In this Episode of The Thermal, I speak to Dirk Corporaal…the winner of the 2022 FAI’s Pirat Gehriger Diploma. Dirk has spent over 20 years writing and developing an exceptional student manual for glider pilots…that’s now available in multiple languages.   And remembering a rock star of aviation and gliding…Einar Enevoldsen…the man behind the Perlan Project. His longtime friend Ed Warnock tells us about this remarkable man.   And a history flashback. Scott McGaugh the author of “The Brotherhood of the Flying Coffin”…puts us in the cockpit with American combat glider pilots and their missions in World War Two.   That’s all on Episode   #41 of The Thermal.

Episode #41 - The Thermal Podcast

The Thermal is a monthly podcast devoted to the sport of gliding. You’ll hear about the latest cutting-edge sailplanes and technology. We’ll also be talking about gliding safety, instructing, gliding history, cool pilot interviews, towing, winching and a whole lot more. New podcasts will be released the 1st Saturday of every month.

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In this Episode of The Thermal, WeGlide’s…Moritz Althaus gives us an update and  tells us about a new feature called Co-Pilot.   The Libelle - arguably the prettiest glider every made…is turning 60. We find out why this glider was so revolutionary.   Starting a new gliding club is a huge under taking. A group of glider pilots in Montana is trying to make it a reality.       And finally…some new gliding tech that works with XCSoar…and a new gliding trade fair in Germany.   That’s all on Episode   #48 of The Thermal.

The Thermal - Episode #48

On Episode #47 of The Thermal - doing it right when your sustainer motor won’t stow. We talk to a pilot who executed the perfect emergency landing.    Existential Angst…the anti-aviation movement targets Boulder Airport and the local gliding club.   Unbridled enthusiasm. We talk to a 14-year old glider pilot that can’t stop smiling.    That’s all on Episode   #47 of The Thermal.

The Thermal - Episode #47

In Episode #46 of The Thermal, we talk to the pilot and author behind The Art of Soaring. A book that puts you in the cockpit with amazing photos and stories.  We also speak to Monique Taylor, the author of Suicide Jockeys – The Making of the WW2 Combat Glider Pilot PureTrack is a new gliding tracking App from New Zealand. We find out why it’s gaining in popularity.  And finally -  remembering Martin Simons. The author of numerous books about gliding and a huge contributor to the gliding movement in general.  

The Thermal - Episode #46

On Episode #45 of The Thermal, a feature interview with longtime American contest pilot Chip Bearden.  Chip is the author of Goodbye Papa Golf. It’s an autobiography about Chip’s life as a contest glider pilot, marathon runner, tech entrepreneur and family man.  It’s written in a way that’s fascinating for glider pilots but is also a good read for those not necessarily interested in aviation.

The Thermal - Episode #45

On this Episode of The Thermal, competing at the 15 meter World Gliding Contest in Narromine, Australia. We follow-up with Dutch competition pilot Jeroen Verkuijl to find out what it was like. What do you to when you’re about to turn 80? Well, you buy a high performance motor glider and go on an epic cross-country flight to Australia’s famous Morning Glory wave system. And get your glider pilot’s license in the process.  John Riedl tells us all about it. ( reedle like needle) Imagine a cockpit with almost unlimited visibility and you have the Ultra-Vision glider concept. I speak to the aeronautical engineer behind this innovative design.  That’s all on Episode   #44 of The Thermal.

Episode #41 - The Thermal Podcast

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