Diving with a Peregrine ~ Video!

[Dick Glasgow]

No doubt you have all seen this already, but here it is again, just in case anyone here has missed it.
Anyway, I'm sure it's worth watching again!

Willing to Fly ~ Peregrine Falcon!

This video just blew me away!

I had the honour & privilege to get the opportunity to mann a Lagger Falcon, back in 1971, when I was working at the Falconry Centre of Ireland, in Clonmel & I got to know that bird pretty well, but I'd love to have had the chance to do something absolutely amazing with it, like this!

Cheers
Dick

Red Squirrel Forum

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by Dick Glasgow

This video just blew me away!

The link didn't work for me Dick, is this the one:

YouTube - Willing To Fly - Peregrine Falcon

You may be interested in this clip too:

mindensoaringclub.com - Peregrine Falcon - Terminal Velocity

Ken Franklin dived with a peregrine named Frightful and clocked her at 183mph. A week later when the cameras were off he claims she stooped at 242mph. No idea how true the claims are?

Cheers
Jonathan

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by Dick Glasgow

This video just blew me away!

Stunning footage but all I could think of was 'when is that guy going to open his shute!'

[RKB]

I'd recommend watching it with the sound off. What on Earth is she banging on about?!

There's also this from the BBC: YouTube - Birds - peregrine falcon dives at 180 mph - Ultimate Killers - BBC wildlife

I think the BBC version is showing a greater speed than Willing To Fly, as the latter seems to be travelling alongside the man for the most part (i.e. around terminal velocity minus drag, which is what you'd get if you dropped a dead peregrine out of a plane). The one on BBC seems to have to catch up much more, so is accelerating to travel faster than the diver (assuming divers are going at a similar speed in both films).

[rossy]

yes good call rkb, you dont get a true reflection of just how fast these birds are, until you see them in real life, true you get a close up of watching how the peregrine adjusts its body , wings, as it goes into its stoop but watching in slow motion dosent give you the same buzz , if you know what i mean, rossy.

[Dick Glasgow]

Originally Posted by Jonathan

The link didn't work for me Dick, is this the one:
YouTube - Willing To Fly - Peregrine Falcon
Cheers
Jonathan

Oooops sorry about that.

Thanks Jonathan, that's the one alright.

I must disagree with most of you though, cause I much prefer the slow mo, willing to fly, footage.
I just love the shots of the bird adjusting its shape & the fact that it is slowed down, probably mirrors the feelings of that diver.
I'm sure they wanted that experience to feel like it was lasting for ever ... I know I would.

The closest I came to having this much fun, was when I went up in a two
seater Glider with a fellow Falconer over Germany & a wild Buzzard joined us in a thermal for a while.
Pretty tame by comparison, I know, but I'll never forget that experience.

Cheers,
Dick