Interested in hang gliding? Currently learning to hang glide? Post your questions here.
This forum is open to unregistered users

Moderators: sg, mods

By Skysailor1
#158075
Takeoff at Eagle summit the ridge behind
Attachments
Bill Sheka Sun 3 Swallowtail preparing for takeoff.jpg
Bill Sheka Sun 3 Swallowtail preparing for takeoff.jpg (116.42 KiB) Viewed 3481 times
By Skysailor1
#158136
Takeoff at the 700ft hill Hatchers Pass July 2 1975
Attachments
HatrsPassBillShe700fttakeoffpickuptrkJuly 2 1975 pic3.jpg
HatrsPassBillShe700fttakeoffpickuptrkJuly 2 1975 pic3.jpg (22.2 KiB) Viewed 3455 times
By Skysailor1
#158137
Seagull III Hatchers pass 1975 July 2
Attachments
Bill Sheka Overhead shot at Hatchers Pass July75.jpg
Bill Sheka Overhead shot at Hatchers Pass July75.jpg (73.15 KiB) Viewed 3451 times
By Skysailor1
#158139
Hatchers Pass July3 1975
Attachments
Hang glide Bill Sheka Seagull 3 Hatchers pass 2.jpg
Hang glide Bill Sheka Seagull 3 Hatchers pass 2.jpg (101.25 KiB) Viewed 3448 times
By Skysailor1
#158141
Ridge Soaring Eagle Summit ridge behind the summit in summer of 1976
Attachments
Hangglide Bill Sheka Sun 3 Swallowtail Eagle Summitt Alaska 1977.jpg
Hangglide Bill Sheka Sun 3 Swallowtail Eagle Summitt Alaska 1977.jpg (46.85 KiB) Viewed 3445 times
By Skysailor1
#158235
Well, I sure have missed the old gliding days , and was wandering whatever happened to the old Alaska Skysailors Club from the 70's. It was very active and I was curious if anyone else remembers the early days. Wow has this equipment and gliders come a long way from the old 3.5 to 4.0 glide ratio days. Soaring, ridge, thermal, and Wave, took alot of work because of it and had to be be pretty significant to stay up for any period of time. In Alaska it was not all groundskimming and Mountain glides. Anyway hope you all enjoy the history of the early days in Alaska and the pics. Is there someway to archive this into another spot on the site for easier views and posting? God Bless, Merry Christmas.
#171313
Well , I found a few more pics of flying at Hatchers Pass in 1975 and Eagle Summit Alaska and hope you enjoy some more pics of the old days.
Attachments
Takeoff from Nixon Head Midnight Hatchers Pass Alaska Bill Sheka July 4th 1975.jpg
Takeoff from Nixon Head Midnight Hatchers Pass Alaska Bill Sheka July 4th 1975.jpg (2.22 KiB) Viewed 3207 times
Midnight suds in the sun hanglide flyer poster july 1975.jpg
Midnight suds in the sun hanglide flyer poster july 1975.jpg (5.33 KiB) Viewed 3207 times
Hatchers Pass Bill Sheka just after takeoff July 3 1975 Seagull 3.jpg
Hatchers Pass Bill Sheka just after takeoff July 3 1975 Seagull 3.jpg (3.75 KiB) Viewed 3207 times
Hatchers Pass 700ft hill Bill Sheka putting together Seagull 3 with other pilots and kites July 2 1975.jpg
Hatchers Pass 700ft hill Bill Sheka putting together Seagull 3 with other pilots and kites July 2 1975.jpg (4.5 KiB) Viewed 3207 times
Eagel Summit July 1976 making a turn ridge soaring Bill Sheka Sun III with wind indicators showing up air.jpg
Eagel Summit July 1976 making a turn ridge soaring Bill Sheka Sun III with wind indicators showing up air.jpg (2.7 KiB) Viewed 3207 times
Bill Sheka preparing Takeoff Eagle Summit 1977 July SunIII Swallowtail.jpg
Bill Sheka preparing Takeoff Eagle Summit 1977 July SunIII Swallowtail.jpg (4.37 KiB) Viewed 3207 times
Bill Sheka approaching the parking lot from Eagle Summit pic1.jpg
Bill Sheka approaching the parking lot from Eagle Summit pic1.jpg (4.2 KiB) Viewed 3207 times
By Skysailor1
#171317
I believe that our old Alaska Skysailor club had about 100 pilots membership and the President was a fellow named Frank Knapp. I wish I could remember all the names but it was a long time ago and I have to look at one old photo album for names. It would be good to know what became of the club and all the people that were members. I am so glad I got to fulfil my dream and miss those days of flying in Alaska. I was a partying guy in those days. So pardon me for bringing up the old drinking days but that was before Jesus took a hold of me in 1992 .....Its sure good being saved. God Bless and Good Soaring,
User avatar
By wilburleft
#171321
It would be cool to get a mosquito and carry eeough fuel to laucnh, work a ridge or long mtn range and land in a village, hang with them and party, fuel up and keep going to the next village. You'd probably carry a big pistol in case you got stuck in the wilderness, and some food and shelter. It would be too hard, fuq it.
User avatar
By Spark
#171344
Hey Skysailor1, thanks for posting all those 'good old days' pics.

:mosh:
By Skysailor1
#171448
Your welcome there Sparky, and I am sorry I could not work out details to village hope to the next. It might be aways to get there like 80-400 ,miles, You fellas have some good fun flying and enjoy it as l once did. Still wish I could find out what has happened to the old Skysailor club and it members. God Bless, and take care.
#405189
We kept going back several times to Eagle Summit just over the Artic Circle . Pilots this time are Butch Wade, Ed Kavalik, Bill Sheka , Kent Hudson . Now we had discovered that long ridge from the park parking lot and hiked up the hill to that fine long up air ridge. We took many flights from it and since the ridge is probably 800 yards long , ridge soaring was as good as you could ever ask for. Notice the kites of the day , Seagull III, Sun III Swallowtail and some others. Daylight for ever and lots of flights and land after 20 minute ridge soars or land after an hour or more ridge soars . Whatever you wanted to do.
Attachments
Bill Sheka 1976 June Eagle Summitt Alaska Soaring 1 hr 20 minuteLARGE.jpg
Bill Sheka 1976 June Eagle Summitt Alaska Soaring 1 hr 20 minuteLARGE.jpg (78.01 KiB) Viewed 1229 times
Bill Sheka 1976 June Eagle Summitt Alaska Soaring 1 hr 20 minute  pic 5.jpg
Bill Sheka 1976 June Eagle Summitt Alaska Soaring 1 hr 20 minute pic 5.jpg (84.55 KiB) Viewed 1229 times
Bill Sheka 1976 June Eagle Summitt Alaska Soaring 1 hr 20 minute LARGE pic 45).jpg
Bill Sheka 1976 June Eagle Summitt Alaska Soaring 1 hr 20 minute LARGE pic 45).jpg (78.01 KiB) Viewed 1229 times
Bill Sheka Butch Wade Hanggliding Eagle Summit Aug 1976.jpg
Bill Sheka Butch Wade Hanggliding Eagle Summit Aug 1976.jpg (277.95 KiB) Viewed 1229 times
Bill Sheka Soaring Eagle Summit ridge behind sunIII swallowtail (2).jpg
Bill Sheka Soaring Eagle Summit ridge behind sunIII swallowtail (2).jpg (225.04 KiB) Viewed 1229 times
Hanggliding ALaska EagleSummit 1976 July Bill ShekaEdKvalik (2).jpg
Hanggliding ALaska EagleSummit 1976 July Bill ShekaEdKvalik (2).jpg (34.47 KiB) Viewed 1229 times
Hanggliding ALaska EagleSummit 1976 July Bill ShekaEdKvalik.jpg
Hanggliding ALaska EagleSummit 1976 July Bill ShekaEdKvalik.jpg (34.09 KiB) Viewed 1229 times
Hanggliding ALaska EagleSummit 1976 July Bill Sheka.jpg
Hanggliding ALaska EagleSummit 1976 July Bill Sheka.jpg (43.84 KiB) Viewed 1229 times
Hang gliding ALaska EagleSummit 1976 July Landing pic7.jpg
Hang gliding ALaska EagleSummit 1976 July Landing pic7.jpg (52.71 KiB) Viewed 1229 times