Best time of year?

[Wendy W.]

I got a soaring certificate recently, good for one year. I live in
Houston, so I'm wondering if there's a good time of year, as opposed
to a bad one, to use it? I.e. are there times when the thermals are
better, therefore more fun, etc?

I've never done it before; done some hang-gliding and a lot of
skydiving, so the thought of thermals is not real scary. I'm just
looking for when it's most likely that I'll be able to plan and go,
and have fun.

thanks
Wendy

[Gary Kemp]

(Wendy W.) wrote in message >...
> I got a soaring certificate recently, good for one year. I live in
> Houston, so I'm wondering if there's a good time of year, as opposed
> to a bad one, to use it? I.e. are there times when the thermals are
> better, therefore more fun, etc?
>
> I've never done it before; done some hang-gliding and a lot of
> skydiving, so the thought of thermals is not real scary. I'm just
> looking for when it's most likely that I'll be able to plan and go,
> and have fun.
>
> thanks
> Wendy

Spring, usually after a cold front passes or summers in your area.

Gary

[Stewart Kissel]

At 23:36 30 January 2004, Gary Kemp wrote:
(Wendy W.) wrote in message news:...
>> I got a soaring certificate recently, good for one
>>year. I live in
>> Houston, so I'm wondering if there's a good time of
>>year, as opposed
>> to a bad one, to use it? I.e. are there times when
>>the thermals are
>> better, therefore more fun, etc?
>>
>> I've never done it before; done some hang-gliding
>>and a lot of
>> skydiving, so the thought of thermals is not real
>>scary. I'm just
>> looking for when it's most likely that I'll be able
>>to plan and go,
>> and have fun.
>>
>> thanks
>> Wendy
>
>Spring, usually after a cold front passes or summers
>in your area.
>
>Gary
>


You might check with some of your HG buddies who have
been in sailplanes. Even they can get airsick the
first time if you get cranked way over in a spring
thermal.

[Liam Finley]

(Wendy W.) wrote in message >...
> I got a soaring certificate recently, good for one year. I live in
> Houston, so I'm wondering if there's a good time of year, as opposed
> to a bad one, to use it? I.e. are there times when the thermals are
> better, therefore more fun, etc?
>
> I've never done it before; done some hang-gliding and a lot of
> skydiving, so the thought of thermals is not real scary. I'm just
> looking for when it's most likely that I'll be able to plan and go,
> and have fun.
>
> thanks
> Wendy

Spring and summer should do just fine.

Be sure and tell your pilot you want to experience thermalling.
Typically ride pilots avoid thermalling as it tends to induce vomiting
in passengers.

[303pilot]

The two clubs in Houston are Soaring Club of Houston and Greater Houston Soaring Association, both a great groups. I belong to the Soaring Club of Houston www.scoh.org.

Contrary to conventional international wisdom, after the passage of a front is not a good time to catch thermals in the Houston area. Most sunny day when the ground is dry will produce some thermals. The difference is that in February you'll only have thermals for an hour or so around 1 pm, but in August or September the thermals will start around 10 or 11 am and go until nearly 7 or so.

Don't let the responses on the newsgroup scare you about thermalling. It can be disorienting, but I don't know of any guest who has actually gotten sick at SCOH.

Brent

"Gary Kemp" > wrote in message om...
> (Wendy W.) wrote in message >...
> > I got a soaring certificate recently, good for one year. I live in
> > Houston, so I'm wondering if there's a good time of year, as opposed
> > to a bad one, to use it? I.e. are there times when the thermals are
> > better, therefore more fun, etc?
> >
> > I've never done it before; done some hang-gliding and a lot of
> > skydiving, so the thought of thermals is not real scary. I'm just
> > looking for when it's most likely that I'll be able to plan and go,
> > and have fun.
> >
> > thanks
> > Wendy
>
> Spring, usually after a cold front passes or summers in your area.
>
> Gary