GLIDING

Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sport in which pilots fly unpowered aircraft known as gliders or
sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to remain airborne. The word soaring is
also used for the sport.

Gliding as a sport began in the 1920s. Initially the objective was to increase the duration of flights but soon pilots
attempted cross-country flights away from the place of launch. Improvements in aerodynamics and in the
understanding of weather phenomena have allowed greater distances at higher average speeds. Long distances are
now flown using any of the main sources of rising air: ridge lift, thermals and lee waves. When conditions are
favourable, experienced pilots can now fly hundreds of kilometres before returning to their home airfields;
occasionally flights of more than 1,000 kilometers (621 mi) are achieved.

Some competitive pilots fly in races around pre-defined courses. These gliding competitions test pilots' abilities to
make best use of local weather conditions as well as their flying skills. Local and national competitions are
organized in many countries, and there are biennial World Gliding Championships. Techniques to maximize a
glider's speed around the day's task in a competition have been developed, including the optimum speed to fly,
navigation using GPS and the carrying of water ballast. If the weather deteriorates pilots are sometimes unable to
complete a cross-country flight. Consequently, they may need to land elsewhere, perhaps in a field, but motor
glider pilots can avoid this by starting an engine.

Powered-aircraft and winches are the two most common means of launching gliders. These and other launch
methods require assistance and facilities such as airfields, tugs, and winches. These are usually provided by gliding
clubs who also train new pilots and maintain high safety standards. Although in most countries the standards of
safety of the pilots and the aircraft are the responsibility of governmental bodies, the clubs and sometimes national
gliding associations often have delegated authority.

The key topics in this article are as follows:

SOARING

Glider pilots can stay airborne for hours by flying through air that is ascending as fast or faster than the glider itself
is descending, thus gaining potential energy. The most commonly used sources of rising air are described in the
following.

Gliding is an exciting but dangerous sport, it is a must try for those who seek adventure and
adrenaline rush !!!

THERMALS

Thermals are streams of rising air that are formed on the ground through the warming of the surface by sunlight. If
the air contains enough moisture, the water will condense from the rising air and form cumulus clouds. When the
air has little moisture or when an inversion stops the warm air from rising high enough for the moisture to
condense, thermals do not create cumulus clouds. Without clouds or dust devils to mark the thermals, thermals are
not always associated with any feature on the ground. The pilot must then use both skill and luck to find them
using a sensitive vertical speed indicator called a variometer that quickly indicates climbs and descents.
Occasionally reliable thermals can be found in the exhaust gases from power stations or from fires.

Once a thermal is encountered, the pilot can fly in tight circles to keep the glider within the thermal, so gaining
altitude before flying towards the destination or to the next thermal. This is known as "thermalling". Alternatively,
glider pilots on cross-country flights may choose to 'dolphin'. This is when the pilot merely slows down in rising air,
and then speeds up again in the non-rising air, thus following an undulating flight path. Dolphining allows the pilot
to minimize the loss of height over great distances without spending time turning. Climb rates depend on
conditions, but rates of several meters per second are common and can be maximized by gliders equipped with
flaps. Thermals can also be formed in a line usually because of the wind or the terrain, creating cloud streets.
These can allow the pilot to fly straight while climbing in continuous lift.

As it requires rising heated air, thermalling is most effective in mid-latitudes from spring through late summer.
During winter the sun's heat can only create weak thermals, but ridge and wave lift can still be used during this
period.

RIDGE LIFT

A ridge soaring pilot uses upward air movements caused when the wind blows on to the sides of hills. It can also be
augmented by thermals when the slopes also face the sun. In places where a steady wind blows, a ridge may allow
virtually unlimited time aloft, although records for duration are no longer recognized because of the danger of
exhaustion.

WAVE LIFT

The powerfully rising and sinking air in mountain waves was discovered by glider pilot, Wolf Hirth, in 1933. Gliders
can sometimes climb in these waves to great altitudes, although pilots must use supplementary oxygen to avoid
hypoxia.

This lift is often marked by long, stationary lenticular (lens-shaped) clouds lying perpendicular to the wind.
Mountain wave was used to set the current altitude record of 15,453 metres (50,699 ft) on 29 August 2006 over El
Calafate, Argentina. The pilots, Steve Fossett and Einar Enevoldson, wore pressure suits. The current world
distance record of 3,008 kilometres (1,869 mi) by Klaus Ohlmann (set on 21 January 2003) was also flown using
mountain waves in South America.

A rare Wave Lift phenomenon is known as Morning Glory, a rolling cloud producing strong lift.
Pilots near Australia's Gulf of Carpentaria make use of it during the spring.

LAUNCH METHODS

Aero Towing

Towed by another aircraft

Winch Launching

It is launched by a winch mounted on a heavy vehicle

Auto Tow

Glider is dragged by a powerful vehicle through a steel cable

Launched from the top of a hill

TYPES OF GLIDERS
RECOMMENDED STEPS

GLIDING TERMINOLOGY

GLIDING EMERGENCIES

Code Description
Critical – Must be Checked by Engineer
RB Rope Break.
CL Canopy not latched.
CC A control not connected.
WD Wing drop (ground loop).
AB Air brakes opening.
Serious - Must be Checked by Operators
FP Flaps in wrong position.
TP Tow plane power failure.
TS Tow speed too slow or fast.
DW Being towed too far downwind.
CH Controls hooked up backwards.