H a n g G l i d i n g C a m p a i g n S u m m e r 2 0 1 0

KHK MT TRIP 2010KHK MT TRIP 2010

New SectionsPilot Profile & Sessions

ISSUE 12PART 2

BLOG ENTRY:

CONTENTS

Feature ArticleKHK MT Trip 2010pg.6

Pilot ProfileGetting to know Young or Old, New and Veteran pilots.pg.34

Hang CheckNew Media Review Page, things to check out when you’re not hooking in.pg.35

SessionsPhotos from August 12 2010pg.36

SUMMER 2010ISSUE 12 PART 2

VOLUME 2

EDITOR: The Meibos TouchWRITERS: Air-RickPHOTOGRAPHERS: Eric MeibosCONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Jeff Parrot

www.papalotes2153.blogspot.com

PAPALOTES 2153 is a non-profit, non-organizational, non-anything publication about Hang Gliding and Free Flight and related activitie . It is not for sale and is available to anyone who is interested. Input and feedback are always welcome. Anyone can be apart or involved with Papalotes 2153. No subscriptions, membership, or con-

tributions required. Just FLY FLY FLY. Contact: esobien@gmail.com

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I’vebeenonthegroundtoolong.Itfeelslike it’s been a decade since I even set up aglider.Reallyit’sonlybeenafewmonths,butafewmonthsagoIwasn’tjustaweekendpilot.Hang gliding was my life and still is but nowschoolhastakenover.Ican’tfocuscompletelyoneitherbutlatelyschoolhascomefirst.Ihateit.ItwontbeforeverandinfactmyadvisortoldmeyesterdayI’msettograduatethisspring.That’sifIcanpassmycurrentclassandnotskipthem.It’snottoohardrightnow,there’sstilltoomuchsnow.Wesoldthesnowmobiles,andmyJeepalready.TheonlyrealplacetoflyisthePoint.whichisreallycoldbutwouldbeworthit.SinceIdon’thaveavehicleanymoreIdon’theadupthereany-way.HoweverspringisnearlyhereandIwontbeabletobarebeinggroundedmuchlonger.Iwillfindawaytogetup.InthemeantimeIcanonlyre-flectonwhathashappenedandimaginewhatwillhappen.This issue finishes off last summer but onlyscratchesthesurfaceofwhatIremember.

What is

‘Papa’ in spanish is Father and ‘Elote’ is Corn So is it Father Corn? Are there 2,153 flying children of the corn?Maybe you should be scared.

Mountain Trip 2010

Mountain Trip 2010

July232010,IshowedupattheshopinthemorningtocontinuesortingthroughtheglidersandgearI‘dbroughtbackfromtheGeorgiatrip.AlexandJeffwerefinalizingtheirH2requirementswithushpaandexcited to Jumpoff thierfirstmountain.Theyhadworkedand trainedhardtobereadyforthisdayandeveryonewasstoked.WewereplanningonleavingthatafternoonwithGrahamandZack.Grahamhadn’tbeenoffamountianinalongtimeandZackhadjustboughthisfirstglider,aPulse10meter,sobothwereequallystoked.Withallthebuildupandexcitementofpossiblybeinginthemountiansthatnightnoneofuswerepreparedforthenewswegotthatmorning. I didn’t notice it at firsr, I was too distracted, but something waswrongthatmorning.Thefirstclasswasfillingoutwaiversandeveryoneondeskwasjustdoingtheirjoblikenormal,takingcareofthestudents.Itwasn’ttilltheclasshadstartedandthingshadsettleddownupfrontthatsomeonewasabletopullmeasideandtellmewhathadhappened.OurfriendMattPaulsenandanincredibleinstuctorwhohadtaughtmostofus,andinspiredallofushaddied. It felt likesomeonehadpunchedme inthestomachandknockedmeontheground.Itwasshook,likeI’dneverexperiencedbefore.MyGrandmotherhadpassed awaynotmore that2weeks earlier, thatwashard,butmaybeIhadn’tgivenmyselftimetoseriouslymournforit,be-causethiswassomuchharder.Notjustformeeither,butforeveryone.

Woodstock

Wedecidednottoleavethatnight.Wewouldn’t,wecouldn’t.Every-onemetatthehaciendathatnighttoreflectandmourn.Eventhosewhodidn’tknowMatthavebeeninfluencedbyhimeveniftheydidn’tknowit.Therewasthethoughtthatmaybeweshouldn’teventakeamountaintrip,butweknewthatwouldbewrong. “FLYFLYFLY”. Ifanything,thatiswhatMatttaughtmeandallofusthemost.He’dwantustogo....hewouldhavetakenus,andmaybethatwasthehardestpartaboutit.Weknewifwewent,weweregoingtomisshimevenmore.July24,2010 Thenextmorningwewokeupandwerereadytogo.Therewasn’talotoftalkaboutitbutweallknewthistripwasgoingtobeaboutmorethanjustsomeone’sfirstmountainflight.Itwasgoingtobeatributetoahero.WeweregoingtoFLYFLYFLY. OurfirststopwasWoodstock,Va.Wearrivedintheafternoonearlyenoughtotakeflights.Itwasabeautifulafternoon,theskywasn’tmuchwindcominguptheshoot.Itwasgreatforafirsttimemountainlaunch

Top: J Tron (Jeff) and Graham

Right: Tron getting ready for his first Mt flght

andsledrun.Everyonegotsetupanddidtheirpreflightsquickyandweeachdoublecheckedeachother. Zackwasthefirstofftogiveanexampleandshowushowtheairwas.Itwasasolidlaunchandcleanflight.Jeff (JTron)wasnext and thenAlex “McLovin”. Gra-hamandIwereprobablymorestoked,watchingtheirfirstflights,thanweretherestofthetrip.Itwasafeelingverycontrastedtohowwefeltthedaybefore.GrahamtookthelastflighttofinishthedayandIdrovedowntomeetthemintheLZ. There were smiles all around. They all had greatflights andclean landings. Asgreat as theflyingwas Idon’tthinkthatwastheonlyreasonwewereallsohappy.Wehadpeace. Thenextdaywedidn’thavethehighestexpectations.The conditions felt hot and humid and I didn’t expectmore thansledridesbutwedecidedtryanddoat leasttwotripstolaunch.Sowegotupthereearlyandeveryonetookasledder.IflewthistimeandGrahamdrove.Wepackedupquickandheadedbacktothetop. Wethoughtabouteveryoneflyingthistimeandjusthikingbackupforthevanbecausethewindwaspickingup.Itstartedtolookgood,butwewaited.Itwasagustfront andwewatched as a storm cloud grew and came

Zack’s First flight

acrossthevalleyrighttowardsus.Weloadeduptheglidersandgotbackinthevanjustastherainhit.westartedtoheaddownandmoveonbutaswegotnearthebottomtheskyclearedandweturnedaround.Wehadtoatleastcheck. It’sagoodthingwedidbecauseitwasgreat.Zackwasfirstofffol-lowedbutthenewguysandthenGraham.IdebatedwhetherIwasgoingtosetupandjointhembutthenIsawZackandandGrahamsettinguptoland.IthoughtmaybetheskyhadshutdownandI’dlostmychance.WhenIdowntotheLZhoweverAlexandTronwerestillintheair.ThenewguyshadsoaredaboutanhourlongerthanZackandGraham.Theywerepumpedbutprettygoodaboutnotrubbingitin.TheycouldhavebutGrahamandZackwerejustashappyforthemandtheirfirstsoaringflight.FornotevenbeingintheairwiththemIwasprettypumpedtoo. Thiswasonlyourfirststop,ourplanwastomakeituptoEllenville,NY.tomeetandflywiththepilotsthere.I’dneverbeentoNewYork,or

Left: J Tron Soaring WoodstockRight: The Crew LtoR Mclovin(Alex), Tron (Jeff), Zack, Graham

Maryland,PennsylvaniaorNewJersyforthatmatter.FlyingatWood-stockwasaTrip,wewereonanadventureafterthat.Wedroveallnight,whenIsayweImeanTronandGrahamIpassedsomewhereinPA.WewokeuponthesideoftheroadafewmilessouthofEllenville. Noneofushadeverflowntherebeforebutitwashardnottonoticethe“Hanggliderdr.”streetsign.WewerealittleconfusedatfirstaboutwhichLZwewerein.TherearetwohangglidingSchoolsinEllenville,rightnextdoortoeachother.Rumorhasitthatthetwoschoolshateandtrytosabbotageeachother,butthey’rejustthat.Rumers.OfcoursetheydocompetewitheachotherandtheyhavetheirdifferencesbuteveryonewemetinEllenvillewereprettygoodpeopleinallplaces,eventhehospi-tal.Yep,wevisitedtheemergencycenterthere. Wefilledoutourwaiversandpaidourduesandwentuptolaunch.Weknewtherewasgoigntobewestwindsbutmaybetherewasmorethanwehopedfor.Itwasabitstrongbutfeltprettysmoothandsetup.AgainZackwas thefirstoneoffandrightawaywentupandup. Hewasn’talonetoolongandthistimewedecidedtoalltakeoff.ZacflewhisowngliderandAlexalsohadhisownFalconsoTronGrahamandIwereusingtheschoolsgliders.Tronona195Falcon,GrahamonanEagleandmeona170Falcon. Graham and I waited and assisted Alex and Tron then GrahamLaunchandIwas last. Zackhadgonepretty far southandTronandAlexhadbeguntofollowwithmuchmorealtitude.Istayedoutinfront

Right: Alex Soaring WoodStockBelow: Breaking down in the LZ

Ellenville, NY

oflaunchandwasnottherelongwhenabiggerheaviercloudstarttedcom-ingacrrosthevalley.IcouldtellthiscloudwasgoingtoshutofftheliftsoIdecidedtostayput.ThenInoticed,andthenfeltthedowndrafts.Iwasclose to thehill andwasable toprettymuchstayparked.AlexandTronwereuphighandgettinghigherinupdrafts.ZackandGrahamwerefurtheroutoverthevalleyandgoingdown.IwatchedGrahamsetuphisapproachandlandwhileZackwasgettingdrilled.IwastryingtokeepaneyeoneveryonewhileIwaspinnedandtryingtostayoutofftroublemyselfasthecloudpassed. ThelasttimeIsawZackhewasracingtowardtheLZbutwaswaytofarsouthtomakeitwithhisaltitude.ThenIlostsightofhim.Isearchedand searched still watching what the others were doing and still beingpinned.Ifiguredhemusthavegonedownatthesoccerfieldhewasclosestto,butIcouldn’tseehim.Thenmyphonestartedringing. Ialwaysputmyphoneinmybackpocketsothatitdoesn’tgethungupinalegloopwhileI’mlaunchingandalsoincaseIneedtogettoit.IwashopingitwasZackanditwas.HesoundedoutofbreathIaskedwherehewasandhesaidhedidn’tmakeittothefield.HetoldmehethoughthebrokehisarmandaskedmewhereIwas.Itoldhimandhesaid“ohjust

Above: Graham off the North Laucnh

Left: Tron assited by Zack

keepflying”.ItoldhimnowayandbeforeIcouldtellhimnottomovehehungup. FromthemomentI’dansweredthephoneTrainingandmusclemem-oryhadtakenover. FromwhereIwasIcouldhavemadeittothefieldhemissedIalsothoughtabouttoplandingandbeingabletojumpinthevanrightawaybutIcouldseeGrahamintheLZandalocalwithatruckparkednexttowherehewasbreakingdown.IpulledinandflewasfastasIcouldinafalconwithoutloosingmyglide. IlandedjustafewfeetinfrontofGrahamandbeforehecouldsayanythingtomeIcuthimoffwith“Zackhasabrokenarm”.AsIjumpOutofmyharnessandflattenedmygliderIaskedtheguywiththetruckifhe’dgiveusaride.Thiswholetimewe’rehearingsirensasambulencespassbyheadingZack’sdirection.

Above: Waiting for wind to calmRight: Local in an old Comet

ThelocalgivingusarideisGregandtheHerooftheday.HehadhelpedusearlierattheLZandtell-ingushowtogettolaunchandwasnowourrescuedriver.IdescibedwhereIthoughtZackwasandGregknewhowtogetthere.Iwasn’ttoohardtofindhim,hehadwalkedonhisowntowardthemainroaduntiltheAmbulienceshadstoppedhim.Herefusedtoridewith them (thankfully) and before the EMS Pulledawaytheytoldusthattheythinkhecouldhaveseri-ousInjuriesandto“please”takehimtourgentcare(goodpeople). GrahamstrainingkickedinandhewastakingcareofZackwhileIwentwithGregtolaunchtore-trievethevan.AllthistimeWe’rekeepinganeyeonTronandAlexwhoarenearlyatcloudbase.WhenIgetbacktoZackGrahamhasaSlingmadeforZackand he sounds like he is having trouble breathing.BesideshisarmGrahamandIwereafraidhemightsomeribandorbackinjuries. Thereisn’tafullscalehospitalinEllenvilleJustanurgent care. I also foundouton thewayup tolaunchthatthetdon’thaveabonedoctoreither.WithallHanggliding,rockclimbing,andraftingthatgoesonnearthereyou’dthinkitwouldbeagoodideatohaveone.IfyouneedseriouscareorsurgeryyouhavetogosomewhereelsebutbasedonZack’sconditionweneededtotakewhatwecouldget. FortuenatlyZackhadinsurnace,andthepeopletherewereexpectinghimandgoodatunderstandingthathe fell outof a tree (whichhe reallydid). Westayedwithhimtillheknewhewasgoingtobelookedatandthenwentbackforhisglider.MeanwhileAlexandTronarestillsoaring. Thepoorgliderwaswrecked. Zackwentinatthenortheastcornerofthefieldandhunginthetreesforamoment.thenthebranchesgaveoutandhefellabout 35-40 or more feet straight down. Leadingedge,keel,battens,andcontrolframebroken.thesailwastorninseveralplaces.Thegliderwasleftmuch

Greg waiting for the right cycle to launch

worsethanZack.Wefoldedupthegliderandhikeditoutofwoodsandthornbushes.IdroppedGrahamoffattheLZwherehewaitedforAlexandTron,whowerestilluphigh,toland. IwentbacktothehospitalandwassurprisedtofindoutZackwastoldhecouldleave.TheDoctortoldhimhedidn’tseemtohaveanythingbroken,hecouldstillhavesomemuscleandtissuedamagebuthisbackandribsandevenhisarmwereok.Icouldn’tbelieveit. WewentbacktotheLZandAlexandTronhadlanded.TheyhadbeenoblivoustoeverythingthathadhappenduntilthenandwewereallrelievedthatZackwasn’tonhiswaytoahospitalforanoperation.Allthishadhappenedfasterthanthetimeittookmetowritethisfar.Itwasmiddaysowewentandgotlunch. It’s sureal to lookbackon itnow,afterall thathappened, theonlythingthatappearedchangedwasZackdidn’thaveagliderandwaswalk-

ingaroundinasling.Everyonewastalkingaboutgoingbackuptolaunchafterlunch.Wecouldhaveendthetriorightthen.LeftEllenvilleandtheimpressionthatKHKpilotscrashintotreesinNewYork(aformerinstruc-torbrokehisleginatreelandingthereearlierthatyear).Butthiswasn’taregularmountaintrip,andwestillhadFLYFLYFLYinus. Zackwassad,mad,depressed,andhumble.Hewasmostupsetthathewasdoneflyingforawhilebutdidn’twantustostopbecauseofhim.Hesaidhe’dbethedriverbutthatafternoonIdidn’tmakehim.Wedidgobackuptolaunchandalllocalpilotsandsomevisitorswerethere.GrahamandIhadtalkedtoZackaboutwhathedidwrongandwhyhehadgottentroubletobeginwith,butlocalsdidn’tmindtellinghimagain.Zackwasveryrespectfulandinturnmostpeoplewerebacktohimandthetensionthatcouldhavebeentherewasn’t.Zacklistenedandlearnedandalsowasabletosharehisexperience,andbethegoodinstructorthatheis.Ithink

Above: Steve’s Launch followed by Mclovin’s

itmeantalotforhimandallofus,forhimtobethereandtalkwiththeotherpilotsthatafternoon. Thewindshadpickedupandtherewasplentyoftimeforustotalkandtellstorieswitheachother.NotsurprisinglyZackwasnottheonlyonetherewho’dbeeninthetreesbefore(andevenIhaveastory).Thewindcalmeddownandswitchedalittlemorenorthandpeoplestartedtakingoff.Tron,AlexandGrahameachtookanotherflight.TJ’sFatherSteveBaumanncameandalsoflew.GregandFlyin’Briangotupabovelaunchin their toplessgliders andGregwasactually circlingwithaBaldEagle(he’dearnedit). ThatnightwefollowedStevebacktohisplaceinNewJersyandhiswife had prepared everyone dinner. It was amazing and the Desert wasdelicious.TheBaumannsarewonderfulpeople. Westayedthatnightattheirplaceandallgottotakewarmshowers.ThenextMorningwehadbreakfastwiththemandthenwentbacktoEllenvilleforonemoreflight.Ican’ttheBaumannsenoughforthegenerosityandhospitality. BackinEllenvillethewindwasmorewestandnottostrong,therewereafewcyclesbutIcouldtellitwasn’tgoingtobeabigairkindofday.AlexandTronflewfirst,thenGrahamthistimeonaFalconandthenmeontheEagle.

Above and Below: Flyin’ Bryan launch and Fly by

Right: Tony on Launch

Weeachhadanextendedsledridebutnoonestayedupabovelaunchverylong.Eachofusnailedlandedinsidethespottoleaveagoodimpres-sion.ZackmetusintheLZandwespentsomeoftheafternoonwiththelocalpilots,sharingmorestoriesandthankingTony,ownerofthelaunchandLZ,andothersforthehospitalityandexperience. ItwasalsogoodtoseeotheryoungpilotslikeBrianandJustinflyingwell,teachingandrepresentingthefutureofthesport.ThereiscertainlyPapalotesPilotsinNewYork.Thismountiantripbecamemuchmorethanwecouldhaveimagined.Icouldneverdescribetherangeofemotionsweexperincedinsuchasshortperiodoftime.Itwasallunforgetable.

WeleftNewYorkandheadedbacktothebeach.OnourwaythroughPennsylvaniaIwokeupandlookedtothewesttoseeavalleydownbelow.Idon’t rememberwhere exactlywepulledoff the freewaybut there is aridgesomewhereonthatfreewaythatI’msure,intherightconditions,issoarable.Wedidn’thavetimetodoit...thistrip. -EM

Above: New Harness From CG3000 (made in NY)

Right: Somewhere in PA.

PILOT PROFILEPILOT PROFILE Doug

Johnson

From: MassachusetsAge: 23Rating: H3Glider: WW Ultra Sport 154

Doug is currently an instructor at Kitty Hawk Kites, He also works at the local YMCA. Part of the Green Mountain crew of KHK instructors, He is a skilled Pilot and Instructor and one worth watching. Before Hang gliding he was a serious skier, and also surfs, skate-boards, rock and mountain climbs and really anything outdoors and athletic. He is also one of the toughest and hardest workers I’ve ever met. He’s been known to teach a full day of lessons on two bad ankles and then go work his other job. Living at the beach he has also become a skilled spear fisher. Doug is always up for an adventure and fun to share the air with.

HANGCHECK

This book was reco-mended to me by some one who had visited my website and blog. I didn’t know it at the time but Seth Godin, in a lot of ways, describes the spirit idea of what Free Flight (and Papalotes2153) is about. When I first picked it up I thought it was a sort of self-help, or marketing busi-ness type of book, and it does talk about the subjects, but is

about much more. Linchpin is about being indespensible. This is a great book for any-one and really everyone. He writes in a way that makes it very personal, and no one is left out. Personally I enjoyed his view of art, and what art really is. If anything this book will make you want to fly even more than you do already.

F.Y.I. Francis Rogallo was a Linchpin

If you haven’t heard of the Black Keys yet, you will. Be sure that when you do you go back and listen to what has led up to this Album. The music this two piece band makes doesn’t just sound good,it feels good.

Editors current top 5 played songs Feb. 21 2011

Fly Me To The Moon-Frank Sinatra

A Day Late-Anberlin

Everything Is Alright-Motion City Soundtrack

Truth Of The Youth-New Found Glory

Symbol In My Driveway-Jack Johnson

Since I can pretty much do what ever I want with Papalotes 2153, I decided to add a Media Review Section. Anything insperational or note worthy should be shared with others especially if it mo-tivates flying. This is non-exclusive, so anything from anywhere could show up. If you come accross something that papalotes should review let us know. Movies, music, books, internet sites, videos, concerts, etc.

Above: Paul, the 10m and Jr.

Paul’s New Glider. Flying it off Jockey’s Ridge

AUGUST 12, 2010Just another day on the Dunes. The air was nice and cool and there was a light sea breeze making it perfect for flying off the main dune. Paul Had just bought his first glider. It’s a Pulse 10 meter in very nice conditions. He was taking advantage of the good condi-tions to get used to launching and landing his glider and also getting ready to pass off his H2. He was kind enough to let

Far Left: Jeff Parrot (Jr.)

Left: J TronRight: Paul Learning to fly back-wardsBottom: Paul learning to monkey bar

Next PageLeft side: Jr. flying freestyleRight: McLovin using his feet

others fly his new glider including Tron and myself. It is a sweet glider and they don’t make many you can find like it.

Jeff Parrot was also out there practicing because he and Paul were also getting ready for their own mountain trip be-fore the end of the summer. As the last class of the day finished more instruc-tors showed up and we all had what basically was a session on the dunes, similar to skateboarding or surfing. We were all enjoying the great weather, perfecting skills and then showing off.

FLY FLY FLY

IN LOVING MEMORY of MATTHEW J PAULSEN

FLY FLY FLY

Tron and Mclovin over Woodstock