Soaring without using an engine or flapping ones wings is both an art and a skill. Glider pilots utilise three forms of lift: Thermal, Ridge, and Wave. We shall look at all three, however the most widely used for cross country flying is thermal lift. Pilots will need to know what causes thermals, where to find them, how to enter them, when to reject them, how to optimise their climb, and when to leave them.
These skills are covered in the lectures and papers below. Login on the home page to access all the resources.
- What are thermals? – How do thermals form and rise?
- What is ridge lift? – How to use ridge lift
- What is wave? – How to ride the wave
- What Kit? – Useful equipment if flying club or private gliders