Sunday flying in SB

[Tony de Groot]

After weeks of pulling strings on my new paraglider at the training hill decided to try a flight at Eliminator and get the dust off my hang glider yesterday. Met up with Hammer and Kathy while Anne-Odile drove for me and Kirra checked it all out. Hammer got out his new, sparkling sail and me with my trusty Falcon rag. There was, what looked like, some search and rescue over by Robbins area but they never came our way so I punched off and headed in the opposite direction and it was soarable over the Antenae farm, round house and lots of bubbles over the monastary getting to about 2400 feet there. Seemed like you could have soared for a long time at the monastary. Hammer had a problem with his glider though. It looked like after he left to go on glide it wouldn't come down. I swear he was gaining altitude while gliding to the beach while I was in lift way back and below him at the monastary. Got to fix that Hammer. So, we flew and the only other people we saw were some people jogging up the mountain training for the beach to peak race coming up soon. So, if you want to wrap it up in some low level mountain soaring it seems to be available. Only going to get better as we "wait for September".
Tony

[Dean S]

Tony, I know I'm kinda' out of the loop lately so I'm asking for some clarity here...

Did I hear you say that you were pulling strings on your paraglider at the training hill? Dbld, Pokey, Leeside, Yna., now you Tony? What's going on in SB - is there a PG virus going around? Who's next?

[BobA]

Hey, you forgot the Ninja, Aaron LaPlante...

[Dean S]

Unbelievable...

You guys are crazy, you'll never get me to fly one of those death traps

I'd give anything to see Hammer or Lil' John flying a bag. Of course, I have a feeling I'd have a better chance of seeing a flying monkey before then - no offense Pipkin

[DBLD]

Dean, you may in your lifetime see monkeys fly. Lil' John has already been in the air on a "dope chute" and Hammer is interested in putting another tool in his toolbox. I had the pleasure of giving Hammer a demonstration not long ago of showing him how fun and easy it is to get some airtime at the training hill. I was packed up and ready to leave after an afternoon of kiting and flying when he showed up on his bike. I said "watch this". In two minutes I was in the air for a quick flight and kite back up the hill.

So where are all the baggots that keep saying they are going to check out REAL flying Ya'll need to get some "bones" in your wings so's they don't ragdoll in them nasty thermals

[Tony de Groot]

Yeah Dean, what can I say? One day after flying Bates and hoofing my gear back up the trail LONG after all the paraglider pilots had left I gave in. Must say I've been having a lot of fun at the training hill and am looking forward to the day when I can wrap it up there and top land and drive home in a couple hours time. We really do have a lot of pilots in our club flying both wings now which is cool. I even remember a certain paraglider pilot talking about getting into hang gliding. Everyone was telling us that once this Dean dude gets into hang gliding he's gonna smoke. What.......ever!! I think he forgot cause he's transfixed on all his new, shiney trophy hardware!!

[Tom Pipkin]

Dean knows a good Topa story always includes an embellishment and couple of half truths.

I haven’t flown in over 2 weeks but I guess I’ll have to start shaving my back.

Hats off to the pilots that fly both. I'd love to fly a hg some day.

[Robb]

You guys are all welcome to come to the SCPA meeting on Sunday; maybe we can put together a 12-step program to help others make the transition...

We were going to have Terry (se Bo's post) present on flying sailplanes this month, but with everyone trying different types of aviation that might be risky! (He's still on the agenda for October...)

Robb