I am not a glider pilot myself, more a sailor, but I enjoyed the explanations and landscape. Also, I like this very strong connection to the winds and weather 😉 Might add this in my todo list !! cheers from France
Nice Ben, I flew those routes when I worked at Truckee in 1991- 1997, Super fun, fast and mostly high. Flew Les Sebald's Grob 102, always topped off with water. The big desert air taught me a lot.
Thanks for the excellent reporting and commenting throughout the flight. This doesn't only give the viewer first hand situational awareness, but also allow us to know exactly what you are thinking at the time of each big decision. I recently bought a Ls-3A which should should soon go on a few cross countries. Regards from South Africa
Congradulation on a well done flight and a well put together video. What software are you using to illustrate the gliders with their identification banner ? I felt as if I was watching a sailplane grand prix video which are professionally produced. Well done !
Great video but I am confused as to why you deployed spoilers to lose altitude. Of course no responsible pilot would deliberately go above the legal height without oxygen but yours ran out and didnt get noticed while already above. Hikers routinely climb above 14,000 feet without oxygen so why not continue on glide knowing you are descending anyway? Risking not making the destination seems to outweigh the risk of dumping height and not making it and the risk of hypoxia is low at that altitude. Different situation if you were above 18,000ft Grateful if you could share your thought process at the time.
I pulled the spoilers for two reasons. One is to be legal. The other is the reason for the law: Above 12,500ft, the lack of oxygen affects your brain. Even if you don't pass out, your mental capacity is diminished. If I had some other emergency while my brain was deprived of oxygen, I would be less able to handle it correctly. When you're hiking above 12,500, it doesn't matter that much if you're slightly dumber than usual, but it does matter when you're piloting an aircraft.
Thanks for the clarification. I was just wondering as in any case you were descending so both the legality and potential hypoxia issues were on their way to being resolved, would be a shame to dump height then damage something in a field landing because you were short. Seems more likely that any additional emergency would be at that point than when you had plenty of height.
@@david3599 Yeah, I hate to dump precious altitude, but like I said in the video, I had plenty of margin to spare, so descending to 12,500 didn't add much risk of landing out.
@@BenHirashimaI think you may be underestimating the risks in mountain climbing.😅 But I believe the reasons pilots have to go on oxygen much sooner than mountain climbers is because of the activity levels of mountain climbers, and that the fitness of the average pilot varies a lot more.
Loved your video. I live on the east coast and only get to fly out west on rare occasions, but any time I fly above 12,500 ft I use oxygen and pulse oximeter to keep an eye on my oxygen saturation level. Could this be a way of stretching your oxygen supply in an emergency? Keep up the good work.
Using a pulse oximeter is a good idea, but be aware that they tend to lose accuracy at high altitudes. They can be useful to make sure your oxygen saturation hasn't dropped over time, but they aren't good for telling you if you're getting enough oxygen at the moment.
The FAA requires pilots to use oxygen above 12,500 because mental acuity declines at that altitude due to the reduced oxygen in the air. If you're hiking in the mountains, you may not notice it, but a pilot needs his or her brain to be working at 100% at all times to be safe.
@@BenHirashimafor a Denver resident 12,500 should be no problem at all. For Washington DC on the other hand, yeah maybe … and that is where the rules are made. 😢
@@laulaja-7186 The regulation is actually based on science, not politics. We know how a lack of oxygen affects pilots' brains due to scientific experiments done by NASA and the air force.
@@laulaja-7186Well, politics aside, when flatlanders (like me) go to such altitudes, the rule is well justified. I hiked the last weeks through the Sierra with my wife and was out of breath constantly when hiking at >= 10000ft. The same week I took a ride at Minden (my pilot let me fly 😊) and rose up to 12000. Without strenuous hiking that worked, albeit I started feeling it. If staying there longer it would have affected me more. The rule is well justified.
Let’s get you equipped with the dual stage regulator so you could use what otherwise would be unusable O2 due to pressure drops while your cylinder is approaching empty.
So Gordo launched an hour earlier and still stayed up...sounds like the rest of the fleet wasted a lot of a good day launching after the thermals punched through.
Yeah he launched 50 minutes ahead of me. You can see from his trace that he spent a lot of time scratching and just barely surviving. I heard him on the radio and it didn't sound like he was having fun.
12b… to the uninitiated, cross country soaring can seem risky. Ben is not bothering to narrate constant “what if” contingency planning which is a part of every flight. You should try the sport yourself and learn more about a wonderful sport that is far more rewarding than dangerous!
Good for you, tremendous flight! Never got the opportunity to fly the Whites......loved the video of your flight! Yep, always have enough O2! Glad it all worked out.
I just randomly stumbled upon this, and oh this is beautiful
I am not a glider pilot myself, more a sailor, but I enjoyed the explanations and landscape. Also, I like this very strong connection to the winds and weather 😉
Might add this in my todo list !!
cheers from France
14,500 is Mt Whitney.... as long as you are in shape, should be no problem.....that being said, I might not be able to do that today, lol
Outstanding, Ben! What an adventure! Thanks.
Nice Ben, I flew those routes when I worked at Truckee in 1991- 1997, Super fun, fast and mostly high. Flew Les Sebald's Grob 102, always topped off with water. The big desert air taught me a lot.
Thanks for the excellent reporting and commenting throughout the flight. This doesn't only give the viewer first hand situational awareness, but also allow us to know exactly what you are thinking at the time of each big decision.
I recently bought a Ls-3A which should should soon go on a few cross countries.
Regards from South Africa
Well done! Always exciting to break new personal goals.
Ben, Congrats on super flight !!! Thanks for spending the time making these awesome videos. They're really done well. EXCELLENT work.
Thanks, Gordon! It was good flying with you. Hope to meet you at Minden one of these days.
Congratulations, it looks like it was a fun flight!
Brilliant. Love you vids. Commentary is excellent.
211km@540:1 = YAHOO!! Nice flight
cool channel ! *subscribed* greetings from Europe/Austria..
Nice job! Shame about the O₂ running out, but you had aimed for 800km, so it's understandable. Thanks for sharing your triumph. 🙂👍
Hey Ben, great video!!
Hey Ben I love watching these videos. Keep it up!
Congrats, Ben!!
Congradulation on a well done flight and a well put together video. What software are you using to illustrate the gliders with their identification banner ? I felt as if I was watching a sailplane grand prix video which are professionally produced. Well done !
Thanks! I use Sports Track Live. Link in the description.
Only 2.43K subscribers??? NO WAY....
Great video
Great channel! Does the total distance include the circling?
No, circling isn't counted. The flight is divided into 6 straight-line legs and they are added up to get the distance.
@@BenHirashima Good to know, thanks!
Great video but I am confused as to why you deployed spoilers to lose altitude. Of course no responsible pilot would deliberately go above the legal height without oxygen but yours ran out and didnt get noticed while already above. Hikers routinely climb above 14,000 feet without oxygen so why not continue on glide knowing you are descending anyway? Risking not making the destination seems to outweigh the risk of dumping height and not making it and the risk of hypoxia is low at that altitude. Different situation if you were above 18,000ft Grateful if you could share your thought process at the time.
I pulled the spoilers for two reasons. One is to be legal. The other is the reason for the law: Above 12,500ft, the lack of oxygen affects your brain. Even if you don't pass out, your mental capacity is diminished. If I had some other emergency while my brain was deprived of oxygen, I would be less able to handle it correctly. When you're hiking above 12,500, it doesn't matter that much if you're slightly dumber than usual, but it does matter when you're piloting an aircraft.
Thanks for the clarification. I was just wondering as in any case you were descending so both the legality and potential hypoxia issues were on their way to being resolved, would be a shame to dump height then damage something in a field landing because you were short. Seems more likely that any additional emergency would be at that point than when you had plenty of height.
@@david3599 Yeah, I hate to dump precious altitude, but like I said in the video, I had plenty of margin to spare, so descending to 12,500 didn't add much risk of landing out.
@@BenHirashimaI think you may be underestimating the risks in mountain climbing.😅
But I believe the reasons pilots have to go on oxygen much sooner than mountain climbers is because of the activity levels of mountain climbers, and that the fitness of the average pilot varies a lot more.
Loved your video. I live on the east coast and only get to fly out west on rare occasions, but any time I fly above 12,500 ft I use oxygen and pulse oximeter to keep an eye on my oxygen saturation level. Could this be a way of stretching your oxygen supply in an emergency? Keep up the good work.
Using a pulse oximeter is a good idea, but be aware that they tend to lose accuracy at high altitudes. They can be useful to make sure your oxygen saturation hasn't dropped over time, but they aren't good for telling you if you're getting enough oxygen at the moment.
14k ft is too high? FAA? I'm pretty sure I've been up that high in the mountains w/ zero issues.
The FAA requires pilots to use oxygen above 12,500 because mental acuity declines at that altitude due to the reduced oxygen in the air. If you're hiking in the mountains, you may not notice it, but a pilot needs his or her brain to be working at 100% at all times to be safe.
@@BenHirashimafor a Denver resident 12,500 should be no problem at all. For Washington DC on the other hand, yeah maybe … and that is where the rules are made. 😢
@@laulaja-7186 The regulation is actually based on science, not politics. We know how a lack of oxygen affects pilots' brains due to scientific experiments done by NASA and the air force.
@@laulaja-7186Well, politics aside, when flatlanders (like me) go to such altitudes, the rule is well justified. I hiked the last weeks through the Sierra with my wife and was out of breath constantly when hiking at >= 10000ft. The same week I took a ride at Minden (my pilot let me fly 😊) and rose up to 12000. Without strenuous hiking that worked, albeit I started feeling it. If staying there longer it would have affected me more. The rule is well justified.
Let’s get you equipped with the dual stage regulator so you could use what otherwise would be unusable O2 due to pressure drops while your cylinder is approaching empty.
I do have a dual stage regulator. It can't prevent you from running out of oxygen.😁
Very nice video and congrats! Would you be so kind and explain the whole you do the shots - what kind of music?
Thanks! I use an Insta360 X3 camera that shoots in 360 degrees. For the exterior shots, I put the camera on a stick and put it out the window.
@@BenHirashima thank you for your fast reply and may I ask how do you mount the Insta camera to your canopy?
@@rokalefi I use a Ram mount that is screwed into the bottom edge of the canopy.
thank you - keep going - looking forward to new videos!
Nice video.
Good flying with you :)
Ben, what careras and mounts are on the top of the instrument panel?
kj
@@kevinjohnson5210 those are antennas for Flarm
@@BenHirashima so the only cam you are using is the 360 on selfie stick --- WOW?
@@kevinjohnson5210 correct. It's quite versatile.
So Gordo launched an hour earlier and still stayed up...sounds like the rest of the fleet wasted a lot of a good day launching after the thermals punched through.
Yeah he launched 50 minutes ahead of me. You can see from his trace that he spent a lot of time scratching and just barely surviving. I heard him on the radio and it didn't sound like he was having fun.
Gordon also has a very reliable jet to help if he really needs to climb.
Entirely inappropriate risk when flying. You don't belong in the air.
Obviously, I disagree. But just out of curiosity, which part are you referring to?
He descended to 12500ft
What the hell are you talking about?
12b… to the uninitiated, cross country soaring can seem risky. Ben is not bothering to narrate constant “what if” contingency planning which is a part of every flight. You should try the sport yourself and learn more about a wonderful sport that is far more rewarding than dangerous!
12bengineer obviuosly takes no risk in life and has zero fun - therefore you are indoctrinated into the the Fun police brigade, congratulations.
Good for you, tremendous flight! Never got the opportunity to fly the Whites......loved the video of your flight! Yep, always have enough O2! Glad it all worked out.