Hang Gliding Cross Country Thoughts, Tips & Tricks - Suffolk Club, UK

A hang gliding cross country adventure over beautiful Suffolk countryside from the Suffolk Hang Gliding Club winch. Mike Lake, one of the founding fathers that developed hang gliding winching in the UK, gave me a lift to our club site near Mendlesham. The video has been made for Mike who often asks me about my XC decision-making and thermalling techniques. So here you go Mike; my thoughts and techniques laid bare in a video, as a thank you for all your commitment to winching within the UK. The video may also be helpful for other hang glider pilots. If you have any tips, tricks or techniques that you find useful when going XC leave them in the comments for others to benefit.

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In this video I take you step-by-step through my thought process, revealing the crucial decision making and talk about my real-time XC strategy and thermalling techniques. If you want to jump straight to a specific part then use the chapter links below.

⏰ Timestamps:
Jump straight to the lessons you need most!
00:00 - Introduction: the drive to the Suffolk winch in Mendlesham
00:47 - Launch and first thermal
02:45 - World War II Airfields in Suffolk
04:10 - Digifly vario thermal averager v's average for the day
05:28 - Thermal thoughts and looking for the next move, deciding whether to stay or leave a thermal
07:53 - Choosing next place to go: give yourself the best odds through options
09:30 - Why it is sometimes better to try one turn upwind before committing to a glide down
10:00 - If you see a bird thermalling low pick a ground marker so you can find them again, they're always difficult to spot again!
13:24 - Know your average for the day and don't be scared to be patient and search for it.
15:17 - If unsure, sometimes it might be better to hang out, enjoy the view and let clouds develop which might provide better opportunities (sometimes this is not so good!).
17:40 - Going on a glide and searching for to the next thermal with a back up plan
19:23 - Thermalling techniques, trying to find the core of a thermal. Make sure you are relaxed and receptive to glider feedback.
30:42 - Retrieve from Scratby

Gear & Resources:
Glider: Moyes RX3.5
Vario: Digifly with Kobo LK8000 connected to skydrop

Did this video help you with your XC flying? Let me know in the comments! 👇

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