Pete H Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 I've just had my first go at flying my zagi from a cliff over the beach below. It was great fun but I had a problem landing without getting slammed into the ground from about 5ft high when coming in to land. What is the correct technique? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatMc Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Come in about 4' 9" lower. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Privett Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Pat, funny you should be the first to answer. On reading Pete's question the first thing that came to my mind was my experience flying off the cliff near the Brierdene car park a few years ago. (That's less than a handful of miles from Pat!) I'll sit back and see what answers people have to defeating the rotor, because I certainly didn't have any answers that day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slopetrashuk Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 This largely depends on the shape of the edge of the cliff. With an abrupt edge you can expect some rotor which it sounds like you experienced. You need to walk back from the cliff edge 50 yds or so and try from there. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GONZO Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 When flying off a cliff you need to be about 7 to 9 times the hight of the cliff back from the cliff face before the air starts to smooth out and loose the turbulence generated by the air flowing over the top edge. Or, land at the base of the cliff. Or, find a place along the cliff run where it changes to a round top edge like a hill. This comes from my time hang gliding and not model slope soaring. I've flown many cliffs on a hang glider from Beachy Head to the Tegise Famara cliff run in Lanzarote(2,100ft high) and never landed back on the top of the cliff or met anyone who has. It was only looked upon as an emergency landing option. But then, its a lot more important not to 'trash' yourself than a model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatMc Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 John, many years ago I used to fly from that car park during my lunch hour when the conditions were right. IIRC I usually landed in the mini golf green back from the rotor. Pete, sorry I couldn't resist the initial mickey take but it would help if you gave a description &/or location of you flying site for specific meaningful advice to be offered. If it's unavoidable to land in a rotor affected area I always put in a few clicks of down trim to speed up the approach. This helps maintain positive control all the way until touchdown. IMO more models get broken from cartwheel landings than from fast positive ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slopetrashuk Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Beachy head carries a vicious rotor as the top falls away from the lip compounding the problem. Cliffs such as the Great Orme carry little or no rotor in places where you have to walk slightly downhill to reach the lip. If your site has some higher spot, land there or like i said go further back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Green Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Filey Brigg (east) has a similar rotor, rather than walk back towards the caravans I just come in faster and stay on the ball ready for the sudden changes of attitude. Sometimes I find its better coming in crosswind, then a tight 90 degrees into wind kills the speed and settles the model down nicely. When you float it in the lower airspeed means you've less control authority. Sometimes the air is still immediately behind the cliff edge, just a few feet back, but then you have to be aware of punters, their dogs, and signs saying "Beware Dangerous Cliff". All depends on the particular site I spose Edited By Phil Green on 23/07/2014 21:01:17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete H Posted July 23, 2014 Author Share Posted July 23, 2014 That looks just the same as the cliff at West Runton, Norfolk where I'm struggling to land without it looking like a crash. It sounds like I need to try coming in faster or further back. Edited By Pete H on 23/07/2014 21:11:15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedster Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 The trick is to walk back until you feel a steady Wind, about 50 meter and land there. Then there is no problems, Or if you have flaps you can spot land only 1 meter from the edge, or even land in the lift area.. Good luck Soren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedster Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 This is the way to do it.. S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin b Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Sorry, thought this thread was an advert to a holiday in the Caribbean. Almost had a model and guitar packed ! "Got myself a cryin' talkin ..........." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Dorling Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Cliff rotor - you have to walk back - a loOOOOOOOOOOONG WAY BACK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatMc Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Posted by Steve Dorling on 15/12/2014 22:58:26: Cliff rotor - you have to walk back - a loOOOOOOOOOOONG WAY BACK Not necessarily. Most times we don't have that option at my local slope & usually land within a few yards of the edge. It's all down to pre-planning & practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Dorling Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Can be - but rotors are notoriously unpredictable - you have to learn your hill - if you're a newbie - get walking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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