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Nemoray
Joined: 29 Apr 2012
Posts: 5
Location: Darien, Georgia
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 Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 5:43 pm Post subject: Blind in one eye for years but would like to learn. |
 #1 |
| Hi everyone. I have always wanted to learn, but have put it off because I am blind in my right eye. This has never slowed me down before, but was wondering if anyone had any thoughts. The folks at Lookout Mountain didn't think I would have trouble. I would just have to be extra cautious and mindful.
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FormerFF
3 thumbs up
Joined: 28 Aug 2006
Posts: 2482
Location: Roswell, Georgia, USA
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| Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 5:55 pm Post subject: |
#2 |
| As long as you've learned some depth perception skills, you should be fine. That's really going to come into play while landing. Remember, you're only going bicycle speeds, so if you're able to drive a car you should have no problem flying.
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Nemoray
Joined: 29 Apr 2012
Posts: 5
Location: Darien, Georgia
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| Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 5:59 pm Post subject: |
#3 |
| I lost the vision in this eye when I was in the 6th grade. 46 years old now. I fly RC planes and have had some flying lessons in a 172, but his seems the way to go for what I would like to do. Thanks for the response!
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krizz9
3 thumbs up
Joined: 15 Feb 2012
Posts: 105
Location: Atlanta, GA
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| Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 6:26 pm Post subject: |
#4 |
I don't think you'll have a problem since you are so used to it. I have a friend with one glass eye, he lost the other when he was around 12 and his brother accidentally shot an arrow into it. When we're playing catch with a football I think he is better at it than me. He says he just has to swivel his head a lot more to get a clear perspective. All I know is if you can run down a hill while I am throwing a football to you at 100ft and make a perfect catch as he does, I don't think one good eye is a limiting factor in hang gliding.
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H2, Pulse 10 |
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Willmrx
3 thumbs up
Joined: 12 Jan 2008
Posts: 1602
Location: Northern Cal
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| Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 6:45 pm Post subject: |
#5 |
I know of two hang glider pilots over the years, that are blind in one eye. neither of them seemed to have any problem launching and landing. My 15 year old son is blind in his right eye and will be learning to fly soon. He has bin blind since he was about a year old. He also played football and can catch like a pro. You should not have any problems. Now go FLY! 
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Let me be a free man, free to travel, free to stop, free to work, free to trade where I choose, free to choose my own teachers, free to follow the religion of my fathers, free to talk, think and act for myself -- and I will obey every law or submit to the penalty.---- Chief Joseph, Washington, D.C. 1879 |
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red
3 thumbs up
Joined: 13 Aug 2007
Posts: 2738
Location: Utah, USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sol III
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| Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 7:36 pm Post subject: Re: Blind in one eye for years but would like to learn. |
#6 |
| Nemoray wrote: |
| Hi everyone. I have always wanted to learn, but have put it off because I am blind in my right eye. This has never slowed me down before, but was wondering if anyone had any thoughts. The folks at Lookout Mountain didn't think I would have trouble. I would just have to be extra cautious and mindful. |
Nemoray,
You are the one to choose your path, not me. I would only suggest, for flying, that you always have eye protection, in flight. Most of us can call that protection optional, because we do have a back-up on-board.
Out riding this weekend, I caught something big and nasty, centered on my faceshield, so I figure now I should speak up, right here. In cold weather, I use anti-fogging ski goggles. Sunglasses are one possibility, also. They can be the wrap-around type, or helmets can have clear visors or half-visors. You might even want both, especially if wind causes your eye to water. Motorcycle shops are a good place to find a half-visor. This one (below) is a Vista 3-snap, three inch visor. If you need the mating helmet snaps installed on a helmet, a good hardware place or awning shop might have them. Use the right length of small machine screws in the snaps, and blind nuts inside the helmet. Bend the spikes flat, on the blind nuts, and use epoxy to secure them in the helmet. See pix below.
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Cheers,
........Red.........................
Pssst! New pilot? Free advice, maybe worth the price,
http://www.xmission.com/~red/
H4, Moyes X2, Falcon Tandem, HES Tracer, Quantum |
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J Fritsche
3 thumbs up
Joined: 21 Mar 2010
Posts: 474
Location: Lompoc, CA ("central coast")
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| Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 7:54 pm Post subject: |
#7 |
I too know of a blind-in-one-eye pilot, in Wisconsin, who learned to fly just fine.
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Saturn 147, Predator 142 |
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psilyguy
3 thumbs up
Joined: 13 Sep 2011
Posts: 280
Location: ON, Canada
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| Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 1:37 am Post subject: |
#8 |
| My instructor has a glass eye. Hasn't seemed to slow him down.
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liftlover
3 thumbs up
Joined: 28 May 2010
Posts: 304
Location: Bay Area
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| Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 4:57 am Post subject: |
#9 |
It all depends on how bad you want it. ! its probably easier to fly with only one eye than only one leg, I have a friend who flys fort funston all the time, top pilot with great skills, one leg launches and landings, just go for a couple of lessons, you'll know right away if this is for you. It sounds like you already have the flybug, so what are you waiting for ? Get a camera and keep us posted on your progress, good air to you!
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See ya up there!
First flight 6/72-free flight standard 17'. free flight Sierra, 1,2,& 3. wills wing swallowtail, quicksilver 3, icaro relax, wills wing U2, h4 then back to h4 now. with my head in the clouds. |
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Eteamjack
3 thumbs up
Joined: 26 Jan 2008
Posts: 1125
Location: So Cal
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| Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 6:17 am Post subject: Sight |
#10 |
I'm basically blind in my left eye. Depth perception slightly impaired, but it hasn't bothered me much in 33yrs. Main problem is getting debris or eye's tearing up
and losing sight in my good eye. Never has caused a major issue, but potential is there.
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H4 (1979) Lake Elsinore. Ca. U2 160 (Sweet) |
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Windlord
3 thumbs up
Joined: 20 Nov 2007
Posts: 4707
Location: Montana
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| Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 7:24 am Post subject: |
#11 |
Your awareness is more acute than with us who have two good eyes. I don't recognize any problems for you.
Just keep in mind, that events will and can happen very suddenly, as in your 172 experience.
Patience and understanding is the key to solid results.
Good luck and keep us posted.
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H-4 (1976) UP Saturn 147 & UP Axis 13
The Cloudbase Foundation
Learn to fly hang gliders (click here}
Torrey Hawks #208 |
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Nemoray
Joined: 29 Apr 2012
Posts: 5
Location: Darien, Georgia
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| Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 8:08 am Post subject: |
#12 |
| Thanks for all the input and encouragement! Looking forward to starting! I will keep everyone posted on the progress!
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Rusty Trombone
1 thumbs up
Joined: 15 May 2012
Posts: 18
Location: Winchestertonfieldville
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| Posted: Tue May 15, 2012 8:45 am Post subject: |
#13 |
| I have a low sperm count and only one testicle.....will this impair my ability to fly?
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Spark
3 thumbs up
Joined: 26 Jul 2006
Posts: 1875
Location: Evergreen, Colorado
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| Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 2:10 pm Post subject: |
#14 |
| Rusty Trombone wrote: |
| I have a low sperm count and only one testicle.....will this impair my ability to fly? |
You'll fly ok, but when you land, you'll pound in, really hard, every time 
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'Spark
H4/OBS - WW U2-160 & Falcon 2 195
P3, Skywalk Chili L |
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paraglidingswiss
Joined: 20 Jun 2012
Posts: 8
Location: Switzerland
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| Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 10:20 pm Post subject: |
#15 |
Yeah Nemoray you have to be really careful you may don't know what will be on your blind side but you can use your other senses in replace of your damage eye. 
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