Atta way, Ben! And thank you for another great video about the Dash! This is an unashamed plug, but all are welcome to fly the Dust Devil Dash. There’s nothing like flying as far as you can without worrying about returning to your home field. Just bring a chase crew and fly within your limits, as Ben so rightly says. An epic experience is guaranteed! Tom Coussens Contest Director
What a great video, well edited, a good blend of teaching, scenery and race strategy. Love the CGI comparisons during thermalling, it really helps. Thanks!
Excellent flight and video production. It’s videos like yours that explains so much education for the wannabe soaring pilots. I’m a current New England hang glider pilot and paid a trip to the Owen’s Valley back in the early 80’s. What a landscape! Story’s I’ve heard and read about of the early years out there and is where the first 100 plus mile flights took place. We as HG pilots learned a lot from the sailplane sport. Same struggles, just all at slower speeds and reach.
Great video. I appreciate all the editing work. I've landed in Austin several times in my 1-26. Great memories. I'm glad to see Austin is still surviving as a town.
Terrific flight and stellar video, Ben! You've become a great story teller. The production of this video was so engaging - the narration, the visuals, the graphics, and the music. Just wow! And you've got me salivating to get some GOOD flying in in PY next summer - and I plan to! See you at cloud base (soon)!
Absolutely high quality content my dude. I’m an airline pilot who has been interested in gliding for a while. Just came across your channel and now I’m looking at gliders and schools. Unfortunately there’s nowhere to learn to soar around me, but I plan on moving to the Denver area within a couple years and will have ample opportunity then.
Incredible video Ben! The visuals were amazing and the story telling inspiring..Hope to eventually beable to go XC as well in the not so distant future..
Thank you for the video! Your timing with the narration makes me feel the empathetic angst and relief each time you needed and found a crucial climb, well done on both the video and the flight! A few years ago I shared a thermal with a sailplane between Walt's Point and Lone Pine peak, I saw them climbing up from below me so I went on glide to the north. The next thing I see is it off to my left, hauling ass past me as it knife edged right in front of me and then proceeded on to the next trigger north. The experience was unreal and unforgettable for me. So it's awesome to see a flight in the eastern Sierras from the sailplane pilot's point of view, logistics and all. Gives me an idea of what they might have went through to get to that moment. Thanks!
I remember flying my hang glider near Tehachapi glider port back in the 80s.. We had a small hill outside a penitentiary ( convict hill ) that provided hours of soaring..
Thanks for the trip down memory lane! It was exactly 20 years ago that I flew my DG300 to Eureka in the DDD. It was a good weather day and my trip was barely in the top half of the results. Do they post the results anywhere so that I can follow it in years to come?
That's cool that the DDD has been running for over 20 years. They post the results to the Tehachapi mailing list. I'm not sure if it's available elsewhere.
AWESOME STUFF I have never even touched any kind of airplane but this seems like a sail boat 1000 times over! I pray I God gives me a chance to do this some day
Thnak You for this wonderful and very instructional vid... being glider pilot myself I have watched this with great attention learning from better pilot
Wow, I loved watching the part where the conditions were strong and you only needed a few turns! I assume you’ll be submitting those beautiful images of your glider at sunset. Should we expect to see those on the cover of soaring? I hope so!!
I didn't take ballast, for strategic reasons. Ballast hurts your handicap in this race. If I was carrying ballast and I landed at the same place as Jim Payne, the tie would go to him, assuming he wasn't ballasted. With no ballast, the tie would go to me. This is the case because of the handicaps assigned to our specific gliders, the LS6 and Discus Duo. It could be a different story for two different gliders.
Hi, Ben! Your videos are fantastic and they keep me excited for gliding in winter. Can you tell me which gear you are using? I'd like to record my gliding journeys as well, and your footage is the best I've ever seen.
Cumulus clouds mark the thermals, which are columns of warm rising air. When the thermal carries the relatively moist air near the ground up to where it's cold, the moisture condenses and forms a cloud.
@BenHirashima thanks Ben. I'm a ASEL and ASES rated pilot with two sailplane flights in a GROB in my logbook. It was in Fla in Dec so no ridge lift or good thermals but I had a blast. I've been trying out MSFS2024 which now models lift for gliders in So-Cal today I got some good ridge lift but still trying to find thermals.
Yes, I would love to have starlink in my glider. It would be challenging to install though, since the antenna is large, and gliders don't typically have much empty space to work with.
@@BenHirashima They have a new one, that's very small and would easily work in your glider. Its meant for mobile use so it has a different power configuration . I think its 50gbs a month which is not bad if you only use it in the glider, and the same cost about $120. It would be so nice to have our gliders starlink equiped.
Hi , I am also glider pilot in france . A bit jealous about culumus base altitude you have in california . what is the material you are using to make outside video : stick how long and wich camera ? Thanks
Lol. I find that having my knees bent like that reduces the pain from long flights. Something about the cold and the lack of movement causes pain unless my knees are bent.
The overlays and commentary really add to the story. Fun to watch.
Well done
Atta way, Ben! And thank you for another great video about the Dash! This is an unashamed plug, but all are welcome to fly the Dust Devil Dash. There’s nothing like flying as far as you can without worrying about returning to your home field. Just bring a chase crew and fly within your limits, as Ben so rightly says. An epic experience is guaranteed!
Tom Coussens
Contest Director
Nice video and narration.. I used to fly out of Cal City 20 years ago, brings back good memories of all the spots you mentioned.
What an adventure! As always, thanks for taking us along for the ride like no one else does.
I like the Endless Summer like narration in your videos !!
This is definitly one of the best documented gliding flights i ve ever seen! I really enjoyed it!
What a great video, well edited, a good blend of teaching, scenery and race strategy. Love the CGI comparisons during thermalling, it really helps. Thanks!
Excellent flight and video production. It’s videos like yours that explains so much education for the wannabe soaring pilots. I’m a current New England hang glider pilot and paid a trip to the Owen’s Valley back in the early 80’s. What a landscape! Story’s I’ve heard and read about of the early years out there and is where the first 100 plus mile flights took place. We as HG pilots learned a lot from the sailplane sport. Same struggles, just all at slower speeds and reach.
Great video. I appreciate all the editing work. I've landed in Austin several times in my 1-26. Great memories. I'm glad to see Austin is still surviving as a town.
Fantastic. Thanks for the awesome production. I picked up some knowledge on the way as well.
Terrific flight and stellar video, Ben! You've become a great story teller. The production of this video was so engaging - the narration, the visuals, the graphics, and the music. Just wow! And you've got me salivating to get some GOOD flying in in PY next summer - and I plan to! See you at cloud base (soon)!
Thanks Sara!
@@BenHirashima 💗
Awesome video Ben, really enjoy watching your stories, especially the decision making moment!
As a lover of soaring (RC for now) and a lover of Nevada, thank you for these great videos. They are always a welcome treat.
I started in RC too!
@@BenHirashima Nice! I just caught my first thermal last month with a Radian UMX. Tiny little thing! I'd always done slope soaring prior to that.
Beautifully done! Thank you. I miss soaring the 395 corridor / Great Basin. Sigh.
Fantastic video and footage. Even better story telling. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing!
Fabulously told, awesome sound track.
Congrats on a pretty decent finish of DDD Ben! and this is a very nice video too :)
Great story and gives a good insight on flying gliders 👍🏼
What a fantastic video of soaring Ben. Great footage and well thought out. Don't keep us waiting too long for your next race.
Absolutely high quality content my dude. I’m an airline pilot who has been interested in gliding for a while. Just came across your channel and now I’m looking at gliders and schools. Unfortunately there’s nowhere to learn to soar around me, but I plan on moving to the Denver area within a couple years and will have ample opportunity then.
Glad to hear you're interested in soaring! I hope you can find a good instructor near you. Watch out, it's quite addictive.
Incredible video Ben! The visuals were amazing and the story telling inspiring..Hope to eventually beable to go XC as well in the not so distant future..
Wonderful. Keep it up. Viewing from Australia and looking forward to the next one!
Thanks!
Thanks again, Don!
Magnificent views and an awesome place to fly! Great video as always! 💪
Thank you for the video! Your timing with the narration makes me feel the empathetic angst and relief each time you needed and found a crucial climb, well done on both the video and the flight!
A few years ago I shared a thermal with a sailplane between Walt's Point and Lone Pine peak, I saw them climbing up from below me so I went on glide to the north. The next thing I see is it off to my left, hauling ass past me as it knife edged right in front of me and then proceeded on to the next trigger north. The experience was unreal and unforgettable for me. So it's awesome to see a flight in the eastern Sierras from the sailplane pilot's point of view, logistics and all. Gives me an idea of what they might have went through to get to that moment. Thanks!
That sounds like a very cool experience indeed. Were you flying a paraglider or hang glider?
@BenHirashima a hang glider!
I flew this contest leaving the Tehachapi valley that day was hard. Excellent video Ben.
Thanks! Who is this? Have we met?
It's Oscar, I fly an ASW24 and got 6th place. I only had crew for the day.
I remember flying my hang glider near Tehachapi glider port back in the 80s.. We had a small hill outside a penitentiary ( convict hill ) that provided hours of soaring..
Awesome video Ben! Really cool!
Excellent as always. Love the discussion on the decision-making.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane! It was exactly 20 years ago that I flew my DG300 to Eureka in the DDD. It was a good weather day and my trip was barely in the top half of the results. Do they post the results anywhere so that I can follow it in years to come?
That's cool that the DDD has been running for over 20 years. They post the results to the Tehachapi mailing list. I'm not sure if it's available elsewhere.
Great flight!
AWESOME STUFF I have never even touched any kind of airplane but this seems like a sail boat 1000 times over! I pray I God gives me a chance to do this some day
I hope you get a chance to do it too. Getting started doesn't take as much money as you might think. You can join a club and fly their gliders.
60:1 glide wow. As a paragliding pilot at 6:1 amazing machines you fly!
Thnak You for this wonderful and very instructional vid... being glider pilot myself I have watched this with great attention learning from better pilot
Nice video again. And some love for the groundcrew
Wow this is so cool i never knew how capable gliders are.
Fantastic video, Ben.
Wow, this sets a standard for glider videos. I'm a new subscriber. Thanks to Charlie Thaeler for the heads up. Well done.
Congrat …. Your videos are sooooo cool!!!!! Would like to come with you ….😂 Matthias, switzerland
Wow, I loved watching the part where the conditions were strong and you only needed a few turns! I assume you’ll be submitting those beautiful images of your glider at sunset. Should we expect to see those on the cover of soaring? I hope so!!
Good idea. Thanks for reminding me.
Excellent!
Great video! Any winter wave for you this year?
Hoping for some! Wave days are rare, so one has to be patient. I'll be ready.
Awesome video! Did you carry any ballast ?
I didn't take ballast, for strategic reasons. Ballast hurts your handicap in this race. If I was carrying ballast and I landed at the same place as Jim Payne, the tie would go to him, assuming he wasn't ballasted. With no ballast, the tie would go to me. This is the case because of the handicaps assigned to our specific gliders, the LS6 and Discus Duo. It could be a different story for two different gliders.
Hi, Ben! Your videos are fantastic and they keep me excited for gliding in winter. Can you tell me which gear you are using? I'd like to record my gliding journeys as well, and your footage is the best I've ever seen.
Thanks! I use an Insta360 X3 camera.
@@BenHirashima Do you attach it to the canopy using a suction cup for shots over your right shoulder?
Much fun to watch.
While u teach us how to glide and how wind works....
Nice video! I assume you have a polarizing filter on your gopro and that's why your main screen looks turned off?
Thanks Brent! No filter on the camera, at least none that I added. I'm not sure why the computer screen looks so dark in the video.
great video.
Great video. Could you explain the importance of the Cumulus clouds for gliding? Is it just for smooth air, lift, both or other?
Cumulus clouds mark the thermals, which are columns of warm rising air. When the thermal carries the relatively moist air near the ground up to where it's cold, the moisture condenses and forms a cloud.
@BenHirashima thanks Ben. I'm a ASEL and ASES rated pilot with two sailplane flights in a GROB in my logbook. It was in Fla in Dec so no ridge lift or good thermals but I had a blast.
I've been trying out MSFS2024 which now models lift for gliders in So-Cal today I got some good ridge lift but still trying to find thermals.
so cool
Exhilarating share; simply amazing. I flew a sailplane before asel pp but I'm asking myself why. ✌️👶🚬
Glad you enjoyed it! You should get back into it sometime.
Fantastic race Ben. Is Starlink-Mini allowed for better weather awareness?
Yes, I would love to have starlink in my glider. It would be challenging to install though, since the antenna is large, and gliders don't typically have much empty space to work with.
@@BenHirashima They have a new one, that's very small and would easily work in your glider. Its meant for mobile use so it has a different power configuration . I think its 50gbs a month which is not bad if you only use it in the glider, and the same cost about $120. It would be so nice to have our gliders starlink equiped.
Are you referring to Starlink Mini? It's still the size of a pizza box. Not enough room in my glider. Maybe in some others.
Hi , I am also glider pilot in france . A bit jealous about culumus base altitude you have in california . what is the material you are using to make outside video : stick how long and wich camera ? Thanks
Hi. I use an Insta360 X3 on a 1 meter pole that came with it.
What are you 7’9” I’ve never seen or flown a glider where my knees are above the panel
Lol. I find that having my knees bent like that reduces the pain from long flights. Something about the cold and the lack of movement causes pain unless my knees are bent.
Should there be a Depends commercial here?
Not like you can pull over. 😬
That's one way to deal with it. I prefer to be connected to a bag that stores it.