One of New Zealand’s original hang-gliders has flown again almost 40 years after its first outing ended in disaster.
The flight marked the 40th anniversary of the Auckland Hang-Gliding Club and ended a 15-year quest by a pioneering pilot.
The Seagull was the first hang-glider to be factory-produced here. Pioneer Paddy Monro searched for one for 15 years, until last weekend Clark Ross approached him with his story.
“I can’t believe this,” says hang-gliding pioneer Mr Monro. “I was 10 years old and my dad chucked me off a hill, and the reason he chucked me off a hill was I was too scared to fly it.”
The maiden flight in 1977 didn’t go to plan.
“I thought it was pretty dangerous and he was younger and fitter than I was,” says Seagull III owner Hugh Ross.
Like many flights back then it lasted just seconds.
“And then it came up like this and then a willow tree came up and I just flipped it and went upside down,” says Mr Ross’ son, Clark Ross. “Then I was hanging upside down with the harness scratching my stomach. All good [but] I think it put off Dad.”
The Seagull hadn’t been flown since.
“I think the wife had something to say about that, and just wrapped up, tied up and put up in the shed,” says Hugh.
But a couple of short test flights were enough to give the green light.
Hang-gliders have come a long way in the past 40 years. The latest ones have all the hi-tech gear. Contrast with 40 years ago, basically a glorified kite, and yet people still learned by literally throwing themselves off a cliff.
Back then Mr Monro says you were lucky to get down in one piece.
“These things can actually hold your weight,” says Mr Monro. “I can fly in this. Hey I got down. I’m still alive. These days you can stay up for hours. You can go cross-country. It’s just an incredible change.”
In fact the whole 10-minute flight was a struggle.
“I was able to just stay up but it was like a battleship to turn compared to what we fly these days,” says Clark.
But Mr Monro was grateful to relive the experience of the pioneers if only for 10 minutes.
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