[SamKellner]

Welcome Eagle

Landing at Torrey says you have achieved a H-4.

Tell us more.

[eagle]

~ One Way or Another ~ I'm Going Up ~

Going Up.jpg (27.17 KiB) Viewed 6341 times

[eagle]

Well I Learned to Fly about 90's 24yrs Now ~ Back then I flew a Spitfire Hang Glider and was Taught Bye Howard Mitch Mitchell, Rest His Soul ~ 1st few Years in the Local Mt. & Foot hills of Southern California Region . ...

Now Days, I Mostly Fly Torrey Pines Gliderport , Both Hang Gliding & Paragliding ~ On Occasion Might Even Travel , ~ Slowed Up a Bit with a Heart Condition
I Own Several Wings : Old Topless Stealth (Needs Repair) , TRX 140 sitting there Loop Ready HaHa A Dream 220 Always at the Port, Couple of Paraglider's- Poison Skywalker 2 for the Better Days , And a Favorite Epsilon 5 Slow, supper stable, Float's and Thermals Well ~

I'm Still Enjoying Flying at Torrey Pine's On a Regular Basis , With exception Of some of the Politics .

.e.gull.jpg (26.61 KiB) Viewed 6332 times

[DaveSchy]

Lets see, 70's instructors. Bob Podhola in Olympia, Blaise Lewark in Seattle, Big Bird in Seattle, Airplay'n in Seattle and Capitol City Gliders (Balloon Drop Jim Brown) in Olympia.

Spent my first 2 years at Kiwanda. There was a "camp" spot at the end of the road, we called it the eagle's nest, just north of the dune proper. We would launch from there in the morning to start our day at the dune. Now its houses....

[Bob Kuczewski]

It's an honor to have Ernie on our forum, and I want to share my own story ...

Back in late 2006 and early 2007 I began working to bring the Torrey Pines Soaring Council back into existence. The first modern Council meeting was in April of 2007, and the San Diego Hang Glding and Paragliding Association (SDHGPA) refused to send a delegate. They were controlled by the Jebbs (as they are today) and the Jebbs didn't want the Soaring Council looking over their shoulder. So they told the SDHGPA to not attend that first meeting hoping the Council would fold.

But the Council didn't fold, and the SDHGPA was faced with choosing a representative for the Soaring Council. They decided to hold an election (or should I say "rig an election") to make that choice. The primary candidates for the Council were Gabe Jebb and myself.

The Jebbs packed the room full of students and buddies. I would guess there were 50 to 100 people at that meeting. David Jebb and all of his instructors were there to "watch" how everyone voted. The pressure and intimidation was intense. I wanted a secret ballot by the members (note that I support secret voting by members but NOT by representatives), but the Jebbs wanted a show of hands with David Jebb and all his cronies watching. Of course they got their way.

Out of all the people in that room, there were only 4 of us with the courage to vote against the Jebbs. Ernie was one of those 4, and in all the time I've known him, he's always had the courage to stand up for what's right.

As I said, it's an honor to have Ernie joining us here on the US Hawks. Welcome aboard Ernie, and please call me any time if I can help you with anything on this forum. You've got my phone number, so please don't hesitate to use it.

[Bob Kuczewski]

Lets see, 70's instructors. Bob Podhola in Olympia, Blaise Lewark in Seattle, Big Bird in Seattle, Airplay'n in Seattle and Capitol City Gliders (Balloon Drop Jim Brown) in Olympia.

Spent my first 2 years at Kiwanda. There was a "camp" spot at the end of the road, we called it the eagle's nest, just north of the dune proper. We would launch from there in the morning to start our day at the dune. Now its houses....

None of those names sound familiar (but it's been over 35 years). As I remember, we drove down to Kiwanda from Tacoma in the instructor's motor home (him, another student and myself). I think our instructor had a girlfriend in Tillamook, because after we got set up on the cliff and each had a flight, he went off to spend the day with her while the other student and I took turns flying the glider.

The setup area was a fairly small clearing near the edge of the cliff, and just to the south was slope that was barely shallow enough for the two of us (both in our early 20's) to wrestle the glider back to the top. Carrying it back up was quite an ordeal, and between the two of us, we were only able to carry it up a total of 6 times during the entire day (giving us 3 flights each). But after each flight we were jumping up and down with joy and slapping each other on the back in congratulations. That day is one of my fondest memories from the sport.

That's the kind of memory that makes me want to save this sport and ensure that it has a future. I wish I felt confident that USHPA was looking out for that future, but I'm not. That's why we're here to build this new association, and you're helping us grow with every single post. Thanks for joining us, and thanks for every single post that helps us grow.

[eagle]

Pic of the Day ~ Open For Comments ~ A Little food for thought ~ I could be either pilot ~

WhenGoodHangGlidingGoesBad2.jpg (30.21 KiB) Viewed 6311 times

[DaveSchy]

70's instructors in Seattle...

also I remember Ken Fine and Dr Dave Freeman from Lake Tapps, Jim Reynolds from Yelm (but that was 80's I think)

[Bob Kuczewski]

~ I could be either pilot ~

WhenGoodHangGlidingGoesBad2.jpg (30.21 KiB) Viewed 6312 times

I could be either pilot as well!       

Ernie, your selection of pictures is amazing!! I think you should start a new topic in the blog section titled something like "Eye of the Eagle" where you can post a running history of all these great pictures you've been finding.



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Update: See our newest blog titled "the Eagle" for more of Ernie's great selection of pictures!! Thanks Ernie!!  

[Bob Kuczewski]

70's instructors in Seattle...

also I remember Ken Fine and Dr Dave Freeman from Lake Tapps, Jim Reynolds from Yelm (but that was 80's I think)

Gosh, I think my brain cells for storing my instructor's name have either died or been "repurposed" to store something else. None of those names are sounding familiar. I've met Jim Reynolds once or twice since then, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't him.

Do you have contact information (especially a phone number) for any of these fellows? I think a phone call would be a good way to find out ... and maybe recruit a few more members for the US Hawks!!