Lordy did that bring back memories! My stomach is queasy right now like it just happened. Only I didn't have an engine to rely on. I was in deep dog doo (as we say here). But I was in a Nimbus 2C, a consummate floater who empty. I just hung on til it cycled a little.
I was getting pretty nervous there and I was only WATCHING! Fascinating to see all the different strategies you tried to avoid having to use the engine, and what incredibly beautiful scenery. Thanks!
I've been in a similar situation along a ridge on the edge of a lake--nowhere to land but the water, and without an engine. This video had my pucker-meter pegged!
Wow, that is very tricky terrain! So many spurs and double ridges makes it hard to work out what the wind is doing. I must commend you for the safe manner in which you (at 10:13) do figure eights till you’re well above the ridge before starting to circle in the thermal. 👍 I have seen some other glider pilots that do circles right in front and below the ridge! That is so dangerous, it Freaks me out! 😱
Yeah it's not good, I try to remember the motto: 'if i'm not absolutely sure, don't do it'. i.e. only circle once you're above the ridge and you KNOW it won't be a problem. Or you're DEFINITELY far enough out.
Not many places where you'll want to check the tide tables before a glider flight. Hawk (Anemoi) is educating me about how terrain, thermals and 'mini-convergences) affect winds. It's a real eye-opener. When the wind does not do what you expect it should do, it is very easy to jump to 'Hawk must be broken'.
I am all for using a sustainer motor when you get yourself cornered. In my opinion it doesnt detract from the gliding experience and certainly reduces the pucker factor! If you have it dont be afraid to use it I say!. I have a FES which I have used a number of times to improve a sticky situation and powerglide to get over more landable terrain and jag a thermal. Thanks for sharing.
Yeah agreed, although keep in mind you must always be in range of somewhere safe to land, even with a FES. Certainly more chance of the Fes starting over the combustion engine!
I always thought gliders are too risky and amazed at the piloting skills of landing each time - Now that I know gliders have engines I think it would be a great sport.
Yes! Although I'd recommend all glider pilots start without an engine, and get used to putting it in fields. I've done about 80 in my life, but none recently...
Another excellent video. Wow, the gliding you do is so different. So much scratching around down low. Looks fun but quite demanding so close to the trees.
Question please Tim! In the thermal you started working just before you started the engine, was the GoPro lens making it look worse than it really was? When you were turning back towards the ridge it looked like you were sinking pretty quickly and trees started looking really close! Thanks for posting. I never had an opportunity to do ridge flying like this. Super interesting!!
Hi I noticed that too while editing. I think it’s the stabilisation system on the GoPro , moving the image when it runs out of room on the image to stabilise the video. Also I may well put the nose down a bit to ensure I’m fast enough, but it certainly wasn’t as dramatic as the camera makes it look like. Cheers!
Great video - What is your adrenaline doing when being lower than you want over those trees? You voice remains absolutely calm. Recently I was at a place where the wind had changed 180 degrees compared to 20 minutes earlier, and it took me minutes to realize what was going on... My heart rate goes up in that situation!
Yeah I remain reasonably calm, especially as that engine start I was expecting. The first bit I got into trouble I was definitely not comfortable due to the lack of good landings. I try really hard to ensure I don’t end up in situations like that.
"I am sure we would have found something..." There is a certain inevitability to that statement up to and including paddocks disguised as forests. On a serious point, having made a serious mistake, would you rather drop it in marginal/bad country or in the coastal water?
Well, probably on the beach, or right next to it, if the fields didn't look big enough. Gliders float, and you'll very likely be fine. Crashing into something solid like a fence or a tree and you're throwing the dice...
Tim I looked at the data for your flight and then had a look on Google Earth. While this flight is well out of my comfort zone., in terms of glide ratio ,what do you use as a safe glide to a good land out area ? I am impressed with the distances you go with so little altitude .
Yeah so a general guideline I like to use for most gliders is 1000 feet you can glide 10km. But when you’re flying low ridges you can’t really use that rule. For a start you can go a LOT further with a bit of ridge lift helping, even if you can’t climb. On the other hand at 1000 feet above sea level, it only takes a few seconds of sink before you’re in trouble. So decision making is a lot trickier, and I tend to go by gut feel from experience. “is the situation improving or getting worse?” Is the key question.
My background is Paragliding, but ridge soaring is ridge soaring, and glide ratio is not all that important. I would say for coastal ridge soaring the most important thing is to have good strong reliable wind (obviously blowing perpendicular to a suitable ridge). On the coast this means a nice sea breeze on a hot summer’s day. Avoid wind associated with cold fronts, they change quickly in direction and strength. Also rain showers out at sea is bad news, they can block the wind as they drift past your location. Finally never fly where there is no beach below, you do not want to end up in the sea. Inland ridge soaring should be combined with thermal soaring because inland winds are seldom as reliable as sea breezes. Always do figure eights (turning away from ridge) while in front of a ridge, once you’re well above the ridge, then you can circle if you’re in a thermal.
@@Johan-ex5yj I also spent many years hang gliding (37 to be exact) There were a few coastal sites I flew, and at times I was beyond gliding distance of the LZ .( nothing but ocean ) As you eluded to, reliable wind is the key and been able to read the wind way out to sea is important. However the ability to pull off a successful landing in unfriendly terrain and walk away from it ,in a hang glider and especially paragliders has better odds than in a sailplane . I enjoy videos like this as it shows what "can " be done if your comfort zone ( and skill ) are beyond mine. Took me years to get over "hang glider brain" when I started flying sailplanes . Found it hard to trust the performance. . . . . . . . . . . .still working on it.
are those landings across the runway a standard procedure at your field? if i was behind you on the approach, i'd have been really confused about your intentions when you flew all the way to the right just to turn off of the landing direction at the last moment. seems like something you should at least announce on the radio.
Yeah good question, in this case I knew no one was behind me, If there was other traffic around I might be clearer. But yes it is reasonably common to land with a bit of an angle on those windy days at our field. The tow pilots do it a lot in particular. No one should be that close behind me for it to be a problem, and if they were I would talk to them on the radio.
super nice coastal scenery! wow... but it seems every time there is alot risk in these flights. you have that 2 stroke engine but it is sooo difficult to use. no power lever. no starter. must have minimum altitude. i would be stressed out like hell if i fly that. an electric starter would add like 300-500g. use a small 100 gramm lipo for 14 volts. add a small throttle. if you already low and must make a dive down just to start that damn thing each time sounds risky. if it doesnt start you burned your last little bit of altitude... i dont know mate. are you making this sound exciting for youtube to get more clicks? or is flying really that stressful? i am paramotor pilot and it freaks me out each time the engine make any weird noise while i fly. please dont get me wrong because it seems every time we talk i am bashing your engine haha! 😅 i am genuine curious if there is a better way to start that thing and get out these situations easier. i have sweaty palms here watching you get so low over the ridge line. 🤣
Hi yeah you bring up some good questions: - we can’t easily modify the engine, as it’s a type certified aircraft. Would cost a LOT. - I don’t mind it’s simplicity. There’s not much to go wrong on it. - I always have to have somewhere safe to land. No guarantee the engine will start at all. - don’t forget just how far we can glide before landing :) - the particular flight was a bit more exciting than I would like it to have been. In hindsight I would not have gone up there that day. - yes we have to make the videos sound exciting for clicks to some extent. I don’t think about that while flying, only later when editing and making the title/thumbnail!. I also have to deliver so can’t make up anything untrue, otherwise the audience gets angry!
@@PureGlide answer is pure gliding gold mate! 😉 i am foreigner living in china. what you just did there is not possible and i forgot how nice it is to talk to "normal" people who can answer multiple questions in one time. super tedious to talk like that in china because you ask 1 question maybe follow up with a second question and they ALWAYS answer only one. rest they forgot and you have to start from zero asking everything several times before getting an answer. you have no idea how much it means to me to read an answer which includes all things i said before. thank you. so much! back to topic: yeah i understand that this engine is not a 100% safe insurance you can fire up anytime if you screw up. and yes i got the point you have to have a landing option at all times, flying same as if you dont have that little helper on board. keeping in mind how far you can glide is something i have to get used to i guess. i had an engine out recently when the starter ripped itself from the frame and destroyed my brand new eprop. on paramotor it means you are going down fast without much time. video is up if you interested. (sorry for the language - i was mad because that was the 3. time the starter cause an emergency landing) 🤣 and yes i cant agree more. clickbait on normal level we all do because thats what youtube forced us to do. i hate fake information and that always results in a dislike/unsubbing. you are doing it right! i like to watch channels like yours. thanks again for the detailed answer. i appreciate that beyond what you can imagine. keep the blue side up 🌤🌬
Lordy did that bring back memories! My stomach is queasy right now like it just happened. Only I didn't have an engine to rely on. I was in deep dog doo (as we say here). But I was in a Nimbus 2C, a consummate floater who empty. I just hung on til it cycled a little.
From 7:30, until you started your engine, many parts of my anatomy were clenching !
Mine too!!
That was a good move to start your engine early while you still had options. Thanks for sharing and keep it safe Tim.
Thanks 👍 Cheers!
Thanks Tim for sharing your learnings and your adventures :-)
My pleasure!
Beautiful coastal views! It feels just like being in the cockpit except the pilot knows what they’re doing. Thanks for sharing the flight with us ❤
haha if I knew what I was doing I wouldn't have started my engine and gone to the wrong place with no ridge lift?
Touché 😂
I was getting pretty nervous there and I was only WATCHING! Fascinating to see all the different strategies you tried to avoid having to use the engine, and what incredibly beautiful scenery. Thanks!
Hey glad you enjoyed it! Cheers
I've been in a similar situation along a ridge on the edge of a lake--nowhere to land but the water, and without an engine. This video had my pucker-meter pegged!
I was pleased not to land at that beach :)
Great video with map & wind direction. Thanks for taking us along with you !
My pleasure!
Wow, that is very tricky terrain! So many spurs and double ridges makes it hard to work out what the wind is doing.
I must commend you for the safe manner in which you (at 10:13) do figure eights till you’re well above the ridge before starting to circle in the thermal. 👍
I have seen some other glider pilots that do circles right in front and below the ridge! That is so dangerous, it Freaks me out! 😱
Yeah it's not good, I try to remember the motto: 'if i'm not absolutely sure, don't do it'. i.e. only circle once you're above the ridge and you KNOW it won't be a problem. Or you're DEFINITELY far enough out.
Thanks for sharing that Tim. Great footage as always 👍
Thanks 👍
Not many places where you'll want to check the tide tables before a glider flight.
Hawk (Anemoi) is educating me about how terrain, thermals and 'mini-convergences) affect winds. It's a real eye-opener. When the wind does not do what you expect it should do, it is very easy to jump to 'Hawk must be broken'.
Yeah exactly right! I'm about to start my first contests with the Hawk, it'll be very interesting to see how it goes for thermals and convergences
I am all for using a sustainer motor when you get yourself cornered. In my opinion it doesnt detract from the gliding experience and certainly reduces the pucker factor! If you have it dont be afraid to use it I say!. I have a FES which I have used a number of times to improve a sticky situation and powerglide to get over more landable terrain and jag a thermal. Thanks for sharing.
Yeah agreed, although keep in mind you must always be in range of somewhere safe to land, even with a FES. Certainly more chance of the Fes starting over the combustion engine!
Yes already outlanded even with the FES after I used it 3 times in one flight... multiple bad decisions so know what your saying Tim
I hope to one day fly one of these.. Your videos help make me feel like it's possible.
It sure is! I started off flying club gliders and being an absolute beginner first
Maybe the wind was trying to avoid the 'Doctor's Knob" Cause no-one wants to deal with that
haha so obvious now you mention it
Thanks for the ride-along.
You’re welcome
OMG Tim, you are a cool customer, my heart was in my mouth. Thanks for sharing another great adventure.
Don’t worry I wasn’t feel too cool on that flight quite frankly!
750' over that terrain was at my limit! :) watching that I was almost reaching for the motor up switch!
Better to run away and fight another day! :)
Thanks
Thanks for your support! It really does help make it worth making videos :)
I always thought gliders are too risky and amazed at the piloting skills of landing each time - Now that I know gliders have engines I think it would be a great sport.
Yes! Although I'd recommend all glider pilots start without an engine, and get used to putting it in fields. I've done about 80 in my life, but none recently...
Another excellent video. Wow, the gliding you do is so different. So much scratching around down low. Looks fun but quite demanding so close to the trees.
Yes that was definitely closer to the trees than I really wanted :)
Epic video Tim!! Can't wait to fly that far too :)
Thanks! Won't be too long 🌊
Cool how the wind kept the glider level at stand still.. ☁️
Yeah good practice for pilots!
Great commentary.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Auxiliary engine is like the "Q" button in Condor.
😂 if only
Keep up the great content! It really helps me to become a better glider pilot. Hope to see some „Instructor reacts“ videos again !
Yeah I must do another one! Cheers
And thanks so much for the donation, it really does help make it worth running the channel
the motor seems to be a pretty nice safety feature
Yeah it can certainly be something to get us home, but we can't rely on it working!
Great video! I am sure there is a good reason, but why so you have a double yaw string? Happy flying from Cape Town.
Funnily enough you're not the first to ask! czcams.com/video/OR9zJwcGxoQ/video.html
Question please Tim! In the thermal you started working just before you started the engine, was the GoPro lens making it look worse than it really was? When you were turning back towards the ridge it looked like you were sinking pretty quickly and trees started looking really close!
Thanks for posting. I never had an opportunity to do ridge flying like this. Super interesting!!
Hi I noticed that too while editing. I think it’s the stabilisation system on the GoPro , moving the image when it runs out of room on the image to stabilise the video. Also I may well put the nose down a bit to ensure I’m fast enough, but it certainly wasn’t as dramatic as the camera makes it look like. Cheers!
@@PureGlide Cool, thanks
😮 got a tad hairy there. Would have been dodgy if you had a glider with no engine. But exciting and well handled
Thanks!
Great video - What is your adrenaline doing when being lower than you want over those trees? You voice remains absolutely calm. Recently I was at a place where the wind had changed 180 degrees compared to 20 minutes earlier, and it took me minutes to realize what was going on... My heart rate goes up in that situation!
Yeah I remain reasonably calm, especially as that engine start I was expecting. The first bit I got into trouble I was definitely not comfortable due to the lack of good landings. I try really hard to ensure I don’t end up in situations like that.
Wow !!!! So much to learn.... Are there 2 seaters that offer training ?
Well we use 2 seaters for training at our club, but generally it's only more advanced pilots flying the coast.
@@PureGlide Hi, any of the clubs 2 seaters have a motor ? ( asking for friend 🤣).
Some might call it a "Beach".... Many might not. ;)
"Mud Flats" might be another term!
The clubs bar would of done a good trade if you had landed out up there
Ha it sure would have!
"I am sure we would have found something..." There is a certain inevitability to that statement up to and including paddocks disguised as forests. On a serious point, having made a serious mistake, would you rather drop it in marginal/bad country or in the coastal water?
Well, probably on the beach, or right next to it, if the fields didn't look big enough. Gliders float, and you'll very likely be fine. Crashing into something solid like a fence or a tree and you're throwing the dice...
Tim I looked at the data for your flight and then had a look on Google Earth. While this flight is well out of my comfort zone., in terms of glide ratio ,what do you use as a safe glide
to a good land out area ? I am impressed with the distances you go with so little altitude .
Yeah so a general guideline I like to use for most gliders is 1000 feet you can glide 10km. But when you’re flying low ridges you can’t really use that rule. For a start you can go a LOT further with a bit of ridge lift helping, even if you can’t climb. On the other hand at 1000 feet above sea level, it only takes a few seconds of sink before you’re in trouble. So decision making is a lot trickier, and I tend to go by gut feel from experience. “is the situation improving or getting worse?” Is the key question.
My background is Paragliding, but ridge soaring is ridge soaring, and glide ratio is not all that important. I would say for coastal ridge soaring the most important thing is to have good strong reliable wind (obviously blowing perpendicular to a suitable ridge). On the coast this means a nice sea breeze on a hot summer’s day. Avoid wind associated with cold fronts, they change quickly in direction and strength. Also rain showers out at sea is bad news, they can block the wind as they drift past your location. Finally never fly where there is no beach below, you do not want to end up in the sea. Inland ridge soaring should be combined with thermal soaring because inland winds are seldom as reliable as sea breezes. Always do figure eights (turning away from ridge) while in front of a ridge, once you’re well above the ridge, then you can circle if you’re in a thermal.
@@Johan-ex5yj I also spent many years hang gliding (37 to be exact) There were a few coastal sites I flew, and at times I was beyond gliding distance of the LZ .( nothing but ocean ) As you eluded to, reliable wind is the key and been able to read the wind way out to sea is important.
However the ability to pull off a successful landing in unfriendly terrain and walk away from it ,in a hang glider and especially paragliders has better odds than in a sailplane .
I enjoy videos like this as it shows what "can " be done if your comfort zone ( and skill ) are beyond mine.
Took me years to get over "hang glider brain" when I started flying sailplanes . Found it hard to trust the performance. . . . . . . . . . . .still working on it.
@@lessainsbury8508 Thanks for your reply, Les.
Very interesting to read about your flying history.
are those landings across the runway a standard procedure at your field? if i was behind you on the approach, i'd have been really confused about your intentions when you flew all the way to the right just to turn off of the landing direction at the last moment. seems like something you should at least announce on the radio.
Yeah good question, in this case I knew no one was behind me, If there was other traffic around I might be clearer. But yes it is reasonably common to land with a bit of an angle on those windy days at our field. The tow pilots do it a lot in particular. No one should be that close behind me for it to be a problem, and if they were I would talk to them on the radio.
Peninsula .. without the r
doh can't change it now unfortunately, cheers!
super nice coastal scenery! wow...
but it seems every time there is alot risk in these flights. you have that 2 stroke engine but it is sooo difficult to use. no power lever. no starter. must have minimum altitude. i would be stressed out like hell if i fly that. an electric starter would add like 300-500g. use a small 100 gramm lipo for 14 volts. add a small throttle. if you already low and must make a dive down just to start that damn thing each time sounds risky. if it doesnt start you burned your last little bit of altitude...
i dont know mate. are you making this sound exciting for youtube to get more clicks? or is flying really that stressful?
i am paramotor pilot and it freaks me out each time the engine make any weird noise while i fly. please dont get me wrong because it seems every time we talk i am bashing your engine haha! 😅
i am genuine curious if there is a better way to start that thing and get out these situations easier. i have sweaty palms here watching you get so low over the ridge line. 🤣
Hi yeah you bring up some good questions:
- we can’t easily modify the engine, as it’s a type certified aircraft. Would cost a LOT.
- I don’t mind it’s simplicity. There’s not much to go wrong on it.
- I always have to have somewhere safe to land. No guarantee the engine will start at all.
- don’t forget just how far we can glide before landing :)
- the particular flight was a bit more exciting than I would like it to have been. In hindsight I would not have gone up there that day.
- yes we have to make the videos sound exciting for clicks to some extent. I don’t think about that while flying, only later when editing and making the title/thumbnail!. I also have to deliver so can’t make up anything untrue, otherwise the audience gets angry!
@@PureGlide answer is pure gliding gold mate! 😉
i am foreigner living in china. what you just did there is not possible and i forgot how nice it is to talk to "normal" people who can answer multiple questions in one time.
super tedious to talk like that in china because you ask 1 question maybe follow up with a second question and they ALWAYS answer only one. rest they forgot and you have to start from zero asking everything several times before getting an answer.
you have no idea how much it means to me to read an answer which includes all things i said before. thank you. so much!
back to topic: yeah i understand that this engine is not a 100% safe insurance you can fire up anytime if you screw up. and yes i got the point you have to have a landing option at all times, flying same as if you dont have that little helper on board.
keeping in mind how far you can glide is something i have to get used to i guess. i had an engine out recently when the starter ripped itself from the frame and destroyed my brand new eprop. on paramotor it means you are going down fast without much time. video is up if you interested. (sorry for the language - i was mad because that was the 3. time the starter cause an emergency landing) 🤣
and yes i cant agree more. clickbait on normal level we all do because thats what youtube forced us to do. i hate fake information and that always results in a dislike/unsubbing. you are doing it right! i like to watch channels like yours.
thanks again for the detailed answer. i appreciate that beyond what you can imagine. keep the blue side up 🌤🌬
NOT K6 country. 😳
It sure isn't :)
Why is this Up again? I'll watch it again anyway ha ha
accidentally uploaded a 1080p version instead of 4k. Plus I assumed you'd LOVE to watch it again
@@PureGlide damn straight! Double enjoyment ha ha
Always a good thing not to trust instruments 100% - trust but validate
The lesson in this case is to trust it more! As it told me what was actually happening even though my brain didn't believe it...
Don't land on the pigs
Wiser words have never been spoken
Lovely!