On Feb 6, 2:05*pm, 5Z wrote:
On Feb 5, 8:12*am, bildan wrote:

Just my clumsy way of saying that the biggest benefits of thermal
detection will be at shortest ranges. *Long range detection would show
hot spots where thermals are popping consistently but not the actual
thermal you will find when you get there.

Hmm...

On MANY occasions, I've spotted a dust devil a few miles ahead, and
while keeping it in sight the whole time (many minutes), I manage to
connect and climb away. *It's usually best to arrive within a few
thousand feet as it's easier to figure out where to hit it.

But I agree that a range of a kilometer or so would be most useful for
dolphin flying.

-Tom

Well, Tom, there's one certain thing about thermals - there's all
kinds of them. Somewhere in the world there's probably a thermal that
lasts for hours. Most thermals last only a few minutes.

I'd take a range of 100 meters and bet that's good enough for a 20%
improvement in XC speed. I'd have to think about whether extending
that range to 1000 meters would do as much.

BTW, what's the deal with your '26's water pump?