"I don't believe it!" That was all I can remember thinking as I watched my
good friend Rodney gain more altitude than I ever dreamed of while flying a
falcon195 at Jockey's Ridge. Everyone was looking at me as I was screaming,
"Pull in, Rodney pull in!" It was scary and down right exciting at the same
time as I watched a good friend of mine circle up in a huge thermal during
his third lesson from a 100 ft sand dune recently on March 23, 2003. To give you some
background, Rodney and I have been friends for years. As an instructor, I
would always tell him about my flying adventures and he would relate how as
a BMX racer he would love to fly. You see, Rodney is a Professional BMX
star. He's been riding and jumping since he was six years old. We both grew
up together and shared the goal of personal flight except he did it on two
wheels and I did it on a Hang glider!
Around Christmas time Rodney and I got together for the holidays and started
talking about a trip to Point of the Mountain that I had taken in 1999. I
was telling him about being in one of the strongest thermals I had ever
experienced when he asked me a key question, "how do you learn to thermal
when you can't see the lifting air?" I explained how I had learned through
taking tandem flights and feeling the thermal, reading soaring books, and
mostly by watching the local birds near my house. Thinking back, I believe
this was the point where the seed was planted in my longtime friends head.
We had both gotten up early and drove to Jockey's Ridge state park, the
largest sand dune on the East Coast. I had finally convinced my buddy to
take a couple of free lessons with me as his instructor. We borrowed a 195
Falcon from Kitty Hawk Kites and proceeded to make the long walk out to the
dune. Rodney was telling me he had been watching birds circle since
Christmas when we had been talking about my trip. Apparently he had been
inspired by my adventure! I kept laughing at his over confidence and was
trying to calm him down a little. I felt he was starting to act like a
know-it-all and still hadn't even taken a lesson yet. He told me he was
starting to have flying dreams every night and had been waiting for the
opportunity to show my how it was done! I just laughed and told him that
bashing in and eating sand was probably on the agenda for him and to
remember we were using a borrowed glider and would have to pay for it if he
bashed it in and busted it up!
When we got to the setup area I showed him the glider setup and preflight
and was most impressed how he had already known most of it. He told me that
he had been doing some reading of one of Denis Pagen's books that I gave him
for Christmas. I explained to him that we would first practice on flat
ground and make sure he was comfortable with the controls before we headed
up to the top of the ridge. As I was starting to expect, this BMX champ from
North Carolina was really picking it up quickly. I'd say after teaching
thousands of students, he had picked up the controls almost better than
anyone I had ever taught.
As noon rolled around it was starting to heat up pretty good and after an
unusually cold night I was starting to feel the thermals cycle through
pretty well. Rodney had already taken ten pretty good flights on the Falcon
from around the half way point of the hill and only biffed in once. As we
took a break I told him about my obsessive desire to thermal out of Jockey's
Ridge State Park from the one hundred foot hill, a feat that had only been
done by two people, once by
Jim Johns and twice by
Bo Hagewood . I asked if
he needed a break because I wanted to try to catch that big one I had been
dreaming about. He said, "Sure that would be great!" and was more than happy
to give up the Falcon. He was obviously excited to watch me go for it!
I quickly threw my harness on and strapped on my old Flytec vario which I
regularly bring out onto the dune in the spring time just incase! Rodney
said, "So that's a vario? Cool!" He had obviously read more than I
would have expected from a bike basher. When I stood up I told him that the
vario gets louder and faster as the thermal lift gets stronger. When I
picked up the glider to do a hook-in check I was picked up about three feet
as freight train of a thermal rolled in. I had the bar stuffed and was
getting lifted until Rodney grabbed my base tube and pulled me down! I told
him he was going to be grounded until later on when it calms down and for
him to just watch me fly. As the warm gusty wind was blowing I stood there
on the top of the sand dune for a few minutes to try and time the cycles and
get a good feel on when to launch. I was dreaming of hooking a good one and
attempt to fly out of the park just like Jim and Bo.
As a large gust started to roll across the flats in front to me I yelled
"Clear!" and had a great powerful launch. I was going up from my first step
and my vario was sounding sweet! I headed north along the ridge and was
gaining nicely, when all of a sudden I was turned into the hill harder than
I had ever experienced. I immediately stuffed the bar and rolled left into
the lift but it was too strong and it just spit me out. At about 30 feet
over the top I quickly decided to head downwind and then top land and try
again once my heart stopped pounding from fear. When I landed Rodney ran
over and gratefully grabbed my front wires just as he had done before.
Because of all the excitement and the heat, my mouth was dryer than the sand
dunes and we were fresh out of water. I figured I could use a quick break as
the thermals kept getting stronger. So Rodney and I laid the glider flat and
I was going to run into the shop and get some water for the both of us while
he watched the wing. After walking halfway to the shop I remember looking
back at the dune hoping the glider would not flip over from the strong gusts
combined with a beginner watching it. Then my worst nightmare came true as I
watched the detensioned glider flip over and take a nice hit to one of the
wings. I thought about running all the way back to help flip the glider over
but decided not to bother when I saw a couple instructors from another class
helping set the glider straight. At that point I decided to go and get the
much needed water and try again.
I hurried in to the shop and grabbed us enough water for the rest of the
day. I couldn't wait to get back out there as I knew the thermals were only
getting stronger and today was the best day I had ever experienced. As a
precaution I decided to grab some spare parts just incase the wing needed a
quick repair after the gust had flipped it over. When I got to the
observation deck I was getting ready to get back onto the hot sand when I
looked up at the ridge and saw the 195 set up with someone ready to fly. The
glider was bouncing up and down and all over the place but somehow
maintaining a little stability. I first thought that it was one of the other
instructors but realized they were already walking in from the class. "Oh my
God!" I yelled, "Rodneeeeey!" I couldn't believe it, my longtime friend must
have gotten so excited watching me almost "buy the farm" that he took the
opportunity, while I was gone, and set the Falcon up! My mind was spinning
as I ran and yelled," Noooo, don't do it Rodney! No, It's too strong for
you!" As I ran I remember thinking about that left wing and hoping it hadn't
got bent. It was only a few seconds after I started yelling and running when
the other instructors saw what was happening and started to run up the dune
to stop him.
By now it was too late; one of my best friends was launching a Falcon 195 in
gusty 10-20 mph winds from the top of Jockey's Ridge. He had only taken
about ten flights and this was going to be his first from the top. I know
this sounds crazy but as I was sprinting I thought to my self," This guy has
lived with danger all his life, if anyone can walk away from this one it
would sure be Rodney." I continued to run as fast as I could and kept
yelling but he was up, up and away! He barley launched with the left wing
low and was gaining altitude rapidly. I could see a small sand devil vortex
on the flats and he was most likely right in the center of it. He looked so
crazy with his legs floundering all around at first but then he just
stiffened up. He looked like he was trying to relax as the glider was
continually making and arching path. By the time I got near him he was at
least 200 feet up and continually spiraling left. I could see his body
trying to move the other way but the glider had a wicked turn most likely
from the recent accident.
We all just stood there as there was not much for us to do except pray. By
now he had probably circled around three or four times and was gaining tons
of altitude. I used my cell phone to call 911 and tried to explain the
situation. I was trying to plan where he would land and relay this to the
emergency crew. I told them he was about 300 ft up and flying towards the
woods on the North side of the ridge. I quickly decided that the only way I
could help him was to stay on my cell phone from the top of the ridge and
let the emergency crew know where he was going to land. Minutes later it was
obvious that he had lost the thermal. I could see he was still circling but
now in a descending manner. I remember standing there just watching him as
he disappeared into the trees about a half of mile away. All I could do was
pray he had a soft tree landing.
By now the ranger had showed up on top of the dune with the four wheeled
Gator and promptly gave me a ride to my vehicle. He said everyone had heard
what was going on and not to worry. My Fiancé had been in the shop and had
heard what was happening on the emergency park radio. When I got there she
had my vehicle ready and said she would drive us to find him. I was a
nervous wreck so I said that would be great! I'm sure all of you instructors
know how I felt. We stayed on the line with the emergency crew as a
helicopter had been sent out to find my buddy no matter what his condition.
When we made it over to the back woods I could see the glider stuck in the
treetops and my friend Rodney was climbing down from the wreckage. "Oh thank
God!" I said as I ran out of my car to see if he was ok. Apparently my
Fiancé had a disposable camera in the car and snapped a few shots. I could
hear the helicopter above and made eye contact with my treetop buddy. He
appeared to be ok and was laughing. He yelled down to me, "Dude that was so
rad! Woohoo!" I shook his hand as I was laughing and crying all at the same
time. I was so grateful to see he was ok. It was surely a miracle!
|
Doug helping Rodney |
Doug and Rodney celebrating |
It took us a while to get the glider out of the tree but we managed. Despite
what you might think, it really only had one small tear in the sail which
could be fixed easily. On the way back to the park we realized that there
must have been a bunch of tourists on the ridge with cameras when this had
all happened. I figured since Rodney was ok it would sure be fun to have
some pictures of this record flight. When we got back to the ridge we rushed
out to the observation deck but everyone had just left because the park was
closing soon. As we walked disappointedly back to the shop he started
telling me about the whole flight. He laughingly said to me," I'm sure glad
the gliders ok I really don't have the cash to replace it!"
When we walked inside the shop I over heard a man talking with one of the
instructors about Rodney's flight. I excused my self and asked my fellow
instructor
Andy Torrington if anyone had got any pictures of the event. He
said, "Yes" and introduced me to one of his students, Lars Lopifo from
Germany. Lars proceeded to explain in a strong German accent that he was
an Otto Lilienthal fan and was taking a lesson with Andy to fulfill his
dreams when he saw what was going on. He told us that he saw the whole thing
and took the last three pictures on his disposable camera and would get them
to me as soon as possible. Obviously we were pretty excited to see some
photos of Rodney and his first thermal!
As an instructor, I never thought anything like this would ever happen. I've
heard crazy stories before but pride myself with always being very careful.
I guess you always need to be so careful at all times even when you think
everything is going ok. I admit letting my guard down but I felt comfortable
leaving the glider because it was my friend, and a good friend would never
do anything like that right? Oh well, lessons learned!
Rodney has promised to always listen to his instructor and I believe he
means it! You should have heard me the night of his accident; I really gave
it to him good! I expect he's got some real respect for the sport now!
Rodney is still interested in becoming a pilot and just passed his hang one
test today!
*We just received the photos taken by Lars Lopifo of Rodney thermaling out of
Jockey's Ridge on a Wills Wing Falcon 195 and they are pretty amazing! Check
them out below.
