The Bob Show

[Tad Eareckson]

Bob Kuczewski - 2013/12/25 09:30:49 UTC

Hello Tad,

I've recently read the attached 2 comments on your site.

For the record, I would not LOVE to get you certified as a "dangerous subhuman and thrown in solitary for life or, preferably, lethally injected". The fact that you say you're "one hundred percent totally serious about that" again demonstrates that you speak without facts. You can't really know what you claim to know because you can't know what I think. And that's where I have the advantage. *I* do know exactly what I think, and so *I* know (for a fact) that you are wrong. You're also wrong about my being a "dangerous, power hungry sociopath and pathological liar". Again, I know what I am doing and what I hope to achieve. You simply don't. You simply don't. Furthermore I challenge you to point out one place where I've EVER lied. Just one. Just once. You can't, and yet you publicly call me a "pathological liar"?

Tad, the people who actually know me will generally say I'm one of the more honest people they know. So your comments only serve to prove (at least to them) that you really do speak without knowing what you're talking about. That, like your profanity, undermines whatever good you're trying to accomplish.

The second post is somewhat of an enigma. As I read it, you're actually complimenting the US Hawks in contrast with USHPA. But that comment is so far out of character for you, that I have to believe that it's sarcasm. If so, it's been so poorly executed that it passes as genuine. Maybe you can enlighten me on that one.

Finally, in the spirit of Christmas, I would like to again offer that we just live and let live with regard to one another. I really don't want a war of "dueling forums" with you because there are more important things to attend to. So I am again asking that we follow the well known adage: If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all. : )

Merry Christmas, and I wish you a better New Year.

Bob Kuczewski

Hello Tad,

Hi Bob,

I've recently read the attached 2 comments on your site.

1. From the previous two posts on this thread.
2. Technically, it's Zack's site. He has more control over it than I do.

For the record, I would not LOVE to get you certified as a "dangerous subhuman and thrown in solitary for life or, preferably, lethally injected". The fact that you say you're "one hundred percent totally serious about that" again demonstrates that you speak without facts.

Here's the fact, Bob:

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=884
The Bob Show

Bob Kuczewski - 2011/12/13 05:55:39 UTC

This has not been easy or fun. This has been a sad realization for me that some people are so pathological that they cannot interact reasonably with others. That's why so many societies have jails (or death penalties). At some point, they've realized that the costs of interacting with pathological people is too high to be paid. We're reaching that point.

Please explain to me how I've misinterpreted your meaning/position here. And, for extra credit, please explain to me how I should be feeling about that statement.

I know a lot about how extermination campaigns work, Bob. Trust me on this one. The Nazis didn't start out with extermination programs. They started out by banning people they didn't like from speaking as university professors.

You can't really know what you claim to know because you can't know what I think.

You're so all over the place that you can't remember what you were thinking and saying an hour ago and make it consistent with what you're saying now.

And that's where I have the advantage. *I* do know exactly what I think, and so *I* know (for a fact) that you are wrong.

I know (for a fact) how you think better than you know how you think.

John Oliver - 2013/08/12

If making sound predictions is what Chris Matthews does for a living then he may have a bit of a problem because... Finding sound bites of people saying things that directly contradict the claims they've just made... That is what WE do for a living.

That, unfortunately, is most of what Kite Strings - which is overwhelmingly me - does. The original hope was that we could start from a nucleus of good people, get some aeronautical engineers on board, address problems rationally, and transform hang gliding from a cult religion into a branch of aviation. The realization now is that the nucleus is all we're ever gonna get and all we're ever gonna be is a tiny guerrilla operation exposing the inconsistencies, contradictions, lies of the serial killers who've have hijacked the sport from the pilot.

I've got a pretty good memory and a pretty good archive of the historical record. You really oughta read more of what I write about you. If you really worked at it you might be able to understand how you think about as well as I understand how you think.

Try this one for starters:

Bob Kuczewski - 2010/08/13

The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. Everyone has to do their part once in a while. If you see something that's not being done correctly, then it's your duty to speak out. One big difference between the US Hawks and other organizations is that the US Hawks really does honor the free speech of its members.

Bob Kuczewski - 2013/12/25 09:30:49 UTC

So I am again asking that we follow the well known adage: If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all. : )

You're gonna say and do whatever you think will help you achieve whatever it is you want to achieve by the most convenient means at your disposal.

You're also wrong about my being a "dangerous, power hungry sociopath and pathological liar". Again, I know what I am doing and what I hope to achieve.

1. Yeah, you hope to create a democratic hang gliding organization with elected leadership responsive to the individual pilot by running a dictatorship and silencing opposition voices until the point at which you've got everything stacked with people willing to toe the line you've drawn. I'm totally convinced that that's gonna work out great and I'm really enthusiastic about the progress you've been making.

2. Anything positive you'd hope or be able to achieve for hang gliding won't and wouldn't include me.

You simply don't. You simply don't.

I'm CONSTANTLY watching what you're doing and achieving - and with whom you're doing it and achieving it.

Furthermore I challenge you to point out one place where I've EVER lied.

Maybe you could also challenge me to point out one incident of a Great White Shark making an unprovoked attack on an Elephant Seal. Read your FAQs, Bob.

What will keep the US Hawks from becoming another USHPA or HGAA?

You will ... hopefully. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. Everyone has to do their part once in a while. If you see something that's not being done correctly, then it's your duty to speak out. One big difference between the US Hawks and other organizations is that the US Hawks really does honor the free speech of its members.

How grotesque does the lie hafta be?

Something more specific:

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=822
US Hawks Hook-In Verification Poll

Bob Kuczewski - 2011/11/04 04:41:45 UTC

This issue has been discussed at great length in many other topics, so I'd like to start collecting everyone's thoughts in one place. I'd also like to start building a solid consensus on what the US Hawks hook-in verification policy should be. I suspect this will require a series of proposals, discussions, and votes. So I'd like to start with one proposal that's been brought to us by Tad. Here's the proposition:

The US Hawks should:

A - Require ALL pilots to launch with a tight hang strap in ALL conditions.
B - Recommend launching with a tight hang strap, but leave it to the pilot's decision whether it's safe to do so in any conditions.

And there's tons of shit like:

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

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

I first learned about Tad Eareckson when I was Regional Director and the USHPA Board circulated a letter he had written (with intention to send?) to the FAA about some dangerous practices in hang gliding.

The Board's knee-jerk response was to try to take some kind of legal action to silence Tad. I indicated that I thought we shouldn't be sending our lawyers in as our first response, and that maybe we should have someone talk with him first. So Dennis Pagen volunteered, and I believe the matter was settled without any serious damage to the sport.

Could you get busted on a perjury charge for that? No. But you're implying that Dennis contacted me, convinced me of the error of my ways, and got me to back off on the letter and that sending the letter to the FAA would've resulted in serious damage to the sport.

And you also imply that a lying motherfucker like that who publishes and sells through USHGA crap which includes statements like:

Towing Aloft - 1998

Weak links very clearly will provide protection from excessive angles of attack, high bank turns and the like for this form of towing.

isn't himself doing incalculable damage to the sport and helping put every man, woman, and child at serious risk every time he or she connects to the downwind end of a rope. And it now occurs to me that you two have a lot in common.

Just one. Just once. You can't, and yet you publicly call me a "pathological liar"?

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

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

Eventually... it became necessary to ask Tad to leave the US Hawks forum...

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=883
What will keep the US Hawks from becoming another USHPA or HGAA?

Bob Kuczewski - 2012/03/14 15:15:03 UTC

There are lots of things to learn from Tad's case. I am not convinced that I did the best thing and I think it's good to talk about other alternatives.

Which one of those statements is true, Bob? It became NECESSARY to ASK (attempt to bully and blackmail) Tad to leave but you're not convinced that you did the best thing? What evidence do you have that it was NECESSARY? Show me how the forum benefitted. Let's pull out the magic wand and allow Terry to survive Sam's good decision in the interest of his safety in Nuno Fontes shape and ask him if he's reconsidered his previous position on me.

Tad, the people who actually know me will generally say I'm one of the more honest people they know.

1. The people who actually know you will GENERALLY say you're one of the MORE honest people THEY KNOW? How reassuring!

2. People who actually knew Bernie Madoff would generally say he was one of the most honest people they knew.

3. The people who actually know Jim Rooney will generally say he's one of the more keenly intellectual people they know and will wager the house (and their lives) that he's got things sussed a bit better than an armchair warrior.

4. The people who actually know Bobby Bailey will generally say he's a fucking genius - and, relative to him, he is.

5. For much longer than I care to remember and admit, when I was starting to get to know you *I* thought you were essentially honest and principled.

6. I find the vast majority of hang glider people to be total pieces of shit. There's gotta be something about the sport that really sucks in dregs and, once they're in, the superdregs who've insinuated their ways to the top encourage and promote them while undercutting and backstabbing people with brains and integrity.

7. Quote me somebody besides you questioning my honesty. And, if you're able to come up with anything, get some scrap of the evidence on which he's basing his position.

So your comments only serve to prove (at least to them) that you really do speak without knowing what you're talking about.

Yes. They most certainly will. Just as will my comments that the most dangerous thing you can put in tow system is a loop of 130 pound test fishing line.

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=795
AL's Flight At Packsaddle 10-04-11

Terry Mason - 2011/12/01 19:55:00 UTC

Those of us who prefer to fly, will always wonder about the key board jocks, who frighten away new flyers with skitzoid horror stories of murder, and at the hands of friends who only wish to share the incomparable thrill of free flight. I'm reminded of Johnathan Livingston Seagull, striving against the ever present obstructionists. Thanks to Sam for limiting Our forum to FLYERS. See you soon Bob

In this game there can be some really nasty consequences to reaching the wrong conclusions about people and their comments, character, motivations.

That, like your profanity, undermines whatever good you're trying to accomplish.

And you think I give a flying fuck about assholes who ignore me because I call Tracy Tillman a "fucking moron" (which, by the way, is one of the nicer things one could say in regards to him)?

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TUGS/message/1173
aerotow instruction

Rick Mullins - 2011/02/12 16:28:14 UTC

John you're wasting your time. We really didn't need Tad's link to show that every list seems to have people that have no clue how to have a civil debate. Unless the moderator does something this list has probably lost most it's value. Fire away Tad, I won't be around to read it. While you seem to have some pertinent information, you're obviously a total dick.

I am TOTALLY COOL with them slamming in really hard. That's the ONLY thing that moves the sport back in the direction of sanity. And, by the way, the last useless post on that useless forum was:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TUGS/message/1261
New Member

Terry W. Ryan - 2012/11/19 23:08:01 UTC

Hi Folks,
It's high time I learned more about Dragonfly construction and maintenance. I'm on the board of directors of our local hang gliding aerotow club called Southwestern Ontario Gliding Association (SOGA). After some recent problems we are taking a renewed interest in tug maintenance. I'll throw out a few questions after I get a feel for the culture here.
Peace,
Terry from Toronto

The second post is somewhat of an enigma. As I read it, you're actually complimenting the US Hawks in contrast with USHPA. But that comment is so far out of character for you, that I have to believe that it's sarcasm. If so, it's been so poorly executed that it passes as genuine. Maybe you can enlighten me on that one.

It's a total dictatorship - well into its fourth year now - bearing no semblance whatsoever to what's in the mission statement. Do the math.

Finally, in the spirit of Christmas...

Which is what?

Donnell Hewett - 1981/10

MY PRIORITIES

Those of you who do not know me personally may wonder - if skyting is really all that it's claimed to be - then why don't I spend more time, more money, and more effort in developing it to its completion? The reason is simply a matter of priorities. Development of the skyting technique, as important as it is, simply is not at the top of my list of priorities.

My first priority belongs to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, my Savior and Lord. Considering all He has done for me and the love we have for one another, I can do nothing less than commit my life and all that I have to Him and His service. If you know Him personally, then I'm sure that you understand my feelings and will agree that Jesus beats anything this world has to offer - including hang gliding. If you never come to meet Him, then ask someone to introduce you - believe me, until you do, you don't know what you're missing.

My second priority belongs to my family. Helen, my wife, is the greatest companion any man could hope for, and has filled my life with happiness throughout the eleven years we have been married. My daughters, Tahnya (ten years old last October), and Tammi (eight years old last June), are also important in my life. I love all three of my "girls" as well as my parents and my inlaws, so that if it ever comes to a choice between my family and skyting, then hang gliding will lose every time.

My third priority belongs to my profession, I am a professor at Texas A&I University and teach physics, astronomy, and solar energy. I am also conducting research in the field of solar energy in an attempt to develop some truly cost effective solar energy devices (including a solar air conditioner). Since these activities are my primary means of support, are obligations I have voluntarily accepted, and are both enjoyable and fullfilling to me as a person, I consider both my teaching and my solar energy research to be more important than my involvement in hang gliding.

Skyting, therefore, is number four in my list of priorities. I still consider it to be important, both for providing me with a means of personal relaxation and recreation, and for providing others with an opportunity for safe and accessible hang gliding. But in my life, skyting and its development will just have to accept the fact that it gets the time, the money, and the attention that remains after I have met the needs and the obligations associated with the higher priority items mentioned above.

That bozo has gotten so many lives destroyed and ended because the Spirit of Christmas was at the top of his list of priorities and hang gliding was fourth rate afterthought - also fiction based.

I would like to again offer that we just live and let live with regard to one another.

Not after what you did to me - and the sport - and continue to do to me - and the sport. And certainly not while you're palled/palling up with douchebags like Sam Kellner, Nate Wreyford, Charlie Schneider / Pilgrim, Peter Birren on your forum and Orion Price at Grebloville.

What will keep the US Hawks from becoming another USHPA or HGAA?

You will ... hopefully. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. Everyone has to do their part once in a while. If you see something that's not being done correctly, then it's your duty to speak out. One big difference between the US Hawks and other organizations is that the US Hawks really does honor the free speech of its members.

Guess everybody's doing everything totally correctly over there nowadays 'cause I'm not hearing much in the way of people doing their part to speak out when seeing something being done incorrectly. And I guess you didn't see anything being done incorrectly when Sam slammed Terry in or told everybody:

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1081
Platform towing /risk mitigation / accident

Sam Kellner - 2012/07/03 02:25:58 UTC

No, you don't get an accident report.

'cause I sure didn't hear you exercising your duty to speak out.

I really don't want a war of "dueling forums" with you because there are more important things to attend to.

Bullshit. Kite Strings is gonna be at war with all other forums for as long as it exists with Yours Truly and people who want the sport fixed in it. There is NOTHING in aviation more important than competence and there's NOTHING USHGA and your envisioned little USHGA II hate and/or fear more.

So I am again asking that we follow the well known adage: If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all. : )

Right. The polar opposite of:

The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. Everyone has to do their part once in a while. If you see something that's not being done correctly, then it's your duty to speak out.

Merry Christmas, and I wish you a better New Year.

On February 2 of this past year everything lined up perfectly a tandem aerotow instructor and dear friend of Jim Keen-Intellect Rooney's and all the Questies slammed into the runway and died courtesy of a low powerful thermal, "pro tow" bridle, and "standard aerotow weak link". And this little guerrilla group and a couple of allies ware able to do a lot of damage to the Flight Park Mafia, USHGA, Pagen, Malcolm, Davis, Rooney, Jim Gaar... I'm not gonna live long enough for things to again line up well enough to have a better year than this one.

And NOBODY on some of the other forums from which I've been banned - the Ridgely, Peter, Bag, Bob Shows - had ANYTHING to say on that one.

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=884
The Bob Show

Bob Kuczewski - 2011/12/13 05:55:39 UTC

There's a list of user names in the "Building the US Hawks" forum. But while those are the members, we don't really have a way for them to vote because we haven't built our "Constitution" yet. Our constitution will define who leads the organization, how they're elected, what their goals are, and what their limitations are. We haven't been able to have that discussion because you've thrown an endless stream of monkey wrenches at us. I've had to deal with your profanity, your attacks on other members, your strong weak link theories, your lift and tug theories, and your hopelessly long and repetitive posts. So we have not been able to actually define how the organization should be structured. From your complaining above, you don't seem to want a dictatorship (which I agree with), but in your other posts you've ridiculed the idea of allowing members to vote. So your vision for who will actually run the organization is undecipherable.

Must be nice for you not having had to deal with my profanity, attacks on other members, strong weak link and lift and tug theories, and hopelessly long and repetitive posts.

And I was so OBVIOUSLY totally full of shit...

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=31052
Poll on weaklinks

Jim Rooney - 2013/03/05 21:40:02 UTC

I'm not saying that you've claimed that a stronger weaklink allows for a greater AOA... I'm telling you that it does.
You know this.
I'll spell it out anyway...
Increases in AOA increase the load factor... push it beyond what the weaklink can stand and *POP*, you're off tow.
Increase the load factor that the weaklink can withstand and you increase the achievable AOA.

This ain't truck towing. There is no pressure limiting mechanism. Push out and you load the line. Push out hard and you'll break the weaklink... that's the whole idea.

You want to break off the towline? Push out... push out hard... it will break.
As others have pointed out, they've used this fact intentionally to get off tow. It works.

You want MORE.
I want you to have less.
This is the fundamental disagreement.
You're afraid of breaking off with a high AOA? Good... tow with a WEAKER weaklink... you won't be able to achieve a high AOA. Problem solved.

I'm sorry that you don't like that the tug pilot has the last word... but tough titties.
Don't like it?
Don't ask me to tow you.

Go troll somewhere else buddy.
I'm over this.

...with my hopelessly long and repetitive posts on strong weak link theory. Just ask Jim Keen-Intellect Rooney or any other tug pilot or flight park operator capable of explaining the laws of physics in terms of differential equations and not my simple 2+2=4 "logic".

You want to make the New Year better for me - and hang gliding and all of its recreational bottom tier pilots and prospective pilots? Put some effort into calling bullshit bullshit and scumbags scumbags in arenas other than just Torrey Pines Gliderport and stop trying to be a friend to every "pilot" you meet.

[Tad Eareckson]

Bob Kuczewski - 2012/01/16 17:56:59 UTC

For the record...

I've called Tad on numerous occasions asking for a "cease fire" in this senseless battle of destruction. In fact, I just spoke with him a few minutes ago again asking that we focus on improving the sport of hang gliding rather than bashing each other.

At this point, I am voluntarily laying down my arms with the hope that Tad will do the same. I won't reply to his previous post at this time because I believe that will only escalate the destruction.

I told you something to this effect at the time but there's damn close to NOTHING you can do that'll escalate shit more than treating me with that level of contempt and arrogance.

And just how well do YOU like it when you're testifying at San Diego City Council meetings having YOUR points and questions on the Gliderport issue ignored year after year after year?

Tad, if you want a fight with me over this issue...

I'm having a hard time thinking of issues I DON'T wanna fight you on.

...then I won't back down.

Of course you won't.

Bob Kuczewski - 2013/12/25 09:30:49 UTC

I really don't want a war of "dueling forums" with you because there are more important things to attend to. So I am again asking that we follow the well known adage: If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all. : )

But let's just be clear that it is YOUR choice to continue and the consequences are on YOUR shoulders ... not mine.

Been a couple weeks shy of a year now and about all you've done is taken the odd cheapshot at me here and there.

I would much prefer to spend my time working on an on-line hang gliding training manual at http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=25.

How's that Cumming along? Any of you dildos yet figured out the difference between a release and a weak link - and the potential downsides of trying to use the latter as the former?

Tad, if you'd like to help, you're welcome to post articles here on KiteStrings and they will be integrated with proper attribution for your work.

What? You need more stuff after:

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=929
Training Manual Comments / Contribution

Bill Cummings - 2012/01/10 14:04:59 UTC

Tad's procedures for Aero towing should become part of any training manual.

Have you run Tad's-one-and-a-half-times-max-certified-operating-weight-to-prevent-overload and...

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=30971
Zach Marzec

Kinsley Sykes - 2013/02/17 16:04:16 UTC

Deltaman and Zach seem to be jumping on Jim for not using facts.. When these guys agree with themselves on a forum where they all talk to each other, (http://www.kitestrings.org/forum2.html) no big deal, but I worry that folks will read the lack of response as some sort of endorsement of these positions. Actually, if you are on the fence, but think maybe these "strong weaklink" guys have a point, please go to that forum and read through it. Then see if you want to trust your life to their theories..

...Davis Rooney's 130-pound-Greenspot-'cause-it's-got-a-long-track-record-and-we-just-might-know-what-we're-doing theories through your Navier-Stokes equations to make a determination on which way to go?

I think that's a reasonable way to proceed...

You think Sam's quite a genius and that he should be able to kill one of your guys with a dump lever and suffer no consequences whatsoever.

...but again, that's up to you.

Goddam right it is.

I don't think you'll take me up on this offer...

As unbelievably generous as it is.

...because I think you get more enjoyment from the destruction of the "war" than you do from the productivity of the peace.

Just as long as it's assholes like you, Sam, Rick, Peter, Charlie on the other side of the trenches.

Maybe you'll prove me wrong...

Too easy, Bob.

When YOU'VE genuinely been fucked over by Jack, USHGA types you quote them extensively and point out the inconsistencies and lies while they don't respond to you and treat you as if you don't exist.

As of now there are 232 posts in this thread which I established when you decided you needed to make The Bob Show a safe place for people of varying ages to visit and I don't think there's a one of them in which I'm not quoting and/or directly responding to you.

And when was the last time you quoted me on your little cult or up the road at Grebloville while your sleazy punk OP buddy is telling everyone what an incompetent senile sissy lunatic I am?

A little lightbulb came on for me over the course of the last couple days...

Two adversaries. One submits long tedious posts with specific in-context quotes and addresses them point by point. The other just makes generalized personal attacks with nothing more than an occasional out-of-context quote of not more than a dozen words to support what he's saying and never "descends" to the level of actual engagement.

You can just glance at the threads and tell who's speaking on the side of truth and who the cheap rabble rouser is.

You don't ever quote me because that's the last thing you can afford to do. Just like OP can't afford to actually quote me on anything 'cause there are a couple of people in that neck of the woods with enough in the way of brains to say, "Yeah, that's pretty much the same thing Jonathan is saying. What's your point?"

Bob Kuczewski - 2013/12/25 09:30:49 UTC

Finally, in the spirit of Christmas, I would like to again offer that we just live and let live with regard to one another. I really don't want a war of "dueling forums" with you because there are more important things to attend to. So I am again asking that we follow the well known adage: If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all. : )

I've made this point before but...

You banned me under the vile pretense that my presence on your crappy little cult would pose a danger to people of varying ages and then milked the "unrepentant child molester" bullshit to and beyond the point at which it started backfiring.

If that had been an actual concern and you actually gave a flying fuck about people of varying ages you would NEVER propose a peaceful, live and let live coexistence.

You, Sam, Rick, Peter, Charlie, and - with his wildly popular but totally wacko understanding of weak links - Bill ARE *ACTUAL* *DEADLY* *THREATS* to people of ALL ages and, more importantly, to the sport of hang gliding. And y'all proved that in no uncertain terms a year and a half ago.

And, as long as that's the case - and that will ALWAYS be the case (more so as time progresses the way things have been going recently), there's no way in hell that I'm gonna do a live-and-let-live thing with you assholes.

[Tad Eareckson]

Bob Kuczewski - 2014/01/07 03:25:29 UTC

Hello Again Tad,

I've read your most recent post supporting your claim that I would LOVE to get you certified as a "dangerous subhuman and thrown in solitary for life or, preferably, lethally injected".

You quoted me from this page (please note the post number after the #p which is helpful in locating a particular post):

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=884&start=10#p3588

Here's the section you quoted:

This has not been easy or fun. This has been a sad realization for me that some people are so pathological that they cannot interact reasonably with others. That's why so many societies have jails (or death penalties). At some point, they've realized that the costs of interacting with pathological people is too high to be paid. We're reaching that point."

Let me help you understand what I was saying.

My intended implication was that we were reaching the point where the costs of continued interaction were too high to be paid. That just meant that we needed to find a way to stop paying that price and NOT that we needed to have you certified as a "dangerous subhuman and thrown in solitary for life or, preferably, lethally injected". You may have felt that way due to your fear of persecution but that's not what I meant.

Furthermore, I know what I meant when I wrote that, and you don't. I assumed everyone would understand it as a metaphor for finding a way to keep you from over-running our forum.

As I said before, you DON'T know what I meant because you're not me. That's where I KNOW that you're wrong, and there's no debate. You trying to tell me what I'm thinking is like trying to bluff me that you might be holding a full house ... while I'm holding all the aces!! I just look at my hand and I know you're wrong. Period. You can go on and on about how you're holding a full house, and you may fool some of the others at the table. But when I'm sitting there with all the aces, I'm the one person you can't fool. That's the best way I can explain how I see some of your recent claims about what you somehow "KNOW" that I'm thinking.

Now if you've simply misinterpreted what I've said, I hope this message clears it up. I doubt it will make any difference because you seem to be more interested in inflicting needless pain than in resolving actual issues - which is somewhat ironic because I suspect you've had your share of needless pain inflicted on you. But rather than stop the cycle, you're bound and determined to perpetuate it.

That's your choice, not mine. The Christmas offer still stands.

Bob Kuczewski

Hello Again Tad,

Hello Again Bob.

I've read your most recent post supporting your claim that I would LOVE to get you certified as a "dangerous subhuman and thrown in solitary for life or, preferably, lethally injected".

You quoted me from this page (please note the post number after the #p which is helpful in locating a particular post):

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=884&start=10#p3588

Kinda cluttered looking compared to:

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=884

With just the topic link and post time stamp anyone who wants to can find the source fairly easily and the extra effort he spends may expose him to a bit of context - generally a good thing for me and a bad thing for you.

Here's the section you quoted:

This has not been easy or fun. This has been a sad realization for me that some people are so pathological that they cannot interact reasonably with others. That's why so many societies have jails (or death penalties). At some point, they've realized that the costs of interacting with pathological people is too high to be paid. We're reaching that point."

Let me help you understand what I was saying.

Oh good. More of your help. Just what I really need.

My intended implication was that we...

Dead giveaway.
- pathological liar
- megalomaniac
- person with tapeworm issues

Davis has a first person plural issue similar in magnitude to yours. Give ya an example:

http://ozreport.com/12.081
Weaklinks - the HGFA rules

Davis Straub - 2008/04/22 14:47:00 UTC

At the 2008 Forbes Flatlands Greenspot for the first time was used as the standard weaklink material (thanks in large part to the efforts of Bobby Bailey). We applaud these efforts to improve the safety of aerotowing by using a better weaklink material.

And meanwhile, back in reality...

http://ozreport.com/9.032
The Worlds - weaklinks

Davis Straub - 2005/02/07

The safety consideration that brought about the second task cancellation at the Worlds was the lack of true weaklinks that were in fact originally supposed to be supplied by the meet organization (as hang glider pilots would most likely bring strong links).

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

Jim Rooney - 2007/07/22 22:30:28 UTC

I've heard it a million times before from comp pilots insisting on towing with even doubled up weaklinks (some want no weaklink). I tell them the same thing I'm telling you... suck it up. You're not the only one on the line. I didn't ask to be a test pilot. I can live with your inconvenience.

ALL you power hungry, manipulative motherfuckers pull out "WE" at every opportunity to give the casual readers and dregs you wanna appeal to /prey on the illusion that you're duly appointed spokesmen for unanimous parties dealing with some single malignant individual dangerously out of step with everyone else.

And, conversely, whenever one of you first person plural motherfuckers feels like targeting Yours Truly...

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=884
The Bob Show

Bob Kuczewski - 2011/12/13 05:55:39 UTC

I've had to deal with your profanity, your attacks on other members, your strong weak link theories, your lift and tug theories, and your hopelessly long and repetitive posts.

...it's second person SINGULAR time. They're MY strong weak link and lift and tug theories. MY THEORIES that:

- The purpose of the weak link...

Tost Flugzeuggerätebau

Weak links protect your aircraft against overloading.

...is to protect your aircraft against overloading.

- We should be shooting for something a bit up from the middle of the range the FAA mandates for sailplanes and hang gliders.

- A weak link is most likely to break...

Donnell Hewett - 1980/12

Now I've heard the argument that "Weak links always break at the worst possible time, when the glider is climbing hard in a near stall situation."

...at the worst possible time, when the glider is climbing hard in a near stall situation.

- All risks in aerotowing pale in comparison to...

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.

...those presented by Rooney Links and Rooney caliber assholes doing to the gliders behind them what Sam did to Terry.

- A weak link configuration for aerotowing should be built around the glider instead of idiot fucking Bobby Bailey's idiot fucking tow mast breakaway.

- Malcolm Jones...

http://www.wallaby.com/aerotow_primer.php
Aerotow Primer for Experienced Pilots

Wallaby Ranch - 2013/12/20

If you fail to maintain the correct tow position (centered, with the wheels of the tug on the horizon), the weak link will break before you can get into too much trouble.

...is a lying sack of shit who's been in desperate need of permanent rating revocation for well over two decades.

...were reaching the point where the costs of continued interaction were too high to be paid.

1. What costs, Bob? What costs were you paying before you pulled my plug that you stopped paying in the hours, days, weeks, months that followed? I was the one paying the writing costs and bringing hit counts over there. Now I pay all the writing costs and bring hit counts pretty much exclusively over here.

2. Was there some kind of vote taken to reach the determination that "WE" were reaching the point where the costs of continued interaction were too high to be paid? I don't recall having received a ballot. Maybe you just distributed ballots to the people YOU determined were GENUINELY interested in making positive contributions to hang gliding.

3. I notice that that topic - which I started, same title as this one, ran less than an hour over nine days - is currently sitting on Page 3 of The Basement with 2454 hits credited to its 42 posts. That's a bit over 58.4 hits per post. Funny that people go that far out of their ways just to see me overrunning our forum after you started running your "experiment" on me.

4. "Interaction" is a pretty dignified term for the unrestricted sabotage you were exercising.

That just meant...

A bit curious that you're not saying "*I* just meant..."

...that we...

There it is again, Bob.

...needed to find a way to stop paying that price and NOT that we...

And again.

...needed to have you certified as a "dangerous subhuman and thrown in solitary for life or, preferably, lethally injected".

Although, hell, that line of action WOULD rather tidily deal with all the cost issues.

You may have felt that way due to your...

...irrational, paranoid, delusional...

...fear of persecution...

"Fear of" persecution doesn't quite hit the nail on the head, Bob. Persecution has been a major chunk of my existence for most of my life and will be the reality for every second of the rest of it.

...but that's not what I meant.

1. Two paragraphs prior you publicly called me a child molester. I know EXACTLY what you meant. Zack knew EXACTLY what you meant. And, took him a while, but...

miguel - 2012/05/11 15:03:36 UTC

Color me slow, but I finally figured out what is going on.

...miguel figured out the game you were playing.

2. How do you think your idiot Bob Show Buddies interpreted what you were saying?

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=929
Training Manual Comments / Contribution

Bill Cummings - 2012/01/13 21:44:54 UTC

I think it was a prudent move on Bob's part, and also from a legal perspective, that he put into type on this forum his intent to protect young readers.

As a parent and grandparent I would expect nothing less of a website moderator.

"Oh THANK YOU, Bob! Thank you for alerting all of us decent people and eliminating the menace to my children and grandchildren represented by Tad's ability to post here. And I just popped a full clip into the AR-15 I keep on my nightstand just to be on the safe side."

4. And here Bob makes a rare shift into first person singular mode 'cause he's logically forced to.

Furthermore, I know what I meant when I wrote that, and you don't.

1. Funny that none of the "we" crowd has previously straightened me out on this issue.

2. What do you think I mean when I write something like, "Jim Rooney's 2006/02/21 near fatal unhooked launch incident on a commercial tandem at Coronet Peak over Queenstown, was a very sad point in the sport's recent history."?

I assumed...

Oh! You "ASSUMED".

http://www.shga.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=4127
Failure to hook in

Robert Burgis - 2013/08/22 16:52:39 UTC

Yesterday I launched unhooked from the Kagel launch.

Gotta be real careful about some of the assumptions you make in this game, Bob. Could cost you your glider or sumpin' if you make the wrong one.

...everyone would understand it as a metaphor for finding a way to keep you from over-running our forum.

1. Did you ask members of "OUR" forum what their understanding of it was before they stampeded out to grab their pitchforks and torches?
2. Well, looks like you and your dregs found a really great way to keep me from overrunning "OUR" forum.

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=795
AL's Flight At Packsaddle 10-04-11

Terry Mason - 2011/12/01 19:55:00 UTC

Those of us who prefer to fly, will always wonder about the key board jocks, who frighten away new flyers with skitzoid horror stories of murder, and at the hands of friends who only wish to share the incomparable thrill of free flight. I'm reminded of Johnathan Livingston Seagull, striving against the ever present obstructionists. Thanks to Sam for limiting Our forum to FLYERS. See you soon Bob

Some people really need to be a lot more careful about what they wish for - especially when one of the hands of one of his brain dead "friends" is on the dump lever.

As I said before, you DON'T know what I meant because you're not me.

I'm the polar opposite of you. But studying, analyzing, discrediting, damaging to the greatest extent possible your ilk is my hobby and I'm DAMN good at it.

That's where I KNOW that you're wrong, and there's no debate.

There's never been any debate with you, Bob. Whenever your position starts crumbling you ignore questions, take statements out of context, and try to play your badly warn "unrepentant child molester" card.

You trying to tell me what I'm thinking is like trying to bluff me that you might be holding a full house ... while I'm holding all the aces!!

1. Lock Tad in The Basement for "about a month" as an experiment to measure the effect on non Tad Bob Show participation.

2. Lock Tad in The Basement for "about a month" as a punishment for an unspecified charge.

3. Ban Tad to make The Bob Show a safe place for people of varying ages to visit because he's an unrepentant child molester.

4. Imply that Tad would've been welcomed into The Bob show with open arms if only he were a repentant child molester as repentant child molesters are all good Christians and make sure that all the forums in which they participate are perfectly safe for people of varying ages to visit.

Really hand to beat a hand like that.

I just look at my hand and I know you're wrong. Period.

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=24846
Is this a joke ?

Jim Rooney - 2011/08/26 02:44:10 UTC

The "purpose" of a weaklink is to increase the safety of the towing operation. PERIOD.

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=30971
Zach Marzec

Jim Rooney - 2013/02/16 05:05:41 UTC

Here's a little bit of bitter reality that ya'll get to understand straight off. I won't be sugar coating it, sorry.
You see, I'm on the other end of that rope.
I want neither a dead pilot on my hands or one trying to kill me.
And yes. It is my call. PERIOD.

You can go on and on about how you're holding a full house, and you may fool some of the others at the table.

Fooling people isn't my specialty, Bob. If I ever decided to go into that field what chance would I ever stand...

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=16265
weaklinks

Kinsley Sykes - 2010/03/18 19:42:19 UTC

In the old threads there was a lot of info from a guy named Tad. Tad had a very strong opinion on weak link strength and it was a lot higher than most folks care for. I'd focus carefully on what folks who tow a lot have to say. Or Jim Rooney who is an excellent tug pilot. I tow with the "park provided" weak links. I think they are 130 pound Greenspot.

...against real pros like the folk who tow a lot? Or Jim Rooney - who is an excellent tug pilot?

But when I'm sitting there with all the aces, I'm the one person you can't fool. That's the best way I can explain how I see some of your recent claims about what you somehow "KNOW" that I'm thinking.

Zack C - 2011/12/17 14:56:03 UTC

You then reference this discussion publicly, forcing Tad to straighten the record publicly, and maintain your reference was vague enough that it was his choice to bring it up. You probably believe that, but...

Now if you've simply misinterpreted what I've said, I hope this message clears it up.

Oh. Thank you so very much! And now, in hindsight, I feel so stupid for having gotten the idea from a statement like this:

This has been a sad realization for me that some people are so pathological that they cannot interact reasonably with others. That's why so many societies have jails (or death penalties).

that such a staunch advocate of individual freedoms as yourself would be totally on board with imprisoning or executing someone for failing to interact reasonably with others. Refusing to cite the Pledge of Allegiance and Lord's Prayer at the beginning of every school day along with everyone else, Hiding Jews in the attic, whatever...

I doubt it will make any difference because you seem to be more interested in inflicting needless pain...

I only inflict pain where it's sorely needed.

...than in resolving actual issues...

You burned all those bridges but good a long time ago - not that there were ever any actual bridges to begin with.

...which is somewhat ironic because I suspect you've had your share of needless pain inflicted on you.

But - as sure as the sun rises in the East, or thereabouts - there's always gonna be asshole around to do his level best to keep inflicting more needless pain.

But rather than stop the cycle, you're bound and determined to perpetuate it.

Tell me what I did to merit a milligram of the VILE shit your scummy little buddy and Greblo product Orion Price pulled at:

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

...while you were giving him aid and comfort with your "unrepentant child molester" card? I hold YOU responsible for setting this BULLSHIT:

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

deleted:

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.

in motion.

That's your choice, not mine.

Yep. That's ONE choice that's still mine.

The Christmas offer still stands.

1. Fuck you. Sam Kellner's good enough for your little cult and I'm not? I repeat - Fuck you.

2. The ONLY reason you want a cease fire is because a bit over two years ago you triggered every nasty weapon you could get your hands on in an effort to annihilate me, nothing really made a dent, and now you're totally out of ammo while my supply is virtually unlimited. (Reminds me a bit of the Confederate artillery barrage immediately preceding Pickett's Charge.)

3. What possible benefit do you think I could derive by ceasing to lob stuff over your lines?

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=17404
Aerotow barrel release - straight or curved pin?

Bob Kuczewski - 2010/05/31 06:06:35 UTC

To be honest, that's hard for me to say for sure in this case. But the topic did come up when I was on the Board, and the first reaction by some "leaders" in USHPA was to call the USHPA lawyer to muzzle him with a nasty letter. As a Board member I argued against that approach because I felt that it would be better to open lines of communication rather than shut them with legal threats. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and some of the Directors who knew him were called in to help. As far as I know, things were resolved peacefully without further escalation.

My biggest point is that someone like Tad (and even myself) has a tremendous amount of energy because they believe in their cause. It's far better (and wiser) for USHPA to work with that energy and to channel it rather than to beat their head against it. In my experience, they tend to reach for their lawyer waaaay too soon, and that just creates hard feelings. The same thing happened when USHPA got upset with Davis for posting a link to the USHPA web site, and I'm sure there have been other examples as well.

I'm sorry, I really didn't want to derail this topic since I've never towed, and I don't know much about towing at all. But I think USHPA needs to figure out how to bring our resources (people) together rather than threatening them and tearing them apart.

I should've realized this about you at the time: You're not an iota better than any of the rest of those USHGA shits.

If you HAD been you'd have actually READ my AT SOPs and Guidelines and letter to the FAA, checked my math against the crap that Donnell Hewett, Dennis Pagen, USHGA, The Industry have spewed out and backed me to the hilt no matter how much of your cheap popularity it would've cost you.

Instead you cut loose with a load o' total crap about how you've never towed so you couldn't POSSIBLY understand any of the issues well enough to make any assessment of any of my points and therefore there'd OBVIOUSLY be no point in reading any of my material or talking to me yourself. Then you pass the buck to one of the biggest sleazebags the sport has ever known and go on and on with more total crap about me BELIEVING in *MY* CAUSE and channeling my energy.

You wanna be able to fly at your sites in compliance with and under protection of LAWS and REGULATIONS without having to fear some Gliderport dickhead on a tandem engaging you in a game of chicken and forcing you out of the lift band. I wanna be able to fly at my sites in compliance with and under protection of LAWS and REGULATIONS with a safe, legal, certified release and weak link system. I want EVERYONE to be able operate safely and legally at ALL sites, you want a bunch of brain dead Dragonfly drivers to have the FREEDOM to control our branch of the sport anyway they fuckin' feel like and exile and silence anybody who stands up to them.

And, correct me if I'm wrong, the number of people who been crashed as a result of the kind of bullshit your Gliderport guys are pulling is ZERO. I took a real good risk of being crashed by Industry Standard safety procedures and illegal Industry Standard safety equipment EVERY TIME I LAUNCHED. And the number of flying opportunities trashed and gliders crashed over the years is staggering.

And you will do NOTHING to help me and everything possible to undermine and sabotage me and my efforts because the only thing you're interested in and geared for is winning popularity contests. Do something to prove me wrong. I'll be over here not holding my breath.

[Tad Eareckson]

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

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

I first learned about Tad Eareckson when I was Regional Director and the USHPA Board circulated a letter he had written (with intention to send?) to the FAA about some dangerous practices in hang gliding.

The Board's knee-jerk response was to try to take some kind of legal action to silence Tad. I indicated that I thought we shouldn't be sending our lawyers in as our first response, and that maybe we should have someone talk with him first. So Dennis Pagen volunteered, and I believe the matter was settled without any serious damage to the sport.

...about some dangerous practices in hang gliding.

So there WERE some dangerous practices. Obviously no one questioned the legitimacy of my concerns or you'd have stated so.

Hell, even Jim Keen-Intellect Rooney is totally in line with that. He's got some precious little ideas that he think...

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=24846
Is this a joke ?

Jim Rooney - 2011/08/26 08:24:31 UTC

Is it clear what I mean by "We"?
I didn't make the system up.
And I'm not so arrogant to think that my precious little ideas are going to magically revolutionise the industry.
There are far smarter people than me working this out.
I know, I've worked with them.
(Bobby's a fucking genius when it comes to this shit... for example.)

...could revolutionize The Industry but defers to the people far smarter than him (Bobby Bailey - a fucking genius when it comes to this shit - for example). And...

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=31052
Poll on weaklinks

Jim Rooney - 2013/03/03 19:37:19 UTC

My response is short because I've been saying it for years... and yes, I'm a bit sick of it.
This is a very old horse and has been beaten to death time and time again... by a very vocal minority.

See, most people are happy with how we do things. This isn't an issue for them. They just come out and fly. Thing's aren't perfect, but that's life... and life ain't perfect. You do what you can with what you've got and you move on.

But then there's a crowd that "knows better". To them, we're all morons that can't see "the truth".
(Holy god, the names I've been called.)

I have little time for these people.

It saddens me to know that the rantings of the fanatic fringe mask the few people who are actually working on things.

...it really saddens him to know that the rantings of us vocal minority / fanatic fringe types are masking the efforts of the few people who are actually working (tirelessly, in utmost secrecy, year after year, decade after decade) on these (unidentified) critical issues.

The Board's knee-jerk response was to try to take some kind of legal action to silence Tad.

Always infinitely easier than addressing the actual dangerous practices which are The Industry's bread and butter.

And GOD FORBID that the FAA take even the quickest glance at the way we've been operating...

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Ek9_lFeSII/UZ4KuB0MUSI/AAAAAAAAGyU/eWfhGo4QeqY/s1024/GOPR5278.JPG
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3725/9665623251_612b921d70_o.png

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xh_NfnOcUns/UZ4Lm0HvXnI/AAAAAAAAGyk/0PlgrHfc__M/s1024/GOPR5279.JPG

...in all these years subsequent to the 1984/10/25 granting of Exemption 4144.

I indicated that I thought we shouldn't be sending our lawyers in as our first response, and that maybe we should have someone talk with him first.

- Oh. "OUR" lawyer. (Singular. There's just one of him.)

-- I pay the motherfucker's retainer fee just as much as anyone else does.

-- Ridgely (along with the rest of The Industry) is violating the crap out of existing USHGA and FAA safety regulations and endangering my life every time I pay them to pull me up and nobody on the Board is questioning that.

-- But he's not MY lawyer with the slightest concern about the illegal and admittedly dangerous practices severely compromising my safety - he's exclusively the lawyer of all the popularity contest winners who don't give flying fucks about dangerous practices.

- Yeah, MAYBE we Popularity Contest Winners Club members shouldn't be sending in OUR lawyer as a FIRST response. MAYBE we should have SOMEONE (not me, of course - 'cause I don't really give flying fucks about anyone who gets airborne on the back end of a rope and the dangerous practices...

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




...to which he's subjected) talk with him first - and patiently explain to him why nobody in the Popularity Contest Winners Club has never really given a rat's ass about dangerous practices in hang gliding and never will.

So Dennis Pagen volunteered, and I believe the matter was settled without any serious damage to the sport.

Just to the people...

http://www.theleakeystaronline.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/uncleTerry3.jpg

37-23223
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3713/9655904048_89cce6423a_o.png

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bRrpHNa68iY/UQ6Pv9gRZyI/AAAAAAAAjTg/Hc22bx5122Q/s2048/20943781_BG1.jpg


...participating in it. I wonder what it's like to have so little of any actual substance in one's character.

[Tad Eareckson]

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=822
US Hawks Hook-In Verification Poll

Tad Eareckson - 2011/11/04 10:41:49 UTC

Aviation regulations are not determined by popularity poll results 'cause Mother Nature has a really high quality veto pen and a virtually unlimited supply of red ink. Neither USHGA nor the FAA nor any other legitimate regulatory entity makes rules this way.

Bent pins are gonna win out over straight ones by landslides EVERY TIME.

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=822
US Hawks Hook-In Verification Poll

Bob Kuczewski - 2011/11/04 15:17:15 UTC

I'm sorry to burst your dictatorial bubble, but the FAA is governed by the people who we elect. The same is true of USHPA. The problem (in both cases) is that the connection between the electing and the regulating is not always clear. That's why USHPA won't tell us how our own elected Directors vote. That's also why it's so hard to get straight answers from so many politicians. The more space they can put between themselves and what they do to us (via regulations) the more garbage they can get away with.

You've had a platform here to make a pretty good case, and I think I'd prefer a straight pin myself. However, I do feel that the BIG DEAL you make about the differences is somewhat overblown. So I wouldn't fear using a bent pin release, but based on what you've said about your testing results, I think I'd currently choose a straight pin given the choice.

Lemme tell ya sumpin', motherfucker...

The United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, Inc. - 2008/03
Standard Operating Procedure
12. Rating System
02. Pilot Proficiency System
10. Hang Gliding Aerotow Ratings
-B. Aero Vehicle Requirements

02. The towed vehicle (un-powered ultralight) must meet or exceed the Hang Glider Manufacturers Association's Airworthiness Standards.

06. A release must be placed at the hang glider end of the tow line within easy reach of the pilot. This release shall be operational with zero tow line force up to twice the rated breaking strength of the weak link.

Before I started making a stink about the fact that...

What will keep the US Hawks from becoming another USHPA or HGAA?

You will ... hopefully. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. Everyone has to do their part once in a while. If you see something that's not being done correctly, then it's your duty to speak out.

...the US aerotow industry was violating the crap out of USHGA regulations those were regulations that had been in place since at least 1985/07 when they were published in the magazine.

Those regulations were the product of the democratically installed USHGA organization and, regardless of any transparency issues, went into and stayed in effect for decades without a single whisper of protest or complaint from ANYBODY.

Those regulations were the standards USHGA agreed to abide by in order to be allowed the privilege of aerotowing by the FAA which is governed by the people whom WE ELECT. And, again, quote me a single whisper of protest or complaint from ANYBODY who had ANY problem with that arrangement.

By NO reasonable interpretation of those universally popular regulations can Bobby Fucking-Genius Bailey's bent pin piece of shit...

http://www.chgpa.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3107
I have a tandem rating!!!

Lauren Tjaden - 2008/03/23 22:20:15 UTC

When Jim got me locked out to the right, I couldn't keep the pitch of the glider with one hand for more than a second (the pressure was a zillion pounds, more or less), but the F'ing release slid around when I tried to hit it. The barrel release wouldn't work because we had too much pressure on it.

Anyhow, the tandem can indeed perform big wingovers, as I demonstrated when I finally got separated from the tug.

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=16384
Tow Release Malfunction

Jim Rooney - 2010/03/26 20:54:43 UTC

Bent pin releases are indeed very very reliable. But 100%? Nope. It's exceptionally rare, but they jam. All mechanical things do.

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=21033
barrels release without any tension except weight of rope..

Bart Weghorst - 2011/02/25 19:06:26 UTC

I've had it once where the pin had bent inside the barrel from excessive tow force. My weaklink was still intact. The tug pilot's weaklink broke so I had the rope. I had to use two hands to get the pin out of the barrel.

No stress because I was high.

...be considered in any way compliant with THE LAW. They're required to handle twice weak link and idiot fucking Lauren demonstrated that they can't even handle half the "PRESSURE" of her illegally light tandem weak link.

And four hundred pounds towline is what idiot fucking Russell Brown...

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=24846
Is this a joke ?

Davis Straub - 2011/08/28 15:26:28 UTC

Then again, Russell Brown had us double up behind him after six breaks in a row at Zapata. We couldn't figure out why we had so many breaks so quickly. Maybe just coincidence.

...found that he needed to be able to get solo gliders airborne in light morning conditions. And that's considerably less than the 520 pounds towline you get with one of Russell's wrapped and tied single loop of 130 pound Greenspot.

And tell me that when you're attempting to pry that part of your control system open with one hand while you're fighting a lockout with the other that you're flying a glider which meets or exceed the Hang Glider Manufacturers Association's Airworthiness Standards.

I don't know what the fuck you're doing pretending to set up a democratically structured USHGA 2 when you're perfectly willing to piss all over regulations you've never made the slightest effort to change because YOU don't THINK they're a BIG DEAL.

Yeah, you can make the argument you're OK 'cause, after I acted upon my duty to speak out when I saw something that wasn't being done correctly...

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

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

I first learned about Tad Eareckson when I was Regional Director and the USHPA Board circulated a letter he had written (with intention to send?) to the FAA about some dangerous practices in hang gliding.

...and you and your USHGA buddies told me to go fuck myself, the "Requirements" were dumbed down and became "Guidelines" and were then gutted completely five days after the Zack Marzec freak accident about three weeks shy of a year ago... But I'd argue that that was done illegally and it's a pretty good bet that if a bent pin were found folded in half inside of one of those stupid fat barrels on the shoulder of a dead Senator's daughter that you'd be finding a lot of people voicing that same opinion.

You're not OK, Bob. You won't use a straight pin release for the same reason you won't do hook-in checks - virtually no one uses straight pin releases and does hook-in checks and you're primary goal in this sport - and life - is to be as popular as possible and win as many popularity contests as possible.

I'd have your fuckin' rating revoked and the heads of all the assholes who signed you off on stuff on pikes.

[Tad Eareckson]

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=15047
Thank You SG!.

Bob Kuczewski - 2010/01/01 06:08:31 UTC
San Diego

Finally!! A topic where everyone agrees with me!!!

You've done a great thing here SG!!

http://torreyhawks.org/r3/ENDNOFR.HTM
Endorsements

Jack Axaopoulos

It's time to take action, and vote for a direction that takes us towards a harmonious bi-wingal club at Torrey Pines, similar to what we have at Crestline/Marshall.

It's time to end the anti-HG bias at Torrey Pines, the bait and switch to PG, the HG trash talking, and the antagonism and bullying from the owner Dave Jebb. Too many HG pilots no longer fly Torrey because of negative anti-HG vibe there.

Its time to end the stone walling and back door dealing at Torrey Pines, and the banning of flying members WITH NO DOCUMENTED REASON and no recourse.

Its time to vote for Bob, and help him put in place a fair third party system that has no bias and doesn't discriminate against a class of wing due to financial motives.

Take Torrey Pines back for Hang Gliding and Paragliding (yes, I even know PG's that wont fly there because of all the drama), now! VOTE!

If pilots lose this opportunity to open Torrey Pines back up to hang gliding, and not just H4's, then they will deserve what they get. P0's fly there every day, but no H0's. Only a few H4's do. FAIR???? Help end the rating discrimination too. Torrey could be the lifeblood to new HG pilots if teaching was fair there. Stop complaining, and DO something about it, VOTE TODAY.

http://www.hanggliding.org/wiki/HG_ORG_Mission_Statement

HangGliding.Org Rules and Policies

No posts or links about Bob K, Scott C Wise, Tad Eareckson and related people, or their material. ALL SUCH POSTS WILL BE IMMEDIATELY DELETED. These people are poison to this sport and are permanently banned from this site in every possible way imaginable.

So what happened, Bob? How did you go from being the best of buddies with Jack between whenever the hell it was that he made that endorsement to poison to the sport sometime shortly after 2010/07/30? Who underwent a radical transformation over that period? Him? You? Both?

I knew the guy was a dick upon my first interaction with him in mid 2009 on his show. You managed to keep me off balance a little while - 'cause keeping people off balance and getting them to like you are your specialties - but it didn't take all that many weeks for me to get your number.

In my experience in this sport you tend not to see shifts like that unless one or more of the parties is lying.

And when the objective is competent aviation and two or more parties capable of doing the math are engaging each other...

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=30971
Zach Marzec

Zack C - 2013/02/17 13:33:05 UTC

I'm here to promote reform.

...you're not gonna see any significant shifts.

[Tad Eareckson]

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

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

For a long time, I tried to show him kindness on our forum and I gave him a lot of slack with regard to his profanity and his comments that he wished certain people would crash and kill themselves.

Mike Blankenhorn - 2013/03/12 03:57:34 UTC

Suicide is highly under rated, Tad should try it, but no wait he's lost his balls!

Mike Blankenhorn - 2013/03/12 16:07:44 UTC

We should bury this thread and not give Tad the satisfaction that we are actually wasting our time acknowledging his existence. Yes, this needed to be brought into the light but now we should bury this asshole with some nice cold dirt (metaphorically) and never speak of him again.

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

Tad really has no testicles. He says he had one surgically removed. However we all know they took both out.

Quote Tad about our this thread here on SHGA:
"tell Rob McKenzie he can go fuck himself"

Surely that is a quotation of a man with no balls. Imagine living most of your life with no testicles.

Orion Price - 2013/03/13 06:40:59 UTC

Imagine walking around with a flat sack. Talking all castrato. A eunuch who wanted to be put out to stud, instead writes weird letters to the FAA. It's no way to be.

Mike Blankenhorn - 2013/03/13 16:55:55 UTC

Pure poetry!!!

Orion Price - 2013/03/14 02:30:05 UTC

Some times, in life, you get left with the short end of the stick. And sometimes, in Tad Earecson's case, holding an empty sack. Literally. The man has no testicles.

Orion Price - 2013/03/14 04:00:48 UTC

Good news everybody! Tad saved 100% of his athletic supporter costs by switching to eunuch.

Bob Kuczewski - 2014/01/07 03:25:29 UTC

The Christmas offer still stands.

Fuck you, your double standards and tactics, and the scum to whom you appeal.

[Tad Eareckson]

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=1511
Static Tow (ST)

Bill Cummings - 2014/02/19 02:49:36 UTC

US Hawks Training Manual Project. (DRAFT)

Who do you have over there who's gonna review and approve it?

- Bob? He doesn't give a flying fuck about towing - or much of anything else that doesn't involve him getting total control over everything he can.

- Sam?

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


http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1081
Platform towing /risk mitigation / accident

Sam Kellner - 2012/07/03 02:25:58 UTC

No, you don't get an accident report.

Yeah, right.

Static Tow (ST) foot launching.

Oh good. Two items to help make towing as dangerous as possible already. Do proceed.

The first thing to do is to read everything you can get your hands on.

Dr. Lionel D. Hewett's Skyting newsletter series.
The excellent book, Towing Aloft, by Dennis Pagen and Bill Bryden.
HANG GLIDING FOR BEGINNER PILOTS, by Peter Cheney, published by Matt Taber, the Official Flight Training Manual of the USHGA.
Dr. Trisa Tilletti's Higher Education magazine series on aerotowing.
Wallaby Ranch's Aerotow Primer for Experienced Pilots
Jim Keen-Intellect Rooney's posts on the Jack and Davis Shows which assure us weekend warriors that:
- he and his buddies know what they're doing
- have:
-- a proven system that works
-- an extremely long track record
- if there were better procedures and equipment options everyone would be using them already

The second thing is to reread everything you can get your hands on.

Sure. The Bible contradicts itself half a dozen times a page and people read and quote the crap out of that ad nauseam. You should be able to rot your brain out just as effectively and quickly assimilating all the shit in the published literature on hang glider towing religion.

Third thing is hook up with a USHPA instructor.

Yeah...

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=27393
Pro towing: 1 barrel release + weak link or 2 barrel release

Juan Saa - 2012/10/18 01:19:49 UTC
Boca Raton

The normal braking force in pounds for a weak link is around 180, at least that is the regular weak link line used at most aerotow operations. By adding a second weak link to your bridal you are cutting the load on each link by half, meaning that the weak link will not break at the intended 180 pounds but it will need about 360.
If that is what you use and is what your instructor approved then I have no business on interfering, i dont know if you are using the same weak link material but there shoul be only ONE weak link on a tow bridle for it to be effective in breaking before higher loads are put into you and the glider should the glider gets to an attitude or off track so much that the safety fuse of the link is needed to break you free from the tug.
I made the same mistake on putting two weak links thinking that I was adding protection to my setup and I was corrected by two instructors on separate occacions at Quest Air and at the Florida RIdge.

Why settle for anything other than the best?

http://www.ushpa.aero/

USHGA... Where pilot safety...

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=27736
Increase in our USHpA dues

Mark G. Forbes - 2012/12/20 06:21:33 UTC

We're re-working the accident reporting system, but again it's a matter of getting the reports submitted and having a volunteer willing to do the detail work necessary to get them posted. There are also numerous legal issues associated with accident reports, which we're still wrestling with. It's a trade-off between informing our members so they can avoid those kinds of accidents in the future, and exposing ourselves to even more lawsuits by giving plaintiff's attorneys more ammunition to shoot at us.

Imagine a report that concludes, "If we'd had a procedure "x" in place, then it would have probably prevented this accident. And we're going to put that procedure in place at the next BOD meeting." Good info, and what we want to be able to convey. But what comes out at trial is, "Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, my client suffered injury because USHPA knew or should have known that a safety procedure was not in place, and was therefore negligent and at fault." We're constantly walking this line between full disclosure and handing out nooses at the hangmen's convention.

...is valued head and shoulders above all other considerations.

The author started hang gliding towing in January of 1978. This was before the USHGA developed a towing manual.

It's 2014 now, Bill, and it's STILL before USHGA developed a towing manual. Your best bet is to go with glider manufacturer recommendations and learn to always use an appropriate weak link with a finished length of 1.5 inches or less.

Back in those days of towing a pilot used a stainless steel control frame.
As the towing sport evolved...

The towing sport NEVER evolved. At the beginning of the Eighties there was one radical shift from putting the lower attachment on the bottom of the control from to the pilot which was accompanied by a whole pile of shit that moved damn near all other aspects of towing backwards. And it keeps getting more astoundingly stupid with each passing year. The only times the decline slows a bit are when people prominent and well liked get killed.

...towing went from attaching the tow bridle to the stainless steel control frame (Base tube and down tubes juncture) to using a Center of Mass, Skyting Tow Bridle.

There's no such thing as a center of mass bridle.

The Skyting Bridle attached about 18" ahead of the heart bolt...

You don't hear a whole lot about heart bolts - or Skyting Bridles - nowadays, Bill.

on the keel tube and the other part of the Skyting Bridle attached to the pilots body...

People who fly Skyting Bridles aren't pilots. Pilots understand that the Skyting Bridle doesn't accomplish anything worth mentioning that a one to one bridle pulling forward or a one point bridle pulling downish doesn't.

...near the waist area passing underneath the base tube. The bridle was designed to apply one third of the tow force to the glider at the keel and the remaining two thirds tow force applied to the pilot. This tow force split was also referred to as a 2 to 1 or (2/1) bridle.

And that was supposed to make the glider autocorrecting for roll and lockout proof up to the point at which the bridle contacted a nose wire. But Donnell that was and is clueless regarding basic physics and thus that was and is total bullshit.

Later on pilots tried a 1/1 tow bridle.

Pilots at about the same time and completely independent of Donnell tried the Brooks Bridle system which was a one point connection to the suspension a bit above the pilot and a basetube mounted release actuator that blew away the crap Donnell was putting in the air.

This will also get you into the air.

No shit.

The tow ratios look different so you can safely assume that the tow up will be different.

Really? Let's use 150 pounds of forward pulling towline tension to make the math easy and the effects maximized.

- A two to one bridle routes a 100 pound forward vector to the pilot which is transmitted through the harness and its suspension to the hang point on the keel and a 50 pound forward vector directly to the keel at or a bit fore of the hang point.

- A one to one bridle routes a 75 pound forward vector to the pilot which is transmitted through the harness and its suspension to the hang point on the keel and a 75 pound forward vector directly to the keel at or a bit fore of the hang point.

- 25 pounds difference to the two points. Big fuckin' deal. Are you sure that it's safe to assume that the pilot's gonna notice a difference? And the higher the tow angle the less relevant those differences become.

Towing from the control frame when compared to towing with the newer Skyting Bridle made controlling the glider comparable to steering a large truck with a blown power steering pump or controlling a car with power steering. The center of mass method made towing about four times easer.

And it also made it pretty much totally impossible for the pilot to release in any emergency situation - particularly one involving a lockout, which wasn't supposed to be possible using a Skyting system - because Donnell:
- rationalized that:
-- pilot input had no bearing on the situation
-- the popping of a chintzy piece of fishing line would:
--- make it impossible for the glider to get dangerously out of whack come hell or high water
--- never have any consequences more serious than a bit of inconvenience
- couldn't ever be bothered to do the engineering required to produce a safe release system

And while it did make flying the glider up on tow about four times easier all the crap that went with the package made towing about eight times more dangerous. And the result was that it encouraged a lot of bozos to get into the air with no fuckin' clue as to what they were doing and a false sense of security resulting from the control authority they had when everything was going right. And that's the situation we're still stuck with now - over a third of a century later - and I think it's a pretty safe bet that the crash rate went way up.

There's an analogy to paragliding here. Very easy to learn enough to go high altitude and soaring and land in tight spaces quickly without necessarily having a solid foundation in airmanship.

For different reasons (And some not being very good.) pilots decided to alter towing bridles for reasons of parasitic drag, aesthetics, different towing methods like aero towing (AT), platform launching (PL), and static towing (ST).

1. Yeah Bill. PILOTS DECIDED to INNOVATE equipment - without having to get permission from any parasitic little pieces of shit like Jim Keen-Intellect Rooney.

2. What the fuck do you mean ALTER towing bridles? As if the Hewett Bridle was some sacred standard and the Brooks Bridle was either an ill conceived fatality waiting to happen or never existed at all?

3. One of the safest and most effective bridle systems to ever come out of remote launch surface towing was the Koch two stage which:
- isn't a bridle - but instead a single point release attachment similar to a Schweizer sailplane release
- was almost certainly out by no later than 1984
- is still in very widespread use today in its original form or with minor insignificant variations

4. And let's not even bother mentioning the most effective remote surface launch system in the most widespread us on the planet - the Koch two stage which allows the pilot to keep the basetube from being contacted at all stages of tow and blow tow in an emergency more effectively and safely than anything else that requires a hand to come off the basetube.

Scooter tow training, also ST towing, has moved to towing in some areas of the world by attaching the combination tow/release bridle to the pilot over the base tube and in some...

Most.

...cases both over and under the base tube.

And let's not go into any more depth on that issue.

Some have even hooked to the pilot only and under the base tube. This is not a good idea.

Yeah. There's slightly more force interfering with the basetube than there is with a Hewett Bridle routed under the basetube and a third of the tension diverted directly to the keel.

(More on this later.)
With each modification of a tow bridle for different methods of towing a new tow pilot must realize that we always have to stay within an operational envelope.

But don't worry about staying within an operational envelope with a Hewett Bridle 'cause Donnell's got himself an NAA Safety Award from USHGA.

Basically we understand that we should not fly too slow or too fast so that we are able to maintain good control.

This guy looks like he has pretty good control:

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


and he's going up like a fuckin' rocket without his weak link very clearly providing protection from excessive angles of attack, high bank turns, and the like for that form of towing.

How we hook a pilot and glider to a towline can alter which end of the operational envelope we will find ourselves.

So can:

- using a Hewett Link to very clearly providing protection from excessive angles of attack, high bank turns, and the like for any form of towing

- taking a hand off the basetube to blow tow when the Hewett Link doesn't very clearly provide protection from excessive angles of attack, high bank turns, and the like for any form of towing

For example, hooking directly to a single point release on the harness of the pilot after having passed the towline underneath the base tube of the control frame is the best method for platform launching. However if a pilot chose to run off the launch from the ground and not use the platform launch that would be choosing the worst attachment method for static towing alone or also incorporating a pay out winch/reel.

Anybody who CHOOSES to run off the launch from the ground and not use a platform or dolly launch option deserves whatever happens to him.

I will attempt to explain why but if it isn't self evident to a beginning pilot at this point this will be one of many examples why you shouldn't attempt to teach yourself how to tow launch.

Nah. Always go to a top notch operation like Cloud 9 or Quest with a highly qualified and experienced instructor like Dr. Trisa Tilletti or Lauren Eminently-Qualified-Tandem-Pilot Tjaden.

Having a knowledgeable instructor is of the utmost importance.

Yeah. Otherwise you could end up in a situation like:

http://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5529/14422573378_5385a9a99a_o.png

http://ozreport.com/pub/images/Jrs_2010.jpg



http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7353/11414310093_ddeecbcbfa_o.png

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8576/16673571861_3962427127_o.png

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Ek9_lFeSII/UZ4KuB0MUSI/AAAAAAAAGyU/eWfhGo4QeqY/s1024/GOPR5278.JPG
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3725/9665623251_612b921d70_o.png

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xh_NfnOcUns/UZ4Lm0HvXnI/AAAAAAAAGyk/0PlgrHfc__M/s1024/GOPR5279.JPG
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8143/7462005802_bbc0ac66ac_o.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bRrpHNa68iY/UQ6Pv9gRZyI/AAAAAAAAjTg/Hc22bx5122Q/s2048/20943781_BG1.jpg

Most of us were taught that running across the street without looking both ways could really mess up our day.

So we should always check that there's nothing coming within several minutes of running across the street - just like we always check that we're connected to our gliders within several minutes of running off launch ramps.

Having been taught that lesson and the ramifications of disregarding it we were more readily convinced that running with scissors or while looking through a hand held telescope was something also to avoid.

Like we're readily convinced that checking that we're connected to our gliders within several seconds of running off launch ramps gives us a false sense of security.

Not having a climb restricting "V" bridle, 2/1 Skyting bridle, or 1/1 bridle while Static Towing (ST) puts the pilot at the mercy of the tow operator and the wind.

While HAVING a climb restricting "V" bridle, 2/1 Skyting bridle, or 1/1 bridle while Static Towing (ST) ensures that the pilot is NEVER at the mercy of the tow operator and the wind. We know this because tow operators always tell us that we'll never be at the mercy of the tow operator and the wind with the fine equipment and instruction they've sold us.

Tow pilots refer to a term, "Being locked out over the top." as a situation where the pilot can not shift their weight far enough forward to stop a climb while under tow. This can happen very easily if there is too much tow line tension or there is a steep wind gradient near the ground. Towing into a thermal can add to this lock out over the top.

Is there anything bad that can happen if...

Donnell Hewett - 1980/12

Now I've heard the argument that "Weak links always break at the worst possible time, when the glider is climbing hard in a near stall situation."

...the focal point of our safe towing system kicks in to increase the safety of the towing operation in the course of one of these?

Being locked out over the top also increases your odds of progressing into a lock out to the left or right.

Why? This guy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMsIkAOeJ0I


...is being forced into a vertical climb by a combination of a defective split towline extension and a clueless lead footed driver. And he's showing no signs of going off to the side. He's perfectly safe until...

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.

...he experiences a rope break.

With a slow climb rate the "sweet spot," down wind of the tow vehicle, is quite wide.

And the ground is quite close for quite a long time.

The glider is able to move to the left or right of the tow vehicle much farther without getting locked out left or right. The more tension or the faster the climb the narrower the "sweet spot," becomes.

There are rather narrow sweet spots for ANY fixed wing aircraft takeoff and landing.

I'll add this left and right lock out example here then get back to the over the top lock out information.

Why bother worrying about over the top lockouts and possible problems generating from them?

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=30971
Zach Marzec

Bill Cummings - 2013/02/28 06:11:37 UTC

My weaklinks would not allow me to climb that fast and develop into a stall like that.

Just use a weak link that limits you to a safe climb rate and pitch attitude.

For example if you have a slight cross wind from the left on your tow road and you hold your flight directly over the road this will be holding a position that has you closer to a lock out to the left.

Hard to imagine anybody being stupid enough to do something like that.

http://www.kitestrings.org/post2627.html#p2627
http://www.kitestrings.org/post12.html#p12

You may be doing just fine but if the wind is greater as you get higher and your tow vehicle (static) doesn't slow down to maintain the same line tension the sweet spot will narrow. You will also be climbing faster due to having more line tension.

Not if you're doing the job right and using a payout winch.

The tow vehicle not slowing down to compensate for the greater wind speed at altitude can be the cause or your lock out to the left even though you are still holding position directly over the tow road.

EVEN THOUGH holding position directly over the tow road? You can:

- develop lung cancer DESPITE being a chain smoker?

- find yourself dangling from the basetube DESPITE religiously reassuring yourself you're hooked in with a hang check at the back of the ramp before every flight?

- whipstall back into the runway DESPITE always flying with a fresh Rooney Link at or off the bottom of the legal range?

- kill yourself:

-- in a lockout DESPITE having your release actuator within easy reach?

-- trying to land in a switchy narrow dry riverbed with large rocks strewn all over the place despite practicing whipstalling your glider to a dead stop in the primary putting green at the end of every flight of your career?

In this situation a beginning tow pilot might think to themselves...

If he has a multiple personality issue or is Bob or Davis speaking on behalf of everyone.

...that they are locking out to the left now but I was still over the tow road and I didn't do anything to cause this!

Darwin Effect.

You didn't do anything is correct. But -- when the headwind increased as you gained altitude that increased the line tension.

Not if you're doing the job right and using a payout winch.

You didn't get the nose down to reduce the line tension. Your sweet spot narrowed. Even worse than that would have you using a tow bridle that would impede your effort to get to get the nose down.

What?

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=22233
Looking for pro-tow release

Zack C - 2011/06/16 03:14:35 UTC

I've never aerotowed pilot-only, but it is my understanding that this configuration pulls the pilot forward significantly, limiting the amount he can pull in further.

Davis Straub - 2011/06/16 05:11:44 UTC

Incorrect understanding.

This is an incorrect understanding - for His Assholiness Davis Straub hath declared it to be so.

Choosing from different bridles or attachment points can determine whether your pitch control is good, bad, or inadequate.

So you'd say that Zack Marzec's pro toad bridle allowed him crap pitch control and he was thus unable to hold the nose down and that proved to be a critical issue with respect to the ensuing whipstall, tailslide, tumble, and impact?

- So maybe his death really WASN'T all that much of a fucking mystery?

- So what would you say about these Aerotow Industry shits like Dennis Pagen, Davis Straub, Steve Wendt, Paulen Tjaden, Dr. Trisa Tilletti, Wills Wing who continue to facilitate, teach, encourage one point aerotowing?

Going back to the over the top lock out now if you have a bridle that allows you to lower the nose to slow the climb rate you will have just widened your sweet spot. The sweet spot is the area left and right and downwind of your tow vehicle that you can safely operate in.

1. How 'bout if you're static towing and your vehicle is a Dragonfly?
2. Is there a sweet range for tow tension and:
- does it vary with the mass and lift to drag ratio of the glider
- is there any possible downside to having the high end limited by a one-size-fits-all loop of fishing line?

If however you are low to the ground and have too much line tension and are being towed under the control bar and the tow line is attached to the pilot only --
Well now, just the thought of this will send shivers up and down the spine of any instructor that knows what he is doing.

Name some:
- tow instructors who know what the fuck they're doing
- aerotow instructors who've taken public positions against pro toad bridles

If this primer was news to anyone then take my word for it -- hook up with a tow instructor and don't try towing a hang glider on your own.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFAPpz6I6WU

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WtDFymXlPU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydNnkwHqqp0

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIHfVnuNX0Y

Oh, and don't forget to look both ways!

And, of course...

Lauren Tjaden - 2003/12/14

This fall at Ridgely, I had a weak link break at maybe fifty feet. I thought I was going to have to land in the soybeans - the very tall soybeans - when I looked at my angle. But, my glider stalled quite dramatically almost instantly (hard not to stall when you have a break), and dove towards the ground (a bit disconcerting from so low).

...down. It's always good to know what you'll be crashing into when the focal point of your safe towing system increases the safety of the towing operation by always breaking at the worst possible time, when the glider is climbing hard in a near stall situation.

Bob Kuczewski - 2014/02/21 19:43:39 UTC

Bill Cummings - 2014/02/19 02:49:36 UTC

The first thing to do is to read everything you can get your hands on.
The second thing is to reread everything you can get your hands on.
Third thing is hook up with a USHPA instructor.
http://www.ushpa.aero/

Good advice Bill!!

I hope to someday have US Hawks instructors, but right now, your comment about getting with a USHPA instructor is still one of the best things a new pilot can do.

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=802
AL's Second flight at Packsaddle how it went

Bob Kuczewski - 2011/10/23 16:29:29 UTC

As for Nobody's request for me to read a document, I haven't found the time yet. I'm sorry, but I don't have time to read everything that everyone asks me to read. I would eventually like to form committees with expertise in each area, and I've asked you (Tad) to be a part of that, but I think you get more enjoyment as a keyboard warrior than in actually sitting down to accomplish positive goals.

Bill Cummings - 2011/10/26 11:06:32 UTC

Very fine effort Tad.

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=929
Training Manual Comments / Contribution

Bill Cummings - 2012/01/10 14:04:59 UTC

Tad's procedures for aerotowing should become part of any training manual.

Warren Narron - 2011/11/21 16:55:32 UTC

Going against the grain here, but someone has to point out that the probable best candidate to write a training manual has been banned from this site.

Bob Kuczewski - 2012/01/07 17:59:55 UTC

Tad has been asked repeatedly to help with building the US Hawks and he's pretty much refused to participate.

Fuck you, Bob.

- It's pretty goddam obvious that what you quoted and spangled with your usual pile of obnoxious smilies is all you bothered to read of Bill's post 'cause you never had nor never will have the slightest interest in towing, safety, or making any effort to do things right.

- What is it you're endorsing for people who DO want to become competent in towing to read? There's been absolutely nothing that's come out of mainstream hang gliding on towing since the Seventies that isn't total crap.

I hope to someday have US Hawks instructors...

Who's gonna appoint and qualify them? Lemme guess...

...but right now, your comment about getting with a USHPA instructor is still one of the best things a new pilot can do.

And slashing his wrists is one of the other best things a new pilot can do. Don't insult our intelligence with the pretense that you know or care a rat's ass any more about any new pilots than you did and do about any old pilots...

http://www.theleakeystaronline.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/uncleTerry3.jpg



Even the poor clueless bastards who were on the same page with douchebags like you and your buddy Sam.

[Tad Eareckson]

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=463
Davis Straub's "Oz Report" Conflict of Interest

Bob Kuczewski - 2011/02/23 04:01:36 UTC

I don't believe we should be building a "nanny state" where one group imposes their view of what is safe for everyone else.

1. Right Bob. You're totally in favor of some asshole with a Hang One from Lookout being able to launch a topless at Torrey and establish his own right of way rules as circumstances suit him moment by moment.

2. Name one other person in hang gliding...

http://torreyhawks.org/r3/ENDNOFR.HTM
Endorsements

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.

...who's with you on this position.

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=298
FAA Compliance

Bob Kuczewski - 2011/02/01 20:26:25 UTC

In the short term, I suspect that our "ratings" will simply honor the ratings of other recognized organizations (USHPA, FAI, etc). That would make it easier to get insurance - since we are meeting the same standards as others who are already covered by insurance. Over time, we may be able to issue our own independent ratings.

Bob Kuczewski - 2012/03/09 07:49:08 UTC

I've been thinking we would honor all USHPA hang gliding ratings and award equivalent ratings to our members. I suppose that also implies that any pilot meeting those same standards (even if they haven't gotten an actual USHPA rating) should qualify for a US Hawks rating. After all, we want to award ratings based on demonstrated skills rather than on payment history at USHPA. The only rub comes from the certification process. What level of assurance do we want to establish that a pilot has indeed met the requirements for their rating?

Gee Bob, sounds to me a lot like you actually DO believe in a "nanny state" where one group - like people who've racked up some airtime and demonstrated various competencies and skills - imposes its view of what is safe for everyone else.

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=929
Training Manual Comments / Contribution

Bob Kuczewski - 2012/01/07 17:59:55 UTC

The only Training Manual that Tad can build is the one where he has 100% control.

1. Coming from a paranoid control freak running a hang gliding forum which he represents as a Utopia of democratic ideals and free speech which has, in fact, been a total dictatorship for over three and a half years now in which free speech which doesn't meet with Bob's approval is heavily restricted and banned.

2. Name some training manuals that WEREN'T the result of one person having one hundred percent control. (And no, the excellent book, Towing Aloft, by Dennis Pagen and Bill Bryden, was very obviously...

Towing Aloft - 1998/01

I witnessed a tug pilot descend low over trees. His towline hit the trees and caught. His weak link broke but the bridle whipped around the towline and held it fast. The pilot was saved by the fact that the towline broke!

...NOT coauthored by Bill Bryden.)

3. Lemme tell ya sumpin', Bob...

- Anybody who would want to follow a training manual that WASN'T put out by a single individual with one hundred percent control, one that was put out by a goddam committee of assholes...

I'm looking for people who can work together to build an on-line training manual for hang gliding. Yes, that does require a certain amount of agreeability and willingness to compromise.

...with certain amounts of agreeability and willingness to compromise, is a total fucking moron who deserves whatever the hell happens to him.

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=929
Training Manual Comments / Contribution

Warren Narron - 2012/01/06 18:55:32 UTC

Going against the grain here, but someone has to point out that the probable best candidate to write a training manual has been banned from this site.

Somebody suitable for writing a training manual understands that people will live and die because of what he says and he's gonna bust his ass to get every punctuation mark right. And he'll be accepting of the possibility that he may not have everything right and challenges to that effect so that he can put out advisories and correct and refine things and tighten them up.

Any motherfucker who would compromise his document to make some douchebag like you, Sam, Rick Masters, Rob McKenzie, Joe Greblo happy deserves to have his balls cut off and shoved down his throat before being stood up against a wall. Times three for some piece of shit who would suggest such a despicable course of action.

I could forgive someone who was doing his best but got something wrong or made an honest mistake that resulted in my getting slammed in. If I were to get slammed in because some agreeable son of bitch made a compromise on an issue I'd want him boiled in oil.

And you're an aeronautical engineer? Gawd I hope they don't allow you to design anything more mission critical than floating seat cushions. You totally disgust me.

[Tad Eareckson]

Davis Straub's "Oz Report" Conflict of Interest
http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=463

Bob Kuczewski - 2011/02/23 18:22:16 UTC

Tad,
I believe you're a brilliant fellow, and I'm happy to have you on this forum. Thanks for taking the time to post. I mean that very sincerely.

I seriously doubt if you've ever meant anything sincerely in your entire parasitic existence.

But we may have some fundamental disagreements.

We do - thank gawd.

There's nothing wrong with that...

Not from where I'm standing, fer sure.

...and I actually think it's great because it allows us to challenge each other and helps us hone our arguments.

And when your arguments buckle and collapse... Plan B.

But it does bring up the question of whether or not our goals are sufficiently aligned for us to actually work toward any shared results.

So despite the fact that I'm a brilliant fellow...

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=929
Training Manual Comments / Contribution

Bob Kuczewski - 2012/01/07 17:59:55 UTC

I'm looking for people who can work together to build an on-line training manual for hang gliding. Yes, that does require a certain amount of agreeability and willingness to compromise.

...you're not really willing to compromise.

For example, I really believe that the US Hawks should be an organization that invites a full range of perspectives.

Except, of obviously, with respect to individuals who may be dangers to people of varying ages.

Those that stand up to the tests of time will bubble to the top...

Right...
- hang check
- Aussie Method
- Five Cs
- Standard Aerotow Weak Link
- bent pin barrel release
- brake lever velcroed to downtube
- whatever Jim Keen-Intellect Rooney is saying at the moment

...and those that are garbage will be exposed.

http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=27736
Increase in our USHpA dues

Mark G. Forbes - 2012/12/20 06:21:33 UTC

We're re-working the accident reporting system, but again it's a matter of getting the reports submitted and having a volunteer willing to do the detail work necessary to get them posted. There are also numerous legal issues associated with accident reports, which we're still wrestling with. It's a trade-off between informing our members so they can avoid those kinds of accidents in the future, and exposing ourselves to even more lawsuits by giving plaintiff's attorneys more ammunition to shoot at us.

Imagine a report that concludes, "If we'd had a procedure "x" in place, then it would have probably prevented this accident. And we're going to put that procedure in place at the next BOD meeting." Good info, and what we want to be able to convey. But what comes out at trial is, "Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, my client suffered injury because USHPA knew or should have known that a safety procedure was not in place, and was therefore negligent and at fault." We're constantly walking this line between full disclosure and handing out nooses at the hangmen's convention.

That's how I believe we can best interface the human mind (which is prone to all sorts of self-deceptions) with the underlying physics of the universe (including Newton's laws).

Fuck your beliefs, Bob. Cite me a shred of evidence of their validity.

It's the scientific method applied to aviation by anyone with the intelligence and discipline to do so.

I know what happens to intelligence and discipline in this sport...

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=818
Peter (Link Knife) Birren

Bob Kuczewski - 2011/11/18 23:11:35 UTC

Tad Eareckson wrote:

Blah blah blah blah blah

Sorry, I'm not wasting my time to respond.

...pigfucker.

I very much value experts...

I don't. There's not a goddam thing in this sport of any practical value worth knowing that can't be thoroughly understood by a halfway intelligent junior high school kid. And I totally despise assholes who very much value "experts".

...and I tend to highly endorse their advice.

Fuck you. I don't endorse ANYBODY's goddam ADVICE. I explain the theory so's my students don't NEED anybody's goddam ADVICE - including mine. Anybody who needs or relies on anybody's advice has got no fuckin' business flying anything. Ditto for assholes who endorse advice.

But when we turn experts (who give advice) into kings (who mandate laws) we end up with USHPA.

You mean like THIS?:

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=929
Training Manual Comments / Contribution

Bob Kuczewski - 2012/01/06 06:18:49 UTC

Hi Bill and Terry,

I've limited that forum to just the people who want to sincerely work on building a good training manual so we don't get derailed.

You're the fucking EXPERT on who wants to sincerely work on building a good training manual so you MANDATE who is and isn't permitted to participate in the discussion? Sounds a lot like...

Dr. Trisa Tilletti - 2012/06

This article was peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the USHPA Towing Committee.

...USHGA.

We've already got USHPA.

A couple of them. Infestations of them when you go international.

If you want USHPA-like control...

No, I want BobShow-like control. I want a frothing-at-the-mouth Tea Partier with his fingers eternally - and nobody else's - on all the buttons.

...then you should work within USHPA to get it or start another organization and declare yourself king. I might even join it ... if the price is right.

You're not EVER joining anything in which I've got veto power, Bob.

But with US Hawks, I'm trying to do something different.

You and you alone. Compare/Contrast with Kite Strings which is stated to be a dictatorship but where Tad's just second-in-command, a couple other people have his password, people are all on the same page with Sir Isaac, and enemy combatants are welcome if they're honest - and at least get their statements posted and addressed even/especially if they're not.

I'm trying to build an organization where we use our wisdom (both individual and collective)...

1. Assuming you have any.
2. Oh good. Collective wisdom. Just what the sport needs more of.

...to sift through the many options...

It's AVIATION, asshole. The principles were all nailed down near the beginning of the previous century. There's ONE best option for pretty much anything you wanna name.

...and continually choose the best path.

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


Not off to much of a start, are ya - dickhead?

That might be the "Tad Release" today and the "Rooney Improved Release" tomorrow.

Yeah, the "Rooney IMPROVED Release"...

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=30971
Zach Marzec

Jim Rooney - 2013/02/12 18:00:27 UTC

I just buried my friend and you want me to have a nice little discussion about pure speculation about his accident so that some dude that's got a pet project wants to push his theories?

Deltaman loves his mouth release.
BFD

I get tired as hell "refuting" all these mouth release and "strong link" arguments. Dig through the forums if you want that. I've been doing it for years but unfortunately the peddlers are religious in their beliefs so they find justification any way they can to "prove" their stuff. This is known as "Confirmation Bias"... seeking data to support your theory... it's back-asswards. Guess what? The shit doesn't work. If it did, we'd be using it everywhere. But it doesn't stand the test of reality.

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=31052
Poll on weaklinks

Jim Rooney - 2013/03/03 19:37:19 UTC

See, most people are happy with how we do things. This isn't an issue for them. They just come out and fly. Thing's aren't perfect, but that's life... and life ain't perfect. You do what you can with what you've got and you move on.

It saddens me to know that the rantings of the fanatic fringe mask the few people who are actually working on things. The fanaticism makes it extremely hard to have a conversation about these things as they always degrade into arguments. So I save the actual conversations for when I'm talking with people in person.

A fun saying that I picked up... Some people listen with the intent of understanding. Others with the intent of responding.
I like that.

For fun... if you're not seeing what I mean... try having a conversation here about wheels.

You're right that physics hasn't changed, but our creativity and ability to use new ideas and materials is always evolving.

OUR creativity? What the fuck have you ever done with your goddam aeronautical engineering degree to address a single solitary issue in this sport? Name one glider to which you've given an extra tenth of a point of glide ratio or one knee you've prevented from getting scraped. One of your guys gets killed by another one of your guys and we don't even get the slightest HINT...

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1081
Platform towing /risk mitigation / accident

Sam Kellner - 2012/07/03 02:25:58 UTC

No, you don't get an accident report.

...of an "accident" report. Instead, we get a LICENSE PLATE...

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=917
Lilienthal Award



...that SOMEBODY ELSE stamped out.

We need an organization that can make room for that evolution and embrace it.

Didn't think you Tea Partiers believed in evolution - or were particularly happy about having it taught in public schools.

That's why I started the HGAA, and that's why I started the US Hawks.

Yeah, right. If only USHGA would have the sense to follow your lead.