As a P2 and relatively new member of CHPGA, this post has really alarmed me. We are all BIG risk takers and as such we will all inevitably make questionable decisions at some point, as our passion for flying temporarily trumps our better judgement. I see little of the real Hogback II (hmmm...that sounds like a nice name for a XC wing, no?) in these posts...I have met them at each site improvement event, seen them give advise and helpful tips on flying, heard them cuss like sailors when the wind and thermals woud not bend to their will....These are not the behaviours of 'lone foreign rangers' or 'egotistical maniacs'. These behaviours are the glue that holds our comunity together. I trust that they regret this incident and that is enough for me. I trust that their character will compel them to give back to the club in extra care, advise, mentorship and sheer flying enthusiasm.
CHPGA BOD, here is your silver lining. I didnt know until this post that a rift exists between PG and HG pilots, so there is still hope. Your collective wisdom is sufficient to use this issue to bring the club together, not tear us apart. Perhaps you could start by formaly advising USHPA that the lessons have been learnt from this incident and nothing that furthers the free-flight community's interests would be gained from a USHPA review. Perhaps in our next meeting we can hire some of those inflatable samurai outfits (wind dummies) and have the PGs and HGs have at it to relieve some steam too. In the meantime, it seems that other good things are coming from this incident - Hogback might become PG rated, for instance. And I am hoping to be a more active pilot this year
. Lets celebrate those too.