Summer is here!
Dear Pilots,
The season if off to a great start! The XC flying on this side of the mountains is starting to turn on! We had a fantastic Memorial Day Weekend where a group of us flew to the park, and it's just going to get better from here! So if you're interested in brushing up your thermal/XC skills come on out and fly with us! If you haven't made it out to the Ranch this season, give us a call, we'd love to see you!Reserve Repacks
We want to remind everyone to get their reserves repacked for the season. You can come over and fly with us and get a repack or you can send it to us if you're comfortable taking it out of the harness and getting it back in. The cost for our students is $30. After a recent reserve deployment where the pilot landed in trees, it was discovered that having a quick way to disconnect the reserve from the harness could be helpful in removing gear from the trees. For this reason, we are recommending that pilots consider switching from the standard girth hitch to a metal mallion. We will have those available for $10 and can install that here or send one out to you if you can take your reserve out and put it back.Safety
Since last summer, there have been a couple of incidents resulting from slip-knots. One case, and most likely the other, was a knot in the upper B-lines which is hard to see during inflation as it may only involve an inch or 2 of lines, but the result is a dimple along the top surface of the canopy which can break the lift on part or the whole side of the glider.
The glider will likely be sluggish on the inflation, (particularly one side) and then may pull to the affected side once over head. This is harder to detect in light winds, as you are expecting a slow inflation and may just assume you aren't lifting hard enough. You can still launch the glider with this configuration but as soon as you fully load the wing off launch it will want to turn hard towards the affected side. You would treat this just like any unwanted turn, like a deflation, by leaning away from the turn and steering a safe heading. It is unlikely you will be able to fix the knot in flight and if you start pull on lines or apply any brake on that side, as in pumping, you could easily spin the glider. Instead, fly the glider to the nearest landing spot. Moderate weight shift and opposite brake input may be necessary to maintain a safe heading. To make a turn towards the affected side, simply let off the opposite brake; do not apply brake on that side. For those of you that have performed an asymmetric decent, it is very similar, you are just flying one side of the wing.
Please avoid this situation by thoroughly checking your lines, especially in lighter winds, and watch your friends wings, look for knotted lines and dimples in the top surface. Fly Safe!!!
Acordian Folding Bags!
If you are one of those pilots who loves the accordian fold, but like me can't manage it by myself, these things are pretty sweet! We have em in stock!
Chelan XC Non-Comp
There are a lot of great things about competitions. For many it is the only opportunity to fly XC in a gaggle, to set a specific task or goal and try to achieve it.
They are a great learning environment, but they can also be stressful. We wondered whether it might be possible to have all the fun and challenge without the stress.
Thus was born the 2007 Chelan Non-Comp. Our goal will be an event where pilots can come and hone their cross country skills in teams, at a world class flying site.
This is not designed to be competitive, instead, using teamwork to fly as far as we can along a task.
For more information visit, Chelan XC Non-Comp
The website is still under construction, but will be finished soon!
Ozone Oxygen
The Ozone Oxygen harness is now available! The Oxygen is a lightweight harness and backpack combination that was designed with both comfort and technical details in mind. The automatic buckles make putting on the harness a quick and easy task on launch. The padded and curved shoulder straps are comfortable and won't slide off of your shoulders. Despite all of its features, the overall harness weight is under 1.3kg!
Ozone UltraLite
For traveling pilots, hike and fly pilots, or pilots seeking the lightest possible glider for the most extreme and technically demanding alpine ascents will all be thoroughly
satisfied with the
Ultralite.
more info
Ozone Bullet
Developed by Rob Whittall and the Ozone Test Team, the Bullet is the ideal choice for discovering the sport of Speed Flying, or taking the sport to the next level. It's up to you. more info
If you have any questions about any of these products, feel free to give us a call or email!
Cheers!
Doug and Denise
