Thanks to everyone who came out to cheer Rome on for one last flight, ending 44 years of hang gliding.
Aged 83+, Oxygen tank tucked into his harness, Rome launched flawlessly, as usual. After 26 minutes, during which he climbed above the top of Kagel (no vario!), he set down in the LZ, a bit long but uneventful.
The apres-flight party was great! Rome addressed the crowd from the pavilion afterward and committed to staying with us as a faithful,
"leadfoot driver."
My gratitude and appreciation go out to..
VERY SPECIAL thanks to Don Banas who single handedly made this a successful barbecue event.
Thanks, also, to Greg Angsten, Kat and Rich Shaw, Emily Brown, Raffi Adamian, Phil Bloom and anyone else I've missed for their contributions. And Joe Greblo for the loaner GoPro to record Rome's flight.
Rome's Last Flight
Moderator: Chip
Congratulations Rome!
Several years ago Rome and a few of us were flying in front of Trash. After about an hour or so we landed and Rome mentioned that there was a Toyota truck like mine, below trash, just off a dirt road, which had a bedliner on it.
I was surprised he could see it at 3000 feet or so.
After a few days of him telling me that he was sure what he saw and I could save a price of a bedliner, we went to the location. There off the side of the road about fifty feet down was a Toyota Tacoma with a bedliner in it.
It took a rope tided to my bumper, to help us climb down the steep embankment to reach the truck, which was on its side in a gully. We got the bedliner off, tided the rope to it, and hauled it up after climbing back up.
I still am amazed he saw the bedliner in the truck, which remarkably, was on its side.
Saved me $100.00.
Rome, I hope you find it in you to fly again.
Several years ago Rome and a few of us were flying in front of Trash. After about an hour or so we landed and Rome mentioned that there was a Toyota truck like mine, below trash, just off a dirt road, which had a bedliner on it.
I was surprised he could see it at 3000 feet or so.
After a few days of him telling me that he was sure what he saw and I could save a price of a bedliner, we went to the location. There off the side of the road about fifty feet down was a Toyota Tacoma with a bedliner in it.
It took a rope tided to my bumper, to help us climb down the steep embankment to reach the truck, which was on its side in a gully. We got the bedliner off, tided the rope to it, and hauled it up after climbing back up.
I still am amazed he saw the bedliner in the truck, which remarkably, was on its side.
Saved me $100.00.
Rome, I hope you find it in you to fly again.
A few photos of Rome's landing can be found at this link http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set= ... 74bedb6236
I got photos of most everybody's staging, approach and landing. I'll post a link once I filter out most of the bad and boring ones and once I figure out a good way to host and share them.
I got photos of most everybody's staging, approach and landing. I'll post a link once I filter out most of the bad and boring ones and once I figure out a good way to host and share them.
Tom
OK, I've pared it down to under 400 photos. I'm uploading them to a Dropbox photo album https://www.dropbox.com/sh/5psiifh90php3x9/79cTRhrRK6
This will take some time for the upload to complete.
I haven't tried this before, so I'm not sure how they'll be presented on the page. Here's hoping for a thumbnail view.
This will take some time for the upload to complete.
I haven't tried this before, so I'm not sure how they'll be presented on the page. Here's hoping for a thumbnail view.
Tom
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gregangsten
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Rome's last flight
Here's a few more pictures from the launch. He had quite the entourage.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8h8gzcbknnyd6fx/ZYqVK1Hv_z
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8h8gzcbknnyd6fx/ZYqVK1Hv_z
Last edited by gregangsten on Mon Aug 27, 2012 3:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Tom, thanks for taking and posting the excellent pictures. Very cool.
Rome, thanks for demonstrating how to have a prolific, illustrious and successful hang gliding “career�. You are one of my hang gliding role models. Once a pilot ALWAYS a pilot. Looking forward to many more good times with you at Sylmar with our "family".
Rome, thanks for demonstrating how to have a prolific, illustrious and successful hang gliding “career�. You are one of my hang gliding role models. Once a pilot ALWAYS a pilot. Looking forward to many more good times with you at Sylmar with our "family".
Ever high hats to you, Rome
Rome, you will be integral to many flights yet. Congratulations! The Lift ... the input of potential energy .. that you will yet give ... will be treasured and spent well in aerial inclines. May those who soak up the potential energy that you will provide ... have profound appreciation of such lift. Real privilege.
Rome: http://energykitesystems.net/RomeDodson/index.html
JoeF
Rome: http://energykitesystems.net/RomeDodson/index.html
JoeF
The launch is from a flight in february. The rest is from Saturday.
Toaster checking for signs of life?
Rome's speech follows landing after a brief blackout. Turn up volume to hear him.
http://youtu.be/CSvJsS0IeyY
Toaster checking for signs of life?
Rome's speech follows landing after a brief blackout. Turn up volume to hear him.
http://youtu.be/CSvJsS0IeyY
Rome, You are my inspiration. When people ask why I fly, I tell em about you, and say why not?
Oh yea. Thanks Tom for perfectly capturing my fine approach, ending with a whack, and posting it for all. Trust me when I say nothing like that has ever happened before. After over a decade of flying, that's the only photos I have of me in the act of aviation.
Do you have higher res anywhere?
Oh yea. Thanks Tom for perfectly capturing my fine approach, ending with a whack, and posting it for all. Trust me when I say nothing like that has ever happened before. After over a decade of flying, that's the only photos I have of me in the act of aviation.
Do you have higher res anywhere?
Flyyyyy
I believe the icons at the bottom right of the image will let you view or download the full resolution picture. If that doesn't work I can email them or otherwise get them to you.
Part of this exercise is to help me learn who flies what glider. Would yours be the dark black/grey one? If I can figure out how to set it up, I'll have a name that pilot page where we can match gliders to people.
Part of this exercise is to help me learn who flies what glider. Would yours be the dark black/grey one? If I can figure out how to set it up, I'll have a name that pilot page where we can match gliders to people.
Tom
Thanks Tom,
Yea, I found the high res originals. So now I know what I look like in the sky. It's awesome - like a thunder god on Pegasus. I can't believe that stupid nag tripped on the landing. Glue factory here she comes.
I'm not the black glider. I'm the half blue and white with the square tips. Shots 109 - 118.
Yea, I found the high res originals. So now I know what I look like in the sky. It's awesome - like a thunder god on Pegasus. I can't believe that stupid nag tripped on the landing. Glue factory here she comes.
I'm not the black glider. I'm the half blue and white with the square tips. Shots 109 - 118.
Flyyyyy
