Tributes

Back up to Risk & Safety

What a bummer that some of us pay the biggest price for the fun we have. It’s especially sad when our friends meet their end this way. But in a country where 100+ die per day in their cars, this is part of life.

I realize that my life may be shortened or deprecated by all these aviation endeavors, but it has been so enriched by them that obviously I engage the trade willingly. Still, it makes me slow down and think about how much risk I’m willingly taking on this flight, in this weather, on this gear, etc.

Let’s remember these people and learn, as best we can, from whatever took them from us.


Tribute to Scott Adair

We’re reminded again how fleeting life is. And how some people make it so much better. And how we can take them for granted. Powered Paragliding lost one of its great contributors, Scott Adair, to a gyrocopter crash April 29th in Valkaria, FL. Our hearts go out...

Tribute to Bob Armond

One of my early memories of Bob Armond was in Mexico. He had just started instructing and decided to have a casual just-for-fun gathering at Baja Seasons resort in La Salinas, Baja California, Mexico. A lot off his students showed up but so did a lot of other with...

Tribute to Bob High

Longtime light flyer and supporter passes I was saddened to hear of Bob High’s passing.  The last time I saw Bob was when I snapped these pictures as he took his quicksilver aloft. Bob High Quicksilver taxiing Bob High putting helmet on Bob High airborne in his...

Tribute to Mike Rish

I lost a friend. Its always sad to hear of a loss, especially when it happens doing what we all love, and to someone we’ve spent time with. I’m sorry mostly for his family and close friends, my pain pales in comparison with theirs. Mike leaves behind two...

Tribute to Alan Chuculate

Alan Chuculate died Nov 6, 2005 in a powered hang glider after hitting wires during approach. It was just after sunset. He was with two others landing just off the beach in a field about 4 hours south of San Diego.  Alan had an immense influence on my flying by...