First High Performance Hang Glider Flight

Published 2016-02-20
Kid pilot (15yo) Ethan Thomasson launching his Wills Wing Talon for the first time. At Lookout Mountain Flight Park, 2015.

All Comments (19)
  • @SagaSeaCraft
    His father is my aerotowing instructor! Thanks Jason! -Doug
  • @PetrPolach
    Well done! Few turn before the turn looked uncoordinated, but 3rd and 4th on the final were great. The landing was nailed!
  • Good control with leading with your hips and well done good punch for flair. Well done!!
  • @MandolinSunrise
    NIce flight Ethan, you seem to have a really low sink rate. Would they give you ballast to carry if it got bumpy or you needed more speed?
  • @SVSky
    Hot flying young man!
  • @donaldgregg9250
    I've watched quite a few videos of flights from Lookout Mountain, I would like to try this out some day, thinking this would be a great place to start 😀 ...some day.
  • @wrcummings
    Ethan, good job. Most 1st time high performance flights the pilot will PIO all over the place but you didn't. Next thing I noticed the camera wasn't level but still you were on the left side of the control bar for more of the flight than the right side. I think your Talon has a small right turn in it. Check your battens and then make sure the tip hasn't turned up on the right tip. If those two things are okay see that the left tip is not turned down at the back. Watch this video again and see if you too think you spent more time over on the left side of the basetube. Nice landing!!!!
  • @wrcummings
    Also note the right tip hit first on landing. (May have a right turn.)
  • @wrcummings
    Also next flight pay attention if your Talon turns right easier than it turns left.
  • @steverx4460
    Has USHPA got a minimum age for pilots? Ethan did good. But you wonder.
  • @nimint3400
    While you are carrying a heavy glider, you are thinking about how to put it closer next time)