Paragliding Tips and Tricks #9

In a effort to pump up the hashtag #paragliding, and to give inspiration to new pilots, I will start posting little things that I am learning along the way.

In this post you can expect to learn about:

• Surface and Level charts
• Weather map wind symbols
• Reporting stations
• Conditions on an unstable day (in the mountains)
• Conditions on a light wind stable day (in the mountains)

In the last few chapters of Dennis Pagen's book "Understanding the Sky" A sport pilot's guide to flying conditions, the topic of reading weather charts comes up. In the image below you find all kinds of different symbols that all represent some aspect of weather.

In this image below you can find the identifier for wind speed/direction as a stick with some hash marks. The full has mark represents 10 knots. Two full hash mark together represents 20 knots. A half hash mark represents 5 knots. The direction of the main hash/body of the identifier gives you the wind directing as the 12 O'clock being north. In this image the wind barb is showing a North West wind at 25 knots. (Not a good for flying because it is too strong for a noob)

You will find the two dots representing rain, the temp and below that you will find the dew point. In this illustration you should find 872 + 27 with a check mark representing the barometer change measured at 3 hrs. This is measured in millibars. The other symbols on here show you types of cloud forms. High clouds (cirrostratus) and Middle clouds (altostratus)

• This next image above shows you the (conditions on a light wind stable day)
  You should find lift in the hills as the thermals push up the face. You will find lift at the beach as you approach the water, cooling air, followed by sink as you get out over the water.

I personally haven't flown over water yet, however, I do know that a pilot recently was flying where there was not much room between the cliff and the beach. He was losing altitude fast, and was over the water. His wife was watching from the shore when he went into the water. He landed in the water for whatever reason and did not get out. He got tangled in his gear. If you don't get anything out of this post other than this one thing. Get out of your harness if you find your self landing in water. And when you hit the water, GET AWAY FROM YOUR WING! This guy got tangled in the mess. If he had jumped out of his harness, he could still be alive. It wouldn't matter if he was 50 ft in the air. If he had jumped out, he would have had a much better chance to survive. (If you know you are going to fly over water, get a life preserver or some flotation device)

• This last image gives us these lessons.
  "Looking at this image we see the smoke in the valley at A gives an indication of wind speed and direction (light along the valley) as well as the buoyancy of the air. The smoke breaks apart from the light turbulence and expands as it rises. Not much wind gradient is expected since not much wind exists. Thermals are present as can be told from the isolated cumulus clouds at B.
  Rough air is expected everywhere due to the thermals, but strong turbulence is only encountered near the arid hot patch C and the towering cumulus D. The thermals about C are small and intense while the thunderstorm D creates gusts which reach the ground and spread. As the thunderstorm marches up the valley it can bring stronger winds and trigger off dust devils in front of it."
  Lift is expected at pints marked E as these correspond with good thermals producing surface areas. In time the thunderstorm advance may shut down these thermals long before the storm arrives. Other good thermal spots are likely to be over the high ground F.

I know that is a lot to swallow. We will call this lesson done. If you have questions or comments about the lessons comment below.

https://steemit.com/paragliding/@captainobviou3/paragliding-tips-and-tricks-8

https://steemit.com/paragliding/@captainobviou3/paragliding-tips-and-tricks-7

https://steemit.com/paragliding/@captainobviou3/paragliding-tips-and-tricks-6

https://steemit.com/paragliding/@captainobviou3/paragliding-tips-and-tricks-5

https://steemit.com/paragliding/@captainobviou3/paragliding-tips-and-tricks-4

https://steemit.com/paragliding/@captainobviou3/paragliding-tips-and-tricks-3

https://steemit.com/paragliding/@captainobviou3/paragliding-tips-and-tricks-2

https://steemit.com/paragliding/@captainobviou3/paragliding-tips-and-tricks-1