How do you interpret weather reports when considering a cross-country flight?

Spring is getting near. I want to learn cross-country flying. I want to do the 50 km flight for the Silver badge.

Here’s the first option I’ve looked at: http://www.nscale160.com/xc/

Bermuda High (SC79, 550' msl) is 34 nautical miles west of the Marlboro County Jetport (KBBP, 147'msl). Using the “one percent rule” I can’t release any higher than 1390' agl at Bermuda High if I'm simply going to land at BBP. I understand if I use a logger and arrive high enough over BBP before landing that I’m OK...

I suppose I could release higher, descend below 1390' agl in a good thermal and then climb again and fly on. Hmmm.

If you look at the screen capture map on my website you'll see my initial idea. If you have any feedback on the route(s) I’d be interested, but that's not really the purpose of this post.

I’d like to learn more about weather forecasting/understanding/planning or something like that.

What are good links to places you use to check the weather?

How do you know from looking at the weather that "today's a great day to try a 50 km flight"?

Thanks in advance.

Terry

Terry,

I've found an excellent tool are the NAM Blipmaps:
http://www.drjack.info/BLIP/NAM/

If you can climb up to 5000ft agl and it is not particularly windy, you
would be able to safely attempt a silver distance. You can find the AGL
Hcrit, which says how high thermals go above the ground in the NAM info.

Also, regarding starting, you don't need to start that low. You can declare
a start and then you can start any altitude you want, so long as your
finish point is no greater than the 1% rule allows for. So if you can only
lose 1400ft, then if you go through your declared start at 6000ft MSL, you
must finish no lower than 4600ft MSL. However, that is probably a lot
easier than taking a very low tow.

Regards,
Daniel Sazhin

At 00:16 15 February 2013, Terry Pitts wrote:
Spring is getting near. I want to learn cross-country flying. I want to
do
=
the 50 km flight for the Silver badge.

Here=92s the first option I=92ve looked at: http://www.nscale160.com/xc/

Bermuda High (SC79, 550' msl) is 34 nautical miles west of the Marlboro
Cou=
nty Jetport (KBBP, 147'msl). Using the =93one percent rule=94 I can=92t
rel=
ease any higher than 1390' agl at Bermuda High if I'm simply going to
land
=
at BBP. I understand if I use a logger and arrive high enough over BBP
befo=
re landing that I=92m OK...

I suppose I could release higher, descend below 1390' agl in a good
thermal=
and then climb again and fly on. Hmmm.

If you look at the screen capture map on my website you'll see my initial
i=
dea. If you have any feedback on the route(s) I=92d be interested, but
that=
's not really the purpose of this post.

I=92d like to learn more about weather forecasting/understanding/planning
o=
r something like that.

What are good links to places you use to check the weather?

How do you know from looking at the weather that "today's a great day to
tr=
y a 50 km flight"?

Thanks in advance.

Terry

Terry,

I've found an excellent tool are the NAM Blipmaps:
http://www.drjack.info/BLIP/NAM/

If you can climb up to 5000ft agl and it is not particularly windy, you
would be able to safely attempt a silver distance. You can find the AGL
Hcrit, which says how high thermals go above the ground in the NAM info.

Also, regarding starting, you don't need to start that low. You can declare
a start and then you can start any altitude you want, so long as your
finish point is no greater than the 1% rule allows for. So if you can only
lose 1400ft, then if you go through your declared start at 6000ft MSL, you
must finish no lower than 4600ft MSL. However, that is probably a lot
easier than taking a very low tow.

Regards,
Daniel Sazhin

At 00:16 15 February 2013, Terry Pitts wrote:
Spring is getting near. I want to learn cross-country flying. I want to
do
=
the 50 km flight for the Silver badge.

Here=92s the first option I=92ve looked at: http://www.nscale160.com/xc/

Bermuda High (SC79, 550' msl) is 34 nautical miles west of the Marlboro
Cou=
nty Jetport (KBBP, 147'msl). Using the =93one percent rule=94 I can=92t
rel=
ease any higher than 1390' agl at Bermuda High if I'm simply going to
land
=
at BBP. I understand if I use a logger and arrive high enough over BBP
befo=
re landing that I=92m OK...

I suppose I could release higher, descend below 1390' agl in a good
thermal=
and then climb again and fly on. Hmmm.

If you look at the screen capture map on my website you'll see my initial
i=
dea. If you have any feedback on the route(s) I=92d be interested, but
that=
's not really the purpose of this post.

I=92d like to learn more about weather forecasting/understanding/planning
o=
r something like that.

What are good links to places you use to check the weather?

How do you know from looking at the weather that "today's a great day to
tr=
y a 50 km flight"?

Thanks in advance.

Terry

Terry,

I've found an excellent tool are the NAM Blipmaps:
http://www.drjack.info/BLIP/NAM/

If you can climb up to 5000ft agl and it is not particularly windy, you
would be able to safely attempt a silver distance. You can find the AGL
Hcrit, which says how high thermals go above the ground in the NAM info.

Also, regarding starting, you don't need to start that low. You can declare
a start and then you can start any altitude you want, so long as your
finish point is no greater than the 1% rule allows for. So if you can only
lose 1400ft, then if you go through your declared start at 6000ft MSL, you
must finish no lower than 4600ft MSL. However, that is probably a lot
easier than taking a very low tow.

Regards,
Daniel Sazhin

At 00:16 15 February 2013, Terry Pitts wrote:
Spring is getting near. I want to learn cross-country flying. I want to
do
=
the 50 km flight for the Silver badge.

Here=92s the first option I=92ve looked at: http://www.nscale160.com/xc/

Bermuda High (SC79, 550' msl) is 34 nautical miles west of the Marlboro
Cou=
nty Jetport (KBBP, 147'msl). Using the =93one percent rule=94 I can=92t
rel=
ease any higher than 1390' agl at Bermuda High if I'm simply going to
land
=
at BBP. I understand if I use a logger and arrive high enough over BBP
befo=
re landing that I=92m OK...

I suppose I could release higher, descend below 1390' agl in a good
thermal=
and then climb again and fly on. Hmmm.

If you look at the screen capture map on my website you'll see my initial
i=
dea. If you have any feedback on the route(s) I=92d be interested, but
that=
's not really the purpose of this post.

I=92d like to learn more about weather forecasting/understanding/planning
o=
r something like that.

What are good links to places you use to check the weather?

How do you know from looking at the weather that "today's a great day to
tr=
y a 50 km flight"?

Thanks in advance.

Terry

On Thursday, February 14, 2013 6:16:45 PM UTC-6, Terry Pitts wrote:
Spring is getting near. I want to learn cross-country flying. I want to do the 50 km flight for the Silver badge.



Here’s the first option I’ve looked at: http://www.nscale160.com/xc/



Bermuda High (SC79, 550' msl) is 34 nautical miles west of the Marlboro County Jetport (KBBP, 147'msl). Using the “one percent rule” I can’t release any higher than 1390' agl at Bermuda High if I'm simply going to land at BBP. I understand if I use a logger and arrive high enough over BBP before landing that I’m OK...



I suppose I could release higher, descend below 1390' agl in a good thermal and then climb again and fly on. Hmmm.



If you look at the screen capture map on my website you'll see my initial idea. If you have any feedback on the route(s) I’d be interested, but that's not really the purpose of this post.



I’d like to learn more about weather forecasting/understanding/planning or something like that.



What are good links to places you use to check the weather?



How do you know from looking at the weather that "today's a great day to try a 50 km flight"?



Thanks in advance.



Terry

Terry,
Unless you are attempting your Silver Distance in a Ka-8, you shouldn't be too concerned about making it around just a 50km round trip. Go for a turnpoint 30-40 mi away and come back home. That way the release altitude is not a factor. By the way, releasing at anything above 2,000' AGL should be considered bad form and only for sissies. If you can't climb up from that altitude, practice thermaling. Good luck!
Herb

On Friday, February 15, 2013 10:06:58 AM UTC-5, wrote:
On Thursday, February 14, 2013 6:16:45 PM UTC-6, Terry Pitts wrote:

Spring is getting near. I want to learn cross-country flying. I want to do the 50 km flight for the Silver badge.







Here’s the first option I’ve looked at: http://www.nscale160.com/xc/







Bermuda High (SC79, 550' msl) is 34 nautical miles west of the Marlboro County Jetport (KBBP, 147'msl). Using the “one percent rule” I can’t release any higher than 1390' agl at Bermuda High if I'm simply going to land at BBP. I understand if I use a logger and arrive high enough over BBP before landing that I’m OK...







I suppose I could release higher, descend below 1390' agl in a good thermal and then climb again and fly on. Hmmm.







If you look at the screen capture map on my website you'll see my initial idea. If you have any feedback on the route(s) I’d be interested, but that's not really the purpose of this post.







I’d like to learn more about weather forecasting/understanding/planning or something like that.







What are good links to places you use to check the weather?







How do you know from looking at the weather that "today's a great day to try a 50 km flight"?







Thanks in advance.







Terry



Terry,

Unless you are attempting your Silver Distance in a Ka-8, you shouldn't be too concerned about making it around just a 50km round trip. Go for a turnpoint 30-40 mi away and come back home. That way the release altitude is not a factor. By the way, releasing at anything above 2,000' AGL should be considered bad form and only for sissies. If you can't climb up from that altitude, practice thermaling. Good luck!

Herb

Knowing the fleet at Bermuda High, I suspect the plane will be a PW-5 or
SGS1-26. The round trip might be a bit of a challenge for a beginner!

Herb is right. Plan a round trip to a point 50km away. The 1% rule is
computed on the entire flight, so as long as you make it back you are allowed
1000m for the release altitude. You do have to fly a 50km leg for the
Silver distance.

There are lots of cross country and badge savvy people at Bermuda High.
They will have lots of good advice on how to make the flight and what
is the best direction for a beginner. E.g. the straight line from BH to BBP
crosses some tiger country, and the only airport in between (Wild Irish Rose)
isn't recommended for glider landings.

Matt

On Friday, February 15, 2013 2:21:54 PM UTC-5, wrote:
On Friday, February 15, 2013 10:06:58 AM UTC-5, wrote:

On Thursday, February 14, 2013 6:16:45 PM UTC-6, Terry Pitts wrote:



Spring is getting near. I want to learn cross-country flying. I want to do the 50 km flight for the Silver badge.















Here’s the first option I’ve looked at: http://www.nscale160.com/xc/















Bermuda High (SC79, 550' msl) is 34 nautical miles west of the Marlboro County Jetport (KBBP, 147'msl). Using the “one percent rule” I can’t release any higher than 1390' agl at Bermuda High if I'm simply going to land at BBP. I understand if I use a logger and arrive high enough over BBP before landing that I’m OK...















I suppose I could release higher, descend below 1390' agl in a good thermal and then climb again and fly on. Hmmm.















If you look at the screen capture map on my website you'll see my initial idea. If you have any feedback on the route(s) I’d be interested, but that's not really the purpose of this post.















I’d like to learn more about weather forecasting/understanding/planning or something like that.















What are good links to places you use to check the weather?















How do you know from looking at the weather that "today's a great day to try a 50 km flight"?















Thanks in advance.















Terry







Terry,



Unless you are attempting your Silver Distance in a Ka-8, you shouldn't be too concerned about making it around just a 50km round trip. Go for a turnpoint 30-40 mi away and come back home. That way the release altitude is not a factor. By the way, releasing at anything above 2,000' AGL should be considered bad form and only for sissies. If you can't climb up from that altitude, practice thermaling. Good luck!



Herb



Knowing the fleet at Bermuda High, I suspect the plane will be a PW-5 or

SGS1-26. The round trip might be a bit of a challenge for a beginner!



Herb is right. Plan a round trip to a point 50km away. The 1% rule is

computed on the entire flight, so as long as you make it back you are allowed

1000m for the release altitude. You do have to fly a 50km leg for the

Silver distance.



There are lots of cross country and badge savvy people at Bermuda High.

They will have lots of good advice on how to make the flight and what

is the best direction for a beginner. E.g. the straight line from BH to BBP

crosses some tiger country, and the only airport in between (Wild Irish Rose)

isn't recommended for glider landings.



Matt

Sorry, I meant doing a round trip in a 1-26! The PW-5 should handle that fine.

On Friday, February 15, 2013 1:21:54 PM UTC-6, wrote:

"Herb Knowing the fleet at Bermuda High, I suspect the plane will be a PW-5 or SGS1-26. The round trip might be a bit of a challenge for a beginner! Herb is right. Plan a round trip to a point 50km away. The 1% rule is computed on the entire flight, so as long as you make it back you are allowed 1000m for the release altitude. You do have to fly a 50km leg for the Silver distance. There are lots of cross country and badge savvy people at Bermuda High. They will have lots of good advice on how to make the flight and what is the best direction for a beginner. E.g. the straight line from BH to BBP crosses some tiger country, and the only airport in between (Wild Irish Rose) isn't recommended for glider landings. Matt"

Careful there, Matt. A LOT depends on just what is declared. Flying to a point 50 KM away and saying the flight ends there is a whole bunch different than flying to that same point 50 KM away, saying you are starting your flight there, and then flying home. One way, the 1% rule applies to the total flight from release to landing, the other way, only from release to turnpoint.

I am not a fan of allowing the out and return for Silver Distance. Sorry, but I am really old fashioned. You should plan a flight to another airport.. Make sure that airport is far enough from home that you are not worried about the 1% rule keeping you from towing to your normal release altitude.

As to weather sources, many have mentioned their favorites. They are all nice models to use to help you decide "do I want to try this today", but the best weather model you will ever find is waiting for you outside. See what the forecast says, then look outside and see what is really going on. Consult with some of your local cross o****ry flying pilots. Some may tell you they just go take a tow and if they stay up...

However you accomplish your Silver Distance, above all, have a fun time doing it!

Steve Leonard

On Monday, February 18, 2013 1:52:01 PM UTC-5, Steve Leonard wrote:
On Friday, February 15, 2013 1:21:54 PM UTC-6, wrote: "Herb Knowing the fleet at Bermuda High, I suspect the plane will be a PW-5 or SGS1-26. The round trip might be a bit of a challenge for a beginner! Herb is right. Plan a round trip to a point 50km away. The 1% rule is computed on the entire flight, so as long as you make it back you are allowed 1000m for the release altitude. You do have to fly a 50km leg for the Silver distance. There are lots of cross country and badge savvy people at Bermuda High. They will have lots of good advice on how to make the flight and what is the best direction for a beginner. E.g. the straight line from BH to BBP crosses some tiger country, and the only airport in between (Wild Irish Rose) isn't recommended for glider landings. Matt" Careful there, Matt. A LOT depends on just what is declared. Flying to a point 50 KM away and saying the flight ends there is a whole bunch different than flying to that same point 50 KM away, saying you are starting your flight there, and then flying home. One way, the 1% rule applies to the total flight from release to landing, the other way, only from release to turnpoint. I am not a fan of allowing the out and return for Silver Distance. Sorry, but I am really old fashioned. You should plan a flight to another airport. Make sure that airport is far enough from home that you are not worried about the 1% rule keeping you from towing to your normal release altitude. As to weather sources, many have mentioned their favorites. They are all nice models to use to help you decide "do I want to try this today", but the best weather model you will ever find is waiting for you outside. See what the forecast says, then look outside and see what is really going on. Consult with some of your local cross o****ry flying pilots. Some may tell you they just go take a tow and if they stay up... However you accomplish your Silver Distance, above all, have a fun time doing it! Steve Leonard

The best advice I can give is to read the sporting code before making the flight.
There is an ad on TV that says "they can't put anything wrong on the internet".
This could not be further from the truth, especially on RAS.
At the risk of comitting the same sin, my last read was that you can do a Silver distance using a remote start. The distance scored is from the remote start to the landing point. Altitude loss is from release to landing.
Now that one more recollection is out there, go read the rules.
Good luck and have fun
UH

On Monday, February 18, 2013 1:54:21 PM UTC-6, wrote:

The best advice I can give is to read the sporting code before making the flight. There is an ad on TV that says "they can't put anything wrong on the internet". This could not be further from the truth, especially on RAS. At the risk of comitting the same sin, my last read was that you can do a Silver distance using a remote start. The distance scored is from the remote start to the landing point. Altitude loss is from release to landing. Now that one more recollection is out there, go read the rules. Good luck and have fun UH

Thread creep happening, but I can't help it. Yes, Hank, you can put something on the internet that is "wrong". You can't put stuff on the internet that "isn't true." Uh, Bawn Jurr. :-)

Reading rules can be confusing. Decide what you want to do (fly straight out to a landing that will get enough distance covered for your Silver Distance) then talk to someone else that has read the rules and see if they agree with your approach. Again, note, I want to see you fly straight out for your Silver Distance. Land at another airport. Spread you wings.

I gave up one of the best soaring days of the summer a few years back to chase a friend on his Silver Distance. We picked an airport about 75 miles out for him to fly to. We got there first, and hid the crew car and trailer in a hangar. He reported he was overhead. We told him we didn't see him. He started to get nervous. He described the airport location and surroundings perfectly. We told he we still did not see him. Even though we did. He flew further towards the next town, verified everything on his map and came back to where he had been. We pulled the crew car and trailer out of the hangar and said "Oh, now we see you. Do you see us? Been here all the time." We had a friend's 10 or 12 year old son sign as one of the landing witnesses. They lived close by the airport.

You can't do that on an out and return. Yeah, it is more work for more people, but get your Silver Distance by flying straight out. It is a lot of fun. I did mine straight out. The map showed the runway diagonalling differently than what I saw from the air. I landed at Minneapolis, Kansas. There was a sign on one of the buildings that said "El Dorado". No way was I that lost (Minneaplois was straight north, El Dorado was nearly straight east)! Turns out they built El Dorado motorhomes on the airport at Minneapolis, Kansas.

Steve