SAFA Skysailor Magazine

61 WINTER 2025 | June-July-August SKY SAILOR transitioning to the base-bar. A launch is either a base-bar launch or uprights launch, not both. #1900 – PG2 accident at Springhill on 18/09/2023, ACT PIC launched their paraglider at Spring Hill (ACT) into wind, 20km/h WNW. They initially gained a small amount of height above the ridge, but after a couple of passes on the ridge, began to lose altitude. When below launch height, they realised the wind direction had gone to NW since their ground speed was noticeably faster on a southerly pass along the ridge. They didn’t have much clearance as they headed past the launch area about to prepare for a right-hand turn, and lost height. The front edge of the seat board and the padding on the bottom of the harness hit a large rock. Fortunately, they managed to lift their legs high enough to avoid any leg damage. PIC was extremely fatigued that day and believe they should not have launched. If fatigued, consider the decision to launch carefully. It could be a poor decision to proceed with dire consequences to follow. #1902 – HG sucked in, Vic PIC was flying their hang glider on an XC flight in western Victoria. Whilst over the Mallee and flying downwind, they encountered a strong thermal at approx- imately 1500ft AGL. The pilot made a fast ascent to 5000ft AMSL and encountered a forming cloud, then turned downwind and accelerated away. They were sucked into the cloud, lost visibility, ascended further and emerged at 8500ft AMSL. They continued a further 30km along their course line, landing uneventfully. PIC later reviewed their tracklog and found that they had climbed 3000ft in eight minutes whilst in cloud. Prior to launch, understanding potential thermal strength, lapse rates, lifting condensation levels, potential thunderstorm or Cu-Nim development and temperature gradients can provide some additional situational awareness and potential for cloud suck. Stay away from Cumulonimbus particularly. Thunderstorm or Cu-Nim can have life cycles of 30 minutes or less with internal air mass movement inside the cloud of several thousand feet per minute.