SkyMax: Standing on my own two feet

After I got a few solo flights under my belt it was rather obvious that landing on wheels wasn't very practical. Whatever harness I was going to use - it wouldn't last too long. At Tanner-Hiller, I was constantly hitting asphalt part of the runway too, increasing the wear.

Anyway, I needed some foot launch/landing instruction. I bought a lesson at Morningside and off I went. Rhett called them up and asked them to give me a bit more advanced instructions as I already knew how to fly. That last part didn't materialize. I guess, they were too busy that day and I got bunched up with a group of first day students. For the whole day I got maybe 6 runs down 20' hill and very scarce instructions. Needless to say, I wasn't happy at all.

Next week, I went back to Tanner-Hiller. I got there early morning determined to land on my feet in calm morning air. Rhett towed me to 1000 feet so I could practice landings. And... I landed on my feet! It wasn't perfect but I did it. I was happy as a clam. I tried 2 more times before air got rough and I was gaining some confidence with my newly acquired skill.

To make things even more fun, on my third run air got warmed up enough for me to soar for a bit. I started picking up a spot to land as I noticed that I wasn't losing altitude (I had no vario). I bounced for 10 minutes at about 1000' AGL before losing whatever that bubble was and landing, again on my feet. Great day it was!

In need of flying gear

I was happy making some progress with my skills, but I still had no flying equipment of my own. I was set to buy a used Falcon (the same glider I was renting), but it wasn't easy to find.

I bought a new Icaro Skyrunner helmet from some online PG store. Then I got a used High Energy harness with a parachute from Randy Brown. The only thing that remained was a glider. And then, in beginning of August I got that part resolved as well. Another pilot was leaving the sport and selling everything off. The glider had bent downtubes and a few scuffs on the leading edge from a tree landing, but otherwise it was in great shape. I also got a used and not very well working vario and a tow setup. I was all set.

Here it is - my new wing:

: home

: New to me glider is being thoroughly inspected.

: Fixed, tested and ready for me to fly.

Foot launching is needed... Mountains are waiting.

For the next few weeks I was happily flying my own glider and adjusting to my new harness. Everything was great. Except one thing, everyone was going to different flying sites and I couldn't - I had almost zero of foot launching experience.

Back to Morningside I went. This time the experience was totally different. Guys at Morningside gave me a free lesson so we could forget about miscommunication thing a month earlier. And the whole day was a great workout and fun. I ran off a 30 feet hill once, then 50feet and 100, and then finished the day with a few 150 flights. I was cleared to come out whenever I needed and practice off 150. Awesome!

The next weekend I set a goal to work my way up to 250' hill. I launched 7 times off 150' hill, and I got permission to launch from 250'. Nick Caci was kind enough to help me with my first flights off that launch. He gave me some pointers to work on to improve my launching technique. Thanks Nick! Anyway, it was an awesome conclusion for a great day! I thought, I was beginning to like that hang gliding activity.

...

That was practically it for the rest of the season. I had a few more flights at Tanner-Hiller. Already in midday conditions, trying (unsuccessfully) to thermal. And then the cold weather rolled in, and my flying was over. I didn't have H2 rating yet, so I thought, I couldn't go to Wellfleet yet. Nor I felt comfortable doing that either. One thing that hang gliding forces on you is patience. You either have to grow it - or you quit before you learn anything.

The plan for the next year is to get my H2, launch off 450, fly Rutland, fly Wellfleet, practice, practice, practice.