[Bob Kuczewski]

I realize now that Aerobatics or Flying XC hold little interest here ...

Wow! I'm flying!!!

That's no fun unless you're going 100 miles.

Yipee! I'm flying!!!

That's no fun unless you're doing it upside down.

Woohoo! I'm flying!!!

That's no fun unless you're doing it blindfolded and with one hand.

Chris, some of us just love flying. We don't need to go anywhere or do it upside down or add any other challenges or dangers. I hope that helps.

[Bob Kuczewski]

Wingover

Is this how you say "Whack" in German?

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Editor puts in a filler video

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I think they picked the wrong pilot with regard to wing loading.

[Chris McKeon]

You know I do need help, I need help understanding other Pilots point of Views? I mean I mentioned how Tex Johnston was called in before one of His Higher ups to explain why He had performed a Barrel roll in that 707 over a body of water in I believe it was in Seattle Washington. Well Tex talked about the Physical reality regarding how that 707 reacted to being rolled. He informed his Boss how the Aircraft never knew that it was upside down during the Roll. I also look at Pilots who have such strong Negative reactions to say a Pilot performing a Loop. Even though They do not have a shred of experience from doing a loop. Same goes for another entirely safe maneuver, that would be landing Down-Wind Up-Hill. How many L-Z's do You know of that can cite a similar success rate as Juniper ridge. I know that no-one ever Whacked atthat L-Z.

Take Myself for example. I have never fallen into the sail while doing a steep Wing-Over, not even close. Why was I always able to keep My Main taut throughout the Wing-Over? Simple, I did my Home-work. I would call John and talk to Him about how to manage My Pitch throughout the Maneuver, thus avoiding experiencing a dreaded; {HANGER}

So Granted we Fly our Two Axis control gliders, in an three Dimensional environment. I say explore the Flight envelope. For it can, and I imagine it will be for Me, it will continue to be an ongoing continue to Be an ongoing rewarding experience. Aerobatics are not for every Pilot. that reality is perfectly OK with Me. Same goes for Flying XC. Heck I think that it really comes down to a basic reality for all of Us. We all simply Love to be in the Air.

Regarding My efforts in Flying XC. I do not Fly XC in order to Fly Further than Pilot X, Pilot Y, or even Pilot Z. I fly XC because I have a driving force in Me that says; Your L-Z is just over the Horizon. I always want to extend My Horizon's.

[Craig Muhonen]

'Good judgment comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgment'. This aphorism was attributed to Dr Kerr L White.

I have experience.
A long winded story, but at least I have the wind.

I was crushed to the ground 11 years ago, when granite 'slabs' fell off a trailer, "talk about pounded", I was dead, but by the Grace of God I regained consciousness and found myself in a pile of broken shards, both hips broken, an ankle and a leg, my face a bloody mess, and a skull fracture just above my right ear taking out my hearing.
It might have been my "bad judgment, not to realize that a stupid helper would have taken the straps off of the granite just as I was walking by, and not saying anything. Construction sites are the most dangerous places on planet Earth, and I've dodged a few bullets, but I couldn't dodge the granite one. UCK.
A long stay in the hospital and rehab and I had to learn how to walk again, although a straight line was out of the question due to my total imbalance from the TBI in the temple area and a possible fracture of a tiny bone (malleus handle) in my middle ear.

TBI means "To Be Investigated".

I know Chris that our two accidents don't relate to each other, but I must say that TBI's, or having your bell rung, directly affects balance and hearing and communication skills, and should be addressed, or a type of dementia happens. Our brains went into shock at the moment of "impact" and shut our bodies down, all the while trying to make new pathways around the damaged areas, more important is that we must give the brain our OWN new pathways to help us, "cypher" the new world when we woke up. There is soo much 'input' into our lives, but we should give it pause and put in front of us, things of our OWN choosing, to give our battered brains some hope of balance. Balance on the ground and balance in the air are two separate things, concentrate on ground balance and adapt.
I love music and resonance and it truly is a time machine for me. I got a pair of, "Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones" (google bone conduction) and my listening ability increased two fold. Hearing aids and ear buds did nothing for me, but these things are amazing, paired up to my phone and my kindle fire 7, it allows me to be totally hands free without something digital stuffed in my ear or my stupid phone in my hand, and I can put on informative things too and work on my car.
The first time I listened to my favorite music with the headphone pressed on my cheek bone, I was blown away. Dark Side of the Moon blows me away anyway.

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My therapist was great, she put a safety harness on me and we walked and walked the halls of the hospital, and she gave me some great exercises to do every day which might help you with your, "movements".

Deep Breathe ... from your diaphragm, in through your nose and quickly out your mouth. top to bottom, bottom to top, like your lungs are full of water and drain out the bottom.
Morning routine is critical... that you get some protein (I do a hard boiled egg and a shake) and a big glass of lemon water, drink it down and pee like a race horse.
Stand up straight, and keep your chin up... and tighten up your lower abdomen before you do anything psysical.
Cross crunches...left elbow to right knee, right elbow to left knee and so on. Do these a lot, for they will strengthen your abdomen and your balance.
Always do, "right left" exercises.
Walk and concentrate ...on "heel to toe" heel to toe. Make sure you push off the toes which builds the calf muscles. No shuffling allowed. Then on a tread mill, turn around, hold yourself up on the handles and do some, "toe to heel" toe to heal backwards walking. Put 5 pound weights in your hands and do toe lifts.
Your calf's and your abdomen are very important to make as strong as you can.
Get set, and then run 4 to 5 strides.. over and over like a runner starting a race. The calf muscles are like little pumps which when energized, help get blood back up to your heart.
Run uphill in sand over and over, which totally strengthens your legs.
Sleep well... no matter what time you go to bed, get up at the same time every day.
At night do some deep breathes, cross crunches, and "bicycles" with your legs in the air , it will get your heart rate up a bit and you will sleep better.
Think good thoughts at night and in the morning have a stringent,
'vertical body' plan for the day because that's what is going to get you into your, "prone" mode which I know you long for.
A little prayer at night and you are good to go.
I used to love watching my friends fly in strong wind,
one step take off and two step "top land".
The fly on the wall as you called it.
Beach gliding in wind looks like so much fun, and there is
nothing better than the ocean and the beach to strengthen ones sole. Get in it as much as possible, the negative ions are the feel good drug.

I hope you can find this helpful
Check out my comment to you on latest Hawks & Larks.
C:+o)

[JoeF]

Deep thanks, Craig. Wishing you and all of us the best. A pilot not needing help is in trouble.

[Craig Muhonen]

[I am really Beginning to hate Good Judgement]


Well Pilot-X Gregg S and I took that Condor to Mount Tamalpais today. We drove by the Launch up on trop on Our way down to the Beach. Once We were down on the Beach We walked out on the sand. Well right there I was confronted with a Reality Check. For on that soft Sloping Sand I found it difficult to walk. I will say right here and now Twelve Years Six Months from the tinme when i did My Super-Pound, Spasticity is still kicking My Tail.As rare of an occurrence that it May be. We all know that One tends to have a landing, hopefully a landing where You must jog a few Steps upon landing. Well as rare of an occurrence that May be for Me, necer the less. I might find Myself needing to trott out My landing. Well being that i have not physically moved forward rendering the negative effects of Spasticity a thing of My Past. so onxce again; Good Judgement raised it's Ugly Head, and i did not get my feet off the ground.

So you say that there was/is considerable damage to the left side of your skull.
That means the right side of your brain is making new pathways.

People also ask
What is a right brain person like?
"Right-brainers can be disorganised, unpredictable and more often than not, very good with people. They are spontaneous, creative and more emotional than left-brainers, often pondering and acting on their feelings. They are intuitive, good at problem solving and more comfortable with the unknown".

Comfortable with the unknown

...Go For It Chris

C"+o)

[Chris McKeon]

Well being that a Pilot's Body weight is a Major factor in Flying a HG. I want to have My Wing Loading is Flying My 158 Predator down as low as John's Wing loading is when he Fly's his 142. For that to happen I need to lose another Twenty pounds or so. Here is how My day will go. I will have one egg for Breakfast. I will not eat a lunch. Then I will eat whatever Kathleen has made us for Dinner. I also will do a work, by putting My Body on My Bicycle which attached to an eccentric trainer. That way am able to Peddle away, with no fear of crashing.

I ca not believe that John and i may have the same Wing-loading!

[Chris McKeon]

Well I guess I would label Myself aS a Predator Pilot who is in Pursuit of Normalcy. I never ever thought that I would be a position where I would need to strive to do such Mundane things. Well as the Days Weeks <Months, and Year's haver gone By. I have slowly been able to chip away at being somewhat normal. I know, it is not a sense of feeling. But it is that I know that I am getting all that was MIne back. But what a Life experience this has been.

Well come Hell or High water, I will Fly again. I am so looking forward to when John can come up here, possibly next spring. Then John and I will be able to do what We used to do.e used to Fly together.

[Chris McKeon]

I was listening to My Voicemails on My Phone this Morning. I discovered that I had a Voicemail from some time ago from Craig Mahoning. Craig asked Me to call Him back. But I do not have His Phone number. I am hoping either Craig or Maybe Bob will see this message, and call Me and inform as to what Craig's Phone number is. That way I will be able to call Craig back.

Thank You very much.

HAPPENINGS WITH ME:

I will not Fly today. But You can bet Your Bottom, Dollar that I will be working the Left-Side of My Body. This is so that I will be one Agil Condor Pilot when I do get on the Training Hill. I want to have a graceful launch, one with Long Strides. Yes I will stride My way back into the Air. John told Me that He Flew a Condor. He said that; "With any slope at all, and any wind at all. You can simply walk a Condor into the Air". After I have launched, and I am up in the Air Flying. Then I will remember how and what to do. Yes I believe that I might very well might have to take George's Condor XC! Because Miss Annita B, our high Priestess of Hang-Gliding, said it Best; "A DAY WITHOUT XC IS LIKE A DAY WITHOUT SUNSHINE"

[Chris McKeon]

Well it looks like This Predator Pilot will be Moving. I believe Next Month My Sister, My Mother, and Myself will be Moving. We will be going up to My Mothers House in Cazadero. Yes I will be Roosting up in Cazadero. I already informed John as to what will undoubtedly be avery real Possibility. John ill come up in the Spring. We will Work on My Predator. Then I will most likely Fly John's Morthwing T2. Boy I am so Pumped on the thought that after Twelve and a half Years, thart I just may take Flight once again.