Dennis Pagen writes:

Announcing our annual XC Seminar in Europe.

This year we will be presenting the seminar at Sopot, Bulgaria from 27 July to 2
August 2013. The course consists of talks and actual flying practice under the
guidance of instructors. It is intended for pilots of intermediate and better
skills. Student pilots should at least know the basics of thermal soaring. We
will work on all the skills necessary to be a good cross-country pilot. If some
pilots have superior skills we will work with them on competition skills if so
requested. Typically we have twelve students in the class and three instructors
so that each day there are four students assigned to each instructor. These
groups vary throughout the course. This arrangement has worked very successfully
in the past twelve years. This year we are adding a new format with a download
of student's GPS flight record and an analysis of the flights.

FORMAT

The seminar takes place over seven days (normally we have an informal gathering
the night before to get acquainted). The daily schedule* is typically:
Presentation-8:30 until 10:30am. Loading gliders and driving to the hill-10:30
to 12:00. Setting up and discussing task for the day-12:00 to 1:00pm.
Flying-afternoon. Evening debrief and flight analysis-7 to 8:30pm. The
presentation consists of lecture and drawings covering all the topics in the
course outline. These are presented by Dennis Pagen, mainly, with inputs from
the other instructors as well as plenty of room for student questions. Students
learn best when they know which of their capabilities they want to improve.
These wishes of improvement are the starting points of the presentations. Along
with them many aspects of cross country flying will be covered.

* Note: the times listed above will vary with the site and conditions of the
day.

EQUIPMENT

It is desirable to have a double surface glider to maximize cross-country
potential. However, we have had single surface gliders and many intermediate
gliders fly cross-country. Pilot skill is the most important factor, and this is
what we work on most. Items that improve the effectiveness of the course greatly
are a 2-meter radio, cell phones with local sim card and a GPS device. The last
two items are for a quick retrieve, the radio allows the instructors to give
constant feedback and to enhance staying together in the air. Flying together
and getting personal feedback is what gives you a boost. A working radio set and
GPS makes this possible. Work your radio systems as well as all your equipment
out before the course for maximum value. And this year we will be downloading
track logs, comparing them and learning from the flight details. Finally, we
recommend having note-taking ability because we present so much information that
it cannot all be remembered.

FLYING

Every day when it is flyable, we will get ready as efficiently as possible, then
we will discuss the day's task. It will be chosen according to the conditions of
the day. The task will be chosen to be challenging but safe. The groups will be
roughly divided so that pilots of similar skills will fly together. There may be
different tasks for the different groups. The instructors will remain with their
assigned groups as much as possible to help with thermalling, gliding and
decision-making. Sometimes we will go ahead to mark thermals, and sometimes we
will wait for slower pilots. The whole effect is that students will have many
other pilots helping throughout most of the flight. The emphasis is on improving
the skills of each student. And, of course, we intend it to be FUN!

Costs of this Cross Country Seminar will be €450 (euros).

If you've had a notion to improve your cross-country skills or go cross country
for the first time, be sure to join us this summer. For more information contact
Annet at <harm.annet>. She
keeps the records of communication and finances.