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Here is a statement to me at age 13, by my father, who was teaching me how airplanes worked, and why they worked. He said " a nose heavy airplane is hard to fly, but a tail heavy airplane....flies once". He taught me all about 'trim', and angle of attack. Later on when I went for my rating as a pilot, my instructors had practiced with me over and over, about these things. Although I was a bit nervous when I 'soloed' and flew my first cross country, I knew that my step by step training would serve me well, so I "stepped" myself into the atmosphere. Flying "wings level" and "turning" at some altitude is remarkably "easy", but close to the ground, getting ready to land, and take off, brought AOA and trim to the forefront.
This brings me to my (finally) topic. AOA as it relates to paragliders, to hanggliders (ragallo and flex wing), and fixed wing, and the instruction that goes on with new pilots about this (in my mind) most important subject. No matter what 'wing' you choose to put above your head, the more you know about AOA (especially in a turn) before you fly, the more confidence you'll have when you practice.
I enjoyed watching Frank take his 82 year old ' baby ' steps before stepping off into the atmosphere in Utah that day. In that one moment, I saw a 'new' student pilot step by step emerging toward his launch position, then getting his mental picture together, and then become the older expert pilot that he is. Bravo, bravo.
