Pilot forgets to strap passenger into hanglider
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From: Falling off the end of the thread
Pilot forgets to strap passenger into hanglider
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 220
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From: Crawley
Hot Landing.
You can flare a hanglider uphill, downwind, with no problem, when the C of G is correct, as can be seen here at 0:54 . I've even done this with a passenger (clipped in normally and a correct C of G).
Joined: Jan 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
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From: UK
I think initially he had difficult shifting his body weight to steer the glider because the bloke was hanging onto him. It wasn’t until later on when he had dropped down that he could get enough control to make a safe landing
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Chez Sprog
Pretty basic failure on the pilot's part to overlook whether or not the passenger is strapped in. Assuming that was a paid for flight from a commercial guy, I'd expect the SHV/FSVL safety bods to be inviting that chap for a chat sometime soon. I also concur the pilot should have stuck it into the hill as a matter of urgency. Alpine conditions are generally windless in the mornings, it should have been possible to do it without huge ground speed & the video shows a few possible slope landings just after take off.
Also, nice fly on the wall there Nev. Brings a warm fuzzy feeling seeing a glandhider sink out at the Dyke.
Also, nice fly on the wall there Nev. Brings a warm fuzzy feeling seeing a glandhider sink out at the Dyke.
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: A better place.
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 220
Likes: 45
From: Crawley
Back-up
Two carabiners each.
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,146
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From: The Wild West (UK)
You use two caribiners in case one breaks. You can use as many as you like but it won't help you if you forget to attach them.
I'm inclined to be forgiving of both pilot and passenger. They aren't the first and won't be the last. We are all human.
I'm inclined to be forgiving of both pilot and passenger. They aren't the first and won't be the last. We are all human.
Last edited by abgd; 28th November 2018 at 20:06.
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Ansião (PT)
I cannot understand the fuss. Microlight flying is nothing about transportation, neither about circling the village spire. Leave that to the PPL greybeards! It is all about sports, excitement, finding one's personal limits. I am sure this bloke got his money's worth, amply!
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 220
Likes: 45
From: Crawley
Passenger's original write-up, before it disappeared from the www:
"Chris Gursky
October 23 ·
So...Here is the story behind the photo. Vacation in Switzerland started with Hang Gliding. Something we both wanted to do...this was a tandem flight each with their own pilot. Cut to the mountain... the pilots had us step into our harnesses followed by sticking our arms and head through and getting them adjusted. Then we practiced our take off run, which was 6 to 8 steps. Pretty much run till your feet leave the ground.
Gail and her pilot took off first....looked cool as hell. Then my pilot and I lined up for take-off. We waited a bit for the updraft to pick up and then we ran till we left the side of the 4000 ft mountain edge. I was expecting to level out above the pilot as we went, but quickly discovered that my harness was not attached to the hang glider or anything else....
My body weight shifted straight down and I found myself hanging on for my life. I remember looking down and thinking, this is it. I was losing grip with my right hand, that was holding onto a strap on the pilots right shoulder. He was trying to make a bee line to the landing field as he knew what the situation could bring. My left hand was on the cross bar that was ultimately the landing gear, with a wheel on each side. As we were going down for a hot landing I was slowly losing my grip with my right hand as I was swinging in the wind with the glider. The pilot grabbed my hand, but like in the movies it was a slow motion slipping of the grip until my right hand slipped off and I grabbed another strap on his left side for a bit but this slipped off also. I ended up holding on bar with the left hand and the lower part if his leg with the right when we here nearing the ground. I looked down to see my feet hit first, which ripped me off at about 45 mph as it was a hot landing and I was under the landing gear. I would guesstimate the total flight time was about 5 minutes. When I sat up I knew something was wrong an saw that my wrist was broken. The pilot rushed over, helped me up and walked me off of the gun range (true). Then I had to climb under two electric fences to get to a road, where they had someone picking us up to go to the ER.
11:30 pm surgery ended at 3:30 am. Left the hospital by 2:00 that afternoon. No cast ,but a wrap and a brace for 6 weeks.
Glad I am still here to tell the story.
Gail's flight was awesome and she will share the pics when she is ready.
Still can't cross Hang Gliding off the bucket list till I finish a successful flight! ......maybe Norway...?"
"Chris Gursky
October 23 ·
So...Here is the story behind the photo. Vacation in Switzerland started with Hang Gliding. Something we both wanted to do...this was a tandem flight each with their own pilot. Cut to the mountain... the pilots had us step into our harnesses followed by sticking our arms and head through and getting them adjusted. Then we practiced our take off run, which was 6 to 8 steps. Pretty much run till your feet leave the ground.
Gail and her pilot took off first....looked cool as hell. Then my pilot and I lined up for take-off. We waited a bit for the updraft to pick up and then we ran till we left the side of the 4000 ft mountain edge. I was expecting to level out above the pilot as we went, but quickly discovered that my harness was not attached to the hang glider or anything else....
My body weight shifted straight down and I found myself hanging on for my life. I remember looking down and thinking, this is it. I was losing grip with my right hand, that was holding onto a strap on the pilots right shoulder. He was trying to make a bee line to the landing field as he knew what the situation could bring. My left hand was on the cross bar that was ultimately the landing gear, with a wheel on each side. As we were going down for a hot landing I was slowly losing my grip with my right hand as I was swinging in the wind with the glider. The pilot grabbed my hand, but like in the movies it was a slow motion slipping of the grip until my right hand slipped off and I grabbed another strap on his left side for a bit but this slipped off also. I ended up holding on bar with the left hand and the lower part if his leg with the right when we here nearing the ground. I looked down to see my feet hit first, which ripped me off at about 45 mph as it was a hot landing and I was under the landing gear. I would guesstimate the total flight time was about 5 minutes. When I sat up I knew something was wrong an saw that my wrist was broken. The pilot rushed over, helped me up and walked me off of the gun range (true). Then I had to climb under two electric fences to get to a road, where they had someone picking us up to go to the ER.
11:30 pm surgery ended at 3:30 am. Left the hospital by 2:00 that afternoon. No cast ,but a wrap and a brace for 6 weeks.
Glad I am still here to tell the story.
Gail's flight was awesome and she will share the pics when she is ready.
Still can't cross Hang Gliding off the bucket list till I finish a successful flight! ......maybe Norway...?"
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 1,938
Likes: 2
From: Manchester, UK
That’s an understatement! Surprised by the forgiving comments here. It’s only by extreme good luck (and strong grip) he’s not facing a manslaughter charge. Not a hang glider expert but couldn’t he have landed more quickly ?