Hang Gliding "Movies" - (some) with annotation, titles, etc.
from the Apple Macintosh program 'iMovie';    Most of these are of November 2007 flights at Florida Ridge
Sunday, 02 December, 2007: - only one flight today - the wind was quite rough so I didn't launch until almost 3:30 p.m. (even though I had arrived before noon) and only had one flight on this day...

- However, a couple of interesting 'tidbits' from the video-camera - a couple of things captured that had not been captured before:

a 'broken weak link' on launch - this is about 20 seconds of viewing-time but saved in two different 'resolution-quality' ways regular quality (about 2 megabytes)     or      High Quality (about 70 megabytes).

Weak-link-breaks are 'not un-common' on launch, when the tow-line is most heavily loaded... I may have precipitated this break by comming off the launch-cart too quickly.    On the other hand weak links (literally just a small piece of string) are supposed to break if something gets overloaded;  they definitely deteriorate over time, so this weak-link might have just been 'old' and due for a break. 0ne never knows.   So - when the break DOES happens, one lands, replaces the weak-link and goes-on to fly again.  

With lighter pilots (like my talented and lovely wife who weighs in neaer 110 pounds rather than the nearer 180 pounds that I weigh) so she ALMOST never breaks a weak-link.    I think she's broken one in the last 15 months.  I,  on the other hand, break one almost every month...



wave-off (from tug-tow plane) and release - this is about  10 seconds of video - and the pilot of the tug-tow-plane can be seen giving the wave-off  (on the left-side of middle of the tug).

Several people had asked how the hang-glider-pilot knows when to release from the tow-plane - this is how - the pilot of the tug-tow plane "waves" you off - watch the plane - very carefully (left-side)  - about 7 seconds into the video and you'll see him wave - then you'll see me release.

 again two different quality videos:  regular quality (about 1.4 megabytes)   or   High Quality (about 53 megabytes)

The 'wave off' typically comes between 'about' 2,000 and 2,500 feet of altitude - (or 'above ground level' (AGL)) for sites where the ground is significantly above sea-level.   Here in Florida most flying sites are about 35 - 150 feet above MSL (Mean Sea Level). - but if / when one flies in the mountains or out west the tug-tow-plane typically takes the glider / pilot up to 'about' 2,000 - 2,500 feet AGL...

Another interesting-note-here.   MANY more 'advanced' pilots will 'get off tow' (that is release prematurely), if they find the quality and quantity of LIFT that they want.   They may feel that they can climb better without the tug-tow-plane.  The tug-tow-process is both noisy and dangerous - so it is beneficial if you feel you are in good lift to release early and climb-on-out...   IF the lift is really good and the 'knowledge' of the conditions lead the hang-glider-pilot to believe that they can climb-on-out-up they will release early.

I have only 'gotten-off-tow' early a few times - and I have to have really really stellar lift to want to do this.  However, the mark of an accomplished hang-glider-pilot is one that can get off tow early (say below 1,000 feet) and then climb-on-up with other hang-gliders and/or the birds to 2,000 - 3,000, even 5,000 feet.  - So - I'm learning - but in most cases I'm not as confident as I need to be to do this a LOT...

DURING a competition - pilots do this a lot - but they watch other pilots who've been towed up before them and then they can see where the lift is and how strong it is by watching other people, already in the air....



The hang-glider-pilot does NOT HAVE TO "WAIT" for the tug-tow-plane-pilot to 'wave' you off.
Flight(s) on Friday, 30 November 2007:

Flight 1 (raw footage):

Flight 2 (raw footage):

Flight 3: - no flight 3 iMovies - my tape-cartridge ran-out before I took flight 3 and I didn't realize this

Flight(s) on Saturday, 10 November, 2007: (BIGGER videos (in the rang of 50-85 megabytes))
Flight(s) on Tuesday, 06 November, 2007:

Flight 1 (finished & annotated):

Flight 3 (finished and annotated):
other movies:

last updated:  19:15 p.m. (EST) on Monday, 7 December, 2007:    revID: 1f   (in Austin, Texas)