Landing a HG is harder than on a PG, however overall it's probably safer. The ability to bank energy with speed until you are at ground level gives you a lot more protection against wind gradient induced stalls and other problems. Lot's of PG pilots with limps from getting dropped on the ground low.
You looked at the upright before grabbing it, in a couple of those. I got criticised, by an American, for looking at my upright before transferring my hand, in one video of mine, as he said that I should know where the upright is. Yank schmank.
D WILLIAMSON I rock climb and we are taught to watch our hands and feet onto the holds, and those holds aren’t even moving around relative to the pilot like a glider down tube does. Seems like if you look your hands onto the down tube and then return your gaze to the horizon that should work well, you would avoid getting distracted by fumbling for the down tube. But hey, what do I know, I was a Hang 3 pilot back in the eighties but haven’t flown in 20 years. Thanks for posting videos!
Unless I've been flying quite often, I always visually guide my hand during the transition. However, I always do my final approach OUOD (One hand Up, One hand Down) and I transition my last (left) hand at trim-condition just before flaring when landing on relatively flat ground. When landing on a relatively steep uphill slope, I transition my left hand at rotation, just after I ease-out the bar pressure, just before achieving the flight-path that is parallel with the hill's grade . I find I have far more control with OUOD or both hands on the control bar when in active conditions. I NEVER fly approaches with both hands on the down-tubes. It's just too risky when trying to spot-land exactly where you want it in an RLF (restricted landing field) with obstructions when controlling from the DTs (downtubes). I suppose approaching with both hands on the DTs is doable when landing in a BIG field with relatively calm or steady condition, but any out-landing and/or landing in active conditions will be more dangerous with that method. When transitioning my last hand to the downtube during trim-condition, I will typically guide my hand by quickly looking at the point on the DT that I want it to go. At that point, the glider is not going to veer off course, unless it's very gusty, so you really do not need to watch exactly where you are going 100% just before your flare, unless you're landing on boulders or big rocks. The transition will be far more likely to be successful in less time if you visually guide your hand and it takes but a small fraction of a second to do such. If it is quite gusty, it's best to keep the hand on the control bar and do the best flare that is possible. I do fly with wheels, so there is always that second option. Always leave yourself an out!
The more I see the more I think it might be a doable exercise concerning my old knees. A Knee brace for both legs, warm up before the running, old guy stuff. I am lucky I have so little fat on me. I am hoping it would make it more easy to learn to fly if I am more physically fit.
Ideally it pretty much stops making the landing just one or two steps. Sometimes even in absolute still air it can be no steps at all. If the flare is a little late, or not aggressive enough then you can be left having to run a bit. If there is slight tail wind then usually you run a bit. Landing into a significant wind you can't do a full flare or you blow over backwards, so then usually we are landing with some forward motion (like the windy one in the video at "Rowter Farm").
It is primarily the experience of the pilot. Then the possibility of using a braking parachute, which could be seen. Last but not least, it is a selection that consists only of successful landings ...
@@DL-kc8fc of course it is a selection of the good ones. We should all try to make all landings good and work out what went wrong with the bad ones. Note though, the drag chute does not make it easier to land well, it just makes it easier to land in a smaller place. Flare timing is more difficult in fact. If you use drag chute then be sure to practice with it regularly. Too many are putting it in the harness just in case they need it sometime, then when trying t land so where small die to mistakes they find it makes things worse or doesn't open.
