H-Tree

After my mishap at Tanner-Hiller, as promised I spent a few weekends at Morningside. The first weekend was great. I had a chance to experience an assisted launch from 450 in 10-15mph winds and, for the first time, I experienced ridge soaring. Just a few times back and forth on that small ridge, but I really loved it, and wanted more of that goodness. Probably wanted it too much as I got myself in trouble yet again.

I  did not forget to work on my landings, concentrating on basic things like looking at the horizon, and keeping wings level. Things were looking pretty good, and consistency was improving.

A week after that, I drove to Morningside to find yet another great day with soaring potential. I immediately forgot about "practice landings" goal. I wanted to fly. I launched once and didn't soar. After reviewing GPS tracks, I noticed that I moved away from the ridge rather quick on each turn. I thought, I could work on that next time. Well, there were more important things to work on, like keeping airspeed where it should have been, but some people can only learn from their own mistakes...

Wind was  WSW that day. On my second launch, I waited for a good cycle, had a good run, and floated easily away from the hill, upwind to the south. Two other gliders were already in the air, soaring. I turned back north pretty quick trying to stay as close to the ridge as I dared. What I didn't realize while turning downwind that my airspeed dropped dramatically. I had a camera rolling and you can see in the video below that I am not pulling in, flying probably at trim speed, very slow. The ground rushed below me pretty fast, but airspeed is what counts.

In the next couple of seconds, a realization that I am heading right for the trees with no altitude to turn around, started to trigger all sort of alarms. I panicked, tried to turn... Too late. I pushed out. Glider floated up, got me over the first row or trees, stalled and rushed right down into the trees. It was over in a second. I was comfortably hanging 20 feet up, with the glider supported by tree branches. By that point, all rush of panic was gone, and I was rather calm - just hanging there. 

There was no better place for a tree-landing than at a training facility. Yes, everyone could see my oops, but I got help in no time. I was out of the trees in 20 minutes thanks to all pilots and Morningside folks who rushed to my rescue.

Amazingly, there was no damage to me or to the glider. TJ inspected and tested the glider the same evening, and I flown it off 450 the next morning. I also aero-towed it in the afternoon. I wasn't about to quit only because of my fresh H-Tree rating. However, it definitely affected the way I started to fly - extra speed everywhere, even if not really necessary. Better safe than sorry, eh?

Here is the video of that short flight:

TJ inspecting my glider after the tree landing

---

Touch and go

The following week at Tanner-Hiller, I barely avoided another landing oops by letting the  bar out too late. Wheels slightly touched  the ground, glider bounced up, and I recovered and landed on my feet. Doesn't looks too bad in the video, but it was just a split second from yet another disaster. I need to start paying way more attention when flying. Next month is Launch and Landing clinic... I hope to fix a few things there.