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What’s new

March 3^rd 2022: Split Hang gliding before 1973 into Hang gliding before 1973 part 1 and Hang gliding before 1973 part 2, adding a photo to the latter

February 13^th 2022: Comment by Henry M. Wise in Hang gliding early 1980s part 2 about Donnel Hewitt’s first hang glider towing experiences

January 27^th 2022: New section More hang gliders in Skyhook Sailwings including three new photos of the Gipsy CFX from Mark Bailey

January 16^th 2022: New section BHPA club coaching scheme in Appliance of statistics

January 13^th 2022: Kevin Weatherbee sent in a sizable comment on Mid-day lightning in Vermont, a review of the Francis Freedland documentary film 1978 Pico Peak International Hang Gliding Meet

January 10^th 2022: Added three images and another video link to Cronk works (David Cronk’s hang gliders)

January 8^th 2022:

• New section Spaghetti prone harnesses on the Harnesses page
• Split Hang gliding 1974 part 2, moving some of its contents to Hang gliding 1974 part 3, and moved the previous contents of the latter to a new page Hang gliding 1974 part 4

December 22^nd and 23^rd 2021: Added a link to spectacular film of early hang gliders under External links in Hang gliding 1975 part 2 and a link starting at film of the Tweetie monoplane under External links in Hang gliding 1974 part 1

November 18^th 2021: More images and info added to Harnesses

November 13^th 2021: Two images added to Harnesses and the page contents restructured slightly

November 7^th 2021: New page Harnesses

November 1^st 2021: New short section Sun Swift in Hang gliding 1976 part 2 including a color photo

October 15^th 2021: Five new photos added to Hang gliding 2020 onward. Three of them are repeated in Kimmeridge Khmer Rouge.

September 22^nd 2021: Added Batso plans under 1970-72 in Hang gliding before 1973 part 1

September 15^th & 16^th 2021: Added color photos by Richard H. Hovey under School for perfection and More Rogallos, both in Hang gliding 1973 part 2, and under Rogallo versus Quicksilver in colour in Hang gliding 1974 part 2

August 30^th 2021: Added more snippets from William Le Mer’s experiences in Hang gliding 1973 part 1

August 29^th 2021: Added more photos and info to Tom Price’s flying machines

August 28^th 2021: New related topics menu World War 2

August 27^th 2021: Added some World War 2 history of Wendling airfield to Lejair: Tony and Rona Webb

August 25^th 2021:

• Added Electra Floater section to Tom Price’s flying machines
• New Back to the future section in Hang gliding 1978 and 1979 part 2, to which I moved some material that was on other pages
• Added an image of the Bennett Lazer in Hang gliding 1978 and 1979 part 3

August 19^th 2021: New page Wills Wing glider production history; data provided by Steve Pearson

August 10^th 2021: Added three images to Flex Wings in Earliest hang gliders

August 7^th 2021:

• New section Leonardo da Vinci in Earliest hang gliders
• Added an image under State of the art in Hang gliding 1978 and 1979 part 1
• Added an image in Hang gliding 1978 and 1979 part 3

July 30^th 2021: New section Eric Short’s first flight in Spiraling out of control

July 29^th 2021: New section British championship 1975 in Hang gliding 1975 part 2 including a couple of extra images

July 22^nd 2021: Added one image under Late 1960s and early 1970s in color in Hang gliding before 1973 part 2 and more links under Big Blue Sky video external links on that page

July 21^st 2021: New page Torrey Pines, containing no new material, but bringing together images, text, and external links previously on several pages

July 20^th 2021: New related topics menu: Tom Peghiny

July 19^th 2021: New related topics menu: Dennis Pagen

July 17^th 2021: New related topics menu: Brian Wood, the first British champion

July 9^th 2021: Added photos to Hang gliding 1976 part 2 and Hang gliding 1977

June 16^th 2021: New Roly Lewis-Evans, sail maker, related topics menu

June 6^th 2021: Added several photos and some text to Hang gliding before 1973

June 5^th 2021: Added another photo of Bob England, hang glider designer

June 2^nd 2021: Added three images of Soarmaster-powered hang gliders to Early powered ultralights part 1

May 28^th 2021: Added another photo of Tom Peghiny’s 1978 Eagle v-tail glider under Developments 1978-9 in Hang gliding 1978 and 1979 part 2

May 24^th 2021: Added a couple of images and some more info to Jean-Michel Bernasconi and Pacific Windcraft and restructured of the page slightly

May 23^rd 2021: Added a couple of extra images and technical info under Miles Wings Gryphon in Hang gliding 1976 part 1

May 22^nd 2021: Added an image and technical info about the ProAir Dawn to Bennett delta wing in Hang gliding mid 1980s

May 21^st 2021: Added new section ASG-23 in Tom Price’s flying machines

May 20^th 2021: Added another photo to Bob England, hang glider designer and one to the Dick Boone, hang glider designer related topics menu

May 18^th 2021: Added more photos and info to Bob England, hang glider designer

May 16^th 2021: New page Bob England, hang glider designer. Consisting partly of material moved from the chronology pages, it also contains several anecdotes by John LaTorre of his time flight testing with Bob at Marina Beach, Monterey.

May 15^th 2021: New related topics menu Dick Boone, hang glider designer

May 8^th 2021: New related topics menu Moyes Delta Gliders

May 7^th 2021: New related topics menu Bill Bennett’s Delta Wing Kites and Gliders

April 29^th 2021: Added three images, including one of Ed Vickery, to Flying squad, a short history of the east coast U.S. hang glider manufacturer Sky Sports

April 25^th 2021: Split Early powered ultralights into Early powered ultralights part 1 and Early powered ultralights part 2, adding images to both

April 22^nd 2021: Added four images to Hang gliding 1978 and 1979 part 2

April 15^th 2021: Added detailed history by John LaTorre of the collaboration between Airwave on the Isle of Wight, England, and their factory in California to Pacific Airwave in Jean-Michel Bernasconi and Pacific Windcraft

April 9^th 2021: Added more to Marty Alameda and Flight Designs

April 7^th 2021: New page Marty Alameda and Flight Designs

March 27^th 2021: Added a bunch of external video links to Jean-Michel Bernasconi and Pacific Windcraft

March 25^th 2021: New page Jean-Michel Bernasconi and Pacific Windcraft

March 18^th 2021: Added snippets from John LaTorre in several pages, all linked in the John LaTorre related topics menu. This is ongoing work.

March 5^th 2021: Added images under Horten in Earliest hang gliders and another external link to more photos of the Alita

February 19^th 2021 Added images to the following pages:

• Under Trial and error in Hang gliding 1973 part 1
• Under More Rogallos in Hang gliding 1973 part 2
• Under Pushing the outside of the envelope in Hang gliding 1974 part 4

February 17^th 2021: Added images to Hang gliding 1973 part 2 and Hang gliding 1974 part 2

January 29^th 2021:

• Added six photos from Chris Gonzales’ collection to Flying squad, a short history of the east coast U.S. hang glider manufacturer Sky Sports
• Added two screenshots from the YouTube video and a photo from Chris Gonzales’ collection to Mid-day lightning in Vermont, a review of the Francis Freedland documentary film 1978 Pico Peak International Hang Gliding Meet

January 19^th 2021, added photos by Hugh Morton to the following pages:

• On the mountain in Hang gliding early 1980s part 2, also with a photo by Dave Thompson
• Hang gliding mid 1980s

January 18^th 2021, added photos by Hugh Morton to the following pages:

• Flying squad, a short history of the east coast U.S. hang glider manufacturer Sky Sports
• Kitty Hawk Kites
• Hang gliding 1976 part 2
• Hang gliding 1978 and 1979 part 1
• Hang gliding 1978 and 1979 part 3 including new sections Hawaii five and Jaguar

January 17^th 2021, new pages:

• Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina, 1974
• Grandfather Mountain 1975 part 1
• Grandfather Mountain 1975 part 2
• Hugh Morton’s photos (related topics menu)

December 31^st 2020: Added more links to places/times in the two videos linked from Elberta Dune, Michigan, July 1974

December 11^th 2020: Added a color photo of a Peregrine Aviation Owl under Antares, Ten Meter, and others in Hang gliding 1978 and 1979 part 3.

December 3^rd 2020: Added a color photo of the Bennett Phoenix 6D to Hang gliding 1978 and 1979 part 3

December 2^nd 2020: New page Spectra Aolus

November 30^th 2020: Added new sub-section Dove in Hang gliding 1978 and 1979 part 2 about a problem with a prototype licence-built Electra Flyer Dove, and its solution

November 26^th 2020: Added a photo of Andrew Hill in a strikingly good looking Birdman Firebird to Birdman and Solar Wings of Wiltshire, England

November 23^rd 2020:

• Added a bit about the Edge harness to Birdman and Solar Wings of Wiltshire, England
• Added a bit about Pacific Airwave including a photo in Airwave of the Isle of Wight, UK
• Added a diagram to Prone in Hang gliding 1975 part 2

November 21^st 2020: Added two new (old) photos and accompanying info from Andrew Hill to Birdman and Solar Wings of Wiltshire, England

November 17^th 2020: Created new page Birdman and Solar Wings of Wiltshire, England from existing and new material

November 13^th 2020: Added several screenshots in new section Flying with seagulls in Torrance Beach

November 11^th 2020: Added two images to Hang gliding 1975 part 2

November 5^th 2020:

• New section 1971 in color in Hang gliding before 1973 part 2 including some added photos
• Added two photos of Volmer Jenen’s VJ-23 to Swing wing in Hang gliding 1973 part 2

November 1^st 2020:

• New page Airwave of the Isle of Wight, UK (created from existing content with one photo added)
• Added two screenshots and associated external link to Torrance Beach
• Added another photo of Tony Prentice in his Southdown Sailwings Sigma trike-powered hang glider to Early powered ultralights part 2
• New related topics menu Hang glider manufacturers

October 21^st 2020: New related topics menu Flex-wings with tails

October 16^th 2020: New page Scientific American hang glider: Mike Markowski and the Eagle III (material moved from Hang gliding 1974 part 3 and more text and links added)

October 4^th 2020: Added three images to Hang gliding mid 1980s

September 24^th 2020: Added an image of Eves Tall Chief, who died two days before, to Antares, Ten Meter, and Others in Hang gliding 1978 and 1979 part 3

September 14^th 2020: Added info about Ed Cesar under Antares, Ten Meter, and others in Hang gliding 1978 and 1979 part 3

September 6^th 2020: Added a photo under Check list in Hang gliding equipment

August 21^st 2020:

• Added another of Jan Kulhavy’s amazing photos to Grouse Mountain invitational 1984
• Added external links to photos, info, and documents on hang gliding pioneer Ken Privitt’s web site to On this hill, May 23, 1971…

August 14^th 2020: Added two more images and more description to Mitchell Wing

August 11^th 2020:

• Added a photo and text to Mitchell Wing
• Added a photo of George Worthington in a Rogallo with a painted sail under Flight of the Phoenix in Hang gliding 1976 part 2
• Added the experiences of New Zealander John Veysey to the following pages:
  • Hang gliding 1974 part 4
  • Under Puff the magic dragon in Hang gliding 1975 part 1
  • Under More developments in Hang gliding 1975 part 2
  • Under Variometer in Hang gliding 1976 part 1
  • Under Flight of the Phoenix in Hang gliding 1976 part 2
  • Under Hang waiting in Hang gliding preparation

August 10^th 2020:

• Added an image to Lejair: Tony and Rona Webb
• Added an external video link to the VJ day — Volmer Jensen’s hang gliders related topics menu
• Added two external video links to the Seagull Aircraft of Santa Monica, California related topics menu

August 9^th 2020: Added more material to Mitchell Wing

August 7^th 2020: New page: Mitchell Wing, the B-10 Buzzard

August 6^th 2020: Added a second incident with photo to Spring thermals, a sub-page of Dangers of hang gliding

August 5^th 2020:

• Added two images of the Mission Soaring Center speed rail under From our house to bunkhaus, Peripheral technology in hang gliding in Hang gliding early 1980s part 2
• Added two images to Hang gliding mid 1980s

August 3^rd 2020:

• Added a couple of images and quotes, together with a link to a magazine article, in Elberta Dune, Michigan, July 1974
• Moved applicable material to new page Point Fermin (updated with some additional info)

July 30^th 2020: New section Home-built in Hang gliding early 1980s part 2 with a photo and link to Vijay Sulakhe’s photos on flickr

July 28^th 2020:

• Added another photo to Horten in Earliest hang gliders
• Added a rare image of a Seagull 3 being de-rigged under Rogallo versus Quicksilver in colour in Hang gliding 1974 part 2

July 27^th 2020: New section Horten in Earliest hang gliders (with two photos from the mid 1950s

July 25^th 2020:

• Moved Grandfather Mountain (NC) material from Hang gliding early 1980s part 2 to Hang gliding mid 1980s so it is all together. Also added a photo taken at Yosemite National Park.
• Added some text about the use of carbon fiber in flex-wing hang gliders under Litespeed in Hang gliding 2015 to 2019

July 23^rd 2020: New related topics menu Computing in hang gliding

July 21^st 2020: New page Training aids

July 19^th 2020: New page Variometers

July 9^th 2020:

• Added two images under Mega, Harrier, and Sierra in Hang gliding early 1980s part 1
• Added nine images to Hang gliding early 1980s part 2, all but one under a new section titled From our house to bunkhaus

July 8^th 2020:

• New page Santa Barbara Hang Gliding Emporium featuring long time instructor Ken de Russy
• Photo and story from 2000 added to Collisions in Dangers of hang gliding (copied over from my general interests web site)

July 7^th 2020 more photos by Jan Kulhavy added to the following:

• Grouse Mountain invitational 1984
• Canada in Hang gliding mid 1980s

July 4^th 2020:

• New page Tom Price’s flying machines
• New page Grouse Mountain invitational 1984; color photos by Jan Kulhavy
• Color photo by Jan Kulhavy added to Hang gliding mid 1980s in new section titled Canada

July 3^rd 2020: Added photos of a Southdown Sailwings Sigma trike-powered hang glider to Early powered ultralights part 2

June 27^th 2020: New related topics menu Manta Products of California and I added some extra history of Manta to some of the linked pages

June 19^th 2020:

• Split Paragliding continued into two, creating new page Paragliding 3, which includes a new photo
• Added an image to ATA girl Ann Welch

June 16^th 2020: New page Hang gliding 2020 onward

June 11^th 2020: Added several images of the Seagull Sierra under Mega, Harrier, and Sierra in Hang gliding early 1980s part 1 as well as text about why it was Seagull’s last hang glider

June 5^th 2020: Added an image to Hang gliding 1975 part 1 and four to Hang gliding 1975 part 2

May 29^th 2020:

• Added an image and two external links to On this hill, May 23, 1971…
• New related topics menu VJ day — Volmer Jensen’s hang gliders
• Added external links about Eddie Paul to Hang gliding 1973 part 1
• Added two images and an external link to Hang gliding 1973 part 2

May 26^th 2020:

• Added external video links to Hang gliding 1975 part 2 including Sail On by the Commodores featuring Bob Wills in a Swallowtail, and David Vincent flying his Swallowtail in Hawaii
• Added an image of the Miles Wings Gryphon 2 in a new sub-section with that title in Hang gliding 1977, another image and the text being moved from Hang gliding 1976 part 1

May 25^th 2020:

• Added a link to a documentary by the University of Toronto in Hang gliding 1973 part 2
• Added an image to Hang gliding 1974 part 4
• Added three links to film clips in Ultralight Products of California and Utah

May 23^rd 2020:

• Picture of a Seagull VII added under Flight of the Phoenix in Hang gliding 1976 part 2
• Links to video clips featuring designer Tom Price added under External links in Hang gliding 1976 part 2
• Picture of a Moyes GTR added under Assortment in Hang gliding 1990 to 1993

May 21^st 2020, based largely on a well preserved 16 millimetre film documentary by Robert E. Lorey and a longer but less well preserved film by taken by John Elwell, I added the following:

• New page Elberta Dune, Michigan, July 1974
• New page Chuck’s Glider Supplies of Ohio (Chuck Slusarczyk)
• Links to film clips of Hall and Pete Brock in Ultralight Products of California and Utah
• Link to film of a Seagull 3 in flight in Seagull Aircraft of Santa Monica, California
• Links to film of a Flexi Flier and Quicksilver in flight in Eipper-Formance of Torrance, California
• Links to film of Tom Peghiny flying the Sky Sports Bobcat in Flying squad

May 16^th 2020:

• Added photo and video links to Spiraling out of control, Brian Wood’s crash at the first ever world hang gliding championship, Kössen, Austria, in 1975
• Added photo of a Cronkite and another link to digitized film at the first ever world hang gliding championship, Kössen, Austria, in 1975, to Cronk works (David Cronk’s hang gliders)
• Added video links to ATA girl Ann Welch

May 14^th 2020: Added photos from Ken de Russy under new subtitle Emporia in Hang gliding 1975 part 1

May 13^th 2020: New page Spiraling out of control, Brian Wood’s crash at the first ever world hang gliding championship, Kössen, Austria, in 1975

May 7^th 2020: New page On this hill, May 23, 1971; the ‘Otto meet’ that started it all with the help of National Geographic magazine

May 4^th 2020: New related topics menu Eipper-Formance of Torrance, California. Thanks to Roly Lewis-Evans for prompting me to carry out that long overdue sorting out.

May 1^st 2020:

• Added six photos taken in 2018 to Hang gliding 2015 to 2019. They are copied from my general interests web site (so nothing new if you visit there). While I feel that too many photos from my camera are not a good idea in a world-wide history of hang gliding, these seem to me to represent contemporary hang gliding.
• Added three images to Hang gliding 1996 to 2014

April 30^th 2020, added photos to the following pages:

• Hang gliding 1978 and 1979 part 1
• Hang gliding 1978 and 1979 part 3

April 22^nd 2020:

• Two photos from Ken de Russy of the Whitney PortaWing added to Hang gliding 1973 part 1
• Photo of Brian Wood under Birdman and Solar Wings in Hang gliding 1978 and 1979 part 3
• Photo of Brian Wood and Roly Lewis-Evans with Brian’s Wills Wing SuperSwallowtail under SST in Hang gliding 1976 part 2