Chapter 10 Soaring Techniques Flashcards
Where can a thermal be found?
Under a cumulus cloud
What are the two models of thermals?
Column & Bubble
Where are the strongest thermals found in a cumulus cloud?
Dark concave section in a flat base below cloud
What is virga?
Precipitation that evaporates before it hits the ground.
Thermals can exist without clouds if the air is?
Dry
What is a house thermal?
A thermal that typically forms in the same location.
Where are good places to look for thermals?
Sun facing slopes
Dark ground (parking lots)
Dry fields surrounded by wet fields
Where is thermal located if winds exist?
Upwind of cloud location due to wind drift.
What is the relationship of thermals to lakes?
Thermals rarely form over lakes & downwind of lakes.
What speed should be flown in a thermal?
Min sink adjusted for bank angle.
A glider left to itself tends to fly?
Away from a thermal
Thermals broaden with?
Altitude
Lifting wing points to?
Center of thermal
What technique can be used to find the center of a thermal?
270 degrees
The variometer will lead / lag the actual thermal?
Lag
When circling with another glider, what should be done for safety?
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.
Wher is the OLZ optimal lift zone for ridge soaring?
Near the top of the ridge at a 30 angle from vertical toward the upwind side
What angle should the wind be hitting the ridge for lift?
Perpendicular is best. within 45 degrees each side of perpendicular. 15 - 20 knots.
< 10 knots will not generate much lift.
What heading should be used when flying along a ridge?
Crab away from the ridge to avoid being pushed into it.
Who has the right of way when opposing gliders are flying a ridge?
The glider with the ridge on its right has the right of way.
Where should a glider be passed when flying along a ridge?
Pass on the ridge side of the slower glider.
Always turn away/toward the ridge?
Away
Don’t fly above / below another glider on a ridge?
Don’t fly above or below.
Where is sink found along ridges?
On downwind side of bowls and spurs
