Flare Timing (Preview)

I teach a two stage technique that I call the 7 – 5 – 3 technique.

In all of the following discussions, the height is estimated from the feet to the ground. So, 7 feet is when your feet are 7 feet above the ground etc.

7 - Represents the minimum height in feet, that the feet are above ground, when you begin the first half of the flare. Although I use 7 feet in the description, the beginning of this can vary between 7 and 10 ft above the ground.

In this photo, the brakes are just beginning to be pulled downward.
The glider is just below the 7 foot threshold.

5 - Represents the height, in feet, that the 2nd half of the flare begins. In this phase, the pilot should be sensing the energy of the wing (how much airspeed there is)   If the glider climbs at all during the initial pull of the brakes, pause and discontinue pulling any further until the glider begins to descend again.   If ……