Low Level Flying at the Beach | Gliding New Zealand Style

One of those days in New Zealand: No thermals but wind, cliffs and the ocean! Fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the highspeed coastal flight in a sailplane. Spectacular landscapes included!
Special thanks to Smeg NZ and Auckland Gliding Club for making this happen!
Smeg: / smeg_nz
Auckland Gliding Club: / soaringauckland
Drone footage and ground camera by Georgia Schofield:
/ georgiasphoto
Video produced by Stefan Langer
/ stefan.langer
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[@someguydino6770]

Incredible energy retention- sailplanes are the "exotic sports cars" of the soaring world

[@dougsanders5717]

one of the best soaring videos i’ve ever seen. can’t wait for spring

[@SteFly]

Wow, thank you!!

[@barriejames7732]

Flying my paraglider along the ciffs and a 'square-on wind' in Devon UK is also a wonderful experience. One day we soared for about two hours in the 'compression-zone' where the wind is forced to angled up. These NZ pilots were having a great time in similar conditions and the glide ratio compared to a humble paraglider is far superior. I mention this because they were flying, quite sensibly, in wonderful stable conditions and not recklessly as one might imagine. I was 70 when I learned to paraglide on Dartmoor and can reccoment this wonderful hobby.

[@arminmoller9927]

Dieses Power Hangsegeln . Super im Film eingefangen . Man erlebt die Geschwindigkeit und die Schönheit des Segelfliegens hautnah mit . Klasse geworden , das Video .

[@GregoryBrown6283]

Thank you Stefan. This is one of the best glider videos I have ever seen. I have 10 flights on my logbook. I try to watch every video I can find. This one though.....sets the bar high. Keep up the good videos

[@titahibayflier3160]

That was some spectacular flying, what a perfect video. 👍👍👍

[@SteFly]

Thank you!

[@1313chri]

Traumhaft! Die Landschaft, das Meer und das alles im Segelflieger! Besser geht es eigentlich nicht!👍

[@SteFly]

Dankeschön! Ja, definitv eines meiner fliegerischen Highlights bis jetzt. Die Küste an der man Segelfliegen kann ist etwas über 100 km lang und landschaftlich ist sie sehr abwechslungsreich.

[@Mike-Bell]

Wow Stefan. Beautiful awesome you capture the serene poetry that is gliding in these sequences. Thank you... don’t stop doing what you do so well !!

[@SteFly]

Thank you!!

[@Must_not_say_that]

Hear, hear. Don't stop.

[@kinqadamjrkinqadamjr1520]

Holy shit for a second I thought you were talking bout another aviation youtube named Stefan that fly's the cirrus

[@namasivayamm9234]

thank you sharing wonderful video , congratulations,

[@rickoliver2059]

Wow , what an awesome flight , with the windy west coast , you can certainly get some miles over the landscape below , thankyou for that , truly invigorating .

[@daddyrabbit835]

I would never have the confidence that I would catch a thermal to get me back up. You, sir, are an amazing pilot.

[@J38x729]

Is he not using ridge lift which is basically inevitable? Still crazy tho.

[@sierra5745]

Right. I would be afraid that i will fall into the Water.

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

In this type of flying the glider uses the energy of the wind... which in this case is strong and constant coming from the sea onto the land. The wind is pushed up the cliff face and lifts the glider with it; height is then traded for forward speed; then up; then down again... until the "lift" energy runs out... when the wind doesn't have any cliffs to push up against....or the wind drops....

[@CGChris-]

Cliffs and an ocean breeze, you always have an elevator up.

[@jimmason8502]

@@sierra5745 You have a strong and steady sea breeze which adds a lot of lift, so you can fly back and forth across the beach basically all day long at under 1,500' and never touch the sand. Plus these gliders have crazy 100-1 glide rations which means they can stay aloft a long time at lower altitudes and still nose into the wind and head aloft.

[@dinskipper7987]

This is crazy how cool ! Absolutely coolest! Thank you.

[@mohamedfaroukbalouli7809]

There is nothing more beautiful and joyful than flying a glider

[@chinoodin4735]

Awesome! Must be a huge lift via incoming wind to give you the safety to fly so low. Have had the opportunity to pilot a two person engine plane and one without. Always wanted a glider flight and fortunately caught one. Thermals were the only engine for altitude climbs and they were kinda weak that day. I never felt comfortable with glider because control via an engine was missing. It is a whole other mindset, but your flight gave me a sense that your control of glider had a steady force of lift that you could afford to climb and descend at will? You had speeds up to 120 knots...in a glider! Beautiful flying! Thanks for sharing the beauty of flight.

[@prndownload]

Having slope flown RC gliders in strong open ocean wind blasting up a cliff I can assure you the lift feels glassy smooth, endless and insane. I don't even consider flying my gliders inland given I have ocean and bay options within 15 min drive.

[@LinkerHoden69]

Sehr schöne Aufnahmen und interessante Flugbedingungen. Freue mich auf die neue Saison und hoffe, dass du uns daran teilhaben lässt:)

[@SteFly]

Vielen Dank! Natürlich werde ich das ;) Es ist sehr viel geplant für dieses Jahr...

[@prndownload]

I've only ever flown a couple of RC gliders before but once you've experienced slope soaring with strong wind coming from the ocean that is the only way you want to fly. Huge endless lift it really is like riding a glassy smooth constant wave. You could fly along there all day like a fighter pilot. Seems way more fun and also appears safer than paragliding or hang-gliding.

[@johnpamick2330]

What an amazing video

[@Gustavo_Weckesser]

Fantastic video!!! Thank you

[@nickkrueger02]

This was one of the coolest flights I've seen in a while and this is coming from someone who prefers to fly with an engine on his aircraft.

[@SteFly]

Thank you for this huge compliment!

[@ollivud63]

same here :) awesome video!

[@volkantemizel5268]

I flight with puchacz szd-50 1 month at glide camp. For me it was best memories in my whole life.

[@Ctano32]

How do these fly without an engine?

[@JoeEver123]

@@Ctano32 they must been throw from another plane or from hight altitude thats my guess

[@Must_not_say_that]

Excellent. Such an enjoyable video, thank you. Better than a bird! And I love the symbolic seagull landing at the end!

[@zealousideal]

Stefan… amazing. You’ve inspired me to also become a glider pilot. My dream was always to fly (as powered planes) but now I’m switching to gliders. Love it.

[@imacmill]

Have you considered paragliding. So much more accessible. Only a hilltop and a tiny runway required, and wing storage space requirement is next to nothing. Oh, and a helluva lot cheaper.

[@dhruvemital]

When you fly so close to the ground like when you were on the beach or on the water, do you get any ground effects? If so, does it help or make the controls harder?

[@RyzZaveri]

Ground effect occurs only very close to the ground (2 - 3 mtrs max). You would'nt want ground effect specially when you have no intention of landing.

[@tombrennan3973]

awesome and NEED. not just want...love teh way gliders surf it all, must be amazing once you learn to feel it talking to you !!

[@honeybee3317]

Wow, that flying was phenomonal , views were spectacular.

[@kierancampbell3322]

Beautiful video, well produced. As a paraglider I'm always in awe of the grace and performance of your craft, and I had never even considered that you would take them to the coast to play like this.

[@damianbeccarq9194]

IMPRESIONANTE! , spektakulär!

[@yoelxt645]

man it was good enough to even replenish my soul what a lovely video this is

[@foxbat212]

There's slope soaring and then there is this, simply fantastic.

[@mckirk5350]

We did this type of gliding many a times in Dillingham, HI, I hope to join you guys one day over there. Very nice footage.

[@titouangalea]

Most beautiful gliding video I ever seen

[@giancarloferucciorusalen4756]

Fantastic !!!😍😍😍

[@Archerix]

For me it's one of the most beautiful and breathtaking sports in the world. Sadly also one of the most demanding just to start. At first economics, second: knowledge - you need a lot of it. And of course lots of practise like in almost every sport. So before actual gliding, it's often recommended to start from paragliding - much cheapier dyscipline. Of course I subscribed your channel and hit the bell, because I really appreciate huge amounts of effort to catch and film these scenes :)

[@Arthurmorgz]

Incredible machinery. Fantastic footage. Great stuff.

[@pladam7198]

Wonderful scenery and flying. Felt like I was there with you. Thanks for the ride.

[@Ploz5555]

Incredible flying. I can’t imagine anything better!

[@Highrockman]

Beautifully done video..outstanding!

[@joaof.loureiro4116]

Thanks for your fantastic video and for sharing, it reminded me of a great pilot that I knew doing the same, if it he was alive today It would be flying with you for sure. Many thanks for the video and Matt Wright, from whom I keep fantastic memory...

[@pabloandresecheverryalvare3078]

Your videos are amazing!! An inspiration to keep working hard to enjoy the passion of flight! Greetings from Bariloche, Argentina 🇦🇷

[@SteFly]

Thank you!! Greetings to Argentinia! Definately a country for my next adventures ;)

[@pabloandresecheverryalvare3078]

That would be awesome!! Can’t wait to see you flying here!!

[@danield8439]

Danke, dass du zeigst, wie geil das Segelfliegen ist. Weiter so!

[@SteFly]

Oh ja, das ist es!!

[@cjjohnson3939]

So cool! What a great trip you must be having! I'm jelly 🤪

[@SteFly]

Thank you! Was an awesome trip ;)

[@TheGordo757]

What an exciting flight, I am a commercial pilot who also flys RC Gliders on the cliffs of California. Didn't know real gliders did that too, well.....like you flew! And beautifully shot, and great music.........

[@miksal26]

From an old glider pilot who’s had never enough experience, I’m totally envious ! 👍

[@jimmason8502]

Me too. Last flew a glider at age 19 in 1984. Miss it too much. I swear put me in a sail plane now and it'd be just like riding a bike.

[@ChrisPinCornwall]

Wow! Das ist alles!

[@watchfordpilot]

What a beautiful and exhilarating video, brill! Thanks.

[@SteFly]

Thank you!!

[@gilnemesis3547]

You made me fly very high ! Crazy high speed just above the waves, thanks you so much for this powerfull video beginning. Sorry, i'm a bit jalous again! Keep on This way, I love that kind of fly.👍👍👍😁😁😁

[@SteFly]

Thank you! Gliding is so powerfull without an engine ;)

[@goldeneagle8340]

Think about the world. How beautiful it is.

[@geompon6505]

Well it is indeed but let me tell you smth. I just farted a few miliseconds before sitting on the toilet seat and now there is a somehow thick ribbon of diarhhea on most of the toilet plus some splashes on the wall and floor, no kidding. And I can assure you, that ain't beautifull

[@InYourDreams-Andia]

Isn't it!

[@timhynde8611]

Loved it... it's that ONE TIME when you were counting on lift though

[@billpennock8585]

there is nothing like the view out of the front of a sailplane. No big engine, minimal instruments, just you and the elements. And this looks like some of the best elements every

[@saleplains]

i can think of one triangular craft with a view that might beat it ;) but yeah sailplanes are the most beautiful flying machines in the world.

[@billpennock8585]

@@saleplains Would that be an SR-71? That is a most beautiful airplane

[@arthurwagar6224]

I was up in a glider 50 or so years ago. A fantastic experience I will never forget. Thanks for sharing.

[@Michael112233able]

Elegent sailplanes backed with Beautiful scenery....VERY NICE!

[@rickcockcroft7590]

Awesome ridge soaring. Never done it that low , only in the mountains. Great video. Thanks.

[@AlienPsyTing1]

Awesome video Stefan, thanks for posting, makes me kinda feel envious watching high perf gliders compared to the Slingsby Swallow I used to fly

[@tommitchell8425]

Really great flying sir

[@davidwheatcroft2797]

Excellent! Beautiful planes and great video. CAVU skies.

[@brunobernard333]

c'est de l'incontience !!! vous avez de la chance avec les vents...

[@MorDarek]

WOW!! Awesome views! Great job! You are great pilot Sefan! I wish to fly on glider with you :)

[@SteFly]

Thank you!

[@timothyhaupler9912]

Sehr schoen stefan ,gruss !

[@pablochv34]

Muchas pero muchísimas gracias por compartir esas hermosas tomas desde el aire y hermosos paisajes que se potencian con el volar de tu nave!!!!

[@airgeoorg]

Totally awesome! Video quality and editing worth separate praise.

[@gilnemesis3547]

Was it a Libelle soring near you at the beginning ? Whatever your glider, it should be very exciting. Let's see it again on the Big tv!

[@SteFly]

There is a Std. Libelle in the video

[@davewright3088]

Loved the cameo appearance of Hotel Mike..! Reminded me of the good old days flying Whiskey Echo past the mountain goats on the ridge at Mission Peak...

[@carnivaltym]

Stunning!

[@blacksand357]

I love slope soaring my RC sailplanes when the wind is cranking and often imagine what it would be like ridge soaring in a real sailplane. Thanks for the video, I was smiling the whole way through, I'm ready for a trip to NZ...

[@exutiku]

Looks like you are flying out of Raglan as I can see Mt Karioi in the background, amazing to think that you can take off from Raglan and fly north over Piha and Muriwai. Ya gotta love the NZ west coast and the reliability of the NZ westerly lol

[@stevesoutham2492]

That west coast scenery is stunning. What a way to see it. You are amazing. How many flights was that filmed over? I see you went, at least from Muriwai, in the north, to Raglan in the south. Stunning.

[@heikowalter8239]

Die Leistung der Segelflugzeuge ist schon sehr beeindruckend wenn man sie mit Hängegleiter oder gar Gleitschirm vergleicht .Wie ihr Geschwindigkeitsüberschuss wieder in Höhe umsetzt ist genial ,wenn nur der Aufwand am Boden nicht wäre !

[@elroels]

¡Fantástico! ¡El paisaje, el mar y todo ello en el planeador! ¡En realidad no hay nada mejor!

[@wadesaleeby2172]

Awesome!!! Awesome!!!

[@pedromatteo]

Amazing, dude!

[@williamaylmer2194]

I was going to ask, what's the protocol for ditching a glider in the Southern Ocean 🤣 Awesome footage, thanks for sharing.

[@bengeorges5239]

Respekt! Geiler Flug, super geschnitten, alles passt zur Musik (die ist zum Glück auch gut ausgewählt und nicht zu aufdringlich). Sieht aus, als hättest du eine super Zeit in Neuseeland gehabt! Weiterhin viele schöne Flüge!

[@SteFly]

Vielen Dank! Ja, war wirklich eine tolle Zeit in Neuseeland!

[@mikeonlife2]

One of the best videos on gliding in N.Z

[@knowledgebyte]

Brilliant flight. Just goes to show how much lift is prevalent next to a beach-head when the wind is at 90 degrees along the coastline. And what a high performance glider can do.

[@scrignolilorenzo7276]

one of the best gliding video ever . Congrats Stefan !

[@slaero5411]

"How to inspire an airplane pilot to fly gliders" 😁

[@ryanlemons3255]

The propeller is only there to cool down the pilot

[@timallix4407]

My glider license lapsed 20 years ago, but this footage makes me want to take it up again!

[@davidnickisson2555]

Do it!

[@GregoryBrown6283]

Do it Tim !

[@noiretblanc75]

Wonderful pictures in such a beautiful country! Very inspiring indeed ! Thank you for this!

[@cmck3267]

Brilliant!

[@frogturtle]

looks so fun. its like a kayak that flies or something lol

[@josephcooksley3219]

Yes NZ's Raglan's West Coast north and South is an amazing Gliding enviroment ...

[@philipperobert-gorsse8084]

Fantastic video . The flight is magic and the videomounting is exceptional. You must have spent many many hours on this one ! Thank you

[@SteFly]

Thank you!! Yes, that took us 2 days of filming and some more for editing.

[@pilot3016]

Beautiful! If that is non flapped ship, and I believe it has none, you are cooking!

[@friendoftellus5741]

Amazing is a meagre word to describe this way of flying !!!! 😮

[@privacypolicyisgone548]

Glider pilot's are the best 👌

[@TommyOlsson]

Just lovely! Wish I could have a chance in my life to take a flight in that environment.

[@mikmerl1]

WOW I've finally found reason to visit NZ

[@giuseppecento]

Hi Stefan, i think this is the fly descripted by Bernard Eckey in his beautiful book advanced soaring made easy. The story is amazing and the video super exciting!!!! i'm planngin to go in NZ in gennuary february, do you have any contact there (aeroclub/instructor) to get such experience? many thanks!!!

[@dansshade5621]

So beautiful and inspiring!

[@PetrPolach]

Definitelly best gliding video of 2020!!! Well done, fly safe!

[@paveleroshev5878]

У меня появилась мечта - съездить в Новую Зеландию, полетать над побережьем. Очень красивое видео!

[@storyteller4473]

Да, тоже вот давно хочу туда. Но так дорого ((

[@Fah178]

Да и не так уж дорого слетать

[@storyteller4473]

@@Fah178 ну эээ как сказать. Мы с друзьями составили смету и вышло 200 тысяч на месяц с человека, плюс 70 тысяч за билеты туда-обратно. Кому-то мб и не очень дорого 🤷‍♀️ но для нас прилично

[@K1W1fly]

I'm a power pilot and the Raglan coast is part of my regular flying "patch". There is always a lot of lift off the cliffs, I can often cruise along there with the power right back surfing the lift off the edge...

[@happylifetips5874]

Huge lk 4.5k.....my new frd, wow,wow,this is so beautiful video. I loved the camerawork and all the shots are really well done! It takes a lot of courage to turn fear into fire, but being able to show up and make that conscious choice for yourself will pay you many times over throughout your life. You clearly have a superpower for courage, and that's inspiring to us all! Thank you for always sharing these important messages and for showing us that it's okay and encouraged to be a great U tuber, its my honor to be a member. I look forward to your next videos stay connected see you around.

[@RCflyingmore]

Wow, wahnsinnige Aufnahmen! Echt super! ;-)

[@erikvaline35]

How do you relieve yourself in a glider, especially number two?

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

Eat sparingly...poop on command prior to a flight???

[@ogrebattle22763]

This looks like a lot of fun but also pretty scary.... I'd still love to do it though... Stefan just curious when you were doing the low level flying along the beach how fast were you going?

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

Up to 250kmh....150mph.... enought to trade speed for altitude to get back into a lift situation at the crest of those hills....

[@rhlchrs08]

This gives me chills😹.

[@Moto_Miles]

Fantastic shots

[@myhanslombard]

awesome!!

[@luish0808]

I'm moving to New Zealand this year and I would definitely love to try gliding and make it a hobby of mine.

[@PPGFlyr]

Very cool video! I love flying at the beach.

[@SteFly]

Thank you! With a paraglider it is more common ;)