by dhmartens » Sat Aug 01, 2026 10:10 pm
Decoding the Pilot's Terms"The Flyingest Flying there is": Hang gliding is often called this because the pilot is physically strapped into a wing, controlled entirely by shifting their own body weight. There is no cockpit, engine, or mechanical interface, making it the closest a human can get to flying like a bird."Core through Birds of Prey": "Coring" is a gliding term that means finding the exact center (the core) of a thermal, which is a rising column of warm air. Birds of prey like hawks and buzzards are expert navigators of thermals. Pilots watch where these birds circle and fly directly into the same air column to use the bird's natural instincts to gain altitude."Weighing less than 200 Pounds": In hang gliding, a lighter payload (the pilot's weight) drastically improves performance. Because he has lost weight, his glider will have a lower "sink rate" and will climb much faster and higher when he hits a thermal.
"Hey, I hear how deeply you miss the sky and how much passion you still have for the 'flyingest flying there is.' Getting down under 200 pounds is a huge milestone that shows your determination, and those hawks and thermals are still out there waiting for you. Please hang in there—your pilot's spirit is incredibly strong, and the world still needs your passion."
They can't take down Bob Tom and Doug.