How do Gliders Not Crash in the Mountains?

[@myair737]

I can imagine myself 20 years ago when I barely had money for a tow longer than 4 minutes so I chose winch launch every time. A heli-retrieve would have empitied my whole year gliding/eating/drinking budget... And probably would have costed more than that old wooden ship I flew 😂

[@Sara_PY]

Tim, thank you. You exposed the difference between "helicopter pilot" mentality and "glider pilot" mentality. I can get my machine into small areas, running onto an airstrip isn't a concern. I knew you, being an experienced glider pilot, belonging to a community of similarly experienced pilots, would "have a plan". A quite extensive plan, as it turns out. Thanks again!

[@PureGlide]

Thanks Sara, yeah we get to know the plan the more we explore the countryside!

[@SteFly]

Very intersting to see the differences to the outlandings here in Europe. I never had in mind to use a helicopter to retrieve a glider :D

[@PureGlide]

They only do it occasionally! But sometimes it's the only option...

[@milankmetovics5387]

Never had that in mind but made sure that my insurance covers it... just in case. (Eg. land somewhere where without road acces but damage the glider (undercarriage with a rabbit whole etc)

[@Johan-ex5yj]

@@PureGlide That would be a VERY expensive day out, if you had to organize a Helicopter ride for yourself and you glider!

[@soaruk3697]

Thought you guys did helicopter tows in NZ kzbin.info/www/bejne/aomTiqR3bceshck This will be giving Stefan ideas for a video :-).

[@PureGlide]

Yeah not very often! The last helicopter retrieve was at the Canterbury club a few years ago. All the club members chipped in to help pay for it

[@johnkincaide9357]

Good explanation of always being aware of your location and spotting safe landing sites while gliding - especially in mountains.

[@madzen112]

Gliding seems so much more skill dependent than motorflying. Like the distance you can fly depends on how good you are to read the thermals and how good you are at conserving your speed and altitude. Sounds fun!

[@PureGlide]

Exactly right! it's like the difference between sailing and running a motor boat. One is useful to get to the other side of the harbour. But sailing is a whole thing in itself :)

[@tomment9938]

I just wanted to comment on the quality of the content brought by this channel. It's informative, yet very concise. It covers a variety of topics, presented in a casual, low-key and simple manner, which is both, pilots, beginner pilots and enthusiasts friendly. Scenic views of one of the most exquisite and potent gliding spots on earth please the eye. Thanks and keep it up! I'm looking forward to the next episodes of "Rate my outlanding" series :) And maybe some more extensive video covering the daily life of a pilot taking part in a competition (this footage from the, I guess, camper really sparked the mood for me :D)

[@PureGlide]

Hey thanks Tomment for your kind words! And thanks for the ideas for the video, the taking part in a contest day is a good idea. Might have to do that soon. Cheers!

[@johnkincaide9357]

I always find this channel very informative and the delivery is excellent

[@danholstein411]

Great video! I'm a private pilot flying a Piper Cherokee 140, which has the glide ratio of a brick. When you said you could fly 10km for only 1000ft of altitude loss, I had to back up and read it again. That is incredible! Thanks for the informative content!

[@PureGlide]

Hey thanks Dan, and yeah that 10km every 1000 feet is a rough guide for medium performance gliders. Get the best ones (30m wingspan) and it's doing 60:1 or 18km for every 1000 feet!

[@drdoolittle5724]

As an engine man have always had deepest respect for you Guys, so much so, bought an AMF Chevvron and used to turn off engine and really enjoy myself! Sadly, all came to an end when it self combusted in its trailer so that was that!

[@ninjalectualx]

I love the relaxing energy of this channel

[@gtm624]

Well explained. That’s the funny thing about aviation. People who don’t fly don’t realize how many airports exist. I’m in the states east coast in New Jersey. It wasn’t until I started flying that I realized how many airports there are. Most people just know of the bigger ones. What shocked me the most is how many heli pads there are. I would love to go up in a glider one day. It’s got to be a treat not having the noise of the engine and prop.

[@PureGlide]

Yeah exactly right! Cheers

[@belperflyer7419]

The last time I flew in a glider was from Omarama back in February 1999 when we were doing a cycle tour of S Island. We were staying there and I managed to get a trial flight in the evening and thoroughly enjoyed it - I still use the cap I bought (now very faded) when I fly my RC models. I used to fly from Camphill in Derbyshire but never got to go solo - then it got too expensive when I retired :) Later on the tour we took a coach trip from Queenstown to Milford Sound and flew back. It was a small single-engined aircraft and, whilst the flight was dramatic, I was a little concerned that the options to land out seemed very limited but perhaps not as limited as I thought.

[@Jmcc150]

In the French Alps the safe way is to assume a 20:1 glide angle and 1000ft for the circuit. Flying down some valleys can put you in strong sink all the way, so you really need even bigger margins. It sounds as if you have many more strips to choose from. You can never assume that a turbo engine has the power to counteract mountain sink. Above a certain altitude its power also drops to the point where it may not get you over the next pass. It seems like your valleys are all well connected and you can just fly out quite low. One German pilot observed that a turbo in the mountains gets you to scene of the accident more quickly!

[@PureGlide]

Exactly right, cheers

[@StudentGoose]

Great advice, and some beautiful shots as well!

[@PureGlide]

Thanks a ton!

[@CLdriver1960]

Great explanation! I hope that Day 1 is the only wash out day you have. Good luck!

[@PureGlide]

I hope so too!

[@brushitoff503]

Ah, G'day Tim! Great video cheers!

[@PureGlide]

Hey, thanks Leo!

[@brushitoff503]

@@PureGlide Meaning I loved it, it is a fantastic explantion of how good Gliding is. As far as I know & can remember, a Glider is the safest Aircraft of all.

[@scheerlon]

i learn so much from you, thanks a lot. I am flying between black forest and the alps in germany and might try to fly over there in the future. This was a good introduction - cause i basically always asked myself how I will plan this (of course i will propably fly with someone experienced anyway and will learn a lot more too then)

[@mitchellkaye9619]

Great content and photography as usual. Thanks

[@PureGlide]

Many thanks!

[@musoseven8218]

Fascinating insight.

[@scottlewisparsons9551]

Thank you for another very informative video.

[@PureGlide]

Our pleasure!

[@doningram3978]

Tim, thanks for taking the time to put these together. Looking forward to someday making it back across the ditch to make use of this knowledge ;-)

[@PureGlide]

Cheers Don

[@shydncrumph8119]

since i started gliding myself this year i keep coming back for info and inspiration (subded, ofc). makes me wonder if you could be asked to go through your flight planning in a video, what you are looking for in weather and terrain charts, etc, plus how your plan then translates to the actual flight and your decision making in the air. cheers

[@Chris-kl7bi]

That would be great for me, too!

[@andeurghl5574]

I second that, a demonstration of the whole flight planning, including the safety and sporty side, would be really interesting.

[@PureGlide]

Hey that’s a great idea for a video. I did have one about preparing for a comp task, check the back catalogue!

[@kirkmason7079]

Good information on being prepared for the unexpected. Nice lesson

[@PureGlide]

Cheers!

[@gonegliding2966]

how to break a drought...... organise a gliding comp

[@PureGlide]

Exactly!

[@musoseven8218]

Or for some it's just a case of saying "Wx looks good for tomorrow" waking up to find that it's closed in and raining 😉😄😄👍

[@Johan-ex5yj]

Great one Tim! Interesting to learn how you plan your flights around the available airfields. 👍

[@PureGlide]

Thanks mate! 👍

[@artgreen6915]

07:44 I'm glad it was safe, seems an idyllic place to land albeit hassle to divert off in the car.

[@PureGlide]

Yeah all part of the adventure :)

[@milankmetovics5387]

Nice video!

[@PureGlide]

Oh stop it you!

[@rz298]

Very interesting to learn about the outlanding in NZ! I fly in the Alps in Europe, we have similar problems, but i didn't know about the helicopter situation! :-D also that you might get trapped from cloud covers. You should make a video about the best outlanding stories....

[@PureGlide]

Would be a good idea! Just went on one tonight actually, but it was a boring one, nothing went wrong!

[@TheStreamfish]

Hello Tim, if you are looking for more questions to make videos about, here's one: Why are some gliders being filled up with water? I heard, that it makes you faster, but I don't understand how. This seems counterintuitive to me. I absolutely enjoy your channel, please keep up the great work. Thanks for sharing your wonderful time aup there with us.

[@PureGlide]

Thanks yeah that's a great one to cover at some stage, cheers!

[@Paul-vh6ul]

It's technical so Pureglide should make a video. Adding ballast increases the best glide speed and shifts the entire polar. Thus you can achieve a higher average speed with the same loss of altitude. This is because the glider with ballast has more potential energy at a given altitude than the same glider without ballast. A glider converts altitude into airspeed. The addition of ballast reduces the climb rate in a given vertical air movement (aka lift) so ballast is only used when lift is strong.

[@Mikinct]

Great video, I would add "Survival Gear" bag. Has a warm sleeping bad, satellite phone. Bottle of water, canned food to survive a night or Two until help finally arrives.

[@PureGlide]

Yeah adding a survival bag is a thing I'd like to add to my kit. Would be a good video too. Cheers!

[@gerhardwesp3995]

Great FUD-busting video! Did TF fly in Omarama in the early 2000's? I think I have it in my logbook, with a gentleman named Doug Hamilton in the back seat IIRC. Need to come back sometime.

[@PureGlide]

Sounds very likely!

[@chrisj800]

I had the embarrassment of my first landing out being 3km from where I took off at Dunstable when the lift at the model glider slope was insufficient to keep me up. Was a small sloping paddock and the instructors flying at Dunstable could see it. Too small for an aerotow retrieve!

[@florianeiser6084]

still better than trying to get back to the airstrip and crashing just short of it.

[@geoffreywilliams663]

Nice Libelle, but I'm biased

[@PureGlide]

Haha yeah everyone loves a libelle, except tall people :O

[@gregr5303]

Thanks for this explanation Tim. As an ex-glider pilot who only ever flew over flat farm land watching mountain flying gives me anxiety 😏. I can now watch and enjoy with a little more ease 👍

[@PureGlide]

Glad I could help! I did a mountain flying course down here as well to help get me started, and after a few years I'm getting the hang of it!

[@gregr5303]

@@PureGlide The nearest thing we have to mountain flying in Western Australia is the Stirling Ranges near the south coast. I was fortunate enough to gain my diamond height (5000m) in wave there but it is barely a blip compared to the conditions you have 😊

[@chuckcampbell3927]

🛑🛫📖🛬🛑 Great video. It answers a lot of questions about how you conduct mountain flying safely. 👍👍👍

[@jacekbetlej5314]

Hello from Poland!!!!

[@PureGlide]

Hello!

[@williamaylmer2194]

Thanks Tim, Does your flight computer give you time and distance, go/ no go information to available landing strip(s) from your current location/ altitude in real time? Happy soaring! 😊

[@PureGlide]

Hi yes it does, it gives us the distance and estimated arrival height or glide ratio required to all the landing points. If you decide to go to one on the computer, it will estimate time to get there too. And yes all real time as we fly. Of course it doesn't know if you will hit sink or lift on the way there, so we have to be careful sometimes to actually make it!

[@bkailua1224]

Just to add we also don't plan on the glider to be able to make the glide the glider has as the published glide ratio. So to be safe we as an example figure if the books says the glider will go 40 miles for each mile of altitude we might plan that it will go 30 miles for each mile of altitude to give us a safety margin. Different pilots use different margins so these numbers will vary.

[@Anastuna]

Awesome! So beautiful in the mountains. Good question, well answered! Wish I could fly!... what are the running costs of a life with gliders where you are?

[@PureGlide]

Thanks very much! Costs are complicated, I should make a video on it sometime!

[@robinfautley8698]

Once again fantastic filming and explanations. All those single engine pilots in the area you have covered should really have the same knowledge -but I bet they do not! Is there any chance of notes of areas where you have come across unexpected downdrafts around Aspiring etc. Such knowledge would be helpful in the 60 year search for the Dragonfly. Again thanks for sharing these remarkable and unique videos.

[@PureGlide]

Hi Robin, it’s a bit tricky to say where downdraughts will be, as they change constantly depending on the wind angle and strength. Best is to learn to ready the clouds especially around mountain wave systems. Sometimes you only figure it out once you’re in it! Or on the ground! Cheers

[@robinfautley8698]

@@PureGlide Thanks for that. I was just hoping that something totally unexpected in one place may stand out. Cheers

[@alexzago6930]

Thanks for all the useful information! If somone wants to get involved with gliding near Queenstown where would you recommend?

[@PureGlide]

Hi Alex, the nearest gliding to Queenstown is Omarama I think. Alexandra used to have a club but it’s winding down. Check the gliding.co.nz website for a list of all clubs

[@ravingcyclist624]

Excellent video and explanations. Best to avoid the two-helicopter scenario. That might melt your credit card. I see you can even glide to Siberia. 🙂

[@PureGlide]

Yeah agreed! And yeah who knew the back of Siberia wasn’t actually that far away

[@damienmills5553]

Hi Tim what app is that you are using showing all those airstrips?

[@PureGlide]

Hi that’s my LX9050 flight computer, in the South Island we have our turn point database full of airstrips. Also I might have been using my phone, using SeeYou Navigator. You can try it for free

[@No-yd1do]

How do you become a glider instructor ?

[@PureGlide]

Learn to fly first, then after a couple of years we have instructor training courses in New Zealand which help get you qualified

[@mattmatt245]

Are electric sustainers more reliable then regular engines ?

[@PureGlide]

Yeah a bit, but not completely 100% reliable

[@Paul-vh6ul]

There have been accidents due to overly optimistic remaining charge estimates, and battery fires (both aloft and on the ground). Electric thrust is getting better.

[@FESGlider]

I had an outlanding with my front electric sustainer after 3 low saves in one flight. Yes even with electric power you can outland.

[@mattmatt245]

@@FESGlider If you at 500m how far can you go with full battery ?

[@FESGlider]

@@mattmatt245 the airmass makes a big difference as to how much power you need to maintain level fight as in heavily sinking air you need more power to stay at the same height. The Flight Manual I have says you can fly 60nm using the entire battery capacity, the longest I have flown is 35minutes. This is generally more than enough to find the next thermal.

[@navidecktheraptorboatcompany]

The scenary is very similar wherever you look, so I understand you are carrying two gps for just in case one of them fails ... if you where not doing so, IMO you would be lost and could not find the emergency landing spots ... am I right ??

[@PureGlide]

Yeah I have a backup of everything, a backup logger, and a backup navigation device. More so if one fails during a contest I can complete the task!

[@cathodion]

Hi there, I was wondering if gliders can have an automatic pilot? Just to keep on course en level, so you can study a map or something.

[@PureGlide]

Not yet, but they’re working on glider fly by wire and it’s definitely possible!

[@Paul-vh6ul]

Most gliders are very stable due to long wings and pronounced dihedral. You can trim, level the wings and let go of the stick. It's also possible to shallow bank using just the rudder pedals. Some gliders will do a 'benign spiral' with only elevator trim. The benign spiral is useful for an emergency descent through IMC. I know a pilot who used his parachute to escape IMC. The glider spiraled down and landed upright in the forest. They used a helicopter to retrieve the glider. Pilot uninjured.

[@soaruk3697]

Of course, but actually knowing how to crash a glider to minimise damage to yourself, should everything actually go tits up, which can happen, especially in mountains, is a vital skill that seems rarely taught . I'm not sure if its taught or discussed in NZ? The only guy I have come across that I have seen really address this is Tom Knauff in the USA....

[@PureGlide]

Yeah it is worth thinking about, they teach us about landing on river beds and shingle as a last resort. My key tip: make the wings take as much of the impact as possible!

[@soaruk3697]

@@PureGlide Exactly, one of the techniques, that works well in a lot of situations. Tom is probably one of the best and most experienced instructors after Piggot - world record holder, owner of Ridge Soaring in the US - was way ahead of others in his thinking and instructional methods - his books on instructing and judgement training are a good read.

[@ibraheemtalash5094]

I have heard some gliders can do 5000 ft per 60 miles?

[@wazzywoz]

Hey mate where did you get that map of the local strips around Wanaka area?

[@PureGlide]

Hi most likely that’s from the Omarama gliding crew, they used to produce landout maps for the gliders but not sure anyone still does

[@tommidd8042]

How do Gliders Not Crash in the Mountains? Well, there's a person in control of the glider.

[@PureGlide]

😂

[@tommidd8042]

@@PureGlide I just had to, sorry. LOL. ATP but no glider time.

[@serverlan763]

how much does a fancy glider like yours cost?

[@PureGlide]

Hi about $100k NZD ($60k USD) for an old Ventus with an engine. Cheaper without an engine of course.

[@serverlan763]

@@PureGlide Right and annual maintenance costs? I assume like GA these would be mandatory?

[@nosarcasm1]

Did you know the rule for stunt kite usage? When you arrive at the field, the wind is gone...

[@PureGlide]

Haha so true..

[@pilot3016]

A better question is..Why can't most single engine aircraft make it up above 21, 000 ft. like I have. Chuckle.

[@nigelmoore957]

I wonder how do the farmers feel about gliders turning up in their fields unexpectedly? Are they cool about it? Do they have a laugh? What happens?

[@PureGlide]

Yeah most in New Zealand are very friendly about it. Get the kids out to have a sit quite often. Only if we damage crops or scare animals do people get annoyed, so we avoid that. We also invite them to an annual BBQ to keep up the community good will. Also critical is to ensure you get permission to retrieve if possible, and leave gates/fences exactly as you find them.

[@nigelmoore957]

@@PureGlide Hi, thanks for the reply and I find your videos most informative / educational. Just recently watched the video where the instructor and student were flying blind in the clouds (scary!). Out of curiosity what are the top brands / or models of sailplanes used? Is there a preference for beginners, advanced or professional users?

[@PauloOliveira-jl8zf]

Imagine flying at this region years ago, without computers / gps…could you describe a little?

[@PureGlide]

Yeah they simply had paper maps instead, and had to judge glide angles by eye. We still do a lot of that these days too. One difference is the newer gliders have much flatter glide ratios, so it’s harder these days to work it out by eye!

[@PauloOliveira-jl8zf]

@@PureGlide Yeah, indeed, but compared to current training in Airline Pilots, in which some have few experience in manual instrument flying, pilots who start flying on gliders may find it useful to start along the traditional lines, evolving into training based on current equipment.

[@georgecormier601]

Usually the procedure is called " crash "

[@PureGlide]

For glider pilots it's just 'landing'...

[@georgecormier601]

@@PureGlide OK, maybe I should have called it " crash landing" haha Just a bit of humor here. Glider pilots always know where to land. Usually from where they took off from. I have the utmost respect for pilots flying without the safety of an engine. The right stuff there. I fly a trike and have never dared turn the engine off while up there. So that tells you something. Let's all stay safe and fly for many years to come.

[@TheSoaringChannel]

I rather enjoy custard. 😁 😉

[@PureGlide]

Me too!

[@RonaiHenrik]

Oh I thought you just jump out the airplane and let it crash wherever, when things go south. That's why you always have a parachute, no? Trevor should have taken some notes

[@barking.dog.productions1777]

Hahahaha new viewer here - this looks like a good channel... that sure was a long winded way to say that emergency landings in the mountains is a non-issue.

[@PureGlide]

Pretty much! And welcome to the channel

[@bazzer621]

How do glides not crash in the mountains? Think it's called training and experience! When you fly a glider you don't, usually, have the luxury of an engine to cover your lack of ability to fly safely!

[@tempest411]

It looks like people there are very accomodating of your hobby. I bet the people where I live in the S.F.Bay Area (California, USA) wouldn't be so civil. I can see it now...landing on some vacant patch of land...you'd surely be given a citation by the authorities, and sued by the owner of the property on top of that.

[@PureGlide]

Yeah I’ve landed in over 70 farmer’s fields and airstrips in NZ, and never had any real problems. Everyone is very understanding. I am also careful to contact the owner and ask for permission to retrieve the glider, and let them know what’s happened. Keeps people on side.

[@tempest411]

@@PureGlide That's nice. People aren't like that here. At the very least you'd be sued for a million+$$$ for causing the owner of the land 'emotional duress'.

[@Outworlder]

Are you sure about that? There are glider clubs in the Bay Area. I've seen recoveries and people seem to be chill. Also balloons landing in farm fields in Napa, no problem. Balloon crews even have a champagne tradition, they used to carry bottles since 1780's as a gesture of good will to farmers. Similarly, you can expect glider clubs to have a preexisting relationship they've been building for a long time. I'm sure there's some grumpy hermit somewhere. If you land far away from a glider base you are more likely to be considered a curiosity and novelty. Obviously you should try to avoid disturbing crops or livestock. Also no laws are broken unless one is flying over congested areas or similar. Or loitering after touching down.

[@florianeiser6084]

would be interesting to know. I know that in Europe you are allowed to land wherever you want when in a glider because if you can't find any more lift you HAVE to outland to avoid an emergency landing. Property damages are handled by insurance.

[@berniemccann8935]

Title: Stupid Question.

[@PureGlide]

Thank you?

[@moontan91]

certainly not a hobby for the monetary-challenged. lol ; )