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