Great Paraglide flight in the Rockies

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Dan T
Posts: 1082
Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2005 5:58 pm
Location: Northern VA

Great Paraglide flight in the Rockies

Post by Dan T »

Friends,

Sparky posted a paragliding flight about a flight across the continental divide in Colorado on our other side. The pilot has a description of the flight and some of the best aerial photos I have ever seen. It got my heart racing just looking at them. Take a peek on the paraglider forum or at the link below. It will cheer you up on this no fly Sunday.

Dan T


http://www.rmhpa.org/messageboard/viewt ... 5472c#4488
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mcelrah
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Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 11:30 pm

Post by mcelrah »

So, Dan, are you coming over to the dark side of The Force? - Hugh
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brianvh
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Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2005 2:32 pm
Location: manhattan, New York

Post by brianvh »

Uh, you mean the 'Spark side'?
Brian Vant-Hull
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Dan T
Posts: 1082
Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2005 5:58 pm
Location: Northern VA

the dark spark side

Post by Dan T »

I'm certainly being tempted. The thought of 15 minute set ups, car packable and all those really cool bagwing pics in the magazine are a pretty strong lure.

Besides it would be really cool to be able to launch by running off the Pulpit slope sideways and scrambling across the rocks like I saw all of those paraglider pilots doing a couple of weeks ago. I bet us hangies will never be able to do that! ;-)

Dan T
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Spark
Posts: 742
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 5:36 am
Location: Evergreen, Colorado

Post by Spark »

brianvh wrote:Uh, you mean the 'Spark side'?
I get more flights and airtime here in the Front Range in the PG than I do in the HG. Partly because the local site ( Lookout ) is very PG friendly, < 20 minutes from home, and on the way home from work. If I still lived near a cliff launch site like High Rock, it would be a different story.

For example, a week ago I flew the HG two days (Saturday, Sunday), but I flew the PG four days, two of them mid-week and after work. My wing stays inside the car and if conditions look good, I'll stop by launch on my way home. I can be airborne less than 10 minutes after arrival and can frequently top land and be home in 30 minutes, before dark. If I land on the bottom, getting a ride to launch with my PG is pretty easy. Last Wednesday was particularly good at Lookout ... 4:30pm launch time and still got 2k over.

If conditions are light, and if there is a high potential for sledding, I'll always pull out the PG. It is a nice option to have. When the wind picks up and the air gets 'sporty', or it is a long glide to the LZ I'll always prefer the HG.

More options, more airtime.

Image

http://sparkozoid.blogspot.com

'Spark
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brianvh
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Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2005 2:32 pm
Location: manhattan, New York

Post by brianvh »

I didn't say there was anything wrong with it. It used to be 'biwingual' was associated only with Marc Fink, then John Middleton in our area. But after you led the charge, many folks followed, transforming the culture. It's one of your local legacies to be proud of.
Brian Vant-Hull
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mcelrah
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Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 11:30 pm

Post by mcelrah »

OK, Brian, I heard that "not that there's anything wrong with that" backhanded slur! I am comfortable with my winguality and don't need anyone's permission for activities conducted among consenting adults. It's not just a lifestyle choice; we're born this way! It...just...hurts to be condescended to like that. Aauugh! - Hugh
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Spark
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Location: Evergreen, Colorado

Post by Spark »

brianvh wrote:I didn't say there was anything wrong with it. It used to be 'biwingual' was associated only with Marc Fink, then John Middleton in our area. But after you led the charge, many folks followed, transforming the culture. It's one of your local legacies to be proud of.
I didn't mean to sound like there was anything wrong ... no offense taken, bro. Actually it was Marc and Ellis and Matthew and Karen who were major influences in my PG-winguality journey.

p.s. I just ordered a new WW Sport2 155. This will be the second glider I have ever purchased new. The last one was a UP Mosquito 166 in 1978.
'Spark
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mcelrah
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Post by mcelrah »

Congratulations on your new purchase! But it's your second new HANG glider, right? - Hugh
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theflyingdude
Posts: 359
Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 11:40 pm
Location: Cumberland, MD

Post by theflyingdude »

Spark wrote:
brianvh wrote:I didn't say there was anything wrong with it. It used to be 'biwingual' was associated only with Marc Fink, then John Middleton in our area. But after you led the charge, many folks followed, transforming the culture. It's one of your local legacies to be proud of.
I didn't mean to sound like there was anything wrong ... no offense taken, bro. Actually it was Marc and Ellis and Matthew and Karen who were major influences in my PG-winguality journey.

p.s. I just ordered a new WW Sport2 155. This will be the second glider I have ever purchased new. The last one was a UP Mosquito 166 in 1978.

Good choice, Sparky! The Sport 2 155 is the best glider that Steve Pearson/Wills Wing has ever produced (IMO).

JR
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