Sunday, March 30, 2008
Kite Festival 2008
The Capital Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association (CHGPA.org) once more used the annual Smithsonian Kite Festival to show off our sport to the masses. The sky filled with kites. PG pilots kited their bagwings. We bragged about having the biggest kites at the festival. The Batglider drew the crowds from across the lawn. So many wanted their photo with it. Then we started flying little kids under the gliders with a small training harness. Parental cell hone cameras got a real workout. The line didn't stop until we broke down the last glider.
Club members taking part included Matthew G., Karen C., David B. with Jody, Chris Mc (Batman), Dan T. (old-3), Dan T. (new-2) David C., Daniel B., Juanito with family and students, Clare, Susanna, Stan, Ellis, Carlos W., Kathy C., Sheila G. , Joe & Janet G., Mike L., Gary S., Joe S., (if I missed a name, let me know!), and even my own special Kay, who wowed the crowds with her devil stick juggling. (Kathy C. and David B. picked up the sticks and got pretty good with them, too.)
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1 comments:
Cragin,
I found your blog and wanted to say Hi and get your advice on hang gliding. A tiny history: I took a few days of beginner hang gliding lessons (on the sand dunes) about 10 years ago at Kitty Hawk Kites in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I also took one tandem flight out there a year or so later. I had a great time, really seemed to click well with me, etc. I also have a private pilot's license (but haven't flown in a while), and I currently fly radio controlled planes and helicopters.
Now.. a while later, I'm really trying to figure out how to get back into the sport. I live outside of Philadelphia, wife, two kids, etc. but am trying disparately to find a "weekend warrior" sort of activity for myself when I can find the time for myself. Ideally I want a way to get back into the sport, where I can identify a day off for myself, drive somewhere, spend most of the day flying (or at least hanging out with other pilots between flying), then drive home at the end of the day. At this point, it will probably be a once every 6-8 weeks sort of thing, as I can't spend 6 Sundays in a row (for example) driving to a training hill 3+ hours away for class.
The closest place seems to be Highland Aerosports, about 2.5 hours from my house. While not the traditional "run down a hill for a month" sort of training, I'm wondering if the "instant gratification" of aerotow training would be fun! It's certainly a little more expensive but I'm thinking that being able to drive down in the morning, take maybe 6 tandem flights (too few, too many?), then be home either for dinner or certainly before bed might be nice. I wouldn't have to purchase a glider right away, and even after I'm solo rated, I can even rent a glider for the day, purchase a handful of tows, and have a blast without any "strings" so to speak.
Originally I thought all of the flights would be short sled-rides enjoying the sky and then landing. But I was excited to read in your blog that there is the challenge of finding a thermal and even turning an 8 minute flight into much longer!
So... I guess my questions are:
1) Living in PA, North of Philadelphia, is Highland possibly the best bet for me?
2) Is AeroTowing just as satisfying (in a different way) then running off of a mountain?
3) Are the instructors and the school in general great at Highland?
4) Hang Gliding is awesome, right? ;)
Thanks!
-- Jeff_Shapiro@yahoo.com
P.S. Can't find an email address for you, so I figured I'd try to contact you this way! Thanks.
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