Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. The flight wasn't easy at all, it took me a few years to get to my 200km mark and a lot of failed attempts. Even more help from my mentors that guided me through the process. :)
This was great to watch. Knowledge of valley wind systems seems the key to navigating successfully. Do you use a wind map, local knowledge committed to memory from previous flights or just figure it out as you go?
Thank you @flightstarpilot! I use local knowledge and general understanding of mountains and their airflow. Plus in depth weather forecasting and a ground crew for these flights. I often get live weather reports during the flight and in France we have weather stations on a lot of mountains, that can be checked during the flight. This gives a good idea of what the winds are doing at the ground or mountain top level. Add to that the forecast of what the winds where supposed to do at altitude and what you are getting during the flight in thermals at different altitudes and you get somewhat a full picture of what is going on around you.
Thank you, yeah the harness was not the best designed in that sense, but it was 2013 model, very comfortable for it's weight, but not super clean design, these days the light ones are much better.
Great video! Keep it up! I saw you worked for BGD testing wings, I want to ask which wing you would recommend to progress on cross country flights? I have been on the BGD Epic for a year and I am looking for a wing with a bit more feed back and performance? Thanks
Thank you! This is a difficult question to answer without knowing more about you. First, I have to say that Epic, is an amazing wing and for most pilots it is more than enough to do any type of flying they wish. It is truly an amazing wing. I've done 200+ km under that wing! There is no reason to step up if you are looking to do more distance, this wing is more than capable to do so. To get a real answer I would need to learn more about you before suggesting anything, as flying and pilots are really diverse.
@@FlyingKarlis Thanks for the answer; I fly usually 2/3 hours with good conditions and do 30/40 kms XC flights; I know it is nothing yet but was wondering about the B medium wings to get a bit more of a feed back and thought the winter was a good season to try that; ( I see that also as a way to refine piloting upgrading the wing)
@@URZALA1 The way I see it, it is best to stay with the wing you got. Epic, is a great wing and there is no need to step up to a wing that "talks" more. The performance benefits you are after is not something you will be able to use or something that will make you a better pilot. Cross Country is a mind game first and foremost! There is so much to learn about the environment you fly in and so much to observe during your flying, that the wing has to be easy to control and the last think to think about. By stepping up to a more demanding wing you will be more focused on flying the wing instead of looking around and trying to figure out what is the best choice/option/place to go next, what are the clouds doing, where's the wind coming, shadows, sunshine.. air.. all of it. I would suggest to stay with the Epic, till you can regularly do 100+ km flights and have 100+ hours a year, every year, before you are thinking of stepping up to another class of wings. The performance difference aren't that big within the B class, but the feel and twitchiness can be quite different from wing to wing. I fly a C class at the moment and I regularly outperform pilots on their D wings. It's not about the wing, it's about the pilot. When it comes to refine your piloting, there are lot's of things you have to work on your current wing. (I had a look at your videos :) ) Hope it helps.
@@FlyingKarlis Great input, thanks a lot; indeed there is so much more to learn and I'm definitely aware of it! The more I fly the more there is to practice; I guess so many brands and new wing on the market makes me curious about it ! Might be smarter to spend money into more airtime than a new wing..Thanks for checking my videos haha
For sure more airtime is better investment than new gear! (As long as your gear isn't too old..) Talking about airtime, I will be going to Algodonales, Spain this November (www.flyingkarlis.com/algodonales-spain/). Glad I could help. (P.s. from your siv videos, try to keep your legs together next time, less movement during dynamic maneuvers)
Nice flight, but unfortunately the audio is super hard to understand, low volume and dirty :-\ Maybe it would be worth to get a proper mic or at least do some postprocessing
Hey, it sounds good on all the devices I've played it and I do have a good mic and I do postprocessing. Not sure what else I could do. Maybe there is something wrong with the device you use?
@@mmmmkkk Interesting, your the only one saying this, I wonder if anyone else has this issue? Not sure what I can do about it on my side, I could make it even lauder, but I'm afraid it will affect the audio quality. I will look into it more. Thank you.
@@FlyingKarlis I found the same audio issues - it's mainly just very quiet - really obvious compared to other videos. I checked the meter levels and you have plenty room to push the volume before you'll run in to any quality issues. Also have a play with the EQ, and more importantly, the position of your mic - it sounds quite 'dull'. I've found a cheap lavalier mic on your shirt sounds better than a more expensive mic placed further away. Hope that helps! Otherwise a great video, thumbs up from me, both for content and no roasting MM KK for criticising your audio ;)
@@kierancampbell3322 I will look into this, unfortunately I haven't found a way to re-upload the audio files to TH-cam without deleting the video and uploading it again. I will boost the audio for upcoming video's during the editing work. Glad you like the content! :) I'm glad that @MM KK brought this up, otherwise I won't be able to improve! I don't see a reason to roast anyone who is trying to help! 😊
Thanks for sharing this flight. Great visuals and commentary. Makes one want to visit one day.
Thank you! St.Andre is truly an amazing place to fly!
An amazing flight and, as usual, very interesting explanation about your decisions, valley winds .... thank you for beeing so clear and humble
Glad you like it! Thank you for continuously watching these videos, keeps me motivated to make more of them. 😊
Just incredible ! What a flight, and you talk us through it so well, like it was easy, which of course we know isn't the case.
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. The flight wasn't easy at all, it took me a few years to get to my 200km mark and a lot of failed attempts. Even more help from my mentors that guided me through the process. :)
Great flight and analysis, thanks... PS. Good to meet you in St Andre last month when I was out there with Rhys and our three progression pilots
Was nice meeting you as well! Glad you enjoy these videos!
nice flight, thank you
Glad you enjoyed it
Very nice flight. Cant wait to be back on spring
Same here! Can't wait for the next season to start, to be able to go for big lights once again.
Just wonderfull, thk you for share 🤩
Glad you liked 👍 it.
Thanks you man i've been waiting so long for your next video and it's again a good one
Thank you, very much! And sorry for letting you wait so long, I will do my best to make more of these during this winter.
This was great to watch. Knowledge of valley wind systems seems the key to navigating successfully. Do you use a wind map, local knowledge committed to memory from previous flights or just figure it out as you go?
Thank you @flightstarpilot! I use local knowledge and general understanding of mountains and their airflow. Plus in depth weather forecasting and a ground crew for these flights. I often get live weather reports during the flight and in France we have weather stations on a lot of mountains, that can be checked during the flight. This gives a good idea of what the winds are doing at the ground or mountain top level. Add to that the forecast of what the winds where supposed to do at altitude and what you are getting during the flight in thermals at different altitudes and you get somewhat a full picture of what is going on around you.
Nice video thank you !
Thank you, glad you liked it!
very nice video with nice info. that flappy harness would annoy me a lot ;-)
Thank you, yeah the harness was not the best designed in that sense, but it was 2013 model, very comfortable for it's weight, but not super clean design, these days the light ones are much better.
Great video! Keep it up! I saw you worked for BGD testing wings, I want to ask which wing you would recommend to progress on cross country flights? I have been on the BGD Epic for a year and I am looking for a wing with a bit more feed back and performance? Thanks
Thank you! This is a difficult question to answer without knowing more about you. First, I have to say that Epic, is an amazing wing and for most pilots it is more than enough to do any type of flying they wish. It is truly an amazing wing. I've done 200+ km under that wing! There is no reason to step up if you are looking to do more distance, this wing is more than capable to do so. To get a real answer I would need to learn more about you before suggesting anything, as flying and pilots are really diverse.
@@FlyingKarlis Thanks for the answer; I fly usually 2/3 hours with good conditions and do 30/40 kms XC flights; I know it is nothing yet but was wondering about the B medium wings to get a bit more of a feed back and thought the winter was a good season to try that; ( I see that also as a way to refine piloting upgrading the wing)
@@URZALA1 The way I see it, it is best to stay with the wing you got. Epic, is a great wing and there is no need to step up to a wing that "talks" more. The performance benefits you are after is not something you will be able to use or something that will make you a better pilot. Cross Country is a mind game first and foremost! There is so much to learn about the environment you fly in and so much to observe during your flying, that the wing has to be easy to control and the last think to think about. By stepping up to a more demanding wing you will be more focused on flying the wing instead of looking around and trying to figure out what is the best choice/option/place to go next, what are the clouds doing, where's the wind coming, shadows, sunshine.. air.. all of it. I would suggest to stay with the Epic, till you can regularly do 100+ km flights and have 100+ hours a year, every year, before you are thinking of stepping up to another class of wings. The performance difference aren't that big within the B class, but the feel and twitchiness can be quite different from wing to wing. I fly a C class at the moment and I regularly outperform pilots on their D wings. It's not about the wing, it's about the pilot. When it comes to refine your piloting, there are lot's of things you have to work on your current wing. (I had a look at your videos :) ) Hope it helps.
@@FlyingKarlis Great input, thanks a lot; indeed there is so much more to learn and I'm definitely aware of it! The more I fly the more there is to practice; I guess so many brands and new wing on the market makes me curious about it ! Might be smarter to spend money into more airtime than a new wing..Thanks for checking my videos haha
For sure more airtime is better investment than new gear! (As long as your gear isn't too old..) Talking about airtime, I will be going to Algodonales, Spain this November (www.flyingkarlis.com/algodonales-spain/). Glad I could help. (P.s. from your siv videos, try to keep your legs together next time, less movement during dynamic maneuvers)
Nice flight, but unfortunately the audio is super hard to understand, low volume and dirty :-\ Maybe it would be worth to get a proper mic or at least do some postprocessing
Hey, it sounds good on all the devices I've played it and I do have a good mic and I do postprocessing. Not sure what else I could do. Maybe there is something wrong with the device you use?
@@FlyingKarlis well, i listened to it in between of perfectly audible and correct clips, so no, not really. It gets bet later, though.
@@mmmmkkk Interesting, your the only one saying this, I wonder if anyone else has this issue? Not sure what I can do about it on my side, I could make it even lauder, but I'm afraid it will affect the audio quality. I will look into it more. Thank you.
@@FlyingKarlis I found the same audio issues - it's mainly just very quiet - really obvious compared to other videos. I checked the meter levels and you have plenty room to push the volume before you'll run in to any quality issues. Also have a play with the EQ, and more importantly, the position of your mic - it sounds quite 'dull'. I've found a cheap lavalier mic on your shirt sounds better than a more expensive mic placed further away. Hope that helps! Otherwise a great video, thumbs up from me, both for content and no roasting MM KK for criticising your audio ;)
@@kierancampbell3322 I will look into this, unfortunately I haven't found a way to re-upload the audio files to TH-cam without deleting the video and uploading it again. I will boost the audio for upcoming video's during the editing work. Glad you like the content! :) I'm glad that @MM KK brought this up, otherwise I won't be able to improve! I don't see a reason to roast anyone who is trying to help! 😊