Flytec
Wills Wing

Oz Report

Volume 7, Number 73
9 pm, Monday, March 17 2003

https://OzReport.com
"Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."

Will fly for subscriptions

Mon, Mar 17 2003, 6:00:00 pm GMT

Oliver Moffatt|Oz Report|Steven Ford

Oz Report readers who have helped out on Monday: Steven Ford (pledge), Oliver Moffatt ($30, England, “Always enjoy the Oz Report, Davis… other than all the USHGA politics, of course.”), Neff (England)

About 2,400 people a day read the Oz Report on line or in their e-mail.  There seems to be a strong readership basis.  The number of people who come to the Oz Report web site (not including thee-mail e-zine) each day is:

The hit meter and download rate has gone up quite a bit in March to almost 20,000 hits a day.  Last year at this time it was about 5,000:

The subscription/donation number (number of people helping to support the Oz Report) is about 10% of what we think the readership basis is. A very good number say relative to public radio.  Oz Report readers apparently have a much closer personal connection with the Oz Report than the general listenership of the local public radio stations do with their station.  This should be true because of the Oz Report is a narrowcast and not a broadcast.

Oz Report readers are self selecting.  They choose to get or read the Oz Report because it addresses their specific interests.  (I sure wish I could get more material from Europe.)

You can see how to send in $10 for a yearly subscription to the Oz Report below.

Discuss "Will fly for subscriptions" at the Oz Report forum   link»

to Table of Contentsto next topic USHGA – competition committee minutes

Mon, Mar 17 2003, 6:00:01 pm GMT

Aaron Swepston|Brad Kushner|Chris Santacroce|Competition Committee|Davis Straub|Dean Funk|Dennis Pagen|Jan Johnson|Jim Zeiset|John Greynald|Ken Hudonjorgensen|Liz Sharp|Natalie Hinsley|Nick Kennedy|Ron Gleason|Russ Locke|Scott MacLowry

Ron Gleason «xcflying» writes:

Competition Committee Meeting March 7, 2003 Colorado Springs, CO

Attending: Ron Gleason, Chair*, Dennis Pagen**, John Greynald*, Liz Sharp, Russ Locke, Aaron Sweptson*, Natalie Hinsley Jim Zeiset**, Jan Johnson**, Chris Santacroce (voting members*) (voting Directors**).

Dean Funk has been appointed as Speed Gliding Subcommittee chairman by Comp Committee Chair.

No sanctioning was granted for the Torrey Pines Ridge Race as a Speed Gliding meet.

Davis Straub has been appointed as Rulebook Subcommittee Chairman by Comp Committee Chair.

(editor’s note: The subcommittee chairman completed his proposed changes to the 2004 Competition Rulebook prior to this BOD meeting and circulated them with the other subcommittee members.  He awaits their feedback.

He has also marked all the places with the Competition Rulebook that required examination and clarification of time schedules for the sanctioning process.  This portion of the work to be carried out by Jim Zeiset and Ron Gleason.)

Comp Committee decided to not process requests from Quest & Wallaby to host for 2004 Rigid/Women's Worlds.  These requests came after the close of the Fall 02 Board Meeting.

(editor’s note: Apparently some bodies in the US will be trying for the 2006 Rigid/Women’s worlds.)

Big Springs meet is withdrawing paragliding portion of this meet.

(editor’s note: This was supposed to be the five class nationals.  The paraglider pilots would have their own meet director.  They were worried about towing.  They were worried about being a side show for the hang glider pilots.  I guess they would rather fly in Telluride than in the big flatlands of Texas.  I guess they missed this opportunity to get together for a combined meet, like the combined magazine.  Another missed opportunity.)

No paperwork yet from Lookout Mountain to host a Speed Gliding Meet, Ron Gleason to follow up.

Two Requests for Sanctioning of Paragliding Nationals, Telluride by Scott MacLowry and Salt Lake City by Ken Hudonjorgensen.

Committee discussed issues concerning the Salt Lake Bid.  Those issues concerned a small landing area, weather conditions and the ability to safely fly triangles.

The Telluride concerns discussed centered around enough vehicles to get pilots up to launch, retrieval issues for tasks outside of the main valley and some extra charges for travel to launch.

(editor’s note: Telluride should be a great place to fly if the weather’s right and the wind isn’t blowing.  Let’s see, the last time they held the PG nationals in Colorado mountains they got exactly zero rounds flown.)

Chris polled the top pilots and vote was in favor of Telluride

Committee voted 6-0 with 1 abstention for the Telluride Meet as our PG Nationals.

Committee voted unanimous to approve the Utah meet, as a Class A Sanction meet should Ken chose to run the meet.  Ron Gleason to contact Ken and discuss this possibility.

Committee received a request from Brad Kushner to hold a Class B Sanctioned meet.  Committee approved this request.

Dennis Pagen has resigned as CIVL Delegate.  The Committee recommends that the USHGA President appoint Jim Zeiset as his replacement and appoint Dennis Pagen as the Alternate Delegate.

Several different requests were received from Davis Straub via Chair Ron Gleason to make changes to the international rules on the uses of GPS.  Those changes are currently being worked on by the CIVL.

Request from Davis Straub to get the WPR data up on the CIVL website.  That situation is also being worked on.

(editor’s note: The minutes actually said WPRS, but it should have said WPR.  I sure would like to see a little more useful work done on this.  Zupy was reporting that FAI still wasn’t making the database available.  It sure would be nice to know more about this than, yes we are working on it. Like in what century are we walking about?)

Request from Davis Straub to eliminate the 25% and 50% bonus for European Championships.  The CIVL is making efforts to make it easier to hold continental championships, thereby making better access for this important meets for all pilots.

(editor’s note: Smoke and mirrors time here.  Last year I wrote up a detailed proposal to make it easier for other continents to have continental championships.  That proposal was ignored by the CIVL Bureau and the CIVL Plenary.  It became clear to me that many CIVL European delegates have no interest in losing their monopoly on a high points continental championship (irrespective of the forthcoming Asian paragliding meet).

I find it hard to believe that our CIVL delegates (well, I don’t really find it hard to believe) would be so willing to screw our national team members and US competition pilots in general by going along with the perpetuation of this unfair system.  The 50% bonus points should be dropped from international competitions.

The Brazilians have wised up to this con.  When are the Americans going to learn?)

Request from Davis Straub to clarify the advertisement rules.  Those rules have been clarified at this most recent CIVL meeting.

(editor’s note: I wonder if they are all that clear.  Did anyone really ask Dennis what the story was here.  I’ve published the new rules in the Oz Report, but there seems to me to be much that can be learned about these new rules.  Are they just for hang gliding, for example?  What about their conflict with FAI rules?  What happens if a pilot says no? What are the penalties?  Local rules only for penalties, or a more general guideline?  Do we really want to do this?  Now long are these rules valid?  I’ve got more questions about the size and style of the pilot numbers and the sponsorship logo size.

Was everyone asleep at the cc meeting?  Were they just listening to the blandishments of the CIVL reps and not paying attention?  Why doesn’t anyone who knows something stand up and ask the tough questions?)

Request from Davis Straub to disseminate to US Pilots the specific rules of the Brazilian Worlds.  Those rules have been recently approved and will shortly be available on the Brazilian Worlds Web site.

(editor’s note: Their web site hasn’t been updated since 2002.)

Request from Davis Straub to report on the recent failed US bid to hold the World Championships in the US. A report from CIVL Delegate was presented.

(editor’s note: published earlier in the Oz Report.)

Dennis Pagen & Jim Zeiset have just received notice from the CIVL that drug testing (IOC standards) will be in effect immediately for any category one meets (specifically this summer!).

(editor’s note: No more Red Bulls for Betinho!  I already written about what a travesty this is. With CIVL it is one ridiculous thing after another.  Somebody I know is not going to be sharing a little dooby in the corner before launch.)

Ron Gleason and Jim Zeiset accepted an action item to clarify the registration process for USHGA sanctioned meets.

(editor’s note: This is a can of worms.  I have highlighted all the areas of the competition rule book that are affected by the desire to get all the dates straightened out.)

Ron Gleason accepted an action item to create a structure for the relationship between the Comp Committee and our Vendors as regards to submitting bids for world championships from the US.

(editor’s note: Some people are not too happy that the USHGA took over the process of putting together the US bid for the worlds.  Some people think that wasn’t their role.  Some people think that’s why we lost.)

Sport Class proposal from Nick Kennedy is approved providing that the process doesn't cause problems with the pilot ranking for CIVL Category One meets.  Ron Gleason to notify Meet Organizers and encourage them to participate in this effort.

(editor’s note: The original proposal was that NTSS points in Sporting Class = ⅔ NTSS points.)

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to Table of Contentsto next topic Both U2’s at Wills Wing 30th anniversary

Mon, Mar 17 2003, 6:00:02 pm GMT

Rob Kells

Rob Kells «Rob» writes:

I'm happy to tell you that we will have two sizes of the U2 for you to fly at Wallaby March 25th - 30th during our company's thirty year anniversary celebration.

We have completed the flight and vehicle testing of the smaller size U2 145, and it is now released for sale.  Steve Pearson designed the prototype, made four tuning flights on it, and then let the rest of us fly it. We are all really excited about the way he has it flying.  The 145 weighs only 63 pounds!!

These are pics of the 160, which weighs 68 pounds.

More info at: http://www.willswing.com/prod2.asp?theClass=hg&theModel=U2

Info for the celebration: Phone: (863)4240070 «fly» www.wallaby.com

We will also have all the demos available April 4th - 6th at the Florida Ridge near Miami.  Miami Hang Gliding Phone: (305)2858978

Below is a list of demo gliders we will have for pilots to fly.  We hope to have two additional U2s ready by the time the truck leaves for the 2400 mile XC journey to Florida.  The demos are free.  Pilots just need to pay for their tows.

GliderNo Model
38267 Eagle 145
38253 Eagle 164
38261 Eagle 180
27406 Falcon 2 170
27408 Falcon 2 170
27376 Falcon 2 170
27393 Falcon 2 195
27422 Falcon 2 195
27238 Falcon 2 225
27416 Falcon Tandem
27417 Falcon Tandem
37130 Talon 140
37091 Talon 140
37160 Talon 140
37216 Talon 150
37220 Talon 150
37258 Talon 150
37210 Talon 160
34914 U2 145
34908 U2 160
34567 Ultra 135

We will have some fun programs Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.  More soon!

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to Table of Contentsto next topic Wildlife

Mon, Mar 17 2003, 6:00:03 pm GMT

wildlife|Mark Poustancian

On Sunday I organized a canoeing trip to the Withlacoochee River, putting in at Silver Lake twenty five miles west of Quest Air in Groveland.  Nine of us paddled for two and a half hours through the little Withlacoochee State Forest focusing on wildlife viewing.

After three years of drought the river is finally flowing again, and flowing everywhere.  I was just happy to see that there was a main channel.  The river starts near highway thirty three and 474 half way between Quest Air and Wallaby to the south and flows north to just on the west side of Lake Panasoffkee (a familiar site to competitions pilots flying in Florida). Taking the outflow from that lake it continues on further northwest into the Gulf north of Crystal Rover.

Mark Poustancian, while losing a loose crown in the river, managed to get some nice photos:

This was a large turtle sunning itself on a stump.  More pictures coming.

Discuss "Wildlife" at the Oz Report forum   link»

to Table of Contentsto next topic West Coast demos

Mon, Mar 17 2003, 6:00:04 pm GMT

Rich Burton|Torrey Pines|Steve Stack

Rich Burton «indasky» writes:

With all of the demo extravaganzas going on during March, in Florida at Quest and Wallaby, I just wanted the West Coast pilots, or anyone else who prefers flying from spectacular ocean cliffs and desert mountains, to not feel left out.

AV8 has made available a wide range of the Icaro gliders, including the Stratos rigid and the new MR12 for demo at Torrey Pines (www.flytorrey.com) during March and April.  Why just do it for a week?

For flying information you can contact Steve Stack at Torrey Pines, 858-452-9858, or Rich Burton at 760-721-0701, «indasky»

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to Table of Contentsto next topic Glover’s Glider

Mon, Mar 17 2003, 6:00:05 pm GMT

Kevin Frost|David "Dave" Glover|Kurt Zeigler

Yes, it’s sold.  It’s in the bag and awaiting a box for delivery.  Let me fly your glider, say whatever I think about it and maybe within a few days it too will also be sold.  ☺

The new buyer?  Kurt Zeigler in Boise, Idaho, USA.  He is going to let Kevin Frost also fly it so that hey can compare it with the one that I first flew.  No tail yet.

Discuss "Glover’s Glider" at the Oz Report forum   link»

to Table of Contentsto next topic Ads in the Oz Report?

Mon, Mar 17 2003, 6:00:06 pm GMT

Oz Report

I haven’t ever carried ads, well at least ones that I asked for payment for.  I think of hang glider and equipment manufacturers as an integral part of the hang gliding and paragliding community.  But I haven’t been comfortable taking their money for ads, because I wonder how I would feel stabbing them in the back, which I sometimes do.

By that I mean, I can write some pretty nasty stuff about some products, and while I love the people who do their best to provide us with all these wonderful toys, that doesn’t mean I don’t think that they aren’t often fools.  Aren’t we all?  I’m just willing to say it out loud.

I’m considering allowing hang glider related ads in the Oz Report to help pay for it and I want to get your feedback.  Personally, I’m not a big fan of reading ads or having them impinge on my consciousness.  Still these guys are part of our hang gliding world.

I like to run articles on new hang gliding gizmos, hang glider manufacturer’s demo parties, etc.  These do have news value, which is why I run them.  I also like to encourage guys with a little product.  I’ll be doing an article soon on the new instrument pod I have (maybe I won’t like it though).

I’m thinking of testing out running hang glider ads and see how it goes.  I’d like your feedback.  I feel it is sort of like public radio taking money from corporations for sponsorship, although it is much more relevant to our lives than the ads they put on public radio.

The hang gliding mailing list is ad supported.  The ads are completely irrelevant and a major nuisance.  The funny thing is the policy of the hang gliding list is that you can’t send in an ad for say a hang glider on the list.

So you are bombarded with useless ad information and at the same time you can’t buy or sell a glider on that list.  I can see why they have this policy so as to limit or stop hang glider related ads (they could overwhelm the list), but irrelevant ads now dominate the list.

I’m concerned about what hang glider manufacturers will send me. Whether they will be pissed when I make fun of the ad in the next article (and they think wrongly that they have the right not to be assaulted right next to their ad). I wonder about whether it makes any economic sense to have ads in an e-zine.

Anyway, help me out here.  The Oz Report definitely needs the income from the ads, so I’m willing to give it a try.  If readers find it objectionable, then it goes by the wayside.  Write me at «davis». You might wait to see what we actually come up with.

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to Table of Contentsto next topic Maxpunkte

Mon, Mar 17 2003, 6:00:07 pm GMT

Dietrich münchmeier|Ulf Brech|Maxpunkte

http://www.onlinecontest.org/holc/start_requirements.html

Ulf Brech «Ulf.Brech» writes:

Today I received mail from Flytec in Switzerland with their barograph data format description and forwarded this to Dietrich münchmeier the author of Maxpunkte.  Dietrich told me that he's going to include the Flytec-Baro-feature into Maxpunkte.  In my opinion we only have to wait a couple of days.  I also asked Dietrich for an English version and got a positive response.

Discuss "Maxpunkte" at the Oz Report forum   link»

to Table of Contentsto next topic Convergence and BLIPMAP

Mon, Mar 17 2003, 6:00:08 pm GMT

Gary Osoba|sailplane|PG|weather

http://www.drjack.net/BLIPMAP/

Gary Osoba «wosoba» writes:

Circumstances providing, I plan on doing weather forecasting in Florida this year and of course, at the WRE-500! in Zapata.  Far from giving up on BLIPMAP's and convergence tools, I find Dr. Glendening's tools to be very helpful.  From the changes which have been indicated, I would expect the suggestions given will lead to pretty good reliability in the convergence area of Florida.  Zapata will be a much trickier call for BLIPMAP's, but the process is all about refinement, input, etc.  so that things can improve.

Although I tend to do my weather work-ups from scratch, in most circumstances using ETA models and satellite sources, BLIPMAP's allow quick looks which are most useful.  In two of the three World Records I flew last summer, they were particularly helpful in allowing me to see regional relationships while in a hurry to do task planning and Flight Declarations by mid-morning.  Then, I was able to do my own more detailed work-up once the regional decisions were made.

Dr. Glendening and his team deserve a big Thank You from the soaring pilots in this country, from Paraglider to Open Class Sailplane categories, for the service being provided.  I will be happy to give any input I can to help improve these products.

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to Table of Contentsto next topic Bad GPS coverage

Mon, Mar 17 2003, 6:00:09 pm GMT

Flavio Tebaldi|GPS

https://OzReport.com/7.69

I reported earlier (see URL above) about problems with GPS coverage in European competitions.  Angelo wrote:

Last year we had a similar problem in a nearby area (where this year we had good coverage). Poor GPS coverage is probably not a problem in Florida or Australia but in Italy it's a problem in some places because we have lots of powerful antennas (RadioMaria, for example, blocks quite a wide area in the south of Como lake) and there are several military areas with poor coverage all around.

Flavio Tebaldi «dclaveno» reports further on this problem:

During our last Italian Competition we had some problems with GPS coverage and errors, and we have seen that the MLR antenna is more sensitive to GPS interference than other receivers.

Garmin

MLR

As you can see from this track log graphs, MLR receivers have some problems.  They recorded some points 900/1000 km distance away from the actual point.

The problem seems to be related to the non horizontal position of the receiver when inserted into hang gliding pods.  Make sure that your MLR GPS is horizontal when you are flying.

I think is important that MLR owners know about this problem.

(editor’s note: Is it ironic or not that the MLR coming out of Europe has the most problems with European competitions because of the antennas?)

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to Table of Contentsto next topic Correction re: GPS chart

Mon, Mar 17 2003, 6:00:10 pm GMT

Flavio Tebaldi|GPS

https://OzReport.com/7.70

The MLR has 8000 track log points, not 12,000 as Flavio reported.

Discuss "Correction re: GPS chart" at the Oz Report forum   link»

to Table of Contentsto next topic 2003 Chelan Cross Country Classic

Mon, Mar 17 2003, 6:00:11 pm GMT

Chelan Cross Country Classic 2003|Aaron Swepston

http://www.couldbase.org

Tontar «tontar» writes:

Dates: June 30 – July 6, 2003
Chelan Classic
USHGA class A sanctioned competition.
Location: Chelan, Washington
Registration: Available online, by phone, or on site until 8:00 AM, June 30, 2003
Entry fee: $90
No rain dates
Practice is open any time prior to the beginning of the event.
Chelan Butte has a 4,100’ msl high launch, with many landing areas
Rating requirements: USHGA Intermediate rating or above, with FSL signoff, or foreign equivalent with a temporary USHGA membership.
There are multiple classes with trophies for the winners.
Site information and registration available at www.cloudbase.org and click on the link for the 2003 Classic
Phone registration is available through Meet Organizer Steven Alford at (425) 788-0308.
On site registration will be available in Chelan starting June 28th at meet headquarters.
Meet headquarters will be announced on the CBCC website mentioned above.
Pilot meeting June 30, 2003 at 8:00 AM in Lakeside Park, Chelan, Washington.
Site phone number will be (425) 445-0730

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to Table of Contentsto next topic The world of ends

Mon, Mar 17 2003, 6:00:12 pm GMT

internet

http://www.worldofends.com/

If the Internet is so simple, why have so many been so boneheaded about it? Could it be because the three Internet virtues are the antithesis of how governments and businesses view the world?

Nobody owns it: Businesses are defined by what they own, as governments are defined by what they control.

Everybody can use it: In business, selling goods means transferring exclusive rights of use from the vendor to the buyer; in government, making laws means imposing restrictions on people.

Anybody can improve it: Business and government cherish authorized roles.  It's the job of only certain people to do certain things, to make the right changes.

Business and government by their natures are predisposed to misunderstand the Internet's nature.

Discuss "The world of ends" 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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