LS8 and Ventus collide in a crowded thermal gaggle
An LS8-18 and a Ventus were lightly damaged when they collided while circling in a crowded thermal during official training for a world gliding championship. About 95 gliders were waiting near the start line for the task to open. The Ventus joined a group circling to the right, its pilot slotting in behind a reference glider and not seeing the LS8, whose pilot could not see it coming from behind. The two struck at 116 km/h, the Ventus's tailplane clipping the LS8's right wingtip. Both carried FLARM, but the packed thermal gave a constant alarm and no usable warning. Each pilot landed safely, one after a Mayday call.
- Circling in a competition gaggle: During official training for a world championship, gliders circled near the start line waiting for the task to open.
- ~95 gliders packed in one area: About 95 gliders shared one course and area, and many waited until the last moment to start, packing the thermals.
- Ventus joins on a reference glider: The Ventus joined a group of six or more circling right, its pilot slotting in behind a reference glider and not seeing the LS8.
- Neither saw the other; FLARM saturated: The LS8 pilot could not see the Ventus coming from behind; both had FLARM, but the packed thermal saturated it with constant alarms.
- Collision, both land safely: The two collided at about 116 km/h, the Ventus's right tailplane clipping the LS8's right wingtip; both landed safely — one after a Mayday — lightly damaged.