U.S. Hang Gliding Pilots

William Randolph Hearst
and hang gliding ????
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This topic is to explore the full impact on hang gliding from actions by William Randolph Hearst.

The seed of information spawning this topic is the purchase of an Otto Lilienthal hang glider by William Randolph Hearst.
Researchers may use that seed to explore any and all impacts on hang gliding in the United States radiating from William Randolph Hearst.
What communications occurred by William Randolph Hearst and others regarding the hang glider purchase? What publication notes occurred
surrounding the purchase? Who bumped into hang gliding in the US because of the radiating effects of William Randolph Hearst's involvement in hang gliding?

Author, Tom D. Crouch noted in his book "A Dream of Wings" on page 170 where he shows a photograph of the purchased hang glider hanging from a ceiling in display has a caption:
"The 1894 Lilienthal glider purchased by William Randolph Hearst appeared the worse for wear when exhibited in a 1906 New York aeroshow."

The abovementioned show with a link which shows the hanging hang glider of topic:
THE AERO CLUB OF AMERICA
1906 EXHIBITION OF
AERONAUTICAL APPARATUS

The photograph large HERE.
It would be interesting to find a text or image of the sign that was hanging from the hung hang glider at that show. Several other hang gliders were on display evidently. What impact did hanging that hang glider in that show have on the hang glider psyche of the visitors to the show? What newspapers around the nation noted the hang glider's presence?

We preserve a copy of that photo here in US Hawks:

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Join a National Hang Gliding Organization: US Hawks at ushawks.org

View pilots' hang gliding rating at: US Hang Gliding Rating System

Crouch on page 169 noted that Hearst may have been the only person in the USA to have purchased an original Otto Lilienthal glider. Crouch notes the purchase year of 1896.
Crouch notes that a first test flight was flown by Harry B. Bodine at a site near Bayonne, New Jersey. It might be fun to fly a hang glider at the exact site where Bodine first flew the Hearst-owned hang glider. Finding that site would be an adventure.

After the New Jersey site: a different site on Staten Island: estate of J. Harper Bonnell in May 1896. I nominate J. Harper Bonnell as honorary member of the US Hawks for site permissions for US Otto Lilienthal hang glider. Details of the site and persons might be interesting.

The Hearst-owned New York Journal did publish some text about the Bodine flights. Bodine first flew the wing kited, but quickly went to glide without the kiting. It would be fun to find and show all the articles of the New York Journal that noted the hang glider.

I nominate Harry B. Bodine, Frank Ver Beck, and William Randolph Hearst as honorary members of the US Hawks. Apparently Frank Ver Beck also flew the Otto Lilienthal machine.

Crouch comments that Hearst wanted to boost the circulation of his New York Journal by featuring flight exploits with his newly-owned hang glider.

A different story is a hang glider built from plans purchased from Otto Lilienthal. C. H. Lamson purchased plans, noted Crouch. Then Lamson built a glider from the plans and flew it in the U.S. And so, I also nominate C. H. Lamson as honorary member of the US Hawks.

_________________
Join a National Hang Gliding Organization: US Hawks at ushawks.org

View pilots' hang gliding rating at: US Hang Gliding Rating System

The Hearst-owned Otto Lilienthal glider
showing wear from use in US

Our archiving stems from the site: HERE (same image)

_________________
Join a National Hang Gliding Organization: US Hawks at ushawks.org

View pilots' hang gliding rating at: US Hang Gliding Rating System

Otto

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Southwest Texas Hang Gliders
US Hawks Hang Gliding Assn.
Chapter #4

Joe,

I may be the the only modern hang glider pilot to have flown very close to where the Hurst/Lilienthal glider flew. In 1989 or 1990 I flew my HP AT 145 8.5 miles due north of Bayone, NJ. On Google Earth you'll find the location at Lat. 40 degrees 47' 19.99" N and Long. 74 degrees 06' 23.97" W.

At the time, it was a one hundred foot+ high land fill site (i.e., garbage dump). Now its been "reclaimed" by nature, with some human help, and turned into the Richard W DeKorte Park.

I've got pictures somewhere, taken by my brother, of me in the air with an airliner flying above me on approach into Newark Airport. It's one of the most unique places I've ever flown. I top landed too! . . . It was either that, or land in a New Jersey ("meadowlands") swamp! . . .

Here is a WikiMedia unverified quote from "cliff1066(tm):


https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File ... glider.jpg
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nostri-im ... 1/sizes/l/

_________________
Join a National Hang Gliding Organization: US Hawks at ushawks.org

View pilots' hang gliding rating at: US Hang Gliding Rating System