Southern California Soaring Academy

Make a habit of continually scanning for every kind of information available, and you will find much vital detail you didn’t know to expect.   Some will be welcome and some will not, but discerning and analyzing ‘all available information’ is key to success.   By training yourself to THINK, continuously, incisively, and creatively, you can learn to perform little miracles, sometimes almost on demand!

Most soaring pilots put undue emphasis on their instruments instead of observing the much more useful information that’s everywhere, in the sky and on the ground.   Don’t stare at the vario, it LIES to you!   Yes, audio varios can be useful, but they mask the sound of the air, which itself is splendid information – and is pleasant rather than annoying.   A good soaring pilot will feel the air and visualize mental movies of its flow.

 …Which is to say PERFORM them.   Don’t just say the words, physically check each item on every launch and every landing, as if your future depends on it – because it does!   Then, if there is any delay or interruption, do it again.