HANGGLIDING RAMP TAKE OFF - BASSANO, ITALY

This was a practice flight before the Tropheo Del Grappa in Bassano, 2024.
Unfortunately after this flight the weather conditions deteriorated and the competition was cancelled due to constant rain.
Sorry for the poor sound quality in parts of this video - I had some issues with the wind muffler on my GoPro.

[@mercsport]

My partner and I on an extended cycling jolly, about 25yrs ago, from Bergamo to the Dolomites and the northern lakes and mountains and ended up in Bassano, after pedalling from Venice, and pedalled that long road to the top of Monte Grappa. There was a lot of bloodshed in between the Austrians and Italians in WW1 and lots of evidence of their respective dugouts alongside the road. Terrific view at the top looking N to the dollies. The town (city?) of Bassano del Grappa is a fine place. Thanks for sharing the elevated view of the area from on high of that magnificent countryide.

[@MooSurfer]

@mercsport glad you liked it! We did some tours of the WW1 stuff and the cemetery. It was very very interesting

[@richardfleming8486]

Awesome flying Darren👍🏻👌 Kind Regards from sunny South Africa 🇿🇦

[@josephstearn3393]

This is perfect timing - I’m just planning a trip to fly hg there at the end of August. Thanks for the motivation!

[@davedave8677]

Yo! you travelling from UK? I'll also be around there end of Aug

[@MooSurfer]

Yep! Will you be able to fly in the UK? If you're near the Peak District you can come fly with us. If not - go to British Hangies on Facebook and people will give you advice / help to get flying here and where the sites are.

[@davedave8677]

Nice vid Darren! Nicely edited good commentary - I'll be in northern Italy this Autumn so hope to fly these hills... Cheers

[@MooSurfer]

It's a wonderful place to fly - good luck!

[@andersvikingsvensson8762]

Thnx a lot ! Wonderful to follow you Darren ❤

[@FlyingFelix1]

Beauty, hope to fly there one day. That ramp looks exciting :) I use baseball batting gloves, they're very touchy/feely and feel great, of course bar mitts are needed if the air up there is cold as those are quite thin. If you'd permit a comment on landing technique (if not just tell me to shove it! LOL): I've seen many of your landings and it seems you're usually slowing down quite a bit before and while rocking up, then coming down to land with not much airspeed; this works fine for calm days, but if there is strong gradient or other issues you just won't have much authority on the glider as you're just about at trim speed. It's nice to come down and have enough evergy to spend some time in ground effect. Just my 2c, now I'll shut up! Have fun in the competition, sounds like a great time! Look forward to more videos.

[@MooSurfer]

Actually Felix, you are 100% correct. It's something I know about and I struggle to keep enough speed on unless I pull on the basebar. It is unusual for me to mess up a landing but I do know this is a weakness. I intend to try and start staying prone for longer and diving more at the ground. I did this on the very next flight after this video and it worked perfectly. It's just hard... I have to unlearn 25 years of a habit. I hope you are well, it would be great to fly with you again. Though I keep seeing your amazing videos pop up and if course am never jealous of all the great sites you fly at. MUCH!

[@flytavo]

Great flight. Thanks for sharing. See you in Ager in a few weeks! Excited!

[@MooSurfer]

Yes!! I'm excited too, though I have two competitions before Ager...

[@andymccann2716]

Aaaaaahhhhhh, glad to see you back Darren😊

[@MooSurfer]

Thanks Andy... more videos coming soon...

[@Highrockman]

Nice flight..I always liked ramp launches..

[@MooSurfer]

They're exciting!

[@robertosoest3846]

Nice flight thanks.

[@lessainsbury8508]

My favorite gloves for warmer weather were chain saw gloves. They had thick rubberised strands in them ,crisscrossed throughout. Unbelievable grip. they were good for maybe +10 celcius . Any colder than that and I would use heavier gloves.

[@MooSurfer]

I have poor circulation in my fingers, so I always get cold hands! I'm always on the lookout for better gloves.

[@chrsfrwll]

Oh goody, another series of DB vids ..👍

[@MooSurfer]

Unfortunately not a series - read the description ;-)

[@chrsfrwll]

@@MooSurfer read? What's that then? 🤣 oh shame. I enjoyed this one though

[@dernicolas6281]

VFR? :D Amazing video though, nicely edited also..

[@MooSurfer]

Thank you!

[@bobhunt5997]

watched ths one once before grt Vid would like to fly there Bassano Zio Gustin does vids from there eth regards to your new leather glove bein slippery on b bar[ must be slippery on up right I imagine I hav used for years a product called Golf Tac jus spray it on my gloves bwefore flying wrks excellant doesnt pic up dirt or litter cheers Ager vids are grt too

[@MooSurfer]

Yes, thanks for the advice. I'm told candlewax works well too. Although these gloves also aren't really warm enough for me.

[@emoe_atlas]

Darren, big fan on your vids. But if the gloves are leather? Wax them! you will have all the grip you need, I swear about waxed leather gloves for hanging on a carbon speedbars!

[@MooSurfer]

Good tip, thanks! I did get this tip before flying, but couldn't get hold of any wax. They also weren't as warm as my other gloves, so if I do wear them again it won't be in that cold spring weather.

[@boringsoaring]

Get a dead cat for your mic Impossible audio

[@MooSurfer]

I know - in particular for this video and I did mention it in the description. I won't go into details of everything I did to try make the gopro sound work - but I did a LOT and this was the best solution, though it fails occasionally. The good news is... I have just got a new camera and a new sound system - I'm experimenting with it at the moment and trying to get it set up right, but I think you'll be pleased with the results.