Monthly Archives: August 2016

Next week we will talk about centering and what I do to make the glider climb quickly.

This week we need to find thermals and consistently find them. There are some really good books out there that explain why a thermal rises in terrain. G Dale's book is one of my new favorites.

Start by studying the terrain, think about where the warm air source will

Last weeks topic on final glides could lead to a poorly planned final glide and a possible low save. Safety must prevail and landing out might be the best option. However, 3000ft AGL within glide to an airport is not the time to give up.

Let me summarize 8hrs of instruction in the Nimbus 4D: 'More rudder, shove the rudder, more rudder, yes I want you to add more rudder.'
 
Despite

A few weeks ago I mentioned setting a MacCready setting of 2 (MC=2) for flying between thermals and follow your speed director.  Remember too much time and energy can be spent looking inside to fly the perfect speed. If you miss the next thermal you land-out or get stuck. 

But what about getting home? How do you establish a safety margin? Back as a new student you probably cut the

Sounds like something your Mom told you growing up. Unfortunately, some have forgotten that lesson. 

I had a student pilot arrived from another soaring site and told me he just wanted to work on thermalling and did not need any help or supervision with the pre-flight as he was very familiar. Unfortunately, he was not. The Schweizer tow-hook was not freely moving, he didn't look,