gaggle
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June 01, 2023
For quite a considerable time now, soaring pilots have found it beneficial to fly in the company of others, competing teams have certainly found this to be a highly effective method in order to maximise their climb rate, and for others, a great way to enjoy the company of their soaring buddy too!
Whether we are in a competition or not, many people have a competitive
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June 02, 2022
One of the best things that can happen to us whilst we are climbing, is to be joined by another glider. Better again if it’s a similar type as the one we are flying, and a pilot of a similar or better standard than ourselves. This rings true when both pilots know how to take advantage of one another, and can see each other all the time. Why is this true? Because we are able to compare our
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June 17, 2021
A necessary skill of soaring is being able to thermal efficiently in the company of other gliders, sometimes there is only one thermal within your glide range, otherwise, the alternative is to land. Quite often on blue days, the best thermals will be marked by others, if you are to avoid these thermals, you’ll give yourself a handicap. This article aims to introduce how I enter a thermal with
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October 24, 2019
Last week I talked about where to look when thermalling, but the main emphasis was on scanning and using the nose as your primary instrument. This week will be an emphasis on how to incorporate that and not trade paint with anyone. I know everyone’s favorite racing movie is Days of Thunder, thankfully car racing is not like racing gliders, and there should be no rubbin, no bumping, no nudging, no trading
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January 17, 2019
Last Week we looked at the weather forecast. Now to determine the best task for the day. This will depend on the weather, your schedule, your mood. However like any athlete you cannot take the easiest practice. You still have to have a plan to improve yourself. You improve by pushing yourself. If you never land out, you are not pushing hard enough. If you land out often, you are probably pushing too
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June 07, 2018
Going into the last day at the 2010 WGC I was in the top 10. Ron Tabery and I were flying very well together and our scores proved it. It was pre-start and probably 20 Minutes before our thought about start time. I was on the top of the gaggle, let’s say 500 ft below cloudbase... but I was on-top and it was glorious. Ron was right below me and all we needed to do was wait. However, the entire open
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December 28, 2017
I am not sure how many of you watched the Pan-Americans in early Dec but the US team blog can be found here. It was in Argentina and as expected for any international contest the weather was less than stellar. They had 2 1000point days in 7 flying days for the 15-meter class.
One might say, 'Boy am I glad I did not travel -
December 21, 2017
It does not take extra Risks to Race. I hear from people all the time that say they would never race because of the additional risk involved. I would not expect my newly soloed student to get away with a low climb that I might do flying solo or at a contest. There are times when a low climb is not safe and I would not attempt it. There are times when you race on a day you normally would not have gone -
September 07, 2017
While you are thermalling be predictable. No erratic movements. No fast changes in direction. At the same time, no change so slow that the person behind you cannot see what you intend to do. When you roll out you want the person behind you to understand you are leaving and not just widening the thermal which they might follow.
Look to
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August 31, 2017
While you are thermalling, you want to be predictable. No erratic movements. No fast changes in direction. At the same time, nothing so slow that the person behind you cannot see what you are intending to do. We all know you should keep your head on a swivel. You want to pay attention to the sailplane ahead of you and follow them while also looking inside of the turn to see if someone is there. You