[flyhighguy]

Posting on behalf of Brad Geary who asked me to post this on his behalf yesterday.

and the message:
>>A pilot from Palms Springs who's name I dont not know and who's
>>family may not of been notified has died as a result of a doodle bug
>>powered hang glider crash today at the Salton Sea in imperial county
>>California. a locating frequently "motored" from He was a experienced
>>free flight and powered harness HG pilot. He learned from Rob at
>>Crestline around 10 years ago. The only witness to the entire thing
>>was a none pilot female. there were powered paraglider pilots but none
>>saw the entire thing. I just got of the phone with the one person who
>>witnessed it. The accident happened shortly after launch from flat
>>ground on a red and white falcon 2 or 3 170. The pilot throttled up
>>and started to launch. after launching he climbed then settled back
>>down. he did that three times going higher and higher each time. on the
>>last time he was at his highest point with a high angle of attach when
>>a wing dropped and the glider flew straight into the ground at a very
>>high speed. The witness also said it looked as though the pilot was
>>"working on his unit during his short flight" the pilot was found
>>with obviously broken arms and legs and no pulse. the cause of death
>>is believed to of been a broken neck. The 1st guy to the downed pilot
>>(a non pilot) said the glider "looked as though it was fine and his
>>motor was still running"
>>
>> the rescue crew "cut him from the glider". A flat bed tow truck was
>>sent to get the glider and pilots car. The tow company "cut the glider
>>in half to get in on the flat bed".
>>
>> I believe wills wing recommends not using their gliders for powered
>>flight. sounds to me like there was an issue with the harness
>>interfering with the control bar and the pilot failed to correct it
>>resulting in loss of control. glider stalled/spun then dropped the
>>nose and impacted the ground before recovering. I did not see what
>>happened. This is horrible news and I hope somthing is learned from
>>this to help prevent it from happening again.

Brad Geary
>>
>>

[Rob McKenzie]

2 hours ago I received a call from the pilot's ex wife. The pilot was Haim Amir. He lived in Indio I think. He had a couple of sons that we know of. The family had no details. Your post has more info than what they had. Condolences to the family and friends of Haim. He'll be missed here at Crestline.

[knumbknuts]

Damn. Haim.

Super nice guy.

Here he is bringing in his sport 2 at a fly in:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLb7QZ5LM6I&t#t=08m49s

(8:49)

[klh]

Oh Christ! Not Haim. Great guy, almost always happy and upbeat. Good, conservative pilot. His sons come to the LZ with him several times each year. My condolences to his family. Damn.

[Jason]

oh no

[Dennis D]

God bless that pilot and his family, may he fly for all time on the unending lift band that spans the endless sky of heaven on feathered wings of his very own whilst waiting for his family to arrive to fly away together in azure skies.

"High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .

Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew —
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God."
— John Gillespie Magee, Jr

[Bobfly]

Terrible news. My condolences to his family and friends.

[Davedebogusone]

He will be missed. Very sad news.

[Windlord]

Very very sad indeed. Our prayers to his family.

[NMERider]

Gosh that's so sad. I've ridden up to launch with Haim several times and have flown with him a few times. One time he drive my car down for me from Marshall after a thermal picked him up an ground looped him and broke a down tube. Haim weighed only 110# and flew a Sport 3 135, which for him was a real floater.
Somewhere I have video of him pulling off a 360 at like 50 feet AGL and 15 mph. It was freaky to watch until I realized who was flying the glider. The last time I saw Haim he mentioned that he had a powered harness but I don't recall much else from that conversation. I am very sorry for the loss to his family and friends. My next flight will be in Haim's honor and I will raise a glass in his memory. Haim was a real pleasure to be around and many of us will miss him.

[NMERider]

Link

[MikeB]

Wow this is bad news. Haim was a friend of mine and I had flown with him recently. Hard to believe that I'll never see him again.

[hgnv]

I too will raise a glass and prayer in his Honor and for his Family...

Good Winds and God Speed brother...

[hangster]

Sorry to hear about this

[Rod_Clark]

How sad. I really liked him, and his kids were wonderful additions to the LZ.

[bobk]

To our long memory of Haim ...

[noman3]

sorry for your loss guys,RIP.

[Rob McKenzie]

I know it's short notice but I just got a call from Haim's ex and ...
Memorial Service is 11:30 AM Thursday Feb 18,
4334 Whittier Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90023

rob

[NMERider]

[gasdive]

I can't be there, but I'm thinking of you all.

sorry

Jason.