51st Anniversary of Otto Meet - May 23, 2022

[JoeF]

My flights today: three in Falcon 1, 195; two in Dream 240 mod; three in Condor 225. Thanks to the graces of Jay S., John Heiney, and team Bob Kuczewski and Frank Colver.


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Super showing today: (missing some): Scott Strom, Joe McCullough and his three dogs, Frank Colver, Bob Kuczewski, Bill Watson, Juan Corral, Angela B., Jay S., George Stebbins, Chris Bolfing, Cindy, Dean, Tom O'Brien, Joe Faust, Floyd Fronius, Big Bird (Phil S.), John Heiney, Post your presence, if I missed listing; thanks; I know the list is short by about 10 other people.
Some notes: Tom O'Brien brought a vintage Eipper. Chris Bolfing brought recent acquisitions of two Seagull 10m, one flown and the not. Jay S. flew her Falcon 1-195 and also Bob-Frank's Condor 225.

Thanks to hang glider Angela B. photographer who sent these videos to me.

Scott Strom shared with me his 1960s initiation to hang gliding. While in a library he spotted someone in a biplane something; things went from there. He built a bamboo something in the 1960s. Aviation family big time! From about age 13 he was part of the hang gliding sphere. I had awarded Scott "Most Intent Pilot" in 1971 big meet: see: http://energykitesystems.net/OttoMeet19 ... ndees.html

Recalling Richard Miller, R.I.P. at the first history-changing meet of 1971

[Bob Kuczewski]

It was a good day Joe. It was good to see so many pilots enjoying the freedoms earned by you, Frank and I nearly 5 years ago.

I took extensive photos and videos, but It's too late to post anything tonight. I'll try to add to your list when I find time.

Thanks for your presence Joe. It's always a joy to see you and Angela. More later ...

[Bob Kuczewski]

Larry Mace with Dino Dinasso (not sure of spellings).

Floyd Fronius was taking a photo, and Frank Colver and other pilots can be seen in the background. The glider is believed to be John Heiney's Dream 240.

[Bob Kuczewski]

Jay and Geroge Stebbins. Jay was preparing to launch a Condor 225 (gifted to Bob Kuczewski by Frank Colver).

Jay_and_George.png (339.7 KiB) Viewed 2502 times

[Bob Kuczewski]

Another photo of Larry Mace and Dino Dinasso with John Heiney on the wing (to the right).

[Frank Colver]

Here's a short video (series of clips together) of the flying and conversations at the Otto 51st anniversary meet. It's not fancy, it's unedited, just an archival record of the day's activities.

https://vimeo.com/713556429

Even though lift was marginal to non-existent, a good time was had by all. Lots of great conversation.

Someone I hadn't seen in many years and I don't think has attended any of our other Otto reunions of recent years, Dean Tanji, was there. His more recent accomplishments, other than winning HG competitions years ago, has been riding motorcycles almost all over the earth.

Frank

[JoeF]

At "Otto 51" Frank is wearing an "Otto 45" shirt.

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John Heiney permits Joe two flights in a mode of Dream 240 wherein about 15 lb were carved off wing using CF spreader and some other details; still: net 65 lb approx.
Thanks, John!

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Floyd Fronius may have set up the Seagull 10 meter (??)
Angela and Joe posing, neither flew that bird that day.

[JoeF]

1971 advertisement:

[Bob Kuczewski]

Super showing today: (missing some): Scott Strom, Joe McCullough and his three dogs, Frank Colver, Bob Kuczewski, Bill Watson, Juan Corral, Angela B., Jay S., George Stebbins, Chris Bolfing, Cindy, Dean, Tom O'Brien, Joe Faust, Floyd Fronius, Big Bird (Phil S.), John Heiney

It was a super showing Joe ... and our first Otto Meet of the century not requiring USHPA membership to fly.   

I had personally hoped to be there earlier with food, drinks, sign-in book, etc., but I had just recovered from COVID, so I decided to keep more to myself than at prior Otto meets.

For the record, I had flown Dockweiler 2 weeks earlier (Monday, May 9th, 2022), and it was one of my best Dockweiler flying days:

https://youtu.be/O_MMzuEVYQo



Unfortunately, two days later (Wednesday, May 11th, 2022), I began having minor COVID symptoms in the afternoon. I immediately began isolation, and I was sick with fever and chills the next 2 days (Thursday and Friday). I was feeling better by Saturday and I took a COVID test on Saturday morning which showed a COVID-positive result. The CDC recommends 5 to 10 days of isolation from the first day of symptoms, so I remained under isolation until the day of the meet (12 days since the day of my first symptoms).

Back on March 16th of 2020 (over 2 years ago), I posted this comment to the COVID topic:

I'm no expert, but with a virus that can survive for hours in both air and on surfaces, and is infectious long before symptoms appear, it seems very unlikely that many of us will escape getting it sooner or later.

It looks like that statement eventually proved true in my case. FYI, here are the CDC COVID isolation guidelines as of May 2022:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/quarantine-isolation.html

Ending isolation for people who had COVID-19 and had symptoms

If you had COVID-19 and had symptoms, isolate for at least 5 days. To calculate your 5-day isolation period, day 0 is your first day of symptoms. Day 1 is the first full day after your symptoms developed. You can leave isolation after 5 full days.

▪ You can end isolation after 5 full days if you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved (Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation​).

▪ You should continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public for 5 additional days (day 6 through day 10) after the end of your 5-day isolation period. If you are unable to wear a mask when around others, you should continue to isolate for a full 10 days. Avoid people who have weakened immune systems or are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19, and nursing homes and other high-risk settings, until after at least 10 days.

▪ If you continue to have fever or your other symptoms have not improved after 5 days of isolation, you should wait to end your isolation until you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved. Continue to wear a well-fitting mask through day 10. Contact your healthcare provider if you have questions.

▪ Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask, such as restaurants and some gyms, and avoid eating around others at home and at work until a full 10 days after your first day of symptoms.

If an individual has access to a test and wants to test, the best approach is to use an antigen test towards the end of the 5-day isolation period. Collect the test sample only if you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved (loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation). If your test result is positive, you should continue to isolate until day 10. If your test result is negative, you can end isolation, but continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public until day 10.