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Before 2 meter radios, we flew with CBs (citizen band) radios. We would typically mount a $40 car unit to the side of our harness with a 107" trailing wire antenna, and lug a large 12 volt battery pack that would last for a month of daily flying. We "owned" channel 34. Keeping with good buddy lingo, most pilots had "handles". When I moved to California in June of 81, I looked up Hang Gliding in the yellow pages. I called Jim Woods and took a drive to his shop in Casitas Springs (Jim's still there, but it's now Woods Machine and Welding rather than The Hang Gliding Shop). At the time I was a licensed commercial pilot with a multi-engine and instrument rating as well as a full time A&P mechanic (airframe & powerplant) by vocation (Jim was also an ex A&P). I was mostly into Skydiving, but had done a little flat land sailplane fling back in Florida. I didn't need much of a sales pitch, and wrote the $180 check for his 5 day course. Fresh from of the oil fields of Grand Isle (no women), I also took note of Janet, 20ish, clear bronze skin in shorts, sporting erect nipples protruding from her proportioned round breast under a braless tank top (Janet was a pilot, but has since moved on to drumming). I remember my first day on the training hill. Leaving cars in Ventura and carpooling to SB in the back of Jim's little Toyota pickup with Janet and the other students. I had a good first day, but was grounded after an unintentional wing over distorted Jim's trainer (Jim made and repaired all his own gliders, and Janet had worked for him as a sail maker). At the end of the day, the Master took a flight off the top (we carried the gliders up back then). I was sitting at the half way mark, and was awed as Jim flew by on a down wind leg with his tip just off the weeds. I told myself that I would try to fly every day, and within a few years I would be a capable pilot. I did try to fly every day, rain or shine. My local hill was The Avenue. Cleaned it up park like with a mower on a string (I'm sure I was the only guy in my apartment complex who owned a mower). Had multiple launches from The Cross, The Stretcher, and several up top. I flew mostly after work, and would frequently fly into the sunset. I've watched hundreds of sunsets under my wing over The Avenue... AKA |
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