Footage like that is "kinda" rare, seeing it from the pilot point of view is very different...

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xqf0HqpnySA&feature=player_embedded

It looks like the landing went quite well untill the right wing got caught on an obstacle.

Technically that's not an emergency landing, it's what us glider pilots call 'landing out', even if it was a bit of a messed up attempt at one, and it shouldn't really be dangerous, or even damage the aircraft if you are careful.

 

The guy made a few mistakes, the main one being getting into that situation in the first place - when you have no engine, you should always be aware of an escape route and try to keep within a 4:1 glide ratio of somewhere suitable if you think it is likely that you will lose lift catastrophically. That isn't always totally possible of course, but even a crappy old 1950s glider has a 35:1 glide ratio, so it should never really be an issue. He also got on the back side of a hill and that caused issues, one, he was in sink or what looked more probably like dead air, two, he attempted to fly at what was not the best glide speed in order to try and get to some suitable landing terrain, and that also lost him a lot of altitude, so much so that he had to abandon going for the valley and stick it on the road instead. It certainly looked to me like that was the plan, but he ran out of room because he didn't fly the best glide ratio and had to go for that road instead, and it wasn't a bad stab at it under the circumstances, but...

 

Since he was too fast, his extension and turn was far too shallow, he had the speed to make a sixty degree 180 if necessary, since that thing gives up flying at about 35-40 knots, and he looked like he was doing about 70-80 to me, probably more since he was doing the typical 'glider dash in sink', so it could have been 120 or so initially. He should have got on the spoilers right after leveling off and held the nose, because the touchdown was way too fast, if he'd done that, he should have been able to brake that thing to a standstill in a much shorter distance, especially on tarmac. On wet grass gliders do take some stopping, but not on tarmac if you really pull that toggle hard. I suspect someone probably needs to explain the MacCready Ring to him a bit better, and also point out that getting that low over the wrong side of the hill is not a good way to stay alive, although I guess he knows that one now.

 

Having said all that, he did get it down and did walk away from it, and the glider was probably only worth five grand or so, so not the end of the world. Anything like that which you survive, ultimately makes you a better pilot so long as you analyse what went wrong and avoid doing it again. I've seen people make worse glider landings than that one. Shame about that post box, if he'd have known about that, he could have ground looped it on the grass to the left of the road and would probably have got away with no damage, that rough scrub grass would have shook him up, but it would have stopped that thing in less than 60 yards.

 

Al

It was not an emergency landing but it was almost certainly a crash landing. Wonder what the damage looked like afterwards.

He took out the trash

He took out the trash

 

Haha You stole my line!

 

It does look like he could've kept it a loft quite a bit longer and even maybe circled the road to land at a more appropriate speed.

Well, he landed in the right place. At least the neighbors don't have to worry about clean up...LOL

Technically that's not an emergency landing, it's what us glider pilots call 'landing out', even if it was a bit of a messed up attempt at one, and it shouldn't really be dangerous, or even damage the aircraft if you are careful.

 

The guy made a few mistakes, the main one being getting into that situation in the first place - when you have no engine, you should always be aware of an escape route and try to keep within a 4:1 glide ratio of somewhere suitable if you think it is likely that you will lose lift catastrophically. That isn't always totally possible of course, but even a crappy old 1950s glider has a 35:1 glide ratio, so it should never really be an issue. He also got on the back side of a hill and that caused issues, one, he was in sink or what looked more probably like dead air, two, he attempted to fly at what was not the best glide speed in order to try and get to some suitable landing terrain, and that also lost him a lot of altitude, so much so that he had to abandon going for the valley and stick it on the road instead. It certainly looked to me like that was the plan, but he ran out of room because he didn't fly the best glide ratio and had to go for that road instead, and it wasn't a bad stab at it under the circumstances, but...

 

Since he was too fast, his extension and turn was far too shallow, he had the speed to make a sixty degree 180 if necessary, since that thing gives up flying at about 35-40 knots, and he looked like he was doing about 70-80 to me, probably more since he was doing the typical 'glider dash in sink', so it could have been 120 or so initially. He should have got on the spoilers right after leveling off and held the nose, because the touchdown was way too fast, if he'd done that, he should have been able to brake that thing to a standstill in a much shorter distance, especially on tarmac. On wet grass gliders do take some stopping, but not on tarmac if you really pull that toggle hard. I suspect someone probably needs to explain the MacCready Ring to him a bit better, and also point out that getting that low over the wrong side of the hill is not a good way to stay alive, although I guess he knows that one now.

 

Having said all that, he did get it down and did walk away from it, and the glider was probably only worth five grand or so, so not the end of the world. Anything like that which you survive, ultimately makes you a better pilot so long as you analyse what went wrong and avoid doing it again. I've seen people make worse glider landings than that one. Shame about that post box, if he'd have known about that, he could have ground looped it on the grass to the left of the road and would probably have got away with no damage, that rough scrub grass would have shook him up, but it would have stopped that thing in less than 60 yards.

 

Al

 

Pretty much agree with your analysis Alan - It doesn't look it until he got down low but he clearly had quite a bit of speed - Not sure as to the glider itself but looks old-ish. I used to fly a much newer glider than that and it would stop on a postage stamp if a correctly flown approach at the proper speeds was done. He came in too fast and the final turn was way too low, he almost risked a cartwheel there... he's a very lucky chap!

 

Situations like that shouldn't be gotten into, but if you do. best glide speed, look for your best place to land, and then look at all the marginal ones closer. Plan your descent. Dont go for the perfect field thats almost in gliding disance. You want to arrive at your field with at least enough altitude to make a calm and safe approach. Landing out isn't really dangerous, as long common sense and training is used.

 

In fairness to the pilot, if you view the video on youtube and see his comment, he knows fully well he should have done better, and was trained better. I guess we're all allowed one mess up... But you don't get a number two.

"I guess we're all allowed one mess up... But you don't get a number two."

 

You might get an unexpected number two if the one mess up is scary enough.. :LMAO:

 

OK: Technical question for the glidies here: If a glider does a very tight turn, I guess this means that the inside wing is generating quite a bit less lift than the outer, because it's moving faster through the air (and wings don't have differential gearing..). Can this get dangerous to the point of flipping the aircraft?

"I guess we're all allowed one mess up... But you don't get a number two."

 

You might get an unexpected number two if the one mess up is scary enough.. :LMAO:

 

OK: Technical question for the glidies here: If a glider does a very tight turn, I guess this means that the inside wing is generating quite a bit less lift than the outer, because it's moving faster through the air (and wings don't have differential gearing..). Can this get dangerous to the point of flipping the aircraft?

 

It's the same for all aircraft and is known as over banking tendency. All you do is hold the yoke slightly in the opposite direction of the turn to counter act the tendency. It's not really noticeable when you are flying normally.

Yet another private video. If you want a video to be private, why would you post it on YouTube???

It's the same for all aircraft and is known as over banking tendency. All you do is hold the yoke slightly in the opposite direction of the turn to counter act the tendency. It's not really noticeable when you are flying normally.

Thanks;)

 

I guess I thought it might be more noticeable in gliders because of the greater wingspan.

I've never flown a glider, but I can imagine that the biggest risk when under pressure and making those hard turns is that you'll try to cheat and skid the turn.

 

I suspect that gliders are somewhat less forgiving about skidding. Would that be correct?

Thanks;)

 

I guess I thought it might be more noticeable in gliders because of the greater wingspan.

 

Compared to an airliner it is a smaller span but the rotational speed and rate of turn is usually higher of the gliders wing is higher.

How can I watch this video, it seems to be private?