June 2011 of Lift

Corrections and additions are invited:
Hang Glider Flight at Torrey Pines
History and Records

Some hang glider/paraglider history at Torrey Pines
Adopted from notes by Don Betts and Gary Fogel

Bill Bennett becomes the first pilot to launch a hang glider from the top of the cliffs at Torrey Pines, to a landing on Black’s Beach.
1970?

Bob Wills becomes the first hang glider pilot to launch from the top of the cliffs at Torrey Pines and land successfully back on the top of the ridge.
July 2, 1972

Taras Kiceniuk, Jr. soared his own design “Icarus” bi-plane rigid wing hang glider at Torrey Pines for 1 hour 11 minutes, breaking the existing world record for hang glider endurance of 1 hour 4 minutes set by Dave Kilbourne at Mission Ridge, California in 1971.
1972

Taras Kiceniuk, Jr. breaks his own world record for hang glider endurance with a flight of 2 hours, 26 minutes at Torrey Pines.
1973

Bob Wills establishes a new world record for hang glider endurance with a flight of 3 hours, 3 minutes at Torrey Pines.
1973

Mike Mitchell establishes a new world record for hang glider endurance with a flight of 3 hours, 45 minutes at Torrey Pines.
1973

Ultralight Flyers Organization (UFO) formed and holds the first meeting at the home of Bob Fronius. Later, the UFO changed its name to the San Diego Hang Gliding Association, Inc., which later became the San Diego Hang Gliding/Paraglider Association, Inc.
1976

The UFO gets a permit from the City of San Diego to regulate hang gliding at Torrey Pines.
1978

The UFO loses insurance policy and relinquishes Torrey Pines permit to the City of San Diego
May 28, 1978

Hang gliding resumes at Torrey Pines under permit granted to the newly formed Torrey Pines Hang Gliding Association (TPHGA incorporated Jan. 25, 1989).
April 21, 1980

Bill Lemen sets the existing endurance soaring record for hang gliding at Torrey Pines with a flight of 12 hours, 12 minutes using an Electra Flyer “Olympus” hang glider.
1980? CORRECTED INFO:

The correct spelling of Bill's name is LEMEN, and the model of the Olympus hang glider that he used was the Olympus 160.

I have attached a picture of Bill that was taken shortly after his flight and some pictures from Torrey Pines circa 1980 if you're interested.
see MORE and the images: http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=2051
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Flight Realities, a hang glider concession owned by Steve Hawxhurst receives the first permit by the City to operate a concession at Torrey Pines in exchange for providing an on site flight director.

Mid-1980s
The first paragliders take flight at the Torrey Pines Gliderport.

2007: Four types of aircraft flown in one day by one pilot at TPG: Pilot: Bob Kuczewski:: HG, PG, SP, and RC:: took place on April 21st, 2007.
Source: John Heiney See article.

2010: Torrey Hawks, populous association supports a series of successful Second Sundays to advance the enjoyment of hang gliding at TPG. Out-of-state and international pilots are invited to freely join Torrey Hawks to advance one's preamble welcome to the very-historical ocean-cliff soaring site.

Perhaps soon have an open non-org "Waiver" document. Have it be very formal, neat appearing, bordered as a certificate and room for several witness signatures. A pilot signs; witnesses sign. Presto, one has a Waiver to show property owners. "I sign away all powers to sue anyone, any corporation, any institution, any estate, any government, ...) because of my hang gliding actions. I will make good any damage I might do to others and their properties (no instance in my life yet has resulted in injuring others or others' properties, as I practice my hang gliding with the utmost care to takeoff and land so injury or damages do not occur to others or their properties.) Any and all injuries that I inflict on myself because of my hang gliding are fully and only my responsibility. Occasionally an out landing to an unplanned spot occurs; I will gently exit from the unplanned area while exercising high respect for plants, animals, gating, fencing, etc. When in doubt about something, I will consult with the area's manager and respect the manager's requirements regarding my extraction; I will offer to pay involved extraction costs in a fitting manner." Etc. A lawyer could dance here to help. Witnesses could have titles next to their names or not. Have the document notarized; carry the original when negotiating; have high-quality copies to leave with property owners; give copy of driver's license showing signature; give URL of WHGA and US Hawks. Tell the world that one has given up the ability to hold property owners liable for one's injuries upon temporary use of a property. And state that one is fully willing to cover any damages to people or property that might occur because of one's hang gliding activity.
Then plan flights conservatively and avoid damaging anyone or anyone's property.
Use the waiver to negotiate with some property owners for temporary use of their properties. Have copies of state papers that also echo release of property owners from liabilities when not commercially operating their property for recreational use. Perhaps forget "organized" assemblies of hang gliders while simply flying with high communications with fellow pilots for niche pleasures (hundreds of ways without organized meets). Perhaps get very distributed where there are not "sites" and not "LZs" while evolving into responsible "most anywhere" capability while respecting airspace rules and traffic. Coming eHG takeoffs will be opening millions of launch points. A universal formal waiver (available is the use of the imprint of WHGA, if one wishes such on his or her waiver document.

Corrections and additions are invited: Hang Glider Flight at Torrey Pines History and Records

Re: National hang gliding association by JoeF » Fri Jul 15, 2011 9:42 am

Corrections and additions are invited:
Hang Glider Flight at Torrey Pines
History and Records