Make Sure You Check Your Controls
Positive Control Checks were discussed at the CFI clinic in Dayton. A comment that came from that discussion was that the pilot should be in charge of the check -- not the assistant. The pilot should be the one to initiate each check; the pilot should move the stick or pedals to the extreme position before the assistant applies resistance. The assistant should apply the resistance only at the pilot's request. This is the only way that the pilot is assured the glider is responding to the control inputs. As always, it is a fair question for the ground crew, wing runner, etc. to ask whether a positive control check has been done. It is also a very good thing to use the red tape at the wing root to indicate it has been completed.

Nyal Williams
nyalwilliams@comcast.net

When You're In The Mood To Go - Go To GOES
The GOES satellite soundings page is a quick way to view the cloud cover and then click on any of the identified locations for a sounding. If the ID is red there is no data available, probably because of excessive cloud cover. After you click on a location, the sounding chart appears. To get an idea of the thermal heights, do the following: On the pink colored right hand vertical axis, temp in deg C is given in ten degree increments, corresponding to each sloping pink diagonal line running from upper right to lower left. These sloping lines are constant temp. Knowing the expected high temp for the day in deg C, point to it on the right hand vertical axis, interpolating between the sloping lines as necessary. Then scroll down to the left, staying parallel to the closest sloping temp line until you are even with the ground elevation (the elevation at the bottom of the sounding trace). From there scroll your cursor up and to the left parallel to the diagonal lines running from lower right to upper left. Where your cursor hits the sounding trace (curvy red line) is the highest lift for the day. The height is shown in millibars at the left of the chart on the vertical axis. Use the following chart (print out for easier reference) to convert millibars to feet.

The altitude you found is MSL, so subtract the field elevation at the location (for Terry, 922 feet) to determine the max thermal height for the day. Wind speed (in knots) and direction are shown on the far right black vertical axis of the chart. That's all there is to it ! If you want to know more try www.isrv.com/~lhuffman/fore.htm for a great explanation. Fly often, fly safe.

Weather, ATC and You
Planning on whether to go, or not to go when the weather is questionable? AOPA has a publication available on the internet called "Weather Strategies - Weather, ATC and You" that can help you decide. It is geared more toward the power pilot, but the process is a good guide for all in understanding the "big picture." It also gives some good pointers on how to get the information you need from ATC enroute. It is also loaded with great references. The download is free and in .PDF format. Be sure to check it out at http://www.aopa.org/asf/publications