Outlanding

The farm dog.  

While I'm only about 50% successful in meeting farmers in land outs, I am about 80% successful in meeting the farm dog who, invariably, is a 100+ pound package of vicious snarling teeth with a “take no prisoners” attitude.  In fact, this dog has been waiting all of his life to protect

My last two articles (Outlanding Techniques, Part 1 and Outlanding Techniques, Part 2) were first about low altitude strategies and then about landout field selection - so in a way, this article follows that progression. In my years of cross-country gliding, I have spent an embarrassing amount of time sitting in farm fields or walking around them after a landout - and I’ve also spent many nights

Editor: In Part I, Roy began a discussion with Strategies When You Are Low. Thermalling low can be dangerous. These two articles are focused on mitigating risk and increasing your chances of climbing away from a safe altitude. Follow along as we continue to get lower...

Accept you are in survival mode

If you are carrying water ballast, dump it all, right now.  You need the glider light and maneuverable.

When we soar across country we are inevitably treading a fine line. On one hand, we want to go as fast as possible, but on the other, we need to stay airborne! As time goes on & as our experience grows, there are times when we have trouble finding that balance. At first, we need all of our attention to simply stay afloat, then we realise to make any headway we need to push a bit harder.  What happens