FES vs Gas Engine – Finding a Thermal?

While reading the FES article in June Soaring (yes, I’m behind in my reading), I noticed the author’s comment about searching for a thermal while FES was running, then shutting down FES as he started to climb. This is a topic I don’t recall seeing discussed in any FES vs gas comparisons.

In my Solo-powered Ventus 2cxT, my experience has been that the vibration (and possibly disturbed airflow) caused so much wild gyration in the vario readings that it seemed pointless to try to determine if I was flying into rising air, so I just climbed first, then shut down the engine and started a thermal search.

My question – do others have experience to share about their ability to find thermals while a sustainer or self-launcher (either gas or electric) was running? If electric has an advantage here, this could reduce the run-time needed and conserve “fuel�.

- Frank