Gldier Pilot Missing after High Altitude Flight

[Paul Remde]

Hi,

I just heard that glider pilot David Bigelow from Hawaii is missing after a
high altitude flight. Details are available here:
http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20090118_Missing_glider_pilot_often_caught_big_air .html

A video of a previous flight is available here:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=IY--mA-Iico

Please keep David and his family and friends in your prayers.

Fly safe,

Paul Remde

[Ray Mortimer]

At 19:34 18 January 2009, Paul Remde wrote:
>Hi,
>
>I just heard that glider pilot David Bigelow from Hawaii is missing
after
>a
>high altitude flight. Details are available here:
>http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20090118_Missing_glider_pilot_often_caught_big_air .html
>
>A video of a previous flight is available here:
>http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=IY--mA-Iico
>
>Please keep David and his family and friends in your prayers.
>
>Fly safe,
>
>Paul Remde
>
>
>

Last year DrJack warned about severe downdrafts out there:

http://www.drjack.info/cgi-bin/WEBBBS/rasp-forum_config.pl/read/1725

Ray

[Todd]

http://www.starbulletin.com/news/breaking/37799119.html


Glider is found at 9,000-foot level of Mauna Loa

By Laurie Au

POSTED: 01:26 p.m. HST, Jan 18, 2009

Big Island authorities located wreckage from a missing glider this
morning on an area 9,800 feet up on Mauna Loa.
Since Friday, Big Island firefighters were looking for the glider of
Dave Bigelow, a 69-year-old Big Island resident hoping to sail his
glider at 40,000 feet.
Big Island firefighters located the wreckage late yesterday afternoon
at an area 3 miles south of Red Hill Cabin. Rangers from the Hawaii
Volcanoes National Park flew to the area in a helicopter and confirmed
that the wreckage was from the missing glider, according to a news
release.
Park rangers plan to recover the human remains and begin their
investigation along with the National Transportation Safety Board.
The body was transported to Hilo Medical Center. Authorities will
confirm the body's identification pending and an autopsy is scheduled.
Searching and recovering the wreckage is risky for the rangers and
pilot because of strong unpredictable wind gusts. Because of the high
elevation, there are loose sharp rocks and rangers may experience
headache, nausea and fatigue.

Big Island authorities located wreckage from a missing glider this
morning on an area 9,800 feet up on Mauna Loa.
Since Friday, Big Island firefighters were looking for the glider of
Dave Bigelow, a 69-year-old Big Island resident hoping to sail his
glider at 40,000 feet.
Big Island firefighters located the wreckage late yesterday afternoon
at an area 3 miles south of Red Hill Cabin. Rangers from the Hawaii
Volcanoes National Park flew to the area in a helicopter and confirmed
that the wreckage was from the missing glider, according to a news
release.
Park rangers plan to recover the human remains and begin their
investigation along with the National Transportation Safety Board.
The body was transported to Hilo Medical Center. Authorities will
confirm the body's identification pending and an autopsy is scheduled.
Searching and recovering the wreckage is risky for the rangers and
pilot because of strong unpredictable wind gusts. Because of the high
elevation, there are loose sharp rocks and rangers may experience
headache, nausea and fatigue.