Mt Buffalo Hang Gliding Launch - Almost serious accident

Pilot loses control of his hang glider on a cliff edge while waiting to launch

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• hang gliding
• mt buffalo
• sting 3
• accident
• bright
• victoria
• australia
• c4
• ventura

[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.

[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