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I knew Dean Aldinger and saw him fly this particular model in the 70's. He didn't make a lot of that model and the tips were heavy IMO. I remember him flying the first prototype of this model at the water towers in Granite Bay, California. This model is not one I would consider very safe except under the mildest conditions. It was high performace for it's time but nto especially stable.
13/03/2011
Just to be correct that was flown at Rocklin, Ca. not Granite Bay. Also IIRC the nose angel was 105 degrees. Too long ago to remember other specs. Dean was a great hang glider builder but lost some friends that were flying his hang gliders and quit building. Great pilot too but I can't blame him for getting out of building them after several tragedies.
29/09/2011
I knew dean very well and was there when his test pilots were killed in Vallejo. I didn't know he flew in Rocklin or Granite Bay, mostly he was in Vallejo, next to the rest area above Marine World. This glider wasn't stable, which is why he stopped making it. He made a lot of innovations incorporated into later models. I believe he is now flying Sail planes in Minden Nv. DrB
29/09/2011
BTW, I have an Dinger Wings Super 90 with over 350 hours on it and it is still like new. It was make in 1976, Dean made some pretty good Kites.
DrB
20/02/2012
Hey Guys,
This is Joe Nelson former Hang 4 from back in the day. Dean built my last kite after I left True Flight. It was A Super 110. The last big contest I got into with it was at Lookout Mountain. It came down between a Moyes and my Dinger Wing. Well I came out on top. Dean was one of the best. BTW I talked to him back a few years ago and he was messing with sailplanes.
09/06/2012
I worked for Dean Aldinger at Dinger Wings for several years. The String Ray was our copy of UP's Dragon Fly which we had on the market within weeks of first seeing the Dragon Fly at the Nationals at Escape Country. I played the curious spectator, asking UP's pilots about various aspects of their new glider so as to ease Dinger Wings re-creation. Yes, that era definately pushed the limits with respect to performance & stability.
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