Link to video needed please
Thread Starter

Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Midlands
Link to video needed please
Anyone remember a video of someone rolling a SEP down a hillside and then gliding to land near a river? All done without power - as you do. Was telling a friend about it but I can't find the link. Does this stir any memories ( or was I dreaming)?

Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,876
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From: Here
Not dreaming, but not sure how helpful I can be...
Definitely on YouTube, some sort of tailwheel LSA, and yes, truly awesome flying. He also talks somewhere about having a hours/landing ratio in the region of 10 landings/hour across his logged time!!!!
Someone will know! Sam.
Definitely on YouTube, some sort of tailwheel LSA, and yes, truly awesome flying. He also talks somewhere about having a hours/landing ratio in the region of 10 landings/hour across his logged time!!!!
Someone will know! Sam.

Joined: Jul 2010
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From: in front of comptator :-)
Its amazing what you can do with a helicopter and a cutout of a bit of undercarriage, nose and a fake prop.
The scenery looks like East Anglia to me. 
Seriously now - it reminds me of EFATO at courchevel.
The scenery looks like East Anglia to me. 
Seriously now - it reminds me of EFATO at courchevel.
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Amsterdam
So, you'd log that flight in the airframe log, but not in the engine log?
Logbooks specific for gliders have a launch method column though. Winch, Tow and one other which I forgot. I wonder how you put "gravity assist" AKA freefall in those.
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Midlands, England
Many thanks for posting that video again.
It dissapeared from Youtube for a time, great to see it again. This guy is a true aviator, not that I'd ever have the skill, nerve or experiance to try that but very well done.
It dissapeared from Youtube for a time, great to see it again. This guy is a true aviator, not that I'd ever have the skill, nerve or experiance to try that but very well done.
Ich bin ein Prooner.

Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Home of the Full Monty.
This guy is a true aviator,
Having set off down the hill, he is totally commited. There is no way he can apply brakes if he had a change of mind, or he would be straight up on his nose, and worse.
If he had by some chance found himself where he was by accident, and his engine was u/s, and it was his only option, you pays your money and you takes your chance.
But to risk what appears to be a serviceable aircraft just to see if it can be done says too much spare cash/not enough between the ears to me!
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Toulouse
A long time ago, I had a check out to be allowed to fly into Peyresourde, a little altiport in the mountains near Toulouse. Not as extreme as this video but, even with the engine on, as soon as you start the takeboff, you're fully committed! Same with the landing, there comes a point where you are fully committed with no "go around" option.
I suspect this guy knew his playground pretty well :-)
I suspect this guy knew his playground pretty well :-)
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Massachusetts Bay Colony
Only 11 posts!
I was wondering how soon the "oooohh, it's too dangerous" brigade was going to come out. The guy thought it, did it, succeeded, and nobody died. And had a hell of a lot of fun in the process.
With attitudes like Noah Zark's we'd have never come out of the bloody trees!
With attitudes like Noah Zark's we'd have never come out of the bloody trees!

Joined: Jul 2010
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From: in front of comptator :-)
The Pitts 
Course we would of, its bliddy dangerouse up in them there trees. Risk of falls, splinters not to mention lightning strikes. Elf & saftey nightmare in the trees. 
PS the man who taught me to fly into and out of Courchevel died messing up a landing off piste on skis, in the same plane as I flew. I suspect he had evaluated the risks, and found them acceptable. I don't think he was wrong in his evaluation.

With attitudes like Noah Zark's we'd have never come out of the bloody trees!

PS the man who taught me to fly into and out of Courchevel died messing up a landing off piste on skis, in the same plane as I flew. I suspect he had evaluated the risks, and found them acceptable. I don't think he was wrong in his evaluation.

Joined: Sep 2004
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 881
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From: Berkshire, UK
Shirley the most dangerous part of this would have been the first landing at the top of the mountain?
The first time he landed at the top it would have been onto an unknown surface with all of the risks that that would carry. Once on the top a reccy, on foot, could be used to check the surface for hidden boulders/holes/sharp obstructions etc and a best way for take off judged.
The engine off departure could be worked up to by taking off the first time with normal full power setting and then repeating at 75%, 50%, 25% and finally, engine off. Once at this point there is little risk of EFATO cocking things up so it is probably safer than level ground with a hedge at the end.
In my experience a downhill take off is pretty much a non event but the uphill landing still causes me to "grip the button in the middle of the seat cushion" if there is no go around option at the landing site.
Rans6...
The first time he landed at the top it would have been onto an unknown surface with all of the risks that that would carry. Once on the top a reccy, on foot, could be used to check the surface for hidden boulders/holes/sharp obstructions etc and a best way for take off judged.
The engine off departure could be worked up to by taking off the first time with normal full power setting and then repeating at 75%, 50%, 25% and finally, engine off. Once at this point there is little risk of EFATO cocking things up so it is probably safer than level ground with a hedge at the end.
In my experience a downhill take off is pretty much a non event but the uphill landing still causes me to "grip the button in the middle of the seat cushion" if there is no go around option at the landing site.
Rans6...
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 78
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From: UK
Anyone remember a video of someone rolling a SEP down a hillside and then gliding to land near a river? All done without power - as you do. Was telling a friend about it but I can't find the link. Does this stir any memories ( or was I dreaming)?
YouTube - Bezmiechowa , szd-12A "Mucha 100 A" - samo-start grawitacyjny
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 78
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From: UK
Logbooks specific for gliders have a launch method column though. Winch, Tow and one other which I forgot. I wonder how you put "gravity assist" AKA freefall in those.






