Cross Country Soaring
A Collection of Information and Aides * -
Information on Cross Country Soaring on the 'Web'
- Canadian Advanced Soaring (CAS)
- A Cross Country Manual - by Kai Gertsen (pdf format)
This is manual offers a brief but comprehensive overview of cross country soaring techiques.
Acrobat Reader Download - Speed to Fly - Wikipedia - an introduction to the MacCready ring and flying most efficitenly in thermals.
- The Online Contest
This is a worldwide interaction of soaring pilots competeing in a gentle way with each other. It's a great way to improve your soaring OR just to enjoy the great soaring of pilots around the world. Tracks of flights are available to be seen in 3D in Google Earth. - Online Cross Country Course - Soaring Safety Foundation (SSF)
Master Instructor Cross-Country Program
Books
- Cross Country Handbook
Soaring Safety Foundation (pdf format) - Cross-Country Soaring (revised ed. 172pp)
by Helmut Reichmann
Soaring Society of America, 1993
Soaring Association of Canada Books - Soaring Cross Country
by Ed Byars and Bill Holbrook
Hardcover / Published 1974
Out of Print - Try Used Books
GPS, Recorders and Computers
- GPS Units
- Soaring Pilot Software
This free software runs on a Personal Data Assistant (PDA) with a Palm Operating System. It interfaces with a GPS unit through the serial port and provides a good, inexpensive fight computer for soaring.
A List-server Group provides discussion and help for users and prospective users of Soaring Pilot on Yahoo Groups
Other GPS Flight Computers may be found at:
- Cambridge Flight Instruments
- Borgelt Flight Instruments
- ILEC Flight Computer
A couple of major Sailplane equipment suppliers
- Knauff and Grove
- Wings and Wheels
- Cumulus Soaring
Flight Analysis Software Selection
- Coutraci - Sailplane track analysis and viewer.
- OziExplorer - A GPS mapping program - with track (imports igc files) profile of height or velocity.
- - Jan 2003
* Note: This is not a complete or comprehensive list of equipment, books or software but a list of those that I am familiar with. LDB