What is a key factor when maintaining in rising air during thermalling?

What is a key factor when maintaining in rising air during thermalling?

• A. Maintain appropriate bank angle and airspeed to remain in lift
• B. Bank as steep as possible to climb quickly
• C. Use full flap settings for lift
• D. Descend to stay near ground

Answer: (A)

In thermalling the aim is to stay inside the updraft by circling the core of the thermal. The two things you control to do that are your bank angle and your airspeed. A moderate bank gives enough turn rate to follow the lift without pulling you out of the updraft or losing too much airspeed. If you bank too shallow, the circle is too wide and you can drift out of the rising air; if you bank too steep, your airspeed drops and you climb less efficiently or even risk stalling while still trying to circle. So you fly at an airspeed that gives the best climb for your glider, typically near the minimum-sink speed, while using a comfortable, steady turn to stay in the core. Flap use and descending to stay near the ground aren’t relevant strategies for thermalling.

In thermalling the aim is to stay inside the updraft by circling the core of the thermal. The two things you control to do that are your bank angle and your airspeed. A moderate bank gives enough turn rate to follow the lift without pulling you out of the updraft or losing too much airspeed. If you bank too shallow, the circle is too wide and you can drift out of the rising air; if you bank too steep, your airspeed drops and you climb less efficiently or even risk stalling while still trying to circle. So you fly at an airspeed that gives the best climb for your glider, typically near the minimum-sink speed, while using a comfortable, steady turn to stay in the core. Flap use and descending to stay near the ground aren’t relevant strategies for thermalling.