Hang gliding, flying with an eagle, Forbes Australia 2010

Aerotowing with a hang glider behind the amazing Moyes Dragonfly up to 2000 feet above the spectacular Australian landscape at Forbes NSW.

On this day at 3500 feet a local eagle decided to join in the fun, which was an amazing experience - until he decided to start banging on the top surface and nipping on the batons. As I had been flying for a while decided it was time to land and let him have the sky to himself for the afternoon, they have been known to cause sail tears. Otherwise I would have continued on to the 5000 foot mark, which I managed the next day - as presumably eagles dont do drop-ins on Saturdays.

The eagle was a juvenile White Bellied Sea Eagle (as advised in vid comments by SXS78), a long way from home and his normal habitat but presumably surviving well on fish in the Lachlan River that winds its way across this countryside. For a great photo of a juvenile and their markings check out:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dadegroot/3829477986/

This was an amazing experience, made all the better by a great instructor, the camaraderie of all the pilots and a supportive aero club who were all there just for the fun and thrill of it all. A common love of flying.

Why not.

Come fly with me - watch and enjoy

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Hanggliding
• hang gliding
• 2010
• hangglider
• hang glider
• Moyes Dragonfly
• Fun190
• Fun 190
• Forbes aerotowing
• Forbes aero towing
• aero towing
• yt:stretch=16:9
• yt:quality=high
• fly like an eagle
• fly with an eagle
• thermalling
• MrAndrew1101
• GoPro
• HD
• Australia
• white bellied sea eagle
• sea eagle

[Falsogaleno]

like flyranch, Buenos Aires Argentina...

[MrAndrew1101]

@Falsogaleno looks pretty cool from their website...nice website home page photo!

[aerozg]

hah-hah-hah stayin' aloft stayin' aloft .. .. ..

[MrAndrew1101]

@aerozg always better the longer it lasts!

[aerozg]

@MrAndrew1101

nice videos, i'm learning to fly, and vids like this are inspiring, good job

[MrAndrew1101]

@aerozg that sounds great...my advice is to listen carefully to other pilots, but always stay within your own comfort zone and your own judgement, always have fun and remember to relax as it is a relaxed touch that is best to fly the glider that will give you the feedback on how it is flying and how to maximise the soaring. good luck and enjoy!

[aerozg]

@MrAndrew1101

a goop tip for sure, i'm still in the learning process but i have figured that out, never heard it anyone say it like that tho, so thanks for the suport. if i'm not ready i'm not going. if the winds are to strong i'm not going either, because i still can't control the glider so well and will probably smash the glider into the ground again :) i had my share of bent tubes and almost borken bones, but i hope after a few more training i will be past that.

[MrAndrew1101]

@bigfred190 man, it was a buzz! felt a bit mad. with this westerly wind still blowing as you predicted we have to live vicariously. Steve has now opened up the tow group now that he has the CASA procedures sorted - early next year would be a good time for another trip out west, maybe Feb when the Forbes thermals are booming!

[bigfred190]

seems such a long time ago that the crew towed at forbes mate. Always get a buzz whatching this one mate. good times eh!

[MrAndrew1101]

It seems this is a 'Little Eagle' rather than a Juvenile White Bellied Sea Eagle. Recently when fishing on the Hawkesbury one of those eagles (a juvenile) was flying around the little cove in which we were fishing, and they are (even as juveniles) much much bigger than the eagle that came and nipped the glider...and hence the very accurate name of 'Little Eagle' :-)