Been working on my "Stairway to Heaven"!

Kind of hard to believe you could get to heaven in a Ford but its been getting me to cloud-base for more then 10 years.... knock on wood!

The essence of this modification was to increase the height and size of the final platform and be able to lower "steps" to get me there. Making that last lift into the cradles easier should add up to and easier loading....with less stress. Making it easier on everybody. (crew and pilot)

Getting everything to fold up was a bit of a trick. Further getting it all to just plug into the trailer hitch was even harder. As it turned out I ended up having to modify and add hardware to the cradle brackets. As it turned out, it did end up working pretty slick.

Well it looks like a lot of stuff (weight) to have added to the truck it turns out to be less then 60 pounds given I removed the stock tail gate and the old ramp. Still working on some tricks for the outriggers, again to make things easier.

Man spring is sooooo far away.

Funny... in my "About Me" I talk about being a rigid wing pilot, yet I end up posting stuff about flying my bag?

http://www.westcoastsoaringclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4009

I made a big mistake that day. I trusted some one else to be doing the right thing. I was ascending up through another pilot at our local site. Unfortunately right of way meant nothing (the other pilot had very little experience), I gave myself no way out.

To be very honest I was totally amazed how things went from "a nice fall day in late season thermals" to all hell letting loose. My lack of skill on the bag and the chain reaction of surges left me with no other reasonable option but to chuck the chute.

I was lucky, through the trees, landing on my feet on the forest floor. Nearly all of my gear joined me on the ground (no messy, up a tree BS.... except for the deployment bag:-)

Can't tell you how many times somebody has asked me, "when are you going to do your advanced maneuvers clinic?". I have no idea... I'm having second thoughts about these PG's. I'm still shaking my head when it comes to the other pilot. She was a student, low time and NO RESERVE! This could have ended very badly for both of us. I could not believe her instructor/boy friend would let her fly a fly site without one. Fortunate for her, she flew away, safe and sound.

The bill for repairs on my Zulu, $800. Good deal given that Chris at SuperFly carried my ripped wing back to the Gin factory to do voodoo factory repair. I have yet to check out the work (as I just got my wing back), If I get a chance I Will try to do a little kitting but from I've heard they do good top notch work.

For now my winter project is a new ramp set up for our trusty tow vehicle. A real contraption but the modification should really make loading the glider up onto the cradles a breeze. (Photo's to follow.....) Man, after this adventure on the bag I'm REALLY looking forward to Spring and some more airtime on my VR.

Cheers

Martin