11 Most Memorable Glider Landings 

Usually we are so busy and in a hurry to get it out of the field we are not spending the time to film. Will keep that in mind if the opportunity presents itself.

@@BrunoVassel Thanks, Bruno! Best wishes for good thermals and no forced landings.

Who picks you up?

very unspectacular, a vw bus or truck full of helpers arrives, the plane is loaded onto the trailer and the pilot has to pay for a case of beer (at least here in germany that's how it usually goes)

It is the most relaxing flying I have found. You have already lost your engine, weather changes are not much of a factor, few people to talk to, no gas levels to monitor, most times navigation isn't an issue. You just fly and follow the birds if you can find some. Peaceful.

@@bridgefin Until you crash .

@@emmanuelmeysman820 If I had to crash I would prefer to do it in a glider. Slow sped and no gas to ignite. But gliding is very safe for the sensible pilot.

@@bridgefin Plus a plane that's designed to fly without engine, so most probably with a better glide ratio than your engine-plane.

@@blubb9004 Right, two to five times better glide ratio depending on the glider. And you are always mentally prepared to fly and land without power.

I was thinking the same thing. In the Netherlands apparently it's a custom to bring a bottle of cognac and a cigar in case this happens on a training flight practicing engine shut offs etc. But I never heard anything similar at the soaring club.

In Germany its part of your glider- and club insurance. But ist always a good idea to have 50 euros in cash with you, just in case you have to calm down an upset farmer.

Thanks for watching! :)

Merci d'être venu dire bonjour Hans! Je vais visiter la Normandie en avril et j'aimerais voir votre aéroport. Quel est le nom de votre aéroport ? Merci d'avoir regardé et salutations de Utah. :)

@@BrunoVassel Je réponds en français pour la facilité. Mon aérodrome est Boos/ Rouen. Code OACI est LFOP. C'est avec plaisir que je vous rencontrerai. Je serai probablement absent pour voler au Portugal du 9 au 16 Avril.

Often there is no measurable damage, but yes we absolutely compensate for any damage we cause and we carry insurance for this as well

Agree with Garrett. Unless you are landing in high corn or some other non-grain crop, we don't do any damage landing. Of course if there is damage we will gladly pay the farmer for both the crop and their troubles and thank them for preparing a landing site for us. :)

Nothing. Not a scratch. I have now landed in 15 farm fields over my 28 years of gliding and have never put a scratch on the glider doing it. Good thing wheat is not made of anything too hard. It sure does make a lot of noise though. Haha.

@@BrunoVassel oh wow that's impressive! I'm a paraglider pilot making the transition over to sailplanes after 20yrs of flying floppy wings. Out landings have never really been an issue for me before. Lovin' your videos. Keep them coming!

Wow! That is an amazing landing for sure.

Sorry to hear about the food poisoning! I’ve now landed 16 fields over the last 29 years. Most of the time I never even meet the farmer. A few have been amused and brought our grandkids to sit I. The cockpit. A few have been grumpy. I’ve never damaged any crops so,luckily, all have been good experiences so far. Cheers and get well.

Do it!

Howdy! There might be a chance to get a ride with me or a friend. Let’s see what we can do.

He called out his location to his team before he touched down so they could come get him, you can hear it in the second clip

@@Name-qj9ql Yeah, but who picks him up? His wife or friend? Or is he part of an organization which will come and pick you up if you need help? A lot of sailor will have some kind of insurance they pay for monthly and if something goes wrong, they will come and tow your boat. I'm just curious if the sailplane guys have something like that.

@@al-du6lb In my club in France is it club members who come out. Good practice if your car has a towbar to leave the keys with the club so they can use it to tow the trailer to your location. I assume it is the same in the US?

@@capnordest interesting. thanks

They cannot punish him second time for the same infraction...

They never said anything and I never asked. I might as well share it so something good (your entertainment) can come out of that whole debacle. Cheers.

I was wondering exactly the same thing. I would have thought any reposting of that specific video was forbidden.

@@BrunoVassel milk it for all it's worth ;) But maybe always include a disclaimer/warning so that other pilots don't make the same mistake.

It would be a violation of his 1st amendment rights to restrict what he can post.

Yeah, and you have to fly with an oxygen tank, so you don't breathe in all that mind-control chemicals in them!

Hi! I can only tell you what it's like flying here in The Netherlands, but it should give you an idea what it would look like probably for you as well. :) So, you can actually already start learning to fly a glider at 14 years old here! So you have to be a little bit more patient and wait till you're old enough. After that, you can join a glider or fly club. I don't know where you live, so you should look around if there is one nearby for you. Here you can start learning how to fly a glider together with an instructor. Costs depend but here it is around €1000,- a year, but younger kids or students can normally get a reduced fee. This sounds like a lot of money, but with this you can fly with the fleet of the club, you get flying lessons from an instructor and can use all facilities the club has to offer. Be prepared though: in order to keep costs low, you are required to help around on the field as well. You won't get the plane in the air all by yourself so you need others to help you get in the air. In return you also help others fly and so it is expected you help out the whole day.

Its quite easy actually, find a local gliding club, join them, practice, practice and in about 2 years you have your license!

Watch the video and let us know what you think.

oh i see! do the wings ever get damaged on landing?

It depends moast are pretty chill

We just for fun. Just messing around.

About 80/20 ratio. Most of the farmers I have met have been super cool and even excited to take pics of their grand kids sitting in the glider that landed on their field. The 20% you just try to be respectful and get out of their hair asap.

@@BrunoVassel how do you get out of that field?

Already have...

@@BrunoVassel Love it!!!!

I have landed in 15 farm fields and have never had a farmer demand any compensation. I have also not damaged anything so that plays into it as well. Of course there is the old grumpy farmer out there that I might meet one day and I will try to be very apologetic and appreciative of having their field to use in my "emergency landing". ;)

More often you get invited to coffee and cake, or when you land late a beer and a schnapps and something from the grill

That's good to hear. I'm thinking more of the first one where you landed in the wheat (or barley? I don't know) than the second one with the empty field. But I guess maybe in the grand scheme of things the crop damage just isn't that great?

The pilot does - if there is any damage. There was no damage to crops in any of these landings so no cost.