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I haven't seen anyone post this so I thought I would. The Smithsonian. Channel is airing a show called Flying With Condors. Here is the link:

http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/site/sn/show.do?show=130576#video

Got it on my DVR.

[DocSoc]

That video shows a lot about the pilot, the info on the page claims she is "World champion hang-glider Judy Leden" but from what I see she looks rusty. Her launch was weak at best and her base and final were equally off. Which is why she ended up with a world class "WHAAAAAAAACK".

Still would be cool to see a HG flying with some of the worlds most amazing creatures.

-DocSoc

[DocSoc]

Judy Leden MBE - Senior Instructor, teaching hang gliding, paragliding, aerotowing, tug flying.

World Women’s Hang Gliding Champion
World Women’s Paragliding Champion
British Hang Gliding Team Member
British Paragliding Team Member
Multiple World Record Holder (including absolute altitude record of 41,307 feet)
Display Pilot

TV appearances:

Blue Peter 2010 - filming March & April
Blue Peter (broke World Altitude Towing Record, flying tandem with presenter, Matt Baker)
ITV - Don’t Try This At Home (3 times)
Natural World (BBC 1) Flying with Condors
Channel 4 – Stratosfear (50 minute documentary on World Altitude Record)
Channel 4 – “Cotopaxi Dream”
BBC1 – Flight of the Dacron Eagles
BBC 1 – The Weather Programme

Judy has been involved in Airways Airsports since the start. She has been Women's World Hang Gliding Champion twice and has a string of world records to her name. Well known for her easy going style and love of flying, she is one of the best instructors in the UK. Judy worked with the technical team from the BHPA on the new tandem hang gliding syllabus and now leads our team of full time instructors. Judy also flies paragliders (World Champion 1995) and microlights/light aircraft. She runs courses in the Alps for paragliding and hang gliding, teaching ab initio, hill conversions, cross country flying and competition flying. She was awarded her MBE by the Queen for services to hang gliding.

[adi]

She's also has an autobiography 'flying with condors' which is an amazing read... and recommended to anyone, not just those into HG (although the book is 90% HG related). The write up on the 40k balloon drop (the subject of the 'stratosfear' film) is worth the read on its own !
Granted, she doesnt do much hill flying any more, instead concentrating on instructing and running the airpark, but she's been a true ambassador for HG since the 1980's. She's also taught myself and others on here to fly and has a reputation as one of the best and safest instructors you'll find.

The condors film did get slated by some of the UK freeflying crowd... but remember that the producers like to include the odd crash here and there.. they're not there to promote the sport.

PS if anyone has a copy of stratosfear, cotopaxi, or dacron eagles they can torrent.. please let us know ! i'd love to see them

[Bobfly]

Wow! That story's pretty neat and she's way cool. What an incredible list of accomplishments. Rock on, sister!

[NickL]

yep, she taught me HG too - she seemed pretty good at the whole flying thing!

I can't seem to access that link here in the UK but I've seen that film before - she did manage to fly with the condors, but on a PG, managing to launch (with a bit of help) and fly off some desolate Andean mountain despite a broken wrist and ankle

The story of the altitude record is pretty good too. It was a balloon drop, she said they could have gone a bit higher but at that altitude the gas in the balloon's burner was condensing into solid, burning clumps and falling on the balloon pilot's head - so she dropped from a mere 40000ish ft. After launching she realised that she should have picked some better goggles to go with the fighter-pilot pressure suit, because the wind chill froze her eyes shut for most of the descent (which took about 40mins I think). Fun times

[bisleybob]

she taught me too.

[DocSoc]

Anyone that promotes the sport and has the years she has in fine by me. She's cute too!

-DocSoc