Winter Thermal Cross-Country

Friday November 11th saw a cold front and low-pressure system through
Arizona that produced excellent winter cross-country conditions. The
best two flights were 440 km and 388 km (log files on OLC), probably
the latest 300km+ flights we have seen.

This led me to wonder how many sites around the world produce such good
winter cross-country thermal flights? South Africa and Australia are
two candidates I can think of.

Mike

Mike the Strike wrote:

Friday November 11th saw a cold front and low-pressure system through
Arizona that produced excellent winter cross-country conditions. The
best two flights were 440 km and 388 km (log files on OLC), probably
the latest 300km+ flights we have seen.

This led me to wonder how many sites around the world produce such good
winter cross-country thermal flights? South Africa and Australia are
two candidates I can think of.

Winter?


Jack

Jack wrote:
Mike the Strike wrote:

Friday November 11th saw a cold front and low-pressure system through
Arizona that produced excellent winter cross-country conditions. The
best two flights were 440 km and 388 km (log files on OLC), probably
the latest 300km+ flights we have seen.

This led me to wonder how many sites around the world produce such good
winter cross-country thermal flights? South Africa and Australia are
two candidates I can think of.


Winter?

He uses the auto industry calender. The new year starts in September. ;-)

Shawn

No, I was born and raised in England where November is regarded as
winter

Mike

Mike the Strike wrote:
This led me to wonder how many sites around the world produce such good
winter cross-country thermal flights? South Africa and Australia are
two candidates I can think of.
Mike

What about Santiago, Chile ? GREAT soaring there, and from what I
understand legendary thermals. (and you don't have to cross the big
pond!)

Shawn sdotherecurry@bresnannextdotnet wrote in
:

Jack wrote:
Mike the Strike wrote:

Friday November 11th saw a cold front and low-pressure system
through Arizona that produced excellent winter cross-country
conditions. The best two flights were 440 km and 388 km (log files
on OLC), probably the latest 300km+ flights we have seen.

This led me to wonder how many sites around the world produce such
good winter cross-country thermal flights? South Africa and
Australia are two candidates I can think of.


Winter?

He uses the auto industry calender. The new year starts in September.
;-)

Shawn

I work for an International truck dealer and 2006 models were first built
on January 6, 2005(!)
-Bob Korves

Not to stray too far off topic here, but what makes for "legendary"
thermals?

I've been a glider^H^H^H^H^H^Hsailplane pilot for two years now and
have already enjoyed some wonderful thermals in the southwest (USA).
But I think I've had only a few that averaged 10+ knots for more than a
few thousand feet. (I've had a couple that averaged ~8 knots from 1500'
to 15000'.) A fellow rASAr once told me about a 30-knotter he
experienced but that was over a fire (does it count as a thermal as
long as it's adiabatic?). I've heard about 20-knot thermals in northern
New Mexico; are those rare or routine?

The best general lift I've ever experienced was under a cloud street
south of Ely. It was so strong I had to divert to the edge of the cloud
line a few times. It was the first time I got to experience a long
stretch of fighting to keep the altitude below 18,000'! Needless to say
I can't wait to visit Ely again.

~ted/2NO

wrote:

have already enjoyed some wonderful thermals in the southwest (USA).
But I think I've had only a few that averaged 10+ knots for more than a
few thousand feet. (I've had a couple that averaged ~8 knots from 1500'

Are you aware that here where I fly the average thermal is between 1 and
4 knots and the average working altitude something like 1500 feet? (If I
get a 30 knotter for a couple of thousand feet, then it's usually within
a cloud.) But nevertheless, we routinely fly 300 km and more.

Stefan

Stefan wrote:
wrote:

have already enjoyed some wonderful thermals in the southwest (USA).
But I think I've had only a few that averaged 10+ knots for more than a
few thousand feet. (I've had a couple that averaged ~8 knots from 1500'


Are you aware that here where I fly the average thermal is between 1 and
4 knots and the average working altitude something like 1500 feet? (If I
get a 30 knotter for a couple of thousand feet, then it's usually within
a cloud.) But nevertheless, we routinely fly 300 km and more.

We feel for you 8^)

Best one I've hooked was 17.5 knots (measured from the IGC file) from
9000 feet (2500 AGL) to 18000 feet, east of Mono Lake on the
California/Nevada border. I've done a few turns here and there at 20+
knots, but the stronger days average 10 to 12 knots, decent days 7 to
10, and weaker days 5 to 7 knots. If it is weaker than that, you
usually can't get high enough to clear the ridges, and there are lots of
places where you don't want to risk being low. We tend to stay close to
home if we can't climb to 12000 feet.

Marc

Yes, Stefan, but you don't have several miles of 5 knot sink in between
your thermals either!

I was noting that at the start of our winter and the traditional end of
the thermal soaring season in Arizona, we had a couple of 300 km plus
flights the other day. I was wondering how many places in the world
have good late fall/winter thermals.

Lots of places (includng Chile) have spectacular conditions during
summer, but I was curious how many folks enjoy winter thermals?

I was driving in Idaho last February in snow showers and there were
snow devils that looked just like our summer dust devils. I suspect
that winter thermals might be more common than we think.

Mike