A Fighter Pilots Guide to Safe Kiting

KiteGrab · Since 25 Mar 2012 2 Posts North Carolina New Member

There are old fighter pilots and crazy fighter pilots but never old crazy fighter pilots. This seems to directly translate to kitesurfing. I am an instructor pilot in the F-15E fighter jet and a graduate of the Air Force Flight Safety School (similar to the NTSB aircraft crash investigation school). I wanted to discuss some of the corollaries between kiting and flying to 1) Give you an idea of how we execute an inherently dangerous job of flying fighter jets and 2) How you can apply this to kitesurfing safely and confidently.

1. Know Your Jet- Fighter pilots are required to know the ins and outs of every aspect of their aircraft—their life depends on it! This includes the intricacies of the mechanical and emergency systems but most importantly the flight limitations of the aircraft itself.
The difference in kites, bars, quick releases and harnesses is similar to the differences in different fighter jets. Read the owner’s manual, visit the manufacturer’s site, familiarize yourself with your gear and most importantly, HOW the safety features were built to function with your gear.

2. Emergency Training- Engine fires, ejections, spins, electrical failure are just a few situations we train to countless times in simulators before we even start the jet. The more you train to bad situations, the more your mind is able to store the appropriate actions in your subconscious; this is where ‘muscle memory’ pays the bills!
I have read many kitemare stories where the mishap kiter had his hands frozen to the control bar with the kite fully powered. Simulate bad situations such as getting drug through the water, lofted into the air, etc. and practice the exact hand movements and actions needed to save your pink butt!

3. “Chairflying”- I have logged 1500 hours in military jets but probably have logged twice that “chairflying”, which is literally sitting in a chair visualizing myself going through the entire flight; movements, actions, etc. Flying at over 1000 mph is not the place to be going over something for the first time.
I am sure that most most kiteboarders visualize their tricks, jumps, transitions on the beach beforehand, but it’s important to mention how much this helps with any action sport.

4. Risk Assessment- Consider having a glass jar full of change. Bad weather, inexperience, complex missions--take money out of the jar for each of these factors. The less change you have in the jar, the higher the risk. No change left in the jar? This is where the reward must outweigh the risk or it’s a no-go.
Bad weather/tides, offshore winds, obstacles/rocks, experience level, practicing new jumps/tricks- these are all things to consider the risk level when you kite. A smart kiter mitigates these risks such as wearing a helmet/impact vest, kiting with a buddy, safety boats in the area etc.

5. Contingencies- If something can go wrong, it probably will. Chances are Darwin will rear his ugly head. Taking a bird down the #1 engine intake while flying at 600mph at 500 feet was never part of my plan, however briefing that ‘hip-pocket’ emergency airfield sure did save my bacon.

Kite malfunction, line snapping, dead wind while 1 mile off the coast, high gusting winds, losing your board? Do you have a plan? Think about these ahead of time and always have an ‘out’.

6. Preflight- Ten minutes is spent before each flight performing a “walkaround” of the jet looking for potential flaws. It’s a good thing I noticed a sheared link in my landing gear before I jumped in; that would not have ended well!
This is preached in ad nauseum in the kitesurfing community for good reason. Don’t blow it off. Frayed lines, small tears in your canopy, quick release frozen up due to sand are all things you can quickly catch on the beach.

7. Wingman – Cheesy Top Gun lines…got it. Having a good wingman when you are partying downtown on a Friday night…always. But no kidding we always fly with at least one wingman to “check your six”.
Don’t kite alone, look out for other kiter’s, and always help a fellow kitesurfer if it looks like he/she might be in trouble. Same team Farva, same team!

8. Don’t exceed your capabilities- Air Force Fighter Weapons School Graduates (Top Gun) are the only ones qualified to fly at low level down to 100 ft. At 600 mph that’s about 1 second of reaction time between livin’ and a smoking crater. I know I’ve been trained down to 500 ft. so that’s where I stay. My mother thanks me.

At best I’m an intermediate kitesurfer, which means I don’t go trying the same stuff Hadlow is pulling off. Progression is continuous improvement with realistic steps and risk. Push the limits but within reason. “Progressive steps” keep you safe and keep others from having to rescue you from being an idiot.

Lastly, I’m simply a guy with a kite, hoping to pass on something that might get the brain pistons firing, and subsequently save someone from a “what the hell did I get myself into” situation. I’m sure I have only scratched the surface on this subject so pitch in your experience and we all can continue to learn to avoid being that ‘mishap kitesurfer’.

Pray for wind and pay it forward,

Spike

JonMalmberg · Since 15 Aug 2011 340 Posts Obsessed

Sick shot... Your plane?

Good friend of mine, Chris Morgan, graduated from the Air Force Academy around 1990 and flew F-16's his entire career. Recently he was flying out of Hill Air Force Base and just had his FINI Flight about a year ago.

Glad for the job you guys do, and hope to see you sometime this summer on the river...

As a paraglider pilot, skydiver, speed wing flyer, and BASE jumper... Your right on with the risk assessment. If your not feeling it, pack up, go home, and eat cookies instead...

Bams

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4907 Posts Portland Unstrapped

U rock

Link

dcfordo · Since 19 May 2011 60 Posts The Dalles

Thanks!
That was excellent.

I appreciate your systematic approach to kiting.

I am an anesthesiologist, and my profession has learned a lot from the huge advances in aviation safety.

I apply it at work, and I should be more mindful of those principles on the water too.

Windian · Since 28 Apr 2008 881 Posts Newport, OR NEWPORT OG

Very cool parallels that you talked about with kites and fighter jets. The risk factors with machines that cost millions and speed that instananeously kills is on a different level than what kiters are used to.

Thanks for with words of advice and the commitment to your duty. Sure must be a rush to fly at those speeds...

biggins · Since 19 Jun 2006 31 Posts

why do fighter pilots always think everything relates to THEIR job? Rolling Eyes

You never see: "A sheep herder's guide to safe kiting" or..."the dog groomer's guide to safe kiting" or wait I've got another one..."the prositute's guide to safe kiting"

I'm so tired of fighter pilots. The UAVs will take over eventually, hopefully sooner than later.

Full disclosure: Both my father and grandfather flew in the AF, so yes it's tongue in cheek.

good luck with kiting though.

j

BigR · Since 05 Jul 2005 372 Posts White Salmon Obsessed

Don't forget to pull the ejection handle when TSHTF!

forrest · Tue Mar 27, 12 7:53 am

To hell with kiteboarding, how do I get into one of those F16?!?!

SalmonSlayer · Since 27 Nov 2005 648 Posts Addicted **CGKA Member**

wbside · Since 09 Aug 2010 4 Posts Kook

Great post. I know I need to pay more attention to a few of those rules for my safety as well as fellow kiter safety.

That being said, it's always fun to find new ways to enjoy yourself at the beach. Like dressing up as Maverick & Iceman to do some great winter kiting...

Link

Sella · Tue Mar 27, 12 8:59 am

Like the Farva reference. Thumb's Up

I think my past experience makes me complacent as each season cranks up...so reading this post is a good refresher that I need to step-back and rethink my skills because shit will hit the fan for sure....especially for ocean riding because that is a whole other world compared to river bouncing back an forth between WA & OR.

SpaceRacer · Since 04 Nov 2007 434 Posts Obsessed

Awesome post! Thanks for sharing! I am happy to report that I routinely do most of these things but especially like the chairflying and money jar tips. Can someone call me Mav?

JP

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1726 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

I got two thanks for ya...
thanks for the great post, it will help alot of kiters including myself, to become better with decisions, equipment, etc, but also apply it in other areas too like mountain biking.
and the other thanks is for serving our country. your contributions sometimes go unnoticed and maybe thankless but what you are doing is appreciated.

lekaks · Since 02 Apr 2008 151 Posts Hood River, OR Stoked

Great post Grab. Thanks for breaking it down and taking the time.

SpaceRacer · Since 04 Nov 2007 434 Posts Obsessed

I guess I had one more thought about this. From my own experience, the two most dangerous situations occurred from over-confidence. As soon as I started going up wind and was like, "Yeah, I got this." And now, five years later, when I'm like, "Yeah, I got this."

JP

jackZ · Since 13 Apr 2008 355 Posts Devon Alberta ca. Obsessed

KiteGrab · Since 25 Mar 2012 2 Posts North Carolina New Member

Appreciate all the comments. Hope it gave some value to some kiters out there!

@JohnMalmberg- Yea thats an F-15E Strike Eagle. I flew those over in England for 4.5 years and now instructing new pilots in them. That picture was taken out in Wales. They would sit up on the mountain tops and take some sick pictures.

@wbside- Nice video! Haha. Im going to have to save that one. Was this you?

@biggins- Whats the difference between God and a fighter pilot? God doesnt think he's a fighter pilot. Im sure youve heard them all. I know...our egos can be a handful. Do you want to know why there isnt a "Dog groomers guide to Kiting"? Because they havent had to learn how to survive when you're constantly 3 seconds from hair, teeth, and eyeballs in a smoking crater in the ground. Thank your grandfather and father for me for their service!

@SpaceRacer- Well said brother. Complacency is dangerous! Its usually about when you get 500 hrs flight time and just like kiting you say "I got this!" and then come back with soiled shorts.

Enjoyed reading the posts. Continue to Pay It Forward!

Spike
www.kitegrab.com