Table of Contents Preface to the third edition 2 About the Author 3 Foreword by Ingo Renner 4 Foreword by Michael Sommer 5 Content at a glance 6-7 To my family / The use of icons 8 1. Training in the vicinity of the airfield 1.1 Introduction 10 1.2 Thermal recognition & thermal detection 11 1.3 Centring a thermal 13 1.4 Using other gliders as lift indicators 16 1.5 Thermalling at a steady rate of climb 18 1.6 Audio variometers 19 1.7 Thermalling speeds 20 1.8 The effect of different wing loadings 22 1.9 Angle of bank 22 1.10 Drag 26 1.11 Practical hints 29 1.12 Problems arising while thermalling steeply 30 1.13 Avoiding sink after releasing 31 1.14 Structure of thermals 32 1.15 Thermal formation on a calm day 35 1.16 Finding thermals on blue days 36 1.17 Efficient centring in blue conditions 38 1.18 Thermal behaviour on windy days 38 1.19 Lift towards the end of the day 40 1.20 Lift under cumulus clouds 42 1.21 Finding the core under cumulus clouds 43 1.22 Spacing of thermals 45 1.23 Tactics just before and after launching 46 1.24 Over-development and cycling 47 1.25 Dissipating cumulus clouds 47 1.26 The self-stoking effect of cumulus clouds 48 1.27 Dust devils 48 1.28 The effect of a strong wind on thermals 51 1.29 Thermal re-centring in windy conditions 51 1.30 The importance of flying accurately 52 1.31 Other sources of energy 53 2 Weather and Gliding 2.1 Introduction 56 2.2 The sun hard at work 57 2.3 The importance of inversions 59 2.4 The Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate (DALR) 59 2.5 The Environmental Lapse Rate (ELR) 60 2.6 An everyday practical example 61 2.7 The role of the dew point 63 2.8 Prediction of thunderstorms 65 2.9 Over-development of cumulus clouds 67 2.10 Strength of thermal activity 68 2.11 The role of the wind 70
2.12 Pressure Systems around the globe 72 2.13 Weather patterns in Australia 78 2.14 Soaring weather in Central Europe 81 2.15 Sea breeze fronts 92 2.16 A clue from the clouds above 101 2.17 The life cycle of cumulus clouds 104 2.18 Degree of cloud cover 106 2.19 The Skew T Log P diagram 107 2.20 The Tephigram 109 2.21 Concluding comments 110 3 Preparing for cross-country flying 3.1 Getting ready for road retrieves 114 3.2 A partnership with your crew 115 3.3 Preparing for longer flights 115 3.4 What is a reasonable task for today? 122 3.5 The point of no return 124 3.6 What did I learn today? 125 3.7 The key word is training 126 3.8 Checklist for taking a glider away 128 4 Extended local soaring 4.1 Introduction 130 4.2 Stepping out of your comfort zone 130 4.3 Dealing with fear 132 4.4 Cross-country specific training 134 4.5 Getting help from a coach 136 4.6 Lead & follow coaching 137 4.7 Self coaching 141 4.8 Team flying 142 4.9 Flying with water ballast 144 4.10 Looking for lift when low 147 4.11 Wind shear 150 4.12 Influence of airflow above the convection 151 4.13 Operation in thunderstorm conditions 153 4.14 Drift 156 4.15 Navigation with modern instruments 157 4.16 Mountain flying 160 4.17 Long distance flying 172 4.18 Gliding certificates 175 4.19 FAI Badges 176 5 Advanced cross-country flying 5.1 Introduction 180 5.2 Getting the speed up 181 5.2.1 Are we using too many thermals? 181 5.2.2 Are we hanging on to a thermal too long? 181 5.2.3 Are we centring a thermal quickly
enough? 182 5.2.4 Are we thermalling efficiently enough? 184 5.2.5 Yaw string corrections 185 5.2.6 Is our meteorological navigation up to scratch? 185 5.2.7 Is our thermal selection good enough? 187 5.3 The effect of detours 187 5.4 Speed to fly 191 5.4.1 Maximising glide distance 191 5.4.2 Maximising average cross-country speed 193 5.5 How important is the cruising speed? 197 5.6 Probability of intercepting a thermal 198 5.7 Flying tactics on track and height bands 198 5.8 Thermal streets 202 5.9 Dolphin flying 206 5.10 Haze domes 210 5.11 Exiting a thermal 210 5.12 Final glide 212 5.13 Low-level finishes 213 5.14 Flight analysis 215 6 Winning the mental game 6.1 Planning 224 6.2 The importance of being focused 227 6.3 Positive thinking 227 6.4 Making decisions 230 6.5 Thinking ahead 232 6.6 Concentration & Relaxation 233 6.7 Learn how to learn 237 6.8 Dealing with mistakes 237 6.9 Mental rehearsals 240 6.10 Confidence and over-confidence 242 6.11 Commitment and self motivation 244 6.12 Setting a goal and achieving it 245 6.13 Our mood and its effect on performance 246 6.14 Formula for success 249 6.15 Analysing your flight 250 6.16 Learning from the experts 251 6.17 Believe in your ability to succeed 252 7 Flying competitively 7.1 Choosing a competition class 256 7.2 Preparing for your first competition 258 7.3 Getting to know the contest area 260 7.4 Starting a race 260 7.5 Out on a competition task 263 7.6 Turning points 266
7.7 The problem of stress in competition 269 7.8 Shaving off the seconds 271 7.9 Risk management 272 7.10 Staying fit for the duration of the contest 274 7.11 Is the mature glider pilot disadvantaged? 275 8 Let s get technical 8.1 Getting the most out of a glider 278 8.2 Variometers and their limitations 279 8.3 Getting the variometer set-up right 283 8.4 Optimising the Centre of Gravity 285 8.5 Why do winglets work? 286 8.6 Flaps 288 8.7 Bug wipers 293 9 Outlandings 9.1 Introduction 296 9.2 Misleading altimeter 297 9.3 Determining wind direction 297 9.4 Circuit planning 299 9.5 Field selection 301 9.6 The landing 303 9.7 After the landing 305 9.8 Dos and Don ts 306 9.9 Aero tow retrieves 307 9.10 Long-term benefits 309 9.11 Outlanding training and motor gliders 309 9.12 Concluding comments 310 10 Safety first 10.1 Introduction 314 10.2 Thermalling etiquette 314 10.3 Effective scanning 318 10.3.1 Putting the focus on vision 319 10.3.2 Good look-out is no accident 321 10.4 Flarm 326 10.5 Are we fit for flying? 329 10.6 Dealing with air sickness 331 10.7 Parachutes and emergencies 333 10.8 Using the radio to enhance safety 336 10.8.1 Radio procedures 337 10.8.2 Talking to air traffic control 339 10.9 Open Class manoeuvrability 341 10.10 Gliders with retractable engines 342 10.11 Enhancing safety with satellite tracking 345 10.12 Spinning in gliders 346 11 Ridge lift and slope soaring
11.1 Introduction 352 11.2 Theoretical fundamentals 352 11.3 Conditions affecting ridge soaring 354 11.4 Obstacles upwind of the ridge 356 11.5 Ridge lift and thermals 358 11.6 Katabatic and Anabatic winds 359 11.7 Changes in wind direction and strength 360 11.8 Flying tactics 360 11.9 Ridge soaring rules 363 11.10 Flying well above ridge-top level 364 11.11 Dangers 364 12 Wave lift 12.1 Introduction 376 12.2 Topography 379 12.3 Lee wave airflow and terminology 380 12.4 Meteorological conditions 381 12.5 Wavelength 382 12.6 Amplitude 383 12.7 Moisture 384 12.8 Cloud formation 385 12.9 Other types of wave 388 12.10 Dangers at great altitudes 390 12.10.1 Limitations of the human body 391 12.10.2 Aircraft limitations 397 12.11 The practical aspects of wave flying 398 12.12 The effects of crosswind 402 12.13 Safety in wave 404 12.14 A practical example 406 12.15 Bands of thermal wave 410 12.16 Morning Glory 411 12.17 Dynamic soaring 417 Winners in society 422 Where to go from here 422 Credit where credit is due 425 Table of contents 428 Order form 431