On Sunday, August 2, 2020 at 9:02:38 PM UTC-7, wrote:
re https://youtu.be/BBpqvPujZgM


In my opinion, this video shows the difference in training between a power pilot and a glider pilot. A glider pilot in a similar situation (eg being low and not finding lift) would have remained close to one of the excellent large grass fields immediately visible in the video. A glider pilot would not have attempted to continue further without keeping another good field within reach. Once close to a airport, a glider pilot would not have attempted to fly a normal pattern, once a runway could be reached with an early turn in. A glider pilot would not have chosen to extend his downwind, for no obvious purpose, to place a highway between him and the runway. To summarize: a glider pilot would have calmly landed in a large grass field, and would not have made a panicky gear-up landing in a crop field.


This discussion is useful, and should not be regarded as a criticism of the pilot. Such discussions remind me of the description of an accident enquiry, as "six people taking six months to decide what the pilot should have done in six seconds".