Wills Wing
Flytec

Oz Report

Volume 6, Number 45
10 am, Saturday, March 9 2002

https://OzReport.com
"Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."
Sat, Mar 9 2002, 2:00:00 am EST

to Table of Contentsto next topic Brazilian Nationals - ongoing

Betinho Schmitz|Brazilian Nationals 2012|Kraig Coomber|Wills Wing

http://www.airadventures.net/2002/brasileiro _valadares_2002/result_brasil_2002.htm

After three rounds (in five days):

1 Carlos Schmitz(1) Betinho Schmitz Moyes - Litespeed 2850
2 Alvaro Figueiredo Sandoli(2) Nene Rotor Wills Wing - Tallon 2616
3 Boisselier Antoine(122) Tonio Moyes - Litespeed 2592
4 Kraig Coomber(121) Kraig Moyes - Litespeed 2558
5 Palmarini J François(110) Palmarini Moyes - Litespeed 2555
6 Carlos Bessa(10) Bessa Moyes - Litespeed 2535
7 Walbec Richard(102) Walbec Richard Moyes - Litespeed 2388
8 Gustavo de Araujo Saldanha(4) Guga Moyes - Litespeed 2274
9 Paulo Eduardo Baz(11) Cambuquira Moyes - Litespeed 2191
10 Aldo Xavier Sanches(9) Cruel Moyes - Litespeed 2139

Discuss "Brazilian Nationals - ongoing" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Sat, Mar 9 2002, 2:00:01 am EST

to Table of Contentsto next topic ATOS CG = Hang point

George Ferris|Matt Kollman

George Ferris and I hung his ATOS (not ATOS-C but that shouldn’t matter for this measurement) from a tree branch with a strap.  We found the balance point by moving the strap (2 inches wide) until the glider hung level.  The balance point was about ½ to 1 inch in front of the apex bracket.

The ATOS pilot hang point is just in front of this balance point by about an inch.  It appears as though Matt Kollman’s concerns about the balance point of the ATOS (and Exxtacy) are misplaced.  The hang point and the empty balance point of the ATIS appear to be very close.  I think we can forget Ass In Front as an explanation of an ATOS tuck.

Discuss "ATOS CG = Hang point" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Sat, Mar 9 2002, 2:00:02 am EST

to Table of Contentsto next topic Ride the pony

Florida|George Ferris|Quest Air|sailplane|Steve Kroop|Wallaby Ranch|weather

Florida|George Ferris|John "Ole" Olson|Quest Air|sailplane|Steve Kroop|Wallaby Ranch|weather

(?-i)John "Ole" Olson|Florida|George Ferris|Quest Air|sailplane|Steve Kroop|Wallaby Ranch|weather

Florida|George Ferris|John "Ole" Olson|Quest Air|sailplane|Steve Kroop|Wallaby Ranch|weather

I had a few sailplane flights before the weather deteriorated and today I had too flights in a WW Falcon 170. It’s hard going from a rigid wing to a single surface glider and it was all over the place on my first tow.  The PIO’s were pretty out of control and I was yawing from side and to side as I tried to remember my flex wing timing.

The second flight was better with hardly any PIO and I landed on my feet quite nicely instead of using the really big black plastic wheels.  Not really the horse yet, but at least a pony – and a harder thing to fly at that.

The weather in Floridahas finally improved and there was a lot of flying today at Wallaby Ranch.  Here’s what the sky looked like.  There was quite a bit of wind out of the east but it looks like it is going southeast tomorrow and converging.

George Ferris lands his ATOS and comes back to the Pole Barn in time for lunch.

Still no ATOS or other rigid wing here for me to fly, but I might take Steve Kroop up on his offer to go up to Quest Air on Friday and fly an Exxtacy.  The Senior National Sailplane Competition starts on Saturday at Seminole-Lake glider port, so I think I try to stay out of their hair.

Mike Water has a nice Superfloater here and I can fly that also.

Discuss "Ride the pony" at the Oz Report forum   link»

to Table of Contentsto next topic WRE – sponsored by Flytec

Sat, Mar 9 2002, 7:00:03 am GMT

David Glover|FAA|Flytec|Gary Osoba|picture|world record|World Record Encampment 2002

Gary Osoba and David Glover are back from four days of meeting with Zapata officials and the FAA personnel in Laredo.  Lots of good things have happened to help out pilots coming to the WRE and Gary will be sending me a written report very soon which I’ll share with Oz Report readers.

You can register for the upcoming 2002 World Record Encampment in Zapata, TX. All pilots who want to come to the WRE must go through this registration process even if you have told me that you want to come or have written to David.

You can register at: http://www.flytec.com or click picture.

We will have a special World Record Encampment newsletter that will provide information of special interest to WRE participants.  Anyone can sign up to receive it at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WRE_News or click picture.

Or, just subscribe by e-mailing «WRE_News-subscribe». This is not a discussion group, but is a newsletter mailing list and you will receive the newsletter from the meet organizers only.

There will be a special discussion group newsletter open to all actual WRE participants.  Soon after you register you will be told how to join in this discussion group.  This group will help you co-ordinate for drivers, etc.

Discuss "WRE – sponsored by Flytec" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Sat, Mar 9 2002, 2:00:04 am EST

to Table of Contentsto next topic Ultralight Soaring

Carbon Dragon|sailplane

Are flying wings better than regular sailplane designs?  Well, that seems to be a big question on this mailing list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ultralight_Soaring/. This is a low usage list for those folks interested in the LightHawk, SparrowHawk, Silent, APIS, Carbon Dragon, etc.  They state:

This group is for the discussion of all aspects of ultralight sailplanes/gliders.

With the development of sailplanes such as the AC-4, Sparrowhawk, Monarch, Esprit, Piuma, TST Alpin, Carbon Dragon, Windrose, Cepheus, Tempest, Windancer, and Silent there is a new and growing interest in a cost-effective and enjoyable area of silent flight.

Subscribe at: «Ultralight_Soaring-subscribe»

Post messages at: «Ultralight_Soaring»

Discuss "Ultralight Soaring" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Sat, Mar 9 2002, 2:00:05 am EST

to Table of Contentsto next topic Trailers, we got ‘em

scooter|Trailers

cart|scooter|Trailers

Mark Windsheimer of Airtime Above Hang Gliding «AirtimeHG» writes:

We have used this trailer with great success for over 10 years inColorado.

It was the creation of 2 pilots by the names of Terry Hackbart and Ludwig Goppenhamer.  They wanted a better way of training students.  I used to teach for them and used it almost every weekend in lessons.  I acquired the trailer before they went out of business and have used it lessons since.

As you can see the trailer can be used for everything from first flights to going prone for the first time.  This coupled with scooter towing and hill training turns out some great hang 2 pilots.

We also have cart that the pilot can launch in the upright position or prone.  Both of these systems were created before aero towing became popular, and we had seen their carts used.

Discuss "Trailers, we got ‘em" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Sat, Mar 9 2002, 2:00:06 am EST

to Table of Contentsto next topic Mark Forbes at his funniest

CIVL|Davis Straub|USHGA|Worlds

Mark G. Forbes «mgforbes» Region 1--OR/WA/AK writes:

[Dennis writes…]

It is clear to me that that someone abused our professional trust and passed along the comments I made in confidence to the board aboutDavis' detrimental behavior toDavis. This person should be ashamed of him/herself.

Your report contained a request to not duplicate it. I honored that request.  I did not interpret your request as one to stifle all discussion of its content, nor to confine comments only to BOD intimates.  In this instance, you make an explicit request of the USHGA executive committee (acting for the Board) to issue a "cease and desist" demand to Davis Straub, based on his personal writings.  I think that's wrong, and I said so. And I STILL say so. We do not have the authority to even make such a request, and we shouldn't.

[Dennis writes…]

This is what you've done: Myself and my successors as well as any other director communicating about sensitive issues cannot provide frank, insightful reports.  I will no longer be providing background into the processes and problem solving we have to do. You'll get the dry facts, but that is never enough information necessary to really understand a problem or solve future problems.  You can thank this person with a Lilliputian sense of respect and responsibility for this state of affairs.

So, because you can't standDavis, you're unwilling to provide background information on *anything*? The "background" you provided WRTDavis and the Chelan meet looks like two paragraphs of "rant", with essentially no information other than your personal diatribe against him.  The *rest* of the report looks pretty good, though.

[Dennis writes…]

Concerning the comments I made aboutDavis, I only told a fraction of the story.  Mark Forbes is naive if he thinks that people around the world can see throughDavis. Remember, that most of them are not native English speakers and don't know what's going on in mainstream hang gliding.Daviscontinually slants things his way and edits communication to totally change their meaning.

Davis kindly sent me the reference to his Oz Report comments on the Chelan meet organizers.  I quote the relevant passage from Volume 6, #29:

"It is my general feeling after reading the proposed regulations for the Worlds, that they are poorly thought out and not up to date.  The meet organizers have very limited experience in international competition and are not aware of the latest developments.

This doesn't mean that their approach - each task is a race with only one start time, late in the afternoon, isn't correct, it just means that potential attendees should think long and hard about whether this is what they want and whether they are willing to ask for something different."

And in his letter to other competitors (not an Oz Report, just his own personal analysis of the proposed rules):

“9. Will results be available to the press (me) on a very timely basis?

I don't think that the organizers are all that friendly to the press.

10. Will there be task and safety committees?  Will these committees have the authority to call the task and to cancel the day?  Or will they be advisory only?

The organizers are inexperienced.  Larry doesn't fly much XC and Danny doesn't fly in competitions.  Danny has a big ego that keeps him from listening.  He won't know how to call tasks.  The pilots should be in charge of the tasks and in charge of safety."

I give most people credit for being able to read and interpret information and make their own conclusions from what they've learned.  As a competition pilot,Davis is entitled to make his own comments on the published rules at the time they're proposed.  If the organizers want to avoid criticism of those rules, they might try editing and updating them, in advance of submitting them for public consideration.

It may be that the rules will be further refined at the CIVL meeting, but that's no reason not to do a good job to start with.Davis has things he wants, but he's entitled to lobby for them if he chooses; just as others are entitled to advocate *their* positions.  The weight thatDavis' comments carry is predicated on his attendance at competitions, and his performance at those contests.  If it were *me* commenting on the rules, nobody would care…and rightly so.

[Dennis writes…]

[…] To repeat, I had to talk to several delegates and team leaders about what he said about the Chelan meet.  Look between paragraph 10 and 11 on the comment he sent you all to find his statement about the inexperience of the meet organizers.  Do you care to know how many World Meet organizers and directors are not X-C pilots?  Most.  This type of material is slanderous and libelous.

Really?  A statement from a private individual that he thinks the meet organizers are not very friendly toward the press (himself) and he thinks they're inexperienced could be construed by you as "slanderous and libelous"? If *that's* all it takes to scare off international teams from Chelan, I'm amazed they ever bother to show up in this country for anything.

[Dennis writes…]

These people are in a business relationship with the CIVL, the pilots and are representing the USHGA since we approved their bid.

And this somehow immunizes them from comment and criticism, particularly when that criticism is directed toward making it a "pilot friendly" meet?  Having your meet sanctioned means nobody can criticize or question you, is that it? (Yes, I *know* I'm exaggerating.)

[Dennis writes…]

Davis' pronouncements are as detrimental as they are misinformed.  To use his words, he hasn't got a clue.  The process for bringing rules up to date and in compliance with current standards is that of submitting them to the CIVL then continually refining them with the assigned Steward as I explained before.

Seems to me like the rules ought to get brought up to date *before* they're published to the world, not after.  It saves a lot of confusion.  Presumably the reason that the rules are published at all, is to provide an opportunity for comment and criticism in advance of their implementation.  Is that not the case?

[Dennis writes…]

Davistries to get his own way by extortion--publicly embarrassing individuals or emailing them to death.

(UPI)Corvallis,OR Hang Glider Pilot Dead, Email Suspected

Hang glider pilot Mark Forbes was found dead at his monitor today, the victim of an apparent emailing.  The email assault trapped him at the keyboard without food or water, but a Coroner's Office spokesman said the apparent cause of death was dehydration through the eyeballs.  "It looks like he just forgot to blink," said Sgt.  Joe McDarbyshire of the computer crime task force.  Police are seeking an itinerant writer and competition pilot, Davis Straub, for questioning in the matter.  Straub's "OZ Report" is believed to have been the weapon used in the killing, and police are seeking additional clues inDeniliquin,Australia and Chelan,Washington.

[Dennis writes…]

For that reason he does a real disservice to our sport rather than be the great communicator he could be with the concept of his report.

Davis may not always (or even mostly) be right, but he's usually worth reading.  Your opinion may be different.  That's cool…but what's NOT cool is for our national board to censor the private writings of any of our members, no matter how influential they may be. If you think the world needs a counterweight toDavis' slanted, biased, extortionist viewpoint…then write your own 'zine.

If you didn't want the report to be discussed, I wish you'd have said so explicitly.  And just so nobody misinterprets *me*, you're welcome to quote me (with attribution) as you see fit, in any venue.

Discuss "Mark Forbes at his funniest" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Sat, Mar 9 2002, 2:00:07 am EST

to Table of Contentsto next topic Judge for Yourself

A reader responds to the article from GW about his new web site by asking pilots to look at the following two web sites and judge for themselves:

http://www.justfly.com/ and http://www.apple.com/

Discuss "Judge for Yourself" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Sat, Mar 9 2002, 2:00:08 am EST

to Table of Contentsto next topic USHGA Finances

Bill Bolosky|calendar|David Glover|USHGA

Bill Bolosky|calendar|David Glover|John "Ole" Olson|USHGA

(?-i)John "Ole" Olson|Bill Bolosky|calendar|David Glover|USHGA

Bill Bolosky|calendar|David Glover|John "Ole" Olson|USHGA

Bill Bolosky «bolosky» USHGA Treasurer seeing my in jest reference to USHGA financials kindly send me this:

Your last OZ report mentioned that you hadn't seen the most recent USHGA financials.  I guess that means that you care and would like to know what's going on. I'm not so sure about your readers (especially the ones not in theUS), but here goes anyway.

In calendar year 2001 (which is also fiscal 2001), we saw net income of about $211K on $1.1M of revenue.  In 2000, we had net income of $63K on $1.0M revenues.  However, the 2000 numbers reflect about $90K that we paid for web software and capitalized as an asset, while the 2001 takes about $20K of depreciation towards it. (That is, we paid $90K in cash for the software in 2000, but then added a $90K asset on our balance sheet, so it doesn't show up on the bottom line for 2000; conversely, in 2001, we didn't pay any cash towards that asset, but took a depreciation charge against the asset on our balance sheet, which makes 2001's bottom line look worse.  As a result, while we had positive net earnings on the income statement for 2000, we ran a cash deficit, while we ran a larger cash surplus in 2001 than the bottom line would make you think.)

In addition, in 2001 we substantially reduced our accounts receivable (roughly by half), mostly by collecting on old unpaid debts, but also by writing off some bad debt.  These write-offs also make the 2001 bottom line look worse than it otherwise would have, but cost us no cash.

As a result, we went from having about $50K in the bank at the end of 2000 to $308K at the end of 2001. While this sounds like a lot of money, realize that our monthly costs average over $70K, so $50K is right around the point where you're really counting the money coming in on a daily basis to keep the checks from bouncing.  $300K is a more healthy cushion, but still somewhat below where we would like to be. The finance committee set a cash reserve target at the most recent BOD, and we're still somewhat short of that target.  We need to keep this kind of reserve to cover unexpected expenses (like the increased insurance premiums that we're seeing together with the new insurance company needing cash on the barrel for the policy instead of financing like we used to do, or lawsuits, etc.)

USHGA has no debt (unless you count very short term things like accounts payable and accrued staff salaries).

The reason that things are so much better is that we've done an excellent job of cutting costs.  This is mostly the work of Jayne and David Glover when he was president (I helped a little, as did JZ, Russ, some other BOD members and the staff). We're trying very hard to maintain the tight reigns on spending, at least over the portions of it that we can control.

So…we're not about to run out of money.  We were in pretty bad shape last year, but because we didn't have any debt we were able to climb out of the hole by being very careful about spending money, collecting on debts owed us, and so ran an operating and cash surplus.

I'm still not sure that people really care about capitalizing software, depreciation and writing off bad debts, but I figure that more detail is better than less.

I hope that people don't get the impression that we're rolling in cash because we have $300K in the bank.  We employ 5 people full time, and publish ~11,000 magazines monthly, as well as spending $100K/year on pilot and landowner liability insurance.  It's expensive to do this, and we spend money pretty fast.

Disclaimer: This isn't my official report.  These numbers may not be the ones on our final 2001 financials, I didn't have them handy and used a preliminary copy.  They're basically right, but may have changed a little; in particular, I think that we took more depreciation charges than they show, but I'm not positive off the top of my head.  I'm just writing this to give you a basic idea of how things are.

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Want to discuss something you've read in the Oz Report with other readers?  You can sign up to the Oz Report mailing list server at: «Oz_Report-subscribe» or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Oz_Report or click picture.

Often an Oz Report article will prompt discussions on the hang gliding or rigid wing lists, and I'm not trying to stop those avenues of discussion.  It's just that you now have another option.

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Discuss "USHGA Finances" at the Oz Report forum   link»

The Oz Report, a near-daily, world wide hang gliding news ezine, with reports on competitions, pilot rankings, political issues, fly-ins, the latest technology, ultralight sailplanes, reader feedback and anything else from within the global HG community worthy of coverage. Hang gliding, paragliding, hang gliders, paragliders, aerotowing, hang glide, paraglide, platform towing, competitions, fly-ins. Hang gliding and paragliding news from around the world, by Davis Straub.

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