Hang Gliding Aerobatics

I just posted this hang gliding video compilation on youtube after several people requested it.

There are three hang gliding Aerobatic meets combined in the video - all from 2000: “Jackson Aero Extreme”, “Masters of Freestyle” and The Red Bull “Wings Over Aspen.”

Wings Over Aspen

1st Place Bill Heaner

2^nd Place John Heiney

3^rd Place Aaron Swepston

Jackson Aero Extreme

1st Place John Heiney

2^nd Place Bill Heaner

3^rd Place Zack Majors

Masters of Freestyle

1st Place Mitch McAleer

2^nd Place Bill Heaner

3^rd Place Morgan Hall

There is a maneuver I did in the Masters meet that has always had a lot of people talking. Mainly because it looked blown and planned at the same time. RC Dave (head judge) started referring to me as “Bill Hanger” at the “bag-o-Gas” bondfire after the meet.

About 1:30 in the video you’ll see a very slow inverted entry that resulted in a couple of passes through negative before exit.

I had been practicing this sort of slow yaw over the top, rolling maneuver for a while and decided to try it at the Masters. However, it didn’t go exactly as planned because I had not flown through the apex of the maneuver with enough energy. But as all airspeed slowed, I noticed that I was tracking enough sideways to escape a tumble. This, I assume, because of the rolling entry.Publish Post

As the glider slid, I was suspended with my feet between the back flying wires near the keel…the glider WAS flying upside down and it was apparent the it would be flying out nose first before too long. I exited with another loop mainly to show everyone that things were ok and also because it just felt like the right way to finish the round.

An important observation here is that had this been a straight up loop, there is no question that a tail slide would have ensued causing the glider to tumble. I’ve never been slow on a loop and don’t intend to ever be there, BUT, the rolling entry does have some interesting possibilities. I’ve watched Mitch McAleer, and Ron Young get close enough to this to know there is more to it. Joe Bostic claims to have experimented with flying upside down and, knowing Joe, it’s probably true.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering, the maneuver is now referred to as “The Leaf Hanger” by some in the hangy community.

Cheers

Bill