Speed flying

Pete Batey · Post by **Pete Batey** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 2:51 pm

http://derbyshiresoaringclub.org.uk/e10 ... c.php?7113

Read Al's post.
Let's be careful now.
Pete

gordie · Post by **gordie** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 8:45 am

Just to be clear about the accident Al describes.

Adrian the guy who had the crash had no previous PG experience but came from a sky diving back ground. He choose to start soaring normal (ski launch) speed wings in strong windy conditions on hills in south Wales with his mate Dan (LCC speed flyer) The day of the accident was a very windy and very thermic early season day with very gusty conditions. They were having to fly the wings without much brake due to the conditions. Adam suffered a preditcatble (in the conditions) aysemetric collapse and did not react or counter stear it resulting in the glider turning and diving. With the hill being so close,as often is the case with soaring speed wings he crashed very hard and as you have read nearly killed himself. (His helmet camera vid of the crash is on youtube)

So the moral of the story is as with all free flying there is always an eliment of risk. If you choose to push your boundries or fly wings different types then these risked increase. If you choose to fly in a medium which you have no previous experience in on top of all this then you will probley like Adrian regret your actions.

I personally would not sell any speed wing to anybody with a low level of PG experience and I will only sell them to people who I have spent some time instructing on how these little wings fly.

ron freeman · Post by **ron freeman** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 10:21 am

For some time now I've been watching and listening to pilots flying 'Speed wings' it seems to me that if you have a strong urge for speed learn to hangglide, much safer, a lot faster therefore a bigger thrill.

There will always be accidents when you mix fresh winds with paragliders & speed wings because of the obvious 'TURBULANCE' and lots of it

I would like to fly one though...in the right conditions but not soaring !

Chris L · Post by **Chris L** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 6:04 pm

You are welcome to have a shot on mine anytime Ronnie, you might be converted when you realise just how much fun you can have on these

ron freeman · Post by **ron freeman** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:15 am

Thanks Chris, maybe a nice day on East hill !