SCOTLAND HANGLIDING - BRITISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 2 2024

[@josephstearn3393]

Went to school at St Andrews University - so cool to seeing you flying there! I live in Massachusetts now - hoping to get back someday and fly at home. Nice new setup with the sound btw, good blend of wind and voice.

[@atosvr2]

😁

[@MooSurfer]

Thanks, I'm pleased with it too. More reliable than the GoPro

[@alsstuff]

Oh I do miss the hang gliding. No movement in my neck since I broke it (NOT hang gliding) so had to give up but thanks for your videos - keeps me somewhat sane 😂

[@MooSurfer]

I'm sorry to hear about that... a working neck is sort of a prerequisite for hanggliding isn't it! I'm glad you like the videos though - and thanks for watching!

[@EphiBlanshey]

Great video, Darren! I love the commentary and hearing your thought process. Lots to learn here.

[@MooSurfer]

Thank you... for some people I talk too much, but I like it this way.

[@EphiBlanshey]

@@MooSurfer there are plenty of other channels people can watch for pure hang gliding footage. Your style is unique in the HG world.

[@ronfreeman9385]

Hi Darren as ever great video nice to see Bishop again keep them coming 👍😎

[@MooSurfer]

Thanks Ron... I'm working on the next one right now!

[@petehelliwell]

Good work making it in to goal 😎. Nice edit too! Makes me wanna fly over there a bit more!

[@MooSurfer]

It's really great!!! Even better today from Glen Coe...

[@andymccann2716]

Awesome day for you Darren well done 👍🎉

[@MooSurfer]

Thanks Andy!

[@robertosoest3846]

Just like a bird very Nice Darren greetings from Norway🎉

[@MooSurfer]

Thanks Roberto!!

[@windninja]

Nice one Darren and happy birthday landings today!

[@MooSurfer]

Thanks! It was a great flight on my birthday today too... video to come soon...

[@AllanPhillips]

Great flight - thanks for sharing!

[@MooSurfer]

You're welcome - thanks for watching!

[@blue_beephang-glider5417]

Great flight, loved the captions and 360 panning, they helped heaps in understanding whats going on. Also liked the altitude/track-log debrief. 😎👍 We are planning a trip to the UK next year would there be anywhere that could hire me a glider (and site knowledge)? One flight would take the trip to the next level. Looking at being there through June July.

[@MooSurfer]

It depends where in the UK you are intending to go?

[@skypix777]

Warms me Scottish blood to see you flying over the beautiful country. Congrats on making that leg to goal! Been meaning to ask for some time: is there anything special about the selfie stick you use on the glider? I know you have the 360 camera too but it's the stick I'm wondering about. Keep up the great videos! Jim (Mac)Lawrence

[@MooSurfer]

Thanks Jim! Yep, my selfie stick is invisible. You can make your own just by using any stick with the correct thread in the ends (standard camera thread) and then painting it with invisible paint. I did this - I bought a metal stick with the thread in the end, fitted it to my mount and painted it with the invisibility paint. The paint is hard to get hold of to be fair. Works perfectly.

[@paicolman]

Cool video, very enjoyable as always, specially with this f**g weather here in switzerland at the moment 😂😭. How long (hours) was your flight?

[@MooSurfer]

I'm not sure... I think just under 3 hours, including the messing around near take off

[@JulieMcDermott-mh6fc]

Hi. Hope you had a great flight today and managed to get 1st place. We would have loved to see you all take off but places to be. Long way back to Yorkshire

[@MooSurfer]

Not first place unfortunately - but I DID manage to get to goal after an amazing flight. It was really difficult but totally fantastic over the mountains. Video to come soon.... Nice to meet you both and thanks for watching! Next time though obviously you need to help carry my glider 😉

[@jemmamcdermott2038]

Will look out for you next time I’m in the Peak District and give you a hand 😀

[@MooSurfer]

@@jemmamcdermott2038 Please do!!! No hand required though really - just come and say hello.

[@Neale190]

Awesome video thanks!

[@oldwaitekauri]

Bishop was where I had my first high flight on a Moonraker 77, in 1978. I had a seated harness I'd never done a hang check in. When I lifted off, I discovered I could rest my chin on the base bar - seated... I didn't turn before I landed ☺. And we carried up the front in those days.

[@MooSurfer]

A bit TOO exciting then!!

[@stevencrosby8313]

Hi Darren, what system did you set up to have the good voice recording? The native sound recording is bad with the wind. Anyway look forwarding to seeing you in Ager

[@MooSurfer]

Yes I look forward to seeing you too Steve! This is an insta 360 X4 with a lavalier mic and wind muffler

[@NickChittyFlying]

Great job Darren

[@MrMoyesboy]

Is this movie so long because you took so long to get to goal? Mrmoyesboy made a much shorter video, was he faster?

[@MooSurfer]

He made a shorter video because he had less interesting stuff to show! And still didn't manage to land before the music stopped. Just as you told me to put Gordon 🤣

[@Highrockman]

I must have missed where you talked about the turn point but nice flight..

[@MooSurfer]

Thanks... I maybe was not very clear about the turn point

[@chrsfrwll]

That has to be the most understated reaction to arriving in goal ever - casually mention "oh I've made goal" 😂

[@MooSurfer]

I barely noticed ;-)

[@BD_Ozarks]

How is the camera controlled in flight….pan, zoom, 360??

[@MooSurfer]

No need to control the camera in flight. It records 360 degrees so in the editing after you can move and zoom the camera

[@BD_Ozarks]

Ah got it. Thank you!! I know making these vids can be a grind but I really appreciate your work! Thank you!,

[@MooSurfer]

@@BD_Ozarks Thank you ! Yes it's a lot of work, but the end result is usually worth it. Especially if people like it.

[@donaldpayne1376]

Great flight Darren, fun to watch rooting for you to make goal. Great explanations on the way too. Thank you

[@andymccann2716]

I have an idea for a video, rigging the topless, I'd watch it and i can't find it anywhere, come on Darren, you have to rig it any anyway😊

[@MooSurfer]

Really? You think people would watch that? With an explanation, or just rigging it up?

[@skyjockbill]

Take off not a million miles from where my Gran used to live in Thornton!

[@MooSurfer]

I should land in her back garden....

[@deepakingole]

this is t2 or t3 ? your landing as if your landing sports 2 haha. good landing

[@MooSurfer]

It's a Moyes RX pro 3.5. Lands very similar to my T3 - both land really nicely

[@avianer77]

@Darren Brown i'm not knowing someone who has flown the T3 and the Rx, so i need your knowledge :-). I have a T2C 154 since 10 years. Landing i'm doing good. I was thinking of T3 Upgrade, but also i'm not really got used how to enter a thermal (flying in the Alps). Is it worth to try a RX? Is there a remarkable difference in thermalling or is it very minor? I would be very thankful if you find some time to comment.

[@MooSurfer]

​@@avianer77 I previously had a T2C 154. That went up fast, but I was just below the mid weight range of it and it was difficult to keep up with people going on a glide - especially I was thrown off course in turbulence. My last glider was a T3 144. I noticed a big difference in glide and also handling, which were improved. Partly because of it being a T3 I think, but I believe it was more because of the reduced size. However I did struggle to climb as fast as other people on this smaller glider. Now I am on the RX Pro 3.5. This is a very similar glider to the T3 but there are some notable differences. 1. The RX has a slightly worse glide than the T3 / T2C. 2. The RX requires even more correct use of pitch to turn it. This means a co-ordinated turn - it is more easy to get turned on the RX and more difficult to correct. Although now I am getting used to the technique it is getting easier. 3. The RX 'feels' the air much better. It is much easier to feel the surges in thermals and the vagaries of the air you fly in. This glider feels more 'wingy' than the Wills Wing - the wills feels more stable and like you are flying on rails. 4. As a result of this, the RX climbs MUCH faster and it is a lot easier to thermal. I have noticed a big difference in how fast I climb on the RX compared to the T3. Before I was getting left behind in climbs and now I am catching people up. I believe this is partly because of the better feel and 'wingy' effect of the glider, but also because the RX3.5 is slightly larger than the T3 144. I think this glider is about perfect for my weight (82kg). In summary: The Wills Wing has a better glide performance and feels more stable. The RX feels more wingy and climbs faster. My choice for which is better for ME is the RX. In relation to entering thermals - what is the problem? Is it that you cannot find them? Or is it that you are finding it difficult to centre in the thermals when you get in them? What happens? Are you wondering how tight to turn?

[@avianer77]

@Darren Brown Wow! What a feedback. Thank you for spending so much time into it. Conclusion is, that it is definitely different and worth to testfly it before spending much money into a T3 upgrade. I owe you a beer or two, next time we meet. Once you parked next to me on Monte Cucco, but we didn't talk. I was free flying and not part of the competition. My issue with the T2C 154: I have about 110kg hook in weight with a heavy skyline harness. The glider has a good handling in calm air. Well, it's a big heavy wing and doesn't have a high roll rate, but if you give the impulse the wing reacts immediately. But flying straight into the thermal, i can steer as much as i want, it still flies straight for a while. Ending up beeing late in first turn. And need second and third attempts if the thermal is narrow. After so many years with it, I have my tricks. Pushing the speed bar on the outside does not have a huge effect and i'm falling into the turn afterwards. Pulling the speedbar on the inside has a better effect, but i loose climb compared to others. At the end i'm doing a mix of it, first pull to get the initial turn and then soften it slowly into a pull. It works somehow. Second trick is to start the turn before entering the thermal (for the second attempt), changing bank angle is much easier than starting from nil angle. I would say i feel the air and i can center the thermal, once i'm in. Also the climb is good once in the center. So this is whining at a very high level. Last flight two weeks ago was at Emberger Alm during the Austrian-Czech hang gliding nationals, the thermals were weak, narrow and bumpy. Exact condition where i struggle with the Wills, it was tough work to make it up to cloud base. Other pilots (for sure better pilots than me) climbed better. With Rx, T3 and T2C's. Also with limited control (in and out in thermals), i don't like to fly in gaggles. Don't get me wrong, i'm doing good in XC flying. Out Landings are because of wrong decisions and not because i was not able to thermal properly. That's why other people and flying friends do not really understand my issue. In summary i would say i miss the feeling of being in good control all the time. Confident to fly to the next mountain with the good feeling, which i had on my intermediate wing, that i will make most out of the next thermal no matter what. Thank you again for your answer. It sounds like the Rx can be the answer to my needs :-) Cheers, Andreas

[@NathanDudani]

Imagine if the Romans used these a couple thousand years ago over there

[@MooSurfer]

The world could be a different place ;-)