Adventure flying - hangglider thermal tips

[@uploader8297]

I have to stop watching these videos. You guys are going to have a 65 year old man up in the skies... I really loved how you genuinely wanted all your flying mates to have success and enjoyment. You are the real deal. Blessings, from Illinois, USA.

[@MooSurfer]

Awwww thank you! And... well you're never too old to start. One of my flying friends just had his 79th birthday!

[@foesfly3047]

My brother (I'm half British on my dad's side), I flew hang gliders avidly in Arizona, southwest USA, from early 1980s through early 1990s, cross country and some aerobatics. Last glider I owned was a Wills Wing Sport AT 150 with every performance upgrade. I walked away from soaring flight after a divorce that upset my whole world. Today I'm a licensed Sport Pilot, flying my own Experimental/Amateur Built Skystar Pulsar III. I will admit to anyone, hang gliding is the most exciting thing I've ever done. Your video about getting sucked into the cloud was fantastic and caused me to recall a number of awesome flights from Arizona's Mingus and Oatman Mountains. How badly I wish we had Gopro cameras back then. Anyway... I appreciate your videos very much. I love your classically British lack of pretension and your enthusiasm for soaring flight. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@MooSurfer]

Thank you so much for your kind words! Glad you enjoy and hope to get some more videos on soon....

[@adventureswitharizonaart6117]

The hang gliding community in Arizona is still going strong, actually grown over the last few years. Oatman is closed, but mingus is still a busy spot. I live below elden and fly the craters as often as possible.

[@peterschwenderling5821]

Very few people share information like you have, especially having the opportunity to match your commentary with what is actually happening with the glider. Most of us thermal the way we think its done, although we never really know if we do it the same as other pilots. Your video is enlightening and much appreciated. Cheers, Pete

[@MooSurfer]

Thanks Pete, that's not to say that I'm doing it right - but quite happy to share what little I know!

[@KissingEmbers]

@@MooSurfer I dont know if they consider it a compliment to call you a badass out yonder way, but your a badass!

[@MooSurfer]

@@KissingEmbers I'll take badass as compliment any day! Though my ass in actuality is really good.

[@asepsafrudin]

I'm sorry for my English, Do you ever tried to towing using car until lift higher?

[@logmeindangit]

Thanks for a splendid video describing thermalling, the various, and sharing such spectacular views. When I flew, I was willing to turn as tightly as the lift was strong. I had read a tip some 30 years ago in the USHGA magazine about a New England, USA pilot who said that getting tight in a core and banking at more than 45° to stay in the very center was going to give a pilot a faster climb rate than a larger circle at a flatter bank angle. He said that there was more lift gained doing that than the loss of altitude in side-slipping, so even though banked high, the net was a faster climb rate than keeping a less-steeply banked angle. He was talking specifically about thermalling in that region, and said that he believed thermals in that region tended to be smaller in diameter and that using the very core was the best way to squeeze out as much lift as possible. I took those tips and tried them out over Chelan Butte, in Washington State, and even though thermals there come in every size, from small to huge and broad. What I found was that even though I considered myself an average pilot, I turned hard and pushed out, the instant my vario went crazy, and would get it up in a 45 to 60-degree bank, and try to spin on the lower wingtip. The effect, when I had lassoed a core, was a continued high-pitched, "excited" chirping of the vario. Looking around at other pilots, I often saw them disappearing below, sinking relative to me, as if they were falling out of the sky. Coring tightly in a rising bubble of air is an amazing experience, and I was forever thankful that the NorthEastern US pilot wrote about not being afraid to get a very steep bank angle when coring the very center of a thermal, because that was, I discovered, where climbing was fastest - even at a ridiculously steep bank angle. ... You just had to keep enough speed to not stall the lower tip. I gave up flying in my 60s, but had a good run of over 30 years.

[@MooSurfer]

I think that's really good advice... So many people don't turn tightly enough, including me on my latest glider. It really depends on the thermal though and how good it is. I did a course with Gerolf Heinrichs - former European Champion, physicist and chief designer for Moyes Hanggliders. He said the optimum was 42 degree bank. Though I have no idea where that figure came from!

[@gee_bee-zn9tz]

hello Darren. Your videos are simply brilliant. Thank you. I am writing to you from Switzerland. I gave up delta flying 20 years ago and took up motorised flying. Recently I was back in the mountains watching the delta pilots. I must say that this is the real flying. My heart still beats for delta flying. I am now 69 years old and I am not sure if I should start delta flying again. Greetings from mountainous Switzerland. Henri

[@MooSurfer]

Thank you H.Wirz... I'm so glad you enjoy my videos :-) 69... not too old - some of my friends are in their mid-70s and still fly in competitions!

[@justinf1343]

I haven't even started to learn to fly yet, but I find these videos very informative. The chap at 29:00 who photo bombed the interview to admire the grass was an interesting one.

[@MooSurfer]

He once stole my harness too... took the wrong one by mistake and buggered off to Scotland!

[@frankmolina5206]

I liked your explaining thermals and the vario thank you very much just learned something.

[@laszlorostasi925]

Thankyou for being a good hearted person!, willing to help others also!, I pray God Bless You abundantly!, I am still learning!, struggling with my thermaling technique for many years now!!, You are a good Person at heart!, Thankyou very much for people like You! 😇, on this earth ♥️

[@MooSurfer]

Thank you Iaszlo! My biggest advice is - keep trying and practicing, it does get easier :-)

[@laszlorostasi925]

Yes I will do so!, Thankyou Darren Brown 👍and looking forward to watching Your other videos!! 🤩

[@billwcc]

My son and I start training this weekend at Kitty Hawk, I've already learned a ton from your videos. Many thanks Darren!

[@MooSurfer]

You're welcome!! I'd love to hear how your training is going... and maybe see some vids of it? I'm hoping to get my son trained next year too...

[@instrumentenfreak]

This is one of my favourite hg videos. I‘m a paragliding pilot since april 2019 and looking forward to hang gliding as well. Great video :-)

[@MooSurfer]

Thank you! Look forward to seeing YOUR hanggliding videos then! ;-)

[@KubaAirs]

Darren, you're my hero. While it's a lot of info in this video I have seen it multiple times throughout this season and been focusing on different parts of what you were saying. You definitely helped me get the grasp of thermals and I feel like I am finally getting somewhere. Thanks! (:

[@MooSurfer]

Thank you Jakub! What lovely things to say :-) Next year I hope to do more thermalling tips videos and in different locations.... We're all learning all the time - I always look to improve my technique. I'm very glad I could help you!

[@johnfritsche4612]

Excellent narrative. Very easy & clear to follow. Every novice should watch it. You expressed everything I had to learn about thermalling the hard way-on my own with a little brief advice and a couple magazine articles. You are humble stating you aren’t that great at thermalling and soliciting tips--you can do it and explain it perfectly!

[@MooSurfer]

Thank you John!! Really lovely comments - I very much appreciate them. I'm hoping to do some more videos like this one this year and hopefully add some more to my thermalling tips / ideas.

[@chezzap4717]

Great commentary Darren. Very well articulated and what a great day. Your interview with Marco was very interesting and would like to see you explore his comments about hitting the radius at turn points a bit more. A video on loading tasks into your GPS and how you download them at the end of the day would be great. Its allot different to the days when we use to use maps on the base bar to find our way around the course...... Old mate taking a p@#s in the background during that interview with Marco was gold!!! :)

[@MooSurfer]

Thanks Cheryl... the interview was a little difficult because I don't think Marco fully understood what I was asking (though his English IS excellent) and I'm also cognisant that a long interview might get boring for some people. I do have some more interview with Marco (and others too) though which will be getting posted soon. Regarding putting tasks into my GPS and downloading them - I could do that, but it is a little different for each different type of instrument. Maybe I could do one for mine though and that might help other people with the same instrument. Yes a LOT different to the good old days with maps. Though I do have a map now it's electronic and shows my position live time, together with airspace!! As for the background... I actually hadn't noticed that until I posted the video today. Ah well... I've got an interview with him too!

[@chezzap4717]

@@MooSurfer All good Darren. Love the video's. Keep them coming. Regards Scott (Cheryl's husband- I don't have an account)

[@jconger7543]

Great informative video. Im a new h3 and im really trying to work on my thermalling. I fly most ridge lift and this really helps to clarify some of the things i was doing wrong. Thank you again and i look forward to learning more!

[@MooSurfer]

Thank you - I'm glad I helped. The biggest tip is to keep practicing the thermalling and learn what it 'feels' like when it is going well.

[@whisperingeagle]

Hey darren great video need more of them

[@braddiehangy2963]

Top video mate, thoroughly enjoyed it! Calm and concise explanations from one of the nicest blokes in hang gliding.

[@MooSurfer]

Coming from you, who is THE certified nicest bloke in hang gliding, I'll take that as a big compliment! Cheers mate :-)

[@jrtavora]

Great, great video. Such a innovative, since I have never seem any HG tips content with a perfect pedagogic approach. You do need a sponsor to your channel to bring in a series of new contents. Well done!

[@MooSurfer]

Thanks Rubens - so glad you like it! There are more videos to come...

[@TheVladomo]

Love it Darren. Nice explanation, educational and pretty clear speaking (those are not native eng language). But also good flying conditions. I have enjoy this video. Thank you very much.

[@ronwolff144]

Looking to try your tips in the morning, might be my first thermal. I'll let you know how it works out.

[@MooSurfer]

Ron, sorry I missed your message. I'd like to hear how you got on? Are you managing to thermal successfully now?

[@u2glider]

Another good film that was my first trip abroad after 3 hours with Chris Dawes and Judy Leden great place been 7 times

[@MooSurfer]

It was my first trip abroad too! With Stuart Bond, right after I got my CP. It was quite scary!

[@GeorgeGiann]

This is the video I was looking for. Explaining these things. 🙏

[@MooSurfer]

You're welcome George! Glad you liked it and thanks for watching. I do plan for more like this...

[@charlyfarly5173]

Hey Daz, just caught up with the thermalling vid.. The only thermals I do are the ones I wear in the winter, LOL.

[@MooSurfer]

Ha!! Trust me, summer thermals are much more fun!

[@JonMcG]

Yep you have another Sub , won't say anything else , I think the chaps below have pretty much summed it up . Great Vid

[@GonZaloCary]

Love it, Darren!! I gotta say though, Ricardo stole the show a bit there

[@MooSurfer]

He's just an attention seeker! ;-)

[@KissingEmbers]

Lol

[@whisperingeagle]

Great vid Darren actually really like your plain and simple thermalling tech with added crazy ollie giggle. Iam Flying a solairus soaring trike now because my ageing landing gear but will always remain a glidehead. I keep thinkin maybe a electric wasp . Been in this sport scince workin for electra flyer 1978. Would really like to thank you for keepin this great sport alive mano! Love that t2c

[@MooSurfer]

Thank you Bigfoot! Are you related to the Sasquach? 1978... wow!! I was 7... ;-)

[@whisperingeagle]

@@MooSurfer i worked for ww competator electrafljyer and american aerolights my first glider was a spirit 200 but i always lliked the streak anyways i love how your helping to keep this greatt sport alive.

[@jeremieyirmeyahu3468]

Haha Nice video mate ! Thx for sharing techniques and smiles on faces !!

[@robertsiegl8164]

Thx for this nice informative video! Lots of info and tips for new pilots and peeps interested in the sport.

[@Thierryanthony]

Thanks for teaching others with your video! I really enjoyed your flight. Best part is at 29:00 ending with great perfect finish at 29:36!

[@dwilliamson8539]

I hope that wasn't going at 6-up!

[@dazxr6367]

They say that more than two shakes is a wank! I flew here back in 1990's as a novice pilot...the place was fantastic, unfortunately I was more than two shakes😂

[@MehranZanjani]

Thanks, very good tips...

[@reynettemcleroth2992]

Good advice, very well done

[@garrykennedy5484]

Subscribed. Loved my visit. Great video. I was told the VG instruments are about 1.5 seconds lagging. That may have to be taken into account. Great info. Thanks for making these videos. I'm just finished lesson 6 myself with aerotow. Foot launch lessons after I get my aerotow rating.

[@MooSurfer]

You're right Garry, there is a slight lag with the vario. You do come to anticipate this with experience and often know when it's about to beep. Good luck with your aerotow and foot launching... You'll never look back!!!

[@entelin]

The lag depends on the vario and the settings. It's important to pay attention more to your feel of the air than to the vario. The vario is important as an averager and verification of what you feel. When I really need to focus on climbing or not loosing altitude I'll count and call out the the altimeter as I climb so I'm always very aware of any amount of altitude I've given up or gained back in a circle. A lot of thermalling well is about feeling the "kind" of air you are in at any given moment, using the little features of the lift to beneficial effect. Some surges you might push out a bit in, others not, some things you feel might cause you to abruptly tighten in, while others will cause you to flatten. One of the hardest parts of thermaling is identifying lift that cannot be effectively climbed in, but rather is useful to extend your glide, it tends to be ratty, bumpy, and often found over cities. At first though, particularly on a single surface glider, if you are aerotowing in the flat lands, don't chase faster gliders around, cling onto the first lift you find and never leave until you absolutely have to, you'll maximize your airtime and your experience that way. A falcon is slow enough that with some wind you might find that once you leave a thermal upwind you might ride the sink associated with that same column all the way back to the ground.

[@MooSurfer]

Sound advice! Thank you Entelin.

[@rogermoore3468]

Nice hang I really enjoyed the ride

[@joshholmes6573]

Thank You for the video

[@UltraLigero1]

Nice! I thermal a Dragonfly Nano-trike. This is all helpful. You didn't mention the 'turning into the Wing being kicked up? The method I use a lot for first entering? Best gain so far 5,000' over a Town. My sink is obviously much higher, I generally don't turn in unless around 300' f.p.m.seen for a few seconds.

[@MooSurfer]

Hi Colin - sorry I missed your message. Turning into the lifting wing - good point. I will do another thermalling video at some point and will mention that, thank you. 5000' gain sounds great - especially on a trike! The amount of lift you turn in also depends on the conditions of the day - sometimes in the UK we don't get as much as 300fpm at all! But if you're in racing conditions, 300fpm may very much slow you down if the average for the day is 500fpm. All good ideas here for another video - thanks Colin!

[@HGAviator]

Darren, I caught an 1,800fpm thermal a few years ago at Crestline, CA. USA. I corkscrew the beast to 11,000' from 1,500'.

[@MooSurfer]

Thermals like that are AMAZING aren't they! when your vario just sings to you...

[@HGAviator]

@@MooSurfer yes indeed.

[@BlueMax333]

I have a love and hate relationship with the vario. Indispensable for soaring but the beeps can be irritating after some time. Wish they will fit a row of 10 green LEDs and some red ones. Then one has the option of switching off the beeper and use peripheral vision. Darren, I watch most of your videos. Thanks!

[@MooSurfer]

Thank you Job, I'm glad you like the videos :-) I know what you mean about the vario sound, although I particularly like mine. It's like music when it starts beeping fast at me - I think it's like Pavlov dogs - I associate it with going up and having fun! Though the downward beeping makes me depressed... ;-)

[@chestyoz9725]

Great video

[@peternicholson4417]

Wonderful, though I am now 72 and ground based, I re-lived the soaring moments. I remember the thermal coming from a monastery in Cyprus that carried the sound of people and the smell of food - though more height was preferable to the food. It was interesting flying withouth a vario relying on feel and luck, though most flying was ridge soaring at Curium. Happy days! But I remember at Curium in a sea breeze, clear sky mainly with very occasional small puffy clouds, but suddenly a sightly bigger cloud came in from the sea, great, I thought, get some thermal lift as well as the sea breeze lift. Suddenly this cloud emitted a flash of lightening, no kidding! The cloud was small and on its own and coming straight at me and I realised that it had a lot more lift than was safe (an understatement!!) I pulled in the bar to get down, no result, pulled until my muscles nearly popped, added a prayer or two, especially when I noticed vertical black lines dropping from the cloud, oh no rain lightening mega updraft - help. Eventually I landed just as the beast arrived and just had time to unclip and hide under the Demon hang glider when the storm shot its venom at me with a broadside of hailstones. I must add this to my ancient memories at peternicholson.uk Thanks for allowing me to relive the moments, great commentary in all your vidoes. Peter

[@MooSurfer]

That's a scary story Peter, the kind it's great to tell over a beer after a day of flying :-) I have a similar tale in a comp in France, where the task got cancelled because of approaching storms. As I landed at Annecy there was a big black cloud approaching and I actually caught the lightning on video as I was coming down. Moments after landing I was being helped by 3 others to hold my glider down in the barrage of rain and wind... Great times!! ;-)

[@peternicholson4417]

@@MooSurfer Thanks for replying. Let us both, and other fliers remember with respect the terrible accident in a competition in the alps, I think Italy, a long time ago when some fliers were sucked into a thunder cloud and at least one died and his body found frozen, I think one or more used their emergency parachute. Do you remember that incident?

[@MooSurfer]

@@peternicholson4417 the incident happened before I learned to fly, but I have heard about it yes. I think 7 pilots were sucked into the cloud though I'm no sure how many died. I also heard from someone who was there, apparently it was such a freak thunder cloud that pilots who were almost on the floor were sucked up.

[@Davidadventures]

Such a great video! Perhaps you can discuss "going over the falls" when your glider goes into a dive, headfirst or sideways when you get to the edge of a rowdy thermal. At places where I have flown, there is a tradition of pilots yelling "whack" at the top of their lungs when a fellow pilot's nose touches the ground on landing. It's very cathartic and builds community. 😁

[@MooSurfer]

Thank you David! When I first saw your comment I thought, well that doesn't happen much in the uk as we have weaker thermals. Then yesterday and the day before it happened to me loads and I thought about your comment. Especially in the mega conditions we had where I had a 15up climb and REALLY knew about it when I went over the falls! I'll add this to my list, thank you.

[@Davidadventures]

@@MooSurfer My flying has most often been in California. Perhaps with you association with Wills Wing, you've flown in Southern California or the Owen's Valley? Your videos are a great resource for new pilots and for everyone else to brush up using your knowledge and photographic skills. Keep up the great work. 👍 It was such a shame that your audio experiment on the tandem flight with your lady friend didn't work out. I was showing that to my girlfriend to get her interested in hang gliding. The conversation was similar to our rock climbing back and forth. Hopefully you will make a similar video with good sound.

[@MooSurfer]

@@Davidadventures thanks David - I'm afraid I've never been to California, though I do want to come. I particularly want to do a big flight in Owens Valley. My only flying in America so far has been a Wallaby Ranch, years ago. As for the tandem - perhaps I'll do more of that this year, though my main focus is cross country flying and competition.

[@Dreaming447]

Hi from ur Nhs girl😁watching with my boy ...stomach is in my mouth watching it ! He is fascinated 😁😁

[@MooSurfer]

Ha! Thanks for watching Caroline! I hope you both like it :-). It's the BEST fun in the world!!!

[@sotirpopov3533]

Nice Video Darren, really enjoyed it!

[@maxonthetrack]

Hi! i finally started high-altitude flying. My next challenge is going up. this video is very helpful

[@MooSurfer]

Good luck with that Max - thermalling is an art form in itself and you never stop learning. I'm glad I could help :-)

[@Dan-fc6gy]

keep em coming legend!

[@jeffjohnson4137]

Just started flying again after quitting in85 .64 yrs now,lost my pilots license because of heart attack, thanks for the teaching thermals,it has been awhile .

[@MooSurfer]

You're welcome Jeff - none of us ever stop learning.

[@MarkLoves2Fly]

Brilliant Flight! (>* I love the sound of a happy Vario!

[@MooSurfer]

It's hang-glider music isn't it!

[@andrewlabat9963]

What is the allowable ceiling where your at? In the States it's 17,999..

[@MooSurfer]

It's FL 195 in Europe

[@offimatrix4897]

lol 29:00 guy comes in at back to take a piss . Great flying adventure

[@MooSurfer]

Yeah he stole the show!

[@Phillijr100]

Great video! I wasn’t sure, until he started shaking. He was the shows finale ===D - - - -

[@maboyasa]

Hi Darren, hope you are well mate, i have been watching your video for past few days with my son now and we are absolutely loving them. I am thinking to join your adventurous world but may not be very soon due to my circumstances. I have a couple of questions for you if you don't mind answering them. 1. How do you deal with Air Pockets during the flight? 2. What are the arrangements for Emergency Landing? I.e do you carry a parachute etc. Thanks

[@MooSurfer]

Hi Ray, sorry I missed your message. To answer your questions - 1. 'Air pockets' are a bit of a myth that powered pilots talk about. There is actually no such thing as an air pocket. They are used to describe the movement of the air and to a powered pilot flying along in a straight line, it feels like a 'hole in the air' - hence the term air pocket. In actual fact it is this movement of the air that hangglider pilots use in order to stay up and to gain altitude. So when you see me talking about thermalling in my videos - an aircraft pilot flying through these thermals may well describe them as an 'air pocket'. 2. Emergency landing - yes I carry a parachute. You can see the red handle on my harness in some of the videos. In an emergency I would throw this parachute and it would bring both me and the hangglider down to the earth. I have been flying for 20 years now and haven't used it yet. Touch wood!

[@billtrue3017]

Brill darren,Whats gerolf pissing about with a drogue chute in that wind for landing ,Ps in view it was the worst landing compered to all you guys?

[@MooSurfer]

Yes... it was a bit naughty of me to show it - Gerolf normally has a perfect landing. I guess it just caught him out that time. It did give us all a bit of a chuckle though ;-)

[@maciejwolaniecki]

Admire your knowledge and enthusiasm. Great that you share it with the others. Just wondered how you manage to focus on competing while delivering your lecture to the KZbin audience :)

[@MooSurfer]

Have you seen my results?! Clearly I DON'T manage to focus on competing well enough ;-)

[@kavanaavealalo4906]

I need to know how I get involved in the process of gliding

[@edilbertosantana8307]

Thanks,Good video.

[@MrFalcon195]

Darren, Thanks for the video and helping other pilots by providing your experience. Few questions: Does the weight of a pilot play a role by thermalling? That is, does a heavier pilot climb less than a pilot who weighs less? OR are the thermals so powerful that a few pounds of weight difference does not play a big role?

[@MooSurfer]

The weight of the pilot is only relevant in relation to the size of the glider. A heavier pilot on a smaller wing will find it easier to make fast control movements and stay centred in the thermal. Though a lighter pilot on a larger wing may go up a little faster when they actually are centred. It's to do with wing loading.

[@ThomasDoubting5]

I got to say that beeping on the altermeter would get thrown straight away would sooner a visual one... Fitted in the bar. It's like being in an 80s arcade at 7 thousand feet..

[@TheTormhel]

There's already a visual indication but you can't look at it all the time, the audio is making it easier to find and use the thermals. The bar needs its strength, not a good idea to cut into it or storing the vario with the glider.

[@MooSurfer]

Tormod is 100% right Joshua - there IS a visual representation, but you're generally spending your time looking where you are going, especially in a competition when you are thermalling in close proximity to lots of other pilots. To be fair, the noise becomes like music to a hangglider pilot and we love it! Because it means we are going up.... :-)

[@whisperingeagle]

Darren i think i hit the like button before i even touched it.

[@MooSurfer]

That's the way to do it ;-)

[@gonzalorodriguez2873]

Muy impresionante ! Buen equipado ese piloto

[@philbrookman3126]

very inspirational vid

[@brentsmith5647]

Brilliant video thank u 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@MooSurfer]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kylewolfman]

Great video just like the rest

[@MooSurfer]

I'll try to keep more good ones coming...

[@Liger._King]

Hi Darren. What model of the Wills Wing glider is it that you used in this video? Is it the T3?

[@MooSurfer]

No, it's a T2C - not sure when / whether to change to a T3 - this glider is still going strong to be honest.

[@Liger._King]

Darren Brown Extreme Sports, I totally understand; it looks so durable. The T3 seems to be a rebadged name for the T2C because both look very similar on video. I checked out the price for T3 on Wills Wing. It's expensive - just over $8K.

[@Jolie_sailor]

Amazing This was my very first Fore into hand gliding. Its fascinating. When you say cross country can you actually cover long distances? Tnx for sharing.

[@MooSurfer]

Hi Chainanalyst - yes we do cover some distance in the cross country flights. My personal best is 202km from a site in Shropshire. The British record is 338km from Wales to Norfolk. In the competitions, the distances can range from anything around 30 / 40 miles up to 100 miles. It is dependant on the conditions of the day (bearing in mind we have no power but purely use the power of the sun) and is set by the meet director who aims to make it possible for at least some of the pilots to make the goal.

[@Jolie_sailor]

@@MooSurfer fantastic. Thanks and wish you safe flying.

[@antonzigando150]

@@MooSurfer so do you need to keep stopping to thermal on a long trip?

[@MooSurfer]

Yes that's right - I stop in a thermal to gain height, then glide further once I am high. During a glide I am losing height. Stopping in a thermal is a bit like refuelling your car!

[@bend1951]

The profile of a long flight resembles a sawtooth. Climb a thermal, glide out, climb again, etc.

[@estebainfernandez7503]

Thank You!!! YESSS Higher & Higher

[@clotildeogina9690]

Whats the place ? i dont found info bout that

[@MooSurfer]

The place is called Laragne Monteglin, in the south of France. Near to Sisteron.

[@clotildeogina9690]

@@MooSurfer thank u mate !! im going to start this (Magnific!!) sport : my next motirbike will be a hglider

[@clotildeogina9690]

@@MooSurfer (ok, the second one, first the fly training oc 😅) but truly i know All from years.. 😆

[@marinbros2882]

Tell me please from where I can buy Hang Gliding how can I get him????

[@MooSurfer]

That depends - where are you based?

[@marinbros2882]

@@MooSurfer I am in United Arabic Emirates Abudhabi city at the moment but accelly i am from Moldova

[@marinbros2882]

@@MooSurfer please (

[@marinbros2882]

@@MooSurfer Republic of Moldova

[@MooSurfer]

Ahh I don't know Moldova. The best thing is to get hanggliding lessons then your instructor will recommend the right hang-glider for you

[@kavanaavealalo4906]

Can I fly on the 6th of August my birthday 62 of ages

[@albertschrocker9995]

Darren, you are flying in short trousers. Do you fell the thermal better then? Stay high, greetings from Germany, Albert

[@MooSurfer]

Ha!! No it's just to stay cool!

[@webroamery4352]

Hi .. thanks Would you please speak with beginners? You are speaking the way experts like you would understand.. they understand you in every thing Should I know fro the broadcast news if there is thermal is happening?.. If I jump without thermal what would happen?.. when it is thermal wind should I face it or put my back to it... ETCETERA..

[@MooSurfer]

Sorry, I thought I was speaking with beginners but I'll try to make it a bit easier in the future. This video gave an explanation of how to use thermals when you are flying but it seems you want to know more about the planning and when is a good time to fly and find thermals. Is that right? Did the video explain well enough how to actually use a thermal whilst in the air or was there any of it that wasn't clear?

[@webroamery4352]

@@MooSurfer So highly thankful to you for your nice reply.. the video is so useful, it needs several times to hear to get more info despite the sounds of the winds around you there besides your English accent, and still needs more in scientific information to understand on how every physical factor would participate with other factors in the Hangglider lift process

[@kavanaavealalo4906]

Were to come and how much I paid I'm very interested in flying

[@MooSurfer]

It depends very much where you are in the world?

[@edilbertosantana8307]

The best SPORT. Simple how to fly.thanks GOD.

[@Liger._King]

I just spotted one of the guys just spraying the grass @ 29:03 mark. Lol!

[@MooSurfer]

I know! He stole the show right! I didn't notice that until later... his partner thought it was hilarious!

[@Liger._King]

Darren Brown Extreme Sports, typical photo bomb style. 😂

[@bigglestheflyboy]

At 29 mins Darren, is that one of your friends having a slash in the background????

[@MooSurfer]

He WAS one of my friends, until he hijacked my video with his antics! ;-)

[@super6-416]

I used to get dizzy when thermaling because of the lifts and descents. Do you feel sometimes like you are going to pass out during thermaling?

[@MooSurfer]

Hiya Super! No, I've never felt like I'm going to pass out during thermaling (that sounds rather scary!). I have felt sick one or two times in the past, but I put that down to dehydration at the end of long flights where I haven't drunk enough. A tip for dizziness is to keep looking in one direction and to focus on a static point.

[@super6-416]

@@MooSurfer Thank you, I think it is because dehydration, I forget to drink while flying. Good flights! Your video helps a lot in XC

[@skypix777]

9000 feet. Not two. Not three. Nine Thousand! Cool, thanks, a super video Darren. Question: I'm 76, started hg in 1974, been into and out of it over the years: aviation photographer/writer and LSA flying most recently. Last flew a Wills Sport 2 about 6 years ago. Didn't get really good at it but enough to gain 7K over Wallaby in Florida before I sold it and got into LSA flying. But now, the primal roots are calling me back. So here's the question. Are any of your flying mates my age or older? My body isn't what it used to be condition wise but I'm working to get back as much strength and endurance. One other question: is the T2C that much trickier to fly than a Sport 2, if you know? How does it tow? Do you need a vertical stab like the Sport 2 did? I was a hang 4 back in the day, rusty of course with launches and landings but have the confidence I could make a high launch and landing right now without even being in shape. Muscle memory confidence more than practical confidence I suppose. Anyway, wondering if you can share any info abou8t the senior set. thanks again, super to fly with you on this thermaling tip flight.

[@MooSurfer]

Hi James - thank you I'm glad you liked it! Hanggliding has a certain pull doesn't it - you just can't stop! I have a few hang-gliding friends in their 70s. Two fly competitively still - Johnny Carr and Trevor Birkbeck. You might be able to look them up on Facebook. I also knew a chap who was as old as the hills (must have been nearly 80). He only flew in smooth conditions, had 2 teeth and could barely see - When he took off everyone else landed! And when I learned to fly there was a guy on the course who was 60. I met him maybe 10 years later, we bumped into each other at Wallaby Ranch where it seems he was practically living! I have never flown the Sport 2 so can't really comment, however I can comment on going from a lower performance wing to the T2C. It is trickier to fly the T2C in a few ways - it requires less control input, but that input needs to be more precise. For example you need to co-ordinate pitch and roll for effective turns. Also the T2C needs a bit of speed to be able to instigate a turn, whereas many lower performance wings you can just mush them round fairly easily at low speed. The T2C tows very well indeed. I haven't experienced loads of yaw, but it's pretty straight and behind modern (slow) tugs it's really good. I'm not sure what you mean by a vertical stab? Is that an addition to the hang-glider or description of a control input? I would advise to make your first flights in benign conditions on your Sport 2. Spend time building back up those actual muscles and practical confidence. Gradually go into stronger conditions and only when you feel fully flying fit and current to consider changing to a higher performance glider. But from experience with my friends - I see no reason why you can't fly hang-gliders at 76 so long as you have a reasonable level of fitness and general good health. Good luck and keep me posted!

[@skypix777]

@@MooSurfer Hi Darren, well, my second post to you in the last month, I promise not to make it a habit...but this is a bit of a senior moment share I guess that won't keep... I just watched this super video on thermaling and thought, "Wow, this is some really helpful advice and tips, plus it's just fun to watch that youngster Darren back when he was a wee toddler 5 years ago ;-), tooling around high above the exceptional sharp ridge he launched from." Then I went to post, starting with, "9000 feet, woo hoo, fantastic..." and then I happened to glance down to an earlier comment someone made. That someone was me. Two years ago. And I started it off with the same comment! Doh! So there we have it. Weight shift senior moment. When I wrote that post 2 years ago, I had long since sold my Sport 2, alas. Two low-bank turns around the sun for old planet Earth since, I'm still hanging in with the hanging high mentality . I bought a La Mouette Alpha 16 super cheap in June (2023), a model I'd last flown in 1980 in competition (and loved it) and thought it would be a good way to ease back into it (since I"m now 78 and still counting). Alas, lots of problems getting a new set of downtubes made for it, replacing a LE tube that FedEx put a nasty dent in during shipment (the glider had one day total of flight time oin a training hill. It was a brand new Atlas from probably the 90s!) And then a cold/flu thing that shut down my plans for a final fall fling in Tennessee. So here it is now with yours truly watching videos including this corker on thermaliing you did a ways back, vicariously getting what I can't get here in person because, well, I'm 78 and in Massachusetts now it's lucky to get up to 40 degrees F during the day. Brrr. So your videos like this one keep me dreams alive until Spring, when I will take my new/old Atlas down to Lookout Mt. in Tennessee for a couple weeks refresher training, and see where I'm at. I can still run fast enough to launch in no wind. But can't seem to get myself to go to the gym this last two weeks . I blames it on Thanksgiving. But we both know the deeper truth - lazier as I get older. So next Spring, I'll give you an update from TN, or from the Great Beyond by way of a psychic medium. Firmly convinced of course it'll be the former. Thanks again Darren, this video (like all your others) is worth watching over and over. A wealth of knowledge and insight, so valuable. (PS: I do have a glider/motorglider rating and a fair amount of time in fixed wing aircraft so it's not out of the question, knee and hip joints nothwithstanding, that I could fly a T2C some day. It'll keep my dream of wings alive.)

[@MooSurfer]

@@skypix777wow! 78 and can still launch in nil wind - I know plenty of people in their 40's who can't do that! Or not well anyway. ;-) Glad you still like these videos - I want to do some more instructional ones like this. When my own senior moments and also opportunity give me the chance! I'll be interested to hear how you DO get on when you fly that Atlas. But you know - modern low performance wings are MUCH easier to fly than those old ones. And wings like the T2C are easier than you think too.

[@notanassassin1210]

ive heard of a 90* every 4 seconds to turn. does that sound legit?

[@MooSurfer]

I'm not quite sure what you mean?

[@reynettemcleroth2992]

Ps. Bruce McLeroth from South Africa. Haven't been flying for Many years, but now I really cant to do so again

[@MooSurfer]

I guess the missing word was 'wait'! ;-)

[@wightwalker2453]

Have you ever needed to deploy your parachute?

[@MooSurfer]

Thankfully no I haven't! Though I have practiced getting it out and throwing it in parachute re-packing sessions.

[@clotildeogina9690]

Marco sei italiano, di dove ?

[@MooSurfer]

Marco è tedesco ma vive in Austria

[@clotildeogina9690]

@@MooSurfer 🤦k , thank u

[@petrokemikal]

Cant help but wonder why nobody has came up with a frontal canopy or fairing around the pilot and bars , enough to reduce all the drag from bars, cables, pilot, instruments ect.. The drag from all that must be horrendous.. I get that its a low performance glider but none the less I'm sure with some fairings, you could slash a lot of drag and get decent performance..

[@MooSurfer]

Sorry for the delayed reply... a friend of mine did make something like that once - a fairing that went over his shoulders. Not quite as big as your idea, but similar. He looked like Buzz Lightyear!! it made no noticeable difference though.

[@adventureswitharizonaart6117]

When my up-o-meter beeps happy sounds I turn. Pretty simple really.

[@MooSurfer]

Easy peasy!!

[@foodini]

21:50 How high are you? I didn't quite catch that!

[@MooSurfer]

NINE Thousand feet! I loved it!

[@foodini]

@@MooSurfer Now, you're absolutely confident about that figure? I'd hate to leave any doubt or ambiguity here. =]

[@MooSurfer]

@@foodini well now you come to mention it, I'm not certain I was ABSOLUTELY clear in the video. Perhaps I should have lowered down a tape measure to be certain.... ;-)

[@jimfcarroll]

Thermalling tips!? Gah! When you want to go up, push out. When you want to go down, push out more. QED.

[@MooSurfer]

Ahhhhh why didn't I think of that!! Would have made for a very short video though ;-)

[@edilbertosantana8307]

With hangglider..paraglider..etc WE ARE POSSIBLE TO FLY TOO..AS A * * BIRD * * ...NOT TRUE????

[@MooSurfer]

That's exactly right - although we can't flap!

[@ericoschmitt]

29:30 shaking it

[@sammyl2071]

haha

[@michaelkrochmann7239]

Gravity sucks!

[@MooSurfer]

Downwards

[@edilbertosantana8307]

SAYING, WE CAN DO IT TOO...NO MATTER. ARE THEM ..BETTER THAN US???

[@MooSurfer]

I'm not sure what you mean?

[@edilbertosantana8307]

Excelent VIDEO. NICE EXPLAINED. I MEAN THE ( BIRDS ) . THE Birds can fly and we human it is possivel to fly with ...hanggliders...paraglider ..etcthat is what I mean!

[@BD_Ozarks]

Test

[@Hobi_gambar]

supermen ... hi ...supermen

[@edilbertosantana8307]

"" BIRDS CAN DO....se CAN DO TO "" Birds NEVER HAVE BEEN STUDYING ..AT FLYING SCHOOL.

[@oakmanor]

good flying at 9000 ft

[@edilbertosantana8307]

I mean the Birds are better than us ??? A person ? It is easy .just use .hangglider, paraglider,etc.

[@MooSurfer]

The birds get more practice than us...