US Hawks Hang Gliding Association

Having decided to start transporting my Condor 330 in its full length configuration, instead of short packing it every time, I set about designing a front glider support for my Honda truck.

While looking in my tubing rack for some tubing to use for the pair of vertical supports I spotted the perfect thing. I was going to need to make threaded end plugs for whatever tubing I chose to use. But there in the rack was a pair of tubes that already had aluminum end plugs with threaded centers in both ends. I needed 43" length and these were 46 1/2" so I could cut them down 3 1/2" and reinstall the plugs.

This pair of tubes, with end plugs, had been sitting in my tubing supply for 46 years and now they were perfect for my glider support project. These were titanium tubes, 3/4" dia x .022" wall - ridged as a 2 x 4! I also used more of this tubing for the trailing edges in the Skysail. These two pieces had become surplus from one of the changes I made in my Skysail hang glider back in 1972.

Funny; tubing from my first hang glider being used, after 46 years, to support what is probably my last hang glider.

Frank Colver

Frank, you forgot to tie foam around the glider bag
Where the glider is even with the front of the roof.
So the glider bag won’t flap against the top of the cab.

I also passed my old timers test by remembering that
A glider tied like you have it in the picture will tend
To rock against the front rack on the highway.

I recommend the tie-down to form an upside-down
“U” shape over the glider to prevent rocking.
The strap should go under the rack on each side of the
glider and not under the rack only in
One place directly under the glider.

Frank Colver wrote:This pair of tubes, with end plugs, had been sitting in my tubing supply for 46 years and now they were perfect for my glider support project. These were titanium tubes, 3/4" dia x .022" wall - ridged as a 2 x 4!

Like it was meant to be ...         

Bill, I was not going to drive with the glider on the rack when I took the photo. I had put it up there to make sure that my new front support was in the right place. Right after the photo I took the glider down and put it back in my shop. So I didn't bother to strap it to the racks I have been using before. This was just a check on my new front rack and a photo shoot.

I do always use the "U" shape strap configuration when I strap the glider to the racks. However, I think that a single pass under the bar is OK for that front support because it also goes through the two eye bolts on either side.

Thanks for your concern,

Frank

Hope to see you soon Frank

OK, Rick, I'm too dense to get the joke. Please splaine.

Frank

With those titanium uprights in front, Frank, you're driving a one-ton cheese grater.