[hgflyer]

[noman]

[DanTuck]

I'm not much older than you and I also am the future of our sport, as are a bunch of the folks that have given their advice in this thread. And I also can't stand taking orders without a damn good reason and hate to be taught (helped) by others. I want to figure it out for myself, whatever "it" is. However hang gliding is the rare type of unforgiving recreational activity where the benefits definitely outweigh the risks, but the risk is falling from the sky and yes, actually dying. That's the reality of it. So I sucked it up and went and got lessons. And allow me to reiterate, training is incredibly fun. And now, less than a year after I began training, I'm flying the mountains. And there are many schools that will get you there more quickly. The point is, this is about maturity. It's about swallowing your ego, realizing that while some learn faster, no one is a "natural" - man has evolved as a land dweller - we all need training, it's about being able to learn from others' mistakes, and dropping the notion that the guy who just crashed was some sort of moron.
I'm happy that you won't be flying that glider anymore, get a decent wing, a helmet, and some lessons - it really is the fastest way to get in the air. Even if you rebel after you're a 2, at least you'll have the basics. As stated, even very experienced pilots have crashed and even been killed flying in relatively benign conditions so we all know that even with years of training and learning, the risks are great. But with no training, I imagine the risk is right around there with jumping into a pool of alligators. Hey, they're nice sometimes.
It's clear that you'll continue playing your game of roulette by towing and the odds are, some day the chamber will not be empty. I applaud your gung ho attitude - it is what this sport was born out of but everyone here is just trying to help keep you from hurting yourself. It seems there's been some influence so I hope you do follow through with lessons and they open your eyes to these facts.
Lessons are the fastest way to 5,000' AGL
Training is a lot of fun!
The rewards vastly outweigh the risks if you're properly trained
In this sport, you can pay for complacency with your life
The more I am around HGing, the more I realize that it really isn't for everyone. It really takes a certain maturity level to participate safely in this sport. And it's only a matter of time before those who do not participate safely get bit. That's not to say we don't have fun. But there are things that must be taken seriously and safety is one of them. I'd rather be honest about that than attract newcomers by the thousand who get themselves hurt only to have the sport's statistics degenerate back to what they were in the seventies and have it become federally regulated.
Anyway, welcome to the sport, albeit a tough love kind of welcome.
Good luck to you.

[hgflyer]

[DanTuck]

Thanks, Richard!

[Old newby]

It is so obviously an old timer posting from his youth. He does not like that responses do not stay positive and make the sport sound more difficult then it is

Steve (more flight reports, less bs) Forslund

[sg]

[Jason]

[day dreamer]

Just remember dude, if you are going to try to fly without instruction, then here is what you do. Take notes if you wish. You go to your buddies house with the gorilla green bud, then you roll a fugin fattie, then smoke that thing down to a roach, AND then you can really fly bro! See, you are serving two purposes. One is you will slow down your reaction times to prevent spazing while making corrections,AND if you pile in man, you wont feel s*** Bro!! I know, i know, Brilliant.. Well, do what you gotta do. Guys, this dude just wants to fly man! He is a pilot non the less and I am proud of you bro. You are an adult,and how you choose to get into the air IS up to you. I just hope you can live long enough to fly Crestline,or Lake McClure. Come get u sum brother. And judging by the amount of hits on this thread, these guys do care,and want you to suceed.Glenn

[jbaloh]

some of you are retarded, thanks to the people who actually cared...

also i dont smoke pot.

If you fly a hang glider, your not elite. ANYONE can learn to fly

If your not retarded, you can fly a hang glider, s*** if you throw one off your roof, it will fly without you on it.

im sorry i didnt come here first before i got the idea i wanted to fly and check to see if it would be ok.

You guys remind me of the older guys we flew rc planes with. wanting us to fly with trainer cords w them.
after i took off with my "performance" airplane, not a trainer like everyone else there who had been training for the last 5 years. they decided that we were better than they were... Dont get mad at the comparison, i realize im not on the rc plane nor is it risking my life.But its the same approach. Bunch of people who are mad someone took a risk and was able to do what they have worked at for years.

I still plan on like i said 1019408084 times on taking lessons but no one cared to read that part.

Ps we bought a rigid wing and towed it a lot higher than the our old videos as well as landed without face planting. Figured out how to trim it all by ourselves too.

well go ahead and delete this thread and my account if you like, i wont be back.

Again, thank you to the contructive people who posted on this.

Ciao

[day dreamer]

piss off! f***ing bullshitting troll!! Good game you waste of space.

[Scott]

[quote="
Ps we bought a rigid wing and towed it a lot higher than the our old videos as well as landed without face planting. Figured out how to trim it all by ourselves too.

well go ahead and delete this thread and my account if you like, i wont be back.

Again, thank you to the contructive people who posted on this.

Ciao[/quote]



a rigid,right...found under a rock for 10 bucks I suppose?
yeah....and Elvis didn't do drugs...
I vote bury this along with the troll

[ifly4funn]

What a total waste of oxygen, and energy typing to someone that 's just too redneck stupid to come in out of the rain. Please take the suggestion and paint--paraglider--- on your silly forehead loser.

[tokyoDirk]

[hgflyer]

Well, we served our purpose. Good, bad or indifferent. If jbaloh gets his kicks trying to prove he can do things better without support and better than anyone before him. That is his choice. We all responded to him in our own ways. Utimately, it all added up to a unanimous calaboration of ..............don't kill yourself!!!!!!!!!!!! Once again a choice left up to the individual.

Some people try to live life to its fullest. Sometimes, they just don't get they might be living life to its foolest.

p.s. jbaloh, if you still want to learn how to fly. I wish you well.

hgflyer signing off on this thread also.......ciao

[Erik Boehm]

Ok, you don't like advice from older guys- I'm 22, now will you listen?

I will start with the negative, but there is some positive at the end.

* the glider -> the first photo you show us, it isn't even set up right, this is not going to get you a warm and supportive welcome.

* on death traps - that seagul is fine most of the time, but lacks washout, pitch stability systems, etc. In some situations, it will be unsafe, even if it was in like new condition.

* 20 times is nothing. Will you do aerobatics if you can? even if people tell you its a bad idea? My brother was doing aerobatics, spins specifically, he did many quite fine, then he screwed one up and nearly died, there is partial video of it- same concept

* your experience with this glider will not prepare you for a high performance glider. If you had to constantly fly with the bar stuffed, you will not be prepared for the extremely light and sensitive pitch pressure of a high performance glider.
I like High perf gliders, I got a litespeed after a dozen or so flights on a K2, while I learned on an eagle. Even with my experience on much higher perf gliders than a seagul- My first flight with my litespeed, I nearly let the nose up too much, I corrected in time, but after comparing my lightspeed to a T2c, or a sensor, the pitch pressure is way high (VG full off, very comparable VG full on)- had it been a T2c, I may have been in trouble. If you can't practice flying without applying only the slightest pitch pressure, you aren't ready for a fast glider.
People loose control of their pitch and speed when moving up, and crash far too much. I know of someone that did just that on landing, picked up too much speed, had a bad accident, left the sport

* has anyone corrected the joke response yet? the 170 in Falcon 170 means its wing area is 170 square feet, not 170 horse power required to tow it - if you followed this advice, that would be way too much power, and way too dangerous
Towing- I have no experience here, but it seems more dangerous than foot launch.

* The videos do seem to show stable flight, and the glider doesn't look nearly as bad as it did in the first still photo. I did not see anything in the videos that was overtly dangerous or out of the norm. Perhaps your practice isn't as dangerous as what is conveyed by your first picture and description.

* The photos on the training hill look like your first few attempts at learning were within reason and close to ideal, with the glaring exception of having no helmet.

* I do sometimes thing there is too much babying. A small hill, a helmet, a docile glider with big wheels- not much more than a broken arm or messed up ankle can occur- not life threatening, and I'd say go for it, - although at least read an instruction book/guide first.
I have no issue with people learning by themselves on small and gentle enough training hills with wheels and a helmet.

Your towing decision is what I find questionable, when coupled with the old glider and lack of knowledge as to proper setup.

[soren_ladegaard]

(forum vandalism removed)

[AP]

Mate, that guy had some fun with us . Whether he was trolling or not became secondary. Everyone was unanimous and all in an effort to save some guy from himself.

I went solo and was signed-off on my third day (where's the icon that gestures 'who give a s***'). I think all of us realize the speed or ease at which someone learns means little and doesn't necessarily correlate with eventual ability. Even if you think you're hot property or blessed with a rare ability it is safest to listen to other more experienced folk anyway. Experience trumps any perceived ability everytime. Unless your telepathic it is impossible to learn by yourself much of what was learned way back when most of us were still in liquid form.

Humility increases lifespan.

[Jason]

[jlg7380]

Ha!

What an obstinate ass. He'll break his legs then post some more ridiculously shallow and egotistical photos of his car or his girlfriend on photobucket, sit back and smile at how freaking awesome he is, while contemplating the next dangerous sport that he can jump into without guidance or help from the many people who have gone before him, to show everyone how he's a natural and everyone else is just a pussy.

"DUDE! Skydiving? F**k it, who needs a parachute? Parachutes are for pussies"

Jesus bury this topic already.