The first Hang-glider flight off Mount Everest in Tibet. Members Steve McKinney, Craig Calonica, Bob Carter, Larry Tudor, Pete Athens, Andy Politz, Peter Hackett, Catherine Freer, Steve Marts, etc.
The sport of hang gliding peaked in this year. The tech didn’t advance much beyond topless designs. Paragliding took over in the late 80s. Glad we have access to this history.
This brings back great memories. I was working on my hang 3 at the time this was first aired. This was inspirational at the time and remember watching it like it was yesterday. Thanks for posting this. Sorry to hear about Steve, I have not kept up with the hang gliding community in quite some time, I have not been an active pilot in years but will someday pursue sailplanes. Good memories, thanks again for posting.
Love watching my neighbors(Squaw valley,CA) ,off in the Himalayas doing what I really wanted to do.I was just a little too young ,well a decade behind Craig,bobby,Steve,And 16 years younger than Jim( R.I.P.Jim Bridwell,Steve McKinney).I didn't Evan learn to fly until 1987.Skiing/Big wave surfing and skateboarding were my specialties.Got into climbing late in life(18). But started the triple S(Ski,Skate,Surf)club when I was 5-35. Then gravity ( 70 footer,15 footer grounder falls) and Four car totals and one home invasion,And I was benched for the rest of the season,life,But at least I,ve got the memories to keep my crippled old behind haPpY.
Hey Craig, you might not remember me, I met you as a kid at Jake's in Tahoe City. You know my Dad from back in the 90s, Leigh Pringle. I was just sharing this story with a friend of mine and I came up on this vid. So rad. Much love man.
At 24:45, Steve McKinney looks like he nearly blows his launch. Shortly thereafter, "as he flies, the wind suddenly dies out, and he has nothing to stay afloat on". What BS! This is a classic situation of strongly side rotor and sink. Anyone who has experienced this, like I have, can see that clearly. But hey, this is TV drama!
