Cross Country

One of the most useful lessons in cross-country soaring is surprisingly simple: when you get low, stop thinking like a pilot and start thinking like the landscape!

Every soaring pilot eventually faces the same uncomfortable moment. The thermals disappear, the variometer falls silent, and the ground begins to look much closer than expected. One could argue that this is exactly when discipline and observation

For many pilots, cross-country soaring feels like a series of stop-and-go manoeuvres: glide, find a thermal, circle until you’re high enough, and repeat. While effective, this "classic" style can feel mechanical & also risky if you push it too low. If you want to transform your flying into a fluid, rhythmic dance, see your average speeds skyrocket, then it’s time to embrace the Dolphin Style of flight.

Soaring has a way of teaching us that success isn’t always measured by completed tasks or average speeds. Sometimes, success is simply rolling the glider back into the hangar, intact, with lessons learned instead of excuses made. Every safe decision reinforces habits that matter far more than any single flight.

In soaring, the finish line can become a powerful magnet. It pulls at our pride, our preparation,

Preparing and gaining local knowledge are key to a successful flight when flying at a new site. Every site has unique challenges, weather patterns, and local rules that may differ from those you’re accustomed to. Consulting experienced pilots is one of the best ways to ensure a safe and enjoyable flight. Here’s what you should consider and what questions to ask.

Understanding Local Weather Conditions

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 Identifying the Best Lift

1. Cloud

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.

Thermal Development

Thermal development is a fundamental concept in the soaring world that we must all grasp. It’s energy in the atmosphere that we use to stay aloft. Understanding how thermals form and evolve is crucial for any soaring pilot aiming to extend their flight, navigate cross-country, or enjoy the purest form of flying.

What is a Thermal?

A thermal is a column of rising air created by the

In my last article, we discussed what wing-loading is and how it affects the glider. Essentially, it is the aircraft's weight divided by the wing area & is a crucial factor in the cross country performance.  In this article, we’ll delve into the intricacies of wing loading, addressing key considerations related to aerotow operations, communications between the parties involved, take-off and landing

Wing loading is a critical concept in gliding, as it significantly impacts the glider's polar, handling, and overall performance. Wing loading quickly changes when adding a passenger to that second seat or loading up water ballast before the flight. By understanding the relationship between wing loading and the glider's polar, pilots can optimise their flights and achieve the best cross-country performance,

SkySight is an interactive gliding forecasting tool. It combines the latest modeling technologies with an intuitive user interface, to provide high-resolution soaring forecasts and powerful flight planning tools. Simon interviews SkySight's founder Matthew Scutter posing 5 questions on recent developments. 

1. Are you excited for the next season and what are your plans?

”I’m very excited