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Copyright of early hang gliding photos
Most of the images on the early hang gliding pages are my artistic derivations of contemporary photos by a small number of photographers. Their efforts and skill at using film cameras in the second half of the 20th century averted the risk of this history being solely one of hearsay, text, and drawings.
However, those photographs do not belong to me…
Ground Skimmer, Hang Gliding, and contemporary magazines
Using a hand-held camera, I photographed the pages of the printed publications in which the photos appear. (I have a tripod and even a flat-bed scanner, but I used neither.) I then added an effect that makes the resulting images look as though they are printed on textured material, which to some extent they were.
Glider Rider
I obtained permission to use photos that appear in the broadsheet hang gliding and powered ultralight periodical Glider Rider from the copyright holders; the publishers of the later Ultralight Flying! which became Light Sport and Ultralight Flying magazine. I annotate all such photos accordingly. I do not use the textured effect on those photos.
Glider Rider team in January 1981:
- Production manager Ruth Ann Smith
- Circulation manager Caryl Syjut
- Editor Buzz Chalmers
- Art director Michael Morgan
- Managing editor Ellie Bost
- Publisher Tracy H. Knauss
In addition, I used to provide a link to the Ultralight Flying! magazine web site (and, from September 2006, to the Light Sport and Ultralight Flying web site) from each page containing a photo from Glider Rider. However, after the cessation of that magazine in 2016, that web site no longer exists, so I deleted those links.
Hugh Morton and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library
Hugh Morton of Grandfather Mountain was a life-long photographer whose subjects spanned a range of interests. His photos are being cataloged and digitized at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill library.
See Hugh Morton’s photos (related topics menu).
Their copyright statements are as follows:
Usage Rights Copyright North Carolina Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library. The images in this collection are made available for use in research, private study, and teaching. Prior permission from the North Carolina Collection is required for any commercial use.
— Sample page: Cyndee Lewis Moore, first female Raven
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], in the Hugh Morton Photographs and Films #P0081, copyright [or copyright symbol] FILL IN, year image was made [when known], North Carolina Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library.
— From here
Individual contributors
These are in first name alphabetical order. I am fairly sure I need to add to this list, which I first compiled as late as September 2021.
Brian Wood
The first British champion Brian Wood contributed photos and memories of early hang gliding in Britain.
Chris Gonzales
Chris Gonzales provided photos and info based on his flying experiences over the years, especially in connection with U.S. east coast manufacturer Sky Sports.
Dave Cronk
The first world champion Dave Cronk provided photos and reminiscences of his pioneering flying and development efforts in southern California.
Frank Colver
Hang gliding pioneer Frank Colver, who manufactured the first hang glider specific audio variometer, provided photos and info about his rigid hang gliders in the early 1970s.
Jan Kulhavy
Jan Kulhavy contributed quality photos from the mid 1980s including those in Grouse Mountain invitational 1984.
Ken de Russy
Long time instructor Ken de Russy has accumulated a large collection of photos, which he has allowed me to use here as well as describing his experiences of flying the early hang gliders.
Mark Bailey
Mark sent in some photos of his Skyhook Gispy CFX, a design of which this author was previously unaware, in 2022. See Skyhook Sailwings.
Martin Orr
Martin, who this author has known since 1975, is one of several individuals who contributed photos and anecdotes.
Richard H. Hovey
Richard H. Hovey had his early 1970s high quality color photos published more widely than any other photographer I know of at that early time, most photographers apparently being content to see their photos in the specialized hang gliding press.
Roly Lewis-Evans
Sail-maker Roly Lewis-Evans, who the author has known since 1975, also contributed photos and accounts of his experience of manufacturing and flight testing hang gliders in Britain and the U.S.A.
Related
Photographers of early hang gliding related topics menu
Hang Gliding History 