Hillville, If you have cumulus clouds you have rising air. I have never flown an R/C glider, but have a few hours in big ones. The 'toss it off the cliff' method is called slope soaring. The air that is forced to rise as it is pushed upslope is the lift componant. Thermalling is exactly that. You hook up with a rising column of heated air and ride up with it. Once the updraft is found you want to remain in it for as long as possable. This can mean some pretty tight turns. R/C soaring must be tough because the key to catching that air is the lacking. ( The Variometer). I need not mention airspeed control. Find the best" minimum sink airspeed" and use it to prolong your flight time. Remember the glider is always sinking thru it's air column. Even in rising air the glider is falling. Go figure. A wise man once said that Flying is all about experiance, the more you fly the better at it you get. Go fly.