We have just finished reading the volume 2 and 3 from The Soaring Engine by G. Dale. The books are very pedagogical as G. is able to turn complexity to easyness, with very good graphics, practical advice and small stories from his own experience of it. One page - one idea, with a nice summary every few pages to wrap up the points previously introduced.
Report by C. Heliot & B. Neglais (and Chablis the cat)
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Note : In this report we took the decision to not talk about the books in a cross way through a disussion between the 2 of us, just to avoid to influence each others. This was made on purpose as we are 2 pilots with differents paths (even if we are both competitors) so it should offer you a report with 2 brains instead of a compromised one :-)
"The Soaring Engine" Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3 books by G. Dale are available in english for Vol. 1, 2, 3 and in German too for Vol.1 (we did not read Vol. 1 for now). Contact us if you want to get one!
Claire's report : Volume 2
Volume 2 focuses essentially on 2 phenomena: convergences and waves.
The author flew in the UK, Africa and New Zealand, offering a large range of experiences about Sea Breeze and Convergence, to massive Waves in mountain areas.
Even if I flew a few times in St-Auban, I never really had the opportunity and the proper weather conditions to fly wave. Here, at the Hahnweide, I am used to fly some kind of convergence that runs along the Swabian Jura (“Schwäbische Alb”). But my understanding of these “streets” was essentially “stay high and follow the line of big, fat cumulus with marks of activity”. For sure, my strategy is good, but if it doesn’t work, if you get low, where to run away?
"my understanding of these “streets” was essentially “stay high and follow the line of big, fat cumulus with marks of activity”. For sure, my strategy is good, but if it doesn’t work, if you get low, where to run away?"
So, when I started the book, I had a lot to learn about...
G. details different kinds of convergences and helps you imagine what is happening from the ground, and what could you expect with the appearance of the clouds. Same for the wave, he is explaining step by step what is happening in the different layers and gives you keys to recognise each situation. He often gives you the key elements to reach, with his help, to the logical conclusion of his demonstration. Consequently, you don’t just have the rules, you developpe also a good understanding of the behind the “rules of thumb”.
He also gives good practical advice like: "... turn and go straight back to the warm side" if you really need to escape!
I’m afraid that after reading it, I will see convergence everywhere.
I already re-interpret flight from last year in St-Auban, where the cumulus were not on the ridge but near the centre of the valley. But more seriously, the book makes it easy to understand and so I feel more confident. I cannot wait to fly again to see if I can spot some "curtain clouds". And maybe do a bit of wave flying with the hills we have around the airfield. So no, obviously, the book cannot replace training, but I am now aware of these different phenomena, impacting all atmosphere layers and so my beloved climbs. I also know what kind of markers to look for, and the vocabulary to exchange with other pilots about an observed phenomenon.
I think I would have liked to know how often a specific kind of convergence has been observed and where (sorry I am a scientist). Ok it is impossible, but just to have a small idea if I can find it every couple of flights here, or if it is in a very specific situation in this location.
The (big) small plus: the foreword is from Monsieur Terry Delore and this means a lot!
C. Heliot (Flying Grinch Couple)
Benjamin's report : Volume 2
With Volume 2 of The Soaring Engine, we embark in a fascinating tour through the different layers of atmosphere we use in our sport.
As Volume 1 was focussed on the basics of thermal activity, and ridge soaring, this step 2 is going way further to explain the particularities of making the mainly invisible (i.e. the airmass), visible, with clear and understandable drawings in the typical one-page-one-concept pedagogical approach.
"You are now clearly like in the briefing room with G. demonstrating!"
From Wind Convergence in their different forms and natures, you will discover the rush of the monster lower “carpet cold air” which becomes the superstar of many of your fails in the air! And the complex interactions from wind flow to terrain will open your eyes on the days where things went “different as expected”.
Then G. transports us from bottom to very high to better understand wave conditions, always focussing on the fact that understanding is only there to elaborate strategies to use these energies we have around us, right from the cockpit… or at least to avoid the biggest sinks or reduce the time you travel in them as best.
Important for me when reading this book was to confirm again that everything is linked in this playground that the lower atmosphere represents : thermals and wave, wind and terrain, airmasses with different characteristics, they are all playing together. This complexity, and the approach of G. to demonstrate in simple words and concepts what this could potentially create as usable energy (or not usable, which is useful to know too!), will help you (and me), to again gets more from the thin air than before.
G., as all instructors, tells us about the nice thing wave is, but does not forget to talk about the dark side exposing your safety in the air. Not only high sink rates and difficulties to get from one wave to the other (upwind), but also coldness, low pressure oxygen, and behaviour of IAS to real TAS in altitude are also there, and have to be discussed deeply before entering the world of very high altitude and strong wind conditions.
Again, we are literally in a classroom with Professor G. Dale for a complete briefing and this is just gold on paper for glider pilots. Don’t forget to bring paper and pens, plus a good popcorn bowl and old school 3D glasses , as some moments reading will be epic. Highly recommended to read and read again.
Benjamin Néglais (Flying Grinch Couple)
Claire's report : Volume 3
Volume 3 is focusing on performance (Fly faster!) and competition.
I am lucky enough that I have had many briefings with Eric Napoléon (French team captain), and Benj is, from time to time, giving me advice. So without being an expert, I had already more theory than, I can imagine, a lot of pilots.
The book is again, easy to read and organised in the same way than the others. One page/ one idea/ one schematic. On the first part, G. is talking about Speed to fly, thermal selection, thermalling and route optimisation. If I already knew a lot of the theory, the demonstrations are really good and consequently, it is easy to understand and remember the conclusion. I also liked the fact that advices are specific to weather conditions. Indeed, it is not the same to spend time to find the core of the thermal in good weather conditions or during a difficult day…
Then, G. is focusing more on the human factors, and how to improve your thinking/ decision making when you are flying, to be more performant and avoid the “tunnel effect”. Again if I knew a lot of the theory, I think I will train again on some of the tricks and try to set “process goal”. It can only improve my performance.
Same for his advice on training technics. For my next cross-country, I will prepare his check-list to optimise my climb selection. Let’s see if it can help me, always ask the good questions.
Finally, G is talking more precisely about competition, how to make a start, a turn point, gaggle flying and AAT. It is maybe the part where I had the most briefings on, flying with Benjamin at the Pre-Word last year. G. advices similar of what I knew, but it is always good to hear it again in a different style. Some of the ideas are interesting, I was always thinking that you can get rid of the gaggle by overtaking it. G. has some alternatives that it would be nice to discuss.
At the end, the only point I do really disagree with, and will not use, is the superNetto. For the ones who don't know what it is: the variometer is indicating the vario you would have if you were flying at your best rate of sink (so basically the speed you use to climb).
This is too complex for me and It would ask me too much energy to interpret it practically in the cockpit. However I will change from speed to fly to Netto. Benj’s blog already make me think of using Netto instead of speed to fly, now I am convinced and will start to use it for my glides.
As for me, I believe you will find in these books some points which open your eyes, resonate, question, reboot your thinking, so the goal is achieved!
C. Heliot (Flying Grinch Couple)
Benjamin's report : Volume 3
G. Dale Volume 3, or the story of a nice air cruise of dolphins and sharks (make your choice) in a fast time machine...
After Volume 1 about understanding thermals and ridge flying, Volume 2 about understanding the complexity of the sky, let’s plunge furiously in Volume 3 to combine the first two episodes in the cockpit.
Reading G. Dale is great as you can feel you share with him real life experience, so bad and good, right and wrong, are occurring in a roller coaster where the main target is to understand the columns which sustains the live action, and their effects, if little or big, still in the well known relaxed British humour style G. can deliver page after page… Which helps us to not feel too guilty for the so many errors we made and still will make in the air.
Intro just sets the tempo : “Variometer is the heart” as this instrument will become the superstar along the speedometer as best supporting actor to set the pulse in the cockpit. Their complex relationship is first part of the book to extract the main characteristics of their vibrant infant : “the average speed”.
G. reminds us elegantly some things we deeply know at first, a bit too deep sometimes as excitement of the speedo can turn you blind flight after flight. At that point you could become completely not aware about what is so wrong in your style. Average speed is mainly a function of the time you spend standstill, i.e. circling to climb. This philosophy will accompany you for the first part of the book with many examples just to make sure you understand and write this fact in your “brainputer”, for life.
This gets nicely along with applied techniques to ensure that, yes, you get the most of the atmosphere around, hungry of the energy available. Let’s be a Shark or a Dolphin. But still you have to see the clear path : under the stress of the turning clock, YOU must make the best decisions so being the king of technics will not be enough (I know deeply and painfully what it means).
Our sport is trivial? After all, average speed is just a question of time consumed to make a distance! But G. reminds us that we (you) have to perform in a continuum you can’t stop, and this continuum is also continuously evolving… This names our sport for what it is : a constant risk management game with many solutions, opportunities, but still with basics you can’t get rid of. Avoiding the sink, centering the thermals fast, are among these big columns supporting the result to make you fly “faster”. And if you can avoid the worst climbs, it is even better. Help yourselves!
Keypoint to manage the risk is to name it, nail it, anticipate it, so basically have a plan. But plan too late is no plan at all, so thinking forward is the key.
G. anticipates all the traps of being too easy with us on this point too as he, we, all know that workload up there can reduce greatly our capacity to think forward. We slip down from being “in front of the aircraft” to become “behind it”. Indeed the book evolves then to subtle human behaviour facts, with some tips to better know yourself and so to avoid, or at least try to shave, a bit of your dark side.
The final part is all about how to practice, and mainly why practicing alone will not be enough, before listing some examples of tactics in the air to optimize the today’s known race style we do in gliding.
All in all, a nice read which will talk to all of you as it talked to me, but in a very personal way, as we all experience gliding slightly differently.
Avoid the sink, center fast, think forward and don’t let your darkside lure you.
Have a nice (and fun) read!
Benjamin Néglais (Flying Grinch Couple)
"The Soaring Engine" Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3 books by G. Dale are available in english for Vol. 1, 2, 3 and in German too for Vol.1 (we did not read Vol. 1 for now). Contact us if you want to get one!
You enjoyed these 10 minutes reading?
>>>> You like our reviews and reports? Buy us a coffee! <<<<
\\\\\\\\\ Or buy something in Claire's e-shop, all the best for the pilots! //////////
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