The Thermal Podcast

Welcome to Episode #69 of The Thermal.    In this Episode of The Thermal, the Piper Pawnee has issues. Wing spar issues to be exact…we get an update from the Soaring Society of America's Ken Sorensen.   Electric Gliders and engine failure. Do you lock the prop or let it spin? The manual says one thing but real-world data says another. We talk to a glider pilot boffin who used his own glider as a t...

On Episode #68 of The Thermal -   from stifling heat to well below zero…a crazy diamond height climb in Australia. We talk to the pilot who paid careful attention to the forecast and bagged his long sought after Diamond   And while we're south of the equator…an interview with SkySight Founder Matthew Scutter on 10 years of SkySight..a slew of new weather features and what kind of gliding challenge...

  In Episode #67 of The Thermal, recording breaking flights in Australia. We speak to the pilots that just broke the continental distance record. And going on safari in South Africa…a gliding safari. We chat with one of the pilots that was part of this epic adventure. That's all on Episode #67 of The Thermal.  

Welcome to Episode #66 of The Thermal – the JoeyGlide edition.     In this Episode of The Thermal, we find out what makes the Australian JoeyGlide for Junior pilots such a success. It's a training event that has a reputation for  turning out world class cross-country pilots.   That's all on this Joey Glide episode of The Thermal.

Welcome to Episode #65 of The Thermal. On this show… a record Arcus flight from Minden, Nevada to Dodge City, Kansas. Just shy of 1800 kilometers this flight took over 12 hours, and a good portion was flown in the dark with night vision goggles. Pilot Gordon Boettger gives us the full story on this Episode of The Thermal.

After a six-month hiatus – the Thermal Podcast is back with episode #64   The soaring season in the Northern Hemisphere has pretty much wound down. But in early November Chester Fitchett had a record breaking 1750 km wave flight on the East side of the Rockies. Chester puts us in the cockpit as he rockets back and forth       across the Canada – US border.   And in the southern hemisphere the glid...

Welcome to Episode #63 of The Thermal. I'm your host Herrie ten Cate.   In this Episode of The Thermal, fire in the air. Possibly the worst thing that can happen to any pilot.   Well, that happened to me on May 23 rd of this year. The glider caught fire during the climb. My training and Lady Luck got me back to the runway with a burning glider This is the story of what happened.

  In Episode #62 of The Thermal, the global tariff chaos and the impact on American glider pilots. We talk to the man behind gliding supply shop Cumulus Soaring to find out what is and isn't happening.   Looping a glider is fun when done properly. It's something that most of us have done at some point or another. But breaking the Guinness Book record for the number of loops is a completely differe...

In this Episode of The Thermal, we find out from the man behind Mountain High oxygen systems…why canula is most often better than a mask.   And a group of UK pilots who've come up with their own Canopy Flasher. We find out why they didn't just buy off the shelf.   It's the time of year when glider pilots are polishing gliders. Either to bring them out of hibernation or put them away for the winter...

In this Episode of The Thermal, expedition flying at its best and a feature interview with pilot Chris Gill. Imagine crossing the Irish Sea, hoping to make the other coast and all you can see is ocean…that's exactly what Chris and his copilot did earlier this month, flying from Wales to Northern Ireland and back across the Irish Sea to Scotland.

In this Episode of The Thermal, long time gliding blogger Ritz de Luij has put away her keyboard . Ritz talks to us about her love of gliding, her passion for the sport and the triumphs and tragedies she experienced along the way.   And we go to Australia and speak to an octogenarian glider pilot with over 6000 hours who just keeps on flying. That's all on Episode   #59 of The Thermal.

  In this Episode of The Thermal, an epic Christmas Day flight that covered most of the eastern Adriatic and 4 countries with a blistering average speed of 160 kmph and a distance of some 1100 kms.   And hitting it hard with a 50 year old glider. Who says you need the latest hot ship to have fantastic gliding adventures. We talk to a pilot who's checking all the boxes.   We also hear from NAV Cana...

On Episode #57 of The Thermal, going the distance in an Archaeopteryx . What's that you ask? Well, it's a low performance hybrid glider that an intrepid Australian glider pilot just flew for over 600 kilometers.   And wave flying in the Canadian Rockies. We learn why the Cowley Wave Camp is the go to event for Canadian glider pilots looking for their Diamond Heights.   That's all on Episode   #57...

In this Episode of The Thermal, a feature interview with Patrick McLaughlin – the man behind the Mountain High Oxygen system. He has won the 2024 OSTIV award for his contribution to gliding safety. And combining passions. We talk to Tobias Barth about his new book called Framing the Sky and how he combines his love of gliding and photography. That's all on Episode   #56 of The Thermal.

In Episode #55 of The Thermal, Dutch racing pilot Jeroen Verkuijl on flying at the World Gliding Championships in Uvalde, Texas. And he tells us about the special day team Orange finished 1 st in all three classes.   And a solution to the ever-increasing cost and number of flights for students to solo. We speak to an OSTIV award winner about what the Toronto Metropolitan University's gliding club...

In this Episode of The Thermal, we're devoting a full show to the story of WW2 British combat Glider Pilot Frank Hughes and his role in Operation Market Garden…also known as the Battle of Arnhem.   It's a remarkable tale of a young man who flew a fully loaded HORSA combat glider into a war zone and survived the ensuing battle.

In Episode #53 of The Thermal, gliding superstar Sebastian Kawa on his incredible expedition to Pakistan and flying around k2. This adventure wasn't for the faint of heart. Overcoming adversity both in the air and on the ground was a constant battle. That's on Episode #53 of The Thermal.

On Episode #52 of The Thermal,  a feature interview with Clemens Ceipek about his soaring adventures and goal setting over the State of Colorado. He also gives us an update on the threat of closure to Boulder Airport.

  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   #...

  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 T...

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...

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 gl...

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 M...

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.