Cross Country Soaring: How to Cross Country Soaring: How to Do Your First One, and Then Do Your First One, and Then

How to Get Better How to Get Better

By Kevin Finke and Noel Wade

April 2, 2012

Presentation OutlinePresentation OutlineCross Country Flying: Basic Skills to Develop in Local Flying - Kevin

How to Make a Safe and Successful First Cross Country Flight - Kevin

Weather Info - Online Tools and resources - Noel

Thermalling Methods and Techniques - Noel

Instrumentation for Cross Country Flying - PDA's, Loggers and Flight Computers - Noel

Speed to Fly and Final Glides- Kevin

Techniques to Improve Your Flying - Kevin

Cross Country Flying: Basic Skills Cross Country Flying: Basic Skills to Develop in Local Flyingto Develop in Local Flying

Preflight WeatherNavigationFinding and Using Lift

– Thermalling• Cloud Recognition and Selection• Ground Sources

– Ridge• Wind Direction • Topography

– WaveInterthermal Speeds to FlyFinal GlidesLandout Field Recognition and SelectionNon-standard PatternsAccurate Spot Landings

Additional “Soft” Skills

Estimating Altitude loss to the next cloud

Estimating Altitude above ground

Recognizing good lift in straight flight

Logging and Recording your Flights

You don't have to be great at all of these, but you have to be good, and maybe even more important, confident in recognizing your abilities and weaknesses. Know your limits.

Once you have this basic set. It's time to leave the nest!!!

Other StuffOther Stuff

How To Make A Successful First How To Make A Successful First Cross Country FlightCross Country Flight

Preflight Preparations

Comfortable in the Glider you choose. 2-3 Hour Flight– Food, Water, and Waste

Pick an Good Day and a Familiar Site– Good Predicted lift for most of the Afternoon

Have some Routes Pre-Planned– Variances for Wind Condition/Weather

Be Ready Early in the Day

Have a Crew Lined Up– Aero-retrieve possibilities

After Release: What to Do Before After Release: What to Do Before you Leaveyou Leave

Don’t be the first to Launch– Leave about an hour after the start of the day.

– Should take about 2-3 hours to complete task.

Take a few thermals locally to get a feel for the day.

If the lift is where you expect in relation to the clouds and you find good climbs, Commit to actually starting the course.

– Get High and Go!!!

Once you start out, don't come back!!! Go to your Planned Destination!

Out On CourseOut On Course

Fly with a Macready Ring setting of 1 or better between thermals.

Use Macready 4 though for you final glide calculations to alternates.

Test out each thermal along the way, but if high pass up the weaker ones.

Use lines of lift along your course. Feel free to deviate up to 45 deg off course for lift if you need it.

Always make sure of where you are and how you compare to your decision altitudes.

Smile and Have Fun. You’re going Cross Country

More out on Course StuffMore out on Course Stuff

Be aware of the weather and how it changes during the day. Both in front of you and behind you.

When you get to your destination/goal. Celebrate. Relax a little, get back up high again.

Once High again, head back home. You’re more than halfway already actually.

Use the same strategy for clouds and lift on the way back, except.

Once you get within gliding distance for final glide, try a final glide back home.

Add 500’ per 10 miles for margin.

Listen to AWOS and reset your Altitude so your glide heights are correct. Evaluate the wind as well and how that may affect your glide.

On Final Glide: Almost HomeOn Final Glide: Almost Home

When you’re about 10 – 15 miles out, you should be fairly certain of making it back. Hopefully, you’ve given your self margin and you haven’t used it up.

Mentally shift gears from finding lift into setting up for a finish and landing.

- You’ll be amazed at how much mental energy you’ve used thus far.

Double check AWOS for airport conditions and wind. Switch to Tower Frequency and listen for traffic pattern directions.

Use your checklist for landing. Remember you’re gear.

After landing, push off the runway and get clear.

Now it’s time to Celebrate! Congratulations You Did It!!!

But what if I have to land out?But what if I have to land out?

You’ve prepared for this. It’s just a part of flying Cross Country.

Stick to your Decision Altitudes.

2000’ AGL – Have field options selected

1500’ AGL – Options narrowed to 1 or 2 suitable fields

1000’ AGL – Commit to landing out

Minimize your chances of landing in a field by staying within range of airport alternates.

On landing, Pay attention to wind direction, and look very well for hazards: Fences, posts, wires, etc.

Give you’re self time and space. Make a good landing.

Now Onto the Details!Now Onto the Details!

Speed to FlySpeed to Fly

http://faculty.chicagobooth.edu/john.cochrane/soaring/index.htm

Speed to Fly: A Few NotesSpeed to Fly: A Few Notes

Flying fast and efficient is necessary for Cross Country because it allows you to fly farther in a given day.

The Actual Speed you fly between thermals isn’t as important as the thermals you pick to climb in.

Effort should be spend on learning to find the really good thermals, and then centering them quickly. Leave when they weaken.

When the day changes, you may need to change your pace. When it’s good and consistent, feel free to push. Fly closer to your actual Macready Setting.

Final glides are a good skill to have, just like accurate landings, they should be practiced at the end of every flight.

Post Flight AnalysisPost Flight Analysis

Logbook

Get a Data Logger

Use the OLC

Use Post Analysis Software– See You

– StrePla

– Others

Journal

Goal Setting: How to ImproveGoal Setting: How to Improve

Good Goal Setting involves 5 Aspects. SMART

S – Specific

M – Measureable

A – Achievable

R – Realistic

T – Timely

Journaling: Is a good tool to use to record not just what you did, but the things you did well, ok, and could use some work. By keeping track you can target specific aspects of your flying to work on.

Some ExamplesSome Examples

Fly with a Purpose and GoalFly with a Purpose and Goal