Chapter 10 Soaring Techniques

Question 1

Where can a thermal be found?

Answer 1

Under a cumulus cloud

Question 2

What are the two models of thermals?

Answer 2

Column & Bubble

Question 3

Where are the strongest thermals found in a cumulus cloud?

Answer 3

Dark concave section in a flat base below cloud

Question 4

What is virga?

Answer 4

Precipitation that evaporates before it hits the ground.

Question 5

Thermals can exist without clouds if the air is?

Answer 5

Dry

Question 6

What is a house thermal?

Answer 6

A thermal that typically forms in the same location.

Question 7

Where are good places to look for thermals?

Answer 7

Sun facing slopes
Dark ground (parking lots)
Dry fields surrounded by wet fields

Question 8

Where is thermal located if winds exist?

Answer 8

Upwind of cloud location due to wind drift.

Question 9

What is the relationship of thermals to lakes?

Answer 9

Thermals rarely form over lakes & downwind of lakes.

Question 10

What speed should be flown in a thermal?

Answer 10

Min sink adjusted for bank angle.

Question 11

A glider left to itself tends to fly?

Answer 11

Away from a thermal

Question 12

Thermals broaden with?

Answer 12

Altitude

Question 13

Lifting wing points to?

Answer 13

Center of thermal

Question 14

What technique can be used to find the center of a thermal?

Answer 14

270 degrees

Question 15

The variometer will lead / lag the actual thermal?

Answer 15

Lag

Question 16

When circling with another glider, what should be done for safety?

Answer 16

Circle in same direction as glider already in thermal.
Try to keep 180 degrees apart to keep each other in sight,
Use radio.
If can’t see other glider, leave thermal.

Question 17

Wher is the OLZ optimal lift zone for ridge soaring?

Answer 17

Near the top of the ridge at a 30 angle from vertical toward the upwind side

Question 18

What angle should the wind be hitting the ridge for lift?

Answer 18

Perpendicular is best. within 45 degrees each side of perpendicular. 15 - 20 knots.
< 10 knots will not generate much lift.

Question 19

What heading should be used when flying along a ridge?

Answer 19

Crab away from the ridge to avoid being pushed into it.

Question 20

Who has the right of way when opposing gliders are flying a ridge?

Answer 20

The glider with the ridge on its right has the right of way.

Question 21

Where should a glider be passed when flying along a ridge?

Answer 21

Pass on the ridge side of the slower glider.

Question 22

Always turn away/toward the ridge?

Answer 22

Away

Question 23

Don’t fly above / below another glider on a ridge?

Answer 23

Don’t fly above or below.

Question 24

Where is sink found along ridges?

Answer 24

On downwind side of bowls and spurs

Question 25

Vertical shear on top of ridge can cause?

Answer 25

Roll of glider

Question 26

What techniques are used when there is a thermal near a ridge?

Answer 26

S turns below ridge. Circling above ridge.

Question 27

What is a good indication of sink

Answer 27

Shaded areas.

Question 28

What is another name for cap clouds

Answer 28

Foehn cloud forms above a ridge

Question 29

Where do waves form

Answer 29

Downwind side of mountain.

Question 30

What forms beneath waves?

Answer 30

Rotors - circling vertical wind

Question 31

What are some attributes of waves?

Answer 31

high altitude, cold, steady lift without having to circle, cloud streets, source of very long flights, near Class A airspace

Question 32

How is a wave entered?

Answer 32

Tow or circling in a rotor.

Question 33

What is a attribute of convergent lift?

Answer 33

Typically turbulent - fly faster