Hang glider pilot descending Italian mountain looks like a video game | Extreme Sports 2020

Professional hang glider pilot Wolfgang Siess from Tirol, Austria, has used a special camera to document his eight-minute descent from approximately 1,400 metres atop Monte Zoncoloan in northern Italy.
Footage shows Siess take off from the top of the mountain on his speed run, where he weaves in and out of hillsides and trees.
If the immediate terrain wasn't enough of a challenge, Siess dodges cablecars that run across the hillsides.
Despite the terrifying nature of the descent, Siess makes his way down safely, while experiencing breathtaking scenery around Monte Zoncolan.
Siess told Newsflare: "This run is so long, eight minutes from top to bottom.
"When you fly full speed and the terrain is just perfect for speed flying [there are] so many spots were you can get nice and low!
"Flying is basically first nature for me, there is nothing that makes me happier than flying a hang glider!
"I love the mountains and amazing views, on the right day you can see the ocean and the dolomites with one 360 turn.
"[It took] years and years of training, this is the most dangerous form of hang gliding, I'm flying now for over 20 years."
The footage was captured on July 29, 2019.
This footage is being managed exclusively by Newsflare. To license this video email [e-mail] or call: [phone]
Subscribe to NewsflareBreaking: bit.ly/newsflare
Connect with NewsflareBreaking Online:
▶Facebook / newsflare
▶Twitter / newsflare
Register now to upload your videos and be notified of paid video assignments near you.
→ Visit www.newsflare.... to find out more.

[@MrSprog4u]

Wolfgang, the pilot of the hang glider, has on his KZbin channel, the same clip seen straight from the front. There you can more easily see how close he really is to the ground. Too close! One foot above the ground, can quickly become 6 feet below the ground. Just a little turbulent wind, a gust of wind, then it's all over. The speed of a hang glider can reach 150 kilometers per hour. How do I know this? That's because I myself flew hang glider in the early 80's. This was in Norway, and such flying was a total ban, at least at the time. But I understand him very well. Hang gliding gives a feeling of freedom. The experience is so strong that you dream about it at night afterwards. And then you feel weightless. Below is a link to Wolfgang's KZbin channel, and the same clip seen from the front. The reason we do not see the rod camera is on is probably because a program is used to remove it. There is a friend of him, Manuel, who has put music to the flight. Very well adapted! kzbin.info/www/bejne/fIjJl6WBgq6JotE

[@Thierryanthony]

I disagree here with you. This flight was in the morning with zero wind, no turbulence around because no thermal activity. And if there would be some small disturbance in the air, this glider would fly straight through it. The gliders you flew from the 80's where not so aerodynamic... I guess just "to close" for you? And yes, you need to be extremely well experienced, to be able to fly like this. Cheers!

[@MrSprog4u]

@@Thierryanthony? You're probably right that hang gliders are better today than they were in the 80's and Wolfgang is so absolutely professional! If you check the attached link where you can see the same movie clip straight from the front, you will see that it is about one foot above the ground, and that it sometimes "shakes" in the wing. I know that in the morning it is less turbulent, but there may still be gusts of wind. With a speed of over 100 kilometers per hour, it can quickly go very wrong. You and I know that there are many accidents in air sports every year. There are various reasons for this, including boldness. I do not judge Wolfgang, but I care about the well - being of people, including Wolfgang. No, I would not be overconfident and play with my life. It's called wisdom. By the way, we probably both agree that, just watching this and the movie clip I attached, is a wonderful experience. I live in his flight, as if I did it myself. With best regards.

[@Liger._King]

@@MrSprog4u, I agree with you completely! Wolfgang is very experienced. But he pushes this sport to a scary level, which has very slim error margin. Any slight change in wind, such as a gust, and it'd be game over. Being aware of these undesired possibility and respecting it, as you said, is called wisdom. There had been people who got this bold and ended up in freak accidents that cost them their lives. I pray this never happens to Wolfie, and I hope he avoids the extreme stunts. Nonetheless, it's interesting to watch.

[@lightyear3429]

You no longer fly? Why? I was thinking of picking up hang-gliding in my 40s (28 right now), so that I don't feel too bad if I end up dying from it (as 40s would already be close to old age). However I'm worried my physical form in 40s won't be enough for HG? I see mixed reviews in the Internet. I see many older 50+ HG pilots on youtube, however, on the other hand reflexes and bones are not great when you're older

[@MrSprog4u]

@@lightyear3429? I don't fly for various reasons. The reason I stopped then was because we were so dependent on the wind direction being correct. Every other weekend I spent meeting up at the place we were flying from, then returning home without having flown. The meteorologists' local weather forecasts were often wrong.

[@danilocarno]

... At first I watch the video and after a minute I wonder: who is this good pilot, I read and it is nothing more and nothing less than Wolfgang Siess. UUPPSS Champion you keep flying big, you are just another category. A cordial greeting.

[@bexhillbiker]

Tell you what, that cameraman is a fast runner

[@ThaiFighterYT]

underrated comment! ♥

[@gregstarjun]

He’s a good jumper too 😂

[@RavinderSingh-s6c]

Quadcoopter is the trick 😅

[@tbtb1249]

WOW!!! That looks like soooo much fun! *This one's going on the bucket list!!!* 📝

[@delta_yeah]

Go for it, wolfgang was a major inspiration for me to go and learn in 2019

[@muneebahmadfarjad]

The distance between school and my grandfather house.😂😂😂

[@raychang8648]

That is freaking AWESOME!!! Does anybody know what kind of contraption he was towing that kept the camera so steady?

[@josidasilva5515]

Seems like this one: www.forbes.com/sites/geoffreymorrison/2017/11/06/insta360-one-360-camera-review/?sh=469939af7c36

[@PetrPolach]

Insta 369 on a carbon rod from the tail tube.

[@Liger._King]

It's an Insta 360. It's an awesome camera that creates a unique illusion while capturing a perfect footage.

[@verocimil]

These are the most powerful turbines I've ever seen on a hang glider.

wow such a great vidoe with a great music. thanks man , fly safe

[@terryw.monyhan5100]

Thanks for the ride ! WOW!!!

[@dap777754]

Wait - so his groundspeed was 53 mph? Looks quite a bit faster in this video, I was thinking he was doing 120 mph per the video. So my question - why speed up the video?

[@rooster700rr]

1:33 Imagine a deer runs out. How confused do you think people would be when you tell them you ran over a deer with your hang glider.😅

[@adamstl314]

My God that looks like it was so fun! Amazing! That would be a rush!

[@SVSky]

It's amazing.

[@gappleton8255]

Sweet kite, nice flying!

[@brunobohren5771]

Geiler Film mit geiler Musik. Best ever.

[@nickcaci7238]

Best yet ! Amazing.

[@pixies64]

thank you this is exactly the camera view im looking for for my hang glider game/experience

[@TheFireGoose]

Hey, how’s your game goin?

[@pixies64]

@@TheFireGoose went okay thanks only did the single level but managed to achieve what I wanted

[@TheFireGoose]

@@pixies64 cool :)

[@delta_yeah]

@@pixies64 is it available somewhere? Also have you seen HG VR sim by Thomas Low? Its called The Free Flight Experience

[@chrisg4064]

skilled pilot for sure !!!

[@comment.highlighted]

Great flight 🙂

[@florianfaltermaier3174]

Geiles Video Wolfi!! Echt mega cool. Perspektive, Sound... Kenn di no aus Kitzbühel. Bin a Spezl vom Seppi und Wolf und bin no mit deinem Pa in kirchberg geflogen. Happy up!!

[@Darksagan]

That looked insanely fun.

[@MachineHeadDissent]

Insane!!!...🤙😎🤘

[@Make_Boxing_Great_Again]

He most know the area very well to skim the treetops for so long without worrying about a landing spot.

[@delta_yeah]

Thats his home site

[@PeterPanoramics]

A well planned flight

[@gregorybyrne2453]

Where and how was the camera attached?

[@Rowganlife]

thanks a lot! Now i have to buy one of those cameras for my flights! just awesome!

[@Aluminata]

Special camera?

[@rennierad]

Sweet ride, but what's the string trailing behind? ❤

[@garrykennedy5484]

He pulls on that to tighten up the sail. It's called VG (Variable Geometry) It makes it faster but has to let it off to land slow enough. At 7:42 you can see him release the tension and the sail relaxes allowing you to see more of the underside.

[@rennierad]

@@garrykennedy5484 Makes sense, the ride was wild and I enjoyed it, thank you so much Garry you have a Happy New Year.

[@TipTopKnowledge]

Where is camera

[@PeterPanoramics]

Mounted on tailpipe

[@pedtrog6443]

Nice to have that horizon stabilized view.

[@rankingpow7084]

Wow epic video!

[@highlanderthegreat]

how far was that flight???how long to drive from finish to start???

[@stevet.3630]

Kudos to the music director!

[@TheFjordflier]

Respect ! ! !

[@yawarimam3255]

My salute 👌

[@a.b.4030]

This is so satisfying. Wish I can do this one day. ❤

[@marcobauer9997]

how was that movie made? was there a second glider behind? I don't think so. And a drone will not be fast enough. So how did you do it?

[@rokkoschneider6355]

There is a contraption on a rope which looks a bit like a badminton ball. The camera is attached to that and the wind/speed holds it up.

[@marcobauer9997]

@@rokkoschneider6355 where ist the rope? if the glider flys a curve the construction flies above the glider. Physics seems not to work here

[@rokkoschneider6355]

@@marcobauer9997 Nevermind. It is a Stick going if the end to the right. You can see it’s shadow when he lands.

[@marinbros2882]

Is that a follow cam? 🤔

[@NoTengoIlusiones]

Insta360 on a carbon pod

[@1238pop]

@@NoTengoIlusioneswhy can’t we see the carbon pod ?

[@NoTengoIlusiones]

@1238pop because this 360 camera eliminates by software the mount/pod

[@johnoj.ojohnjay4454]

Gran volo speed, vela tesa come la pelle di un tamburo. Con cosa hai ripreso

[@globalnomad4074]

awesome ,,, enjoyed it

[@MelindaGreen]

With my luck, that would be the day they installed a powerline

[@huffpappy]

That was amazing!

[@cs-racing64]

mutig das VG Seil so lang zu haben, das kann auch mal hängen bleiben

[@pollatso]

Awesome thanks.👍

[@robertzeeland]

So by the time the rocket fuel is all burned up, you're descending and will have to land, right?

[@lukaszwiktor]

Look ma. I'm a jet plane now! 😆

[@GeorgeGiann]

I am… hooked

[@delta_yeah]

Learn to fly, I was inspired by him

[@lvanimals1411]

nice video 👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@evomann1692]

Perfekt 😉

[@Jim-ok9zi]

That looks like fun. 👍

[@Скукотища]

man you best!

[@mradr9772]

Bruh. Whats the max VNE of this glider ? also, i find it quite scary that he doesnt even have a parachute in case something goes wrong. if the wing broke, he ded. But i guess its safe 99% if u know everything is stable.

[@evansmith180]

vne 53mph on paper. but they go alot faster then that kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4rLd2uQp7h7p68 and he has 2 chutes kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHSmh3V5a6yYoLc

[@ericoschmitt]

@@evansmith180 2 chutes 1 meter above the ground won’t help much lol

[@delta_yeah]

He does have 2 chutes. VNE of gliders on specs are actually limited by the test truck power as well as the glider lifting the front wheels at the top speed while testing. But topless gliders can reach 100mph just fine.

[@NoTengoIlusiones]

VNE speed it's airspeed ( air flow on sail) 53 mph/ +120km/h. Ground speed " gps" speed could be way faster ( thinner air, backwind). Cheers

[@jameswest685]

That's a big golf course.

[@marka9261]

better than GOLF

[@JohnDoe-sk6wy]

glider make and model please?

[@SVSky]

Wills Wing T3-144

[@delta_yeah]

@@SVSky isnt that his older t2c?

[@steveurbach3093]

With that fantastic scenic terrain, it is a shame to do it in a speed run. I would have been flying best L/D and rubber necking all the way.

[@aryaprincess2479]

What was that string that he kept trying to release? and it was very dangerous to go that low and have a string dangling like this, it could get caught somewhere and have lethal impact. The music was horrible, the video was ok.

[@SVSky]

It's a variable geometry cord, it changes the tension of the fabric on the wing, He's not trying to release it, he's adjusting it.

[@mrgg9700]

Epic

[@richarddevaottien7724]

Sun Similator at large

[@anocco]

Once Leonardo dreamt it

[@TobyRedmile]

wurst music edit ever!!!

[@Private_Seal]

佩服，同样三角翼玩家，水平天壤之别

[@oyuyuy]

This would be 10x better without the horrendous music. Total abomination of a composition.

[@joegreblo810]

Goes to show you how different people have different tastes. I found the music spectacularly enchanting. In fact, my questions for Wolfi; "did you have the music written for your performance? Did you perform to the music? or is is just good editing?"

[@oyuyuy]

@@joegreblo810 Well, you're weird.

[@olavmartinbratveit7849]

Tjeesssesss:))

[@Marcotto73]

👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@marinbros2882]

Wolf gang siess

[@mahmoudajjan466]

Woooooooooow

[@grumpyoldgit3403]

Microsoft flight sim 2020

[@joereven]

Is it just me who tilts the phone to the same direction he was turning. .. 🤣

[@marka9261]

TECHNOLOGY !

[@johnfarese510]

My son said this is a fake video using a green screen

[@SVSky]

Your son is wrong.

[@NoTengoIlusiones]

Nope. As real as it gets. To much videogames.

[@marka9261]

Not the brightest kid 🤔

[@kerosyne]

Like computer game

[@manahel_hussam]

Enjoy watching bees and honey How do bees work inside the hive... kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWGsZ3-OoNSsoKs

[@duocantatores]

Keine Inlandflüge mehr, der Umwelt zuliebe! Und diese Kondenzstreifen, die er hinterlässt sehen auch nicht so gesund aus ;)

[@robertmarrero3101]

This doesn't look real

[@robertmarrero3101]

It looks good though

[@KBTadieh]

It is...that's the best part

[@ericoschmitt]

It’s very real

[@marka9261]

only MATRIX kids would say its FAKE

[@sammyl2071]

Fake

[@joegreblo810]

I agree with you that these new cameras present such a different viewing experience that they look fake, but be assured everything was very real and without manipulation, except for the possibility of speeding up the footage slightly. It's entirely possible he didn't even do that. I tried many times in the past to capture these types of shots and couldn't come close to the speed and intensity that Wolfi has created through his flying and cinematography. This moves the bar up another level

[@marka9261]

FAKE just like your attitude

[@manojsusawat5846]

It is fake.....|||||

[@ericoschmitt]

Very real.

[@NoTengoIlusiones]

Yes very very real

[@modellismo1856]

this is not awesome, that's a criminal flight.

[@ЛеонидСмирнов-ш7ь]

Я всё ждал когда он верёвкой зацепится..