[JoeF]

Invited: Chris McKeon's Hang Gliding Flights

[Chris McKeon]

So here is one of My flights, not a Flight were I got particularly high. As I recall, I only got to around Four Thousand Feet AGL or so. The Flight was not too far a Flight regarding the distance that I Flew. Forty Four Miles. But what was fun regarding this Flight was how I was greeted by a Couple Military Guys. Well They drove up to the edge of the Field where I had landed, They walked over to where I was just beginning to Break-Down My Predator.. I have put up a Post-Flight write up regarding this particular Flight in the Past, so I will try not to be too redundant. Here is something that has been a constant when talking to whoever I meet upon landing. So one of these Guys asked Me; Where did You launch from. I turned around and pointed to Mount Diablo. Diablo has the second most Panoramic where in the World. Diablo is second only to Mount Kilimanjaro. What tripped Me out was even though There was a direct line of site View of where I had Launched From. One of these Two Military Guys said to Me the same thing that I have heard numerous times before. "YOUR LYING!" I mean there We are standing in a Field, where I am Breaking down My Predator. I must assume that just because these two Air Force Guys did not see an engine attached to the Predator. Somehow i was putting one over on therm. As what I had done numerous times standing in a clearing somewhere. I Tried to educate these Two as to how We get around with no Engine as I was tolsd. I pointed up to the Sun and told them that The Sin was Our Engine. I made a feeble attempt at bring them up to speed regarding working a Thermal for Lift. Then topping out, going on Glide, cover some Distance,. Then repeating the process over and and over, and over. Well at the end of My talking to them. They said to Me a couple of things such a; "That Must Be Fun" and; "I think that I get it". But I really do not think that They
[GOT IT]

An old Friend of Mine KM once after an XC Flight where He had to get creative making calls to try and find someone to come get Him. Later that night We were talking about how His Flight had gone, His getting Back etc. I remember one thing KM said; "When Flying XC, The Adventure starts after You Land" we lost KM due to a Mid-Air on January Twenty Eight 2016. Heck Km was Flying around His local Flying Site, Lake McClure. iF kM had chosen to Fly Cross Country that instead of Boating around Launch. We would still have KM. I for one Miss KM every Day.

[Chris McKeon]

My introduction to Hang Gliding, Free-Flight occurred way down in New Zealand back in January or February of 1990. It occure at a Beach site called Rimurea. I was there with an Instructor Named Glenn Meadows. Well I remember doing My first Pre-Flight. I really took My Time inspecting the Frame, Fittings, Side-Wires, The Sail. Yhn I hooked in and dropped down to perform a Hang-Check, a Hang-Check that would be the First of many to Come. i THEN pICKED UP THE Glider while a adjusted Pitch and the direction that i had the Wiing pointed. I also Scanned Left and right to look for other Gliders in the Sky, there Were none. When the Wing Felt good. My Harness Straps begame tight. I Called Clear!pulled in on the Down tubes a little. Then I proceeded to begin moving forward into the Air. I will never forget as I was moving forward how I felt when My feet left the ground for the First Time. Can You say Ecasaty? A raw Sense of Pure happiness overcame Me.

[Chris McKeon]

I feel as I am Rumpelstiltskin. I mean I have been iwas in an Pound endured Coma for three months. Even after I regained consciousness it has been an Decade Plus Journey to recover all My Witts regarding How the Cognitive abilities of Brain were able to Process information. One thing that I want to do is to Purchase new Electronics. I would like to have a Set-up where I could have on My Predator, a Vario and A GPS. Where THe GPS is able to Broadcast My POsition to My Driver. it would be cool to be able know that My Driver know where I am. For too many times I have landed. Then My firs order of Business will be is to procure New instruments. Better than What I had before I Pounded. Yes, it is a bad experience to after having flown for a number of Hours. To be in a Field out in the Nevada Desert wondering where the Heck am I? What are You Guys using these Days for Variomets and GPS units? Forgive Me for My Blind ignorance. But I have been Asleep for too Long.

[Craig Muhonen]

Chris wrote;
My introduction to Hang Gliding, Free-Flight occurred way down in New Zealand back in January or February of 1990.

Long ways from home Chris, what got you down there?

I may have posted this before Chris, but I'll do it again, it's so good.
My friend Jeff was part of the core group who became the Telluride Airforce in 1972, and then went to New Zealand in 78' and flew his new Hang Glider and stared in this little movie. He told me it was the bitchenest' place in the world.



New Zealand ski and Hang Gliding 1979, when the foils were a badge of courage and your legs were like tree trunks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmfAXYgNVRk

[Chris McKeon]

i SIMPLY WANT TO fLY Again. But at Present the Idea that I will Fly again is looking a little shaky. But I like all of You when each of goes through a Dry spell Regarding being able to Fly. Granted Mine was due to My Pounding. But heck I was frtunate enough to have Survived It was also Fortunate for Mt that those initial Doctors who they Prognosis that I would not survive was in such error. Anyways looking back on it. Treated Mr were quite incompetent. I am so lucky that their thoughts of My impending Demise was so very Wrong.

[Chris McKeon]

Well I was going through My Memory of past Flights. I remember one where I was Flying XC. I was On-Glide doing the Standard XC thing that just about all of Us do. Well I was getting Low cruising rite along, I tended to Fly fast when Flying between Thermals. Anyways I was getting Fairly low over the Flats. With the Topography lacking the contrasting influences that I had seen on Previous XC flights. Contrasting areas on the Ground such as a tilled Field that had a Line of Green Trees running in a Parallel formation at one end of the Field. Anything like that. But ion that Day I saw only Brown dirt field that was within gliding distant. Well I was scanning trying to see anything unusual. I just saw Dirt. Wel with My Vario going Bonk, Bonk, Bonk, I say afour Turkey Vultures going round and round. Bingo, Wow La. My Desperation and anxieties' began to sease. I entered the thermal below the Vultures. I was at about 300 feet, Well soon I was going round and round, climbing. I could not core through the Vultures, But I sure did Try. Look I know that all of have been there, Being low while on Glide on an XC Flight. But upon the change of altitude, Yea Baby! Isn't flying Fun?