US Hawks Hang Gliding Association

I'm opening this topic at the request of Harold "Howie" Shank II to discuss the awarding of a US Hawks Hawk 3 rating to him. I've opened it here in the public area so Howie can participate if he likes.

So far, Howie has been able to demonstrate an H2 rating which has been verified and awarded.   

Howie also sent me some documents that indicate he's been awarded an H3 rating, but that rating was never published by USHPA. The documents include a temporary rating card and a Lookout Mountain card. I am forwarding these to the individual Board members privately because Howie hasn't given me permission to publish them (although he's welcome to post them here).

Our policy is that we recognize ratings issued by other organizations, but it seems that USHPA hasn't actually issued an H3 rating to Howie, so this case does not fit within that policy. So we would have to decide whether we want to make a new policy to cover this case or not.

My concern, as I've mentioned before, is that we do not want to go down any road that would have our member's ratings viewed as "substandard" in any way. Such a road would diminish the value of the ratings of all of our members. So for that reason, I would lean toward maintaining the current policy until we can develop the standards and observer network to issue our own ratings.

Any thoughts?

Howie posted photos of a Boone Dawn.
That was among the first topless gliders.
They came out around 1984.
To me, that says a lot about one's ability and experience.
What's the story, Howie?

I just want to be decisive
Do you want my storie
The Brown n rainbow Dawn pro story or
The black with yellow n red comp inlay story
This is a hearing so please ask direct

The Brown n rainbow pro belonged to Ben Davis
It was the one he tumbled in nats it was pretty much the start of the downfall the genius dick Boone. Ben removed reflex
From inner battons to lighten high speed bar pressure
It was fixed I have flown it both as a glider and on my trike


Black comp was the comp featured in the hg mag
Article for the comp it was a glider that Wayne Smith Acquired and I knew I had to have

my story however is much longer and more in depth

howie wrote:I just want to be decisive
Do you want my storie
The Brown n rainbow Dawn pro story or
The black with yellow n red comp inlay story
This is a hearing so please ask direct

The Brown n rainbow pro belonged to Ben Davis
It was the one he tumbled in nats it was pretty much the start of the downfall the genius dick Boone. Ben removed reflex
From inner battons to lighten high speed bar pressure
It was fixed I have flown it both as a glider and on my trike


Black comp was the comp featured in the hg mag
Article for the comp it was a glider that Wayne Smith Acquired and I knew I had to have

My wife in the chase car, following me, was first (edit) chase driver (edit) on the scene when Allegera tumbled her Dawn Comp and came down under canopy during the Chelan Nationals.
She packed ice around the core sample of her foot, that the keel tube punched clear through her tennis shoe, in the hope the doctors could reattach it. The Sheriff saw a little bit of sock coming from the keel tube and with the help of his knife dug out the core sample of shoe and little toe (I believe) and part of her foot. She tumbled down past Ben and then deployed her chute which if I remember correctly broke or fractured a few ribs when it opened. Thermals were so strong that day that the bar was ripped out of Allegra's hands. I was too afraid to land and stayed up until the day cooled off. I always thought hers was the only stock Dawn Comp to tumble of the three. The other one Danny U tumbled was a light built Dune Gooning one that broke. The third one the pilot (I forget his name) admitted to me that he took out the reflex to speed it up. (I remember Rich Phiffer trying to ask him how he made his glider so fast) It tumbled and broke. The Pro Dawn Comp got a unfair rap. Gene Stone let me fly his one winter while towing on a frozen lake. Left in stock condition it was a stable, safe glider.

Do any among you know
Wayne smith He will vouch
As to the hell n politics
Ushpa has put me through
And my skill I worked very
hard took and passed the
Written and trained from
New york to Tennessee
Maryland school of hanggliding
N spent a lot of money
It surprised me when
My card came with my
Aero tow but no h3
I really don't want to
Publicly talk bad about
Names. And kit martin
Is no longer with us to
Contact so if you want
Any more info just ask

Ok So was it her glider
I know I heard Ben admit
To removing reflex on that
Glider when we cleans him
Of 21 gliders. gross I had toe in my glider!

howie wrote:Do any among you know
Wayne smith He will vouch
As to the hell n politics
Ushpa has put me through
And my skill I worked very
hard took and passed the
Written and trained from
New york to Tennessee
Maryland school of hanggliding
N spent a lot of money
It surprised me when
My card came with my
Aero tow but no h3
I really don't want to
Publicly talk bad about
Names. And kit martin
Is no longer with us to
Contact so if you want
Any more info just ask

Howie,
We are doing the best we can with the procedure we have for rating pilots without bending the integrity (is that spelled right) of our agreed upon system I haven't met Wayne S. but I've heard of him. If we could find a phone # for Wayne that would help us keep the faith with the pilots that trust that we don't stoop to the case of beer rating level. They expect us to verify. (Trust but verify.) I too had my ratings lost when USHPA made the move to CO from CA and went through much BS getting them back.
Keep the faith Howie---

Ok Bill but please refrain
From spelling and grammar
Questions. Or I will get an f
As I am dyslexic.
P.s. I have issues with
Answering questions
About my grammar she was
A good woman

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