Techniques and Skills

Helping you fly better with expert advice

How-to-thermal

How to find the core of a thermal

Thermalling well is all about mental mapping, staying alert to new information and exploration within the thermal. And lots of flying is the only way to collect the pieces of this jigsaw puzzle.
Read More
How-to-thermal-3

How to thermal a paraglider, part 2

Bob Drury picks up some tips from some of the best paraglider and hang glider pilots in the world about how they thermal, in the final part of Cross Country magazine's definitive guide to thermalling
Read More
How-to-thermal-Air-Design

How to thermal a paraglider, part 1

How to Thermal better: Cross Country Magazine's definitive guide to flying hang gliders and paragliders in thermals.
Read More
Cumulus building into a big cell on an unstable day

Understanding air stability

We explain what effect inversions, airmasses and high and low pressure systems can have on your day's paragliding or hang gliding.
Read More

How to fly low on a paramotor

Many paramotor pilots enjoy risky flying close to the ground. Racing between trees feels much faster than it is because the ground is going past so quickly
Read More
Microbursts

Meteorology: Understanding Microbursts

There are two types of microbursts – Honza Rejmanek explains how the can affect pilots
Read More
Instruments

Which flight instrument is right for you? In-depth review

Which flight instrument is right for you? What's the best vario? Buying a flight instrument can be a minefield – we're here to help
Read More
Flying from the coast

Flying from the Coast – sea thermals and XC

Anthony Moore investigates sea thermals and going XC from the beach. Think again about what you think you know – because anything is possible…
Read More
How the seabreeze convergence works. Fly the red zone, avoid the blue. Illustration: Fifty Ways to Fly Better

Understanding Seabreeze Convergence

You can spot a seabreeze convergence in a number of ways. First, by the change in wind direction on the ground.
Read More
The turn-reversal technique of thermalling. Illustration: Fifty Ways to Fly Better

Thermalling techniques: Classic and turn-reversal

Paragliding thermalling techniques: When you approach a strong thermal you can actually feel it sucking you in. You can feel the air flowing in...
Read More