Gary Osoba Tow Launching the original Carbon Dragon prototype.

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Archaeopteryx - assembly, towing, flying, landing, derigging and transport

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In June 1990 the second prototype of the SWIFT hang glider was flown for the first time. These segments show the very first foot launch and ridge soaring flights of what would become the nominal SWIFT design. This prototype was constructed in 6 weeks from aluminum, mylar, and foam. It was flown a few weeks later 160 miles in the Owens Valley by Eric Beckman and used a simple Mylar fairing around the pilot. The flights shown here were flown open cockpit.

SWIFT Prototype 2 - 1st ever foot launch

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Pioneer III - Flying Wing - Jim Marske

 

Pioneer IV (new airfoil)