@@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."
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
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 . . .
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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 !
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?
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
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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.
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.
Looks like the Pas de Cavale to get out of the Ecrins. You have a safe final glide at least into Tallard Gap Airfield, once you clear this pass, though you would hope for more lift before that.
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. ua-cam.com/users/fayencesoaringcommunity
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.....
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.
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.
In the USA this is referred to as "scud running" and is the cause of many fatal accidents because the situation can turn against you without warning. For example, your visibility forward is limited and the next valley could be totally obscured and your path back blocked because of your loss of altitude. I haven't seen your panel, but I would highly recommend having an artificial horizon - and be trained in its use!
No. Scud running is when one flies VFR at LOW LEVEL under a low cloud CEILING with NO escape route - I’m at nearly 10,000 feet, under a scattered cloud layer, with many escape routes. “Cloud flying” gliders in Europe, and flying gliders IFR in the USA is legal and safe for qualified pilots.
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 !
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.
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!
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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.
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 ....
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.
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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.
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.
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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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.
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.
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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. ;-)
OMG, fantastic views :) This seems like a 360-degree recording. Did you consider uploading as such 360-degree video to UA-cam, so we can rotate the view ourselves? :)
I use a 360 degree camera to film hands-free while I focus on flying the sailplane. I am telling the audience a story , and I edit the video to show the frame that best illustrates that story.
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.
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.
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!! :)
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
In some cases, zero is the minimum required distance from the clouds. (In Class G, below 1000 ft / 300 m AGL, surface in sight). In other cases, 1000 ft vertical / 1500 m horizontal. Ref. SERA.5001 VMC visibility and distance from cloud minima. And before you ask, 500 ft / 150 m above the highest obstacle within 150 m radius around the aircraft. SERA 5005.(f).2.
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.
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You're exactly right: with proper planning it always works out in the end, on one side of the pass or the other. The point was to appreciate the relationship between kinetic and potential energy when flying in close proximity to the terrain. If you're not thinking about the energy, you're not thinking at all, and are taking a huge risk.
@@FayenceSoaring with due respect, the weather closed in faster than anticipated surely not knowing how bad it could get the decision to press on was not the best.
There's a huge difference between having the weather deteriorate ahead of forecast and having the weather be too low to continue. I always have exit options available. As you said, experienced pilots do not take risks, and my next video will make this point even clearer.
@@FayenceSoaring Thank you for your reply's, its just that the title of the clip suggests its far more edgy than it actually is, I look forward to more of your flight clips.
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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 ?
I saw an old time film of teenage boys flying gliders in Canada. I was amazed no lad wore a helmet, but this was the 1950s. This pilot has no helmet either. Is this a common practice?
You made it look way more dramatic than it actually was. I don’t believe you ever were really at risk. There were always several ways out in case things went wrong. To others, remember that a glider can pretty much land anywhere in case of problem. During much of the video there was a valley on the right hand side of the plane with probably plenty of possibilities to land
@vlanico You're correct: I was never at any risk. As you commented, I always had a way out if things didn't go according to plan, which is the way that I always fly. My point in this video was to draw attention to how little energy we have while flying in close proximity to the terrain -- it's a lot less than we think. If we understand that, we're one giant step closer to flying safer in the mountains. By presenting this lesson in an entertaining way, I hope that I've made learning a little more fun. I hope you've liked it too.
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.
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 . . .
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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! ua-cam.com/users/fayencesoaringcommunity
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
As a paragliding pilot this looked pretty relaxing ;)
Awesome footage ,I could do without music and just the wind ....
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I agree
@@FayenceSoaring I enjoyed music, some fine aviating too.
@@FayenceSoaring Or just watch UA-cam 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.
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.
Amazing! Worth reflecting, "what would have made me divert?" "Get-home-itis" is so dangerous.
No laws of physics were broken in the making of this video.
Great video! Thank you for those precious comments regarding flight.
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.
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.
Why am I nervous? If he didn't make it we wouldn't have the footage! LOL!
Looks like the Pas de Cavale to get out of the Ecrins. You have a safe final glide at least into Tallard Gap Airfield, once you clear this pass, though you would hope for more lift before that.
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. ua-cam.com/users/fayencesoaringcommunity
@@FayenceSoaring Thank you.
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 :-)
Great airmanship. Thanks for sharing.
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.
A very nice video with a great story line and build up, anticipating more .
Thanks
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.
In the USA this is referred to as "scud running" and is the cause of many fatal accidents because the situation can turn against you without warning. For example, your visibility forward is limited and the next valley could be totally obscured and your path back blocked because of your loss of altitude. I haven't seen your panel, but I would highly recommend having an artificial horizon - and be trained in its use!
No. Scud running is when one flies VFR at LOW LEVEL under a low cloud CEILING with NO escape route - I’m at nearly 10,000 feet, under a scattered cloud layer, with many escape routes. “Cloud flying” gliders in Europe, and flying gliders IFR in the USA is legal and safe for qualified pilots.
Beautiful Video!
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 !
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.
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.
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!
Would've been cool without the music too.
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That was really fun, thanks a bunch
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!
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 ....
Incredible video, your editing made this wonderful to watch.
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.
Why is there music as its not required unless this is what you play when in your glider.
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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.
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!
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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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.
breathtaking and i am only experiencing it from my pj's
I honestly had no idea that this kind of flying could be done. Breathtaking.
wow...nice footage
omg,amazing video.thx so much!
Boyoboy watching this had me on the edge of my seat 💺
"Just in time" is a synonym for "bad decision". Play safe.
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.
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.
This is beautiful, but this kind of pucker factor is why I never progressed to serious XC gliding (and regressed to flying airplanes)...
Great video, audio anything but great!
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Awesome video! :)
Beautiful as always. Thanks for pointing out that you always had an alternate available.
Always within range of a safe place to land. Always.
I expected that you would hear the sound of air roaring so I'm quite shocked that you can hear a huge orchastra instead.
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.
That was tight, maybe a few minutes before the pass to close for you. Take care.
Thanks for the ride!! amazing!
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. ;-)
That energy you seek is available: Av gas. Of course, you need a motor on the front to use it.
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
DAMN DUDE. I sat through the WHOLE thing. Well done film!
Really great video Chris, I enjoyed it greatly!
It's a shame you didn't show us more footage of the landing and approach.
I show the takeoff and landing in another one of my videos. Follow the link and enjoy! ua-cam.com/video/4w4okrE4xfc/v-deo.html
OMG, fantastic views :) This seems like a 360-degree recording. Did you consider uploading as such 360-degree video to UA-cam, so we can rotate the view ourselves? :)
I use a 360 degree camera to film hands-free while I focus on flying the sailplane. I am telling the audience a story , and I edit the video to show the frame that best illustrates that story.
@@FayenceSoaring thanks for explaining, makes sense
Well... That was worth every minute.
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.
I can understand why you do it, lovely.
This old former hang glider pilot, now mountain flies on skis in the winter, and I was seeing lot's of LZ's!
I once saw a paraglider pilot standing on the tiny peak of a mountain with his canopy still fully inflated.
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
nice vid. you have big balls to fly there!
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.
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!
I didn't see it. Looked to me like he could have flown around either side of whatever pass he just "barely" cleared.
Besides, he could've just turned of the heater to conserve energy? :)
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
Something about paragliders and gliders ... Just majestic how we are using the power of nature to traverse mauntains
Great views
What is the minimum distance to clouds flying visual?
EASA regulations authorize cloud flying in sailplanes for qualified pilots.
In some cases, zero is the minimum required distance from the clouds. (In Class G, below 1000 ft / 300 m AGL, surface in sight).
In other cases, 1000 ft vertical / 1500 m horizontal.
Ref. SERA.5001 VMC visibility and distance from cloud minima.
And before you ask, 500 ft / 150 m above the highest obstacle within 150 m radius around the aircraft. SERA 5005.(f).2.
...por favor aguien puede decirme..¿que tipo de avion vuela este señor...??
Vuelo en un ASH 31 Mi de Alexander Schleicher en Alemania.
How can you get the glider airborne with those huge balls in the cockpit?
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.
Very cool finite balance and control basically thinking a way seeing updrafts and trajectories a delicate balancing act ,experience and art combined
is this near Mt Blanc?
Mont Blanc is in the northern French Alps -- in this video I'm in the southern French Alps.
@@FayenceSoaring so remote...deadly beautiful!!!
Great video! Teach as much as you can...it was so short...Thanks!
Cool vid, I would have chosen diffrent more sedate music, but each to there own👍
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Beautiful video
Amazing that an aircraft with no engine is able to still carry such heavy balls.
Thanks for posting 3 minutes of music all I can take
Obviously not as close a call as you make out, an experienced pilot would never take risks.
You're exactly right: with proper planning it always works out in the end, on one side of the pass or the other. The point was to appreciate the relationship between kinetic and potential energy when flying in close proximity to the terrain. If you're not thinking about the energy, you're not thinking at all, and are taking a huge risk.
@@FayenceSoaring with due respect, the weather closed in faster than anticipated surely not knowing how bad it could get the decision to press on was not the best.
There's a huge difference between having the weather deteriorate ahead of forecast and having the weather be too low to continue. I always have exit options available. As you said, experienced pilots do not take risks, and my next video will make this point even clearer.
@@FayenceSoaring Thank you for your reply's, its just that the title of the clip suggests its far more edgy than it actually is, I look forward to more of your flight clips.
Gigantesque et salutations de Fayence!
Music to loud change the color of the founts
Lovely to watch; too bad about music, watched with sound off; please put out a version with ambient noise.
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The song is very nice.
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 !
I saw an old time film of teenage boys flying gliders in Canada. I was amazed no lad wore a helmet, but this was the 1950s. This pilot has no helmet either. Is this a common practice?
I'm inside of a closed aircraft; no different than an airplane or a helicopter.
A crash, especially on top of the alps, is likely to be fatal anyway. Imagine a motorcycle that’s minimum speed is 60mph. No reason to wear one
Such dramatic music. Where's Ben Hur?
Wow that was brave. I was scared just watching in my safe little home.
You made it look way more dramatic than it actually was. I don’t believe you ever were really at risk. There were always several ways out in case things went wrong. To others, remember that a glider can pretty much land anywhere in case of problem. During much of the video there was a valley on the right hand side of the plane with probably plenty of possibilities to land
@vlanico You're correct: I was never at any risk. As you commented, I always had a way out if things didn't go according to plan, which is the way that I always fly. My point in this video was to draw attention to how little energy we have while flying in close proximity to the terrain -- it's a lot less than we think. If we understand that, we're one giant step closer to flying safer in the mountains. By presenting this lesson in an entertaining way, I hope that I've made learning a little more fun. I hope you've liked it too.
nice video !!! keep going !!