Sylmar Hang Gliding Association

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC7crFbkBpw[/youtube]
or http://vimeo.com/9752506 **

Demonstrations of some basic and more advanced hang gliding technique on my Wills Wing Falcon 3 195. Sylmar, CA, 2/23/2010. I hope a few folks find something useful here.

** Uploading to Vimeo overnight for full 1280 x 960 res.

Well done ,I'd give it .

Cant wait to watch this when I get home tonight. I am sure there will be a good deal I can learn from this. Maybe more videos like these could be used in Joe's curiculum..the more info the better.

Maybe do a what to expect first Mountain Solo Video? And maybe one that shows each of the mountain solo H2 Skills we need to show with commentary on what the common problems students encounter with each skill..

I for one have trouble keeping a consistant bank angle and I also tend to porpoise in pitch through the 360 degree turns. Joe seems to think I am moving my weight into the turn then back again rather then letting myself just pendulum back to center. I have not flown since (been a while..) but just knowing that it could be an issue makes me conscious enough to look for that. I am sure watching your video will give me some more things to look for. I'd watch it now, but crazy busy at work.

Take care,

Marc

addicted2climbing wrote:............
Maybe do a what to expect first Mountain Solo Video? And maybe one that shows each of the mountain solo H2 Skills we need to show with commentary on what the common problems students encounter with each skill.............

Thanks Marc,
That's exactly the type of feedback i need to hear. I might want to add a 3rd camera and place it on a boom a few feet below the nose plate to show body position better.

I had a very short soaring window on that flight in the video and was lucky to get in as much as I did. Even if it's a great day, I still need cameras where they'll do the most work.
Jonathan

Hey Jonathan,

I just watched it and it is really informative. Couldnt wait...

Anyhow I noticed that your camera on the helmet showed how much you were constantly adjusting your weight yet the one on the wing looked like you were flying really fluid and smooth. I had been watching videos of others where the cam is on the wing and would think to myself why am I all over the place...that guy (usualy you or oscar) is not. I really need to save up and get some cameras ot see what I am doing. Oh and need to find more time to fly as well. With the weather the closed LZ and my work schedule I think I am just waiting for Spring..

Great job and keep em coming as it helps imensly...

One thing I remember on my Solo was how I was taken off guard by just how much you had to pull in to get the glider to dive on approach.. I now have learned to keep one hand on the bar and one on the downtube which helps. The beach does not seem to have enough height to truely get the feel of the sustained bar pressure in a dive.

Also are those the Mechanics wear gloves? I dont fly with gloves yet, but was considering getting some of the ones used to work on cars since they seem to have more grip then mountainbike gloves.

Take care,

Marc

Marc get a camera ,It will help your flying immensely ,just remember to fly with it and not for it,you will be able to see what you are doing right and more importantly doing wrong .good luck. why not get one of the mini spy cams,they are cheap and they deliver great video quality for your 12 bucks or so and you can mount them with duct tape or Velcro anywhere you want heres a link http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid ... w=spy+cams

Johnathan,
Nice job on the video. I do have one comment about the launch sequence. You seem to have a hard time getting into your cocoon harness. The method I have found easiest is to 1. make sure your leg straps are pulled up as tight as possible before you fold the boot up and start your run. The harness will slide down some as you run, but the boot will be in a better position. 2. Let the boot go and start to prone out instead of trying to get your foot in while vertical. 3. Put one leg in and stretch out the boot. 4. Bend your other leg at the knee outward (to the side, not up) and then slide it into the boot. It sounds like a lot of moves but it is really one smooth action that will become natural with practice. Give it a try. I think you will like it.
Brad

Brad Hall wrote:.............The method I have found easiest is to 1. make sure your leg straps are pulled up as tight as possible before you fold the boot up and start your run. The harness will slide down some as you run, but the boot will be in a better position. 2. Let the boot go and start to prone out instead of trying to get your foot in while vertical. 3. Put one leg in and stretch out the boot. 4. Bend your other leg at the knee outward (to the side, not up) and then slide it into the boot. It sounds like a lot of moves but it is really one smooth action that will become natural with practice............

Hi Brad, Thanks for the tips. It's a lot easier to get into this cocoon harness when I don't have 4# of cover bags in the leg apron and when I have the leg loops cinched up. However the boot of this harness was cut for toes pointed and so the internal stirrup is up higher than, say other cocoons might be which only adds to the problem. This is a 2001 Betty special made special for aero for another pilot.

I might have made this video using a knee-hanger harness because one of the requirements is that I remain body upright after I launch until I am out of the danger zone.

The problem with the leg loops here is if I run them tight then the base bar ends up low when I go upright due to the aft position of the mains. Being the good little XC pilot my momma trained me to be, I put 95% of my emphasis on being self-contained and landing safely. I will try taking and inch up on the loops and see if I still have enough thigh clearance to run out if I need to. Then I'll see about employing the other techniques you suggest.

Cheers, Jonathan