Centring the core

Find the core of a thermal and stay in it: turn towards the lifted wing, bank 35 to 45° at minimum sink speed plus a margin, and flatten briefly as the lift gets stronger to move your circle into the core.

What you learn

• Choose the turn direction from the wing that lifts
• Set bank and speed for thermalling (LS8: 45°, 95 km/h)
• Explain why a steeper bank costs sink (1.41 g, about 1.7 ×)
• Move your circle into the core by flattening briefly
• Recover a wrong turn with the 270° correction

In playlists

• Gliding and soaring

Also on

• Video course: Soaring