Dangerous powered hang gliding. "Seconds from death"

[nogginthe]

Neil is in actual fact a top pilot and just flew like a total beginner just to provide some entertainment, he was actually in full control all the time, and had to work hard to make it look so out of order. The commentary was very carefully scripted to provide the perfect backdrop for the aerial clowning. Thank you and may God continue to smile upon you!

[MegaJakse]

i have question is that a homemade or you buy-it coz i want make one but i dont now how my motor need to be strong

[1234THEDOGMAN]

Thanks for the mixed comments re the commentary! Check out Neil's new blog at:

geekymicky1.blogspot.com/2011/­12/getting-started-again-with-­ladies.html

It is almost as entertaining, and slightly less dangerous, than his attempts to fly. If any ladies wish to contact Neil then please contact me at james.doggett@sky.com and I will be happy to pass on your details. Best make it quite soon though, as he informs me he is going to try and get airborne again soon. The man is a legend.

[rob790h]

Best commentary EVER. Clearly one of the original Monte Python members reincarnated. Blimey... He's off!!!

[sniffinclose]

Wow, I´m amazed... That´s one forgiving wing! Being stalled for 5 mins whitout coming down. Try that stunt on a double surface and it will be seconds after death...

[yintontiddlyipo]

Actually im so staggered at what I ve just witnessed that I agree with the comment below.

It should be retitled Tarquin and Tristian at the field.

[yintontiddlyipo]

Jesus H Christ man ' Neil lost his helmet in the dark' he's going to lose more than that soon, lessons or sell it , correct title.

[MTOsport10]

constant stallspeed,, it´s like watching the early attempt of flying where people jumped out of the eiffel tower with only their trenchcoat as wings

[viagro1980]

man you're an idiot for ewen trying something like that. and this guy recording, cant belive you guys. living proof that good watches ower idiots,

[RBHGZ9]

bad example , no helmet , the trimming of the wing is match to slow , indeed seconds away from dead .

[GaryWill1]

Neil looks more like a Tarquin to me.

[fsxman44]

Lol

[fsxman44]

Ll

[sqeakgeek]

flys like a drunk monkey WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!!

[chetgallaway]

Seems to be able to walk. Hahahahahahahahha. Hilarious.

[jgilp]

Cómo se dice en ingles: "pica coñññño!!!" ???

[carot2003]

Great video, funny andd frightening as hell. 11 out of 10, top of the class...

[MrTWelch]

Brown dogs and Poms are you for real you took off with two high an angle of attack not enough air speed before rotating into climbout whole time flying at stall speed.

Dont worry about the helmet I doubt if you have a brain. Do yourself a favour get lessons because you are on borrowed time. Its idiots like you that give aviation a bad name.

[easygtr]

He gotta get lessons cause he was seconds from death in the all flight.

He was stalling all the time. It is lucky he is alive after all and got to thank that engine too

[MrToshTogo]

My hat is off to Neil for the courage he displayed. It was an awkward flight, but he DID fly it and luckily landed safely. Since it was so long ago and we haven't heard from Neil in over a year, I just hope he is still alive and well. Respect to Neil.

[scrooty1]

Ha ha good stuff

[roseman164]

Neil is rather eccentric chap........'nutter'!

[theknightlynews]

considering how thermally and gusty it was, no hang gliding should have been attempted. Of course, it is difficult to maintain pitch when you are hanging down like that with your legs flailing around. The arms aren't stable in that position. He was pushing the control bar way too much.

BTW, who flies a hang glider with slacks and a business shirt? Neil does!

[AVMamfortas]

Magnificent man and his flying (just) machine.

[3habaneros]

flying in a stall the whole time ,omg

[djkelectrical]

Laughed so hard, I could bearly see through my tears!!

Flying - 5 stars

Commentary - 5 stars.

(But seriously, have some lessons)

[thermicphil]

Great Video! However I would advise spending a few hours with a good flying instructor to fine tune your flying skills. Stay safe!

[mapfab]

Neil hasn't replied for a year, is he dead ????

[testerpot]

funniest thing I've ever seen..what a plonker

[NorbertSchultewolter]

Plaease buy an helm, fly faster and doe not hang arround in the air to decrease the power of the air

[kirkey99]

That's balls of steel for you

[winterka100]

Great commentary---Yes, he was close to death on many occasions. Apart from videos involving an actual crash, this was the most dangerous demonstration of random semi controlled flight I've seen. If you are still alive, I suggest you urgently get some professional evaluation of your flying skills, otherwise YOU WILL DIE!

[ultima535]

hunnyhillbees you just woke from a coma or something ? posted that 12 months ago I fly a doodlebug myself and have done for 6 years, but had the proper training, and it is awesome,

[hunnyhillbees]

@ultima535 I don't usually watch flying videos but now getting a yen to start again. Haven't clipped into a hanglider for over 30 years and in those days there was a high attrition rate and I bottled out fairly quickly. You are absolutely correct of course and if I ever do get the nerve to fly again I will take proper training. But I do have a sneaking admiration for mavericks like Neil the birdman and a dislike of health and safety political correctness

[hunnyhillbees]

There aren't many true English eccentrics left these days - I would certainly second him for a Darwin award. Most entertaining video I have seen for a long time. Brilliant - Oh er yes - irresponsible etc as well. Get some training and do not try this at home . Apologies to the experts and I hope this doesn't bring your sport into too much disrepute. But Neil, you are a true star / plonker.

[dtdan65]

Well done. Just like the good old days where we flew by the "seat of our pants". Mind you we had a pretty high death rate back then........

[grantbondoo6]

10/10 for the cameraman, negative 10/10 for the pilot, so glad it ended well. Loved the positive attitude though. Looked like a case of "I pushed and pushed on the uprights but it wouldn't climb!" Very entertaining, your not Mr. beans stunt double are you?

[gliderman1000]

GOD BLESS YOU OL BOY! My heart goes out to anyone that trys to fly.If you made it flying in those winds you will be a great pilot. Be safer and have fun!

[joloway]

a) how much instruction did you have prior to that?

b) was the "doodle bug" a home built job or what?

c) You. Are. A. F***ing. Legend.

[acALIEN]

Idiot :D

[ledzeplad]

Neil needs looking at.................professiona­lly.

[tonyboysax]

neil---i want you to listen very carefully to me

do not keep flying like this--you will have an accident

on take off

1.keep your pitch movements small--climb gradually - and airspeed will increase safely and the glider will feel much happier and more controllable

2.KEEP ALL TURNS AND PITCH MOVEMENTS SMALL

3.YOUR THRUST CONTROL MUST ALSO BE AT A CONSTANT UNTIL SAFE HEIGHT IS REACHED

4 GET SOME LESSONS--SERIOUSLY NEIL---YOU MUST

for yours and others safety

5.enjoy it -

if you are still alive

[acrazedmaniac]

wow.."quite entertaining"..."gentle crashing".."thats not bad"...

"hes still moving aboout"...

yea....thats the ticket!

great commentary!!!! Loved it, thanks.

[horsthugoheinz]

is that an adequate angle between keel-tube and power shaft?

he mentioned of beeing "underpowered" while stalling all the time...

looks almost as if the prop pushes his tail down.

[xlentertainment]

Neil, that is some flight, and you got what it takes to be a pilot, some lessons wouldn't hurt, if there is no one around to teach than you got to do what you've got to do, self taught isn't bad if you get to live and tell about it. We all get a chance to fuck up once or twice, then if we did not correct our mistake we will surely pay for it on our next flight. Have you done any more flying since then?

[jwpwhite]

That's what I call living on the edge! A true aviation pioneer! We wouldn't be flying if it wasn't for guys like this!!!

[tonka14753]

Unreal, truly the most uncontrolled flight Iv ever seen. airspeed way too low bug setup wrong as for no helmet c'mon man this is a joke surly. OK enough with all the bitchin Iv been told 20hrs+ then find a good CFI to convert you. Consider yourself told. joziguys description of you camerman is fairly accurate but he nearly filmed your death, fancy living with that, at least others could learn from you ie what NOT to do. you sholud be disgusted with yourself for bringing this sport into disrepute

[joziguy]

To Neil. You sir, while very brave, need to learn more about flight principles. It looked as if you were very close to a stall a couple of times. At relatively low altitude that could mean broken bones and even death. Well done for trying but please get some lessons. The cameraman : You are a fucking prick and no mate of Neil's. You sound like the archetypal Englishman bitch and I hope you stub your toe on something!

[kcosley]

Wow, I just gotta comment. I flew hang gliders for 15 years, tandem instructor for a few, and a DoodleBug for a couple. Believe it or not this is about the scariest HG video I've ever watched!

[mark675]

hahaha! what a prick!

[MakeTheNoiseMTB]

What a magnificent punter! Good to see the spirit of NFI but still having a crack is alive. Great series of stalls..

[auldspider52]

You are a comlete idiot with extremely poor airmanship skills

[mrbollinger]

That's too funny. Love your flying suite too.

[QuienesSuPa]

Neil, I hope you don't take all these comments as equal. There will be no one with experience encouraging you to carry on this way. Forget the rules and regs. But remember this is a sport where what you don't know can kill you. Something as simple as rotors from those trees could have taken you and one of those slow-flying stalls into a low wing dipping and a dnwind crash that would have at best ruined all your aluminum and body... No helmet would have been spoon feeding potential from mom.

[LawrenceKennard]

I'm one jealous American! Good job!

[implorato]

No !

Not at all. No "arse!"

A friendly positive man.

But is he still alive today?

[neil9327]

I'm still here

[scotyfilms]

@neil9327 Neil I've been a HG pilot for over 20 years.

You are extremely lucky you didn't die on that flight.

If you keep doing this without the proper schooling you will die!!

Clearly.

scoty

scot

[hunnyhillbees]

@neil9327 Good man!!

[spuduk7]

What a arse.

[eyeeye1]

My alltime favorite video!Fly on Neil!I was scared for you the entire flight ,but you did it.

[14CPO]

these things are a death trap in wind shear

[superjaysimmons]

that's awesome. I agree about there being too many rules these day, kudos to you for getting out there and going for it ;)

[nbrowne73]

Hi Neil hows the hang gliding going? have you flowen the bug again?, i flew mine for the first time i decided to go it alone! just watched a few videos then went for it and had a good 2&half hours in the air, who needs training! just rig your glider correctly and have another go the only way to get experiance is to fly. Nic

[neil9327]

That's great Nic! Did you enjoy it?

I've been working in Holland recently, and have not had the chance to finish off my hang gliding training because of it (no hills!). But hope to pick it up again soon.

Where are you flying from?

[nhtc1]

Dead man walking.

[FCbisleybob]

niel i have read all 50 posts and to be honest you sound like an arse. saying things like ive done EPC i have a solid knowledge of the basics. i have been flying a year passed in the BHPA minimum (hard to do) i'm aerotow qualified converted to winch. i completed my first comp this week with nearly 10 hours flying solo. which is when you can remove your newbe ribbon. i'm a lot more EXPERIENCED than you but guess what my ribbon is staying on because i still have a lot to learn. listen to people !!

[neil9327]

You can't call me an arse for actions undertaken before this deluge of comment from here and the Yahoo forum.

I have exercised good judgement by agreeing with some of the comments made to increase the level of training I undertake - I haven't flown the Doodlebug since you know - only the wing.

We need to keep a sense of perspective and common sense, and not get bogged down in far too much 'elf and safety, and the type of regulation overkill that is all too prevalent in this country.

[hunnyhillbees]

@neil9327 Well said

[Gingerbatics]

Thats good!! At least by replying we know you're still alive!!

So about the training, have you done any yet? Would be good to see another video once you've had training!

[Gingerbatics]

This is a great advert to new FLPHG pilots!!

Moral: Get the correct training!! Confidence is one thing stupidity is something else!

Glad this guy walked away unhurt, his mate wants a slap!!

I've never seen a glider stall that many times in one flight!

I hope you got the corrent training and that your flying is safer now!!

Whilst I love the way this sport is unregulated (to a degree). The more accidents result in a clamp down! Lets not get that way!

Blue skies!! ;-)

[neil9327]

lol I do try to give Jim a slap at every available opportunity...

[Theryolinator]

i hate his voice

[skyhyidiot]

1 base bar the wrong way round(no pre flight check! )

2 bug rigged up so its ridged at the back end(looking as though its caught some where ! ) making any weight shift near impossible =no pre flight check

3 locked in a nose up angle of attack ( indicating you havent got a clue !

4 no helmet duh !

5 you are in serious danger because you were none the wiser ! OMFG

[hawkermustang]

That looked cool but scary. It looked like a runaway child's kite with a broken string.

[paulsleighty]

I am amazed you walked away from that . even when you have your club pilot under your belt I would seriously recommend you do a powered flight conversion. even very experienced guys get it wrong sometimes. please please please do a power conversion course once you have your cp. I am not an instructor or a school, just a powered hangie whos been flying since 1996 & powered since 2000. good luck.

[streetos]

I thought it was a great flight, it certainly went better than mine which resulted in a broken prop and uprights. It may have looked ungainly but he got it down in one piece!

[sampling247]

That was great!!!! All this crap about proffesional training is getting boring. It benefits the schools and the schools only.

Give the sport a bad name???? Believe me, nobody could give a toss about the "sport".

[rbonvent]

no healmet, handle bar is attached the wrong way. dont kill yourself

vai toma no rabo doido.

[Spathar]

OMG , i dont know flying yet but... How did u have the courage to keep flying after that!

u stalled each 2 seconds ; i think u should thank your 60kg push motor...

[neil9327]

The Discovery wing is very stable. I just recovered each stall and went on to the next no problem.

You should take up flying - its great fun!

[ultima535]

the narrator is a complete arse going on about crashing, and the guy in the bug needs some lessons, very lucky on this occasion he didn't hurt himself, its people like this that give the sport a bad name and cause ther to be so many rules and regs.

[neil9327]

Not sure on that one. In my experience new rules and regs are only introduced when you have accidents. Which I didn't have here.

Despite the opinion of many people, including myself, that this was a dangerous flight this is, at the end of the day, just opinion.

I felt at the time confident when I made the flight, and I think that counts for a lot.

[hunnyhillbees]

@ultima535 Yawn

[ttoyota]

That is some of the worst flying I have ever seen,

[neil9327]

I'll take that as a compliment lol

[dougrat]

You call yourself a "Birdman" I don't think so. You give Hangglider pilots a bad name, Flying with out a helmet for one, and two you have no flying skills. It makes me sad to to think your friend can make light of such a terrible flight, Please take flying lessions from a certified instructor, or just hang it up.

[shark14416]

Gee's, I hope it wasn't 5 hrs total HG training. I assumed 5 days of "powered flying training". That would even be more scary. I totally agree with Crady.

Take it on the chin mate, I'm sure you're a nice bloke, but take your life a bit more seriously. Be a lesson to others, hopefully not a statistic.

[crady]

To the "pilot": Oh my god! Do you have a death wish? I can tell by the way you fly that you should definately not be flying a powered hangglider with so little experience! legs dangling around, swinging from side to side, no control at all! And 5 days of HG training is WAY to little! I'd say atleast 50 hours before starting to fly one of these. Please stop doing this until you have more experience! If not for your own safety do it for your family so they don't have to go to your funeral.

[shark14416]

If your instructor viewed that footage he should have kicked your ass first for not wearing a helmet. Your instructor should not have signed you off for solo with that sort of control. It was erratic, in gusty/thermic conditions by the looks, which for a low hours pilot is not wise, and overcontrolling. I'm harsh here, because some people just think flying is a joke and do not take it seriously enough. Serious Injury or Death follows.

Show us some progress footage.

[neil9327]

This Doodlebug flight was taken completely independently of my instructors - it was definitely not part of his course lol.

I am now half way through my CPC, progressing fine so far...

[shark14416]

What an idiot. No Helmet, and no idea.

Tosser

[neil9327]

As I explained in earlier posts I (the pilot) had undertaken 5 days of good hang glider training (EPC) from on of the best instructors in the UK. So your suggestion that I had "no idea" is wide of the mark.

Have another watch of the video and read some of the other comments.

[cabguy5]

Sorry I can't applaud this. THis is what gives the general public the attitude that all HG pilots are deranged idiots with a death wish. You obviously have NO idea of what you are doing. Please , Please, PLEASE get good instruction before flying again even once on your own. Or you will develop bad habits that you think are OK because you haven't slammed in....yet. A freak streak of luck is not the same as skill.

[elvira2262]

likes brothers Wright

[hang159]

That was the worst bit of flying i have seen,

Lucky to be alive still.

[nbrowne73]

Ha Ha great entertainment! i have just brought a doodle bug and glider so i to can try and kill myself!! i think you need to watch your king post its a bit close to the prop, have you had anymore lessons, i was having a lesson with you a month ago after you put this great "how not to fly" vid up.

[neil9327]

Excellent! So we can both go up and practice mock aerial "doodlebug" combat with each other.

Funny you should mention the king post - it did take a gouge out of the propellor during that flight somehow.

Hope to bump into you again - still more of your training to go?

Neil

[colinkno]

Look up the phrase " Back of the drag curve"

[ebugsy]

I LOVE IT! Sadistic mate on the camera. A new toy and NFI of how to use it but keen to have a crack. An unintentional T/O with a dozen low stalls. A tail wind landing and everyone still smiling. Come to OZ. Fly with us

[hunnyhillbees]

@ebugsy Great attitude. There are some really tedious posts on here and it's great to find kindred spirits. I think OZ still has a lot of what we have lost in the UK. Rock on Neil.

[paramotorclub]

That is about as funny as it gets!!!

SW :D

[richalfa222]

you 2 should be on tv,lmao BEST VID ON YOUTUBE

[frazer8981]

This is incredibly mad?

[dannyclerkson]

r u shaw it was neil flying and not mr bean neil u need some lessons before u hurt your self your nose was to high and u droped a wing on take off it wasnt very nice to watchget a good helmet or a crisp box will  do fly safe good luck u will need it

[solomonpilot767]

nice but,i thnk is Altitude is u r best freind!

[captclivemason]

HI neil

Have you been up again yet? If you dont answer this i know you have!!!!!!!!!!! air speed is your best friend mate.... I have a spare prop for your next flight if you need it..

stay lucky

clive

[neil9327]

no no no no I haven't. Would I do a thing like that? (don't answer).

I'm enrolled on a CP course in Spain in October.

[garyfreefly1]

unbelievably lucky (This Time) !!!

When are you posting your next video ?

[neil9327]

Well I'm grounded for the time being, until I've done my CP in a few weeks.

[paulescott]

Blimey Neil, that could so easily become a Darwin Award. I can only repeat what the others say - get some lessons, otherwise you WILL be killing yourself, I'm amazed you snatched survival from the jaws of death SO MANY times during that clip. I think you were flying from Colmore? If so your nearest school is Green Dragons near London, if you don't mind travelling I can recommend Airways Airsports near Darby which is where my wife and I learnt to fly our Bugs. Paul - Currently living in Brisbane

[neil9327]

And I just thought it was incipient stall recovery or response to gusts.

Yes that is Colmore - excellent recognition!

I joined them a month ago and have been practicing there.

Green Dragons looks like a good location. I'll email them today.

[neil9327]

Called Green Dragons today, but no availability until November.

[flyingleek]

Very scary to watch Neil- GET SOME LESSONS! Watch Ben's and my videos- we're both experienced. Keep your airspeed up- airspeed is control. Pete

[Benashman]

Go and get some proper lessons, you will live longer.

Ben.

[neil9327]

I have an EPC Ben, so I have a solid grounding in the fundamentals.

No CPC as of yet.

[BatteryIncluded]

Pull in during run, pull in during takeoff, pull in during climb because flying slow makes it unstable. For god's sake put in a helmet!!

[neil9327]

I'm the pilot.

I lost my helmet a few days previously, but have since purchased a new one.

I was pulling in when more than a few feet above the ground, but at lower altitudes doing so would have caused me to hit the ground. I suspect the engine is under-powered.

[Konrad6da]

It's much safer to keep positive pressure on the control frame during the take off run. Let the airspeed build up. Keep the nose down, wings level. If it is underpowered expect to run run run. It will lift when it is ready. Keep your legs ready to resume running. You won't hit the ground if you have airspeed, you have enough control to choose between resuming running or rounding out and landing safely. It's stalling that will cause you to hit the ground hard. You can't control a stalled glider.

[Russkie177]

Englishmen can make even the most harrowing emergencies sound like nothing.

[BaggaZee]

Elegance personified Neil.

[rahalam]

why does he look unstable though?