On 8/24/11 8:09 AM, John Cochrane wrote:
You really only get good at cross country by going every weekend. And
it really is a self-taught exercise. A little instruction here and
there can help a lot, but 99% of learning to fly cross country is,
read all the material on the ground, then go try it out in the air. By
yourself.

As others have said, most of us "old timers" (I started in 1973) did it
all solo. After several years, I hooked up with a Janus owner and flew
as co pilot in numerous contests. I still recall the first few flights
were HUGE eye-openers for me and my XC technique.

So my suggestion is to go fly dual XC with an EXPERIENCED pilot. One or
two flights of a few hundred km will provide all the incentive and
observed skills you'll need for a long time to come.

It's also a lot easier to get even the most aloof pilot to critique your
performance, no matter how bad, than to talk to someone with no
perceived common ground. So just go fly, then talk about it at the end
of the day with those guys who flew hundreds to your tens of kilometers.
Launch first, act as sniffer, then when the "big dogs" climb through
you and take off, try to follow. Maybe you'll keep up to the next
thermal, maybe not. Then, at the end of the day, ask what they were
thinking when they left you in the dust. Next time, you'll keep up for
2 thermals, etc...

This is also the perfect way to learn at a contest. Start early, then
latch onto each pilot for a few minutes as they overtake you. Most will
be happy to share decisions made while sharing your airspace. BUT
REMEMBER to fly your own flight at YOUR comfort level. Don't do
anything that makes you uncomfortable, and be sure to maintain
situational awareness as you follow.

-Tom