[relate2]

Here is a little video I made the other day from the 19-12-08. I combined an old take off because it fitted better. It is only short but it was one of those days where it was a flight of abundant lift and I just boated around the hill soaking in the beauty and privilege we have to free fly, without power, just using nature.

In the video I mention doing chandels, it is interesting after reading John Heiney's page here http://www.johnheiney.com/articles/upanddown/upanddown.htm on The Ups and Downs of Freeystyle Hanggliding, what I call a chandel is what he calls a mild wing over. He also describes it exactly the same as I have explained it to other people. That is a figure 8 lying on its back with the ends curved up.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=BUS7VOe2_Wc

[Sky_Walker]

Hmmm,

Although you may have had a hard time finding the words to describe the feeling of flying, I thought the video was quite eloquent and reminded me of all the reasons I enjoy flying so much.

Thanks for sharing.

I'd love to fly at your sight someday, if this economy ever turns around I'm going to make it happen.

[relate2]

Thanks for the kind words Sky_Walker, it is nice that other hang glider pilots can get an indication of what I was trying to express in words.

Maybe people who don't fly may get an indication of what it is like by watching the video.

I just had a flash, as I kid I read a lot of science fiction, who would have thought that I now have the technology at my fingertips to take a video of myself flying one day and the next day being able to share it with people on the other side of the planet, all from a personal computer in my bedroom.

I think my generation has really been blessed to have straddled the two millenniums and had a chance to experience such a leap in technology over such a short time. I still remember standing in the street watching the first colour TV in a shop window and being amazed at the green of the grass on a cricket match being shown.

[Sky_Walker]

Yes Technology is an amazing thing (and so is HG.Org, thanks SG), I really get excited thinking about how it will change the world for my children. I really have some high hopes that the interconnectedness is really going to allow their generation to make the world a better place.

[Windlord]

Very very nice! A good way to wake-up this morning.
It seems the mic placement is in the right place.
Audio was right-on, voice was clear and flight sounds are just enough
that they do not dominate.
Nice vid Relate, it tells it like it is.

[Thog]

Thank you, Relate, for your video and reflections. It was a great way to start the day here in chilly Ohio. I'd really love to fly the coast somewhere, someday. But, as you "relate" so well in your video, I'm just thankful any time I can fly no matter where it is!

Mark

[JohnG]

I agree. I am waking up to a drive way that needs to be shoveled for the 4th day in a row, and watching such a wonderful video brought a sense of peace and happiness to my morning. Thank you.

[noman]

[DanTuck]

Relate
That was a great video. I think all of us know the feeling and you did a good job of describing it as best it can be described.
Thanks for posting - I'm flying vicariously now, trying to survive winter in the mid-atlantic US....and it's only December
And like you said, what an amazing thing that I can sit here in VA and gain some flying satisfaction from watching your video to help tide me over.
We sure do live in a very cool time, when people can fly from mountains and experiences can be shared halfway around the world in an instant.

[designbydave]

hey

are you using that lavaliere mic? It sounds pretty good. Just a bit of echo in your full face helmet though. I'm thinking an open face would work better, but would need a place to mount it. Plus that way we could see your mouth move. Right now your kind of like Darth Vader, or maybe BlueBerry Vader!

Love that HD youtube

[skydog]

Relate - Your video make us want to be there and summer is just starting for you I think. We have lots of snow since the first of November. Waiting to get to Wallaby in February.
Bob

[hiflioz]

Yep, I totally empathise. When I fly, there is room for nothing else - any stresses fade away. I'm completely in that moment, in that place. It's meditation, not sport. And even in comps, some of the boys shake their heads when I boat around at the top of thermals on course, just enjoying the view... but for me flying (even flying to "goal") will always be the end, not the means.

[relate2]

WOW thanks everyone for your kind comments and I am glad that from the other side of the world I can brighten up your days of winter.

Designbydave and Windlord, you know what I didn't use the external mic this time, I was using the camera mic. The stereo mic on the camera is very good, I am still experimenting with the placement of the articulated lcd which has the stereo mic embedded in it. I just have to remember how I had the lcd placed when the sound was good. I think for this video I had the lcd horizontal with the ground with the mic facing up at the wing, which has the wind flowing over the mic as against directly into the mic.

I have found with the lcd vertical to the ground and the mic at the back out of the wind is actually worse for sound. I think it is the rotor as the wind swirls around the lcd that causes the problem.

I am more leaning away from the lapel mic as it is adding more complication to my set-up and when the built in mics work they work very well. I cannot use the lapel mic for take off or landing because of the lead coming out of my sleeve has to be disconnected.

The video is also a bit dark as I rendered it to wmv as youtube does not like my avi videos. My avi videos on youtube get super compressed. A 10 minute video plays back in 3 seconds and there does not seem to be any move from youtube to fix the problem. I am rendering an avi version which I will upload to Vimeo next week when I get another free 500 meg.

[designbydave]

[CRV]

As someone who couldn't make it to McClure today, this made my day...

...damn head cold...

Thanks for posting something hang-gliding related, too!

[AP]

Very nice Relate2, very nice indeed.

[relate2]

Thanks crvalley and AP.

Designbydave, is .mov the same as mp4? My software will render in .mov H.264 but will not render HD video when I choose mp4. It looks as though it reserves mp4 for export to ipod, iphone etc. It gives me the options under generic to render in mp4 at 720 and 1080 but just sits there doing nothing.

[designbydave]

[relate2]

Thanks Dave, yes I thought .mov was just a wrapper but was not sure. I am using Serif's MoviePlus X3, it only cost me $49 so I can't complain too much as it does more than enough in the editing stakes, it is just the rendering of mp4's that I have hit a snag.

I only get the option to change resolution under mp4 if I choose generic. I think it may be a bug in the program otherwise why give you the options to set 1080 or 720 but not proceed when you hit OK. I will chase it up with Serif and see what they say.

[designbydave]