Mike the Strike wrote:
Stephen wrote:
My understanding of the theory is that you will ALWAYS be worse off if
you set a MC higher than the thermal strength and therefore fly faster
than optimum. Flying slower however does have several advantages, as
others have described.

That is true if all thermals have the same strength. In reality,
thermals have a strength (and size) distribution. On a day with a 5-
knot average thermal strength you will find thermals as strong as 8
knots or as weak as 3 knots.

McCready theory is based on what *you* get for thermal strength, not
what a random sampling of the thermals in the area would produce, so I
have to agree with Stephen. Set your MC higher than the thermals you are
encounter will slow you down. Of course, we're assuming you are flying a
classic thermal flight, and not convergence, wave, ridges, etc.

Probably no one reading this thread anymore - I was traveling and got
here late!
--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
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