Cloud 9

The Skyhook Cloud 9 was one of the earliest British swallowtail types. It had a 100 degree nose angle when ninety degrees was normal for swallowtails. Like the Skyhook IIIA standard rogallo, it had sail clearance towers^* -- small upright struts on the ends of the crosstube to which the upper side flying wires were attached, preventing them from digging into the sail. The Cloud 9 featured an innovative control frame that folded without the need to detach any cables. (Extraordinarily, the base bar folded in half. Yet in the air it was safe and solid.)

Notice the V-shaped hang strap. At the time it was felt by some that, in swallowtail type rogallos, the 'feel' of pitch control was too light. A lower hang point, as used on many standard rogallos, provided a sort of artificial pitch stability but at the same time made roll control heavier. The Cloud 9 hang strap side-stepped the latter problem. It also provided an easy adjustment of 'hands off' airspeed (pitch trim).

* The author's records indicate that Pacific Gull standard rogallos were the first hang gliders to incorporate sail clearance towers