JOHN HEINEY World Champion Freestyle Hang Glider Pilot
PO Box 2819 San Marcos CA 92079
johnheiney.com
john@johnheiney.com
mobile phone 760-822-5667
Film Stunts, Camera Mounts, Air Shows, Event Entertainment
Large Library of Stock Hang Gliding and Paragliding Photographs
Education
Graduated with honors from Milwaukee School of Engineering (AAS degree) – 1970
Experience
Competition
- Winner of World Aerobatic Hang Gliding Championships (Telluride) – 1987, 1991, 1992 and 1997
- Guinness World Record Holder for 52 consecutive “loops” on a hang glider – 1988-1998
- Winner of Masters of Freestyle Championships – 1999, 2002 & 2003
- Winner of Aero-Extreme Freestyle Hang Gliding Contest in Jackson Hole, WY – 2000
- Winner of United States Aerobatics National Championships in Albuquerque, NM – 1996
- Winner of Grouse Mountain World Invitational Aerobatics Championships in BC Canada – 1987
Employment
- Freelance Photographer / Consultant for UP Hang Gliders / Hang Gliding Instructor – 2001-present
- Design Engineer and Project Manager for Altair’s “Predator” and “Saturn” hang gliders – 1994-2000
- Factory Pilot and Promotional Photographer for UP International Hang Gliders – 1989-1994
- Factory Pilot and Promotional Photographer for Bill Bennett’s Delta Wing Gliders – 1983-1989
Film / Video
- Featured in Plum TV profile “Hang Gliding in Telluride” – 2007
- Flew with helicopter for Kendall Jackson Wine Company demo film in “Wine Country” – 2005
- Appeared in BBC’s “Journey of Life” TV series episode “Airborne” (evolution of flight) – 2004
- Shot first-ever glider-mounted IMAX footage for MacGillivray-Freeman Films’ “Coral Reef Adventure” – 2001
- Stunt pilot for Janus Funds TV commercial filmed at Torrey Pines (Coyote @ 111 / Ventana) – 1998
- Guest host on 1 hour “To The Edge” show on the Outdoor Life Network (towed by helicopter) – 1998
- Stunt flying in Monument Valley for Marlboro Travel TV commercial (HSI / Paul Giraud)- 1997
- Appeared in “The Aeronauts”, a documentary film by Michael Hamilton – 1997
- Featured in Discovery Channel’s “Extreme Machines” as Predator designer and freestyler – 1997
- Featured in Discovery Channel’s “Go For It” as Predator designer and freestyler – 1996
- Featured in Discovery Channel’s “Next Step” innovating equipment to improve one’s sport – 1995
- Featured in the “Extremists” filmed at the Telluride Aerobatic Hang Gliding Championships – 1994
- Pilot in IMAX film “Treasure of the Gods” at Zion National Park (heli-tow photos) – 1994
- Featured in Tom Sanders Film “Over The Edge” (hot air balloon drop and loop record) – 1994
- Featured in “Highway, Flying in the USA”, a documentary film by Henry Hauck – 1993
- Featured in ESPN’s “Expedition Earth” flying at Mount Cook, New Zealand – 1992
- Featured in Sports Illustrated Video (Warren Miller Film) “On The Edge” – 1992
- Featured in CBS’s “Prime Time Pets”, took Dorothy Lucy and Blacky the dog hang gliding – 1990
- Filmed segment with Tom Sanders for “Spectacular World of Guinness Records” – 1988
- Appeared in “Good Morning America” segment to take Ron Reagan hang gliding – 1988
- Featured on ESPN’s “Classic Summer” as World Freestyle Champion – 1988
- Featured In “Hang Gliding Extreme”, a documentary film by Paul Hamilton – 1987
- Featured in Ch 8 News (San Diego) Special Report on Sport Flying (Emmy Award Winner) – 1987
- Camera-mount consultant for National Geographic Explorer’s “High Altitude Hang Gliding” – 1985
- Featured on KYODO TV in Japan “Blondie the Hang Gliding Dog” – 1984
- Shot glider-mounted footage forAerial Focus and Merkel Films sold to many TV commercials.
Air Shows
- Featured act in the Arizona Sky Fest air show at Prescott AZ- 2004-2005
- Performed freestyle demos at the Portuguese National Hang Gliding Championships – 2004
- Performed freestyle hang gliding demos at Extreme Sport Week in Voss Norway – 2004
- Featured Act at the Shell Air & Sea Show in Fort Lauderdale Florida – 1995
- Performed Freestyle demos at the Paragliding World Cup in Kyushu Japan – 1992-1993
- Performed over the main runway at the EAA Convention in Oshkosh WI – 1992-1993
- Performed at the Miami Air Show at Opaloka Airport in Florida – 1991
- Performed Freestyle demos at the First World Open XC Contest in Wakayama Japan – 1990
- Featured Act at the Chicago Air & Water Show (Meigs Field and North Avenue Beach – 1989-1990
- Featured act at the Colorado Springs Balloon Classic (dropped from hot-air balloon) – 1989-1996
Photography / Writing
- 36 Cover photos on Hang Gliding Magazine – 1981-2007
- 34 Centerspreads in Hang Gliding magazine – 1981-2007
- Fourteen articles in Hang Gliding magazine – 1981-2007
- Articles and photos published in all hang gliding periodicals throughout the World
- Ten-photo layout (including cover) and other article/photos in Cross Country international hang gliding and paragliding magazine, 1994-2007
- Photography featured in the “Gallery” section of Hang Gliding Magazine several times
- Articles and photos published in other publications including:
- Westways
- California
- Friendly Exchange
- Modern Maturity
- Outside
- Los Angeles
- New England Monthly
- Oregon Coast
- Volkswagen’s World
- Skysports
- Hotel Bel-Air
- San Diego Home & Garden
- Gravity
- and many others
- Photos published in the U.S. Hang Gliding Association calendar each year – 1983-2006
- Photos published in European free-flight calendars – 1983-2005
- Wrote flight manuals and service manuals for all gliders developed by Altair Hang Gliders – 1994-2000
John has worked with these cinematogrpher/film-makers:
Greg MacGillivray
Mike Hoover
Tom Sanders
Roger Brown
Michael Graber
Gordon Brown
Howard Hall
Bill Sorensen
Paul Giraud
Henry Hauck
Hugh Witworth
and many others
