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Hang Gliding in China
Tuesday, 19 March 2024Category: News
Hang Gliding in China
by Pete Lehmann
Zoom upright top fitting
Monday, 18 March 2024Category: Technical Advisory
In our ongoing commitment to safety, we want to address an issue regarding the nyloc (locking) nut loosening on the top fittings on our gliders with Zoom uprights.
Correct: Zoom upright top fitting with thread exposed.
Incorrect: Zoom upright top fitting with NO thread exposed
Forbes Flatlands 2023
Wednesday, 05 April 2023Category: Competition
18th – 26th January, 2023
Forbes 2023 didn't disappoint!
We arrive in Forbes to a cracker looking sky. The official practice day was a hot 36 degrees and only a few pilots chose to fly before the gust front arrived late afternoon and cooled things down.
We set the dates for this year's comp later than usual to entice International participation. Which in hindsight was a stroke of luck, as most of Forbes was under water with widespread flooding during November and December 2022.
Luckily, Bill's paddock and the hangar with 3 Dragonflys was spared from the rising water. The ground dried out surprisingly fast and by the time Steve McCarthy arrived a couple of weeks before the comp to prep the paddock and service the Dragonflys, the ground was already starting to crack!
The long grass made for slow mowing and Steve spent 13 hours on the tractor to give us a huge, clear launch arena.
The later dates didn't entice the International Pilots as we had hoped, so with only a small group of 30 pilots we were again using the Forbes Aeroclub as our Headquarters.
We set the briefings time later than usual, at 11am so everyone could come ready to fly and head out to the field directly after briefing.
We had various Whatsapp groups to stay in touch with everyone, Forbes Official, Forbes Unofficial and Drivers, so that the drivers could sign in once all their team were retrieved and we could directly contact the drivers of any safety concerns.
We were using the AirScore scoring system, so pilot could upload their own tracks or email to Wesley. Unfortunately, we didn't have trackers at this meet to keep everyone entertained!
Greg and I cooked Mexican at the Aeroclub with a host of helpers for the Welcome Party!
Instructions to replace the hang loop
Friday, 06 August 2021Category: Technical Advisory
To install the Hang Loop(HL)
- Loosen the Quick Link (SS Maillon) and detach one side of the webbing.
- Place the AN5 34A bolt through the HL tang
- When you are facing the A-frame from the front of the glider, keep the pullback system underneath the right side of the Dingle Dangle(DD) rocker.
- Place the AN5 bolt & HL through the DD rocker over the pullback system with the safety webbing towards the back of the DD block.
- On the opposite side of the DD have the VG rope(ropes on a Gecko) underneath the rocker with the opposite HL attachment on the outside.
Note: On a Gecko the Kingpost rope can run over the DD rocker but underneath the back-up safety webbing. - Place the opposite side of the HL onto the bolt with SS washer and AN5 half nut.
- Tighten up the nut, still allowing the tangs to swivel slightly.
- With the safety back-up webbing attach the Quick link over all the ropes.
