Flytec
Wills Wing

Oz Report

Volume 7, Number 89
11 pm, Wednesday, April 2 2003

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

Will fly for subscriptions

Wed, Apr 2 2003, 8:00:00 pm GMT

Chris Delannoy|Doug Stewart|Mark Clark|Oz Report|Steven Ford

Oz Report readers who helped out on Wednesday: Steven R Ford, Chris Delannoy, Doug Stewart ($60, “Just sent in my USHGA renewal, sixty bucks.  I’ve found your Oz Report supplies far more sport aviation info that I find of interest than does the USHGA.”), Mark Clark ($30)

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

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to Table of Contentsto next topic Florida Report

Wed, Apr 2 2003, 8:00:01 pm GMT

Aeros Discus

http://www.davisstraub.com/Glide/questairweather.htm

A hard day in Florida.  Strong punchy lift under cu’s that were a bit more than wisps, but not much more.  700 to 800 fpm in places.  Light winds if any.  Five thousand foot cloud base.

Got knocked about quite a bit on the Aeros Discus as did every one else on their gliders.  More on the Discus later.

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to Table of Contentsto next topic Tandem ATOS VX

Wed, Apr 2 2003, 8:00:02 pm GMT

Chris Dawes|PG|Tandem ATOS VX

www.aerotow.com

Mark «Mark» writes:

Just got these from Felix at AIR - the Tandem ATOS VX. We will have it at the Avila for use during the PG to HG experiment in May starting 5th May.  Who will get their mucky paws on it?

Priority will go to Chris Dawes as a teaching aid for tandem use with the PG pilots (if and when he and Judy feel it appropriate.) Then the really low air timers will get a ride with Felix for thermal finding and coring practice.  Then Partners, friends, visitors will hopefully enjoy the late evening glass off rides.

Felix takes the beast on its first XC to the supermarket.

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to Table of Contentsto next topic Aeros Discus

Wed, Apr 2 2003, 8:00:03 pm GMT

Aeros Discus|Ron Gleason|Steven "Steve" Pearson|tow|Wills Wing Talon|Wills Wing U2

https://OzReport.com/7.76#4

https://OzReport.com/7.78#2

I made sure that I flew the Aeros Discus again today so that I could compare it with the Wills Wing U2’s that I had flown over at Wallaby.  I still haven’t had a chance to get on the Icaro 2000 MastR 14 again.

The air was very rough so I didn’t have a good opportunity to compare again its flying characteristics.  I wasn’t the only one being tossed around.

The pitch pressures were light on tow with the VG half on. Not as light as the U2, but lighter than the Talon 140 which was pretty light.  The tow was rough as was the flying.  This is so weird given that there wasn’t any wind.  The Discus didn’t get turned sideways like the old Laminar did yesterday on tow.

I had two flights, after getting off too early on the first one.  Both landings were a piece of cake in light switchy winds.  It’s easy to pull in and gain speed.  I came in with one hand on the down tube and one on the base bar pulling in.

The VG was easy, but not as easy as the Wills Wing U2. I had flown the U2-145 with the Spectra VG cord and Steve Pearson thought that might lend to making it easier to pull.  Ron Gleason had flown the WW U2-160, with the cloth cord and also found the Discus VG not as easy to pull as the U2. Still, much easier than the Wills Wing Talon, for me at least (Ron didn’t fly the Talon).

Otherwise, it was not a good day for testing.  I flew for about an hour and got high from low in ratty light lift that kept kicking me when it wasn’t light.

For the first time in my flying life I got out thermaled by a paraglider in a thermal.  No reflection on the glider, of course.  Dave Prentice just did great on his paraglider.  I came in just underneath him and he climbed away from me.

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to Table of Contentsto next topic A memorable future for hang glider pilots

Wed, Apr 2 2003, 8:00:04 pm GMT

drugs

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/04/030402072824.htm

Researchers have found evidence that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen, may exert a protective effect against the risk of Alzheimer's disease.  Results of their epidemiological, multiple-study analysis of nearly 16,000 patients are being presented at the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting in Honolulu, March 29-April 5, 2003.

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to Table of Contentsto next topic Inflatable plane

Wed, Apr 2 2003, 8:00:05 pm GMT

altitude|Brett Snellgrove|Deane Williams|Francis Rogallo|National Geographic|photo|site|technique|William Wixon

Dancebert «Dancebert» sends this URL:

The Smithsonian has one: http://www.nasm.si.edu/nasm/aero/aircraft/goodyear_xao.htm

Brett Snellgrove «Snelly14» writes:

Some points in response to Mark's comments on the inflatable aircraft.  The machine he is referring to was developed by Dunlop.  The technique of passing threads through the separate wing surfaces to form an airfoil on inflation was called air matting, and may indeed replace fabric ribs in paragliders someday giving a more uniform wing.

The Dunlop inflatable aircraft Mark mentions however needed to be constantly pressurized through a mechanical pump attached to the motor (probably to compensate for air density changes with altitude). Apparently the Dunlop inflatable aircraft was flyable - but barely with some difficulties associated with wing warping and control reversal.  And It was so light t needed to be tethered before starting the motor.

It is conceivable these problems could be eliminated with new materials.  There was an article in the National Geographic recently about new fabrics allowing inflatable columns to support tremendous loads.  It is probable these new materials could tolerate the loads imparted by changes in air density and provide sufficient strength to replace existing HG tubing without requiring excessive thickness.  The problem I see is carrying a pump capable of achieving sufficient pressure.

Deane HS Williams «deane.williams» writes:

Mark should do a search on PNEUWING and also look at the web site : http://www.prospective-concepts.ch/ This innovative Swiss company has built several inflatable wings.

Robert D. Sterling «dsterling47» writes:

Actually they were used a little.  The inside wing structure was different than you describe, as it was more of a fibrous matrix that connected the surfaces.  It used crank case pressure to inflate and maintain pressure.  The bottled gas was only good for a partial inflate.

I have one of the brochures for it from Goodyear.

William Wixon «wixon» writes:

http://bestofthenet.tv/goan/hglider.shtml

"…As the pace of competitive USA/USSR rocket development quickened, Francis Rogallo adapted and extended the totally-flexible principle into semi-rigid variants.  This mainly involved stabilizing the leading edges with compressed air beams …"

http://www.flug-revue.rotor.com/FRheft/FRH9808/FR9808k.htm

here's the website with various pneumatic wings including a pneumatic rigid wing hang glider: http://www.prospective-concepts.ch

I found it not-easy to navigate through their site, here's a photo: http://www.prospective-concepts.ch/en/main/pneumagic/01.htm

one more link: http://www.viridiandesign.org/notes/51-75/00054_festo_stingray.html

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to Table of Contentsto next topic Aeros Stalker

Wed, Apr 2 2003, 8:00:06 pm GMT

Aeros Stalker|for sale|Mark Clark

Mark Clark who wrote me a letter but didn’t send his e-mail address is selling his with the new tips with less than 10 hours.  $8,000. I guess he’ll contact me and send me his e-mail address.

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to Table of Contentsto next topic Wills Wing goes south

Wed, Apr 2 2003, 8:00:07 pm GMT

accommodations|flight park|Florida Ridge|James Tindle|Marco Oliveira|Wills Wing

Marco Oliveira «marco» writes:

The Florida Ridge is inviting all pilots for a Wills Wing weekend at our flight park.  It will happen this next weekend, Fri/Sat/Sun (4, 5 & 6). Demo flights on all Wills Wing gliders, barbecue, turkey dinner, pool, paintball, etc.  If you missed Wallaby Demo Days or are in for more fun, come down to South Florida.

Don't forget that The Ridge has an open purse for pilots that go beyond 100 miles (single surface) or 300 miles (double surface). Also, it could be a warm-up for the comps to be held at Quest and Wallaby this month.  Neutral territory for the top guns to try each other!!!!

We will arrange for retrievals if anyone decides to go for a distance.  Many choices also on triangular courses in south Florida.  Over 40 grass airfields on a 30 miles radius.  And excellent flying all around.

Check our website at www.thefloridaridge.com for directions or call James Tindle at 305-2858978 if you need help with accommodations.

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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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