Oz Report

Will fly for subscriptions

Johnny Carr|Oz Report|Ron Richardson

Oz Report readers who helped out on Tuesday: Johnny Carr ($20), Ron Richardson (pledge from Johnny Carr).

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

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Florida Report

cloud|Florida

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

Sixty percent chance of rain today with lots of cumulus development in streets, strong southeast winds, and plenty of pilots flying in rough conditions to test out their gliders.  No one tried for the 100 miler today given the low cloud base and dark skies early in the morning.

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Richard Walbec on Moyes Litespeed

Jon "Jonny" Durand jnr|Moyes Litespeed|Quest Air|Richard Walbec|Ron Richardson

Did I mention this before (or was I under a gag order)? It is so hard to remember.  The French showed up today en mass at Quest Air (as did Christian and Manfred, and Johnny and Ron Richardson). Richard was seen putting together with Johnny Durand, Jr. (showed up yesterday) a Moyes Litespeed (wonder why he didn’t choose the LiteSport).

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Paris goes Aeros

Paris Williams

Paris Williams «parisflies» writes:

I've really enjoyed flying the Laminar for the past few years.  I think Icaro makes some of the best products available, and I'd recommend them to anyone.  But because of some personal (not product related) issues between myself, Icaro and AV8, I've decided to part ways with them and fly for Aeros for the remainder of the season.  Some of the difficulties leading up to this decision have been going on for quite a while now, and several recent events solidified my decision to leave.

So, why'd I choose Aeros?  For one, Oleg and Bo are two of my favorite people to fly with, and I think we'd make great teammates.  Second, I've been very impressed by the performance of the latest Combat 2. I've had the opportunity to fly Bo's latest glider (with lightened leading edges), and was extremely impressed with the handling.  They've come a long ways since the Combat I flew several years ago--they've clearly been doing their homework!  I'm looking forward to some good fun racing.

I want to thank Icaro and AV8 for everything they've done for me since I've been involved with them.  They've always provided me with excellent gliders, service and support.

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Get on the sectionals

airline|Dirk Darling|FAA|Gary Osoba|Jayne DePanfilis|maps|Mark Forbes|Quest Air|safety|site|tow|towing|USHGA|Wallaby Ranch

Jayne DePanfilis «jayne» writes:

Mark Forbes has created a document template for the charting of hang gliding and paragliding sites on the Sectional VFR sectional chart.  The templated MS Word document is available by contacting the USHGA («ushga»). It is not online at the USHGA's website yet, but we plan to add this form, along with many other useful forms, to the USHGA's website in the upcoming months.

I am happy to help expedite this process.  The template is self-explanatory and needs to be completed and sent to the USHGA office for my signature.  I will expedite this request on behalf of the USHGA, its members and approved chapters, immediately upon receipt of the paperwork.

I have only expedited one request since joining the USHGA in 2001 but the process was a flawless one using this templated process.

(editor’s note: At first I couldn’t get the template to work here and when I asked about this, got some quasi religious gobbledygook.  I then read the template document into MS Word XP and saved it as a template by first choosing to save as an HTML (but not saving it) then choosing to save it as a template.  Word XP then successfully found the correct folder to store the template document as a template.

To use it as a template, I then clicked File, New in the MS Word XP menu, and it found the template correctly.  It looks to me like the template could be stored on a web site and MS Word XP could find it their by its URL.  Don’t know if earlier versions of Word can do this or not.)

Gary Osoba «wosoba» writes:

Geoff May wrote:

"It seems ridiculous, maybe reckless, that somewhere as busy as Wallaby is not marked on the FAA air maps and has not been widely publicized among the many flying schools in the area."

My response is:

I don't know about ridiculous, but it does seem highly irresponsible that the principles at Wallaby would not have taken care of this matter.  After all, it is up to them to initiate cartological identifications within the flying community.  Mr. Jones regularly (and incorrectly) claims to have pioneered the aero-towing operation concept, and to be the singular person who does this properly anywhere in the world.

Why he would not have looked after an essential safety issue for the pilots flying at his facility is beyond me. I do realize that at times, people who come from a family of attorneys conduct themselves as if they are living within an insulated bubble which gives freedom from liability- after all, they can fall back upon resources not common to others.  However, safety issues remain paramount, with or without tort ramifications

Spoke here at Quest Air with Jay Darling, an airline pilot who flies and lives part time with his family (wife and four boys) at Wallaby Ranch.  He felt that the Dragonflies should have strobe lights.  He says that it is a lot easier for the smaller plane to see the bigger plane, but not the other way around.

He also says that they should not tow in a straight line for an extended period but make turns to give a bigger profile.

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ATOS-C weaklinks

Florida|Vincent "Vince" Endter

Vince Endter «vince» writes:

I am not in the business selling the weak links.  I am bringing some to Florida for pilots that I have promised.  Hopefully Christoff will bring a bunch with him.  If someone is interested in making them, I have a source listed on this page:

http://vincenancy.com/atos/atos_c_parts.html

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Small control frame

control frame|Kate Diamond|Oz Report|picture

Oz Report readers may remember the Kate Diamond has been my test case for the small control frame, and that she has taken to the Icaro 2000 MastR 12. Rob Fox «rob.fox» sends this picture to illustrate the problem:

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World wide site guide

Florida|GPS|job|Robert "Bob" Franklin|Rob Jacobs|site|travel

Rob Jacobs «Mailways1» writes:

Just over three years ago, I conceived an idea for a comprehensive world wide site guide for those of us who like to travel to far off lands, and go flying.  After soliciting volunteers from the Hang Gliding Digest to design the site, and implement it's programming, Bob Franklin of Hawaii stepped forward and has truly given his all.  Some 500 hours of programming already.

The site is designed to be maintained in a specific format by "locals", including clubs and organizations world wide.  Local club officers, or designees will sign on, post all the pertinent information, including any available pictures, links, rules, GPS co-ordinates, and even local businesses - thus making plans for a flying trip a lot easier for those of us who can't stay put.  We will then go back to them with other "fill in the blank" questions commonly asked of visiting pilots - in case anything is left out.  It will be an ongoing maintenance job to be sure…

Though the concept isn't a new one, the site once rolled out will be by far the most in depth information of its kind ever offered to our flying brethren from sea to shining sea.  Bob has worked for over 3 years in his spare time and against all odds to put the site together…

There will be 2 or 3 domain names used to access the sites - all using redirects to it's primary location on the net - it wont be easy to forget!. Soon we will be going back to the Hang Gliding digest on Yahoo, which represents some 40 countries, various local forums, and other outlets to seek out the dozens, and perhaps hundreds of volunteers to provide site information - our first request for these volunteers showed an overwhelming response when first conceived.

Once Bob is ready, we'll announce the domain names after securing enough accurate information to post.  We will solicit volunteers once again for its future maintenance.  Some web forms are still being tested and cleaned up, and some live data being added as a guide for locals to follow.  Bob is enroute to Florida as we type, and will be putting a few more finishing touches before rolling it out.

There was some "mixed" reaction to creating such a site which "invites" people to fly unknown sites - well rest easy - this site has all the rules that the locals have - so pilots don't just show up expecting to fly, then land in Mrs.  Jones backyard and kill her prize turkey.  Local flying fees and contacts will be updated from a local level - so it's up to the home site folks to decide what gets posted and maintained.

It will also act as a deterrent for home sites which require special skills, ratings, or contacts.  I had several discussions with groups of locals, and with Bob early on to determine what should be addressed.  If anyone has other ideas, I'm sure Bob is open to them, but Email me at so I can respond while he's on the road.  («Mailways1»). If your local site is closed for mud season, too many wuffos, or for any other reason - a simply update from the locals, which is all password protected can be made in a few minutes and posted immediately.

As we progress, an announcement will be made, we'll keep you posted.

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