Hang gliders to sailboats and back

[deckofficer]

Hi all,

 

I'm happy to be a new member of this forum. So much has changed since my absence in light aviation. In 1980 I was flying hang gliders and out of my garage was the Seagull dealer for Sacramento. Then I decided on a vertical "wing" and was off sailboat cruising in my Cal 40. Returned to college in my mid 40's at California Maritime Academy and traded in sailboats for large ships. This career change was to see me through to retirement so that I could have a designer like Chris White build my next cruising sailboat. As most know, the best laid plans tend to get derailed by reality, and 3 years ago I retired from merchant shipping to care for my dad. He is 94 now and doing good, but I have had to scale back my dreams of sailing the world on my schedule (not that of the shipping company) because I expect pop to go to at least 100, making me in my late 60's before getting to sail in some 20 year old used boat instead of the new one I dreamed of when entering CMA. This got me to thinking, at that age am I still going to have the energy to solo sail, provision and lug my food stores to the boat, and reef in the middle of the night in a squall?

 

Then it hit me, return to aviation, go the Sport Pilot route where a medical isn't needed, and choose a LSA that also feeds my maritime bend. I'm leaning towards two at this time, the Searey for longer flights and water landings, and for quick and cheap air fixes a North Wing Solairus soaring trike. I figure with TBO and fuel the Searey will run about $35~$40 per hour and the trike with its soaring ability less than $5 per hour.

 

I used to live at Cameron Air Park and would return to the old neighborhood but have been priced out. I have found some out of state air parks that are in my retirement budget, but any hints on others I'm all ears. I want to retire to an air park and can be quite happy with a modest home and hangar.

 

I go full out on the intro in hopes of finding others with similar interests.

 

This a recent picture of the old neighborhood. Notice my leather cap and goggles on the rear deck of the Track-T.

 

 

And here is a dusty old picture from 1980 or so.