Glider Landing in the Alps – 8K 3D 180°

Each great flight (see other and coming videos) ends with the landing procedure:

After pre-landing check (altitude/runway/wind, extending gear), I turn into the “downwind leg” and announce my landing by radio in German:

“Delta Juliet Alpha” = aircraft’s identity
“Gegenanflug 05” = Downwind leg and landing direction (050° on the compass)
“Fahrwerk ausgefahren und verriegelt” = Confirmation: Landing gear is extended and locked.

Gliders always begin their landing ‘too high’, as there is no engine to compensate for a lack of altitude. I extend the downwind leg depending on wind and current altitude in order to bring myself into this high position/angle to the runway. I then turn around for the final approach. Here I am in 3 km distance to the airfield and 300 m higher (1650 m above sea level, see tablet monitor and altimeter).

For the final approach, I have air brakes (left hand) in a glider to reduce and control my access altitude. I aim to reach exactly the beginning of the runway, maintaining speed and heading, whilst allowing for the possibility of turbulences just before the runway due to the trees by the river.

Above the runway, I slow down and level out for touchdown. Later I taxi off the runway so that others can land too. The grass isn’t very even, giving a bumpy ride at the end; my tablet mount is still struggling a bit with it :-)

-->> If you like such explanations, please tell me in a comment, thank you!

Thanks for watching!