What can you look forward to in the current September/October issue? For example, there’s an exciting three-country flight without an engine, but with spectacular northern lights in the Allgäu region. Another flight takes you over the sea to a small island as a turning point – a gliding challenge that requires precise planning, but then offers unique views. There is also a unique gliding airfield in the Philippines, where an enthusiastic glider pilot has set up a flying operation under palm trees with great dedication. The two-seater Grand Prix in Aalen did not take place under palm trees, but under thick rain clouds. Our Pilot’s Report explains how you can still make it to the top of the podium. A second Pilots‘ Report deals with the DG 800B, an airplane that has already had a few years under its wings but cuts a fine figure on long distances. Whether long or short distances, nothing works without thermals, and in our article we take a closer look at them: eleven points form the basis for your thermal flying tactics and an ideal centering aid can be generated from this knowledge. However, you can evaluate the thermals by combining numerous measured flight data with ground type and land use; this is particularly helpful for young pilots. If you would also like to have a special foehn behavior explained: here you go, we also have an interesting short report on this. For the technology freaks, this time we tried out how the ACD-57 instrument cluster proves itself in everyday flying and what “speed cameras” on the aircraft can do. We also cover the topic of safety: if you’re in the cockpit in hot weather, there are a few things to consider before, during and after the flight. Finally, we finish off with the B12 over Berlin and a story from the cockpit. Enjoy reading!
And now: look forward to the new issue – and if you haven’t subscribed to the magazine: pick it up at the newsstand or order directly at the publishing house.
And now a brief look at the current articles:
When I booted up the computer on Monday morning after our hiking glider flight, I realized: goal achieved – I‘ve forgotten my company password. The impressions of our experiences were still buzzing around in my head, too deep, too strong and omnipresent. Everyday life was simply too far away from me to take possession of me again. My thoughts were still on flying….
My WSF WhatsApp group for 2024 had already been recycled from the previous year and we agreed on 10 days at the beginning of May as a rough time frame in which we wanted to do something again. All interested parties had allocated time for this period – as far as could be planned – and were on standby, so to speak, waiting for my starting signal.
Why May? Well, in May the world is open to a touring glider pilot on the northern edge of the Alps. This means that the south, i.e. Slovenia to northern Italy, is usually still easy to fly as long as it is not raining, because the air mass is usually still cool and active enough to be able to leave the Alps and reach them again. In principle, the north and east are also easily accessible during this time. Above all, however, all glider pilots are scrambling to get into the air as soon as possible. Therefore, almost everywhere, if the weather permits, there is a flight operation that you can join.
When cross country flying flying without a motor, the weather forecast over several days and good geographical knowledge are very important. I then sit in front of my maps and think about what would probably be feasible. Simply turning up as an uninvited guest on foreign sites, perhaps even as a larger group, often presents the hosts with major challenges. That‘s why you can‘t count on being able to take off early, gather the group and fly off together.
The end of each flight is also always an exciting affair. Choosing a suitable location with the right infrastructure, good weather conditions and accessibility simply takes time. Due to the delay at the beginning and end as well as the necessary consideration for the group and correspondingly defensive flying to make an outlanding very unlikely, this usually leads to quite short individual distances.
But that doesn‘t matter, because here in Europe, for example, even just 400 km in one direction usually changes the landscape, culture, country and customs considerably. But what remains is the enthusiasm for gliding and for crazy activities. That‘s why as a touring glider pilot, regardless of whether the person at the destination airfield speaks French, Italian, Czech or German, you are generally welcomed with great hospitality.
But back to the start. A low pressure system over the Gulf of Genoa once again brought days of heavy rain to the central and western Alpine region. In the east, however, drier cold air continued to flow in, which led to a very distinctive weather boundary. On Thursday, 09.05.24, it should become increasingly drier and more thermally flyable from Micheldorf to the east and northeast. Although a clear northerly component in the wind was still to be expected, which should cause congestion in the Alps, I expected the alpine pumping to be absent, which should make it possible to overcome the Danube valley even with the very low base of less than 2000 m in the direction of the Waldviertel.
As is so often the case, the Czech Republic and Germany should go well anyway, only for the following Friday a more strongly braking CI screen was expected in the central and eastern Czech Republic. Friday 10.05.24 should then be very good in Germany and Saturday/Sunday enough to somehow make it home again.
Was I supposed to drive people crazy with this rather mediocre forecast? Well, it seemed possible, you only get further by doing, so ok, let‘s ask who would be there … Arcus M not available, DG 800 has just sent the defective engine to Solo … so there you go. Markus Zingerle with his 301 Libelle was very eager and accepted immediately and Till Berthold with his Ventus Cm was also there. Fits, a fine, small group with people who can fly and are independent enough to manage on their own in the event. That was exactly to my taste (…)
Exciting? Ok, you can read the whole article in the current issue, which you can order here.
