John wrote:

Here is a thought:

Was in the back yard making thousands of soap bubbles (Mr. Bubbles)
for the baby. Slight breeze. Clearly could tell the entire airflow
pattern in the back yard....even a little ridge lift over the glider
trailer!

Wonder if you could add a soap bubble machine to a sailplane? Turn it
on when you first hit a thermal and a trail of bubbles is created.
After one circle, just fly toward the highest bubbles and that is
where the thermal's core is.

I could see the bubbles about 200 feet away, but might could add a
color die to enhance visibility further.

Any thoughts on this?

You should install a sound system and play this guy's music.
http://www.welkshow.com/welk.html
But maybe you could integrate a bubble generator with a pilot relief
system. Its already an over-board liquid dispensing system, plus you'd
have the added benefit of discouraging leachers, at least those that are
familiar with your system.
:-)

Seriously, I'd use dust or smoke. I suspect the airspeed would shred
all but the smallest bubbles. Also, would enough bubbles persist long
enough to be seen? I do think visibility of bubbles would be the
biggest problem. Can you make bubbles with glitter in the solution? Or
dispense with the bubbles and just funnel the glitter out the vent
window. Hmm, sink rate is probably more than the glider's so it would
only work in a strong thermal. Also could clog the pitot system.


Shawn