This part of the site is a collection of articles to help increase your knowledge so you can fly higher, farther and faster.  These articles are shared by Canadian and other cross-country soaring pilots. 

A short synopsis of each article is provided.  You can read the articles by clicking on the titles or links below.

1.  Soaring & Cross Country Flying - Ian Grant 

This interactive article discusses the basics of soaring practice and technique. It covers the subjects required to prepare you not just for your first soaring flights, but also to develop the basic skills required for your first cross-country flights.

2.  Landing Out- Ian Grant 

This is a two page photo essay showing fields from various altitudes and angles.  These photos can give the new cross-country pilot an idea of what a suitable field looks like from the air. 

3.  Training for Cross-country - Dr Helmut Reichmann

This article was printed in the 5/98 issue of free flight and provides many helpful execises to train for cross-country soaring.  It is a transcription of a lecture Dr Reichmann gave at an International Soaring Symposium in 1988.

4.  Speed-to-fly for the mathematically challenged - Larry Huffman and Pete Lehmann 

The article discusses energy management and the basic theory behind speed-to-fly. The authors are hang glider pilots and the article was written for that type of aircraft, but the exact same principles apply to flying sailplanes. 

5.  MacCready Theory with Uncertain Lift and Limited Altitude - John H. Cochrane 
(194k PDF file) 
This paper discusses how the MacCready Theory must be modified to take into account the effects of lift and the fact that in reality the ground does exist! 

6.  The Start Game in Competition Soaring - John H. Cochrane 
(154k PDF file) 
Abstract: 
"I analyze the start time decision in competition soaring.  I show how the Nash equilibrium of this game can be a large gaggle that leaves late in the day.  I evaluate circumstances that can break down this equilibrium and the effect of several proposed rule changes."

7.  Cross-Country Strategy - Joerg Stieber

This presentation was given at the 2001 CAS Soaring Seminar in Hawkesbury. It discusses various techniques and concepts that can be used to improve your average cross-country speed. Some of the graphs in this presentation are from Helmut Reichmann's Streckensegelflug. A book we highly recommend.

Download the PDF file here.

8.  Collision Avoidance - Joerg Stieber

This presentation was given at the 2001 CAS Soaring Seminar in Hawkesbury. It describes how the human brain sees and how we can improve our look-out. Some of the diagrams in this presentation are from Aerokourier.

Download the self-extracting zip file here.

9.  Just a little faster, please - John Cochrane

This article discusses the MacCready speed to fly theory and how it has been modified by many of todays top pilots. It gives suggestions on how to apply the MacCready theory in your cross-country flying and during final glides to help you fly just a little faster.

Download the pdf file here (172 kb).

10.   Cross-Country Soaring Strategies - Dave Springford

This PowerPoint presentation was given at the 2003 SAC AGM in Quebec. Topics covered in the slide show are Thermalling, Centering Techniques, Inter-thermal flying and Ring stteings, Final Glides and the use of water ballast.  Material for this presentation was taken from Dave's 2000 presentation above and combined with material from Joerg's presentation above and Helmut Reichmann's excellent book, Cross-Country Soaring.  Every Cross-Country pilot should have a copy in their library.

Download the slide show here. (3.2 Mb zipped Power Point File)

Need a PowerPoint viewer? get it Here.



11.  Introduction to Cross-Country Soaring - Dave Springford

This PowerPoint presentation was given at the 2000 SAC AGM in Montreal.  Topics covered in the slide show are Thermalling, Centering Techniques, Glider Polar Curves and Final Glides .

Download the slide show here.

13.  Soaring the Bald Eagle Ridge - Joerg Stieber

This presentation was given at the 2005 CAS Soaring Seminar in Hawkesbury. It describes the essentials of flying at the Ridge in Pennsylvania.  Download the presentation by clicking one of the links below.

18 Mb Full Powerpoint File