Dockweiler RHG Diary

[Frank Colver]

The "Free Flying Three" need to get back to Dockweiler again. It's been too long.

Looking forward to front bars launches to solve our seated launch problems. It was tried a little at Dockweiler but I don't think we gave it enough attention. High wind at POTM proved the methodology.

Dockweiler will require a quick transition to the rear bars after launch. Good to practice.

JOE, Do you know who that was with his daughter in the video? He looked a little familiar to me.

Frank

[JoeF]

Valerie Fox
and her father.

jfox

His U2 Wills Wing was there with him.
Manual for U2
PDF document

Have not found his name. Andy Beem or Bob Bendetson might know. Or Joe Greblo.

[Bob Kuczewski]

Fun day at Dockweiler with Joe Faust today.

We both flew my Falcon 195 all afternoon until near sunset. The wind was variable, and we had some "one way" soaring flights.

[Bob Kuczewski]

Another fun day at Dockweiler!!

Bill and I drove up from San Diego and we met Joe Faust for a day of beach flying. It was Bill's first visit to Dockweiler ... but hopefully not his last!!!

We all flew under our own Dockweiler Hang Gliding permits that were pioneered by Joe Faust, Frank Colver, and myself. The legacy of that effort continues.

Joe_and_Bill.jpg (544.63 KiB) Viewed 6292 times

[JoeF]

Some firsts for the day:
1. My first meeting of Bill McGinnis. http://www.energykitesystems.net/HGpilo ... innis.html
2. Perhaps the first Dream 205 at Dockweiler, not sure on that.
3. Bob's first Dream 205 flight.
4. Bill's first Dockweiler flight session.
5. Joe's first Dream 205 flight.
6. Joe's longest wheel landing in the soft Dockweiler sand: 7 ft roll using the Bill Bennett wheels on the Dream 205 via judicious gliding and body positioning during the rolling. Prevention of gouge by any wheels has been a challenge in the soft sand.
7. First time three pilots flew a Dream 205 at Dockweiler.
8. First time three pilots flew an Alpha 210 and a Dream 205 at Dockweiler.
9. First time Bob beat Joe in a race: Dream 205 for Joe and Bob in his Alpha 210. Joe got 5 ft without launch and Bob a near maximum-efficiency glide with the Alpha 210.
10. Bill's first Alpha 210 flight.
11. Joe's first cell phone use in HG site circumstance.
12. First post-flight-session dinner with B, J, and Bill.

Manual for Dream PDF document
Dream 205 stock: 59 lb
Alpha 210 stock: 51 lb Manual in PDF

Some Dream discussion HERE

[JoeF]

For the record:
1. Bill McGinnis was briefed about the high focus on keeping wing tied down or under full control in order to avoid blow back onto the bike path.
2. Some distinct recent top-launch sand-dirt sculpting was noticed near three launches. One launch back filled for a new about three feet crown.
3. Super amount of weed was cleared around the HG storage container.
4. A slat fence on both sides of a walking path has been newly installed from the rear of the storage container to the bike path.
5. The instructors almost never use the far south shallower launch and runs. High L/D recreational wings might one day have such as an all-week site.
6. The winter brings fewer beach users to the hang gliding beach area.
7. Good-faith estimate for the day: Bill McGinnis: 8 flights; Joe Faust: 12 flights; Bob Kuczewski: 15 flights. Wind: 0 to 4. Launch runs: firm effort needed.

CORRECTION FOR HISTORICAL NOTE:
In former posts for the day of Dec. 10, 2018, it was Bob's first use of Bill's Dream 205 at Dockweiler; hence, "3. Bob's first Dream 205 flight." is not accurate, but the correction brings this new data: Bob Kuczewski had flown a Dream 205 before that day in coordination with John Heiney, but not the McGinnis wing.
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[JoeF]

At the Dec. 10, 2018, flight session, Bill McGinnis expressed that a ramp at Dockweiler might be a good thing.
I expressed that a permanent ramp would be a special thing changing the scene and would have to pass muster with Beaches & Harbor as the change would alter the liability of the stewards of the beach property. I also mentioned that I had interest in a session-temporary ramp.

A temporary ramp might be treatable as the bringing to the beach a towel on which to lay one's body upon. In some places beaches have built long walkways across the beach sand to accommodate the faction of the public that have a very difficult time getting near the water's edge over soft sand.

A temporary ramp design contest might be fun. How low-mass or light might an effective ramp be? Could a combination of inflatables and planks suffice? Cables anchored with planks? Various truss designs? Off load parts; set up ramp; off-load wing; rig wing; don helmet and harness; clear; fly off ramp. Take ramp home or find other solutions.

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Would a ramp bring more successful launches?
Would a ramp add value to the site?
Practicing ramp launch and non-ramp launch would seem to give added value to the site.

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[Bill Cummings]

For Dockweiler a portable ramp sturdy enough to be practicable most likely would take more than one
person to install. To elevate a ramp above the sand while still being light enough to be portable sounds like a major problem.
Our portable ramp for the Little Florida Mountains takes two people, some disassembly, and more than one trip back and forth to the vehicle.
Laying down about 12 feet of plywood by four feet wide on the loose sand may help with a running
launch. (Tough to fit on a bus.)
What may be less work would be to tie a 30' length of rope to the harness and have the other person
assist the pilot's running launch by pulling the rope and then let go and let the rope drag on the sand when landing. The rope could be released. (Rope is easy to take on the bus.)

[SamKellner]

Put the turnaround pulley down on the beach. Put the scooter tow up by the bike path.

[JoeF]

My sketch of Bill's:

BillRopeDockweiler.png (5.49 KiB) Viewed 6246 times

My sketch of Sam's:

SamScooterTurnaroundPulley.png (4.99 KiB) Viewed 6246 times

Some realities:
Lifeguard and beach-maintenance vehicle traffic patterns would need to be watched.
Lines would need to be fully slack and on the sand surface when a vehicle passed.
We are limited by FAA for LAX cares: 60 ft AGL to stay out of radar view.
Operation of fuel-driven scooter may be against regulations, not sure. I see electric bicycles, electric scooters on the bike path. The lifeguard and beach maintenance trucks and pickup trucks are internal combustion driven, but they might be exempted.