In this Episode of The Thermal, we hear from a Norwegian pilot who recently ditched his glider in a lake. He walks us through the decision making process and how training made all the difference.   On Gliding Club Confidential, we go to Australia and the Balaclava Gliding Club…home base for Bernard Eckey – gliding guru and author.   And finally…gliding and COVID brain. We’ve all been affected by COVID-19. But what does it mean for us when we get into the cockpit? We hear from the Soaring...

  In Episode #23 of The Thermal, a new European free distance record has been set in a Pyrenees wave flight.  We talk to Baptiste Innocent, one half of this record breaking crew.    On Gliding Club Confidential, we go to Australia and the Temora Gliding Club…   Covid-19 has had a particularly hard impact on our commercial pilot friends. We check in with glider pilots who are also commercial pilots to find out how they’re fairing.    That’s all on Episode #23 of The Thermal.

In Episode #22 of The Thermal, an analysis of the 2020 gliding accidents and incidents in the US. What do they have in common and are there any emerging trends? We talk to FAA safety guy and glider pilot Stephen K Brown.   Gliding Club SOS. This month on Gliding Club Confidential we go to the AKKA GLIDING CLUB in Suriname. A small Caribbean  club that’s fighting for its very survival.   And…the beauty of soaring at the tip of a paintbrush. We chat with aviation artist Robbie Roberts about...

Welcome to Episode #21 of The Thermal. In this Episode of The Thermal, we celebrate the life of the legendary Hans-Werner Grosse. A glider pilot who set the bar for long distance flying. We speak to long-time friends who remember this remarkable man. On gliding club confidential, we go to Colorado for an in-depth look at the Boulder Soaring Association, where the Rocky Mountains provide a stunning backdrop to flying in this part of the USA. Further to the North-East…in New Hampshire,...

Welcome to Episode #20 of The Thermal.  In this Episode of The Thermal, we truly go global. From Australia to Colorado and from Denmark to Germany and the UK.  You’ll hear about a heart-warming K-6 restoration, how to set your gliding goals, a contest for Old Glass, a fabulous new site called Nordic Gliding and WeGlide…the new kid on the block that’s serious competition for the OLC. That and a whole lot more on Episode   #20 of The Thermal.

In this Episode of The Thermal, a 1300 km convergence line flight in Australia. Pete Temple tells us what it was like and how cold it can be at 10-thousand feet.   Liz Sparrow is one of the people behind WGUK – Women Glide United Kingdom. She tell us about the challenge of getting more women into gliding and the upcoming Women’s Worlds Gliding Championships.   Julia Clitheroe – took to gliding like a duck to water or is that a hawk to a thermal? This 16-year old tells us what it’s like to...

On Episode #18 of The Thermal  – a near death gliding video from New Zealand that’s gone viral. What if anything can we learn from this incident? Gliding guru G Dale…gives us his two-cents worth.    And an interview with Bernard Eckey…the gliding legend behind Advanced Soaring Made Easy. We talk to him about edition 4.1   On Gliding Club Confidential, we go to the CuNim gliding club, nestled in the foot hills of the Canadian Rockies. Spectacular scenery and spectacular flights.   And we...

In Episode #17 of The Thermal, SkySight founder Matthew Scutter on flying an all-electric contest with his FES powered Diana 2. And on Gliding Club Confidential, we go to Western Canada and the Invermere Soaring Centre. That’s all on Episode #17 of The Thermal.

In this Episode of The Thermal, we break away from our normal format for a a feature interview with professional glider pilot, coach and instructor G. Dale. Volume 3 of his series entitled The Soaring Engine is now out. This volume focuses on human performance and gliding. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced x-country pilot…you will learn something from this interview.

In this Episode of The Thermal, a glider crash and rescue in the mountains of British Columbia. The CFI of the Invermere Gliding Centre gives us a first-hand account of this remarkable story. On Gliding Club Confidential, we go to Israel and the Megiddo Gliding Center, where flying cross-country means avoiding hostile land-outs. True Gliding is a comedic look at the world of Gliding. It’s just been translated from Swedish to English. We speak to the author. And letting go of the apron...

Episode #14 of The Thermal is now available at your favourite podcast provider.   In this episode , we get an update on how one Canadian gliding club is dealing with the COVID pandemic and flying operations. (1 minute and 50 seconds into the show)   In California, Jim Payne has been breaking records in Nixus – a one of a kind 28-meter, two-seat super-ship with a fly-by wire control system. We talk to Jim and the glider’s designer Paulo Iscold. (12 minute and 43 seconds into the show)   ...

In this Episode of The Thermal, we hear from the two pilots who just set a new US multi-seat record by flying from Minnesota to Tennessee in an Arcus M. This flight wasn’t a spur of the moment decision. It was literally years in the making. In the UK, the British Gliding Association has noticed a disturbing trend in towplane upsets. We talk to the Chair of the British Gliding Association’s Safety Committee to find out why and what’s being done to stop it from happening. Parachutes…believe...

On this episode of The Thermal, we will check in with glider pilots from Australia, Germany, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.  We will find out what’s happening during COVID and when gliding will potentially start up again.    And…are you in lock-down and want to learn something new? Why not become an Official Observer and help your fellow pilots claim badge and record flights? We find out what’s involved from a Senior Official Observer.   That’s all on...

 Episode #11 of The Thermal is now available.   In this Episode of The Thermal, we hear from Contest Manager Richard Owen on how his team of volunteers    managed to keep this year’s Senior’s Contest in Florida going amid the pandemic. We also have an interview about competitive on-line gliding. Because let’s face it, we can’t do the real thing. We talk to Daniel Sazhin about chasing thermals on the computer screen. Mark Maughmer is a long time glider pilot and engineer. And is largely...

Hello and welcome to this special edition of The Thermal Podcast. The COVID-19 crisis is unprecedented in scale and its global reach. The infection rates are climbing and the world’s medical professionals are being tested like never before. Social Distancing is becoming the new norm and everyday life is being affected in unprecedented ways. And that includes gliding clubs across the globe. Dr Dale Guenter is a family physician and President of SOSA, the Southern Ontario Soaring Association...

  In this Episode  -  an incredible 1730 KM record breaking flight in New Zealand. Pilot Terry Delore puts us in the cockpit for the flight of a lifetime. Denmark is a small nation with a small but intense group of glider pilots. Morten Bennick tells us how he exploits every possible island-hopping cross-country opportunity. On Gliding Club Confidential, we go to Scotland. Pilot with a Paintbrush paints a loving portrait of her club…the Deeside Gliding Club. Are you prepared if your...

Welcome to Episode #9 of The Thermal…the antipodean edition. I’m your host Herrie ten Cate. In this Episode of The Thermal, we go to Australia and hear about the impact of the devastating bush fires from the head of the Gliding Federation of Australia. And we also find out what it’s like to fly in the Women’s World Gliding Championships in extreme heat and smoke.  That contest was recently held in Lake Keepit, Australia. We hear all about it from 18-meter pilot Katrine Senne. And from New...

On Episode #8 of The Thermal Podcast: - Pilot with a Paintbrush - History making 1958 flight across the English Channel - London Gliding Club on Gliding Club Confidential - And...a small wind turbine to keep your glider trailer ventilated during those cloudy winter months. Make sure you listen to Episode #8 for a special voucher code for a two week free trial of SkySight..

Welcome to Episode #7 of The Thermal. I’m your host Herrie ten Cate. In this Episode of The Thermal, we take a look at weather forecasting and how to figure out that perfect 500 km day. The good news is that it no longer requires a crystal ball. First up – Matthew Scutter, the man behind SkySight, the fantastic weather app for glider pilots. He’ll tell us the story behind this app, that has become indispensable for many pilots. We also speak with Andrew Blum – the author of The Weather...

Welcome to Episode #6 of The Thermal. I’m your host Herrie ten Cate.  In this Episode of The Thermal, smashing records in the UK. We speak with top British pilot Ed Downham about his spectacular flights while flying his unique 28-meter open glass glider from coast to coast and then some.  Simon van den Eijkel aka Flying Simon – is a member of the Dutch Junior team and he’ll be talking about his soaring reading list. There’s something for everyone…from highly technical to easy reading. ...

On this episode of The Thermal – a look behind the scenes of the 2019 Pan American Gliding Championships and the role of Contest Director. We speak with Ken Sorensen, who is a well-known American competition pilot in his own right.   And Rocky Mountain High… Chester Fitchett tells us about his multiple 1000 km wave flights and crossing into American Airspace. Chester flies out of the CuNim club near Calgary, Alberta and his flying can be summed up with “Trim forward and Go!”.   Have you...

Episode #4 of The Thermal has released from tow. I’m your host Herrie ten Cate.   In this show, I speak with two club class pilots who both placed first but on different continents. British pilot Jake Brattle flew in the World Junior Championships in Hungary and Argentinian pilot Carlos Iucci flew in the Pan Am Gliding Championships in Canada. Both of these pilots were flying older gliders but were having just as much competitive fun as the pilots flying the latest greatest glass ships. ...

Episode #3 of The Thermal podcast is now out   In this Episode of The Thermal, the Jonker JS3 Rapture is cleaning up at competitions around the world. We talk to Uys Jonker one of the brother’s responsible for this cutting-edge sailplane.   Also, a feature interview on the life and times of British gliding icon Derek Piggott and his vast contribution to the sport of gliding. Derek died earlier this year.    And the little glider that could…the Schweizer 1-26 has been described as the VW...

Welcome to Episode #2 of The Thermal. I’m your host Herrie ten Cate.   On this show, we speak to competition pilot John Seaborn who has just won the US 18-meter Nationals in Hobbs, New Mexico. We’ll hear about a low save at 1200 feet that turned into a 13-thousand-foot climb.   We will also be talking parachutes and survival with Mr Parachute…Allen Silver of Silver Parachutes. Is your parachute past it’s best before date and do you carry survival equipment. If you don’t you probably will...

Welcome to Episode #1 of The Thermal. I’m your host Herrie ten Cate.  On this show, Perlan chief pilot Jim Payne will tell us what it was like to break the world altitude record for gliders while flying the Antarctic wave in Argentina.   And an interview with Richard Carlson, the Chairman of the Soaring Safety Foundation to talk about what they’re doing to increase gliding safety.  Closing the show will be one pilot’s first-hand account of tangling with a massive thunderstorm and living to...