Some Soaring Questions I Have.

George wrote:
Hey guys I was wondering if any of you could help answer these
questions.
What the proper speed to fly is when passing through lift without
wanting to stop and work it.

The technically correct answer can be somewhat complex. Things like
MacCready theory and whether you are wanting to optimize speed or glide
the furthest given your altitude come into play. In general you want
to slow down in lift. No slower than minimum sink. Don't be afraid to
pull up hard in strong lift.


When trying to land in rough air should i go faster or slower?

Faster if you think you might get "gusted", i.e., airspeed might
suddenly decrease significantly due to disturbed air currents.


What effect will being underweight have on the control of my glider?

If underweight means you, the pilot, are below the minimum placarded
weight for the glider it could kill you. This is a center-of-gravity
(CG) balance issue. Being too light will move the CG aft. A CG that
is too far aft can lead to a glider that cannot be controlled safely.
A stall/spin is event becomes more likely and may not be recoverable.

Where the strongest lift is under a cloud. Is it towards the top?

That varies and usually depends on the wind direction and how close you
are to the cloud. You may find that *if* there is lift near a cumulous
cloud it is towards the upward side. In the US class G airspace you
should be no closer than 500', 1000', or 2000', under, over, or to the
side of a cloud, respectively.

Regards,

-Doug

p.s. Don't fly a glider unless you have been properly trained. It
sounds like you have not received training.


Thanks in advance

George