Hang Gliding - What is that bit of rope for?

VG or Variable Geometry is what hang gliders use to ‘trim’ the wing during flight. It can be used to increase performance and alter the handling characteristics on the go.
I thought I’d make this little video while playing around with the new video editing set up I’ve got.
I’ll be making more flying videos In the future with this set up, so if you like what you see then then let me know and consider subscribing 🤓.

[@Topdogpinup2-gu9cs]

Thank you I'm an old hang glider pilot from the 70s and I'm getting back into after 40 years of home built and GA aircraft so that string had me questing what it was doing but I kind a guessed it had to be moving the cross bar. I see the effect of it now thank you. I am going to get some lessons here in Florida but this is all flat here so it will be a tow up launch most likely out of Wallaby. So I hope to progress bake to where I once was we had ratting system back then and I was almost a hang 5 when I started flying ultralights in the 80s with my new wife.

[@HGAviator]

So, when you pull on the VG (variable geometry) rope, as you saw in the video, it pulls the cross bar back from the center. This in turn pushes the wing tips out and the leading edge forward, flattening the sail (changes the camber (the top surface curvature) allowing for more speed and higher glide ratio. The opposite is true when you release the VG cord. You get more camber, (the top surface of the wing has more curvature, creating more lift and drag.

[@BenjaminKellett]

“As easy as that” nice landing 😎. Could you do a “how to loop your hanglider” video next please?? 🙏 Thanks

[@garym2213]

Everything about that was excellent. The info, the flying and the video. Thanks for that.

[@petehelliwell]

Thanks for the comment 🙂

[@Sidetrackification]

Excellent thanks for posting 📫👍

[@guido.demedici]

Great landscape. I guess I should skip winter in the northern hemisphere and pay NZ a visit.

[@petehelliwell]

You wouldn’t regret it 👍🏼

[@nanoraflyz]

Very visually intellectual vid. Thank so much for this Pete😃

[@alexandergraham2197]

Brilliant thanks for the easy to understand explanation .

[@kylewolfman]

Great video keep them coming 🤘🌄

[@LazyWarriorV]

Fantastic video! We’ll done!

[@garrykennedy5484]

Way to show off the perfect amount of bar pressure on approach. All you can get is usually good. Wind shear, ground thermals etc. All can screw you up if you don't have enough speed on approach. Caught me a tad once even though I pulled in quite a bit, the AZ thermals and sheer can get you easier than you would think.

[@sipplix]

Thanks for clearing that up, cheers.

[@petehelliwell]

Yes, I remember, you did ask! Sorry it took me a while to get back to you 😂

[@steveatkins2009]

Very interesting. Would love to know more about equipment tech, for someone that thinks, one day I may learn to hang glide. 😁

[@wagneralbernaz422]

Sensacional, que explicação legal. Obrigado.

[@justinf1343]

Thanks for sharing this. I just can't wait until I can get qualified so I can start flying. Looks absolutely awesome!

[@petehelliwell]

My pleasure. Good luck with the learning 🤙🏼🤙🏼

[@carlosleon7683]

Good job, mate. Making it look way too easy on the landing 🤣 What camera, mic and video editor are you using for this? It looks awesome 😎

[@petehelliwell]

Cheers for that. It’s the Insta360 one X2 and using a rode lavalier mic. Editing using LumaFusion

[@danlop_2023]

[@andymccann2716]

Does it change the shape of the wing on plan as it were?

[@alcampbell5831]

Bit of a tease their Pete, you've got me wanting to know more. Does tensioning the VG change the whole planform of the wing reducing the sweep of leading edge tubes and therefore the whole wing? The shot from behind appeared to show some reflex camber in the centre of the trailing edge, which I think would add stability by reducing movement of the centre of pressure at the expense of increased drag, but also increased list. I'm guessing that would be good for landing allowing you to flare with low risk of stalling. Conversely, high VG tension for speed suggest reducing the camber of the wing and flattening the trailing edge. Low drag, less lift and more efficient. is that right? Or... is it all way more complicated than that?

[@petehelliwell]

So pulling the VG on tight actually increases the nose angle by a few degrees and in turn tightens the whole sail up lowering the trailing edge. This reduces the washout in the wing making the angle of attack on the wing tips closer to the AoA at the centre of the glider. This is one of the main reasons for the performance gains amongst other things. I’m sure a smarter man than I will give a more in-depth description as to the change of camber, centre of pressure, Bernoulli's Principle and the amounts of their effects with vg tight vs loose. Having the vg on loose when landing is good in the more turbulent conditions as the glider has a more responsive nature. Also at the point of the flair, the wing tips will reach the stall point after the centre of the wing resulting in a softer flair. If you do a good flair with the vg on tight the whole wing will stall, not necessarily a bad thing though as the the flair would be much more of a snap causing a more abrupt stop (like a nice no step landing).

[@alcampbell5831]

@@petehelliwell Thanks Pete. I should have realised, a hang glider is a Flying wing with no stabilising tail and requires washout for stability and to prevent wing tip stall. Love your videos.

[@ericoschmitt]

The center battens profile shouldn't change with VG tight. The trailing edge goes down because it is less arched towards the tips but that's it. Battens can flex at the leading edge at very high speeds though. Drops efficiency. Sail cut and carbon plate inserts can help, as well as some inner bracing that the UP Predator and Airbourne Rev have. Not sure why this kind of bracing wasnt widely adopted, at least Moyes gliders don't have it.

[@DanielDeStefanoMenin]

Thats a doubdt I ever had. How much should I pull the GV to land and under what conditions? Normally I land with 1/3 or half of the VG pulled, but I still haven't exactly understood the changes in landing because the conditions are always very complex.@@petehelliwell

[@HGAviator]

BTW, your vario is pointed to far up.

[@Jesse_Dhue]

What does It stand for? Did I miss that part?

[@petehelliwell]

I think it’s in the first 4 words in the description 😀. Although no, you didn’t miss it in the video 😅

[@Jesse_Dhue]

@@petehelliwell copy that! Learnt stuff today 😎