Can't add other than to say I am happy it worked out well for you.
Nicely done.


Wheels

The tape job on the canopy was from a repair that was accomplished by a mechanic to glue and support the canopy after someone put their head through it. They were not strapped in and bounced off the canopy when they landed. Our field is not that smooth.

I certainly could have released and landed on the short taxiway in a crosswind but I chose to just continue flying. Our standard departure is to be back over the runway at 1000'.

I did not close the canopy after release because the frame was bent. It was adjusted shortly after landing and I went back up for a second flight as soon as I could.

The mistake, all on me, was that I closed the canopy and rotated the canopy handle to the locked position but did not visually check to see it the pin was far enough down the canopy rail to actually lock. This was my second flight in this type of glider and it will be a lesson learned to me and who ever I pass the information down to.

The best part was that my new Nexus 7 tablet was not blown off the canopy when it opened. I am using it to run my glide computer software - XCSoar. BTW if you fly Condor glider sim you can use this device in Condor as a real glider computer device.

I have had 3 engine failures in helicopters (all with no damage - and one of them was 300 miles offshore Costa Rica from a tuna boat) and a tail rotor drive shaft failure helicopter logging in Alaska. I bent that one but everyone walked away. I got my nickname of Lucky from the ladies.

Nice handling of the situation!

It's just a few weeks ago that something similar happened here in Norway, when the canopy of the glider flew off right after take off. The pilot in that case decided to release from the tow plane at low altitude, and ended up having to land at a golf course. Luckily the pilot was ok, but the glider was totally wrecked:


Staying on tow until you get some more altitude is usually much preferable to a release at low altitude. So good decision to stay on tow, and not to fiddle around with trying to close the canopy on tow at low altitude. Just fly the plane until the situation is more under control.

But in the video, after the cable detached he said something along the lines of "NOW is the time to try and fix the canopy". I am trying to understand why it was better to wait until after the cable detached.

Staying in position behind the tow plane can be a challenge at the best of times, and requires quite a bit of concentration (if you've tried aerial refueling in a flight sim you get a bit of an impression of how much concentration is required to keep exact position behind another moving aircraft, particulary if it's turbulent -- which it usually is at low altitude). Trying to fiddle with a loose canopy at the same time as flying tow could quickly put the glider out of position, possibly so much that the rope breaks, or even worse put the glider into a stall or spin at low altitude.
Much better to wait until the glider is on its own and doesn't need to keep such an exact position. And also with more height (and time) to make a recovery if something does go wrong.

Because he has two less things to worry about. Flying under tow is no easier than flying close(ish) formation and requires reasonable consistency to avoid an unintentional disconnect from the cable, or a collision. In this respect it is closer to a tow between two ships than to the more commonly experienced 'tow-truck' tow of a car, or a trailer on an articulated rig. Both aircraft are capable of flying in 3 dimensions, with 6 axes of freedom, and a stall/spin by either could endanger both.

While being untethered eventually is the expected state, an unintentional release may cause a momentary loss of concentration ~ possibly losing control of the unsecured canopy, or the aircraft itself. It might also leave a glider with lower than normal performance out of position for a safe recovery to the prepared site.

Very nicely handled.

There is a gliding club not too far from here. I might have to check it out.

Hey..at least the guy in the middle of this gaggle didn't have a canopy pop open..

Cool video Beach.


Wheels

Do you not have radio contact with the tow plane?

There are some great gliding conditions around Austin. Our club is super inexpensive. $125 to join, $16 for a 2000' tow and either $4 an hour for the 2-33 or $6 an hour for the 1-34. Our Lark just hit it's 35 year life limit and we are waiting for the factory to approve an extension.

I've seen easier ways of getting yourself killed, but not many.
How much more dangerous could they have made that? Carry a snake in the cockpit as well?

LOL..next week..INVERTED!