LZ had turned turbulent, now what?

During BeachBlast 2011, I returned one afternoon to my LZ and found the air there too turbulent for a safe landing, not an uncommon situation.
The video describes the situation and what went through my mind as I was weighing my options and making decisions. You're welcome to comment on what you might have done in a similar situation.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• BeachBlast
• PPG
• PPC
• powered paraglider
• landing
• XCitor
• chasecam
• chase camera
• flight
• flying
• paramotor
• Doron Dekel
• drama

[k2678126]

I met you at Frank Brown Park during Beach Blast and then later sat with you at the banquet. I enjoyed watching your video. We talked after you changed your LZ, but I had no idea it was that turbulent. I was interested in buying a new camera and was curious about which Go Pro you used, and any other suggestions you might share. Thanks Brian

[dorondekel]

@k2678126 Hi Brian. If you're budget conscious, the GoPro HD 960 will do an excellent job for you. The 960 mode is the most useful shooting mode for aerial videos. There is now a new generation of GoPro HD which is supposedly even more capable, so if you have more money, why not give it a try?

[explorateurdesairs]

Nice analysis of the situation Doron. I like the comments while flying. Afternoon thermals are scary. You seemed really to be on turbulent air. I wonder why your final LZ was any better ( thermally) than your take off site except for some poles that seemed quite distant from the parking lot.

I once had to land far from my take off site. Took a taxi to my car and picked my ppg on the return. That was on farmland though, no danger of being luded.

I like your vid. Take care !

[dorondekel]

@explorateurdesairs I believe the final LZ was better because it was much closer to the beach, and didn't have thermal-generating large dark areas (highways, parking lots) up-wind to it.

Thanks for the kind comments. Much appreciated.

Doron

[dorondekel]

Thanks, Tim. I posted a couple of videos earlier showing earlier versions of the design - see my channel. I'm also built a few copies of the latest design for sale - search ebay for" ChaseCam PPG".

Enjoy, Doron

[dorondekel]

My wing is loaded at about twice the typical PPG wing load, and is, therefore, much more collapse resistant. I have about 120 hours on it now and never saw it even slightly out of perfect shape in the air, even in pretty strong rotor and thermals.

I could have easily landed on the beach, but, as I explained, it would have been harder to then get it out of there and hitched back to my car, parked at the LZ.

[ultraflight4]

On footlaunch PG or PPG, to descend through hectic turbulance, place yourself on a steep glide, then tuck both wingtips in (big-ears) as much as possible. This pre-collapses the wing in a controlled manner, facing the wind, increasing the cell-pressure (small wing), and increasing the descent rate (less dwell time in turbulence). Add Speedbar to further increase descent rate. Weightshift to hold course. Don't pop-out ears nor flare if its hectic, otherwise a mild flare to pop-out on landing.

[onecountach4me]

I think a K2 Paraglider would be an upgrade that would be more stability in higher winds like that.

[onecountach4me]

I love the way you expressed your thinking process in the video. It makes me think of how I might have dealt with the situation. Who makes your trike it looks to be the best I have seen to date. Kewl background music too

[stefaanmichils]

hard to say how turbulent it is but if it was me in serious shitty air i would look for an uncrowded beach...

greetz

[wiremuwhittaker]

wow.. really scary looking video... great decisions all round.. height is your friend. I sell Gopros here in New Zealand and just wondered if you had any other references to your Chase-cam.. looks brilliant.. do you sell them? of have actualy plans available? Cheers,

Tim