Yesterday I was flying my Bobcat 16.5 98kg full loaded, I did 3-4 massive mistakes and I end up 20m from the ground flying down-wind (tail wind) to some obstacles without any option to make a turn or something.. I decide to let the brakes up and build up some speed and try to flare the glider as much as I can. The speed was so ridicules when I approached to land I couldn’t run so fast so I just decide to put my legs and scratch the grass with them to slow the speed in the end I was running like mad and everything went fine.
I think my mistakes was:
- I was talking with some other friends PG pilots and most of them were convinced I have good glide and I can make it to the second landing zone. I took this as a challenge which was a massive mistake! Because I forgot for the other factors..
- The wind wasn’t good it was, it was coming too much from my left side.
- I forgot to close the trim down, the trimmers was on full speed.
- Didn’t made plan A,B,C.. D and didn’t visualize my flying path I was so convince that I can make it to the lower PG landing zone that I forgot about the wind factors
- The group factor! I was with friends and felt very save and that’s why I didn’t make GOOD PLANING which I think should be essential. Maybe the speed flying is more like DH-mountain bike or motocross run, first you go slowly learn the route and after 10-20 runs when you fill in control you can go on full speed..
- I will take a little rest 2-3 days to think about what stupid thing I did I don’t want to find myself in hospital I think speed flying can be done safely in the right spot with right conditions – Good start, big landing field with no obstacles and 2-3 wind socks.
I tried to search the forum for downwind landing techniques for speed wing but didn’t get nothing.
Can someone share experience what to do when you found yourself flying downwind 10-20m from the ground without much options? Maybe some skydiving technique will be more appropriate for our wings, doses some body know what swoopers do if they got in this nasty situation ..?
