I decided to hang back and use up the fifth lesson I had to work out some of the wrinkles I had. I was cross controlling and it was ugly. I gave blood the Thursday before the weekend and while it was a feel good thing to do, it was also a very dumb thing to do. My body reacted a lot harsher to the loss of blood. I’m still affected by it as I’m writing this. The nurse told me I’d be ok for light activity after two days. Hrmn, hang gliding at Dockweiler isn’t light activity, it’s strenuous as Hell. So I wasn’t able to make as many flights as I usually do. I was getting weaker by the flight. The cross controlling problem never showed up though. Right in the middle of the afternoon Paul cleared me to go to Kagel mountain for tandems. I was going to the mountain. So the paperwork for my first rating was filled out as well as my membership to the USHPA. I am now officially a Hang 1. In the mean time I’m still recovering and I’ll be taking it light for a week or two. They took two units of blood cells from me and its going to take 16 weeks to get it back!
The Oz Report has a mention on a USHPA report that there has been no hang gliding deaths so far for the year 2006. The USHPA reports on all hang gliding incidences for both statistical information and insurance reasons. Both members and non-members are included and all incidents must be within the U.S.
I had my fourth lesson today at Dockweiler. The wind was pretty decent and I continued on the Falcon 225. It seems that I have developed a slight bad habbit. When you controll a hang glider you’re supposed to the weight of your body. Shift it left and the glider banks left, shift it right and the glider banks right and of course corrections apply to come out of those banks. My problem stemmed from not having the glider go fast enough. So when the glider didn’t respond, I responded with the physical equivalent of yaking the chains of a horse. We all when we do that the horse gets annoyed and does, nothing or responds slowly. I was leaning to turn the glider and the legs were staying center. The equivalent of cross controlling which results in, (right, you got it) nothing or a very slow response. Paul thinks that this could turn in to a serious thing if we don’t correct it. So I’m using another lesson to take care of it. Mind you he thinks I’m ready for tandems, he would like to see me more consistent in controll before he sends me to Kagel for my first tandem. I’m ok with that. I would be concerned if he just kicks me over to tandem. Honestly, it’s a pleasure to have Paul as an instructor.
Paul also graded my beginner rating test. I missed only one question and that was missed with good reason. The question stated that an individual has consistently good landings that he knows airspeed well. True or false? I answered false. Why? I read in the hang gliding hand book that a pilot who has consistent landings knows his glider very well. So it threw me off. Well, I should ahve paid attention more and got all questions right.
I’ll be cleared for tandems next Sunday and have my beginner rating as well. Even if I don’t nip this problem in the bud. Still, I’m doing well.
I’ve been hang gliding for three weeks now at Dockweiler. So I’m going to try and sum up what the last three weeks, the last three lessons, all entailed. I thought I would be a natural in hang gliding but that wasn’t quite the case. With me it took a bit before I learned that hang gliding isn’t about muscling the glider to make it go where you want. It’s all about finesse.
Crow Hops
I took my first three flights during the beach party that the SHGA put on September 9th. At $10 a flight I couldn’t resist. It also was a good way to find out whether or not I really wanted to get in to the sport. I didn’t know all the instructors yet. I met Joe at the office and had a two hour talk with him about the sport. I met Paul the Sunday before at Dockweiler and sat in a class for a good part of the day.
Joe and Max helped me with the first flight I took. Every journey begins with a few precious steps. Mine began with four and then my feet left the ground. The wind was pretty good that day and walking off the hill was all it took to get the glider off the ground. Both Joe and Max were running beside me. My feet were around eight to ten feet off the ground and the glider was flying on its own. I didn’t have to do anything really. I was petrified though and my grip on the down tubes was as solid as stone. I was trying to muscle the glider. I still landed ok on my feet. I’d tell you of the other two but they were pretty much the same but slightly more improved.
The next day I was back at Dockweiler and took my first full hang gliding lesson. The lesson set in stone that this is something that I truly wanted to do. I’m not going in to every flight I did that day. I did over twelve of them. Each flight better than the next. It was like when I learned how to ride a bike, except that this was an aircraft and it left the ground. My main problem was trusting the equipment and relaxing.
My second lesson was a breakthrough lesson. I learned to relax and trust the equipment. I wanted more height but Paul wouldn’t let me. I still had some kinks to work out. I wasn’t consistent enough. It wasn’t untill the the last few he saw what he wanted to see that he started giving me boosts as I took off to gain height. Then he started thinking about taking me off the training glider, a Condor 330, and put me on a Falcon 225. At my weight, a whopping 227 pounds and some change. It’s perfect for me.
My third lesson was even better. All in all so far I got more than 20 flights in. This lesson I got 7 or so flights on the Condor. Then Paul decided it was time. I was being put on the 225. I didn’t want to show it, I was apprehensive, but to do that would hold back information that the instructor needs. So I notified Paul about my apprehension. He was ok with that and he started me off with a warm up flight. The only difference between the 225 and 330 is that the 330 is bigger and the 225 offers more controll. That’s all. I liked the 225 better and soon Paul was giving boosts again. I like the 225 much better. It was an excellent day for flying that day. The wind was strong.
Each lesson I stayed longer than I was required to. I learned how to set up and break down the gliders. How to do preflights, which is required learning. How to do hang checks, which are a must before each flight. But the best treat of them all was at the end of the day, sunset. You just can’t beat learning hang gliding on a beach and being able to watch the sun set in the evening. This is a sport I highly recommend. It’s not for everyone though. You do need to try it to see if it’s for you.
Next …
Paul went through some ground school and the homework he gave me. Yes, there will be written homework. You thought it would be all fun and games right? Think again. Windsports follows a strict regimen in teaching their future pilots. It’s for your safety and knowing this information will not only help you but it could mean the difference between whether you live or die in an emergency situation, should one occur. I was told that I needed to complete the first test that the USHGA gives for their beginner rank, Hang 1. Next lesson, I have a good chance of getting my beginner rating and I can be considered a pilot. I’m looking forward to it.
