Cross Country Magazine Tuesday Tip

This week's tip is from our archive. In How to fly the flatlands in Cross Country issue 133 we asked expert pilots for their advice.


The Thirds Rule

There are a handful of basic rules to observe when planning a route. Most importantly:

  1. Try to fly the windward side. Long lee flights are strenuous and dangerous.
  2. Fly along mountain faces which are perfectly aligned to the sun.
  3. On long tasks, look to cover as much ground as possible on known 'race tracks'.
  4. Always try to fly with the sun at your back – then you'll be heading for the sunny faces on the next mountain.
  5. If winds at altitude are strong, forget closed tasks – fly open distance with a tailwind.


Thermal routesImage: XContest.org

Cross Country Flying Cross Country Flying by Burkhard Martens was published on 1 May 2013