Glider pilot rolls inverted and exits at 1400 feet AGL

On Tuesday, July 29, 2014 3:40:36 AM UTC-4, wrote:
wouldn't your glider pitch up and whack you after you released the stick?

On my SZD glider with trim adjustment independent of the stick, I suppose I could (in theory) set the trim position all the way forward, and then just let go of the stick, belts already off, when I was ready. Glider go down momentarily.

Even with the trim set for level flight, the glider would take a second to return to level flight after you let go of the stick and hopefully you would be clear by then.

The advice to use negative G forces to extract yourself from the glider is valuable, but be aware that if your instrument panel is fixed, your legs may become trapped and a bailout will be much more difficult and probably very painful. You could even suffer broken legs, which will make the parachute landing really awful.

Do what you have to do, but try to avoid leaving parts of yourself in the cockpit.

Individual experiences may or may not be a good basis for future decisions, but 2 UK instances come to mind.

Well known pilot collided, found he had control (as did the other) and decided to bring it in to a landing rather than bale out. Tail came off at about 1000 feet, too low to bale out now, and he died.

More recently, another well known pilot had collision, glider uncontrollable, bunted, and it took all his strength and 3/4 round the outside loop before he got the canopy off and got out. Survived with relatively minor injuries. (The other landed OK.)

After the first, several people in the BGA decided that baling out was safer that hoping a damaged tail (or whatever) would keep on and permit a landing.

It seems that staying in and hoping to land is decided upon without enough information. Bill's story suggests the same.

(I don't think I could get out anyway - with infirmity, I can only just get out unaided, minus parachute, on the ground. I have Flarm and PCAS - and wish I had a BRS.)

Chris N

On Monday, July 28, 2014 11:14:48 AM UTC+12, son_of_flubber wrote:
http://news.stv.tv/tayside/282807-pi...de-in-mid-air/

Can anyone advise the make of the two sailplanes involved.

John

And where they using Flarm?

Ramy

At 08:19 31 July 2014, Ramy wrote:
And where they using Flarm?

Ramy

No Flarms. There exists a difference of views at the Scottish Gliding
Centre
as to whether Flarm alerts have a net benefit for gliders on our local
ridge
overflying two villages. The worry is that pilots could be alarmed by
alarms
and thus overloaded.

John Galloway

Does anyone know what trajectory a glider takes when the pilot jumps out?
The loss of weight forward of the C/G would upset the trim by a significant
amount.... More so if the glider was inverted.

An amazing photo of the bailout just emerged:
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Hunt...0731101407.htm

Ramy

I notice that he did not jettison his canopy, just opened it.
In the first frame you can see it still attached.

Still worked out ok.

On Saturday, August 2, 2014 10:21:11 AM UTC-4, wrote:
I notice that he did not jettison his canopy, just opened it.
Still worked out ok...

Please be sure you understand the bailout sequence for
any aircraft you fly. For SH gliders (as this appears
to be), jettisoning the (non-Roget-hook-equipped) canopy
can result in the canopy swinging sideways and hitting
you in the head and incapacitating you, or merely
breaking your jaw as happened to a friend of mine.
Consequently, IIRC the procedure was changed to open
only and do NOT pull the jettison knob.

Please be safe out there and MAKE SURE you know
your jettison procedure! Then periodically practice
on the ground...
Best Regards, Dave