[Bob Kuczewski]

I just got off the phone with Joe, Angela and Florian at LAX.

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This could be a historic moment in the modern history of hang gliding.

Welcome Florian!!

    

[JoeF]

We are starting our trip in the mornings with an aim to be:::
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday,
Sylmar by 10:30 a.m No flying.
Wing pack will recline in the front passenger seat of the car.
==================================

Sunday,
Andy Jackson Airpark by 11 a.m. hopefully traffic will be nice for a 10:45 arrival. No flying.
Wing pack will recline in the front passenger seat of the car.
====================================

Monday:
Dockweiler:
We are depending on Bob Kuczewski and arrival time is uncertain.
We will aim for some test gliding of the wing.
Wing has not been flown by anyone yet.

================================================
Lift,
Joe

[JoeF]

Fun and informative visit by Florian at Sylmar Flight Park on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024!
About 16 pilots were present during the several hours. Introductions. Then questions before assembling the TPHG 4.6 designed by Florian. Florian readily answered question before and during the assembly of has hang gliders. There are many innovations in the design; this topic thread invites full description of what what shown in this TPHG 4.6 hang glider. Photographs of the assembly and packing were take by many people; hopefully several pilots ill post their captures in this discussion thread.

The winds were downslope; there were no flights at Sylmar today.

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Andy Beem, Joe Faust, Angela, John ... posing in this historic moment.
===================================================================
Prior to the Sylmar introduction, Florian was greeted at LAX.

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[JoeF]

Innovative sail spaneron being inserted by Erika Klein under direction from Florian:[/size]
Note: "spaneron" is a suggestion my me, as the innovative part was not given a clear name by the Florian.
Perhaps one day some other name for the part will stick.

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[Semper Fidelis]

Last chance for the one who missed us on Sunday...

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This Monday November 18th 2024 at Dockweiler
we will be there for 10:30 AM

[Bob Kuczewski]

It was great meeting Florian and flying with him today at Dockweiler. I have some more pictures and video, but it's late and I'll try to get them posted tomorrow

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[Bob Kuczewski]

This video shows an accelerated full assembly and first flight of the first Florian Flyer which happened at Dockweiler Beach on Monday, November 18, 2024. The first flight was made by Andy Beem followed by Bob Bendetson, R.J. McKeehan, Joe Faust, Erika Klein, and Bob Kuczewski.

This glider represents a class of gliders defined by Joe Faust as "Tiny Packed Hang Gliders". Gliders of this type might provide a resurgence to the sport of hang gliding. Thanks to Joe and Florian for their work in this important area of the sport of hang gliding.

Enjoy the video:

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hZIX_zgTi8

[Bob Kuczewski]

After a full day of flying, Florian bought dinner for the crew.   

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[JoeF]

Florian took himself and his TPHG 4.6 ft out of Southern California ... and soon back to Switzerland.
At Dockweiler after the show-tell-test main session over his 4.6-ft-packed Florian Flyer,
he took one flight on a Condor 225 provided by Bob Kuczewski and Frank Colver.
Flight:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17LJPUpLXxo12bn5pFj2tlrI9_BkwIfWk/view?usp=sharing


Filler:

Florian deserves a similar S-SA certificate.

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[JoeF]

Erika posted a strong

note

in Facebook about the Florian visit and Florian Flyer.
However, I hope she corrects the pack length to 140 cm or about 4 ft 7 inches or 55 inches. And maybe she will distinguish the HG cultural "short-pack" from the "tiny pack" hang glider, as there are many differences that matter for utility, transportation, challenge, etc.
https://www.facebook.com/erikajkleinofficial
=====================================================================================

While people were discussing Erika's Facebook post, someone mentioned Lightfex that packs "short'" to 1.85 m, but that is not "Tiny Pack"
Lightfex
Test essay: https://finsterwalder-charly.de/images/stories/startseite/downloads/test_lightfex.pdf
"The 1.85 meter short pack size gives it a paraglider-like feel
Independence. " Quote from document.