[JoeF]

If you were present, consider posting your notes in this topic thread. If you notice someone who is not mentioned in the various posts, but who was present, please post the name of the person.
Many people were mentioned in favored light during the birthday party on Saturday, May 23, 2015; please note also about those mentions; those persons were their in someone's mind or heart.

A very rich-in-history party it was; the party deserves to be carefully recorded and remembered. Good show US Hawks! You did Otto Lilienthal righteous honor!
Post your photos and notes!

Thanks to Mary Ward and Time Ward for the battery advise and jumper cable effort to help a car get going again!

Thanks to Janica Lee for adding lightness, glee, dance, smile, and more to the party.

Thanks to TBM of US Hawks, Scott Wise, for longest-trip to the party! Way to go!

Thanks to Trip Mellinger for mixing and telling and being present.

Thanks to BobK for the super gift of the meet in coordination with site steward Windsports' Joe Greblo. And thanks to BobK for a very generous lunch feast brought to the scene; he saved that part of the day, as many were surprised how many calories can be used when there was so much excitement for so many hours! Thanks to Bob for hosting the TB meeting's meal! (Meeting went well; we carried Bill Cummings in spirit in the meeting).

Thanks for vigilant instruction and safety monitoring by the Windsports team, including Greg DeWolf.

Thanks for your presence, Victoria McBride, (Talbot-Jones family rep; her rich hang glider background).

Thanks to Bob E. Chase for being the oldest to fly on the day.

These notes are set to invite others to post lights from the party.

Thanks to Frank Colver for terrific historic display of Colver Variometer and instruments and Sky Sail and more. And your video of part of the day!

Thanks to Neil Larson for graphic support for the meet and its certificate. And, Neil, thanks for contacting media. The El Segundo TV. They interviewed Frank Colver, Joe Faust, and ????

Thanks to hang glider pilot and esteemed soaring and hang glider photographer George Uveges for showing up at age 92 ... even forming on the day a new contract with Joe Faust to forward your archive into good final places ...

Thanks to Burke Ewing for showing the fondly treasured hand-painted butterfly motif hang glider.

Thanks to Brian Porter for showing and demonstrating your "Tandem Wing" hang glider. And for telling the story of your fog flight that should be written up for all the world.

Thanks to Dan Fitzgerald for giving the Eipper Antares to Joe Faust. Then John Heiney thankfully flew well Joe's wing. Thanks to John Heiney for forming the prusik-knot shortening of Joe's hang loop for Joe's wing-runnings-barely-glide efforts (six run-glides ... in support of the World Wing Running Association ). Chris Bolfing may become the final owner of the Antares (pending his acceptance of the wing from Joe Faust).

Thanks to T1 and T2 for your presence and stories. Taras Kiceniuk, Jr. showed photos and video of his new aviation project (more later); he archived with me Batso plans and Icarus V plans. He had energetic inputs on a few Safe-Splat ideas.

Thanks for the mild-to-soarable good weather of the day!

[Frank Colver]

I'm always repeating myself so here goes again. I'm re-posting this photo from the previous section of this thread because I think it makes a fitting closing for all of Joe's statements, because it was a perfect day (even though Bob Chase beat me out of the oldest flyer honors). Way to go Bob! If he can fly a Condor at Dockweiler, at age 90, that means I have at least ten more years of flying there ahead of me.

So here again is the end of a perfect day.

Frank Colver

[JoeF]

Here is a scene that surprises!

Photographer: Angela Boras, thrice Condor PIC, and elementary schoolteacher

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The 2015 Otto Party by US Hawks HGA was scene of a reunion of the Dial-Soap Team:
Mike Koman has been living in Hawaii (does that distance win over Scott Wise's distance of travel to this years Otto Party?); Mike helped build the Faust design for the Dial Soap TV Commercial in 1973. The design was one of a kind and featured no-sweep bowsprit no-spreader and no battens parawing; I had Eipper's sail loft sew up the sail at urgent speed to meet TV production needs.

Later in 1978's Eipper's world the Antares radiated out of the company Eipper-Formance . The Antares exhibited the no-spreader bowsprit structure (which type became somewhat popular in Europe).

Well, here at the recent USHawks party we see Joe and Mike in front of Dan Fitzgerald's Antares (Joe to own it minutes later as "free" from Dan; and Joe "free" to Chris Bolfing per Chris' wish (pending exchange). Forty-two years after Joe and Mike teamed on the Dial-Soap HG craft. Fun
Mike said he will be moving back to the mainland in September coming up.
At the party Saturday he made from--a found cup--a bi-lobe balanced hand-tossed hang glider model and flew it in the Dockweiler slope lift; such was an echo of his flying similar cup gliders at our early Gas Company meetings in the early 1970s in downtown Los Angeles. Neil Larson has photo of such in archives. Here:
In 1969 mike built and lent a hang glider to someone in Southern California. Many of us are still trying to find out what happened to that hang glider.
Mike was inspired by Richard Miller's book (published in 1967) Without Visible Means of Support, as was Joe.
Welcome Mike Koman!
At the party, Saturday, Mike sat near Angela Boras (thrice Condor pilot) (key media grip for the Self-Soar Association's book table to celebrate US Hawks HGA national moves with free books for all) and played his guitar and sang in low voice in the mild wind.
See copyrighted drawing of Antares: http://www.oocities.org/uptrx160/Antares.gif The author was not taking into account that the Dial-Soap Hang Glider predated the Gryphon for the sake of bowsprit no-spreader frame.

See Antares photos:
http://flyfunston.org/histarchevestallchief.php

Joe presiding and Mke tossing about 43 years ago.... Well, similar occurred at last Saturday's party:
Aim is same: get a national org wholly focused on airframed hang gliders in USA.
Look closely at the photo in front of the styrene foam cup glider held by standing-up Mike Koman: see first Mark Schwinge as teen who later became a commercial airline pilot; then further just next in front is Frank Colver (my best guess; confirm, Frank?)

Mark, age 57, a resident of San Juan Island for 33 years, flew as an international airline pilot for 31 years, has four earned degrees, and now works with San Juan Island EMS/Medevac to advance our Island Air Ambulance program. Mark also volunteers at the Friday Harbor Food Bank and assists the English Language Learners program at San Juan Island library. He has established two 501.c.3 organizations, and served on five nonprofit organization boards.
------------
2013 note: Mark Schwinge took four leaves of absence from the airline to fly for Air Serv, in Africa, and lately served with PACTEC in Laos, developing ab initio flight training curricula. Earlier this year he helped to ferry an Air Serv Twin Otter from Uganda to Atlanta, GA. Long legs, long days. Flew 14.2 hours one day (with one stop in Algeria).

Mark Schwinge had helped in the Self-Soar Association office and in the Seagull Aircraft loft in early 1970s. Eagle scout. Aviation interest early. Here is Mark featured in some other activities:
http://www.sanjuanjournal.com/news/229335751.html
and another
photo and caption: http://www.islandguardian.com/archives/ ... 52014.html

[Bob Kuczewski]

Here are some pictures from the event ...

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[magentabluesky]

Bob,

Thank you for sponsoring the 44th Anniversary Otto Lilienthal Meet. It was a blast and great to meet people in person whom I have been conversing with for years on the forums.

In the presence of all the old gliders, I am reminded as to how much progress the sport of Hang Gliding has come in the last 44 years in both performance and safety let alone from the time of Otto.

The gathering was both fun and safe, a real success.

Cheers,

Michael

[Bob Kuczewski]

Thank you for sponsoring the 44th Anniversary Otto Lilienthal Meet. It was a blast and great to meet people in person whom I have been conversing with for years on the forums.

You're welcome. That's what the US Hawks is all about.   

US Hawks Trial Board of Directors:
Bob (California), Sam (Texas), Joe (California), Scott (New York), Bill (New Mexico)

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Thanks for participating in the future of hang gliding!!!!

[JoeF]

http://www.solar-flight.com/data/team/Floyd_Fronius.jpg
http://www.solar-flight.com/team/
Floyd Fronius
Saturday: Floyd Fronius at day's end, photo by BobK:

The Otto party enclosed a Quickarus; I am guessing some photos will show. To have preamble, one may profit by looking at a Quicksilver by Bob Lovejoy (RIP)(single surface) whereas the Quickarus has the double-surface Icarus V airfoil.
First the tease:

Doug Fronius

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Seminal article in two pages by Doug Fronius:
Ground Skimmer, October 1975, pp. 30-31
http://www.delta-club-82.com/bible/doc/quickarus1.jpg
http://www.delta-club-82.com/bible/doc/quickarus2.jpg

For some Fronius history: Bob Fronius (RIP) dad of: Floyd Fronius, Doug Fronius, and more!
See: http://www.utsandiego.com/uniontrib/200 ... onius.html

Mr. Fronius is survived by his daughter, Susan Olsen of Seattle; sons, Doug of Poway and Floyd of San Diego; a brother, Joseph Fronius of Minnetonka, Minn.; sister, Betty Eastgate of Minnetonka; and three grandchildren.

Then Floyd Fronius was present (I did not directly have a talk session with him) at the Otto Party on Saturday. Quickarus was featured in the following document:
http://www.delta-club-82.com/bible/787- ... ckarus.htm
http://www.delta-club-82.com/bible/phot ... &langue=en


BobK just posted many photos showing Quickarus and Floyd.
See above post for many photos BobK took of Floyd Fronius and Quickarus at the Otto Party.

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[Neil Larson]

Mike Koman from early 1970 perhaps late Fall '71 or early Spring '72 with very early Koman Kite at Dockweiler /Playa Del Rey Beach primary coastal testing site for hang gliders in LA County during the beginning of HG as a sport .

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Here is a scene that surprises!

The attachment DialSoapShipTeamMikeKomanAndJoeFaust.jpg is no longer available

The 2015 Otto Party by US Hawks HGA was scene of a reunion of the Dial-Soap Team:
Mike Koman has been living in Hawaii (does that distance win over Scott Wise's distance of travel to this years Otto Party?); Mike helped build the Faust design for the Dial Soap TV Commercial in 1973. The design was one of a kind and featured no-sweep bowsprit no-spreader and no battens parawing; I had Eipper's sail loft sew up the sail at urgent speed to meet TV production needs.

Later in 1978's Eipper's world the Antares radiated out of the company Eipper-Formance . The Antares exhibited the no-spreader bowsprit structure (which type became somewhat popular in Europe).

Well, here at the recent USHawks party we see Joe and Mike in front of Dan Fitzgerald's Antares (Joe to own it minutes later as "free" from Dan; and Joe "free" to Chris Bolfing per Chris' wish (pending exchange). Forty-two years after Joe and Mike teamed on the Dial-Soap HG craft. Fun
Mike said he will be moving back to the mainland in September coming up.
At the party Saturday he made from--a found cup--a bi-lobe balanced hand-tossed hang glider model and flew it in the Dockweiler slope lift; such was an echo of his flying similar cup gliders at our early Gas Company meetings in the early 1970s in downtown Los Angeles. Neil Larson has photo of such in archives. Here:
In 1969 mike built and lent a hang glider to someone in Southern California. Many of us are still trying to find out what happened to that hang glider.
Mike was inspired by Richard Miller's book (published in 1967) Without Visible Means of Support, as was Joe.
Welcome Mike Koman!
At the party, Saturday, Mike sat near Angela Boras (thrice Condor pilot) (key media grip for the Self-Soar Association's book table to celebrate US Hawks HGA national moves with free books for all) and played his guitar and sang in low voice in the mild wind.
See copyrighted drawing of Antares: http://www.oocities.org/uptrx160/Antares.gif The author was not taking into account that the Dial-Soap Hang Glider predated the Gryphon for the sake of bowsprit no-spreader frame.

See Antares photos:
http://flyfunston.org/histarchevestallchief.php

Joe presiding and Mke tossing about 43 years ago.... Well, similar occurred at last Saturday's party:
Aim is same: get a national org wholly focused on airframed hang gliders in USA.
Look closely at the photo in front of the styrene foam cup glider held by standing-up Mike Koman: see first Mark Schwinge as teen who later became a commercial airline pilot; then further just next in front is Frank Colver (my best guess; confirm, Frank?)

Mark, age 57, a resident of San Juan Island for 33 years, flew as an international airline pilot for 31 years, has four earned degrees, and now works with San Juan Island EMS/Medevac to advance our Island Air Ambulance program. Mark also volunteers at the Friday Harbor Food Bank and assists the English Language Learners program at San Juan Island library. He has established two 501.c.3 organizations, and served on five nonprofit organization boards.
------------
2013 note: Mark Schwinge took four leaves of absence from the airline to fly for Air Serv, in Africa, and lately served with PACTEC in Laos, developing ab initio flight training curricula. Earlier this year he helped to ferry an Air Serv Twin Otter from Uganda to Atlanta, GA. Long legs, long days. Flew 14.2 hours one day (with one stop in Algeria).

Mark Schwinge had helped in the Self-Soar Association office and in the Seagull Aircraft loft in early 1970s. Eagle scout. Aviation interest early. Here is Mark featured in some other activities:
http://www.sanjuanjournal.com/news/229335751.html
and another
photo and caption: http://www.islandguardian.com/archives/ ... 52014.html

[JoeF]

It was a special moment to greet Pete Brock on the edge of the Dockweiler slope last Saturday. Our last embrazo was at the Big Blue Sky opening showing in Escondido, movie by Bill Lipscomb.
So good to see you, Pete !
You help the HG-focus movement. You have given life to our sport. Ever thanking you.
================
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Brock
Explore Pete's history; much of his way included hang gliding. He brought quality parts to the 1970s HG hardware; we still see his creative quality living in today's hang gliders. Thanks, Pete.
PART OF HIS RADIANCE: http://tinyurl.com/PeterBrockHangGlider

===================
Note: The link above that reaches the speech by Bill Lipscomb involves a spoken note by Bill about triangle control bar where a listener might think that invention occurred in Australia on the matter; Bill Lipscomb was not aware that the cable-stayed flexwing with battens coupled with a cable-stayed triangle control bar with pilot hung from keel behind the A-frame control frame was extant at least in 1908 by W. Simon (who legally protected his foot-launch hang glider). The over-half-century later use of the mechanical arrangement by Mike Burns in Australia and later yet by John Dickenson was even predated by the use by John Worth in USA; the ski kite use of the mechanical arrangement was thus not mechanical global invention, but did play a social-spreading of the use of the 1908 mechanicals. The favoritism-untenable push by Graeme Henderson ended up in an unwary fiasco adoption of historical error by F.A.I. and other HG orgs. The US Hawks examination of the history and even patent evidence results in US Hawks text being leader in the correct invention disclosure about the triangle control frame ( A-frame) in hang gliding. The very early use in foot-launch hang glidng in the first decade of 1900 was just part of A-frame use history in general aircraft landing-gear devices. The hardcore favorite-buddy syndrome blinded Graeme from appropriately wording matters of "invention" to the loss of accurate hang glider invention history; the F.A.I. might not ever confess their built-in history errors, as the org is steeped in simple sport competition and nearly rubber stamps what is presented from feeding orgs, regardless of the level of fact involved, especially when honor-award texts are composed. Careful researchers are invited to fully explore Wenham, Gold Air Awards, W. Simon of Breslau, John Worth, Mike Burns, and many others in order to get the "invention" story more clear. A loud favorite-buddy grab of our history tends to blind the great history that is actually available.

[Neil Larson]

Partial list of attendees to 2015 "Otto Meet 44"
Special Honored Guest "Early Birds" .........
Joe Faust / Frank Colver / Taras Kiceniuk, Jr / Taras Kiceniuk, Sr /
Mike Koman / Vickie (Talbot-Jones) McBride / Trip Mellinger /
Brian Porter / Burke Ewing / Pete Brock / George Uveges
*Bob Chase, Oldest Pilot of the day
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
please continue this list, add to it all others who took part