If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too...
He should have let go of the pilot, and centered himself on the front bar. That would have allowed the pilot to more fully control the aircraft. What he was going was consistently causing the aircraft to pitch left, and it delayed the landing by a good margin. This was the second best option, after realizing too late that you are not strapped in, suppressing your panic, and you are already more than 20 feet off the ground.
The absolute best thing to do, would have been to let go IMMEDIATELY the second he realized he was not strapped in at takeoff. Before the aircraft had picked up speed or altitude. Bailing at 5 or 10 feet off the ground, and at the slower velocity would have been the zero drama option.
Yeah, he could have fairly safely bailed any time before they passed that barn, and he realized very early on he was not strapped in... Looks like he had about 3 seconds to make that initial decision. Understandable that it was not made quickly enough.
He should have let go of the pilot, and centred himself on the front bar. That would have allowed the pilot to more fully control the aircraft.
I’m sure you’re right – hence, presumably, the “Getting higher… not good!” moment. But it was the chap’s first time on a hang glider, and it’s not the kind of thing you expect to have to deal with when you’re on holiday. I think we can cut him a little slack.
Besides, I suspect his dear wife will have had some thoughts to share, possibly at some length.
"The superior pilot uses superior planning and management to avoid having to use superior flying skills."
NASA Chief Test Pilot, Ames Flight Research Center,
c. 1975
Take a little personal responsibility. If you're leaving the ground in (or near) some contraption or another, make sure you're attached to said contraption. (Me, my seat belt, my seat, the airplane, etc.) Four eyes on the checklist, people!
“I will go hang gliding again as I did not get to enjoy my first flight.”
Some people are slow learners - is he going to ask for another untethered flight, but one where he is a bit better prepared and hanging on more centrally so the pilot can better control the hang glider?
Unlike the movies, most people can't hold on for over two minutes - I guess that extra adrenaline really helps. A quick search indicates 60 seconds is about the limit for bodybuilding and apparently there is a sideshow game that tests people's ability: £50 for hanging 2 minutes: http://runningbygeorge.com/overestimating-ability-bar-hanging/ Even Mythbusters did some testing about how long people could hang from a ledge ("Cliff Hanger" test). This hang gliding guy was really, really lucky to still be alive.
Next year: Holiday in Vietnam and faithfully reproducing the scene with the pistol game with real pistol and live ammunition from the The Deer Hunter (1978) movie.
Easier to play "Beer Hunter": Take one can out of a six-pack and shake it very hard. Mix the cans up and pick one. Hold up to the side of your head when you open it.
Don't forget to have your drunken friends standing around waving fists full of Monopoly money as they scream, "Mao, Mao, Mao" repeatedly. It's in the rules. You can look it up.
Màu ! Not to be overly pedantic, but in the spirit of properly appropriating culture, Vietnamese for quick, quickly, or fast. One of the classic words stolen form furriners that was standard GI vocabulary, but has faded a bit as opposed to, for example, "hootch" which is still a classic.
Looked liked a good reduction and fixation from the xray.
An ankle or knee if he had fallen would not be so good.
In America, I would know him as Rich Man who Fell to Earth. Not sure about Swiss equivalent.
Thanks for the nightmares I'm now going to have.
Posted by: John D | November 27, 2018 at 14:23
“I will go hang gliding again as I did not get to enjoy my first flight.”
Posted by: David | November 27, 2018 at 14:25
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too...
Rudyard Kipling, "If"
Posted by: R. Sherman | November 27, 2018 at 14:34
Bloody hell. Good job he's got a strong grip.
Posted by: Clam | November 27, 2018 at 14:34
Something makes me suspect the narrator is not an SJW.
Posted by: Eagle | November 27, 2018 at 14:37
And for those who missed it, from a recent batch of Friday Ephemera.
Posted by: David | November 27, 2018 at 14:37
Happened in BC a few years back..Passenger died.
Posted by: Onlybecause12 | November 27, 2018 at 14:44
He should have let go of the pilot, and centered himself on the front bar. That would have allowed the pilot to more fully control the aircraft. What he was going was consistently causing the aircraft to pitch left, and it delayed the landing by a good margin. This was the second best option, after realizing too late that you are not strapped in, suppressing your panic, and you are already more than 20 feet off the ground.
The absolute best thing to do, would have been to let go IMMEDIATELY the second he realized he was not strapped in at takeoff. Before the aircraft had picked up speed or altitude. Bailing at 5 or 10 feet off the ground, and at the slower velocity would have been the zero drama option.
Panic is your enemy in every situation.
Posted by: Kevin | November 27, 2018 at 14:54
I'm thinking the Carmina Burana would be a good soundtrack for that video.
Posted by: R. Sherman | November 27, 2018 at 14:55
Yeah, he could have fairly safely bailed any time before they passed that barn, and he realized very early on he was not strapped in... Looks like he had about 3 seconds to make that initial decision. Understandable that it was not made quickly enough.
Posted by: Kevin | November 27, 2018 at 14:56
The absolute best thing to do, would have been to let go IMMEDIATELY the second he realized he was not strapped in at takeoff.
Spot-on. An early bail-out is better in all circumstances.
Posted by: R. Sherman | November 27, 2018 at 15:00
I though of this soundtrack:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1iyJq-aNRU
Posted by: Monty James | November 27, 2018 at 15:13
He should have let go of the pilot, and centred himself on the front bar. That would have allowed the pilot to more fully control the aircraft.
I’m sure you’re right – hence, presumably, the “Getting higher… not good!” moment. But it was the chap’s first time on a hang glider, and it’s not the kind of thing you expect to have to deal with when you’re on holiday. I think we can cut him a little slack.
Besides, I suspect his dear wife will have had some thoughts to share, possibly at some length.
Posted by: David | November 27, 2018 at 15:19
There is a reason real pros do pre-flights.
Posted by: Farnsworth M Muldoon | November 27, 2018 at 15:22
Eeek! That was indeed a buttock clenching moment. He is very very lucky to be alive.
Posted by: Fahrenheit211 | November 27, 2018 at 15:59
- Or as the official motto of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party would have it, "If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you!"
Posted by: Y. Knott | November 27, 2018 at 17:44
Duly clenched. Bloody hell. And people wonder why I'm the “indoorsy” type.
Posted by: Sam Duncan | November 27, 2018 at 18:05
"The superior pilot uses superior planning and management to avoid having to use superior flying skills."
NASA Chief Test Pilot, Ames Flight Research Center,
c. 1975
Posted by: Fred the Fourth | November 27, 2018 at 18:19
Who is responsible for making sure the harness is attached on the novice? Certainly, a properly witnessed liability release was executed beforehand.
Asking for a ‘slip and fall’ attorney friend.
Posted by: Adam | November 27, 2018 at 18:19
I think it'll take me til at least Thursday to coax my testicles back down from my chest cavity.
Posted by: Patrick Brown | November 27, 2018 at 18:38
- Just finally got to watch it. He.
Done.
GOOD!!!!!!
Posted by: Y. Knott | November 27, 2018 at 19:32
"buttock clenching moment"
Doesn't "buttock" have to be plural? If there was only one it wouldn't work so well. Not sure how three would work either.
Posted by: PiperPaul | November 27, 2018 at 19:45
Not sure how three would work either.
The image of a tricuspid valve comes to mind. Though I’m not sure which way up it would have to go.
I may be giving this more thought than is strictly necessary.
Posted by: David | November 27, 2018 at 20:28
Take a little personal responsibility. If you're leaving the ground in (or near) some contraption or another, make sure you're attached to said contraption. (Me, my seat belt, my seat, the airplane, etc.) Four eyes on the checklist, people!
Posted by: LAG | November 27, 2018 at 22:04
“I will go hang gliding again as I did not get to enjoy my first flight.”
Some people are slow learners - is he going to ask for another untethered flight, but one where he is a bit better prepared and hanging on more centrally so the pilot can better control the hang glider?
Unlike the movies, most people can't hold on for over two minutes - I guess that extra adrenaline really helps. A quick search indicates 60 seconds is about the limit for bodybuilding and apparently there is a sideshow game that tests people's ability: £50 for hanging 2 minutes: http://runningbygeorge.com/overestimating-ability-bar-hanging/ Even Mythbusters did some testing about how long people could hang from a ledge ("Cliff Hanger" test). This hang gliding guy was really, really lucky to still be alive.
Next year: Holiday in Vietnam and faithfully reproducing the scene with the pistol game with real pistol and live ammunition from the The Deer Hunter (1978) movie.
Posted by: Watchman | November 27, 2018 at 23:02
Easier to play "Beer Hunter": Take one can out of a six-pack and shake it very hard. Mix the cans up and pick one. Hold up to the side of your head when you open it.
Posted by: Richard Cranium | November 27, 2018 at 23:09
@Richard Cranium
Don't forget to have your drunken friends standing around waving fists full of Monopoly money as they scream, "Mao, Mao, Mao" repeatedly. It's in the rules. You can look it up.
Posted by: R. Sherman | November 27, 2018 at 23:44
...as they scream, "Mao, Mao, Mao"...
Màu ! Not to be overly pedantic, but in the spirit of properly appropriating culture, Vietnamese for quick, quickly, or fast. One of the classic words stolen form furriners that was standard GI vocabulary, but has faded a bit as opposed to, for example, "hootch" which is still a classic.
Posted by: Farnsworth M Muldoon | November 28, 2018 at 01:57
Looked liked a good reduction and fixation from the xray.
An ankle or knee if he had fallen would not be so good.
In America, I would know him as Rich Man who Fell to Earth. Not sure about Swiss equivalent.
Posted by: Joe Mack | November 28, 2018 at 02:31
I’d sue that pilot into oblivion. He had a duty to keep you safe first of all.
Posted by: DaveS | November 28, 2018 at 02:38
Not to be overly pedantic . . .
Nice try. :)
Posted by: R. Sherman | November 28, 2018 at 02:51
Beat the shit out of whomever was in charge of that clip, promotes accountability.
Posted by: Account I. Bility | November 28, 2018 at 03:08
Hide the women and kids & bury the silver in the back yard. . .
Posted by: R. Sherman | November 28, 2018 at 03:13
Watchman,
Unlike the movies, most people can't hold on for over two minutes - I guess that extra adrenaline really helps.
Well, he did say he tore a ligament in the effort. I'd say his will to live outlasted ordinary physical endurance.
Posted by: Spiny Norman | November 28, 2018 at 05:10
Instead of the witnesses shouting "Mao, Mao, Mao" why not "Doom On You"? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay9o-r3Y4dc
After all, wouldn't it be language-appropriate for Vietnam. https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Doom%20on%20you
Posted by: Watchman | November 28, 2018 at 05:18