Gliding Book Corner

“The Soaring Engine” Volume 2 is the second book of three in G Dale’s series. This book follows on from Volume 1 which described the basic theory of soaring, including ridge flying, finding and using thermals and mountain flying. Volume 2 is more advanced than the first book and goes on to describe the more advanced techniques required when flying in convergence or wave systems. Beginners trying to grasp the sport will find this book very useful but this edition will really attract the more experienced pilots who are hoping to get a better understanding of the principles that are needed to be a better soaring pilot.

The first thing I noticed when I started flicking through the book was that the foreword was written by Terry Delore, where he described the book as, “the best written, comprehensive, easy to understand wave manual I have ever read”. For one of the best wave pilots in the world to think so highly of the book, I thought it had to be good. And I wasn’t disappointed. As Terry mentions, the book eliminates a bunch of the confusing maths and replaces it with descriptive explanations of how the air mass behaves in mountain wave systems and how we best use that wave. G himself professes to be a glider pilot not a physicist, and this is evident throughout the whole book where great diagrams are used to explain the processes at play, rather than confusing maths which often bewilder the everyday pilot.

Soaring a ridge downwind of a wave trigger

Through clear, concise and very simple diagrams, G has done a great job of explaining the processes and phenomena that you often experience when soaring but might not quite understand. Both convergence and wave flying can be very complicated but G’s simplified, step by step approach breaks it down, so anyone from the beginner to the ace pilot can benefit from it – be it from helping to find your first convergence thermal, to attempting 1000 km plus flights in wave.

Once again, this is a great practical textbook on the art of convergence and wave flying. If you are after a thorough textbook on the complex mathematics and physics involved with boundary layer meteorology then this probably isn’t for you but for a glider pilot hoping to enhance his skills and knowledge then this book is for you.

The book is available in NZ via The Soaring Engine website, www.thesoaringengine.co.uk or the direct email to info@thesoaringengine.co.uk

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NZ Agent: Roger Sparks |

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Email r.sparks@xtra.co.nz