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Old 31st Oct 2011, 16:39
  #11 (permalink)  
abgd
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: The Wild West (UK)
Age: 45
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Hmm... Low level stalls on a hang-glider, putting the nose down isn't always a good idea. It is obviously a good idea to keep the wing flying if you can, but with an unexpected release at a high angle of attack this may be difficult.

At very low levels sometimes it's better just to hold the nose level and 'parachute' down. If you pull the nose down you end up picking up speed and hitting the ground before you can fly out of the dive.

Fifty feet is a nasty altitude for this to happen - too low to pull out of the stall; rather high to parachute down without injury. And if you've dropped a wing then neither method is likely to do much good.

A more experienced pilot would have the skill not to let themselves get into a low-level lockout or have a large climb angle so close to the ground. But once in that position, there isn't always a good option.
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