Canoa, the DVD

You can see parts on YouTube (Canoa, Ecuador)

RAUL GUERRA <dr.raulguerra> writes:

The video of Ecuador is ready.

Actors: Dustin Martin, Jamie Shelden, Jeff O'Brien, Mark Dowsett, Jack Simons, Mike Glennon, Daniel Velez, and Ecuadorian pilots.

Name: SKY COMMUNITY
Duration: 25 min
Cost: 20 dollars

Please all US and European people who want the video contact and pay Jamie Shelden: <jamieshelden>

Here two links to parts of the video:

GUAYAQUIL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzR-AdRfGH4

CANOA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4HZ6uk95bc

Discuss Canoa, the DVD at the Oz Report forum   link»

Lykes Brothers Company loses in court

Well there is some justice in Country Justice (Florida Ridge, Florida, USA)

The Lykes Brothers Company owns about 300,000 acres in the vicinity of the Florida Ridge.  As a company they have a bad attitude toward hang glider and paraglider pilots landing on those 300,000 acres.  You can find out more about the company here:

http://www.lykesranch.com/

http://www.florida-agriculture.com/news/lykesbrosinc.htm

 http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DEEDF133BF936A25755C0A96F948260

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lykes_Brothers_Steamship_Company

http://www.sptimes.com/2002/01/25/Business/Lykes_squabble_wraps_.shtml

Recently a paraglider pilot landed on Lykes Brothers land near highway 29 five miles south of the junction of highway 29 and 27, a well known landmark for those pilots flying from the Florida Ridge.  The area south this junction is isolated and difficult for retrieval if you don't fly over to the west to get by highway 29 or to the east to be near highway 27.

The pilot was given a notice to appear in court by a deputy sheriff who was also an employee of the Lykes Brothers Company.  The deputy stated that he was acting in both capacities as he handed the pilot his citation.  Wow, talk about owning the cops.  Doesn't this sound like corruption?

I was contacted by Kent Robinson (from Texas) to see if I could find the sections of the FAR where it states explicitly that we are allowed to land (in the case of an emergency) without committing an act of trespass.  I was able to find references to such a provision, but no actual provision (any help from you dear reader?).

Anyway, the pilot went to court and according to Kent after some discussion between the prosecutor and the judge the charges were dismissed.  Apparently landing on the property is not trespass.

I have written to the Lykes Brothers Company hoping that we can work out a future accommodation and a better working relationship, so we don't have to keep going to court.  Here is the letter I sent to them:

I'm a hang glider pilot who often flies in Florida and sometimes from the Florida Ridge (http://thefloridaridge.com/) which is near some of your 300,000+ acres in Glades County.

It appears that hang glider pilots have not been welcome to land on your lands, which is understandable, and we, of course, have no desire to land on your lands.  My particular desire is to land at the small local airports or to fly far to the north (last year I flew 153 miles to land near the Villages north of the Florida Turnpike near Orlando).  But sometimes, hopefully not often, we have to land somewhere that we'd rather not, and that might be on your lands.

We are very sorry to sometimes have to land on your property.  We certainly don't wish to and we certainly don't wish to be a bother to your employees and sure don't want to disturb the land, crops or stock in any way.  We, like you, have a very serious land preservation ethic and do our best to make sure that we leave no footprint.  We want to be able to get off your property as soon as possible, and we want to land as near to the highways as possible.

I am just hoping that we (the free flying community) can develop a better relationship with the Lykes Brothers Company owners, managers and employees in the future.  We wish to be responsible flyers and we want to respect your rights.

Thanks for your consideration.

Discuss Lykes Brothers Company loses in court at the Oz Report forum   link»

Documents for the USHPA Competition Workgroup

Divide up the USHPA Competition Rulebook into its functional components (USHPA headquarters, Colorado Springs, CO, USA)

Previous articles in this series

As I wrote in a previous article, I have created three documents from the USHPA Competition Rulebook which are divided up functionally to allow the Rulebook to be more easily used by the three target audiences (Competition Organizers and the Competition Committee, meet directors and pilots, the USHPA office personnel in charge of the NTSS ranking).  Those documents are available on-line here, here and here respectively.

These documents are compatible with Microsoft Word 2007.  If you set Word to display changes you'll see exactly the changes that I have made in each case to create these documents.  Nothing is hidden.

Discuss Documents for the USHPA Competition Workgroup at the Oz Report forum   link»

Comparing Glider Prices

Now that the Ozzie dollar is down and the US dollar is up (Airborne factory, Redhead, NSW, Australia)

Airborne pricing in Australia: http://www.airborne.com.au/images/pdf/Glider_Retail_Prices_Jan_2007.pdf

1 AUD = 0.6464 USD

Costs AUD to L.A.  airport would be: Packing $120.00, Freight $650.00, Insurance (if required) 1.5% of invoice.

Moyes USA pricing: http://moyesusa.com/downloads/MoyesUSA08aRetailPricelist.pdf

Wills Wing USA pricing: http://willswing.com/prod2.asp?theClass=hg&theModel=T2 (look at the bottom)

The original analysis (when 1 AUD = 0.93 USD) can be found starting here: http://ozreport.com/12.060#1.  A serious correction to that analysis can be found here: http://ozreport.com/12.061#6.

The C4 in the second article would cost $5548 (USD) compared to the T2 at $6525.  Previously it would have been $8137.

You can use the new conversion figure above to come up with new values following the original analysis (if you like).

Other previous articles on glider pricing : http://ozreport.com/12.062#1, http://ozreport.com/12.063#1, http://ozreport.com/12.064#1, http://ozreport.com/12.066#4, http://ozreport.com/12.069#4, http://ozreport.com/12.070#1.

Discuss Comparing Glider Prices at the Oz Report forum   link»

Chill from Blue Eye

Keep out the wind. (Indian Harbor Beach, FL, USA)

http://flytec.com/Products/Goggles.htm

Steve Kroop <info> sends:

• R90 Grilamide ultra-tough frame w/ built-in anti-slip rubber temple piece
• 2mm thick shatter proof lenses Lenses are decentered for optical excellence
• 100% UVA & UVB protection

• Wraparound design to minimize wind penetration and  maximize  peripheral vision
• Ideal for Hang Gliding, Paragliding and ultralight flying
• Available configurations:
  • anti-fog rose w.  matte finish frame
  • anti-fog smoke w.  matte finish frame
  • scratch resistant bronze w.  gloss frame
• Includes soft carry/protection bag
• Exceeds Standards: AS/NZS1067:2003; EN1836:2005; ANSIZ80.3
• Also available with polarized lenses.

Discuss Chill from Blue Eye at the Oz Report forum   link»

Elsinore

Take in the view (Lake Elsinore, CA, USA) (Edwards Launch) (The E launch) (Mike`s LZ) (Marina LZ)

John Wright <john> writes:

Below you will find descriptions and links to panoramic photos of the current launches and LZ's at Lake Elsinore.  The Oak Tree LZ lawsuit is headed for appeal but the E Team needs support (www.theeteam.org).  The Turkey Meet is coming up Nov.  29th and would be a great time to show support financially.  I believe the information I am including about the LZs will show the benefit of reopening the Oak Tree LZ, which is reachable from either launch in any conditions.

There are two launches for Elsinore: Edwards and "The E." Edwards is primarily used in Santa Ana conditions, as North winds cause rotor at The E, which is used for "normal" days.

Edwards is at 33.638, -117.387 and its panoramic photo can be found at http://www.gigapan.org/viewGigapan.php?id=12455

The E is at 33.629, -117.371 and its panoramic photo can be found at http://www.gigapan.org/viewGigapan.php?id=12452

There are two new LZ's to replace the closed-back-in-litigation-please-support-the-eteam-by-donating-to-the-cause Oak Tree LZ.

The LZ closest to The E is known as "Everyday Mike's LZ." Everyday Mike is a PG pilot (learning HG too) who cleared some land and got permission from the owner to land there.  It's a hang 4 LZ, in my opinion.  I'd land uphill unless it was really honking off the lake.  Then, you'd be dealing with rotor and shadow from the trees and houses.  Everyday Mike's LZ is at 33.633, -117.345 and the trees in Google Earth have mostly been cleared.  To get there, you go down Grand Ave and turn right at the Circle K, left at Hayes.  The panoramic is at: http://www.gigapan.org/viewGigapan.php?id=12468

The LZ closest to Edwards is the Marina LZ.  The use of double surface wings is recommended to be able reach there, though single surface wings have done it many times.  There are also numerous bailouts along the way.  The fee is $5 a day or (I think $100/year) to use the facility.  They sell beer and are very friendly.  The Marina LZ is at 33.666, -117.377.  Google Earth currently shows the problem with this LZ long-term.  It has a way of being under water at certain times of the year.  Its panoramic is at http://www.gigapan.org/viewGigapan.php?id=12473.

A note about the panoramics.  http://Gigapansystems.com is selling a widget that automates taking panoramic photos.  Pretty nifty.  I don't think my Canon SD750 is optimal, as the lens doesn't seem to expose the edges of the photos evenly at full zoom.  I'd recommend waiting for the SLR version to come out, but it's pretty spiffy, anyway.

Discuss Elsinore at the Oz Report forum   link»

Rough air

Putting your belly into the beast

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13602&start=25

When encountering a gust of air, the pilot, instead of fighting to stay level, instantaneously banks to expose his sailplane’s broadest surfaces to the wind and gain a push.  Taras Kiceniuk explains it this way: If a sailplane is hit by a sideways gust, the pilot will immediately bank away from the gust, expose the belly and the bottom of the wings to it, and pull a couple of Gs.  As the pilot finishes the maneuver and the sailplane’s tail slips parallel to the wind, the downwash from the wings slows the gust, thus reducing the gust’s energy while transferring that energy to the sailplane in the form of higher speed.

http://www.airspacemag.com/flight-today/lift.html

Discuss Rough air at the Oz Report forum   link»

Canoa, the prize money

Dustin cleans up (Canoa, Ecuador)

RAUL GUERRA <dr.raulguerra> writes:

Here is Dustin changing at the bank a big cheque and taking his money.  He is super happy with 4000 dollars and going back home.

Next we'll have the Canoa movie.  We'll place some parts on YouTube, and later sell the movie to the sky community in Ecuador.

Discuss Canoa, the prize money at the Oz Report forum   link»

Drogue chutes

The video and the explanations (Sylmar LZ, CA, USA)

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=62961

I think he might have dived on purpose, but maybe he simply did not anticipate how quickly one loses altitude while dragging a drogue and diving.

Discuss Drogue chutes at the Oz Report forum   link»

Big Blue Sky

A well done documentary of the early days (Torrance Beach, CA)

http://www.bigblueskythemovie.com/

Big Blue Sky is a feature length documentary about hang gliding, the first Extreme Sport, and how it started.  Big Blue Sky is the story of the “Lost Frontier” of flight, tracing the origins of hang gliding from the 1880s thru today, focusing on the golden years of this exciting sport, the 1970s.  It is a story of mankind’s spirit, dreams and experiences as much as it is a definitive historical reference.

This is a professionally produced documentary with vintage footage and pictures.  Its focus is the 1971 First Universal Hang Gliding Championships.  Check out the trailer at the web site.

Donita Hall comes across as having a great time.  Belinda and I enjoyed watching it.  It is vastly more entertaining than many of the YouTube videos that I have linked to here on the Oz Report over the years (although there are some very entertaining ones).

Belinda thinks that it would do well on NetFlix, which has many documentaries.

Discuss Big Blue Sky at the Oz Report forum   link»

No longer the stealth glider?

Wills Wing goes white (Wills Wing Factory, California, USA)

http://willswing.com/news.asp?newsSeek=364

The UV resistant UVM10T sail cloth is now available in white for use on the leading edge and (on T2's) trailing edge panels.  The use of this material in white greatly enhances visibility and addresses a concern that pilots have expressed with the gray color UVM material blending into the background and making the glider hard to see in the air.

Discuss No longer the stealth glider?  at the Oz Report forum   link»

A few ideas on how to support and grow competition

Let's look for the positive things that we can do (Big Spring, Texas, USA)

What can the USHPA do if it wants to grow competition?  The best path, in my humble opinion, is to support the folks who already have the interest and desire to put on competitions, and help those who would like to put on competitions.

Here are some ideas:

1.  Reduce the red tape.  Already changes have been made over the last five years to reduce the head ache of the sanctioning process.  The documents are on line at the USHPA web site, for example.  I have volunteered to make the documents easier to use.  I have created an on-line version of the USHPA Sanction form that can be filled out in your browser.  It is a dummy form at the moment and isn't hooked up to their server.

You can find it here: http://ozreport.com/docs/USHPASanctionApplication.htm

Stream line the documents.  They are often redundant.  I have begun to do this.

2.  Gather a group of existing meet organizers and form them as a committee to be called on by the Competition Committee Chairman to assist new meet organizers and to help the Competition Committee.  This group could be called on one on one to help new potential meet organizers get through the sanctioning process as well as with other needs that they have.

3.  If a budget is required, create a model budget, pay a reasonable fee to the meet organizers for the work of creating their budget.  Get one of the members of the meet organizers committee to help the new meet organizer with their budget.

4.  Create an on-line scoring facility.  That is pay someone to do the scoring for meets, not necessarily on site, but on-line.  Create a set of instructions for meet organizers that allows them to download their flight tracks to their local computer and then upload them to a person on-line who does the scoring for them.

5.  Give out a rotating computer to meet organizers that is configured with cables and software for downloading GPSes with instructions and on-line (manned) help facility.

6.  Create an on-line meet registration facility (or use an existing one), that allows for easy registration for meets.  (The HGFA does this, and Mark Dowsett does this, and the Oz Report has such a facility, that could be added to the USHPA web site.)

7.  Provide support to meet organizers for Sport and Single Surface Class.  Pay the meet organizers the difference between the normal registration fee and the fee that they ask of Sport or Single Surface Class pilots.  The meet organizers can benefit by charging much less for Sport and Single Surface Class pilots, thereby encouraging them to attend.

8.  Create a Sport and Single Surface Class ranking system (based on the NTSS system).  Put it up on the USHPA web site.

9.  Have the Competition Committee Chairman call and develop an on-going supportive relationship with all existing and potential meet organizers encouraging and helping them through USHPA facilities (as above).  He is tasked with making sure that they get what they need to put on successful meets.  Have the CCC actively search out new potential meet organizers and venues.

10.  Have the Competition Committee Chairman check with all meet organizers to learn what they need regarding tug pilots and the need for tugs and tug pilots especially concerned FAA regulations.  Ensure that there are enough tug pilots in the future for future competitions.

11.  Combine these ideas with previous suggestions to build a more supportive and simpler system while significantly reducing the burden shouldered by meet organizers.

The previous suggestions

Discuss A few ideas on how to support and grow competition at the Oz Report forum   link»

The second Sylmar fire

Joe's on the front line again (Sylmar LZ, CA, USA)

Fire strikes twice.  http://ozreport.com/12.204#3

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13988

Chris Smith sends:

Over 200 homes burned last night.  Joe Greblo fighting embers off the Windsports club house and moving all the gliders stored there to the LZ.  He has been a real hero here for the past few months of fires - he has been here since 10:30 last night.

Discuss The second Sylmar fire at the Oz Report forum   link»

Parma LZ

Has the Santa Barbara LZ been cleared out? (Parma Park, Santa Barbara, CA, USA) (John`s home)

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-sbfire15-2008nov15,0,3157160.story

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-sbfire-gmap,0,2365125.htmlstory

Reporting from Montecito -- As daybreak arrived this morning, fire officials feared more than 100 homes could already be destroyed in a fast-moving brush fire driven by high winds that has charred at least 2,500 acres in Santa Barbara County and forced evacuations of thousands in luxury neighborhoods dotting the coastal foothills.

John Greynald's home is just outside the evacuation area.  Fire signs all around Parma Park in the LA Times at the URL above and throughout Rattlesnake Canyon.

Discuss Parma LZ at the Oz Report forum   link»

Palo Duro Canyon

Saving it from development (Palo Duro Canyon, Texas, USA)

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96833445

When it comes to geography, West Texas doesn't exactly have the greatest reputation.

From Mack Davis' song about how happiness is Lubbock in his rearview mirror to Larry McMurtry's haunting novel The Last Picture Show, the flat, treeless, endless landscape inspires feelings of windswept loneliness.  There's just so much of it and so little of you.

And that's why, when you get to the edge of this monotony and look out over Palo Duro Canyon State Park — with its fork of the Red River meandering gently through the grass along the wide canyon floor — you almost sob with relief.

Palo Duro is 120 miles long and 8 miles wide.  It lays claim as the second largest canyon in the country after the Grand Canyon.  The canyon and river sustain a habitat that would have little chance on the open plains.

Big horn sheep, mule and white tail deer, coyotes, bobcats and even a mountain lion recently took up residence.  But it's the big birds that put on the real show.

"The real spectacular presence is the raptors," says Randy Ferris, who is in charge of Palo Duro Canyon.

http://ozreport.com/12.154#0

http://ozreport.com/12.154#3

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Jeff and his flying companion

The bird and the dog (Missoula, MT)

http://hang6.blogspot.com/2008/11/shapiros-hunting-partner.html

She is the best bird I have ever had the honor to train.

What happens when it is time to mate?

Discuss Jeff and his flying companion at the Oz Report forum   link»

Clouds, why and how

Bad meteorology

Phil Brown sends:

http://www.ems.psu.edu/~fraser/Bad/BadClouds.html

But did the clouds form because the colder air had a lower holding capacity for water vapor than the warm air?

To claim that a temperature-dependent holding capacity of the air caused the cloud to form in cold air is to get (approximately) the right answer for the wrong reason.

The air (mainly nitrogen and oxygen) no more has a holding capacity for water vapor, than, say, water vapor has for nitrogen.

What appears to be cloud-free air (virtually) always contains sub microscopic drops, but as evaporation exceeds condensation, the drops do not survive long after an initial chance clumping of molecules.  As air is cooled, the evaporation rate decreases more rapidly than does the condensation rate with the result that there comes a temperature (the dew point temperature) where the evaporation is less than the condensation and a droplet can grow into a cloud drop.

Discuss Clouds, why and how at the Oz Report forum   link»

On whose shoulders does the whole competition system rest?

There are only a few people that really count. (Big Spring, Texas, USA)

While the USHPA Competition Workgroup has been busy doing its work "reforming" the competition system, it is instructive to reflect on what really keeps the whole system afloat.  Without some dedicated individuals there would not be any hang gliding competitions at all.  They are the ones that actually put competitions together, and they receive no support from the USHPA.

If the USHPA wants to have any competitions system at all then it had better consider how its action impact the important people and whether they are motivated to continue putting on hang gliding competitions given the significant burdens that are projected to be added to their tasks.

If I was changing a system that depended on just a few individuals to actually work I would be very concerned about how they were doing and what I was doing to make their life better.  That doesn't seem to be any consideration of this on the part of the Workgroup.  Maybe they think that there are special meet organizer growing trees out here.

I would love to see the USHPA reach out in a meaningful way to David Glover, Steve Kroop, Jamie Shelden, Dustin Martin, James Tindle, and Adam Elchin.  Let's see the support.

Discuss On whose shoulders does the whole competition system rest?  at the Oz Report forum   link»

The USHPA Competition Workgroup should start over

How about starting with a set of goals? (Big Spring, Texas, USA)

Previous articles in this series

I have now written extensively of some (not all) of the problems that I have with the USHPA Competition Workgroup's Working Draft of the Competition Manual and Rulebook.  The problems are so extensive that I suggest throwing out the bathwater (and the baby) and starting over again.

I wish to thank those who have done their best to make changes that they feel are necessary to improve our competition system.  I am certainly not against improvements.  I have offered my critique, now it is incumbent on me to provide a solution to the problems that they are addressing.

First interim fixes.

Goal: Encourage more pilots to come to competitions.  Interim (for 2009) fix: Give all the USHPA sanctioned competition 600 NTSS points.  The EC can do this.  Doesn't require any funds.  Increases the perceived value of each competition.  Is not a "total" fix, but useful and easy to do.

Goal: Encourage pilots to fly at Big Spring as well as provide for a foot launch mountain nationals to encourage pilots to attend a USHPA sanctioned meet at King Mountain: Name the meets the 2009 King Mountain Nationals and the 2009 Big Spring Flatland Nationals.

Goal: Make the US National Champion more likely to be the actual best respected pilot and thereby enhance the prestige of all the USHPA sanctioned competitions.  Make the 2009 National Champion the person with the highest total NTSS points in 2009 at their best scoring two USHPA sanctioned meets.

Goal: Encourage more meet organizers to run more competitions to bring in more pilots into competitions.  Interim (for 2010) fix: I will volunteer to divide up the existing USHPA Competition Rulebook into separate manuals, one focused on just the competition rules for pilots and meet directors (including sample local rules), one focused on competition organizers, and one focused on NTSS, plus other manuals as needed.  I volunteer to do this as a part of an expanded Competition Workgroup.

In fact, I have already done this and sent these new documents to Mike Haley and Lisa Tate. One thing I prefer about making visible changes (using Microsoft Word with Tracking Changes turned on) to existing documents is that you can see right away exactly what is changing.  No slipping in unnoticed little changes that turn out to be not that little.

Goal: Increase the support for and increase the value of the product coming out of the Competition Workgroup.  Expand the Competition Workgroup to include me, Jeff O'Brien, and Jeff Shapiro as well as any other competition hang glider (and paraglider) pilot that wishes to contribute.  Instead of (or in addition to) using conference calls use a forum or e-mails.  A forum open to view (not contribution) by all USHPA members (transparency).  Let more pilots participate and let more members see what is going on.  Jeff O'Brien quit the Workgroup because he couldn't be around for the conference calls because he was flying at meets.

Goal: Get our goals clarified and agreed to.  Put the Working Draft on hold but release it for viewing, critique, etc.

After these interim measures, which can be taken within the next six weeks, I suggest, that the newly constituted Competition Workgroup:

First, start by detailing what problems you are trying to solve.  Really work on these until they are completely clear and well defined.

Second, brainstorm all the possible types of solutions.  For example, I see that the Workgroup has jumped right into adjusting the NTSS system, but I can't tell from the changes made exactly what problem is being addressed here.

Third, look at the possible resources available to solve the problems.  Is more money available?  How could it be used?  How could the USHPA support competition?

Fourth, look at the benefit and cost of each and every change.  Who pays?  How can we encourage change, and not just mandate change?  Can we offset the pain of change, with incentives and rewards?

In the previous articles, I have identified many small individual problems with the Working Draft, and the Workgroup may be tempted to just throw in a few fixes (or ignore me altogether, which is more likely), but I would caution that a whole new approach is actually called for.

With a new structure and a new process I believe that the Competition Workgroup can produce a much better product (taking quite a bit from what they have already produced) and that it can be ready in time, and fully vetted, before the next USHPA BOD meeting in the Fall of 2009, where changes to the Rulebook can then be made.

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