Here is something that I could never figure out. Many times you see somebody underneath the glider ,at the start of the tow, pushing on the downtube . To me ,this seems like a potential to create a hazard more than help things. Like grazing their head on the back of the sail and popping a batten bungee off.( saw it happen with somebody with their ballcap on backwards ) or tripping and snagging a back wire. Is there really a function for this person to be there ? Just curious. P.S. love this slide in on the skids.
Never ceases to amaze me how high you go, how long you’re up there, and even the process of getting there and landing! You’re very brave! Thanks for sharing again!
Saturday July 27, 2024 Hang Gliding. Patrick O'Donnell and myself usually travel to SOGA together but this time I was not available on the Friday so Patrick went alone and scored big time with a one hour and thirty minute flight up to 4,300 feet above SOGA field. There were other great flights on Friday and most notably was Nick Jones three hour flight with a big triangle. Congrats Nick. Saturday Maureen and I drove to SOGA and set up on a Blue sky day. I took two tows both flights lasted eighteen minutes each. The best part of my flights was catching tow pilot Nick Jones on camera after I released as shown on the accompanied video. Tim Deschamps had a one hour flight and got high. Thank You to everyone who helped me get airborne and we will see You next time. Skydog Bob 🌻 🦋🦋🌻
I was minus 12 years old when you first flew. 😅. I love your flight videos. it was because of videos like this that I fell in love with hang gliding when I was a kid
For this old birdbrain I feel fortunate that I had reoccurring dreams of flying like a bird throughout my childhood. At 18yo I strapped into my first 19' Rogallo and never looked back - the recurring dreams as had growing up stopped. Hang gliding truly was a dream come true for me and thousands of others... H5-Phil
After 52 years, I have resorted to skids from Atos. Four years now and they work better than wheels as they glide over small.holes in the ground. Skydogsports.com
I whacked yesterday because I tried to land on the wheels in tall grass! Painful neck and shoulders because unlike in this video I had more speed. Now I wonder if whacking will cause hidden damage? I saw nothing wrong with my tubes but who knows?
Bob, so cool that you have film from back then. While I started flying Rogallo's in 1972, we only have a few stills from back then. First boat tow kite was a Johnson/Moyes 13 1/2' Standard and we went from there... I'm surprised we never ran into each other over the years....
Great video! Especially seeing you fly with the Carbon Dragon of Mick Robson. Was he piloting it? Also beautiful picture of Rick Mullins CD.! I hope to fly mine in a month or so. Is nearly finished after about 20 years of construction. It would be great to join at the Ranch, but that is not possible. I live in the Netherlands and will fly mine in France, but it is fantastic to stumble across your video and see others enjoying their flight.
Great collection of days of yesteryear Bob. My first glider was a standard Rogallo made of wood dowel and polyethylene sheet that I built back in 1971 when I was 15 . The only time I got it airborne was when we towed it behind a van . I discoverd what a lockout was and why you needed a tow release. My next taste of hang gliding came in 1974 ,when I moved to Edmonton and took lessons with Terry Jones of Birdman Enterprises. Flew hang gliders for 37 years before switching to sailplanes ,but I still remember that euphoric moment when I frst got my feet of the ground with my wood and plastic glider. ( I won't embellish on the crash that happened 5 seconds later ! )
My family used to hang glide there when I was 10 years old and I used to drive the dune buggy up and down the mountain. Such good memories! Solesbee family. My 3 older brothers and my parents all did it.
I miss it there so much. So funny just how big this continent is. The drive from Charlotte to Trenton seemed far but from San Jose is so far I’ll have to wait until I’m retired to get that Southern air around my wings again. I hope the next generation keeps it operating that long. Thanks for sharing!
