The Bob Show

[Tad Eareckson]

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=41619
Goodbye Bob K?

Mark G. Forbes - 2015/03/30 17:44:40 UTC

I've said it up at the start of this thread, and I'll say it once again; we're in the middle of an administrative process, defined in our bylaws and SOPs, and I'm not going to get into a debate with BobK or anybody else on the merits of his arguments. He needs to make those arguments in the form we've requested, at the time and place for his hearing. I'm going to make my decision on my objective evaluation of the evidence presented for and against his expulsion at that time.

BobK will no doubt post a long diatribe picking this apart...and that's fine. MY advice to Bob is to invoke "The First Rule Of Holes" (as my wife calls it).

Stop Digging.

Bob Kuczewski - 2015/03/30 18:30:16 UTC

OK, Mark's reply above makes it official that Rich Hass and Mark Forbes are dodging and avoiding the topic. Is there any remaining doubt?

There's no need to "pick apart" Mark's post (as he claims I'll do) because he hasn't said anything. Rich Hass and Mark Forbes won't have a public discussion that includes members opinions because they don't care about members' opinions (ever wonder why USHPA doesn't have a pilot's forum?). I've written (and posted) numerous requests for a list of the USHPA Bylaws or SOP's that I'm accused of breaking, but neither Rich Hass nor Martin Palmaz nor anyone from USHPA will provide that. A right to know the charges is "Due Process 101". So this hearing certainly isn't about justice.

This hearing is about a few "USHPA insiders" who have hijacked the sport of hang gliding to serve their needs. They will rig the system to serve that purpose, and they'll use the might of your membership dollars to spend on lawyers to crush - and I mean crush - anyone who stands up to them.

This "hearing" will be one person (myself) who is not even allowed to have representation (like a lawyer) against twenty or thirty USHPA Board members who will certainly be aided by their lawyer (Tim Herr) ... at our expense.

But the most disgusting part of this is that they're conducting this kangaroo court in the name of every member of USHPA. They're doing it in the name of Alan and Andrew Vanis and Bill C. and Bille and Brianscharp and Darkcloud and Davis and Dhmartens and Jacmac and Jim G. and Joe Faust and Jonathan and Rich Harmon and Ridgerodent and Sam Kellner and Scott Mac Leod and Speck and Steve C. and Steve Forslund and Swift and every single pilot who's forced to be a member of USHPA's monopoly. They're doing it in your name, but they won't discuss it in your presence with your input.

We need a better choice.

Swift - 2015/03/30 19:28:31 UTC

Expelling Bob at great expense is not solving waiver problem

And it's not going to make him or the problem go away.
Stop digging the hole, Mark.

Mark G. Forbes - 2015/03/30 17:44:40 UTC

I've said it up at the start of this thread, and I'll say it once again; we're in the middle of an administrative process, defined in our bylaws and SOPs, and I'm not going to get into a debate with BobK or anybody else on the merits of his arguments. He needs to make those arguments in the form we've requested, at the time and place for his hearing. I'm going to make my decision on my objective evaluation of the evidence presented for and against his expulsion at that time.

Yeah... right. I'll give odds against the lawyer led BOD ever voting against expulsion. Any takers?

Mark G. Forbes - 2015/03/26 05:27

BobK spins a tale, but his actions have the potential to cause some huge increases in OUR insurance rates if his testimony results in our waiver being overturned in a California court. That's really what has pushed the board to act...

Mark G. Forbes - 2011/09/29 02:26:23 UTC

We can establish rules which we think will improve pilot safety, but our attorney is right. USHPA is not in the business of keeping pilots "safe" and it can't be. Stepping into that morass is a recipe for extinction of our association. I wish it were not so, but it is. We don't sell equipment, we don't offer instruction, and we don't assure pilots that they'll be safe. Even so, we get sued periodically by people who say we "shoulda, coulda, woulda" done something that would have averted their accident.

It's not just concern for meet directors and policy makers...it's about our continued existence as an association. It's about minimizing the chance of our getting sued out of existence. We're one lawsuit away from that, all the time, and we think hard about it. I would LOVE to not have to think that way, but every time a legal threat arises, it reminds me that we have a very dysfunctional legal system in this country (note: not a "justice" system...there's little justice involved) and we have to recognize that reality and deal with it.

Bob Kuczewski - 2015/03/30 19:40:34 UTC

Re: Expelling Bob at great expense is not solving waiver problem

Good collection of quotes Swift. You've certainly been paying attention.

With regard to Mark's implications about lawsuits, the current lawsuit is between a woman who was injured during instruction and Air California Adventure who was providing that instruction. So USHPA isn't involved in any way except possibly through use of the same insurance company.

Now if USHPA was really concerned about lawsuits that might jeopardize their insurance, then they should have been providing oversight of Air California Adventures actions. USHPA is 1/7th of the Torrey Pines Soaring Council, and USHPA certifies all of the instructors operating at Torrey Pines.

So rather than expelling me for simply testifying about what I know, USHPA should have been expelling the instructors and owners who have actually and materially threatened the insurance program through their real actions that have really injured real people.

Swift - 2015/03/30 19:58:57 UTC

The quotes were recovered by another pilot that has also been expelled from hang gliding.
He does the research and I follow his commentary closely.
His name is Tad and the language is coarse.
Warning. Rated R.

http://www.kitestrings.org/post7610.html#p7610

Bob Kuczewski - 2015/03/30 20:25:18 UTC

If you read Tad's posts you'll know that he's certainly no fan of mine, and I've had some concerns with him as well. But he is meticulous in his documentation, and I appreciate that he's been willing to speak up for fairness in this matter - even though we're not able to see eye to eye on other issues.

Thanks for your posting. Please feel free to call me any time at 858-204-7499.

Bob Kuczewski - 2015/03/30 20:41:53 UTC

Mark Forbes and the EC control USHPA's lawyer (Tim Herr) and they use USHPA's lawyer (Tim Herr) to intimidate the Board and the members. I saw it up close when I was a USHPA Director and it's at the heart of USHPA's dysfunction.

P.S. I have a series of email messages by Luis Felipe Amunategui, Lisa Tate, and Richard Hass from 2009 that demonstrate this same tactic against Tad Eareckson. Guess which Director stood up for Tad? Rather than jumping on the bandwagon to bring in USHPA's lawyer (Tim Herr) to "make it unpleasant and expensive for [Tad]", I wrote this to the Board:

I think it would be wise for USHPA to ask Mr. Eareckson what it is specifically that he is seeking. I don't think trying to silence him with an injunction is a good start.

USHPA never learns from its mistakes.

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

Bob Kuczewski - 2011/02/12 06:56:36 UTC

Without naming names (I'm curious to see if they'll own up to it first), on May 10, 2009, one Director wrote:

We need to consider getting an injunction against this guy communicating with the FAA on this subject.

That same day, another Director responded:

I forwarded the letter to Tim Herr yesterday asking about this.

For those who don't know, Tim Herr is ... USHPA's lawyer!!

A third Director (who I'll call "Mr. X") chimed in that same day with this:

Perhaps a strongly worded letter from Tim will do the trick. We can't force Tad to work within the USHPA framework but we can make it unpleasant and expensive for him if he chooses to makes derogatory and false statements about USHPA to the FAA he can't back up.

If I understand the previous comments, his sending USHPA a draft letter is an indication of willingness to engage in some dialogue before going to the FAA.

Good luck with this guy!

That's an example of USHPA's typical tactics: Call up the lawyer, then Attack, Attack, Attack. I responded to this last message by focussing on the only positive quote I could find in there:

[Mr. X] wrote:

"his sending USHPA a draft letter is an indication of willingness to engage in some dialogue before going to the FAA."

I agree with that sentiment, and I think it would be wise for USHPA to ask Mr. Eareckson what it is specifically that he is seeking. I don't think trying to silence him with an injunction is a good start.

Also, I have almost no background in towing, so I've asked a close friend to review his concerns for my own enlightenment. If anyone else on the Board with towing expertise would like to offer comments on Mr. Eareckson's points for similar enlightenment that would be appreciated by us gravity launch pilots.

Thanks,
Bob Kuczewski

That all took place before my May 11th "vote" on the matter (which I posted earlier - 4th post on this page).

Eventually, some of the cooler heads among the Directors began suggesting that someone discuss this with Tad (pretty much as I had suggested). Unfortunately, none of those "cooler heads" were members of the Executive Committee (EC). In fact, if this discussion hadn't been circulated to all the Directors, there's a good chance that the EC would have taken legal action via their lawyer as they did with me (the infamous Rich Hass "Gag Letter"). That's yet another reason why later in that year (2009) I insisted that the EC should allow all Directors to attend their monthly teleconference calls. That would open up these issues to more Directors with more viewpoints. The EC didn't like that, and they refused to allow me to attend - despite repeated written requests and a telephone stand-off with Paul Montville (I'm glad that guy's gone). Eventually Dave Wills urged the Board to pass SOP changes that now allow them to exclude anyone they want ... including other DIrectors!! My legal advisor (lawyer) seemed to think it was illegal for them to exclude Directors (including me) without those SOP changes, and it may still be illegal for them to exclude any Directors even with those new SOP changes. This is because the Directors are effectively operating for the owners of the corporation (us members) and they should have a right to inspect every aspect of the corporation on our behalf. But rather than opening itself up to more member scrutiny, USHPA has done just the opposite. They even passed an SOP forbidding the recording of their meetings!! Unbelievable.

Aside from the details of this particular incident, it was interesting for me to see how the Board "circled the wagons" and how several Directors immediately began suggesting that USHPA should spend our member's money on lawyers to attack Tad. I'm sure that's how the conversations went behind my back when they prepared their Fall 2009 ambush for me. They even flew their lawyer (Tim Herr) all the way to Austin Texas for that fiasco. But that's another story...

Without naming names (I'm curious to see if they'll own up to it first)...

That was well over four years ago. Your curiosity satisfied yet?

I have a series of email messages by Luis Felipe Amunategui, Lisa Tate, and Richard Hass from 2009 that demonstrate this same tactic against Tad Eareckson.

POST THEM. And include all of your correspondence. You owe me that much ten thousand times over. Eh, fuck me - you owe that to the pupblic historical record of hang gliding. Hang gliding needs to know its heroes and its cowardly lying backstabbing criminal thugs. Post them yourself or send them to me and I'll post them.

(My six thousandth Kite Strings post.)

[Tad Eareckson]

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

Warren Narron - 2011/02/09 03:13:46 UTC

Journalistic Conflict of Interest?

By a secret consensus vote of one, Davis Straub, ends another discussion on tow bridle safety in the "Oz Report" forum.

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

Journalist? Davis Straub, fails to address a personal financial conflict of interest he may have in that discussion.

Straub sells a particular style of tow release different than that being discussed when the discussion was abruptly censored.

This, of course, is not the first time the 'journalist' has personally censored tow bridle/release mechanism discussions.

Pilot, Tad Earickson, who has contributed many hours of research and development re: tow release bridles was previously censored and then banned by (journalist/entrepreneur) Davis Straub, also on the "Oz Report" forum.

Various other pilots have also been censored for reasons known only to (journalist) Davis Straub, in the past.

The interest of safety should be the number one priority for all pilots and these discussions should not be limited to the lowest common denominator of one self-interest entrepreneur that fails to disclose his personal conflicts of interest in these matters.

Davis Straub can't have it both ways.

Is Davis Straub really a journalist or is he merely a (self-interest) blogger whose personal income may be more important than the safety of other hang glider pilots?

Are Davis Straub's personal tow release sales the 'end of the line' for those of us that may want more information before placing our lives, literally, on the line?

It is said that the truth will set you free.
Will your tow bridle do the same?

Who gets to decide?
Davis Straub?

Bob Kuczewski - 2011/02/09 03:49:25 UTC

Great points Warren!!!

I'm also glad you mentioned Tad Earickson. I recall that he's been censored on a couple of forums. Could you let him know about the US Hawks ... the new group of "Banned Brothers"?

Thanks!!!

Warren Narron - 2011/02/09 05:08:30 UTC

I wish I could but I believe I'm censored more places than anyone else here!
Someone else will have to make a personal invitation.. and we could start an "invite" thread or two over here.
There are a lot of creative minds being suppressed on both those commercial hang gliding sites because tyrants and bullies can't stand to be shown up by any creative thinking.

Suppressing minds and ideas seems to be the path to personal gain and stardom these days.

Bob Kuczewski - 2011/02/11 16:13:44 UTC

I think I have an email address for him, so I've sent him an invitation to join us here on the US Hawks.

I remember when I was Regional Director there was a big dust up about Tad back in May of 2009, and some of the Directors were calling for legal action to censor him. On May 11, 2009, I sent the following message to the Board. I believe in open dialog, so I started by pointing out that Tad had included his email address in his letter (so we could contact him). I then offered my support for Dennis who suggested that we try to talk with Tad before taking legal action. Here's my message to the Board:

Sent: Monday, May 11, 2009 12:40 AM
To: Pagen, Dennis; Tate, Lisa
Cc: USHPA Regional Directors
Subject: Re: aerotow SOP complaint

Hello Dennis (cc Gregg and other Regional Directors),

First, I think Mr. Eareckson's email address was in Gregg's original letter included below if anyone needs it (TadErcksn@...).

Second, I cast my vote for having Dennis write a letter to Mr. Eareckson as he suggested. Mr. Eareckson is obviously intelligent and passionate, and we can certainly use those qualities if we can harness them in a positive direction. If Dennis can do this, then that's the win-win solution. Another invitation to attend (or even present) at the next Towing Committee meeting might also be a good idea. I vote for inclusivity over litigation.

Third, I'm not an expert in towing, but I consulted someone who knows the topic pretty well. His comment was that while it might be good for USHPA to make recommendations in this area, there is still plenty of room for innovation. For that reason, he doesn't think USHPA should mandate any kind of obligatory system that would stifle that innovation - whether Mr. Eareckson's or any other. I have very little background in towing, so I'm just passing this perspective on for your general consideration.

Thanks,
Bob Kuczewski

Of course, there was a lot more to this exchange than I've posted. For example, Brad Hall didn't miss an opportunity to snipe at me as he often did in front of the Board. I've got all the email messages from that exchange and I may post them when I find the time. It's interesting (and enlightening) to look back at the past ... with the knowledge of what's happened since then.

Joe Faust - 2011/02/11 20:47:41 UTC

Spelling name and documents of
Tad Eareckson
http://www.energykitesystems.net/Lift/hgh/TadEareckson/index.html

Warren Narron - 2011/02/12 05:35:40 UTC

I remember when I was Regional Director there was a big dust up about Tad back in May of 2009, and some of the Directors were calling for legal action to censor him.

Simply amazing... even I am a little bit stunned at this. Legal action on what grounds?

Of course, there was a lot more to this exchange than I've posted. For example, Brad Hall didn't miss an opportunity to snipe at me as he often did in front of the Board. I've got all the email messages from that exchange and I may post them when I find the time. It's interesting (and enlightening) to look back at the past ... with the knowledge of what's happened since then.

Please do post them.
Tad may not even know that the borg was looking for some way to sanction him.

I hope Tad does join in the discussion here. I'm not very impressed that the two commercial blog sites (Oz and Org) plus the corporate USHPA borg have all censored information from reaching people that would like to make up their own minds on the matter.

Bob Kuczewski - 2011/02/11 16:13:44 UTC

I then offered my support for Dennis who suggested that we try to talk with Tad before taking legal action.

So your support was for having Dennis Pagen - a lying u$hPa / commercial industry tool who recently voted in favor of your expulsion - to try to talk me into toeing the pin bender party line and then take legal action when I wouldn't agree to start sucking the right dicks. Real heroic stand ya took there, Bob.

Bob Kuczewski - 2009/05/11 00:40

Mr. Eareckson is obviously intelligent and passionate, and we can certainly use those qualities if we can harness them in a positive direction.

Yeah, if only WE - the All Knowing Gods of Hang Glider Aerotowing - can manage to persuade Tad to renounce his foolish adherence to the Laws of Newtonian Physics and acknowledge that bent pins, easy reaches, power failures on launch, whipstalls are GOOD things.

If Dennis can do this, then that's the win-win solution.

And if he can't... What the fuck - win-lose solution. We go ahead and silence him, end his flying career, tear his balls off. No fuckin' brainer.

Another invitation to attend (or even present) at the next Towing Committee meeting might also be a good idea.

Oh good. I could attend (or EVEN present) at the next Towing Committee meeting! I could see what great bunch a guys Felipe Amunategui, Steve Kroop, Paul and Ryan Voight, Bruce Weaver, Matt Taber, Dave Glover, Tracy Tillman, Lisa Colletti REALLY are. And that would really help me in getting my energy harnessed in a positive direction!

I vote for inclusivity over litigation.

But when inclusivity fails... Fer sure. Let's fuck him over as viciously as we can manage. Gotta send a real message to anybody thinking of communicating with a law enforcement agency about the lethal and flagrantly illegal shit we're doing.

Third, I'm not an expert in towing...

1. Yeah, we know, Bob. Bob I'm-Not-An-Expert-In-Towing Kuczewski. Fuckin' middle name.

2. I'm not an EXPERT in towing... but I'm pretty damn good! Wanna see me run some Navier-Stokes equations to illustrate just how benign stalls are?

...but I consulted someone who knows the topic pretty well.

1. Someone I'm very conspicuously not naming. But take my word for it, people of varying ages, he or she knows this topic pretty goddam well! Very intelligent and passionate AND "WE" have his energy harnessed in a positive direction!

2. I'm not an expert in towing but I'm good enough to know who knows the topic pretty well - obviously better than Tad knows it. I mean, if TAD really knew the topic pretty well then why would I have been consulting with this person instead of Tad? Like... Duh.

His comment...

Oh. It's a he. That eliminates fifty percent of the people I had in mind.

...was that while it might be good for USHPA to make recommendations in this area, there is still plenty of room for innovation.

1. Yeah, it MIGHT be good for u$hPa to MANDATE releases that can handle twice weak link in its SOPs and terms of its FAA exemption then RECOMMEND that people ACTUALLY USE releases that can handle half, two thirds weak link or so in actual practice. But let's not allow ourselves to be bullied around by no fuckin' faggot nanny staters!

2. Think there's still plenty of room for innovation!

022-04610
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2809/13746340634_a74b33d285_o.png

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

27-44400
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8625/16019976468_1f060f370c_o.png

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8737/16790136379_c1c17b2f86_o.png


After DECADES of a totally corrupt monopolistic industry which spends ninety percent of its energy and resources shielding itself from accountability and crushing any technology which makes the chintzy bent pin crap it produces look like the chintzy bent pin crap it is? And there's STILL *PLENTY* of room for innovation? Really hard for me to believe. A wee TINY bit of room for innovation... Well, yeah, possibly. But PLENTY? Get real, dude.

3. And there's nuthin' that kills innovation like ENGINEERING STANDARDS! GODDAM those things piss me off! Where would our space program be if we needed to DESIGN and TEST everything to make sure it WORKS before strapping people into capsules!

For that reason, he doesn't think USHPA should mandate any kind of obligatory system that would stifle that innovation - whether Mr. Eareckson's or any other.

And I know I've said this a hundred times before but WHAT THE FUCK DOES THAT TOTAL BULLSHIT HAVE TO DO WITH *ANYTHING* I'VE EVER EVEN *SAID* IN MY LIFE - LET ALONE ANYTHING IN MY SOPS REVISIONS, CORRESPONDENCE WITH u$hPa OR THE FAA?

I have very little background in towing...

Really Bob? Three sentences ago you just told us you weren't an EXPERT in towing so I was ASSUMING that meant you had at least a few hundred pulls in each of the various flavors - aero, platform, winch, static, step - but now you're telling us you have very little background in it? So how many hundreds of pulls would you say you had overall?

...so I'm just passing this perspective on for your general consideration.

1. This PERSPECTIVE from this anonymous total fucking douchebag who hasn't read a word of my stuff you - with your ZERO experience and interest in any form of towing - ASSUMED had his shit together thirty times better than I did without, of course, even ever bothering to exchange two sentences with me.

2. Yeah, you're really good at passing stuff on, Bob. The BUCK - in particular.

Bob Kuczewski - 2011/02/11 16:13:44 UTC

Of course, there was a lot more to this exchange than I've posted.

Really? Maybe something of ACTUAL SUBSTANCE somewhere?

I've got all the email messages from that exchange and I may post them when I find the time.

Now that you've had your hang and para gliding careers pretty much ended ya think ya might be able to find the time? And please include the correspondence and name of the stupid lying twat you used as your consultant on towing issues and all my misguided efforts in the field.

Warren Narron - 2011/02/12 05:35:40 UTC

I hope Tad does join in the discussion here.

He will - but not for very long. 'Cause when you get right down to it there's not all that much fundamental difference between Bob and Jack, Davis, Peter, Rooney, u$hPa.

I'm not very impressed that the two commercial blog sites (Oz and Org) plus the corporate USHPA borg have all censored information from reaching people that would like to make up their own minds on the matter.

Well yeah, but ya gotta prioritize the safety of people of varying ages. So ya really can't have unrepentant child molesters free to post stuff about hang gliding on hang gliding forums.

I SO deserved what I got from you, Bob. It was all just another load of sleazy bullshit from well practiced snake oil salesman but I just saw what I wanted to see and you wanted me to see - hope. And it was SO OBVIOUS in just that second post of yours in that one thread. Hook, line, and sinker. Pretty expensive educational experience but a lesson well learned at least.

[Tad Eareckson]

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=41619
Goodbye Bob K?

Bob Kuczewski - 2015/03/25 01:53:23 UTC

Just to make it official, I want to publicly thank Davis for allowing me to post in this one topic in my own defense. I have promised Davis that I would NOT post anywhere else in his forum, so if you don't see me responding to your favorite topic, it's not that I don't care ... but that I am honoring my commitment to Davis.

Bob Kuczewski - 2015/03/26 19:58:09 UTC

Hello Davis,

Let me again thank you for allowing me to defend myself in this forum. The fact that you allow discussion of this topic and the "other" major HG forum does not is a considerable credit to you.

Bob Kuczewski - 2015/03/28 22:58:14 UTC

Since Davis was kind enough to allow me to present my case here, I owe it to him to get started.

Thanks, and thanks again to Davis for this forum.

Bob Kuczewski - 2015/04/19 07:36:22 UTC

Hello Davis,

Thanks again for allowing me to post in this topic. It's become the number 1 location on the web for this discussion and related topics. Good for you, good for me, and good for hang gliding.

Bob Kuczewski - 2015/04/19 16:16:00 UTC

I appreciate that Davis has allowed the discussion to continue, and I ask that Ben be removed from the topic for again engaging in personal attacks. Personal attacks are attacks targeted at the person and not at the arguments. I think it's clear that Ben has crossed that line many times.

Bob Kuczewski - 2015/04/23 16:30:16 UTC

Let's not wear out the kind welcome Davis has given us and continue the discussion at:
http://ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1787

WAY too much ass kissing, Bob. The only reason Davis ever does ANYTHING is 'cause he thinks it will benefit Davis.

And ya wanna talk about removing people for engaging in personal attacks? Pretty much everything you've ever done in our relationship on The Bob Show and here at Kite Strings has been nothing but personal attacks.

- Your locking me down and banning me were personal attacks because the personal attacks you were launching on the forum weren't working because you were consistently getting your balls ripped off in the arguments.

- And I banned you from Kite Strings because all you were interested in and had to offer were incessant personal attacks.

Ya wanna thank somebody who actually deserves it? Thank ME for:

- unbanning you and giving you the same unrestricted access to Kite Strings as any other regular member

- posting every punctuation mark of everything you've ever had to say to me and fully responding

- aggressively defending you against every illegitimate attack on you despite all of your illegitimate personal attacks on me

Fuck Davis. Did you bother to notice how much nothing he was doing while his pet total douchebags like Bille Floyd, Ben Reese, Scott MacLeod, Graeme Henderson, Steve Forslund were dumping all that lunatic crap on you? I thought he was supposed to be a MODERATOR.

Davis banned me in pretty much the same manner he banned you. In the unimaginable set of circumstances that would result in him plugging my wire back in the only thing I'd have to say to him and all his pet total douchebags would be that they could suck my dick.

I don't know what you accomplished over there - other than to...

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

Merlin - 2012/05/26 13:22:30 UTC

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

...give Davis a big boost in visibility (637 posts on that topic, up to 31841 hits at the moment) and thus the sport of hang gliding a big setback.

[Tad Eareckson]

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1802
Jean Lake

Neil Larson - 2015/05/26 16:45:17 UTC
NW Florida

Flying in tandem with instructor John "Kelly" Harrison, Arys was being pulled behind a modified pickup truck.
Excuse me but when was it thought to be proper HG training to truck tow novice UN-experienced first time Hang Glider students into the air behind a truck over solid hard rock ground?
Excuse me but am I missing the part that states , the HG Rated Instructor was completely INSANE ...and ...should have NEVER been allowed to risk the life of a child while being towed behind a truck,,,, ?
Has the USHPA executive Body completely lost their collective minds , to condone such obviously risky and potentially murderous behavior by their Hang Rated Instructors????

C'mon Bob, give this guy some:



for speaking up against those steenking u$hPa serial baby killers towing innocent little people of varying ages into the air behind modified pickup trucks and Quicksilvers...

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7509/15659143120_a9aae8f7bd_o.jpg


...over solid hard rock...

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8737/16790136379_c1c17b2f86_o.png


...ground.

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


http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=625
Little Hawk at Wallaby Ranch

Bob Kuczewski - 2011/03/26 03:12:46 UTC

I did have fun ( ), and I didn't lock out ( ).

It was a great experience. I flew tandem with Malcolm (expecting to be a "passenger") ... but he made me do most of the flying!!

I was a little nervous at first, but I figured he knew what he was doing ... and he did. He gave me a good briefing and then we were off (literally). It was about 8:30 in the morning and the air was smooth. I followed his instructions to keep the tug on the horizon, and everything went very smoothly. I should add that Kenny and Megret had also given me a briefing that helped me know what to expect. Thanks Ken and Megret!!

After we pinned off, Malcolm requested a few manuevers (like 360's and linked 180's). The tandem was heavy, but I did pretty well pushing it around. It was amazing to me (as a foot launch pilot) how quickly - and easily - we could make a flight. I think he got tired of hearing me say "this is really really cool" ... but it was really really cool.

Malcolm took over for the landing because he wanted to get us down close to the tugs for a quick turn around. It was a busy day, so I was happy with that. The landing was smooth and on the wheels.

Regarding the bent/straight pin issue, I didn't even check. As I said before, a small sample (like a single flight) is very unlikely to uncover any statistical differences between those choices. It may take thousands of flights for a difference to show up (if there is one), so I was fine just going with their standard procedures. Now if I start making many many flights, then those statistics will begin to matter and I'll be asking questions as I progress. But overall, I was very happy with the flight and the park and the staff. I hope I can get my aero tow rating there in the coming weeks or months. It's about a two hour drive, and it was well worth it.

Thanks Malcolm!!

Look at what they're doing', Bob:

http://www.wallaby.com/discovery.php
Hang Gliding Orlando Florida - Learn to Fly - Wallaby Ranch Flight Park

Wallaby Ranch - 2015/05/27

Tandem Discovery Flights are for practically everyone. People from 4 to 90 years old, and from 35 to 240 lbs have experienced flying in its purest form at Wallaby Ranch. It is the safest place to fly!

Four year old / 35 pound hang gliding "students". Makes your blood just BOIL...

Bob Kuczewski - 2011/03/27 04:34:08 UTC

WOW Wallaby!!!

It was fantastic!!!

Here are a few pictures from Friday ...



Ryan taught a great landing clinic, and DxD was doing interviews. The place was a beehive of activity with pilots and gliders everywhere. I met some very cool people and continued to work on building the US Hawks!!

My stay in Florida is looking .... up!

...don't it?

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=639
Soaring Forecast

Bob Kuczewski - 2011/04/17 04:44:03 UTC

Hi Sam,

Rome wasn't built in a day. It will take some time to gather more and more resources together for your club and your area. Just keep working at it, and you might end up with a "Wallaby Ranch" in Leakey Texas someday.

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

By the way, Wallaby (Florida) was really fantastic. It's an inspiration to see what's been done there, and I doubt that it happened over night.

One step at a time Sam. One step at a time.

You scream nonstop bloody fucking murder about THIS:

113-220710
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8700/17205433495_ea31ccab99_o.png


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7626/16582991104_894af44666_o.png
065-165122

and help get the guy's career destroyed. But with a fatality like:

27-44400
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8625/16019976468_1f060f370c_o.png


waiting to happen - again - you have no problem whatsoever.

Go ahead, send your darling little person of a varying hook-in weight - thirty percent of the min hook-in weight for a Falcon 3 145 - up with one of these:

7-14522
http://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5517/14036301121_17849a6a04_o.png


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

pro toad tandem aerotow instructors. According to the Industry/u$hPa fatality report on the one immediately above there was nothing done or used wrong by anyone involved and nothing that could've been done differently with the benefit of hindsight. Total dice roll. Shit just happens sometimes. We engage in a sport that has risk...

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

Mitch Shipley - 2012/10/22 19:04:16 UTC

We engage in a sport that has risk and that is part of the attraction.

...and that is part of the attraction - 'specially for four year old hang gliding students. Makes 'em squeal with delight!

And you're more than willing to roll dice with these four year old hang gliding students...

It may take thousands of flights for a difference to show up (if there is one), so I was fine just going with their standard procedures. Now if I start making many many flights, then those statistics will begin to matter and I'll be asking questions as I progress.

...as you've just stated in no uncertain terms.

(IF there is one? Yeah, ASSHOLE...

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.

There fuckin' IS one. And everyone and his fuckin' dog goddam well knows it.)

You're cool taking one single hop with Malcolm and the total crap...

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/skysailingtowing/message/4049
Towing errata

Bill Bryden - 2004/04/01 16:20:18 UTC

Some aerotow releases, including a few models from prominent schools, have had problems releasing under high tensions. You must VERIFY through tests that a release will work for the tensions that could possibly be encountered. You better figure at least three hundred pounds to be modestly confident.

Maybe eight to ten years ago I got several comments from people saying a popular aerotow release (with a bicycle type brake lever) would fail to release at higher tensions. I called and talked to the producer sharing the people's experiences and concerns. I inquired to what tension their releases were tested but he refused to say, just aggressively stated they never had any problems with their releases, they were fine, goodbye, click. Another person tested one and found it started getting really hard to actuate in the range of only eighty to a hundred pounds as I vaguely recall. I noticed they did modify their design but I don't know if they ever really did any engineering tests on it. You should test the release yourself or have someone you trust do it. There is only one aerotow release manufacturer whose product I'd have reasonable confidence in without verifying it myself, the Wallaby release is not it.

...he passes of as "equipment" decade after decade 'cause you know that statistically a random person of a varying age is ten thousand times more likely to fatally slam in than you are. (How am I doing on my Navier-Stokes equations?)

You will NEVER take on an ACTUAL safety issue in either para or hang gliding because all of the ACTUAL safety issues are widespread/systemic and the consequence of corruption. And that would necessitate taking on the culture and making tons of enemies. And your mission is to be is popular as possible with as many assholes as possible.

P.S. How's your buddy Ryan Instant-Hands-Free-Release Voight doing? Seen anything of him lately?

[Tad Eareckson]

What we have in common, Bob... Both of us have had our flying careers destroyed for standing up to Industry corruption that was making our personal flying situations intolerable. And both of us were being harassed, bullied, threatened by the corrupt fuckin' total pieces o' shit who'd moved in to public flying sites and started running them as if they owned them and breaking all the laws and rules they felt like.

(And the Dragonfly tow mast breakaway protector and the douchebag with his finger on the dump lever...

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

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

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

...were threats to my very life on every launch I ever made in soaring conditions. And that's confirmed by u$hPa and FAA rules and advisories and regulations. (And thanks again, Zack Marzec, for so definitely and dramatically proving me right.))

Where we very starkly differ in this is that you are 100.00 percent self interest, don't give a flying fuck about anyone else's ox being gored, won't lift a finger if you see either a possible encumbrance for or no benefit to your position, and have zero scruples regarding torpedoing anybody whose torpedoing you feel you can use to your advantage.

It's a lot more fun and rewarding giving covering fire to Kite Strings guys going up against Jack, Davis, Bob Show assholes than it is supporting fairness for you - knowing the kinda shit you do to me and Steve and Brad and Max and the pelicans.

[Tad Eareckson]

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1252
Bill Cosby speaks his mind

Bob Kuczewski - 2013/04/26 05:37:14 UTC

I just got this quote in an email message from another pilot:

They're standing on the corner and they can't speak English. I can't even talk the way these people talk: Why you ain't, Where you is, What he drive, Where he stay, Where he work, Who you be... And I blamed the kid until I heard the mother talk. And then I heard the father talk. Everybody knows it's important to speak English except these knuckleheads. You can't be a doctor with that kind of crap coming out of your mouth. In fact you will never get any kind of job making a decent living. People marched and were hit in the face with rocks to get an Education, and now we've got these knuckleheads walking around. The lower economic people are not holding up their end in this deal. These people are not parenting. They are buying things for kids. $500 sneakers for what? And they won't spend $200 for Hooked on Phonics. I am talking about these people who cry when their son is standing there in an orange suit. Where were you when he was 2? Where were you when he was 12? Where were you when he was 18 and how come you didn't know that he had a pistol? And where is the father? Or who is his father? People putting their clothes on backward: Isn't that a sign of something gone wrong? People with their hats on backward, pants down around the crack, isn't that a sign of something? Isn't it a sign of something when she has her dress all the way up and got all type of needles [piercing] going through her body? What part of Africa did this come from?? We are not Africans. Those people are not Africans; they don't know a thing about Africa ...

I say this all of the time. It would be like white people saying they are European-American. That is totally stupid.

I was born here, and so were my parents and grand parents and, very likely my great grandparents. I don't have any connection to Africa, no more than white Americans have to Germany, Scotland, England, Ireland, or the Netherlands. The same applies to 99 percent of all the black Americans as regards to Africa. So stop, already! ! ! With names like Shaniqua, Taliqua and Mohammed and all of that crap ... And all of them are in jail. Brown or black versus the Board of Education is no longer the white person's problem. We have got to take the neighborhood back. People used to be ashamed. Today a woman has eight children with eight different 'husbands' -- or men or whatever you call them now. We have millionaire football players who cannot read. We have million-dollar basketball players who can't write two paragraphs. We, as black folks have to do a better job. Someone working at Wal-Mart with seven kids, you are hurting us. We have to start holding each other to a higher standard.

We cannot blame the white people any longer.


Dr. William Henry 'Bill' Cosby, Jr., Ed.D.

Bill Cosby is a national hero for trying to save so many wasted lives. Go Bill, Go!!

Oops.

[Tad Eareckson]

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

Yeah Bob, that's exactly what Tim Herr, Rich Hass, Mark G. Forbes were looking for to stack the kangaroo court for your expulsion "hearing".

These "people" were the elected representatives of the douchebags who fly foot launchable aircraft in the US mostly. Let's be REAL generous and say that a third of them had actual principles and stood for fairness, free speech rights, minority protections, organizational transparency... Crunching that figure through the relevant Navier-Stokes equations we get a two thirds majority supporting your expulsion - and the individuals constituting the mob (collective noun for a congregation of kangaroos) all agreeably compromised with each other and the majority of the membership and properly voted unanimously in favor of your expulsion.

And the members (and ex members) who were staunchly, disagreeably, uncompromisingly OPPOSED to your expulsion (like Yours Truly) had ZERO kangaroos representing THEIR/YOUR positions.

Ain't it great...

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

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



...getting what you wish for!

[Tad Eareckson]

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1822
Oz forum

Bob Kuczewski - 2015/05/29 06:52:29 UTC

In my opinion, the sport of hang gliding is in desperate need of a major clean up.

Is that an OPINION, Bob? I seem to have missed your comments on the u$hPa 2015/03/27 Kelly/Arys fatality "report".

I publicly expressed my thanks to Davis for allowing me to post on the Oz Forum during the expulsion proceedings.

I wouldn't have. The motherfucker had zero legitimate justification for banning you in the first place. The only thing I'd ever consider thanking that asshole for would be breaking his fuckin' neck while trying to make the easy reach for one of his easily stored Pro tow Mini Barrel "Releases".

But there was a very clear double standard where others were allowed to attack me and yet I was forced to walk on egg shells the entire time.

Ya...

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=592
Linknife

...think?

I didn't violate his rules once, and yet I've been prohibited from further posting while the attackers remain.

Big fuckin' surprise.

Bill has made note of this double standard in his post below which quotes "Ben Reese" attacking in his typically irrational and uncivilized manner. This is the current standard of behavior that's been allowed to fester in our sport, and people need to see it to correct it.

This is the standard of behavior that's hailed and promoted in our sport. And you never seemed to have any problem with it when I was dealing with Jim Keen-Intellect Rooney...

http://www.chgpa.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3600
weak link question
http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=14230
pro tow set-up
http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=14312
Tow Park accidents

...and his pet cocksuckers. And not to mention your collaboration with Orion Price on:

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

I believe there has been some agreement to erase this rancid post to make it appear as if it never happened. In my opinion, covering up problems like these only allows them to fester. Ben Reese (and Davis Straub) deserve a permanent stain for writing (and allowing) this kind of abusive material.

1. Ya want QUALITY abusive material? Check out:
http://www.kitestrings.org/topic33.html
The Bob Show

2. Yeah? Here's what one of your valued members in good standing has to say on the thread under discussion about Davis:

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=42445
split the USHPA in two

Steve Corbin - 2015/05/22 08:19:54 UTC

Ben, I don't think there's any risk of being banned from this site, so long as we are gentlemen and keep our discussions civil in nature. Davis Straub is a gentleman and I'm sure he'll back me up on this.

He registered on Kite Strings 2015/01/08 19:22:59 UTC and I activated him but he's never bothered to log in. And based upon those two sentences I'm not the least bit happy to have him here and I've thought about banning him. If we can't agree that Davis is total scum then two plus two equals four doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell.

So I've quoted Bill's quote of Ben Reese so that it can remain just such a stain and at the same time allows Bill to keep his word about editing his own post (something he hasn't been able to do until now).

Here's the original post with quotation formatting added around Ben's post:

Bill Cummings

We couldn't get a time stamp for Bill's post?

I drew up a response to Ben Reese post and here now is proof of the double standard when it comes to Bob K being warned about personal attacks or anyone else.

Ben Reese - 2015/05/20 21:12:49 UTC

Re: Airnut Re: Insults of Joe Faust...
Ben Reese:
Airnut,

Joe Faust is the 5th column and a useful idiot of Bob K. He has become a troll since his arguments are meant to pull apart USHPA and embrace Bob K's every deed. Just look back at the post where he says Bob is the victim of big bad USHPA for doing his civic duty..

What a bunch of Crap, that nut job insults himself. The sad thing is some person who knows very little of the issues will read Jo's post and believe enough to doubt USHPA is truly fair and acts responsibly. That is in fact what he is trying to do is undermine our fragile relationships with anyone he can.

He has an axe to grind on many fronts and this para gliding split is just one of them. He wants to change flight history and has some really classic arguments with museum curators as well. Joe Faust is an embarrassment to himself and that is not just my opinion.

The very very sad part of this is Joe is very well informed of past history. He interprets it in ways that some very smart and knowledgeable people do not. And instead of separating himself from Bob K. he continues even though Bob K. has done grievous things in court, in council meetings, and in the media which he thinks will help his US Hawks association.

Joe Faust has become an air-nut-job and it is true he did not seem to start out that way. But we are dealing with today not yesterday. Today Joe Faust is not appreciated or respected for his posts here.

Many people have told me to just ignore him, don't read his dribble and you know I did that for awhile. But his last post where he portrays Bob K. as a victim of the system is just a puke pile..

If you are a member of USHPA and like your association then you need to speak up here. It is you they are attacking and your flying sites that USHPA we insure. It is USHPA us, you and me who they are trying to tear apart. If they succeed you will curse the day you did not vote to ban them and tell your friends to do the same.

I am not saying all this for my ego. I get no enjoyment trying to get in the heads of nut jobs. That is exactly how you become one and I have a self preservation program running in the background.

I let 5 pages pile up here before I said one thing now its 7 pages. Somebody else can take it from here or not..

Ben Reese

"Joe Faust is the 5th column and a useful idiot----"
"He has become a troll----"
"What a bunch of Crap, that nut job insults himself."
"Joe Faust is an embarrassment to himself----"
"Joe Faust has become an air-nut-job----"
"Today Joe Faust is not appreciated or respected for his posts here."

Gee Ben I sure hope you ran this past Davis and Scare before you posted. I'd hate to see you banned from OZ.

I'd never have the balls to float a personal attack like that and not be banned.
(maybe go back and edit it or delete it. Before someone sees it.)
Good luck
Bill C.
PS if you do edit I'll do the same. Since this is oops a copy

Here's Swift's response to (and quote of) Ben Reese as well:

Swift - 2015/05/21 04:56:34 UTC

Ben Reese, it is you that is embarrassing yourself.
I can hardly read more than a few lines from you before I have to bail on your thought process.

Airnut,

Joe Faust is the 5th column and a useful idiot of Bob K...

I don't waste my time reading Ben Reese - he's on my Ignore List. And I find myself quite capable of ignoring him without the use of a button.

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=767
Is This a Joke? We Know What We're Doing?

Bob Kuczewski - 2011/09/13 05:25:24 UTC

Hey Tad,

What would give you the idea that Mike, Zack, Nobody, and yourself are less important than others?

I've been banned for well over three years 'cause I'm less important than the safety of people of varying ages and you've permalocked Nobody/ Steve down in your Basement.

You're still able to post here, aren't you?

Nope. Can't even use the quote button to harvest formatted text.

Besides, why would you lump them in with you? I haven't seen any of them exhibit the bile and hatred that seems to come so naturally from your keyboard.

I'm guessing you found the bile and hatred that seems to come so naturally from my keyboard pretty useful recently when it was directed against the u$hPa motherfuckers orchestrating your expulsion. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

This has been an experiment to see what free speech accomplishes in the hang gliding world.

No it hasn't. The Bob Show is now two and a half months shy of five years of being a total dictatorship in which the only say that has ever mattered has been Bob's.

The results will be whatever you make of them.

See above.

If this ends up as a dead site...

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=881
Davis Straub; Idiot Statist, Endless Wars & Tyranny

Warren Narron - 2015/02/08 00:52:29 UTC

New Rule: Oath of Fealty?

Bob, without looking up the actual quote, have you ever stated that it is ok to reference anything from Tad?
Am I incorrect in this assumption?
Were there any bad words or threats in those two posts, where Tad is asking you to respond to ongoing safety concerns in the way hang gliding is done? These are safety considerations that you have addressed in the past.
Do you feel that those questions are not worth discussing when it comes to safety and therefore, the future of hang gliding?

Let me know exactly when the rules you have established were changed.

The course you are now embarked will mark the beginning of the end of this little experiment.
Have you noticed the distraction this paranoiac witch hunt has caused in shutting down discussion in another thread about the promotion of hang gliding? If it were possible for you to understand my developing proposal, could give the US Hawks some much needed credibility.
But no. You won't have any of it.
You are the smartest guy here and you want no part in developing any plan that doesn't come from your own slide rule calculator.
Moving a computer scale line by two megapixels does not reverse the laws of physics.
That kind of manipulation is not going to carry the US Hawks over the finish line of your imagination.

The Hawks has no product. There is no there, there.
You are selling pie in the sky and there is no market for it.
I am here to help you and you won't let me.
You don't know what I have to offer the Hawks because you don't listen.
Turn me out for the fake reasons I've seen here and my new motivation will be quite different.
The wisdom of wisdom is that you learn from your mistakes.
A little humility goes a long way too.

Do you really want to make something of the Hawks or is this just a big popularity contest?
Valid hang gliding safety concerns should never be off the table of any organization that professes to be a hang gliding organization.
Wherever they come from.

You can make rules about how these are presented but the first entrenchment or retreat from these issues are when the organization begins to lose relevancy.

Right now you are calling all the shots. Continue the course you are going and the gloves will come off.
You are not the only one allowed that privilege.
You can choose to lose my contribution and have it turned against you.
This is not a threat, it is just nature.
I've been railroaded before and I don't like it.
You know that feeling right? It's what brought us all together.
Those that do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

...then I may have to conclude that Jack and Davis were right to have banned you.

Yeah, Bob. Jack, Davis, Bob, Peter, Cragin, Rich Diamond, The Baggers, Tom Galvin, Mikkel... All those total fuckin' douchebags were right to ban me. And people of varying ages the world over...

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7756/17611618853_55f0686914_o.jpg


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

022-04610
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2809/13746340634_a74b33d285_o.png

27-44400
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8625/16019976468_1f060f370c_o.png

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8709/16768958827_82f8237179_o.png

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7597/16975005972_c450d2cdda_o.png

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8737/16790136379_c1c17b2f86_o.png


...are so much better off for it. Since and as a consequence of those bannings not one single person of a varying age has died by lifting his wing...

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7570/15661252749_7fcfe6445a_o.jpg


...into a turbulent jet stream just prior to launch.

You can make them right or wrong by your own antagonism of our other members.

That's OK. I'm fine with expressing my antagonism over here to our other members.

So far, I'm not optimistic.

How 'bout now?

But prove me wrong and I'll be more than happy to admit that I've misjudged you!!

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1787
USHPA Expulsion Proceeding

Bob Kuczewski - 2015/04/19 06:10:38 UTC

( Gawd I hate those things.)

[Tad Eareckson]

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=42628
Open Letter to the Oz Report

Scott MacLeod - 2015/05/29 16:22:23 UTC

This forum sure seems like an international version of the US Hawks website lately (a place I visited but to which I won't return, the cup of tea was too bitter). If the forum continues to feel like the US Hawks site next time the donation bell is rung I'm not sure I'll be as interested in supporting it. I really enjoy Davis' daily updates, but the forum has become less engaging. It gets tiring being under attack because of my choice to fly both framed and unframed free flight aircraft. Other free flight forums weed out curmudgeons and I find myself spending more time there lately because the discussions are generally less toxic. If I stay here much longer I may become a curmudgeon myself. Scary thought...

Scott
Feeling like the mole in Whac-a-Mole

Recognize the tactic, Bob?

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=877
Discuss Tad here

Bob Kuczewski - 2011/12/13 23:25:21 UTC

I've been polling some of the people who I thought might have been avoiding the US Hawks because of Tad. Here's part of one response that I got via email:

When I say that I want absolutely nothing to do with him, I am not exaggerating. The simple fact that he's on your forum means that I will not participate at all.

Jim Keen-Intellect Rooney, Dan Tomlinson, Butch Pritchett, Peter Birren, Jack Axaopoulos, Bags Inc., Dr. Trisa Tilletti, Sam Kellner, Bob Kuczewski, Tom Galvin, Orion Price...

[Tad Eareckson]

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=1883
LESSONS from INCIDENTS

Rick Masters - 2015/05/28 19:55:17 UTC

Note that a hang glider does not stop flying unless it is stalled through genuine and generally inarguable pilot error.

Yeah Rick, there's NO POSSIBLE WAY an aircraft can be stalled except through genuine and generally inarguable pilot error. Fuck Mother Nature. Asshole.

Bill Cummings - 2015/05/29 22:50:19 UTC

Bob Kuczewski - 2015/05/30 04:10:31 UTC

Scott C. Wise - 2015/05/30 04:58:34 UTC

Rick is right about most hang gliding accidents resulting from a stall - typically near the ground (or at the top of a loop). But some of those stalls are the result of our wings being "overwhelmed" by the sometimes very dynamic air moving - not always in our aerodynamic favor - around us.

Mark Frutiger - 2013/02/08 19:12:21 UTC

Zack hit the lift a few seconds after I did. He was high and to the right of the tug and was out of my mirror when the weak ling broke. The load on the tug was not excessive as with a lockout, but I was not surprised when the weak link broke. I was still in the thermal when I caught sight of Zack again. I did not see the entry to the tumble, but I did see two revolutions of a forward tumble before kicking the tug around to land. The thermal was still active in the area that I had just launched from so I did a go round and landed on a runway 90 degrees cross to the direction we were towing in.

I would be more than happy to answer any questions pertaining to what I saw and experienced, but I prefer not to engage in speculation at this point.

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1563
Platform Launching (PL) Draft suggestions needed

Bob Kuczewski - 2014/06/06 17:21:51 UTC

I also like that this discussion emphasizes that breaking a weak link is something that can be practiced - just like we practice stalls - so we understand how to handle them and to not be afraid of them. I had a terrifying stall experience with my instructor when I was learning to fly airplanes back in the 70s. For a long time I feared getting close to stall. As long as I feared stalls, I was not spending much time getting comfortable with them, and that didn't make me a better pilot. So there's a lot to be said for safely learning to handle the inevitable rather than trying to come up with some way to avoid the inevitable.
Nice job Bill !!!!

You guys keep having fun jerking each other off over there. Fuck all y'all.