Going far without getting scared

1. Going far without getting scared

2. Lukas ‘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

3. Lukas ‘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…

4. Lukas ‘Robo’ Barnard Avax XC DHV 3 Bi Golden Nova Ra DHV 2

5. Topics • How does clouds work? • Gust fronts • Cloud suck • General tips

6. Cloud formation

7. Dangerous clouds Big, Dark Shadow on ground Towers Anvil Rain Senior pilots landed already

8. Mamata

9. Not dangerous Medium White Sun on the ground

12. How do I recognise it? • Before its too late • You are within 50 km of raining thunderstorms • Smoke flat on the ground • Dust rising • Can see rain • Cigar cloud • Trees going bezerk

13. It’s a wee bit late • Strong extremely turbulent climbs • Wind speed > 50 km/h – 80 km/h • You can’t come down

14. Dangers • Nobody can land going backwards at 30 km/h • Get blown into objects • Severe turbulence • Major Collapse every 30 seconds • Can get pushed under CN

15. Pro Active • Keep an eye on big clouds far away • If there is rain around, keep 30 km away from any cloud • Don’t do downwind from a cloud • Don’t look at your glider, look at the sky • Look 30 km away, not just the hill • If you see Cu Nims and you hear the thunder you must immediately go land – too late already

16. Reactive • If you can get down as it starts – get down (10 minute window?). • Land on big ears. Check that you have no obstacles behind you • Wrap brakes, flare properly, stand up grab glider • If you are caught in mid air • Big ears • Chill – you are high • Don’t worry about recovery, just survive the damn day • Tell yourself what an idiot you are

17. Escape path Wind Wind

18. Cloud suck

19. Cloud thermals Warm air rises Condensation

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

21. How do I recognise it? • Going up everywhere • Constant lift • Increasing lift • There is a big could above you idiot • Your buddies are hanging on big ears

22. Now what? • If lift less that 5 m/s – spiral down. All the way down… • Pull big ears, head for open sky • Head for the side • Half bar if you can… • Just keep on going…should be out within 5 km. If not out after 20 km make another plan • Stay calm • Keep your direction – fly by GPS • Don’t throw your rag • Warm up • Move your fingers and legs • BREATH

23. Prep for flight • Always wear • Proper shoes • Gloves • Jacket • Always take • Water • Food • Cell • GPS • Medical aid details

24. General XC tips • Glider choice • Direction to turn • When can I upgrade? • Where must I go? • Speed to fly • Learning more…

25. Glider choice • When can I upgrade from DHV ½? • When you can fly 50 kms on every good day • 400 flights • Type of glider • Pick the pretty one! • Value for money • Can I sell it again? • Go for handling and high trim speed • Glide and top speed secondary • First glider? • Go second hand, not older than 3 years

26. Turn direction

27. Thermal 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!

28. Coring…

29. 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

30. Divide 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

31. Divide 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

32. Divide 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

33. Divide 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!

34. Lift under clouds

35. Process of learning ”The glider” “Ridge soaring” CONSCIES 2 3 INCOMPETENT COMPETANT “XC” “Take-off and landing” 1 4 UNCONSCIES

36. Learning • At the end of every flight • What did I get right? • What did I do poorly? • Performance flying – Dennis Pagen • Get a mentor • Fly with senior pilots • Internet has wealth of knowledge • Have set goals for every flight • Hours, hours, hours, hours, hours