I received an e-mail this morning from my older brother Russ Prothero who is a great Realtor with Re/MAX in Branson, Missouri. He sent a link to this website: http://www.jet-man.com/actuel_eng.html and went to talk about when he was younger how he wanted in the worst way to buy a hang glider and fly if off the cliffs in Waimanalo here on Oahu in the early 1970s. His wife won out and he never did get his hang glider or experience free flight.
I responded back to him about a hang gliding experience that happened in Hawaii only a few years later, just up the coast a short distance from where he wanted to fly. It happened in 1979 or 1980 while I was visiting Hawaii, a year or two before I permanently moved there.
While watching the evening news I saw a report on two dead hang glider pilots (or what ever you call them). The story went that there were three guys who spent 8 hours climbing a cliff above Waimanalo with all their gear. Late afternoon they finally got to the top of the mountain and built their rigs.
After checking their gear and the wind conditions, the first guy jumped off and was blown against the cliff and killed. After seeing what happened to hi friend the next guy did the only logical thing. He launched his hang glider and was blown back into the cliff and killed just like his friend.
By know the fire trucks, police cars and news crews were gathering on the road and beach below. After quite a long period of time the third and last guy after watching his two friends die decided to take the smart way out. You guessed it. He launched his hang glider and flew it safely all the way down the beach and made a perfect landing.
Upon his safe arrival near the crowd that formed he was approached by a local news reporter. The reporter asked the magic question. Sir, you just saw your two friends die trying to fly their hang gliders off that cliff, what in the world were you thinking when you jumped off?
He paused for a second and said, "It took me 8 hours to climb up there and I was too tired to climb down".
Now I know there is a moral to that story, but I can't think of what it is.
Aloha to all and have a Hauoli Makahiki Hou (Happy New Year in Hawaiian)
Keith - I would only if I had less than a month to live.
Hi Randy, I would say this happened in 79 as I don't remember it and I arrived in 80. Thats just nuts! (Isn't that the same as pupule?) Hope you're feeling well!
Aloha, Lysa
Lysa - I know it is one of those two July's That is when I came out before moving here. I am doing much better, thank you.
George - Help me out, I honestly didn't learn much from that other than I won't climb cliffs and fly hang gliders.
George - I used to have a huge problem with heights, I went up in the Sears Tower and did some cliff climbing in Wisconsin to help cure me of it. That was 25 years ago. I helped me with heights.
I am older and wiser now, no more cliff climbing for me and definitely no hang gliding.
Jason - Interestingly put a leap of faith. I am not sure after seeing the last two die he had faith. It may have been fatigue or he was just a little crazy.
Get the helicopter ready. Cause it is the only way I would have left that cliff!
I went looking for a hangliding funny, couldn't find one, BUT, came across this extremely kewl video CALLED Hangliding, which was so awesome I wanted to share it.
Enjoy.
Laurie - Cool video; I agree the helicopter would have had to come get me too.