Glider Playing with the clouds

Wonderful spot for gliding and skies of Rieti - Italy
August 2016: International gliding Championships " CoppaCittà di Rieti"
Competitor during the race plays with cumulus.
Approximately 4,000 meters and enjoys the spectacle of thermo - waves
Wind: southwest 25 knots

[@alvarodeorleans-borbon4516]

As the pilot who actually made the video, I can offer a few details:1. The video was taken with a handheld iPhone 62. The flight was within a restricted area reserved for gliding3. No cloud penetration occurred at any moment; the pilot has a cloud flying rating for gliders but it is not valid in Italy4. The flight path was chosen to descend rapidly after a wave flight above the clouds; it was not a competition flight5. Gliders flying in that area carry an anti-collision warning device (a "FLARM")6. The flight was aeronautically normal, no unusual attitudes or abnormal g-forces.7. The main risk, if any, could have been caused by the distraction of the beautiful surrounding clouds.

[@EneriGiilaan]

Thanks for the clarification.

[@ijnfrt]

How long does it take one to learn how to fly one of these things? To be honest, this seems like way more fun to me than flying a regular plane

[@BillPalmer]

ijnfrt if you have previous aircraft experience it’s much shorter, but no previous experience is required. There are clubs and commercial glider operations nearly worldwide where you can learn. If you’re in the US go to ssa.org and click on the FAST (fly a sailplane today) link to find locations.

[@oskarniessen7493]

@@ijnfrt it depends on how regularly you fly, you're age and just natural ability. For most people it takes between 50-120 winch launches to go solo, which could be done in a few months if you fly regularly. If you're not based in Europe you'll probably learn by aerotowing, and I have no idea how long it then takes to learn....this kind of flying (wave) is only really carried out by much more experienced pilots with many hundreds of hours gliding, so realistically it will take years to get to this kind of stuff, but even normal old flatland gliding is a heck of a lot of fun, and yes, it is much more fun to fly gliders than normal planes 😉

[@ijnfrt]

Thanks for responses you guys! I’m form Eastern Europe (Ukraine specifically), I have zero flying experience, but for whatever reason KZbin suggested me one of these videos, I’ve been hooked ever since. I’m 26 years old that’s not too old, right?

[@LivingWellLifeHacks]

When I was a child I spent hours watching the clouds and high-flying hawks, wishing I could be up there among them. Now, thanks to you, I have gotten to experience some of what I dreamed of. Just amazing. Thanks for posting!

[@ewthmatth]

Check out paramotoring videos too. They motor up to the cloud tops then drift around, gliding much more slowly and peacefully than sailplanes. Tucker Gott's channel is the one I know.

[@thepilotF]

This is my dream since my childhood...and I am getting closer to it. License ready, just need to be lucky enough to have such nice weather. Nice video. I like it!

[@mauritsvanderpol7415]

Ádám Fülöp hahaha exactly in the same situation at this very moment

[@davidroberts1852]

Ádám Fülöp come to Australia for the perfect weather

[@ElSusurradorDeTermicas]

Me too :)

[@obeyconformtoday829]

Ádám Fülöp license? Just do it.. dont let them slow ya down man

[@Romytus]

What type of license do you need for this PPL maybe?

[@IksinskiTomek]

I also made my fly dreams come true and had pleasure to fly like this around clouds in gliders, airplanes and as skydiver :)

[@flugspassorg]

Playing with clouds is so much fun - for me one of the best things about flying. Great video! Always happy landings!

[@julianreynolds9076]

I absolutely love that sort of flying! Phone camera HD has come such a long way in recent years to be able to capture such clear footage.

[@pilote768]

Absolutely amazing !

[@jimmygadd]

This is one of the best glider video i have watched. Pls do more.

[@Mysemantics]

After watching hundreds of videos, this one is my favorite cloud-skirting one by far. Nice piloting and videography. Looks like wave clouds above you.

[@gettingpast4391]

Only got to do this once when I did a very high tow above the clouds and had no choice but to find a hole to get back down. I did it quickly but it was amazing.

[@piggypiggypig1746]

I could watch this all day.

[@thewayfaringanarchists8157]

Dude, this is absolutely epic, thank you

[@aehsrose]

To Whitefields5595 - Glider pilots of this level are amongst the most skilled aviators in the world!! Commercial traffic would never be flying in open airspace (especially in cloud) and most GA pilot's would not have the skills to fly there either. This glider pilot's most dangerous part to his flight was the take off and landing. Know your facts before you make a stupid comment on what is a superb video.

[@sezio47]

Speaking of high altitude glider flights, I advise everyone to see the following video, they too think like me when I did that flight, they had certainly asked permission from the airspot controllers. Unfortunately, there are pilots who would like the sky to be all their own

[@sezio47]

Thanks Austin, you understand the philosophy of the video and the spirit of this flight. Speaking of high altitude glider flights, I advise everyone to see the following video, they too think like me when I did that flight, they had certainly asked permission from the airspot controllers. Unfortunately, there are pilots who would like the sky to be all their own

[@sezio47]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hGTTpGtmncubaNk

[@sezio47]

Thanks Austin, you understand the philosophy of the video and the spirit of this flight.

[@darkgael0]

I enjoyed the video. Was impressed by the ease with which the pilot negotiated the canyons of cloud. I must admit that I wondered about the safety ...even of a skilled pilot. Then I thought “he is in Europe; the rules are different. In the USA, that flight would’ve been illegal as we are mandated to stay 500 ft (at a minimum) from clouds.

[@WORRO]

Just amazing! Thumbs up for sure!~John

[@valpuiatlawmte3691]

Looks awesome

[@AnilJacobs]

Mesmerising, absolute beauty. Thanks!

[@artinpoetsoulnature]

Really wonderful video! Hello friend! How are you! I'm very glad to get your video! Thanks a lot for sharing have a nice day! See you soon again!

[@mmkvhornet7522]

Amazing

[@interstateeddietv8551]

That view!!! I love it...

[@logicturtle9838]

Beautiful. Incredibly dangerous flying. Hope he was equipped with an attitude indicator.

[@sezio47]

Thanks Kevin .. Definitely yes, I also had access to flight altitudes

[@Hordalending]

My heart almost burst by just looking at this

[@tenderthoughts]

Reminds me of Wing Suit flying through canyons.

[@maumenyou]

Bellissimo! ...io avrei fatto la stessa cosa: abbandonare la gara o il tema e rimanere li a giocare con le nuvole! ;-)

[@maximerotelle]

So amazing moment ! I hope be with you !!

[@MissCV]

Wow!!!

[@sklajban]

Nice one!

[@imranriazkhanpakistani]

it would be lovely if you upoad the full video

[@lucywucyyy]

man thats pretty

[@jeroenjansen2709]

I want to do this

[@skyhigh776]

Hmm, VFR...

[@FlyingFitMe]

It is ok if you got the license to do it ;)

[@Leono-qm4kq]

@@FlyingFitMe I think it depends. In Poland I can't fly so close to clouds but it's exception; when you're gliding on wave you sometimes have to fly near the clouds and even in clouds, so you can do it but if you fly IN clouds, you should exit them as fast as you can. In normal flying we have the law, which says that you have to "be beyond and far away from clouds" in VFR. Although in other countries the law is different.

[@FlyingFitMe]

@@Leono-qm4kq you can only fly through clouds if you have a artifical horizon. Second yes it depends on the country and the airspace in which your in. I believe in wave sectors youre good to go

[@skysurfer5333]

That Is Just Plane Fun!!

[@azizzen4217]

very nice video

[@flyferdi]

Fantastico

[@lw216316]

The sky had such a deep blue.....what altitude was this ?

[@lw216316]

perhaps it was a filter on the camera or tint on the canopy.... the sky at points had a deeper blue seen at very high altitudes ....such a beautiful video

[@rossclements8874]

description says 4000 meters

[@henrikgormsen1020]

Altimeter says 4000m at 0:34

[@sokolman33]

The best eeeaavaaaa........fac.....

[@sezio47]

thank Sokolman

[@sezio47]

Thank you Sokol man

[@lucywucyyy]

what altitude was this?

[@cabdolla]

Yeeee ha nice !!

[@-IsleOfSkye-]

What about airplanes how you know they will not strike you?

[@rogerajohn8193]

I think your video is absolutely spectacular. I recently composed an instrumental music track that I would like to accompany some of your video and share privately. Not sure if that is ok but hopefully you’ll agree. Happy gliding, what an experience it would be.

[@barssavas9938]

What was the number on altimeter when you first started the video? Thank you because I wonder it so much

[@sezio47]

Ciao Baris: Altimeters Approximately 4.200 meters

[@barssavas9938]

Ezio Sarti I remember that if you are flying above 14000 ft (4200 meters) you should use oxgyen mask according to my experience . Am I right? I am asking because I had flew with planes

[@EneriGiilaan]

@@barssavas9938 I think the periodic 'sniffing' sound comes from inhaling oxygen - not using mask - but through nasal cannulas.

[@ZidaneTribal]

Небесные горы

[@fritagogo1]

? fun competition ! About other Gliders or Plane ? Radar competition !

[@ewthmatth]

Turn off the camera horizon stabilization. We want to bank with the glider. More immersive ;)

[@itsjustme4026]

Who says that there is no heaven?

[@Chris-pr7qo]

pretty high in altitude to be flying a glider yeah?? Lol

[@muhammadhusin4717]

:')

[@whitefields5595]

When flying it is your duty to see and be seen. Had another aircraft been flying under VFR near the clouds a collision would have been possible. Also was the pilot qualified to IFR just in case a sudden change put him in the clouds? I doubt it as if he were he would not have been doing something so irresponsible.

[@sezio47]

Notam in this Area for gliding activity. Ti be Clair

[@EneriGiilaan]

Cloud flying (near, among and inside) by sailplanes is quite legal in at least most of the European countries - there are rules and regulations to be followed - but I see no indication in the video that any of those rules are breached.

[@Barrawitzkaa]

What do you mean "quite legal in most european countries"? This is a VMC under VFR. These rules are valid worldwide. And you are definitly not allowed to touch or enter clouds and you have to maintain certain distances to them. Makes sense too: 1. Imagine a second glider or IFR craft doing the same 2. Entering clouds means you can not maintain speed, heading etc. but you may certainly loose control if not IFR equipped + licensed. However - great pictures!!

[@EneriGiilaan]

All your concerns are valid of course - that is why the activity is regulated. Regarding the international rules - it seems that they have some margin for national interpretation/implementation. I can speak only about Finland - but I assume the rules are similar in other European countries that allow 'cloud flying'. The basis is the national implementation of the SERA (Standardized European Rules of the Air). Here is an article (from 2016) about the renewed rules (effective since 2014) - written by a person from TRAFI (Finnish Transport Safety Agency). It is in Finnish but below are some main points in English. siivet.fi/harrasteilmailu/pilvilentosaannot-ovat-muuttuneet-nain-toimitaan-jatkossa/ Header: CLOUD FLYING RULES HAVE CHANGED - HERE IS HOW TO CONDUCT FROM NOW ON Some relevant topics from the text: a) cloud flying requires that the plane is equipped for cloudflying (e.g., turn indicator) b) pilot must have been trained for cloud/instrument flying. c) this pertains to uncontrolled air space (codes F or G) In the end there is a list combining both the exact rules and 'good airmanship': 1) ask for the activation of a danger zone for the cloud flying activities. 2) before entering a cloud, monitor other planes and radio traffic, in order to know that the cloud you select is free. 3) announce the cloud entry with radio. 4) before exceeding FL 95 ask for permission from the regional air traffic control (with phone or radio) 5) announce the cloud exit with radio. As a bonus - here is a link to a Finnish glider pilot cloud flying with his daughter (notice how he switches the turn indicator on at about 0:13): kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZepZnmjh5l2i68

[@Barrawitzkaa]

... thanks for the link + explanation. To be honest I quitted glider flying few years ago and if this is a current change I do not know it .... But as I went through the regulations: This is veeeery close to IFR, "Trained to Instrument flight" ... is no clear view in my opinion. Does it means ist IFR licensed or does it mean the Pilot has heard about how to do it :-) Furthermore a turn indicator (even a turn coordinator) won´t equal an artificial horizon essentiell for IFR flight. On the other hand - it´s surely no problem to maintain all parameters that keep you in the air for a few seconds under "IFR". Finally: If it is an european regulation it surely can be interpreted in minimum 100 ways :-). And most important: Glider flying ist still one of the finest things to do at all. These pictures proof it!

[@fernandotoledo6398]

Con dedo ya la arruinaste

[@kuglerfamily4217]

For legal VFR you have to see the ground

[@EneriGiilaan]

Well yes ... but I think the operative term here is IMC. In many European countries at least there are rules for gliders to fly among or even in the clouds. When those rules are followed it is quite legal.