[miguel]

I found this on Ken de Russy's site.

If so, how about some details.

m alexander

[JoeF]

Thanks, Miguel,
Volmer Jensen invited me to many of his flights. He had quite a day at Dockweiler in the early 1970s, the day of the shown.
Modern hang gliding in 1941 had Volmer flying three-axis control hang glider that he foot-launched. As publisher/editor I would go to riverbeds and beach to study his ways and means. Irv Culver would often be present ("Culver twist" for airfoils). Volmer has gone into the Next Thermal. In Southern California he was ever helpful to many sorts of people; he carried that same spirit into hang gliding. He soared to high AGL at Dockweiler with his rigid-wing hang glider; he would just take a step and off and up he would go. I did not get to fly his craft. Photographer of my vicarious ground trip in the photo is not remembered by me; perhaps Ken has note on the photographer.
Jim Hobson of Lawerence Welk shows had a NASA-mimic Rogallo flexwing at Dockweiler in 1961c before even Burns or Miller and certainly before the JD-GH hatchling. (Ever recall also 1960 Tony Prentice and 1961-2 Barry Hill Palmer or the eight Paresev pilots). Volmer stands tall in the history of hang gliding.
http://tinyurl.com/VolmerJensenHELPINGfatheringHG

[miguel]

Thanks for the reply. I am assuming that this is the glider. It looks like it should have blown the doors off everything until the Mitchell Wing.
Any ideas on the flying characteristics of this glider?

[JoeF]

Miguel,
Interesting photo you just showed; no wheels; and there seems to be a lower landing skid that I have not seen before. Many people received plans and built Volmer's wooden-leading-edge machine. Some powered the wing also. Watch for some different N numbers as you might research the VJ- machine.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volmer_VJ-23_Swingwing
http://www.airventuremuseum.org/collection/aircraft/Volmer%20Jensen-Ramey%20VJ-23E%20Swingwing.asp

You might want to explore his VJ-24 also.

His 1941c biplane three-axis control hang glider was VJ-11

http://esoaring.com/volmer_vj-11.htm for more.

A Volmer Jensen patent on an instrument: http://www.google.com/patents/USD165050

He ran a prototype and model shop. One of his famous doings: U.S.S. Enterprise http://www.cloudster.com/Sets&Vehicles/STEnterprise/EnterpriseTop.htm

[miguel]

Thanks again for the links. Seems like with a mill/swift cage and fairing, the VJ 23/24 could be brought up to 14-15/1 glide.

[miguel]

For any one interested, a copy of the original VJ-23 plans from Pop Mech mag is in the file section of Armchairgroup of Yahoo groups. You have to be a member for access.