Memorial Day Weekend

After a strong day at Kahana on Saturday, and a light one on Sunday, Memorial Day dawned with rain all up and down the windward coast. That didn't stop the Earls of Kahana (Jeff and Jim) from driving out to inspect their fiefdom - but it was pouring there, as I noticed when I finally awoke. Jetflap called the Earls from Makapuu and informed them that he was hiking to Cactus with Ken. Shortly thereafter Rehab Pete suggested a BBQ on the chatterbox, and we all headed to the East Side for meat and drinks and airtime. Great idea, Pete!

On my way to Makapuu I picked up a stranded paraglider pilot at Bellows AFB. Turns out Jetflap had hiked down from a blown-out Cactus to launch from Manics, and soon fled Makapuu to escape the squalls, riding the suction of the low clouds down the Waimanalo coastline. He soared the cloud bellies all the way to the edge of Lanikai, landing on the military portion of Bellows beach. He was escorted to the front gate with a polite but firm request not to return. Great flight, Jeff!

Bob set up a tent at the LZ, Rehab Pete brought his grill, and many generous pilots showed up bearing food and drinks. An impromptu fly-in was in the making. Unfortunately there were still some squalls offshore and conditions were switchy and strong. A few guys launched and flew the lighthouse side, but most of us soared the coolers and sampled the fine cuisine.

After a few hours the sky cleared and the conditions mellowed out, and an army of pilots rode up to Crazys and launched for an afternoon session. We soared over some really cool low clouds and witnessed a whole array of aerobatic maneuvers. Bob and Scrappy were comparing full stalls, and Skydive Chris joined in the fun too, but raised the ante with some nice SATs. Doug and Jorge and Dave saw the SATs, and then raised the ante even further with a lots of crazy tricks that I frankly couldn't identify - many of which involved pilots upside down. According to Reaper, the motto for the day was: More like Jimmy - less like Reaper.

Thirty pilots showed up over the course of the day, accompanied by spouses and friends and cute puppies. Thanks to everyone who brought tents and food and drinks, and for your time setting up and cooking and cleaning up. What a great turnout for an unplanned event! On this Memorial Day we all toasted our fallen comrades Johan and Jimmy and celebrated our shared passion for flying.

I'll post pictures and videos below if anyone wants to share - let me know.

  
  

Meeting and Party on Saturday, May 26th at 6 pm

All local pilots and friends are invited to join us for our second quarterly meeting and party on Saturday, May 26 at 6 pm, at Bob's former shop in Halawa. Please bring liquid refreshments or pupus to share and a small donation to defray BBQ expenses, thanks. And please pass the word around at the LZ in case some of the newer pilots aren't on the e-mail list yet. See you all there!

We expect that this will really be our last chance to get together at our favorite Extreme Office Chair Rink - after this we're looking for a new venue. So far we have our eyes on the HTMC clubhouse on the beach in Waimanalo, thanks to Rich's connections there.

Update: the Rat Race shirts are printed, and I will be bringing them to the party! We made 75 shirts at a final cost per shirt of $11. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis, to anyone with cash or a check, as many as you want. I know some people are thinking of buying several, so if you can't make the meeting, please get your orders in to me right away, so I know to save you some.

  

We'll post the meeting agenda here as soon as it's finalized. Please contact us with any last minute ideas or suggestions.

Aloha, Jimmy

Update: a goodbye celebration will be held Sunday, May 20, starting at the Haleiwa harbor and ending up at Stef and Jimmy's place. See comments for more details.

Our famous friend Jimmy Hall was killed yesterday in a base-jumping accident on Baffin Island. Please join us in wishing Stefanie and Jimmy's family our deepest sympathy. The paraglider pilots of Hawaii will miss Jimmy's wild spirit and his incredible talents as a pilot and photographer and filmmaker. Many of us were privileged to know him and fly with him over the years, and we followed his world travels and adventures proudly.

A friend of Jimmy's has created a tribute website for him at www.JimmyHallTribute.com.

As soon as we have any details of services or memorials we will post them here. Feel free to post your condolences and memories as comments to this article. I have moved over the initial comments from the chatterbox.

All's well that ends . . . well . . .

Started the morning very early; 6:00 am. I figured I would get in a quick tandem flight with a lady that says that she really wants to become a paraglider pilot.

Most of you know her: Jennifer Jones.

Yes . . . the same Jennifer Jones that dated Johan for several years and was the leader in Johan’s memorial services.

I figured Makapu’u would be going early. I wanted to fly early and land with enough time to make it to church. So, I headed to the LZ to check it out. It was light, but Easterly. It was getting a bit strong by the time Jennifer arrived but I figured we could give it a try at Cactus.

I know . . . with the wind speed coming up and the direction tuning east. Tomato Juice may have been a better choice; but, considering what happened to Johan, I figured being so close to the power lines would be a bit insensitive.

As we exited my truck, Jennifer noticed the rotting corpse of a dead bird. She asked if this was a bad omen. We both laughed.

So . . . waivers signed and instructions given, we hiked-up. The wind was on the stronger side, and more easterly than I would have liked, but it was certainly do-able.

While setting-up, the wind started to pick-up, but had long lows that made the cycles fairly predictable. We hooked-in and waited for a low. When it came, I launched the glider and we were pulled forward, as one would expect; but, we did not fly away.

I set the glider down; made sure my student was OK (she assured me she was); and launched again. That is when the gust came in. We were lofted about four or five feet and came down quickly.

Jennifer slipped under me and came down hard on her hip. I unhooked her and checked to make sure she was uninjured; unfortunately, that was not the case.

In the dragging, and the lofting, and the landing, Pain reared its ugly head in her hip and both feet/ankles; an angry abrasion seeping blood from her elbow.

Of course, I packed-up and we stared the long, slow hike down. Jennifer was in considerable pain, but, handled the hike like a champion. She was sure that she had a sprain in one ankle and maybe a fracture in the other. I wasn’t so sure . . . but I felt HORRIBLE.

As much as she was aching, she repeatedly tried to make me “feel better” by cracking jokes and making pleasant conversation.

As we neared the end of the hike, Jet-flap arrived and helped Jennifer finish the hike while I ran to get the truck. The dead bird lying next to my truck practically screamed, "DUMB-ASS! Didn't you see me laying here? . . . READ THE OMENS!"

Off to Queen’s ER.

The ER Doc was very thorough . . . but not very timely. She X-Rayed the poor lass over and over and shot her full of morphine for pain and an I.V. to replace the fluids she'd lost during the hike . . . and we waited . . . and waited . . . and waited . . . and waited.

Finally, the doc came back and informed us that Jennifer was completely fine . . . except for the smallest hairline fracture in the tip of her big toe: a Distal Phalanx Fracture.

This is a painful, but unremarkable injury. She will be sore for a few days, but should make a full recovery in a matter of days.

I was so relieved.

We went to Long’s to get her pain meds and then to Buca di’ Beppo for pasta and garlic bread.

So . . . that’s the story.

I wish, I would have hiked down or gone to The Juice or gone to Lani Kai or gone to Kahana or a host of other decisions.

I am just thankful that she did not suffer further injury.

To her credit . . . Jennifer STILL wants to start paragliding. She wants to log this as her first flight!!

All’s well that ends . . . well . . . I still feel like crap.

Aloha,
Peter

A side note: I still feel HORRIBLE. I know a lot of HPA members may wish to critique the decision to fly or offer some well-meaning, but easily misinterpreted comment. Please be considerate in your commentary

I may not be the first Tandem Instructor to get dragged across Cactus . . . but this time it was ME . . . I am mortified.

Please . . . I KNOW!!! I should have hiked-down. I wish I had.

Thank you, HPA

Aloha! Over a week has passed since I left the windy ridges and sandy beaches of Oahu. I am back to work, and all the stress that is connected to it hit me like a steam hammer and vanished almost all my recreation. However, all the good things I experienced in Hawaii will be in my memories forever.

Not only the superb landscape with so many beautiful spots - I really love your beach parks with the english lawn - but especially your hospitality towards visitors are on my mind when I look back to Oahu. The BBQs and parties I had with you guys were great, and I would appreciate if Ray could send me the recipe of his marinade. It was awesome!

Unfortunately, I could not fly as much as I liked to, but I earned my wings in parawaiting and parahiking ;-) I had some very nice flights at Kahana and Makapuu, and landing on a beach is always something special for me. Flying to Pounders Beach gave me a lot of self assurance for further XC flights - I tried another one yesterday but didn't come that far. I will try to come back to Hawaii someday to fly with you again . . .

I hope you call me or send me an e-mail when you plan to visit Europe. There is always a free couch for you in Karlsruhe. I am looking forward to flying with you in the Alps.

Thanks a lot for the good time I had in Hawaii. Best wishes for the Rat Race and stay as you are.

See you up in the sky,

Marc.

Mahalo!

My address:

Marc Szymanski
Henriette-Obermüller-Str. 27
D-76137 Karlsruhe
GERMANY
Mobile: +49 176 600 100 16