Is there a way to co-honor earlier user of Dockweiler along with Richard Miller. James Hobson used Docweiler for his "Rogallo Hang Glider". Jim: 1961 and 1962 and following. Jim stayed promoting hang gliding on TV before Richard did hang gliding at Dockweiler. I sense a Hobson-and-Miller PARTY. Both in their own realms got the word out. Hobson got the word out in EAA and also in national TV via the Lawerence Welk show that Jim directed. Jim stayed being a regular visitor to the early Self-Soar Association and Low & Slow office; Jim worked in Santa Monica just blocks from my office. See his topic thread in US Hawks forum:
HERE Frank, see if it could open to a
HOBSON AND MILLER DAY
at DOCKWEILER Hang Gliding Training Center under full supervision of Windsports.
http://www.rogallohanggliders.com/JimHobson/index.htmlWindsports has high need for continuity for use of launches for instruction. Highly following Windsports directives for supporting any instruction would be in harmony with celebrating Hobson and Miller. Say 20 people arrived for a PARTY spontaneously on July 11; say all 20 put in a site-use fee and signed in appropriately. There is parking lot next to cars for displays. There is sand spots near plaque. AND there is the whole beach just north of LZ and just south of LZ for use of blankets and display and picnic. Some flying could interweave with full respect for whatever instruction was going on; keeping a watch to fully respect the instructors' and students needs would be the order of the day. Hobson and Miller very much lived a sharing-mentoring-coaching manner. Windsports might comment on this. Talk and sharing need not take place at the launch pad; maybe reserve launch pad only for launching. Then just north of LZ could begin an area of blankets, display, sharing, play, talking. Mind gliders and launches at launch. Landers could scoot some gliders into the area of sharing, if the gliders were not being used in a flight cycle. We did this kind of arrangement at the Torrance Turkey Fly way back when that Self-Soar Association triggered. Thus, optimum use of launch area could occur. All this needs is cooperation and awareness of Windsports needs. The general beach is open to all the public. Perhaps FDGS could guarantee day fee for 30 persons at sie-use rate; if less than 30 paid, then FDGS would donate the difference i the guarantee; I would donate toward such cover difference; if 30 showed and paid, then my donation would not be needed.
Maybe not this year, but maybe a Hobson replica (actually his wing still exists, but the heir has not spoken lately in a way I could hear; but maybe the wing could be brought forward by the family-friends that are steward of the wing. And of course, a Bamboo Butterfly might come out of storage or be made by someone. Group photo under one or both wings would be something!