The Thermal Podcast

On this Episode of The Thermal…pushing the boundaries of gliding exploration. We hear from Gliding legend Sebastian Kawa who is in Pakistan and will soon be flying over the infamous K2… if everything goes to plan.

And gliding from Europe to Morocco to explore the flying conditions over the Sahara. We hear from the lead pilot on what is was like to thermal with sand.

That’s all on Episode   #51 of The Thermal.

In this Episode of The Thermal, we speak with American glider pilot Bill Hill who has written a fabulous auto-biography, where he talks about everything from airline flying, catching big wave in Argentina and working as an Air Traffic Controller.

But first we start with a Dutch gliding safari…where a group of students and instructors had some serious fun.

That’s all on Episode   #50 of The Thermal.

In this Episode of The Thermal…a feature interview with Czech competition pilot Barbora Moravcova. We find out what makes this up and coming pilot tick and why music helps her fly.

And there’s a new kid on the block when it comes to keeping track of flights at your club. The software is called Take Up Slack and it’s brought to you by the same gang that brought you Proving Grounds…the innovative task setter for x-country beginners.

That’s all on Episode   #49 of The Thermal.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In this Episode of The Thermal, a primer on the upcoming World Gliding Championships in Narromine, Australia. I speak with contest organizer Beryl Hartley and Dutch competitor Jeroen Verkuijl will be flying a JS-3. 

Welcome to Episode #42 of The Thermal. 

In this Episode of The Thermal…a feature interview with gliding rock start Gordon Boettgner.

Gordon will tell us first-hand how he broke the world distance record for gliding along with his co-pilot Bruce Campbell.

We’ll find out about the equipment and tactics and how a combination of skill, luck and mother nature made this 3000 km flight happen.

That’s all on Episode  #42 of The Thermal.