[Chris McKeon]

I have been giving thought to My Pilot Bucket list. For even though I have been Flying Hang Gliders for 21 Years there are a couple of Flights that would be noteable regarding My Flying. First off is to Fly once again. Yes to merley attain once again. My Airworthiness.This will be my greatest flight ever!
That Flight ,Might very well take place down in Southern California at Dockweiler Beach. Yea Baby! I have other flights that I would love to enter in My logbook. Such as launching from Walt's Point then to Fly to Wolf's peak Launch. where I will lnd. I also want to do a flight; Where I launch from Wolf's Peak then fly either North or I will Fly South along the Sierra Mountains, oh about say a 150 miles, 'Land up on the Mountain Range. Pull My camping Gear out of the Predator's Sail. This gear would be something for Me to sleep in, Food, and I will also be packing My Camel-Back so I will have some water to Drink. Thyen the following Morning, I wuill Launch then Fly back to Wolf's Peak. I also want to Fly XC one hundred Miles in under Four Hours.

Well now everyone knows My "Sky Bucket List"

[Chris McKeon]

I really hope to be able to go Straight over the Top, as in doing an 180 Degree maneuver, in other words a {LOOP}. I mean I have Gone over the Top doing Wing-Overs as steep as I do not know exactly how steep I have gone. But I know that I have gone over the Top at more than a Hundred and Seventy degrees or so. But I did, and i want to be able to go over the tp at 180 degrees with confidence. I do not want to go over the top with even a hint of My Hang strap having Slackness. No I wat to know that I am managing the Pitch of My Predator Correctly. Yes a pure loop is on Mt Bucket list. Just like I want to have My road-runner be able to attain the required Speed so that the "REAL MAN CRUISE CONTROL" will engage. Because as We all know REAL MAN CRUISE CONTROL will only function when Your car is going Two Hundred Miles an Hour or More.

OK these things are on My Bucket list. So as to let You Guys know that I am not all Hot Air. I have a {PURPOSE DESIGNED HG}. That Purpose is to loop. Yes I have a Predator 158. My Friend John might have looped His 142 Predator more than any other glider has been looped.

I am also building My 1971 14 to 1, CNC ported Headed, Solid Roller cam, Equal Length Headers, 440. Plymouth road-runner to enter the Silver State Road Race.

I guess when I get down to it: I am a Speed Freak at Heart. In fact, after Ui do some Yard work around My House, I will go out to the back Garage and work on My Car.

[JoeF]

Fun topic, Chris. Thanks.
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My Sky-Bucket List
Good meditation tease that Chris has opened! Invites thinking, dreaming, wondering, hoping! Invites a thanksgiving that I am here and now considering a sky-bucket list.

One of the stark things that comes to mind: the challenge to focus on my bucket and not someone else's bucket. Of course, appreciating others' sky bucket contents might give me some ideas to consider. So, I will be reading others' sky-bucket contents.

Another penetrating nuance about sky-buckets: the contents might change from one day to another, one year to another, experience after another. Contents may change. I look in my bucket and find changes. Today's description of the sky-bucket contents may not stick for long.

Here are some things I find in my today's sky bucket:

Carry politely on a city bus a hang glider and gear to a bus stop near Dockweiler; then easily tote the system to Dockweiler for a fun hang gliding flight session with friends. And then pack up the system for a bus-train return to home.

Communicate to the entire world the above achievement concerning the framed hang glider possibility.

AWE power a home. That is, use energy generated from an energy-kite system (airborne wind energy system AWES) to power the needs of a home of five persons. See below for an AWES.

Live a week in the sky in a kite-system-held tent. During that week while in the sky: drop a fishing line and catch fish. While in the sky in that circumstance cook the fish with energy from the wind or energy directly from the sun. In that same deal, continue the growth of a plant that can be partially eaten during the week.

Design, build, and fly at least five different types of "politely busable tiny-packed framed hang gliders at Dockweiler." And publish on the Internet for all comers the full story of each design and the experiences involved. No warranties concerning the gliders!

... as I am using Chris' synergy of topic, I am finding that my sky-bucket list has in it many more things than I have time right now to describe. Actually, I realize by this exercise that I grow my sky-bucket list nearly 8 hours a day almost every day. Actually, I believe my mind works during my sleep; nearly every morning I wake and note changes to my sky-bucket list. I share in our forum some of the changes with anyone caring to read the changes. The forum is readable now by billions of people but not yet read by that many.

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An AWES shared by JAL, Jalbert Aerology Lab, the team of which includes myself. Dave Santos just shared today:

This is a huge advance over prior rigging (on longer lines) to allow tighter faster turning.
Bigger kites in less airspace turning better in an optimized square-wave pumping cycle.

AnAWESbyJAL.jpg (55.11 KiB) Viewed 1834 times

Note that the shown rig could have a kited HG with pilot above; pilot could also initiate cross wind kiting while then generating electricity for powering a home. Cut loose and hang glide and soar as possible.

[Chris McKeon]

"Sky Camping Predator Style"


You know Bob will probably condem what I have Contemplated, thought of, and oh Yes, what I have dreamt about. What I would like to do is to drive up to the Sierras, where the Wolf's Peak Launch is. By the way, Wolf's Peak by the way is very close to Sonora Pass California. I want to pack the supplies that I would need to be able to upon landing to eat, then spend the night up on the top of the Sierras. Then the next Day I would launch and Fly Back to Wolf's Peak and land. Break down My Predator, and then Drive Home. I would see doing two Flights such as I described, as a real Good Out and return Predator Style! I see no Reason why I could not Fly North, or South say a hundred Miles, camp, then Fly back.

[Chris McKeon]

My [Bucket List] Sky Camping

Here I am, it has been Thirteen Years since I last Flew. I do not want to sound like a Drama Queen But Heck I did the "Almost Die Deal". Yes I got so very Close to Death, But it was Close but No Cigar.

At Present, more and more I feel as though I am quickly approaching My normal Sense of being. Ok, I know, I know. My Normal is everyone who knows Me My Abnormal, but Abnormal is all Me.

SKY DREAMS,BUCKET LIST:

I so dream about flying again. I dream of flying My Predator Again; Ok Bob I am going to talk about a Type of Flying that You do not Condone in anyway. But heck I love Flying Cross Country. Also I started this subject; "MY SKY BUCKET LIST"

There are Flights that I think about all the time. Flights such as where I will load My Predator up onto My Truck and then Drive up the Sierras. I will most likely launch from say The Wolf's peak Launch. I take with Me on the Flight some thing to keep Me warm at night, some food. I plan on launching Providing that I am able to; [GET UP] I will either head North, or o will head South. After Flying a couple of hundred Miles. I will land up on the Top of the Sierra Mountain range. Eat some of My Sky-Food. I will Bed Down. The following Morning, I will eat My Sky Breakfast. Then I will Fly back to Wolf's Peak. I will land, Break Down My Predator. I will load My Predator onto My Truck and then, i will drive back Home.