12 Ways To Practice XC When Staying Local
It happens all too often when we find a day where there are good soaring possibilities or life gets in the way which doesn’t allow for cross country. Too short a soaring window, restrictions on the sailplane because of club requirements, the wind is too strong, you’re not feeling up to it, etc.
Rather than just aimlessly flying around the local airfield, some of the below items can be practiced so that when you do fly XC next, you are better prepared. Always remember, you cannot get better or develop your skills unless you practice!
- One of the biggest factors in going faster or just enjoying your flight more is simply, centering thermals quickly. Speak with a local coach or trusted friend, find a small number of systems, and develop them to a high standard. Always use 35° of bank or more. Practice using the turn direction that you least prefer. Once you’ve found a climb, airbrake down and see if you can hook it and center it quickly from lower down. However, be sure to keep your situational awareness up and not to cause a conflict with the local traffic pattern.
- Work on your cloud selection, note your success and failures, try to remember a way to recognize the best working clouds. This can be done too while on the ground at work looking up, or driving enroute to somewhere. Watch the cloud development and its cycle, work out which ones are beginning their life, at their peak, and naturally, dying.
- Is there an inversion on this day? If so, be aggressive in leaving the thermal as soon as it weakens off, go find another one and work on point number one again!
- Are you confident with airspace and going right up to its limits without busting it? Create a practice airspace file with a 5000’ lower limit on it within 20km of the airfield. See how close you can consistently go to it, without infringing it. Learn how close you can go, get to trust your flight computer numbers vs the scoring program.
- Reading clouds, try to learn where to consistently find the lift. If the wind is increasing with altitude, then you’ll find it on the windward side. Decreasing with height, then it’ll be on the lee side. How will the sun affect where to find the lift? Then work on point one again!
- If there are other sailplanes in the area, practice joining them. Ultimately you want to join with efficiency, but without scaring yourself or them! Always be predictable and most importantly, fly in a way at which you’d like to be thought upon, respectful and professional.
- Final glides, can make a huge difference in your overall speed on the day. I set a 500’ safety height when it comes to these practice days, then run into the airfield. It gives a small amount of nerves but gives lots of safety, plus height to practice a low save before you go out and try again. Naturally on the last final glide of the day, practice right to the usual min finish heights – you’ll be faster because of your practice, but for sure you’ll get more nerves, which of course you need to practice dealing with too!
- If cloud streets develop, practice using them. Try flying at different MC settings and note the results. If you’re fortunate enough to be practicing with other gliders, see who can do it with the least amount of height loss, see who can do it the fastest, or with the least amount of risk.
- Glider tuning, it’s another important part. Perhaps you could use your day to try a different CG, either full aft or full-forward, what does it feel like? How did it affect the performance and handling? Work on water ballast dump tests/timing. Tuning the vario’s so there’s no stick lift? Compare your vario readings with others, etc.
- Look for shear wave, it’s there more often than you think. Do you know how to find it in the first place? Check out all the sources, not the appearance of the clouds and where you found the thermal wave. They also occur on blue days! Visualize the method you used successfully and repeat them in the blue.
- Practice 500m beer can turnpoints, see how often you can get the least amount of data points in each sector. You’ll save 1km of distance each time, equaling more speed. Also, practice a 1.5hr AAT, but do it twice – that way you can learn how to judge your timing twice a day.
12. When you do come into land, make it a spot landing, just as if you were landing into a difficult field. What if it had a power line you had to go under or over 30m high trees like in Finland?
Banner Photo Taken by John Sullivan
Adam Woolley was born into the gliding world, being the 3rd generation in his family. Going solo at 15, his thirst for efficiency in soaring flight & quest for a world championship title to his name has never wavered. One big passion is sharing his experiences & joy with other glider pilots all around the world. Adam is an airline pilot in Japan on the B767 & spends his off time chasing summer around the globe. He has now won 7 national Championships & represented Australia at 5 WGC's & 1 EGC.
