[noman3]

I am starting to see allot of new guys coming up through the ranks.Allot of times these are people who rule there own life and are often times the alfa dog in there world.I was one of these guys that thought i could come and conquer this sport in no time, like i have in the past with other sports.I often drew upon this past experience to make myself a better pilot.You know the reasoning,if i buy a better glider ill get better.In most sports,better equipment helps you excel.Unfortunately in this sport a better faster newer glider or harness might kill you.The next big problem is new guys taking off when nobody else is flying accept the most experienced pilots.There is a reason nobody else is flying accept for the hill bad ass.The saying when in Rome do as the Romans do apply s to our sport in spades.I have been around long enough to see this repeat itself over and over again.If you are a new guy you better cast aside all your tendency's to lead and learn to follow the old timers actions or words or you might end up dead or injured beyond repair.

[Bobfly]

Good advice. I've watched expert pilots on launch, in strong conditions, with their topless wings and they appeared just as tense and keyed up as me on my first launch. I realized that 1000 flight hours doesn't keep you safe from a blown launch or sudden wind gusts. Experienced pilots die too. Hope I will always be open to the wisdom of more experienced pilots no matter how many hours I accumulate.

[relate2]

Wise words indeed Noman3, something I have not seen mentioned before. Effectively you can't man handle, bully, throw money at flying. You have to earn your wings, there are no short cuts......as you said

"If you are a new guy you better cast aside all your tendency's to lead and learn to follow the old timers actions or words or you might end up dead or injured beyond repair."

[krizz9]

I agree. Being a new pilot myself I am surprised to see some reckless newbies out there. This is a sport where you don't want to do the old try and fail technique of learning. Although I now have enough launches to launch without an instructor, I consider the pilots I know are experienced to be my unofficial new instructors and don't launch without their blessing.

[blindrodie]

Now if we can just get "them" to read and heed...

Good on ya Brian. Three thumbs.

[AlaskanNewb]

As a new pilot, I agree in general. But what you have to remember is the new pilot is often faced with conflicting advice from several old guys (or the same old guy that frequently contradicts himself lol)...I am starting to believe that most just need to be KTFO. It takes a lot of work to weed out the good advice! I have met more windbags in 1 year of hang gliding than I have anywhere else!
Not to mention the self proclaimed experts that, for some reason, you never see fly…It can get quite confusing for the beginning hg pilot.

[Bobfly]

Well, if a windbag has survived 30 years of hang gliding, then he probably knows something us new guys don't. Talk to anyone that has been in some form of aviation for a long time and they will have stories of near misses and miraculous saves from certain death (me included). Most of them were probably completely avoidable with a bit of wisdom and maybe some common sense. Hang gliding is the one form of aviation that is most unforgiving of errors of judgement.

[kwright]

[day dreamer]

If an old time local is telling you something, you must have got their attention. If more than one is talking, you better listen. Just listen and take it into consideration. It makes him feel better that he at least said something to you if in the event God forbid. The first thing I would do after an accident is start to rethink if anyone saw something that needed to be made aware to the pilot i.e. nose pop,wings not level, judgement of conditions,etc. prior to the accident. Did I as a pilot concerned for the well being of my buddy, do my part to let him know something that was of concern to me about his flying? If me saying this to a fellow pilot is wrong, or blown off, then O.K., Then I did my part. I just hope that others would tell me the same. I wouldn't interpret constructive criticism as them telling you how to do it, but to be aware of it would be a better communication with respect to your abilities, or I would hope a tool to hone your abilities even more. Let's keep it real, you stay long enough in this, you stand a good chance of seeing things as well. You learn, and you want to pass it on. that's all.

[lostgriz]

Good stuff Noman! If you are carefully considering your sources and get a consensus on your feedback, it shouldn't be tough to tell who's advice you should be following. There are plenty of folks that are quick to provide advice, while its up to you to choose the advice you follow, I still appreciate those that genuinely try to share wisdom; even if it is misguided.  

[jj colorado]

Noman, thanks for posting.

Been in many forms of aviation for years and HG for 5 of those. While I'm not a patient person, for HG you need patience unless you want to be a patient.

Spent a while wondering while people were "holding back" until I realized they were seeing and understanding things I had yet to learn. I still have much more to learn, but know enough to learn and take the lead from others so I'll be flying at the next opportunity and not collecting a (nother) "golden hammer" award.

[Nicos]

Noman, you're just saying that because you are a PUSSY. It's true though.

[hgflyer]

[Mavi Gogun]

[CRV]

I was spoken to by a couple of advanced-rated pilots early in my flying career after one particular incident that could have been prevented on my end if I'd used better judgment...

They just asked that I be careful, but the nice part was that this was face to face over a couple beers...After that, I realized the importance of keeping my Intermediate Syndrome in check, or at least recognize the warning sign(s) before I screwed up again.

No offense to Noman, but if there is someone that needs to be spoken to, talk to that person face to face and don't rely on a bulletin board to get your message across. The person who needs this information may not realize he / she is lacking judgment and that this thread is intended for another pilot.

[Jason]

[CAL]

good advice Noman

as others have already stated accidents come in all forms from beginners to experts,

i love it when i see focused looks on everyone's faces when launching, i would hope none of us take hang gliding casually, experts are more acceptable to this then beginners, there have been times i have been guilty of launching then while in the air realized that i didn't go through the steps in my mind, this is when this sport gets risky, you should stay focused no matter how advanced you are

it is hard as a beginner to watch others fly with awesome looking topless gliders with advanced harnesses and fly in all conditions

as Noman stated do not go there, i have fought this tendency through my years of hang gliding, i have seen very good pilots leave there topless at home and have fun on there falcons, some only own falcons,

if you want to achieve great performance work up through the gliders and choose the right conditions to fly in, if you stick with that profile you will learn much faster than those who try to move ahead before they are ready

when i was racing motorcycles, a fellow racer told me you never know your limit unless you fall, i let him know that while he is in the hospital i will be out on the track learning more skills

[lostgriz]

[Rotor]

SOMETIMES IT IS NOT AS FUN AS YOU THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE,,,,,,,,,,,,WHEN YOU GET IN THE AIR WHEN NOBODY ELSE CARES TO
http://youtu.be/9HZ9fDYbsIg

[gluesniffer]

Generally I don't listen to dudes that wear pink panties, but that is some good advice.

It's sometimes hard to give advice to pilots who are not asking for it, even though you know they really need it. Id rather say something and have them not like me, even if they don't take the advice and still fuk up. At least my conscience is clear of would shoulda couldas.