It is simply mind boggling how far a glider can fly low to the ground and stay in what is called ground effect. Ground effect is simply flying very near the ground (under one wingspan from the dirt) and magically the lift is increased and drag is decreased. If you want to know why, do a google search. :) Haha. The net effect is it seems like the glider can just keep gliding right over the ground forever. In this video the glider flew over a mile in ground effect and only lost 5 miles per hour. Please do not try to fly like this or try to recreate this experiment. It is very easy to touch down too fast (I came very close!) or overshoot the end of the runway and then not have enough energy to pull up safely and turn back and land. You will notice that I started at around 74 knots well beyond the airport property and was still flying at 70 knots indicated airspeed and only had 3000 feet till the end of the runway to slow down, land, and stop. I pulled back on the stick to climb to a safer (but still pretty low) altitude to adjust flaps and pull spoilers to decrease airspeed. You NEVER want to adjust flaps or open spoilers close to the runway in ground effect. The whole process of getting the aircraft into normal landing configuration was very quick in this video, and had I messed it up, it could have been very bad. I hope this is a good disclaimer to NOT try to imitate things you see online in your own flying. Conditions, pilot experience, locations, and equipment are always unique and I tend to get quiet when I have a lot going on and I don't say everything that I am thinking or considering. I want lots of people to become interested in gliders and soaring but not get hurt or worse. Be safe up there. Cheers, Bruno - 85W - I mean B4 :)

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