Hang Gliding Documentary at IMAX Air and Space Museum

[Dan T]

The following was posted on the paraglider server. I didn't see it here anywhere so figured I'd cross post.

Dan T

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DC area pilots. Please Help Spread the word about this wonderful FREE event. 8: 00 on April 22nd. Hope we can have a big turn out. So cool.

L.E.

Bill Liscomb’s Hang Gliding Documentary Hits the IMAX at the National Air and Space Museum


Big Blue Sky set to be shown at the National Air and Space IMAX theater during the General Electric Lecture Series.

2/8/2010

- Filmmaker Bill Liscomb will be a keynote speaker at the General Electric General Aviation Speaker Series at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., on April 22, 2010, at 8 pm. He will be presenting his award-winning documentary, Big Blue Sky, which chronicles the birth of hang gliding in the 1970’s, as well as the rapid growth of its immense popularity.

Liscomb’s documentary will be shown at the Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater in the National Mall building. Many anecdotes and unknown facts that didn’t make it into Big Blue Sky will be shared. Also, Liscomb will discuss how hang gliding has benefited general aviation and the aerospace industry.

”Making this movie was an amazing experience that enabled me to re-live my youth and review all the things that happened in the 70’s when hang gliding began. I wanted to make Big Blue Sky a movie for everyone, not just the hang gliding community. It is an incredible story. It is the story about the spirit of man, how we lived our dreams, the consequences of living our dreams, and how it changed our lives. It is a story about incredible people doing incredible things,” Liscomb stated.

As Liscomb neared completion of Big Blue Sky, he contacted Russell Lee, a curator at the National Air and Space Museum to describe the project and, subsequently, submitted the film to be considered for the General Electric General Aviation Lecture Series. Last October, Dorothy Cochrane, from the National Air and Space Museum, contacted Liscomb and invited him to participate in the lecture series.

On the evening of April 22, 2010, an abbreviated, 50-minute version of Big Blue Sky will be shown at 7 pm, followed by a 45-minute lecture. Liscomb will briefly present parts of Big Blue Sky that were edited out for the evening’s screening. These include events leading up to the first contemporary hang gliding meet on May 23, 1971, the contributions hang gliding has made to other forms of aviation since then, and anecdotes about the process of making the film.

Liscomb further comments: “I am greatly honored, both for myself and for the sport of hang gliding, to be invited to tell this story at the National Air and Space Museum. Hang gliding has not been accepted as a part of mainstream aviation for decades. By sponsoring this lecture, the National Air and Space Museum demonstrates its vision by recognizing a forgotten frontier of flight that is not associated with the usual museum fare, commerce, and/or warfare. This lecture, in addition to the hang gliders on display at the museums Udvar-Hazy facility, is a chance for the general public to learn more about the sport of hang gliding and its amazing history in our countrys premier aviation museum.”

Tickets are free to the public. A webcast of the event will be shown, as well, for those unable to attend. For more information, including access to the webcast, go to: http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/eventDeta ... entID=1683.

The United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (USHPA) is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to promote the growth of sport flying in foot-launchable soaring aircraft. USHPA develops, standardizes, and administers programs that foster and promote practices for safe flying. USHPA maintains a working relationship with the FAA, and other regulatory organizations, to insure continued access to airspace. The organization also maintains relationships with public and private entities to promote the procurement and maintenance of flying sites. USHPA is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado. For more information on hang gliding and paragliding go to www.ushpa.aero.

[CraginS]

Dan,
I spoke with Bill Liscombe a couple of weeks ago, and told him we (the CHGPA members} would love to buy his dinner or have a beer with him in conjunction with the with his lecture. Tentatively, as many as can will gather with him for a brew or whatever following his lecture that night. Current guess for location is Capital City Brewing over by Union Station.
The Smithsonian folks are feeding him that night before the lecture. His wife is from Gaithersburg, so they have some locals to visit while here (Wed - Sat). He was not sure where they are staying when I spoke with him.
We agreed to stay in touch and firm up plans as time gets nearer. In the meantime, eveyrone planning to go should log into the NASM web site and request tickets (free) for the event. Kay and I already have ours.
http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/eventDeta ... entID=1683
Stay tuned!

[CraginS]

All,
When I spoke with Bill last month about the club buying him dinner or a beer, he said his wife was setting up their schedule. I heard from him yesterday:
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Cragin;
Sorry I've not responded - my wife has been doing all the logistic stuff and I've been getting the lecture ready to go. She has a ton of friends in the DC area, and after the movie/talk we are all going to http://www.701restaurant.com/ which is almost across the street. Hope to meet you and the rest of the HG/PG crew there to talk flying! My wife is really good friends with Jim Kaplan's wife, and I know him, hope to see him there as well.
Bill Liscomb
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The 701 is right at the Archives / Navy Memorial Metro stop at 7th & Penn NW., a moderate walk or a 2 train ride from Smithsonian station (Blue to Green/Yellow). It is about a 5 block walk: http://tinyurl.com/yylgf45

So,
Reserve your free ticket at http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/eventDeta ... entID=1683
Then, we should meet Bill at the talk on the Mall, visit with him there. and choose whether to gaggle with his crowd to 701 when we see how many people there are. If his wife has gathered a sizable crowd, our best bet for talking with him will probably be at the Museum. Still, post talk at 701 or some other place could still be in order. I suggest we stay flexible and play it by ear.


Cragin

[Richard Hays]

Ok...so what would be the easiest way to get there for a guy ( me ) who hates DC traffice and related issues and knows nothing about riding trains and stuff.

Should I just try and drive in and find parking? Or....what? I'm clueless. I've actually reserved several tickets and want to go. Please advise asap. Thanks!

Rich Hays

[davidtheamazing1]

It might be easier to park at a subway station, such as Greenbelt or New Carolton and come in on the train. The Smithsonian Station is very close to the lecture. I will be there... am planning to rollerskate over from my office downtown.

[Matthew]

New Carrolton is easier--- no changing of trains. Take the Orange line to the LenFant Plaza station and walk on block north to the museum.

See -- http://www.wmata.com/rail/station_detai ... tion_id=68

Click on red marker for directios to station.

Matthew

[silverwings]

I have (will have) an extra ticket. If anyone wants it let me know at silverwingshg@netzero.net

[deveil]

also have an xtra ticket - until i cancel it somewhere around midday tommorrow.

garyD

[Richard Hays]

Decided not to go. Traffic would be daunting both in Baltimore, DC and all points in between. Mapquest saying 1:40 minutes just to get to New Carrollton Station for me...in traffic.

Have fun. Maybe he will come to the Baltimore Science Center? LOL. More my speed.

Richard "Hays" LOL
PS: so..when you guys are watching all that old fart flying....think of me. I started in 1976 flying homebuilt standards with swing seat harness off of Oregon Ridge. No joke. Awesome 4:to 1 glides and sink rates of probably 400 fpm. Huge billowing sails. Teeny weenie tubing. No battens. Nylon for sail material. Dacron if you were lucky. My first standard had mylar sail material which was basically tyvek housewrap sewn into a sail vs. dacron. Worked great; no flutter. LOL. Super hero pilots of the day were Tom Peginy, Bob Wills, Keith Nichols, Roy Haggard, Jeryy Felice, Terry Sweeney and our local studs Pete Osbourne from Pa. representing Chucks Glider Supplies of Ohio.; Les King of Sport Flight; Greg Mullenar of Hanggliders International; Jerry Lanham and Ron Higgs of Sail Flight, Inc. Oh...and Bob Martin and John LaTorre of Econ-O-Flight Inc.

[deveil]

john,
as my email server won't connect i'm not able to send you an email.
in trying to be a good citizen, i called the given number for tonight's lecture in order to cancel ONE of my two tikets. the recording said push such and such a numbeg in order to cancel. with out further ado it pronounced by tickets canceled my tickets. i naively thought i'd get another menu or something.
so YES, I'D APPRECIATE YOUR EXTRA TICKET!

Please call me at 703 - two four one - oh tutu five - again, my email app is acting up [bruggafruggamothafriggerbugga!].

anyone else have one available ?











1

[deveil]

bruggafruggamothafriggerbugga!

garyD

[mcelrah]

Yeah, Gary, I have another extra ticket. Just join my family. Don't scare my wife or my Marine son will beat you up.
(Kidding, kidding...) - Hugh

[mcelrah]

Richard and others,

There will also be a live webcast at 8 PM: http://www.nasm.si.edu/evenst/eventDeta ... entID=1683

- Hugh

[Spark]

Thanks Hugh ... I'm enjoying that webcast right now.

[mingram]

The documentary was really cool. People were living the dream in the early days of hang gliding...soaring barefoot and shirtless on a homemade $5 glider! It captured the feeling I had as a kid thinking I could fly off the tallest, steepest sand dune at Jockey's Ridge with a bed sheet. The hang gliders looked too heavy to me and most people ended up eating sand so I never tried it, but paragliding seemed closer to that bed sheet idea and less prone to sand in your mouth.

My roommate who joined me last night expressed that he wished soaring was easier. It definitely was easier in the 70s, but it was also really dangerous. I'm grateful to everyone who came before me and to everyone of you helping me today to live the dream.

Matt

[Dave Proctor]

The show and talk were great. He seemed a bit confused on some of the modern bits, like how 400 mile flights are accomplished. Still good.
RIchard-- I remember Les King. Somewhere around here I have one of his old Sport Flight business cards...orange, shaped like a rogalo wing. I also remember Bob Martin at Sport Flight. Took my first hang gliding lessons there. I think it was 1974... A miracle any of us survived. Back then they did a ground school, then threw you off a training hill... maybe 80-100 ft tall! Kids swing set seat and a seat belt across your lap. Away you go. Have some pics of those lessons buried in the archives as well. I sometimes wonder how many, if any, of the people in those classes still fly.

Dave

[Dan T]

Richard, Dave, Ward and other pioneers.

I bet I'm not the only one who would really enjoying seeing some of the archives you all have right here in Region 9. Some of our members are wizards at putting video and slide presentations. It might make a good project for a rainy/blown out weekend, as if we ever get any of those!

Dan

[mcelrah]

I finally watched Big Blue Sky on DVD last night. It's a great achievement by Bill Lipscomb and gives us newbies some insight into the origins of our sport. I was struck however by the elegiac tone of both the movie and Bill's lecture. One of the pioneers interviewed actually said that his whole life after that first period of discovery and ferment - was "a disappointment". I guess it's like being an astronaut - after you walk on the moon, what do you do to top that?

For myself, sex, drugs and rock 'n roll, international travel - and just growing up - were the big events of my life in that period of the late sixties/early seventies. While I have fond memories of those years, I have still felt a sense of personal progress and discovery through the years - with hang-gliding an important aspect in the last decade. To me, these are the good old days...

Anyone care to join this philosophical navel-gazing session?

- Hugh

[deveil]

"For myself, sex, drugs and rock 'n roll"

hmmmmm. . . well there was this one time when billy bennet took this gal i was dating for a tandem from his truck tow. i was riding in the back of the truck and got to see her reaction when they went airborne.
i spent the rest of our relationship rockin and rollin to the best of my abilities, unsuccessfully trying to create that same look on her face

drugs? well, it was before viagra but thankfully i didn't need it back then.

garyD

(caught the flick at the air an space)

[deveil]

yeah, i know, that wAs pretty lame, but i didn't have enough time to look up elegiac.

garyD

yeah, thAt was pretty lame also.
it's sort of what i do when i'm unable to give proper expression to the subject at hand.

[dbodner]

For myself, sex, drugs and rock 'n roll, international travel - and just growing up - were the big events of my life

You grew up? Who would've thought?

p.s. Something about a pot and a kettle.

[mcelrah]

Hey, I had 'em fooled for 30 years! Oh, they had their doubts, but I always presented a moving target, bobbing and weaving, so they couldn't quite get a fix on it... - Hugh

[markc]

I would be very interested to see old films and photos from our own area's equivalent
of the SoCal Early-70's heydays. I'm a relative newcomer to flying, and it's really hard
to imagine what the scene was like (though I've heard tales!) in 1974/1975, and in the
years just after.

(Basing this on the assumption that 1975 was the first year that High Rock was flown)

Flying/launches would be great of course, but I think I'd be even more interested in
material that captured the spirit of the time, not just the flying.

Who's out there that has old photos, slides,and Super-8 film? Maybe we could present
some of it via our website!

MarkC

[Gene]

This picture is from Rich Noon. Taylor hill in 79' or 80'

[Gene]

The previous picture was in 1979. He thinks he might have one more. I think he said spelunking, in his domicile.