'Correcting History'

By Terry Aspinall

The invention of the Modern Hang Glider seems to have been shrouded in mystery and incorrect information for many years. It is only now with the luxury of hindsight, very fast computers, IT media and our constant quest for more and more information, that the story has been slowly unravelled. I'm not sure if it would have been possible fifteen or twenty years ago, as earlier hang gliding historians found out at their cost. As they had published articles and although read by many, nobody seemed to have picked up on what they were saying, or did not care.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Terry Aspinall
• Release date: Aug 2, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310513787

Terry Aspinall

I was born during the Second World War while my father was chasing Rommel out of North Africa and Italy, for this reason I never saw him until late 1946. I grew up in the sleepy little Suffolk country side town of Stowmarket, and underwent an education that to me seemed an absolute waste of time. Although with that wonderful tool known as hindsight, my reading and writing skills would have served me well in the writing of this book. I should have taken the trouble and given the teachers my full undivided attention and not the girls sitting next to me, while behind me was always the wall. Yes I was a back of class type of guy who was always getting into trouble and talking during class. Upon leaving school I became what was known as a Teddy boy and hung around with the Ipswich town local gangs. Once the novelty began to wear off, and I realised that if I carried on along the path I had chosen, it would only lead me into trouble with the law, so I decided on a complete life style change and joined the Royal Marines. My growing up during this period of time can certainly be attributed to my Royal Marine training, something that is still part of my life to this day. I tell of my service years and of being on active service in Borneo. Upon my release I became very interested and involved in the Rock n Roll music of the day, and helped form a local band in the town of Leiston in Suffolk. I also became involved in the then new sport of hang gliding. Which later lead me to strapping an engine on to my glider, and being amongst the first in the UK to pioneer the sport of Microlighting, and to set a record that still stands to this day. Eventually while working for Bernard Matthews I upped my family and immigrated to New Zealand, to help build a new factory in a small county town of Waipukurau on the North Island. Where I experienced a complete new style of living that my family and I all enjoyed, and took to it like ducks to water. It was a taste of what was to come when after three years I once again up rooted my family and move over the ditch as they say to Australia, but that’s another story?

Book preview

Front Cover photo was taken in Grafton NSW Australia

The memorial was created and erected by the Grafton Council in 2007

Remembering the birth of the Modern Hang Glider on the 7th September 1963

'Correcting History'

© Copyright 2014 by Graeme Henderson & Terry Aspinall

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means electronic, mechanical, photographic (photocopying) recording, or otherwise without prior permission in writing from the author.

ISBN: 9781310513787

Published by Graeme Henderson and Terry Aspinall

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Dedication

I would like to dedicate this book to Rod Fuller and his family.

Sadly, I never got to meet Rod, but I did meet his family while attending his memorial service. This was held at Hogbin drive Crematorium and Memorial Gardens, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales (NSW) Australia, on Thursday 26th April 2012. The Celebrate being Paul Winder.

The British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association had earlier recommended Rod Fuller's name for the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale's (FAI) Hang Gliding Diploma, for his services to Hang Gliding. This nomination was successful but sadly Rod passed away before the Citation arrived.

Without Rods courage and skill to fly and control the Dickenson wing on the 7th September 1963, thousands of people around the world may never have been able to enjoy the freedom of flight.

Acknowledgement

I would like to thank Graeme Henderson for the friendship we have carved out together. (He is a wood carver no pun intended) For his forcefulness in trying to find out who really did invent the modern hang glider. A subject a couple of historians had earlier picked up on. Unfortunately, they did not receive encouragement or help from others to pursue their research. Without Graeme's persistence in trying to get to the truth this story may never have been told.

Thanks also must go to Mark Woodhams (UK) who had picked up on the story during 1976. Of his sending to me his complete private collection of hang gliding 'Wings' magazines, and to the 'British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association' for granting me permission to copy those magazines and to display them on one of my websites, the British Hang Gliding History.

To Stéphane Malbos (Fr) for being one of the first to publish (during 1993), and present to the world his personal theory that John Dickenson from Australia had invented the modern-day hang glider. Also thanks to Stéphane for his personal help to me in my use of the English language. It's a sign of the times and of the computer age we are now enjoying. It's hard to believe that a French man can teach me an Englishman in English, but he did, and I appreciated all the help that he gave me. A learning curve that is still ongoing, along with Graeme's tutoring.

Of Ken de Russy (USA) who has spent many hours researching information and to passing it on, so we could expanded the websites data base.

Of Andy Abbott (Aus) who Graeme had known for a few years and was well versed with the information we were seeking.

I cannot go any further without mentioning Rod Fuller, and of his skill to fly the 'Dickenson' wing on 7th September 1963, without that we would not have had a story to tell.

While the same praise must also go to Pat Crowe and of his boating skill in seeing that Rod came to no harm during that first flight.

And lastly to my dear wife Emily, who has taken a back seat in my thoughts and deeds for the past six years. Sorry and once again as you can see she is the last to seek my praise. Sorry and thanks Emily Love you xxx.

Without the help and cooperation of all those listed above the award presented to John Dickenson during July 2012 as the 'Inventor of the Modern Hang Glider' would not have been possible. And thousands upon thousands of people around the world may never have taken to the sky to enjoy their dreams of flying like a bird.

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Chapter 1 The Modern Hang Glider

Chapter 2 The Jacaranda Festival 1963

Chapter 3 John Dickenson

Chapter 4 Rod Fuller

Chapter 5 Pat Crowe

Chapter 6 Development Timeline

Chapter 7 Dickenson Wing Replica

Chapter 8 Author and Website

Chapter 9 Mark Woodhams

Chapter 10 Stéphane Malbos

Chapter 11 Nomination

Chapter 12 50th Anniversary

Chapter