Glider Ground Effect Demonstration

It is simply mind boggling how far a glider can fly low to the ground and stay in what is called ground effect. Ground effect is simply flying very near the ground (under one wingspan from the dirt) and magically the lift is increased and drag is decreased. If you want to know why, do a google search. :) Haha. The net effect is it seems like the glider can just keep gliding right over the ground forever. In this video the glider flew over a mile in ground effect and only lost 5 miles per hour. Please do not try to fly like this or try to recreate this experiment. It is very easy to touch down too fast (I came very close!) or overshoot the end of the runway and then not have enough energy to pull up safely and turn back and land. You will notice that I started at around 74 knots well beyond the airport property and was still flying at 70 knots indicated airspeed and only had 3000 feet till the end of the runway to slow down, land, and stop. I pulled back on the stick to climb to a safer (but still pretty low) altitude to adjust flaps and pull spoilers to decrease airspeed. You NEVER want to adjust flaps or open spoilers close to the runway in ground effect. The whole process of getting the aircraft into normal landing configuration was very quick in this video, and had I messed it up, it could have been very bad. I hope this is a good disclaimer to NOT try to imitate things you see online in your own flying. Conditions, pilot experience, locations, and equipment are always unique and I tend to get quiet when I have a lot going on and I don't say everything that I am thinking or considering. I want lots of people to become interested in gliders and soaring but not get hurt or worse. Be safe up there. Cheers, Bruno - 85W - I mean B4 :)

[MakersMuse]

I see pelicans doing this over the waves sometimes it's incredible how how far they go without flapping once. Sweet demo!

[fifealganaraz]

I was 40 years old, learning with a experienced instructor in an aluminium glider made in Chekoslovaquia ( Blanik) . I was aproching final and he talked to me and made me rest some time away from the landing field. Before the landing field there was a wired fence for cows ( in Bahia Blanca, Argentina ) . He then asked me if I think that we will managed to arrive with enough altitude to surpass the fence... I told him that I thought we would NOT ... He told me to try my best, and I did it. We flyed up to where the fence was and we were already beneath (the fence is 1, 20 meters high). So we were flying less than that ( may be 0, 70 meter.) I kept cool, knowing he was teaching something I didn't know. Just before the wire fence he said " just skip the fence and get down again" and we did it !!! ( I was absolutly astonished, gratefull
and very happy to learn in practice this theory.) Now I am 74 ...

[stankoproduction]

Here we are, back with another episode of why the hell is this in my raccomendations!

[peteh]

Ground effect is where the air below the wing is compressed and creates lift. It happens within the height of the wingspan.

[RetroGamerVX]

Ground effect is because the high pressure air created under the wings is sitting against the ground, creating a cushion :o)

[MatematicaTel]

I saw competition pilots use this effect to approach the field, running low at high speed from 2 or even 3 miles out the runway. Very beautiful, but sometimes not so funny...

[Berkov]

Soviet Union build huge aircraft on this effect, as far as I remember, they fly in 10-30m above ground or sea and lift amazing amounts of cargo.

[thermomeds]

That caterpillar on the windshield really held on for its life

[imapseudonym]

I used to fly a Schweizer SGS 2-32 many years ago. Your aircraft has a glide ratio we could only dream about!
Great video, thanks for posting it, that really takes me back.

[eddunne]

Thank you. I wasn't looking for this kind of video but it was a random pop up in my feed and was very enjoyable to watch. I am now looking for a glider flight near me.

[noleftturnunstoned]

Birds skimming the water is the best demonstration of this effect.

[valerieyearsago]

2:36 the magic begins. That is so sick haha. Nice demonstration man!

[JohnyMacarroni]

Outstanding gliding technique I must say sir, the aproaching to the runway was so smooth. You could land the moon!! Greetings from Catalunya!

[BMSWEB]

That was nuts :D loved seeing that low fast approach . . . what a blast

[jasondepieri]

this is why they built the ekranoplanes... right?

[M_Faraday]

This is great! Thank you. One thing though: ground effects are not a reduction in drag. The air flowing between the wing and the ground flows according to the Venturi effect, increasing air pressure under the wing. That's what lets you float.

[Designandrew]

ground effect is a long nice cruise into a short stall

[loto]

I flew out of Estrella SSE of Phoenix and LOVED practicing high speed low approaches. Turning base and final from 10 - 15’ off the deck at high speed. I was flying a Grob 103 (57.5’ wingspan) so you would have to pop up to make the turns and then push it back to the deck. Serious fun.

[Twobarpsi]

It was my understanding, that ground effect is created when the wings are close to the ground, they create a high-pressure Zone using the ground to push back a force to the wings, making them more efficient compared to open air.

[robweiler]

Great demo. Ground effect is a beautiful way to maximize flight efficency.