Time to say farewell to hang gliding (atleast for now)

[Steve Vogel]

Dear Freinds,

After 16 years (less the past year) of great flying, great memories and making great friends, I'm afraid its time for me to say farewell to hang gliding. Those of you who know me, know I have a beautiful wife and two great kids (son Dylan 9 and daughter Jaden 6) and I am finding myself wanting to hang with them more and more and enjoy watching them grow up. I truly believe that in a sport like hang gliding you must stay current in order to stay safe. This has been a very difficult decission for me because hang gliding has been a big part of my life for a very long time. Hang gliding has been one of the most exhilerating and thrilling things that I have ever done and I leave with great memories of the sport and the great people I have had the honor to know and fly with over the years. Although hang gliding won't be a part of my life (atleast for a while), I intend to keep in contact with the people I've met along the way.

Finally the most difficult part, please see my ad in the marketplace section of the list server where I will be selling my new Aeros Discus (less than 10 hours), harness, vario...etc.

Thank you all for the great memories, great times, great friendships and for sharing the airspace with me.

Cheers,

Steve Vogel

[Dan T]

Steve, It's been a pleasure flying with you over the years and I hate to see you leaving the sport but I know your reasons for doing so are as good as they get.

If any of you guys are looking to step up or step down to a sweet high end kingposted glider, I encourage you to give Steve's Discus a look. I've never flown one personally but I've watched several of them fly toe to toe with the U2 gang at the East Coast Challenge. In fact one of my less pleasant competition memories was watching John Simon climb out on me under one after starting directly opposite each other in the same thermal and at the exact same elevation during the meet a couple years back. I fly the big U2 and John is fatter than me so it wasn't wingloading. I'll concede talent could have had a little bit to do with it, but none-the-less that's one sweet glider.

Steve I wish you well and hope our paths cross again.

Dan T

[jimrooney]

Hell, just different priorities.
I used to think a BMX bike and well worn baseball glove were the highest essentials in life.
Oh how things change.

I'm glad you walked the ways of the hang glider pilot. We've all enjoyed your company. People don't leave this stuff for small things, which says volumes about your family life
Enjoy.
I'm sure everyone here wishes you well.

As for the Discus. I'll back Dan's assessment. I've owned one and have put lots of hours on them. I love them. Whoever buys it will be a happy camper.

Jim

[Marco Zee]

Hey Steve,
I was in your exact same situation about 10 years ago....wanting to fly, but conflicted by time away from my family and all of their activities.
Rather than quiting hang gliding completely, I made what I thought was a reasonable compromise....a Mosquito Motor Harness.
This allows me to spend time with the family, and I can launch and land right out of my yard (or almost any local ballfield or park) and still get airtime as time and weather permit, without all the long treks out to the mountains and tow parks.

Just coincidentally, I have an extra Mosquito sitting in the back of my pickup right now..I can let ya have it for cheap (very reasonably priced since it actually belongs to George LOL, but I am sure he won't mind if you have it .

All the best to you and yours,

Marco

[Flying Lobster]

Heya Steve--

Marc Fink here--It was great flying with ya--and your decision is fully understandable. We know, at some point in the future, that maybe one day while looking up at a beautiful sun-lit sky with puffy cummies forming, the siren call may lead you back to us. : )

Peace, prosperity and happiness while you travel your path,
marc

PS--Marco, there's a pilot or two in the Maine area that may be interested in your Mossie gear. Track down the MaineHangGlider Yahoo group, join it, and post there. Oh--and don't forget to vote for Barak in November, there's still time to repent. : )

[Danny Brotto]

Steve

What Marco said although I think the next "big thing" in powered harneses will be something like this:

http://www.flylight.co.uk/flexwing/dragonfly.htm

From the guys that brought us the DoodleBug this looks quite clever, It sports a four strole engine for quiet and reliability and wheels for takeoff and landing (retractable in flight!) It's designed to mate to a Discus 15M which is the size I suspect you have.

Whatever path you take, stay in touch!

Danny Brotto

[brianvh]

Hey Steve;

Haven't seen you much in years, so already went through the mourning process. I think maybe after the kids are both off to college (or maybe even high school) you'll drift back in. I hope you'll drop in on the Highland fly-in on occasion to hang out.

[CraginS]

Steve,
As a Hang 2 who benefited many years ago (10+) from your volunteering as an Observer, thank you for what you have given back to the sport.

I've done the deeply involved Dad thing, most of it before discovering free flight. I know what you are looking at, and I believe you are making the right decision. Treasure the time with your kids. It is finite.
BTW, since I started flying when my kids were in high school, I was informally voted as the dad with the coolest mid-life crisis. Maybe you can ease back into the sky when they get "too busy for dad."

[drice21037]

Hi Steve,

I'm not sure we've met but I want to throw in my $.02 as one who is also trying to be a deeply involved dad. Have you considered trading the Discus for a Falcon and flying like a H2 until you have the time to devote yourself again? It's kind of like being a recreational crack user but if you're willing to get through the frequent withdrawl symptoms it might be a way to go.

[gtutor21157]

Hey Steve
It's really been along time ,So goodluck and have fun they do frow so quick.. Oh yeah ! We can allow u to fly the Misquito have is out of the question.. ( Marco i know where u live)
George