In article , Maule Driver
wrote:
I wonder if Mr. Smith's island flying is actually tough flying. Ironically,
soaring conditions can be 'weak' with low cloudbases but amazingly
consistent and 'easy' to stay aloft.

Unfortunately, it's not normally like that. We do get some days where
it's about as difficult to stay up as falling off a log, but most the
time the conditions are at best 'scratchy' and it's not unusual to start
going somewhere and suddenly find all the lift's gone when you're just
about out of gliding range from the airfield and have a desperate time
getting back.

The most notable incident was when someone had to 'ridge soar' off some
60 ft cliffs to get back to the airfield after the thermals decided to
abandon him some miles from the airfield...

--
Dylan Smith, Castletown, Isle of Man
Flying: http://www.dylansmith.net
Frontier Elite Universe: http://www.alioth.net
"Maintain thine airspeed, lest the ground come up and smite thee"