Going far without getting scared

Lukas ‘Robo’ BarnardLukas ‘Robo’ Barnard•Not really comp pilot

•Flying 15 years. Over 3000 flights and hours

•Owned 15+ gliders

•Done 50 km triangles on old DHV ½ gliders

•Done at least 15 x 50 km+ flights on DHV ½

•Done 2 x 100+ km this season so far

•Eagles nest -> Dam ->Rooiwal (Hammanskraal) 3h15

•Vaal reefs -> Westonaria -2h45

Lukas ‘Robo’ BarnardLukas ‘Robo’ Barnard

•I do get scared and do talk about my fears

•I go land when it gets crazy

•I don’t stomp on bar in silly air

•I don’t fly if its too strong or gusty

•I have not had an incident in 12 years

•Regard myself as conservative

•But I still get in the miles…

Lukas ‘Robo’ BarnardLukas ‘Robo’ BarnardAvax XC DHV 3

Nova Ra DHV 2

Bi Golden

TopicsTopics

How does clouds work?How does clouds work? Gust frontsGust fronts Cloud suckCloud suck General tipsGeneral tips

Cloud formationCloud formation

Dangerous cloudsDangerous cloudsBig, DarkShadow on groundTowersAnvilRainSenior pilots landed already

MamataMamata

Not dangerousNot dangerous

MediumWhiteSun on the ground

How do I recognise it?How do I recognise it?

Before its too lateBefore its too late– You are within 50 km of raining thunderstormsYou are within 50 km of raining thunderstorms– Smoke flat on the groundSmoke flat on the ground– Dust risingDust rising– Can see rainCan see rain– Cigar cloudCigar cloud– Trees going bezerkTrees going bezerk

It’s a wee bit lateIt’s a wee bit late

Strong extremely turbulent climbsStrong extremely turbulent climbs Wind speed > 50 km/h – 80 km/hWind speed > 50 km/h – 80 km/h You can’t come downYou can’t come down

DangersDangers

Nobody can land going backwards at 30 Nobody can land going backwards at 30 km/hkm/h

Get blown into objectsGet blown into objects Severe turbulenceSevere turbulence Major Collapse every 30 secondsMajor Collapse every 30 seconds Can get pushed under CNCan get pushed under CN

Pro ActivePro Active

Keep an eye on big clouds far awayKeep an eye on big clouds far away If there is rain around, keep 30 km away from If there is rain around, keep 30 km away from

any cloudany cloud Don’t do downwind from a cloudDon’t do downwind from a cloud Don’t look at your glider, look at the skyDon’t look at your glider, look at the sky Look 30 km away, not just the hillLook 30 km away, not just the hill If you see Cu Nims and you hear the thunder If you see Cu Nims and you hear the thunder

you must immediately go land – too late alreadyyou must immediately go land – too late already

ReactiveReactive If you can get down as it starts – get down (10 If you can get down as it starts – get down (10

minute window?). minute window?). – Land on big ears. Check that you have no Land on big ears. Check that you have no

obstacles behind youobstacles behind you– Wrap brakes, flare properly, stand up grab gliderWrap brakes, flare properly, stand up grab glider

If you are caught in mid air If you are caught in mid air – Big earsBig ears– Chill – you are highChill – you are high– Don’t worry about recovery, just survive the damn Don’t worry about recovery, just survive the damn

dayday– Tell yourself what an idiot you areTell yourself what an idiot you are

Escape pathEscape path

WindWind

Cloud suckCloud suck

Cloud thermalsCloud thermals

Warm air rises

Condensation

Ewa sucked into stormEwa sucked into storm

A German paraglider survived lightning, pounding hail, minus 40-degree temperatures and oxygen deprivation after a storm system sucked her to an altitude higher than Mount Everest

Ms Wisnierska's top speed of ascent was clocked at 20 metres per second and her descent at 33 metres per second by an on-board tracking system

He Zhongpin, 42, was found 75 kilometres away from his launch site, and most likely suffocated or froze to death after being sucked into the storm, hang gliding experts say. 

“You cannot imagine the power. You feel like nothing - like a leaf from a tree.”Ewa Wisnierska

How do I recognise it?How do I recognise it?

Going up everywhereGoing up everywhere Constant liftConstant lift Increasing liftIncreasing lift There is a big could above you idiotThere is a big could above you idiot Your buddies are hanging on big earsYour buddies are hanging on big ears

Now what?Now what? If lift less that 5 m/s – spiral down. All the way down…If lift less that 5 m/s – spiral down. All the way down… Pull big ears, head for open skyPull big ears, head for open sky Head for the sideHead for the side Half bar if you can…Half bar if you can… Just keep on going…should be out within 5 km. If not out after Just keep on going…should be out within 5 km. If not out after

20 km make another plan20 km make another plan Stay calmStay calm Keep your direction – fly by GPSKeep your direction – fly by GPS Don’t throw your ragDon’t throw your rag Warm upWarm up Move your fingers and legsMove your fingers and legs BREATHBREATH

Prep for flightPrep for flight Always wearAlways wear

– Proper shoesProper shoes– GlovesGloves– JacketJacket

Always takeAlways take– WaterWater– FoodFood– CellCell– GPSGPS– Medical aid detailsMedical aid details

General XC tipsGeneral XC tips Glider choiceGlider choice Direction to turnDirection to turn When can I upgrade?When can I upgrade? Where must I go?Where must I go? Speed to flySpeed to fly Learning more…Learning more…

Glider choiceGlider choice

When can I upgrade from DHV ½?When can I upgrade from DHV ½?– When you can fly 50 kms on every good dayWhen you can fly 50 kms on every good day– 400 flights 400 flights

Type of gliderType of glider– Pick the pretty one!Pick the pretty one!– Value for moneyValue for money– Can I sell it again?Can I sell it again?– Go for handling and high trim speedGo for handling and high trim speed– Glide and top speed secondaryGlide and top speed secondary

First glider?First glider?– Go second hand, not older than 3 yearsGo second hand, not older than 3 years

Turn directionTurn direction

Thermal recipeThermal recipe

Turn direction– Thermal one : Left.– Thermal two : Right. And so on

Wait 5 seconds Check your vario, only turn once lift decreases When in 2 up bank glider When low turn in anything Only once established look for better lift Keep your turn!

Coring…Coring…

Where must I go?Where must I go?

Are you high enough? – At least 1,000 meters above ground, preferably 2,000

Increase probability– Turning gliders, birds– (Good) Clouds– Sunshine on hills– Sunshine large dark fields

Need a source and a trigger Down wind

Divide and conquerDivide and conquer

< 1000 meters– Turn in anything– Be patient– No bar unless in > 2 m/s sink – half bar– Aim for the sun on hills and large dark fields– Connect lines of triggers and sources

Divide and conquerDivide and conquer

> 1000 meters– Be patient– Half bar all the time– Aim for clouds no more than 30 degrees of

route– Aim for clouds over trigger points

Divide and conquerDivide and conquer

> 2000 meters– As fast as you can go– Only turn in 3 ups plus– Aim for clouds no more than 30 degrees of

route– Aim down wind

Divide and conquerDivide and conquer

> 3000 meters– As fast as you can go– Only turn in 4 ups plus if you have O2– Aim down wind– Smile man you are bloody high!

Lift under cloudsLift under clouds

Process of learningProcess of learning

COMPETANTINCOMPETENT

UNCONSCIES

CONSCIES

1

2 3

4

“Take-off and landing”

”The glider” “Ridge soaring”

“XC”

LearningLearning

At the end of every flight At the end of every flight – What did I get right? What did I get right? – What did I do poorly?What did I do poorly?

Performance flying – Dennis PagenPerformance flying – Dennis Pagen Get a mentorGet a mentor Fly with senior pilotsFly with senior pilots Internet has wealth of knowledgeInternet has wealth of knowledge Have set goals for every flightHave set goals for every flight Hours, hours, hours, hours, hoursHours, hours, hours, hours, hours