how the big boys do big xc's

Post by **gary stenhouse** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 1:31 pm

i have been studying quite a few of the top dog pg flights this year, and on the same day and the same place i have been in clowd yet they have manged to get oftern a further 1000 ft on other persons. what i would like to know is this the key to big xc flying by going through and too the top. yesterday i did do this quite a bit to get through the bad lands though did keep on exiting to the side and then kept on going in for the lift.

so the question is, is this what others do as another 1000 feet is another 4k on glide the differance of going up and down?

cheers gary

ron freeman · Post by **ron freeman** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 2:41 pm

First thing... forget about cloud flying, you don't have the instruments to do it safely plus if someone else has the same idea (local gliding club or another club member) that could be very nasty !

The experienced XC pilots fly futher Gary because they have taken time to develope their XC skills plus they pick the best times to go flying, thats another skill which takes time.

Its as simple as that.

keep going over the back, your xc's will get better and your judgement and sense of best way to go will be rewarded.

Kitt Rudd · Post by **Kitt Rudd** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 2:59 pm

If doing big xc's was simply all about climbing into cloud then everyone would be at it. Doing big xc's is all about timing.
knowing which climbs are likely to go to base, or clear the terrain safely is first. Second know when to you can speed up ( skip climbs or leave climbs early) or slow down and drift along at base.

I rarely enter cloud (don't really like the effects it has on me) though I will often climb up the sides of cloud which is a very special thing.
I have flown with some pilots that often climb into cloud, but overall there is very little benefit and far greater risk. Also a wet glider is not a fun glider to fly and the potential of line shrinkage increases.

What you may well be seeing when viewing tracks is that somewhere along the course of the day pilots are climbing higher than they where earlier. This is more likely to be down to the fact that base has risen during the day. Rather than the pilot entering the 'White room'.

Kitt

kitt

Post by **gary stenhouse** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 4:20 pm

i must say the apprentice ship to good xc flying is a lot harder and more frustrating than i thought. i am not so nervous of the clouds as i used to be but i always fly out the side rather than the usual panick and spiral. but like you say i think cloud flying is not a good idea even though i am carrying a full blown system that has collision avoidance etc. getting to base has not been a problem though making the right choices seems to of been.

next year we will see but the rush is off and when it comes i know that it will be good

cheers gary