US Hawks Hang Gliding Association

I have known about this all month but never saw it mentioned on any forums. He was very helpful this past summer flying out of Falfurrias and his daughter drove for us.

RIP Donnell

https://www.caller.com/story/news/educa ... 797336001/

  Hang Gliding Hero   for sure

Hi Nate, Thanks for posting. First I've heard of this terrible tragedy.

It will be easy to find accounts of his contributions to the sport of HG. The "Skyting Criteria" most notably. ~50yr ago. That made towing a lot safer.

http://www.birrendesign.com/rhgpa_criteria.html

My first pay-out truck tow ~20 yr. ago, was 4mi. north of town at Lewis Airfield.

Donnell was in the back and Helen was driving.

And they were still supporting the effort as you reported.

Hand Salute ! Donnell and Helen

Terry and I parked our van in Donnell and Hellen’s front
yard many years back. Donnell took us to several
tow places. Most memorable was Padre Island where
he took a picture of Terry kiting me in the sea breeze.
I misplaced the picture during last years renovation but
Bob scanned it and put it up somewhere here at the U. S.
Hawks. At a runway west of his home I scarred him for
life as I was towing up. My tow line hooked under a
runway light and when Donnell ran to kick it loose the
tow line raked across his neck and knocked him off of
his feet. He looked like Clint Eastwood in the movie
HANG’EM HIGH.

Bill Cummings wrote:Most memorable was Padre Island where he [Donnell] took a picture of Terry kiting me in the sea breeze. I misplaced the picture during last years renovation but Bob scanned it and put it up somewhere here at the U. S. Hawks.

That is a very memorable picture. But what I didn't remember was that it was taken by Donnell Hewett. Thanks for filling in that connection Bill.  

Here's a link to the post in a discussion topic titled "Portable Mountain" which was started by Joe Faust:

       https://ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1625&p=9298#p9296

Joe commented:

Joe Faust wrote:Bill-Cummings-and-wife-kiting-team situation and image is a living gem classic image!

There were lots of living gems in that discussion.