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•  Low sprogs 17 Μάι 2012, 23:55

  Corinna Schwiegershausen writes:

  72 km, Manfred 1st, Jörg 2nd, I was 1st woman in goal and about 8th overall. Difficult day, Primoz landed short. Manfred and Jörg scored 0 points for the day, as their pitch measurements in goal failed the minimum settings!

  Gotcha from the DHV.

  See the local rules above.
   
  I await word from Joerg and Manfred.

  Corinna Schwiegershausen<<corinna>> writes:

  Bob Baier, the reigning German Champion, can not compete in the German Open, because he is on a Moyes RX, and I was not allowed to fly the RX in this competition, even though I already flew it in Bassano, Forbes and Hessenmeisterschaft. Two WW pilots were not allowed to fly with their gliders. While Manfred was allowed to fly with a radical new sailcut (looks nice). Very strange policies over here.

  http://www.dhv.de/web/fileadmin/user_upload/files/2012/05/Task_1_Flex.html

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•  Wills Wing Outlaw in Germany 17 Μάι 2012, 15:23

  http://corinnaflies.blogspot.de/

  Nichele Roberto <<roberto.nichele>> sends:

  (DHV) website for the German Open here.

  

  The local rules (PDF) here.

  "Airworthy glider with valid type test (airworthiness certificate)..."

  A German pilot who bought a T2C 144 from me this year called upset that they won't allow him to attend the meet. Not totally sure if this applies to foreign pilots too. Could be explained with insurance issues.

  Steven Pearson<<Steve>> writes:

  The 154 is DHV certified, the 144 isn’t. The DHV is protecting the revenue stream from their certification program to the detriment of the German pilots—so much for the ‘EU’. Mike can give you the historical details ad nauseum.

  Mike Meier<<Mike>> writes:

  This is a complex issue with a long history. In brief, here’s what I can tell you about it.

  The U2 160, T2C 154 and Sport 2 155 have been issued the Gütesiegel by the DHV Technical Department, which is an approved testing center for hang gliders and paragliders for the LBA (German Civil Aviation Authorities), signifying that these gliders meet the German LTF Airworthiness Standards for hang gliders.

  Wills Wing has not applied for LTF certification for any of our remaining current production models. In the case of the three models for which we have obtained LTF certification, we did so in each case because our dealers selling into the German market believed that having the LTF certification would increase sales. We have not found any clear indication that this has been the case. The process of obtaining LTF certification in addition to HGMA certification, which all of our current production models (except the Condors) have, is significantly burdensome and expensive, and completely redundant from an airworthiness perspective.

  With regard to the insurance issue, and restrictions on flying gliders in Germany that do not have the Gütesiegel, I am far from expert on these issues. As I understand the law in Germany, based on my visit there in 2008 and a discussion with someone who is familiar with all of the legal issues, if you are living in Germany at least 180 days out of the year, it is (technically) illegal to fly a hang glider without the Gütesiegel. It is my understanding that to do so is not considered any sort of serious crime or offense, but technically, it is illegal. Also, if one is flying a hang glider without the Gütesiegel, then one is not covered by the 3rd party liability insurance (which would pay if, for example, you crashed your glider into someone's car and damaged it). One's personal insurance, such as medical insurance, is NOT affected by whether you fly a glider with, or without the Gütesiegel, as I understand it.

  However, there is also a European law that says that if an aircraft has a type certificate in one European country, then another European country cannot demand a different certificate. A number of Wills Wing models that do not have the German Gütesiegel do hold Austrian Type Certificates, based on the Austrian acceptance of the HGMA certification. It is therefore at least somewhat uncertain as to the legal standing or validity of any German law that requires specifically a German certification.

  Over the last 30 years there have been many significant attempts to negotiate recognition within Germany for the other major hang gliding certification programs – HGMA and BHPA (British). None of these attempts has yet been successful – within Germany, only the LTF certification is recognized as valid. Over that same time period there has been ample opportunity to observe the safety record of gliders that have been certified under one airworthiness program and not under the others. There has been no indication during this time of any difference in safety between gliders certified under one program versus those certified under another program. A detailed comparative analysis of the HGMA and LTF certification programs has shown that both programs are very similar in the manner in which they define and test for hang glider airworthiness, and that where the programs do differ in technical matters, the HGMA airworthiness standards are in fact more valid from a technical standpoint than are the LTF standards.

  The FAI Sporting Code Section 7A defines a certified hang glider as follows:

  12. 2.2.1 Certified Gliders

  Hang gliders of a make and model for which there is airworthiness approval issued by either the BHPA, DHV or HGMA and which have not been altered in any way since manufacture that would affect this certification. Sprogs must be set within the certified range.

  The FAI and CIVL therefore recognize HGMA and BHPA certification for the purposes of competition as equivalent to German certification. It is unfortunate, and seems without any rational justification that a German pilot has been denied the opportunity to compete in a competition in his home country on an HGMA certified glider.

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•  Dimples 17 Μάι 2012, 15:21

  Carson Capaul <<justfly25>> writes:

  I wonder when the first harness to have dimples is going to show up?

  http://www.gizmag.com/nike-pro-turbospeed-golf-ball-track-uniform/22520/

  

  
  

  

  http://university.tri-sports.com/2012/03/29/garneau-vorttice-helmet/

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•  Looking back 16 Μάι 2012, 15:24

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8ejmP6kWoo

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•  Gyro hang glider 16 Μάι 2012, 15:24

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO099D_Do2M

  Thanks to Andrew

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