Contact us


 News | Rotas | Documents | Photos | Charges | Instructor gallery | Links | Mode S | Site map | Visitor pages

Cross country
Tips and advice from Michael Schlotter

Here are some suggestions for XC tasks from The Park. This list is anything but complete. It's main purpose is to give you some ideas. Click on the links to see printable maps of the tasks.

50km Silver distances to gliding sites
PRK-RIV (54k), PRK-NYM (65k), PRK-NHL(79k), PRK-LAS (84k)

... if you're after your first 50k, always consult an instructor before setting off!

100km FAI Triangles
PRK-BLD-SAS-PRK (101.4k)
PRK-TRO-GLA-GIL-PRK (104.9k) - start on leg
PRK-RAD-SHB-TIS-PRK (105.4k) - start on leg

150km FAI Triangles
PRK-TRO-LAG-BLD-PRK (155.4k) - start on leg
PRK-MER-BUL-AVE-PRK (157.7k) - start on leg

200km FAI Triangles
PRK-NYM-WAN-PRK (202.6km)

200km other Tasks
PRK-OXF-PRK (201.7k) - out-and-return
PRK-TIE-SIX-PRK (204.5k) - triangle
PRK-LA5-WAN-PRK (207.1km) - triangle
PRK-SHB-LA5-PRK (210.7k) - triangle

300km FAI triangles
PRK-NWT-LAS-PRK (300.7k)
PRK-TEW-THM-PRK (303.6km)
PRK-LA2-BUC-PRK (305.0k)
PRK-PEN-WEC-PRK (308.4k)

300km other Tasks
PRK-BRI-PRK (311.6k) - out-and-return
PRK-CBN-TOW-PRK (311.9k) - triangle
PRK-CRE-STK-PRK (312.6k) - triangle

400km FAI Triangle
PRK-LEO-NOS-PRK (402.0k)

If you attempt 500km+ tasks, you don't need suggestions anymore!

Task Selection:
Selecting the right task is just as difficult as flying it. The biggest problem in the UK is sea air coming in during the day. A rule of thumb is to avoid upwind costs after lunchtime. Sometimes you'll hear pundits talking about soaring sea-breeze fronts. This feature happens in relatively light winds near downwind costs. If you're new to xc-flying it's best to ignore that and head inland. Conditions inland are usually better than conditions close to the sea. The exception can be borderline blue days, when higher dew points near coasts generate cumulus clouds, whereas inland the sky is completely blue.

The best soaring conditions often occur on days with a high-pressure ridge. Unfortunately, perfect days are rare and forecasts either mention blue conditions or the possibility of showers. If showers are forecast, it's best to go towards the high pressure which reduces the development of clouds. If blue conditions are forecast, it's usually a good idea to head away from the high and/or fly over high ground.

Cloud streets can form if the flying wind is stronger that 10-15kt. On windy days it is therefore advisable to plan your upwind leg directly into wind. Although the theory says that you should do upwind legs in the middle of the day when the conditions are strongest, I tend to do them first. It's embarrassing to find out 100km downwind that you actually can't push into it!

Wave is great if you can get into it. For the standard xc-pilot in southern England it's mostly a pain as it suppresses thermals in the down-bits. It's not always obvious! If you get the impression that clouds are not working, or thermals appear to be broken and rough, consider wave influence and fly a bit more cautiously. Wave influence mostly slows you down or even makes tasks impossible. If wave is forecast, plan alternative routes in case conditions deteriorate on the way.

Spreadout is even worse. A beautiful sky can suddenly turn into a huge grey, dead patch. If you encounter spreadout on your task, you have three options:

1. Push into it and hope you can make it through somehow

2. Wait at the edge until it cycles

3. Turn around and fly home

I usually opt for 1. or 2. In any case, spreadout slows you down and you have to account for that in your task selection. Allow for one extra hour if spreadout is forecast. I.e. if your average speed is 50kph, and it's soarable for 6 hours, consider a 250km task.

Tips:

  • Never take off without having a task programmed in your GPS (or marked on your map). This can be a 100k triangle on a grey day, or even something like PKK-BBR-PRK or PRK-SAS-PRK.
  • Check the weather and select a task by yourself first. Then ask "Pundits" what they are doing, and alter your task if you think that they made a better choice.
  • If in doubt, opt for the longer task. If your average speed is 50kph (that's doable in a K6), and it is likely to be soarable for six hours from 12-18h, plan a 300k!
  • Avoid using airfields as turnpoints. You're likely to interfere with their operation and it's far too tempting to land there if conditions are not ideal!
  • Keep it safe. If you have the impression that it's not safe to continue flying, land in a field!
  • If you never land in a field, you're not pushing hard enough. If you land out every other flight, you should try to fly more conservative.
  • Please enter all your xc flights on the BGA ladder (http://www.bgaladder.co.uk). It only takes 3 minutes to post the trace and add a short comment. I always look at it to see what other pilots have done on a soarable day. Be not put off by the fact that you might win one of our trophies!