Search found 240 matches

by Christian
Sat Jan 30, 2016 6:07 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Still Stuffing Battens
Replies: 5
Views: 2573

Still Stuffing Battens

Been a few years since I stopped by, but it's good to see the forum (the "new forum") still going strong. And the thermals, too. I went from flying back to sailboats. Same attached flow, same big battens, and if you stall you stop (although you don't fall). The longest anybody flew while I...
by Christian
Wed May 16, 2012 4:26 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Ah the thrill...
Replies: 8
Views: 3509

:D
by Christian
Mon Apr 30, 2012 2:54 pm
Forum: Safety and Incidents in flight
Topic: OP's XC bad landings (stuck zipper, wind gradient)
Replies: 16
Views: 17032

Once with a stuck zipper I pulled the red Velcro pull-tab right off my Z5 harness, and landed on the wheels. Clothing was stuck. Even with plenty of time I was unable to open the Velcro. Afterwards, Greblo recommended letting go of the control bar and using both hands to open Velcro: One hand to pul...
by Christian
Fri Nov 19, 2010 12:01 pm
Forum: Safety and Incidents in flight
Topic: Cocoon Harness Incident - Thursday
Replies: 28
Views: 15378

Why not do a routine hang check with all harnesses? Curious as to the thinking here, if I understand your phrasing correctly.
by Christian
Fri Nov 05, 2010 2:12 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: "Cloudsuck" by Davis Straub--Book Review
Replies: 4
Views: 3098

You should buy it, George. It's about long distance flying--a particular mental illness you share. Interesting that the first post above is from 2006. If this were a paper book, it would be long since out of print. But even small-circulation ebooks live on. And now I would read it on my Kindle, not ...
by Christian
Mon Nov 01, 2010 10:52 am
Forum: Safety and Incidents in flight
Topic: Reported near collision above Kagel
Replies: 9
Views: 6410

Pilots flying IFR on airways listen to a steady stream of traffic alerts from ATC, which sees every other plane on radar. When advised of traffic, the pilot must find it visually and tell ATC they see it. This often takes a moment, even when told the altitude and where to look. Meantime the pilot ma...
by Christian
Mon Aug 23, 2010 7:59 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Crestline to Keller Peak - Narrated
Replies: 7
Views: 2591

Very good vid. Just the right length. Relaxed narrative tone with good info and "distance" from the moment. Personally I appreciate decision not to use music.

Such an introduction to cross -country flying was not available in my time, and would be invaluable to me today.

Cheers,
CW
by Christian
Tue Aug 10, 2010 8:04 am
Forum: Safety and Incidents in flight
Topic: Landing out (sort of)
Replies: 7
Views: 4717

Good report. I had a Saturn for a while and while they are famously immune to PIOs, they're not so easy to turn. Takes some getting used to-- and now you are.
by Christian
Thu Aug 05, 2010 3:14 pm
Forum: Safety and Incidents in flight
Topic: Better Landings ahead?
Replies: 6
Views: 4185

Sorta what Hang 2s are taught, then? I think the scariest landings I saw were often steep fast turns very low onto final, often followed by corrections that made the pilot look like a rag doll. Once guy did such a steep low turn onto final he did a complete uncontrolled 180, flew all the way back ac...
by Christian
Tue Aug 03, 2010 2:51 pm
Forum: Safety and Incidents in flight
Topic: Better Landings ahead?
Replies: 6
Views: 4185

I'm trying to understand why topless pilots tend to turn final low for spot accuracy. My guess is that since they're hard to dive in a straight line, being too high on final is a problem to avoid. And that maybe it's easier to judge your altitude on a descending base leg than a very long final leg. ...
by Christian
Tue Apr 27, 2010 8:47 pm
Forum: Safety and Incidents in flight
Topic: Tree landing at Big T 4/25/10
Replies: 6
Views: 5044

Good account, generous and instructive.
by Christian
Thu Feb 25, 2010 11:38 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Looping a Single Surface (article)
Replies: 9
Views: 3792

No parachute.
by Christian
Fri Jan 29, 2010 10:48 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Former Member Visits LZ
Replies: 1
Views: 1145

Former Member Visits LZ

It has been a while since I've visited the LZ. So a few days ago I finally did show up, bringing with me a semi full of trees and bushes, a frontloader, an irrigation system and a work crew of 100 guys from Home Depot to plant and install some greenery along the parking lot and finally get the job a...
by Christian
Tue Jan 12, 2010 5:15 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: WingNutz Blows (launch)
Replies: 10
Views: 3410

Sorry to hear glider broken but at least you are not. However, the ghost of me is very angry with you, Larry Chamblee Esq., for posting a useful and thoroughly realized accident/incident in the General Forum instead of the category where it actually belongs, and where properly located it might stand...
by Christian
Sat Nov 07, 2009 12:55 pm
Forum: Politics of flying
Topic: The other side
Replies: 103
Views: 44716

Form onths now you two guys have been trying to sound rational while calling each other names all over the Internet. Anybody ever tell you they're bored?
by Christian
Fri Sep 25, 2009 10:18 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: OPEN LETTER
Replies: 6
Views: 2461

Glad to hear Dockweiler is safe.
by Christian
Fri Sep 18, 2009 2:05 pm
Forum: Safety and Incidents in flight
Topic: Bad decision/poor timing, probably both
Replies: 19
Views: 7911

I collected all ithe information I could find on knee-hangers, some of which is not obvious (avoiding tangles, for instance).

http://shga.com/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic. ... ght=manual
by Christian
Mon Jun 22, 2009 9:40 am
Forum: Safety and Incidents in flight
Topic: Report of a Stupid Landing
Replies: 2
Views: 2350

Thanks for an incident report useful to everybody.
by Christian
Tue Apr 14, 2009 12:11 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Where are the Accident Reports for the two fatalities 2008?
Replies: 13
Views: 5328

Joe, you need to publish the reports on the forum. They do not need names or speculation. They are most useful because they tell what happened, with the addition of potential contributing factors. Contributing factors that might cause pain to survivors can be left out. I don't believe that includes ...
by Christian
Thu Mar 19, 2009 2:01 pm
Forum: Lost and Found
Topic: A Long, Low Final Glide
Replies: 18
Views: 4385

Obviously you publically noted your error as an alert to others. Rather
generous and in the tradition.

Hot air keeps hang gliders up. Good to remember that when encountering strong lift from Stebbins.