[Dayhead]

Ok, you ask, what in hell is a "Dayhead"? Well, I'm sure you've heard of Deadheads, the fans of the Grateful Dead.

Here's a few links that will explain why I'm a "Dayhead":

http://www.search.ask.com/search?o=1014 ... 3466974586

This link is to a song you've all heard before, it's the 1968 studio recording of "White Bird".

I love it so much because this band is the only one I know of that features the violin as the "lead" instrument, and the string instruments are my favorite.

Following is a hard rock performance of the same song, only this time the guitar gets featured, played expertly by Billy Gregory, who at the age of 70+ is still kickin' out the jams in New Orleans blues clubs.

http://www.search.ask.com/search?o=1014 ... 3467400014

While "White Bird" is this band's most recognized song, in the view of we "Dayheads" it is not their best one. For example, "Hot Summer Day" or "Bombay Calling" are truly excellent examples of David LaFlamme's violin genius.

At any rate, this music inspires me to fantasize about flying, as does The Beatles.

[Bob Kuczewski]

Hi Steve,

I hadn't heard that version. It might be a slightly more "politically correct" recording with the following substitution that I noticed:

      "White bird must fly or she will die."

changed to:

      "White bird must fly, she must fly."

Thanks for sharing a song I hadn't heard in decades.

P.S. Welcome again to the US Hawks!!   
Give me a call any time if you need help with the forum!!

[Dayhead]

Hey Bob, thanks for all you do.

If you liked that song, and if you like the electric violin, as I do, then maybe you'll appreciate hearing "Bombay Calling", live at Carnegie Hall.

This a 1972 recording, reputedly with no mixing or engineering of any kind, just good raw rock'n'roll. I love it, and listen to it at least once a week. But then again, I'm a weird-oh.

http://www.search.ask.com/search?o=1014 ... ype=videos

Another favorite of mine is "Hot Summer Day".

Again, thank you for this forum. I'm proud to be allowed to be a Hawk. Steve

[Dayhead]

Anyway, forgetting the music for now, I want to get into my ideas about Hang Glider design.

Please keep in mind that I'm just a flyer, not an engineer. I didn't even finish high school, although I did get a G.E.D. and graduated from the Spartan School of Aeronautics with an Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics license. And I've been active in model plane design since I was the proverbial knee-high.

I'm not at all impressed with how Hg design has progressed over the last decade or two.

In this blog I'll give my reasons why. One thing that I'll use to back up my opinions is the increase in popularity of paragliding, which I believe has come at the expense of Hg.

It is my opinion that if Hg had improved in the right fashion over the years, we wouldn't be seeing this situation of Pg out-performing Hg in popularity.

This is not a casual thing. Pg's have some serious aeronautical issues that if left un-checked may propose a threat to Hg, as Joe Faust works so hard to explain.

I feel that Hg has to "back up and regroup" to counter this potential threat. This is going to involve some major rethinking about our whole approach to what is considered to be "high performance". We need to redefine our definitions. It won't be easy, in today's world. In effect, it will require returning to our roots, but at the same time remembering not to throw the baby out with the bathwater; meaning to hang on to the technological advancements that benefit us while tossing out those that haven't. While this will require discussion, it's important to remember that time is of the essence.

It's late so I'm going to bed. See ya in the morning. steve

[Bob Kuczewski]

This is a good topic for a blog. Thanks for starting it.

I think one of the big problems that hang gliding faces isn't about hang gliding at all. It's about transportation and storage. More and more of the younger generation are living in apartments and driving things like scooters and Mini Coopers. The hang gliders available today just don't lend themselves to that kind of lifestyle.

I think the biggest breakthrough to turn things around would be gliders that are easily broken down to a 6 foot package or less.

Well ... that ... and the US Hawks!!!       

Thanks for joining us here Steve. Please let me know if there's anything we can do to make your stay more confortable.