Thursday, November 26, 2009

More RLF Footage

Same RLF as in the post below, but video taken from the ground. Courtesy of Aerochris

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Monday, November 16, 2009

RLF - Restriced Landing Field

Some hang gliding sites have whats called a Restricted Landing Field (RLF). There is a special skill sign off for RLFs and I believe it is one of the most valuable skills to master in hang gliding. I practice RLFs almost every time I land, regardless of if the field is large or small.

RLFs refer to landing areas that are not only small, but have tall obstacles around their perimeter. Good spot landing skills are a prerequisite for a good RLF landings, but in addition to being able to hit your spot landing, your approach pattern is severely limited by the obstacles around the field.

It is this limited approach that makes the landings tricky. At a minimum, your base and final approach is going to be confined to the area within the perimeter of the obstacles, and often you downwind leg will be as well. Since the small field does not allow for a long final, your are by definition going to be turning close to the ground, and flying very close to those obstacles.

Speed is your friend here, as is precise glider control and the ability to execute your entire approach path accurately (In an RLF landing you typically do not have the option of extending your downwind or base legs to hit your spot. Once you are on you downwind, you are typically committed with few adjustment options). A standard RLF approach is going to aim to be turning onto final as close to the downwind obstacles as possible, and as low to the ground as can be safely executed.

You can practice these landings by setting up an imaginary perimeter in larger fields. Do this often. Then when it is time to pull of the real thing you will already have learned how to anticipate your glide on downwind accurately, and how low you can comfortable turn.

We've got a site in the Bay Area that is a great example of an RLF. A typical wind direction will require an approach with your base leg going through a slot between large trees, while simultaneously flying over some smaller trees (no room to adjust once your on base). Following that you need to make a 90 degree turn low, and then land on a slight downhill with a row of trees on both sides, and another row of trees waiting to greet you at the end if you came in too high.

Here's a couple photos from a less than stellar RLF at Windy Hill. In the first photo I've just completed my turn to final. I'm about 10' off the ground and too high!

Here I am flying downhill, dragging my feet through the mud trying to slow down before the trees.
Dirk took a video of a better approach. Notice how the flight path is completely determined starting from the Base Leg? Behind the big oak tree, over a few smaller ones, behind another, then turn to final.

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Last weekend the wind was light enough to land the other way on the slight uphill. It's a much easier approach, with more room to adjust on your downwind and base leg, but still an RLF, and still a great chance to practice. Ours is the small field marked by the brown overgrowth. Don't be tempted by the larger field next too it. Landing there would get the site shut down. Plus, it is even less flat than our field, and the trees between the two fields are larger than they look making it impractical to use for overshoots.
Notice how close I get to the downwind row of trees. Keep up your speed so you can pull off the low turn safely. Too much fun!

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Sunday, November 8, 2009

Magical Weekend

Some days are beyond words. But I'll try...
Smooth, beautiful day at Ed Levin with wide lift and lots of friends. A night in Half Moon Bay with Christina. Watching the surfers at Maverick's. A reunion with friends and family. A night by the fireplace with games and wine. And flying four hang gliding sites in one go in Tom's Lancair.

Friday, Nov 6:
Fall is upon us and Friday had all the makings of a great post-frontal day at Ed Levin. I left work at 10am and met up with Ben, Tom, Urs and others. My dad came along to drive. The winds were light, the lift was smooth, and the whole range opened up.
Above Ed Levin with gliders in the air

I launched towards the approaching clouds and quickly climbed up. The lift was easy, and cloud base was ~3,700'.
The South Bay

I headed North getting a great glide and stopping for smooth slow climbs along the way. I played around in the middle of the ridge taking in the view, and savoring the rare, gentle day. Ben joined me, and I headed over to Mission Peak.
Looking down at Mission Peak

After an hour I felt the cloud suck building and my hands getting a little cold. I watched Tom loop and spin his way down as I circled in sink over the LZ. Brought it in fast and low over the road for a nice no stepper by the breakdown area.

It's flights like these that make me feel so lucky to have wings.

Saturday, Nov 7:

Christina and I spent Friday night in Half Moon Bay. In the morning the surf was enourmous so we headed out past the airport to watch the big wave surfers at Mavericks. Can you find the surfers in the pictures below?
They don't look so big until you see the tiny people on them...


Saturday evening we had a reunion with friends and family. All the kids I grew up with were invited. It was great to see everyone together and our mothers presented us with a very nostalgic gift. I don't have any pictures, but it will be in my home for years to come.

After dinner T and I headed home to enjoy a relaxing night by the fireplace.

Sunday, Nov 8:

Sunday morning the weather did not look promising for hang gliding. NorthEast throughout the Bay Area. But we have a small, H4 site that works in an East wind. Tom gave me a call and reminded me of this little jewel. But, it was late by the time we figured out where we should be, so it was uncertain if we could get setup and ready before the whole hill was in shadow. Oh well, time for plan B.

It turns out plan B was waaaaaay better than plan A. Tom offered to take me for a ride in his Lancair and I jumped at the chance!
Drool......

We launched and headed over to Windy Hill to check out the launch. The hillside was already in shadow, so we knew we were in the right place with the right aircraft.
Banking around launch in a 2g turn we headed over the back towards the coast. Settling in at 300' we flew up the coast at 200mph.
Heading North towards Half Moon Bay

The Lancair is amazing. It's small and light and powerful. It is like driving a sports car through the sky. Except sports cars don't go this fast....
Flying past the Half Moon Bay airport

We headed to funston where we flew below the cliff, past launch, and circled around in a high g climbing turn. I won't even try to explain it. Just watch the video below.

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We continued up the coast, flying over the Golden Gate.
Low and Fast
The Bay was full of sailboats.

Too much fun,

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SF and the Bay

Sausalito and Tiburon

Tom gave me a quick lesson on the in's and out's of the Lancair, then handed me the controls. We flew out of the bay and turned North again towards Mt Tam. The plane is very sensitive in pitch, with just a tiny bit of pressure needed to get the nose up or down. Roll takes a bit more force, but is still very light. If you input a roll, the plane will want to continue that roll rate. The same goes for pitch. So it is very stable, but requires constant flying. It won't return to level flight on its on.

Flying past Tam I could feel the rotor even out over the water. That site can have big teeth in a North wind.

I banked the plane and turned 180 degrees and headed back south along the coast at about 800'. In a matter of minutes we were past Half Moon Bay again and flying over Waddell Creek. That made 4 hang gliding sites in one day. Not bad....

We climbed a bit near Waddell and then Tom showed off the aerobatic capabilities of his rocket ship. I don't know if it was the plane, or Tom's flying skills. Probably a combination of both, but Tom and his Lancair inspire confidence. The rolls and wingovers were pure fun.

The Highlight...

All of those thing were fun.
But none of them compare to the highlight of my weekend.
The highlight of my life.
Christina said yes...
You and me babe