Interest in Gliding
01-03-2013, 01:16 PM
#1
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Interest in Gliding
Hello I want to get into unpowered gliding and want to know if long sloping hills or wide open flatlands are suitable for thermal gliding. Also if you have any recommendations in good gliders to start with let me know. Thanks!
01-03-2013, 03:46 PM
#2
Senior Member
RE: Interest in Gliding
All you need is room for your launch stuff for thermal flying. You don't need that for slope, just a slope with enough room. That room is side to side.
What you look for is fairly clear open ground for a high start. Crops and brush make line retrieval a nightmare. It is nice to have the trees rather far from the launch area.
With slope, you need them facing the prevailing winds. Otherwise, they're seldom flyable and are useless most of the time.
What you look for is fairly clear open ground for a high start. Crops and brush make line retrieval a nightmare. It is nice to have the trees rather far from the launch area.
With slope, you need them facing the prevailing winds. Otherwise, they're seldom flyable and are useless most of the time.
01-03-2013, 03:56 PM
#3
Senior Member
RE: Interest in Gliding
The ideal thermal sites have somewhat varied terrain. People usually think something like a huge sod farm would be perfect. It is perfect when they are cutting sod and there are big patches of exposed dirt. When it's all grass, the thermal generation is unpredictable and unreliable. The perfect places have areas of ground that heat up next to areas that don't.
I often fly in a flood plain beside my neighborhood. The house roofs and streets generate thermals reliably when the sun is reliable. Being next to a large grassy field helps. Days with some clouds help too. MOF, those kind of days were what was needed back when I flew on a huge sod farm. The areas of sunlight moving along the grass made all that uniform ground heat up 'un-uniformly.'
I often fly in a flood plain beside my neighborhood. The house roofs and streets generate thermals reliably when the sun is reliable. Being next to a large grassy field helps. Days with some clouds help too. MOF, those kind of days were what was needed back when I flew on a huge sod farm. The areas of sunlight moving along the grass made all that uniform ground heat up 'un-uniformly.'
01-03-2013, 07:16 PM
#4
RE: Interest in Gliding
What he said
All I can add is try it!
I really like my Gentle Lady but only over the Sig Riser. Both are really easy going ships.
I would also recomend starting with a motorglider to get the hang of finding lift once you are in the air.
Finding lift and keeping the plane flying without power is a great challenge. Having a motor to bail you out makes things more comfortable.
All I can add is try it!I really like my Gentle Lady but only over the Sig Riser. Both are really easy going ships.
I would also recomend starting with a motorglider to get the hang of finding lift once you are in the air.
Finding lift and keeping the plane flying without power is a great challenge. Having a motor to bail you out makes things more comfortable.
01-03-2013, 09:01 PM
#5
RE: Interest in Gliding
The glider I recommend to new thermal pilots is the ParkZone RTF. Easy to fly, easy to themal, hard to break and easy to fix. If you join our sailplane club and ask what would be your best first glider the Radian is likely the one we will recommend.
http://www.horizonhobby.com/products/radian-rtf-PKZ4700
You only use the motor to get to soaring height. After that you are flying a glider.
http://www.horizonhobby.com/products/radian-rtf-PKZ4700
You only use the motor to get to soaring height. After that you are flying a glider.
> The New Glider Pilot's Handbook
