Harm & Annet <<harm.annet>>
write:

This year we will be presenting the seminar at Monte Cucco in
Italy from 10th to the 16th of July. 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 12 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.

There will be a second course the week later more focused on paragliders, more
details about that later about the dates and place.

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 xc 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 XC Seminar will be €450 (euros).

If you’ve had a notion to improve your cross-country skills or go XC 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.