The Thermal Podcast
The Thermal is a monthly podcast devoted to the sport of gliding. You’ll hear about the latest cutting-edge sailplanes and technology. We’ll also be talking about gliding safety, instructing, gliding history, cool pilot interviews, towing, winching and a whole lot more. New podcasts will be released the 1st Saturday of every month.
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The Thermal - Episode #48
04/02/2024
The Thermal - Episode #48
In this Episode of The Thermal, WeGlide’s…Moritz Althaus gives us an update and tells us about a new feature called Co-Pilot. The Libelle - arguably the prettiest glider every made…is turning 60. We find out why this glider was so revolutionary. Starting a new gliding club is a huge under taking. A group of glider pilots in Montana is trying to make it a reality. And finally…some new gliding tech that works with XCSoar…and a new gliding trade fair in Germany. That’s all on Episode #48 of The Thermal.
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The Thermal - Episode #47
03/03/2024
The Thermal - Episode #47
On Episode #47 of The Thermal - doing it right when your sustainer motor won’t stow. We talk to a pilot who executed the perfect emergency landing. Existential Angst…the anti-aviation movement targets Boulder Airport and the local gliding club. Unbridled enthusiasm. We talk to a 14-year old glider pilot that can’t stop smiling. That’s all on Episode #47 of The Thermal.
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The Thermal - Episode #46
02/12/2024
The Thermal - Episode #46
In Episode #46 of The Thermal, we talk to the pilot and author behind The Art of Soaring. A book that puts you in the cockpit with amazing photos and stories. We also speak to Monique Taylor, the author of Suicide Jockeys – The Making of the WW2 Combat Glider Pilot PureTrack is a new gliding tracking App from New Zealand. We find out why it’s gaining in popularity. And finally - remembering Martin Simons. The author of numerous books about gliding and a huge contributor to the gliding movement in general.
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The Thermal - Episode #45
01/17/2024
The Thermal - Episode #45
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.
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The Thermal - Episode #44
12/23/2023
The Thermal - Episode #44
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.
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The Thermal - Episode #43
11/19/2023
The Thermal - Episode #43
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.
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The Thermal - Episode #42
07/01/2023
The Thermal - Episode #42
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.
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Episode #41 - The Thermal Podcast
05/07/2023
Episode #41 - The Thermal Podcast
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.
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The Thermal - Episode #40
04/01/2023
The Thermal - Episode #40
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.
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The Thermal - Episode #39
03/07/2023
The Thermal - Episode #39
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.
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The Thermal - Episode #38
02/01/2023
The Thermal - Episode #38
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.
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The Thermal - Episode #37 Christmas 2022
12/25/2022
The Thermal - Episode #37 Christmas 2022
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.
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The Thermal - Episode #36
12/17/2022
The Thermal - Episode #36
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.
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The Thermal - Episode #35
11/14/2022
The Thermal - Episode #35
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.
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Episode #34 of The Thermal
06/04/2022
Episode #34 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.
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The Thermal Episode #33
05/07/2022
The Thermal Episode #33
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.
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The Thermal Podcast Episode #32
03/27/2022
The Thermal Podcast Episode #32
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.
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Episode #31 of The Thermal Podcast
03/04/2022
Episode #31 of The Thermal Podcast
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.
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The Thermal Episode #30
01/29/2022
The Thermal Episode #30
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.
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The Thermal Episode #29
12/27/2021
The Thermal Episode #29
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.
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The Thermal Episode #28
10/07/2021
The Thermal Episode #28
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.
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The Thermal Episode #27
09/07/2021
The Thermal Episode #27
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.
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The Thermal Episode #26
08/15/2021
The Thermal Episode #26
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.
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The Thermal Episode #25
07/07/2021
The Thermal Episode #25
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.
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The Thermal Episode #24
06/04/2021
The Thermal Episode #24
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.
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The Thermal Episode #23
05/01/2021
The Thermal Episode #23
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.
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The Thermal Episode #22
04/01/2021
The Thermal Episode #22
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.
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The Thermal Episode #21
03/01/2021
The Thermal Episode #21
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.
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The Thermal Episode #20
02/02/2021
The Thermal Episode #20
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.
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The Thermal Episode #19
01/01/2021
The Thermal Episode #19
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.
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