The Thermal Podcast

In this Episode of The Thermal, a 1300 km convergence line flight in Australia. Pete Temple tells us what it was like and how cold it can be at 10-thousand feet.   Liz Sparrow is one of the people behind WGUK – Women Glide United Kingdom. She tell us about the challenge of getting more women into gliding and the upcoming Women's Worlds Gliding Championships.   Julia Clitheroe – took to gliding lik...

On Episode #18 of The Thermal   – a near death gliding video from New Zealand that's gone viral. What if anything can we learn from this incident? Gliding guru G Dale…gives us his two-cents worth.     And an interview with Bernard Eckey…the gliding legend behind Advanced Soaring Made Easy. We talk to him about edition 4.1   On Gliding Club Confidential, we go to the CuNim gliding club, nestled in...

In Episode #17 of The Thermal, SkySight founder Matthew Scutter on flying an all-electric contest with his FES powered Diana 2. And on Gliding Club Confidential, we go to Western Canada and the Invermere Soaring Centre. That's all on Episode #17 of The Thermal.

In this Episode of The Thermal, we break away from our normal format for a a feature interview with professional glider pilot, coach and instructor G. Dale. Volume 3 of his series entitled The Soaring Engine is now out. This volume focuses on human performance and gliding. Whether you're a novice or an experienced x-country pilot…you will learn something from this interview.

In this Episode of The Thermal, a glider crash and rescue in the mountains of British Columbia. The CFI of the Invermere Gliding Centre gives us a first-hand account of this remarkable story. On Gliding Club Confidential, we go to Israel and the Megiddo Gliding Center, where flying cross-country means avoiding hostile land-outs. True Gliding is a comedic look at the world of Gliding. It's just bee...

Episode #14 of The Thermal is now available at your favourite podcast provider.   In this episode , we get an update on how one Canadian gliding club is dealing with the COVID pandemic and flying operations. (1 minute and 50 seconds into the show)   In California, Jim Payne has been breaking records in Nixus – a one of a kind 28-meter, two-seat super-ship with a fly-by wire control system. We talk...

In this Episode of The Thermal, we hear from the two pilots who just set a new US multi-seat record by flying from Minnesota to Tennessee in an Arcus M. This flight wasn't a spur of the moment decision. It was literally years in the making. In the UK, the British Gliding Association has noticed a disturbing trend in towplane upsets. We talk to the Chair of the British Gliding Association's Safety...

On this episode of The Thermal, we will check in with glider pilots from Australia, Germany, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.   We will find out what's happening during COVID and when gliding will potentially start up again.    And…are you in lock-down and want to learn something new? Why not become an Official Observer and help your fellow pilots claim badge and rec...

  Episode #11 of The Thermal is now available.   In this Episode of The Thermal, we hear from Contest Manager Richard Owen on how his team of volunteers     managed to keep this year's Senior's Contest in Florida going amid the pandemic. We also have an interview about competitive on-line gliding. Because let's face it, we can't do the real thing. We talk to Daniel Sazhin about chasing thermals on...

Hello and welcome to this special edition of The Thermal Podcast. The COVID-19 crisis is unprecedented in scale and its global reach. The infection rates are climbing and the world's medical professionals are being tested like never before. Social Distancing is becoming the new norm and everyday life is being affected in unprecedented ways. And that includes gliding clubs across the globe. Dr Dale...

  In this Episode  -  an incredible 1730 KM record breaking flight in New Zealand. Pilot Terry Delore puts us in the cockpit for the flight of a lifetime. Denmark is a small nation with a small but intense group of glider pilots. Morten Bennick tells us how he exploits every possible island-hopping cross-country opportunity. On Gliding Club Confidential, we go to Scotland. Pilot with a Paintbrush...

Welcome to Episode #9 of The Thermal…the antipodean edition. I'm your host Herrie ten Cate. In this Episode of The Thermal, we go to Australia and hear about the impact of the devastating bush fires from the head of the Gliding Federation of Australia. And we also find out what it's like to fly in the Women's World Gliding Championships in extreme heat and smoke.  That contest was recently held in...

On Episode #8 of The Thermal Podcast: - Pilot with a Paintbrush - History making 1958 flight across the English Channel - London Gliding Club on Gliding Club Confidential - And...a small wind turbine to keep your glider trailer ventilated during those cloudy winter months. Make sure you listen to Episode #8 for a special voucher code for a two week free trial of SkySight..

Welcome to Episode #7 of The Thermal. I'm your host Herrie ten Cate. In this Episode of The Thermal, we take a look at weather forecasting and how to figure out that perfect 500 km day. The good news is that it no longer requires a crystal ball. First up – Matthew Scutter, the man behind SkySight, the fantastic weather app for glider pilots. He'll tell us the story behind this app, that has become...

Welcome to Episode #6 of The Thermal. I'm your host Herrie ten Cate.  In this Episode of The Thermal, smashing records in the UK. We speak with top British pilot Ed Downham about his spectacular flights while flying his unique 28-meter open glass glider from coast to coast and then some.  Simon van den Eijkel aka Flying Simon – is a member of the Dutch Junior team and he'll be talking about his so...

On this episode of The Thermal – a look behind the scenes of the 2019 Pan American Gliding Championships and the role of Contest Director. We speak with Ken Sorensen, who is a well-known American competition pilot in his own right.   And Rocky Mountain High… Chester Fitchett tells us about his multiple 1000 km wave flights and crossing into American Airspace. Chester flies out of the CuNim club ne...

Episode #4 of The Thermal has released from tow. I'm your host Herrie ten Cate.   In this show, I speak with two club class pilots who both placed first but on different continents. British pilot Jake Brattle flew in the World Junior Championships in Hungary and Argentinian pilot Carlos Iucci flew in the Pan Am Gliding Championships in Canada. Both of these pilots were flying older gliders but wer...

Episode #3 of The Thermal podcast is now out   In this Episode of The Thermal, the Jonker JS3 Rapture is cleaning up at competitions around the world. We talk to Uys Jonker one of the brother's responsible for this cutting-edge sailplane.   Also, a feature interview on the life and times of British gliding icon Derek Piggott and his vast contribution to the sport of gliding. Derek died earlier thi...

Welcome to Episode #2 of The Thermal. I'm your host Herrie ten Cate.   On this show, we speak to competition pilot John Seaborn who has just won the US 18-meter Nationals in Hobbs, New Mexico. We'll hear about a low save at 1200 feet that turned into a 13-thousand-foot climb.   We will also be talking parachutes and survival with Mr Parachute…Allen Silver of Silver Parachutes. Is your parachute pa...

Welcome to Episode #1 of The Thermal. I'm your host Herrie ten Cate.  On this show, Perlan chief pilot Jim Payne will tell us what it was like to break the world altitude record for gliders while flying the Antarctic wave in Argentina.   And an interview with Richard Carlson, the Chairman of the Soaring Safety Foundation to talk about what they're doing to increase gliding safety.  Closing the sho...

Episode 0 is a brief introduction to The Thermal and what type of gliding related interviews the listener can expect to hear. There's also information on host Herrie ten Cate's flying experience.