Flying Thermals

a good looking cloud in Pancas, Brazil

How to: get good at mapping lift

How to make the most of the clouds in the flatlands. Hugh Miller explains how to develop a mental model of lift each time you fly
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Cloud streets in the flatlands of Australia. Photo: Tex Beck

How to fly cloud streets in the flatlands

If the conditions are right cloud streets will form over flatlands. Here's a quick guide to how to fly them
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Spring paragliding in mountains

Spring thermals: Understanding the bounce

The Spring Bounce is a real thing – Cross Country's resident meteorologist Honza Rejmanek explains what you need to know
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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
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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.
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How to thermal better. Period.

Sailplane ace Jay Rebbeck teaches us his thermal flying techniques and explains when to tighten up and when to turn flat
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How to thermal better

A dozen tips to help you thermal better

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How clouds form, from the Met Office

Finding, tracking and flying thermals in mountains

Predicting where a thermal will travel after releasing isn't a skill that requires a missile guidance system, some simple 3D terrain analysis is enough
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Hang gliding and paragliding techniques: Thermal Flying part 2: Thermal generators and triggers

A series of choice cuts from Burkhard Martens’ new technique book on everything you need to know about cross country flying
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Hang gliding and paragliding techniques: Thermal Flying part 1: Thermals

An extract from Thermal Flying by Burkhard Martens, the bible for paragliding and hang gliding pilots
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