Stretching the Final Glide

If you read the title at the beginning of the video it says EGC (as in
European Gliding Championships) 2005 in Nitra (Slovakia). This is a
competition finish at a major gliding competition, there won't be any
student pilots on solo nor will there be "normal" patterns (especially
not at 1000 feet) when it starts raining gliders coming home from the
task at the end of the day...

The final got a bit marginal but he elected for a rolling finish after
going into ground effect on the last few 100 meters, again a valid
procedure for experienced pilots at a competition like this, I have
seen a lot worse... No spectators, cars etc in the way either like
there have been at plenty other competitions...

Markus

On Dec 11, 8:20*pm, AGL wrote:
*Our club rule (advice) is that at 1000 agl you're in a
"circuit," or a "pattern" for the chosen field. *Didn't he consider
the other gliders in the normal circuit? *What if there was a student
pilot on solo concentrating on making his first landing while this
joker was sneaking in just over the fence?

This is not your local club.

At championships like this a "normal" pattern is
often FORBIDDEN, because it can be too hazardous
when 100 gliders are finishing and landing in a short time.

When I flew in the Bayreuth pre-worlds, we were
REQUIRED to land straight ahead without pattern...

This does look rather lower than healthy however !

Please do not try this at home,
Best Regards, Dave "YO electric"

I was wondering when the comments were going to start bashing this
guy. One thing I was wondering about is that I didn't hear him
announcing his intentions over the radio. It seems like that would be
a good idea, considering that there were obviously other gliders
landing at the same time. Maybe he announced before the beginning of
the video? He did say something at one point, does anybody know what
he said?

And what the hell was making that rattling noise?


Gary Boggs

On Dec 12, 11:30*am, GARY BOGGS CFIG wrote:
I was wondering when the comments were going to start bashing this
guy. *One thing I was wondering about is that I didn't hear him
announcing his intentions over the radio. *It seems like that would be
a good idea, considering that there were obviously other gliders
landing at the same time. *Maybe he announced before the beginning of
the video? He did say something at one point, does anybody know what
he said?

Having 100 gliders announcing "Nitra traffic I'm over the big manure
pile .756km out landing left pea patch Nitra" wouldn't work well.
At Bayreuth we were instructed ONLY to call 2km and BRIEFLY.

*And what the hell was making that rattling noise?

Gary ! Didn't you fly a LAK for a few years ? ;-)

On Dec 10, 10:56*am, vontresc wrote:
A freind of mine sent me this youtube vid today. The pilot hets a wee
bit low during his final glide.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZxvYMC2QvI

Enjoy

Pete

Looks like alot of landing options and speed to gain altitude if
needed. Wish the camera was on his instruments at the same time.

On Dec 12, 11:17*am, glidergeek wrote:

Looks like alot of landing options and speed to gain altitude if
needed. Wish the camera was on his instruments at the same time.

Agree. Said 133 KPH or 80 MPH glide speed, lots of nice fields so
that if things went to worms, he had options. And for those worried
about "clearing power lines by only 50 feet of altitude" I can assure
you that if I am going into a short field, I am not going to be 50
feet above obstacles! Yes, it was a close glide, but if you notice,
as he turns the corner onto the field, another glider goes by and also
lands straight ahead in front of him. And his ground roll was 30
seconds. This shows he had a fair amount of energy even at touchdown.

Maybe not the optimum glide in, but it worked.

On Dec 12, 10:17*am, glidergeek wrote:
On Dec 10, 10:56*am, vontresc wrote:

A freind of mine sent me this youtube vid today. The pilot hets a wee
bit low during his final glide.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZxvYMC2QvI

Enjoy

Pete

Looks like alot of landing options and speed to gain altitude if
needed. Wish the camera was on his instruments at the same time.

I must be missing something, I don't see the nice fields to land in.
I would expect a ground loop in every field he crossed. The one to
the right of the river is the only one that looks reasonable for the
entire glide.

That said, I have had one final glide like this at the 2006 US
Nationals that was close to this with a forced deviation around power
lines and a hanger to land at 8 pm. The fields under me were better
and I hope to not do that again.

I liked how he seems to ridge soar the trees along the creek.

Maybe it's like ridge running. When you first see it you think "this
guy's crazy". When you try it you're 300 feet above the ridge
initially, then as you watch people pass you underneath you move down
to 100 feet. I can't help but think this guy's done this a few times
before!

As for me, I'll definitely pass. I had white knuckles while seated in
my chair, fearing for his safety.

-John

On Dec 12, 4:54*pm, Tim Taylor wrote:
On Dec 12, 10:17*am, glidergeek wrote:

On Dec 10, 10:56*am, vontresc wrote:

A freind of mine sent me this youtube vid today. The pilot hets a wee
bit low during his final glide.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZxvYMC2QvI

Enjoy

Pete

Looks like alot of landing options and speed to gain altitude if
needed. Wish the camera was on his instruments at the same time.

I must be missing something, I don't see the nice fields to land in.
I would expect a ground loop in every field he crossed. *The one to
the right of the river is the only one that looks reasonable for the
entire glide.

That said, I have had one final glide like this at the 2006 US
Nationals that was close to this with a forced deviation around power
lines and a hanger to land at 8 pm. *The fields under me were better
and I hope to not do that again.

Tim
I didn't say nice fields to land in, I said alot of landing options.
The quality of the camera vs what he was seeing vs what everybody
perceived is vastly different. And it looks like he was rather
committed to either make it to the glider port or commit to a off
field landing. He obviously made the right choice. I'll bet you a six
pack of Fat Tire Beer there were at least that many good land out
fields available to him.