[Bob Kuczewski]

From the Sylmar web site at: http://shga.com/

Saturday, December 12

There will be a memorial gathering for Rome Dodson in the LZ at 2:30 PM. It will be followed by a pot luck event, so please something edible in addition to stories and memories of Rome.

RomeXmas.jpg (2.81 KiB) Viewed 3015 times

[Bob Kuczewski]

This video of Rome's last flight was posted on the Sylmar forum:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8JpMcfPbgc

[Frank Colver]

If you look in the lower left corner of the original Harry Martin poster, at the Sept 2000 Dockweiler reunion, his signature is there.

Another of those poster signers no longer sharing the earth and sky with us. Good lift to you Rome.

Frank C.

The original Harry Martin poster on my wall.

Harry Martin watercolor & signatures.jpg (489.46 KiB) Viewed 2976 times

[Bob Kuczewski]

That's a very nice bit of artwork and hang gliding history. Thanks to you Frank for posting it, and thanks to Harry for making it.

But I am somewhat puzzled by the "34th Anniversary Reunion Fly-in" at the bottom. If that was the 34th in 2000, then shouldn't the 2015 meet have been the 49th and not the 44th as we had been advertising? Or were we celebrating a different event?

[JoeF]

Otto Meet 1971: 0
1972: 1st anniversary "re"- union
1973: 2nd
1974: 3rd
1975: 4th
...
1985: 14th
...
1995: 24th
...
2000: 29th for "Otto Meet" of Newport Beach
2015: 44th for Otto Meet of Newport Beach, but celebrated conveniently at Dockweiler

HOWEVER, if "Dockweiler" is the focus, then one might count from James Hobson's "meet" of1962 at Dockweiler ... a site-specific celebration
1962: 0th
1961: 1st "re-"
1971: 11th
1981: 21st
1991: 31st
2000: 40th for Dockweiler

HOWEVER, from plaque at site that neglects to know Hobson, but recognizes Miller gatherings for "Dockweiler"
1966: 0th
1967:1st
1977: 11th
1987: 21st
1997: 31st
2000: 34th THIS MATCHES the poster by Harry Martin, if the Miller initiatives are recognized and being celebrated. The plaque and the count is vulnerable to change, if Hobson becomes fully appreciated and the matter is "Dockweiler" site celebration of hang gliding. The fact of the meet was a Miller-centric and Miller-present consensus; Hobson was an unsung hero; his celebratory day had not arrived yet.
2001: 35th
...
2015: 49th

However, if one celebrates Otto's birthday, then count from his birthday as 0th. The Otto Meet of Newport Beach was said to be 123rd birthday, but careful calculation needs to be made respecting "1st birthday" as birth day or does it me first anniversary a year after birth day. Deciding order and naming would be a detail difference. Otto Lilienthal was born on May 23, 1848. His original day of birth May 23, 1848, but his first anniversary of his birth was 1849.
1848: 0th
1849: 1st
...
1949: 101st
1959: 110th
1969: 120th
1970: 121st
1971: 122nd So, apparently we named the first Otto Meet in Newport by differently counting his birth date not at 0th, but as 1, that is, his first time where birth occurred. So, using the 123rd would respect counting 1848 as "1st" birth day, not his first-year birthday (anniversary).

The spirit was the key at our meetings, regardless of the number-naming.
Celebrate also a remembrance of the first person who dreamed of flying like a bird.
In all cases, Rome Dobson was and is in the hearts of many as one who well lived hang gliding community. Fly on, Rome.

(Correction of the math is ever invited.)

Distinguish Dockweiler-site-specific celebration from the 1971 renaissance Otto Birthday Meet in Newport Beach that may be celebrated at different sites around the world.

[Frank Colver]

It was the 34th anniversary of Dockweiler hang gliding. The intention at the start of the day was to only have those present that flew the site in the 1960's sign the poster. That's what I was told when I went to sign it. Immediately several people, standing nearby, spoke up and said that there were many people there from the flying in the early seventies and they should also sign it. The person (don't remember who it was) that had asked me if I was in the 1960's flying group, before letting me sign, agreed and the signing was opened up to all early HG pilots in attendance. We almost missed out on having all those other signatures there, like Rome, Taras, etc., etc.

On another note: I noticed that Richard Miller had not signed it, even though he was in the original 1960's flyers group, I went over and "twisted his arm" until he agreed to sign it. I'm so glad I did that because I never got to see him again after that day.

Frank C.