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BASE813

Paraglider Incident - Discovery / Stileproject

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It happened in Mexico in 1999. Not sure why it surged that far. A paraglider will do that if is stalled and the brakes are let up at the wrong time (when the canopy is behind you), you hit big turbulence or doing acro - loops, tumbles etc.

The guy fell out of the wing and it recovered at less that 100ft. He landed ok, but broke his arm in the incident. Very lucky. Your reserve is useless in that situation.

Cheers
Jamie.

Full stall gone wrong
http://www.kfki-isys.hu/pg/pic/Full03.mpg
She didn't manage to get the reserve out but she was OK (winded & shaken)

Reserve working http://www.bigairparagliding.com/jdaoust/PG/Video/2003_Germany_WingOver_GoesBad.wmv

**Edited to add links***

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I played that in slowmo...

When you enter a thermal, your paraglider can go behind you... I was taught to fly with some brakes and when the glider surges back, let up to get it going faster, and if it surges forward, slow it down... Basic paragliding skills... I sat in a harness simulator with my eyes shut as my instructor pushed me around and had me "correct" with my toggles until the muscle memory was built.

It looks like this paraglider surges back with great lift on the nose - a sign he entered an awesome thermal or turbulence going up....

I don't see any signs of a stall initiating this, does anyone else???

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You are right. As you enter a thermal the canopy will drop back, as you fall out of the thermal the canopy will surge forward. But not that much! I feel to surge that much it must have stalled.

This can happen by flying into a big thermal, pilot may be flying with a little brake and then the glider rocks back and stalls. (like the Joe Parr video on skydivingmovies) You dont need much brake in this situation.

During the dive he did not pull any brake to stop the surge (the T/E was clean). If he would have checked the dive he may have been ok. When a canopy is diving you can put on as much brake as you want, you won't stall it. As soon as it stops you need to ease off, and get your hands up.

Paragliders don't like to be stalled! [:/]

J

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Quote

I feel to surge that much it must have stalled.



I agree, I think it stalled because the angle of attack was increased to the point it would not fly anymore by the turbulence/thermal.... I don't think this was a user initiated stall. Agree or disagree?

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The video does not show enough of the lead up to tell. I feel he had brake on while flying around - like you do in rough conditions, and he didn’t release fast enough when he hit the thermal, or slowed down into the thermal to fast, before the glider has speed. I feel it was pilot induced to some degree, and he didn't help himself be letting it dive that much! If it stalls its best to hold it in until its above you.

Stalls can be good, and have saved my a few times from acro gone wrong, cravats etc. like a reset button, but you gotta get used to them over water with a boat.

Would like to know what wing he was flying, how old it was etc. Could make a big difference.

J

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