Brian,

You might want to look into the Experimental Soaring Association. (http://www.esoaring.com/) There is quite a bit going on. Each year there is both Eastern and Western Workshops, etc.

Back in the 1960s and 1970s there was a lot of activity in the homebuilt sailplane community. In fact I purchased and currently fly a sailplane from that era. (http://www.tinyurl.com/N990-6F) My website features sailplanes designed by Dick Schreder (http://www.soaridaho.com/Schreder)

Depending on where you live one of Sandlin's designs could give you a lot of enjoyable flying.

Cheers,
Wayne


"Brian Whatcott" wrote in message ...
I was browsing with homebuilt for a keyword, and ran into that
delightful web site that features Goat, Bug, and kindred ultralight
gliders or as he prefers to think of them, flying chairs.

It's not so often you run into free for downloading drawings, in various
standards. Drawn beautifully, and which give a distinct impression of
being pretty much unbreakable in normal use, and offering a way out in
abnormal use (a throw out parachute that lands you tail first, with your
back supported).
The techniques were recognizable as grown-up versions of how early
Rogallos were put together - with crossbolts, sleeves, tangs and
gussets - using alloy tube and steel cables. Good on ya, Sandlin!
(Wish there was a bill of materials - it would be tempting to buy the
materials just for the pleasure of putting one together.)

Brian W