Glider loses its energy traversing a mountain pass in the French Alps!
Glider pilots must continuously be aware of their glider's energy state, and how that energy is balanced between altitude and airspeed.
Music by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. - www.scottbuckley.com.au
All rights reserved © 2021 Christopher Fleming
The content of this video is for entertainment and informational purposes only. Under no circumstances should one attempt to fly a glider in the mountains without first receiving flight instruction in mountain soaring. One should never operate a glider beyond one’s own capabilities. Fayence Soaring and any of the pilots, instructors, or guests featured in our videos will not be held liable or responsible for any of the content featured on our videos. The following content shall be considered “Use at your own risk.” Always fly responsibly and safely.
#aviation #airplane #gliding #soaring #glider #fayencesoaring #mountains
You'd have got more height if you hadn't got a 70-piece orchestra on board.
Wrong, more weight is more energy ;p
Don’t forget the singers.
Haha
@@Michelottob No he's right and you're dead wrong: *FLYING WITH 70-PIECE ORCHESTRA* "Apart from basic training two seaters, most gliders have the ability to carry a 70-piece orchestra on board. The sole reason for carrying a 70-piece orchestra is to increase the cross country speed on a task. A 70-piece orchestra achieves this by increasing the wing loading of the glider. A glider with a higher wing loading has the same polar curve one with a lower wing loading but the polar curve moves sideways along the higher speed range. This means a high wing loading gives the glider the same sink rate but at a higher cruising speed. For example, a glider with no 70-piece orchestra might have a sink rate 0f 3 knots at 60 knots cruising speed. That same glider with full 70-piece orchestra would achieve the same sink rate but now at 70 knots. This in turn translates to a higher cross country speed in cruise. As with all things though, you don’t get something for nothing. While the 70-piece orchestra will increase cruise speeds, it will also *decrease climb rates* as the glider has more mass. So what is the point of using a 70-piece orchestra then? Glider pilots will only fill up with orchestra ballast on “strong” days because a strong thermal will offset the negatives of a lower climb rate while still keeping the desirable higher cruise speeds."
Yea he launch a tuba off board and maybe the fat lady on the cello. Yay
I remember ridge soaring over Scotland with beautiful conditions, when suddenly and abruptly the wind just stop. There were lots of us over the mountains that day, and it was literally like someone flicked a switch and said "no more free lift for you" and Portmoak never saw so many gliders on approach at once. I felt in hindsight, this was the sort of thing there were no training for, and is where experience, common sense and so-called "airmanship" comes in... Landing on big open field with 15-20 others, I just thought roll as far as I can, so those behind have the most room. It was exciting and chaotic
At least Portmoak is right by its two ridges ... not really any complicated mountains nearby. Learned to fly there. It was great!
Slightly more dramatic than flying in the Australian flatlands. I absolutely love it, beautiful. Thanks for this video.
Very nicely done bit of flying and video editing. Spectacular! Thank you for making the effort to share this and please consider posting more.
Great video. I really liked the introduction of you LX screen at 3:12. Would be nice to see a trace of your next trip in a future video with some airfields/waypoints. PS Great graphics ! Thanks so much.
Hi Chris ! Beautiful Video ! Brings back memories. Second year in a row I haven’t flown the Alps due to travel restrictions. Hope things return to normal next year. Thank you for sharing your flight. Exceptional videography !
Glad that you enjoyed it, John! Hope to see you when you get back to France.
Great video! Thank you for those precious comments regarding flight.
As I commented in a previous video; Having minimal experience as a P2 Paraglider Pilot, your graphics and description of anabatic wind was informative. Expert production quality. I hope that's a preview of coming attractions.
With all the drama captions of impending doom he seems pretty calm.
Stress, anxiety, and discomfort are basic biological responses to not understanding the situation we're in; the opposite is also true. In this video series I am introducing concepts that many pilots have missed during their training, such as the relationship between potential and kinetic energy shown here. Becoming aware of these fundamentals is the first step at becoming a safer pilot -- and by extension, a calmer pilot.
Wow....incredible dramatic footage and clearly very experienced , it just amazes me how vulnerable it all seems yet using the power of altitude and thermals ....
Amazing! Worth reflecting, "what would have made me divert?" "Get-home-itis" is so dangerous.
A very nice video with a great story line and build up, anticipating more . Thanks
That’s an awesome piece of flying that could only be possible with massive experience of the terrain and atmospheric conditions in the area.
With massive experience, he would not get himself into this mess. Lucky, that's all.
Thanks for the ride!! amazing!
As a paragliding pilot this looked pretty relaxing ;)
This must be about as dangerous as glider-flying can get. Pity about the music. It reduces the experience to the level of cinematic fiction. Wind sounds are authentic . . .
Thank you for your comment; I value your feedback. I encourage you to follow the link below to a poll I have published where you may register your opinion. Please also "Like" the poll to invite others to vote as well. kzhead.info/tools/EVtEBGQ7VpSCPnJKkAi1gw.htmlcommunity
Actually the music enhanced the experience. When a person becomes one with the machine, the machine becomes irrelevant and a form of dance occurs with the pilot and his surroundings. It’s quite magical and this is why the music enhances the experience. Different music for different flights. Down low dodging trees it’s rock-n-roll, up high soaring among the clouds and the mountain tops it precisely this style of music. This pilot certainly understands this, that’s why he chose this music.
@Judd_S Please vote in my survey regarding the music. Follow the link below! kzhead.infocommunity
Not sure why you regarded this as so dangerous. Obviously, there is always an element of risk, but the pilot is very experienced and also knows local topography and conditions. It may seem dangerous but in reality I think it's a very well calculated and understood risk level. Although I am generally not interested in having music with videos like this I think the choice of music as ok, although a little loud.
@@aussiesam01 He had a "plan B", the airport 15 miles behind him I think?
Fantastic!! That was amazing!!! As a single engine pilot for the last 30 years, I've always wanted to learn to soar. I've read lots of material, but have yet to take any lessons. That video isn't the type of soaring they do out here in west Texas. Mostly thermal soaring which I suspect is a whole different animal. Thank You for sharing!! :)
Where in West Texas are you? I used to soar from El Paso!
Really great video Chris, I enjoyed it greatly!
Beautifully done, music was perfect for this flight, the view a feast for our eyes. Best camera work too, the way it rotates from front to back so smoothly. Could you tell us how what equipment was used, and how you controlled those shots?
Thank you for the kind words. I film with a GoPro MAX in 360, and edit to 1080p in FCPx.
Incredible video, your editing made this wonderful to watch.
Reminds me of my Aussie Airforce days flying the mountains of central Papua New Guinea, in single engine'd Huey's, very different from gliding but with the same critical decision processes required. Always have a bug-out route available !
That was scary ! And not just because of the music. I guess it takes steal nerves to fly in the mountains and luck. I myself would have turned around and headed to that airfield behind me at first sight of that clouds lowering and starting to close the pass....but that's me .... beautiful camera work do. And skilled airmanship.
That was really fun, thanks a bunch
Well presented video and description of flight. I don't think I am ready to fly in the mountains as I was anxious watchng you fly there. I'm a flat land pilot, thermal-run, thermal-run and repeat.
This page is so cool. I hope you don't mind if I mention this .... Australian glider pilots are commemorating the very recent passing of Ingo Renner, believed to be Australia's greatest glider pilot and instructor. Apparently he accumulated 35,000 hours in gliders, which is an astonishing feat, and he won virtually every championship going including 4 world titles.
Great airmanship. Thanks for sharing.
omg,amazing video.thx so much!
Always wanted to learn to fly gliders. This is a great motivator to get going! Fantastic! To be able to sit on a small piece of plastic and some metal and soar like an eagle.
A small downdraft on that ridge and you'd have been walking home. Nice quality video.
nah...he wouldn't be walking home, or anywhere else for that matter.
DAMN DUDE. I sat through the WHOLE thing. Well done film!
Fabuleux. Merci pour cette magnifique vidéo et bravo à toi. Mais il m'est arrivé une fois en vol d'onde en moto-planeur en Auvergne montés à 3000 mètres de "ne plus arriver" à descendre aérofreins sortis, une vrille par mon copain pilote, et quand l'ascendance nous à lâché, "chute libre" G négatifs, clefs du hangar qui étaient à mon cou accrochées une cordelette collées à la verrière, pfffff......pas près de l'oublier celle là, en pilotant un des Jodel D120 du club je n'ai jamais eu une telle émotion ! je ne suis jamais allé dans les Alpes l'été faire du vol de pente avec les copains.....
le coup du vol d'onde en negatif je connais bien ,ça calme :-)
Awesome video, Sir. Grateful if you could respond with brief comment on your departure field elevation, tow release and how you gained and maintained further elevation .. duration of this awesome flight. Awesome flying !!
Thank you for the kind words. Fayence is near the Mediterranean Sea at 226 meters elevation (741 feet), and I shut down the engine at ~1,300 meters (~4, 200 feet). The mountain pass in the video is ~130 kilometers (~80 miles) north of Fayence near Saint-Crépin, and has an elevation of ~3,000 meters. The flight went as far north as the Aosta Valley in northwestern Italy, ~250 kilometers (~155 miles) from Fayence. The principle form of lift during the day was thermals, but in the video I was mostly flying in anabatic lift along the ridges.
Great video! Teach as much as you can...it was so short...Thanks!
Awesome footage ,I could do without music and just the wind ....
Thank you for your comment; I value your feedback. I encourage you to follow the link below to a poll I have published where you may register your opinion. Please also "Like" the poll to invite others to vote as well. kzhead.info/tools/EVtEBGQ7VpSCPnJKkAi1gw.htmlcommunity
I agree
@@FayenceSoaring I enjoyed music, some fine aviating too.
@@FayenceSoaring Or just watch KZhead muted...
Yah, I agree, I was going to say exactly the same thing. The music was a little over-dramatic to the point of being almost farcical.
Very cool finite balance and control basically thinking a way seeing updrafts and trajectories a delicate balancing act ,experience and art combined
Beautiful as always. Thanks for pointing out that you always had an alternate available.
Always within range of a safe place to land. Always.
Great! Much greetings from Austria!
I honestly had no idea that this kind of flying could be done. Breathtaking.
nice video !!! keep going !!
Beautiful Video!
breathtaking and i am only experiencing it from my pj's
Wow. That .. was … amazing!
I can understand why you do it, lovely.
wow...nice footage
Boyoboy watching this had me on the edge of my seat 💺
I actually like the quality production with the camera angles, the music, and commentary. Looking forward to more and wishing you a lot more subscribers. As for me, it's time to dust off that Condor and go flying out of Fayence. ;-)
Beautiful
Cool video, couple of questions. Does the water in your wing freeze during flights in these cold areas, and do you have heat in the glider? How long can it efficiently run heat?
Thank you for watching! Yes, there's a minimum temperature for keeping water in the wings; below that temperature the water must be jettisoned. And no, there's no heater. The only heat is from the greenhouse effect of the canopy, therefore our feet can freeze! I use the same foot warmers that are commonly available at outdoor sports stores or ski shops.
Great watch. Is there a heater in the cockpit or does it get naturally warm from the sunlight like in a greenhouse?
There's no heater. The greenhouse effect generally keeps you warm, but it get very cold in the winter and warmer clothing is required.
Rhâââ ! Enfin un vrai film d'action !
Magnifique !
Beautiful video
Formidable! Quel aventure!
That energy you seek is available: Av gas. Of course, you need a motor on the front to use it.
Why am I nervous? If he didn't make it we wouldn't have the footage! LOL!
almost too cool!!! Respect
Excellent!
is there some sort of formula to calculate how much energy is from altitude vs airspeed?
Yes! Total Energy is the sum of Potential Energy and Kinetic Energy, or: E = E(pot) + E(kin) = mgh + 1/2 mV^2 Where: E = glider's total energy E(pot) = gravitational potential energy (mgh) E(kin) = kinetic energy (1/2 mV^2) m = glider's mass g = gravitational acceleration h = glider's altitude above the ground V = glider's velocity
There was a tragic glider accident in America a few years ago, I don't know if it's already been analysed in a vid, but it took off under tow with the small trolley under the tail still accidentally attached. The controller on the ground radioed "Abort", so either the glider pilot or tow pilot released the cable and the glider nosed into the ground killing the pilot and a woman passenger and a toddler on her lap. I've not been able to find an accident report to find out exactly what happened.
I have a question ..... what would the approximate cost be to learn the basics of Mountain soaring in France for, say, three weeks with an instructor (or after instruction a very competent pilot) and what would the best schools to learn at be? I have about 300 hours gliding and currently fly a Discus B. Any advice or comments would be greatly appreciated. thank you.
Thank you for your kind words -- I'm happy that you enjoy my channel. Costs for mountain training vary greatly depending on what you’re searching for, such as glider type, volunteer or professional instructor, your goals, and your lodging preference just to name a few. There are many options, but from what I understand that you're looking for, I'd recommend the French National Soaring Center in Saint-Auban. cnvv.net/en
Would've been cool without the music too.
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Awesome video! :)
nice vid. you have big balls to fly there!
Wow that was brave. I was scared just watching in my safe little home.
how do you stay warm? No coat? Is there a heater in there? Emergency cold weather gear, for if you land out? All that ice and snow, looks chilly.
The canopy creates a green-house effect. Emergency gear will typically be stowed behind the pilot's head.
@@MrSunrise- Thanks for the information.
Somewhere around these mountains you might finde the crash site of germanwings flight 9525 that crashed 2015
In this video, I'm about 65 km north of the crash site, which was on the west slope of la Tête de l'Estrop.
Cool video. I love aviation. Loved the music too. I know its Scott Buckley but what is the name of the track please?
Thank you for the kind words. The track from Scott Buckley is called "Terminus." www.scottbuckley.com.au/2021/05/new-library-track-terminus/ Please be sure to vote in a poll that I have posted regarding music in my videos, and be sure to "Like" the poll to invite others to vote too. kzhead.infocommunity
@@FayenceSoaring Thank you.
Superbe, merci
Despite the ominous music I was never all that worried because I figured Henriques fluffy hat should provide some protection in the event of a crash
That look freaking awesome! I want to do that.
Great vid,,,trying to find this particular piece of music to no avail...can you please help. regards Jim
www.scottbuckley.com.au/2021/05/new-library-track-terminus/
@@FayenceSoaring Got it, thank you
Gigantesque et salutations de Fayence!
Hi! Nice video! What do you mean at 5:12 when you say "Once I commit to the pass, I will trade altitude for airspeed to increase my safety margin"?
Hello and thank you for your kind words, and for your question. We need to always be aware of our total energy status, which is the sum of our potential energy (altitude) and kinetic energy (airspeed). If we have neither altitude nor airspeed, our total energy may be dangerously low. While traversing the mountain pass, my altitude above the terrain was low which decreased my available potential energy. I needed to increase my airspeed to increase my kinetic energy. By maintaining sufficient kinetic energy I was able to safely traverse the mountain pass.
been there decades ago, will subscribe
Very nice video! What's the glide ratio of a Cement Head?
It's been a while since I've heard that! But, a cement head wouldn't change one's glide ratio, just the speed one would have to fly to achieve it. :)
Something about paragliders and gliders ... Just majestic how we are using the power of nature to traverse mauntains
Well... That was worth every minute.
GREAT VID
Are there any roads or villages down the valleys or were you completely out of landing options there?
I ALWAYS have landing options, either known fields or even airports. Before crossing the mountain pass I was in range of the airport at Saint-Crépin behind me, and on the other side I was in range of the Gap-Tallard ahead of me.
@@FayenceSoaring Nice, the video title and captions made it look like you weren’t sometimes!
Dry mouth moment, glad you made it. Not many options there
Impressionnant !!!
How do you stay warm?. Is there a heater?
On this day, the temperature on the ground at takeoff was 25°C/77°F. While the temperature at 3000m is much lower, the canopy has a greenhouse effect which is more than enough to keep me warm. I do have a coat with me, just in case I don’t make it home.
...por favor aguien puede decirme..¿que tipo de avion vuela este señor...??
Vuelo en un ASH 31 Mi de Alexander Schleicher en Alemania.
This is beautiful, but this kind of pucker factor is why I never progressed to serious XC gliding (and regressed to flying airplanes)...
I don't understand the infinite glide ratio - how is it possible? :) Thanks!
A glider is always descending relative to the airmass that it is flying through. Therefore, to improve their glider's performance, glider pilots are constantly striving to fly through rising air masses. In this scene, the airmass is rising at the same rate that my glider is descending, allowing me to maintain my altitude. A glider that maintains its altitude has an infinite glide ratio.
@@FayenceSoaring Thank you, now I understand!
Vous pouvez escalader une paroi sans corde si vous etes expérimenté ( je déconseille cette experience ,tres interessante au demeurant) C'est un peu ce que vous faites en planeur ?
J'ai toujours une corde -- j'ai toujours une stratégie de sortie !
Bon en gros faut toujours avoir un échappatoire pour le cas où on rentre dans une dégueulante. Genre la pente à droite et la vallée à gauche ou l'inverse
Oui, c'est exactement mon point : il faut toujours avoir l'énergie pour s'échapper. Malheureusement, de nombreux pilotes ne comprennent pas leur état énergétique lorsqu'ils volent près du relief.
Cool vid, I would have chosen diffrent more sedate music, but each to there own👍
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Thanks for posting 3 minutes of music all I can take
What if you have alarmingly violent explosive diarrhea? Is there a bomb bay door that can be opened? If so, how do you keep your butt cheeks from freezing? Also, if so, have you ever engaged said operation over a populated area? Again, if so, were you able to maintain sufficient altitude to avoid your call letters from being observed? And finally, for now, have you ever used the above-mentioned situation to your benefit in order to gain much needed altitude? These are just a few of the many questions I have.
What camera did you use...?? Beautiful scenery and a brave, cool glider pilot...
I film in 5.6k 360 with a GoPro Max and edit it to 1080p in FCPx.
@@FayenceSoaring Beautiful video! Any chance you could make the 360 video available? Would love to see what this footage looks like in a VR headset.
Amazing that an aircraft with no engine is able to still carry such heavy balls.
nice video but personally i dont like music with videos like this. I think its better with the sounds you would hear if i was in the cockpit. Just my personal taste.
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Through just in time , what if you were a little late ?
That's an excellent question, Julian! Pilots are always making decisions, every second of every flight. We always have a plan B, and preferably plans C and D. Prior to arriving at the mountain pass, there was always the option of aborting the crossing and returning to Saint Crépin airport. I approached the pass carefully to always provide for a safe exit or crossing. And after crossing the pass, there was always a clear path to an airport at Gap-Tallard. I cleared the pass AND continued on my desired route towards home "just in time." Thanks for asking and thanks for watching!
What do you do if you get too low in those mountains ? Terrain seems unlandable. Do you have a sustainer engine in your glider ?
I am ALWAYS within range of a safe place to land. This is an unbreakable rule to soar safely, whether you’re in the mountains or the plains. In the middle of this video, I point out that I have an airport not far behind me which is easily in range at a 7:1 glide.
@@FayenceSoaring I don't see how it's possible. You don't have a safe place to land in every valley but since you have an engine, it's not that big of an issue.
In self-launch gliders, one NEVER uses the engine as a last resort! Many self-launch glider pilots have learned this lesson in blood. Once the engine is shut down, it cannot be assumed to be available for the rest of the flight. In the French Alps, I know where every safe place to land is, and I’m intimately familiar with each of them. Not only am I always within range of one, but II know exactly how I’ll land in it if I need to. This is a prerequisite for anyone attempting mountain soaring.
@@FayenceSoaring You say that it might not restart after being shot down ?
Failing to restart is just one of the many things that can go wrong.
Love the videos. What glider are you flying? ASG-29?
I’m flying an ASH 31 Mi
@@FayenceSoaring Very nice! Have done a fair bit in an ASH-25 but they are a bit old school now.
Nice footage, nothing dramatic except the disturbing music.. maybe next time you could leave the natural wind/airframe sounds and talk us through your story…
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¡Grandioso!
Man my Rusty Sheriffs Badge was bangin' shut....You need A Pair to fly that stuff...way too many rocks in the fog!
looks easy. I thought it would b neccesary to find an updraft lift somewhere before reaching the top pass.