tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20110414.post5612480380531260249..comments2023-09-28T09:00:44.681-10:00Comments on Wind Lines: Baptism at Sandy's in a Pink WingUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20110414.post-48880797626165489482009-09-21T19:49:49.102-10:002009-09-21T19:49:49.102-10:00Btw...Reaper, you've flown for 20 yrs and have...Btw...Reaper, you've flown for 20 yrs and have not gone over the back because your FAT!! <br /><br />fat basterdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20110414.post-11077130614024819342009-09-21T18:10:25.842-10:002009-09-21T18:10:25.842-10:00Please be careful when flying - and don't be s...Please be careful when flying - and don't be scared of my mistakes, but learn from them. If anyone has questions about it - please do not hesitate to ask - or maybe this has raised concerns that you have not considered before and can ask an experienced pilot or instructor.<br /><br />I also want to note that I appreciate how each pilot watches out for one another while we are in the air. <br /><br />Me...give up??? ....Shoots...If you don't know me by now, I am one of the most determined individuals you will ever meet! <br /><br />Fly safe!<br /><br />~BonkersAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20110414.post-9345242265264240552009-09-21T18:10:02.137-10:002009-09-21T18:10:02.137-10:00Thank you all for all your kind words and advice. ...Thank you all for all your kind words and advice. I have taken all of it to heart - and trust me, I have learned A LOT from this experience. I thought I learned a lot the first time, but geesh...I guess not. Look, it wasn't that I wasn't listening to any of the pilots when they told me to "stay out front" and "watch out for the venture" - I just got mixed up, once again, on where "not" to go. For the new pilots - some good advice is to be aware of your speed and penetration; I should have taken the slow speeds more seriously. <br /><br />Alex, Brazilian Ray, and Reaper, thank you for your advice, it is all very good and great for all pilots to know. I think a water landing class is essential. Alex, thank you for your article, it taught me a lot - and I'm sure others learned a lot as well. It is great to know when to throw your laundry, and when to know that it is not necessary. I was glad Reaper threw the idea out there that it "may be" necessary in this situation (as I was going OTB), because I would have otherwise probably not considered it. Pilots who have not been in this position may not think of things like when to throw your reserve, etc. I just knew I did NOT want to throw it unless it was absolutely necessary and I knew the wing was out of control. <br /><br />Reaper may have been watching me, and may not have seen the nastiest air I have yet to be in (there have already been 2 other really nasty times) - but it was bad! I tried to explain it in my story, but maybe it wasn't enough. I surged FORWARD, then BACKWARD, my legs were flailing uncontrollably up into the air (if you watch me fly you will notice that my legs are normally crossed at the ankles) - then I got rocked LEFT, then RIGHT. It was all very uncomfortable and I was sweatin' it and cussing the whole time. The best advice I can give in this situation: STAY CALM! Don't freak out, that's the worst thing you can do. Maybe I did not do the wrong thing by keeping steady brake pressure, but it seemed to have done the trick. That's what I did the first time I went OTB, and it worked then, too. Even though I was calm, I could not think fast enough to consider whether or not I needed to be hands up or brakes on - so I kept a steady pressure. <br /><br />I understand that I got VERY lucky yesterday and I am so thankful for HFD and the lifeguards. I saw the fire truck as I was coming in for the landing; I assumed they were there for another call, but I think they hang out and wait for something to go wrong there. Thank goodness. <br /><br />I know I should have tried harder to get out of my harness, but I was too busy trying to figure out what I should be doing and by the time I got closer and closer to the water and go one unbuckled, it was too late. I was talking on the radio instead. I am very lucky that the harness and gear did not pull me under. It actually kept me afloat-even though it was on top of me and I was face down. I reached around for my buckles a few times, but I mainly concentrated on keeping my head up and waving my arms so the lifeguards knew I was in danger-or to let them know that I was conscious. <br /><br />I know I messed up by totally surpassing the beach, but maybe it was a good thing that I overshot it as much as I did. Had I landed closer to the beach, the surf would have been much stronger, I would have been dunked under by the massive waves and I know I wouldn't have been able to stay afloat. Yes, the lifeguards would have gotten to me sooner, but I would have spent much more time under the water than I experienced. <br /><br />I am also aware that cutting away from the gear is essential in some circumstances - but when I realized I was not hurt, I was staying above the water and there did not seem to be much of a hazard, I knew it was ok not to cut away. Again - at this point, the best advice is to STAY CALM. It is hard to say how things could have been differently had my reaction been dissimilar, but I'm sure it wouldn't have been as positive as it was. <br /><br />Continued. . . [By Bonkers]Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20110414.post-3830874620117359872009-09-21T13:18:22.923-10:002009-09-21T13:18:22.923-10:00Great story Bonnie, glad you're okay! And grea...Great story Bonnie, glad you're okay! And great comments from everyone! I started to write one but it got too long so I created a separate article for it here: <a href="http://www.windlines.net/2009/09/some-lessons-from-bonnies-adventure.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.windlines.net/2009/09/some-lessons-from-bonnies-adventure.html</a>Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06249789335111913420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20110414.post-28687956475412893482009-09-21T13:14:13.591-10:002009-09-21T13:14:13.591-10:00Good lessons learned and words of wisdom for all.
...Good lessons learned and words of wisdom for all.<br /><br />Bonkers, when you applied full speed bar did your metal pulleys pinch down and touch? If not, it wasn't adjusted to "Full bar". I found that out the hard way once upon a time... <br /><br />Semper Paratus,<br />BillBill (aka Hillbilly)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20110414.post-24604531429132861242009-09-21T12:31:26.545-10:002009-09-21T12:31:26.545-10:00Wow, what a wild ride Bonnie! I'm glad you'...Wow, what a wild ride Bonnie! I'm glad you're OK! Thanks Reaper for reminding us to check the weather conditions before we fly. Thanks JeffMc for making me aware of the winds aloft website. I now make sure I check it every time I fly. NOAA's winds aloft link: http://aviationweather.gov/products/nws/winds/?area=hawaii&fint=06&lvl=loMauiDougnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20110414.post-18916346105067756052009-09-21T10:32:41.276-10:002009-09-21T10:32:41.276-10:00Another thing to ponder is at what point of going ...Another thing to ponder is at what point of going over-the-back(OTB) do think about a reverse toss? I told Bonnie yesterday that she should be prepared for a reserve toss in the event she encountered severe turbulence or rotor winds. She says she did "Get rocked", but I watched the entire flight and never did I see her getting too trashed. Suicide Pete survived the rotor once and landed at the golf course after an 'OTB' incident. But, Bungee Mike found going 'OTB' over Kaneohe by Valley of the temples was a different story. He was sucked into the clouds near H-3 and came out facing pearl Harbor. He radioed us to tell us that he would be landing near Pearl ridge fire station. As he tried to glide out he found the rotor and the next thing he knew he was looking down at his glider. After the 2nd time he got launched over his glider he threw his reserve and had a very slow decent into very tall jungle trees. HFD helicopter found him standing next to the tree and his glider stayed there a week with his keys and cell phone in the back of his harness before Skydive Chris, a rented chopper, and Mike retrieved what was left (Not much).<br /><br />Don't hesitate to throw your reserve if you don't like whats happening to you. I rescue people all the time at mainland comps that have thrown their reserves. 99% walk away just fine. I actually did a stand-up landing on my only reserve ride.<br /><br />Moral of the story is be prepared. Check the winds, forecasts, etc. Study the weather, and buy the books. Practice grabbing your reserve handle while you fly to familiarize yourself with its location without thinking about it, and don't get caught to far back or close to the mountain without 1st checking your penetration into the wind. Often I see newer pilots running back to the ridge in high winds and going 'Oh shit, I need to get outta here'. Avoid the 'Oh shit's' and be more cautious in higher winds.<br /><br />I have been flying paragliders for over 20 years now and I have NEVER been blown over-the-back. Funny, huh?<br /><br />Be safe.<br /><br />ReaperGravityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14574997933340807663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20110414.post-81795189867476482372009-09-21T10:32:27.156-10:002009-09-21T10:32:27.156-10:00We all have a lot to learn from this, especially m...We all have a lot to learn from this, especially me as her instructor and boyfriend. from now on I am requiring all of my students to spend an afternoon with me at a pool and we're gonna do water landing classes. <br /><br />I will no longer hand out a P-2 license without a pool test.<br /><br />Yesterday, is the 2nd time a paraglider landed in the water at sandy beach. I was the 1st some years ago when my "Death spiral" was a few turns too long and found myself looking up at the beach about 50 yards from shore. <br />Being that I had 15 or so years experience and the fact that this was my 10th water landing I knew what to do.<br /><br />I unbuckled my harness, turned off radio and electronics, and sat on the edge of my seat holding on to my risers until I was 10' above the water. I jumped free of the glider, landed on the reef, and swam ashore. I waited until the waves were calm and swam out and got my harness detached from the glider. We then waited for the glider to wash ashore. It took 10 of us to wrestle the glider up the beach and a one point I was almost sucked in to the shore break by a few lines. It's Very dangerous to be in the surf with a glider. <br /><br />Bonnie got lucky yesterday in the fact she landed so far out from the surf, the HFD was there already, and lifeguards had a jetski on the beach. Now imagine the other places we over the water with no lifeguards?<br /><br />Also, if you find yourself flying backwards, you need to get as high as possible which is why I sent Bonnie over the back so soon. I feared she would encounter the rotor much to soon and over the back of cactus. BJ crashed their years ago, and although he was unhurt, it was a very difficult rescue with tons Kiawe trees and bushes.<br /><br />Once you've determined that your going over the back, you have to think about potential LZ's. Or maybe the softest looking trees?<br /><br />You also have to possibly turn into the wind sooner than you think so like in Bonnie's case you don't get blown back beyond your next LZ. The book tells us that in high winds your base leg turn into a windy LZ should be made further into the wind. Landing at Sandy beach park in high 'Off-shore' winds may require you to turn at the highway or maybe even the golf course, so that you can land going backwards but at least at a slower speed. You may also have to grab your 'D' risers just above the brake pulley's and land with them instead of brakes so you don't get dragged. I do this all the time when I land tandems in high winds. It works great. It also the way you land if you break your lower brake line and can no longer be used.<br /><br />Continued...Gravityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14574997933340807663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20110414.post-28026957359856095082009-09-21T10:08:36.471-10:002009-09-21T10:08:36.471-10:00Back-door Bonnie...We are really glad this had a h...Back-door Bonnie...We are really glad this had a happy ending! Thanks for your story.<br /><br />As a professional aviator, I can tell ya that practice makes perfect when knowing your equipment. I have spent countless hours geting to know my own harness and instilling that muscle memory needed to get out if needed in a situation where I couldnt see...well, the same goes for a paragliding harness. This situation just goes to show that it could happen and does. Maybe this could be a lesson learned to help other PG students, and the rest of us to "get to know our gear". <br />As for your personal safety, this is always a priority. If your life is in jeopardy and you have to cut your lines...cut em, you can always get them replaced. As you seen first hand, getting tangled is way easier then getting untangled, know where your hook knife is, you may have needed it!<br />Again, thanks Bonnie and like they say.."that what doesnt kill ya only makes you stronger", learn from your mistakes as we all can learn from others too. <br /><br />Keep your eyes to the sky...fly high!<br /><br />JoeyJoeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17457897589741512244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20110414.post-83621995458026622782009-09-21T09:59:40.948-10:002009-09-21T09:59:40.948-10:00Well written exciting story, Wow, Glad your OK. ...Well written exciting story, Wow, Glad your OK. ChopperDaveAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20110414.post-4195278089009228732009-09-21T09:06:13.837-10:002009-09-21T09:06:13.837-10:00OTBonnie...just glad to hear you are safe and soun...OTBonnie...just glad to hear you are safe and sound!<br /><br />Thanks for your account of yesterdays excitement.<br /><br />If your electronics were off, you may still be able to ressurect them in a bath of distilled water followed by a thorough drying.<br /><br />I usually ziplock up my cellphone and windmeter or other electronics that I don't use while flying. I won't take my iphone up with me and take a beater go-phone for emergencies instead.<br /><br />Just thankful you're safe and have another experience under your belt.<br /><br />Fly on! :)<br /><br />SharkySharkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06078376589294032571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20110414.post-67237514401994352752009-09-21T08:12:44.050-10:002009-09-21T08:12:44.050-10:00Damn, Bon - that was a chilling account of your ex...Damn, Bon - that was a chilling account of your experience. Thanks for writing that up (not too long at all!). Very glad you're OK!!<br /><br />I agree w/ Ray - a fresh/distilled water bath might save your electronics if they were off when you landed? I had a water landing once and my vario survived (everything else was toast though)<br /><br />I think another valuable lesson would be to remind ourselves to memorize where our harness buckles are. I know it's something that concerns me, personally. Every time I'm putting on my flight deck, I can't help but think... "man - that's an extra buckle or two I need to remember if I land in the water". Makes me wonder if a flight deck is really a good idea?<br /><br />-JeffJeffMchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08647210759297211493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20110414.post-42120419483124400942009-09-21T07:43:36.136-10:002009-09-21T07:43:36.136-10:00Glad you're ok and thanks for the report! goin...Glad you're ok and thanks for the report! going over the back sucks and it can be a scary lesson (been there, done that.... TWICE!). your report helps bringing awareness to other pilots and we appreciate it!<br /><br />constant penetration checks are very important in all of our sites. I mean flying into the wind and making sure you're moving forward, specially on a beginner and/or slower glider. a lot of times we see others flying up high or far back but the faster glider could be deceiving, so if you see somebody all the way up there (or sometimes just even flying for that mater) it doesn't mean it is safe for everybody to be there. take baby steps and check as you go. also be aware of changing conditions by keeping an eye on the water and other indicators of any wind speed increase.<br />flying over the water represent a chance of someday landing there (do I need to say been there done that, again?) and some of us fly with a inflatable life vest. It is a good idea and could save your life, specially for beginners and pilots trying "new" adventures like wingovers or acro over the water. In case you find yourself hitting the drink, here are a few tips.... If you have the time:<br /><br />-turn off electronics<br />-unbuckle yourself in the air<br />-jump from the harness a few feet before hitting the water (so the glider with the lines will fly and land away from you)<br /><br />if you don't know how to swim, you should learn ;)<br /><br />your electronics will have a better chance of survival if they are turned off. In an effort to revive them, if CPR doesn't work, try to wash with distilled water as soon as you can! also use a product called "corrosion block" (buy it at west marine, POP or any good fishing store). Open it up and let air dry, do not use microwave and avoid the hair dryer (blower). you can use dry rice to accelerate the drying process by putting your device in a bow and covering it ;)<br /><br />USHPA magazine just had an article about landing in the water, learning from others experiences can be a lot better! I am glad you're determined to fly hard and you almost got me for a second there, I had to read that paragraph about quitting twice! very funny!<br />looking forward to see your titles!<br /><br />fly safe!<br /><br />Brazilian RayBrazilian Rayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18436342581028804698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20110414.post-34222503289276105942009-09-21T04:07:59.442-10:002009-09-21T04:07:59.442-10:00JEEZE BONNIE!!!
You're Really Rackin' up ...JEEZE BONNIE!!!<br /><br />You're Really Rackin' up some "Learning Experiences", Aren't you. Reminds me of a friend of mine who would always run into one emergency after another. This was like 1994 and we were calling him 9-1-1.<br /><br />Glad to hear you're OK and good luck with that equipmentRich.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08368089151913560303noreply@blogger.com