How to Play Nice with Others

In a past, I wrote about leaving a thermal and accelerating while in the lift. That way when you encounter the sink you are already at or near cruise speed and get through the sink quickly. That is great when you are alone. However, let's think about what happens when we have company.

Everything Changes in a Gaggle

When you exit it is considered bad form to cut through the core of the thermal, dive onto the glider below you, and cut-off the guy that was next to you. Actually, it is considered such bad form they may ask you to leave, assuming you didn't have to use the parachute to complete your thermal exit.

Gaggles can be more efficient in finding the core and spreading out to find a thermal. Not only must we have our heads on a swivel we need to remember that the last mid-air at a WGC (that I remember) was not someone in a large gaggle but 3 guys on course. Two were focused on the one circling and they collided watching the one guy thermalling. I watched one midair where gelcoat was traded as the two pilots pulled up and one turned directly into the other glider, denting the bottom of the wing.

Entering a Gaggle

Entry is like merging onto a crowded freeway with a bunch of A$$holes. Nobody is going to let you in, sometimes they physically can't because the spacing is already worked out. As you approach a gaggle you need to look for an opening. Look for the other glider merging. Slow down before you merge and be at thermal speed as you slide in. You cannot hit the lift pull hard and directly into the gaggle. It is too easy to misjudge.

Leaving a Gaggle

When you decide to leave, you leave on heading assuming you can safely exit when you want to. Then slowly lower the nose once the wings are level then build up your speed without major nose changes to not collide with the glider that may have left under you. There are a few seconds where you have to accept it could have been done more efficiently but compromised safety.

You also have to fly a little faster as the gaggle gets busier. A little faster gives you more control and a little farther away from stall speed. You cannot make every small correction for centering because that might cause a mid-air. Quite often the gaggle can still be quicker on course than a solo glider even with these inefficiencies.

Banner Photo by Sean Franke

 Garret Willat holds a flight instructor rating with over 8000 hours in sailplanes. His parents have owned Sky Sailing Inc. since 1979. He started instructing the day after his 18th birthday. Since then, Garret has represented the US Junior team in 2003 and 2005. He graduated from Embry-Riddle with a bachelor's degree in Professional Aeronautics. Garret represented the US Open Class team in 2008 and 2010 and the Club Class team in 2014. Garret has won 3 US National Championships.