From: jpalmier@pen.k12.va.us (James R. Palmieri) Subject: Wallaby Ranch----YEOW! To: hang-gliding@lists.utah.edu Date: Mon, 2 Jan 95 20:26:47 EST The Malcolm Jones Wallaby Ranch For three years I have grown in the sport of hang gliding, not only on the training hills and mountains but on this Network of pilots. For all you Old Timer Net/Pinheads, you know me from the multitude of questions I asked as a new pilot to where I am now in the sport. Well, I have something to report. And I do report it with as much sincerity as I can. As a group of pilots, this Network is # 1 in my book and that is Bottom Line! Listen to what I have to say, it comes from the heart. I spent a portion of my shortened Christmas Vacation at the Wallaby Ranch run under the excellent and superb direction of Malcolm Jones. This experience has been one of the most enjoyable that I have had in hang gliding. To say it was GREAT would be an understatement. Anyone can tow and almost anyone run/direct an aerotow operation. But, there is only one Malcolm Jones. Picture This Christmas vacation, lots of people wanting to fly the warmer skies of central Florida. A 200 acre Ranch with a Mega-LZ that can be approached from just about any direction. 25+ gliders set up and ready to be towed by a Moyes Dragonfly Tug. Students are out for their first and second tandem in the gentle morning air as the sun is just on the horizon. Malcolm Jones and David Glover delivering them up to 2,400 every few minutes. Some are teenagers and one is in his 70's. Within my first hour there, I talked to someone associated with the magazine Skywings (BHPA), Mitch (a Nethead), several lurkers to the Net and one pilot that had a gathering as he was showing recent pictures of hang gliders and eagles showing talons on his lap-top computer, all downloaded from the archive. This Net will forever be an important part of hang gliding. My first tandem tow is with David on the first evening of my arrival. We tow to 2,400 as the sun hangs like a big red ball. I can see disney World to the north and the setting sun to the west. My immediate world is at peace. Day two, Malcolm takes me tandem. In 20 minutes I learn more about hang gliding than I have in the past year. Malcolm Jones is great. He is a special kind of teacher, softly spoken and knowledgeable. By the end of the second day I am solo, last flight of the day. A special day made special by Malcolm. I was just one of at least 15 students and 50+ pilots wanting to be tugged to 2,000+ feet over. Malcolm was there for every one of them. (I have great pictures to prove it). I could go on for pages about the facility and more importantly about the people. If you have any time or vacation left, GO THERE. Even if you have to drive 20 hours---find a group of pilots and go! Bring your SO. If you are a new pilot or a low airtime pilot, go there. You will learn so much that you will leave with a years experience. The Wallaby Ranch is just 8 miles from Orlando. There is on-site camping and cheap local motels. There is a club house with TV, video and stereo, a beverage machine with YooHoo and beverages, a swimming pool and trampoline and a three sided climbing wall. The tug pilots are not only good, they are perfect. You will not want to leave and when you have to, you WILL promise yourself that you will come back. If you want more information about the Wallaby Ranch, Kitplanes has an article about it the January issue or write/call Malcolm at: The Wallaby Ranch 1805 Deen Still Road Davenport, FLA 33837 863-424-0070 (International 0101-863-424-0070) [The area code changed to 941 in 1995 -ed. and then to 863 in 2000 -ed.] If this sounds like an advertisement, I appologize. It is meant to be my highest endorsement. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Dr. Jim Palmieri, JPALMIER@PEN.K12.VA.US 703-989-6641 (voice) PRESIDENT:SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA HANG GLIDING ASSOCIATION ++++++++++++++++++THE SKY DOG HOWLS+++++++++++++++++++++++++++