I was glad to read your last post. It would be terrible to go through this and not realize/internalize all of the lessons to be learned here. There is no room for any ego in hang gliding my friend. Good for you, for working through this and making the most of a great learning experience for all of us. I had a rough landing earlier this year at Woodstock and it was a good reminder that I am just getting started in my hang gliding adventures and still have a lot to learn from everyone in this community.
Felix, keep in mind that any crash landing is, by definition, a majorly stressful event. Even though you weren't injured, all of the adrenaline was surely pumping, you had to make immediate decisions, time was slowing down... And then you find yourself 'ok', but with a glider that seems pretty totaled (though I hope repairs are possible), and hung up in a very precarious place! I can't imagine going through all that and then being detached/analytical/insightful when watching video of the crash the very next day. I mean, come on.
So kudos to you for listening to others, taking a second (or tenth!) look, and learning from what happened.
I'd also like to remind those who provide feedback on events like this to consider the post-crash mindset of a pilot involved in an accident. By all means, please "call it like you see it"... But please also remember to cut the pilot a bit of slack, and expect that your message might NOT be immediately taken to heart.
I've got an old but airworthy PacAir K-5 that you are welcome to fly while waiting on repairs/replacement Felix. It's a PITA to land, but I think you'd do fine.
Oh, and trust assured, every bit of feedback that people provided you, regardless of packaging, came from the good place in their hearts.
And I know that for a fact.
Gary is right on that it does come from the heart.. Learning from others can help you avoid the mistakes they made in the past..At times we all let our egos rule the day..and sometimes with disastrous results..
By the way Bacil makes an excellent point on position as you become closer to the ridge/tree line etc..On strong days you need to anticipate that you will hit strong lift and/or turbulence that could lift your outside wing and could bump you away from your intended direction. Read Bacils feedback.. but I also believe carrying extra speed during launch and landing phase also helps with maintaining firm control during those stronger thermal or high wind days..This is also very true on landing and why I think its very important to have a practiced landing approach where you maintain good speed as you come closer to obstacles (tree lines, Power lines, etc). I've seen way to many pilots not used to turbulent days come into their landing approach way to slow and in poor position to anticipate any turbulence...Still remember pilots coming into High Rock Landing field flying near trim speed out side the landing field tree line and barely making it into the field to land ..On a turbulent day that recipe can be deadly...Safe Flying...Rich
RichH wrote:First glad you are ok..Glad you posted the video and are willing to hear some feedback...This time of year you can hit the strongest thermal conditions of the year.. Pilots that have not flown in high lapse rate type conditions can fall prey to all sorts of problems that they might not encounter on a more stable type of day (especially at launch and final approach) Imagine if you made this mistake coming into to land ..My input first would be to become more knowledgeable about your acceptable flying window..Second you've received some excellent feedback from Larry and Danny, Bacil and others who are outstanding pilots who are calling it the way it is..Please take their feedback and learn from your mistake..After watching the video I believe that you were flying to slow for your position on the ridge..and your left wing became stalled..( Turbulance, thermals etc..close to the ridge probably helped or added to the problem)..On a strong thermal day it is always wise to give yourself more room and a more speed when flying near obstacles on launch and on landing ..
Actually I need to make a correction it was actually your right wing that was stalled sorry for the confusion
but…since we're well down this road already, I'm going to go with slow from the git-go, the glider was sort of already drifting to the right of its own accord even before you added some turn, and before the glider was even parallel to the ridge it was already doing its own thing, as per Danny.
And, along the lines of what Mark says, I'll say don't even revisit the video again for awhile before you might consider this, because it's just one possible way to look at things.
And in the end analysis, all the details aside, the important thing is you realize the need to get your butt out of that slot with good speed because - and I really like this one from Bacil - "the superb pilot uses his superb judgement to not be put into a position where he has to use his superb skills".
Oh, and the one about if it's not responding you need to add speed to Whatever speed you already have, I like that one too.
And the 30 degrees of separation. And…well there's a lot of good stuff isn't there (rhetorical).
There's a grieving process after a bad crash. And we all know what the first stage of grief is. Glad you made it through that process with flying colors, Felix!
The Cav is right, we have to remember the process we all go through, and be a bit gentler with our love smacks.
Everyone on this string in my opinion has been extremely polite in offering their thoughts to Felix and I think Felix overall has done a very good job digesting the information..Its alot to take in ..However, I have read comments before on this forum where pilots offer good meaningful and instructive insights are given a cautionary tale of "you were not there" or someone replies believing the instructive message was delivered in to frank a manner..Really..get over it!!..The air doesn't care..If insights and experiences from skilled pilots offered in a meaningful polite way help save a pilot from injury or worse its well worth it..Stop with the PC garbage and embrace the information. I think Felix and the other pilots in this string offering their advice should be applauded ..Well done guys keep the info..flowing..
Good on you, my friend, for coming back to this with a fresh look and an open mind, and with a willingness to swallow a little pride and listen to the very experienced pilots here, instead of just digging in your heels. We want to keep you around for a long time!
Felix, my stomach is no longer churning. I thank you for looking deep inside to analyze what happened at Bill's. I am now confident that you will come out of this a better pilot. Good on you for clearing the fog to obtain clarity. It is not an easy task. As far as apologies go, none are needed in my regard. I was questioning my own ability to clearly make my point to you with a number of other pilots and was somewhat frustrated that I had failed. I actually mentioned to two pilots that you should be put on the 'watch list' (as if there was one), because I thought that perhaps you hadn't internalized the facts regarding your flight and that you might be headed for another incident if others weren't looking out for you. To those that I mentioned this too, I retract my statement. Good luck on getting your glider repaired and I hope to crank some turns with you in the near future.
I am glad I posted the video to begin with; even though at first I was confused about the whole situation and the "denial" stage of recovery was taking place (took a while to work through those complicated set of emotions), it most probably would of taken much longer to get to understand it all correctly had I not posted it here - all the posts and private messages I received helped a LOT in making me "see the light" - I appreciate all the input, I am lucky to be part of this HG community.
Understanding what went wrong is the first healthy step towards mental recovery (again, I am so lucky to have escaped physically unscathed). I feel ready and eager to take to the skies again.
I like the idea of a "watch list", I most definitely belonged there, I'll keep myself mentally there for a while.
Piloting a HG is like playing with fire - you can do it safely but you will get burned as soon as you stop paying full attention to every aspect of it and being on top of the situation at all times. I got burned and I should know better from now on. Having said that, Hang Gliding is a fire I will always play with, there is no other activity like it!
Thank you also to those who offered me a wing to fly while I get my situation sorted out, it is a generous offer and I really appreciate it. I might try going that route but will try to get my own wing asap. I am currently searching for a new wing as well as determining what can be done to save my current one (I will get it fixed only if it makes sense from a financial stand point).
I'll personally put this thread to rest for now, though will probably come back to it and the video again in the future.
As I said before, the video will remain posted and available for teaching purposes - no better way to open someone's eyes than hard evidence.
Good for you, for working through this and making the most of a great learning experience for all of us. I had a rough landing earlier this year at Woodstock and it was a good reminder that I am just getting started in my hang gliding adventures and still have a lot to learn from everyone in this community.
etc). I've seen way to many pilots not used to turbulent days come into their landing approach way to slow and in poor position to anticipate any turbulence...Still remember pilots coming into High Rock Landing field flying near trim speed out side the landing field tree line and barely making it into the field to land ..On a turbulent day that recipe can be deadly...Safe Flying...Rich
