Otto Meet 1971 project for virtual plaque and landmark

Timely open international discussion on Otto Meet 1971 Project at US Hawks

Universal Otto Meet Virtual Landmark
- part 1

-* To paraphrase Lloyd Licher, a Charter Member and past president of the historic Southern California Hang Glider Association (SCHGA): “The success of early hang gliding sport of the 70’s was due in large part to the club’s
organized “self-regulation”…

Now we are approaching the 40^th anniversary of that historical first modern hang glider meet of May23, 1971, on a grassy bluff in Newport Beach. – Any sort of celebration to honor those attendees, participants, and spectators would somehow naturally be inclined to take place on May 21 and 22, 2011. - It has been my hope to dedicate a tribute marker as near to the original site as possible. – Our desire is to celebrate a 40^th Anniversary “Picnic” in the public park which exists on the top of that launch site.

The 163^rd Otto Lilienthal Birthday Party Celebration
& 40^th Anniversary Universal Hang Glider Picnic
& Historic Commemorative Landmark Dedication

The following areas may be located through Google Maps – on your PC-
As a reference for further informal visits by interested persons-.

The Buffalo Hills Park is located atop the residential community. It is a very beautiful tree-studded landscaped outdoor parkway that stretches the entire length of the hilltop.

*today May 10, 2010 – allows a year to move the combined effort of the Hang Glider community into a direction that will give honor to the events of that day.

There are those among us who have built their careers upon the modern sport of hang gliding; it should be the privilege and desire of these successful individuals to make a monetary contribution toward a well placed granite stone set with a bronze plaque giving proper address to the pivotal date in aviation history.

A modest commemorative plaque on the nearby park location, placed with the approval of the local residents, could later be allocated by the State of California as a state “official” registered historic land mark.

Newport Hills Drive west

November 22, 2008: *My visit to the exact hill –to see for myself where this historic event took place on I made a detailed recon of the hillside and the best place for this landmark is on the public access landscaped parkway near Newport Hills Drive west – which on May23rd 1971 , was virtually the crest of the hilltop - I did recognize that the elevation of the original site must have been higher respecting that developers flattened much of the peak to terrace & level the location for home building- Moreover at one specific spot on Newport Hills Drive west, where vacant lot allows a direct bearing “west” out across the horizon a visual reference can actually be made of the Fashion Island Mall Towers . The perspective view of these two tall buildings appears to be in precisely the same orientation as in the home movie films of the 1971 Otto Meet-

Harbor View Nature Park *located at base of launch area- this is highly developed apartment complex with over grown trees and underbrush –without any visual reference it is at the very base of the hill (not a good site) this park is actually in a low area.

Buffalo Hills Park to the east , behind the original launch site is - Buffalo Hills Park - located in a public access nature park community landscaped area- this is my best choice for a dedicated plaque –
*needless to say 100% of the folks living here have not the first clue that they are living on a national historic aviation landmark locale. Perhaps they will be proud to take part in a picnic celebration and graciously allow onlookers to spend a day in their park!

Located near (with ample parking) on weekends ….

Newport Mesa Unified School District: Andersen Elementary‎
- more info »
1900 Port Seabourne Way, Newport Beach, CA‎ - (949) 515-6935‎

~~ Neil Larson