Monthly Archives: September 2024

Cumulus clouds form when warm air rises, cools, and condenses into visible water droplets. Beneath these clouds, thermals create upward-moving air currents that we, as glider pilots, use to gain precious altitude. However, not all areas under a cumulus cloud will provide equal lift, and the challenge is determining where the strongest thermals are!

Factors

In one of my previous articles, Motorglider Endorsement, we discussed the three types of motor gliders and their basic designs. Let’s run through a quick review and discussion of some idiosyncrasies with motor gliders (MG), especially the takeoff and engine malfunction areas.

This short discussion is not the best subject to review, but it may be the most important for your sailplane investment.

When you arrive at a glider port, what do you usually see? Some gliders? A lot of decrepit trailers, some rotting away? Or does the 3-year-old JS-3, AS33, Arcus, Twin Shark, etc., look like it has the plague?

One of the crucial skills in gliding is naturally to be able to thermal in rising columns of lift. This allows us to extend our flights by tapping into the energy of Mother Nature. However, as we know, thermals often attract multiple gliders, creating crowded and complex situations in the sky. To ensure safety and efficiency, it’s essential for us all to establish some sort of thermal etiquette.