one for chunko

[mr migwire]

hope the link works, brown trouser moment for these guys........
http://www.aol.co.uk/video/the-hear...cid=maing-grid7|uk|dl18|sec1_lnk3&pLid=320133

 

[eSCHEn]

Holy wet patches Batman!

 

[chunkolini]

Seen that one, much debate as to whose fault it was.
Luckily everybody survived.
I almost got hammered in the Alps in may. I was circling in a thermal, following the person above me; then I heard this person yelling ay ay ay ay, as they hurtled past me heading downwind.
Theoretically the person in the thermal has priority as they are on a mission. Downwind chappie was passing me at a closing speed of about 30-40mph and going in a straight line. Phew.
Photo taken a few minutes later, I am the orange glider top left.
I was so busy flying I did not realise just how high I was.
Edit, what was I doing up there? so glad my friend spotted me.

 

[eSCHEn]

Hard to tell for scale (no builder's mug ) but by buggery that looks busy up there!

 

[mr migwire]

I like having dirt directly under my feet im afraid, air and water not so much.

must admit though it does look like it would be a buz to fly under a canopy.

 

[CRB]

Most people have trouble avoiding obstacles in two dimensions, adding a vertical component.....

It certainly does look busy up there. I suppose there must be 'rules' but also a lot of trust in the others to do what is expected.

 

[Wallace]

Chunkolini, do you ever find yourself tucking in on someones six o'clock shouting "Tally ho" then "taka-taka-taka-tack"?

 

[Moosevan]

And I'm a founder member of the 'sit on the kerb & waggle your feet' club! I'm impressed Chunko - but you wouldn't get me up in (under) one of those things for anything!!!! You're a braver man than me.

 

[chunkolini]

To my surprise that has never even crossed my mind, I think I am too overwhelmed by the whole experience.
I remember the photo above I was just stunned by what I was doing, in the end I had to come down I felt priviliged and chuffed to bits to be up there with the big boys and felt ok chaps lets go and have that beer.
Then I had to refocus and go and land. The landing strip is the tiny rectangle of grass just off the beach in the middle of the photo.
Madness.
I was looking at these photos a few days back and thinking was I really acting like this.

 

[Wallace]

I would like to try it, did the tow off the back of a boat mid 80's in Greece and managed to upset the driver by pulling the left lines down so I started to come round inside the boat and he had to drag me round again but dumped me hard into the water because of it! My consultants told me no parachute jumping or weight lifting and even suggested I give up motorcycling (fat chance!) so I'm not sure I would have gotten away with the rough landing you had so lightly.

 

[chunkolini]

Wallace you could always try a tandem flight, I have only done one, the pilot does the landing and take off and most of them will let you operate the controls in flight.
The only danger is that it might be like trying crack cocaine. More more more.
I was so lucky with my bad landing, I knew I would get mended but I was quite vicious to myself to get moving and keep at it.

 

[Wallace]

That's the worry, more more more. Would have to be a big chute for me to go up tandem as I'm 18.5st!