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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