Strange glider

Talk about anything hang gliding.

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Fledge
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Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2015 9:01 pm

Strange glider

Post by Fledge »

Anyone know what this glider is?
Who is the pilot?

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Fear is not boring
Harry Martin
mario
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Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 10:06 pm

Post by mario »

That glider looks loopy!!!
I know who you are because my brother Carlos flew with you for years!
I'm sure there are others in the club that will remember you.
Does this mean you are still flying?!?
Mario
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gregangsten
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Location: Westchester

Who 'dat?

Post by gregangsten »

Your clue:

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Steve90266
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Strange glider

Post by Steve90266 »

This almost looks like one of those strange Eipperformance gliders.
Steve Murillo
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Fledge
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Post by Fledge »

mario wrote:That glider looks loopy!!!
I know who you are because my brother Carlos flew with you for years!
I'm sure there are others in the club that will remember you.
Does this mean you are still flying?!?
Mario
Mario, yup, still flying. The photo is me (this past weekend) just after landing at Sandturn, near the Big Horn mountains in Wyoming. Can you believe this wing is 36 years old? I purchased it in late 1979 for $1200 and the price did not include cover bags ($55 extra). The glider is 100% stock, no modifications. No damage over the years, and only minor wear and tear on the sail. If a hang glider manufacturer was to start making these again, I'd be the first to buy one even if it only gets a 10:1 glide. This thing is a flying go-cart. I love it.
Fear is not boring
Harry Martin
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Steve90266
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Strange glider

Post by Steve90266 »

Who was the manufacturer?
Steve Murillo
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Fledge
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Post by Fledge »

The manufacturer was Manta. The glider is a Fledge 2A. It has 142 squares and weighs about 55 pounds assembled. Manta now makes landsailers.
Fear is not boring
Harry Martin
mario
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Post by mario »

Harry,
Great to see you and your ol' Fledge are flying!
I recently took Carlos' Aolus out for a test flight at Crestline. Someone there by the name of Crazy..... had a Fledge 2 that he was going over to prepare for flight again. I was impressed with the weight and the size of the control frame for comfort. I believe that a modern version of the Fledge would be popular as there has been some trade off between performance and handling in modern gliders.
My first real training was on your older seagull III in NorCal!
It would be great to fly with you one day. Maybe Colorado next year?!?
greblo
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Post by greblo »

I don't see where you've been properly introduced. Everyone say hi to Harry Martin; very famous pilot, originally from Sylmar, big big contributor to the SHGA, artist, cartoonist, author and of course really nice guy.

You've seen lots of his cartoons in HGM, Oz Report, and almost every other HG periodical
Safety is a book, not a word
Michael Robertson
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Fledge
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Post by Fledge »

mario wrote:
It would be great to fly with you one day. Maybe Colorado next year?!?
Mario, I'm planning a trip to Colorado next summer for a week of flying. Our paths may cross.
Fear is not boring
Harry Martin
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Lynn McLaughlin
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Post by Lynn McLaughlin »

Harry, What a delight to see you're around and still flying. It's been many years since we crossed paths. SHGA remains a huge fan of yours and I still see your t-shirts on our pilots. Hoping to see you again some time soon...
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Fledge
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Post by Fledge »

Hi Lynn,

Thanks for the kind words. I'm thinking I may come out to fly Kagel when cabin fever takes over. Flying in Wyoming is a winter challenge. My sons are nearly grown and so I'm having more time for travel these days.
Fear is not boring
Harry Martin
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