What fun - cliff soaring in NZ

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CharlieOneSix
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What fun - cliff soaring in NZ

#1 Post by CharlieOneSix » Sun Aug 11, 2019 5:52 pm

If you are short of time try from 1:20 onwards.....wouldn't take much for this to go wrong!

The helicopter pilots' mantra: If it hasn't gone wrong then it's just about to...
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TheGreenGoblin
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Re: What fun - cliff soaring in NZ

#2 Post by TheGreenGoblin » Tue Aug 13, 2019 7:06 pm

Extraordinary skill. One wonders where he landed once he ran out of beach?
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Re: What fun - cliff soaring in NZ

#3 Post by llondel » Tue Aug 13, 2019 7:47 pm

Sounds like he's got a Clanger on board.

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Re: What fun - cliff soaring in NZ

#4 Post by CremeEgg » Tue Aug 13, 2019 9:10 pm

Pretty rough down that low; takes skill and luck to be that low and fast. Also recommend a similar video from the late Matt Wrights aka Balleka's You Tube channel; many superb gliding videos and many from when he was with MK Airlines. Sadly his luck ran out on a launch on Dartmoor.

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Re: What fun - cliff soaring in NZ

#5 Post by Slasher » Wed Aug 14, 2019 2:49 am

I thought John Hill would make a blurb here esp regarding the question raised in post #2. He flies donkless planes in NZ.

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Re: What fun - cliff soaring in NZ

#6 Post by FD2 » Wed Aug 14, 2019 4:59 am

Great skill! Feel part of me constricting when he gets low...

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Re: What fun - cliff soaring in NZ

#7 Post by larsssnowpharter » Thu Aug 29, 2019 7:35 am

Thanks for posting that C16. Exciting stuff!

As to where he could land, I suspect he could make it back to his launch point or, if not, there are a few beaches he's passed over (including one where he must have been in ground effect at close to VNE!).

Given the discussion on the Russian A321 and turnbacks, elsewhere, Matt Wright's accident is a salutary lesson.

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Re: What fun - cliff soaring in NZ

#8 Post by Fliegenmong » Wed Sep 04, 2019 8:31 am

"From the late Matt Wrights aka Balleka's You Tube channel"

Oh, that is sad to hear I have watched many of hill excellent videos, had no idea he was no longer alive, much less so long ago .. :(
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Re: What fun - cliff soaring in NZ

#9 Post by CremeEgg » Wed Sep 04, 2019 8:40 am

A sad loss indeed but a lesson for us all.

[url]https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... 8.pdf/[url]

Edit - link doesn't appear to work - try AAIB report 2/2018 on G-CFNG. When I've more time I'll try and get the link to work - more likely my fault than AAIB's.

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Re: What fun - cliff soaring in NZ

#10 Post by TheGreenGoblin » Wed Sep 04, 2019 11:33 am

CremeEgg wrote:
Wed Sep 04, 2019 8:40 am
but a lesson for us all.
Indeed! Here's the link.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... _02-18.pdf
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Re: What fun - cliff soaring in NZ

#11 Post by TheGreenGoblin » Wed Sep 04, 2019 1:07 pm

It can happen to the best of pilots.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... _07-11.pdf

Swift Accident.jpg

Happy to say the team is still going strong as is Mr Newman, the pilot in that crash.

http://www.gliderfx.co.uk/about-us/team-history/
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Re: What fun - cliff soaring in NZ

#12 Post by CharlieOneSix » Thu Sep 05, 2019 10:31 am

That's a hell of a photo! If that had been a spot landing competition with the white line as a target he'd have got first prize.
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Re: What fun - cliff soaring in NZ

#13 Post by JimR » Fri Sep 13, 2019 6:49 pm

I guess he just wanted to make sure his altimeter was calibrated accurately at sea level!

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