Sharing a thermal

"Todd Pattist" wrote in message
...
"Bill Daniels" wrote:

I went back and plotted the glider paths to scale using turn math. My
suggestion to reduce the bank by 15 degrees at the weakest point works
perfectly

I don't have a problem with reducing the bank on the weak
side. That's what I recommend too. I had a problem with
*tightening* the bank on the weak side.

Here is what I was responding to:

"You see better lift on the south side of the circle. Your
are on the north side (facing West - turning left) Steepen
up (60 degress) (sic) through 90 degrees of turn, until you
are facing south"

Violent maneuvering to center the core has several disadvantages. It's
very
draggy to fly with large control deflections, it's harder to do the
mental
dead reckoning to keep track of the direction to the stronger lift and it
risks collision with possibly unseen gliders.

I completely agree. there's no reason to tighten in sink
first, then open, then tighten again.

Todd Pattist - "WH" Ventus C
(Remove DONTSPAMME from address to email reply.)

Todd, I believe that your method works but, if I understand what you are
saying, I have one reservation about it.

The time that it takes to level the wings from 45 degrees is about 2-3
seconds during which time you will have traveled about 200 to 300 feet in a
more-or-less straight line. (Estimating true airspeed at 100 FPS). It's
about the same time and distance to resume the 45 degree bank.

Resisting the temptation to roll through large angles is a good thing.
Changing from 45 to 30 or back can be done in less than a second while
traveling only about 100 feet. The glider is more efficient at 30 degree
bank so any losses during the 180 are small. During the 180 you can use the
time to re-acquire any gliders you may have lost track of.

Thermalling with those few pilots who use this method is like a beautiful
waltz toward the thermal core. It's very relaxing compared to flying with
pilots who make unpredictable moves to center the thermal. My waltz partner
and I almost always top the thermal first leaving the yank and bank "fighter
jocks" far below.

Thermalling with a pilot who can lock in on the opposite side of the turn is
one of soaring most beautiful experiences. He just seems to hang there in
space with no relative velocity as you both turn about the same center.
Even though he is very close, there is no danger since he is heading the
opposite direction all the time.

Bill Daniels