The Capital Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association
General Club Information
The Capital Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (CHGPA),
founded in 1974, is a non-profit association dedicated to the growth, safety, and solidarity of the sports
of hang gliding and paragliding. CHGPA is an exciting, active organization of about 150 members,
most of whom live in Washington, D.C. and the surrounding
suburban areas of Maryland and Virginia. Pilots, family members, and
non-flying hang gliding enthusiasts comprise our membership.
We regularly hold fun and informative meetings at which everyone,
members and non-members alike, is welcome. The CHGPA is an official chapter
of our national organization, the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association
(USHPA).
CHGPA also organizes many exciting events each year; fly-ins, competitions,
glider displays, out-of-town flying trips, seminars, and parties
all provide opportunities to meet many new friends and learn more about
hang gliding and paragliding.
CHGPA publishes and distributes a quarterly newsletter,
Skyline
(selected as Newsletter of the Year by USHGA numerous times!).
Recent copies are usually available at club meetings,
and all club members receive a subscription.
CHGPA is also online via a website
(chgpa.org)
and a web forum.
Please contact the CHGPA Secretary (see Club Officers)
for more information about either of these activities.
Our members all agree that hang gliding and paragliding are the best approximations of true
flight that are possible for humans to experience: you can quite literally fly
with the eagles, and soar beneath the clouds. So if you've ever had
dreams of flying free, please stop by one of our meetings and we'll help
make your dreams a reality!
CHGPA Officers
All of the officers listed below will be pleased to talk with you and to
provide you with additional information. The Vice President is the
officer whose primary focus is new pilots and those interested in getting
involved in hang gliding.
- President
- Patrick Terry
president@chgpa.org
(h)202-309-5362
(w)
- Vice President
- Matt Ingram
882 N Harrison St
Arlington, VA 22205
vicepres@chgpa.org
(h)804-399-5155
(w)
- Treasurer
- Karl Schackmann
treasurer@chgpa.org
(h)
(w)
- Secretary
- Jim McClave
secretary@chgpa.org
(h)703-973-4411
(w)
- Flight Director
- Jeff Eggers
flight_director@chgpa.org
(h)808-779-5759
(w)
Club Meetings and Dues
CHGPA meetings, held approximately quarterly, generally begin at 8:00.
Anyone is welcome to attend. We are always pleased to add new members, but
no one will pressure you to join. Meetings are no longer held at Lasick's
Beef and Seafood Restaurant in College Park, because of the fire that destroyed
the building in December of 2004. So until more permanent arrangements are made,
the location of our meetings will be a bit ad-hoc, announced a few weeks in
advance.
In the first hour or so of our meetings, we trade flying stories and discuss
club issues such as finances, flying sites, national concerns, and local events.
After a short break, our program could include slide shows, videos, or discussions
on various flying topics. Representatives of the Federal Aviation Administration,
meteorologists, parachute riggers, and others may be scheduled to make a presentation
at this time. Participation by members and visitors is encouraged.
- Meeting Schedule
- Approximately quarterly, on the fourth Wednesday of the month, at 8:00pm.
See the Events Calendar at CHGPA's
website for specific dates. A Christmas party is held in the month of December,
and our annual CHGPA Hang Gliding and Paragliding Festival
is held in either September or October.
- Meeting Location
-
Announced via the Events Calendar at CHGPA's
website two weeks in advance.
- Membership Costs
-
- Non-flying membership: $25.00/year
- Flying membership: $40.00/year
- Flying visitor: $15.00/year