Suggested reading for the aspiring XC pilot

[Doug Snyder]

Spring is coming and I hope to begin making XC flights soon. I am a low
time pilot flying in the (US) Southeast. I have essentially zero XC
experience. My local club is very supportive of XC flight and I expect
to have the from both instructors and mentors.

I'd like some recommendations on good books that may help. I've heard
of Reichmann's book but have also heard that it will be over my head
initially if not for some time to come. Any other suggestions and
sources ?

Thanks,
Doug
(flying an LS4... If you want to fly a PW5 that's OK with me.)

[Shawn]

Doug Snyder wrote:
> Spring is coming and I hope to begin making XC flights soon. I am a low
> time pilot flying in the (US) Southeast. I have essentially zero XC
> experience. My local club is very supportive of XC flight and I expect
> to have the from both instructors and mentors.
>
> I'd like some recommendations on good books that may help. I've heard
> of Reichmann's book but have also heard that it will be over my head
> initially if not for some time to come. Any other suggestions and
> sources ?
>
> Thanks,
> Doug
> (flying an LS4... If you want to fly a PW5 that's OK with me.)
>
Chapter 23 (in my 2nd addition) "Off Field Landings" in Tom Knauff's
"Glider Basics from Solo to License". I think this is available as a
separate pamphlet as well.
If you don't get too wrapped up in the math for now, Reichmann's book is
very good. Digest the basics, then re-read for the theory later. It
makes more sense to me each time I pick it up.

Shawn

[Mark James Boyd]

The "Joy of Soaring" has the simplest X-C diagrams I have
ever seen. With a bit of graph paper and a ruler I've
been able to teach that diagram in any L/D ship, including
wind, elevation of airports, and pattern altitudes, in about
30 minutes.

It is also VERY useful to do one example from airport A to B,
and then add another potential landout in between. Then
we go drive or fly (airplane) over to the potential
landout and talk about the improved skills needed to land there.

This seems to REALLY focus a student. He understands that
he can fly X-C safely on days with lower thermals, if he
scouts the landouts ahead of time, and builds the skills
to land-out safely.

By landout, in my case, I'm generally talking about
duster strips, or even airports, and not open fields.
Depending on instructors and location, this may vary.

I also remember for my first X-C, my wingrunner happily
chirped "I'll see you when you land." I replied "no, you
won't. I'm not landing here. I may not make it
all the way to Silver distance, but I am NOT landing
back here."

Saying that out loud gave me the courage to fly away...
and yes I landed out (at a narrow, prescouted duster strip).

Good luck!

In article . com>,
Doug Snyder > wrote:
>Spring is coming and I hope to begin making XC flights soon. I am a low
>time pilot flying in the (US) Southeast. I have essentially zero XC
>experience. My local club is very supportive of XC flight and I expect
>to have the from both instructors and mentors.
>
>I'd like some recommendations on good books that may help. I've heard
>of Reichmann's book but have also heard that it will be over my head
>initially if not for some time to come. Any other suggestions and
>sources ?
>
>Thanks,
>Doug
>(flying an LS4... If you want to fly a PW5 that's OK with me.)
>


--

------------+
Mark J. Boyd

[Bill Hoadley]

Bob Wander produces a number of very good books/pamphlets on all manner
of soaring topics. The texts are very clear, and more digestible than
some of the larger tomes out there. He has a very liberal purchase
policy, and he has contributed a great deal to the soaring community,
so he is a good person to support. Check out his website at
http://www.bobwander.com/
Happy flying,
Bill Hoadley

[Mark Zivley]

Petmecky's "Breaking the Apron Strings" is a good source - it's short,
to the point, and has excellent advice when it comes to flight planning
for early XC pilots.

Doug Snyder wrote:
> Spring is coming and I hope to begin making XC flights soon. I am a low
> time pilot flying in the (US) Southeast. I have essentially zero XC
> experience. My local club is very supportive of XC flight and I expect
> to have the from both instructors and mentors.
>
> I'd like some recommendations on good books that may help. I've heard
> of Reichmann's book but have also heard that it will be over my head
> initially if not for some time to come. Any other suggestions and
> sources ?
>
> Thanks,
> Doug
> (flying an LS4... If you want to fly a PW5 that's OK with me.)
>

[Waduino]

"Teaching Cross Country Soaring." Very inexpensive, very much to the point.
Available at Knauff and Grove.

---

"Doug Snyder" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Spring is coming and I hope to begin making XC flights soon. I am a low
> time pilot flying in the (US) Southeast. I have essentially zero XC
> experience. My local club is very supportive of XC flight and I expect
> to have the from both instructors and mentors.
>
> I'd like some recommendations on good books that may help. I've heard
> of Reichmann's book but have also heard that it will be over my head
> initially if not for some time to come. Any other suggestions and
> sources ?
>
> Thanks,
> Doug
> (flying an LS4... If you want to fly a PW5 that's OK with me.)
>

[Nyal Williams]

At 20:30 06 February 2005, Bill Hoadley wrote:
>Bob Wander produces a number of very good books/pamphlets
>on all manner
>of soaring topics. The texts are very clear, and more
>digestible than
>some of the larger tomes out there. He has a very
>liberal purchase
>policy, and he has contributed a great deal to the
>soaring community,
>so he is a good person to support. Check out his website
>at
>http://www.bobwander.com/
>Happy flying,
>Bill Hoadley
>

Yes.

His two booklets by Petmecky and by Carswell are excellent.
They are complementary and they give some good practical
tips for getting started -- not just about flying and
landing out, but also about handy things to do, tricks
to make things easier and simpler.

[Stewart Kissel]

Kai Gersten at this link.

http://www.texassoaring.org/training/kai_gersten.asp

[Doug Snyder]

Thanks for the responses. I think I'll get a couple of books and see
what I like.

I've looked at the Gersten articles suggested by Stewart and they have
reminded me of a few things I can work on while I wait for the right
day. Certainly banking more steeply and maintaining consistent airspeed
are at the top of the list.

With any luck, we'll have decent conditions in a few weeks.

Doug