Crazy Mountain Wave: Flying my glider at redline and still going up #FullGliderFlight

What do you do when you're flying your glider at redline, and the wave is so strong, it's about to push you into class A? Join me on this winter wave flight to find out.

Discover what flying sailplanes is really like. This is the story of a full glider flight, from take-off to landing, shown in time-lapse. It includes voice-over commentary, 3D visualizations, instrument overlays, statistical overlays, 360 video, and post-flight analysis.

[BenHirashima]

I think I should have done a better job of explaining why I chose to turn upwind to stop climbing, versus other possible solutions. I wasn't climbing very quickly, so I only needed to reduce my vertical speed by a small amount to avoid going into class A. Turning upwind quickly got me into lift that was less strong, which is all I needed to stop my ascent. Turning downwind to get into the sinking part of the wave would definitely have worked too, but it would have been overkill. Once you're in the sink, the only way to get out of it is to fly back upwind, which will take a long time and cost a lot of altitude, or fly far enough downwind to transition to the secondary wave, or out of the wave altogether. Either way, you're going to lose a lot of altitude and/or end up somewhere you didn't want to be. As I mentioned in the video, the sky downwind was not clear, and it would not have been safe to go there where I could be trapped on top or be forced to descend through the clouds blind. Could I have opened the spoilers instead? Technically yes, but that's a risky and inelegant solution to the problem. The POH for the LS6c does allow the spoilers to be opened at VNE, but it's not a great idea unless you truly have no other option. At high speeds, the spoilers can be suddenly sucked open, putting huge stresses on the airframe. Even though they may have been designed for it, I'm not keen to test whether they will stay together under such extreme conditions. Why push your luck when all it takes is a slight turn upwind, losing no altitude, and continuing on your merry way.

Also, many people have commented that VNE decreases with altitude. Yes, I know. When I say I was flying at VNE, I mean I was flying at VNE adjusted for altitude, which in the case of my LS6c, is 118 knots indicated at 18, 000ft. At sea level, my VNE is 146 knots.

[itchy]

I love of feeling of pointing the nose into wind and slowing your ground speed down to zero while sitting in your stationary elevator in the sky

[Spartan]

For those that don't know Class A (Alpha) airspace in the United States is from 18, 000 feet - 60, 000 feet in altitude (MSL). To enter Class A airspace you have to be IFR equipped and IFR Certified with an IFR flight plan active.

His glider does not meet those requirements so if he entered Class A airspace he would be "busting airspace" and that means you get into a whole heap of trouble both legally and financially.

Also for flights above 12, 500 feet you are required to have supplemental oxygen due to hypoxia (he has supplemental oxygen).

[amorphousblob]

Airplane pilots: "You should stay away from mountain waves. They're dangerous."

Glider pilots:

[LittleManFlying]

When I flew in the Adirondacks, there was a letter of agreement with Boston Center defining two boxes that allowed sailplanes to fly waves up to 25, 000 feet VFR

[burtvincent]

Flew in gliders twice. What a blast. The local club gave pilots a special break on the price and handed over the controls after release from the tow plane. It could be addicting.

[sergeig]

I flew paragliders to 18, 000 ft in the Sierras and would love to transition to sailplanes in the next few years. I did not realize that such sophisticated tools were available that could accurately predict wave lift. That is just so rad! Love your channel.

[randytolle]

I once stood in a hangar and heard Bob Harris describe his Record Wave Flight.(49, 009')
"Pressure Breathing forced tears from his eyes that froze. He said it felt like worms were crawling around in his legs.

[benjaminilchmann]

EDITED: I thought that the word foehn gap came from the German word Föhn (ö = oe; meaning hairdryer). The wind system "Föhn" is southern wind blowing over the alps, accumulating moisture in front of the mountains which is cooling the air less, than the air warms in the lee of the mountain. Then Munich can have up to 20 degrees Celsius and sunshine with strong windy in winter. However it is actually the other way round. The hairdryer is named after the wind, as the answer below corrected me, so better read that xD

[cadenza]

I had a wave flight decades ago in Vermont in a Pilatus B4. Some people that day were up over 20, 000 (with ATC permission) and I could see them way up there. But I had to turn back at 11, 000 because I had left my Oxygen mask in my car!. It was also very cold. I needed to have the spoilers out and lower the gear to defeat the 1000 fpm climb I was in. I zig zagged back and forth in the gap because there was 100% cloud cover everywhere else and so it took a while to get down. Then at about 3000 AGL I could duck under the clouds and head for the airport. It was very turbulent and I alternated between holding full spoilers and then both hands on the stick to damp out the PIOs. It had been beautiful, smooth, and quiet up there, but I was glad to get back on the ground.

[mr.dnpalmer]

As a SEPL, SEPS rated pilot with two glider flights in a Grob logged, I find your video a wealth of knowledge and glider talk lingo. I can learn a lot from you and thank you for your channel. Looking forward to viewing more of your flights.

[theFrozenLiquid]

7:20 theres something magical about standing in the air at 0 GS, especially in a glider. just pure peacefulness

[wearemany]

For a glider pilot who’s scraped the 10k ceiling twice with O2 this was a beautiful flight. 🤩

[a]

It must feel incredible harvesting the airstreams to fly like that :) It already feels incredible to go sailing in a sailboat harvesting the wind for your propulsion.

[SaraStearns-tf]

I've been waiting for this, Ben! It did not disappoint. My, what a flight you had! Somehow I missed you'd departed from KCVH, and to my mind, that made the flight that much sweeter. PY would have really enjoyed those conditions, but her pilot had to work! What a day that was.

[gregorygehrke]

I just found your channel, it’s great! I am a fixed wing and helicopter pilot. I flew in gliders a few times as a kid. I remember it being very peaceful.

[romeo]

Well done! Thanks for all the graphics and time you put into making this video, Ben!

[ThermalWave]

Always nice to have a sip at the wave bar 🍻🏄‍♂

[timkin]

Nice flight and commentary... I rarely get to see wave where I glide and certainly not of that scale. Thanks for sharing (and making me jealous)!

[carlosclaptrix]

Thanks for taking us with you on this remarkable trip.
Nice way of telling the story.