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Ken de Russy:

In the Spirit of Rob Kells Wed, Feb 4 2015
I'm sure I am not the only one to notice that this venture bears an uncanny resemblance to how Rob Kells got his start. I cannot look at that group photo and not see Rob's joie de vivre and enthusiasm for flight in the eyes of each of them. It is impossible to predict where this might lead but we can be sure Rob would have found a grand way to throw his support behind these folks. Did anyone look at Rob when he rolled up to a flying site with his buddies in their motorhome in 1977 and imagine the impact Rob would have on our sport?

Ken de Russy - USHGA Dual Division, Life/Charter Member #5114, Hang Gliding Museum Collector Guy - Anacortes, WA - (360)293-8621 - Skype: ken.de.russy - Museum Images: http://tinyurl.com/75oqdhk - Hang Gliding Museum: http://tinyurl.com/89c2n6s - Historic Movies: http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=weflyuniv - Items wanted: http://www.united-states-hang-gliding-h ... anted.html

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I've explained this before.
To those who know what I'm talking about, please refrain from blurting out the answer.
Related and not related:

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They may finally be getting it on the Oz Report:

Circular Perspective
New post Re: Flying Gypsies Thu, Feb 5 2015, 5:38:04 pm

"We should not feed the old image of being stoned hippies who have fun on risking our life.
Hanggliding should be known as a serious sport, done by serious people with normal jobs and normal life."

This is what we have now.
The percentage of " Normal" people who are financially stable and willing to run off a cliff with a high performance umbrella over there head is few and getting fewer all the time,
just look at our numbers.

As I see it we have matured as a sport in many positive ways but it has come at the cost of being less accessible.
I'm not saying this is a bad thing or that I have the answer, just that we need to remember what it was like to learn to fly.
There is a universal appeal of free flight that speaks to everyone, then the reality of accessibility sinks in.
I know I would not have become a pilot if someone had not taken the chance of introducing the sport to a group of dirt poor ski bums.

I have often thought of obstacles as good things in the process of learning to fly. There to weed out those not "serious" enough to engage in a serious sport, but I can't help but wonder how many of my friends could have been pilots if that door of support had been opened a little wider at a time when it was needed most.

[SamKellner]

I didn't find u$hPa numbers for either of the names mentioned.

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I didn't find u$hPa numbers for either of the names mentioned.

The borg's computer system only cost a few hundred thousand dollars according to Mark Forbes. Less than a million, I'm sure.. Probably.
The records are pretty hazy and a lot of spending somehow got swept under the rug, back then.
Sometimes backwater matrix systems sidetrack the data.

I've observed this dynamic, these kind of cranked up flyers living gypsy style in the campground of Matt Tabors' Lookout Mountain, years ago.
Flying to live. Living to fly.. I'll bet U$hPA has their money.

Matt hires all he needs, when he needs them. Some teach. They scrub toilets to fly.
See where I'm going with this?

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Jackie B:
New post Re: Flying Gypsies Thu, Feb 5 2015, 10:38:25 pm

Pretty tough crowd here. Is it necessary to criticize them so harshly? Maybe just refrain from giving them a donation, but also refrain from letting them know in no uncertain terms that they need to "grow up"?

I actually know one of the guys pretty well. He's a modest, hard-working young man and a very talented pilot. I don't know if he has read this thread or not, but if he has, I'm sure it would make him feel a bit bad. I'm sure he is just thinking "We have this dream, would you care to help a little and enjoy it vicariously with us? If not, we certainly completely understand, but just thought we'd ask."

Most of us, if we are honest about it, have received a lot of help during our lives. I'm grateful for it and glad to pay it forward now that I'm established financially. Most of these guys probably will eventually follow a path that you would find more honorable if they were doing it now. They aren't deadbeats just because they are asking if anyone wants to help.

I'm reminded of a famous quote by Carl Sagan - "If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the Universe."

We all rely on others in some way. If your heart doesn't compel you to give anything to these guys then don't, but please cut them some slack.

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A three legged stool is simple enough. All legs work together to support a platform. One leg is no use without the others.
Davis Straub has used this example in the past, holding court on the future of hang gliding. His vision. Of which I've forgotten the details.
It was long ago, I was banned, I am still banned.
Whatever it was, how has that been working out for us?

Anyway, a shaving horse is better example.
Two legs on the end that holds the weight. A larger % of the load is carried on these two legs.
The third leg is singly at the far end of the horse. It doesn't carry as much weight and can be somewhat lighter structure.
The third leg is the student. Let's call her Sara.
Sara doesn't really have the re$ource$ necessary to learn to fly in the traditional U$hPA methodology.
It takes a combination of money, support and infrastructure, (at least a three legged stool in itself) to learn how to fly.

<This is a work in progress.>
Anyone that see's where this is going can jump in anytime.

We are the ones that we've been waiting for.

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Before I was permanently dismissed for insubordination.