A hanggliding reunion-old timers reunited

[Richard Hays]

I had the pleasure of getting together with some local hanggliding legends this past weekend. Sadly it was put together because of the death of Rick Duff's father, but....it was great that we all got together.

Many of you will not know these names. Some old timers will. But they were some of the first pilots in the area to fly hanggliders. I will attempt to give them some of the credit they deserve. The timeline is from 1976 to present. Here goes:

Paul Horrigan: Learned from Jerry Lanham of Sail Flight Inc. Actually...Paul may have already had some hanggliding experience prior to showing up at College Park, Md.around 1976 ( University of Maryland ). I met Paul on the slopes of Oregon Ridge. We both flew modified homebuilt Sail Flight Inc. standard rogallo wings. We called them 19/15's which meant 19 foot leading edge and a fifteen foot keel. "Cut keel standards". Each Leading edge had a single deflexor for stiffening. No battens. Lots of billow. Mine was made of all plastic-mylar material and his was a custom in-layed white wings and orange mainsail. Paul ended up with a Scirrocco 2 and headed off to Denver Colorado. We made several trips to fly with him years later. Once to Denver and once to Telluride. Awesome trips!

Chip Wilson: still flying ultralights. Learned from a combination of Jerry Lanham and his roommate Paul Horrigan. And me. Now living in Annapolis, Md. We used to call him "Sore" Wilson...vs. Soar because of his early abilities to wack his wing up at Oregon Ridge and elsewhere! LOL. If you see one of those trike ultralights with pontoons flying aroung Kent Narrows, its a good chance that it is Chip Wilson.

Rick Duff: Rick and I are still in contact alot and I handle his insurance for Duff Signs in Laurel. Rick started the University of Maryland Hanggliding Club with Chip and Luis Gonzales. They also started a hanggliding school called "The Washington School of Hanggliding, Inc." I was one of their head instructors. We sold Sensor 210's and later U.P. Comets. The Comets took the industry by storm and Rick and Chip sold dozens of them. I eventually bought out their school and changed the name to The Maryland School of Hanggliding, Inc. to become more regional. We used to have dozens of students on any given day out at Oregon Ridge. Amazing.

Luis Gonzales: was another roommate of Rick and Chips after Horrigan moved to Colorado. Luis was an instructor for WSHG and loved his Electra Flyer Olympus. Later got an Airwave Magic. Moved to Philly for awhile and hung with the Philly club boys. Later joined the Army and became a Doctor. Now resided in Vermont and races sailboats on Lake Champlain and is also an ocean racer...winning many ocean races to the Bahamas and Bermuda. Luis also was a freestyle skier in the Olympics ( funny story..he was representing Puerto Rico ).

Mark Gibson: Lived in DC and was also flying buddies with Rick, Chip, me and Luis. Later moved to Colorado. I've been out to see him several times...flying Telluride and Aspen while there. Good times. Mark flew for years out there but like many...finally hung up his wings. He now races his J-20 sailboat on Lake Dillon. Mark flew everything from a Cirrus 5 to a Wills Wing HP. He and Luis are very close and hookup frequently. Mark and I hookup whenver he's in town and go sailing.

Anyway....all these guys came in town for the funeral this past weekend. It was amazing to see everyone together. Fatter, older, wrinkles but...the personalities were still as vibrant as I remembered and we just laughed and talked and told flying stories for hours. We all ended up on my Hunter 34 sailboat on Sunday for a perfect sailing day on the Chesapeake bay. We sailed over to Fairlee Creek and back, all the while talking about Oregon Ridge, or High Rock or the Colorado trips, or flying in Pa. It was so cool. It had been 25+ years since I'd seen Paul or Luis. I was damn near in tears when we all hugged and said goodbye at my marina. It was a good day, a good reunion. Probably never to be repeated.

These guys were what hanggliding is all about. Fun. Adventure. Comradrie. Sharing death defying stunts ( c'mon...admit it; it is ) It felt so good to be back in the company of such good old pilot buddy friends. I't felt like no time had passed at all. Brothers in arms. I miss them again already. I miss those magic times of the early days of hanggliding.

Thank you Mark Gibson for organizing this truly amazing reunion of old pilots and friends!

Richard Hays
Prez. MHGA

[Dan T]

Great story Richard!

I don't suppose you have some pictures of those gliders and guys do you?

Dan T

[Richard Hays]

Pictures? Of course! Some on some old crappy slides though. Remember 110 Kodak film? LOL.

Rich

[mcelrah]

I was in touch with Chip Wilson about float trikes a couple of years ago. I still have interest, but it's a bigger investment... - Hugh

[obryandavid]

Sorry to hear about Rick's dad passing. Rick's name is on my USHPA card as my first rating signoff in 1979.

I would have loved to have seen those guys again as I was a student and later an assistant teacher of many of them back in those days, as well as you too Richard. But I have been out of touch for a while now. Glad that you all had such a great time.

Hope to see you at the Pulpit or High Rock party this year.

Still not ready to start flying again but hoping to get my life together in the near future so I can make the time commitment.

Regards,

Dave O

[mcelrah]

David and all: stand by for an announcement for the Pulpit party to be earlier in the season - yes the sacred Pulpit fall date has been changed! - to avoid crowding the High Rock party. - Hugh

[RichH]

Richard glad to hear they are doing well..Tell Chip I said hello I bought my first Sensor 510 from Chip in 81 send him my regards...Rich