[Chris McKeon]

[I am really Beginning to hate Good Judgement]


Well Pilot-X Gregg S and I took that Condor to Mount Tamalpais today. We drove by the Launch up on trop on Our way down to the Beach. Once We were down on the Beach We walked out on the sand. Well right there I was confronted with a Reality Check. For on that soft Sloping Sand I found it difficult to walk. I will say right here and now Twelve Years Six Months from the tinme when i did My Super-Pound, Spasticity is still kicking My Tail.As rare of an occurrence that it May be. We all know that One tends to have a landing, hopefully a landing where You must jog a few Steps upon landing. Well as rare of an occurrence that May be for Me, necer the less. I might find Myself needing to trott out My landing. Well being that i have not physically moved forward rendering the negative effects of Spasticity a thing of My Past. so onxce again; Good Judgement raised it's Ugly Head, and i did not get my feet off the ground.

[Chris McKeon]

You know there is a Perception, A thought, a feeling that when One flies in the Airspace directly over where Said Pilot has launched, and Said Pilot has remains close to where He or She had Launched from . The Pilot Feels as if they are inherently safer when Flying over and around where They had launched from. They Feel safe if they are making countless passes to the north, then turning around and heading back down the exact same way that thy had just came from. It truly is a case of how the Pilot Feels. Sure there is one advantage for a Pilot who chooses to not venture away from where they had just launched from.
Odds are that if They were to pound. Someone might see them pound and lend assistance to the injured Pilot. Myself, I fly Xc for the sheer joy of Flying. I love seeing what is just over the Horizon. Flying Xc is not about Bettering another Pilot. But it is for Me anyways. It is about having a more fulfilling Flying experience.

Numerous times I have found Myself getting lower and lower as I Flew. I will scan the Ground trying to locate someone who would invariably see my landing in the hope that if I indeed did pound, and I was injured. That this Person would pull out their Phone and Dial 911.

So in closing. Maybe when One get's down to it, It really comes down to Personal taste. Like Ginger and MMary Ann, What is one's favorite Color. You like a Auromatic transmission, or you may prefer a Manual Transmission. Your Favorite Color, Or, Or, Or?

[Chris McKeon]

AEROBATICS:

Aerobatics is something that very few of My Friends have even contemplated. I was asking a friend of Mine just Yesterday; "how step a Wingover have You ever done?" My friend replied; I have never done a Step turm. And the way I see it, that is perfectly fine. I on the other hand have enjoyed going steeper and asteeper. So that I was oh say maybe just Ten Degrees. Yes in My inept crude way I have been rewarded with more pleasure Flying than I ever shou;ld have been able to enjoy.

Currently i am making efforts to return to the Sky.

In the Words of John and Paul; "I get high with a little Help from My Friends.

[Chris McKeon]

Well Iwhat i will say in My opinion will not be: [OFF Topic]

Boib If what I Say is indeed Off-Topic, then feel free in banning Me bob.

Well last weekend Pilot X, Gregg S and headed out to the coast so that i would be able to do some Dune Gooning. But, there always is that Dreaded But. well we went to the beach. it was at the beach where I got my reality check. It was difficult for Me to walk in the sand let alone take long Strides carrying that Condor. So all in all the Day was a bust. I am writing about that DAy as a way to get mY thoughts correct. Since getting Home. Kathleen and I directed how I try to move. Granted moving through the Sand is hard for anyone, but I did a terrible job of moving. WEll back to the changes that Kathleen and I initiated. I working making My Hips take the lead. I started pointing My toes. Well after a while I was rewarded. MY STRIDES ACtually improved. I feel that Kathleen and I are onto something, no I know that Kathleen and I are onto Something.

[Bob Kuczewski]

One word:    Dockweiler.

More words:    Dockweiler has firm ground on the top and for the first few steps (where you launch). It's also very soft down on the beach (where you land). So it's got the best of both worlds.

May 23rd is on a Tuesday this coming year (2023), so be sure you don't lose your signed waiver. Feel free to send copies to your friends for safe keeping ... and start planning your trip!!   

[JoeF]

And there will be others and myself happy carry the bird back up to launch.

Hats off to Kathleen; you are Something Else

[Chris McKeon]

I was once talking to a Pilot Friend of Mine: I said to Him: "So, sight unseen; My Sister is a better Sister than Your Sister". Well My Friend said; "I Agree".

Kathleen was there for Me at My Darkest Hour. It only seems correct that She will be there for My Highest Levels, Flights, furthest Flights. Also through Kathleen I might just be able to Jump a Horse Seven feet or More!

[Chris McKeon]

You know i feel as though I am traveling; [Down the Road that is seldom med Traveled}. I Mean I realize that there are Our Military. Yes there have been numerous soldier's that have had Axonal shearing events. I just wish that I could tape into their R and D.

[Chris McKeon]

I do not really know anyone from thuis Club. I mean I know John. But I have not met any of You Face to Face. So even though You Guys seem to love to Fly. I believe that either none of You care to respond to My Fly queries, Nothing. There seems to no interest by any of You in my Posts. Sure Bob will respond, but then again He owns this site so to speak. Thank You Bob for Your response s. I realize now that Aerobatics or Flying XC hold little interest here on the Hawks. I understand How some Pilots have no interest in doing a 180 Degree Wing-Over. I also understand how many if not all of You do not care to explore how Your Glider performs when it is inverted.

But as I have said about Flying XC. Your Glider has absolutely no idea. It does not perform even an iota of a measurable difference in the Air-space that is above Your Home L-Z, or over the Ground that is say 10, 20, or a hundred Miles from Your Home site. It is just like when I come into land. Back when I was getting My Landings dialed in as a Hang-Two. I pretty much disregarded Ground Speed. It was all about Pitch pressure for Me.

Ok, Ok, I guess I am just blathering here, I am just sounding off. But heck I must admit that "I BLEW IT!". Yes when I got close to the Ground on a High Wind Day Twelve and a half years ago. But one Way or Another, i will get back into the Air,. I have no doubt that i will Fly again. Yes stand By for Lights, Camera, Phoenix~!

[JoeF]

Many standard versions of COTS hang gliders have manual statements that warn owners against aerobatics maneuvers.
Is one's hang glider built for the stresses that may occur during any given maneuver? Think smooth airs, as a turbulent event can overcome the best of intentions. Have plenty of altitude cushion to use a chute.

==== aerobatics/wingover

WARNING:
All procedures are GENERALIZED.
Fly the maneuver in accordance with the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH)
and/or current Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

======================= Wingover

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upanddown

I know people who allowed their ego to hurry them into radical aerobatics with tragic results. A pilot had asked me "how much turbulence is safe for looping?" Each experienced pilot has his own feelings on what level of turbulence is too much, and it is nearly impossible to articulate. The best answer is "stick to dead smooth air". Then if you get hurt you will know it was your fault and not some inopportune turbulence you drove into. Weeks later this pilot blew-up a glider because he was looping in too-turbulent conditions. He got his chute out but it was too small for his weight. He hit hard, badly dislocating his shoulder. That was a year ago and he still cannot fly a hang glider. Radical aerobatics can radically affect your life.

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Editor puts in a filler video:
Note: One of the featured efforts involves a High-Hat.

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