[Bob Kuczewski]

OK I most likely will take some flack from Bob for My starting a New Thread regarding Dealing with Your Glider. I might also get banned for using Cuss Words such as Cross Country, and safety. but if Bob Bans Me so Be it.

Ok, I just want to say first that what I am about to Type might rub Bob ... wrong.

Hi Chris,

As I've said before, you may be spending too much time living in fear on sites like hanggliding.org. Here at the U.S. Hawks we almost never ban anyone. Furthermore, all restrictions (even emergency bans) are subject to review by our Advisory Board of Directors.

We currently have four Advisory Directors - Joe Faust, Sam Kellner, Bill Cummings, and myself. It would take a majority (currently 3 out of 4) to ban you. And that would only happen after a discussion where you could defend yourself. You could even have telephone discussions with us during that process. How many times have you and I talked on the phone or sent text messages in the last 10 years? Dozens? Hundreds? Has Jack ever invited you to call him or even text him?

So please don't feel any need to treat me any differently than you would treat anyone else on the forum. It's always good to be polite and respectful to everyone, but never be afraid to say what you believe to be true. That's one of the things that makes us different from (and better than) the other forums and associations.

Thanks for supporting free speech by supporting the U.S. Hawks!

[Chris McKeon]

Well I will try to stay on Topic, by talking about Flying. I am happy to report that there seems to be a influx of Female Pilots up here in the SF Bay Area. Pilot X told me about a new female pilot, please forgive me here. I believe her name might be Jessica. but never the less She is a new pilot who X told Me that She shows promise.

I for One am unable to see why anyone=, Male or female would not want to Fly a H-g. What an Awesome experience.

FLYOING PARAGLIDERS:

I look at Paragliders and just looking at what They do. They Fly. Pilots up here have pulled off some pretty nice XC's. But Paragliders will not lure Me into Flying one. For I do not poses the Raw Guts, The nerves of Steel that a Pilot must have in order to Fly one. But if I develop the nerves, the Courage, The Guts that one really needs to Poses in order to Fly one. Then maybe, maybe I will Fly a Paraglider.

[Chris McKeon]

I am sorry, But I fail to see how Flying, Working a Thermal while Flying at One's Local site, Never heading out X-C is in it's self any more safe than when one is Flying XC. Take up here in the SF Bay area. There was just fatal event. I mean Ed-Levin is considered a Non-XC Flight where Pilots Launch off a 1,750 foot Hill that is surrounded By Cow Pasture, I do not believe that there is even a Tree to crash into For Miles. Ok with the premise that Flying XC is not inherently Anymore un-Safe than F a Local Cow Pasture. You could Very well Auger into the Ground on a Given Day, Or You could say Fly any Number of Miles, where You could just as well Auger into the Ground.

I realize that I am preaching to the Death. For even though I as Some of You are talking about Flying. We are definitely talking about Flying op in the Air. We have different In interpretations of the basic Physics involved when We take Flight. On a given Day up at say Diablo, I am not any safer Flying say 30 Miles from the Mountain, than I am when I am soaring over Mount Diablo. Same Day, Same Flying Conditions.

This is not an Ginger Mary Ann type of a Deal. Heck, Flying on the Same Day, same conditions is the Same deal. I say enjoy Yourself, Fly no Matter where Uo Deciede to Land.

[Bob Kuczewski]

I am sorry, But I fail to see how Flying, Working a Thermal while Flying at One's Local site, Never heading out X-C is in it's self any more safe than when one is Flying XC.

First off, an LZ that's within glide distance is always safer than that same exact LZ ten, thirty, fifty, or a hundred miles away.

A lot can happen in the ten, thirty, fifty, or a hundred miles between you and your landing zone. You might get tired or sick or have an equipment failure. The weather conditions might be very different over that distance.

And don't forget that distance also equates to time. The conditions at your XC destination might have been fine when you launched, but you won't be landing there for many hours due to distance. That increases the possibility that conditions will change over time as well as distance.

But beyond all of that, cross country flight will often put pilots over territory where they simply can not find a safe place to land. That's what bothers me the most. Being over unlandable territory is a gamble. It might be a relatively safe gamble when lift is abundant, but It's still a gamble.

Everyone is free to make their own decisions. I am just explaining why I prefer to keep a safe LZ within easy glide.

[Chris McKeon]

Ok I have pointed out to Bob how He already posse's Some major Attributes that A Pilot should have in order to successfully undergo an Successful XC Flight. that would be Flying because Bob just loves to be in the Air. I mean There have been numerous times when I have been Flying XC, a long way from a road. Well I dug into My Bag of Desire to; "Just Fly, just to satay in the Air". Low and Behold I would get back up. That way I could Stay in the Game. The game is; "Being airborne". Look I know that Old Saying; "You can lead a Horse to water, But You can't make Him drink. I realize that You are enamored with when You Land, You land on Sand. But right up until you impact the Earth. Flying is absolutely no safer weather You are Flying at a Home Site, or if You are landing after an XC Flight. But then again if You Pound, Pounding into Sand is more forgiving than Hard Dirt.

Ok look Bob, I am a realist after All. You and I have different Ideas regarding Flying. Both are fine and Good. But I need to simply allow You to Fly the way You want to Fly, and I will leave it at that. I mean look at Me right now. I have not even Flown in over Twelve Years. My next flight will most likely Be a super short Flight. Hardly a a Flight at all. But make no Mistake, My Next Flight will Be Glorious!

Bob, when You Fly next time. I hope that You totally enjoy the experience.

Good By Chris.

[Chris McKeon]

Ok; I know, I know that what I will say will not be received with much optimism, or Favor. But I just want to state that that when a Pilot decides to Venture away From His, Hers, or It's Home Site, for any reason. It could Be that He or She wants to just plain Fly over a Lot of terrane. Yes to have an extended, long air-Time flight enjoying the changing scenery.

SSFETY;

Can anyone tell Me how Pounding, or Dying in the Case of a Recent Mid-Air up here in the Bay Area. Is at all safer when one choices to Fly in the airspace above Their Home LZ. Or if Said Pilot Choses to Fly in the Airspace above the Ground that is One, Five, Twenty, or a Hundred Miles away from their Home LZ. Flying XC is notin any way a Distance Deal for Me. Granted i Fly the Finest Glider ever Made that has a King-Post. The Predator will wain regarding Top Speed or Best Glide when Compared to other Gliders. But the Predator has an uncanny ability to rise to the occasion. In other words The Predator can Climb like no other Glider. I after all want yto stay in the Air.

Look I Know that I Am not coming across this Flying Subject well. But at My root, My Core, I just love to Fly. I believe that we can find a little middle Ground here. Onvce a Pilot weather or not He or She is Flying over their Home site. Or if they choose to Fly XC, once They are on the Ground, Their Flying is done. But there are exceptions to what i just said. If a Pilot is making pass after pass along a Cliff. They can merely top Land, then re-Launch. Or if a Pilot is Flying XC over Mountains. He or She can simply land, then Re-Launch.

[Chris McKeon]

Hello all You Hawks:

OK I have a couple of Questions, Questions relating to Flying. I am trying as Many of You know, I am Trying to resurrect Myself. Heck I have been in the fight, Yes I said {FIGHT}. I have been fighting to do such Mundane Things, things that just about anyone can do. I continuously Push Myself. Trying to rehabilitate My brain. Or if I am talking about improving My Physical Body. To do this has and I imagine it will continue to be by a far less margin. But, I am on a Quest. A quest, an adventure to become as What I was before that horrible day March 28th 2010. By sheer coincidence 3-28-2010 was the same Day that My Friend Dave C also had a life changing event on 3-28-2010 Dave descended into the lowest form that a Human being can be, Dave became unemployed, Dave became a Bum. Yes March 28th. 2010 was the last Day Dave worked. Now Dave has given up, He has not been able, not is He willing to look for a job. This situation Dave has found Himself in is just such a terrible deal.

But I am not Dave. I just know that I will Fly George's 330 Condor, then I will Fly John's T-2. Then I will after John completes an Full IRAN. I will Fly My mighty a** Kicking 158 Predator. It will be an Flying experience that will be something. For I will Be Flying the same Glider that I flew on My last Flight. Only now I will be One Hundred, or One Hundred and Eleven Pounds or so Liter than on My last Flight. My goal is to Keep chipping away at loosing Weight. So that I will be able to loose about another twelve Pounds or so. You know My 158 Predator Climbed great! I hope to get My Body weight down to where I will weigh 110 Pounds or so less than that Sunday in March, when I Pounded.

John Truly hit one out out of the Park when He designed the Predator. I mean I must say that just like that Old saying says; You can't argue with success. I have enjoyed some great XC Flights flying My 158. I believe that I will be able to do better than I did before when working a Thermal. Also before I pounded, I climbed very Well. The Way I see it a loss of at least 100 pounds just has to make a difference, it has to, Correct?

Ok when I Pounded Some Firemen stopped to lend a Hand. I guess they were returning to their Station. Well anyways these Firemen Packed My Glider and My Gear up. The only Problem is that the Firemen Did not know how to break-Down a Glider. This is the other reason that I want John to do an IRAN on My Predator. My VA riometer has vanished. I need to get new instruments. What are Guys using for a VA riometer these Days? John told Me that there is a VA riometer that will show a Circle on a screen that A Pilot can use to center Themselves in the Thermal? Does any care to comment on these New VA riometers?

Please let Me know what You Guys are using these Days. Thanks Chris McKeon. 925-497-1059

[Chris McKeon]

Ok I feel as if I need to defend myself. I like just about everyone else, simply love to be up in the Air. In a Perfect world when You Flew and wanted to soar over where You launched from. You would have an Ambulance on standby at the Ready to Cart You off to the Hospital of Your Choice in order for Your injured body to be repaired. Also, I am talking a Perfect World here. You would have already done research as to which Hospital that You wanted to be deposited at by Your waiting Ambulance and Crew. Trust Me4 when I say that not all Hospitals will provide Doctors who are competent and foresee You regaining a state normalcy.

Ok, I first began My learning how to Fly in During the Winter of 1990. I Pounded Thirty Years later. So is Flying unsafe? I would beg to differ with anyone who says the Contrary. Was it that I was Heading out on an XC Flight ? Case in Point We recently had a Death up here at a Training site. The Site has a Dirt Hill from which to launch. I believe that it is only 1700' High. Out front there is a Wide open Dirt Field. I believe that the Field may also be used as a Place For Cows to be. There is always a Big Wind sock,. So the site requires that A Pilot only have a rudimentary knowledge of Flying in order to Fly the site. Yet Two People who Launched, but only one survived their Impact upon landing. Did the Person die Due to the Fact that They were Flying from a modest training Hill? No. Did they Pound Due to atmospheric conditions? No. Did the Death occur because the Pilot could not determine Wind Conditions? No There is always a Big old Wind sock to look at.

I look at Flying, Flying either around one of My local Sites or maybe say am up in the Sierra Mountains launch from a High Altitude Launch. If I am in a position when I need to land. I do not want to land without someone watching my Landing. I have had to Fly for say 5, or ten Miles more during a Flight in order to have a Witness. I remember numerous times asking Pilot-X via a Phone call to watch me launch via a Camera that was pointed to where He could see Me Launch. Landing as it seems to be the case. If I am going to land somewhere. I would always scan an area to make sure that there were Witnesses that would be able to summon Help if aso needed.

Is Flying, Flying XC unsafe? I no it not see Flying as inherently an unsafe activity. I just had a Bad Day. Yes one Day in Thirty Years.

So will I Fly again? Heck yes. Possibly possibly in not to far in the Future. I might Fly in as few as 8 more Days. Will I fly as well as I did previously? I can not say as of now. But I will not be carrying around a Hundred Plus less Pounds. Less Weight will have to be a POsitive Factor, Correct?

I guess what it Bowls Down To is'; I just Love to Fly!

[Chris McKeon]

Ok Flight Fan's, I have a Question. If an Aircraft is either Scaled up, or it is scaled down. THere is an affect concerning the Wing's ability to Perform, either Performing better, or performing less as the either larger or the smaller Aircraft. Note; The same Design is what I am talking/asking about. I believe this is called a Reynolds number. Am I correct?

[Bob Kuczewski]

Ok Flight Fan's, I have a Question. If an Aircraft is either Scaled up, or it is scaled down. THere is an affect concerning the Wing's ability to Perform, either Performing better, or performing less as the either larger or the smaller Aircraft. Note; The same Design is what I am talking/asking about. I believe this is called a Reynolds number. Am I correct?

Yes. The air has different interaction characteristics at different scales, and the Reynolds number is intended to quantify that difference.

Regarding scale, there is another difference that people don't intuitively understand ...

When you double the linear size of any thing, all the areas of that thing are increased by a factor of 4 because area increases with the square of length. Similarly, the mass (weight) of that thing goes up by a factor of 8 because volume increases with the cube of length.

Compare the beetle to the elephant:

Beetle.jpg (81.15 KiB) Viewed 3119 times

Elephant.jpg (153.87 KiB) Viewed 3119 times

The beetle has spindly little legs compared to its body, yet it can easily climb in any direction (even upside down). The elephant's legs are like tree trunks, yet those massive legs can't do any of the gymnastics of the beetle.

The point is that strength goes up as the square of an object's linear scale, but weight goes up as the cube of an object's linear scale. At some point the weight becomes too great for the strength to manage.