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Dec
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Written by:
Jeff O'Brien
12/13/2009 8:03 PM
JJ Lamarche has had a 35 year career of experience in the hang gliding scene - going from sewing sails and teaching new students in the 1970's to 14,000ft. drops in a friend's hot air balloon, to passing on the love of HG to his son Justin.
JJ on his Falcon 225.
Justin and his brother had their first tandems with their dad at age 3. Justin is 19 now, and his dad says, "I couldn't prevent him from flying if I tried." Justin has become a solid H4 level pilot, won this years Ellenville fun meet, and is flying a WW Sport 2. He had started on a 140 Falcon and took his 1st solo mountain flight at 15.
We have 5 second generation pilots from this area, 3 of them very avid, and actively promoting the sport with the enthusiasm and energy of their youth.
Going into my 35th year of hang gliding, I now divide my flying time between a rigid wing and my 225 Falcon, for ease of setup and breakdown, stress-free flight and landing characteristics, and fun mixing in with the higher performance gliders.
By the time I was 14 I started taking lessons (would have been earlier but I was too light for the glider) and at 15 was off the mountain. Over the next few years I flew my 140 falcon every time I was out of school and it was blowing in. None of me friends understood exactly what it was or why I seemed to love it so much. They still don't but they've learned to accept it and a few are even interested in trying it.
Justin Lamarche
I am now 19, fly a 155 sport 2 (that I love) and continue to fly every chance I get. More recently I have become obsessed with aerobatics and can almost always be found doing wingovers above the LZ. I also got the chance to fly a U2 and a T2C. I had great flight on both of them and regret ever laying eyes on the T2C only because now I have to get one.
Justin spot landing at a competition.
I always took my time progressing through gliders. I flew my Falcon for almost 4 years before moving on to the Sport 2. I've had the Sport 2 for a year and a half now and have about 60 hours on it. It has been very good to me, its super easy to handle and I'm still able to keep up with any other glider in lift. At full VG it moves pretty good too (I fly it there most of the time) and has plenty of energy to pull wingovers.
I felt comfortable on the U2 and T2 and had no problems handling them, however the S2 keeps me more than happy.
Justin diving on his Sport 2.
This past summer I became an instructor for Fly High Hang Gliding here in NY and am currently teaching my younger brother to fly. I was also able to enter 2 competitions, placing 8th at the Kitty Hawk Kites Hang Gliding Spectacular, and winning 1st place at our local Ellenville Fun Meet. I look forward to doing more next year and plan on continuing flying for the rest of my life.
Nice job boys. Thanks.
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8 comment(s) so far...
Re: Wills Wing - The Next Generation...
Awesome Story!!
By GW Meadows on
12/14/2009 6:41 AM
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Re: Wills Wing - The Next Generation...
Super inspiring!! Nice work Justin. Looking forward to meeting you and going flying together. Keep up the great attitude man.
Cheers
By Shapiro on
12/14/2009 4:31 PM
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Re: Wills Wing - The Next Generation...
Thank you for the information
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