Mt Buffalo Hang Gliding Launch - Almost serious accident

[donmak0427]

@sharkjelly: I agree, but also note that the pilot didn't keep the nose of his glider down more (for greater stability), and wasn't prepared to get the glider nose down quickly in case of any odd gust. Sometimes, if there is a semi-strong wind at launch, I put the nose of the glider WAY down - perhaps just a few feet off the ground - looks like I'm bowing with the outboard wingtips high up. When I launch, I step up, and put the nose down, which forces the glider to stay on the ground. (cont'd)

[donmak0427]

I feel the wind, waiting for good speed and direction, then raise the nose and lift the glider off the ground. If the wings are *balanced* (not necessarily *level*, but BALANCED), no wait - I begin my run, all within those 3 seconds Pagen talks about. Too many times I've seen pilots pick their wings up and wait and wait, trying to determine if something bad is going to happen to the wind. Meanwhile, while they have their glider up, nose too high, the wind often *does* do (cont'd)

[LimpJimmy]

So much for the wire man on the right wingtip!

[fast6fan]

All those people that came to your rescue should have been helping you launch in the first place. Hope a lesson is learned. Be safe.

[sharkjelly]

I have been a hang glider pilot for 35 years and will never forget Dennis Pagens advice in his early books.If ready to launch hold the glider off the ground for a max of 3 seconds.If it is balanced then go.If it not balanced then put it down.If at all turbulent then stomp on the base bar with your foot on the side that is lifting.If it at all possible that a thermal may kick the wind to the tail then have a guy on the keel to pull down at the back so the glider cannot be flipped.

[treeamigo]

good example of why you should sh#t or get off the pot

[MrAndrew1101]

when the glider lifts his wheels aren't on the ramp so not the cause of this mishap hgflying but an important thing to consider..the streamer in front (you just see it in the slow motion) is very cross (almost standing straight up at 90degrees) you will see in the slo-mo frames..the cameramans shirt 'blows' forward just before the wing lifts...so cross and thermic it looks...very serious on a cliff launch!

[flygrrrrrrrrrrl]

Strike me pink thats lucky............I dont care if i look like a pussy bring on the wiremen!

[eelesey1]

my backside was twitching whilst watching this...thermic cross wind caught him out. I have flown that site before and have even seen a vb cord get caught between the wooden slats which was scary too. Wireman would have helped but the conditions looked ok up to that point for your average pilot to have taken off without help.. Having said that, it is a serious drop and thing can and do go wrong from time to time.

[flyhghgy]

Hope the pilot and glider didn't get too hurt. Having a wire man would have most likely prevented that accident from happening.

[69NOMAN69]

dont you know that you need a motor to fly

[thomasdwolfe]

Wow that was scary to watch. Dude deff should have had a wire crew. I'm with acrazedmaniac advice, Will take help over ego any day of the week if it inolves strong winds & the well being of me and my glider. Hope the pilot came out alright.

[acrazedmaniac]

Never, turn down help when launching. When he said"you want me on your wing?" ..that was a big clue. I usually just do it, they can tell me to get off, any time. (lot of the big ego's do) I have personally saved many a close call or a very serious call, by just getting on the wing, making eye contact to let em know im there, or being sure the pilot to be, knows im there.

[hgflying]

This is why you want locking wheels. He had no ability to ground is basetube; it just rolled forward.

[mirageg4]

Thanks for posting! The dude on the keel just missed huh! Blown launch = scary as sh&%. Question - I have never flown Buffalo, but from the vid it looks like the wind was a little cross. Can you just launch from the rock directly into the wind there, instead of using the ramp?

[serioussstuff]

It's much better to wait a while until the wind isn't crossed.