The Simple Secret to Planning a Cross-Country Glider Flight

You won't believe this one simple tip that will dramatically improve your glider flights! Lol ok, but it is actually a lot simpler than most people realize. I'm cutting through the baloney and showing you behind the scenes how I actually planned and executed this soaring cross-country glider flight. I hope it helps you, because I want to hear your calls out there on the radio soon.
www.weglide.or...

[@richmayfield8449]

I'd love to see a video about how you land out. Like, what you're looking for, how much you plan, what your minimums are, etc.

[@ThermalWave]

Makes sense! Declaring something in the computer for nav/ETA purposes is good, even if the task doesn't get completed in the end... Of course there is a special satisfaction to finish at your declared finish 900m lower than the start near sunset 😁

[@8OrangePants]

Totally agree.

[@SparrowHawkPilot]

Great education & views.

[@markplain2555]

Me again. Just want to say - great video. I pulled up a chair and took notes. Could you give us a little more detail. Do you calculate your the average amount of time you spend climbing x feet, the amount of time to cross x distance then add variances based on the weather? . You spoke about how different websites give different data. Could you tell us more about which sites and exactly what data are you looking at. . Your KZbin market is us fellow glider pilots (most of which don't have such a cool plane

[@8OrangePants]

Sure man, that's a good idea for future videos. In the space of a comment, I'll try to answer these in the meantime. On average speed, I have a pretty good sense of what it should be these days especially from places and routes and times of year I've been before. Skysight will also estimate your speed if you put in a route, although I find it somewhat optimistic, so you'll probably need to dial it down a little. Also possible to read off the average speed from the polar where the line that connects the vertical axis to the polar crosses the horizontal axis, although that is pessimistic when you have a lot of convergence like we do here. For different weather data, I consult windy and pivotal. Windy gives a bunch of different models, including the modern HRRR and ECMFW. I just click back and forth and try to spot what the differences are. Skysight is initialized with the ECMFW, but uses its own moisture model among other things.

[@markplain2555]

@@8OrangePants thanks for the response. All noted.

[@markplain2555]

I'm intrigued with yor first choice: knowing where to start: . . Normally we all start at our home club. How does it work for you in California? for example. If I have my glider sitting in the trailier, say home. I decide to drive to club A, but I am not a member at club A - can I just arrive and pay for a tow? . , I see your glider has it's own power. Do you arrive at an airport and launch yourself? How do you assemble the glider - can you do it yourself?

[@8OrangePants]

Yeah this is key. Most of the club operations here have a sort of "trial" membership where you can get a couple of tows without paying regular dues, then there's commercial operations where you just show up. The motor makes it easier to go anywhere, but yes I have a one-person rigger and use it all the time for this. Very critical piece of equipment...also makes the self-retrieve possible :D

[@TheSoaringChannel]

Amen to all of this! This keeps happening to us here in Florida lately. The tasks are planned, but the reality is never as good as forecasted. That's alright. When the forecast *is* right - I'll be there waiting to seize the moment.

[@8OrangePants]

Exactly. The good weather is near...

[@metielking]

I have a JS-3 RES being built this year and will be flying it next season. I'm really excited about being able to drive in the morning to an area with good forecast conditions. Are you taking off from glider clubs so far or have you taken off from general aviation airports?

[@metielking]

I see your OLC flight from New Cuyama. I assume that is a general aviation airport. Did you have any problems taking off and landing from that GA airport? I'm hoping to do the same in the midwest and I'm really curious what your experience has been so far doing that.

[@8OrangePants]

Nah, no issues with that. It's one of the big positives.

[@jorgbachtiger7338]

Why do you wear a scarf while flying?

[@8OrangePants]

I hate sunscreen, but I also hate skin cancer.