instructors and other qualified pilot fiends

[Tad Eareckson]

http://www.shga.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=4095
Should we stop search engines from indexing our Forum?

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Looks like something has happened to your little poll thread, OP. That's OK, I got it before it disappeared. I'll put it up here just in case there was somebody who didn't get to read it.

Sylmar Hang Gliding Association Forum Index
General Discussion
http://www.shga.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=4095
Should we stop search engines from indexing our Forum?

Should we require an account to read the forum to stop search engines from accessing posts.

Yes - 57% - [ 4 ]
No -- 42% - [ 3 ]
Total Votes : 7

Orion Price - 2013/08/07 15:54:05 UTC

Whereas it is easy and quick to make a phpbb forum account. Also how search engines are annoyingly reading and indexing our accounts of life in the SHGA:

I propose we require an account to access our Forum.

Robert Bustamante - 2013/08/07 20:33:24 UTC

Yep... sounds good.
Then maybe we can keep freaks out who want to drag in issues on rapists, and child molestation.
We ever figure out who that freak was?

NMERider - 2013/08/07 21:44:59 UTC
You M-F! I just about pissed myself.

Orion Price - 2013/08/07 23:48:40 UTC

Indexed forever. Like everything else.

Douglas Martens - 2013/08/08 00:17:23 UTC

Approve a user before they post?

USHPA raised our dues and claimed inflation without specific documentation.
It turns out hiring a social media specialist was necessary. Many companies are moving into social media these days. Including paraglider groups.

We have a members only section. Apps like facebook have different levels of security - which may or may not be secure at all times.

If social media was useless why would investors stock purchases make Mark Zuckerberg $3.8 Billion In One Day.

I fear the days are gone when you could wreck your hang glider anonymously.

Orion Price - 2013/08/16 00:23:34 UTC

Approve a user before they post?

No, Just prevent a search engine from indexing our posts. There are too many reasons why we don't want engines to have control of our content. At off all the reasons we don't want indexing; Busto is the #1 reason.

Robert Bustamante - 2013/08/16 00:41 UTC

Thank you?

Earlier I was referring to a thread, which was placed in our forum several months back. Without getting into details, it involved someone trying to make a comparison of a club member to a known pedophile, rapist. When I saw it, I could only think of the perverted mind, which took the time to make the comparison. Thankfully most members didn't see the post, due to our mediators extinguishing it right away.

The post was the reason our forum was shut down for a few days. There are those who believe otherwise, but if the thread was not written, or even if the individual had owned up to the hideously, perverted act, our forum never would have been shut down.

I was disappointed that our site was shut down, and a few members had to spend their time correcting the problem. I can't remember any other time our forum was shut down because of a thread, and I hope it never happens again.

I was under the impression that you might be working on something to protect us from something like this from happening again.

If this is something SHGA doesn't want people to see it's something I AUTOMATICALLY want people to see. And - big surprise - I'll be working on a few comments.

[Tad Eareckson]

http://www.shga.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=4095
Should we stop search engines from indexing our Forum?

Should we require an account to read the forum to stop search engines from accessing posts.

DEFINITELY. You CERTAINLY don't want the general public - or even other established hang gliding people - reading about you guys:

- launching unhooked 'cause nobody will do or teach hook-in checks

- snapping your arms in half at the Kagel Happy Acres putting green because you have better control authority with your hands on the downtubes

- smashing your heads into the large rocks strewn all over your narrow dry riverbeds because your better at hitting traffic cones in the middles of LZs than you are at hitting the LZs themselves

- harassing small flocks of Condors so you can get good pictures of them stampeding away

Yes - 57% - [ 4 ]
No -- 42% - [ 3 ]
Total Votes : 7

Just FOUR in favor? And THREE *OPPOSED*?!?! C'mon guys, this one's a no brainer!

Orion Price - 2013/08/07 15:54:05 UTC

Whereas it is easy and quick to make a phpbb forum account.

Sorry, was that supposed to be a sentence?

Also how search engines are annoyingly reading and indexing our accounts of life in the SHGA:

You think SEARCH ENGINES are annoyingly reading and indexing your accounts of life in the SHGA? You REALLY need to spend more time checking out how annoyingly I'M reading and indexing your accounts of life in the SHGA.

I propose we require an account to access our Forum.

In the proud tradition of such photophobic cockroach colonies as Houston and the Peter and Davis Shows.

Robert Bustamante - 2013/08/07 20:33:24 UTC

Yep... sounds good.
Then maybe we can keep freaks out who want to drag in issues on rapists, and child molestation.

Any chance you're talking about...

http://www.shga.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=3840
[TIL] About Tad Eareckson

Bob Kuczewski - 2013/03/10 18:20:34 UTC

Eventually (and for reasons that I won't full disclose here) it became necessary to ask Tad to leave the US Hawks forum and he is currently the only person who's been completely banned from the US Hawks.

...Bob? Yeah that pretense of concern about going public with sensitive and irrelevant personal issues was a bit much, wasn't it?

We ever figure out who that freak was?

Which freak? The pedophile rapist or the person who's favorite hobby is outing the pedophile rapist?

NMERider - 2013/08/07 21:44:59 UTC
You M-F! I just about pissed myself.

NMERider

I voted for Bob after spending a very enjoyable hour on the telephone with him a few months ago. My impression of Bob is that he is a level headed and enthusiastic supporter of both hang gliding and paragliding, and above all: SAFETY.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8143/7462005802_bbc0ac66ac_o.jpg

Orion Price - 2013/08/07 23:48:40 UTC

Indexed forever. Like everything else.

And backed up - just in case.

Douglas Martens - 2013/08/08 00:17:23 UTC

Approve a user before they post?

USHPA raised our dues and claimed inflation without specific documentation.
It turns out hiring a social media specialist was necessary. Many companies are moving into social media these days. Including paraglider groups.

We have a members only section. Apps like facebook have different levels of security - which may or may not be secure at all times.

If social media was useless why would investors stock purchases make Mark Zuckerberg $3.8 Billion In One Day.

I fear the days are gone when you could wreck your hang glider anonymously.

GOOD. Thank you GoPro, YouTube, and people on the web who blurt out accurate accounts before the handlers get to them. As The Industry gets better and better at suppressing information technology makes it easier and easier to document and publicize it. And it's really cool when you can find out the name of the asshole who signed him off.

Orion Price - 2013/08/16 00:23:34 UTC

Approve a user before they post?
No, Just prevent a search engine from indexing our posts.

Can't have that. Wouldn't want people checking back on that crap you wrote about my understanding of physics and what you said you were gonna do in the way of weak link testing then watching you pop off tow at two hundred feet on the orders of your 130 pound Greenspot Pilot In Command.

There are too many reasons why we...

Who the fuck is "WE", OP? Where's the list of people who authorized you to speak on their behalf? Dead giveaway. Whenever someone uses that pronoun in that kind of context you can rest assured you're dealing with a certified motherfucker. Bob hasn't gone first person singular since age three.

...don't want engines to have control of our content.

I've got search engines crawling all over Kite Strings 24/7. So far I'm pretty sure that not one of them has altered a single punctuation mark.

At off all the reasons we don't want indexing; Busto is the #1 reason.

What's your #2 reason? (Please let it be me.)

Robert Bustamante - 2013/08/16 00:41 UTC

Thank you?

Earlier I was referring to a thread, which was placed in our forum several months back. Without getting into details, it involved someone trying to make a comparison of a club member to a known pedophile, rapist.

You mean THIS:

http://www.shga.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=3840
[TIL] About Tad Eareckson

Orion Price - 2013/03/13 05:52:48 UTC

Why does the world contain Raffertys and Tad Earecksons?

comparison, motherfucker?

When I saw it, I could only think of the perverted mind, which took the time to make the comparison.

Which would be OP - as far as I can tell.

Thankfully most members didn't see the post...

THANKFULLY most members didn't see the post? If they didn't see the post how do you know they agree with you that it's a good thing they didn't see it? Or do you, like OP, feel qualified to define what everyone's thoughts and opinions should be?

...due to our mediators extinguishing it right away.

Good for your mediators then. I have absolutely no doubt that all the people who were protected from seeing the post will be eternally grateful - as I know I certainly am.

The post was the reason our forum was shut down for a few days.

You mean here:
http://www.kitestrings.org/post3990.html#p3990

There are those who believe otherwise, but if the thread was not written, or even if the individual had owned up to the hideously, perverted act, our forum never would have been shut down.

I'm having a real hard time figuring out why it was necessary to shut the whole forum down for several days because someone posted something. Look at the crap I let Bob get away with before I belatedly and permanently banned the motherfucker. I didn't need to delete or even edit anything - let alone take the whole goddam forum off line. And if anybody gets irreparably damaged by reading anything here - GOOD.

I was disappointed that our site was shut down, and a few members had to spend their time correcting the problem.

I so do hope I played at least some small role.

I can't remember any other time our forum was shut down because of a thread, and I hope it never happens again.

I'm going for just the opposite.

I was under the impression that you might be working on something to protect us from something like this from happening again.

I'm sure happy you stupid petty assholes are more concerned about working on something to protect yourselves from something like that from happening again than you are about working on something to keep somebody from getting slammed in and killed because of a 130 pound test focal point of a safe towing system increasing the safety of a towing operation again. I haven't had a good laugh in a while.

I see that the thread's back up, the last post has been deleted - without comment - and THIS:

Robert Bustamante - 2013/08/16 03:55:33 UTC

I agree!
Thank you?

is standing in its place. What a bunch of petty useless twats.

[Tad Eareckson]

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=29741
Robert Seckold aka Relate2

darkmoose (Adrian) - 2013/08/16 03:54:58 UTC

I don't hang out on this site much but I know Robert did so I've got some sad news for those of you who don't know already, Robert Seckold passed away on Wednesday. You may have been aware that he had cancer and unfortunately it just overcame him very quickly recently. There's a service for him in Sydney next Tuesday (20th), I've put a notice up on the flystanwell.com web-site for those who want details.

He was a great advocate for the sport, a great all round bloke and a good mate. He will be missed.

Damn. Over the years I spent a bunch of sessions working my ass off trying to track down a name for this guy and this is how I finally get it. Got a lot of posts I need to edit.

I despise virtually all Aussie Methodists sight unseen because they:
- wire themselves to assume that they and all they observe wearing harnesses and standing under gliders on ramps are safely connected
- discount/dismiss:
-- environments in which it's insanely dangerous to enter the harness while it's hooked into the glider
-- incidents of unhooked launches by:
--- regular Aussie Method practitioners
--- hang checkers in the Aussie Methodist holy land surrounded by hordes of devout Aussie Methodists
- refuse to make any effort to incorporate their Sacred Practice into national SOPs
- rabidly attack the strategy of any form of hook-in check

Robert had all those bases very well covered - BUT... He was genuinely motivated by a desire to prevent that flavor of disaster and always kept plugging away - which is a lot more than you can say for the vast majority of people in this sport, particularly the ones controlling and/or making money off of it.

And I'm not just saying this 'cause he died:
http://www.kitestrings.org/post2805.html#p2805
Never wished him ill and am really sorry about his illness and loss.

[Tad Eareckson]

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=33319
Aeros grounding

Mart - 2013/08/16 10:28:38 UTC

Airborne said the same; the crossbars are checked. Apparently that can still lead to failure. Glad to see that Aeros is taking its responsibility.

What choice do they have?

The period of the mid Seventies was an absolute bloodbath and - thanks in large part to natural selection - the whack job percentage of the sport was a bit too low to derail the movement to implement a set of minimum strength and performance standards for the gliders we fly.

Manufacturers were highly incentivized to produce and recreational and comp pilots demanded certified gliders that recover from dives and hold together in the course of flying through violent air and maneuvers. There's no excuse for and no one will tolerate a glider that folds up at four, three, two, one Gs. (Big thanks to George Worthington for driving that point home.)

Aeros has got a production run of gliders with questionable cross spars capable of snapping in straight and level flight, everyone and his dog knows it, and if they DIDN'T put out an immediate advisory grounding all suspect gliders:
- what little is left of their reputation would be totally down the toilet
- a popped cross spar minus a successful parachute deployment would very likely be a lethal legal issue

Towing equipment, by contrast...

Donnell Hewett was a prominent whack job in opposition to the movement towards minimum strength and performance standards for gliders and modern towing evolved through a cult of whack jobs hanging on his every word.

Only the tiniest minority of pilots launch on equipment that gives them any ability to abort or stay on tow as an emergency situation requires. The survival strategy is not to use or develop equipment capable of getting one through an emergency situation but rather to hope one never gets into an emergency situation.

So now we have...

Adam Elchin - 2013/08/13

Aeros has released a safety directive grounding all Combats produced between 2011 and 2013 (see below). Detailed instructions for the crossbar check are being created and will be published at Aeros website and e-mailed to dealers within the next few days.

Grounding Aeros Combat Hang Gliders Produced in 2011, 2012 and 2013

Safety Directive-016 August 12, 2013

Status: Mandatory

Background

During the last week we had information of two in-flight crossbeam accidents on our latest Combat gliders. Fortunately, both pilots were unharmed.

The first accident happened on August 2nd, and while the investigation was still on the way, we received news about the similar accident that happened on August 8th. Both accidents happened during level flight at moderate speed and the weather more or less calm (normal flight load). Both crossbeams broke in the same place and in a very similar pattern. Both gliders were not new and had between 40 and 60 flights, some of the flights in far worse conditions. Both crossbeams that failed had passed the factory load test.

After a thorough investigation made by the representatives of Aeros together with the representatives of the crossbeam manufacturer, based on both accident reports and a personal check of one of the gliders, the reason of this structural failure has been discovered. In both cases it was caused by an infrequent manufacturing defect that went undetected by our quality control system.

Scope

This Safety Directive covers all Combat hang gliders with a carbon crossbeam manufactured in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Compliance:

To avoid any further incidents, we strongly recommend to STOP FLYING all Aeros Combat hang gliders manufactured between 2011 and 2013 until their crossbeams are inspected by our authorized dealers. Please, contact an Aeros dealer nearest to you for the carbon crossbeam inspection on your Combat hang glider.

All Aeros hang glider dealers will receive detailed instructions for the crossbeam inspection and testing. These procedures will allow us to find any further similar defects in the crossbeams and fully exclude similar failures on the re-tested pieces.

The same additional test procedures will immediately be implemented in our production process as well.

In case of any questions do not hesitate to contact Aeros.

COMPLIANCE IS MANDATORY AND HAS TO BE ACHIEVED BEFORE THE NEXT FLIGHT!

Fly safe!

Two cross spars blow six days apart and, although neither pilot is scratched, all suspect gliders are grounded.

But on 2013/02/02 when somebody's dead within half hour of launch 'cause his pro tow bridle won't allow him to hold his nose down to the thirty degree limit specified by the glider's placard limits and his Industry Standard fishing line pops for no good reason, as is so often the case...

0:50
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR_4jKLqrus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYe3YmdIQTM


Nah, we're not sure what happened, freak accident, probably hit an invisible dust devil, shit just happens sometimes, trust us, we know what we're doing 'cause we've been doing it for twenty years.

And the defective, proven lethal equipment isn't immediately GROUNDED... It's immediately...

http://ozreport.com/2013USNationalsrules.php
2013 US Nationals at Big Spring, Texas

2.0 EQUIPMENT

Appropriate aerotow bridles

Competitors must use appropriate aerotow bridles as determined by the Meet Director and Safety Director and their designated officials.

Weaklinks

Pilots must use weaklinks provided by the meet organizers and in a manner approved by the meet organizers. All weaklinks will be checked and use of inappropriate weaklinks will require the pilot to go to the end of the launch line to change the weaklink.

...MANDATED. And the sport is so infested with fuckin' idiot Davis/Rooney pin bending wannabes that...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjRrYAOnqqw

2-09624
http://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7444/14026536951_57fc32be58_o.png


http://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7413/14049730093_f4570301f8_o.png
3-09625

[Tad Eareckson]

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=29372
Death in Texas

michael170 - 2013/09/01 19:11:43 UTC

http://www.ushpa.aero/safety/fatality_report_2013.pdf

6-23-2013 - Kevin O'Brien

Kevin O'Brien (60), an H-2 Pilot with Aero Tow, Platform Launch and 360 Turn proficiencies, and a USHPA member since 2011, suffered fatal injuries when he hit power lines while attempting to land in an unfamiliar landing zone. The pilot had towed aloft and had drifted downwind and out of reach of his designated landing zone while looking for lift.

But he had NOT drifted out of reach of huge brain dead easy safe stuff - he had, in fact, drifted TOWARDS it. But this report is already much too long as it is and it's simply not possible to cover EVERYTHING in the limited space we have.

timboct - 2013/09/01 20:01:39 UTC
Connecticut

My heart goes out to his family and friends. I too have two teenage children and have continued to fly hang gliders and now light sport planes. We all take risk and hopefully with continued training, good judgement, and a little bit of luck make a safe landing. These tragic stories continue to remind me how fragile our lives can be!

Geoffrey Chaney - 2013/09/01 21:26:22 UTC
Tarpon Springs, Florida

Condolences to the family and friends. The rewards of free flight are great and at times so are the costs......

BULLSHIT. People are not getting crashed, mangled, killed in this sport because of its inherent risks. They're getting crashed, mangled, killed because of:
- crap and/or inadequate training
- choosing and/or being compelled to:
-- do stupid dangerous shit
-- use stupid dangerous equipment

Look at these only two hang gliding crashes in the course of the past five and two thirds years USHGA has found worthy of mentioning on its website...

Pro Toad Zack ELECTED to fly with as stupid and dangerous a tow assembly as has ever been found in regular use in the entire history of modern hang glider towing.
- No ability to:
-- release:
--- in an emergency
--- under significant load
-- stay on tow safely and reliably
- resist a pitch-up
- Big and totally unnecessary wrap potential.

All of its issues have been reported on ad nauseam - in incident, crash, fatality reports. But he was one of the Kool Kids, a...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i4owd0akd0

Zack Marzec - 2013/02/01

All the pilots in this movie are trained professionals... please don't try this kind of flying at home.

..."trained professional" interested only in "living for the day". So he became toast in a situation that would've been a total nonevent for a goddam Hang 2.0 with keel attachment and a one and a half G weak link. And if one of his Kool Kid trained professional buddies - preferably Rooney or Davis - had bought it on that flight in his place I one hundred percent guarantee you that his efforts to prevent a rerun would've been just as productive.

Zack's fatality, by the way, was no way in hell a "FREE FLIGHT". It was a POWERED FLIGHT. And the instant Zack's fishing line decided for him that a catastrophic total power failure would increase the safety of the towing operation the flying was totally over - he might as well have been strapped to a piano.

When some bozo buys an antique glider at a garage sale, ties it to the trailer hitch of his jeep, and yells, "Let 'er rip!" we get pissed off, call it a fringe activity, and argue that no way in hell should the fatality figure into hang gliding safety statistics. What Zack and his total douchebag buddies at Currituck and Quest do as Standard Operating Procedure was a thousand times as stupid and unforgivable. THIS:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8394/8696380718_787dbc0005_o.png

06-03114
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3728/9655895292_f4f808fb0e_o.png

http://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3736/9632673944_d61e600757_o.png

1-11012c

is dangerous fringe activity which USHGA and The Industry have worked at the extremes of their capabilities to make mainstream.

Kevin compounded mistakes which would've had zilch to minor consequences save for a powerline stretched in an unfortunate location - drifted too far downwind to make it back to the airport and failed to bail to safe alternates in time.

As far as the "free flight" issue is concerned on Kevin's flight:
- After Mistake 1 he was in no freakin' way limited by available potential energy to a dangerous landing option.
- It's not like powered ultralights and Cessna sorta planes are immune to flying into powerlines and suffering severe consequences.

Do the obvious common sense fixes for the sport. Then, if we're still managing to kill people exercising reasonably competent airmanship, talk about hang gliding's inherent risks and inevitable costs to its participants.

P.S. Kite Strings discussion on the Kevin O'Brien fatality begins at:
http://www.kitestrings.org/post4548.html#p4548

[Tad Eareckson]

Hang Gliding - 1990/09

Brad Lindsay

Towing Safety Guide

With the increased interest in the towing of hang gliders and the recent record set from a tow line, it's time some basic design standards be brought to the attention of those wishing to get involved. After the recent tragedy at the Hobbs meet, I feel compelled to share the knowledge I have gained through the designing and testing of towing systems and techniques for launching, flying, retrieval and transport.

I--THE TOWING SYSTEM

A. TOWLINE

Since this is the heart of any tow system, I will illustrate the advantages/disadvantages I have found.

From what I have noticed, most tow rigs use 1/4" or larger tow line. This allows for adequate strength and wear resistance but has one very real disadvantage: oversized weak links. Not true? Think about it. When is the weak link most important? At 2,000', 1,000', 100', or 50'? The answer is obvious: at low altitudes.

How is the weak link currently sized using large tow lines? Large enough to handle the loads placed upon it by the glider, the weight of the line and most importantly, the drag created by pulling 2,000'+ through the air. Example: Let's assume the average pilot/glider places a 160-lb. load on the line. Let's also assume a "magic thread" is used for a towline which creates no drag whatsoever. For this application a 185-lb. weak link could be employed with good results: safe enough to handle pilot/conditions/system-induced line load increases without breaking prematurely. Since this model is not practical, one must add the drag of the towline to the weak link capacity. If the weak link is strong enough to pull 2,000' to 3,000' of 1/4" or larger line into the air, in addition to the pilot/glider load, it is oversized for low altitude use!

I have seen many different types of weak links over the years and most are oversized. I recommend a single strand of #4 solid braid polyester or a single loop of 205 leachline. Solution: use a smaller, lighter towline. Kevlar, wire or small diameter polyester (#6) is more than adequate. Small lines have not been pursued due to abrasion problems associated with dragging the line over the ground during rewind. Solution: use a retrieval system.

B. GLIDER MOUNT SYSTEM

The design of the glider mount is very critical and must include the following safety features:

1. Hand-Hold. This is designed to allow the pilot to grasp the tow vehicle throughout the launch procedure should the truck/trailer hit a bump, dead dog or whatever. It should be positioned in such a fashion so as to permit the pilot to grasp the basetube and the hand-hold comfortably without interfering with wheels, VG, cleats, etc. Furthermore, it should by far enough away so as to not pinch skin if the glider bounces during launch. A steel, 1" pipe cut in half and welded to the end of the launcher works well. Important: If the tow system employs a pilot release system, it must be designed to allow the pilot to release without the removal of his grip on the hand-hold. A singe ring, 1-1/2" diameter works well.

C. RELEASES

Several pages could be authored covering this subject since it seems every tow head has his/her own opinion. The release can be safely mounted in a variety of configurations. However, criteria for a safe release involve the following features:

1. Light Release Pressure. This is very critical during a low altitude line/weak-link/system failure. The release must have the capability of a clean release with little or no line pressure. (Ring or loop releases work well.)

2. Multi-Directional Motion. The release must be able to release fully with a rearward, forward or side motion. (Many only release with a pull from the rear.)

3. Proper Geometry. Regardless of glider orientation to the angle of the towline, the release must only be activated by the pilot. The release line should not be attached to the wrist of the pilot. This forces the pilot to keep his hand in position so as to not accidentally release during tow. The release line should be attached to the shoulder strap of the harness within reach of the pilot. A close examination of the fatal injury at the Hobbs meet revealed a premature release as the cause for the incident. While the situation was indeed condition-induced due to launching in a strong thermal, it was equipment-related as the nose angle of the glider in relative to the towline angle tightened the release line attached at the wrist. When the pilot needed the line pressure the most to avoid a stall, it was not available due to the geometry of the release system. Rigging a short release line on a Hewitt bridle is acceptable for training purposes.

Doug Hildreth

1990/07/05 - Eric Aasletten - 24 - Intermediate - 2-3 years - UP Axis - Hobbs, New Mexico - platform tow - fatal/head

Reasonably proficient intermediate with over a year of platform tow experience was launching during tow meet. Home-made ATOL copy with winch on the front of the truck. Immediately after launch, the glider pitched up sharply with nose very high. Apparently the angle caused an "auto release" of the tow line from the pilot, who completed a hammerhead stall and dove into the ground. Observer felt that a dust devil, invisible on the runway, contributed or caused the relatively radical nose-up attitude. Also of concern was the presumed auto release which, if it had not occurred, might have prevented the accident. Severe head injury with unsuccessful CPR.

Comment: Pilot error in terms of pushing out too much too early or in terms of a purposeful release could not be determined. The reporter was certain he saw a dust devil begin on the edge of the runway in a location that would support an invisible dust devil on the runway crossing the path of the truck and glider.

Recommendation of the reporter: If towing is done in gusty, turbulent or thermal conditions, a row of wind flags should be on each side of the runway at 50-75 foot intervals to warn of invisible turbulence. 1) Pilots should attach their release line in such a way that there will not be an auto release. 2) Weak links should be strong enough so that breaks right after launch will not occur. 3) Pilots should be trained not to release in a pitch-up situation until the glider is stabilized. 4) Test each tow rig regularly to assure that line tension just after launch is below 150-200 pounds.

Hang Gliding - 1990/10

COVER: Climbing out under tow at the first Hobbs, NM Hang Gliding Festival. Photo by Steve Hines. See story on page 42.

Jerry Forburger

We were all laughing and having a small victory celebration for making goal when tragic news reached us from Hobbs. At 2:25 PM Chip Henly tumbled his Magic. The glider broke and Chip threw his chute. It was probably the impact with the ground that caused Chip's back injury and the subsequent dragging by the chute caused the wire burns and other bruises. But after the ordeal Chip was walking around and thanking the chute maker. Eric Aasletten was not so lucky. At 2:43 PM Eric launched his Axis into strong conditions and was met by a dust devil at low altitude. He either released or suffered an inadvertent release from the tow line which caused the glider to stall and impact the concrete runway. Eric died of head injuries at the scene.

As I said earlier, because of the excellent flying just prior to the meet there was a lot of "go for it" in the attitudes of a number of pilots with a limited amount of towing experience. We were all towing in strong conditions at times and very few pilots had professional towing instruction or experience in dealing with these conditions. The tragedies of the first day proved to be a sobering influence on all the pilots and tow rig operators. Some pilots headed home. Some tow rig operators did the same. The pilots and operators who decided to finish the meet were committed to proving that a safe tow meet is possible and all participants were much more receptive to safety instruction.

Dave Broyles - 1990/11
Allen, Texas

Brad said in his article that it was prompted by the fatality at Hobbs. Brad left Hobbs soon after Eric Aasletten was killed. I investigated the accident and supplied the accident report on which the comments by Doug Hildreth were based. I believe the primary cause to be an invisible dust devil which pitched up Eric's glider just as he released at launch. This problem must be considered in any tow situation which has strong thermal activity, with or without associated strong winds. Unless the possible consequences of encountering such turbulence is made extremely clear, it is liable to happen again.

The North Texas Hang Gliding Association met on October 5 and discussed Lindsay's article. Between us we have a bunch of towing experience of all types. We have five tow rigs represented in the club, three private and two club owned. Two are ATOL and three are trailer rigs. We tow a lot. We came to a consensus about a number of things that directly dealt with Brad's article.

The weak link breaking strength should be between 100% and 150% of the combined weight of the glider and pilot (the gross load) being towed, but each pilot should be totally responsible for his own weak link.

In the opinion of the great majority of our club members, a light weak link break is as likely to endanger the pilot as to help him.

I talked to a lot of pilots at Hobbs, and the consensus was that in the course of Eric Aasletten's accident, had a weak link break occurred instead of the manual or auto release that apparently did occur, the outcome would have been the same. Under the circumstances the one thing that would have given Eric a fighting chance to survive was to have remained on the towline. The pilot must always take full responsibility for his own safety.

Harold Airington

Hobbs Perspective

As reported, Eric Aasletten launched at about 2:43 PM into strong conditions and was unexpectedly hit by a powerful updraft at about 50 feet off the truck. From the front it looked as though he went into a whip stall and hit the pavement at a violent rate. Upon investigation we discovered his weak link was still intact. It is a mystery as to whether he released voluntarily or involuntarily. According to the driver the gust was so strong that it shook his truck. Speaking to the folks who knew Eric and have towed him, they said that they would have towed him at the meet and in the same strong conditions. I hope this settles the rumors that he had so little experience.

So Brad, Doug, Jerry, Dave, Harold... What did you think of the October cover shot?

Donnell Hewett, Dennis Pagen, Bill Bryden, Peter Birren, Pat Denevan, Steve Wendt, Steve Kroop, Mitch Shipley, Davis Straub, Jim Rooney, Sam Kellner, Trisa... Any thoughts?

[Tad Eareckson]

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=27396
Scooter tow faillure... or Never Land On Your Face

Mike Badley - 2013/04/02 05:20:24 UTC
Sacramento

I like this rig for foot launch - it's called a Hewitt Style and it also uses Peter Birren (Chicago) Link-Knife which actually severs the weak link every time. The weak link material is that industrial kite string (can't remember which size) which you make into a big loop that is doubled over through the eye of the tow rope and then fit through the shackle on the bridle. Works great.

Yeah. Works great...

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/skysailingtowing/message/6726
Weaklinks

Peter Birren - 2008/10/27 23:41:49 UTC

I know about this type of accident because it happened to me, breaking four ribs and my larynx... and I was aerotowing using a dolly. The shit happened so fast there was no room for thought much less action. But I wasn't dragged because the weaklink did its job and broke immediately on impact.
...
Imagine if you will, just coming off the cart and center punching a thermal which takes you instantly straight up while the tug is still on the ground. Know what happens? VERY high towline forces and an over-the-top lockout. You'll have both hands on the basetube pulling it well past your knees but the glider doesn't come down and still the weaklink doesn't break (.8G). So you pull whatever release you have but the one hand still on the basetube isn't enough to hold the nose down and you pop up and over into an unplanned semi-loop. Been there, done that... at maybe 200 feet agl.

Until you're in a situation in which you NEED to release, anyway.

Sam Kellner - 2013/09/10 02:24:29 UTC

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8143/7462005802_bbc0ac66ac_o.jpg




Stupid pigfucker.

[Tad Eareckson]

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=24642
Tommy Boylan, AKA "Captain Rainbow"

Mavi Gogun - 2012/01/30 11:20:56 UTC
Istanbul (not Constantinople)

If you know Tommy of Paradox, Colorado, I need to post a package to him- please message me with any contact information you might be able to furnish. My wife and I met him on a hang gliding walk-about- and have never forgotten.

Thanks,
Christopher LeFay

Christopher LeFay - 79849 - H4 - 2007/06/24 - Daniel Zink - FL 360 AWCL CL FSL RLF TUR XC

I'll be editing a lot of old posts.

[Tad Eareckson]

http://vimeo.com/26210217

28-04208
http://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1551/25962165725_29efd47b80_o.png


Once Ryan gets airborne, kicked into his cocoon boot, and his VG cranked where he wants it... Add up the time he has one or more hands off the basetube at optimal control position.

Think about the implications relative to:
- clearing a trashy launch slot
- accessing a release within easy reach in a low level lockout
- landing approaches

[Tad Eareckson]

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=29716
Scary moment at Funston

michael170 - 2013/09/12 19:25:45 UTC

http://www.flyfunston.org/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1487
Scary moment on Sunday

NMERider - 2013/09/12 19:38:13 UTC

Dude! How about some flight reports or video of your own flights?

Why, Jonathan? There's not enough of that useless bullshit on The Jack Show already?

It's difficult to ascertain why all this recent attention to other things besides your own flying.

Because we have a lot of serious deadly problems in this sport that you and your asshole buddies aren't capable of and/or won't allow us to get fixed and that dwarfs to insignificance the routine crap that happened last weekend.

You have some cool videos which are fun to watch and you're as good as anybody at pulling off safe landings in injun country but this sport wouldn't have been substantively different if you'd never been born.

Let's see you in action!

Why? If he could pull off aerobatics like Ryan...

http://vimeo.com/26210217

28-04208
http://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1551/25962165725_29efd47b80_o.png


...would that legitimize a lethal bullshit statement like THIS:

Ryan Voight - Wings Over Wasatch

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=14230
pro tow set-up

2009/11/03 05:24:31 UTC

It works best in a lockout situation... if you're banked away from the tug and have the bar back by your belly button... let it out. Glider will pitch up, break weaklink, and you fly away.

During a "normal" tow you could always turn away from the tug and push out to break the weaklink... but why would you?

Have you never pondered what you would do in a situation where you CAN'T LET GO to release? I'd purposefully break the weaklink, as described above. Instant hands free release

Even a decent photo would do the trick.

What trick?

He's the second most prolific poster here on Kite Strings and I have no fuckin' clue what he looks like, how efficiently he thermals, or how good his goddam flare timing is. Hell, I have no hard evidence that he's ever even clipped into a glider.

Tell me how any of that matters or affects the legitimacy of what he says.

2013/09/12 20:00:54 UTC - 3 thumbs up - Tim Dyer

Brad Barkley - 2013/09/12 20:49:34 UTC

It seems likely that "michael170" is one of Tad's several dozen aliases, same MO, same writing style.

Fuck you, dude.

- Tad has NEVER posted under an anonymous alias.

- The only thing I use aliases for is getting back into sites I've been kicked out of for winning too many battles so's I can research and document the shit that's going on.

- What we're saying is pretty much the same 'cause it's logic, math, science, physics, history based but our styles can be differentiated.

- If you weren't such a stupid lazy piece of shit you could verify EXACTLY who michael170 is - and isn't.

If that's the case, he can't post pics/video because he's been banned from pretty much every flying site.

Really?

- Name some.

- State the REASONS he's been banned. Anything as bad as:

-- failing to do a hook-in check on a tandem flight and diving the glider and passenger into a powerline?

-- signing off a Three who runs off Whitwell without his glider 'cause he's never once been required to comply with any pretense of USHGA's hook-in check regulation?

-- towing a comp pilot up on defective AT equipment which jams and puts him into a fatal lockout?

-- towing a tandem aerotow instructor into a monster thermal on a dangerous bridle and half strength weak link to an inevitable and totally predictable fatal whipstall?

If I really wanted to fly - I would fly. But I don't wanna fly enough to hafta associate with Capitol area scum like you and your instructors and mentors.

P.S. Wanna see a picture of me flying? Check out the 1991 August/September issue of the Smithsonian's Air & Space magazine.

michael170 - 2013/09/12 21:35:54 UTC

Brad Barkley - Occupation: fiction writer

If it's anything like what I see him post it's gotta be useless vapid crap.