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Ron Ridenour Trustee, Soaring Safety Foundation. Soaring Techniques. Thermal Soaring techniques Ridge Soaring techniques Wave Soaring techniques Aeromedical recognition. Thermal Soaring. Thermal Soaring. Best kind of air masses – cool and dry High pressure with inversion aloft
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Ron Ridenour Trustee, Soaring Safety Foundation
Soaring Techniques • Thermal Soaring techniques • Ridge Soaring techniques • Wave Soaring techniques • Aeromedical recognition
Thermal Soaring • Best kind of air masses – cool and dry • High pressure with inversion aloft • Cloud streets • Thermal waves • Thunderstorm hazards
Ridge Soaring • Air mass can be stable or unstable - dry is preferred • Requires elevated terrain and wind • Lift is can be found 2-3 times the ridge height • Best lift usually found low and close to ridge • Fly parallel to the ridge • Problem is maintaining a safe working altitude above valley • Downdrafts on back side of ridge • 10-15 knots of wind blowing perpendicular to ridge
Mountain Waves • Generally requires a proper stability profile • Sufficient wind but not to strong • Cap Cloud, Roll Cloud, ACSL clouds • Lift found ahead of ACSL cloud and downwind of mtn. • Fly into the wind stationary over ground • Rotor Turbulence
Convergence Lift • Found near coastal areas • Commonly called sea-breeze front
Aeromedical Factors • High Altitude Soaring • Hypoxia • Hyperventilation • Middle ear and Sinus problems • Spatial Disorientation • Stress, Fatigue • Dehydration and Heatstroke • Alcohol and Drugs • Scuba Diving • Corrective Actions - Don’t fly or Land
Teaching Soaring Techniques • Resources • Glider Flying Handbook • PHAK • Glider Mentoring Series • Thermals • Practical Wave Flying • Ridge Soaring the Bald Eagle Ridge • Questions??