Hang Gliding Aerobatics
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 4:07 pmI have always desired to do hang gliding aerobatics but I have never attempted a loop due to apprehension over a design flaw inherent to conventional hang gliders.
This design flaw makes looping conventional hang gliders much more dangerous than looping sailplanes (or looping rigid hang gliders with rigid suspension systems).
In looping a sailplane "by the numbers" - which is not particularly macho - if the pilot makes the error of not having enough speed at the top of the loop, the sailplane (usually) falls out of the incomplete loop, dives, regains flying speed and recovers. The pilot is not hurled out of the canopy by G-forces or sent banging around inside the cockpit because he is solidly belted to his seat. Whatever the sailplane does, with or without his input, the pilot travels right along with the sailplane, maintaining the proper cg point and thereby not messing up the aerodynamic balance of the aircraft.
When the development of the modern Rogallo-type hang glider (strangely) ended in 1980 with Roy Haggard's Comet and the subsequent Comet Clones, hang gliding lost its dynamic evolution. The flaw of a positive-G-only suspension system remained. Today, 35 years later, this has not changed. Failed aerobatic maneuvers and extreme turbulence events still result in loss of control and sometimes structural failure caused not by excessive aerodynamic loading but by point overstress of the pilot's mass impacting the keel and/or a sudden rearward location of the cg resulting in a tuck and often, again, structural failure.
ALL ABSOLUTELY UNNECESSARY!
Eric Raymond solved this problem in 1980 by fitting limiting straps to the harness of his Sunseed. Why does this problem still exist? Who is at fault?
All are invited to respond and provide videos. (No paragliding crapola.)
Video: http://voddownload03.globo.com/v0/02/79/c5/2426877_c556c09037b6ee5d0c9ce1279d35b86985a5ee24/2426877-web360.mp4?h=0502143777746763527905871437781067772783613811x92QDnVs6zpVM_PDkv6bw&k=html5
The great Renato Ribeiro makes a little mistake
February 24, 2013
R.I.P.
This design flaw makes looping conventional hang gliders much more dangerous than looping sailplanes (or looping rigid hang gliders with rigid suspension systems).
In looping a sailplane "by the numbers" - which is not particularly macho - if the pilot makes the error of not having enough speed at the top of the loop, the sailplane (usually) falls out of the incomplete loop, dives, regains flying speed and recovers. The pilot is not hurled out of the canopy by G-forces or sent banging around inside the cockpit because he is solidly belted to his seat. Whatever the sailplane does, with or without his input, the pilot travels right along with the sailplane, maintaining the proper cg point and thereby not messing up the aerodynamic balance of the aircraft.
When the development of the modern Rogallo-type hang glider (strangely) ended in 1980 with Roy Haggard's Comet and the subsequent Comet Clones, hang gliding lost its dynamic evolution. The flaw of a positive-G-only suspension system remained. Today, 35 years later, this has not changed. Failed aerobatic maneuvers and extreme turbulence events still result in loss of control and sometimes structural failure caused not by excessive aerodynamic loading but by point overstress of the pilot's mass impacting the keel and/or a sudden rearward location of the cg resulting in a tuck and often, again, structural failure.
ALL ABSOLUTELY UNNECESSARY!
Eric Raymond solved this problem in 1980 by fitting limiting straps to the harness of his Sunseed. Why does this problem still exist? Who is at fault?
All are invited to respond and provide videos. (No paragliding crapola.)
Video: http://voddownload03.globo.com/v0/02/79/c5/2426877_c556c09037b6ee5d0c9ce1279d35b86985a5ee24/2426877-web360.mp4?h=0502143777746763527905871437781067772783613811x92QDnVs6zpVM_PDkv6bw&k=html5
The great Renato Ribeiro makes a little mistake
February 24, 2013
R.I.P.
