properly), she climbed into the control downhill course towards another barbed wire and then withdrawn, Stebbins who got her psyched about hang frame and flew at top speed (due to the pitch fence. Just before impact, she flared hard, and the curtain falls.” gain experience flying new sites as a way to gliding, which fortunately had evolved by expand their horizons and capabilities. angle) to a lake, after deciding a water land- which put her at an awkward angle twenty then into something more resembling a ing would be the safest way to go. She chose feet above the fence. This time she chose —from “A Natural Her gliders have ranged from her first, the sport, rather than a gamble with life and limb. Lite Dream (“Horrible, fixed keel, no glide!”) to land the glider downwind, figuring the an apple tree as the least dangerous method History of Clouds,” by She started training with John Middleton in glider would flip and she would end up on top of ending the flight. A new leading edge and Fred Hapgood which she gave up the first time she tasted late summer of 1988; before her third les- the Wills Wing Sport AT with its superior of it if she were knocked unconscious---as it a little sail mending was required before the son she’d purchased herself a glider, a Lite glide. She’s owned and flown (in sequence) had for Greg Mick when he made an inadver- Utah road trip. Dream. In November she received her H1, the Pac Air K-2 (“Sweet handler, loved it.”) tent downwind landing on a lake---a story that Pete Lehmann signed off on Christy’s Hang and was off to the training hills regularly with a Pac Air K-5 (“No washout struts! Hated it, may have saved her life. The glider had an 4 in 1991 and also on her Hang 5 in 1999. friends, sans instructor. She didn’t see her Continued on page 14
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