![]() ![]() I got involved in Hang Gliding in 1974 principally because, having spent 9 years in motorsport, increasing family responsibilities were making demands on my time and finance and it was obvious that Hang Gliding presented the potential to enjoy a similar thrilling experience, at much lower cost and at less risk of serious personal injury (sic). Gliders from other manufacturers started to appear but Brian's marketing skills and ready accessibility kept his machines to the fore. These quickly took over on the hill and the older gliders disappeared into sheds and garages never to be seen again. This was progress and club members who were flying this quickly improved their experience.īrian's subsequent designs were American in origin and he quickly produced the Cirrus 3, Cirrus 5, Olympus, Nimbus and Dove range developed by Electraflyer Corp. The club bought one of his Fireflys which was a fairly standard rogallo wing plan but with a wider nose angle, adjustable tension wires on the leading edges, and fully battened. Brian had been an active member of 'Lanarkshire Soaring Club' of which I was now the secretary and was now developing a hang gliding business, Scotkites, based in East Kilbride. It was around this time that an excited member landed after getting high enough and far enough out from the hill to be able to fly a full 360 degree turn!Įnter Brian Harrison. The feeling of freedom was intoxicating and of course while flight times were improving, we all longed for better performance. I had managed to get a soaring flight with the Skyhook so the day came when I was entrusted with the club 'Hawk' and joined the soaring members on the ridge. Indeed, one day Fred flew for over three hours which was certainly a Scottish record at the time. Meanwhile other members were 'soaring' that is managing to stay in the lift band from the wind on the hill and extend their flight. Tinto became a regular Sunday event from then on! I was still only doing short flights down the hill but had worked my way to the top for take-off. Then it was my turn! Face the wind, a few short steps and into the air with much fluttering of the wing cloth, then about 12 seconds later flare out and land! I was hooked! Gordon then demonstrated a flight and we followed on foot to help retrieve the glider. I was shown how to lift the machine, and it was described to me how to control it, to take off and to land. The package quickly unfolded on the ground, was bolted together to become a simple contraption of cloth, tubes and wires, with a small wooden plank seat attached by water-skiing tow rope to the middle of the tubes! Rigging the glider, which I was told was a 'Skyhook' came next. We arrived at a low knoll which faced the light wind, while others carrying similar loads continued past us up to the top. This was Joe Frame and the following weekend I went down to Tinto, met Gordon Murray and Fred Joynes and was introduced to a long orange floppy cloth and tube package which I was invited to carry up the hill. One evening the following week while working in my garden I was approached by a stranger who said "I hear you are interested in Hang Gliding, well there is a club and you are welcome to come along at Tinto". His first words to me were "do you really want to hang glide, you know it can be quite dangerous?" The pilot whom I did not know at the time was Gustav Fishnaller who also taught skiing at Glenshee. However one was in the air and coming toward us so when it landed I went over to ask about getting involved. One of them promptly blew away over and over along the ridge. On arrival it was not long before we spotted gaily coloured gliders on the hill. ![]() One sunny Sunday saw me driving down to Tinto which was not far from where I lived at the time, and since we, that is my family, often went for a drive on a Sunday if I was not off on some mad outdoor trip, what was more natural? I had been fascinated by flying from as early an age as I can remember, and indeed had enthusiastically flown Chipmunk aircraft with Glasgow University Air Squadron, however finances at the time did not allow a continuation of this nor even of conventional gliding so here was the potential to get in the air at low cost and in an exciting way. As someone who enjoyed outdoor activities, particularly if there was an adrenaline buzz about them, I had to find out more. Somewhere I heard that hang gliding was taking place at Tinto Hill in Lanarkshire. ![]()
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