04/25/12

Be sure to watch all videos in HQ mode if possible.

1. An example of a failed launch by a pilot who lacked basic wing handling skills.  It is exceedingly dangerous to attempt a launch from an advanced site, like Dry Canyon, if a pilot is unable to control his glider on the ground.  He was fortunate he was not injured or killed.

2. Why Agave Hill pilots need to be careful and launch in the proper conditions -- it can be a yo-yo ride...
 

3. What a safe and controlled launch should look like

4. Control of the glider is critical when conditions are turbulent at launch.  Want to be an expert pilot?  Become an expert kiter.

5. Poor launch and kiting skills nearly sends pilot into the trees

6. A Student Demo of a Tow Launch in El Paso

7. Student pilot kiting at Kilbourne Hole maar -- Lee Boone shows how it's done!  Note how he stays directly beneath the wing at all times.  He uses the brakes to keep the wing directly above as much as he can.  The better a pilot gets at kiting, the less he has to work keeping himself under the wing.  Note his bent knees!

8. Joe Parr's famous tip stall, spin, spiral dive, reserve deployment, and tree landing in Valle de Bravo, Mexico 2005.  He made at least (10) major errors as a pilot.   See if you can find them.  (Click here for a complete analysis.)  We appreciate Joe making this superb teaching aid available to the world.  Thank you!

9. Here is a very smooth deployment of a reserve - the way it should happen.  Note:  The pilot lets go of the deployment bag and stalls the wing so it will not down-plane and increase his descent rate.  However, he would have had a slower descent rate if he had used a B-line stall rather than pull the brakes.

10. An actual reserve deployment at an SIV clinic.  The pilot was doing acrobatics that went awry. Note how long it takes for the reserve to inflate - a result of poor packing or lack of force in the deployment.

11. Expert test pilot and flight instructor Bob Hoover on converting energy from plenty of airspeed into maneuverability.  Both PG & PPG pilots need to practice exactly what he does (minus the loops and rolls).  Coming in for a landing with plenty of energy is good!

12. These two pilots are pros but did NOT check the launch area to see if it was clear before takeoff! Almost a tragedy.  If these pilots had attended our school, they would have learned not to do this!

13.  A student pilot does his first forward launch from a benign mountain site.  Because it is not a cliff launch, the frontal collapse he experienced (from holding on to the A's too long) is of little consequence.  Every pilot needs to ensure every launch is perfect - this is why first class training is essential for safe flying!