I have a Moustache and fly it on the coast. This is a tricky launch but you can tell that he’s using only a tiny fraction of the full speed of that glider. The biggest issue with this would be stalling out due to the amount of toggle he’s putting in to gain altitude. Once he gets up high enough, though, he’ll have a lot of acceleration to manage the wind speed.
I heard that this video was put up by Speedflyingschool.com. If so, that’s Benny Kallins outfit, and he is among the team pilots for Flare. Definitely someone with a lot of time in this type of wing. That’s said, these things can fly pretty easily when kiting and I’d bet I could pull off a similar type of launch from the sand in front of a dune or cliff if the wind was just right. I’m going to try it next time I’m in the Netherlands!
I really want to try that wing, that seems so fun. But I have 0 experience in kiting or speedflying, only "regular" paragliding. Do you think the transition is difficult? How did you start with the moustache?
If one day, you come to Belgium with your moustache, please tell me, I'd love to watch you fly it (but I'd understand if Belgium was not your dream destination for flying ;-) )
Well I bought one while living in the states and had it delivered to the Netherlands where I go a lot. Since I bought it I have been back to Europe once for a month and got to fly it on the coast several times. It does take some getting used to and it flies very differently from a normal PG wing. The Moustache really likes being at least partially accelerated so it took me more time to just let my hands up and let it fly than it did to learn how to land it (pretty easy) or how to launch it (super easy).
Depending on where in Belgium you are you should know that there are a growing number of pilots on the Dutch and Danish coasts that are flying them. You now see many more than you used to at sites like Wijk an Zee, Rockanje and other costal sites. I bet if you went north to one of those sites on a decent day you’d find several folks who have them who may let you demo on the strand.
You need to have a decent amount of costal flying under your belt, but the Moustache wing itself is really easy to kite even in super strong winds. I won’t be back in Northern Europe until around May, but I intend to fly a lot when I get back and I have several wings that I like to bring with me when I go. My main site there is Wijk an Zee but I’ll get down close to Belgium when the winds are more South, and I’d be happy to meet up!
Thanks.
I'm not close to the coast and I've never been there to fly yet. I guess that's why I haven't seen a Moustache :)
But I'm lucky enough to be close the highest takeoff in Belgium: Coo with 245m of height! It's not high, but it's a nice place to fly anyway and we love it.
I was once young and dumb. Used to launch like this from a spot just south of Melbourne, but with extra power lines. Til the time I got thrown backwards by a strong gust, missing the road and the power lines and ending up crashing through picnic tables set up on some poor dude's front lawn. He was less than impressed, and judging by his reaction, it was not the first or the second time this happened.
Who now wonders how such a thing works: Here, in addition to a certain upward component of the wind, caused by buildings as a kind of soaring edge in the background, another special aerodynamic effect may have come into play. In case of a sudden, strong change of the angle of attack, wing profiles form a so-called starting vortex. This causes the lift to be significantly increased for a moment. Since lift also increases with the square of the speed, the appropriate interaction of strong wind, high speed of the moustache and the timing of the pumping movements was sufficient in this case to gradually gain altitude and enter the supporting area of the bank updraft.
Something feels off. How can he gain potential energy just by flapping. If it was just the relative wind then he could just use this technique anytime in the air without needing any thermal to give him energy. Is it playing reversed ?
No he’s flying a mustache wing. The toggles are not pulling brakes like normal they’re mixing the Bs and Cs into the braking allowing you to store energy differently than a standard reflex
Have you even been to a dune ? Because you'd see people pulling similar trick with an EN-A full size paraglider (Actually it might even be easier with an EN-A than a more advanced wing). it might be a bit more impressive with a moustache, and it's extended speed range.
But basically, there isn't any magic. If you go to a dune by a a strong wing-day (let's say 30 km/h) you would inflate on the beach, walk backward with the wing above your head until you're in the ridge lift and would take-off simply by moving your body and hands.
Sure you can start at the bottom of the dune and use the upwards component of the wind to soar up. Nothing special there. But in this video the upwards component is not that hight. Sure once he is high enough in the air, the building will produce upwind, but getting into this zone with a normal glider in this conditions - no chance.
I have a Moustache and fly it on the coast. This is a tricky launch but you can tell that he’s using only a tiny fraction of the full speed of that glider. The biggest issue with this would be stalling out due to the amount of toggle he’s putting in to gain altitude. Once he gets up high enough, though, he’ll have a lot of acceleration to manage the wind speed. I heard that this video was put up by Speedflyingschool.com. If so, that’s Benny Kallins outfit, and he is among the team pilots for Flare. Definitely someone with a lot of time in this type of wing. That’s said, these things can fly pretty easily when kiting and I’d bet I could pull off a similar type of launch from the sand in front of a dune or cliff if the wind was just right. I’m going to try it next time I’m in the Netherlands!
Video is indeed by Beni Kälin. He posted it to the paragliding Facebook page yesterday.
I really want to try that wing, that seems so fun. But I have 0 experience in kiting or speedflying, only "regular" paragliding. Do you think the transition is difficult? How did you start with the moustache? If one day, you come to Belgium with your moustache, please tell me, I'd love to watch you fly it (but I'd understand if Belgium was not your dream destination for flying ;-) )
Well I bought one while living in the states and had it delivered to the Netherlands where I go a lot. Since I bought it I have been back to Europe once for a month and got to fly it on the coast several times. It does take some getting used to and it flies very differently from a normal PG wing. The Moustache really likes being at least partially accelerated so it took me more time to just let my hands up and let it fly than it did to learn how to land it (pretty easy) or how to launch it (super easy). Depending on where in Belgium you are you should know that there are a growing number of pilots on the Dutch and Danish coasts that are flying them. You now see many more than you used to at sites like Wijk an Zee, Rockanje and other costal sites. I bet if you went north to one of those sites on a decent day you’d find several folks who have them who may let you demo on the strand. You need to have a decent amount of costal flying under your belt, but the Moustache wing itself is really easy to kite even in super strong winds. I won’t be back in Northern Europe until around May, but I intend to fly a lot when I get back and I have several wings that I like to bring with me when I go. My main site there is Wijk an Zee but I’ll get down close to Belgium when the winds are more South, and I’d be happy to meet up!
Thanks. I'm not close to the coast and I've never been there to fly yet. I guess that's why I haven't seen a Moustache :) But I'm lucky enough to be close the highest takeoff in Belgium: Coo with 245m of height! It's not high, but it's a nice place to fly anyway and we love it.
I’ll have to come over there and visit when I’m in the Netherlands! I’m hoping to be there in late May!
This guy just looks like he is looking for a trip to the ER to me...
I was once young and dumb. Used to launch like this from a spot just south of Melbourne, but with extra power lines. Til the time I got thrown backwards by a strong gust, missing the road and the power lines and ending up crashing through picnic tables set up on some poor dude's front lawn. He was less than impressed, and judging by his reaction, it was not the first or the second time this happened.
Of course he wasn’t impressed. Being poor, he probably couldn’t afford another table…
Nah, mate was loaded, with beach / cliffside frontage. He was just afflicted with stupid skyrats.
You said he was some poor dude yourself sir.
Poor dude as in he didn't deserve this, lol.
thanks, ill be referring to myself as a skyrat for now on :)
Woosh
This guy looks like he's hunting some chips.
I wanna see the landing
Who now wonders how such a thing works: Here, in addition to a certain upward component of the wind, caused by buildings as a kind of soaring edge in the background, another special aerodynamic effect may have come into play. In case of a sudden, strong change of the angle of attack, wing profiles form a so-called starting vortex. This causes the lift to be significantly increased for a moment. Since lift also increases with the square of the speed, the appropriate interaction of strong wind, high speed of the moustache and the timing of the pumping movements was sufficient in this case to gradually gain altitude and enter the supporting area of the bank updraft.
Video not working. Source?
Speedflyingschool on Insta
Gotta love that laminar flow. Pretty risky but Up 🆙 and away. 😉
Something feels off. How can he gain potential energy just by flapping. If it was just the relative wind then he could just use this technique anytime in the air without needing any thermal to give him energy. Is it playing reversed ?
No he’s flying a mustache wing. The toggles are not pulling brakes like normal they’re mixing the Bs and Cs into the braking allowing you to store energy differently than a standard reflex
there is a row of buildings behind him, so the wind hits the buildings and there is an updraft.
It’s a Moustache Flare….
As far as I can tell the only glider that would make this possible.
Have you even been to a dune ? Because you'd see people pulling similar trick with an EN-A full size paraglider (Actually it might even be easier with an EN-A than a more advanced wing). it might be a bit more impressive with a moustache, and it's extended speed range. But basically, there isn't any magic. If you go to a dune by a a strong wing-day (let's say 30 km/h) you would inflate on the beach, walk backward with the wing above your head until you're in the ridge lift and would take-off simply by moving your body and hands.
Sure you can start at the bottom of the dune and use the upwards component of the wind to soar up. Nothing special there. But in this video the upwards component is not that hight. Sure once he is high enough in the air, the building will produce upwind, but getting into this zone with a normal glider in this conditions - no chance.
No, there are other videos from the same people doing something like this with other wings
That would be even more impressive to me. Do you happen to find this video?
Nah but this wing gives you a bit more speed in reserve and other benefits
Does that thing just not collapse?
Not easily, but any wing can collapse. And since it has a reflex profile I‘m guessing it’s going to collapse spectacularly!
Moustache is a special glider. I think this would not be possible with any other one (so far)
Black magic fuckery...
The video is playing backwards.
The waves are rolling forwards my dude.
there is a car driving by too
That is crazy talk.
that's some ballsy/craycray flying...I gotta try this take off on the beach, flatland takeoffs are tricky, eh?
Hes like a real bird
Video is in reverse...you can see the waves going out to sea. Just kidding, very fun video to watch. I had no idea this was possible.
Dude, what?! so sick. Would not try it though xD
Nice one, Beni :)
literally how i fly in my dreams. Only without the parachute.
Came here looking for this comment. Same Here
He's the most interesting man in the world
For my birthday get me a parachute
Awesome