On Monday, July 29, 2013 10:00:11 AM UTC-6, son_of_flubber wrote:
I'm starting to think that the textbook circular thermal is primarily a flatland phenomena.

Most of the "Thermal Assistants" will assume circular but give a reasonable idea of the varied strength all the way around. WinPilot is the best I have used, SeeYou Mobile is about the worst. You can choose to adjust position from the values but in general seat feel will tell you more most of the time. I have not seen a nice circular and even strength thermal all the way around in months. Last Friday every thermal had multiple cores and strong centers about 50 feet across. They would also increase right until they dropped off a cliff. Level out into the stronger lift and it would increase through about 10 knots and then drop to sink instantly. I felt like a needed to go back to basic flight training again.