Off and On, How to practice landings at a top-landing hang gliding site

http://www.johnheiney.com I take a video with my pocket camera of almost every flight my students make while they're training with me for later review and analysis; hence, I have accumulated many low-res shakey clips of launches and landings. I decided to stick some of them together to illustrate the importance and some of the techniques of practicing landings. If you are in the beginning phases of your learning process, you must have your instructor with you when you first try these maneuvers. It is very easy to lose control and get injured in strong winds.

Wind speed of 20-25 mph is good for the South Side, but might be too strong for other top-landing sites. The most important factor in safe top-landings is turbulence. Most mishaps occur when a pilot tries to top-land in mid-day thermal conditions. To avoid thermal turbulence, top-land only in the early morning or late evening. Mechanical turbulence is dangerous as well. The shape of a top-landing site must be rounded so there is little lee turbulence created.

For beginners, the best policy is to top-land only at sites that have a long history of safe top-landings. Ask experienced locals about idiosyncrasies of the site regarding top-landing.

I have new pilots do 1to 2 hours of this "moon-walking" practice before I have them do their first attempts at soaring and top-landing as we do at the South Side. This is a perfect place to learn the precision control of your wing while flying only inches off the ground.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkPchORtTdw

Видео Off and On, How to practice landings at a top-landing hang gliding site канала John Heiney