Robert de León wrote in message ...
I'm prepping for a presentation and was wondering: who was the first to
actually thermal.

I assume that early glider pilots noted soaring birds and thought "there
must be rising air where they're turning and climbing." I've read a few
references as to WHEN it was achieved by glider pilots (but not a firm
date). I haven't found details as to who genuinely went after one, where it
happened and what they were flying. I'm guessing part of it was trial and
error while slope soaring...followed by "ah-ha!"

According to "The Story of Gliding" by Ann Welch (chapter 10 - First
Thermals):

"However, the first real thermal soaring, without either hills or
thunderstorms, took place in the United States. An American, A.
Haller, and a German far from home, Wolf Hirth, were the first to
realise their opportunity."

Hirth traveled to Elmira, New York to participate in the first
soaring meeting there, bringing with him a Musterle glider. On the
last day of competition, he and Haller made a thermal flight from
Elmira to Waverly, NY.

She mentions Kronfeld, Georgii and others at the Wasserkuppe as well,
but the first practical use of thermals (which I'm taking as Bob's
question) is as above. In any case, the book is a good read and I
highly recommend it.

Mike Brooks
GE2