[Bob Kuczewski]

I had a good hang gliding flight at Torrey today. I flew for just under 2 hours (2:15pm to 4:11pm).

I have to say that some of the paraglider pilots were very difficult to fly with. They often didn't follow the ridge rules, and they were either ignorant or inconsiderate of the differences between hang gliders and paragliders.

On the other hand, I guess I could thank them for about an extra 10 to 20 minutes of my flight, since I attempted to go in to land several times, but the crowding of paragliders around launch and the north face made it difficult to get enough altitude for a safe top landing. So I waited and tried again ... still too crowded. So I waited a little longer. Eventually I ended up sinking out and made a safe landing on the beach. It was quite a hike back up, but Ernie came down to help and a few beach hikers helped as well. They were UCSD students, and I invited them to our Second Sunday for some free food.

While on the beach, a couple of lifeguards came by to check on me. I emphasized that all of the rescues were not from people flying safely to the beach, but from people who were flying too close to the cliffs ... so they wouldn't go to the beach. I added that some of the pilots consider a hike from the beach as a "walk of shame", but I think that attitude contributes to accidents as pilots hug the cliff too closely in the hopes that they can land on top. I suggested that the choice to make a safe beach landing when conditions were right is more of a "badge of honor" than a "walk of shame". The lifeguards agreed and went on their way without incident.

Anyway, here are some pictures ...

Hook-In Check:

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33 seconds later ... another Hook-In Check:

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14 seconds later ... already in the air:

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Just flying around:

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As a side note, at least 2/3 of the hang gliding pilots flying today were members of the Torrey Hawks.  

[SamKellner]

Glad you had a great flight BobK. The pics are super. You really had it banked up there

Torrey Hawks

[Bob Kuczewski]

The pics are super.

Thanks Sam!!!

I use a regular camera (without a wide angle "fish eye" lens). So I have to mount it waaay out on the tip strut to get it far enough away to show the scenery. But it works out pretty well because the pictures don't have the distortion that wide angle lenses show.

I also use a fairly cheap camera, and I put it in video mode so I can just pull out snapshots of the frames that look good. Given the cheapness of cameras with video capability these days, I'd recommend that everyone fly with one. But always remember that safety is more important than photography. My only concern with photography and flight is that it can be distracting, so be sure to emphasize that your students focus on flying first. "Flying First" is a good motto.