Monthly Archives: October 2016

What's wrong with the picture above?  It's a battery connection.  A few weeks ago when the pilot who will remain nameless switched to Battery 2 mid-flight everything electrical failed...jet engine, radio, flight computer, transponder, and electric vario.

Why would you not want to ruin a possibly 900km day with a measly 400km flight because you ran out of battery? Well based on

Last week we discussed a technique to find a missed thermal. You thought you would be the thermal master by not falling-out on your next tow. Beware, sometimes when you turn around to find the thermal, it's really gone.  Why?  It's time to learn about the bubble thermal.

Your friend who turned while you proceeded for a few more seconds is now climbing well behind you. You turn around

Going back to find a thermal is always very difficult. It is generally in the opposite direction you want to fly and trying to find it sometimes takes a superhuman power of spatial orientation. A moving map is cheating, especially if it shows in green where you were climbing (like my ClearNav).

You could be like Sean...never go back. Seriously I can only recall 1 time I have ever

Average cross-country speed increases significantly when you discard weaker, unnecessary climbs. Do you recognize key indicators telling you to stop and thermal? Keep in mind if you don't stop and thermal a field landing is inevitable. It reminds me of a song: 

"Should I stay or Should I Go".  Hopefully, you listen to the Clash. I recommend you download the song and add it to your