Hang Gliding photos (DU Warning)

[radar]

Hi,

I went to get some Bogey Hole photos, but the tide just wasn't right, but the wind was, for the hang gliders that is. They were taken from Strzelecki Park in Newcastle. Here's a few from that collection:

#1


#2


#3


#4 - The black spot is actually a black crow that took a dislike to this hangglider.


#5


#6 - This is a tamdem hang glider. The bit at the front is actually a video camera so you can buy a video of your experience.


Click on the image for a larger photo. All these were taken with the D70s and the 70-300mmED.

Plenty more photos at my gallery here.

First time doing this type of photography. C&C always appreciated. Not much PP done on these, just did a bacth conversion in Bibble.

Sure was fun just sitting on the cliff side taking photos of these guys. Some were really zooming right along the cliff, awesome.

Cheers,

André

[Alpha_7]

Some nice shots Andre, I really like the angle in #5 pity about the wing tip.

Any idea why the seem to have a trailing cable behind them ? Seems a bit odd, and possibly dangerous ?

[radar]

Hi Craig,

Some nice shots Andre, I really like the angle in #5 pity about the wing tip.

Yes, it is a bit of a shame, I have another one in the gallery that is not clipped, but I thought the colours were nicer on this one.
http://www.leaveonlyfootprints.com/gallery/d/512-2/DSC_6371.jpg

Any idea why the seem to have a trailing cable behind them ? Seems a bit odd, and possibly dangerous ?

Don't know, they all seemed to have one, I'll have to ask a friend that was also there on the day.

Thanks,

André

[avkomp]

looks like you were nice and close to the action.
maybe you should have gone for a tandem ride for some aerial work
Steve

[radar]

Steve,

looks like you were nice and close to the action.
maybe you should have gone for a tandem ride for some aerial work
Steve

I was pretty close, on firm ground . Didn't want to spend the $165, maybe I'll get it for my birthday. I did a real basic course a long time ago in Calgary, never really took it up as a sport.

They came basically at eye level when they were cruising along the cliff where I was at. The draft must have been good there for speeding up.

Next time, I'll have to give a go at doing some panning, see how they come out with the ocean, coastline.

Cheers,

André

[radar]

Hi Craig,

Any idea why the seem to have a trailing cable behind them ? Seems a bit odd, and possibly dangerous ?

Asked my friend, here is what it's for:

That would be the VG line. It's actually a rope that the pilot uses to
move the hinged cross bars forward or back. The effect is that the
leading edges move in and out thus changing the geometry of the glider(
variable geometry). In other words the pilot can pull the rope to
flatten the sail to get a better glide or release the rope to get
better handling. You'll notice this rope is mostly on the gliders
without a king post, the high performance gliders.

cheers,

André

[Alpha_7]

Thanks Andre, make sense when its explained by someone that knows