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Flight Articles from Saturday, 3/4/06 (in order of posting time stamp)
[Sharon Sweeney] [OJ] [Ron Meyer] [Bob Peloquin] [Randall McCormick] [Andy Palmer] [John Scott] [Kabir] [Dean] [Mike Preston] [Scotty]

Sharon Sweeney
Saturday, 3/4/06
Skyport to Parma with turb

OK, I’ll start the posting but only as an incentive for you guys to complete the story. 9:30 AM at Parma looked like a parking lot. Both sides of the road were completely filled with the vehicles of eager pilots. Chris called for a 31 degree spread, Dean set the time and everyone responded. Cycles started coming up and Dean Stratton and Ron Meyer started the show. Chris Grantham flew and landed at the by pass reporting some really weird air. I can’t recall all the pilots but to name a few – Paul, Magic Mike, Dave (Carp), Ben, Gary, Ojai John, Ron Faoro, Benson, JD, Marty, Robb, Irene, Ojai Mike, Bob P., MaryAnn, Allison, Joe, Randall, Robb Milley…. you guys fill in the blanks for me. A special treat was Tony Deleo introducing Herb, another legend of the sport. Eddie was NOT doing chase – he was flying a hangglider! Lots of hangies were out – JR, Roland, Bob Anderson, Aaron, Scotty, Hammer, Tony, Herb, and I thought I saw Skippy.

But back to the story. I launched early but had the speed bar and stirrup somehow twisted together so when I settled that I tried to get up at launch but it was too late. So, I opted for getting over the power lines and working out front. I haven’t flown my new wing at Skyport so I was into checking it out. Right after the power lines I experienced a full frontal and I lost some more altitude. During my flight I lost pressure, experienced collapses and felt like a cork being bounced in the air on a string. No one was complaining on the radio, except for that report by Chris and I thought something was wrong with my flying. So, I hung out for a while trying this and that and just working it. I was disappointed as I wanted to do cross country but I didn’t feel safe enough. Next time.

I landed at Parma only to find out from Bob P. and Gary that they were kissing the ground and glad to be alive. They should post their experiences. I drove Gary back to get his car, gathered Dave at St. Mary. At launch Ojai Mike and Irene were digging out from below launch. Irene seemed to be in great shape with a couple of helpers. JD was in the Snake Pit trying to get his wing out of the tree. Steve landed in the Snake Pit too. Allison was driving down, off to More Mesa. Another pilot was about to drive Gary’s car down. Rob Sporrer did a tandem and reported some major sink but got to the beach.

Talked to JR as he landed in Carp. He said 3 paragliders were by the power lines when he left, Tony was through the pass, Scotty was in Fillmore…. Anyway, now it’s time for y’all to finish the story……..