[Chris McKeon]

You Know John has told Me about the numerous Flying Sites that You Guys have down there in "HANG GLIDING SITES USA" I mean if for some reason You can not fly at an Sam Diego HG site, You simply go to another San Diego. Well some Day I will drivre down to San Diego California and do Some Flying. But there is one site, just one site where getting to launch can be a Problem. That site is Blossom Valley. Blossom Valley is a four wheel drive required to get up to Launch. Other than Blossom Valleys limitations regarding needing a 4 wheel drive to get to launch. If You are a Pilot and You want to Fly, You have few complaints.

I'M envious of You Guys.

[Chris McKeon]

You Know there are what I and others see as Hang Gliding's Failings. Well one Glaring error With Hang Gliding, it is; Female Hang Glider Pilots. There is a dirty dark seriate regarding having Woman Flying Hang Gliders. I mean there is absolutely no problem with Woman Flying Hang-Gliders. I myself have seen a couple of outstanding Female Pilots. Such as Tammy B, and Kari K. Having seen both of those Woman Fly has caused Me to Consider getting Myself a Sex-Change operation.

The real Problem with Women Pilots is; We need more Woman HG Pilots. I mean what is the Problem? How do we reach out so as to entice more Women to Fly?

[Bill Cummings]

You Know there are what I and others see as Hang Gliding's Failings. Well one Glaring error With Hang Gliding, it is; Female Hang Glider Pilots. There is a dirty dark seriate regarding having Woman Flying Hang Gliders. I mean there is absolutely no problem with Woman Flying Hang-Gliders. I myself have seen a couple of outstanding Female Pilots. Such as Tammy B, and Kari K. Having seen both of those Woman Fly has caused Me to Consider getting Myself a Sex-Change operation.

The real Problem with Women Pilots is; We need more Woman HG Pilots. I mean what is the Problem? How do we reach out so as to entice more Women to Fly?

It’s my understanding that trying to get people into hang gliding or even trying to inspire people to try hang gliding
has little chance of success. The person that has a burning desire to hang glide, tells you to call them the next time that you are going flying, but calls again just to be sure you haven’t forgot to call them, actually pester you about hang gliding, those are the people that become pilots and stay with the sport. Their desire has to be enough to withstand all the impediments, gate keeper$, Org. fee$, le$$on fee$, and politics.

[Chris McKeon]

There is a little Dark issue regarding Flying that We do not talk about, Woman Pilots! The dark reality regarding HG Pilots is that We need more Woman HG Pilots. Why is it that We do not have more Woman Hang Glider Pilots? It is not some petty sexist Bias. Heck I see up here that Pilots will bend over backwards so as to encourage Woman, and to Help Women Fly. Take Myself for example while I am not a Woman HG Pilot. After seeing Women Pilots such as Kari Kastle. It makes Me consider getting Myself a Sex Change operation.

[Bob Kuczewski]

The person that has a burning desire to hang glide, tells you to call them the next time that you are going flying, but calls again just to be sure you haven’t forgot to call them, actually pester you about hang gliding, those are the people that become pilots and stay with the sport. Their desire has to be enough to withstand all the impediments, gate keeper$, Org. fee$, le$$on fee$, and politics.

I believe Bill is correct. To grow the sport of hang gliding, we need to be visible enough so that those people can find us ... regardless of their gender.

[Chris McKeon]

OK, I am looking for some basic flying Gear. Maybe someone might say something like: " You need to get this brand GPS< VARIO< or Oxygen set-up.

GEAR QUESTIONS:

Can one's GPS unit be in communication with the Drivers Unit in the retrieval Vehicle? This would be so cool. For I have landed in Nevada once after flying XC from California. and I had no idea where I was lucky. For I walked maybe all in all, I walked about 500 yards to a Farm House, where I asked a lady to use Her Phone. This tidbit is quite cool. When She asked Me where I had launched From? I replied: that I Launched From Wolf's Peak. Which is very Close to Sonora Pass. The Lady bellowed out; "Sonora Pass! Your Lying! Sonora Pass is over Fifty Miles from here! You truly can not buy a Moment like that. I did not have the Heart to tell Her that a 54 Mile Flight was not a long Flight. So i guess I am a No Good, Low Down Lier!

What Brand oxygen supply is a Good one. Also where do I go to procure an Oxygen set-up?

Any imput on these two Items would be Great. Thanks Chris McKeon 925-+497-1059

[Chris McKeon]

I am sort of surprised by the lack of response to My queries to My asking about items that We all need. Those are Oxygen and Radio-GPS. So how about it? What do You Guys Use when You are Flying XC?

[Bob Kuczewski]

I am sort of surprised by the lack of response to My queries to My asking about items that We all need. Those are Oxygen and Radio-GPS. So how about it? What do You Guys Use when You are Flying XC?

We don't all need those things.

Back in the early 80's I flew a small airplane cross country from Seattle to Los Angeles and back. No oxygen. No GPS.

I began flying hang gliders in 1978 and paragliders around 1990, but most of my flights have been in the last 2 decades. No oxygen. No GPS.

Some folks just like to fly ... without turning it into a job or a contest.

[Bill Cummings]

Letting your driver know where can be a good thing or a bad thing.
If you use a radio while flying in a competition others could adjust
their flight plan in order to beat you once they have heard your
location. As for radio communication it can be too public.
In the older days of competition the pilot and chase driver would
draw grid lines on their maps. Between the horizontal lines would
have letters. Between vertical lines would be numbers. The pilot
would call out the position, D-4, and the driver would check the
the corresponding area on the driver’s map. Anyone overhearing
lacked the grid lines to indicate where area D-4 was located.
Some pilots use the location services on their cell phone.
Depending on which FAA or FCC agent you talk to this may be illegal or
legal.
(By lying about my position on an out and back triangle task I rushed
an opponent to the ground.)
I delayed responding since it has been awhile since I’ve needed a chase
driver and newer technology is probably out there that I’ve missed.

[Chris McKeon]

Well this Post is not really an OFF-TOPIC Post. That is because I had No idea what one's Off-Peak-Blood Glucose numbers should be, that was until that fateful Sunday in March came to Pass. Because on Sunday March 28th 2010, I did a "SUPER-POUND" I had pounded into the Ground after an super-short ill fated X-C Flight. Well Ny almpst lifeless Body was carted off to John Muir Hospital. Where I began the ordeal of undergoing the Recovery of recoveries. Pilot-X was probably the first of My friends to get to the Hospital to see Me. X was told to notify my Family for I would not survive. But this totally ill-informed incompetent Prognosis was in error. GFor after all on March28th I began my Recovery. To where today Two Months Seven Days later, I am in the process of getting Myself, along with George's 330 W-W Condor, out to a Hang Gliding site where I will once again, for the first time in over Twelve Years. I will Fly! Yes this broken down almost Dead Predator Pilot, Will Fly again. I will no longer Be the Big Guy in1 the Sky. For I am a 6' 3 and 3/4" Phoenix Guy in the Sky! I mean that. For if I Chris McKeon will not be the Phoenix Guy in the Sky, Who is?

OK I have as Question:

I have a Friend/Pilot wo says what We all feel to be. He says that He just loves to Fly. But when I bring up launching from a Mountain and having a Flight, hopefully a nice long Flight. Yes going on an XC Flight. His response tpo Flying XC is a dreadful one. But You are your spending time in the Air. My friend responds talking about launching from a Mountain and Flying XC as a Dirty thing. I told Him that: "You say that You just love to be up in the Air Flying" I responded by sayin: "You know You have the Mental attributes that an X-C Pilot should have to help enable Him or Her to Fly X-C routes". Yo just simply love to be up in the air Flying. For We have all been Flying X-C routes, When we are getting quite low, so low that We must consider that dreaded option This option is one that none of us want to consider, That is: "TO LAND!" I know I just typed a Four letter Cuss Word, "LAND". Boy I sure hope that I do not getting Banned for typing a Cuss word.

I have as many of You have been. I have been Flying an X-C route where I find Myself so low that I am able to see individual birds perched upon Tree Limbs. Then I would go into that Desperation Mode. I mean I would Scratch, Scratch, Scratch My way back up. when I was Flying , and I was of say 5 Miles from a road. It was time to stop looking at Birds Perched upon Tree-Limbs, and Climb back up. "BECAUSE I JUST LOVE TO FLY!"