I. M. Esperto
9th Sep 2003, 01:21
I've got about 8 hours in these. The most fun I ever had in the air, and VERY safe.
The only real problem is crosswinds. Be EXACTLY into the wind, or be blown over.
http://www.thesunlink.com/redesign/2003-08-30/local/244886.shtml
PORT ORCHARD
A wing, then a prayer
• Many people couldn't tell what it was, but they were pretty sure it shouldn't have been hanging from a tree.
Niki King
Sun Staff
August 30, 2003
A parachute? A hang glider? A go-cart with wings?
People weren't sure what to make of the ultra-light flying contraption at the Port Orchard airport, but more than a few worried that since it was dangling from a tree, it must be in trouble.
The line of thinking sparked a deluge of calls to 911 on Friday. People feared the pilot might be hurt, or worse.
Had they known the full story, they could have saved themselves the bother.
By 8:00 a.m. rescuers had already delivered the 71-year-old retiree and pilot to safety. The man was fine, except for a light cut on his head where his helmet had been knocked off on impact.
His aircraft, however, wasn't so lucky. Rescuers said it was not their responsibility, so it remains in the tree, swinging limp and awkward, worrying passers-by.
South Fire District 7 responded to the call. They said the man had just taken off the runway when his cable control system locked up. He took a hard turn to the right, which landed him in the trees, said battalion chief Ed Boucher.
The man had a cell phone with him and was able to call for help.
District 7 found him, about 50 feet up a pine tree. They called Puget Sound Federal Fire and told them to bring in the truck with the biggest ladder.
They said the man was calm and collected while rescue efforts were underway.
"He was a very patient man waiting for us," said Boucher. "He used to work on power lines so he was used to heights."
The man's name was not obtained because federal privacy laws prohibit medics from releasing names of patients, and the man did not agree to release his name to The Sun.
Boucher said they put a harness around the man and then lowered him down.
"He had a minor head laceration, but other than that he was doing good," said Boucher.
The man allowed medics to dress his wound, but politely denied transport to the hospital or further help.
"He said thank you very much and left," said Boucher.
His aircraft, which locals say the man flies about once month, was left for another date.
"That's his responsibility. We didn't have the capability to get it down. We suggested he get a crane but he said he gonna lower it down himself," Boucher said.
He said the vehicle is hard to describe. As far as ultra-light aircraft goes, it's sort of a mutt.
"It's a flying parasail powered by a push motor. It's a tricycle motor type deal."
It has three wheels, a giant parachute, an engine like an early model Volkswagen and a fan on the back.
All of which looks strange to people driving by on Sidney Road. Operators from 911 got calls from folks all day.
Employees at Empire Pizza, a nearby eatery, said one man came in demanding 911 be called because the pilot might be dead.
"We didn't see anything, but some people came in asking us if anyone had called 911," said Chris Kuiphoff, a worker at Empire.
The first 911 call came before rescuers had showed up. The caller said that a man was caught in a tree, he was cut but conscious and breathing. There was also go-cart attached to a parachute, the caller said.
The only real problem is crosswinds. Be EXACTLY into the wind, or be blown over.
http://www.thesunlink.com/redesign/2003-08-30/local/244886.shtml
PORT ORCHARD
A wing, then a prayer
• Many people couldn't tell what it was, but they were pretty sure it shouldn't have been hanging from a tree.
Niki King
Sun Staff
August 30, 2003
A parachute? A hang glider? A go-cart with wings?
People weren't sure what to make of the ultra-light flying contraption at the Port Orchard airport, but more than a few worried that since it was dangling from a tree, it must be in trouble.
The line of thinking sparked a deluge of calls to 911 on Friday. People feared the pilot might be hurt, or worse.
Had they known the full story, they could have saved themselves the bother.
By 8:00 a.m. rescuers had already delivered the 71-year-old retiree and pilot to safety. The man was fine, except for a light cut on his head where his helmet had been knocked off on impact.
His aircraft, however, wasn't so lucky. Rescuers said it was not their responsibility, so it remains in the tree, swinging limp and awkward, worrying passers-by.
South Fire District 7 responded to the call. They said the man had just taken off the runway when his cable control system locked up. He took a hard turn to the right, which landed him in the trees, said battalion chief Ed Boucher.
The man had a cell phone with him and was able to call for help.
District 7 found him, about 50 feet up a pine tree. They called Puget Sound Federal Fire and told them to bring in the truck with the biggest ladder.
They said the man was calm and collected while rescue efforts were underway.
"He was a very patient man waiting for us," said Boucher. "He used to work on power lines so he was used to heights."
The man's name was not obtained because federal privacy laws prohibit medics from releasing names of patients, and the man did not agree to release his name to The Sun.
Boucher said they put a harness around the man and then lowered him down.
"He had a minor head laceration, but other than that he was doing good," said Boucher.
The man allowed medics to dress his wound, but politely denied transport to the hospital or further help.
"He said thank you very much and left," said Boucher.
His aircraft, which locals say the man flies about once month, was left for another date.
"That's his responsibility. We didn't have the capability to get it down. We suggested he get a crane but he said he gonna lower it down himself," Boucher said.
He said the vehicle is hard to describe. As far as ultra-light aircraft goes, it's sort of a mutt.
"It's a flying parasail powered by a push motor. It's a tricycle motor type deal."
It has three wheels, a giant parachute, an engine like an early model Volkswagen and a fan on the back.
All of which looks strange to people driving by on Sidney Road. Operators from 911 got calls from folks all day.
Employees at Empire Pizza, a nearby eatery, said one man came in demanding 911 be called because the pilot might be dead.
"We didn't see anything, but some people came in asking us if anyone had called 911," said Chris Kuiphoff, a worker at Empire.
The first 911 call came before rescuers had showed up. The caller said that a man was caught in a tree, he was cut but conscious and breathing. There was also go-cart attached to a parachute, the caller said.