[Chris McKeon]

Well. I am Typing this Post mainly that I can exercise My Left hands Fingers. Just like when I will be typing on My Manual Typewriter, I do things things and more so that I can improve how well My Left hand functions. My Father told me today that His second Wife Darleen could type a 122 words per-Minute. I say Wow to a hundred and twenty two words per Minute typing speed.

I also Play My Gibson S-G. I see it this way; When I can play Guitar as well as {Angus Young}.t

Playing as well as Angus is doable. Playing as well as Angus, that is attainable. I feel that My Goals need to be realistic in nature. Yes playing as well as Angus will be good, good enough for Me. If My Left hands Fingers will function well, as in Mobility up and down the Neck of the Guitar. Well when I can achieve free Mobility with My left hand. I can then exercise My Mind coming up with Riffs to play.

PHOENIX FLYING;

One way or another, I believe that I will Fly a Condor 330. Yes, I am going to be Flying Single surface Gliders, that is until I am good to go as far as Flying My Predator 158. You guys want to know something? For Me I believe that the two things that I will now say describe insanity far better than; Insanity is doing the same thing expecting different results. No for Me anyways it is; Having the greatest Hang Glider that has a King-Post, that has ever been Made, the Predator. It is also insane to have a Car that will run in excess of two hundred Miles an hour. While at the same time not having a Drivers License. You see, I lost My License not because of say Driving Violations. I lost My License because I was in a Coma for three Months.

Well, I have gone on here long enough. Good Night Chris McKeon; 925-497-1059. Good Night Chris.







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[Chris McKeon]

Well Hello everyone:

First off I want to say that I am making efforts to Fly again. I have not Flown for twelve long, I mean that number is 12. Yes I have not Flown my H-G in twelve agonizingly long years with out flying My predator. Why have I not flown in 12 Years It is because at the end of my last flight from Mount Diablo California. I Pounded so hard, that as a result of having pounded I spent Three Months laying on My Back in a Coma. At one point during my stay at the Hospital's ICU unit. My sister asked My attending Doctor to perform an M-R-I on My Left Shoulder. Well this sensitive, all knowing Health provider, that would have been my Doctor, He said to My Sister Kathleen; "Why Bother You Can't have an conversation with a Potato". I mean He really said that to My Sister, as he held My left wrist. Also this Doctor said; it might have been the one that I just typed about, said that I would never recover to much better than a Potato, also He said that I would never walk again. I just say to what this Quack said; I am grateful for the Fact that what John-H said to Me regarding a Wills wing 330 Condor' In any Breeze, with any slope that You can walk the Condor into the Air. For walking is something I can do much to the Chagrin of my all-knowing, well meaning esteemed Doctors. I might not be able to run very fast. My walk may not be so graceful. But I will simply stride a Big old 330 Condor into the Air.

I really am not making this up. I am a an, a Pilot, a Phoenix Pilot at that. there are flights in my future, my immediate future that I must make happen. Yes I will be a Single Surface Glider Pilot during my initial Flying Future. I want to have a Flight where I come into a thermal that Both John and Pilot-X are working. I see in My Mind that I will enter that thermal below X and John, then I will proceed to core through both of them. This may sound sort of Cocky, or even argent, but it is not, You See I will have the Advantage of Flying the incredibly strong climbing Predator 158. Plus now that I have lost One Hundred Pounds, it will be even more than One Hundred Pounds by the Time this happens. Then if John and I are both flying the Same Glider, John; A Predator 142, and I will be flying My 158 Predator. It will come down to a Pilots skill. Regarding My being able to Climb through John. John and I should be flying the same Gliders, a 142 and a 158 Predator. I realize that I will be rusty after My Lay-Off of Twelve Years. But You Guys should know that both John and Robert have told Me that they both want Me to Climb through them. So I want to give both John and X what hey have asked me to do.

[Craig Muhonen]

"I might not be able to run very fast. My walk may not be so graceful. But I will simply stride a Big old 330 Condor into the Air".

Hi Chris, Yes.
I think that your legs will only know three things,
pick up and "steady" the glider,
"run" down hill and "push" off,
and then flare to a "landing".
Make sure, that they are in the best shape they can be, every day,
and don't let your "gate" bother you.
Your Graceful self will be in the air.
Keep your head as still as you can.

From a fellow "crooked walker".

C:+o)


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[Chris McKeon]

For Me at this point of My Post Pound Life. It really does not matter what Wing I will be flying. It seems that the next Flight I will take flight in the next couple of Months will be made By My Flying a 330 Condor. What Matters is that I will FLY! For Me to take Flight will be a beyond words experience for Me. Flying was not in the Cards when Doctors speculated what I would, or would not do. Heck after Doctors had a Chance to appraise Me. They speculated Death. For if one is injured to the degree I was, My doctors simply washed their hands of You. They gave up. My advice to all of You if there is a chance that any of You might possibly be hurt as bad as I was. You'd best research who might work on Your injured Body to determine if the Doctors who might work on our Body, are they incompetent, or will they be up to the task of repairing You.

So anyways; I will Fly again. I plan on giving "X" and John what they both asked Me for. Also check this out; At a body weight of being under 200 lbs. 198 oh about two weeks ago I was 198. I could do some strong Climbing. If I can whittle My Body weight down to 180 or less. "John", and "X", get ready for Me, because I will be coring through You Guys!

[Chris McKeon]

OK, I at this time, I do not know when John will be up here from Southern California. I just now got off the Phone with Him I called Andy down at Wind-sports this afternoon. But Andy was teaching a Lesson. There is a possibility that I will go with John to Point of The Mountain. But "IF" and when regarding going to the Point is up in the Air currently. In a Perfect world I would head down South. I would hook up with Andy and Fly His Condor. Then head back up North go to Marina Beach with John and Leon, Fly Marina. Then John and I would head to Point of the Mountain. But as I said. Nothing is cast in stone at present. Today I attempted to find a way so that I could get down South, But I failed. i had problems dealing with the Automated reservation systems of both the Airlines, and Grey hound. I will try some more to get information regarding when I would depart, and when I want to return, fairs, rates, etc.

I will stay on my Quest to resolve how and when I will head down, and when I will return.

But I see the bigger Picture. Yes un the end, I will for the first time in 12 Years, I will Fly!

Good B; y Chris McKeon, AKA. "The Phoenix Guy in the Sky". 925-497-1059

[Chris McKeon]

Hello Everyone:

OK here is My general overall situation, Game Plan:

Ok in a Nutshell; I want to Fly again. I need to Fly again, I must Fly again. Do you get the General idea? I want to Fly so badly, that it hurts. I believe that I have conveyed my Dilemma. I just really want to Fly!

So here are the Few options that I have to Fly a HG. One; I might be able to get Myself down South so that I can Fly Wind-sports Condor. Also after I fly Andy's Condor, and I do well. I might be able to Fly Frank's Condor. You see I must demonstrate to everyone that I can Fly. I will be working on getting My Hang One, My Hang One for the second Time in Thirty one Years!

I hope to be down at Dockweiler Beach for the Otto Meet. But believe it or not My Finances have been devastated due to when I nearly had the Last Flight of My life twelve Years ago. One of the things that happened to Me was My drivers License was revoked because of My having pounded Myself into the ground. So in order for me to travel down to Southern California. I have been trying to navigate My through the Computer controlled answering service for Greyhound Bus, and the Airlines. For Me to have to do thiis in order to Fly is really something.

I so would like to have all My Pilot friends who would like to be there when I fly My first Flight in Twelve ling, agonizing years of not being able to Fly. But I will only Fly from one site for My First Flight. Boy I Shure do hope that I can do this.

Finances are a Prime concern for Me regarding my being able to travel down South. Yes to pay for everything, Travel costs to and from. I will need to pay Andy. Food Costs. A place to stay. I might stay at a Hotel. It costs Money. The costs add up. but it is over a Month away. Maybe things will become easier. I so want this to happen. Trust Me all of You Guys have no idea how great this will be for Me to Fly again. I mean how could You know? Almost dying I did, Twelve Years with-out a Single flight. But I will make it back to Free-Flight.

Note to Bob:

Bob would You please Forward this Message to John for Me? My E-Mail server is AWOL.

[Chris McKeon]

WHAT I KNOW:

I know that I will Fly again, in fact this Year I will Fly. I sustained a traumatic Brain Injury. I am worried about making; {Mental Errors} I worry that when I have My first Flight in seven Days short of my not flying for12 years Two Months. I worry that there I will be soaring, flying up and down Dockweiler Beach. I will have a huge Mental Error, I will completely forget to land. I might be Flying for a couple of Days. You Guys just should know that You have absolutely no idea how good it feels for Me to be able actually no idea how it feels for Me to be able to Type Trash regarding My impending Flying.

[Craig Muhonen]

Bravo Chris
But you are going to need a bigger glider,
because we're all going to be there right by your side.
Even me, who flew a Hang Glider just once, some 50 years ago and I whacked,
so watch out brother!



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[Chris McKeon]

Craig I disagree, I mean I really Disagree. I had My last flight Sunday march 27th. 2010 on My 158 Predator. A Flight that almost ended My Life. I weighed 298 Lbs. I flew the Glider that I love. I would be able to fly further than Laminar, Wills-Wing, Topless Gliders on similar routes on the same Day. The Predator 158 is truly a great design! As that old saying says; "You Can't argue with success". One thing to think about here. I am no super-Star Pilot. Flying XC I am at Best, I am a little better than other Pilots. But I Fly a Predator. Even when I weighed close to 300 Lbs. The Predator's ability to Climb was imply stunning. So even weighing just about 300 lbs. I could stuff The Bar between thermals. Thus I could Fly faster than Topless Gliders when on Glide between thermals. I would get so low before I would have too really think about getting Back up. When it came to Climbing. If the Sun was Up, so would I.

Well as Time passes, technology Marchs on. So now after being sidelined due to My last Flight. Maybe Topless Gliders have finally regarding their performance have finally been able to surpass a Predator. Compounding this regarding My Future Performance. Maybe Just maybe, while Flying XC, I will be on the ground having sunk out and landed. Well now Just as My Friends have said, friends such as Kevin Dutt, and John have said
I will have to experience the reality of having a Day when Topless Gliders Fly Further than I will happen. I will be on the ground and I will look up to see a Topless Glider Flying over Me. What Goes around comes around. But until that day comes I will not Yield, I will not Concede to the concept that Reality. If that reality has finally come to Pass.

OK, I will just come out and say it. I simply love My Predator. What a Design, what a Glider!

There is a sobering Physical reality that I may have to concede to. I very well might now be able to fly as well as well as I used to Fly. If the Predators Flying Performance has finally been Surpassed, then so be it. I mean what A run the Predator Had.

[Bill Cummings]

I’m not sure but I think a topless will be heavier than gliders with king posts.
Due to back problems that is why I never bought a topless glider.
For those reading that are not too knowledgeable about hang gliders topless
gliders do have tops but just not the top support rigging.
Years ago I was the chase driver for a pilot that was flying a 13 year old
HP 2 glider during the Sandia Cross Country Classic.
I had always wondered how a good cross country pilot on an old glider would
compare to a young pilot on a state of the art topless glider.
As I recall he kicked butt. Beating all the new king posted gliders and most of the
topless gliders.