Exciting Glider Final Glide With a Mountain In the Way

[@cj54car]

WOW ! My dad is near death now, was a glider pilot here in Australia....Ive been showing him your videos and the 'smile' on his face is priceless !!! He is remembering, and still flying with you in the moment! Your posts made one old pilot "incredibly happy" . Thankyou Bruno.

[@BrunoVassel]

So sorry to hear about your dad but I'm glad that he can enjoy these videos. Best of luck for your family.

[@DorsetDroneDude]

I had to quit gliding 23 years ago due to family and work. I am finally in a position to start again and your videos have been an inspiration. Thanks very much and happy flying:-)

[@dmt3339]

That last thermal under the cloud was epic!

[@BrunoVassel]

No joke! It seriously just kept going on forever. I gained 1400 feet in the thermal and then when I pushed the nose down to regain my airspeed as I was flying before entering the thermal, I was still 1000 ft higher than when I entered it. That was a monster whale of a thermal for sure! I have found that near the end of the day when the clouds are disappearing and the sky turning blue, any remaining new small clouds sure seem to be strong lift. Thanks for watching, Bruno

[@kevingallineauii9353]

@@BrunoVassel I was watching your altimeter. I am not a pilot but it was fun to see that hand turn clockwise. I knew you had found a good one (I assume one complete rotation of the big hand is 1000 feet?).

[@benjaminedwards3086]

@@kevingallineauii9353 yes, you assumed correctly.

[@greigglover1]

Fantastic video Bruno! The pass through the mountains was exciting to watch. Thanks for sharing.

[@BrunoVassel]

Thanks for watching!

[@MarcoNierop]

I love final glides! Especially if you can push it in the yellow band ;-) Clearly you know these mountains and knew exactly what was ahead of you.. I would have gone around it for sure!

[@IsleofMull2011]

Truly marvellous.... so much skill and fun involved..... loved the cheesy grin to camera at the end.... showed that flight must be up there in your top 5.... 😎😎😎

[@aslv2009]

Awesome video as usual. Thank you very much for sharing. Please keep posting.

[@RiDankulous]

I heard the real daredevil glider pilots have green marks on their wings from nicking the tree tops. j/k, but that was super cool! I'm glad to watch someone having fun and seeing beautiful terrain.

[@Robbo1966]

watched this before, good to watch again, a close call but great to pull off

[@Auntcankles]

Love that last look into the camera lense at the finish of this video. No words needed lol, nice finish haha!

[@49yt]

Your videos are amazing. Thanks so much for sharing them. One of my favorite things to watch on KZbin. I did some sailplane flying but entirely with an instructor about 18 years ago.

[@BrunoVassel]

So glad you are enjoying them!

[@toramorama]

I watched this before, but never truly appreciated it until now. Am literally reading "Breaking The Apron Strings" this week but wow.

[@noversibirsk]

Amazing video Bruno, I just flew your exact rout in Flight simulator with realistic scenery and soaring addons, what a rush!

[@mikebreen2890]

Your videos are always a pleasure. Thank you!

[@BrunoVassel]

Thanks for taking the time to watch!

[@MarkMash17]

fantastic landing getting the distance spot on at the end!!

[@Rando104854]

That looks like so much fun!!! Awesome video as always Brovo 4. Please keep them coming.

[@portlyoldman]

Bruno, you've convinced me to go on a gliding course in October. I've done quite a bit of power flying and a little gliding as a youngster but I can't wait to get even a tiny bit of the pleasure you clearly get from gliding 😀 I think we have similar gliding conditions here near cape town as you have there!

[@rogeratygc7895]

In 1976 I flew at Barragwanath near Johannesburg, and often had to stop climbing at 12,000 feet because of controlled airspace. I have never experienced such thermals elsewhere. Of course you are a way further South, but if you have lift half as strong you will have fun.

[@JRStiles]

Scary, I admire your courage, love the enthusiasm. Do take care.

[@ScottGaul]

The mountain pass was fun - nice Bush Pilot video. :-)

[@RickardEB]

Thank you for another nice video. I really like your landings, more of those please. In one of your older videos I think you had your speed, altitude and climb. It wold be nice if you had the possibility to put it in your videos some more. I cant read your instruments on my computer.

[@richnfamous59]

at one point I stopped the vid and made sure there was nothing about crashing in the description! great video... !

[@BrunoVassel]

Haha - funny. I guess we are both glad I made it. :) Thanks for watching.

[@jorgekb9313]

one of your best videos, congrats!!

[@lorentzinvariant7348]

Another great video Bruno! Scraping the deck over that mountain was epic. Would love to see what came before if possible.

[@BrunoVassel]

What came before is some epic scraping of another mountain range that I am planning on releasing in the next few weeks. I have to space out my video releases since only so many flights have anything interesting to share. :)

[@lorentzinvariant7348]

Actually Bruno My favorite videos are the ones from takeoff to landing. For example on the 100+ mile flight through the mountains video, I really liked to watch your tactics for initially getting up then jumping from ridge to ridge and eventually making it to the wassach range. The flight through the canyons was fun as this one is as well, but, how you got there was fascinating. The journey back home was just as interesting. I have watched it several times.

[@brettsgalaxyvids]

Another Great Vid Bruno. I get such a kick out of flying along with you! I wish someday I actually could! Brett

[@BrunoVassel]

Hey Brett, get yourself out here to Utah some day and maybe we can arrange for a flight...

[@brettsgalaxyvids]

I may actually make that happen. I drove by Nephi a while ago and actually got really excited thinking about "this is where it all happens on the videos". It was like visiting Hollywood....hahaha. My wife and I retired and live 100% in our RV and travel around.....arranging a flight with you would be a very real prospect! Is there a club there I should contact?

[@BrunoVassel]

Haha - Nephi is an amazing place to fly but if you blink while driving up I-15 you might miss it. Our club doesn't really do rides for the public so just look me up. My contact info is not hidden in the least bit. Enjoy that RV living!

[@brettsgalaxyvids]

Thanks Bruno!! I will look you up sometime and make some serious plans if you are up for it?!?! Just remember my name so you dont think I am some wierdo internet stalker. It would be an incredible experience to fly with someone of your skill. Thanks so much for your offer.

[@emotodude]

Awesome video as always! You should try doing a Hyperlapse of one of your longer flights :)

[@JakeBullit123]

Great ride through the mountains.

[@WORRO]

Very nice!

[@andrewcullum7097]

Hmm being a complete coward, I would have taken the climb for probably around another 1500 feet at least!!

[@justinorourke6852]

Hi Bruno Just well done I hoped y enjoyed y full day glide y Justin

[@dewboy13]

Sketchy man. Great job!

[@spadgm]

That was superb, how could anyone thumbs down that vid!

[@darrylldodson6623]

I sure hope you knew exactly what you were doing from 6:30-7:40 through that pass!!!! I hope to see a lot more new videos next year.

[@SoaringMidlo]

You make it look too easy. Greased that landing too. Well done.

[@BrunoVassel]

:) thanks!

[@MarcoNierop]

Looking at the OLC, going north around the mountain range would not have been that much slower... maybe even faster because you would not need to hold back to get over the top... But this was more fun...of course! :-D

[@BrunoVassel]

I thought about that too. However, going around to the north would have put me in the lee side sink area of that mountain. Don't know how that would have had an effect on things. It would likely have been pretty bouncy.

[@florians.-sz.785]

If he hadn't been moving the stick continuously, he'd've probably been 50 meters higher over that mountain. Every stick movement is energy down the drain. Sometimes you don't notice it counts. But sometimes these little things make you land out.

[@7robertb]

love it. my nervs wouldn't survive the situation ...

[@babaone23]

Love watching your videos - great stuff :-)

[@BrunoVassel]

Thanks for coming along on the flight.

[@markjt193]

Nice reaction after the pucker-moment ... Any more videos from the OLC Games? Please ;)

[@BrunoVassel]

Happy to say I have a few more decent videos I think I can pull out of the raw footage I took. Thanks for asking! :) Bruno

[@samuelsmith6573]

We walk (Soar) by faith and not by sight seems to work for you man! Lol!

[@luismiguelmarques6584]

Had been missing your videos.

[@Greg-fs8np]

When you got some lift before the mountain, what about doing a couple of turns to get some more altitude margin? That was awfully close going over that mountain. If you ran into any substantial sink, that would have been very bad.

[@Vulporium]

wonderful, loved it.

[@sipplix]

That gave me goosebumps😳👍

[@NeonsStyleHD]

Awesome. That landing was beautifully judged. You should render these at 1440p or 4k. You don't have to record at that to use 4k. You can just render to it, and it means those who can stream it, will get a higher bit depth, and thus much better quality of your video. The sort of videos you do, work beautifully at 4k, or at least 1440p

[@c.s.thorogood203]

Bruno; Having made more then one of this type of approach back in the 70's, I can tell you they all do not turn out this good. Sometimes commonsense needs to be a bit more incorporated into the equation. There is sometimes that unseen, unknown that can and does get costly. I can tell you from first hand experience that those high mountain roads are not that smooth and quite frankly are real costly. Margins for error at that altitude,enviroment are practically nil. Thanks for all of the great videos. I like your flying, but be SAFE. Cary Original Janus N714L

[@mb2308]

I enjoyed this video......badass!!!

[@onthemoney7237]

Looked like you were fly in a wing suit for a little while lol

[@DumbledoreMcCracken]

My favorite flying videos are yours. Wishing you puffy Cus. Would a low pass fiter help with the video's sonic ambiance?

[@BrunoVassel]

Thanks for watching. Actually, my canopy was not well sealed on this video and a few of my other recent videos. My last flight I think I finally was able to dial in the sealing foam on the canopy so it will be much more quiet. Fingers crossed.

[@Jim610]

Hi Bruno I have watched many of your videos and I notice your camera is mounted on the inside of the canopy with a suction mount.I have as ASW24 and I have tried the same but find the canopy curvature prevents the seal forming. How did you overcome that? Which mount do you use? Regards Jim

[@NodaxWoW]

Jim610 i would like to know that too^^

[@BrunoVassel]

Hey Jim and Randy - happy to share my mount. Purchased it from Amazon for not too much. I like how adjustable it is and it seems to hold well to my canopy at least where I place it just over and behind my shoulder. Please make sure to share your videos too! :) Here's the short link: Link: a.co/6SUOL6b

[@Jim610]

Thanks for the info Bruno. I've already got one of those and can't get it to seal! Guess I need to try harder. My videos, from northern England, won't be as spectacular as where you fly! 0.5-1 kt climbs to 3000':(

[@DNModels]

Still it will be fun to watch Jim! I would go for it!

[@antigoon78]

Hi Jim, I use the GoPro Jaws. In most of our club's aircraft I can find a spot to mount it on. (21, Twin, 23, LS4, Janus) Advantage over a suction mount is that it does not leave nasty marks.

[@RiDankulous]

I exercise with a stationary bike. Wouldn't it be cool to have pedals in the plane to get exercise while you fly? That's a crazy thought, I know, but it's so many hours, and why waste time up there if you can burn some calories too! I do realize you have foot pedal controls, though. Might be a way around that, though.

[@danieln6356]

So cool

[@MontyWolf]

Didn't know you fancied being an arborist.

[@BrunoVassel]

No kidding my friend :)

[@jgmendes3664]

This was cool !

[@steverpcb]

Another great video, have you considered a visit to the UK ?

[@BrunoVassel]

My wife and I love the UK - we actually have talked about spending 3-4 months per year there during our retirement. Cheers, Bruno

[@paulthomas1165]

Nice!

[@SceneArtisan]

Hey, Bruno,.. I'm sorry if we sometimes seem to be asking for a lot from you; what with my idea for on-screen real-time telemetry and others asking you about cameras, take-offs, landings, instruments etc etc - but.... *BUT*.. forgive me,.. what about having a wide-angle camera fixed to the underside of the fuselage, (or wouldn't that be allowed due to regulations etc?), pointed down, forward at 45 degrees? Doable? Loving your videos as always. Have fun, stay safe. :)

[@BrunoVassel]

Haha - it's all good. It is possible but you have to remember that drag on a glider creates the penalty of slow speeds when you are racing. I bet a camera like that over the length of my entire flight would have caused the cross country speed to be 2-3 miles per hour slower. Also, at the end of this video I was pushing 160+ mph and I am not sure the thing would have stayed on at those speeds. I'd love to use different cameras and have cool editing...the reality is, I just take up a camera when I fly my glider and if something seems interesting in the flight I share it with everyone. :) Best, Bruno

[@SceneArtisan]

:) Thanks for the prompt response! :) Ok, yes, that sounds like it'd be a problem; if I was out to set a record, I'd want the craft to be as streamlined as possible - so, point duly taken. :) Have a good evening, thanks for responding. :)

[@DavidHurst78]

Brave! 7:40, a little more curl over there and the trees would have had a trim. You must know the terrain very well.

[@augustin9270]

Hi Bruno ! I've been watching your videos for many years now (big fan). Watching you flying in those mountains is really impressive. I have only flown gliders over the plain and I was wondering if you had considered using a 360° camera for your next flights? Sometimes I wish the angle was wider so we could see more of the valleys around and understand your choices better, like where could you go if you don't find lift, etc. All the best for your next flights, your commentary helps a ton. François

[@NGC1433]

Thanks for your fantastic videos, Bruno! I really appreciate them. I have a lot of fun watching and learn a lot too. I have a request though. Could you please make a "walkaround" on that combined vario-glide instrument you have on the left of the panel? I'm a paraglider pilot who is quite stumped by finding exactly zero info on McCready calculations on entire youtube. Unfortunately I'm too thick to wrap my mind around it on my own... Also, returning to this particular video and your decision making, do you jettison your balls before landing?

[@NGC1433]

By the way, there is a point in the track, where it shows 4 meters AGL... Thats 12 feet...

[@regressmenot]

Fun video as always, nice landing. Hows the weight loss going? Still a tight fit into the cockpit?

[@BrunoVassel]

Still hitting the gym most mornings but I guess the eating that follows isn't helping... ;) Thanks for watching.

[@georgewhite4537]

Bruno Vassel How did you mount your GoPro's to get the really cool shots, especially the shot over the shoulder?

[@BrunoVassel]

Simple suction cup mount over shoulder attached to canopy.

[@Austinflank]

I've been trying to figure out, thought I would just ask. Your audible climb rate is pretty neat, but what do those 4 numbers in the column of the display indicate?

[@wolfgangbeginners-mind2853]

Ya that woke me Up!

[@johnayres2303]

This might be a stupid question ( I am not a pilot) but can you fly that close to a mountain top because you have excess speed that you can convert to more height quickly if needed?

[@LooneyJuice]

Hey Bruno, thanks for the video. Just in case you come across this, what was the thought process behind this? Don't get me wrong, I don't want to be that guy, whether it's safe or not is entirely how you judge it to be. That being said, wide angle lenses make things appear farther away than they actually are, which means that the low point after the ridge line was indeed very low. I know you're familiar with the topography and how the place develops over the course of a given day, and I know you are way more experienced than I could ever be at this point, but that looked pretty marginal to my eyes. And that was with the tiny bit of lift you got off the ridge line as well. Care to elaborate regarding how you made the leap to "I'm going over the mountain"?

[@BrunoVassel]

Great questions and I'm happy to explain. While this video was thrilling to make and fun to watch, it actually was no where near as dramatic in reality than it looks. Why? When I was down low right over the tree tops you need to take a look at my indicated air speed. It was around 90 knots. My ship was also still filled with water in the wings so I was really heavy. Why is that important? I had a TON of potential kinetic energy stored up that if I pulled back on the stick, I could easily climb 700+ feet before getting to stall speeds. It was no where near the edge. My life is worth way more than dangling it on the edge. Hope that helps to paint a better and more accurate picture. Thanks for watching and asking! Bruno

[@LooneyJuice]

Thanks for the reply, Bruno. The speed makes sense coupled with the glide ratio of the ASW, but the water ballast made it click. That is indeed a lot of stored energy. I sort of forgot about that seeing as it's not something I've experienced often. And with a margin like that along with wanting to maintain a task speed, I can see it now. Thanks a lot for elaborating on the process, makes these videos that much sweeter. Marc

[@jean-michellamarre8008]

I agree with the air speed argument. But ballast or no ballast changes nothing to the height margin you get from a given air speed. More ballast means more energy per 100 feet climb, which exactly compensates the additional kinetic energy it gives.

[@skysurfer5333]

Don't Ya Just Love Those Will I Or Won't I Make It Flights?!

[@ralphmelbourneaustralia5836]

Another gripping video. Yup, this one had my anxiety levels quite revved up, but knowing you obviously scraped in I was wondering which part of that mountain range you were actually going for, and what contingency plan you would use if you had to... It was really close - Just made it by a bee's dick!

[@SuperReasonable]

I would have taken 3 or 4 turns in the strong lift and flown home at speed...

[@jimarcher2899]

Love your videos. Looks like you have about 75 kts through the saddle? I'd prefer you have 95 next time please ;) Seriously though, it's not worth it, lots of glider pilots have hit the dirt in the mountains... You seem like a nice guy, you should stick around :) Besides, I wonder if you would have gone faster by circling in the big thermal en route. I didn't do the math but since the lift was so strong my guess is yes. Climb looked like 8 kts at least, circle and enter 8 macready and climb till computer says 0 altitude required? 8 macready speed to fly might be over VNE though...

[@BrunoVassel]

Thanks for the kind words. You had a me a little worried so I went back and watched the saddle part. The video is hard to see clearly but I know the spots on my airspeed. I was in the high 80's bumping up on 90 going through the saddle. 75 would be too slow - agreed so it wasn't as bad as it first looked. I wish the video was even more clear so it was easier to read the panel instruments. I don't think I am invincible, and I really am not planning on biting it in the mountains in my glider. I know no one plans on having a problem. I just really don't want to! :) Again, thanks for sharing and caring. Best, Bruno

[@jimarcher2899]

Naw, 90 is good. And I'm sure you know what you are doing better than I, but it is worth double checking. Keep posting the great videos, Bruno. I hope to make it to Nephi/OLC eventually. Cheers.

[@Baconator033]

what is the complete cost of getting a glider, training, ect i have looked it up and it says 2000 to 3000

[@BrunoVassel]

Yeah - that cost sounds about right. Totally worth it!

[@Baconator033]

howdy, im back 1 year later, and ive been gliding alot now. i is worth it!!! @@BrunoVassel

[@dLoLe]

2:20 too cool to do circling

[@wiley0714]

My God. You can fly. You put that glider down softer than a bowling ball. I haven't been privy to watch many of your videos. I wanted to ask if you can talk more about the "yaw" string, I think it's called on the window of the canopy, and how it works on the glider? Also what are the red and white tabs on both sides of the canopy for?

[@Vulporium]

White is to release hatch to open it, red is jettison canopy off of the aircraft. Not sure about the yaw string thing you mention though.

[@lautoka63]

The yaw string is a highly effective, cheap and important piece of gliding technology. It's just that (though woollen): if it's aligned with the centreline of the canopy, it tells you that the glider is flying with both wings meeting the airflow at the same angle. If it's off to one side or the other, the glider is either skidding or slipping (flying slightly sideways) and hence incurring drag. Does that help, or have I confused you more?

[@mkcnz]

Hey Bruno, what sunglasses do you fly with?

[@BrunoVassel]

They are kinda dorky looking when not flying, but they are Serengeti sun glasses - non polarized. They really help to make the clouds pop.

[@rnzoli]

Did he land or crash? I had to stop watching at 7:38, it was just too much scary.

[@dinos8557]

That video sucked.....................especially the thermal prior to crossing the mountain, 1400' traversing a thermal. That is serious cloud suck. Even I could have found lift in that thermal. I couldn't believe how wide it was. As always you posted a great video. I hope the opening three words in my post are not taken wrong. Dino S

[@BrunoVassel]

Haha- love it! :) Thanks for watching and for commenting. It truly was really surprising just how freakin wide that thermal was. I totally did not expect that! Cheers, Bruno

[@glider1157]

Not for me. Way too low...