How to top land at Map.

First off, the beautiful views from the Map flying site are actually not the famous Map of Africa. Ironically, the Map of Africa view faces to the north and not towards the ocean as the flying site does. ;) lol.

After seeing many, many disastrous top landing attempts at Map, (to great amusement for many!), I’ve finally decided to just put pen to paper and add this to our web’s safety department. For the most part, it’s just bruised ego’s and some minor scrapes that happen, however on a few occasions there have been the broken ankle and wrist (even a back)! (Those are the most common serious injuries for a botched top landing at Map). I figured if it can save any of these then mission accomplished.

Map has some features that make top landings challenging at times. But they also make for a fantastic training ground. In fact, I dare say, that once you have mastered all the approaches required for landing at Map in all its varying conditions, you should pretty much be able to land anywhere. ;)

In essence there are three main features that govern your top landing setup or approach. 1) The terrain, 2) the features/obstacle and 3) the wind direction. The terrain is fixed (more on that later) but the features are not – some previous obstacles have been removed – trees, powerlines and telephone poles – many of which has made the top landings much easier and safer. (We have a heroin who singlehandedly took out the most horrible stubborn obstacle in our top landing endeavours. One afternoon as she botched her approach and smashed into the old telephone pole. It toppled like the leaning tower of Pizza, while she wildly scrambled out of the way. There was great applause from all those around and we are forever in her debt as our top landings are so much easier now days!) ;)

1) Terrain.

The Map is on a gentle SE facing slope, with bushes to the left (east), bushes below the clean SE facing slope (the normal launching spot) and then a clear gentle sloping southerly facing slope to the south (right) of the normal launch. There is also a flat area, the general lay-out and main top landing area, behind you as you launch. (

Hint: the gentle slope on launch and to the right of launch often produce lift and makes top landings trickier, should you find yourself trying to set up here. ;)

Note: There is also a big cliff and lee-side drop off behind the flying site that you need to be aware of. Speak to your instructor or experienced local pilot to help you understand the airflow on the lee-side of this flying site. For this reason there is also a limit to your flying area on your approaches to top landings. Take note of these from the site info official web site.

2) Obstacles.

1. a) The main obstacles around Map are the Powerlines to the west of the gentle southerly slope (to the right of launch). These run parallel to a dirt road and barbwire fence. They run all the way down to the house on the southerly point of Map. These are formidable obstacles but quite easy to avoid.

Hint: You do not want to land on these… ;)

1. b) Then there are some tall and big trees on the south-west and north west side of launch (directly right and behind the main launch). Once again, these are formidable obstacles but easy to avoid.
2. c) There are also smaller bushes and minor trees, with a wooden fence (and sometimes Gazebos!) along the Northern boundary of the Map. This is to the left and slightly behind you from the normal launch. (See the layout in the map below.)

3) Weather.

The main wind direction for the map is south east. But we get days with more southerly winds and those with more easterly flows. Each of these will complicate your approach to the point that they all require different approach patterns. These winds can also be smooth or bumpy. When it is smooth things are always easier but when they are not then be very cautious! ;)

Approach patterns.

SE to Easterly winds

1) The most used approach pattern is from a position high and close to the southern point house. Follow the road or powerline to the north. (Your height will affect your position relative to them – if you are very high then you may fly directly above them. If you are low, then stay east of them!)

Variation A.

If you are high then you may fly all the way to the back of the flat top field, where you turn right onto finals and then use your brakes to adjust your glide slop. If the wind is light or you are very high, you will need to do a few S turns or figure 8’s to accommodate. Try to remain over the top of the flat section behind launch! If you over fly it you will end up doing your S turns along the sloping launch area where the upward component of the airflow will keep you in the air and it becomes much trickier to do the landing. Lol (This is always amusing to us watching!) ;)

Variation B.

If you are not heigh enough to make it over the big trees to the back of the flat top field, then adjust your approach so you fly past the front of the big tree (A) as close as is safe to it. As you pass it, do a quick small turn to the left so you fly more onto the top flat field. Be quick and ready to turn right onto finals and use your brakes to adjust your glide so you land/finish before you over fly the normal sloping launch.

Variation C.

If you are just too low to do the quick left turn onto the top flat field in the approach as described above, then continue past the tree and HOLD your line parallel to the slope! If done right you will land somewhere along this line. Focus on just before touch down, finishing off with the wing into the wind. Do not turn right into wind too early, as the ground drops away and you encounter more upslope winds. Most probably you will just end up flying out and forced to relaunch. (Unless you are good and do major flight adjustments, such as very deep brakes or turning right back to the powerline/ barbwire fence area). lol ;)

Variation D.

If you are even lower and can’t glide to anywhere near the big tree (A) then do a 180 degree turn to the right (into the wind) but continue the turn back to the powerline/barb wire fence. (see variation Map d below). If you do not creep back towards the powerline/barbwire fence you end up getting more upslope winds and most often remain up and continue to glide and overshoot the windsock at the bottom of the sloping hill. Turn to the powerline/barbwire fence so you are further away from the better upslope winds, so you fly in less lifting air and coming down becomes easier. Watch your drift so you do not drift into the powerline/barbwire fence. Control your glide with brakes or use the butterfly landing technique to get down on the flat before you get to the bottom windsock.

NB: All the above approaches work well in a SE wind and also in a more easterly wind direction.

Landing in a Southerly wind.

The most common mistake I see pilots make is doing all of the above approach patterns in southerly winds. Mostly because this is the only technique they have been taught and are used to doing it. The problem with this approach is that when you fly along the powerline/barbwire fence you are now effectively going down wind. Things happen fast. This is extremely dangerous! Many injuries have occurred due to pilots not leaving enough time for the turn into wind in this southerly wind direction! Remember, you need to do a whole 180 degree turn to get back into the wind. (The usual SE to East winds only needs a 90 degree turn to get back into wind enough so the landings are much easier) Please take note of this.

Variation E.

Make sure the wind is southerly in direction! Once high enough simply follow a pattern paralel to the main road heading to Map. (You are approahcing from the Village side - from the east). Remain to the south of the main dirt road. Do not fly north of the wooden fence! Overfly the gazebo’s and once over the flat top landing area turn left onto finals and once again adjust your glide with your brakes so you don’t overshoot the field. (Use the same approach pattern as described in the previous east wind approach from this stage on).

Variation F.

If you are not high enough to fly all the way back to the white container (the back part of the field) just make sure you remain on the southerly side of the wooden fence (the one running along the main Map road) and turn left onto the field when you need. Too early and you will probably continue past towards the big tree (A) and onwards down that Powerline/barbwire fence slope. If you find yourself here, then continue to land as described in the previous easterly approach pattern variation d. A word of caution with this approach - if the launch is congested be super careful of those on the ground!

Variation G.

If it is obvious that you wont make it onto the flat field on the top then adjust your glide path to intersect the slope at a shallow angle and land as described in Variation d. A word of caution with this approach - if the launch is congested be super careful of those on the ground! Eyes open!

General traffic flow pattern to adhere to for launching and landings.

The map below illustrates this nicely. :)

Key points.

• Make sure no one is landing before you!
• Make sure you shout and warn those on the ground if you are approaching so they can watch you! (If you botch it they can dive out the way – we hope!) ;)
• Watch those pilots ready to launch – they might pull up just as you are on finals!
• Pay attention to your height above the ground – judge when to turn more into the wind!
• Avoid turning too early – a common mistake – it leads to overshooting.
• Avoid turning too late – a common mistake – it leads to landing hard!
• Always finish off your landing with the wing into the wind.
• When you are very high, try to loose height (big ears or fly out to sea first) so your approach will put you into a position of doing one final turn with just brake adjustments for glide control. Arriving too high and being forced to do figure of 8’s just complicates things. Keep it simple. ;)

Oh, a last point, for launching – when it is strong go as far down the slope as you can and if it is light then take off at the top. ;)

I trust this covers all the options but if you find I have missed something do let me know.