This is Walt's Point in the Owen's Valley. A crash here would be quite possibly fatal. This launch requires perfect launch technique as VERY often extremely strong thermals come whipping up the valley (upwards of 2000 fpm) and a poor technique at the wrong time is no bueno.... This launch is above 9000 feet so the air is thin too....
it's not horrible. in fact i dare you to do better. he didnt pop the nose he just pushed a liiiiiiitle bit. i did not catch the glider getting moshy, and if it did he pulled in when it did, then an instant later he pushes out a little bit more. so he was getting most lift out of it with the least amount of footwork :)
After viewing this video several times, I still don't see what was so horrible. I'm a beginner, so far from a good judge of launches. But still, there was a nice drop off that wouldn't permit 5 steps and this pilot took to the air with no mishaps.
oh well, I have seen worse ones and probably did also a few worse one too. If he started directly on the steep part he would have get that AoA right. Although that pushing wasn't the best idea, he corrected it quite fast .. so I don't think this is really horrible .. just not perfect ...
but he graped the eeh.. "main bar" too early, he didn't look forward so he couldn't see what was in front of him, he changed very too early to the "flying position". When something did go wrong, he couldn't do anything to correct it. It was an hectic an unsafe launch. If this was his test to get the license, no checker would let him pass.
its just as the video title says: a horrible launch
Yes, he jumped after two or three steps (even though he looked like he was going to have a good run) and then the glider got mushy since it wasn't moving fast enough at that point. He then did exactly the wrong thing and pushed out instead of pulling in (in order to make the glider fly faster and to gain control). The lesson is: Run hard, aim to take 5 steps, NEVER jump, and don't pop the nose (or push out) on takeoff.
I don't see any issues with his launch. There's been much worse.
clamb147 3 months ago
This is Walt's Point in the Owen's Valley. A crash here would be quite possibly fatal. This launch requires perfect launch technique as VERY often extremely strong thermals come whipping up the valley (upwards of 2000 fpm) and a poor technique at the wrong time is no bueno.... This launch is above 9000 feet so the air is thin too....
mellowmoods420 7 months ago
horrible would be if he crashed , he pulled it off
3habaneros 8 months ago
it's not horrible. in fact i dare you to do better. he didnt pop the nose he just pushed a liiiiiiitle bit. i did not catch the glider getting moshy, and if it did he pulled in when it did, then an instant later he pushes out a little bit more. so he was getting most lift out of it with the least amount of footwork :)
timmay301 9 months ago
you mean good launch?
transdrole 10 months ago
there isn't a good path to run already, he did well actually.
abbidec 10 months ago
is this mt. charleston las vegas?
kyvegas00 1 year ago
After viewing this video several times, I still don't see what was so horrible. I'm a beginner, so far from a good judge of launches. But still, there was a nice drop off that wouldn't permit 5 steps and this pilot took to the air with no mishaps.
flugfahrrader 1 year ago
Horrible launch = more hits.
Look up the word "horrible"
jacoherbst 1 year ago
horrible is a little harsh,may a little weak run and poped the nose a bit but looks like a steep launch, lots of room.
keepthe nose down for couple more steps...more speed,that was ok
dhillmjex1 2 years ago
that launch was fine , there is nothing worse than waiting for some one launch that passes on all the good thermals and wont get out of the way
HOPPERFZR 2 years ago
Please look up the meaning of bad launch.
cupomash 2 years ago
...I would probably not call that launch
horrible (I had envisioned a worse
outcome than clearing the hill OK).
A "weak" launch seems more
accurate; pilot taking relatively few
steps and 'jumping into' glider a bit.
jwm239 2 years ago
I did that once too.Head not in the game,looking down,no aggressive run,stalled a wing and blew it.Lesson learned in leading edge repair.
skyelevator 3 years ago
oh well, I have seen worse ones and probably did also a few worse one too. If he started directly on the steep part he would have get that AoA right. Although that pushing wasn't the best idea, he corrected it quite fast .. so I don't think this is really horrible .. just not perfect ...
kiwiwings 3 years ago
Nice video
hardmanmark69 3 years ago
and he should have rotated the wing a bit before running. make the AoA smaller.
MaartenSpoek 3 years ago
I think it was a very great start..
RadioflyerGeri 3 years ago
yeah, it seems to be..
but he graped the eeh.. "main bar" too early, he didn't look forward so he couldn't see what was in front of him, he changed very too early to the "flying position". When something did go wrong, he couldn't do anything to correct it. It was an hectic an unsafe launch. If this was his test to get the license, no checker would let him pass.
its just as the video title says: a horrible launch
chuckfuss 3 years ago
Why not to do what? Do you mean "jumping" instead of runing?
jericho211214 4 years ago
Yes, he jumped after two or three steps (even though he looked like he was going to have a good run) and then the glider got mushy since it wasn't moving fast enough at that point. He then did exactly the wrong thing and pushed out instead of pulling in (in order to make the glider fly faster and to gain control). The lesson is: Run hard, aim to take 5 steps, NEVER jump, and don't pop the nose (or push out) on takeoff.
crazypilots1 3 years ago