A friend I fly with was really kicking himself for missing that Swift. It sounded like an unbelievable deal also. What kind of shape is it in?
From: Charlie <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
To: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sent: Tuesday, December 25, 2012 1:54 PM
Subject: [Carbondragonbuildersandpilots] Santa came by...
Hi all,
I started flying an Ez Riser in 1976, great ridge lift glider but very bad in and between thermals. Of course I was poor at thermaling when flying with the flex wings. In 1982 I upgraded to a Comet 185, many hours later and with my maximum cross country distance at 50 miles I upgraded to a Magic IV. In 1989 it was a short season for me. June usually starts the XC season in Utah. Second weekend in June I cracked off a75 miler. Third weekend after a brutal claw my way out of the Kolob Canyon area to 12,500 ft msl 4.5 hrs I landed north of Salina UT, 120 miles. The next weekend, a stationary front from WA to AZ was set up. Of 9 people in So UT flying, 5 miles from launch I hit CAT more severe than anything I had encountered in 500+ hrs of soaring. Inflight broken king post, tuck inverted, folded around me and spun. Hand deploy chute too slow to open before being reeled in by the glider. Crashed exactly right and walked away.
I have been flying a Dragonfly since 1995 but have kept an eye on 103.5 gliding stuff. I met Jim Maupin in 1986 and spent an hour looking at the prototype. The Brightstar Swift came out and blew past everything I was very impressed. I have been looking for a ultralight soaring machine non weight shift since 2008. I tried to buy a copy of the Carbon Dragon plans unsuccessfully and was considering purchasing the plans for a UFL-1.
Last Friday I received notice that a Brightstar Swift for sale locally . Saturday I went to see it and bought it. Now I need warm weather before going to the training hill.
I will still be monitoring the group and can do solid and surface modeling if needed.
I got a Swift for Cristmas!!!
Regards,
One Sky Dog 1000+ hrs
Charlie Johnson
Ogden, UT
