Thermals & Trikes

[MILO]

Which way do thermals turn? I guess as its a "low" it would be clockwise.
Which way should one travel in the thermal to get the best lift if there is a best way considering the trike is moving in a parcel of air?

I prefer to be back on the ground before 09:00 but have had some very unpleasant, thumps and bumps because of thermals so have decided to confront the enemy next time I have a wing lift on the one side. I know where the thermals (as well as the downdrafts) generally are in our cabbage patch so am going to find one and give it a go.
I am not looking to join the bottom of a CB, I know the airframe can handle the forces going through these thermals, it has done so for the last 5 years.

I would like to master 1 or 2 thermals to get over this unpleasant feeling I get when I hit them.

[Dobbs]

Hi Milo, I was taught the theory about thermals, which was you immediately turn towards the uplifting wing, however, despite my best efforts, either because the wing span is so much shorter than a glider, or I did not persevere long enough to aquire the skill, I found that by the time you feel the wing lifting, it is all over.

I have however seen trikes ridge soaring, but that is a different principle to seeking out thermals - neither of which I have experience in.

However on one occasion I did see the experience of a para glider at the controls of a 503 Windlass use his paragliding knowledge to utilize thermals. We had both taken off at the same time, both in 503 Windlasses, with passengers at Dundee, and the para glider pilot got to altitude much quicker than I could, and talking later, it was clearly his knowledge of hunting out the thermals which enabled him to do this.

[lambada]

Milo Hi

Kom ons gaan vlieg in thermals met n Lambada en daarna sal jy beter weet wat aangaan en terloops die flip of flips gaan jou niks kos kom kuier net in Warmbad en alles is sorted

Groete

Pieter (0833775227)

[John Young]

I prefer to be back on the ground before 09:00 but have had some very unpleasant, thumps and bumps because of thermals so have decided to confront the enemy

Hi Milo,

Try it out in the middle of the day with a high lapse rate (not overcast).

At safe height, don't fight the bar too much - you will quickly find patches of air rising at 500'+ per minute. Stay below 1000' agl where it's nice and bumpy for 30 minutes.

Land, pat yourself on the back for having "confronted the enemy" and have a cold one. Next time it gets bumpy, no problem, you've been there, done that and got the T-Shirt.

When landing, keep your eyes peeled for dust devils, sudden cross wind, sink and gusts all caused by thermals when they lift off.

Regards
John N????B

[bobthebuilder]

Don't thermals tend to spin clockwise in the southern hemisphere and counter-clockwise in the northern hemisphere?

[MILO]

Thanks guys. Lambada, thanks for the offer, your number is filed away for future reference.
John, I've watched the Jay & the Snake team do their stuff at 12:00 for airshows and have huge respect for the challenges they face there - especially formation flying. Beats me why they have to fly then, (probably not by choice)
Nope 12:00 is not for me, even the blik aeries get chucked around at that time. I fly for fun, not to loose weight, increase my heart rate, clean puke off the fan or wash my shorts and the seat.
Part of your recipe makes sense though, the chiboolies after landing. You are a wise man.

[Wargames]

Thanks guys. Lambada, thanks for the offer, your number is filed away for future reference.
John, I've watched the Jay & the Snake team do their stuff at 12:00 for airshows and have huge respect for the challenges they face there - especially formation flying. Beats me why they have to fly then, (probably not by choice)
Nope 12:00 is not for me, even the blik aeries get chucked around at that time. I fly for fun, not to loose weight, increase my heart rate, clean puke off the fan or wash my shorts and the seat.
Part of your recipe makes sense though, the chiboolies after landing. You are a wise man.

Hi Milo,

Don't do it alone. Go with a bunch of trikes to a fly-inn, and 'coincidently' make sure you return home to land at 13h00. That will be the best experience to fly in. Nothing to be scared off. The sad part of it all, is that it is not as bad/rough as you believe it to be.

Just remember that there is a huge difference between thermals and just plain unstable weather. First get the theory right, and then you will know what to look for from a geographic point to where thermals might occur. Like a open ploughed field will create better thermals than a field with 2m high maize.

Just a further note: Ridge lift is not a thermal. Don't confuse them, although they sometimes might have the same effect in a trike, it might not be what you are looking for.

Dont listen to the "scary stories" some guys will tell you, it will only scare you and deprive you of some good fun.

Good luck.

[Madman]

Hi Milo

Percy and I got caught once,that was both our first time flying at 12pm...we flew from Circus/Klipriver to Bapsfontein in the morning and serviced our aeries.I had a small mishap with my prop and Larry was kind enough to make a plan..so I got another prop like mine and by that time it was already 11h45...

Percy and I got our licences days apart,I in Nov and him in Dec 2010,so we are both still new.

Well,with the good advice from Larry,just like the good advice from the guys on the thread...it was something awesome,we countered the wing poppings and after 20 minutes,I was relaxed...anticipated the popping and the awesome lift and rollercoaster sink..500ft in a split second..at times lift and wing pop at the same time....screaming "yeeehaaaa,is that all you got"....it was amazing..

We landed about 13h20,him at Klip and I at Circus...I did a long final making sure there aint no dust devils or any wierd sh!t...

Had an ice cold coke afterwards thinking "What a ride"...

I too used to push to be back before 9am...now,I really don't mind flying far away cos I no longer have to fear dem wing poppers

Try it amigo,like Wargames said..plan a far out trip or breakie and intentionally leave late...you wont ever regret it.

Shweet

[Hak]

Just fly them,learn 2 handel them and most of the old pilots still KAKin there panths when thea hit them

[MADDOG]

Best thing to do is practice every so often like John says but add this to your practice. You must have a few mates in the air with you so that when it all feels wobbly you can look at their wings and get the confidence that it feels much worse than it looks. Then pluck up the courage that as soon as you start to get klapped, you press your PTT and in your calmest voice you ask you buddies a question, forcing them to move their hand on the bar to reply to you. Over frosties you compare who had the calmest voice.

[Wargames]

Took this pic yesterday close to melkbos. Wind was 3 knots or less. Interesting. Looks like a small mountain wave. Didn't want to inhale those smoke though.

[kloot piloot]

What time of the day was it taken Wargames ? Inversion ?

[Wargames]

What time of the day was it taken Wargames ? Inversion ?

9:06am.

Not any that we could establish.

Morningstar is about 4-5 miles SSE from where this pic was taken, and there was about 0 - 3 knot wind there when we landed. No bumps. No thermals. Just a beautifull morning to fly.

[Wargames]

Thought about it again, and there was an inversion layer. At morningstar it was about 200ft AGL, which make it 400ft AMSL. There was a definite temperature drop as I descended on final approach at that level.

[Madman]

I like Maddog's sugesstion...

It is a mission taking your hand off and talking calm while being bumped around...some people go stealth..lokl