The Thermal Podcast

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...

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 al...

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...

On Episode #40 of The Thermal…a feature interview with IGC President Peter Eriksen and the growing concern over mid-air collisions.     I also speak to this year's winner of the BGA's Bill Scull Safety Award. Wolf Rossmann tells us all about his on-line safety tool FlySafe.   And Dr Dan…talks to me about the real danger of Altitude Decompression Sickness and the impact on glider pilots. It's anoth...

In this Episode of The Thermal, Mathias Schunk  tells us what it's like to crash a JS-1 at 100kmh and survive. It's a hell of a story…not to be missed.   And we hear from Dutch pilot Jeroen van Dijk and his epic 2022 summer flying his LS-3. Jeroen flew not just one but two 1000 km flights out of his home base…the Amsterdam Gliding Club. That's all on Episode #39 of The Thermal.   

In this Episode of The Thermal, Crisis in the Air. We hear from a British pilot who kept cool and saved himself and his glider. American pilot Roy Bourgeois knows how to escape the Northern Winters. He has just returned from his 27 th gliding adventure in South Africa…he gives us the inside scoop. And there's a new App for analyzing IGC files. One that will help you figure out if you're a safe pil...

On Episode #37 of The Thermal…pilots who make a difference. Beryl Hartley has been a cornerstone of gliding in Australia for almost 60 years and has just been recognized with an FAI award. Liz Sparrow – was one of the key movers and shakers behind last summer's highly successful Women's World Gliding Championships that were held in the UK…lets us in on the recipe for success. And Elena Yakymchuk (...

  In this Episode of The Thermal, we go to Namibia and Northern Australia. Epic flying adventures that should be on the gliding bucket list for all serious soaring pilots. We will hear first-hand what it's like to fly over the Kalahari and what it's like to chase the Morning Glory wave clouds over Northern Queensland. Episode #36 of The Thermal is now ready to launch.

Welcome to Episode #35 of The Thermal. I'm your host Herrie ten Cate. It's great to be back after a long summer hiatus and a big move. My wife and I sold up in Ontario and moved to Invermere, British Columbia. It's a bit of a drive…some 3700 kilometers but well worth it. The first story is about a record breaking cross-country flight from Alaska to Tasmania. It's not on the OLC but only because th...

  In Episode #34 of The Thermal, an inside view of the scandal plagued 2019 Women's World Gliding Championships at Lake Keepit, Australia. We talk to the Contest Director and get her take on what actually happened. And gliding from Switzerland to the UK…I speak with an adventurous Swiss pilot about his epic adventure. And we hear from a pilot who's flying this year's 2-seater championships in the...

In this Episode of The Thermal – the devastating impact of the cheating scandal at the 2019 Women's World Gliding Championships. We speak to a pilot that was a member of the disqualified Australian Team. The next Women's World's are happening this summer in the UK. Elena Yakymchuk is a Ukrainian pilot who will be going to the contest….despite the terrible war that's ripping her nation apart. We he...

In this Episode of The Thermal, we hear from a young Ukrainian glider pilot and what's happening to him and his fellow club members as the war rages around them. An un-imaginable situation for most of us. In California…glider pilots are exploring new areas of wave and having spectacular flights. Ramy Yanetz tells us what's like to fly over San Francisco. And a young man with ambition. Noah Kleeber...

In this Episode of The Thermal, we remember gliding legend Ingo Renner, who has died at the age of 81. We chat with fellow pilot and friend Bernard Eckey. Tow pilot emergency. We hear from the Pawnee pilot who had the wherewithal to figure out what to do when the control stick separated in flight. And a new take on an age old problem…training and retaining glider pilots. We find out about the CuNi...

Episode #30 of The Thermal…the Kiwi edition. In this Episode of The Thermal, Terry and Abbey Delore tell us the story of their remarkable Tip to Tip journey from one end of New Zealand to the other.   And the life and times of John Roake. We'll hear from a long-time friend about John's lasting impact on both the New Zealand and International gliding scene.   And Kahu Soaring is a new commercial ou...

In this Episode of The Thermal a 1600 KM wave flight over the Canadian Rockies at a blistering average speed of 140 knots. We talk to Arcus pilot Chester Fitchett. We also hear from the Air Traffic Controller and glider pilot who helped facilitate this flight through controlled airspace. And the story behind a lovingly restored Robin glider from the 1930s. We talk to glider pilot and restorer Doug...

  In Episode #28 of The Thermal…Katrin Senne and what it was like to fly in the recent Gliding Grand Prix final in France….where she placed 4 th !   And a feature interview with Gisela Weinreich. She's an accomplished competition glider pilot, role model for women in aviation and now…the recipient of the prestigious FAI Lilienthal Award.     That's all on Episode   #28 of The Thermal…the all women...

In this Episode of The Thermal, we hear from a Dutch pilot who placed second at the recent world championships in France. It was a very tough fought contest with challenging flying conditions.   We also hear from a novice pilot who narrowly escaped a final glide that went wrong…leaving field selection to the last possible moment. And the British Air Training Corps is 80 years old. Many, many Briti...

In Episode #26 of The Thermal - tow plane bird strike and a remarkable story of survival. We hear from a young pilot who narrowly escaped with his life. The International Vintage Sailplane Meet at Harris Hill, New York has wrapped up. We talk to one of the pilots who went and what it's like to fly a very special vintage ship.   And Baptiste Innocent has done it again. This time, he set new Nationa...

In Episode #25 of The Thermal, we hear from racing pilot Katrin Senne who just flew in the Italian qualifying round of the World Gliding Grand Prix. On the other side of the English Channel, we catch up with G Dale…gliding author/coach and competition pilot. He has just finished writing Edition #4 of The Soaring Engine.   And SoarAmerica – one pilot's quest to fly from the West Coast to the East C...

In this Episode of The Thermal, we hear from a Norwegian pilot who recently ditched his glider in a lake. He walks us through the decision making process and how training made all the difference.   On Gliding Club Confidential, we go to Australia and the Balaclava Gliding Club…home base for Bernard Eckey – gliding guru and author.   And finally…gliding and COVID brain. We've all been affected by C...

  In Episode #23 of The Thermal, a new European free distance record has been set in a Pyrenees wave flight.   We talk to Baptiste Innocent, one half of this record breaking crew.     On Gliding Club Confidential, we go to Australia and the Temora Gliding Club…   Covid-19 has had a particularly hard impact on our commercial pilot friends. We check in with glider pilots who are also commercial pilo...

In Episode #22 of The Thermal, an analysis of the 2020 gliding accidents and incidents in the US. What do they have in common and are there any emerging trends? We talk to FAA safety guy and glider pilot Stephen K Brown.   Gliding Club SOS. This month on Gliding Club Confidential we go to the AKKA GLIDING CLUB in Suriname. A small Caribbean   club that's fighting for its very survival.   And…the b...

Welcome to Episode #21 of The Thermal. In this Episode of The Thermal, we celebrate the life of the legendary Hans-Werner Grosse. A glider pilot who set the bar for long distance flying. We speak to long-time friends who remember this remarkable man. On gliding club confidential, we go to Colorado for an in-depth look at the Boulder Soaring Association, where the Rocky Mountains provide a stunning...

Welcome to Episode #20 of The Thermal.   In this Episode of The Thermal, we truly go global. From Australia to Colorado and from Denmark to Germany and the UK.   You'll hear about a heart-warming K-6 restoration, how to set your gliding goals, a contest for Old Glass, a fabulous new site called Nordic Gliding and WeGlide…the new kid on the block that's serious competition for the OLC. That and a w...