©S. Michalik March 2006 Sky Sailing or Cross Country Soaring

©S. Michalik March 2006 A Recipe for Cross Country Adventure -1 promising looking soaring day -All prep & planning done in advance -1 pilot -1 air worthy glider -1 sense of adventure -Yield: a minimum 2 – 3 hours of Tales over Ale's at the end of the day. (Although if an early land out is part of the adventure, the rule that the telling of the tale must not exceed the duration of the flight still applies.)

©S. Michalik March 2006 The Gliding Cross Country World Class 1: Introduction and Off- Field Landings Developed from other XC pilot articles Added to by Stephen Michalik SSA#416800

©S. Michalik March 2006 Qualifications and Limitations  Please be advised that I (S. Michalik) do not hold a certificated Glider Instructor Rating. Therefore you will receive no training or endorsements from this sessions.  You should read and understand FAR Part before attempting cross country flying as a Student Pilot.

©S. Michalik March 2006 SSA Badges Earn the following badges  A – Solo skills  B - Soaring  C – Cross Country Knowledge  Bronze – Off Field landing skills Then: Silver READ THE REQUIREMENTS

©S. Michalik March 2006 E The environment consists of: Weather, FAR’s, Gliders, Other pilots, Towing, Terrain, Birds, Insects, People A The aircraft consists of its: Construction; performance; Comfort; visibility; trailer; Setup P The Pilot consists of: KNOWLEDGE and ATTITUDE The XC world

©S. Michalik March 2006 What do you want to learn? What goals do you have?

©S. Michalik March 2006 FEAR False Evidence Appearing Real

©S. Michalik March 2006 < Dec 21  Assess last year  Begin physical preparation  Maintain currency in knowledge, glider, weather and club (EAP) A year in the life of an XC Pilot

©S. Michalik March 2006 Dec 21 through March  Start physical program  Continue currency program (FAR’s, review basic knowledge, etc)  Annual glider  Review/revise checklists  Set goals for the year  Review/create routes A year in the life of an XC Pilot

©S. Michalik March 2006 April  Watch weather intently  Review chart and routes  Start getting routine down  Spot landing contest  Fly glider for season assessment and to fine tune A year in the life of an XC Pilot

©S. Michalik March 2006 A year in the life of an XC Pilot May  First opportunity for XC flight – 3-4 days  Repack chute  Track global and local weather

©S. Michalik March 2006 A year in the life of an XC Pilot June – Sept  GO XC

©S. Michalik March 2006 The Learning Pyramid Knowledge Skills Experience Judgment © Tom Knauff

©S. Michalik March 2006 XC Knowledge Aircraft Pilot Environment Off Field Landings Farmer Relations Assembly/Disassembly Instrumentation Speed To Fly Thermalling Techniques Navigation Chart Reading Weather Final Glide Calculations In Flight decisions Crewing Official Observers Retrieving Checklists FAI Rules Goals for this season Tasks ABC/Bronze Badges GPS / Cameras Accident Prevention Airport procedures Physical condition © Tom Knauff

©S. Michalik March 2006 XC one Liners Trust the day Land on Dirt you won’t get hurt Good Launch, Good Landing (before each launch) When you’re high, Fly the Sky. When you’re low, Fly the ground 1.Be there 2.Be ready 3.Try 4.Be safe 5.Trust The primary goal of your 1 st XC flight is not whether you complete the distance, BUT whether you have done it SAFELY or not.

©S. Michalik March 2006 Most critical part of XC flying Off – Field Landings

©S. Michalik March Excessive Back Stick Pressure. 2. Nose High Attitude. 3. Low Airspeed. 4. Quiet 5. Ineffective Controls. 6. Shudder or Buffet. TEST - HOW TO RECOGNIZE A STALL What are the signs of a stall? 6 © Tom Knauff 6

©S. Michalik March 2006 How a pilot senses a stall: 1. Excessive Back Stick Pressure. Feel 2. Nose High Attitude. Sight 3. Low Airspeed. Sight 4. Quiet Hear 5. Ineffective Controls. Feel 6. Shudder or Buffet. Feel THE PILOT © Tom Knauff

©S. Michalik March 2006 KNOWLEDGE IS THE KEY! If you don’t have it here: You can’t have it here. © Tom Knauff

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©S. Michalik March 2006 It matters little to anybody else if you fly cross country or earn any badges….. If you go cross country, and have an accident because of your lack of skill, preparation, or maturity, it will reflect on you for the rest of your flying career. What About OFF_ FIELD LANDINGS? © Tom Knauff

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©S. Michalik March 2006 Field Selection Size  Which course direction?  Compare to your home field (Hinton)  Farmer’s fields are typically large enough  Ask local pilots  Normal glider roll averages 500 feet – most fields larger © Tom Knauff

©S. Michalik March 2006

©S. Michalik March 2006 Field Selection © Tom Knauff Color  Dirt – commonly Brown  Watch out for recently harvested crops  Light Green – Either short crop or early growth crop (like wheat)  Yellow – Green – Also recently harvested crops  AVOID EMERALD GREEN - Crops  What if the field is light and dark brown?

©S. Michalik March 2006 Field Selection © Tom Knauff Obstructions - #1 consideration  What can you think of?  WIRES  Fence  Tree  Pond  Structure  Farm Equipment  Livestock  WIRES

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©S. Michalik March 2006 Field Selection © Tom Knauff Slope  You must land uphill  Regardless of Wind  Slopes are worse than they appear  Use extra speed  Pick a spot well into the field  Airspeed will decrease much quicker after touchdown

©S. Michalik March 2006

©S. Michalik March 2006 Field Selection © Tom Knauff Which field?  Dirt – commonly best choice BUT As the Great Knight says in Legend: “ Choose Wisely ” Always look very closely for WIRES

©S. Michalik March 2006 Field Selection © Tom Knauff Where not to Land :  School yards  Golf course – The one just SW of Hinton  Crops  Check with the local club for particulars

©S. Michalik March 2006 Other Off-Field Landing Topics  Decision Heights  The Landing Pattern  Alternate Fields  Pattern Speed  The Downwind Leg  The Turn Onto Base Leg - TLAR © Tom Knauff

©S. Michalik March 2006

©S. Michalik March 2006 Pattern and Approach Avoid approaches over tall obstructions If wind > 15kts, uphill landings are turbulent If approaching a hill from the down-wind side, strong sink on the brow so keep base leg close and final short ALWAYS use a standard pattern

©S. Michalik March 2006 Other Off-Field Landing Topics  Turns – Yaw string straight!  Where to Land – Middle of field  Touchdown – Low energy  Livestock – Avoid  SSLOW  Find the landowner and notify them immediately Buy, Read and Carry with you: “Off Field Landings” by Tom Knauff © Tom Knauff

©S. Michalik March 2006

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©S. Michalik March 2006 ANY QUESTIONS? I have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened. Mark Twain

©S. Michalik March 2006 TEST During each phase of the actual out landing, what information are we looking for? Hint: S C O W L SCOWL SCOWL scowl scowl …………

©S. Michalik March 2006 TEST ANSWERS S Slope: Furrows follow the slope line. Fields slope toward streams. C Condition: Brown (earth color), greenish brown, green, straw yellow. O Obstacles: Approach path clear? Look for wires between poles, fences, etc. Shadow can help. Avoid the edges of fields. W Wind: speed, direction, variability. Look at the glider sideslip angle, cloud shadows, smoke, etc. L Length: As long as possible and into the wind.

©S. Michalik March 2006 Books to Read On Landings Stick and Rudder – Wolfgang Langewiesche pgs Soaring Cross Country – Byars & Holbrook pgs Off Field Landings – Knauff Introduction to Cross Country Soaring – Part I of II – Kai Gertsen Streckensegulflug - Helmut Reichmann pgs 49 – 53 SSA Cross-Country Handbook for Students – Section 2 American Soaring Handbook – Book 6 Chpt 5 Glider Flying Handbook – pgs 8-7 to 8-10 Ecole De Vol sur la Campagne (French Training Manual) pgs

©S. Michalik March 2006 Next Classes  Thermals and Thermal Techniques  Glider performance and Calculations  Navigation and Airmanship  Flight preparation & Weather  Skill Development Accomplished to date Class 1 – Intro and Off-Field Landings

©S. Michalik March 2006 Set up for final approach and landing © 2000 Jim D. Burch

©S. Michalik March 2006 Landing Long The target appears to move DOWN © 2000 Jim D. Burch

©S. Michalik March 2006 Landing Short The target appears to move UP © 2000 Jim D. Burch

©S. Michalik March 2006 Crosswind effect on final approach Crabbing for Crosswind effect on final approach © 2000 Jim D. Burch

©S. Michalik March 2006 Crosswind effect on final approach using side slip Runway points to wing to lower for side slip Wind © 2000 Jim D. Burch

©S. Michalik March 2006 Coming Home © 2000 Jim D. Burch