landing

[Tad Eareckson]

http://www.stardem.com/news/local_news/article_158eaf52-be00-5d12-9467-d87c2e932739.html

The Star Democrat - 2012/06/08

Hang glider's condition worsens

Man who crashed Wednesday went from serious to critical condition

Posted: Friday, June 8, 2012 1:00 am | Updated: 6:52 am, Fri Jun 8, 2012.
By DUSTIN HOLT Caroline Editor

PHOTO BY ABBY ANDREWS

Injured hang glider pilot

A Maryland State Police helicopter Wednesday, leaves the scene with an injured hang glider on board, headed to University of Maryland Shock Trauma in Baltimore.

RIDGELY The Wilmington, Del., man injured in Wednesday's hang gliding accident near Ridgely is in critical condition at University of Maryland Shock Trauma in Baltimore, according to hospital spokesman Cindy Rivers.

Paul M. Vernon, 51, crashed his hang glider in a wheat field about four miles north of Ridgely on Wednesday and he was taken to shock trauma. He was in serious but stable condition Wednesday evening.

Ridgely Volunteer Fire Company Chief Bobby Utz said the pilot took a hard landing in a field just off Oakland Road, near the intersection with Cherry Lane.

Vernon was one of 25 competing in this year's East Coast Hang Gliding Championship, which started June 3 and will run through June 9, organized by Highland Aerosports, based at the Ridgely Airpark.

Adam Elchin, one of the owners of Highland Aerosports, said this was the eighth year his company hosted the event, and the first time a competitor needed medical attention.

Pilots glided from the Ridgely Airpark to Massey Airport in Kent County and back that day.

The championship is sanctioned by the U.S. Hang Gliding Association. To be eligible, pilots must have advanced ratings with the association and have successfully aerotowed their glider in competition conditions at least 10 times.

http://www.stardem.com/article_86f70061-9fd9-5e7c-8e98-fcd7f01cf7c7.html

The Star Democrat - 2012/06/15

Hang glider pilot in critical condition

Posted: Friday, June 15, 2012 1:00 am

BALTIMORE A Delaware man remains in critical condition at a trauma center after his hang glider crashed in a field near Ridgely last week.

A University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center spokesman initially said Paul M. Vernon, 51, of Wilmington initially had been in serious but stable condition. His condition worsened the day after the accident.

Vernon was one of 25 people competing in this year's East Coast Hang Gliding Championship, which ran June 3 to 9 and is organized by Highland Aerosports, based at the Ridgely Airpark.

Adam Elchin, one of the owners of Highland Aerosports, said Thursday the competition continued as scheduled after the accident, with no more incidents.

"Everything was fine," Elchin said.

This was the eighth year his company hosted the event, and the first time a competitor needed medical attention.

Ridgely Volunteer Fire Company Chief Bobby Utz said at the time of the accident Vernon took a hard landing in a field off Oakland Road, near the intersection of Cherry Lane, about four miles north of Ridgely.

Utz said the pilots glided from the Ridgely Airpark to Massey Airport in Kent County and back that day. He said a second Maryland State Police helicopter searched for any more pilots in distress between Ridgely and Massey Airport.

Maryland State Police handled the accident investigation.

Also responding to the scene were the Greensboro Volunteer Fire Company, Caroline County EMS and Caroline County Sheriff's Office.

The championship is sanctioned by the U.S. Hang Gliding Association. To be eligible, pilots must have advanced ratings with the association and have successfully aerotowed their glider in competition conditions at least 10 times.

http://www.stardem.com/a/article_ad20403b-7136-50b1-a5a7-c3e7809bfc9a.html

The Star Democrat - 2012/06/19

Hang glider pilot released from shock trauma center

Posted: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 1:00 am

BALTIMORE A Delaware man injured in a hang gliding accident June 13 has been released from a trauma center.

Paul M. Vernon, 51, of Wilmington, had been released Saturday from the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, a hospital spokesman said Monday. Vernon had spent more than a week in critical condition there.

Vernon was flown to the Baltimore trauma center after his hang glider crashed in a field near Ridgely. He was one of 25 people competing in the annual East Coast Hang Gliding Championship, which ran June 3 to 9 and is organized by Highland Aerosports, based at the Ridgely Airpark.

This was the eighth year the company hosted the event, and the first time a competitor needed medical attention.

http://www.chgpa.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5422
accident at ecc...

Matt Christensen - 2012/06/20 03:19:11 UTC

If you go to carepages here:

http://www.carepages.com/

and search for PMVernon, you will find a web page where Paul's wife Sam is posting daily updates on his progress. He has made great strides in surviving this injury and is making great progress in his recovery, but he has a tough road ahead. He has two brain stem bleeds that he has been battling to overcome. Create an account and log in so that you can post on their page and show some support. I know it would mean a lot for the family to hear some support from the HG community.

CareCompliment:
Default
Medical ICU
To: 4th Floor Shock Trauma A.
From: Paul V.
Date: Jun 14, 2012 3:44pm
CareCompliment:
Words can't express the gratitude I have for every single staff member on this amazing wing. Every shift, every person has been thoughtful, compassionate and kind. People took an interest and checked on me if I looked panicky which was often and no one shied away from giving me a squeeze or patting my hand if I was looking a little ragged. They took stellar care of my dear husband, rooting for him at every milestone and I will be eternally grateful. They have listened to my litany, "I am in Baltimore today and tomorrow, that is all I know". In the darker moments, I try to imagine how awesome it will be to walk with Paul back to this floor so he can formally meet everyone when HE can say thank you. Because of this group, I know that it will happen. Not right away, but some time in the future. With gratitude, humility and affection, we thank you and will ask God to continue to bless each of you in your lives. xxoo Sandra and Paul Vernon and Family (Room 11 Hang gliding Pilot)

John Simon - 2012/06/22 01:42:59 UTC

I drove up to Bryn Marr today to visit with Paul. He is much better than last week when I saw him. He was awake and alert and conversant. He still tires easily, but we chatted for about 10 minutes and then he decided a nap was most important and he dozed off after making apologies.

He seems to be improving daily and I have high hopes. Still a long road ahead but his recovery appears to be moving forward after a rather tough week or 2. He looked good and had good color and eye contact while we chatted. Familiar expressions and smiles were observed happily. I am excited to visit again next week, the rehab facility is obviously doing him some good. He says they work him very hard.

[Tad Eareckson]

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=28101
A bird's eye view of the accident at the ECC

Davis Straub - 2012/06/12 21:26:39 UTC

It will take some time for the pilot to get better.

What do you think the:
- percentage of his life that's been turned into a nightmare is?
- effect on the lives of all the people close to him is and will be?
- price tag on all this - choppers, shock trauma, critical care, rehabilitation, lost income, career - will amount to?
- degree of his recovery will be?
- odds are that he'll ever be piloting anything again if/when he gets sufficiently better?
Ferchrisake...

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25015
Zippy pounds in

Davis Straub - 2011/09/02 18:37:09 UTC

Concussions are in fact very serious and have life long effects. The last time I was knocked out what in 9th grade football. I have felt the effects of that ever since. It changes your wiring.

Look what a bit of brain trauma did to you.

As I recall they had reduced the sedation.

So how many people made goal the next day?

A couple of points. A hang 2 with 350 flights.

Yeah.
- So why was he still a Hang Two?
- I missed the part where somebody advised him not to participate in XC competition.

He had been specifically warned about wheat fields and landed in one previously.

Big surprise. From Day One, Flight One the overwhelming focus of hang gliding training is to wire people to do spot landings in the middles of fields within a radius of under a wingspan from target so they can safely stop in narrow dry riverbeds with large rocks strewn all over the place and fields filled with seven foot high corn or four foot high wheat.

He had been told to flare as though the top of the wheat were the ground.

By the 2003 Instructor of the Year Award recipient. Just like the 2004 Instructor of the Year Award recipient told Bill Priday that...

http://www.chgpa.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1166
Thoughts on responsibility...

Scott Wilkinson - 2005/10/05 14:10:56 UTC

For Steve, it all comes down to one thing: you've got to hook in. Period.

...you've got to hook in. Period.
It never ceases to amaze me how some of these incredibly dense students simply fail to take advantage of the messages these elite instructors - the best of the best - are communicating to them.

He had had a poor approach and landing on the previous launch a little earlier in the day.

At a wide fuckin' open airport.

Sunny felt that his landings were deteriorating after having good landings.

1. Yeah. Mine do that all the time. I've even seen Sunny's do that. Now that you mention it... I'm having a hard time thinking of someone to whom that DOESN'T happen. Well, Jim Rooney maybe - but he has the advantage of a keen intellect.
2. The quality of his landing wasn't the big issue here. It was the location that was the big issue.

JD Guillemette - 2012/06/12 22:29:58 UTC

Based upon my thermal drift about that time, it appears he was roughly headed into the wind.

So he was able to do the wind direction just fine but was totally oblivious to the threat presented by four foot high wheat?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuMxK9PadzA


http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3682/14088396670_62d49cbf36_o.png
17-4117

Undoubtedly high time pilot, Happy Acres putting green, glassy air... But hey, Paul... Just flare as though the top of the wheat were the ground. You'll be just fine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-36aQ3Hg33c


1. Nailing a no-stepper in light air on a primary putting green...

Gil Dodgen - 1995/01

All of this reminds me of a comment Mike Meier made when he was learning to fly sailplanes. He mentioned how easy it was to land a sailplane (with spoilers for glide-path control and wheels), and then said, "If other aircraft were as difficult to land as hang gliders no one would fly them."

...is a crap shoot.
2. Failing to nail a no-stepper in light air on a primary putting green can EASILY...

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=22176
Paragliding Collapses

Jim Rooney - 2011/06/12 13:57:58 UTC

Most common HG injury... spiral fracture of the humerus.

...get an arm broken.
3. Failing to nail a no-stepper in light air in a wheat field can EASILY get someone ninety or more percent killed.
4. REAL pilots don't roll dice. REAL pilots:
- don't get into situations in which their lives are dependent upon:
-- getting parachutes out after sidewire failures
-- recovering from weak link successes
-- reaching for release actuators, backup releases, and/or hook knives
-- aborting unhooked launches or climbing into control frames
-- nailing foot and/or spot landings
- always do sidewire load tests as components of preflight inspections
- use weak links to protect their gliders from overloading rather than backup releases
- use releases that don't stink on ice
- always do hook-in checks
- keep safe fields in safe range
Adjust your procedures and mindsets, equip, and focus your energies accordingly.
If this culture spent one percent of the effort teaching people NOT to land in wheat fields and narrow dry riverbeds with large rocks strewn all over the place that it does teaching them HOW to land in wheat fields and narrow dry riverbeds with large rocks strewn all over the place this life altering disaster would NOT have happened.

[Tad Eareckson]

http://www.chgpa.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5422
accident at ecc...

Jeff Eggers - 2012/06/06 23:35:03 UTC
Arlington, Virginia

News is reporting three pilots were downed by a "downforce"...

Yes. Probably some military gravity multiplier experiment that got out of control.

Cragin Shelton - 2012/06/06 23:45:34 UTC
Franconia, Virginia

Fuck you, Cragin.

http://www.wboc.com/story/18720431/hang-glider-accident-in-caroline-county

2012/06/06 19:57 UTC - Posted
2012/06/06 22:44 UTC - Updated

RIDGELY, Md.- One of 22 hang gliders participating in an annual competition in Ridgely sustained serious injuries following a hard landing Wednesday afternoon.

Steve Hurlock, chief of emergency communications for Caroline County, said three hang gliders went down during the East Coast Hang Gliding Championship hosted by Highland Aerosports at the Ridgely Airpark.

I got news for you guys... At all competitions one hundred percent of the hang gliders go down.

Some kind of downforce winds may have been to blame for the hard landings...

Aside from Paul Vernon's... what hard landings?

...according to Hurlock.

Stick to emergency communications while you're on duty, Steve. There's way too much creative fiction written about hang gliding incidents as it is.

Hurlock said that two of the hang gliders who went down suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene.

What's your source on that, Steve?

However, the third, Paul M. Vernon, 51 yrs, of Wilmington, Delaware was flown by Maryland State Police helicopter to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore with serious...

Critical.

...injuries.

Maryland State Police say Mr. Vernon's condition is listed as serious but stable at this time. Investigator's noted that there was no damage to the hang glider during a post collision inspection.

What did he collide with? One of the two other gliders that had hard landings in the same spot due to the downforce winds?

The exact cause is unknown at this time...

Lessee... Upside down glider in field of four foot wheat. Must have something to do with downforce winds.

...though investigators suspect that operator error was a contributing factor.

Nah. When the horizontal wind quits these hand gliders start plummeting out of the sky and the downforce winds start kicking in. We always try to aim our gliders to wheat fields to cushion the impact a little but we really don't have much control - especially after about ten minutes of holding on 'cause our arms are almost always real tired at that point. It was only through a combination of strength, skill, and luck that Paul was able to make the edge of that one.

Other hang gliders involved in the competition safely landed at the Massey Aerodome in Kent County, Hurlock said.

In other news... At approximately 10:15 PM Tuesday Charles S. Fuller, 23, of Glen Burnie, MD was seriously injured en route to Rehoboth Beach when his 2005 Honda Accord skidded off of the eastbound lane of MD 404 into a utility pole. Preliminary police reports indicate that speed, alcohol, and sideforce winds were factors. At this time it is believed that other drivers en route to Rehoboth Beach on MD 404 reached their destination safely.

Matt Christensen 2012/06/07 03:54:33 UTC

I am happy to report that I have heard from Paul's wife via text that his MRI came back good. Last I heard, they were waking him up and he was doing well.

He's gonna get worse before he gets better.

To be clear, no other pilots had incidents.

C'mon Matt. You're ruining some really entertaining news reports for everyone.

The other gliders that were reported as down were pilots that landed to assist.

That's better. Get the entertainment to facts ratio back up a bit.

Paul had a hard landing in a wheat field that was around four tall.

Paul CRASHED in a wheat field that was around four tall. It ceased being a landing when the wheat won the contest with Paul for control of the basetube.

His glider sustained no damage in the landing, but he was unconscious when they got to him.

Ain't it great the way he kept his glider in pristine condition by absorbing all of the impact energy with his head.

Very glad to hear he is doing well.

He's not.

He and his wife are great people and I have really enjoyed getting to know them and look forward to more great days at Highland with them both.

Don't hold your breath. People get into this sport to have fun. There's no amount of fun Paul and Sandra can possibly have in what's left of their lives to get this equation up to zero. Based on the patterns I've watched in this sport over the decades you won't ever see either of them again.

Richard Hays - 2012/06/07 12:18:11 UTC

Glad to hear the report Matt..Please let Paul know..Best wishes and hope he gets back flying soon!!

1. I don't think getting back flying is a huge priority for these people right now, Rich.
2. Any comment on the this culture's strategy for teaching landings?

Larry Bunner - 2012/06/07 14:18:01 UTC

Geeeezzzusss, one pilot tried to land in 5' wheat field and whacked in hard, knocked himself out.

Wheat seems to be growing at a pretty good clip.

We are hopeful that he is OK but haven't heard much more info. No other pilots had any incidents. Just remember to treat the tops of the crops as if it is the ground!

Treat the tops of the fuckin' crops as if they are the PLUTONIUM! Don't land in them. Don't practice for landing in them. Don't train people for landing in them. Train and practice for landing on putting greens.
This is the fuckin' Delmarva Peninsula, ferchrisake. It's hard to imagine a more wheel friendly hang gliding environment.

It was an epic day on the peninsula (this event did put a damper on things) with reported climbs upward of 1300 fpm. All open class made the 52 mile triangle except Davis who is flying a Falcon. Just incredible lift during the latter half of the flight. Kinda reminded me of Texas (except for all the water around).

Amazing that any Ridgely Links survived the tow to more than fifty or sixty feet.

[Tad Eareckson]

http://www.chgpa.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5422
accident at ecc...

Brian Vant-Hull - 2012/06/07 18:40:06 UTC
Manhattan

The one thing that made me feel good reading this was "two pilots landed to assist".

Well that's great that you found something to feel good about from this one, Brian. The only problem is that nothing of the sort ever happened.

Miles from the release point...

Two and a half.

...they...

They who?

...still saw a possible incident and took action.

After quick stops into nearby phone booths where they changed into their superhero outfits so that nobody would recognize them in their ordinary lives and they could continue to be treated as ordinary mortals.

What if nobody was around?

You'd probably get the same kind of results that you do when only assholes such as yourself are around when people like:
- Rob Richardson, Mike Haas, and Lois Preston go up on Wallaby Releases;
- Roy Messing go up on Lookout Releases;
- Steve Elliot go up on Bailey Releases;
- Jeremiah Thompson and Arlan Birkett go up behind tug end Bailey Links;
- Brad Anderson and Eric Aasletten go up on Birren Pitch and Lockout Limiters;
- Bill Richardson and Terry Mason have drivers who make good decisions in the interest of their safety;
- Bill Priday and Kunio Yoshimura have instructors who tell them that they are not hooked in until after the hang check;
- Eleni Zeri and Lenami Godinez-Avila go up with tandem drivers like Jim Rooney who think that if hook-in checks were of any real value everyone would be doing them;

Or if they didn't see signs of a problem?

THIS:

Davis Straub - 2012/06/07 12:14:05 UTC

I saw that he came in fast and then suddenly nosed over.

was EVERYTHING that was noticed from the air.
THIS:

I didn't notice that he didn't move...

...was what wasn't noticed.
THIS:

...wasn't concerned that the landing had been that bad, and kept on going another half mile to work zero sink north of a tree line north of him.

was the only response (of which, by the way, I am not critical).
THIS:

I came back later to land across the street from him. When I came back I saw that his glider was still nose down and that there were two trucks parked on the highway near him. As I set up the landing the rescue vehicles showed up.

was what happened subsequently. Davis sank and came back to land nearby, probably just to facilitate retrieval - which is what I'd have done.
The link that Cragin posted was:
http://www.wboc.com/story/18720431/hang-glider-accident-in-caroline-county
That article stated that:

Hurlock said that two of the hang gliders who went down suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene. However, the third hang glider, 51-year-old Paul M. Vernon of Wilmington, Del., was severely injured and flown by Maryland State Police helicopter to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore.

Davis's comment on it was:

The story below was completely bogus:

Nevertheless, from that fabrication Matt Christensen fabricated:

The other gliders that were reported as down were pilots that landed to assist.

And from this you fabricate that:

Miles from the release point they still saw a possible incident and took action.

when, in fact, one person saw a possible incident, took no action whatsoever, and had absolutely no bearing on the emergency response actions that were well underway when he arrived.

Fantastic community I'll always be proud to be a part of.

Fuck you, Brian.

Zack C - 2010/12/13 04:58:15 UTC

I had a very different mindset too back then and trusted the people that made my equipment. Since then I've realized (largely due to this discussion) that while I can certainly consider the advice of others, I can't trust anyone in this sport but myself (and maybe the people at Wills Wing).

Zack C - 2012/06/02 02:20:45 UTC

I just cannot fathom how our sport can be so screwed up.

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=27262
Accident Reports

GuessWho - 2012/10/08 20:15:17 UTC

99% of free-flight pilots are too stupid to learn much from published accident reports. They don't really care that someone else messed up.
General aviation is different. Unlike free-flight, GA demands a minimum level of intelligence.

You're part of an evil, stupid, scummy community with noses stuck up the asses of Adam Elchin, Steve Wendt, and Jim Rooney.

Brian Vant-Hull - 2000/08/28 22:49:13 UTC

I purchased my release (the one Ralph used) at Lookout Mountain over a year ago, but never had any problems until the Ridgely Fly-in, where the same thing happened. I pulled three or four times on the release, then finally went to the secondary, by which time I was high above the tug and Sunny (is there a connection here?) was frantically waving me off.
I've found it to fail this way once more since then, then on Ralph's flight, for about 1 time in 10.

That release very probably killed Roy Messing nine years and three days after you wrote that. How much effort did you make to get it grounded?

http://www.chgpa.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3035
Tad's Barrel Release and maybe an alternative

Brian Vant-Hull - 2008/02/13 14:19:02 UTC

Tad - that Stan and Ollie routine was a masterful bit of expository writing. So much so that it got me to go digging through my harness bag to pull out my bailey release and check out your statements. The curve is there to prevent the weak link from hanging up on the eye, but you're right: it means the pin hits the barrel pretty darned close to the fulcrum.

http://www.chgpa.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3347
Tad's barrel release tested

Brian Vant-Hull - 2008/06/30 13:48:08 UTC

Under weight of these observations, I do attest that TAD's RELEASE is SUPERIOR to the BAILEY RELEASE and that the BAILEY RELEASE is SERIOUSLY FLAWED UNDER HIGH LOADS.

1. How many Bailey Releases do you think those motherfuckers at Ridgely have churned out in the four plus years since you made that token gesture?
2. Did you lift a finger when Adam used my equipping people with straight pinners as part of his justification for kicking me out of what has become the private airport of Highland Aerosports?
(And, no, the curve is there to prevent the weak link from hanging up on the eye. The curve is there because Bobby Bailey and the people who look up to him are total fucking morons.)

http://www.chgpa.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2467
weak links

Brian Vant-Hull - 2007/07/21 13:00:33 UTC

I'll be lazy and ask if any of your references give a physical reason for the 0.8 to 2 g range they quote as safe. If not, constructing a reasonable physical argument could be a major contribution. You clearly have the physics down well enough (as good as anyone else in the world) to do so.

Did you read Dr. Trisa Tilletti's article in the 2012/06 issue of Hang Gliding? I didn't hear your voice amongst those of the handful who called that vile crap what it was.

http://www.chgpa.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5426
ECC

John Dullahan - 2012/06/10 16:44:57 UTC

Due to the initial low number of entrants, the 2012 ECC was close to being cancelled until last-minute appeals brought forth the required number of entrants and allowed Sunny and Adam to at least break even on the event. Paul Vernon's accident, as Matt described earlier, brought our the local press, and reporters interviewed some pilots and filmed some of the take-offs, weak-link breaks, and relights.

How much progress has been made in getting weak links up to the FAA legal minimum since my exile from that fantastic community you'll always be proud to be a part of?
We've got broken systems left and right in this sport and the last thing we need are wastes of space with the brains to be capable of having positive impacts but are instead proud to be part of their fantastic communities.

[Tad Eareckson]

Jonathan!

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=13745
Good News vs Sad News

NMERider - 2009/10/01 22:31:04 UTC

We had a Sylmar pilot die from massive head injuries last summer when he got drilled into the ground by sink while he was still prone. His helmet covered head struck a boulder.

And BTW - I cannot rotate my Rotor Kickass harness fully upright but I can pull on plenty of speed by merely keeping both hands on the base tube. Not one up and one down but both hands. If I get drilled by sink at the last second at least the first thing to hit won't likely be my head. In my cocoon harness I can go upright with hands on the DTs and easily get my T2 over 40 mph.

IIRC - Tad has already worn out his welcome on the Oz Report over his AT release mechanism, and so it seems he has come here to preach his gospel of safety according to Tad. The prize of course will either be delivered by the HMS Beagle or can be found on the Gallapagos Islands.

Forgot/Didn't know we had directly corresponded before!

We had a Sylmar pilot die from massive head injuries last summer when he got drilled into the ground by sink while he was still prone.

Bullshit.

http://www.shga.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=1099
Tragedy in the L/Z

Joe Greblo - 2008/08/30 03:40:21 UTC

Jeff Craig was killed today when he crashed on approach to landing near the Kagel LZ. The accident occurred at around 15:20 during a low approach into the wash LZ. He struck a boulder in the riverbed and sustained serious injuries. Club members arrived on scene quickly and Alex Wright and Foster Winter administered CPR until paramedics arrived. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The exact cause of the accident is not known as some witnesses said that it appeared that Jeff simply did not let the bar out as he toward the rocks. It was estimated that he hit at over 30 mph by one Hang Four witness.

- At what point in the retelling did the fabrication that Jeff was drilled into the ground by sink first appear? I'm guessing it was in a bar when somebody was telling a chick how proud he was to be a member of this fantastic community of people who cheat death every time they jump off that mountain and ya gotta live life like every day's your last so...
- Kagel...

Sylmar Hang Gliding Association

Kagel Mountain Launch - (Saddle and Main Ramp) Intermediate or higher rating is required. Novice pilots may fly under the direct supervision of, or if signed off by an SHGA designated instructor. Proof of sign-off must be carried by the pilot. Sign-off may be revoked at the discretion of the Association.

...is a Hang Three site and halfway competent Twos are allowed to fly there 'cause making and stopping in the primary ain't particularly big fuckin' deals.
- A Hang Three is supposed to be able to stop within a hundred feet of a target.
- The glide at Kagel is four to one.
- Nobody who hasn't already screwed the pooch has ever been drilled by sink down into injun country - especially at Kagel.
- Jeff went down into injun country 'cause he set up WAY short and low.
- He didn't die 'cause he was prone during a landing - he died 'cause he failed to get anywhere near anything remotely resembling a safe LZ and compounded that error by flying headfirst into a boulder at thirty miles an hour without letting the bar out.
- In my humble opinion this fatality was the fault of Pilot Proficiency Program that leaves one helluva lot to be desired.
- Characterizing this as a "landing" "accident" precipitated by sink and a prone configuration is a load of total crap.

And BTW - I cannot rotate my Rotor Kickass harness fully upright but I can pull on plenty of speed by merely keeping both hands on the base tube.

Yeah. BOTH hands on the base tube. As in:

Manned Kiting
The Basic Handbook of Tow Launched Hang Gliding
by Daniel F. Poynter
1974

"Never take your hands off the bar." - Tom Peghiny

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=27086
Steve Pearson on landings

Steve Pearson - 2012/03/28 23:26:05 UTC

I can't control the glider in strong air with my hands at shoulder or ear height and I'd rather land on my belly with my hands on the basetube than get turned downwind.

Not one up and one down but both hands.

Yeah. Not one up and one down...

NMERider - 2012/03/14 15:17:14 UTC

I refuse to come in with both hands on the downtubes ever again. I have had some very powerful thermals and gusts kick off and lost control of the glider due to hands on the downtubes. I prefer both hands on the control bar all the way until trim and ground effect. I have been lifted right off the deck in the desert and carried over 150 yards.

...but BOTH hands. It just seems that the more we have people's hands on the basetube and the longer we keep them there the less people get fucked up - landing, tow launching, lockouts, stall recovery...

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=26847
Landing Out

NMERider - 2012/08/10 17:09:10 UTC

Be glad you don't fly XC where I do. It really sucks here in the LA Basin and I'm tired of all the hazards.

If I get drilled by sink at the last second at least the first thing to hit won't likely be my head.

Bullshit.
- Nobody gets drilled by sink at the last second 'cause at that point the glider's a foot off the ground and there's no place for the air to sink to.
- If you don't wanna smash your head the best thing you can do is not line up on a boulder on final. That approach has always worked for me and I've ended up headfirst with a broken downtube or two as many times as anybody.
- That crap about protecting one's head by landing on one's feet comes from assholes who make their livings running foot landing schools and clinics.
- The effect of foot landing is not saving heads - it's snapping downtubes, dislocating shoulders, and breaking arms and necks. Head injuries in fields without boulders and four foot high wheat are nonexistent.
This head injury argument reminds me A LOT of Rooney Link lockout protectors.
- Low level lockouts are close to nonexistent and pretty much entirely avoidable.
- But we've gotta use Rooney Link instant hands free releases which are of zero value in low level lockouts 'cause we're all flying with Industry Standard releases which are also of zero value in low level lockouts.
- The ACTUAL danger in a tow launch is...

Manned Kiting
The Basic Handbook of Tow Launched Hang Gliding
Daniel F. Poynter
1974

"The greatest dangers are a rope break or a premature release." - Richard Johnson

Wills Wing / Blue Sky / Steve Wendt / Ryan Voight Productions - 2007/03

NEVER CUT THE POWER...



Reduce Gradually
Increase Gradually

...a STALL. And tow launch stalls are precipitated virtually entirely by Rooney Links and...

Manned Kiting
The Basic Handbook of Tow Launched Hang Gliding
Daniel F. Poynter
1974

"A bad flyer won't hurt a pin man but a bad pin man can kill a flyer." - Bill Bennett

Towing Aloft - 1998/01

Pro Tip: Always thank the tug pilot for intentionally releasing you, even if you feel you could have ridden it out. He should be given a vote of confidence that he made a good decision in the interest of your safety.

http://www.chgpa.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2467
weak links

Jim Rooney - 2007/08/01 13:47:23 UTC

Whatever's going on back there, I can fix it by giving you the rope.

...bad pin men making good decisions in the interest of your safety.
You wanna have safe tow launches you launch in safe conditions using platforms or dollies, safe drivers, safe weak links, releases that don't stink on ice, and both hands on the basetube at all times.
You wanna have safe landings you land in safe fields using good wheels or skids and keep both hands on the basetube at all times.

In my cocoon harness I can go upright with hands on the DTs and easily get my T2 over 40 mph.

1. About thirty miles an hour less than you can easily get it prone with your hands on the basetube.
2. Where you're about thirty times more likely to get a broken arm or ripped up shoulder if the glider stops...

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=27217
Bad Launch!

Ryan Voight - 2012/09/25 05:59:51 UTC

You see... the human shoulder limits how far you can pull in. Prone or upright, you can really only get your hands back about even with your shoulders.

...and you don't.

IIRC - Tad has already worn out his welcome on the Oz Report over his AT release mechanism...

Yeah Jonathan, Tad HAS worn out his welcome on The Davis Show over his AT release mechanism (not that he was ever the least bit welcome to begin with).
So has anybody else who tries to discuss anything better than...

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22660
What can be learned from this "scooter" towing accident?

Davis Straub - 2011/02/07 19:21:29 UTC

Okay, enough. On to new threads.

...the bent pin shit that Davis advertises as:

Lightweight, inexpensive, easily stowable.

But his good friend Jim Rooney...

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=25536
Whoops! Snapped another tip wand :-O

NMERider - 2012/03/14 15:17:14 UTC

His one-technique-fits-all attitude espoused on the Oz Report Forum has become tiresome to read. It does not work in the fucked-up world of XC landings and weary pilots.

...will never wear out HIS welcome with his thousands of posts on the best ways to land in narrow dry riverbeds with large rocks strewn all over the place.
Lotsa people have worn out their welcomes at...

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14931
Tad's release (even more)

Freedomspyder - 2009/02/14 17:43:30 UTC

Tad,
I've found your posts on both hook-in checks and releases very interesting and well thought out.
Best of luck dealing with the Oz Report forum cult and its leader.

...the Straub-Rooney Forum Cult.
In fact, in the wake of the 2012/04/28 Godinez-Avila fatality...

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1041
"Sharing" of Hang Gliding Information ?!?

Merlin - 2012/05/26 14:22:30 UTC

I confess to previously having a bit of an Oz Report habit, but the forced login thing has turned me off permanently, and I am in fact grateful. Frankly, the site had pretty much been reduced to a few dedicated sycophants in any case.

I've seen many times the destructive consequences of "control freaks".

...all but a few dedicated sycophants became personae non gratae. (Fewer hits for the Straub-Rooney Cult, more hits for Kite Strings.)

...and so it seems he has come here to preach his gospel of safety according to Tad.

1. I came to the Jack Cult a bit over five months prior 'cause there was a big discussion going on:
http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=11497
Aerotow release options?
started by someone who wanted a safe, well engineered aerotow release...

John Glime - 2009/04/13 18:09:32 UTC

Rick,

Not being constructive? There is one person who has put more thought and time into releases than anyone. That person is Tad. He explains the pros and cons to every release out there. I gave you the link to more release information than the average person could ever digest, and I didn't get a thank you. Just you bitching that we aren't being constructive. What more could you want? He has created something that is a solution, but no one is using it... apparently you aren't interested either. So what gives??? What do you want us to tell you? Your concerns echo Tad's concerns, so why not use his system? Every other system out there has known flaws.

...and I was the only one who had developed one. I joined that discussion on 2009/04/30 and continued it until 2009/07/04 when your cult leader locked it down 'cause people started noticing that I knew what I was talking about and Jack didn't. It's currently racked up 17728 hits. That's over two and a half times what it had when Jack decided none of you assholes would be allowed to participate in or read more of it.
2. Yeah...

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=27217
Bad Launch!

NMERider - 2012/09/25 14:21:38 UTC

But what we have in excess here on the Org is generally referred to as a mutual masturbation society. That's where pilots get together and sit around and just jack each other off. That's what I see here in spades.

Terribly sorry to have disrupted the mutual masturbation society. I was clearly out of line and Jack-Off Axaopoulos did everybody a huge favor when he banned me and ordered his loyal cult members to make no mention of my name or material.

The prize of course will either be delivered by the HMS Beagle or can be found on the Gallapagos Islands.

1. Galapagos has the same number of "l"s as Beagle.

NMERider - 2012/08/10 17:09:10 UTC

Be glad you don't fly XC where I do. It really sucks here in the LA Basin and I'm tired of all the hazards.

2. Darwin favors those who not only recognize the hazards but modify their behavior to adjust.
P.S. And lemme tell ya sumpin' else, motherfucker...
EVERYONE who honestly believes he's preaching a gospel of safety is preaching it according to what he honestly believes - me, you, Robert Seckold. The difference between me and you and Robert is that I've really done my homework and my logic, numbers, science, data, record all add up.
And a lot of the pushes I've been making, some for decades...

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=26870
weak links

Davis Straub - 2012/08/13 18:08:42 UTC

Used to do 130 lbs. Now do 200 lbs.

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=26854
Skids vs wheels

Andrew Stakhov - 2012/08/11 13:52:35 UTC

So I just came back from flying in Austria (awesome place btw). Stark difference I noticed is a large chunk of pilots choose to fly with skids instead of wheels. Conversations I had with pilots they say they actually work better in certain situations as they don't get plugged up like smaller wheels. Even larger heavier Atosses were all flying with skids. I was curious why they consistently chose to land on skids on those expensive machines and they were saying that it's just not worth the risk of a mistimed flare or wing hitting the ground... And those are all carbon frames etc.

...are very slowly starting to catch on.

[Tad Eareckson]

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=13745
Good News vs Sad News

NMERider - 2009/10/01 22:31:04 UTC

We had a Sylmar pilot die from massive head injuries last summer when he got drilled into the ground by sink while he was still prone.

Somebody find me a video or reliable report of someone getting drilled by sink in the course of a halfway competent landing approach. I so do tire of all of hang gliding's dangerous bullshit solutions to nonexistent problems.

[Tad Eareckson]

Carlos Weill - 58278
- H3 - 2002/10/26 - Matthew Graham - FL AWCL CL FSL RLF TUR
- P2 - 2009/08/26 - James Rooney - FL

http://www.chgpa.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5426
ECC

John Dullahan - 2012/06/10 16:44:57 UTC

On the final day, Carlos reached goal and won the day. Unfortunately, switchy winds at goal cost him a dislocated shoulder and a broken keel.

Carlos Weill - 2012/06/13 12:13:56 UTC

Flying is what introduced me to the community. This is a great community of odd thinking people. I thank for all the help retrieving the glider, most especially to Cindy for hanging on until I got repaired.

A good thought for our friend in his recovery.

http://ozreport.com/16.117
The other accident at the ECC

Davis Straub - 2012/06/12 12:34:50 UTC

Dislocated shoulder on the last day at the Sport Class goal (Highland Aerosports, Ridgely, Maryland, USA)

Carlos Weill won the day in the Sport Class but chose a bad field to land in dislocating his shoulder. He was taken to the ER and released soon thereafter with a medical device holding his shoulder his place. This is the second accident in eight years that the East Coast Championship has been held that required medical attention.

He didn't dislocate his shoulder and break his keel because of bad choice of field or switchy winds. He dislocated his shoulder and broke his keel 'cause he tried (and failed) to do a dangerous and unnecessary foot landing.

[Tad Eareckson]

Hey Brian, one more thing...

Four years ago I worked my ass off to get you - a former high school physics teacher - to understand that:
- a Rooney Link is not, contrary to all that professional training you underwent, the perfect lockout protector for all solo gliders - from 200 to 350 pounds - that Ridgely tows;
- a fucking piece of fishing line that blows under normal tow tension at random moments and forces emergency landings and relights is not increasing the safety of the tow operation for glider or tug; and
- the origin of the loop of 130 pound Greenspot as the standard aerotow weak link was one of stupidity beyond all imagination.

When Dr. Trisa Tilletti published that dangerous lunatic crap in the June issue of Hang Gliding neither you nor anybody within that useless shitheaded fantastic community of Ridgely/Manquin/CHGA/MHGA zombie douchebags, of which you're so proud to be a member, uttered a single peep or lifted a single finger by way of protest.

As far as I'm concerned if you're one of the half percent of hang glider jockeys who has a functional brain you have a moral obligation to speak out and take some action when you see something wrong - especially when it's to that degree and on that scale.

The difference between you and somebody who would see the carabiner of a Bill Priday, Kunio Yoshimura, or Lenami Godinez-Avila dangling and not say anything is one only of degree. So - again - you can go fuck yourself.

[Steve Davy]

High Adventure Hang Gliding and Paragliding - 2010/09/11 18:00
Rob and Dianne McKenzie

Visiting Advanced HG pilot is turning left base to final and during the rollout he also transitions from both hands on base tube to raising right hand to the downtube. But he misses the downtube a couple of times before finally getting a hold of it. During the couple of seconds missing the downtube the glider rolls left from the pitch forces of the left hand on the basetube. He isn't able to get his wing level and he is now travelling to heading possibly off the east edge of the LZ pad. Impact is fairly hard as the left corner of the basetube hits the ground with wing in a five degree left bank and the glider noses over iunto a very hard whack. The pilot swings through the bar and dislocates his elbow. Hospitalized overnight. Prognosis good for full recovery.

[Tad Eareckson]

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=29590
Rochester Trike Towing

Bob Grant - 2012/10/12 15:37:22 UTC

I have flown at the new Rochester Area Flyers tow facility in Genesee and have a video from there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIBX6HZovK8

Rodger Hoyt - 2012/10/13 05:02:40 UTC

I'm envious of those prone wheel landings.

Sane aircraft landings in hang gliding. Who'da thunk.

In many western states, our terrain and vegetation would never allow that.

BULLSHIT.
- Show me the videos.
- If we can clear and maintain slots and build and maintain ramps on the mountain for the beginning of the flight we can - WAY more cheaply and easily - clear and maintain a hundred foot strips in the valley for the end of the flight.

Imagine trying to land face-first in a "field" full of 12-inch lava rocks overgrown with sagebrush and starthistle - ouch, ouch!

BULLSHIT.
- Imagine trying to land feet-first in a "field" full of 12-inch lava rocks overgrown with sagebrush and star thistle and get away with it consistently enough to make it a sane proposition.
- Nobody's doing this.
- Move the fuckin' rocks and clear the sagebrush and star thistle. (You don't even hafta feel guilty about the thistle - it's an invasive species from the Mediterranean.)
- Fund the landing strip work parties with the money you'll be saving on downtubes and orthopedic surgery. You'll come out way ahead on the investment in time as well.