Hell henry thats almost as high as the hang glider launch at sandia peak. 10,363 ft msl. That would be challenging to say the least on a hot day. That valley has some very interesting geological features as well. I wonder how it was formed.
Another factor is aspect ratio.
I think the RST wings were a conscious effort to swing the performance/easy handling compromise to the right-hand side of the equation. There are none here so I've never seen one, but by all accounts they're very pleasant wings to fly.
Oh!!! That's what it is. I put my hand in it's mouth, but it was probably just waiting till the whole group got in the room. Jeez, that coulda got bloody.
GeoBlaze is looking over my shoulder snickering
That's cause HGFA pilots are hang glider pilots and often wear shirts with red bull or some other suitable logo and 1. They are bulletproof so insurance is unnecessary, and 2. They carry a spare parachute strapped to their person when they fly so see 1.
I had experienced with thermalling on my trike, Skycycle with 25hp Zenoah engine. Thermal was about 500 fps, used gas to go up faster to circle than hang glider.
I hope you did the honorable thing and fly to Bills to give him a hand with milking the cows on Monday morning......after all he did give you a fly in his trike.
It sounded like the perfect social triking event....flying then lunch.