by JoeF » Tue Jul 21, 2015 11:35 am
Generally a second on RM's post. And let tandem be a fully separate activity; at any one moment one of the two persons (or more) is PIC and the other(s) are passengers for whatever reason.
Launching a hang glider may be done by very many methods: balloon drop (athlete for John J. Montgomery), elastic bungee, airplane towing (AT), static-line towing, ,moving-vehicle platform towing, powered reeling towing, electric motor onboard, ICE onboard, on-board powered winch with tether to fixed ground anchor, launch off an established kite system's incline or drop mechanism, catapult, rocket assist, friends towing, dog-team towing, horse towing, ship towing, parachute towing, water-chute towing, ambient-wind kiting and release, ambient wind FFAWE methods with release, LTA hang glider with buoyancy controls for up gliding and down gliding, power-boat towing, power-kiting systems as prime mover for tow action, etc. (not exhaustive list : ) ) Add the realm of step-towing to some of the launch methods, if you will.
The methods mentioned in the list are not hang gliding, but launch methods with hang gliding as a target result. The methods mentioned form a mechanical complex that needs mastery for itself to be safe. Those mentioned methods can be chosen as sport and recreation in themselves. But all of those methods are not foot-launch hang gliding from fixed soil. Will there be an org that specializes in foot-launch hang gliding while leaving other kinds of sports for development and service by other distinct orgs?
One sector might get further attention: flatland arenas. The pilot looks out his or her home window and sees great plains. "No hill. No mountain. Hey, tow me up! I want to fly a hang glider!" So, he or she locates some like-mindeds and form a flatland towing club; they advance the towing methods and use them; they get up and release into glides, some of which end up to be neat soaring flights. Hey, we are hang gliders too! Yes, and no; no on the launching, but yes after release; system as a total entity: no. Such occurs and will. That said, will there be an org that simply specializes in just foot-launch hang gliding wherein towing, ballooning, and sling-shot launching, are appreciated but not made a part of the org, as such? It is suspected that there is more than enough to develop and do in foot-launch hang gliding to keep many innovators busy for decades to come. It is suspected that the technical aspects of foot-launching may be enough rich to challenge the best. And even flatland arenas may have more going for them than yet appreciated as regards foot-launch hang gliding; I put put some notes for such in the next paragraph.
Flatland Realm Foot-launch Hang Gliding
1. Flatland foot-launch hang gliding could invite great wing runners to be grown, nurtured, revered, and active. Pop ups and parachutals. Long-ground-effect glides using keen Safe-Splat arrangements! The physical exhilaration of wing running and wing running into glides and landings could challenge high athleticism. Competitions, games. Records. Structure of wings could become specialized for niche games.
2. Flatland Realm could hold artificial inclines. Extant building could feature inclines on rooftops. New buildings could keep hang gliders in mind. Attention architects. There is opportunity in planning ahead on these matters. And retrofitting a building for hang glider foot-launching is possible.
3. Wind fences? Foot-launch and soar wind fences, even for hours.
4. [ ] [Open for ideas for flatland foot-launch hang gliding....without towing, rockets, engines, etc. ]
========================
BillC, I will be looking forward to your release explanation!
Home
