Weekend Hang Gliding Grad
School

 Sponsored by Kitty Hawk Kites with
instruction by Mitch Shipley, Ph.D.

Overview: 
In conjunction with Wills Wing Demo days (Fri-Sun 28-30 June 2013),
Kitty Hawk Kites is sponsoring a “Weekend Hang Gliding Grad School”. 
Intended for the pilots that are ready to step their flying skills up a
notch, the Weekend Grad School approach uses both classroom theoretical
and in-flight training, the latter reinforced with post flight
analysis.  This approach of fully understanding the physical principals
involved in what you are trying to do (i.e. land a glider, extend the
length/duration of your flight or fly faster in a comp), doing it with
objective flight recording (i.e videoed ET landing practice or GPS
flight instrument) and then reviewing the objective evidence to see how
you did is a time proven, successful approach.  The “Grad School” will
be conducted by U.S. National Team member Mitch Shipley and supported
with his Elektra Tow (ET) winch system for stress free towing aloft.

Available
Classroom Technical Training Elements (Sponsored by KHK and free to all)

Weather and Soaring Flight : What to look
for, where to find it and the science of
thermal lift.

Landing Hang Gliders : A full system
(pilot, harness, glider, wind) approach to understanding (using actual
landing clinic videos) how hang gliders land well or not.

 Flight Instrument Setup : Understanding
what your instrument can do and how to set it up.

Cross Country and Competition flying : 
How  to cover distance downwind or race faster.

Available
Practical Training Elements

Landing Practice : Repeated (>5 tows on
ET) practice landings with full HD video review. $5 tow or $20/day for
as many as we can fit in.

WW Glider Test Flights:  For those Hang
II pilots not yet aerotow rated, ET tows on appropriate WW gliders. $5
tow or $20/day for as many as we can fit in

Guided In-Air Thermal Soaring Practice : 
Mitch aerotows up first to mark a thermal as other pilots are towed up
to join.  The group practices how to center, stay in, top out, decide to
leave and where to go to find the next lift.  30-60 minute flights (two
to four thermal climbs) is the goal.  Post
flight review of track logs and instrument records follows in the
evening.  Prior attendance of the “Weather and Soaring Flight” classroom
session is recommended. $35/pilot, max 2-4
depending on skill/glider performance match

Schedule
(weather dependent)

Friday
5-8PM at Jockeys Ridge classroom:  Classroom sessions picked based on
interest and desires of pilots present.

Saturday

8-11AM Currituck Airport:  ET landing practice
and WW glider demo tows

11AM-1PM Currituck Airport FBO conference room: 
Lunch and review of landing videos

1PM-4PM at Currituck Airport:  Guided In-Air
Thermal Soaring Practice

5-8PM  Currituck Airport FBO conference room: 
KHK BBQ, Soaring Flight Reviews, Task 10 2013 World Championship flight
review and how your US Team took the Silver.

Sunday

8-11AM Currituck Airport:  ET landing practice

11AM-1PM Currituck Airport FBO conference room: 
Review of landing videos

1PM-4PM at Currituck Airport:  Guided In-Air
Thermal Soaring Practice

4-6PM  Currituck Airport FBO conference room: 
Soaring Flight Reviews