Vlog 13: My first cliff launch hang gliding flight at Lookout Mountain
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- Опубликовано: 23 окт 2022
- I finally flew off a mountain! My dream came true!
After a year of training at Blue Sky and obtaining H2 rating, I felt that I’m ready to take this next step. I hang waited one whole day before this day and with the consistent tail wind the chance of me flying was slim, but my friends’ wind dance helped!!!! I’m extremely excited and proud I came this far.
Typo in the intro, the place is called “Rising Fawn” not Raising Fawn.
Nano, I have been following you from your first lesson. It has been amazing watching you progress and excel. You captured exactly how I feel when you said, “This sport keeps breaking my record of best day of my life moments.” I have been flying for 30 years and I still feel that way! Congratulations on a perfect first mountain flight! I can’t wait to see what you do next.
Thank you and I’m so grateful to have met this sport and people I’m the community. Who knew I’d go into a journey like this at age 37. Can’t imagine my life without it now.
You are a 30 year old pilot! I’m just one😆 I have a looooong way to go.
@@nanoraflyz Enjoy the journey! I think you know my friend, Romano :)
@@nanoraflyz Crap man,, I just started out 4 years ago at age 52.Had 2 seasons of flying aerotow training and 1 completed lesson of foot launch training. Over the last 2 years/seasons of flying ( Oct. to April) areotow, I had a pinched sciatic nerve and Tennis elbow take me out for the last 2 seasons. So 2 seasons on, 2 seasons off. Had only 2 flights on my Sport 2 when I got the sciatic crap. Now I'm going back to my Falcon 2 to get my confidence back. I have an aversion to heights, so even though I know I can do it, I am doing a tandem flight to make my confidence come back. I love foot launching, but here in AZ, it's not possible for an H2 pilot and we may just loose Mingus Mt. soon. Ugh!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wish I lived where I could fly more!!!!!!!!!!! Keep up the great work. It IS rewarding, if you can fly enough.
Absolutely amazing. Enough said!!!
Hi Nano, I really enjoy your videos. Thank you for sharing all your hang gliding experiences. Your videos give me a great perspective of what this adventure is like from the very beginning. I really appreciate that!
This is something I have been wanting to do for a long time. At 63 years old (64 next month) it’s never too late. Your videos have inspired me to follow this dream!!! YOLO!!!
Your comment brighten up my day. Thank you☺️ I really can’t say anything from age perspective but as long as you are healthy and strong enough to take classes why not! But def find a good instructor and consult. Whether it happens or not, I hope you keep that dream alive.
@@nanoraflyz Thank you! I appreciate you saying that. I’m definitely going to follow through with this long time dream. Actually, since I have family in Nashville, when I visit again in May or June we will go to Lookout Mountain so I can take a tandem flight. No doubt I’ll be hooked after that.
Keep up your great adventures and keep having FUN!!!
Get lessons and aero tow is great with wheel landings. Took back up after 37 year break on a U2 wills wing. Hang 4 rated in 1973. #212 Owens valley pioneer in 1974.
Nicely done! Great launch and landing! The trick is to stay relaxed and focused and you nailed both.
I flew hang gliders for 40 years. Best thing I’ve ever done! You meet the nicest people at flying sites. Lookout is an awesome place to start!
Thank you🐥 I’m getting ready to go back to Lookout hoping for some airtime and more practice. I haven’t flown almost three months now I’m itching to fly.
@@nanoraflyz; Nice!
Fly as often as you can. The main reason I gave it up was because I wasn’t doing it enough. If we had a Lookout Mountain in our neck of the woods, I’d probably still be flying. You seem like a natural. Keep it up.
What a wonderful first mountain flight! I'm so glad everything came together for you and you deserved nothing less than this perfect flight on this perfect fall day!! It gave me goosebumps to watch this! Xoxoxo
Awesome flight, looked like a low wind launch indeed.
Great job my beautiful friend ❤️ I need to get back to LMFP soon and finish my H2 rating... you are sooooooo inspiring Nano 😘🥰
Nice take off and landing! When I fly, which has only been a dozen mtn fights so far after getting my H2, I just can’t believe there are not more men and women who take up this relatively - safe
Sport! Best of flight to you!
Thank you Wade. Ya I agree with you. But the realization about how safely the activity can be approached and done didn’t happen to me until I actually took my first couple classes and got to know my instructor. So for most people who will not even think about starting to take a class, hg will always be seen as an extreme sport.. too much negative stigma still attached from its historical point of view. I really wish my videos get exposed to more people who have the obsolete information about this sport and change their mind… but my videos are having hard time reaching to those population. I really love and appreciate people watching my vids and give me support but majority of my audience is pilots or someone who’s into aviation already. We definitely need more people getting into hg. It hurts to imagine this magical sport goes extinct.
Former pilot and instructor. Fun watching your videos. It’s great that you will have them to look back on in the future.
It could be the camera angle…looks like you are staying in the upright position. I did that as did most. Once I gained more confidence I got prone which made the flying so much easier and more comfortable…more efficient too.
Hang gliding is such a rewarding sport, it’s very addicting too. In California we would yell to our fellow pilots as they launched…SKY OUT!!
Sky out and have a lifetime of great and safe flights!!
Thank you very much. So at Lookout, if your are first time flying in mountain they require you to fly only in the upright position for first four flights I think. I can’t wait to be back there again and fly more… California has soooooo many awesome sites. I’ll need to plan to get out there one day.
Thank you for your supportive comment😊 Sky out!!!!😎
I remember my first cliff launch...in 1977! So in 46 years (2069) maybe you'll remember this one.
Wow, that really made me smile sharing the joy you must have felt. I can remember first paragliding flight 20+ years ago very small hill top to bottom, but I remember thinking, wow, I'm flying over a road and some sheep!
Stay safe. X
Thank you! I hear beginner time is the best time in flying. I agree and I’m still a novice pilot. I always want to remember my first mountain flight. It keeps me focused and help me to stay in that learning mode.. Gotta get back out there soon.
Its so bloody amazing
Congrats! You’ll remember that flight for years to come. Way to stick with it.
Good I appreciate your guts to fly.
Textbook perfect! You are an outstanding young pilot!
I got hooked on that sweet ridge lift here in the late 1980's, until about 2005, getting over 4 hrs. on 4 different flights. The comraderie among pilots from all over the world was amazing, especially Oktoberfest!
Soaring there in the autumn colors...some of best days of my life.
My old Falcon is still waiting in the barn, and at 67 y.o. and still "built for speed," I still would love to fly again.
Maybe see you in 2023! River paddleboarding has become my surrogate activity for adrenaline...there's the Tennessee River at Chattanooga for those downwind days
Thank you sir! Wow, you are a veteran. I’m way baby comparison to you but I am hoping to venture out more in 2023, hoping to gather my own gears. So much to look forward to🤩 This community is so small, pls holla if you see me at Lookout😉
What a great landing!!!!!!!! You are well on your way to H3! Keep up the good work. SO many are choosing wings that don't have bones in them. PG pilots. I think you chose wisely with going HG instead of PG. But that's a can of worms to open up right? But at least you know that you'll most likely never need to throw your reserve!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's what sold me about having to store, transport, set up and break down a heavy wing like the HG!!!!!!!!!!!! SO worth it!!!! Can fly in WAY more conditions and will NEVER have a wing cavat like a LOT of PG pilots have! Good on ya mate!!!!!! Keep up the great skills. You Are killing it!!!!!! May all your landings and take offs be as planned!!!!!!!!!
Thank you sir, you r too kind. I’m sure it’ll be awhile before I can get H3. I have tons to learn, and my decision making skills aren’t so great. Trusting my own judgement part might become the biggest hurdle for me in this. (Hate to admit but I’ve been told I’m a clumsy side in all things) but I’ll get there! Thank you so much for your suppprt😊
Congrats Nano! Great launch and landing!
This is Buddy from Blue Sky. That was AWESOME!! I cant wait to fly with you... And Im so glad you showed your face! Do it more....
Lol! Thank you! It was an experience. Hope to see you soon in Blue Sky😉
Good flight, congrats !
Free flight like a bird. Keep it going. Well done.
Thank you😊
Where it all started for me . Congrats ! Great landing !
Thank you so much🥰
Thank you for taking us flying loved watching your shadow when you were downwind.
Thank YOU for checking out my vid again. I noticed most people who comment have been returning viewers. I find you guys as a family watching over my progress, you all have been another form of support as I go on with my flying journey, so again thanks so much☺️
Bravo, there was a bump on the way down. 😁
Well done! It must be amazing getting to that point.
Wonderful!
Killer flight
way to go nanoRa!
perfect launch and landing!
congrats!!
we're looking forward to see you when you're back in Japan sometime!!
I’d love to fly in Japan! That’s one of my goals🤩
Missing you Nano!! Where have you been? The flying is just getting good here at Lookout. Spring is the best for great thermals, you should come back and fly soon!!!😊😊😊
Trust me I’d love to come out and have a flying vacation!!! I definitely will be there sometime this year🐥
Great flight from launch to landing!
Thank you!😎
happy flying!
Magnificent!
So wonderful, I'm so jealous
Hope you can try! At least tandem flight😉
Keep it up Nano, next summer you'll be ready to come to So Cal and we'll have you soaring for 2 hours per flight.... imagine that!
Oh my, hope what you predict happens😁
That sounds like a dream✨
Nice sledder! Congrats on your first mountain flight.
Thank you sir!
Congratulations Nano!!!!!! Now that is Cool Kid Stuff. See you back at Bluesky.
Thank you😘 You from Blue Sky!!!! Mmmmm now I’m wondering who you are🤔 When you see me at the park next time let me know😁
So coooolll. Congrats and thank you for the inspiration!
Thank YOU for checking my vid out! Spread the word, especially to ladies. We need more women in this sport😣
Congratulations!!! I have been following from the beginning and I'm so stoked for you! I fly paragliders and Paramotors and i can definitely relate to the pure joy of flying. So happy for you ✌️
Flew a HG back in 1980 and since I got the itch again, my dream is to have a flight just like this one...Lookout Mt. is 1428 miles from Custer SD...Going to do it, just need to figure out the logistics. Thanks for keeping my dream alive. Jody
That would be one heck of a drive if you were to drive… diagonal cross country. I hope you make that dream come true. I’m wondering if there is a closer flight school from you though. Logistics of things may challenge you but please keep that fire lit.
Congrats
Great launch and landing!
Thank you Alex☺️
Nano, Congratulations on your first flight. I am living the same process that you are here in Valle de Bravo Mexico so I understand perfectly your excitement, I just did my 10th flight and share the same emotions you describe... keep up dreaming...
Thank you sir and congratulations to your 10th flight!! I bet you’ve experienced some thermal flights already?! We truly are the lucky ones we met the sport. Only issue for me is that it makes everything else in life so dull..😅 Gotta keep reminding myself to appreciate and notice other beautiful things in life as well.
Congratulations. You never forget that first high flight. You’ll be at cloud base before you know it 😎
I'm so jealous, well done
I was jealous for an entire year.. I’m still jealous of the pilots who has their own gear and the luxurious life style to travel all the time and fly all year long😫
Awesome Landing
First time i see it - my thoughts: why land to opposite direction, compare to plane and delta?
Then see - there is almost no wind, just a little head wind, so right decision!
Nicely timed strong flare!
Thank you!🐥
I met you at the LMFP training hills before you were cleared for the mountain launch. I've been following your channel since you started and have been cheering for you ever since. Congratulations and welcome!
Yes I remember you, I felt so tickled by meeting a couple pilots at the park recognizing me because of this channel😆 it was so nice meeting you and as long as we continue flying we’ll bump into each other somewhere again! Hope your hill training went well.
Excellent flying, Congratulations,, seem like a good place to learn
Definitely is! I wouldn’t change anything about my learning path but Lookout is a wonderful place to learn and also to build your flying skills to an upper level. They have a nice system, accommodation options and the hg community is amazing, you feel welcomed and safe in the environment.
Very confident launch 👍 and landing sequence was good too perhaps even better than at Blue Sky because over there you always turn back too soon. Good stuff Nano 👍
A tippy toe launch, a little goofy run I thought😆 one of my instructors said I’ll overcome that as I gain more confidence😉
Thanks so much Bari!
@@nanoraflyz yes, as confidence builds you plow throw :) but you are light on the feet anyway even on scooter tows so I reckon it's your running style :) what's more important is the glider angle and that looked spot on 👍
Nice landing! I enjoyed "flying along" with you. I had my first mountain launch recently (i could feel the butterflies and the joy🙂)
Wow, nice launch and smooth flight to a good landing..,Well done..
Thanks for sharing...
Thank you B😃
Good flights 💪
✌️😁
A perfect flight. In fact so good you could show this to people wanting to do this as an instructional video. No messing around and following the flight plan with a perfect approach and landing. It's a good feeling to do this so well first and it kind of sets you up for wherever you will go.
Wow thank you! You gonna make my head big😁 currently waiting to do my 2nd flight at Lookout. Wish me good luck🤞
You look like a pro to me 👍 You think you are have fun now wait till you catch your first thermal and climb up to 10,000 ft.
I've been flying and watching people fly hang gliders since 1976, I can tell you're a natural. I'll give you one tip I hope you'll take heed, always try to foot launch with more air speed than you think you need, it's easier to pull out of a shallow dive after launch than to recover from a stalled wing. Fly safe 😊
😆 ya, I can’t imagine what it’s gonna feel like to sore and fly high altitudes… I know that’s coming!!!
@@nanoraflyz It's gonna feel bumpy 😁. With big air comes big bumps. Thermaly air will generally be more bumpy and unstable than the smooth air you are likely used to flying in. How comfortable new pilots become in unstable air can be a factor in how they advance in the sport.
On the other hand, the higher altitudes should make you feel safe. Close to the ground when taking off and landing is where you can get hurt, way up at altitude you are safe. This goes double if the air is unstable. My scariest moments have always been landing in strong switchy winds. Take-offs are optional, landing are mandatory, meaning you can choose when, where, and if you want to launch but you don't always have those choices when landing. I can remember coming in to land once after a long pleasant flight only to find the valley winds had picked up and everything was rock and roll as I approached the landing field. As I was setting up my landing I observed gusts of wind below so strong it was tearing leaves and small branches off one of the trees next to the field. I managed to pull off a decent landing but even after landing the danger wasn't over, getting unhook and breaking down the glider by myself was a struggle as the wind gusts kept trying to flip my glider over.
Congratulations on your first mountain flight...! It brought back memories of my first mountain flight, over 44 yrs ago, at Kagel Mountain in Sylmar, CA.
I've watched your videos. Impressive..
Thank you💖
Well done.
Thank you😊
That's so awesome, Nano!! Don't even TRY to explain to someone who hasn't experienced a mountain launch how INCREDIBLE an experience it is! Great flight! You're a natural. Lookout was where I had my first mountain flight. Love that place. Next stop -- Hyner!😁
I just Looked up Hyner, it looks gorgeous. The view of the valley and the river from the launch site looks magical. Definitely adding it to my must-go-to-site list🤩
Awesome flight, approach and landing! Congratulations!!
Thank you so much Shane😊
Beautiful flight 🕊🦅
Thank you Jesse😊
Buenísimo vuelo !! Felicitaciones desde Uruguay !!
Thank you for cheering me on Santiago!
@@nanoraflyz no necesitas que nadie te de para delante ja ja ya le pones toda la energía necesaria para seguir avanzando en este deporte !! Ya me gustaría aprender en esa escuela , acá en Uruguay no son así
Divino y placentero vuelo¡¡
Thank you so much✨
@@nanoraflyz uruguay delta club, yo tambien vuelo
Proud neighbor.
Omg! Just realize, hi BJ🤩
Keep going! All the hard work is behind you now and every new flying day will bring you more and more enjoyment!
yeahhhhh
Congrats… hope you continue to grow your flying experiences and enjoyment like so many of us … really enjoyed your video. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much☺️
Welcome to the club
☺️
Well done and nice landing!
Thank you so much😎
Nice job
Thank you!
Those were a lot of trees to sail over, but instead of losing height, you seem to gain height...Of course I can not see much the lay of the land from a wing cam.
I am sure it must have been exhilarating. 😂😂
It’s probably cus I’m flying away from the mountain slope. Don’t think I gained altitude.
It was a gorgeous scene… can’t wait to fly again!!!
おめでとうございます！
ありがとうございます🙇🏻♂️
Well done on a wonderful flight. I am flylingual (fly hang gliders and paragliders) and remember my first high flights and it was nice to see you relaxed floating above the fall foliage. Nice you are passionate about wanted to share the sport with others...great job.
Thank you Mark😊 “flylingual” first time hearing that term😆 so looking forward to my next opportunity to getting in the air!
Nice :) Iv always wanted to hang glide im 35 and still have yet to do it. I Live close to One of the best Places for it North San Bernardino CA, I used to fly RC slope gliders and Kite board to tickle my itch for flight and playing with wind.. Now I Mostly riding mountain bikes. but Hang gliding has been on my mind again lately..
I really really REALLY hope you give it a try. And like you said you live in the perfect location for it. I have pilot friends who live in an area nowhere near a flight school nor launch sites. It take so much efforts for them to stick with the sport but once you r hooked you r forever hooked.. If it’s been itching you, you have no excuse but at least to make that real plan and “start”! I’m so excited for you🤩
@@nanoraflyz I will 1st I need to work on being less of bum and Become more money driven. my income is a bit embarrassing right now lol In the Meantime I need to Take care of my body so even if I'm a wee older i can Learn..
@@mountaingoat8788 hey totally understand. It is not a cheap hobby. After a year and a half into this sport I still don’t own my own glider. I just bought my helmet and ordered harness and parachute. Took me this long to start collecting my own gear. Taking classes will add up, but it is up to you what pace you want to learn. But after all it is weather driven sport, even if you had money and time you probably couldn’t take so many classes within a short period of time. We all have the right timing to start something like this. You’ll have yours if this truly is something your heart desires. Don’t sweat it, get excited this is coming for you and let it be the motivation for improving your financial situation😉
@@nanoraflyz your very right and I love your out look and commitment sister thank you for your kind words 🤘💛🧡🤘
I flew a variety of gliders in my younger days. (1985-1998) That flight would have been so much more enjoyable if you had gone prone to the base tube. When you fly vertical, the extra drag actually acts like a spoiler, causing lower ground speed but also reduces your glide slope. I used that technique a lot landing in limited LZs while mountain flying in Arizona. Nice flight and great landing flair.
Thank you for watching my video😊 So I started flying prone at my school, Blue Sky in Virginia but this was my first mountain flight and they require beginner mountain flyers to stay upright for their first 4 flights if I remember correctly. I’ll need to fly a few more in upright before I can go prone at the site. I can’t wait to go back there..
👏👏
It's my first time watching such videos. I'm afraid of heights tho 🤣
Hey, I’m normally afraid of height too. I’m learning that it’s different with an activity like this. You are in control and you are focused on steering the glider you almost forget about the height. By the time you are able to pay close attention to the height you are flying at you’ve already gotten used to flying😉
Great job. As a 70's hang 4 rated why not using knee hangers? Worked great back in the day.
Thank you sir! At that time I hadn’t been trained to go to the base-tube/prone position yet. Baby steps. Flew in the upright position the whole time. Eventually I started practicing transitioning to prone position wearing a knee hanger at Blue Sky FP, my home base flight park at the time. I have my own pod harness now so next time when I go to Lookout I’ll be prone!😊
That must have been a truly magical experience. Is that a ballistic shute under the wing?
Indeed “magical” is the perfect word for it. I will never forget my first launch. That’s actually the glider bag😅 they called it burrito roll 😂
Это наверное Япония....морской бриз.... мягкий воздух
I’d love to fly in Japan one day but this was is Georgia🇺🇸😉
At that altitude when flying the box to setup for your landing, is it difficult to judge when to fly down wind, base and land into the wind? I fear that I'll be too high or too low and end up running out of runway to land into the wind or be too low and have to land down wind rather than into the wind. My training was only on a small hill, so we always faced into the wind.
So at this site, when you fly for the first time they will do a chalk talk with you to go over your flight plan. This includes landmarks to watch for so you can safely plan your landing approach. If you watch my latest flight video, mountain flight #2,3,4, you’ll know what I’m taking about. I still need to learn to gain the sense of altitudes through every flight experience because landing approach relying on landmarks won’t be available in every site, or rarely in any site. I have a hard time judging altitudes. Hopefully as I fly more, just like muscle memories, my brain collects all the sensory data to help me gain a better vertical positioning sense.
Sweet
Tell me, how scary was the ramp and the launch? (You definitely have more altitude training than most H2 flying off that ramp for the first time. Was it any good to give confidence on the new take off and approach?) Also, I am curious on how many training hills days/flight you had to take to be cleared, being an H2. (Did you practice the approach with a tandem?) Thanks a lot for sharing!! See you in the sky :)
Hello Pierre👋 When I got there and checked out the ramp for the first time honestly I was scared. I kept asking myself, “am I, and can I really do this?” The ramp definitely was intimidating to me. The day before I finally flew, I hang waited for all day. During that time I setup and broke down the glider a multiple times because wind kelp changing. That was a nerve racking experience because I’m thinking I’m going then being told never mind… every time they said wind switched I felt relieved and frustrated at the same time. I think that emotional roller coaster was a good practice to prepare myself to fly off the ramp. The next morning I was so ready for it. I just wanted to do this.
Since I have had altitude flights at Blue Sky and had a good number of flights in and that many landing practices, only thing I needed to nail it was foot launch. I had one small hill class where I flew 8 times and cleared for the big hill, and flew a couple times on the big hill and cleared for the mountain.
Comparison to scooter tow flight, the angle of attack is a lot lower and how you hold the glider at take off is different. I didn’t get tandem instruction, I really could have but ya ended up not getting one. It was all great learning.
I too was at lookout for a week just a month ago. Weather have been on my side the whole time for the hills, but it turned on me on the 2 days I had left after clearing for mountain flight! I can also say that I left somewhere in between relieved and frustrated ... it is a weird feeling :) I am now looking forward to return, but I might visit Morningside before. Thanks again for sharing your flights and taking the time to answer :) Fly Safe!
I guess they don’t teach you to look around (left and right) until you are a Hang 3 ? 🤓 Good job… it gets more and more fun if you stick with it.
😆 im just still very nervous in my flights. It’s like you forget to look around and enjoy the flight when you are nervous and stiff. But starting to gain more confidence and getting more comfortable which is good 😊
@@nanoraflyz just like new car drivers or new sailplane pilots it is common to get fixated looking ahead, or looking too much at instruments or control panel. Of course by now I am sure you know developing confidence and being more relaxed to not have “tunnel vision” or “target fixation” makes you much safer. Target fixation on landing is a real thing where their is one obstacle in a large landing area and even experienced pilots become so focused on keeping an eye out for the obstacle that their are unconsciously drawn to it. Keep on flying , the overall experience just gets better and better as you progress.
@@alanaldpal950 I have a long way to go with this sport. So much to experience and learn. I’ll take my time and try to get the best out of each flight. I feel so grateful to have many compassionate comments like yours. Thanks so much Alan.
Nice, but wasn't this landing direction opposite to the other 2 aircraft landing?
Hello Peter👋
So far I’ve had total of 4 flights at Lookout Mountain. All of them my landing approach was into some kind of westerly wind so my landing approaches are the same in both videos from October 2022 and March of this year(exception of the one I miss judged the altitude I was supposed to go into box pattern…)😉
Do you have a parachute with you? I don't see it? If not - What is the parachute training for?
No, so they purposely don’t put parachute on students the first time at least, many a couple flights, because they don’t want students just freaking out and dispatch it when it’s not necessary. If you use it when it’s not needed could do more damage.
@@nanoraflyz Makes sense.
Show garota lindo
That quick push-out @ 1:15 in your launch sequence needs to be immediately replaced with a quick pull-in. Make it automatic.
Ya I can see that could be catastrophic depending on what kind of upward wind hits me… when in doubt pull in! thank you sir!
Too many of us had to remediate that bad habit after years of flying. Some never do. Best to nip it in the bud. Beautiful flight, by the way. Your box approach course changes looked accurate and coordinated. I saw a few twisted input attempts, but you seamed to naturally correct them.@@nanoraflyz
Hey congrats! I was there around that time (last week of October: ruclips.net/video/LVUFsAHD4gA/видео.html ). Looks like you're in VA. Hope you can make it to the Big Walker fly-in next year.
Wooow looks like you had a blast! Yes, hopefully by time time next year I have my own gear to travel around😊
Nice 👏 🇺🇦
Thank you😊
That's not a cliff take off 😂😂😂
Is it not??🤔 I know my launch was not a windy cliff launch but I thought the site’s ramp is considered a cliff.
Just don’t buy any gear from that gear store, you’ll get ripped off.
I plan to buy my glider through my instructor😉