Updates to second edition
These have been incorporated into the current edition
Class C airspace
Class C airspace above FL195 has now been introduced in the UK.
How to steer a parachute
An emergency parachute is circular in shape after it is fully open but there are mesh-covered drive vents located at the rear of the canopy that remove this symmetry. The drive vents make the canopy steerable and create an air speed of about 10kph (depending upon body weight and altitude) in the direction you are facing. The parachute has four risers (these are the straps that attach the harness to the canopy). You turn to the right by pulling down the right rear riser by 15cm to 30cm (similarly for a left turn). The parachute will continue turning until you stop pulling. It takes about 8 - 10 seconds to complete a full 360 degree turn. Try to land into wind.
Practice PAN
You can practice making a call to get a position fix. Apparently they welcome the practice as well. Tune to 121.5MHz and ensure that you have turned up the volume to hear what is being said. Listen for 2 minutes to ensure that a real emergency is not in progress. Transmit "Practice PAN, practice PAN, practice PAN Glider your reg requires training fix". Wait for a response. They should give you a position relative to a major landmark. Give them feedback on the accuracy. They will ask if you need another service. They can give you a magnetic heading to any airfield in the UK. Before you leave their frequency tell them to what frequency you are changing back or they may assume that you are lost with a radio failure. The idea that you would pretend to practice when you really are lost should not have crossed your mind.
Why gliders speed up when contacting lift
You may have noticed that the ASI shows a speed increase when you fly into the core of a thermal. The reason was first described by Dr AH Yates. An up-draught will increase the angle of attack because the airflow comes more from below. Since the lift from the wings always acts at right angles to the relative airflow (see the book), the lift acts further forward and accelerates the glider.
Typos
From where do they come?
Third para on page 10 - superfluous "you".
Superfluous "then" on page 11
Later edition of Laws & Rules
The BGA's Laws & Rules were later amended as follows:
- Height for use of oxygen (FL100 as now required by the law)
- Requirement to have a licence for any radio
- Approval of radio equipment
- Trailers (licencing of drivers, road-worthiness and inspection)
- How to park a glider
Landing on a lake
This is a remote possibility, but there are three more points to make in addition to the one in the book about landing parallel to the shore:
- If possible, land so that the wind will drift the glider into the shore
- Put the under-carriage down (this helps to slow the glider a little before the fuselage touches the surface)
- Shield your face as you touch down (it is possible that the sudden pressure of water will break the canopy)
Beating the polar curve
The book describes how you can estimate your cross country speed from the polar curve. However you can beat this apparent constraint by improving your glide angle. This is achieved by pulling up when passing through rising air and by avoiding sink by following the "lines of energy" ie the paths that will take you the most lift and the least sink.
Convergences
The book implies that the convergences coming from the north and south coasts of Devon & Cornwall reinforce each other. I hear that they do not; they cancel each other out.
The first "oops"!
The question on navigation on cross-winds gives a wind bearing 275 (almost westerly) however the diagram in the answer shows a north-westerly. I meant the question to suppose a north-west wind but somehow I typed 275 degrees. Try the question with a wind from 315 degrees.
Avoiding collisions
You need to look out all around, not only behind you and on the inside of the turn, but you should also be aware of what is outside the turn. While turning keep looking out. Do not cut across ahead of another glider in a thermal. You make think there is room but the other glider may be going faster.
Class C airspace
Class C airspace above FL195 has now been introduced in the UK.
How to steer a parachute
An emergency parachute is circular in shape after it is fully open but there are mesh-covered drive vents located at the rear of the canopy that remove this symmetry. The drive vents make the canopy steerable and create an air speed of about 10kph (depending upon body weight and altitude) in the direction you are facing. The parachute has four risers (these are the straps that attach the harness to the canopy). You turn to the right by pulling down the right rear riser by 15cm to 30cm (similarly for a left turn). The parachute will continue turning until you stop pulling. It takes about 8 - 10 seconds to complete a full 360 degree turn. Try to land into wind.
Practice PAN
You can practice making a call to get a position fix. Apparently they welcome the practice as well. Tune to 121.5MHz and ensure that you have turned up the volume to hear what is being said. Listen for 2 minutes to ensure that a real emergency is not in progress. Transmit "Practice PAN, practice PAN, practice PAN Glider your reg requires training fix". Wait for a response. They should give you a position relative to a major landmark. Give them feedback on the accuracy. They will ask if you need another service. They can give you a magnetic heading to any airfield in the UK. Before you leave their frequency tell them to what frequency you are changing back or they may assume that you are lost with a radio failure. The idea that you would pretend to practice when you really are lost should not have crossed your mind.
Why gliders speed up when contacting lift
You may have noticed that the ASI shows a speed increase when you fly into the core of a thermal. The reason was first described by Dr AH Yates. An up-draught will increase the angle of attack because the airflow comes more from below. Since the lift from the wings always acts at right angles to the relative airflow (see the book), the lift acts further forward and accelerates the glider.
Typos
From where do they come?
Third para on page 10 - superfluous "you".
Superfluous "then" on page 11
Later edition of Laws & Rules
The BGA's Laws & Rules were later amended as follows:
- Height for use of oxygen (FL100 as now required by the law)
- Requirement to have a licence for any radio
- Approval of radio equipment
- Trailers (licencing of drivers, road-worthiness and inspection)
- How to park a glider
Landing on a lake
This is a remote possibility, but there are three more points to make in addition to the one in the book about landing parallel to the shore:
- If possible, land so that the wind will drift the glider into the shore
- Put the under-carriage down (this helps to slow the glider a little before the fuselage touches the surface)
- Shield your face as you touch down (it is possible that the sudden pressure of water will break the canopy)
Beating the polar curve
The book describes how you can estimate your cross country speed from the polar curve. However you can beat this apparent constraint by improving your glide angle. This is achieved by pulling up when passing through rising air and by avoiding sink by following the "lines of energy" ie the paths that will take you the most lift and the least sink.
Convergences
The book implies that the convergences coming from the north and south coasts of Devon & Cornwall reinforce each other. I hear that they do not; they cancel each other out.
The first "oops"!
The question on navigation on cross-winds gives a wind bearing 275 (almost westerly) however the diagram in the answer shows a north-westerly. I meant the question to suppose a north-west wind but somehow I typed 275 degrees. Try the question with a wind from 315 degrees.
Avoiding collisions
You need to look out all around, not only behind you and on the inside of the turn, but you should also be aware of what is outside the turn. While turning keep looking out. Do not cut across ahead of another glider in a thermal. You make think there is room but the other glider may be going faster.
