The Early Days of Hang Gliding - Classic Footage from the 1970s

[fatboycrash]

This is a GREAT clip. Just makes me want to go flying, now. Leave the house, stuff, job, the whole catastrophe behind and just go flying.

[diverdan571]

I love It.. I will Never stop Flying Frist Flight March 1978 never sop Guido

[tweetingsparrow]

Brilliant stuff, I have miles of 8mm footage I need to digitize and save from my father and associates flying days, including myself at 12 years old. Will have to watch more of your films and hopefully i can share some from 70's New Zealand with you.

[BurkeEwing]

@tweetingsparrow Thanks. Would love to see your videos of 70's flying in New Zealand. What and where do or did you fly? Maybe we can put something together one day. Cheers, Burke

[tweetingsparrow]

@BurkeEwing Father mostly flew Rogallo's of various size, friends had Seagulls, Icarus is another and many one-off or short-lived designs. Mostly flew around our region, 40 miles North of the capital Wellington on the West coast of the north island. Also a number of trips to the hawke's bay, and down the south island hunting for flyable mountains and hills. Just about all of NZ is hills...

[tweetingsparrow]

@BurkeEwing Was looking at a couple of super 8 films recently, our old projector packed up years ago however I found an identical one at a garage sale but it slips while playing, have my eye on some others by auction so wll endeavour to get them onto dvd and/or digitized b4 i get too old myself. Filmed a lot of the flying myself as I got trusted with the cameras from an early age, and have literally hundreds and hundreds of 35mm stills.

[tweetingsparrow]

@BurkeEwing Here's a map link of my hometown - lots of hilly coastal country.

[Rickstern5]

It would be so cool to see you if you come to town. Please let me know. My email is sgrowth@aol.com. I would certainly buy you dinner & we could watch some old flying movies if you have the time. Although I don't fly, I have some offroad carts & some other "redneck entertainment" I'd be happy to share! I would love to say hi to Eileen too. If you could send me an email address for her that would be great, or you could send her mine.

Thanks!

[Rickstern5]

...cont.. roof truss company dad owned. I think you stayed with us awhile too, but not as long as J&E. My sister Becky and Tracy Knauss started Glider Rider magazine that turned into Ultralight flying. My dad wrote some funny articles about flying under the name "Old Man of the Mountain". Don's daughter married Tracy Knauss & they are still married. They started flying in 1972 through 1980. He went to the world cup in Kossen, Austria early on. It was in the mid 70s that you stayed withus

[Rickstern5]

Hey Burke, to help you remember us, here are a few items: Dick Stern (my dad) and Don Guess were partners. They were Wills Wing dealers here in the Chattanooga area. Dick & Don were the pioneers of hanggliding in the TN valley. They started the Tennessee Tree Toppers and opened Lookout Mtn, Dunlap, Whitwell, Crystal Caverns, and I think almost every site around here.  Dad always flew a red Wills Wing with lightning bolts. Jim & Eileen lived with us for months & worked for Dad at the roof

[Rickstern5]

Jim DeBush & Eilene stayed with us for quite a while. Do you know what become of him / them?  I think I had the coolest childhood flying with all you "old timers". How neat to be involved in the pioneer stages of this wonderful sport! Great to see you are still flying!!

Rick

[BurkeEwing]

@Rickstern5 No one knows where Jim is these days, but I reconnected with Eileen last year. She's in Hawaii these days, happy and doing well. Keep in touch, Burke

[Rickstern5]

Great footage & commentary! Remember me Burke? Rick Stern from Chattanooga. I'm the son of Dick Stern "Old Man of the Mountain". You stayed with us a few times. I loved watching you and Curtis fly & loved your butterfly glider, you were such a great pilot! One of my heros! I think I might still be one of the youngest to fly Lookout, I was soaring when I was 12. Dad started me at 10. Mom & Dad are still doing well. Dad is still doing well, but neither of us have flown in a while.

[BurkeEwing]

@Rickstern5 Wow, what a blast from the past! I remember how much fun Curtis and I always had when we'd come to visit but I'm a little foggy on names and faces. I do remember hanging with you guys but would love to see some photos to put a face with the name. Thank you so much for all the kind words. Those were some of the best times of my life still to this day. Glad to hear you are all doing well. We're planning a trip to that area next year, so we'll have to plan a visit. Thanks again, Burke

[TheDantheman1995]

nice video

i was wondering if you knew what the soundtrack was too this ??

[BurkeEwing]

@TheDantheman1995 The first two are Tom Petty and the instrumental at the end is a song I wrote called "It's Alright."

[robstorms]

Thanks for sharing; what a treat !!

[penrynbigbird]

Thanks for sharing!!! Really great stuff!!  Those really were memorable dazes...

Phil

USHPA 7722