I will give the 500 ft/ 15-20 kt shear a try. Since the speed range
won't be as high, I will try using a more conventional glass ship like
the ASW27. I like your scenario for cresting a ridge. Clearly DS can
work at full scale as pointed out by karl and others under certain
conditions. We need to see if can work in more common conditions in
order for it to be actually practical. Otherwise is stays in the
category of the exotic, like thermalling in steam geysers, etc.

One other scenario that might be practical is trying to make it home
late in the day when the wind is up and the thermals have died or been
broken up. One might use DS to fly perpendicular to the wind without
loosing altitude to get to the field.

Matt.