Politics of Flying at Dockweiler

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Bob Kuczewski
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Politics of Flying at Dockweiler

Post by Bob Kuczewski »

Flying at Dockweiler is connected to Sylmar through Joe Greblo's heroic efforts to establish a hang gliding training program that includes a high visibility training hill (Dockweiler) and a path to mountain flying (Sylmar). Sylmar and Dockweiler are joined by Joe's efforts at both sites and by the many Sylmar pilots who made their early flights at Dockweiler.

This topic was created to discuss the political aspects of the Dockweiler site.
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Post by Bob Kuczewski »

In the other forum topic, Doug wrote:
dhmartens wrote:Bob, Please purchase the 30 day ushpa membership from windsports so you can fly Dockweiler. We would like to film you purchasing this. If a memo has been release denying you the ability to purchase this we would like to photograph this memo. I will bring in 2 additional federal agents as backup in case I am some how unable to purse this matter and publish their photos. I must remind you Bob that I am an investor in the RRG and it would be a conflict of interest to work against its interest. But I will warn the executive committee they can be immune by being pure of heart and commit no crimes and keep their eyes closed as their exorcism is performed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEkkdY3-d7c
You bring up another interesting aspect of USHPA's ill-conceived expulsion. How are all the instructors who sell 30 day memberships supposed to know who they can sell a membership and who they can't? Does USHPA distribute a black list for all instructors?

U$HPA has deviated so far from their original mission that they're no longer recognizable by the pioneers of the sport.
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Post by Bob Kuczewski »

Speech at Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors March 28th, 2017:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HMET2EdhT5w[/url]
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Post by dhmartens »

Bob, great Los Angeles Board of Supervisors Video!!.

Sorry I have been a bit busy attempting to rig the ArK of the Covenant as a man made thermal generator on top of the volcano. Unfortunately pilots within 100 meters either melt or explode even when welders goggles are used. I haven't seen anything this bad since Deitch thermalled over the antenna farm at Mt. Wilson.
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Post by JD »

dhmartens wrote:.....I have been a bit busy attempting to rig the ArK of the Covenant as a man made thermal generator on top of the volcano. Unfortunately pilots within 100 meters either melt or explode even when welders goggles are used. I haven't seen anything this bad since Deitch thermalled over the antenna farm at Mt. Wilson....
Well Doug, I got nuked real good yesterday while soaring near the microwave transmitters on Strawberry Peak: https://youtu.be/NqWF1QC15PM?t=51m1s
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Back on Topic...

Post by Bob Kuczewski »

These videos from yesterday are back on topic:

Bob:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdagkiQb3zc

Joe:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn-K0ij_fKs
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Post by dhmartens »

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Post by dhmartens »

The back on topic Bob and Joe videos at Los Angeles Board of Supervisors are extremely important to every member of SHGA, hang glider pilots in California, and people interested in justice and its cost. It could alter the hang gliding landscape in Sylmar and California in ways we cannot perceive and all because of Mark Forbes vendetta against BobK. And all because BobK revoked Mark Forbes "License to Kill".
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quHQAuO0lkg[/youtube]
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Post by Bob Kuczewski »

dhmartens wrote:The back on topic Bob and Joe videos at Los Angeles Board of Supervisors are extremely important to every member of SHGA, hang glider pilots in California, and people interested in justice and its cost. It could alter the hang gliding landscape in Sylmar and California in ways we cannot perceive and all because of Mark Forbes vendetta against BobK. And all because BobK revoked Mark Forbes "License to Kill".
Doug, that is the most succinct and accurate analysis of the situation that I've seen. Well said and thank you.
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Post by Bob Kuczewski »

Let's sing along with Frank Sinatra and his uplifting song "High Hopes":
Next time you're found, 
with your chin on the ground
There's a lot to be learned, 
so look around

Just what makes that little old ant
Think he'll move that rubber tree plant
Anyone knows an ant, can't
Move a rubber tree plant

But he's got high hopes, 
he's got high hopes
He's got high apple pie, 
in the sky hopes

So any time you're gettin' low
'stead of lettin' go
Just remember that ant
Oops there goes another rubber tree plant

When troubles call, 
and your back's to the wall
There's a lot to be learned, 
that wall could fall

Once there was a silly old ram
Thought he'd punch a hole in a dam
No one could make that ram, scram
He kept buttin' that dam

'cause he had high hopes, 
he had high hopes
He had high apple pie, 
in the sky hopes

So any time you're feelin' bad
'stead of feelin' sad
Just remember that ram
Oops there goes a billion kilowatt dam

All problems just a toy balloon
They'll be bursted soon
They're just bound to go pop
Oops there goes another problem kerplop
If you're too young to remember this song, it's worth finding a copy and listening to it. It'll keep your toes tapping happily the next time you're climbing in a thermal. :D

Update July 30th, 2017: I probably should have mentioned it, but my song was chosen in response to a picture posted by Rick Masters on the US Hawks forum. Here's that picture:

Image
Last edited by Bob Kuczewski on Sun Jul 30, 2017 4:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by dhmartens »

I was thinking of a new series to replace the Bob Show when it goes into reruns based on "Hang Glider Time Travel".

Based on that concept lets go back in time and I am sure Greblo remembers as he was an ant against the establishment and eventually won against the the MOST dangerous man in Los Angeles history who fought against hang gliding:
Richard B. Dixon. The man who shut down hang gliding at Dockweiler beach.

Fly the hang glider back to September 27, 1987


Image

http://articles.latimes.com/1987-09-27/ ... _1_gliders
Hang gliding enthusiasts are protesting a decision by Los Angeles County officials to ban the sport at Dockweiler State Beach, a Playa del Rey park considered the premier hang gliding training site in the county.

County Chief Administrative Officer Richard B. Dixon last month notified hobbyists, who launch gliders from a 20-foot-high bluff on the beach, to take their sport elsewhere because the practice endangers bicyclists riding on a nearby path. Officials also declared that the trainers' insurance was inadequate to protect the county from liability for accidents caused by the hang gliders.

http://ceo.lacounty.gov/pdf/bio/rbd.pdf
Image

Dixon was later found to be corrupt and forced out of office:
http://articles.latimes.com/keyword/richard-b-dixon
http://articles.latimes.com/1992-12-10/ ... les-county

For his crimes against hang gliding we time traveled, tracked him down, and retired him.
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Post by Bob Kuczewski »

Excellent research Doug!!

The LA Times does a nice job of making their archive publicly available.
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Freedom from USHPA Day at Dockweiler

Post by Bob Kuczewski »

On July 26th, 2017, the County of Los Angeles issued written permission for 3 pilots to fly at Dockweiler Beach without requiring USHPA membership or USHPA insurance. Those 3 pilots (in alphabetical order by last name) are:

- Frank Colver
- Joe Faust
- Bob Kuczewski

The permission to use the site for hang gliding activities required a signed waiver with the County and is limited to the hours between sunrise and sunset on days that the concession (WindSports) is not using the site - currently Mondays and Tuesdays. We flew there today (Monday, July 31st, 2017) in accordance with that permission.

In order to obtain this permission, several meetings were held to discuss the need for this decision. Among the arguments presented were:

1. The County should not require membership in any private organizations (such as USHPA) in order for public use of public land.

2. The County should not require membership in any organization (such as USHPA) that expels members for legal testimony in a court of law.

3. The County should not require membership in any organization (such as USHPA) that expels members for making legai public statements to their local government.

4. The County should not require membership in any organization (such as USHPA) that expels members for creating competing organizations.

There is some disagreement among today's flyers as to which of these arguments was most persuasive in the County's decision. But there is no disagreement that the County's decision was correct.

This decision is limited to Dockweiler Beach, but I believe the principles are applicable to all flying sites on public land in the United States. Time will tell.

You will find additional posts on this topic at:

http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2742
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Post by dhmartens »

Congratulations Bob, Frank and JoeF.
I hope you can hold on to this little section of beach (Dunkirk/Dockweiler)
You are all the Champions:
Toasting with champagne:
http://www.ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic. ... 4&start=20

And now some victory songs:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04854XqcfCY[/youtube]
I've paid my dues
Time after time
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime
And bad mistakes
I've made a few
I've had my share of sand
Kicked in my face
But I've come through

And we mean to go on and on and on and on

[Chorus]
We are the champions - my friends
And we'll keep on fighting
Till the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions of the World

[Verse 2]
I've taken my bows
And my curtain calls
You brought me fame and fortune
And everything that goes with it
I thank you all
But it's been no bed of roses
No pleasure cruise
I consider it a challenge before
The whole human race
And I ain't gonna lose

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDp_wEKiVE4[/youtube]
A certain measure of innocence
Willing to appear naive
A certain degree of imagination
A measure of make-believe
A certain degree of surrender
To the forces of light and heat
A shot of satisfaction
In a willingness to risk defeat
Celebrate the moment
As it turns into one more
Another chance at victory
Another chance to score
The measure of the moment
Is a difference of degree
Just one little victory
A spirit breaking free
One little victory
The greatest act can be
One little victory
A certain amount of resistance
To the forces of life and love
A certain measure of tolerance
A willingness to rise above

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FmPg4lrBKc[/youtube]
One day I was on the ground
When I needed a hand
Then it couldn't be found
I was so far down that I couldn't get up
You know and one day I was one of life's losers
Even my friends were my accusers
In my head I lost before I begun
I had a dream but it turned to dust
And what I thought was love
That must have been lust
I was living in style
When the walls fell in
And when I played my hand
I looked like a joker
Turn around fate must have woke her
'Cause lady luck she was waiting outside the door
I'm winning
I'm winning
I'm winning
I'm winning
I'm winning
And I don't intend losing again
Too bad it belonged to me
It was the wrong time and not meant to be
It took a long time and I'm new born now
I can see the day that I bleed for
If it's agreed that there's a need
To play the game and to win again
I'm winning
I'm winning
I'm winning
I'm winning
I'm winning
And I don't intend losing again

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHwVBirqD2s[/youtube]
You could never know what it's like
Your blood like winter freezes just like ice
And there's a cold lonely light that shines from you
You'll wind up like the wreck you hide behind that mask you use

And did you think this fool could never win
Well look at me, I'm coming back again
I got a taste of love in a simple way
And if you need to know while I'm still standing you just fade away

Don't you know I'm still standing better than I ever did
Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid
I'm still standing after all this time
Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind

I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah
I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah

Once I never could hope to win
You starting down the road leaving me again
The threats you made were meant to cut me down
And if our love was just a circus you'd be a clown by now

You know I'm still standing better than I ever did
Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid
I'm still standing after all this time
Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind

I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah
I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah

Don't you know I'm still standing better than I ever did
Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid
I'm still standing after all this time
Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind

I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah
I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah

I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah
I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah
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Bob Kuczewski
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Post by Bob Kuczewski »

The Dockweiler Decision reveals USHPA's dirty little secret.

USHPA's desperate effort to form an RRG using member funds was never about saving hang gliding. It was always about saving ... USHPA.
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Post by dhmartens »

Wait, maybe Dixon was right. Just look at the accident waiting to happen in 1987 with the bike path in the LZ.
Image

Image

Image

Bob, don't count your chickens/duck before they hatch. Right now at this moment Ushpa is contacting Windsports lobbying to extend their hours to a 7 day a week operation to upend your new freedom. Fortunately Coastal commission and Harbors etc have strict employment regulations i.e. overtime and no part time employment that would double the price of lessons.

On yet another non-related subject, I have been playing this song to try to get the clouds to go away and bring blue sky.


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utdKjUZz-o0[/youtube]
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Post by Bob Kuczewski »

dhmartens wrote:Bob, don't count your chickens/duck before they hatch. Right now at this moment Ushpa is contacting Windsports lobbying to extend their hours to a 7 day a week operation to upend your new freedom.
I think that going to 7 day operation would be easily seen as an attempt to thwart the County's desire to.provide recreational activities on a fair basis.

By the way, here's a related quote by Rick Masters from the U.S. Hawks forum:
The US Hawks have established a legal precedent that marks the beginning of the end of the illegal U$HPA monopoly created by amateur sportsmen pretending to be totalitarian authoritarians on crack.
Rick goes on to say:
Taking away Bob's RIGHT to fly hang gliders at Torrey Pines was a stupid overreach by U$HPA. Such blunders take time to correct themselves and often result in unintended consequences. The unintended consequence here is the eventual loss of the U$HPA's insurance monopoly on flying sites across the country.
I would like to start flying at Sylmar again, and I hope something can be worked out with the SHGA to make that possible.
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Post by Bob Kuczewski »

Here's a link to the Press Release of the first modern era non-USHPA flying at Dockweiler last month:

http://www.energykitesystems.net/WHGA/F ... om2017.pdf

Here's a link to Frank Colver's video of the event:

https://vimeo.com/227913541

The US Hawks continue to work for the freedom to fly. USHPA has done just the opposite.

Join us.
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