So, I have a moment to continue my saga, and boy it was to become a saga! Day 4 of the Nats seemed to be another high pressure day with an inversion close to launch height. An 80 km task or so was set, and we were off. The start was to the north of launch with the first turn point to the north as well. You had to enter the start cylinder when the race time started, and then tag the same start point at 400 meters. Many pilots were fighting for altitude as the thermals would form to the north of launch, and then shut down. There was a plethora of confused, organized chaos, of paragliders trying to stay as high as possible before the start. Most pilots were close to launch height to about 1,000 feet over launch at the start. No one seemed to be rushing on course. I saw some pilots climbing near launch so I flew over to that thermal and made a nice climb to about 1,500 feet over launch. That enabled me to tag the start and the turn point easily. I was a little behind the main gaggle, but was not worried because of the stable conditions. There were about 8 or nine of us searching to get a thermal so we could began to glide on course. It was a right turn day, but some pilots were turning left and just making due to stay up. Many of us were trying to stay close to each other as that seemed to be the only area of where the lift was.
Now, most of the time during the comp, you can be flying fairly close to other pilots. Sometimes almost touching wingtips. This usually is not a problem as everyone is a skilled pilot, and has done this before. Plus, we are all circling in the same direction. Well, I was making a bunch of turns in broken thermals usually keying off the other pilots in lift. I finally decided to go on glide to the north, and was flying straight. I knew there were no paragliders in front of me, and saw the other pilots flying straight as well. I looked over my left shoulder to clear my airspace. I then looked back in front of my flying path, and to my surprise, was a paraglider turning left at my level. I yelled, and made an evasive turn to the left. The other pilot then tried to keep turning left, and unfortunately it was not enough. The paraglider hit on the right side of my lines about two-thirds the way up to my paraglider. This immediately spun me to the right and I focused on getting untangled from the other glider's lines. In about 3 seconds we were apart and clear from each other. I had my brakes in hand, when I looked up I had about 4 riser twists. I looked at my glider and saw a cravatte on my right side with about two-thirds of my glider open. I knew I was only about 400 feet agl, so I decided to reach down and throw the reserve. In less then two seconds I was under reserve. It was a convincing tug on my shoulders. :-). So now, under reserve, I began the process of pulling in my main. I was drifting with the wind into the mountain, but had a nice smooth ride going with no oscillations. I finally got fabric from my paraglider and braced for the rest of the ride. I tagged a tall tree with my harness and then drifted for another 2 seconds into two of the tallest trees around. My paraglider lines grabbed one of the tall trees and my reserve came to rest in the other. Safe without a scatch, I was confortably suspended about 75 feet above the ground. A little shaken after having a mid-air. I composed myself for a minute, and then radioed to the safety director that I landed ok, but was in a tree 75 feet up. I then mentioned that I had a mid-air and was concerned for the other pilot. The other pilot had recovered, but there was no response from the other pilot. So, there was speculation that other pilot went down and was injured. I mentioned the other colors of the glider, and after about 15 minutes the other pilot was flying around yelling if I was ok. I realized the other pilot was Ok, but after about a half hour, the other pilot ended up throwing the reserve as well for reasons not related to the mid-air. The other pilot never contacted the safety diector the whole time they were in the air. Once they had the reserve ride and landed the radio finally worked. :-O! Both pilots should always report a mid-air especially if one pilot goes down. Interesting day for both of us. The main thing is no one was hurt.
So hanging in the tree, I was reserved (pun) to the dilemma of what I was to do to get out. I was glad no one was hurt, I was secure hanging in the tree, and rescue was on its way. I did have a 75 foot perlon rope for just this occasion if it was to happen. I was able to lower that rope to the ground. There were limbs on the trees, but because of being suspended between the two, I could not use the limbs as an anchor. Since the rescue crew was on the way, I was not worried about having to self rescue, and was going to wait until they got there. Finally, two fire dept people got there, and assessed my condition. About this time two California State patrol helicopters started to fly around. I was the center of attention. Not really in the best way, though! :-O.
So, finally, the other rescue guys got there, and proceeded to cut some scrub to set up a belay. I was going to have to set my own rescue up with their equipment and use my reserve bridle as an anchor since I could not use any of the limbs. I pulled up three peices of webbing and secured them to my bridle with a safety attachment to my paraglider risers in case the reserve fell from the tree. I then attached a pulley to the webbing, with the rescue guys rope through the pulley. The question now was how I was going to secure myself to the rope. They had a cinch collar or yoke that I was going to put around my chest, under my arms, and when it was weighted it would tighten around my chest, and then I could be belayed down. It went without a hitch (pun), and I was lowered to the ground safely. They had EMS there to check me out, and I was given the A-OK.
The hike out was uneventful. When I got back to the vehicles, they had about 20 convicts there to help with cutting a path if needed for the rescue. I just can't stand all this attention.
Quite the event, and experience. The next day, went to get my stuff. A comp pilot, skipped flying the comp that day, and came to help. Another pilot that was there not in the comp, came to help as well. The meet director secured a local with tree climbing gear, and we were able to get the stuff out of the tree with no damage in about 2 hours. How lucky am I. I am so thankful for the support and caring these pilots and locals had. That is what going to the events is about. Pilots and people help fellow pilots in need. I am full of gratitude.
So, after this event. I was in need of repacking my gear, I had lost my reserve handle, and did not have another one. So, I was finished with the comp. I was able to help on retrieve, and enjoy hanging with the other pilots.
In retrospect, the outcome could not have been better under the circumstances. What's important is when flying close in gaggles, you must see and avoid other pilots. This is a very important rule. A mid-air collision is probably the most feared incident when comp flying. To know that both pilots can be safe, healthy, and OK when emergency equipment is used, and how to use it, is indespensible. An important learning experience for all of us.
Stay tuned!
Now, most of the time during the comp, you can be flying fairly close to other pilots. Sometimes almost touching wingtips. This usually is not a problem as everyone is a skilled pilot, and has done this before. Plus, we are all circling in the same direction. Well, I was making a bunch of turns in broken thermals usually keying off the other pilots in lift. I finally decided to go on glide to the north, and was flying straight. I knew there were no paragliders in front of me, and saw the other pilots flying straight as well. I looked over my left shoulder to clear my airspace. I then looked back in front of my flying path, and to my surprise, was a paraglider turning left at my level. I yelled, and made an evasive turn to the left. The other pilot then tried to keep turning left, and unfortunately it was not enough. The paraglider hit on the right side of my lines about two-thirds the way up to my paraglider. This immediately spun me to the right and I focused on getting untangled from the other glider's lines. In about 3 seconds we were apart and clear from each other. I had my brakes in hand, when I looked up I had about 4 riser twists. I looked at my glider and saw a cravatte on my right side with about two-thirds of my glider open. I knew I was only about 400 feet agl, so I decided to reach down and throw the reserve. In less then two seconds I was under reserve. It was a convincing tug on my shoulders. :-). So now, under reserve, I began the process of pulling in my main. I was drifting with the wind into the mountain, but had a nice smooth ride going with no oscillations. I finally got fabric from my paraglider and braced for the rest of the ride. I tagged a tall tree with my harness and then drifted for another 2 seconds into two of the tallest trees around. My paraglider lines grabbed one of the tall trees and my reserve came to rest in the other. Safe without a scatch, I was confortably suspended about 75 feet above the ground. A little shaken after having a mid-air. I composed myself for a minute, and then radioed to the safety director that I landed ok, but was in a tree 75 feet up. I then mentioned that I had a mid-air and was concerned for the other pilot. The other pilot had recovered, but there was no response from the other pilot. So, there was speculation that other pilot went down and was injured. I mentioned the other colors of the glider, and after about 15 minutes the other pilot was flying around yelling if I was ok. I realized the other pilot was Ok, but after about a half hour, the other pilot ended up throwing the reserve as well for reasons not related to the mid-air. The other pilot never contacted the safety diector the whole time they were in the air. Once they had the reserve ride and landed the radio finally worked. :-O! Both pilots should always report a mid-air especially if one pilot goes down. Interesting day for both of us. The main thing is no one was hurt.
So hanging in the tree, I was reserved (pun) to the dilemma of what I was to do to get out. I was glad no one was hurt, I was secure hanging in the tree, and rescue was on its way. I did have a 75 foot perlon rope for just this occasion if it was to happen. I was able to lower that rope to the ground. There were limbs on the trees, but because of being suspended between the two, I could not use the limbs as an anchor. Since the rescue crew was on the way, I was not worried about having to self rescue, and was going to wait until they got there. Finally, two fire dept people got there, and assessed my condition. About this time two California State patrol helicopters started to fly around. I was the center of attention. Not really in the best way, though! :-O.
So, finally, the other rescue guys got there, and proceeded to cut some scrub to set up a belay. I was going to have to set my own rescue up with their equipment and use my reserve bridle as an anchor since I could not use any of the limbs. I pulled up three peices of webbing and secured them to my bridle with a safety attachment to my paraglider risers in case the reserve fell from the tree. I then attached a pulley to the webbing, with the rescue guys rope through the pulley. The question now was how I was going to secure myself to the rope. They had a cinch collar or yoke that I was going to put around my chest, under my arms, and when it was weighted it would tighten around my chest, and then I could be belayed down. It went without a hitch (pun), and I was lowered to the ground safely. They had EMS there to check me out, and I was given the A-OK.
The hike out was uneventful. When I got back to the vehicles, they had about 20 convicts there to help with cutting a path if needed for the rescue. I just can't stand all this attention.
Quite the event, and experience. The next day, went to get my stuff. A comp pilot, skipped flying the comp that day, and came to help. Another pilot that was there not in the comp, came to help as well. The meet director secured a local with tree climbing gear, and we were able to get the stuff out of the tree with no damage in about 2 hours. How lucky am I. I am so thankful for the support and caring these pilots and locals had. That is what going to the events is about. Pilots and people help fellow pilots in need. I am full of gratitude.
So, after this event. I was in need of repacking my gear, I had lost my reserve handle, and did not have another one. So, I was finished with the comp. I was able to help on retrieve, and enjoy hanging with the other pilots.
In retrospect, the outcome could not have been better under the circumstances. What's important is when flying close in gaggles, you must see and avoid other pilots. This is a very important rule. A mid-air collision is probably the most feared incident when comp flying. To know that both pilots can be safe, healthy, and OK when emergency equipment is used, and how to use it, is indespensible. An important learning experience for all of us.
Stay tuned!
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