Everything about Slope Soaring totally explained
Slope soaring is a
gliding technique used to maintain altitude by flying in the
updraft produced by
wind blowing up the face of a steep
slope. Model glider pilots commonly refer to this as "slope gliding" or "sloping". Pilots of full-sized gliders also call the lift "
ridge lift" and its use "ridge flying". They use it to fly hundreds of kilometers where there's suitable terrain, such as in the
Ridge-and-valley Appalachians. Birds, such as many
seabirds (in particular
albatross) and
raptors, also use slopes in this way.
Basic requirements
Slope soaring requires a
hill,
ridge,
escarpment or
ocean wave, and a wind that's blowing against the slope, causing
orographic lift. The wind creates a region of rising air directly above the slope which may extend some distance upwards and outwards from its face as the airflow follows the contour of the hill. However at near vertical
cliffs, there's usually an area of
turbulence with descending air near the base of the cliff. Downwind of the hill,
lee waves can form that are also used by glider pilots to gain height but this shouldn't be confused with slope lift.
The rising air from the slope is used to keep gliders airborne. Although a glider is always descending through the air, it'll climb if the surrounding air is rising faster than the glider's sink rate.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Slope Soaring'.
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