Ridge running - low level glider flying

Another flying film, this time in a glider. This has renewed my desire to add a glider rating to my license.

http://vimeo.com/1349369

That looks like a really awesome way to die. Really, really awesome.

So cool! I just joined a local club, my ground school is March 19 & 20. They said it would be quick for me to solo with my hang gliding experience.

Garage sale soon to buy a glider!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've seen a hi-def version of this, but I can't find it on teh interwebs.

Wingsuit flying

I sort of understand the principles involved in this, but I can't really wrap my mind around how the pilots know where to steer a glider to keep it in the updrafts. An 'Oh Sh*t' moment while cornering might put me in the grass or a tire wall, but in a glider? How on earth do you learn where the limits are without dying?

That's even crazier than paraskiing

In reply to nderwater:

You want to stay on the upwind side of the ridge, where the breeze is blowing uphill. He starts that film at 6,000 ft and it ends at 4,000 ft. He is descending at about 500 ft per minute. The airspeed is about 100 knots every time that I can see the airspeed indicator. ( a knot is 1.15 mph) That airplane probably stalls at about 30 knots. Therefore even though he does not have an engine he can pull up and climb quite a bit. An old axiom of flying is that you can trade airspeed for altitude or altitude for airspeed, so do not get low and slow.

The updraft can be "seen" in any plane by looking at the vertical speed indicator (rate of climb and dive). When you enter an updraft, without moving the controls, you will see the VSI go positive (even if you don't feel it).

If you are that close to the ground you will also likely see yourself rising and have to lower the nose to maintain altitude.

I was just doing some ridge soaring last weekend with an RC motor glider. It's a bit harder to see or feel the updrafts, but it is fairly easy to tell when you are in one (you don't loose altitude).

The interesting part is that you end up moving around a lot like a hawk / vulture in you flight patterns since they tend to hunt around for updrafts also.

I shouldn't have watched that, now I want to go and look more seriously at flying gliders...

Anybody know what the eyesight requirements are? My eyesight's pretty crap without glasses and I haven't mastered echolocation yet...

I've flown a glider a couple of times in the UK as they're fairly lenient compared to other private pilot license requirements (if your vision is good enough to drive a car with your glasses on, you're OK to fly a glider).

In reply to BoxheadTim:

Third Class Certificate Requirements

Distant Vision - 20/40 or better in each eye separately, with or without correction.

Near Vision - 20/40 or better in each eye separately (Snellen equivalent), with or without correction, as measured at 16 inches. Intermediate - No requirement.

Color Vision - Ability to perceive those colors necessary for safe performance of airmen duties.

I am not certain but a medical certificate might not be necessary for a glider pilot holding a private certificate. Instructors and commercial pilots will need a 2nd class FAA physical.

Thanks pilotbraden, that looks like I might be able to hit those requirements, especially if I finally get my act together and switch to contacts...

Great, I need another expensive hobby like the proverbial hole in the head.

Yeah, and it looks like I'm getting bifocal sunglasses. I find myself more comfortable with reading glasses at dash board distances, but need the others for far away.

Cool! I can read the speed - altitude thingie! Hey what's that big grey blob out there?

Or:

Dude, I see the frikkin' mountain calm down! Stall? No way!

Pick your poison with age I guess.

Dan

BTW: Stand ready to get a boatload of gliding photos and stories.

Sorry. I'm excited.

I love being an aviator, but that makes us look like daredevils.

Chicks dig scars.

Yippeeee!

Went to an air show a few years back. Even with the Snowbirds, Blue Angels, and the Red Bull helicopter I was most impressed with the stunt glider. The silence of flying on magic fairy dust is wal cool.

JoeyM wrote: That's even crazier than paraskiing

I wonder if you ever hit a point where you think, "mother berkeleyer! I do not want to do this! I do not!"

Joey

Cone_Junky wrote: Went to an air show a few years back. Even with the Snowbirds, Blue Angels, and the Red Bull helicopter I was most impressed with the stunt glider. The silence of flying on magic fairy dust is wal cool.

Bob Hoover has the ultimate stunt "glider" routine...

In reply to Salanis:

You do the man an injustice with just a pic.

Here's his Aerial Suite; the good stuff starts at the 4:40 mark: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PftNh_SShlg

umm... don;t think that is the aerial show you wanted to share with us

oldsaw wrote: In reply to Salanis: You do the man an injustice with just a pic. Here's his Aerial Suite; the good stuff starts at the 4:40 mark: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zm_Fl3AszuU&feature=player_embedded

Oops! Was this a genuine accidental flounder;)

Joey

In reply to joey48442:

My apologies; it was as accidental as it could possibly have been. As if that link had any relevance at all to the thread subject........

Link has been fixed.

Bob Hoover had seriously fuzzy nuts. I caught his show many times, both in the Shrike and in the P-51.

it's like iron eagle, when he races the car, only without the engine, I approve