Bob Kuczewski - 2011/02/14
With regard to the US Hawks, my goal here is to create an alternate national organization that will hopefully be more responsive to its members. That means that we will eventually write our own SOPs and have our own rating system. I believe that will finally introduce competition and that's the basis of our society. If we can do things better than USHPA, then we will attract more members than USHPA. It's that simple. I hope you'll be willing to join us and help us build something we're all proud of.
Bob Kuczewski - 2011/02/16
This site will have to offer more than just politics. So if you've got some nuts and bolts towing information to share, I'd really appreciate it.
Tad Eareckson - 2011/02/17
I've got some really excellent AT SOPs that I spent months writing and tweaking for USHGA. They decided they'd rather spend tens of thousands of dollars on hit men rather that even look at them. They're all yours.
Tad Eareckson - 2011/10/09
P.S. Have you read my Aerotow SOPs and Guidelines yet?
I'll take your response (none to date) as a no...
ian9toes - 2009/06/14
I strongly disagree with banning the one guy who has the most knowledge about safety issues involving what I believe is the most dangerous part of our sport.
Zack C - 2010/10/15
Speaking of which, while I can fault Tad's approach, I can't fault his logic, nor have I seen anyone here try to refute it. You may not like the messenger, but that is no reason to reject the message.
Steve Davy - 2011/08/25
I have been trying to fault Tad's logic and so far been unsuccessful.
...and, given the eight month history here, it's a pretty safe bet that you never will.
But that's OK 'cause the goals here are to create an alternate national organization that will be more responsive than USHPA to its hang glider "pilot" members, compete with it, and do things better so we can attract more members.
And my SOPs are all about clearly defined standards, procedures, and requirements. And there's ABSOLUTELY NOTHING the cult of hang glider "pilots" DESPISES more than clearly defined standards, procedures, and requirements.
With each flight, demonstrates a method of establishing that the pilot is hooked in just prior to launch.
"Hey! I just did a hang check five minutes ago in the setup area! So PHUCK YOU."
"Hey! I NEVER get into my harness unless it's connected to my glider! So PHUCK YOU."
So the way to REALLY create a better dickhead magnet than USHPA has been able is to water down a dungheap of meaningless make-believe regulations even better than they do.
This release shall be operational with zero tow line force up to twice the rated breaking strength of the weak link.
And don't define what either "operational" means or a minimum allowable weak link rating.
And then when it becomes blindingly obvious that not even that is toothless enough...
Bart Weghorst - 2011/02/25
I've had it once where the pin had bent inside the barrel from excessive tow force. My weaklink was still intact. The tug pilot's weaklink broke so I had the rope. I had to use two hands to get the pin out of the barrel.
No stress because I was high.
Last Amended March, 2009
USHPA Aero Vehicle Requirements
Last Amended May, 2011
USHPA Aerotow Equipment Guidelines
...you make the REQUIREMENT a GUIDELINE - a "general rule, principle, or piece of advice"!!! Pure GENIUS!!!
That way, when my nephew gets smashed to a lifeless pulp on the runway after his Weghorst Special welds itself shut and while he's trying to get his hook knife sheath opened you can say to the investigators and my sister's family's attorneys, "Hey! This was just a GUIDELINE and we were using Industry Standard equipment with a LONG track record...
Jim Rooney - 2011/08/25
See, the thing is... "we", the people that work at and run aerotow parks, have a long track record.
This stuff isn't new, and has been slowly refined over decades.
We have done quite literally hundreds of thousands of tows.
We know what we're doing.
...so PHUCK YOU!" And then everybody can talk about how he died doing what he loved and put my family in his prayers.
But I'm probably be totally out to lunch on this.
Bob Kuczewski - 2011/02/21
I don't know how closely you've followed my "political" career at USHPA, but I tend to believe we should be very liberal with the information we give to our pilots, and we should be very conservative with the amount of regulations we place on our pilots. I believe good information should empower our pilots to make good decisions - on their own.
If we just empower our pilots with good information they're BOUND to make good decisions - for themselves and the people they teach, tow, and control.
And now with these burdensome innovation killing REGULATIONS reduced to the level of benign suggestions we're BOUND to see an amazing renaissance in hook knife technology and procedures. Any day now.
Really makes me wonder why you went the aeronautical engineering route when you could've done so much more to advance hang gliding as a USHGA attorney.
My NEW SOPs and Guidelines:
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Do and use whatever the phuck you feel like - as long as Rooney and Davis say it's OK. And if anything bad happens to someone on the back end of your towline, fear not, Tim Herr will cover it up and keep your a** out of hot water.
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That short winded enough? Motion for approval?
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