March 2011
Lift
p1p2p3p4 Lift grows during the month
by contributions from the World Hang Gliding Association community
and others; your notes are welcome.
[ ]A.M. article coming
The Scout HPA project
will be announced this coming Sunday, 5 March 2011.
The animated CAD images are produced by David Prentice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kBmCBWA8N0
"A human powered triplane concept designed by Tony Prentice.
Model and animation by Dave Prentice."
HPA human-powered aircraftwiki
When pilot relaxes, the aircraft is a glider; some such may be hang
gliders at that relaxation time sector.
Manpowered flight. Human-powered aviation.
Woman-powered aviation. Man-powered aviation. Notice
that a tiny sector of HPA is the "calm kiting" in its pure form.
Calm kiting avoiding
thermic or gust lift is a human-powered aircraft sector that is being
opened by AWEIA in a calm-kiting contest in draft formation.
The power to the aircraft is provided by the human pilot who must stay
in a restricted circle of ground operation. In the indoor kiting format,
the pilot moves within the confines of a circle or rectangle or the full
room floor itself. In outdoor calm kiting the pilot may move about
the ground as he or she pleases to keep the wing flying; the AWEIA
contest restricts the pilot to be within a circle.
Differently, zerowind kiting under the Horvath emphasis does allow
thermic and gust lift for the kiting, in which case the aircraft stops
being human-powered. The pure calm-kiting powers the wing through
strategic pulls and tugs on the tether while the wing glides and kites
in alternations. Just how pure is the human-powering of the
calm-kite system relative to thermic assist is a declaratory defining
matter. When a calm kite is flown human powered to
maximum altitude, then records for that craft and pilot may be recorded
for posterity and enjoyment by others when published. When calm kiting
places the wing overhead and the tether is gathered super fast, it is
envisioned that momentarily the human pilot just might be lifted for a
very short glide; in such case the system would be in free-flight; this
has not been noted as achieved yet. Conventional kiting with
human operating as active or passive mooring pilot is considered as
powered by wind. Fun or professional discussion
by anyone in the world is invited on these matters.
Founder of US Hawks BobK is to meet this month in
Florida, USA,
the first historian of the modern renaissance of hang gliding Neil Larson.
A key hang gliding community issue
is being discussed by all comers at HERE.
Where do YOU stand on the issue?
Advertise in Lift? Yes. Easy.
Just post some funds via PayPal from
HERE.
Accepted ad copy and images sent via e-mail will be hosted for a month.
NEWS RELEASE
The first Practical Hang Glider
Demonstration/Static Display
has been confirmed. This walk-around presentation using the
Little HawkDemo Hang Glider, the first mini-demonstration
HG
will be conducted during two class periods on Wednesday afternoon
with expert USHPA Rated Pilot Bob Kuczewski and with
hang gliding's early history consultant Neil Larson.
A verbal agreement and date has
been confirmed:
Wednesday, 9 March, 2011 at noon: class begins at 12:05
PM. Crestview Senior High
School,
Crestview, Florida, USA.
Okaloosa County Unified School Systems.
Tim Hester, Aviation Engineering Instructor.
Mr. Hester of
CHOICE-Aerospace has responded in the most enthusiastic fashion on
this short notice. Bob Kuczewski is giving this special presentation during a
visit from St. Petersburg, Florida, USA. Some indications from Bob point that this may well be the first of
several hang gliding related presentations by him in this area as he has
time in his schedule.
*Bob Kuczewski is interested in rekindling the essential spirit of the early
development days of modern hang gliding, when the sport was
flourishing within
the sub-culture of 1970s America. His energy for man-flight sports
includes models, sailplanes, paragliders, and hang gliders leading to
his involvement as the District 3 Regional Director in what is now known
as the USHPA. Bob also
founded a
flying club Torrey Hawks for
hang glider pilots who fly mainly at
Torrey
Pines Gliderport in California near San Diego.
We will keep you informed on more details of this unique topic.
Sincerely,
~Neil Larson
I'll send you a short description of the "Little Hawk" glider and some
photos as
soon as I get a chance to put it together for the class. Until then,
here are a few
previews ...
Click each
to fly
to the large photos.
This first picture compares the size of Little Hawk (foreground) to my
full-sized
Falcon (background). The area of Little Hawk is about 65 square feet
which is
1/3 the area of my full-sized Falcon 195. This means it can only carry
about 1/3
as much weight.
That makes the Little Hawk way too
small to fly most normal sized adults (anyone over 70 lbs).
But that's not what Little Hawk was designed for. It was designed as a
ground training glider so
people can easily run with it and handle it on the ground. And that's
where it shines:
The Little Hawk Glider has a
full-sized control bar and all aircraft quality parts. It's just like a
real hang glider in every way ... except its wing area. That makes it
great for training, outreach, and just having fun.
I look forward to joining your class along with hang gliding pioneer
NeilLarson. I think it will be a great experience for the kids ... and
myself!!
Thanks for the opportunity...
~ Bob Kuczewski
Little Hawk uplifts aviation
minds inside of a classroom!
Follow-up report from Florida*
The short notice Hang Glider
Demonstration/Presentation was a success at Crestview High
School’s Aviation Engineering classes today Tuesday, March 7,
2011.
After a long drive from the east coast Bob Kuczewski arrived in
town along with heavy rains, thunderstorms, gusty winds, power
failures.
The presentation went off without a hitch. Little Hawk was
deployed inside a classroom for the very first time!
After brief introductions Tim Hester turned the class over to Neil
Larson to introduce Bob. The students were given several video
short-subject movies on Torrey Pines with Bob in flight and John
Heiney, hang gliding “Loop” stunt pilot; then a short Q&A period.
Bob then wrapped up the period allowing one student to “HOOK-IN”
and do a hang check inside Little Hawk.
Bob Kuczewski and Neil Larson have been invited to return to
Florida and make future HG presentations to two other high schools
in Okaloosa County. Bob intends to make Little Hawk accessible to
students for ground “runs” when the weather is more agreeable.
*We will send a feature video of the day's presentation as soon as
we edit the video down to a modest length.
Report and photos by hang gliding historian
Neil Larson.
Animation by
Bob Kuczewski.
Towing and releasing arts and science
... and the line of products and their uses? No recommendation
here. Study the full spectrum of products, experiences, accidents, failure
modes, instructions, etc. And obtain instruction from
experts. How will one judge each method and arrangement of devices? What
is poor and what is great? DRAFT ARTICLE HERE. Send in links
and notes on topic
Bylaws or Operating Agreements (or any
amendments thereto) are maintained by the business entity and are not
filed with the California Secretary of State. Requests for copies or
information about these documents should be directed to the business
entity itself.
This video has been selected as Neil’s Clip
of the Month -Dune
Gooning-
a popular small dune and coastal bluff sport,
which essentially has reached a new state of perfection
perhaps as close or similar to “surfing”
because it demonstrates subtle nuances of pilot control. Hang Gliding - Dune
Gooning 2011, Budgewoi Beach - NSW Australia
Take a stand on an issue at World Hang
Gliding Association ....yes
YOU can!
PetitGNU
joining Little Hawk* gaggle:
Following
Little Hawk* interesting concept, I have drawn a first idea of the
"PetitGNU": 8 m2 standard hang glider without antenna [kingpost]. Short
package to 1.5 m, to transport inside the car. Only for ground handling
and play in the dunes or grassy slopes... ~
Pere **
*Little Hawk™ by Bob Kuczewski in 2010 for a wide-public
introduction to hang gliding via a small wing not meant for flight. **Laboratori
d'envol - glider engineering
World Hang
Gliding Association has opened membership-number assignment.
Donations in bid are open for #1-999 for creating a legal defense fund to
move to protect the trademark rights internationally of any business in
our hang gliding community that is being damaged by unfair trade
practices; right now: SeedWings
and SeedWings' deep legacy to all of hang gliding is in focus for
protection from a profound onslaught---please report any other challenges;
injury to all members of the hang gliding community is being collected in
regards to the SeedWings matter (please record and send in description of
your injury and damages from the subject trademark abuse; following
success for SeedWings, any additional funds collected in donation will be
openly spent on voted-upon-by-members projects. Membership numbers
from #1000 upwards will not enter donation bidding, but will be recorded
chronologically upon approval of membership application. Via PayPal
send donations to
donation@worldhangglidingassociation.org administered by WHGA
treasurer Joe Faust.
Please keep us informed about the steps you are taking to build a hang
gliding business: instructor, tutor, coach, manufacturer, publication,
club, association, parts, communications, site management, weather
service, art, etc.
Sling engine for foot-launch powered hang glider: The hang
glider is powered up by using the sling engine; the sling engine is a kite
system variously configured. There is not a need for a power winch. One
option is to lay line out; then launch the kite wing set and the safety
stop-kite system. Have high-safety anchoring and high-quality lines. Have
procedure for over-powering response. For second launch: walk down the
line to the lift point of the line. Stay aware of winds aloft; stop
kiting when conditions are not fit for full safety. Attach
point may vary. Number of sub-kite systems for bundle tactics may vary.
Gather experience data and share with others on this and similar
launch-from-flatlands methods. Have at least two methods to release
from the sling engine
Short-line free-flight kiting :: HG (frame-controlled) or
PG (line-controlled).
Pages 18 and 19 of the free-flight magazine, "PARAPENTE
- VUELO LIBRE",
number 81 (March 2011):
Parapente
Barretina GnuLab2 (Pere Casellas) There isa story aboutthe
"GNU"Barretinaparaglider.Thismagazineisdistributed
throughout the Spanishspeaking countriesin
Europe and America. Feature article in Spanish
language paper print in March 2011 featured Pere Casellas and his
free-to-world paraglider. Full plans. See the two page
feature
HERE in PDF format. Índice revistaPARAPENTEnº
81 http://www.laboratoridenvol.com/
"Los proyectos
del Laboratori no se
limitan a losparapentes
y entreotros
se trabajó
en nuevas
alas experimentales
con el inventor Brett Snellgrove (d.2010), y tambiéncolabora
con el historiador
del vuelolibre,
investigador
y visionario
Joe Faust."
Congratulations Pere!
Nice coverage!
I would like to see New York Times featuring you and your
good works for free flight!
Thanks for mentioning my end. Appreciated. Fun. So miss Brett!
In middle school I tied for the 8th grade Spanish language skill award.
I put notice in March Lift about the article. I do not have permission
yet to republish image of the two pages. [[Permission granted.]]
Good lift,
Joe
March 17, 2011: Historical note by Barry Hill Palmer:
I made no drawings to the Paraplane or Skyhook trikes, nor do I have
any drawings of other designs. United States FAA experimental
"certification" was obtained through a single 8 1/2 by 11 inch drawing.
The "designs" were just piles of numbers, which made for extremely rapid
concept, design, build, and fly programs.
I was involved in a commercial operation to design, built and test fly the
trikes and the venture capitalist's desire for outside promotion was
non-existent, and I liked it that way, but the craft did receive minimal
publicity through giving programs to EAA and sailplane (of all things for
these powered aircraft) club meetings around the project build and after.
Project:HG that morphs to be a boat upon
landing in water.
Join the project as you might.
Lift@WorldHangGlidingAssociation.org Motivation: Land in ponds, lakes, oceans, and rivers safely; return
to terra firma via the boat format, perhaps sailing.
Wills Wing VG Leg 3:1 VG Retro Kit. Released by
Steve Pearson on March 1, 2011.
Net result: 24:1 ease.
03/18/11 News
Release
T2/T2C 24:1 VG
System Conversion The easy-to-pull T2/T2C VG just got even easier!
A new 24:1 VG reduction system is now standard on the T2/T2C,
consisting of a 3:1 system in the VG Leg (downtube) and an 8:1 system
at the keel. Previously, the T2/T2C had a 2:1 system in the downtube,
for a 16:1 reduction overall.
Upgrading an existing 2:1 leg to the new 3:1 system is relatively easy
and we have a
Retro Kit available for
purchase through your Wills Wing dealer.
Don
Liddard has a top drawer set of historic hang glider
photos. Careful study of each is a LIFT aim. Here is a start:
BungeeBox for self-soar HG launch with line-speed
multiplier and bungee cord set: Pilot loads the cords (or load
the rubber via use of kite-energy system or other wind turbine) triggers
release, and foot-launches with the assist of his or her stored potential
energy. The main tether is very-low-stretch cord. Safety is
paramount; have your system checked by a mechanical engineer.
Discussion is invited.
Bob Trampenau this month
became officially a member of Torrey Hawks and the US Hawks.
His pioneering company: Seedwings
serving earth's hang gliding for about 37 years so far.
Members of the HGAA Transition Team and others,
I've been watching the slow decline of the HGAA since
the ousting of myself and Scott Wise. There have been
weeks between posts. The most recent post says:
Title: Hgaas future?
by Theayeinthesky on March 22, 2011
Is this just a flash in the pan?
That post has gone unanswered for 5 days now. The
silence itself has become the answer.
I started the HGAA because I recognized the need for an
independent organization to represent hang gliding pilots
and hang gliding interests. That need still exists.
Sure, right now USHPA leadership is doing their best to
be the warm fuzzy association that we all want. But it's
only doing that because it recognized both the HGAA and
the new US Hawks as a threat to their one-party system.
If those organizations don't survive, then USHPA will
surely return to the arrogance of its monopoly. That's
not anyone's fault. It's just what monopolies do - they
grow insensitive to the wishes of their members.
For that reason, I am asking you to come and join us in
the US Hawks Hang Gliding Association
(ushawks.org).
We're not very big and only have about 45 members
who are real pilots (we got hit with lots of fake spam
robots). But we're taking the long view of forming a
better national association. We're not in any hurry,
and we don't have any deadlines to meet. Membership
is currently free, and we're just starting to look into
insurance .... and that will take some time. We're
building our organization with a strong relationship
to our Chapters right from the start. Each Chapter
has its own sub forum (if they want it) and that helps
to bring people together both nationally and locally.
I think it's a good model, and I hope you'll come and
participate.
Finally, whether you're a Democrat or Republican, I'd
like you to think about what our country would be like
if we only had one party or the other ... even if it was
the party of your choice. If you think about it, even your
own favorite party would quickly become intolerably
corrupt if it were the only game in town. That's the
problem inherent in any monopoly. So even if you are
a big fan of USHPA, I hope you'll see the benefit in
having another national organization to provide a
competitive check and balance. In fact, I think the
US Hawks will end up making USHPA into a better
and more responsive organization. I hope you'll
help make that happen by joining us on the
US
Hawks forum (ushawks.org).
