New House Thermal

So, when will we see solar powered solar cell factories?

Oh, I am a fan of solar energy, but not without examining the actual costs involved.

On Monday, June 26, 2017 at 4:23:32 AM UTC-4, wrote:
The Treasure Coast Soaring Club will soon have a new house thermal. Florida Power And Light is in the process of building a 400 acre solar power plant within 3/4 mile from our airport. Heat from this type of farm should make for a great house thermal. Anyone out there with experience flying over solar farms? Thanks, Bob

Flew over the two massive projects yesterday and the panels are about ready for installation. Certainly looks impressive with the layout of the panel frames and other equipment. Bob

At 11:12 22 July 2017, wrote:
On Monday, June 26, 2017 at 4:23:32 AM UTC-4,
wrote:
The Treasure Coast Soaring Club will soon have a new house thermal.
Flori=
da Power And Light is in the process of building a 400 acre solar power
pla=
nt within 3/4 mile from our airport. Heat from this type of farm should
mak=
e for a great house thermal. Anyone out there with experience flying over
s=
olar farms? Thanks, Bob

Flew over the two massive projects yesterday and the panels are about
ready=
for installation. Certainly looks impressive with the layout of the
panel
=
frames and other equipment. Bob


Long discussion in the UK forum a while back about whether solar farms were

thermal sources. Seemed inconclusive. Remember they are designed to turn
solar energy into electricity' not heat. And although the panels are black,
they
are also pretty reflective. My theory, but not proven in flight, is that
they
should be good late in the day having warmth trapped beneath the panels.
Anyone prepared to share personal experience of using, or trying to use
them
as thermal sources?

Forget the solar panel farms, what you guys need when you are low is a chicken house.

Notice that this reply avoids all mention of economics, politics, scientific explanations or power generation, which are so... far outside the realm of glider flying that you guys should be put on supervised probation for even attempting to bring that stuff up in this forum.

SF

On Monday, July 24, 2017 at 2:12:34 PM UTC-4, SF wrote:
Forget the solar panel farms, what you guys need when you are low is a chicken house.

Notice that this reply avoids all mention of economics, politics, scientific explanations or power generation, which are so... far outside the realm of glider flying that you guys should be put on supervised probation for even attempting to bring that stuff up in this forum.

SF

Happy organic chicken houses or those cruel corporate run factory farms with drugged up unhealthy chickens that should be banned by the FDA? Enjoy your nugget of politics, economics and science. Dipping sauce not included.

In response to the question about the type or political correctness of the chicken house in question. When you need a chicken house thermal who cares? The same could be said of a lot of other things.

Sf

On Monday, June 26, 2017 at 4:23:32 AM UTC-4, wrote:
The Treasure Coast Soaring Club will soon have a new house thermal. Florida Power And Light is in the process of building a 400 acre solar power plant within 3/4 mile from our airport. Heat from this type of farm should make for a great house thermal. Anyone out there with experience flying over solar farms? Thanks, Bob

Solar panels are being installed in a rapid pace. i would expect this and the sister project only two miles apart to be completed within late fall. this should be interesting to see what thermal activity is created.

I posted a picture of the Thermal Farm site on the club Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/TCSoaring/

It's going to be huge!

Paul A.

You could ask the folks flying at Uvalde if the solar farm just to the east is a good thermal source or not. The center is about 2 miles to the east of the airport.