Cross Country Soaring

Why do we want to go X-Country in a glider? The lure of exotic destinations? Probably Not. Mommy, why does Daddy have to get up and fly every day? Coalinga Lost Hills Wasco Belridge Buttonwillow Taft Harris Ranch - Well maybe! Crews do like to end up there at the end of the day!

Many of us in the club may tend to reach a certain “plateau” in our soaring. If we're happy with that, It's GREAT! No pressure! Perhaps we have soloed, and enjoy coming out, and trying to stay up for an hour once or twice a month. Perhaps we have gotten our license and enjoy taking up our significant other, or a friend for a ride once in a while. Maybe we're good at staying up, thermaling, and have actually bought our own ship, are flying it a lot, but have yet to “cut the apron strings” to the home airport.

For those that wish to make further progress in soaring towards X- Country: What kind of program(s) are available to help us go further? The FAA, while they are very helpful with the necessary prerequisites, do not require any actual X-Country glider flying for the licenses. In the past, X Country was mostly self taught by strongly motivated pilots who “hung around” the more experienced ones, both on the ground and whenever possible in the air, and gleaned as much information and advise as possible. In many cases, it's still the same now.

More about X-country “why we don't do it more” Many glider CFIs have very little, or even no X- Country experience. Often they are young and poor. It can get expensive, even using a club ship to go XC. Commercial operators need to keep their ships flying locally to maximize revenue generating operations. Reluctant to let them go all day. Perceived higher risk of damage due to off field landing risk. Insurers may frown on renters going X-Country.

You have to make up your own mind about the why. Given that you may have made a decision to give it a go, a step wise, organized, progressive approach is the fun and intelligent way to proceed. The club can help, by providing a X-Country “culture” that will support you.

Gil Parcel Illustrator of Joy of Soaring

Club Resources: Equipment 1: Schweizer 1-26E Good beginner X Country machine. Rugged. Relatively lightweight parts. Easy to assemble and disassemble for 2 people. Not a tail dragger. No built in tendency to ground loop. Disadvantage is that it has no roadworthy trailer with the correct fittings to safely secure it in a timely manner, making any land out and retrieve a Rube Goldberg affair, if one of the club 2-33 trailers is used.

Club Resources: Equipment 2: Russia Higher performance. Good roadworthy trailer with appropriate fittings to secure it properly. Light weight for easy lifting. More fragile. Easier to damage, both in ground handling during assembly/disassembly, or in a rugged off-field landing. It IS a tail dragger. More of a built in ground looping tendency. Can result in broken tail boom if, on landing, you catch a wingtip and “lose it”.

Club Resources People/Mentors 1 Morgan Hall – Very experienced hang glider pilot, who transitioned to sailplanes a number of years ago with a vengeance. Has mentored under a number of very good soaring pilots, many of whom fly our area out of Hollister. He has flown his ASW-20 and Duo Discus to a number of the longest soaring flights ever made out of Avenal. Expert on obtaining weather information, analysing it, and utilizing it for very long X Country flights. Tends to get the maximum distance possible out of both his equipment and the available soaring weather on a given day.

Club Resources People/Mentors 2: Harold Gallagher – very experienced instructor. Our club's senior CFI-G in experience. Also a power CFI. Instrument pilot, very familiar with ATC procedures, our local valley airspace, and how to integrate with and use it safely. Has flown X Country in the San Joaquin Valley area in his ASW 20, with landouts at various locations in our soaring area. Willing to help those who want to branch out in X country.

Club Resourses People/Mentors 3: Dan Gudgel – Highly experienced glider and power pilot. CFI-G and FAA designated examiner. Commercial power/ tow pilot. Crop duster background, with much experience in flying in the San Joaquin Valley. NWS Weather forecaster. One of the premier experts on soaring weather forecasting in the U.S. Has forecast for the World Soaring Championships when held in the U.S., as well as numerous U.S. National and Regional Soaring competitions, in addition to being the forecaster for the Barron Hilton Cup numerous times. Author “Weather to Fly” Soaring Magazine

Club Resources People/Mentors 4: Alex Caldwell – Power Pilot since 1967, private ASEL, flying gliders since 1970, commercial CFI-G 1972, FAI silver badge No. 1970, FAI Gold badge U.S. No. 781, FAI Diamond Badge U.S. No Has flown in numerous glider contests, starting in 1971 with the Torrey Pines Mid Winter Soaring Championships, 9 U.S. Open Class Nationals, Numerous Regional Championships in region 12 (So. Cal.), and a few in Region 11 (N. Cal./NV). CCSC Spring Contest x Barron Hilton Cup Camp Physician x 3.

Club Resources People/Mentors 5 Mario Crosina Has not been out for a while. But has extensive cross country and contest experience in the San Joaquin Valley. Has flown quite a number of Diamond Distance flights over the main flat part of the valley, usually in Spring post-frontal conditions out of places such as Sequoia Field, Tulare, Delano, Shafter,.and Avenal. Enthusiastic ambassador of soaring, and willing to share his expertise developed over the years to new X-country and contest pilots.

Club Resources People/Mentors 6 Ethan Ronat Flying his PIK 20 actively X-Country out of Avenal. Making good long flights safely, with excellent preparation. Pilot for SkyWest Airlines Flight Instructor in Israel. Tow Pilot.

Club Resources People/Mentors 7 Karl Kunz Flying AS-W 20 GD X-Country out of Avenal. Long time glider pilot, started as line boy at SkySailing in Fremont, CA UAL777 Captain. Tow Pilot A&P Mechanic. Excellent advice in preparation of ship, FLARM, glider comptuter, transponder etc. etc.

Club Resources People/Mentors 7 Occaisonally may be seen flying at Avenal Bill Gawthrop Bruce Patton Steve Smith John Seaborn

SSA Resources: ABC Bronze Badge Program Progressing to FAI Silver Badge A step by step progressive and logical approach geared towards X Country Soaring. X Country prerequisites and early goals can be started even in the relatively early solo phase of training. Our club instructors are SSA Instructors, and can issue these awards. They are published in the SSA 's Soaring Magazine.

A Badge Requirements: Usual FAA requirements for solo flight. Prefight Inspection, Signals, knowledge of FARs etc. Log book, Student license. Endorsement for solo by CFI and accomplishment of solo flight.

B Badge Requirements: Soaring flight At least a 30 minute duration soaring flight, after release, from a 2000 ft AGL tow altitude. Add 1 ½ minutes for each 100 ft. of release altitude greater than 2000 ft. AGL.

C Badge requirements: Dual Soaring Practice, including instruction in techniques for soaring thermals, ridge soaring, and wave (simulated flight and/or ground instruction may be used when suitable conditions do not exist). Cross-country Procedures Sailplane Assembly, Disassembly, and Retrieves Hazards of Cross-country Flying

C Badge Requirements Continued: Demonstrates Soaring Ability by Solo Flight of at Least 60 Minutes Duration After Release From 2,000 Foot Tow (add 1½ minutes per 100 foot of tow above 2,000 feet). While Accompanied by an SSA Instructor, Demonstrate the Following: Make a Simulated Off-field Landing From the Approach Without Reference to the Altimeter Perform an Accuracy Landing From the Approach, Touching Down and Coming to a Complete Stop Within an Area No Greater Than 500 Feet in Length.

Bronze Badge Requirements: Complete the ABC Training Program with the C Badge Awarded. Log at Least 15 Solo Hours in Gliders. This Time Must Include 30 Solo Flights with at Least 10 Flights Flown in a Single-Place Glider if Possible. Log at Least 2 Flights, Each Having Duration of Two Hours or More.

Bronze Badge Requirements Continued: Perform at Least 3 Solo Spot Landings in a Glider Witnessed by an SSAI. The Accuracy and Distance Parameters Established Should be Based on Glider Performance Data, Current Winds, Runway Surface, and Density Altitude. As a Guideline, a Maximum Distance of 400 Feet Would be Acceptable for a Schweizer 2-33 Glider. Log Dual Time in Gliders with an Instructor during which at Least 2 Accuracy Landings are Made without Reference to the Altimeter to Simulate Off-field Landings.

Bronze Badge Requirements Contiued: Pass a Closed Book Written Examination Covering Cross-country Techniques and Knowledge. The Minimum Passing Score is 80%. This Examination is Administered Only by an SSAI. A study guide is available at: ml ml It's a thorough test, 290 questions, and not that easy, either.

FAI Silver Badge This is the first one that gets into “for real” X- Country flying. Requires 3 elements 5 hour duration A 1000 meter (3281 ft) altitude gain above low point. A 50km (31.07 statute mile) cross country flight. The 50km distance flight would be a reasonable goal for a first true X-Country flight.

50 Km (31.7 statute Mile) first X- Country flight - FAI Silver Distance I'm going to focus on this, because it's a true X-Country flight, but can be made in a low performance glider during the strongest part of a good soaring day, without worrying about needing to fly fast. Rule 1. “Go Downwind”. Suggest Avenal to Lost Hills as a good first attempt. Rule 2. “Get high and stay high.” Rule 3. “ Don't leave gliding distance of the current airport or “airport equivalent” landing site until you are absolutely sure you can make the next one.

50km 31.7 mile straight out Cont.: Rule 4. Have all known land out sites scouted out ahead of time. Drive the route and get out of your car to asses and evaluate good landing sites. Mark them on your sectional or Matt Herron Glide Plan style chart. Rule 5. Have a tow pilot fly you over the route so you can get familiar with navigation by landmarks and pilotage over the route. You can reduce power to simulate the sink rate of glider, forcing you to head for landable terrain, and choosing land out sites where you can then practice setting up a landing pattern.

50km 31.7 mile Straight Out Silver Distance Rule 6, Figure your go/no-go landout site and decision points based on ½ your true L/D. i.e. 12:1 for a If wind is 10mph and you're going upwind, figure 10:1. If going downwind in a 10mph wind, figure 14:1. If the wind is over 10mph, and contemplating going upwind, cancel the attempt if flying a Rule 7, head for good landing area as you get lower, always be over generally good terrain if below 3000ft AGL. At 2000ft. AGL be over a specific good field. At 1000ft. AGL be on upwind leg in the pattern. Have an alternate.

No risk X-Country. Avenal to Lost Hillls Straight out. Land out sites: Hewiston 8.1NM South along Hwy 33 Private strips. Allow landings but not towing out by aero tow. Fields 8.1 NM South of Hewiston along Hwy 33 are an “airport equivalent” Paramount Farms – 7.3 NM S. of above fields. A large, long paved strip. Owners allow landings, but not aero towing out. Lost Hills Airport – Paved strip. Kern County owned NM SE of Paramont. Often good lift in the area due to proximity of convergence.

No risk X-Country. Avenal to Lost Hills, Straight Out, Silver Distance Assume flying NM waypoint to waypoint., 31.8 NM as crow flies per skyvector.com 10 kt. Tailwind, therefore 14:1 glide ratio over the ground. Figure altitude needed to safely and 100% confidently get to next landing site from every other landing site along the route. Leg 1: Avenal to Hewiston. 8.1 NM x 6080ft./NM = 49,248ft. / glide ratio downwind of 14 = 3517ft ft safety/pattern reserve = 4517ft required leaving Avenal.

No risk X-Country – Avenal to Lost Hills, Straight Out, Silver Distance Leg 2: Hewiston to Hwy 33 fields 8.1 NM x ft. / NM = 49,248ft. / 14 glide ratio = 3517 ft ft safety/pattern reserve = 4517 ft. required. Leg 3: Hwy 33 fields to Paramount Farms. 7.3 NM x 6080 ft./NM = 44,384 ft / 14 glide ratio = 3120 ft ft. Safety/pattern alt reserve = 4120 ft. required. Leg 4. Paramount Farms to Lost Hills – 10.6 NM x 6080ft/NM = 64,448 ft / 14 glide ratio = 4603 ft ft. safety/pattern alt = 5603 ft. required.

No risk X-Country – Avenal to Lost Hills, Straight Out Silver Distance If you can document one more “airport equivalent” field between Paramount Farms and Lost Hills, you would be able to cut the altitude required for that last longer leg considerably. I believe there are several suitable fields out there, but I did not want to put them in the presentation unless it was absolutely verified by someone visiting them on the ground that they were there and indeed, very safe.

FAI Sporting Code 1% rule. Difference between the altitude of release point and the landing point can not be more than 1% of the distance flown. The distance to Lost Hills from Avenal is 31.8 NM, or 193,344 ft. So 1% of 193,344ft is ft. Add this to the field elevation of Lost Hills, 274 ft. Thus the highest you could release and not break the 1% rule is = 2, ft. Defines other requirements for higher level badges, record flights, required flight recoders using GPS as well as barograph procedures.

Silver Badge – Observer Who can be an observer for Silver Badge flights? 1.Must hold at least an SSA B Badge or higher SSA Badge (C or Bronze Badge), or a leg of an FAI Badge (e.g., Silver Altitude) or completed FAI Silver, Gold or Diamond Badge. 2.Must have a working knowledge of the FAI Sporting Code as it pertains to gliders (Section 3) including Annex C which is a guide to the Code. 3.Must be an SSA Member. 4.An Airport Manager may be an OO.

Required Cockpit Equipment Sectional Charts an absolute minimum Plotter to measure distances and magnetic heading courses off chart. Aircraft VHF Radio is highly desirable. Hand held OK for Not very expensive now compared to in years past. Can relay to other gliders/airplanes still flying, even to airliners on if you're on the ground in remote location. Cellphone - very helpful, coverage along highways is good. But may not work on the ground in places like the Calif. Valley.

Required Cockpit Equipment Extra Water a must in case of remote out landing. Land out kit – what to put in it. Morgan will cover in more detail.

Desirable Equipment - Flight Recorder Flight Recorder – GPS flight recorder that can record your flight in the “IGC” format. FlyWithCE flight recorder $ will satisfy FAI for Silver and Gold badge. Uses GPS altitude instead of more expensive barometric altimetry based recorders. Badges above the Gold badge and record flights require a more expensive GPS flight recorder, with an additional barometric pressure recording device for altitude.

Desirable Equipment - GPS Moving Map Glide Computer GPS moving map type glide computer. These are very useful for navigation and for calculating go/no go decisions along the route between waypoints and landing sites. They can calculate the wind direction and strength, by checking for drift while circling, or by a vector method while zig zagging, or both. XCSOAR –a very good example. Runs on Android cellphones or tablets. Also there are versions run on Windows Moble and PPC as well as desktop Windows. Records IGC files acceptable for OLC, but not FAI awards.

Desirable Equipment-GPS Moving Map Glide Computer

TopHat – a variant of XCSOAR, designed to be simpler to run, with pre-configured set ups, customized for types of tasks flown in various countries. XCSOAR allows almost a bewildering number of possible options as to what parameters are displayed. TopHat tries do pick ones that they have found work by working with average users. Oudie Craggy Aero Ultimate

Desirable Equipment-GPS Moving Map Glide Computer

Desirable Equipment – Live Inflght Tracking. SPOT – satellite based. Hardware not expensive. Annual renewable subscription. Web based interface allows crew/loved ones to track your whereabouts. 10 minute uplink intervals. DeLorme InReach – also satellite based. Has more features. Custom messages can be sent. More frequent position uplinks. Cellphone based trackers. SSA has endorsed “GlidePort” a cellphone based tracker that uploads your positon using the cellphone network.

Desirable Equipment – Live Inflight/Postflight Tracking SSA has “Sailplane Locator” web site. After registration, you can be tracked by SPOT, DeLorme or the Cellphone based XCSOAR or GlidePort systems. XCSOAR uses “Skylines” for live tracking. Glideport has a small app called igcdroid that runs on cellphone to send position to the SSA site. We used this to track Ethan Ronat last year on a cross country, where he landed in a remote location in the California Valley near Soda Lake. We were able to almost pinpoint where he was, based on SPOT data through the SSA Sailplane Locator combined with Google Earth.

Desirable Equipment – Live Inflight/Postflight Tracking Glideport uses SPOT, DeLorme or cellphone based uploaded track files and displays them in a very nice user interface using GoogleEarth. Downside is that it uses only certain web browsers. It does not work on any web browser I tried on my android cellphone. Therefore, to use it you need a PC with Chrome. Sometimes in a real life situation, where your crew is out looking for you, if all they have is an android cellphone, they won't be able to use Glideport to locate you. It needs a simpler interface that works on all phones and old web browsers.

Deisrable equipment- ELTs, PLBs In a glider, you are not required to have an ELT or emergency locator beacon, mounted in the glider with crash activating features. Many soaring pilots carry a PLB, a “personal locator beacon” with similar electronics to the ELT, however, they carry it on their person, and would need to activate it themselves in an emergency. Which is better is debatable and could vary depending on the nature of the emergency situation.

Beyond Silver, the Gold Badge – 300Km distance, 3000 meter altitude gain.

Next, the Diamond Badge – 500km distance, 300km goal flight, 5000 meter altitude gain.

Finallly, the 750km and 1000km diplomas – Longer distance flights, FAI triangles, more difficult than the same distance straight out..

SSA Cross Country Handbook CountryHandbook.pdf