On Episode #45 of The Thermal, a feature interview with longtime American contest pilot Chip Bearden.  Chip is the author of Goodbye Papa Golf. It’s an autobiography about Chip’s life as a contest glider pilot, marathon runner, tech entrepreneur and family man.  It’s written in a way that’s fascinating for glider pilots but is also a good read for those not necessarily interested in aviation.

On this Episode of The Thermal, competing at the 15 meter World Gliding Contest in Narromine, Australia. We follow-up with Dutch competition pilot Jeroen Verkuijl to find out what it was like. What do you to when you’re about to turn 80? Well, you buy a high performance motor glider and go on an epic cross-country flight to Australia’s famous Morning Glory wave system. And get your glider pilot’s license in the process.  John Riedl tells us all about it. ( reedle like needle) Imagine a cockpit with almost unlimited visibility and you have the Ultra-Vision glider concept. I speak to the aeronautical engineer behind this innovative design.  That’s all on Episode   #44 of The Thermal.

In this Episode of The Thermal, a primer on the upcoming World Gliding Championships in Narromine, Australia. I speak with contest organizer Beryl Hartley and Dutch competitor Jeroen Verkuijl will be flying a JS-3. 

Welcome to Episode #42 of The Thermal.  In this Episode of The Thermal…a feature interview with gliding rock start Gordon Boettgner. Gordon will tell us first-hand how he broke the world distance record for gliding along with his co-pilot Bruce Campbell. We’ll find out about the equipment and tactics and how a combination of skill, luck and mother nature made this 3000 km flight happen. That’s all on Episode  #42 of The Thermal.

In this Episode of The Thermal, I speak to Dirk Corporaal…the winner of the 2022 FAI’s Pirat Gehriger Diploma. Dirk has spent over 20 years writing and developing an exceptional student manual for glider pilots…that’s now available in multiple languages.   And remembering a rock star of aviation and gliding…Einar Enevoldsen…the man behind the Perlan Project. His longtime friend Ed Warnock tells us about this remarkable man.   And a history flashback. Scott McGaugh the author of “The Brotherhood of the Flying Coffin”…puts us in the cockpit with American combat glider pilots and their missions in World War Two.   That’s all on Episode   #41 of The Thermal.

On Episode #40 of The Thermal…a feature interview with IGC President Peter Eriksen and the growing concern over mid-air collisions.    I also speak to this year’s winner of the BGA’s Bill Scull Safety Award. Wolf Rossmann tells us all about his on-line safety tool FlySafe.   And Dr Dan…talks to me about the real danger of Altitude Decompression Sickness and the impact on glider pilots. It’s another danger we need to pay attention to.   That’s all on episode #40 of The Thermal.

In this Episode of The Thermal, Mathias Schunk tells us what it’s like to crash a JS-1 at 100kmh and survive. It’s a hell of a story…not to be missed.  And we hear from Dutch pilot Jeroen van Dijk and his epic 2022 summer flying his LS-3. Jeroen flew not just one but two 1000 km flights out of his home base…the Amsterdam Gliding Club. That's all on Episode #39 of The Thermal.   

In this Episode of The Thermal, Crisis in the Air. We hear from a British pilot who kept cool and saved himself and his glider. American pilot Roy Bourgeois knows how to escape the Northern Winters. He has just returned from his 27th gliding adventure in South Africa…he gives us the inside scoop. And there’s a new App for analyzing IGC files. One that will help you figure out if you’re a safe pilot. That’s all on Episode  #38 of The Thermal.

On Episode #37 of The Thermal…pilots who make a difference. Beryl Hartley has been a cornerstone of gliding in Australia for almost 60 years and has just been recognized with an FAI award. Liz Sparrow – was one of the key movers and shakers behind last summer’s highly successful Women’s World Gliding Championships that were held in the UK…lets us in on the recipe for success. And Elena Yakymchuk (Elaina Yak-um- chook)…a pilot from Ukraine who with some help from her friends in the UK was able to represent her Ukraine at last summer’s Women’s Worlds. That’s all on Episode #37 of The Thermal.

  In this Episode of The Thermal, we go to Namibia and Northern Australia. Epic flying adventures that should be on the gliding bucket list for all serious soaring pilots. We will hear first-hand what it’s like to fly over the Kalahari and what it’s like to chase the Morning Glory wave clouds over Northern Queensland. Episode #36 of The Thermal is now ready to launch.

Welcome to Episode #35 of The Thermal. I’m your host Herrie ten Cate. It’s great to be back after a long summer hiatus and a big move. My wife and I sold up in Ontario and moved to Invermere, British Columbia. It’s a bit of a drive…some 3700 kilometers but well worth it. The first story is about a record breaking cross-country flight from Alaska to Tasmania. It’s not on the OLC but only because the pilot is of the feathered variety. We also go to Scotland and get the inside scoop from Wave Hunter Sant Cervantes. And we go to Holland where we learn about a very special k-8 that’s now a flying work of art…stained glass to be precise. That’s all on Episode #35 of The Thermal.

  In Episode #34 of The Thermal, an inside view of the scandal plagued 2019 Women’s World Gliding Championships at Lake Keepit, Australia. We talk to the Contest Director and get her take on what actually happened. And gliding from Switzerland to the UK…I speak with an adventurous Swiss pilot about his epic adventure. And we hear from a pilot who’s flying this year’s 2-seater championships in the UK, where the onus is on having fun. That’s all on Episode  #34  of The Thermal.

In this Episode of The Thermal – the devastating impact of the cheating scandal at the 2019 Women’s World Gliding Championships. We speak to a pilot that was a member of the disqualified Australian Team. The next Women’s World’s are happening this summer in the UK. Elena Yakymchuk is a Ukrainian pilot who will be going to the contest….despite the terrible war that’s ripping her nation apart. We hear her story.  And a primer on this summer’s Women’s World Gliding Championships…we talk to contest director Liz Sparrow. That’s all on Episode #33 of The Thermal.

In this Episode of The Thermal, we hear from a young Ukrainian glider pilot and what’s happening to him and his fellow club members as the war rages around them. An un-imaginable situation for most of us. In California…glider pilots are exploring new areas of wave and having spectacular flights. Ramy Yanetz tells us what’s like to fly over San Francisco. And a young man with ambition. Noah Kleeberg wants to be the youngest person ever to circumnavigate the globe…and he’s hoping to do it in a motor glider. That’s all on this episode of The Thermal.

In this Episode of The Thermal, we remember gliding legend Ingo Renner, who has died at the age of 81. We chat with fellow pilot and friend Bernard Eckey. Tow pilot emergency. We hear from the Pawnee pilot who had the wherewithal to figure out what to do when the control stick separated in flight. And a new take on an age old problem…training and retaining glider pilots. We find out about the CuNim gliding club’s Objective Oriented Training program. That’s all on Episode  #31 of The Thermal.

Episode #30 of The Thermal…the Kiwi edition. In this Episode of The Thermal, Terry and Abbey Delore tell us the story of their remarkable Tip to Tip journey from one end of New Zealand to the other.  And the life and times of John Roake. We’ll hear from a long-time friend about John’s lasting impact on both the New Zealand and International gliding scene.  And Kahu Soaring is a new commercial outfit in Omarara…the pilot behind this venture gives us the inside story.    That’s all on Episode   #31 of The Thermal…the all Kiwi edition.

In this Episode of The Thermal a 1600 KM wave flight over the Canadian Rockies at a blistering average speed of 140 knots. We talk to Arcus pilot Chester Fitchett. We also hear from the Air Traffic Controller and glider pilot who helped facilitate this flight through controlled airspace. And the story behind a lovingly restored Robin glider from the 1930s. We talk to glider pilot and restorer Doug Fronius. And last but not least…a moving poem about the big inevitable Final Glide… that all of us glider pilots will all eventually face. That and a whole lot more on this episode of The Thermal.

  In Episode #28 of The Thermal…Katrin Senne and what it was like to fly in the recent Gliding Grand Prix final in France….where she placed 4th!   And a feature interview with Gisela Weinreich. She’s an accomplished competition glider pilot, role model for women in aviation and now…the recipient of the prestigious FAI Lilienthal Award.    That’s all on Episode  #28 of The Thermal…the all women, all German glider pilot edition.

In this Episode of The Thermal, we hear from a Dutch pilot who placed second at the recent world championships in France. It was a very tough fought contest with challenging flying conditions.  We also hear from a novice pilot who narrowly escaped a final glide that went wrong…leaving field selection to the last possible moment. And the British Air Training Corps is 80 years old. Many, many British glider pilots got their start with this organization. We look back at its history.  That’s all on Episode   #27 of The Thermal.

In Episode #26 of The Thermal - tow plane bird strike and a remarkable story of survival. We hear from a young pilot who narrowly escaped with his life. The International Vintage Sailplane Meet at Harris Hill, New York has wrapped up. We talk to one of the pilots who went and what it’s like to fly a very special vintage ship.  And Baptiste Innocent has done it again. This time, he set new National and European records by flying to the Island of Corsica from mainland France and then home via Italy. Baptiste gives us a first-hand account.

In Episode #25 of The Thermal, we hear from racing pilot Katrin Senne who just flew in the Italian qualifying round of the World Gliding Grand Prix. On the other side of the English Channel, we catch up with G Dale…gliding author/coach and competition pilot. He has just finished writing Edition #4 of The Soaring Engine.  And SoarAmerica – one pilot’s quest to fly from the West Coast to the East Coast in stages. We catch-up with this intrepid pilot in Mississippi. That’s all on Episode #25 of The Thermal.

In this Episode of The Thermal, we hear from a Norwegian pilot who recently ditched his glider in a lake. He walks us through the decision making process and how training made all the difference.   On Gliding Club Confidential, we go to Australia and the Balaclava Gliding Club…home base for Bernard Eckey – gliding guru and author.   And finally…gliding and COVID brain. We’ve all been affected by COVID-19. But what does it mean for us when we get into the cockpit? We hear from the Soaring Association of Canada’s National Safety Officer.   That’s all on Episode   #24 of The Thermal.

  In Episode #23 of The Thermal, a new European free distance record has been set in a Pyrenees wave flight.  We talk to Baptiste Innocent, one half of this record breaking crew.    On Gliding Club Confidential, we go to Australia and the Temora Gliding Club…   Covid-19 has had a particularly hard impact on our commercial pilot friends. We check in with glider pilots who are also commercial pilots to find out how they’re fairing.    That’s all on Episode #23 of The Thermal.

In Episode #22 of The Thermal, an analysis of the 2020 gliding accidents and incidents in the US. What do they have in common and are there any emerging trends? We talk to FAA safety guy and glider pilot Stephen K Brown.   Gliding Club SOS. This month on Gliding Club Confidential we go to the AKKA GLIDING CLUB in Suriname. A small Caribbean  club that’s fighting for its very survival.   And…the beauty of soaring at the tip of a paintbrush. We chat with aviation artist Robbie Roberts about his work and his motivation.   That’s on Episode #22 of The Thermal Podcast. 

Welcome to Episode #21 of The Thermal. In this Episode of The Thermal, we celebrate the life of the legendary Hans-Werner Grosse. A glider pilot who set the bar for long distance flying. We speak to long-time friends who remember this remarkable man. On gliding club confidential, we go to Colorado for an in-depth look at the Boulder Soaring Association, where the Rocky Mountains provide a stunning backdrop to flying in this part of the USA. Further to the North-East…in New Hampshire, there’s a single glider wing  up in the mountains above the local glider port. We talk to a pilot who has tried to unravel the mystery. That and a whole lot more on Episode #21 of The Thermal.

Welcome to Episode #20 of The Thermal.  In this Episode of The Thermal, we truly go global. From Australia to Colorado and from Denmark to Germany and the UK.  You’ll hear about a heart-warming K-6 restoration, how to set your gliding goals, a contest for Old Glass, a fabulous new site called Nordic Gliding and WeGlide…the new kid on the block that’s serious competition for the OLC. That and a whole lot more on Episode   #20 of The Thermal.

In this Episode of The Thermal, a 1300 km convergence line flight in Australia. Pete Temple tells us what it was like and how cold it can be at 10-thousand feet.   Liz Sparrow is one of the people behind WGUK – Women Glide United Kingdom. She tell us about the challenge of getting more women into gliding and the upcoming Women’s Worlds Gliding Championships.   Julia Clitheroe – took to gliding like a duck to water or is that a hawk to a thermal? This 16-year old tells us what it’s like to become a licensed glider pilot during a COVID summer.   And we will also have  Part 2 of my interview with retired Canadian contest pilot and record holder Roy Gray. He tells us about an epic flight from Regina into the muskeg of Manitoba during the 1962 Canadian Nationals.    And a short trigger warning…listening to this podcast will make you want to fly. Words like glider and thermal are heard often. You have been forewarned.    That’s all on Episode #19 of The Thermal.

On Episode #18 of The Thermal  – a near death gliding video from New Zealand that’s gone viral. What if anything can we learn from this incident? Gliding guru G Dale…gives us his two-cents worth.    And an interview with Bernard Eckey…the gliding legend behind Advanced Soaring Made Easy. We talk to him about edition 4.1   On Gliding Club Confidential, we go to the CuNim gliding club, nestled in the foot hills of the Canadian Rockies. Spectacular scenery and spectacular flights.   And we turn back the hands of time to 1964 and a diamond cross-country flight in a K-6. It was a year when there was no Department of Homeland Security and Canadian Glider pilots could fly across the border without the additional risk of getting shot down.    That’s all on Episode #18 of The Thermal.

In Episode #17 of The Thermal, SkySight founder Matthew Scutter on flying an all-electric contest with his FES powered Diana 2. And on Gliding Club Confidential, we go to Western Canada and the Invermere Soaring Centre. That’s all on Episode #17 of The Thermal.

In this Episode of The Thermal, we break away from our normal format for a a feature interview with professional glider pilot, coach and instructor G. Dale. Volume 3 of his series entitled The Soaring Engine is now out. This volume focuses on human performance and gliding. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced x-country pilot…you will learn something from this interview.

In this Episode of The Thermal, a glider crash and rescue in the mountains of British Columbia. The CFI of the Invermere Gliding Centre gives us a first-hand account of this remarkable story. On Gliding Club Confidential, we go to Israel and the Megiddo Gliding Center, where flying cross-country means avoiding hostile land-outs. True Gliding is a comedic look at the world of Gliding. It’s just been translated from Swedish to English. We speak to the author. And letting go of the apron strings…there’s a new innovative cross-country program called Proving Grounds. We hear from one of the designers and how it can be implemented at your gliding club. That’s all on the Summer 2020 edition of The Thermal Podcast.

Episode #14 of The Thermal is now available at your favourite podcast provider.   In this episode , we get an update on how one Canadian gliding club is dealing with the COVID pandemic and flying operations. (1 minute and 50 seconds into the show)   In California, Jim Payne has been breaking records in Nixus – a one of a kind 28-meter, two-seat super-ship with a fly-by wire control system. We talk to Jim and the glider’s designer Paulo Iscold. (12 minute and 43 seconds into the show)   On Gliding Club Confidential we go to Denmark and find out how Danes like to soar over their very flat nation. (32 minutes into the show)   From Russia with Love - We hear from an American glider pilot who’s had a life-long love affair with a Russian 18-meter glider. A glider he has finally been able to get his hands on. (40 minutes into the show) That and a whole lot more on Episode #14 of The Thermal.

In this Episode of The Thermal, we hear from the two pilots who just set a new US multi-seat record by flying from Minnesota to Tennessee in an Arcus M. This flight wasn’t a spur of the moment decision. It was literally years in the making. In the UK, the British Gliding Association has noticed a disturbing trend in towplane upsets. We talk to the Chair of the British Gliding Association’s Safety Committee to find out why and what’s being done to stop it from happening. Parachutes…believe it or not…sometimes glider pilots actually have to use them. We talk to long time competition pilot Dave Nadler about leaving an out of control glider and living to talk about it. Pay attention to this interview…it could save our life. And on Gliding Club Confidential, we go to Lithuania. A small country on the Baltic with a group of passionate glider pilots.  That and a whole lot more on this edition of The Thermal Podcast…

On this episode of The Thermal, we will check in with glider pilots from Australia, Germany, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.  We will find out what’s happening during COVID and when gliding will potentially start up again.    And…are you in lock-down and want to learn something new? Why not become an Official Observer and help your fellow pilots claim badge and record flights? We find out what’s involved from a Senior Official Observer.   That’s all on Episode  #12 of The Thermal….the COVID edition. The interviews on this show were recorded at the end of April…

 Episode #11 of The Thermal is now available.   In this Episode of The Thermal, we hear from Contest Manager Richard Owen on how his team of volunteers    managed to keep this year’s Senior’s Contest in Florida going amid the pandemic. We also have an interview about competitive on-line gliding. Because let’s face it, we can’t do the real thing. We talk to Daniel Sazhin about chasing thermals on the computer screen. Mark Maughmer is a long time glider pilot and engineer. And is largely responsible for glider winglet design. He’s just won a major award for his work. On Gliding Club Confidential, Katrine Senne tell us about her gliding club in the Black Forest. And hear from the man behind the Sun Seeker -  a unique solar powered motor glider. March 2020, marks the 75th anniversary of the last combat glider operation of World War Two. We talk to the author of a new book about an American combat glider group. That and a whole lot more on Episode #11 of The Thermal.

Hello and welcome to this special edition of The Thermal Podcast. The COVID-19 crisis is unprecedented in scale and its global reach. The infection rates are climbing and the world’s medical professionals are being tested like never before. Social Distancing is becoming the new norm and everyday life is being affected in unprecedented ways. And that includes gliding clubs across the globe. Dr Dale Guenter is a family physician and President of SOSA, the Southern Ontario Soaring Association which is located an hour west of Toronto, Canada. I’ve reached Dale in Dundas, Ontario.

  In this Episode  -  an incredible 1730 KM record breaking flight in New Zealand. Pilot Terry Delore puts us in the cockpit for the flight of a lifetime. Denmark is a small nation with a small but intense group of glider pilots. Morten Bennick tells us how he exploits every possible island-hopping cross-country opportunity. On Gliding Club Confidential, we go to Scotland. Pilot with a Paintbrush paints a loving portrait of her club…the Deeside Gliding Club. Are you prepared if your flight ends in an unexpected way? Do you carry a Personal Location Device? Pilot, Tech reviewer and Podcaster Phil Lightstone talks us through the latest gadgets. And some glider pilots prefer high tows and rapid descents over strong thermals and long cross-country flights. We talk to Aerobatic Competitor Laura Radigan about the topsy-turvey world of Glider Aerobatics. That’s all on Episode #10 of The Thermal. **Please subscribe to this podcast and leave a review on our favourite podcast provider...

Welcome to Episode #9 of The Thermal…the antipodean edition. I’m your host Herrie ten Cate. In this Episode of The Thermal, we go to Australia and hear about the impact of the devastating bush fires from the head of the Gliding Federation of Australia. And we also find out what it’s like to fly in the Women’s World Gliding Championships in extreme heat and smoke.  That contest was recently held in Lake Keepit, Australia. We hear all about it from 18-meter pilot Katrine Senne. And from New Zealand gliding guru and author G Dale tells us about The Thermal Engine -  his critically acclaimed set of gliding instruction manuals. Finally on Gliding Club confidential, we go back to Australia for a look at the Adelaide Soaring Club. That’s all on this antipodean edition of The Thermal Podcast.

On Episode #8 of The Thermal Podcast: - Pilot with a Paintbrush - History making 1958 flight across the English Channel - London Gliding Club on Gliding Club Confidential - And...a small wind turbine to keep your glider trailer ventilated during those cloudy winter months. Make sure you listen to Episode #8 for a special voucher code for a two week free trial of SkySight..

Welcome to Episode #7 of The Thermal. I’m your host Herrie ten Cate. In this Episode of The Thermal, we take a look at weather forecasting and how to figure out that perfect 500 km day. The good news is that it no longer requires a crystal ball. First up – Matthew Scutter, the man behind SkySight, the fantastic weather app for glider pilots. He’ll tell us the story behind this app, that has become indispensable for many pilots. We also speak with Andrew Blum – the author of The Weather Machine – A Journey Inside the Weather Forecast. We talk about the art of weather forecasting and where we are today. And on Gliding Club Confidential, we go to the Netherlands and the Deelen Gliding Club. Simon van den Eijkel or Flying Simon as he’s known to some will tell us all about his club. We will also speak to a pilot about a mystery glider that was hiding in plane sight (pun intended) at his local gliding club. What is it and where did it come from? That and a whole lot more on episode #7 of The Thermal Podcast.

Welcome to Episode #6 of The Thermal. I’m your host Herrie ten Cate.  In this Episode of The Thermal, smashing records in the UK. We speak with top British pilot Ed Downham about his spectacular flights while flying his unique 28-meter open glass glider from coast to coast and then some.  Simon van den Eijkel aka Flying Simon – is a member of the Dutch Junior team and he’ll be talking about his soaring reading list. There’s something for everyone…from highly technical to easy reading.  Also, we get an update on the Perlan Project’s latest season of exploring the Antarctic Wave system in southern Argentina. Chief Pilot Jim Payne tells us about a strange weather phenomenon called Sudden Atmospheric Warming.  And on Gliding Club Confidential, the Gliding Club of Houston, Texas. Long-time member Ken Sorensen tells us what makes this club so special.   That and a whole lot more on Episode   #6 of The Thermal.

On this episode of The Thermal – a look behind the scenes of the 2019 Pan American Gliding Championships and the role of Contest Director. We speak with Ken Sorensen, who is a well-known American competition pilot in his own right.   And Rocky Mountain High… Chester Fitchett tells us about his multiple 1000 km wave flights and crossing into American Airspace. Chester flies out of the CuNim club near Calgary, Alberta and his flying can be summed up with “Trim forward and Go!”.   Have you ever thought about gliding in Argentina? On our first installment of  Glider Club Confidential we hear from Carlos Iuuci about Club de Planuriz Azul located near Buenas Aires.  

Episode #4 of The Thermal has released from tow. I’m your host Herrie ten Cate.   In this show, I speak with two club class pilots who both placed first but on different continents. British pilot Jake Brattle flew in the World Junior Championships in Hungary and Argentinian pilot Carlos Iucci flew in the Pan Am Gliding Championships in Canada. Both of these pilots were flying older gliders but were having just as much competitive fun as the pilots flying the latest greatest glass ships.   We’re also going to go back 75 years to talk about one of the largest and most controversial combat glider operation of WW2. Over 400 combat gliders were used during the infamous Operation Market Garden which took place in September of 1944. The objective was to capture strategic bridges over the Rhine in Eastern Holland. We talk to historian Mike Peters, who has just written a new book called Glider Pilots at Arnhem.   That’s all on edition #4 of The Thermal.

Episode #3 of The Thermal podcast is now out   In this Episode of The Thermal, the Jonker JS3 Rapture is cleaning up at competitions around the world. We talk to Uys Jonker one of the brother’s responsible for this cutting-edge sailplane.   Also, a feature interview on the life and times of British gliding icon Derek Piggott and his vast contribution to the sport of gliding. Derek died earlier this year.    And the little glider that could…the Schweizer 1-26 has been described as the VW Beetle of gliders. We chat with Marita Rea…a 1-26 owner and life-member of the illustrious 1-26 Association.   Hear her story later and a whole lot more on Edition #3 of The Thermal.

Welcome to Episode #2 of The Thermal. I’m your host Herrie ten Cate.   On this show, we speak to competition pilot John Seaborn who has just won the US 18-meter Nationals in Hobbs, New Mexico. We’ll hear about a low save at 1200 feet that turned into a 13-thousand-foot climb.   We will also be talking parachutes and survival with Mr Parachute…Allen Silver of Silver Parachutes. Is your parachute past it’s best before date and do you carry survival equipment. If you don’t you probably will after listening to Allen.   Finally, an interview with a glider pilot who knows all about adversity. Wayne MacDonald survived a workplace injury that put him in a wheelchair but that also resulted in Wayne becoming a licensed glider pilot.   Hear his story later and a whole lot more on Edition #2 of The Thermal.