I’ve been called out as a new paraglider pilot a couple of times for being in the hang glider landing zone, and I have to say, I totally get the point(s) of how it’s supposed to be done.

I have flown private airplanes, as has my family for 3 generations, and with that type of aviation, there is a control tower watching everything. (which sometimes I think there should be at Andy Jackson!)

At Andy Jackson, there is no control tower, there is no touch and go’s (except sometimes), there is no go back around.

Hang gliders come in hot at much higher speeds than paragliders. It is potentially very obviously more difficult, committed, and more dangerous to land a hang glider than a paraglider (depending on wind speed).

The potential for a landing paraglider pilot to not see a hang glider on final approach is quite extreme. I have had it happen 2 times in my only 18 paraglider flights. That’s unacceptable.

THEREFORE– I agree and understand 100% WHY paraglider pilots need to come in over the hang glider bunny or to the right,and NEVER in the airspace of an unexpected hang glider. This can easily be the most dangerous situation of all because there is no recovery from an unexpected incident at low altitude on landing. We don’t need broken backs!!

I repeat, there is no control tower. This needs to be followed religiously. I have been guilty of it myself, so I ain’t no preach, I’m just saying I get it.

Well, I’m amazed at how much I learn every day flying. Today, I did not fly, but I probably learned more today about flying by not flying. What I did today was a retrieval of a hang glider that made and emergency “landing” out in the bushes on top of Pine mountain due to the effects of a venturi.
At first, I didn’t really want to do it, not knowing how rugged the dirt road is. It was rugged, but doable for my truck, but only with 4×4. Anyway, there is a larger story that happened today by far, but I will stick to the point that I learned today that stuck out as even more important than to not fuck up and land in the bushes or the trees. I myself, before today, seemed to adopt the common attitude that I seriously doubt it will be me that winds up in the bushes or a tree. That attitude is only relevant until it isn’t. What I just saw happen was a hang glider pilot make an emergency crash landing into bushes, luck the hell out, and then face a 4 hour hike down a luckily groomed dirt road, another huge luck out and blessing. An hour was wasted going on the wrong road that appeared to be a “short cut”, then back up to the real route.

In the course of the rest of the fortunately lucky escape route on the nicely groomed dirt road, our brother became dehydrated for not carrying emergency drinking water with him while flying, something that I as a rookie have tried to warn people about that fly. What IF you wind up suck in a tree all day (or all the rest of the night as it might be and into the next day, etc..) You may wind up scott free and without a scratch landing/crashing only to die of dehydration because you didn’t pack any water and there’s no cell reception as there was not in this area. Our brother was toward the bottom of the road where there is an obvious large spring, BUT… are you packing a U.V. pen to sterilize this water, or iodine? You can become fatally ill from this, especially combined with being exhausted from escaping such an ordeal.

I am an experienced backcountry snowboarder and lover of hiking and backpacking. If you are not, you will find these things out the day you wind up in a tree.

My current adjusted attitude is this: It’s not that I doubt I will wind up in a tree, I will prepare in full for the day I wind up in a tree!

Well, I’ve got 4 days training and a new Mojo 6. This is awesome! One thing I noticed right away is that the “landing zone” for the bunny hill is in dire need of pruning, and that this is a pretty big job. I’ve got a gas weed whacker and all tools needed to do it. but I thought to ask for some help from other club members or whoever will help. Probably like 5 or 6 people would be ideal. I didn’t want to just learn how to fly and blow it off since I don’t need it anymore. I found that there are a lot of sharp twigs to snag on, and star thistle galore that is potentially hazardous, and hard on wings and lines. Well, I’m the F.N.G., so I’ll do my part. Alright, then it’s assholes and elbows… who will help?

Got my lumber racks on my Dodge 3500, all padded up, 3 rung lumber racks.
Tomorrow, Wednesday the 3rd is forecasted to be a 14,000 foot day, and Brother Johnathan and Brother Jason, hang glider pilots are booked so far at 10:30 A.M. I’m sure I’ll fill up tomorrow, and probably get another drive after. Darren (909)265-2792. What bullshit? You’ve got wings! use ’em!

Also, I wanted to point out that my father and I live 1/3 of a mile from the launch in Crestline for the last 4 years.  We were entertaining the idea of offering 2 bedrooms in our house to rent nightly, exclusively to pilots.  Our house is old and quaint, but the rooms are clean and close to the launch.  My dad can be available to drive as well.  We’re not sure of a price per night, but I thought perhaps $30 a night.  Anyone interested?