Discuss article by Aviani

[JoeF]

California’s Dockweiler Beach Has Been Home to Hang Gliding for 14 Years
By Vincent Aviani on July 19, 2014
Click title to get to the article.
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Discussion started.
1. Our flyiing at Dockweiler is not directly under the flight path for LAX; we are south of the path by a good margin. And the El Segundo bluffs and the Scattergood towers give further shielding from aviation traffic.

2. Nice for the author to have mentioned Otto Lilienthal.

3. This author and others missed James Hobson ( aka Jim Hobson) and his operating a hang glider in 1962 at the beach site.

4. A note is made about three launch pads. West, southwest, and then west or slightly northwest facing again, I guess with my direction words. The most south pad is hardly used; Windsports uses the north part of the third south long pad for beginning instruction of HG. I'd like to develop the most south part of south third pad for wing running and micro hang gliding.

5. The sense I get from reading this article and other historical documents is this: Hang gliding free recreation was permitted until a parking-car-traffic safety problem occurred; then further car-parking needs of Hyperion occurred. Then a huge plan to bring more general public use of the properties grew; to get the general plan going, then some uses of the land had to come to a halt while things were constructed. Included in the General Plan was an understanding of the return of a recreation hang gliding ... to support the historic open recreation of hang gliding. Greblo was a saint in communicating specifications; and he won a concession that has served wonderfully. But the meta open beach hang gliding tradition had meaning not unlike surfing, beach play, kite flying, bicycling, running, walking, playing, etc. Open hang gliding as open surfing and kiteboarding AS WELL AS AN ON-SITE CONCESSION of instruction seems to me to be what was the intent and open permission by recreation leaders. If Windsports or an equivalent concession passes, still the site is historically important for open free hang gliding park use; the site is mellow for running, wing running, micro hang gliding, kite flying, kiteboarding, slope experiencing, and hang gliding. For now, the Windsports exemplary service is a giant blessing; good communications and cooperations occur; fees are reasonable; excellent rapport occurs with hang glider pilots and the public.

[Bob Kuczewski]

Great article Joe!!!

I also agree with your analysis. We could discuss using the more southern portions of the slope for wing running with Joe and/or Greg.

There's much positive energy toward that site. Thanks!!