US Hawks Hang Gliding Association

2012 May 11-13 Pacific City,OR
40 Years of OHGA Antique Glider Fly-In
A gathering at Cape Kiwanda State Park and Sandlake Grange Hall.

Fri. Grange Hall Open, Free- Fly.

Sat. 9:30am-5:30pm Antique Glider Flying on the dunes at "Mother Kiwanda". Judging for best Monoplane, Biplane, Standard. Spot Landing, Dollar Grab.

Sat. 6:30pm-9:30pm Pilot Convention at Sandlake Grange Hall (1/4 mile south of Sandlake Store). Multi-media Presentation and Display by Ken DeRussy. Awards, Posters/T-Shirts, $30 at the door.

Sun. Grange Hall Open, Free-Fly

Enjoy the spectacular Tillamook County coastal sites during the prime season. Low tides for big LZ's and beachcombing. Onshore winds and longer daylight for flying.

All Foot-Launch Glider Pilots Welcome! We are all connected... Come see how your sport began.

Contact: David Raybourn, 425 233-9429, airbourn55@yahoo.com

Mark Witwer of Sand Lake said that he was watching the early days of fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants hang gliding, and it was too dangerous for him. "In the early 70's there was a lot of fatality in the sport. I kind of shied away from it. I was racing motorcycles, sailing, commercial fishing, but jumping without a back-up chute or even a helmet in a homemade craft, that looked dangerous to me."

But the new sport spread like wildfire; it was the first time in the history of man that people could take a running start, jump into the air and fly, soar with eagles, literally. Witwer began flying on Cape Kiwanda in 1978. By then, relatively stable aerodynamic gliders were being built commercially, and Witwer was ready to take the leap. He was immediately hooked.

9:54 PM (12 hours ago)

Hi guys,

I had a great time at the Oregon 40th anniversary vintage HG meet at Cape Kiwanda. I even got a short flight in my Eipper Flexi Floater!

It was reported that the glider count was 50. There were quite a few standards but mine was the only one flown and I got the best standard trophy. The judge (Ken de Russy) said the major factors in the trophy decision were; the excellent condition of the glider, the Lake Sail Feather on the back (even though it was my homemade copy), the rarity of the large Eippers, and that it was flown at the meet (my flight was short because it was interrupted by the dune part way down). I didn't know those things can jump up and grab you!

There were several SST's and they flew well along with an Icarus II which flew after a long set-up time. They even had to clean bird droppings and wasps nests off of it. It definitely arrived at the beach barn fresh. Some of the other vintage but non-"standard" gliders I did not identify. A non-vintage large WW Condor (I think he said it was a 330) had great flights and was able to soar later in the afternoon (Greblo you should have been there!).

The days before and the day after were blown out, but Saturday, the day of the meet was perfect. It started calm and the wind slowly picked up as the day went on. So everyone could pick their perfect wind speed.

Those people treated me like a celebrity. I guess that's the reward for living to an old age. The history collections displayed filled a large room at the Grange Hall and the evening program was well attended. The speakers were; Ken de Russy, David Raybourn, and myself. Ken and I also showed old photos on the screen.

I gave Ken a large format old blue line copy of the Irv Culver (modified standard) glider design that Irv had handed out at one of our SCHGA meetings so many years ago. It had faded to the point that it was hard to make out the lines and some seemed to be completely gone. I got an e-mail from Ken that he took it to a place where they said they can restore it into a digital copy with excellent contrast. As you know Irv had designed the airfoil on the Volmer Jensen VJ23 and Irv was famous for his role in the Lockheed Skunk Works. He was present at many of our early HG meetings and flying sites. When he handed out those plans he said it would be much safer than a "Standard Rogallo" to fly but I don't know of anyone who actually built one. It would be a shame to have that drawing/design lost to history. So go Ken!

Here's a link to the local newspaper story about the meet: http://www.tillamookheadlightherald.com ... 963f4.html
The guy they feature in the article (Mark) I had a great conversation with him and his wife Brenda That also goes for the whole really great group of people there. David and his wife Nancy took several of us on the "three cape tour" on Thursday and showed us the other coastal launch points. One of them even has an identifying engraved marker stone in the ground. He said that sometimes "midnight logging" is employed to keep the launches open. Those trees grow like grass up there!

Well worth the 1029 mile drive to get there from Newport Beach.

See you all on the 23rd @ San Miguel Park NB?

Frank Colver

PS - I'm sure glad beach sand is soft!