FIRST FLIGHT in a Single Seater Glider | K8 Launch, Flight & Landing | & Stalls | GoPro Cockpit View

[@skydive1424]

This brings me back to 1975 as a youngster. First loop, wingover, solo spin. Bit like your first girlfriend.... Could land on a dime. In thermals, you could outclimb anything. Absolutely anything! Such a sweet machine! Loved it!

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Rock on! Thanks for watching!

[@EltoV]

Yes! You're hitting nails! During off-season we had precision landing competitions and could land it on a post stamp, like I called it... The spoilers were so effective. And let's not start about how it reacted to ground effect... If you increased your speed to 140km/h instead of 100km/h on final after leveling it off (without spoilers)2m above ground level, it just kept on flying...

[@jakobus0_036]

Love that plane

[@germanaronchi9722]

Happy days nearly 40 years ago when I felt the same emotions in this very light glider

[@robsmit4553]

Flown one last 42 years ago. Accomplished my FAI -C license on first solo with her in 1974. Nice gliders.

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Nice gliders indeed!

[@boballoon]

Did my first solo in a K8 at Weston on the Green in 1976, that feeling never went away, a beautiful aircraft

[@jcb2001]

So did I, but in 1973. I flew with Chilterns Gliding. Best sailplane ever is the K-8B.

[@skydive1424]

Soloed on the Ka-7 but absolutely loved the 8! Absolute sweetheart!

[@amelia_glider_pilot16]

might of even been the same one! G-DHFW?

[@mikeonb4c]

I learned with Oxford GC at Weston on the Green. First soloed in a K13 but first single seater was the K8 and I sent on to fly my silver distance in it and had many great flights in K8s. Fabulous for coring thermals and so light on the controls, but don't get too far downwind of the airfield chasing thermals on a breezy day!

[@greybirdo]

My wife did 4 hours and 56 minutes in one. Yep, she fell down 4 short of her five hours. She was less convinced of the lovely Ka8B’s delights then. I once did two straight and level stalls in a row in one and gained 200 feet. Nicest glider you’ll ever fly. A feather has more penetration into wind, but still the nicest glider ever made to just pootle around the airfield for an hour or two.

[@joshdob5935]

Good old k8, was my first single seater tooo

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Awesome!

[@alancampbell1161]

Sweet is probably the most descriptive word for the K8, and totally at home with the winch. Some of the best fun you can have.

[@micko6393]

Always will have a soft spot for the Ka 8b! Delightful glider.

[@fritz4345]

I still remember my first Ka8 flight and that was in 1979. What a great feeling that was.

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Great feeling indeed, thanks for watching!

[@harrymyd3294]

I went solo in the k13 at Bicester 2 weeks ago and should be in the k8 this weekend, and from this video I can’t wait for it

[@greatflyer_aviation]

You will love it! Be very careful while rotating, it has a tendency to balloon if you over correct for the pitch up, your instructors will definitely brief you.

[@harrymyd3294]

GreatFlyer Went in the k8 today , had four flights and oh my god, I can’t believe still how light the glider is and how easy it is to fly. What an amazing glider for sure.

[@robsmit4553]

Nothing wrong with ask 13, better plane

[@EltoV]

This brings many memories when I did my first Ka8 flight after going solo in the Ka7... That was in 1990... During my first flight in it, my instructor asked through the radio:"how does it feel?" I answered it was not like you're sitting in an airplane, but it felt like I've put a backpack on and just soar... It still remains my favorite glider!

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thanks for sharing your memories ✈️

[@meeswerners5154]

Nice! The K8 is such a nice aircraft!

[@amelia_glider_pilot16]

HFW was the first single seater I flew, being super light I am able to thermal her at 35 knots! She's a fantastic aircraft and my favourite K8! I remember taking her up for the first time and being able to use 2 finger on the stick. K8 and T21s are my favourite!

[@greatflyer_aviation]

I agree!

[@ChipMIK]

720 meters in a wichstart with 1200 meters of wire was my record in one of these som 35 years ago. 100 Km in 2:29 while the fiberglasses did it in 1:30 that day. Very nice in weak thermals and actually preferred it against the Ka-6CR beside the 6´er was allowed to loop 😇😁

[@dunbustin]

Lovely control of the aircraft. He makes it look easy! Superb.

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thanks so much for watching, feel free to watch my other gliding videos!

[@unacceptableechopapamike7189]

Very nice, brings back memories, I soloed in a K7 and put a lot of hours in a K8 ( back in the mid 70’s

[@robsmit4553]

Popular gliders of the area, love the ka-7b more

[@znek4288]

Did my required solos on the k13 yesterday and need one more check flight on it. Checked the weather and its a thermally day today!! Cant wait to finally get to keep something in the air this time with the fantastic k8 b! My mate from flightschool and i were both racing to get to this point and we cant wait to fly this magnificent aircraft! Thanks for making me even mor excited for today❤

[@greatflyer_aviation]

This genuinely made me smile! All the best to you, I miss gliding so much!

[@johnkarikas3346]

Το καλύτερο κανάλι στο KZbin έχεις φίλε !

[@asprovins]

I did this as a 15 years old teenager. The feeling was exactly the same. Wow so light compared to the heavy two seater Lehrmeister.

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Exciting times! Thanks for visiting.

[@naoakiooishi6823]

Congratulations & welcome aboard

[@fritz4345]

Thanks for reminding me how cool it was, flying the Ka 8 for the first time. :-)

[@greatflyer_aviation]

You're most welcome!

[@alfredwhite3841]

You are one of my favourite KZbinrs!

[@VMCAviationVideos]

You keep tapping the altimeter, is that standard procedure in a glider to make sure it isn't stuck?

[@VMCAviationVideos]

That makes sense, better safe than sorry!

[@olivier1106]

TheGreatFlyer don’t use the altimeter, use your eyes, they are better up to 10,000 ft roughly

[@mauritsvanderpol7415]

AusomeOllie I disagree. Most altimeters in a glider indeed tend to lag behind. Looking outside is important, but don’t start guessing your altitude. Better safe than sorry indeed.

[@alenirsic3500]

I was doing it in a traffic pattern all of the time like every few moments and my instructor was going crazy over it..

[@unacceptableechopapamike7189]

It was in the K8 LoL I’d forgot that

[@amonralice2]

Wooo, that was great.

[@stonelaughter]

I loved the Ka8 but my favourite was the K18... it's like the Ka8 but with a better view out and faster.

[@henrikcarlsen1881]

Must be an engineer with that wrist watch. That cotton yarn, the camera angle isn't perfect, but it's not the only reason to it waving off to the sides. Soloed in a K8 as well; loved that plane.

[@bernardkirumbalanoi6064]

Great flight man great stuff

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Glad you liked it! Check out my other gliding videos as well.

[@spadgm]

Lol, cool vid, you were so relaxed!

[@michaelgale2324]

my favourite glider is the Ka8 and it was the first single seater flight made .at Weston on the Green

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thanks for watching!

[@greybirdo]

The three constant checks in a circuit - Angle, Attitude, Airspeed. Altimeter doesn’t enter into it. Angle to your aiming point is not too steep and not too shallow, you have the correct nose attitude for your selected circuit, and you confirm with ASI. Once you’re broken off and joined circuit, the altimeter is just a distraction, and indeed paying too much attention to it in an outlanding situation could get you killed.

[@Flightjunkie4u]

What a great video. I was waitig- ad not disappointed- for when you did the 2-finger flying. I've never flown an airplane- but, I've been told that all pilots will, sooner-or-later, try the 2-finger method just to see how "light" a plane feels.

[@athaviation6077]

amazing wll done! nice job!

[@jerrytahaviation]

Awesome video, man. Liked very much. Smooth glider ;-) Greetz

[@alexf1525]

nice video...great view

[@SimonAmazingClarke]

When I'd done the required solos in the K13 we had both K8 and K18. You could only fly the K8 when you had a few hours in the K18. I never did get to fly the K8 because it was always in use, everyone loved it. Congratulations on getting to fly it.

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@lashamgliders]

Just wait until the Astir! You'll be blown away

[@Winniethepopo]

Is the astir the best plane in your club ?

[@henrikcarlsen1881]

The Astir is heavy and old. The best plane I have flown is the LS4 (then kids turned up and I got grounded).

[@skydive1424]

Flew both many hours. Astir penetrated better but was a heavy slug with mild manners. But nothing had the lightness and nimbleness of the 8. Even flew a competition with it believe it or not. Such a joy. No worries about off field landings on a cross country. You could shoehorn this baby in any field

[@malc380]

Did my first single seat solo in a K8 at RAF Cosford aged 16!

[@dannycochrane4330]

I did my 1st solo in a T21 lovelngly know as a brage.

[@dannycochrane4330]

Barge even.

[@malc380]

@@dannycochrane4330 Lol, I knew what you meant mate, I did my first 3 solo's in an RAF Barge then first single seat solo in a k8 then a K6, I'd need a WW2 transport glider these days though! ;)

[@samidemirci4984]

I feel relaxed.

[@MyChannel-bh6sc]

That looks so cool! My first single seater was the LS4, I feel so spoiled now... However, I really want to try the K8. None of the clubs on our field has it, but there's a Ka6CR, which should be similar. I think they require 200 hours before touching the vintage gliders though, and I'm only about 30 hours in.

[@greatflyer_aviation]

I can only dream of touching an LS4 😅 Many thanks for watching though.

[@MyChannel-bh6sc]

@@greatflyer_aviation Aren't you flying big jets now haha? :D

[@robert100xx]

Everyone remembers their first solo in a Ka8. Not a bad word said about them.

[@greatflyer_aviation]

I can agree with that!

[@DavidGonzalez-yg2ok]

You just gave me a dream..

[@richarddavis7778]

Good luck, hope you make it, it will be worth it.

[@Flying2ZC]

A very disciplined and accurate circuit. Lovely held off landing. I love our K8's. Do you talk to yourself? - naturally I fly gliders :-)

[@dannycochrane4330]

I do all the time.

[@sailplanepilotfinn6179]

Why no Ka6? It is such a nice aircraft!

[@robsmit4553]

Ka-6s were mostly privately owned and seldom club aircraft.

[@lucwel1]

why regularly a tap on the altimeter? Nice video .

[@cameronvlogs8548]

The altimeters are designed to work with engine vibrations. Because there are no vibrations in a glider, the altimeter sometimes gets stuck. A gentle tap next to (not on) the altimeter just un-sticks it.

[@RahulSharma-oj4ik]

That fucking joystick ....so perfectly positioned like holding something in hand .. 😂😆

[@laguna3fase4]

Flew K8 at Bicester, then at Cosford. Light on controls, but penetration is'nt great. Try K18

[@kevinswinyer3176]

How expensive is it, and how difficult is it for one to get a Glider Pilot License ?

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Please check out your local gliding club for details. It is challenging but very enjoyable!

[@lukasbleck9240]

Well done, congratulations, is that a K8?

[@lukasbleck9240]

Oscar Eldridge nice 😎

[@oxfordsnowman]

How did you attach the GoPro?

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Shoulder strap.

[@andybellais7954]

Waou I like it 👍

[@alexlennox3521]

Is this at Bicester

[@BRZ513]

Cool!

[@angelo8555]

Hey, I am a huge fan from Athens. Please, I would like to build a home cockpit just like yours. But it is hard for me to make the overhead panel. It would be appreciated if you could contact the friend that made yours to make mine as well. Thank you,

[@unit0033]

what country is this in

[@greatflyer_aviation]

England, in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

[@andrewlogan1555]

Shame that glue failure is causing the K series to be withdrawn from service. I spent a lot of time in a K8 but now own a ASW15. I have always congratulated someone on their first solo but also told them that I will not be impressed until I see them in a single seater. So much lighter and easier. Ever wondered why most private owners only fly singles?

[@greatflyer_aviation]

It was a great experience flying in a single. I do remember having to do regular checks on the glue status on the tail in K13s, there will never be a better training aircraft!

[@richarddavis7778]

Probably because rigging a two-seater is back breaking and you need lots of friends, but it is a good point. As for the ASW15, has there ever been a prettier glider or one that is nicer to fly?

[@robsmit4553]

@@greatflyer_aviation not true the ka4 rhonlerche is better because it forces you to master a few more tricks

[@MrFathimarwan]

How this thing can flh

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Literally as long as you can find a source of lift! Check out my longest glider flight video which lasted almost 4 hours.

[@clivebrealey6795]

I think my longest flight was about 5hrs 40min.🙂

[@victorwalker8994]

115 hours in in air wiith k8 sa

[@d3xterown]

throw it on the skid when you landed it, you will stop really fast

[@mauritsvanderpol7415]

That’s incorrect procedure and also the skid is not meant for that. It’s going to wear off much faster

[@sonics7661]

Who want be a fighter pilot or a pilot ? Write your choice .

[@Nana-hk5py]

Sonics Pilot 🖑

[@sonics7661]

DaWea me fighter pilot !

[@Bergfex61]

on a first solo, no teacher would allow a gopro

[@greatflyer_aviation]

Yes, I was not allowed to film my first solos.

[@Dzordzikk]

Don´t like aircrafts that are too lite on stick. I want feel my plane.