tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-157334152024-03-21T10:59:14.463-07:00WingmanDustin Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284476288193556174noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15733415.post-69730907204641835912012-12-05T18:58:00.000-08:002012-12-07T09:58:54.019-08:00Here are some cool wallets made in the image of your wing..
Help support me in my competition travels and world record attempts in the upcoming season by clicking the 'buy now' button on the right side of the page ---->
Include which style you prefer during the purchase process by referencing the pictures below, or ask for custom color combos.
Free domestic shipping. International costs 12.95-16.95 usd depending on location.
Thanks!
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Dustin Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284476288193556174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15733415.post-15207435018245183882012-02-14T13:45:00.001-08:002012-02-14T14:10:45.097-08:00Zapata 2009Digging through receipts while doing taxes, I re-discovered a notepad I had forgotten. Good times.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJ72cMJ78en1p15MqryRvx_7tN3xTkqR_oXAYCGD535fp0ZK5qw_J_h95_7YQI1kKTQ9lA_1rUmA2g2tz_8kkpBhr0q7a1uxZ9GQJg-7b8Cg8fzo2jRvsg2tLApYw_GwDpEY7bQ/s1600/mail-12+%25289%2529.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 124px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJ72cMJ78en1p15MqryRvx_7tN3xTkqR_oXAYCGD535fp0ZK5qw_J_h95_7YQI1kKTQ9lA_1rUmA2g2tz_8kkpBhr0q7a1uxZ9GQJg-7b8Cg8fzo2jRvsg2tLApYw_GwDpEY7bQ/s400/mail-12+%25289%2529.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709115625755188898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS6rN-lQksgnkf56icxBV39KjMIgNRIhzhusnDEe9_vQdQ1a9HDYGJu6w3mVRMge7-eLkEANvehlknlHjZ2E8t60VlfsAa8xZQqIeIwdLvP-16c6mgW-4HMDGmWY373dcxtlfzXw/s1600/mail-12+%25288%2529.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 124px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS6rN-lQksgnkf56icxBV39KjMIgNRIhzhusnDEe9_vQdQ1a9HDYGJu6w3mVRMge7-eLkEANvehlknlHjZ2E8t60VlfsAa8xZQqIeIwdLvP-16c6mgW-4HMDGmWY373dcxtlfzXw/s400/mail-12+%25288%2529.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709115630121774818" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyQqA53jeIcZYIWURv6SbnZQuBpdOOzK-flKJ2jmQKrhyBvD0hPxBGSgN_ZLnaeX7GEb7j5fAHxwj_wni1s7Yf2SRTsbpdwE3RKLgn2CThdJUhHlO0JJ5zICZnq13DP4K9Q6V8hg/s1600/mail-12+%25282%2529.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 124px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyQqA53jeIcZYIWURv6SbnZQuBpdOOzK-flKJ2jmQKrhyBvD0hPxBGSgN_ZLnaeX7GEb7j5fAHxwj_wni1s7Yf2SRTsbpdwE3RKLgn2CThdJUhHlO0JJ5zICZnq13DP4K9Q6V8hg/s400/mail-12+%25282%2529.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709115691376246338" /></a> I like LIFT!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-N8Kx3reeiy622RoUFQXeKX68W17rtnZfS-EHsaMkoJ7eUdXfRm1mdNv6ih_RPP_3KeGzanhTyrwiqw3e7SSdgFgQvyHh4h8fFbINZAwMKnUtwIMxP9Oq7GH2m2OyCJhMHEIPg/s1600/mail-12+%25283%2529.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 124px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-N8Kx3reeiy622RoUFQXeKX68W17rtnZfS-EHsaMkoJ7eUdXfRm1mdNv6ih_RPP_3KeGzanhTyrwiqw3e7SSdgFgQvyHh4h8fFbINZAwMKnUtwIMxP9Oq7GH2m2OyCJhMHEIPg/s400/mail-12+%25283%2529.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709115692709334034" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrOBQx08mDzR4rAGUzGdY6-a9wdAmSMeOyUZzyC168JCW0Tuorq8DdWXIRDFHtM4UYCDUiioW3s_k6BH0G6GFGUBA37AM1uu_vMoWfpPpinP5FWATL0S6liklFJHfwcafrOV78w/s1600/mail-12+%25284%2529.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 124px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrOBQx08mDzR4rAGUzGdY6-a9wdAmSMeOyUZzyC168JCW0Tuorq8DdWXIRDFHtM4UYCDUiioW3s_k6BH0G6GFGUBA37AM1uu_vMoWfpPpinP5FWATL0S6liklFJHfwcafrOV78w/s400/mail-12+%25284%2529.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709115689256349250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQubzetTmFyVPVqEr1LXYae5NdtJIxyE6shF9JsNO6aZBour3WHt4eRSlNzoep8s1xkzllWFoZUv_Ap6vJGAwwcbiVmZW-RXyQaH7YTJgmFB75d_9rpeV5SbClkDYFkYKxglECw/s1600/mail-12+%25287%2529.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 124px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQubzetTmFyVPVqEr1LXYae5NdtJIxyE6shF9JsNO6aZBour3WHt4eRSlNzoep8s1xkzllWFoZUv_Ap6vJGAwwcbiVmZW-RXyQaH7YTJgmFB75d_9rpeV5SbClkDYFkYKxglECw/s400/mail-12+%25287%2529.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709115629759956722" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDJTc57utaSareSFfITUArHmOzLUDV3LLjf1hazNRXvTRAR-YXLT3ADjpHjLXkN7xK1qX7lSlev0RdY7H-eG9u6nVYYxmflTeyRCgPoE7eG7l3KRUSkItrIjR4iSrYAiMwn4dJw/s1600/mail-12+%25286%2529.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 124px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDJTc57utaSareSFfITUArHmOzLUDV3LLjf1hazNRXvTRAR-YXLT3ADjpHjLXkN7xK1qX7lSlev0RdY7H-eG9u6nVYYxmflTeyRCgPoE7eG7l3KRUSkItrIjR4iSrYAiMwn4dJw/s400/mail-12+%25286%2529.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709115632075012082" /></a><br /><br /><br />I like the abrupt ending - Hwy 20, 816pm, 5 miles E (of Big Spring)... then silence. I was almost at base, the sun was almost on the ground, and it was almost good enough. Laura, the legendary chase driver, was in the field near Ackerly when I touched down. Too windy to walk the glider to the car without wire assistance.Dustin Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284476288193556174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15733415.post-36963260417066406382012-02-07T13:40:00.000-08:002012-02-07T14:10:08.870-08:00Cool Stuff for SaleCleaning out the closet and trying to fund the upcoming comps. Here's what I've got:<br /><br />One brand new over/under tandem harness. All black, 600 denier outer, antron inner, 1/4" volara padding. Continuous webbing construction, Austri Alpin quick disconnect buckles on leg and back straps, cushy padded shoulder straps, rubber gripped passenger handles, 8000 lb mains, biner and hook knife included. Ropes are adjusted, harness is ready to hook in and fly tandems. Fits little kids on up to about 6'6". Has accommodated bigger though. After years of flying tandems and wanting to improve the over/under system, and based on the feedback of many tandem instructors with my earlier models, this is the latest model that incorporates all the features: <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgel7A3z0Ja2gfayJmVYAlKXefNkClXXznRYdFYZ1W_FBKgd2KKcPPBrdUIgvZU1tG4nrrye2vgC4LYs34ilVJrQmLz7NUihFIwOnbKF5X-p31Gvr-Ql4_pWH1b3UoINNt_rBBQQQ/s1600/overunderharness2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgel7A3z0Ja2gfayJmVYAlKXefNkClXXznRYdFYZ1W_FBKgd2KKcPPBrdUIgvZU1tG4nrrye2vgC4LYs34ilVJrQmLz7NUihFIwOnbKF5X-p31Gvr-Ql4_pWH1b3UoINNt_rBBQQQ/s400/overunderharness2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706512953842825746" /></a><br /><br />Rotor Vulto-S racing harness for 5'10.5" and 160 lbs. I added some trick arm fairings, it has a super-thin main, and it fits like a glove. Well used and worn, but has a season left in it. This is the harness:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC29-UTcvAENmK62_vJYc0f9Q1qLSLbUTYyPzLlIGz1CqUeM29bNa3M0ZMnwbrKcfVLb8662K6AbZ2FSZe0quilsfo5s7BVE9lMRvV03xr09hREekH2ySZcaE3tJ6x8XFf4SYoww/s1600/vultoS.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC29-UTcvAENmK62_vJYc0f9Q1qLSLbUTYyPzLlIGz1CqUeM29bNa3M0ZMnwbrKcfVLb8662K6AbZ2FSZe0quilsfo5s7BVE9lMRvV03xr09hREekH2ySZcaE3tJ6x8XFf4SYoww/s400/vultoS.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706514217760735186" /></a><br /><br />Pre-production instrument pods in BLACK. I have a couple of the new Flytec 6030/Garmin 76 pods ready to go. <span style="font-style:italic;">Not carbon.</span> All <span style="font-style:italic;">black gelcoat finish ONLY</span>. I have in-stock carbon mounts for Aeros, Moyes, and Wills <span style="font-style:italic;">carbon bars ONLY</span>. The production pod is a couple weeks out still. These protos may have very slight blemishes from hanging around the shop the last few weeks. Here is one of the proto pods:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3hq7L9R49camMSww_Ku4YtOwerur2xwb8wuNJTIqeZtT8IjAJ7feZvM7N8y72nU8XGRxaOsnDGtA_GO5z5p_yAuxBzTDYyUC4db7RN0j9Ro2KC84sg-KJmdtOYwVz-pHdlIOdg/s1600/76pod.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 124px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3hq7L9R49camMSww_Ku4YtOwerur2xwb8wuNJTIqeZtT8IjAJ7feZvM7N8y72nU8XGRxaOsnDGtA_GO5z5p_yAuxBzTDYyUC4db7RN0j9Ro2KC84sg-KJmdtOYwVz-pHdlIOdg/s400/76pod.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706515954339037554" /></a><br /><br />Finally, the original 6030/Geko mold has been refurbished and is turning out new pods. They are still available thru Flytec USA/Steve Kroop.<br /><br /><br /><br />Email me with questions. flydustin@gmail.comDustin Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284476288193556174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15733415.post-37196815577450177112012-01-04T11:14:00.000-08:002012-01-04T11:45:51.641-08:00The last 3 weeksWinter break is traditionally a time for me to dig in work hard to fund the upcoming season. This holiday I was adopted by the Pearsons and spent every waking moment at the Wills factory while all their employees were away, allowing me to work on a lot of projects without getting in the way too much. <br /><br />The pod mold is done, jigs are built, an infusion pump arrived, and it's just a matter of ordering a few bits of material and glue to start the transition to resin infusion. Looking forward to that, but the need for $$ has shelved the project for another few weeks.<br /><br />The primary project last month was to build four tandem harnesses - that is, eight cocoons. Feedback from my last two customers resulted in some major improvements this time around. I was using a straight pattern to build the last few harnesses but switched to a pattern Steve Pearson gave to me that's basically the bottom half of a Z5. The harness seems a little more supportive than before.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8fNYtr87qNPKxjVspfogEyEpqkB-Js29_nmcq9RQyVjAESBVM7GS57hOXT2zpUl_7rIL6aJcF5DXzTckrq1DjADdUXt6Lhvn93kv0pvqiG5rNHsKzKaIF3cUMFiyaMXKxQXEWQ/s1600/photo-3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8fNYtr87qNPKxjVspfogEyEpqkB-Js29_nmcq9RQyVjAESBVM7GS57hOXT2zpUl_7rIL6aJcF5DXzTckrq1DjADdUXt6Lhvn93kv0pvqiG5rNHsKzKaIF3cUMFiyaMXKxQXEWQ/s400/photo-3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693862528889314114" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUeokrsUM4bNjw8ApfLe7-dVtInBhx8Vj5QiAPILbUcGonyM_YndTVCzuSj5o0krzcnIlQGsUKpzhMZtycKU89fc8pgI5aCboTLZ0FmJB8iNZG5eEmXLQQGnwqrB5oezQ3PUjKQ/s1600/photo-4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUeokrsUM4bNjw8ApfLe7-dVtInBhx8Vj5QiAPILbUcGonyM_YndTVCzuSj5o0krzcnIlQGsUKpzhMZtycKU89fc8pgI5aCboTLZ0FmJB8iNZG5eEmXLQQGnwqrB5oezQ3PUjKQ/s400/photo-4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693862532449299858" /></a><br /><br />After shipping the harnesses and building one more just to have in stock, I started in on some of my own projects. My covert got its annual overhaul with an updated foam liner, new teeth on the pitch lever gripper, and new bungees throughout, along with a vacuuming and a wash. Looks amazing as it just about finishes two years and 500 hours of flight.<br /><br />Final piece of business was to make a cocoon for myself. I've been talking about it and talking about it, but wasn't ready to pull the trigger until the trip to point of the mountain a couple months back. I got to get hands on with some of the latest ultralight paragliding gear and that's when the weight of all of our hangie gear just came crashing down on me. I think ultra weight reduction and return to simplicity will be a theme for me this season. I begin with this:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGlgEJLrfF5BNKwMr-Q-dX5gicubUV5HJyDjnafwl11lYKKwmDfaU9IZuUvibFsir66Yzp0qS95w8tXWxB_u0q6AII28qfMOtkg65TASquhyphenhyphenSG8W8s3_CtwFXgYpQoW7q4RK7uw/s1600/photo-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGlgEJLrfF5BNKwMr-Q-dX5gicubUV5HJyDjnafwl11lYKKwmDfaU9IZuUvibFsir66Yzp0qS95w8tXWxB_u0q6AII28qfMOtkg65TASquhyphenhyphenSG8W8s3_CtwFXgYpQoW7q4RK7uw/s400/photo-1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693862537066295586" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigM7cG9oIArBrv78K2MIKHvwRmqTw_f-aIm0sISz2BtbSsDVEhMbiNDcPtXIW9XpAjBKyD2oW0WtqjQ9_4QltINIn6buWP6jNB_7K9mWmVV3tGJcubEtv9FAFIMeySivbTAfqfQ/s1600/photo-2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigM7cG9oIArBrv78K2MIKHvwRmqTw_f-aIm0sISz2BtbSsDVEhMbiNDcPtXIW9XpAjBKyD2oW0WtqjQ9_4QltINIn6buWP6jNB_7K9mWmVV3tGJcubEtv9FAFIMeySivbTAfqfQ/s400/photo-2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693862533103580370" /></a><br /><br />Using the same pattern as used on my tandem harnesses, with an eye for simplicity and minimalism in every aspect of construction, I managed to finish this cocoon at just a hair over four pounds. Weight in a drawstring, ultralight bag, with lara gold 175 chute, 5/16 quicklink as biner, and lubin helmet: under ten pounds.....<br /><br />It turned out extremely comfortable and, even more than the weight savings, it's compactability is crazy:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkWCcTRjj7WHwCyNe_s0Ri7GeawWchHyXpTRY-LkbiNwIcZUqsgAqGOV1Kzmm1tnl7IQaD7iyMSVl7ISs7M1gFTTB5Mz7mYuIntHJUJ9pmIN7lQN8-1qnioF8arkdSWmstwcX1g/s1600/photo.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkWCcTRjj7WHwCyNe_s0Ri7GeawWchHyXpTRY-LkbiNwIcZUqsgAqGOV1Kzmm1tnl7IQaD7iyMSVl7ISs7M1gFTTB5Mz7mYuIntHJUJ9pmIN7lQN8-1qnioF8arkdSWmstwcX1g/s400/photo.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693862543973397650" /></a><br /><br />Using scraps of odl06 literally from the trash can, along with other scrap laminate cloths in places where heavier woven fabric wasn't necessary helped save a little here and there. I went without legstrap padding or buckles, and the backstrap cincher is aluminum. The interior cloth is light but could be lighter! There is plenty of room for improvement but for now it will be cool to put the entire harness kit in my backpack in the overhead compartment..Dustin Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284476288193556174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15733415.post-46014697540856356842011-12-12T17:52:00.000-08:002011-12-12T18:18:57.106-08:00Mold SurgeryThings were going so well..<br /><br />After buffing the mold halves to a fine shine, I layed up the first part. Anxiety was relieved when it practically jumped out of the mold the next morning. The first thing I did was trim the flashing and squeeze the 76 into its slot - and I really had to squeeze it - both hands, one on the back of the pod, one on the front of the 76. Unfortunately removing it basically required a crowbar. That was not going to work - this was supposed to be a friction fit, tool-less removal slot. The project came within a breath of being abandoned after weighing my limited options. <br /><br />I won't go into the numbing details of the mold modifications. It's enough to say that had it been too big a slot, a little sanding and polishing would have done the trick. Since it was too small, I would have to add material. Adding to a mold is the worst possible outcome and that's what I spent last week doing! A thick spray of gelcoat in the concerning area (about 20 mils) followed by about 40 hours of blending and refinishing brought the mold back to life and as good as new:<br /><br /><br /><em>Masking the offending area in prep for gelcoat.</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDGW0rM8C1nJKVvDNrokVBKAGHw78maKEf1XfUY1Rx0dl2WnuS2ZrpQhtK3krZnWDu599d5TnE4xiUW_rLgUuzOqDOgbfEPuWkwFAxtdIls35Lndhre4kYON7vYSgDZC1STMVuQ/s1600/76pod6.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDGW0rM8C1nJKVvDNrokVBKAGHw78maKEf1XfUY1Rx0dl2WnuS2ZrpQhtK3krZnWDu599d5TnE4xiUW_rLgUuzOqDOgbfEPuWkwFAxtdIls35Lndhre4kYON7vYSgDZC1STMVuQ/s400/76pod6.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685425379034538210" /></a><br /><br /><br /><em>Bringing the width to within 1/50th of a mm along the length of the GPS box.</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQAyT5_E3U8z1FRmJuopIXWa2_dNjs7vjhgxzInTxAQUsEKlyf3gmHPBm1wlLFrZILtdvovdXEEmI3wR4vgUQ1j7mk-noGnli2MqGLDC-8lptQhxGUp1k5R_pmlojbba4tOOGnA/s1600/76pod7.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQAyT5_E3U8z1FRmJuopIXWa2_dNjs7vjhgxzInTxAQUsEKlyf3gmHPBm1wlLFrZILtdvovdXEEmI3wR4vgUQ1j7mk-noGnli2MqGLDC-8lptQhxGUp1k5R_pmlojbba4tOOGnA/s400/76pod7.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685425382923867650" /></a><br /><br /><br /><em>Sanded to 1500 and ready for endless polish and wax - two days of just waxing.</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibU9vRDNduEp3hoqxuCDtCEriwNc1YP7Em9vGE_WUUF1f_6VXzbmGR2WfkSsyatx1Q8ESGlgc6_zKrNVRK_9RJoiOMIuejRSayrKqqKPZrIqjjBj6Xd1cAciFv72NaW56EjqrDnA/s1600/76pod5.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibU9vRDNduEp3hoqxuCDtCEriwNc1YP7Em9vGE_WUUF1f_6VXzbmGR2WfkSsyatx1Q8ESGlgc6_zKrNVRK_9RJoiOMIuejRSayrKqqKPZrIqjjBj6Xd1cAciFv72NaW56EjqrDnA/s400/76pod5.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685425378018052482" /></a><br /><br /><br /><em>SUCCESS tonight!</em> <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIH2B-oiktZtBmx8W6Y3fhGZtbm7W-a_jRDMUhIdX-6RHYpMAAnbtmo-_1ncyy8MMvh1l3bz-CSvbZxgWufc1qJxDLBBU59eyGJnD4Zx_8gEgpihyphenhyphenhxg93IQUMHr4YVAzs2vPmZA/s1600/76pod4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIH2B-oiktZtBmx8W6Y3fhGZtbm7W-a_jRDMUhIdX-6RHYpMAAnbtmo-_1ncyy8MMvh1l3bz-CSvbZxgWufc1qJxDLBBU59eyGJnD4Zx_8gEgpihyphenhyphenhxg93IQUMHr4YVAzs2vPmZA/s400/76pod4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685425256822261682" /></a><br /><br /><br /><em>Since I was in remodel mode, I brought both mold halves to an even finer finish than before. Next two photos are directly out of the mold, no polish.</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkBUVmdpkCO_R-95KHMLgQ4ytN15vIYsmHXwKgLjshDafji7FYRarU3X1vtZ0NTg6P_pQr8sifSVgXfrfQwPAw2cO_w7_EdKvhw1WHFEu6ajJLezqu3B-Jh1RF4NdzWWF2tcy1Q/s1600/76pod3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkBUVmdpkCO_R-95KHMLgQ4ytN15vIYsmHXwKgLjshDafji7FYRarU3X1vtZ0NTg6P_pQr8sifSVgXfrfQwPAw2cO_w7_EdKvhw1WHFEu6ajJLezqu3B-Jh1RF4NdzWWF2tcy1Q/s400/76pod3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685425244864979426" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9uQnwhzdYh4tsL6J2aw7KpF5mUB72tLWr8KyVu3SLRk36k4R3ecEZp6ROdF8zmC-tm0P_4vPN20yggLmFe-KOiKXGMCXybf57A4CSoeouqUrxKB25xUtUIaC8QWkvKfnM1UWrEg/s1600/76pod2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9uQnwhzdYh4tsL6J2aw7KpF5mUB72tLWr8KyVu3SLRk36k4R3ecEZp6ROdF8zmC-tm0P_4vPN20yggLmFe-KOiKXGMCXybf57A4CSoeouqUrxKB25xUtUIaC8QWkvKfnM1UWrEg/s400/76pod2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685425247343556450" /></a><br /><br /><br /><em>Garmin 76 slides in - and out - by hand, all is well in Scottsdale, AZ.</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQhlv8rVqU5je33ZziuhhLekoBpSzcy4szRa4IYt0q2qujt0QT0f7CRh_t_c2TcIR73afmdAnt_WnYv0QHC3PJ-4nBLf3qKpRx9paEnZGmRQ3z7y-ZVsQVHD64o_C0LMc8gftNg/s1600/76pod1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQhlv8rVqU5je33ZziuhhLekoBpSzcy4szRa4IYt0q2qujt0QT0f7CRh_t_c2TcIR73afmdAnt_WnYv0QHC3PJ-4nBLf3qKpRx9paEnZGmRQ3z7y-ZVsQVHD64o_C0LMc8gftNg/s400/76pod1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685425240438062594" /></a><br /><br /><br />I'm setting up the shop for resin infusion to reduce exposure and have an overall cleaner work environment. As soon as that's done, production will begin. Should have parts rolling by new year's.Dustin Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284476288193556174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15733415.post-46054195806872765742011-11-17T08:39:00.000-08:002011-11-17T09:08:33.125-08:00Opening the moldAfter repeating the process for the back half of the mold, this morning I went out to the shop and separated the mold halves to see if I was successful. <br /><br />The anxiety with molds, especially multi-part molds, is the investment of time. You have to completely finish the project before you can know if the very first layer of gelcoat actually cured out.. or if the plug was prepped well enough to release from the tool.. or if print through has ruined the mold surface.. etc.<br /><br />This mold was a six week project. The details between all of the steps have been skipped here. Between each picture there were usually days of sanding or spraying or buffing or sweating, often just to fix a mistake. Each small step took a painful amount of time. <br /><br />Another week will be spent improving the mold surface for production quality - and constructing jigs and flanges that will allow me to pull a joined and fully completed part from the mold without any work after the layup process beyond drilling a few holes and buffing out the finish.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Cross-bracing the back side mold, just like the other side. Bondo is used to space the wood away from the glass, preventing print through and pooling of resin under the wood - which would go nuclear during the curing process and compromise the mold surface underneath.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3YpRayHHXevEsJUp5UfOU97gj7ODdie3r2oC7NDN1_nggwElxtcADXNylyIdO3Ut8PjEpoHn6USrc5W6tFW3MbEZpkRVflvhj10pFm_dxBNmrxdJz4Q9g4btqwrmQEI8WenlQWQ/s1600/IMG_0532%255B1%255D"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3YpRayHHXevEsJUp5UfOU97gj7ODdie3r2oC7NDN1_nggwElxtcADXNylyIdO3Ut8PjEpoHn6USrc5W6tFW3MbEZpkRVflvhj10pFm_dxBNmrxdJz4Q9g4btqwrmQEI8WenlQWQ/s400/IMG_0532%255B1%255D" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676008870718646130" /></a><br /><br />The final step: glassing the cross-braces on as well as the 16 tee nuts that will align and join the mold halves later. Bolts are already holding everything together and will be broken free of the resin with an impact drill later.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOqYQz-2DaxTX04MpWvFHPdDpQFMg1OJ9rPhXGehIwmJrOTn0ViXa-pH70xWobiE3XY5jE1eC_P6eZpkggLBTryt5gQtIW2m_ckxxlkvz_4-_lgBB2omwyVIbXCuZtJPsuOL3Bw/s1600/IMG_0533%255B1%255D"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOqYQz-2DaxTX04MpWvFHPdDpQFMg1OJ9rPhXGehIwmJrOTn0ViXa-pH70xWobiE3XY5jE1eC_P6eZpkggLBTryt5gQtIW2m_ckxxlkvz_4-_lgBB2omwyVIbXCuZtJPsuOL3Bw/s400/IMG_0533%255B1%255D" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676008872539926450" /></a><br /><br />Sneak peak.. All is well inside the mold. The roughness and flaking is left over mold release film that hasn't been cleaned off. The mold surface looks awesome. The plug broke in half in the process of removing it, but I was expecting that considering the lack of relief in the gps and vario boxes. Same thing happened on the Geko/6030 mold.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBNpRn0zSp6Cw88nkWOtHA8bbaFdLTdmQMRxv1efpurRVI80o_Cpjbrsoco9e5nkxxyMFiY8n2lA5W9Wmnzrx97Y9NZaDjuRqtAodOyyQZ22zR6tYiwZCfb_XtN47vcK7MjIlLw/s1600/IMG_0539%255B1%255D"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBNpRn0zSp6Cw88nkWOtHA8bbaFdLTdmQMRxv1efpurRVI80o_Cpjbrsoco9e5nkxxyMFiY8n2lA5W9Wmnzrx97Y9NZaDjuRqtAodOyyQZ22zR6tYiwZCfb_XtN47vcK7MjIlLw/s400/IMG_0539%255B1%255D" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676008884134095858" /></a>Dustin Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284476288193556174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15733415.post-82597628091374841082011-11-11T07:18:00.001-08:002011-11-11T07:37:12.069-08:00mold making pt.2The front mold half is finished and being prepared for the layup of the second this weekend.<br /><br /><br />Stabilizing boards were added to prevent warping and curving. Attached with bondo first to insulate them from the glass itself and prevent resin from pooling underneath and printing through to the mold surface.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5w4rKzxZAGJ-U7jLBl0gP8_naXwgIrQThn3Di1y_S9yZXLEdSvmWvCln6omVDUaury3N6mzuyoNUc_uDdTS_24rsNVSyfIoIw7WJqULop8tJkCR8iEQri9q4LsFQv5Cp0h9-l2g/s1600/IMG_0479.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5w4rKzxZAGJ-U7jLBl0gP8_naXwgIrQThn3Di1y_S9yZXLEdSvmWvCln6omVDUaury3N6mzuyoNUc_uDdTS_24rsNVSyfIoIw7WJqULop8tJkCR8iEQri9q4LsFQv5Cp0h9-l2g/s400/IMG_0479.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673759348790924434" /></a><br /><br /><br />Next, they're glassed on.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBn7gO7cb2juh3WuiztySRd1X0zAXlS7keQKVRkbjZLnMw859LBmI0BhnEkZBUlWE-JW9mpZ_oJ_8RaVRwhOfvbfqeI8_j_NwaeFQb4JtlflB4khS4CwaY6AkcyautHhWq7fghBw/s1600/IMG_0481.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBn7gO7cb2juh3WuiztySRd1X0zAXlS7keQKVRkbjZLnMw859LBmI0BhnEkZBUlWE-JW9mpZ_oJ_8RaVRwhOfvbfqeI8_j_NwaeFQb4JtlflB4khS4CwaY6AkcyautHhWq7fghBw/s400/IMG_0481.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673759353940819506" /></a><br /><br /><br />Fender washers are glassed around the perimeter to give perfect bolt alignment later.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIYK5RAcYJjSCLITMAnEQhhblMhJJXsWpyK5KU-v-34kdzUpwyccIWkhF473UIec7npRtHEj73HTe8sDAdTPMcOA_hbjjniDc5A5mwWZl6U9QCMPdpDXmruKE6Q9v2XVxcaF8Pw/s1600/IMG_0484.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIYK5RAcYJjSCLITMAnEQhhblMhJJXsWpyK5KU-v-34kdzUpwyccIWkhF473UIec7npRtHEj73HTe8sDAdTPMcOA_hbjjniDc5A5mwWZl6U9QCMPdpDXmruKE6Q9v2XVxcaF8Pw/s400/IMG_0484.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673759363803644098" /></a><br /><br /><br />Here's the mold fresh off the parting tray after some wet sanding. Next, wet sanded down to 1500, polished, and then waxed endlessly.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzEDlRyyeF13MZjy1Lh9WIg7S7iHbgFPuaYh6CadeLuxJtZyV-_jvb9KmdKWu2077AxSsoWTHgV7af3cSU9pvOEwyn5_46YZ8jGCsIGL2bpaTUjPGx-enqnxVf4FT3cMM5e2URHA/s1600/IMG_0508.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzEDlRyyeF13MZjy1Lh9WIg7S7iHbgFPuaYh6CadeLuxJtZyV-_jvb9KmdKWu2077AxSsoWTHgV7af3cSU9pvOEwyn5_46YZ8jGCsIGL2bpaTUjPGx-enqnxVf4FT3cMM5e2URHA/s400/IMG_0508.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673759981048809762" /></a><br /><br /><br />Here's the front side mold after two days of waxing.. two more coats today and the gelcoat for the back mold gets sprayed.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBlWVQakF-lYIXH6qofoJGok-MurX9hA-x5aAHKE5BZ64wMfrpy73vFMME3xfsRUpZuWrfwXnQBJTwCz8S2JI9lQzrWwp1Lvlm9tGrEVcGmo041RvlzM-4D4hwihHCtk16fA6Kw/s1600/IMG_0523.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBlWVQakF-lYIXH6qofoJGok-MurX9hA-x5aAHKE5BZ64wMfrpy73vFMME3xfsRUpZuWrfwXnQBJTwCz8S2JI9lQzrWwp1Lvlm9tGrEVcGmo041RvlzM-4D4hwihHCtk16fA6Kw/s400/IMG_0523.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673759375485554578" /></a>Dustin Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284476288193556174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15733415.post-51602432087436504162011-11-04T08:55:00.000-07:002011-11-04T09:08:33.023-07:00The mold for the new 6030/garmin 76 pod is cruising along. The new pod features a pressure fit for the 76 just like my Geko pod (except the 76 has a slot for securing a safety cord). The 6030 slot also has a cutout to allow downloading without removing the instrument. Mounts will be the same, but the rod will be grade 8 instead of stainless in order to support the greater mass of the new pod.<br /><br />First step: rough cut and generous bondo use.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-4tPL7hXCv9k732HcQXWAyIpbJJQdyTrbUtTGad4UVsmp01KxgQGGNqwrLDO7zxZRZ7uHYUJeb_EfzoWPtrxx9OcAISe2IoOLGA8i8HOWtTS60q1tikgMBZ9HNktDhl8B31ByFg/s1600/photo%255B2%255D.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-4tPL7hXCv9k732HcQXWAyIpbJJQdyTrbUtTGad4UVsmp01KxgQGGNqwrLDO7zxZRZ7uHYUJeb_EfzoWPtrxx9OcAISe2IoOLGA8i8HOWtTS60q1tikgMBZ9HNktDhl8B31ByFg/s400/photo%255B2%255D.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671170472581957586" /></a><br />This is what it looks like after hitting the belt sander and rounding the profile a bit.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDhUlMRaZzmsllwDhWw7KGT5Q75xtJ5vGbF3IZOZmfx-O6WGtS8txg37RZWuI-kGiwjmGAOFLnqerL6zqwpNc4Hda0IHMYnSAT7_KTDYGNcf4VMkR9UbV7nr5oVLKWj2dPWdkAw/s1600/photo.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDhUlMRaZzmsllwDhWw7KGT5Q75xtJ5vGbF3IZOZmfx-O6WGtS8txg37RZWuI-kGiwjmGAOFLnqerL6zqwpNc4Hda0IHMYnSAT7_KTDYGNcf4VMkR9UbV7nr5oVLKWj2dPWdkAw/s400/photo.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671170493433430386" /></a><br />Gray primer helps show irregularities in the shaping process.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih91_Oxa-8l-Az-VODtog2vdASdz4RGhwnEZj5Ub0mc97CCDqn7IBJIHfc-hnA-l92CRpORjNfruBVm_hfUJtjuIWwrgE5cX7Yp_0XxYTuNzhwhkele81KRmyrr8cl8FRjwWFkzg/s1600/photo%255B1%255D.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih91_Oxa-8l-Az-VODtog2vdASdz4RGhwnEZj5Ub0mc97CCDqn7IBJIHfc-hnA-l92CRpORjNfruBVm_hfUJtjuIWwrgE5cX7Yp_0XxYTuNzhwhkele81KRmyrr8cl8FRjwWFkzg/s400/photo%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671170462206845586" /></a><br />A parting tray is built to create a line for dividing the two mold halves.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuszV53lCYAv49o_dLRJgS7Rh2Gn3xUstC1KFLz_UMyBx1_O04wswFDXx28MdbHbdrc5dwBuJhe8_C-JctGcgSVu4wgCbGsj0zubVTsse0yxyUz5P_iGF-KEhisveHHsM11FXrcw/s1600/p.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuszV53lCYAv49o_dLRJgS7Rh2Gn3xUstC1KFLz_UMyBx1_O04wswFDXx28MdbHbdrc5dwBuJhe8_C-JctGcgSVu4wgCbGsj0zubVTsse0yxyUz5P_iGF-KEhisveHHsM11FXrcw/s400/p.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671170158675242386" /></a><br />The plug is positioned and dammed up with bondo to create a perfect parting edge.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Oak05UUc1drSFA2-tYNPNipR7tAhWtBexlof_AdeXk5_V0A9Lq1Ul6NgzXWXdznNgcxfdHVHthkh0VS2gYTTnfIOC9yd5ZckQ8UieznOT4ADx4UsR9MdqbZEuO70ua0O_J7tYA/s1600/photo%255B3%255D.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Oak05UUc1drSFA2-tYNPNipR7tAhWtBexlof_AdeXk5_V0A9Lq1Ul6NgzXWXdznNgcxfdHVHthkh0VS2gYTTnfIOC9yd5ZckQ8UieznOT4ADx4UsR9MdqbZEuO70ua0O_J7tYA/s400/photo%255B3%255D.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671170450386683810" /></a><br />Primer is sanded and polished to create a nice finish on the parting flange. A huge flange was chosen to allow for resin infusion process if I decide to go that way.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOD_iViFJa9ukDtH2DI-VLFdu3DcFJsv2R7kXkP57i_2D-35-1ytOzCbnKxTwzFHxNG1BgmFpSKKh-NnKbpPCZrTEJ9yftOnHQWXa6VcXKJ4xCpgxQ-6m2TC49R9GMydqravTDtw/s1600/ph.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOD_iViFJa9ukDtH2DI-VLFdu3DcFJsv2R7kXkP57i_2D-35-1ytOzCbnKxTwzFHxNG1BgmFpSKKh-NnKbpPCZrTEJ9yftOnHQWXa6VcXKJ4xCpgxQ-6m2TC49R9GMydqravTDtw/s400/ph.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671170147924173266" /></a><br />I walled up the parting tray to avoid the mess of spilled resin, overspray, and cutting the mold edge after layup.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK7IHcMW3s0qBZZRF57GcRMjDaS0SKrynUYsyX3eXeLeQaKeiC-LrqQrMaUu87c4mQOHgHj8nELGf2U2b7swmfpwfk-s_qSra4RmKfLLl1T_a3lQzWCqkXczcoD3JXwbZLfG23ug/s1600/pho.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK7IHcMW3s0qBZZRF57GcRMjDaS0SKrynUYsyX3eXeLeQaKeiC-LrqQrMaUu87c4mQOHgHj8nELGf2U2b7swmfpwfk-s_qSra4RmKfLLl1T_a3lQzWCqkXczcoD3JXwbZLfG23ug/s400/pho.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671170134988428546" /></a><br />Black tooling gel was sprayed through a siphon gun until about 20 mils thick to create a hard, durable surface capable of producing many parts.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMt9fNQWSKiAHZCHzJ47DfPJ4E_un95Q62wm1Jc3vM26QrVGX6lNtHSYmPCPSM2gvVz18sRBnr00BqULFSUssgdlzdPRitnTZaHMCAScjb0y8KzWEshTDi-sODUE7FjXR-H7-VQ/s1600/phot.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMt9fNQWSKiAHZCHzJ47DfPJ4E_un95Q62wm1Jc3vM26QrVGX6lNtHSYmPCPSM2gvVz18sRBnr00BqULFSUssgdlzdPRitnTZaHMCAScjb0y8KzWEshTDi-sODUE7FjXR-H7-VQ/s400/phot.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671170121544133826" /></a><br />Two layers of resin and chop fiber were layed up on the tacky gelcoat to stabilize it and prevent shrinkage overnight. This is where it's at now.. more later.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOt9WQT7tPZ5Rx3Bi1d_Mxta2RIHUUvsRhFT07acj2ilHQDnIUt6G0-_Oq6RFABTWi7Ql29Nj4rJBe1dCeRj5TlEJI4jWpPv1f_d5cH2gqZtYbc-WkeUXqVphl93ejHsv8xy-XFg/s1600/chop.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOt9WQT7tPZ5Rx3Bi1d_Mxta2RIHUUvsRhFT07acj2ilHQDnIUt6G0-_Oq6RFABTWi7Ql29Nj4rJBe1dCeRj5TlEJI4jWpPv1f_d5cH2gqZtYbc-WkeUXqVphl93ejHsv8xy-XFg/s400/chop.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671170112063271010" /></a>Dustin Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284476288193556174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15733415.post-63011804004899063922011-09-30T12:29:00.000-07:002011-09-30T21:16:02.340-07:00<em>Rollin into Phoenix before the practice day. Epic conditions</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikM_NhN50V8k_DJ6uIRyzA8MvpZqmllLAtAm432l7DehqdTtHQuwOD1Xl3iGreuQ3q1Kwez26K2tyYsGUCrXwr0WBs0_bp9cJdjHVTxkV_MrHKcREbDXy_hCLlGDB5htfvOHpWxg/s1600/iphone+pics+178.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikM_NhN50V8k_DJ6uIRyzA8MvpZqmllLAtAm432l7DehqdTtHQuwOD1Xl3iGreuQ3q1Kwez26K2tyYsGUCrXwr0WBs0_bp9cJdjHVTxkV_MrHKcREbDXy_hCLlGDB5htfvOHpWxg/s400/iphone+pics+178.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658230982185843810" /></a><br /><br /><em>SCFR sunset from the roof of the hotel</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqS0yrIoIq5mn0YkvIOVcXnaM0OQZDOGBtUOvllzTGyb8QEM6aqhDjwkeP0022ZWs65IDIvcWxMPBqEdFfbgP3p-ZcZxOfxBBmgPgCuKJGrKQfI1JSr4ABV-DmQ2Wsm559yliPhQ/s1600/iphone+pics+208.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqS0yrIoIq5mn0YkvIOVcXnaM0OQZDOGBtUOvllzTGyb8QEM6aqhDjwkeP0022ZWs65IDIvcWxMPBqEdFfbgP3p-ZcZxOfxBBmgPgCuKJGrKQfI1JSr4ABV-DmQ2Wsm559yliPhQ/s400/iphone+pics+208.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658238234437040754" /></a><br /><br />The SCFR wraps up a long season of comps for me in 2011. I have been on the road since March. There were seven competitions. If I wasn't flying, I was building harnesses. If I wasn't doing that, I was flying a towplane. Around the edges of this schedule, the Wills team also managed to squeeze in a ciniflex helicopter shoot in Big Sur and many late nights of partying..<br /><br /><br /><br /><em>Growth is difficult.</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNh7BEDmsqKdt24aycQW0O4BEZM8FPt0ZiTm4aFDOq2qhvjqu9lGBRiv_khSqceBJ72YH8NTDxCuLVaMpP_5WQS1VcgMbyM96fzlhOVA_7UFWQ7kx4Vf1gI5LjRxTw8E1kNgVc8Q/s1600/iphone+pics+005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNh7BEDmsqKdt24aycQW0O4BEZM8FPt0ZiTm4aFDOq2qhvjqu9lGBRiv_khSqceBJ72YH8NTDxCuLVaMpP_5WQS1VcgMbyM96fzlhOVA_7UFWQ7kx4Vf1gI5LjRxTw8E1kNgVc8Q/s400/iphone+pics+005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658230968198061986" /></a><br /><br />I am satisfied with my performance this season and feel like I made a small breakthrough in Brasilia on the second last comp of the year. Rooming with Michel and Davizinho, I was on their schedule for the duration of the event. That meant early to bed, early to rise, every day. Not a single late night, easy on the alcohol, and I felt relaxed and confident throughout all the flights. I brought that method back to Casa Grande and it worked equally well. <br /> <br /><em>Breakthrough..</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnG30HsPo4b-hgCusb79So1MDOxf_zW-VHZRHN4d2Q8li0asz1U13ohyphenhyphenEEhL6riXSxpdSIdWIwSVR-7N-YMBzCgkj2e4UlADWnyUFhnzjsZIzxpL__gq6sFpzbSPLc9F27u2CBA/s1600/iphone+pics+183.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnG30HsPo4b-hgCusb79So1MDOxf_zW-VHZRHN4d2Q8li0asz1U13ohyphenhyphenEEhL6riXSxpdSIdWIwSVR-7N-YMBzCgkj2e4UlADWnyUFhnzjsZIzxpL__gq6sFpzbSPLc9F27u2CBA/s400/iphone+pics+183.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658230966935967122" /></a><br /><br />After the comp, Jamie, Ben, Jochen, and I went north to check out some of the sights. Starting out with a drive through Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon, we took our first full day to hike the highest point in the state. Condtions were perfect.<br /><br /><em>Entering Sedona with Ben, Jamie, and Jochen at the start of a week long tour.</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUcSzaTrJxw17iNmJcguVuZzk8-CZvdoEt_0xAX8ULUyNPJ6up9_qcBeE6c-ckbC12MVGYYR-JmrVAM-IrHIw-6hnDR2ng2ZocYA88NN8lZ6A52M0VQHkl7AddJBKFIiDSR00dg/s1600/iphone+pics+216.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUcSzaTrJxw17iNmJcguVuZzk8-CZvdoEt_0xAX8ULUyNPJ6up9_qcBeE6c-ckbC12MVGYYR-JmrVAM-IrHIw-6hnDR2ng2ZocYA88NN8lZ6A52M0VQHkl7AddJBKFIiDSR00dg/s400/iphone+pics+216.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658238245027788866" /></a><br /><br /><em>On top of Humphrey's - more hypoxic than I've ever been on foot.</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOjUuMtFffF4OlOxoNyf-Kct74YflACUPwVBrvt3Gia7cRjp5N2X0kIC7K0n3-YWPdetqssfPrC8WLOufJJdb9QY0WOPwC0I_y9O_2Gv2mmG9IxRDTZpX3qu6r6ZVmtngDVCgqQ/s1600/iphone+pics+221.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOjUuMtFffF4OlOxoNyf-Kct74YflACUPwVBrvt3Gia7cRjp5N2X0kIC7K0n3-YWPdetqssfPrC8WLOufJJdb9QY0WOPwC0I_y9O_2Gv2mmG9IxRDTZpX3qu6r6ZVmtngDVCgqQ/s400/iphone+pics+221.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658238247088669378" /></a><br /><br />Next day we headed straight for the south rim of the Grand Canyon with eyes bigger than our lungs. We managed to drag ourselves clear of the rim again at about 5pm after setting off down the trail at 930am. We did play in the river for a couple hours though..<br /><br /><em>The rim of the canyon at South Kaibab trail. After a roundtrip to the river in a day, one day after climbing Humphrey's, the highest peak in the state.</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTB3pDgmwA2raQ9VAQ_k1YO-kX16GRT_2Y7FyZIVUNCZEan6bTwcBE2hy5qrBwvc004b4Ze2qDA4NWCD-DAZSEUXtLSKnfRoPhc2AiRPVU8RuwJsV3s16lQ4Sxq0BIatepukaY4Q/s1600/iphone+pics+226.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTB3pDgmwA2raQ9VAQ_k1YO-kX16GRT_2Y7FyZIVUNCZEan6bTwcBE2hy5qrBwvc004b4Ze2qDA4NWCD-DAZSEUXtLSKnfRoPhc2AiRPVU8RuwJsV3s16lQ4Sxq0BIatepukaY4Q/s400/iphone+pics+226.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658238253333261650" /></a><br /><br />Last stop was Meteor Crater to see a 50,000 year old hole in the ground. The surviving pieces of iron are so heavy that they don't secure them against theft. They just lower them onto the display case and trust that you won't be able to get away with them.<br /><br /><em>Highest range in the state and starting point for the longest flight ever in Arizona. As seen from the rim of Meteor Crater observatory deck.</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6-gCWq2meRNRsP8koeoMbkkT55CPAOaQ3Gope5OmXFdMzeAKcBdIQP6SG7ECW_sjLzoTcdMsGvMxIbOzZf0rHnNUDiSllLu4iInlBj8JVYp-8B2d2M6u7XUb0svTEmwwXcwAYQ/s1600/iphone+pics+228.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6-gCWq2meRNRsP8koeoMbkkT55CPAOaQ3Gope5OmXFdMzeAKcBdIQP6SG7ECW_sjLzoTcdMsGvMxIbOzZf0rHnNUDiSllLu4iInlBj8JVYp-8B2d2M6u7XUb0svTEmwwXcwAYQ/s400/iphone+pics+228.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658238257558004866" /></a>Dustin Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284476288193556174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15733415.post-25247484461564097152011-09-06T10:01:00.000-07:002011-09-06T11:24:34.907-07:00After a season of intense windshield time and some.. questionable comp conditions abroad... I finally stumbled onto one of the few decent events of the year - Brasilia. The comp was scheduled from August 21st-27th and, although the second day was cancelled, all seven days were flown. Conditions were spectacular with 6 m/s thermals to over 12,000 feet on the best day. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxYKeWz4_9rxRWLO9rhiL0FUo6cbt7PJD9lha_GXOGONLIEyRMC77aOZdFj6NyDWLpSkBKkwxpwHeloVt61d3pa5yLCByovoqSru7KT4oO4DyWVrWapcs1ie0Ur8jSi8N70tLTw/s1600/aaaa.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxYKeWz4_9rxRWLO9rhiL0FUo6cbt7PJD9lha_GXOGONLIEyRMC77aOZdFj6NyDWLpSkBKkwxpwHeloVt61d3pa5yLCByovoqSru7KT4oO4DyWVrWapcs1ie0Ur8jSi8N70tLTw/s400/aaaa.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649308199425354850" /></a><br /><br />I went into the last day with a 27 point lead over Nene, followed by the Moyes boys in 3rd and 4th. The last day had amazing conditions but was unfortunately cancelled due to an accident before the first start clock. About half of the field was unaware of the incident and flew the course all the way to goal at the Esplanada. So, with a huge shadow hanging over the day, and the loss of our humble friend Enio, we cancelled the day and the awards ceremony and left the Esplanada all going our separate ways and coming to terms with what had happened.<br /><br />It was a Wills 1,2 finish with my first Brazilian comp win, Nene very close in 2nd, Andre 3rd, Jonny 4th in his last comp of the season - on his way to get knee surgery after flying all of 2011 on a non existing ACL, and Michel blazing the final cancelled day on his T2C, a 121 km task in under two hours. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic-q4csKQCggsD1hqvtDsI3iP6UFSDwZovU6e5ywE-dfhxk6UU-XjYWm50QWfiALUOt2IDfkVjSZyASpMSgVRrVHtkoGKIcHuIVMIVxJIIdI1fzo24PqC_YR8Cf9IW8cuGQMNigg/s1600/aaa.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic-q4csKQCggsD1hqvtDsI3iP6UFSDwZovU6e5ywE-dfhxk6UU-XjYWm50QWfiALUOt2IDfkVjSZyASpMSgVRrVHtkoGKIcHuIVMIVxJIIdI1fzo24PqC_YR8Cf9IW8cuGQMNigg/s400/aaa.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649308194142301986" /></a><br /><br /><br /> I am looking forward to Santa Cruz Flats edition 5.0. We're pretty certain to have good, long, flyable days. We're even more assured of closed courses ending up in the laid back luxury of a resort that caters to all our desires. As usual, I will be the one pushing for long, open tasks in all sorts of odd directions so we can see new terrain. In the end we will probably only head outbound on one day, but no doubt we will still walk away with 20-30 hours more airtime than at the start of the week.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtalb641rT77FBfTe2mePYEU479J8tSQxvj_G82BtGbe3ahmK_SW0fTTM0gmZGzUPWvWFRYnl9cpMQFt4I_xG3VLPQDQc05eh4H4_yibdLZOMPHr3aY1m1QDThTg6eASlQ3Ec5Xw/s1600/P1080276.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtalb641rT77FBfTe2mePYEU479J8tSQxvj_G82BtGbe3ahmK_SW0fTTM0gmZGzUPWvWFRYnl9cpMQFt4I_xG3VLPQDQc05eh4H4_yibdLZOMPHr3aY1m1QDThTg6eASlQ3Ec5Xw/s400/P1080276.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649295931850443026" /></a><br /><br />As usual, at the end of the season my plans include a new pod design. The difference this year is that the traveling has been so intense that I have decided not to fly the Canoa race just to have some precious idle time... or was Daniel Velez getting just a little too fast?? hmmm...we'll never know! This means the 6030/Garmin 72/76/96 pod is likely to finally become reality by winter. One change is the mount for Wills gliders - I have replaced the carbon with a a smaller, tougher delrin version by modifying the existing basetube skid stock. Lastly, the new model will have a slot for downloading and charging without having to remove the 6030/Compeo.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWADRNhJcvNHLV6IKJ2f1_i4w4_ZOIjG1Y-QC3nU9jSTh2KrSUjAY7q2kQ-cQZvXEXtArbyeElLQKk2EkcvOjTJiMmk9KSDYRU4YxtbPHm0tD4llJL9nx3nzHM7LwbKSTJ1tn8w/s1600/P1080247.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWADRNhJcvNHLV6IKJ2f1_i4w4_ZOIjG1Y-QC3nU9jSTh2KrSUjAY7q2kQ-cQZvXEXtArbyeElLQKk2EkcvOjTJiMmk9KSDYRU4YxtbPHm0tD4llJL9nx3nzHM7LwbKSTJ1tn8w/s400/P1080247.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649294833392020354" /></a>Dustin Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284476288193556174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15733415.post-83919204200054577642011-07-19T03:07:00.000-07:002011-07-19T04:50:46.995-07:00Day one of the worlds - cancelled due to wind. <br /><br />Basically the first half of this year has been spent chasing down cash to fund the finale: the worlds. Arriving, unwinding, and flying the big air of Fiesch was a welcome decompression. To then reach Sigillo find the welcoming committee to be represented by the sprog police, Tomas Pellicci in particular, was an unfortunate twist in an otherwise sweet trip. Some people radiate positive energy; others are a drain on the world around them. If you are a comp pilot interested in having a hand on the wheel, I highly recommend joining a growing group of pilots who have become weary of the growing strangle hold on competitors at top level events. Go here with your comments: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/groups/118763844883239 We can go down with the current ship or put pilots in the driver's seat - comps should be for pilots, by pilots. Think: Hang Gliding World Cup...<br /><br />My sprogs were deemed acceptably high. They are always among the highest. But off to the story:<br /><br />Directly after the mid west comp in Illinois, I joined the Whitewater, WI crew as temporary tow pilot. The crew is awesome and things were starting to go well financially and weather-wise, but the slow start to their season forced me to abandon them and cruise over to Missoula to sew up Coverts. I wish I had less obligations and more free time because Whitewater and Madison would make a nice summer home. Greg Dinauer and Rich Cizauskas hosted me and we partied it up. <br /><br />The next three weeks were spent feverishly constructing Coverts for more than a dozen customers on the waiting list. We made a huge dent in the now very short list, and each successive harness gave me ideas for <span style="font-style:italic;">my </span>new harness - after Santa Cruz I plan to incorporate a few changes into my own harness and see how they fare in Canoa.<br /><br />Fiesch was the first stop in the Euro itinerary. After a night in Swiss Nic's house in Baden, a hip little town close to Zurich, Blenky took a day to drive all of us and our huge pile of harnesses and wings to Fiesch, about four hours away. As we approached the Alps, it was clear we were in for some amazing views and huge air later in the week. Aside from one very rough day and a cancelled day, the flying was awesome. You need only to climb a thousand or so feet over launch to find yourself perched above a collision of three separate glaciers, sliding forever from the peaks around the Eiger. My bump tolerance is up a few notches or more after last week's event. Modern gliders are amazingly forgiving of unbelievable turbulence. We met some cool pilots, some of them flying their first comp ever. Quite an indoctrination.<br /><br />And now we await the first task of the 18th worlds. For now, it's an ongoing party as old acquaintances keep reappearing in corners of the small village of Sigillo. We were fortunate to get a few days of great flying off the south launch up on Cucco before the start of the comp. The rest of the nights have been spent partying, and the days hiking - there is a trail from nearby Costaciarro up to the top of Monte Cucco that has one of the best continuous inclines I've ever found. More than 3000 feet of punishing single track with probably 95% of the trail at a continuous grade. Yesterday my mom and I made the climb to the 1566 meter peak in a little under 1:30. Clouds were raging by starting about 50 meters below peak height as they joined a growing cu nim between the mountain range and the Adriatic sea.<br /><br />Tomorrow looks a little worse for weather but we expect to fly on Thursday. I'm just happy to be here with the health to do what we do. Here are a few pics of the journey - and my new sail. The Wills crew hooked me up with the best flying T2 I've ever had. Totally stock sail that has the most balanced and lightest steering yet.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIZf95uD10ePGKZSSvINU_6fin1keJfUVaCF06XFd8hyphenhyphenIp9yPJCkNKxzYQ720cKqVPfqAwPZIlhv4k_uJyBmBkaTREvStuOiF5WWm_Op_RpvIZeu8MliU-kwo4YouIPuhEeEThw/s1600/IMG_0007%255B1%255D.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIZf95uD10ePGKZSSvINU_6fin1keJfUVaCF06XFd8hyphenhyphenIp9yPJCkNKxzYQ720cKqVPfqAwPZIlhv4k_uJyBmBkaTREvStuOiF5WWm_Op_RpvIZeu8MliU-kwo4YouIPuhEeEThw/s400/IMG_0007%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631005095294273042" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-2yg0JNvpo_2zZSztU1_SELGdC5NmFcWM_H01xQsZxudJy0d_heuhtoU8LBSQq5ho8lMOST_iLbPeuLG1lRgd8xp57fh0JhiO9GGI94i_QLnkfHiu4UMGvlFP0csQhe8_LxsXw/s1600/IMG_0015%255B1%255D.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-2yg0JNvpo_2zZSztU1_SELGdC5NmFcWM_H01xQsZxudJy0d_heuhtoU8LBSQq5ho8lMOST_iLbPeuLG1lRgd8xp57fh0JhiO9GGI94i_QLnkfHiu4UMGvlFP0csQhe8_LxsXw/s400/IMG_0015%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631003326994023554" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ObZCxAy9B5lQvCmtj15Xl35QYMYZQKCYcNrRXlS6dzwjX2pdHo6uL6Usa1VYXqrHltLOC7mtQRTOBUnfx7eTorQsDJLhvZ4IOs0IlWICt38bmMRc71clIGD8pzzmxPCI2jc9rA/s1600/IMG_0078%255B1%255D.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ObZCxAy9B5lQvCmtj15Xl35QYMYZQKCYcNrRXlS6dzwjX2pdHo6uL6Usa1VYXqrHltLOC7mtQRTOBUnfx7eTorQsDJLhvZ4IOs0IlWICt38bmMRc71clIGD8pzzmxPCI2jc9rA/s400/IMG_0078%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631004744077824546" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7NdTNtYMGHFJr2KWCmqJdIKSWW8N1MP6ZeeKpelPx18YGCJ97qKkhFX3SySYNskuKO39stOZOLpRXFBC_aF3R04fPz2kFeycjzHL5dLD8gpN_v6eRvPffXO6SNpF5FXiU_12Mw/s1600/IMG_0113%255B1%255D.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7NdTNtYMGHFJr2KWCmqJdIKSWW8N1MP6ZeeKpelPx18YGCJ97qKkhFX3SySYNskuKO39stOZOLpRXFBC_aF3R04fPz2kFeycjzHL5dLD8gpN_v6eRvPffXO6SNpF5FXiU_12Mw/s400/IMG_0113%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631005581520469938" /></a>Dustin Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284476288193556174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15733415.post-30424364504653281362011-05-17T12:29:00.001-07:002011-05-18T14:45:38.260-07:00Florida compsOur approximate track over the course of the Rally<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPHb9pbPcy3YWqErRDEoyOHGZdc5ekPXowS9hjISIkQODfb09_icYWKB30S2sVu-TBUHlrfJ612dq54QnftGDDtOoLssV7JoXdPYTTX61vP3WPO72aNXDBHZZVgyQiSwqFJewYg/s1600/route.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 255px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPHb9pbPcy3YWqErRDEoyOHGZdc5ekPXowS9hjISIkQODfb09_icYWKB30S2sVu-TBUHlrfJ612dq54QnftGDDtOoLssV7JoXdPYTTX61vP3WPO72aNXDBHZZVgyQiSwqFJewYg/s400/route.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607844553058906834" /></a><br /><br />Paris on opening day launching out of Quest<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ePeMdYc-kZAczo-mXvcUcgC8gDp18P_31QtaMAh39cZ-mvwlkm0ieuU1ksVCzRN6v6q_6LqRfPo-2cHayVylIEECViGcvuOF-DJ12oTyzCKGnjr66EnA26R1q6I7GnG62tR67Q/s1600/DSC_3823.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ePeMdYc-kZAczo-mXvcUcgC8gDp18P_31QtaMAh39cZ-mvwlkm0ieuU1ksVCzRN6v6q_6LqRfPo-2cHayVylIEECViGcvuOF-DJ12oTyzCKGnjr66EnA26R1q6I7GnG62tR67Q/s400/DSC_3823.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607827651154060898" /></a><br /><br />Shapiro launching out of Live Oak on day 2<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2EGrpAjJVnSJpnQQyS8Qd8OrHSJYGeB_XGAH5VxJ22tkcXtPWey3edA0l6ha6o_HldiqTyyNVU0i6k5n9hyue3vgOIDiqMq_911D-x_Dc0UmHF40IpRD_7CXUHV34bduhfOG6w/s1600/DSC_3872.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2EGrpAjJVnSJpnQQyS8Qd8OrHSJYGeB_XGAH5VxJ22tkcXtPWey3edA0l6ha6o_HldiqTyyNVU0i6k5n9hyue3vgOIDiqMq_911D-x_Dc0UmHF40IpRD_7CXUHV34bduhfOG6w/s400/DSC_3872.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607827656829115474" /></a><br /><br />Couple of T2s in goal at Moultrie municipal<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bKr_5_XOCTSImJcsjjlKSJmX6rk0R6idQQTKnwvVQG5ic5UM3OsHAD6QvCIiKAjXztFcCljwc5Y8iCMVRCucx4E2GYdP9t9n2OfZwIAzXxxatypeK3jgipQLwgOkINMzJHQt3Q/s1600/DSC_3929.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bKr_5_XOCTSImJcsjjlKSJmX6rk0R6idQQTKnwvVQG5ic5UM3OsHAD6QvCIiKAjXztFcCljwc5Y8iCMVRCucx4E2GYdP9t9n2OfZwIAzXxxatypeK3jgipQLwgOkINMzJHQt3Q/s400/DSC_3929.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607827664387714434" /></a><br /><br />Launching off the taxiway at Americus airport in southern Georgia<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-BWDKPWbE6du4MGNlRHLDF5sqofv2vWvxXwVf3b_9NvFdTcMR88hB3taelWlQBUSLDcxrSab54WsIwqU6hhzKVRK374cwgH_SnP5syIosEEngB-TgVG7occEgP327MUl3k_-6Q/s1600/DSC_4109.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-BWDKPWbE6du4MGNlRHLDF5sqofv2vWvxXwVf3b_9NvFdTcMR88hB3taelWlQBUSLDcxrSab54WsIwqU6hhzKVRK374cwgH_SnP5syIosEEngB-TgVG7occEgP327MUl3k_-6Q/s400/DSC_4109.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607827677408156322" /></a><br /><br />Aerial view of the Americus apron<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8COxhkEat2xKcdD57CvugWlQyGJg5cpc8rSym1eMNWSsmvuBkUabDmJZe1x_AbaINWl7pHkSRm3YriK8KhduYMeZE9MxJeyw6-0DqlP1826g8Gq8mMT2IPMTPhU6CBv2qQDkCA/s1600/DSC_3992.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8COxhkEat2xKcdD57CvugWlQyGJg5cpc8rSym1eMNWSsmvuBkUabDmJZe1x_AbaINWl7pHkSRm3YriK8KhduYMeZE9MxJeyw6-0DqlP1826g8Gq8mMT2IPMTPhU6CBv2qQDkCA/s400/DSC_3992.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607827672282552562" /></a><br /><br />Taking the day win on the 194k task from Americus to Vidalia<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5jE3QywkUu1BltHMEZlMOxbuOiBiLg19qvZWo_STAX3qAb83mDWcCAgGm_KORDRp3ZT3k1Y8QFuckRyuTHPZjhAy543-i6LOW8Om3grDwAs_nHTbKYZStMrrh9HkmfwfQO91Tg/s1600/DSC_4163.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5jE3QywkUu1BltHMEZlMOxbuOiBiLg19qvZWo_STAX3qAb83mDWcCAgGm_KORDRp3ZT3k1Y8QFuckRyuTHPZjhAy543-i6LOW8Om3grDwAs_nHTbKYZStMrrh9HkmfwfQO91Tg/s400/DSC_4163.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607839055802914946" /></a><br /><br />The Vidalia welcoming committee<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-Iz_FqSoj9Aj_4GYA6R8GMf7VlQzNzlZsaucsELjICMKK3dIQMg12YP8kiHYdk6NYyEzBYmhN-ZFuZhmIEErLsi7leB8RT5cf3PF703qpBL0S0rsKTjc7ZahHTdjl5Mkm5AaCA/s1600/DSC_4175.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-Iz_FqSoj9Aj_4GYA6R8GMf7VlQzNzlZsaucsELjICMKK3dIQMg12YP8kiHYdk6NYyEzBYmhN-ZFuZhmIEErLsi7leB8RT5cf3PF703qpBL0S0rsKTjc7ZahHTdjl5Mkm5AaCA/s400/DSC_4175.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607839068236782722" /></a><br /><br />Curt, Lou, Wylie, and crew after a long day<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZdG38Smg4RN5e3UI7qwYTmx7ayQZA0W2vA_W5YqU36tHMqggAj9e9VlvVpAg9_E7DXX3joqQq9O58fmviL1MXihky_GPZEqr9tASvCQnLLmn-1g5OX88GzmUjH0Q85CGBdylzg/s1600/DSC_4171.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZdG38Smg4RN5e3UI7qwYTmx7ayQZA0W2vA_W5YqU36tHMqggAj9e9VlvVpAg9_E7DXX3joqQq9O58fmviL1MXihky_GPZEqr9tASvCQnLLmn-1g5OX88GzmUjH0Q85CGBdylzg/s400/DSC_4171.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607839059435784946" /></a><br /><br />Jonny departing on the last day of the Rally on his way to Allendale, SC<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmbZcLEyiRTns3saWJqi3xfQn731da-BA4yPjIJaOLEOsAjDhQKhaiIePL65HnyBNKeM8wPSS-LLUu5XebTHOAtoW69hEEFvHT4zB5ZKDNq5exIuN68sTjV3BDldEfKKFjiEtsQ/s1600/DSC_4136.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmbZcLEyiRTns3saWJqi3xfQn731da-BA4yPjIJaOLEOsAjDhQKhaiIePL65HnyBNKeM8wPSS-LLUu5XebTHOAtoW69hEEFvHT4zB5ZKDNq5exIuN68sTjV3BDldEfKKFjiEtsQ/s400/DSC_4136.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607839046518159330" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />The combined weather for the Ridge and Rally comps had to be about the best I can remember in Florida. The ridge was tricky as usual with some light days and lots of wind but we still managed several 100k + days and had a strong field with jr. and the rest of the moyes boys there as well as the wills team. The US team got great practice for the upcoming Italian worlds and I think we have honed our radio comm at this point. Several new gliders were delivered at the ridge comp as well, and Miguel Molina and Mike Glennon were stoked with the way their new 154s were going. Fillipo, Stinnet, Bunner, Bostik, Davis, and others all seemed to be nearby when the going was good.<br /><br />The rally had basically the best weather I've ever flown in the east. Mostly 6-700 up with the occasional 9 up just to keep it interesting and allow you to leapfrog from behind if you got lucky. <br /><br />Coming off of a light spring schedule, I was a bit worried about how I would settle into comp mode. Two weeks of 16+ hour days working in the Shapiro harness shop right before the comp weren't the best training I could have been doing, but it seemed to be working for the first 3 days of the ridge... there's no doubt our T2s are going as well or better than they've ever gone with zero issues gliding with anyone out there. By the end of the 2 competitions, Jonny had 5 day wins, I had 4, and Paris and Curt each snagged a day win, both after a long absence from the US comps. When it was done, Jonny's consistency had won him both comps, however I am super happy with my performance and can narrow down my mistakes to just a couple over the entire two weeks - which is a rare thing.<br /><br />The ridge comp marks one year since I first flew my proto covert, and after a solid season of racing it is looking pretty much new. I'm taking it to the worlds along with a new sail on my current frame (T2Cx...after a little skunk working). Looking forward to a full season of comps..Dustin Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284476288193556174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15733415.post-87906309619122813192011-02-06T18:56:00.000-08:002011-02-06T19:04:30.993-08:00Fastest hang glider in the... WORLD??<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_O1X82tq2qgKqN-87V4Tn3wOJkqVmWV_8W791ocvAHfry_XwLWTENcuI9ylvqGYSBbZaE3gabrK1pLJXb3GOJM9zdAScbwVJCY-0w1mS00O90bTva_TEsP6BTlqw0TQ4J-TadQ/s1600/CCF02062011_00000.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 307px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_O1X82tq2qgKqN-87V4Tn3wOJkqVmWV_8W791ocvAHfry_XwLWTENcuI9ylvqGYSBbZaE3gabrK1pLJXb3GOJM9zdAScbwVJCY-0w1mS00O90bTva_TEsP6BTlqw0TQ4J-TadQ/s400/CCF02062011_00000.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570777367872308866" /></a><br /><br />Hmmmm... seems as though the rumors are true. Shapiro would like to remind me that he beat me in Santa Cruz as well as the pre worlds, but it must have just been that I was flying the <strong>FASTEST HANG GLIDER IN THE WHOLE WORLD</strong> at less than its top speed. <br />And since my current glider is, well, <strong>FASTER</strong>... hmmm....<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtSE0g3UxvMZcoynQycgOfZnK2NjcJPBPR_x4buYMRcwztORJEurIHtvnOKOQ-lfww6eo-nAGNKJHuk3ZSrXsURaHs1CimuCm1Lz4FupJmVHFcsVyLA39V_e-aFURdv5s76JBhw/s1600/CCF02062011_00001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtSE0g3UxvMZcoynQycgOfZnK2NjcJPBPR_x4buYMRcwztORJEurIHtvnOKOQ-lfww6eo-nAGNKJHuk3ZSrXsURaHs1CimuCm1Lz4FupJmVHFcsVyLA39V_e-aFURdv5s76JBhw/s400/CCF02062011_00001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570777374272741394" /></a>Dustin Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284476288193556174noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15733415.post-47055496583634270652011-01-19T16:36:00.000-08:002011-01-19T16:56:20.128-08:00Full moon..I heard Alex Cuddy <span style="font-style:italic;">www.alexcuddy.blogspot.com</span> is glider mulin' down in southern Brazil. Their weather has been crap but just 7-800kms to his north, I'm glider-less and in agony watching day after endless day of streeted up cumies from horizon to ocean zing by overhead. It's a bit flat around here.. I've done a sweet 100k flight... <span style="font-style:italic;">http://www.willswing.com/blogs/PilotBlogs/tabid/38/EntryId/251/Classic-Route-Medianeira-Brasil.aspx</span> ...from a nearby (hour away) hill but launch is about 300 feet high; definitely not comp worthy. Aero tow would be the go.<br />I'm guessing this moon can't hurt Alex's mojo..<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvOtovGNP_nSbrTS68oof4knQy8oWDEVM6v35oEig6u1Y-HY0ompHl8uGnrexCQVKjs328QbTcsJVDRC6uxeNYhgzQ2QmjsW7T7VhnZ0AzSbtMtfTc1Y-mDNMQxtqVhGEFWF4kw/s1600/P1120549.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvOtovGNP_nSbrTS68oof4knQy8oWDEVM6v35oEig6u1Y-HY0ompHl8uGnrexCQVKjs328QbTcsJVDRC6uxeNYhgzQ2QmjsW7T7VhnZ0AzSbtMtfTc1Y-mDNMQxtqVhGEFWF4kw/s400/P1120549.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564063562638508018" /></a><br /><br /><br /> and since they haven't been getting many flights in down there, I'm sure he is slayin it as we speak (11pm). Yea champion!!Dustin Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284476288193556174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15733415.post-54672321710668021762010-11-27T15:56:00.000-08:002010-11-27T19:04:29.404-08:00Canoa '10<span style="font-style:italic;">evolution of a coastal slayer..</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-fG7mkqJ1971llLQzZxddu68S_gI8BMsILONQdencZV7Hd1Uy0U5cJJuF31ErZ0by_StWEXuOOeXob42rRuZPzUhS0l-dtXQYo98rEmwqwj2TtvpvMQQ4A3sLYcF32q9w7BwGw/s1600/P1080188.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-fG7mkqJ1971llLQzZxddu68S_gI8BMsILONQdencZV7Hd1Uy0U5cJJuF31ErZ0by_StWEXuOOeXob42rRuZPzUhS0l-dtXQYo98rEmwqwj2TtvpvMQQ4A3sLYcF32q9w7BwGw/s400/P1080188.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544410291167086738" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">the morphed keel pocket/haulback fairing</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zxN2OrgDxLcaHCppJWePWABr1cxbocL0vNEh0dn277o7wavS8-1aWadQ45hjwWH6L7woCrAN9L6UXmIBuPcMHc5W5r-i7hRBxAtCBg-peNC2jciCE2q0Fio_kW7xls5WmC1WPA/s1600/P1080186.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zxN2OrgDxLcaHCppJWePWABr1cxbocL0vNEh0dn277o7wavS8-1aWadQ45hjwWH6L7woCrAN9L6UXmIBuPcMHc5W5r-i7hRBxAtCBg-peNC2jciCE2q0Fio_kW7xls5WmC1WPA/s400/P1080186.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544405799493587858" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">hidden nose cone top attachment</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTgGrMWaHVLdS_s3MkE-fnwchANHuDcc-Z7Pjz8Bzo4sLTd9gJPi6AcOZLFGvYQcYEPWBVhFTYoUnjmM-7bTpJZbqilMOXnMIT_NkNa3lBh9MBq-SyDrlWULVvlV_6ub6g7ytag/s1600/P1080185.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTgGrMWaHVLdS_s3MkE-fnwchANHuDcc-Z7Pjz8Bzo4sLTd9gJPi6AcOZLFGvYQcYEPWBVhFTYoUnjmM-7bTpJZbqilMOXnMIT_NkNa3lBh9MBq-SyDrlWULVvlV_6ub6g7ytag/s400/P1080185.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544404610087297346" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">seal for the main center zip</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3ljcqz7buBVG1JylsCuEGEIIKy1S81tknRVEwwKS_WfhUQNSpHN_7Ptot7r32N_ko9OrqYq0zwmZ5fiqmhnYPhO4fhKGbCs0c7igcYniSVnMSW9gtmb0k-Y5nZSOFUTngyCwAA/s1600/P1080181.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3ljcqz7buBVG1JylsCuEGEIIKy1S81tknRVEwwKS_WfhUQNSpHN_7Ptot7r32N_ko9OrqYq0zwmZ5fiqmhnYPhO4fhKGbCs0c7igcYniSVnMSW9gtmb0k-Y5nZSOFUTngyCwAA/s400/P1080181.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544403483849564850" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />first - neoprene inner seal where the main suspension enters the sail. next - milling off the front of the hang tee to get enough vg travel to bring the sail to its knees</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXk5EHsWc2tTrdp1o4oc2HsD7HnOl0W_mboaExiws2cieIAEMubvzEknXxf68N4lhhA4XTo7HTbh2USf-J-tpQUwTiC9H8eoSzc0J8V5s-a-qVp2fBH_6gbQNSkjqnzgPASRPcnQ/s1600/P1080180.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXk5EHsWc2tTrdp1o4oc2HsD7HnOl0W_mboaExiws2cieIAEMubvzEknXxf68N4lhhA4XTo7HTbh2USf-J-tpQUwTiC9H8eoSzc0J8V5s-a-qVp2fBH_6gbQNSkjqnzgPASRPcnQ/s400/P1080180.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544403085889123186" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">looks bad ass, worth taping on just for that</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVs-OIVEzZG6LeHgdrbueTF5rH9nrSl-T8uqi53LSItOgqNvb3VxknHE_iZIFWDTsJJzu_6nQsDG1eSZTIzN1wubtrrg1cIkdMfsXMfhw-WuaAEQ_CmrT5tnxl_4S0LAFxb-V-A/s1600/P1080179.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVs-OIVEzZG6LeHgdrbueTF5rH9nrSl-T8uqi53LSItOgqNvb3VxknHE_iZIFWDTsJJzu_6nQsDG1eSZTIzN1wubtrrg1cIkdMfsXMfhw-WuaAEQ_CmrT5tnxl_4S0LAFxb-V-A/s400/P1080179.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544402745628878818" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">pip pin surgery successful, also taped the gap around the tang/bracket interface</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHBNqHwuIFXwqRc0Ewn1R9eXz7sEPWanGlFc-5ktSruKw9Xw9mIpnjiIhSslDWvZpLxYZ8wMBlDTu8EGgzZRwEzj4cqtI-sY7GgR5lCyTu0a6hheH0OoqVgd7E3JIJ7__BwhgUA/s1600/P1080176.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHBNqHwuIFXwqRc0Ewn1R9eXz7sEPWanGlFc-5ktSruKw9Xw9mIpnjiIhSslDWvZpLxYZ8wMBlDTu8EGgzZRwEzj4cqtI-sY7GgR5lCyTu0a6hheH0OoqVgd7E3JIJ7__BwhgUA/s400/P1080176.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544402311572842226" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />took a chance on a new tip cut... may be the beginning of something? I like the aesthetics.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGeydau3juDA256qiRoIqlUn5luzo99HPRB8Jyzftdr8gmiSTFn7ida7epGe6YaaJivWY-_f_zYHO95a155YOJsddNJEB152x-uZ8pQXYpTS8LovCcw4cL0OCQ0ibTy7UFyC-XQ/s1600/P1080174.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGeydau3juDA256qiRoIqlUn5luzo99HPRB8Jyzftdr8gmiSTFn7ida7epGe6YaaJivWY-_f_zYHO95a155YOJsddNJEB152x-uZ8pQXYpTS8LovCcw4cL0OCQ0ibTy7UFyC-XQ/s400/P1080174.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544401840045007234" /></a><br /><br /><br />It's my favorite event of the year, but we were missing the rest of the Wills team and Sylmar crew for sure - after losing the entire 2010 posse to financial problems or doubts about the stability of Ecuador, I finally decided to go alone and forget my problems on the beach in Canoa rather than in Florida mid winter. <br />It was a shaky start after being turned away at the check in counter by American Airlines in MIA. Customer service has finally been completely extinguished in Miami but I had a smooth (last ever) flight on AA a day later. <br />Arrival was traditional Guayaquil - the welcoming committee of hang pilots was in attendance and, in typical style, we drove straight from the airport to the club for an all nighter downtown. <br />Next day was perfect for assembling the glider, nursing the hangover, and making the half day drive to the cliffs. The weather when we arrived that night could have been any year I have ever been there. It is always the same - wind is always on, temp is always where you would have it if you could control it, the best seafood is always a couple minute walk down the sand...<br />The practice day is historically the day we flex our glider muscles and pose as hard as possible to crush the spirit of any wanna be podium finishers. This year was no different and, realizing Daniel Velez was the nearest opponent, I made sure he was crying by landing time. The truth is you never know how the glider goes until practice day drag races.<br />The race went for two days with the third drizzled out (we still flew the third day, but pilots were nervous about cloud flying with the misty, low bases). First day was a race, wind was on, pilots were keen. I am usually good at the start gate but spent too much time practicing a critical move on the new course so I was out of position for the first clock. Diving down to the compression behind Daniel and crew, I knew it would be too much work to catch up and I wanted to crush them the first day to have some breathing room for unexpected conditions the following days. I returned to launch for the next clock slightly humbled and ready to nail it. We were both in front of our respective groups so had identical zero-wake conditions and i got him by a little over three minutes on the approximately 40 minute course. Party time.<br />Hard to wake up on day two, clouds seemed lower or it could have been my vision. Wind was *light*... Effed the start again... Needed to relax. Daniel left nearly his entire gaggle on the ground at the first turnpoint.. it looked like a diver cemetary and the vario was silent for several kms. Definitely the lightest day of racing I have ever had in Canoa and both Daniel and I were alone on our own private race wondering if we would close the course. The T2 that I had labored over for so many late night hours at the factory prevailed with another one minute lead. Party time.<br />Day three - drizzle. Perfect conditions for a north cliff run after the day was cancelled. Decided to do a wave skimmer and flush some pelicans about 10 k's from retrievable territory just to see what the sensation would be. It's strange the sound of your own breathing inside the helmet visor when your powerless aircraft is zinging over the waves, vg rope skipping off the sea foam, the cliff wall that's towering above you is approaching .... and the beach you just sailed across is inescapable except by boat.. only tomorrow if they decide to look for you. Aaaaah..perfect. Party time.<br />Next day was a lesson in what should have been last night's moderation. Just like every year. Can't wait for 2011, bring it Moyes Boyz!<blockquote></blockquote>Dustin Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284476288193556174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15733415.post-23613651771709370922010-11-14T07:39:00.001-08:002010-11-14T07:59:58.573-08:00Quest - Venice Beach<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ75FeM_j10kJs-o532H0wqtWcL4OiGBRBRXbxnVXSnGHRsRZ-ZFu-6_p9wPBr3lHs6pS9aNHv0bqZu1zQalh1zBd1PBTKZkZPsrRzCBfl61RER8zrm28bmBGR703wXWpDv3fR/s1600/Dustin+track+google+earth.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ75FeM_j10kJs-o532H0wqtWcL4OiGBRBRXbxnVXSnGHRsRZ-ZFu-6_p9wPBr3lHs6pS9aNHv0bqZu1zQalh1zBd1PBTKZkZPsrRzCBfl61RER8zrm28bmBGR703wXWpDv3fR/s400/Dustin+track+google+earth.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539433370772172530" /></a><br /><br />Yesterday we all decided to try for Venice, probably the last chance this year for such a long flight. Last month the Quest crew tried for Venice but ended up leaving at 230pm and just ran out of daylight before making the final glide numbers. Yesterday we were prepared early and had favorable winds and clouds so the mid-November sun gave us just barely enough time to make the beach before sunset. The landing conditions were the typically perfect Venice sea breeze - 15mph mostly down the beach, slightly onshore. Pretty sweet to crack a hundred in the winter.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMK6EMjdmZJWp4itShYI9bfEz2FbuBGb7sULEqjEKlgpUSx4hO8KDxa1yZPnq-E-_FSOtLeTwS3NUjr4eaNGjk8-2M5h7_cd1ub51nCljiAdspkm7PbyiMOiXqyJh5_L9GdhM/s1600/Dustin+Flychart+to+Venice+13NOV10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMK6EMjdmZJWp4itShYI9bfEz2FbuBGb7sULEqjEKlgpUSx4hO8KDxa1yZPnq-E-_FSOtLeTwS3NUjr4eaNGjk8-2M5h7_cd1ub51nCljiAdspkm7PbyiMOiXqyJh5_L9GdhM/s400/Dustin+Flychart+to+Venice+13NOV10.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539433369598969426" /></a>Dustin Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284476288193556174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15733415.post-35151348985583810562010-07-11T10:38:00.000-07:002010-07-11T10:58:37.525-07:00Quest - New Smyrna 2nd attemptRelaxing at JB's Fish Camp across the street from the beach south of New Smyrna<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhduW8ALkcNnihzuYsaa7pLHhXK-uyJMibtIpCxvKkEl5F5qTO6hCNl891hx-4_KySiYLkOLV9krk2ADp7Y-VYdAD5R8slfYvviPem5Mlym7-UnNdOr3nz_y33Bn52F20dv6d4LtA/s1600/IMG00004-20100710-1922%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhduW8ALkcNnihzuYsaa7pLHhXK-uyJMibtIpCxvKkEl5F5qTO6hCNl891hx-4_KySiYLkOLV9krk2ADp7Y-VYdAD5R8slfYvviPem5Mlym7-UnNdOr3nz_y33Bn52F20dv6d4LtA/s400/IMG00004-20100710-1922%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492704535095673538" /></a><br /><br />The first try a few weeks ago got me less than half way with heavy over development on course and all around. Yesterday, conditions lined up perfectly with breezy WSW winds, plenty of clouds and no overdevelopment on course. <br /><br />After a morning of towing and tandems I was able to talk Mitch and Campbell into attempting the New Smyrna route. We all checked out the sectional and plugged in key airspace locations and set off around 2pm. <br /><br />Mitch had bad luck and landed early, while Campbell and I blazed the first leg - it seemed too easy, and it was. From the moment we turned the corner at the edge of Sanford airspace and started heading east to the beach, the lift turned to crap and the clouds were rarely working. Nothing was making sense to me and I spent an hour stuck just southeast of Deland airport while Campbell eased ahead as if he was in completely different conditions. <br /><br />After dodging the huge Deland jump plane on its five mile finals and sawtoothing back and forth into the wind in order to stay out of Daytona airspace, the fourth or fifth perfect cloud I flew under started to work. 3000 feet seemed high by then and this allowed me to head south back onto the original course and get into good clouds again. I took a very conservative 5200 foot final glide in case the seabreeze was strong. I made it at 6pm with 2000 feet to play over the Atlantic before landing on the white sand and having a bucket of shrimp across the road. Even swam with a random manatee that was cruising the waves heading south.<br /><br />Turns out Campbell couldn't get high in the last climb and was being conservative as well, aborting his final across the 1.5 mile swampy inland waterway thinking there could be a strong seabreeze. The seabreeze ended up only being from the south and what got me there so high could have carried him over the swamp as well, but he ended up landing on 95 in the end.<br /><br />Two coasts in three days, attempting Cuba tomorrow.Dustin Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284476288193556174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15733415.post-51921006525934514502010-07-09T11:49:00.000-07:002010-07-09T12:51:55.423-07:00Quest - Venice BeachThe daily storm pattern took a break yesterday and the wind clocked around from the east northeast so I decided to head down to Curt's homeland 200kms to the southwest for a swim and some seafood.<br /><br />Thermals were very rarely 5-600 fpm, more often 2-300. Wind was cross from the east but always had some sort of tailwind component. Cloudbase rose from 3500 feet near Quest at takeoff time to 5500 feet at the coast at 6 pm. <br /><br />Conditions at the beach were identical to the first time I flew there with the Brits and Davis last year. The convergence line was within a couple miles of shore and the seabreeze was more cross than onshore so final glide and landing conditions were awesome. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQqUBGHFwKYyU9ABVi5GWIqk8S7J1zscGogQOPQ2WWGwq57rOyiy1W-zXJk65AYYPaB5xheYzGrNORWqZwVptAdEsJZQEaopCoWdjXLTXpBOqYt3HlK6ViWzv4f8BHnFsefBk4Q/s1600/P1080102.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQqUBGHFwKYyU9ABVi5GWIqk8S7J1zscGogQOPQ2WWGwq57rOyiy1W-zXJk65AYYPaB5xheYzGrNORWqZwVptAdEsJZQEaopCoWdjXLTXpBOqYt3HlK6ViWzv4f8BHnFsefBk4Q/s400/P1080102.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491988501204928514" /></a><br />Outskirts of Lakeland looking back north toward Quest and thinning clouds.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhHXB7_wcRMVO9oYOP9J0lGwcE7O0G8g7l_KKuugvzO7aMDer1sMs8yo5ogko2bq1up8ry5VQbJqgYs35CK7P7MRlYhH2HwekVaPEoxSbi6igOnVRnxDoUHh04eUX2hWvrOLb7g/s1600/P1080103.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhHXB7_wcRMVO9oYOP9J0lGwcE7O0G8g7l_KKuugvzO7aMDer1sMs8yo5ogko2bq1up8ry5VQbJqgYs35CK7P7MRlYhH2HwekVaPEoxSbi6igOnVRnxDoUHh04eUX2hWvrOLb7g/s400/P1080103.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491988487295604002" /></a><br />South of Lakeland heading into sparsely populated areas. Asphalt roads under me the entire way.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqRxiVrBRgXECqYNTHEgLNQZrUuzajyhDY9SExW4JL5ISla07OnR7NOHXam04V4GWNB5_mVJX8JgCDkipe-pKoghOHuOOyso4ExyUces76voRGEj46zEFCRBH-sX3lr7B-rvKlw/s1600/P1080130.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqRxiVrBRgXECqYNTHEgLNQZrUuzajyhDY9SExW4JL5ISla07OnR7NOHXam04V4GWNB5_mVJX8JgCDkipe-pKoghOHuOOyso4ExyUces76voRGEj46zEFCRBH-sX3lr7B-rvKlw/s400/P1080130.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491988479786485474" /></a><br />Getting into the convergence line for the drag race down the coast, looking west into Sarasota.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbocdyBd2zSBUewOmaErTRTnSHjBvNL6PrVif_C-j2t_9L4BF3VRuE60w_77lDJjE4y50Zbj7_I74kaJ1rszj-GlaAqV-DPJz7YZjpdj0dT8PI4cLFFWjbc2UDwbgWYDc4bJ5gw/s1600/P1080132.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbocdyBd2zSBUewOmaErTRTnSHjBvNL6PrVif_C-j2t_9L4BF3VRuE60w_77lDJjE4y50Zbj7_I74kaJ1rszj-GlaAqV-DPJz7YZjpdj0dT8PI4cLFFWjbc2UDwbgWYDc4bJ5gw/s400/P1080132.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491987169444187410" /></a><br />Final glide into the seabreeze over the Curt Warren spawning grounds.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIiwx0x0vkAs_jO9T0UKLXj2AThZSKvMdBaXT6HL2Q83y1v1s-BTxnsavjemmtCwTwEc90nUDK0IdsAsUo57srqA-sxR5Pw_h7wL9LQ6uCxuQs2m70puO1fyEnObQlF4TDrufj8w/s1600/P1080143.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIiwx0x0vkAs_jO9T0UKLXj2AThZSKvMdBaXT6HL2Q83y1v1s-BTxnsavjemmtCwTwEc90nUDK0IdsAsUo57srqA-sxR5Pw_h7wL9LQ6uCxuQs2m70puO1fyEnObQlF4TDrufj8w/s400/P1080143.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491987162166327954" /></a><br />Fisherman's Wharf right in the center of the picture, better food than Sharkey's.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3r-huMBdnr_ouQaj-m5ZKrju172rrh0L1M57WMCNcnLcgOkxNHV6t8sWkZymQjsbml_qiZ8aN0zVEYM-xwKEife-tqVXJRXY17RoDj5JjhgpVqysT__SP1ffiXaOPaK63ma-v1A/s1600/P1080153.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3r-huMBdnr_ouQaj-m5ZKrju172rrh0L1M57WMCNcnLcgOkxNHV6t8sWkZymQjsbml_qiZ8aN0zVEYM-xwKEife-tqVXJRXY17RoDj5JjhgpVqysT__SP1ffiXaOPaK63ma-v1A/s400/P1080153.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491984892522228338" /></a><br />Looking south down the coast to Venice airport.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8ulRZr7VgP72hn5bolSUZtXYqaQHPTGJYRV5S-_GhULYkecOpyUMhqCZe-c1kgGvAi839088RaHNQuUNXTIjKXI_xN1KP0fPqLeUja7YIo8FTz36uBZpFDh5gFVZZbnER6EJ5Q/s1600/P1080162.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8ulRZr7VgP72hn5bolSUZtXYqaQHPTGJYRV5S-_GhULYkecOpyUMhqCZe-c1kgGvAi839088RaHNQuUNXTIjKXI_xN1KP0fPqLeUja7YIo8FTz36uBZpFDh5gFVZZbnER6EJ5Q/s400/P1080162.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491984884828200770" /></a><br />Playing chicken with the coast, landing was at Sharkey's restaurant on the pier.Dustin Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284476288193556174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15733415.post-39325249250755176472010-06-15T19:01:00.000-07:002010-06-15T19:07:36.077-07:00Quest - New Smyrna beachDidn't quite make it due to the daily storm line convergence but got some cool shots. Went there anyway by car and it is the nicest beach I've seen in Florida. This is over Groveland heading northeast:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJTvpS05V37zHsiEpBnng93IRMV0y02arXJvLhZlAOqBCl6KIMUI0HYbQH8QrUmTdn0_5yFDOlXkWlNhPBV-IV2AQgxBmFiQclEBM2zR6li3ysHkpRYSz5s-Yf87AjfdAUQ_-sA/s1600/GOPR0152.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJTvpS05V37zHsiEpBnng93IRMV0y02arXJvLhZlAOqBCl6KIMUI0HYbQH8QrUmTdn0_5yFDOlXkWlNhPBV-IV2AQgxBmFiQclEBM2zR6li3ysHkpRYSz5s-Yf87AjfdAUQ_-sA/s400/GOPR0152.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483186558550738482" /></a><br /><br />The route is tight and interesting weaving under and between some class b and c, some bombing ranges then a very tight final glide to the beach wedged between New Smyrna airspace and the space shuttle restricted area.Dustin Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284476288193556174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15733415.post-10937050559348829422010-05-31T17:32:00.000-07:002010-05-31T17:34:31.595-07:00Coring......the elusive water devil<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_OnzSODuc61OO5dj7og3iWIy6iQxqVsZj0_TsNlkTnZ01PxbTF08XrzhU0TkuH7IjWCB2NTCF8pvpWAtvuK3XbLOtF84rzRvpgi-SfMiAOLEeMldKTZ39Tg6B78ym3omo6Yqzw/s1600/GOPR0123.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 354px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_OnzSODuc61OO5dj7og3iWIy6iQxqVsZj0_TsNlkTnZ01PxbTF08XrzhU0TkuH7IjWCB2NTCF8pvpWAtvuK3XbLOtF84rzRvpgi-SfMiAOLEeMldKTZ39Tg6B78ym3omo6Yqzw/s400/GOPR0123.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477596880906434610" /></a>Dustin Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284476288193556174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15733415.post-31044799758027084812010-05-18T19:43:00.000-07:002010-05-18T22:07:45.410-07:00Estancia PindotyA weekend at Bebe's farm in Paraguay: cold night sipping wine around the fire next to the hacienda followed by a day in the sky with 4 m/s thermals to cloudbase on a great out and return. All flights thanks to Bebe's farmer - who has learned to fly the dragonfly.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkOz1BLAdo5TU9eoVug4v1DXs46zrLAvVbyLDpqqJjSvFDy-0FiLd-iUEjOHCKj1uhjg7QegevAXuZJsYUK-OI3Fl39WtAr-TqnhRiFJyifHUGOyOxHgL_1b7IEJfuwJBxXPnJQ/s1600/090.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkOz1BLAdo5TU9eoVug4v1DXs46zrLAvVbyLDpqqJjSvFDy-0FiLd-iUEjOHCKj1uhjg7QegevAXuZJsYUK-OI3Fl39WtAr-TqnhRiFJyifHUGOyOxHgL_1b7IEJfuwJBxXPnJQ/s400/090.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472825546603241714" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPOucu5jCNkdAZeKIPh2sZOc601byT-FTa6bBulyviI0z3VmKfZaGCzQh46ZwedCohB-HhJ-8VU2Hr0QdNPl2LQ5gf0_TKd-BsmR2l4Ib5DN5e8-sh__neZ_M0aJ4jkKsPEXOIpQ/s1600/pindoty5.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPOucu5jCNkdAZeKIPh2sZOc601byT-FTa6bBulyviI0z3VmKfZaGCzQh46ZwedCohB-HhJ-8VU2Hr0QdNPl2LQ5gf0_TKd-BsmR2l4Ib5DN5e8-sh__neZ_M0aJ4jkKsPEXOIpQ/s400/pindoty5.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472817186917204178" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vL9Ug1AJozZgqzINajokUH9Eg9SeYh_78WdSBzTktyf0zRzqDQF7gSWK-fQrWVk1v8-MfU6XU27r-61X6bfptbM2US-fjvxRjGTNBAugmo7FLgBEOBNcUOxVLGSqj9eZGV7_tA/s1600/pindoty.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vL9Ug1AJozZgqzINajokUH9Eg9SeYh_78WdSBzTktyf0zRzqDQF7gSWK-fQrWVk1v8-MfU6XU27r-61X6bfptbM2US-fjvxRjGTNBAugmo7FLgBEOBNcUOxVLGSqj9eZGV7_tA/s400/pindoty.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472812662571335618" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ktCO-NcW-4aT9yM8lJIhCGxnRBvRSpSRAKRrXcULPnEUFX2qudGOb6qaQLjQ9K9WZ-RMrzf6p6fG-d5ASrESawWlirDTHj_W2DluvZpxznhczt4Wf07pTMOApCEyZm4gsqbMrA/s1600/pindoty2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ktCO-NcW-4aT9yM8lJIhCGxnRBvRSpSRAKRrXcULPnEUFX2qudGOb6qaQLjQ9K9WZ-RMrzf6p6fG-d5ASrESawWlirDTHj_W2DluvZpxznhczt4Wf07pTMOApCEyZm4gsqbMrA/s400/pindoty2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472812663403559250" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8CRhMwyIDNDs_lDLEoq0RaEomaRDdyGXRQEqVh9_nCl834Sto9Q658_S_e0IyMc36F5ATjRAhbaCijgIfxgtIXilMivocFHY3STsYab0vTTKWCUZMp5j62IBEQjNfVwcEzBldQ/s1600/pindoty9.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8CRhMwyIDNDs_lDLEoq0RaEomaRDdyGXRQEqVh9_nCl834Sto9Q658_S_e0IyMc36F5ATjRAhbaCijgIfxgtIXilMivocFHY3STsYab0vTTKWCUZMp5j62IBEQjNfVwcEzBldQ/s400/pindoty9.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472820864949873682" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpdMdOXPdxn8PdtDj6Ee1CEkZn-f9dGnVUrLKnYblhWa-y3zSEodQO-kY9YOCp-69-2o2nsd3-UDbBixBAuEYoKmY8aZJMUZ4bkdPYUylYtNiyAERvun_xXXuetiy5W_5gDbI9g/s1600/pindoty8.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpdMdOXPdxn8PdtDj6Ee1CEkZn-f9dGnVUrLKnYblhWa-y3zSEodQO-kY9YOCp-69-2o2nsd3-UDbBixBAuEYoKmY8aZJMUZ4bkdPYUylYtNiyAERvun_xXXuetiy5W_5gDbI9g/s400/pindoty8.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472819162250225874" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqeatyh1zTwHmGM5jbq_j0sN4Tumq41fTEYt-sl0-nKSsWv7gHdNif6cYo44IhIFDiloHRrTZ_9qBLrWNoBloTN0xr1oxfK4vFtquR_9nHBLA4KS0lSM9Q-EFJ-0XOpxn6wK5yDg/s1600/pindoty7.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqeatyh1zTwHmGM5jbq_j0sN4Tumq41fTEYt-sl0-nKSsWv7gHdNif6cYo44IhIFDiloHRrTZ_9qBLrWNoBloTN0xr1oxfK4vFtquR_9nHBLA4KS0lSM9Q-EFJ-0XOpxn6wK5yDg/s400/pindoty7.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472819156959590274" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHcqKHTvsJeh8a1qvZce-EIIUGFiO4kCUFkboE9_uucFdftwxXlGTmI2HnyuRopuqn31niIkDArBJroY4Y2hEr7wMaiXeE2DCfA8kghGX3dFkXLkD-UsUAqy1MzV_pXDaG_NQhg/s1600/pindoty3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHcqKHTvsJeh8a1qvZce-EIIUGFiO4kCUFkboE9_uucFdftwxXlGTmI2HnyuRopuqn31niIkDArBJroY4Y2hEr7wMaiXeE2DCfA8kghGX3dFkXLkD-UsUAqy1MzV_pXDaG_NQhg/s400/pindoty3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472815017589748098" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwti8Nu9m9uBcxk3ofny9Zb55zbb5uJkCMs8fpRpqTWsRuWX2GombmTpj73WcYoLAMlBGJDX8AaSkmpcpnE1XhXMOMEsb7CHdE8qei9BUwIUPS1ZwypVpYb69C6GMTiDrCUWHE9g/s1600/pindoty10.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwti8Nu9m9uBcxk3ofny9Zb55zbb5uJkCMs8fpRpqTWsRuWX2GombmTpj73WcYoLAMlBGJDX8AaSkmpcpnE1XhXMOMEsb7CHdE8qei9BUwIUPS1ZwypVpYb69C6GMTiDrCUWHE9g/s400/pindoty10.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472820874315188322" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKu-0kfFPgkJ87ZFJBN5inXD25qcRszESww70-FagB2Zsh17NE6DTvglYY_Ta1IR-F80ei1iSFWXQHQZwOpbeyD-7QZ3ZvV9lMbuCZrIXm4KEKCMulJYZT_p7aHVfRG9m7Kgkt5g/s1600/pindoty4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKu-0kfFPgkJ87ZFJBN5inXD25qcRszESww70-FagB2Zsh17NE6DTvglYY_Ta1IR-F80ei1iSFWXQHQZwOpbeyD-7QZ3ZvV9lMbuCZrIXm4KEKCMulJYZT_p7aHVfRG9m7Kgkt5g/s400/pindoty4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472815026930885458" /></a>Dustin Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284476288193556174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15733415.post-22605060865921581752010-04-07T14:00:00.001-07:002010-04-07T15:47:45.710-07:00Classic Route - Medianeira, BrasilHere is a photo log of a classic route from a very infrequently flown hill near Foz do Iguaçu in southwestern Brasil. The altitude from the manicured grass launch to the freshly cut lz is 100 meters. You dont launch until you see birds climbing out front, but if you get a good cycle its full on. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrUTrZdbyIWsHV6OAW8gjrg1Ff7ht_FD-rhgbkuqKM2WsSuOZpx3ZAKw85y3LASPeruZi6cMEWUxNwIl-NB2PhEosI3Y7iLU8s8ThBejCgYPsTVWGFleNPYffRCa6myLu0AqtVWw/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrUTrZdbyIWsHV6OAW8gjrg1Ff7ht_FD-rhgbkuqKM2WsSuOZpx3ZAKw85y3LASPeruZi6cMEWUxNwIl-NB2PhEosI3Y7iLU8s8ThBejCgYPsTVWGFleNPYffRCa6myLu0AqtVWw/s400/005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457506809131600690" /></a><br />"Free flight club - West SIDE"<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZPrGwbP_zDTZMiqIU_5DXteMtIlq0ush37jlcMF9mhSja1-ETns8duXKWuFzaAyb1WU0QqfdW7itVSpNkp77adne0fhn7H3LyuejJZy2z5UFQD6piGXLND8oGDz3EFfzQQs-q8Q/s1600/008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZPrGwbP_zDTZMiqIU_5DXteMtIlq0ush37jlcMF9mhSja1-ETns8duXKWuFzaAyb1WU0QqfdW7itVSpNkp77adne0fhn7H3LyuejJZy2z5UFQD6piGXLND8oGDz3EFfzQQs-q8Q/s400/008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457522825591539026" /></a><br /><br />The view from launch. The hill isn't as low as it looks - it's lower.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUvLCU-OwpoKVav5UgLGp9mf-zwbpSP3TD_gMLzw4woGf76Otx5-DdxjHJRMBtIGZa4IK_Y0LrQ_iR2Nv2ti997xvzwH0S-5e35uuDsopgfRqVRvrfl6QK6B_o2uAYNbjfScHmg/s1600/016.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUvLCU-OwpoKVav5UgLGp9mf-zwbpSP3TD_gMLzw4woGf76Otx5-DdxjHJRMBtIGZa4IK_Y0LrQ_iR2Nv2ti997xvzwH0S-5e35uuDsopgfRqVRvrfl6QK6B_o2uAYNbjfScHmg/s400/016.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457508583626482306" /></a><br />Finally getting high enough to look downwind for a minute.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpjDZhAvwwJLoLsirKYWG_X5J7dyzUwylW5RJXsj33eEN_XqqbtEuFGRC3p3IFCd3S9IFjIOSqynXXVTrQeAAaSaVMCEsRDcJ9scghcpfS3I4tzNd3htits0deSn0VxiZNtVOfg/s1600/025.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpjDZhAvwwJLoLsirKYWG_X5J7dyzUwylW5RJXsj33eEN_XqqbtEuFGRC3p3IFCd3S9IFjIOSqynXXVTrQeAAaSaVMCEsRDcJ9scghcpfS3I4tzNd3htits0deSn0VxiZNtVOfg/s400/025.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457509337778689586" /></a><br />All good at cloudbase.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIh4bBmgfBO97dQPITzdJj50Tb7JgiHmaiEgRq_QuOI7JId1taXv9EDYUxY3FgAXEKtv_WTxrDckoOd2Y3dpRZZHDqKWw4avTUJgRrSCdidR0XQ9Ak6KAEv-uSSgq8GjDyC40sjg/s1600/029.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIh4bBmgfBO97dQPITzdJj50Tb7JgiHmaiEgRq_QuOI7JId1taXv9EDYUxY3FgAXEKtv_WTxrDckoOd2Y3dpRZZHDqKWw4avTUJgRrSCdidR0XQ9Ak6KAEv-uSSgq8GjDyC40sjg/s400/029.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457523593822803154" /></a><br />Epic scenery.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xkgJQEFV77SBb2vCDi2QSH7mFirydBXFXUA4b9k1JiQqLzjButBKIVoozpGPlf5h-ui4K7VF0ZqCAgx5IcElhS6iQ_vmBmjtNnlROnzsZ425usP5GYhYfG6fnu0GzU6riMCqbQ/s1600/040.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xkgJQEFV77SBb2vCDi2QSH7mFirydBXFXUA4b9k1JiQqLzjButBKIVoozpGPlf5h-ui4K7VF0ZqCAgx5IcElhS6iQ_vmBmjtNnlROnzsZ425usP5GYhYfG6fnu0GzU6riMCqbQ/s400/040.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457524662360957042" /></a><br />Loooong glides and loooong cloud shadows late in the day with amazing views ahead...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcY95AOmyqeaY2h4W8nUie3a2xdCgFdLu4h0QMCiv5be69JcXIguROlMlhqwwHa8E0XG8uymz7BjHwtdbLeRkRbFsXUmDRTxXo6uPjA_neVElqEjIpu-hwqtTjaGqKtENT4l27vQ/s1600/052.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcY95AOmyqeaY2h4W8nUie3a2xdCgFdLu4h0QMCiv5be69JcXIguROlMlhqwwHa8E0XG8uymz7BjHwtdbLeRkRbFsXUmDRTxXo6uPjA_neVElqEjIpu-hwqtTjaGqKtENT4l27vQ/s400/052.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457525219428643970" /></a><br />Sexy curves meet steel hard lines..<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2ZZvAy4gBVoyHp9ogEeEPd7d4bH6FMhxn0C_etnLKQi4KgVdKz6qDV_01Eg0Qr_aegzR7tI9tZzITIO7397S-n3-oR4Ut5vbaCbjVQCUdD3FDKdSf_U-TB9kfSeQQmV2Qd0nQg/s1600/055.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2ZZvAy4gBVoyHp9ogEeEPd7d4bH6FMhxn0C_etnLKQi4KgVdKz6qDV_01Eg0Qr_aegzR7tI9tZzITIO7397S-n3-oR4Ut5vbaCbjVQCUdD3FDKdSf_U-TB9kfSeQQmV2Qd0nQg/s400/055.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457526014915557826" /></a><br />Goal, Aeroleve Airpark in Cascavel, the end of another classic route...Dustin Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284476288193556174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15733415.post-29179777220143499392010-02-02T09:47:00.000-08:002010-02-02T11:41:18.447-08:00Brasil update<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pa2oUpo4cRq30_av6hhlz5kf9oveYzct143i-EaC3XTe0-Hb2bd1l8TwOBf_oWDsjCWg724jK5ehLj212PEV0JZ9iLPI7AYzbzHkD90nm01lxlOpdpPe5oIULvcbn1PMMvGcOQ/s1600-h/P1070753.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pa2oUpo4cRq30_av6hhlz5kf9oveYzct143i-EaC3XTe0-Hb2bd1l8TwOBf_oWDsjCWg724jK5ehLj212PEV0JZ9iLPI7AYzbzHkD90nm01lxlOpdpPe5oIULvcbn1PMMvGcOQ/s400/P1070753.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433732830437022514" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdhsU9sC4EMn43mMLwSAYljNXubPSDvu5xEhQG98XuXJVb4Lyxd781eUpgK-DJsjN1dsHVU41FbswKn2FQmuylAVaB1I8yzNsYe51PqKuIBponiZdptpHGc8ivCzqEkVj7PRs3w/s1600-h/P1070674.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdhsU9sC4EMn43mMLwSAYljNXubPSDvu5xEhQG98XuXJVb4Lyxd781eUpgK-DJsjN1dsHVU41FbswKn2FQmuylAVaB1I8yzNsYe51PqKuIBponiZdptpHGc8ivCzqEkVj7PRs3w/s400/P1070674.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433730786021340802" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPCuSvxrJj9mnAqBPxFmy5Lzb7t3dO5Mb-P-YYQOPkZ2ix1R2OXmVRvJZXkh8JALXQy2On_aBYfusRITQunGNpaGoWf8aZbq6GmXxFpVZtunWYIMnjPY7sprtD57DErmn8c12Tg/s1600-h/P1070746.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPCuSvxrJj9mnAqBPxFmy5Lzb7t3dO5Mb-P-YYQOPkZ2ix1R2OXmVRvJZXkh8JALXQy2On_aBYfusRITQunGNpaGoWf8aZbq6GmXxFpVZtunWYIMnjPY7sprtD57DErmn8c12Tg/s400/P1070746.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433730779281437042" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLsIbVWNbap4wLduxNjuOvCPMdSToi_7roClKnqEnE1C8cRx8_gC_ex3xhh9MKBmRPfE2ptjhlTtT4y_3OFsPbUKADD8h4m76XfzIEzMZUcnC1rzoJoYGr9qnme3qTaB5MnnwEg/s1600-h/P1070740.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLsIbVWNbap4wLduxNjuOvCPMdSToi_7roClKnqEnE1C8cRx8_gC_ex3xhh9MKBmRPfE2ptjhlTtT4y_3OFsPbUKADD8h4m76XfzIEzMZUcnC1rzoJoYGr9qnme3qTaB5MnnwEg/s400/P1070740.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433724449920268242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDOeV6DPYT_gSibEcd09SORpQSIaun9zANh31t4UihMFjHRgzrVU2Is0pghCO9yWnqqDn8odT41AEvGn-F0i6FufUTHJ9lYhjMQs2LF1QqpBuamku9d_HZ3HlfLQyySGkD_H9VA/s1600-h/P1070731.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDOeV6DPYT_gSibEcd09SORpQSIaun9zANh31t4UihMFjHRgzrVU2Is0pghCO9yWnqqDn8odT41AEvGn-F0i6FufUTHJ9lYhjMQs2LF1QqpBuamku9d_HZ3HlfLQyySGkD_H9VA/s400/P1070731.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433724441028559698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbStRVtoAcY93OSSYWVYmwnvmyPKvl8jjxSgGbTHcV2gbo2kAj5ERHSQyk9OpIVDkqjRcG176itXX4HdlbD4ACZW4qvXDCagUOI3hpU_9vH5MD21mv08nyf887gRv26LHsPEjGBw/s1600-h/P1070747.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbStRVtoAcY93OSSYWVYmwnvmyPKvl8jjxSgGbTHcV2gbo2kAj5ERHSQyk9OpIVDkqjRcG176itXX4HdlbD4ACZW4qvXDCagUOI3hpU_9vH5MD21mv08nyf887gRv26LHsPEjGBw/s400/P1070747.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433732822210415122" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVwQRI-mqbmwOn0R5gCLWuIuoPjxCL2wXrwpZNkC8z0TVfqEUdlyNzoqApfAOIvB0cwThsV6PyIQmxkhR5kOPgMG7H1oPYAsRdKwM0Z9a8umuRBHP3aES7dVLMveFznGvr4IClw/s1600-h/P1070685.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVwQRI-mqbmwOn0R5gCLWuIuoPjxCL2wXrwpZNkC8z0TVfqEUdlyNzoqApfAOIvB0cwThsV6PyIQmxkhR5kOPgMG7H1oPYAsRdKwM0Z9a8umuRBHP3aES7dVLMveFznGvr4IClw/s400/P1070685.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433720912965326306" /></a><br />Quick update from Brasil:<br /><br />Jack Simmons and I flew down here for the first stage of the nationals in Sapiranga. Most locals don't like it for the lack of big distances and powerful air but I think it's heaven. Jack agrees. Out of 9 days we flew 7, probably around 3 hours average each day. Unfortunately the comp committee only thought 2 days were suitable for a task. The tasks were slightly overcalled given the fact that we were running over saturated ground, mostly rice fields. Goal was never made but the flying was still moderately fast and fairly tactical. Ferro is the current Brasilian champ and walked all over everyone else, winning both days. He wasn't gliding the best and he wasn't climbing the best (nearly), but he was clearly making the best decisions of anyone and walked away with the trophy.<br /><br />The day after the comp we headed north with Eduardo from Mato Grosso and his awesome driver Flavia. We were intent on bagging a site on the precipice of the Atlantic range overlooking the ocean 50km distant. We arrived a day and a half later to find three wile e. coyote concrete ramps hanging over the edge of a cliff completely socked in by cloud. Long story short, we all flew, it was epic, and I consider it one of my best flights ever. About three hours after launching I landed just short of the beach in a beautiful field in a tiny village. <br /><br />Next stop Betinho's chalet in Garopaba. Betinho Schmidt was good enough to lend us his chalet overlooking a lake next to the beach Praia do Rosa. We spent a day hiking the coastal cliffs and soaking up the sun. Betinho is doing great and planning a stand-up paddle from Floripa to Garopaba...too much open ocean for me. Good luck man.<br /><br />Then Floripa - I had planned to show Jack some great island flying at some of the best beaches of Brasil. The wind swung too north after a frontal passage and left us stranded on Praia Mole, nothing to do but soak up the sun, sand, and surf for a day. I made a go at the PG launch above the beach but by the time I got up there it was simply unlaunchable. The guy up there saw me shouldering the wing on to the launch and questioned the wisdom of flying a hang glider there. He told me in all his years there he had only ever seen one hang glider fly there.. about two years ago.. gray top, yellow bottom with blue stripe? Yeah. Looping out over the surf for a couple hours? Yeah.. Ahh those were good times..<br /><br />The group had to split up at that point. I headed due west to Foz do Iguaçu, and currently Jack and Eduardo are near the Pantanal and planning to fly Corumbá tomorrow. <br /><br />Back in one week to Quest to take care of tandems and harness back plates. Deep in materials research right now, and after several protos the harness appears to be nearing production.Dustin Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284476288193556174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15733415.post-14480528057290096762010-01-09T09:58:00.000-08:002010-01-09T11:47:16.829-08:00Stepped out of the house this morning and the next step was 6 feet lower - where I landed on my side after slipping on ice covered steps. Busted the guard rail out with my leg and slid to a stop, pinned down by the rusty pointed end of the rail, with another 6 feet to go if I went any further. The only sharp pain was my ground down knuckle, grated by the diamond plate stair surface. This is the most significant crash since the mountain bike wipe out that wrecked the same shoulder years ago. Good thing nothing is broken...<br /><br />Because I'm heading off to Brasil next Thursday - fully loaded. Glider, harness, backpacking gear, and a bike.. Jack Simmons is joining me for the 3 week trip. First week will be at the competition near Porto Alegre, then we'll head north up the coast at a leisurely pace, checking out site after site and meeting up with old friends along the way. Uruguay and the Pantanal may find their way into my itinerary as well, but plans are still in the air and funds are limited. At some point I hope to slip away on the bike with my backpack and get a closer look at one of my favorite areas for a while - the high plains just behind the coastal mountain range at the RS/SC border. I've only sped through in a car a couple times and I'm sure there is a lot more to it. <br /><br />Here is Morro do Ferrabraz in Sapiranga, site of the nationals last year, and again this year. Just perfect:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1SXgxmF9s7UYmCGdl4kBVHU88KbNHGpqnrqdUN3Iyw3aeJMiqGERJvPsFtPUjArntt-6Xt7VzIwVkujpbOLOwj7InrhgMZHLMYKiZG7o-rvoPGGKK285qQmFr00OrEqC_WybOQ/s1600-h/sapiranga2009+072.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 387px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1SXgxmF9s7UYmCGdl4kBVHU88KbNHGpqnrqdUN3Iyw3aeJMiqGERJvPsFtPUjArntt-6Xt7VzIwVkujpbOLOwj7InrhgMZHLMYKiZG7o-rvoPGGKK285qQmFr00OrEqC_WybOQ/s400/sapiranga2009+072.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424823603986487970" /></a><br />photo by Manu SanchesDustin Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284476288193556174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15733415.post-30376661169516026282010-01-04T12:11:00.000-08:002010-01-04T12:40:35.183-08:00More from Puerto Rico6500 feet just northwest of Caguas, PR<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFhjhqeoJ8rhekkOvF3SA8njFJNICtvq8MbpaNF1JxHHlBdJPGUvUy-odadPTtphm8o1aCCte4biJ2j9Ix5VtREb2Ql-eNaztynEZ6YECf6NZq_fwt7YUcdMm0pKC0LJJ47HtRA/s1600-h/046.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFhjhqeoJ8rhekkOvF3SA8njFJNICtvq8MbpaNF1JxHHlBdJPGUvUy-odadPTtphm8o1aCCte4biJ2j9Ix5VtREb2Ql-eNaztynEZ6YECf6NZq_fwt7YUcdMm0pKC0LJJ47HtRA/s400/046.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422985745694577938" /></a><br /><br /><br />View of San Juan looking to the northeast<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZasvaXlkJ6GKxDrZVwgUIhEA588s4a4WLkaVKPuPYXzcWlZl_M-EZRXHbafyOfh33HbPbeqVs7Bw_Om8UMK4GaT1_udYRFmLrPiShaIEVBYbjE31CqruGUnIsyePzc-kViXiEjA/s1600-h/sanjuan,pr.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZasvaXlkJ6GKxDrZVwgUIhEA588s4a4WLkaVKPuPYXzcWlZl_M-EZRXHbafyOfh33HbPbeqVs7Bw_Om8UMK4GaT1_udYRFmLrPiShaIEVBYbjE31CqruGUnIsyePzc-kViXiEjA/s400/sanjuan,pr.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422985738949703138" /></a><br /><br /><br />North shore with the deserted landing strip in the upper left of the photo<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3jWuo_J95MN13NoEw_1Zy37EurgYml6acxRKWdV8h0fIRRNcNQmK4jqQB4LqFDv5koKZJ9xJDKwsXnK_5G8F-49O9cW6nOMyqvje9PkIQg-qjwscVRxyvOdXvPsTE9uI9s25Wg/s1600-h/beach+north+1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3jWuo_J95MN13NoEw_1Zy37EurgYml6acxRKWdV8h0fIRRNcNQmK4jqQB4LqFDv5koKZJ9xJDKwsXnK_5G8F-49O9cW6nOMyqvje9PkIQg-qjwscVRxyvOdXvPsTE9uI9s25Wg/s400/beach+north+1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422985731230540562" /></a><br /><br /><br />A few more pics from the last week in Puerto Rico. The dragonfly had to be flown back to Arecibo from Humacao and I ended up flying it over the edge of San Juan and out to the north shore for a quick swim at a deserted beach before hopping back in for the last leg to the Arecibo airport. Flew past a two lane drag strip lined on both sides with bleachers and completely blackened by burned rubber. I couldn't resist one quick run before heading home.<br />For who hasn't been down there, it has some great flying and is a really cheap roundtrip ticket from anywhere in the states. I will probably be back at some point now that we have the dragonfly available, to attempt a true end to end crossing of the island - towing up over the east shore and landing on the western beaches.Dustin Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284476288193556174noreply@blogger.com0