E-Learning Media Center

About the virtual classroom / e-learning center

This portion of the Torrey Pines Gliderport web site will be dedicated to continuing the education of students, pilots, and the general public alike. Torrey Pines encourages you to participate in this educational process. If you have ideas or comments, or feel inclined to write a piece on some aspect of flying feel free to submit your information to info@flytorrey.com.

Excerpts from the articles

Condition Induced Events

An asymmetric front deflation occurs when an end portion of the leading edge of the paraglider collapses and tucks underneath the remainder of the flying wing. This can range from a tip deflation, where just the end two or three cells tuck (say 20%), when the wing may or may not alter course, to say 70 % tuck during which the wing can alter course radically towards the deflated side.
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Thermals Chapter 3

Thermals generally form when solar energy heats the ground, which heats the air above it. The bubble of warm air eventually breaks free and rises to a point where it cools to the same temperature as the surrounding air. Several factors determine the size, shape, and speed (lift) of the thermal.

Think of a thermal formation as a pot of water about to boil on a stove. The hotter the flame (sun) the faster the bubbles (thermals) form. Dark surface features, which absorb solar energy, are better at heating the air than are light colored surfaces, which reflect sunlight. Areas such as rock fields, parking lots, plowed fields, hillsides facing the sun, and areas protected from the wind are often good thermal generators.
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