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Glider pilots face a multitude of decisions, starting with the decision to take to the air. Pilots must determine if weather conditions are safe, and if current conditions support a soaring flight. Gliders, being powered by gravity, are always sinking through the air. Therefore, glider pilots must seek air that rises faster than the sink rate of the glider to enable prolonged flight. Glider pilots refer to rising air as lift, not to be confused with the lift created by the wing.
Posts
- The Atmosphere
- Scale of Weather Events
- Thermal Soaring Weather
- Air Masses Conducive to Thermal Soaring – Cloud Streets and Thermal Waves
- Air Masses Conducive to Thermal Soaring – Thunderstorms
- Air Masses Conducive to Thermal Soaring – Weather for Slope Soaring
- Air Masses Conducive to Thermal Soaring – Wave Soaring Weather
- Air Masses Conducive to Thermal Soaring – Lift Due to Convergence
- Obtaining Weather Information
- Interpreting Weather Charts, Reports, and Forecasts
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