Want to trade some NZ thermals?
On a warm day here they can be strong enough to throw a 172 around the sky.
Any flying under the inversion layer on a summer afternoon here is almost
guaranteed to be a rock and roll session.
Tony
>>
>>
>>>Derek seemed quite impressed with it and, importantly, the thermalling
>>>speed was slow enough to make good use of British thermals.
>>
>>>er, are "British" thermals different to "Rest of World" thermals?<<
>
>You bet they are, like small and weak, usually. Low thermalling speed is
>vital here so that turning circle is within the effective part of the
>thermal. This means much above 45 kts is no good unless the gliders min
>sink rate is very low. We are trying to balance the sink rate of the glider
>with the strength of the thermal.
>It would seem that the Europa's min sink may somewhat lower than that of
>most motor gliders hence it would climb when othes wouldn't. Ivan was
>somewhat surpised ( never having flown a glider before) the first time he
>switched the engine off, the glider gained 500 feet is 20 minutes. Being
>close to Sutton Bank, a 1000 foot ridge, there was obviously some weak wave
>about.
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