Sylmar Hang Gliding Association

My sink alarm is set for 300 ft. down. I think that would be a good setting for a Falcon too. Any tighter and it will just bother you. I usually know I am in sink from visual clues. The alarm is helpful when I am not near terrain or just not paying attention. When it goes off I pull on some speed an...

Yeah, if you are sensitive to the lift you will know you are in it before your vario announces it. The vario becomes confirmation of it. The vario will also tell you where it is strongest. Be careful not to chase the strongest lift too aggressively. If you fall out of the thermal you will lose more ...

And Jim, You are a fine mentor. I learned a lot on the day I chose to follow you to the 1500. Like recognizing my own limitations and flying within them. Like being responsible for my own choices in flight. Like having an alternate LZ in mind and using it. It's fun to needle you about it but it was ...

Mike, If you are following this post, I offer my full sympathy on your accident. Like you and OP, I also had a broken humerus with surgery. Yours was much worse than mine! You must be really hurting right about now. Mine was on the left side so trying to open the car door was torture. Putting on a j...

Mike, Few of the pilots here are satisfied with their thermaling skills, including myself. Hence the relative silence from pilots. Advice I can offer is this: Don't forget the other half of thermaling, "Sink Management". Be alert for sink, recognize it and get out of it! Are you in rotor? ...

You have my sympathy too OP.

I suffered a similar broken Humerus
(left side, higher up) Mine was from falling while skiing too fast.

I'm sure you're hurting now but you will heal and rejoin your squadron soon enough. Give it plenty of time.

Welcome Home Vrezh. I was wondering where you were! Life got in my way too. I was gone for 7 months but I came back. It felt so good to get airborne again.

Spend some time at Dockweiler Beach and recover your skills, then come out and "Ring The Bell".

I think a cenotaph is an excellent idea. Not only to memorialize our dear friends and members, but also to recognize the aviators who paid with their lives for the knowledge we now have. Our pavilion is an affirmation of our enjoyment of flying and of our great club. So many people have worked so ha...

Most of you know by now that I can't go on this trip. I am the "Best Man" at a good friend's wedding. (If I am the best man, what does that say about the rest of them?)

I will just remind you of Larry C's admonition: "Fly with prudent passion"

Single, blond triplettes? hmm...(m/f?)

Never the less, I do intend to go. Tokiko can't join us though. The heat gets to her.

I wonder if the plateau to the left of launch would be a good campsite? I never walked it but it looks flat and suitable. could be too windy.

Not that I'm boasting, but I did have the opportunity to see Charlie Manson once.
While Jim was working at Jack in the Box, I was in downtown LA looking for a job. I think it was 1971. Manson was on trial and anyone could go observe so I did.
We had eye contact. He was way scarey in person.

I watched your video with great interest, Max. I couldn't see those landings because I was at cloudbase (In Fred's van, on launch). It was just too soggy to even set up. Thanks!

Nice work Orion! Thanks for posting this vid.

Here is a great video of what happens when you open a 500,000 volt switch under load. Check this out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXiOQCRiSp0

Yes OP that is indeed the Pacific Intertie! Doing it's thing, delivering some of the power of the mighty Columbia River to our doorstep in Sylmar. You can easily recognize it because the towers carry only two conductors. Nearly all other distribution is by 3 phase and the towers carry two sets of th...

Good Job Don! Good Pi-Rep too.
I wish I could have tried my hand at Trona with you but right now I am somewhere between Hilo and your brother-in-law, Bruce.

I use something like that. An 18 inch length of steel chain slung between two ceiling joists for the nose. Then I shoulder it up on two shelf brackets bolted to the wall studs, high up. The tail is somewhat lower than the nose to allow a 15 foot glider in a 14 foot garage. Don't laugh, it works.

That's easy! For twenty years now my dear, Japanese wife Tokiko has been calling me Ma-Row-Rii.

So to answer your question...I would be a Maori Ma-Row-Rii Silberman.

Sounds like fun! Put me down as "Tentative". I'm not sure of my schedule yet.

Don never saw a job he couldn't start in on! I've never seen a job I couldn't postpone! Seriously, I admire everyone who persisted and succeeded in securing a permit. Although I have been called "tits on a bull" by some members, I once again volunteer my help on electrical work. Money back...