Tips for better Thermaling…
The next few weeks will see a new article for the coming season, how to simply thermal better, the cornerstone of cross-country flying. With out going round in circles efficiently you can almost guarantee a short, frustrating flight. Invest the time and effort in being able to launch exactly when you want and nailing that first important thermal.
Over the years I’ve seen many low airtime pilots and had many on XC courses in the past. However although keen many pilots want to skip the learning to thermal part and crack on with trying to fly long XC’s. Mainly with disappointing results due to being unable to work the second or even first tricky thermal. Whether that be trying to get through an inversion to just simply not turning tight enough close to terrain.
The following tips are designed to help pilots get more feel for the wing and the air.
Take a wrap when thermaling
Taking a wrap in the beginning of your flying career can feel very strange. Some pilots believe it to be dangerous as you are in effect shortening the brake lines (by about 10-15cms) and thus bringing the glider closer to stall. This is true if pilots still fly with their hands down by their hips when thermaling.The reason for the wrap is easy to explain.
When thermaling without ‘wrapping’ pilots can find their hands very low and if you think about what muscles you are using to ‘push’ the brakes down the following explain is simple. When ‘pushing’ the brakes you are using your triceps and lats(side-back muscle), this are very powerful muscles and the more powerful the muscle the less sensitive it is to small changes in pressure. Which is what we are looking for when thermaling, esp. in light thermals.
When the brakes are ‘wrapped’ you’ll instantly notice that your hands are higher than before for the same brake pressure. When the brake is applied now you’ll be using the wrist and bicep muscles, much weaker and great for detecting small/large changes in wing pressure. I also balance the line on my index finger for even more feedback. This is the simple physics of taking a wrap, hands are higher and feedback increases. I know of no local pilots here in Zillertal that don’t use this method of glider control. Even on high aspect gliders with short brake travel. Try it on a calm day and see if it helps, as it may not be for everyone.
Stay loose in the Harness
A big help when learning to thermal better is to stay very relaxed in the harness. I sometimes notice that when the thermals are strong and punchy I may stiffen up. Then I’ll find that the air feels nastier than before. Try to relax and roll with the turbulences. It’ll make the glider & the air feel less aggressive.
So if the conditions are strong and you find yourself sitting bolt upright in your harness. Just sit back and control you breathing. Don’t let the air buffer you from side to side, still maintain some balance and the gliders roll authority. Just make sure that you are still leaning on the side you want to and enjoy the ride. The looser the pilot the less gnarly the air will feel and also as you’re relaxed you will feel the surges and pull of the thermal and climb better.
Keep glider in it’s happy place
It sounds obvious but the only thing holding your wing open and flying above your head is the weight of the pilot underneath it. If the pilot allows the wing to oscillate wildly above there is a greater chance for something nasty to happen as there will be less wing loading on the aerofoil and this will require less turbulence to close the wing.
When entering a thermal there is nothing the pilot can do to stop the surge backwards but a lot can be done to stop the subsequent dive as the glider surges forward to regain it’s airspeed. This is a critical moment for the glider, too far forward and a front stall is on the cards. If the glider is halted on it’s dive forward and kept in it’s happy place (with highest wing-loading) there is much less chance anything will happen. Practicing with your wing in calm air by dropping it back and letting it surge forward you’ll understand how much brake is needed to keep the glider open in the strong spring thermals.
Float the Outside Brake
Floating the outside brake is the technique of not allowing the glider to dive too much when coring or searching for lift. It can be a great help in both light and strong conditions, although when it’s light it really comes into it’s own.
Image encountering a climb whilst gliding along a ridge. If the pilot feels that it’s on the right side and quickly applies right hand brake the glider will turn sharply and the swing through if no outside brake is used, this often results in the pilot ending up lower than he started, esp when light.
A second pilot in the same place pulls the same amount of right brake and as the glider starts to turn applies the outside brake, the turn is not so sharp obviously but more obvious is that the wing does not grab and dive. Once the pilot hits the core he can release and apply as needed to turn sharper or arrest the dive.
Once a pilot gets this wired you’ll notice that even weak thermals become usable. This is what normally separates a good and bad thermal-climber. If the average climb is more than your sink rate and radius of the thermal similar to your turning circle there is no reason that you won’t climb out, with patience and feeling.
Coming next, 2-D maping of the climb you’re in…
Tags: thermal tips