Thanks John. The paradox of ground-skimming low enough to drag our toes is that by being reasonably close to the ground, there may be a lower probability of smashing our faces into the ground if something goes wrong such as sudden wind shift, turbulence or vertical airflow. Our feet are right there and it may surprise you how fast you can get them planted.JohnFritsche wrote:Very nice landings. The only problem I have with that ground-skimming low enough to drag my toes is that all of me is closer to the ground, and I imagine there's a higher possibility of smashing my face into the ground if something were to go wrong.
There are of course alternatives that work along the same lines.
Landing on wheels is one. I even made a wheel-landing video to post on Tad's forum: https://youtu.be/QBdxeZo8EPo I'd need Tundra wheels to safely land some of the places I set down so it's only an option for groomed surfaces.
Run-out and moon-walk landings are another option. But again it's for groomed surfaces primarily. I broke a toe on a river rock trying to do one of these in Big-T Wash.
I've even discovered how to use the apron of my cocoon harness as a giant padded skid! https://youtu.be/SR27mYgBIQE?t=4m49s
I have over-sized Delrin skids because I know I'm a klutz.
Isn't it true that with all landings is that there is a period of time in which we must go through MCA (Minimum Controllable Airspeed)? Greblo was the first to bring this to my attention and it is the genesis of his advocacy of the moon-walk. I think we all want to minimize the amount of time that our gliders are at MCA near the ground so we don't get turned downwind or ground-loop due to loss of lateral control. An interesting aspect of the moon-walk is that as the wind becomes stronger and more turbulent the technique takes on greater significance as in this landing by Hangar 24 Craft Brewery near Redlands. https://youtu.be/-KOb4fvPH6Y?t=27m59s
So I have a few other options at my disposal aside from 'the curb-feeler technique' that I can pull out of my quiver in a pinch. I own several sets of wheels and also over-sized skids. I've even looked into buying some abrasion-resistant motorcycle racing suit fabric to add to my cocoon harness in the event of another inadvertent or even a planned belly-side landing.
Anyhow, I will continue to practice with my terrain-following, tactile radar (TFTR) and report back on further developments and progress.
For now, here's an example of a situation from a recent, botched X/C flight where coming in too high and too slow could have been really ugly and my TFTR came in real handy for me: https://youtu.be/enmpgwOFfok?t=3m13s