So looking on RidewithGPS for different routes up and over Butser hill in Hampshire and i noticed a crashed glider on the slopes of the north west side of the hill
The RidewithGPS website says the image was taken in 2026, quick Google search finds no reports of a crashed glider on Butser in recent years and it doesn't show up on Google Earth
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Is it crashed or flying over the area?
It’s hard to tell from that image.
It could be flying, one tail wing seems to be missing and if it is flying its very close to a steep side of that section of Butser but the image could be deceiving me i suppose
Could be how google stitch the footage/images together?
I know i've seen the odd half aeroplane on google earth in the past.
Mate of mine a few years ago......rang him up to take the Mick as his club landed one off beachy head a little while earlier... And he said yep this one was him. Odd vortices around chanctonbury meant he flew into a hole
BBC.CO.UK The glider is shown on google maps satellite too and by zooming in, is it simply banking right?
@50.9794643,-0.9838853,84m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDUwMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
I think @n0b0dy0ftheg0at is right - could easily be a glider with a T tail in a bit of a bank.
Looking at the street view image close to that site, if a glider came down at that spot it would not be resting as in tact unless the pilot were very lucky or very skilled... and a skilled pilot would have used the elevation along with a left turn to target a better spot further down the valley. Going down there would likely see wing damage.
My money is on the terrain round there being prime for updrafts along the hills along with thermals from the nearby farmland making this a good spot for gaining some altitude.
Chucked the link above in a code block so the forum doesn't muller it. Maybe
https://www.google.com/maps/ @50.9794643,-0.9838853,84m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDUwMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
You could be right that it could be banking over, still looks quite low to me
Butser Hill is very good for hang gliding, in fact Del Boy gave it a go there in the 80’s
Looking on GMaps 3D view, if you look very carefully, I think you can see where the glider clips the Butser aerial mast...
I need no reminders of that hill. We were doing the KAW and camping over the other side (had arrived at the bottom via the country park). Never again after 60 miles of off road riding, and a heavy load. We did the long grass climb to the top. Had to climb back up then next day to join the route, but that was at least tarmac.
the terrain round there being prime for updrafts along the hills
On a day with northerly breezes you'll always see parapenters on the north slopes (devils Dyke and firle particularly popular cos parking) and you'll often see gliders flying the length of the downs taking advantage of the ridge lift (apparently that's what they call it). The Ouse gap near Lewes and Adur gap at Shoreham are tricky if you're not high enough
Slightly off topic, but the gliding club at Sutton Bank in North Yorkshire is a stunning location. Depending on the wind direction the gliders are launched from the bank and into the Value of York. It's quite the experience!
