Tips for Paraglider pilots

[rmerigan]

Alex has asked me to put up some info on XC flying, thermalling etc.
I will refer you to Jeromes website, lots of info to study and try out
http://www.expandingknowledge.com/Jerom ... troduction
It explains why Bakewell is so rough( see thermalling under an inversion)
thermal triggers XC flying etc.
There is plenty of info even links to stuff from an old WA HG instructor Mark "bomber" Thompson and info on thermal theory
http://www.skynomad.com/paragliding_articles.htm

Once you have read all this and tried it out at Bakewell, ie get higher than the XC guns then you are probably ready to go XC

[tromes]

This advice will probably better fit here...

For the low air time pilot, a low inversion usually means pretty rough conditions as the thermals are badly organised, and bouncing on that layer, so you get a mix of bullets and sink. I don't think you should fly at least till it is broken (or really early at sunrise...) even if you have a pretty tolerant glider, Gabriel showed us that even aDHV 1 or 1-2 can get a cravate after a collapse and engage into a spiral. Lucky he had enough height.
On a good thermal day, tehre is always some magic lift at Bakewell late arvo and I think this is teh timing you should head for (or at least after the inversion is broken).

An iversion is a layer of warmer air laying at a certain altitude which will block the thermals.
If you look at the baloon tracing of the day (usually released around 9am every day at http://slash.dotat.org/cgi-bin/atmos?loc=94610&latest=1) you can see at the tracing of Sunday http://slash.dotat.org/cgi-bin/atmos?lo ... 0925230000 on the second graph that the curve is kind of a flat between 14 and 26C at a very low level (around 3000'), when after 26, the curve start climbing properly (inversion breaking). The forecast temperature of the day was 27 at Northam so it was quite unlikely the inversion would break before 1 or 2 pm, so good time for the novice to launch would have been after 3...

As far as article, not sure where to find it, (I only have a french translation of it) but Will Gadd also wrote a very good article about thermal flying. I think it was called "Thermals Hunter" or something like it. Probably a good idea to put the link here if somebody find it (it may be into Jerome Daoust bibliotheque...)

[ColinHawke]

Will Gadd also wrote a very good article about thermal flying. I think it was called "Thermals Hunter" or something like it. Probably a good idea to put the link here if somebody find it.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Col

[Riaan]

Thermal Flying

http://www.xcshop.com/shop/product.php/ ... 0ef5f7d429

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Thermal Flying is a comprehensive guide to the art of thermaling and XC flying. This 260 page book is illustrated with clear diagrams and photos to help pilots make sense of the concepts, techniques and meteorology knowledge you need to make the most of each flying day.

Written by highly respected competition pilot Burkhard Martens, Thermal Flying has been translated in to English by PWC pilot Mads Syndergard with a bonus section by world champion Bruce Goldsmith.

This hardback book covers all aspects of cross country flying and spells out priceless information on reading conditions and thermal flying like no other book. Thermal Flying is peppered with experts’ tips and the author’s own personal experiences and beautifully illustrated with succulent photographs.

With something to learn, whether you are a beginner or seasoned campaigner, this is a book that should be on every pilot’s bookshelf!

"Just a note to say thanks for the thermal Flying book - it is actually the best flying book I have ever come across - I think the best thing is that it has some quite advanced stuff, but is still written in quite simple language which is perfect for simple people like me! All the other more advanced books are really 'dry' and I generally fall asleep by page 3! And the pictures are really good too. I like pictures. I will be recommending it to absolutely everyone."

Rachael, Allez Up Paragliding, France

[paraglidingswiss]

Look, lean, turn. Turn your head to see if the space is clear before making the turn. Furthermore, turning the head naturally tends to perform a proper weight shift in the harness.Recall of basic flight rules. Avoid by the right. The pilot with the mountainside to his right has priority. The pilot just under you has priority. If you enter a thermal with other pilots already in, turn the same way they do.Sharp changes in steering input will increase your sink rate, as will tight turns. Perform smooth maneuvers to get the best performance. Sharp changes will also make your banking angle oscillate. The following describes a common accident. Facing away from the ridge, the pilot thinks that if he starts his turn sharp enough, he has time to complete a full turn. Supplying a sharp steering input, he quickly obtains a high banking angle. But just as he is now starting to face the hill, the bank angle now oscillates back to almost zero, sending him straight for the ridge at that time. Thinking that he is not supplying enough turning input, he "stuffs" the inner brake inducing a Spin (Recovery) and falling into to hillside.

[Riaan]

Thanks and in memory to David Humpries and Joe Bosworh, My site bits added in 2008 up to new pilots to discover new ones.

* Cottesloe & Mosman are Advanced sites - You need a Advanced licence to fly here and quite a few times in all weather conditions with an advanced pilot that flies there regularly. Myself and Sam fly there regularly. Ask for induction. Please dont muck up on these sites, they are our only metro sites, highly visable, and every incident is noticed. The ranger inspect licenses there regularly and any incident will cost us the site.

* Serpentine - Check what the latest is with (lambing season prevent flying). Book in with the owner, Work the protocol

* Toojay is no longer open and no flying allowed (This will not change)

* Mt. Bakewill - Book in with the site owner, pay a donation and work the protocol

* Geralton - Ask the local active Pilots - There is a club (Brendan Jones) - Wozzas Book in with the site owner, pay a donation and work the protocol

* Burn & Quins - Respect the dog beaches, mind the public and keep a good image.

* 2 Rocks - Pitch and fly, check with Harry, he lives there

* Albany ask the local pilots - There is a club. * Shellies pitch and fly

* Esperance - Pitch and fly

[JacquesPilote]

Thanks Riaan, it is a very visual tool.

[Riaan]

If the guys at seabreeze has not been smoking the wrong stuff their predictions refelct today to be flyable. however preditions are just that, look at the BOM actuals updated every 10 minutes

Watch BOM prediction for Ocean reef. if WSW,W or WNW is perfect for fluing Quins rocks, predicted today to be greuadually becoming stronger from ~ 14h30 pm 11 knt to 16 knts is ideal

Keep and eye on : http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDW60901 ... 4607.shtml

See for directins in Map attached

[Riaan]

Quins Prediction and location, from Marmion, turn right in quin Beach road. It becomes Ocean beach road, where the road runs parralel to beach drive to where the road turns right on short uphill with car park. Park there, walk to beach on doggie path, when at beach walk 50 meters norht and kite your wing up on the dunes into the lift band and fly, mind dos and children remember it is a dog beware they have right of way.

Enjoy, Riaan