Premium windsock for Paragliding, Hang Gliding, & Skydiving

made by Marilyn

Price includes FREE shipping to continental U.S. addresses

• $55    Note: For shipping outside the continental US, place your order and we will contact you per additional shipping charges.

Please be patient!  There can be 7-21 days before we can ship these handmade windsocks out, especially during training season.

Be SURE to read the setup instructions below for important information for using the sock correctly.   It is not so simple as most think....

Why this windsock is superior to all others!

Harmonized Tariff Schedule code for this item: 9503.00  (for international shipping)

TYPE

 

Features

• 40D nylon ripstop fabric i.e., tent fabric.  No other sock uses this quality of fabric.
• Sock opening is reinforced with a sewn-in piece of polyethylene tubing that keeps the round shape of the sock for its useful life – a feature that is unique to the Southwest Airsports windsock and not found in any other windsock of this type.
• Overall length approximately 15', just right for all flying conditions.
• Visibility of (1) mile or more – pilots and skydivers can safely setup for landing much further away than with ordinary windsocks.
• Ultra sensitive to wind speed and direction – will start to move and indicate direction with wind at less than 1 MPH
• Greatly assists landing setup at or near dusk when cheaper windsocks or streamers are hard or impossible to see.
• Typical life is 7 years depending on sun exposure, average wind velocity, and handling.
• This windsock can be safely struck by gliders and skydivers without injury to the pilot or skydiver if it is attached to a Crappie (Pan) pole.  Please read the setup instructions below for information on this.  The windsock assembly will fall down flat on the ground and Crappie pole, will have lots of give in any direction.  It is safest to attach the windsock to a Crappie fishing pole.  The design of this windsock system is safer to hit than any permanent windsock that has a solid shaft.
• Hand made by Marilyn in the U.S.A. at our shop.
• Think about it: How much is your flying safety worth?  That is why we make this premium sock that has no equal.

NOTE: THE ORANGE COLOR OF THE SOCK MAY VARY SLIGHTLY FROM THE PHOTOS HERE, DEPENDING ON OUR FABRIC SUPPLIER.

Marilyn Robinson at work in her shop – working on a 1,000' streamer for an air show.  She has assisted in the training of pilots for over 15 years and knows that setting up to land as far away as possible is vitally important to pilots and skydivers – and why she created this windsock.

Accessories needed for the windsock (do it yourself)

The Crappie (Pan) fishing pole should have the thinnest sections possible so that the sock will move in the slightest breeze but not touch the pole.  The correct type of pole is available online from Cabelas.  DO NOT USE A HEAVY DUTY CRAPPIE – IF YOU DO, YOUR SOCK WILL NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY IN LIGHT AIR.

• Option #1 16' 6" Crappie fishing pole –  using the 16' 6" pole instead of the more expensive 20' (option #2 below) cuts down on replacement costs over the long haul.  A longer pole should not be needed if a PVC pipe is used to extend the height.   The advantage of a longer pole is that it takes up less space because only a short piece of PVC pipe would be needed.
• The pole needs a split piece of 1" vinyl tubing attached about 1' up from the base with nylon zip ties to keep it from sliding down the PVC pipe (see this photo).
  
• 1 1/2" x 6' PVC schedule 40 pipe  Longer pieces are always better but may not fit in a car or truck bed.  Measure the width of the base of your Crappie pole.  If the base cap is removed and duct tape is used to seal the base so you can use a narrower pipe.
  
• 3/4 x 30" steel concrete form stake (best) 1/4" bolt installed 12" from top of the stake can be used to increase the height of the longer PVC pipe OR use a 5/8 x 3' or longer piece of rebar.  If you do use rebar, grind the ridges off where is goes in the ground as these make the pole more difficult to take in and out.
  
  OR
  
  
• Option #2 20' Crappie fishing pole – available from Amazon.  Cabelas does not offer lengths greater than 16' 6".  The longer poles are more expensive, wider at the base, easier to damage, and not needed if a 6' piece of PVC with a stake is used.
• 2" x 3' PVC – this diameter pipe will fit most 20' Crappie poles.
  
• 3/4" x 30"-36" steel concrete form stake (best) OR a 5/8" x 3' piece of rebar. 

Alterations for Skydiving

Skydivers have asked us how to paint the end of the sock for easier viewing from straight overhead in the DZ.  At some point, we will offer a sock option that has an 8" long white end.  Meanwhile....

We recommend using premium gloss white spray paint, either Krylon or, if not available, Rustoleum.  Mask off the last 8” of the sock using masking tape. You will need some kind of internal support to keep the sock cylindrical while spraying it with paint.  We recommend making a heavy paper/cardboard cylinder.  Tape the ends of the cylinder AFTER inserting it into the end of the sock.  Drape the rest of the sock across a horizontal stick with the end hanging down.  Do NOT soak the sock with paint!  Put just enough on to give a good contrast.  Let it dry thoroughly.  If you do not follow these steps, the sock could be glued together at the end and/or take on a non-cylindrical shape.

Repairs

The Crappie pole is delicate and is usually the first part to fail.  If the end tip of the Crappie pole breaks, heat from a flame can be used to easily remove the tip from the broken piece of pole.  It can then be reattached with 5-minute epoxy cement to the remaining tip after it has been sanded to a taper so that it will fit the tip.  I have broken the tip off and reattached it successfully more than once.  Use a Dremel tool with a grinding wheel to taper the pole tip for reattachment.  A file also works but will take longer.

Tears in the fabric can be easily repaired (to stop fraying) by a few drops of Super-Glue.

The fishing line swivel can be easily replaced without cutting the supporting lines that go to the opening of the sock.

Sometimes the ends of the telescoped pieces of the pole can become weak, worn out, or split so that the sections easily pull out.  This can be repaired better than new:  Take some unwaxed dental floss and tightly wrap it a few dozen times around the end of the weaker or split section.  Then soak the floss with Super-Glue as a permanent and effective fix.

Limited warranty

If the sock fails from a manufacturing defect such as a seam failure during its useful life, please send it back to us and we will fix it at no charge.  Unfortunately, we cannot warrant these socks if they have been misused or left out in the sun. The Crappie Pole has no warranty because it is so easy to damage.

Setup instructions

1. YOUR NEW WINDSOCK NEEDS TO BE BROKEN IN.  The sock is shipped folded to conserve space and the folding prevents the complete opening of the sock.  To "loosen up" the sock when new, stuff it in a bag or just stuff it wherever it is.  After the sock has been used a dozen times, it will completely inflate.  For proper operation and long life do not fold the sock when putting it away nor put it away damp.
2. In order to work properly, the windsock should be suspended above the ground at least 20'.  If a lesser distance is used, the Crappie pole will bend over and the sock will touch the ground, brush, or tall grass and give a false velocity and direction indication, especially if seen from far away.  The 16' 6" Crappie pole with the 6' PVC extension does the job.
3. Always extend the Crappie pole carefully.  Do NOT extend the sections with force!  They should be just snug for long life.
4. Windsock assembly should be clear of obstacles for a radius of at least 20' or the sock may get tangled.
   
5. Locate the windsock as close as possible to the middle of the LZ or DZ.  Putting it near any tall object will defeat the purpose of this ultra-sensitive anemometer.
   
6. If you have a lot of traffic or the area is subject to light and variable winds, place multiple windsocks near the corners of the LZ or DZ.
   
7. DO NOT STORE THE WINDSOCK IN THE SUN OR IN A MOIST ENVIRONMENT.
8. DO NOT LEAVE THE MOUNTING STAKE IN THE GROUND (IF USED) TO BECOME AN INVISBLE HAZARD TO PILOTS/SKYDIVERS!
   
9. When extending the Crappie Pole to full length, pull on the telescoping sections gently.  If the sections are not firm, the pole may later collapse.  If you pull too hard on the sections, they may come right out or break.  If they come out you will have to disassemble the pole.
   
10. When putting the windsock away, take the Crappie pole out of the PVC pipe before collapsing it.  Keeping the pole vertical, firmly rest the butt of the pole on the ground.  Starting at the lowest section, slightly twist the opposing sections and let them slide into the pole base.  REMEMBER: THE WALLS OF THE POLE ARE DELICATE.  They must be so in order for the windsock to be as sensitive as it is.  NEVER LET ANYONE JAMB THE POLE SECTIONS TOGETHER.  This is the surest way to ruin the Crappie pole.
11. The base cap on the Crappie pole just makes the pole wider and this requires a wider PVC pipe which allows the pole to flop around.  It is best to remove the base cap and use duct-tape to seal the end of the pole.  THE END OF THE POLE MUST BE SEALED!
12. Most people have little or no idea how to setup a Crappie pole and, too often, will break it.  Have ONLY knowledgeable people setup and dismantle your pole.  It is fragile!
    
13. It is unnecessary to unhook the windsock from the Crappie pole.  However, it does make the end of the pole easier to damage when it is stored as a single piece.
14. THIS IS *NOT* A PERMANENT WINDSOCK!  ALWAYS TAKE IT DOWN AFTER USE.   DO NOT FOLD THE WINDSOCK – IT NEEDS TO BE "MESSY" IN ORDER TO WORK PROPERLY.  DO NOT PUT AWAY DAMP!

How the windsock functions

The Southwest Airsports windsock is ultra sensitive to the slightest breeze.  The very thin Crappie pole bends slightly from the weight of the sock.  This ensures that the sock is always hanging and not touching the pole.

Testimonial from a hang glider pilot,

I'm a HG and flew the Guads over President's day with some folks from CO who had one of your windsocks... I noticed how easy it was to see from the air and what a good wind speed indicator it was. Looks like a really good product!

Another comment on Marilyn's windsock when demand exceeded supply,

Yes, I will wait. I really want one.  I flew the other day and another guy had your windsock.  It is worth the wait.

In the photo below, it shows a wind speed of about 2-3 MPH.  Landing into the wind vs. landing downwind would result in a 6 mph difference in ground speed which would be 18 MPH vs. 24 MPH.  As the winds increase the difference gets much greater.  A 10 MPH wind yields a difference of 20 MPH between landing into the wind and landing downwind.

No other type of windsock can provide the information that pilots and skydivers need when a mile away that allows the best possible setup information for a comfortable landing with minimum ground speed.  This is especially important for hang gliding and skydiving where setting up as far away as possible is not only a matter of comfort but also of safety.

If the winds increase, the windsock will clearly indicate the speed.  In the photo below, winds are approximately 12 mph and the windsock is "angry" (flapping and making noise).  As winds increase, the sock will straighten out completely and make more noise.  It takes time for pilots to get to know this sock and to gauge the wind speed precisely.

The sock can be raised another foot by installing a 1/4" bolt in the stake about 10" from the end.

The best Crappie pole to use is the 16' 6" pole made by B'n'M.  It should have the modifications done per the photo below.

Marilyn's reinforced sock opening – this is the most important difference between her windsock and all others.  It is flexible tubing so the opening can be bent/crushed.  It will recover it's natural shape if left in a warm place for a while.  Note: the orange color of the sock may vary from the photos here depending on our fabric supplier.

Below is a photo of the flimsy reinforcing material found in Chinese-made imports.  The material is flat so that the sock and reinforcing loop can be sewn at the same time.  While this makes the sock at least 4X faster to make, the sock opening will collapse after a short time, usually a few weeks of occasional use.  The sock then becomes a flat streamer that may be less visible, depending on the pilot's angle of vision to the sock.  The sock also loses its ability to precisely show wind speed.

Here is a typical Chinese-made windsock and what happens after a short time – and why Marilyn started making the Southwest Airsports sock for hang gliding, paragliding, and skydiving.

Your best buy is Marilyn's windsock.  Order one today!