Flying Videos

Doodlebug Flight Guide

Eckehard Fiedler, from Germany, put together a nice series of videos in the form of an introductory Guide to the Doodlebug:

• Introduction
• Rigging
• Launch
• Landing

Other Flying Videos

• A compilation of flphg takeoffs (and a few landings). Many are the same takeoffs shown in the files below, but in higher resolution FLPHG Takeoffs (HD on Vimeo)


• A soaring flight from my favorite local mountain, Big Walker in Virginia. Clips from a full hour flight condensed to 3 minutes, with music.
  Another Big Walker flight, with a Keel Mount
  Both in HD on Vimeo


• Some clips from a wing-mounted mini-HD video cam at Hyner View Pennsylvania in July 2009.
  This same video is also hosted on Vimeo


• A late evening nil wind takeoff with the Mosquito and Sting: MTakeoff1.mpg (2.0 MB)


• Another nil wind takeoff. Note the bubbles floating in the upper left corner for the first few frames. The wind was too light to stir the flags much and bubbles were the only way to reliably tell the wind direction. Takeoff4.mpg (1.52 MB)


• OK, I showed you the good one. Here was the flight before the one above - it wasn't so good. The run started out OK, but when I felt the glider start to lift I wimped out and stopped running - I barely had enough airspeed to keep from eating dirt. With another 2 or 3 steps this could have been a very good takeoff. Takeoff3.mpg (1.4 MB)


• A takeoff in the same location on a different day CH9_29.mpg (2.5 MB)


• A takeoff from my local Airport AP07_02.mpg (2.1 MB)


• Rocky Ride - this video shows the need for caution when there is wind and you are taking off from a field surrounded by trees and hills. In light winds it is no problem to get out of this field. On this day there were maybe 10 mph winds, and the control movements required to overcome the turbulence reduced my climb rate to almost nothing. It was a very long - for me - 1 minute flight! ShortFlight.mpg (3.7 MB)


• Thrust Line Turns - this shows using nothing but the angled thrust line to turn, by yawing about the hang strap.  Note that  my right arm is dangling, and that the only input I am putting in is a yaw (body angled to keel).  The glider will eventually turn in the direction my head is pointed.  This shows a series of 5 reversing turns using this method.  The glider has a slight left turn in it (with or without power), so turns to the right take longer than turns to the left.  The subject of using the thrust line to turn is discussed in detail in handling.php   Here is the video: ThrustTurns.wmv (3.9 MB)


• Flight Operations - these videos show all the normal operations during a flight with a powered harness, taken with a wing-mounted camera: takeoff, zip-up harness and retract legs, shut down and fold prop,  unzip and lower legs, and landing.  It is in tow versions, depending on  your connection speed and how patient you are.  This is the pretty poor quality version, but the file size is smaller: FlightOperations_low.wmv (3.2 MB)  or you can opt for  better (but not great) quality: FlightOperations_better.wmv (6.5 MB)
  

Humor Videos

• OK, you've seen all the "here's your brain on drugs" ads.  If you're still not convinced, here are spiders on drugs:  spiderondrugs.wmv (3.3 MB)


• Some people may think we're crazy flying hang gliders.  That is pretty tame stuff compared to what some folks do.  Here's a guy who used to be well known in the climbing community - I get sweaty palms just watching this: insanemountainclimber.wmv (3.8 MB)  I say used to because he is no longer with us: http://outside.away.com/magazine/0499/9904terminal.html 


• "Pinky" is a really loving kitty. Wouldn't you like to take Pinky home with you? (bring your leather gloves!) pinkey_1.wmv(2.0 MB) Note, this is a newer and clearer version that I came across. The old version is here: Pinky.mpg (2.6 MB)


• I'm not really a cat person, but somehow I've ended up with a lot of cat videos. This is actually a very well done commercial: catherders.mov (3.1 MB)


• OK - last cat one - you don't need to like cats to find the humor in this: funny_cats_1.wmv (2.9 MB)


• It's a very good idea not to get busted for DUI (driving under the influence of alcohol).  But you'll have to admit, this guy went down with class!  TopDUI.wmv


• Tired of hearing how bad Windows PC's are - maybe it is time to buy a Macintosh instead?  Check this out first: whymacssuck.wmv
  


• Thinking about having kids? Better watch this first! (it's a condom commercial) no_kids.avi (2.0 MB) And if that did not convince you, try this: reason_not_to_become_parents.wmv (3.0 MB)
  


• OK - this is how NOT to tow your car out of the snow! CarInSnow.wmv (3.4 MB)


• While we're on ways to NOT do things, here's a few for "slides": Safety_slide.wmv (5.2 MB) (Oh, that hurts...)
  


• The Master Card Commercial you never saw on TV. Most would not consider it offensive, but if you think yourself a prude better pass on this one: MasterCard.asf (1.9 MB)


• F-Word Grammar - we all know what the 'F' word is. If you are offended by it, don't listen to this. On the other hand, if you've been known to use it on occasion, then perhaps you would be interested in this humorous grammar lesson to make sure you are using it correctly (audio only): F_Word.mp3 (300 KB)


• Think you are having a bad day?  It will seem a lot better after you see what happens to this guy: Oh-crap.wmv (1 MB)


• Every now and then a truly useful product comes along: BlowDarts.wmv (2.3 MB)