The Eagle has Landed .. on my left leading edge!

Sunday August 27,2000; 3:15 pm Glider: Sport AT 180 Flying site: Crestline, CA. Thermaling 400 feet below the 'billboard.' It was a weak lift day, and I was having a hard time maintaining altitude. All of a sudden a Golden Eagle, with a 6 ft wingspan joins me in my circles. I slowed down to watch him follow me around. He does not seem angry, or in an 'attack' mode. He seems like he may be tame. Then he perched on my left wing near leading edge/crossbar junction. He stayed there for a couple of seconds and then tumbled off the front. He flies around and does this 3 more times. Then he flew 4 feet below my base tube for about 5 seconds. In total I was with him for what seemed like 5 minutes. With all of these distractions, I had lost my thermal, so I headed out towards Marshall. That is the last that I see him.

The rest of the flight was un-eventful. After my landing, I wondered if those on the ground would believe my story. One guy watching from above me saw it all. The proof of my story was confirmed by two slices in my sail, one 5 inch and one 4 inch plus several small talon marks. I left my wing with Rob for repairs. The experience was worth the rips!

Has anyone else had this kind of experience?

Frank Hamann 161 S Craig Dr Orange, CA 92869 714-997-7951

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

No.

But all I've got to say is: WOW.

A few years ago I was flying Mt. Baldy, a dune site along Lake Michigan. We often fly with the seagulls and an occasional redtail hawk. On this day, as I was heading downridge, I noticed a redtail soaring below and ahead of me, going the same direction. He was flying slower, rising toward me, and then I realized he was slowly backing into me! I waited until he was about 5 feet away, and then said 'Hey hawk, lookout!' His head snapped around in total surprise, let out a sqwauk, then he pulled in his wings and dived away. As luck would have it, a TV crew from a local station was filming me on this flight, so I now have a video of the whole experience, complete with my warning and him diving away.

Angelo Mantas

Heck yes...and at Crestline!

I was on my second or third tandem with Dan Skadal as the IP when we were heading for the LZ. As we we descending, Dan asked me what I thought I saw below me. For a second I thought it was a hawk, but he said it was a Golden Eagle.

We broke out of the thermal to the right as he ascended, then we re-entered, circling to the left as he was. He eventually got wingtip to wingtip with us, and if I didn't know better, I'd say he shot us a 'damned tourists' look and broke off!

B E A U T I F U L sight. A motivator, too!

Blue Skies

Steve Robeson Dunlap Tennessee In The Shadow Of Henson's Gap Launch