On Monday, 27 May 2019 05:31:32 UTC+3, Tom BravoMike wrote:
On Sunday, May 26, 2019 at 7:56:56 PM UTC-5, Dan Marotta wrote:
Anyone who would watch this video and then try it for himself is simply
stupid.Â* And you can't fix stupid.Â* A Darwin award is in the making...

On 5/26/2019 2:16 PM, @gmail.com wrote:
I’m afraid video may be making pilots take these risks.

https://youtu.be/PlXeHeR5Ma8

--
Dan, 5J

I think it's a matter of the level of training in specific situations (number of hours flown does not say it all). You may get experienced in thermalling very low over a safe landing site. I wouldn't call it stupid without knowing specific circumstances. In the US we are taught to make a 180 degrees turn from half the alt in the video, i.e. from at least 200 feet = 60 meters (!) to land downwind after a rope break. And we don't call it stupid.. We actually train for it. In some Eu countries the minimum is 100 meters = 330 ft. I once tried to save the day in a PW-5 from 100 m over a huge empty runway. Didn't succeed and landed, and it was just like turning the final from the base. Or doing the final from S-turns. Extreme caution and concentration - yes. Watch the speed and keep the string in the center. Stefan clearly informs his viewers that there's a 'landing option on the field below'. Risky? To some extent, yes. Each time we turn the final we risk, but again, that risk is reduced with training. Just MHO, intentionally opposing the harsh judgments above.

There is a huge different to do something because you have absolutely no other options to save your ass, or to do it because you take sporting risk in competition.

I have had low saves in competitions. None of those I feel particularly proud or satisfied of. I believe that in the video risk was small, but it was there. There is no reason for a glider to fly at 100-150m AGL anywhere else than short final to well-planned landing.