March 2006 ©S. Michalik Sky Sailing or Cross Country Soaring
Feb 05, 2016
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
Sky Sailing or Cross Country Soaring
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
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. (Althoughif an early land out is part of the adventure, the rule thatthe telling of the tale must notexceed the duration of the flight still applies.)
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
The Gliding Cross Country World
Class 1: Introduction and Off-Field Landings
Developed from other XC pilot articles
Added to byStephen Michalik SSA#416800
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
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 61.93 before attempting cross country flying as a Student Pilot.
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
SSA Badges
Earn the following badgesA – Solo skillsB - SoaringC – Cross Country KnowledgeBronze – Off Field landing skillsThen: SilverREAD THE REQUIREMENTS
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
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
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
What do you want to learn?
What goals do you have?
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
FEAR
False
Evidence
Appearing
Real
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
< 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
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
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
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
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
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
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
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
A year in the life of an XC Pilot
June – Sept GO XC
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
The Learning Pyramid
Knowledge
Skills
Experience
Judgment
© Tom Knauff
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
XC KnowledgeAircraft 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
CrewingOfficial ObserversRetrievingChecklistsFAI RulesGoals for this seasonTasksABC/Bronze BadgesGPS / CamerasAccident PreventionAirport proceduresPhysical condition
© Tom Knauff
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
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 1st XC flight is not whether you complete the distance, BUT whether you have done it SAFELY or not.
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
Most critical part of XC flying
Off – Field Landings
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
1. Excessive Back Stick Pressure.2. Nose High Attitude.3. Low Airspeed. 4. Quiet5. Ineffective Controls.6. Shudder or Buffet.
TEST - HOW TO RECOGNIZE A STALL
What are the signs of a stall?6
© Tom Knauff
6
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
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
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
KNOWLEDGE IS THE KEY!
If you don’t have it here:
You can’t have it here.
© Tom Knauff
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
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
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
Field SelectionSizeWhich course direction?Compare to your home field (Hinton)Farmer’s fields are typically large
enoughAsk local pilotsNormal glider roll averages 500 feet –
most fields larger
© Tom Knauff
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
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 - CropsWhat if the field is light and dark brown?
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
Field Selection
© Tom Knauff
Obstructions - #1 consideration What can you think of? WIRES Fence Tree Pond
Structure Farm Equipment Livestock WIRES
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
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
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
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
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
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
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
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
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
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
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
Other Off-Field Landing Topics
Turns – Yaw string straight! Where to Land – Middle of field Touchdown – Low energy Livestock – Avoid SSLOW - @CAS Find the landowner and notify them immediately
Buy, Read and Carry with you:
“Off Field Landings” by Tom Knauff
© Tom Knauff
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
ANY QUESTIONS?
I have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened. Mark Twain
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
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 scowl scowl …………scowl …………
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
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.
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
Books to Read On Landings
• Stick and Rudder – Wolfgang Langewiesche pgs 261 - 321
• Soaring Cross Country – Byars & Holbrook pgs 81 - 94
• 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 5 - 22
March 2006 ©S.
Michalik
Next ClassesThermals and Thermal TechniquesGlider performance and CalculationsNavigation and AirmanshipFlight preparation & WeatherSkill Development
Accomplished to dateClass 1 – Intro and Off-Field Landings