Bunch of different stuff on this video. The main thing I wanted do yesterday was adapt the most effective body posture for landing my Covert harness. My primary source of correct guidance on body posture has been Jason and his XMas Eve video that I re-edited. See Jason's thread: http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=22458
Although I only worked on it for a minute or so in the air on this flight, I spent time with it on my previous flight. I'm off to a good start as it have proved effective for performing a tricky X/C RLF type landing at the club LZ in moderate turbulence and with obstacle avoidance.
Its nice for novices like me to see even the professionals still practice the basics from time to time.
Thank you for pointing out the part about practicing the basics. I believe this has been one of Airthug's, Tontar's and others pet peeves about me and many other pilots. Historically, we have not only not practiced the basics but didn't even have our basics anywhere near down-pat before venturing up to advanced level flying equipment or going X/C in demanding landing conditions on unforgiving equipment.
I draw the analogy from tennis players, golfers, batters, fly fishermen, etc., etc. You see them out there at 6AM with buckets of balls at the tennis courts, driving ranges, batting cages, indoor casting ponds, and so forth. Musicians and singers practice their scales for several hours weekly. These are not the same as live competition or live performance but the basics will be solid.
Unfortunately, there are only a limited number of scooter towing operations in the US or other places with fast turn-around for multiple daily landings.
My belief is that you can effectively work on nearly everything prior to fully executing the flare. At that point can see whether the glider stalls right after you do your aborted initiation
If the glider does not stall then you were early and the glider may have zoomed up then possibly whacked.
If the glider stalls before you do your aborted flare initiation, then you were late and would have belly landed.
Modern vario altimeters are so sensitive you can get at least a reasonable idea of whether you set up a level ground skim glide into flare or were climbing or sinking.
None of this is a substitute for actual landings and expert coaching and instruction but by working with your instructor you may be able to create a list of things your instructor feels you could be working on at altitude.
I think that this could be done on radio at altitude between two pilots working together. So far, I have gotten little or no interest when I've discussed it w/ pilots I know. Maybe if I get my skills up to speed I'll hear some interest. In large part, pilots seem to have gotten sick and tired of being lectured to and have taken an "I'd rather whack than listen to your crap attitude!". It's sad but it's far from unique to our sport.
Becareful as you might be doing Ryan out of a job.
Thanks! If anything, this may give Ryan more work. He is an expert who can give pilots individual coaching and a list of homework exercises to practice. HD cameras and video hosting is so widely available that it enables long-distance follow-up.
Several years ago, Ryan and I had a running PM dialogue based upon a couple of videos I had sent him. His input was both invaluable and addressed things that nobody else caught. There was still more for me to work on that nobody had ever addressed in my limited sphere of exposure and I had to bang on a lot of pilot's doors until I got the information I sought.
I would prefer it if pilots talked to their instructors or mentors before, during and after working on basics at altitude. As was reported on the Oz Report forum. there have been some bad incidents due to tail-slides. My position is that you don't need to do more than a mild stall but one never knows how each pilots may interpret what another pilot writes, says or shows.
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