Hi, I'm Philip Lee, an intermediate glider pilot in California who is learning to go farther and faster. My videos are about what I learn along the way.
Soloed 1985 ASK21, but look 4 decades later Jonker Sailplanes is producing some amazing state-of-the-art sailplanes. Retractable Electric Selflaunch system, barely 400 kilograms and I never say a Max Alt 17000 ft plaque in a glider. Superb stuff!
I have been thinking about your content here. The title could be "Why I am attracted to difficult and scary activities and how to tame my mind to de-couple the goal from the process". That has been true in my experience as a long time surgeon, aerobatic pilot and recent convert to soaring. All of these emotions and struggles, as well as the joys, are so unique and freeing that it is a very profound journey. A lot of it, after learning the technical aspects, obviously has to do with managing ego. That's the magic sauce. That's what changes us.
i wondered why you called yourself Orange Pants! Holy Cow,....I'm an early day soaring pilot from the late 50's! Flew from Hummingbird Haven in Livermore, don't think that color would have cut it...... If it works for you, that's great! Love your vlogs most interesting flights. Toodie
Great video, little suggestion next time, though turn the music down. Really hard to hear you with the music blaring in the background other not awesome footage.
Awesome congratulation! after all the hard work over the years amazing to experience how all the pieces fit together into this amazing flight. Thanks for sharing
I grew up in Carson City (many many moons ago), I remember seeing gliders all the time. I remember one time I counted 7 in the skies above Carson. If I remember correctly there was a lot of clouds and not much sunshine. Great video.
It looked to me like you landed on an abandoned road somewhere out in the desert. Does this happen very often, that glider pilots land at places other than actual airports?
I’m curious how you did this. Do you climb thermals and then glide to the next thermal climb again glide down to the next one? I fly Rc planes so I under stand a little how to glide. But I didn’t know you could “travel“ in a glider. Super cool stuff!
@@8OrangePants and what is the range of the battery for the self launch system? Can you use it often if needed? I’m really interested. Based in Sacramento so I might have to look into this as hobby. I’ve always loved airplanes but never really look into gliding. You got my interest peaked! I bet it’s amazing to soar the sierras!!!
Thanks for sharing your adventures with us. I love following along with your amazing flights. Appreciate your narration and suggestions to accompany the beautiful scenery.
Amazing flight man. Quite surprised you didn't even use water ballast. Good to know 1000k can be achieved below 50kg/m^2 with the right machine too! I got my license last summer and flew a 300km declared triangle in the alps last week. Hoping to do 500k this year still but we are have quite a lousy summer here in Europe. I'm giving myself 10 years to fly 1000k, let's see how it goes!
@@8OrangePants btw you have no idea how much your video about teaching xc backwards has helped me. I’ve had a few outlandings lately and it feels liberating. I don’t care anymore, I just try stuff! I realized there are a few pilots in my club ready to give me their time in case I need to put the glider in the trailer, other clubs are happy to see me visit and send me back home as quick as they can and friends congratulate me on my attempts in the evening. It works!
It very much depends on the weather. I've seen thermals that are like 1km across, where it's near impossible not to get up. And there are days where the thermal is only 100-150m in diameter and you can barely find any circle that keeps you inside the thermal. And then there's also warm weather days where the whole airmass is behaving like bubbles and there is no consistent center, just one bubble near the next bubble.
Great demonstration! Question regarding gear. I'm thinking about buying an action camera. Can you please share your setup? What camera are you using? How do you mount it to the glider? What is the battery duration? I see that this is 360 camera. How much time does the editing/panning around takes? Aren't the files hugh? If you already done so somewhere else, sorry for bothering you
It’s a huge pain in the butt to edit. Don’t do it unless you’re willing to spend a lot of time and some money editing. This was gopro max. Using insta360 oners 1-inch now.