US Hawks Hang Gliding Association

fu•nic•u•lar
fyo͞oˈnikyələr/
noun
plural noun: funiculars
1. a cable railroad, especially one on a mountainside, in which ascending and descending cars are counterbalanced.

Wiki Funicular

Water counterbalancing
A few funiculars have been built using water tanks under the floor of each car that are filled or emptied until just sufficient imbalance is achieved to allow movement. The car at the top of the hill is loaded with water until it is heavier than the car at the bottom, causing it to descend the hill and pulling up the other car. The water is drained at the bottom, and the process repeats with the cars exchanging roles. The movement is controlled by a brakeman.
The oldest funicular in the world moving by water counterbalancing is the Bom Jesus funicular built in 1882. The funicular track in Bom Jesus do Monte near Braga, Portugal is 274 metres (899 ft) long and descends 116 metres (381 ft). The funicular of Fribourg is special since it utilizes waste water, coming from the upper part of the city, for counterbalancing.

magentabluesky wrote:fu•nic•u•lar
fyo͞oˈnikyələr/
noun
plural noun: funiculars

Is that anything like this?

Some think the world is made for fun and frolic,
        And so do I! And so do I!
Some think it well to be all melancholic,
        To pine and sigh; to pine and sigh;

But I, I love to spend my time in singing,
        Some joyous song, some joyous song,
To set the air with music bravely ringing
        Is far from wrong! Is far from wrong!

Harken, harken, music sounds a-far!
        Harken, harken, with a happy heart!
Funiculì, funiculà, funiculì, funiculà!
        Joy is everywhere, funiculì, funiculà!

Ah me! 'tis strange that some should take to sighing,
        And like it well! And like it well!
For me, I have not thought it worth the trying,
        So cannot tell! So cannot tell!

With laugh, with dance and song the day soon passes
        Full soon is gone, full soon is gone,
For mirth was made for joyous lads and lasses
        To call their own! To call their own!

Harken, harken, hark the soft guitar!
        Harken, harken, hark the soft guitar!
Funiculì, funiculà, funiculì, funiculà!
        Hark the soft guitar, funiculì, funiculà!

Yes, you will be singing with a funicular providing quick turnaround times without breaking down your Hang Glider all day long. You will be able to launch in the earliest light lift without the worry of missing the first cycle to the clouds as it is a quick turnaround back to the top.

Sing away, funicular.

Dreaming of the dream site, and I know where it is, and I think it will be a world record foot launch site.

Take it away Joe.

magentabluesky wrote:Dreaming of the dream site, and I know where it is, and I think it will be a world record foot launch site.

Let's keep it out of USHPA's clutches ... so we can ALL fly.