[Bob Kuczewski]

By the way, this is about the best video I've ever seen on the power of free speech. I must have watched it at least 10 times already. I encourage everyone to watch it again and again until you've practically memorized every word:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMj9wsrPE5U

Nothing brings a better world into being better than the stated truth.

[Bob Kuczewski]

Basic Trainer Model Test Flight at Dockweiler on February 18th, 2019:

[Bob Kuczewski]

Any progress on the new trainer?

It would be nice to see a full size prototype before the spring flying season!!

[Frank Colver]

Still waiting on my order to Wills Wing for thin wall 7075 tubing.

I wonder if Bill Watson is working on building his model based on my model. I sent him all of my drawings at his request. It would be fantastic if he built an RC version. Then it could even soar Dockweiler bluff.

Frank

BTW - I'm not on the board so I couldn't vote but I'm very pleased that the vote was unanimous for creating a seperate "HG politics" section to this forum. i think this will bring in new members by not being turned off by the politics before they get to know the forum.

[Free]

Still waiting on my order to Wills Wing for thin wall 7075 tubing.

My idea to save hang gliding would see a basic trainer designed for scooter tow with emphasis on substantial landing gear and supine harness. Most of the country is flat land.
This is where new people are to be found. They want to train where they live. They want to fly after work three or four times a week.
Growth would come to hang gliding, but in a different direction for flying basics up to and past a H-2 rating.
This would be a new door to enter the sport. It could be all that some would ever want to do and not have to deal with the high miles to high mountains.
New clubs would spring up around/for the basics. Quality training is key and is something that a national organization should fund..

BTW - I'm not on the board so I couldn't vote but I'm very pleased that the vote was unanimous for creating a seperate "HG politics" section to this forum. i think this will bring in new members by not being turned off by the politics before they get to know the forum.

A unanimous decision was made but the details have yet to be determined. Would a lawsuit against 20 some named and unnamed hang gliding co-conspirators, (and maybe even you Frank) by a politically connected corporation be considered hang gliding politics to be sequestered away?
Someone now needs to define HG politics.

[Bob Kuczewski]

A unanimous decision was made but the details have yet to be determined. Would a lawsuit against 20 some named and unnamed hang gliding co-conspirators, (and maybe even you Frank) by a politically connected corporation be considered hang gliding politics to be sequestered away?
Someone now needs to define HG politics.

You are perceptive as ever Warren. That's why those with bad intentions have banned you ... and it's also why I salute you.   

The Board's vote was a vote of good intentions, but you are right that the devil will be in the details. For me, I am fine with giving people another choice of where they want to post. That's all that was requested, and that's what made it an easy decision for me personally. Choice is one thing, but forcing is another. If you've learned anything about me in these last 10 years it should be that I value freedom and justice. I believe you do too Warren.   

Let's see how this topic evolves regarding Frank's Floater (aka the Colver Condor).   

[Bob Kuczewski]

P.S. It's worth reminding everyone that the Blog Forum is intentionally designed as a place where any U.S. Hawks member can start a hang gliding related topic and set the rules for that topic (within reason). The person who starts each Blog topic is the final arbiter of what stays and what gets tossed pursuant to those rules. I follow their direction just as I do with Chapter Presidents in their club forums. Topics in the rest of the forum (Politics or not) may twist and turn over the course of discussion (try herding cats sometime), but topics in the Blog Forum can be kept to the original poster's intentions to whatever degree they wish. That gives us the best of both worlds.

The Blog Forum was started on May 2nd, 2013, and the rules are pretty well spelled out in the first topic of that forum. For people (like Rick) who want even more customization, we can sometimes set up an entire subforum within the Blog Forum for them to work in. I think those should be approved by the Board as we move forward.

[Frank Colver]

We seem to be straying from the HG Basic Trainer subject again.

However, the suggestion of scooter towing would be right in keeping with the HGBT design concept. I think the low aspect ratio of my HGBT design would make it easy for towing. Probably require a stronger version of the training hill model but since it wouldn't need to be hiked back up a hill the extra weight would not be a disadvantage.

Frank

[SamKellner]

My idea to save hang gliding would see a basic trainer designed for scooter tow with emphasis on substantial landing gear and supine harness. Most of the country is flat land.
This is where new people are to be found. They want to train where they live. They want to fly after work three or four times a week.
Growth would come to hang gliding, but in a different direction for flying basics up to and past a H-2 rating.
This would be a new door to enter the sport. It could be all that some would ever want to do and not have to deal with the high miles to high mountains.
New clubs would spring up around/for the basics. Quality training is key and is something that a national organization should fund..

You are perceptive as ever Warren.

  YES !   It's so satisfying to see these remarks! It should be no surprise, to anyone, that I agree with Warren and Bob, since scooter tow is the primary method of instruction used here at SWTHG..

It took a while to be so convinced. Digging thru OZforum, you might find some opposition remarks made by myself ~10 years ago. But scooter tow has proven to be most effective for beginners/H-2, in these parts, eventhough we have hills.
Access is the problem around here. Our Mt. Buz foot launch is great for Beginner/Novice PG, but due to development, the LZ has been reduced in size to the point where it is too small for most HG.

Now to get back on topic, about a HG Basic Trainer. Keep Warren's last remark in mind about, "quality training is key". No matter what new BT glider design we come up with, it won't be fool proof.

Up to a point of beginner instruction, it is up to the instructor to keep the student safe. Personally, my feeling is that there are very good BT designs available already, ST and FL, without re-inventing the wheel.

I'd like to see more of that smile and swagger Frank demonstrated after his POM flights.

Thanks Warren !

[Free]

We seem to be straying from the HG Basic Trainer subject again.

Frank, all due respect, but you strayed the subject with censorship accolades. You lightly made a point, but not so much a good argument. I welcome you to expand your reasoning, as well as everyone that voted for restrictions. I will look for further enlightenment in the "Hang gliding politics" section and leave this thread with this political nugget.
https://www.infowars.com/greta-thunberg ... ensorship/

GRETA THUNBERG PRESSURES FACEBOOK TO INCREASE CENSORSHIP