Beyond Gliding Distance

Book excerpt: I can't help being surprised, time and again, by the considerable number of gliding enthusiasts who end up leaving the sport, after having invested large amounts of time and energy learning to fly. Most of them quit without an apparent reason, while still declaring their love for flying. I strongly suspect that this happens because they fail, more or less consciously, to make the transition from glider to soaring pilots, something which mostly comes through the practice of cross-country flight. This book doesn't pretend to introduce any revolutionary technique, nor will it unveil the great and jealously hidden secret of accomplished cross-country pilots, simply because it doesn't exist. It aims rather to be a collection, as logical, complete and up to date as possible, of the many small tricks which form the knowledge base of pilots who practice soaring flight with utter satisfaction. It deliberately addresses pilots who are still building on their experience, and therefore covers at length a few subjects which are normally part of the basic flying course. This is done with the explicit goal of helping newcomers to develop the self-trust which plays a very important role in stimulating the first steps into the big unknown. Your first personal achievements in cross-country flight, and a good deal of fun, are closer than you might believe. If these pages will ever help readers make their transition towards being competent and safe soaring pilots, their goal will be more than fulfilled.