Enjoying flying again.

Had a nice sky cruise last weekend with my new wing. It's a Moyes Litesport 5. Set me back $8700. I'm still getting used to it as it flys a lot different from the Litespeed I destroyed. It seems quite easy to land so far. This was my fourth flight (2 bomb outs) and I covered about 50km cross country. The flight before that I did about 70km. So I am enjoying being back into the sport. I used to favour left turns, but I seem to favour right turns now.

Vid from 2011

Just a short vid from the Canungra Classic Hang Gliding Competition in 2011. Am flying a Moyes Litesport now and will post some vids and pics soon.

Horrible impact at Mt Tamborine

On Monday the 9th of April, I was ridge soaring at Mt Tamborine on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. I had my right wing facing the hill and I had good height and separation from the ridge. Suddenly I was hit by a strong bullet type thermal on my left wing. It pushed my left wing upwards and sent me turning right in strong sink toward the ridge. I weight shifted left to counter act the turn and steer out of it but nothing was happening. Realising my only option was to speed up and turn right I weight shifted right and speed up but it was too late and I'd lost too much height.

I clipped the 35m high treetops and began plummeting to the ground. I was now just a passenger. Branches in face, then bang.. hit a 6inch thick branch which broke off. Bang again hit another thick branch which broke off. Then crunch, bang I hit the ground. Fortunately I think my right wing hit the ground first and crumpled, which broke a lot of my fall.

I couldn't breath and desperately tried to get some air, but nothing. I was winded and had partially punctured lungs. Finally I was able to get small bits of air in my lungs. I was still zipped up in my harness head down in the forest. It took a while to get out of my harness, but once I did I realised that except for being shaken and in a lot pain, I was basically alright and had survived with no broken bones. It was a miracle.

Getting out of there took hours, lots of help, ant bites, leeches, mossies, stinging leaves and branches. But I'm out and will make a full recovery.

The lesson here is if you get kicked toward a ridge and you have enough height, steer with the kick. Had I just turned right after being kicked I would've been able to turn over the treetops and get away from the ridge.

My old Moyes Contour harness is for Sale!

Moyes Contour Harness in good condition. Blue/Black in black bag.
Will fit pilot of solid build around 177 cm. Made to these measurements: Overall height 177, Shoulder height 149, Chest 110, Hips 106. Has adjustable shoulder straps and zipper is velcroed on so adjustments can be made with that also.
Includes Conar Metamorfosi reserve chute.
Located at Labrador on the Gold Coast.

Price: $770 ono

email: dirkrichard@hotmail.com