Rules of Thumb for Cross-Country Flying

[Roy Clark, \B6\]

Any comments on the article "Rules of Thumb for Cross-Country Flying"
by Alfred Ultsch in the October 2008 issue of SOARING. Apparently
also discussed in the following: Kurbein oder Weiterfliegen,
Sigelfliegen, Ausgabe 3, 2005 and Strategishe Entscheidungen beim
Streckenflug Ausgabe 3, 2006.

Hoping to get BB to share his assessment.

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On Oct 16, 3:37*pm, "Roy Clark, \"B6\"" > wrote:
> Any comments on the article "Rules of Thumb for Cross-Country Flying"
> by Alfred Ultsch in the October 2008 issue of SOARING. *Apparently
> also discussed in the following: Kurbein oder Weiterfliegen,
> Sigelfliegen, Ausgabe 3, 2005 and Strategishe Entscheidungen beim
> Streckenflug Ausgabe 3, 2006.
>
> Hoping to get BB to share his assessment.

Excellent article;
One can't fault his approach to the general tactics of "faster high-
slower lower". Certainly we all do this.
More experienced pilots may move the transition points around based on
other factors besides climb such as how the sky looks ahead, upcoming
terrain, etc.
He speaks of when to climb and how fast to fly as the 2 major
decisions. Maybe more important is where to fly in trying to choose
the best energy path. Certainly this is what makes the fast guys go
fast. His modeling can't address this so I would see his model as "2D"
in a "3D' world.
He gives quite useful advice.
UH