[JoeF]

Screen clip at the moment:

Dec19of2014.JPG (29.5 KiB) Viewed 4253 times

Media/Press on that aero site seems to be temporarily down, maybe for altering a position on the issue.

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We launch from slopes, mountains, ramps, tows of many sorts, etc.
Launching from a moving platform (even one that is gliding) is easily in sights.
Portable mountains come in a great variety of formats.
Drop away from solo HG into launch into various winged-format finals is in sight; RC the left uninhabited HG back to club home. Etc.

~ JoeF

[wingspan33]

Gee Rick,

Only a couple weeks ago I had a traditional Thanksgiving meal with my Aunt Federal and Uncle Government. It was GREAT! My Aunt Federal makes the BEST turkey stuffing you will ever taste! And Uncle Government tells the BEST stories!

BTW, on another thread I said don't invite the government to dinner. They wreck things. And hope they don't invite you to dinner. Well, you all are about to get a dinner invitation if you don't leave the table.

[wingspan33]

Yea, Joe,

I found the same issue with that USHPA link.

But then, to satisfy my curiosity, I've also been looking into the FAA Rules associated with BASE Jumpers leaping off (?) of tandem paragliders, . . . Man-O-Man are there a LOT of violations taking place during such an activity! Holly Molly!

This (soon to be) new USHPA Region 3 Director - Pete Michelmore - is a serious danger/threat to the USHPA, liability wise.

I'm amazed that he still has a valid membership with the USHPA.

In looking at the video it's very obvious that he is a HAPPY and CONFIDENT, . . . scofflaw.

[dhmartens]

Bob,
The reason you lost the election was last years SHGA Holiday party where Chip showed beautiful videos of Hawaii Flying. Most saw the need to develop Hawaii as a "safe" (no international threats) place to take a flying vacation and possibly linking the islands sites together with tourist management of some kind. This may have siphoned 100 votes off. After the resignation of a frustrated region 3 director, it was likely you would not be able to affect any change. Pete Michelmore is in a perfect position to develope Hawaii. I wish him congratulations and a good wind.

Doug

[wingspan33]

Sounds like Resort Destination ParaGliding Financial Pressures + Politics won Pete 'Reaper' Michelmore his USHPA Directorship. I'm sure that "pretty pictures" at a holiday party didn't hurt either.

What I would point out is that being SO focused on PG business issues in Hawaii, how's he going to (fairly) represent the USHPA membership (HG and PG) in So Cal? After all, the USHPA is not a Tourism based or focused organization. But then, maybe that's what "Reaper" will be working towards. (? ? ?)

Bob,
The reason you lost the election was last years SHGA Holiday party where Chip showed beautiful videos of Hawaii Flying. Most saw the need to develop Hawaii as a "safe" (no international threats) place to take a flying vacation and possibly linking the islands sites together with tourist management of some kind. This may have siphoned 100 votes off. After the resignation of a frustrated region 3 director, it was likely you would not be able to affect any change. Pete Michelmore is in a perfect position to develop Hawaii. I wish him congratulations and a good wind.

Doug

[dhmartens]

I think the video was taken down for soundtrack copyright but this one is somewhat close just so you can get an idea of the island beauty.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9EStVpSluE

[wingspan33]

Precious likes wings with bones, Precious does!

* * * *

Wonderful video, DH!

[Bob Kuczewski]

This may have siphoned 100 votes off. After the resignation of a frustrated region 3 director, it was likely you would not be able to affect any change. Pete Michelmore is in a perfect position to develope Hawaii. I wish him congratulations and a good wind.

Pete Michelmore was one of David Jebb's proteges. Check on his ratings. David Jebb issued him his P5 in 2005. During the 2008 election, Pete Michelmore put his name in the ring and then used one of his candidate statements to tell everyone to vote for David Jebb. I still defeated Jebb by a wide margin, but Pete Michelmore had shown me all I needed to see.

Those who fail to study history are doomed to repeat it.

USHPA's recent refusal to publish email statements helps keep the voters ignorant. That's yet another reason why we need a new national hang gliding association.

[wingspan33]

And it's hard not to look at that publicly viewable video of a newly elected USHPA Director - violating more than half a dozen
FAA regulations while dropping a BASE jumping passenger from his TANDEM soaring parachute - and think, . . . "How does
someone like THAT even get on the ballot?"

BTW - More than one source within the USHPA EC now have a copy of said video. Somebody at the FAA may have it tomorrow.

Sometimes the "nicest" people are law breakers. Makes you wonder how threads of corruption can be so neatly woven into
otherwise quality (community related) fabric.

[Bob Kuczewski]

Here are the email candidate statements sent out by USHPA (Mark Forbes) on September 29th, 2008. Note that Pete Michelmore used his statement (third statement in this email message) to endorse David Jebb. Michelmore knew that Jebb was already the current Region 3 Director when he decided to run. I suspect Michelmore ran so he could end up using USHPA's national platform to endorse Jebb since they've obviously known each other a long time.

At the time Ken Baier (who had been defeated by Jebb dirty tricks years before) commented that USHPA should not have allowed Michelmore to use his platform as a candidate to endorse Jebb. But Ken Baier was ineffective as usual and nothing was done. Here's the actual email message sent out by USHPA (Mark Forbes) on September 29th, 2008 (I've highlighted Michelmore's statement in red):

The United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, Inc.

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To: All Region 3 USHPA Members
From: Mark Forbes, USHPA Elections Committee Chair
Date: September 29, 2008
Subject: USHPA election--Statements by candidates in Region 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The following are statements by candidates for regional director in region 3. These statements do not represent the opinion of USHPA, and they have not been edited or checked for accuracy. They are provided as a service to the candidates and the members of the region as part of the election process.

Mark G. Forbes
USHPA Elections Committee


= = = =Statement by Bob Kuczewski= = = =

Members of Region 3,

My name is Bob Kuczewski, and I am an H4/P4 pilot from the San Diego area. I flew my first hang glider flights in 1978 and my first paraglider flights in 1990. But I didn't take up these sports seriously until 2004. I also have a private pilot's license (with a seaplane rating) from the late 70's, and I've flown sailplanes and RC models as well.

I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, and I've worked as an engineer for almost 25 years. I've published numerous papers in the field of artificial intelligence and I hold a United States patent on an interactive learning system for kids. You can read my pilot profile in the August 2007 edition of Hang Gliding & Paragliding Magazine.

In 2007 I founded the Torrey Hawks Hang Gliding Club, and we've grown from 7 members to almost 130 members in that short time. I have also been a supporting club member at Sylmar, Crestline, Elsinore, Soboba, Horse, Little Black, Torrey, and others. I have written letters, spoken at meetings, and made financial contributions to help preserve many of those sites. I have worked for two years to bring the multi-wingual Torrey Pines Soaring Council back together, and I am the only hang glider or paraglider pilot to attend all of the Council's meetings in those two years.

I want to be your regional director because I want all pilots in our region (both hang gliding and paragliding) to have better representation at USHPA.

Here are some things that I will do (including many that I've already done):

   I will work toward fairness for all pilots at all sites.
   I will support the rights of all pilots to fly safely at all sites.
   I will write letters and attend meetings for site preservation.
   I will ensure that all local clubs get fair representation at USHPA.
   I will maintain an open door policy for all comments from all pilots.
   I will support hang gliding and paragliding fairly and equally.
   I will represent pilots and businesses fairly and equally.

More importantly, here's what I won't do:

   I will NOT bully pilots.
   I will NOT suspend flying privileges without due process.
   I will NOT endorse USHPA SOP changes that threaten individual rights.
   I will NOT use my Regional Directorship to obtain awards for my own business.
   I will NOT support disparate site ratings (P0/H4) for monetary benefit.
   I will NOT prevent qualified tandem pilots from flying at any sites.
   I will NOT put business interests ahead of pilot's interests.

I am passionate about both flying and fairness, but there's far more to say on these topics than I can squeeze into 500 words. Here are some additional resources:

Statements and Endorsements: torreyhawks.org/R3
Write to me any time: bobk@bluebottle.com
Call me any time, for any reason (or any challenge): 858-204-7499

Most of all, please vote. USHPA is only your club if you speak with your ballot.

Thank you,
Bob Kuczewski


= = = =Statement by David Jebb= = = =

Greetings to all my fellow region three pilots. It has been my pleasure to serve as your regional director for the past two terms and I look forward with your support to serve you and our membership for one more term. I have been involved in the sport of hang gliding and paragliding for the past twenty years and the flight director of the Torrey Pines Gliderport for the past twelve years. We are at a critical juncture in our organization's growth and development. As your regional director my focus for the coming term will be to:

Look for innovative ways to attract and maintain membership.
Seek out more effective ways to minimize accidents and injuries.
Consider ways to protect and develop current and future flying sites.

While considering your selection of a regional director look for that one person who is willing to bring communities together and not divide them.
Look for a leadership based on principles and not finger licking to see which way the political winds are blowing. And finally someone whose love and dedication is based upon the preservation and future of sports aviation. I hope to serve you for one more term and thank you!


David Jebb, B.S., M.B.A.
Flight Director
Torrey Pines Gliderport
2800 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive
San Diego, CA 92037

http://www.flytorrey.com


= = = =Statement by Pete Michelmore= = = =

I would like to endorse Dave Jebb as Regional Director for Region 3 again this year.

Dave has done an outstanding job for the members of region 3 over the years and I feel is the best candidate for the job. I have known Dave for over 15 years now, and he is not only an exceptionally nice person, he is fair, and trustworthy. His character is as flawless as his friendship to his fellow pilots. Dave is truly a born leader and I'm proud to have him lead Region 3 as USHPA Director again this year.

Pete Michelmore
USHPA Master Tandem Instructor / Examiner Gravity Hawaii
44-116 Kauinohea Pl.
Kaneohe, HI. 96744
(808) 753-1027
http://www.gravityhawaii.com


MGF/rab

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