Blown launch #2, Van Noppen
Blown launch #2, Van Noppen
After not waiting to hear my beautiful nose wire woman tell me she was clear of my wires after I said clear I ran her over like a freight train. I wasn't watching her to make sure she was clear and started my run before she was. As my glider radically spun to the right I saw Nancy careen downhill backwards, headfirst and knew I had made a grave error. Fortunately she is a resilient woman. I side slipped a short distance I could right the glider as I have a couple of times in the past but my time was up. In a stall it started turning in the wrong direction, back into the hill. It was sort of like a mini wingover and I stuffed the bar and rolled my body just before impact. Im not sure it was an intentional stuff or subconscious. If it wasn't for the x large bush I dove into I would be at the very least seriously hurt. I escaped with minor scratches and will let you know how sore I am tomorrow. Thanks to all on launch who helped me shake it off and fold my broken wings. Presently I know off two downtubes and the keel. I hope that is it but would not be surprised to see more damage. In hind sight I thought of not flying a few time as I did not use or instruct my wire people to verbally give me the info I normally want and just figured once I said clear that meant I was good to go . I also left my radio at home charging,left my phone at my gallery the night before and then left my keys on the ground with the lock by the glider storage. Minor events but not in the normal regiment of pre flight details. Against suggestions I told my wife about the incident where she proceeded to tell me that for fathers day she wants to buy me a new harness. I told her how much that might run and that a new harness would require a new chute. She then said that maybe we would combine it with my birthday, she's awesome. To be continued, OWENS, who has a glider I can barrow