The Thermal Podcast
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About
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.
Episodes
- The Thermal - Episode #69
Welcome to Episode #69 of The Thermal. In this Episode of The Thermal, the Piper Pawnee has issues. Wing spar issues to be exact…we get an update from the Soaring Society of America's Ken Sorensen. Electric Gliders and engine failure. Do y…
- The Thermal - Episode #68
On Episode #68 of The Thermal - from stifling heat to well below zero…a crazy diamond height climb in Australia. We talk to the pilot who paid careful attention to the forecast and bagged his long sought after Diamond And while we're south…
- The Thermal - Episode #67
In Episode #67 of The Thermal, recording breaking flights in Australia. We speak to the pilots that just broke the continental distance record. And going on safari in South Africa…a gliding safari. We chat with one of the pilots that was p…
- The Thermal - Episode #66
Welcome to Episode #66 of The Thermal – the JoeyGlide edition. In this Episode of The Thermal, we find out what makes the Australian JoeyGlide for Junior pilots such a success. It's a training event that has a reputation for turning out wo…
- The Thermal - Episode #65
Welcome to Episode #65 of The Thermal. On this show… a record Arcus flight from Minden, Nevada to Dodge City, Kansas. Just shy of 1800 kilometers this flight took over 12 hours, and a good portion was flown in the dark with night vision go…
- The Thermal - Episode #64
After a six-month hiatus – the Thermal Podcast is back with episode #64 The soaring season in the Northern Hemisphere has pretty much wound down. But in early November Chester Fitchett had a record breaking 1750 km wave flight on the East…
- The Thermal - Episode #63
Welcome to Episode #63 of The Thermal. I'm your host Herrie ten Cate. In this Episode of The Thermal, fire in the air. Possibly the worst thing that can happen to any pilot. Well, that happened to me on May 23rd of this year. The glider ca…
- The Thermal - Episode #62
In Episode #62 of The Thermal, the global tariff chaos and the impact on American glider pilots. We talk to the man behind gliding supply shop Cumulus Soaring to find out what is and isn't happening. Looping a glider is fun when done prope…
- The Thermal - Episode #61
In this Episode of The Thermal, we find out from the man behind Mountain High oxygen systems…why canula is most often better than a mask. And a group of UK pilots who've come up with their own Canopy Flasher. We find out why they didn't ju…
- The Thermal - Episode #60
In this Episode of The Thermal, expedition flying at its best and a feature interview with pilot Chris Gill. Imagine crossing the Irish Sea, hoping to make the other coast and all you can see is ocean…that's exactly what Chris and his copi…
- The Thermal - Episode #59
In this Episode of The Thermal, long time gliding blogger Ritz de Luij has put away her keyboard . Ritz talks to us about her love of gliding, her passion for the sport and the triumphs and tragedies she experienced along the way. And we g…
- The Thermal - Episode #58
In this Episode of The Thermal, an epic Christmas Day flight that covered most of the eastern Adriatic and 4 countries with a blistering average speed of 160 kmph and a distance of some 1100 kms. And hitting it hard with a 50 year old glid…
- The Thermal - Episode #57
On Episode #57 of The Thermal, going the distance in an Archaeopteryx . What's that you ask? Well, it's a low performance hybrid glider that an intrepid Australian glider pilot just flew for over 600 kilometers. And wave flying in the Cana…
- The Thermal - Episode #56
In this Episode of The Thermal, a feature interview with Patrick McLaughlin – the man behind the Mountain High Oxygen system. He has won the 2024 OSTIV award for his contribution to gliding safety. And combining passions. We talk to Tobias…
- The Thermal - Episode #55
In Episode #55 of The Thermal, Dutch racing pilot Jeroen Verkuijl on flying at the World Gliding Championships in Uvalde, Texas. And he tells us about the special day team Orange finished 1st in all three classes. And a solution to the eve…
- The Thermal - Episode #54
In this Episode of The Thermal, we're devoting a full show to the story of WW2 British combat Glider Pilot Frank Hughes and his role in Operation Market Garden…also known as the Battle of Arnhem. It's a remarkable tale of a young man who f…
- The Thermal - Episode #53
In Episode #53 of The Thermal, gliding superstar Sebastian Kawa on his incredible expedition to Pakistan and flying around k2. This adventure wasn't for the faint of heart. Overcoming adversity both in the air and on the ground was a const…
- The Thermal - Episode #52
On Episode #52 of The Thermal, a feature interview with Clemens Ceipek about his soaring adventures and goal setting over the State of Colorado. He also gives us an update on the threat of closure to Boulder Airport.
- The Thermal - Episode #51
On this Episode of The Thermal…pushing the boundaries of gliding exploration. We hear from Gliding legend Sebastian Kawa who is in Pakistan and will soon be flying over the infamous K2… if everything goes to plan. And gliding from Europe t…
- The Thermal - Episode #50
In this Episode of The Thermal, we speak with American glider pilot Bill Hill who has written a fabulous auto-biography, where he talks about everything from airline flying, catching big wave in Argentina and working as an Air Traffic Cont…
- The Thermal - Episode #49
In this Episode of The Thermal…a feature interview with Czech competition pilot Barbora Moravcova. We find out what makes this up and coming pilot tick and why music helps her fly. And there's a new kid on the block when it comes to keepin…
- 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 revoluti…
- 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…
- 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 t…
- 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 entrepr…
- 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? W…
- 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.
- 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 B…
- 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 mult…
- 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 h…
- 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. J…
- 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 glidi…
- 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 shaker…
- 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 w…
- 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 37…
- 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 Switzerla…
- 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 happen…
- 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 ex…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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 fa…
- 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, r…
- 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…
- 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 t…
- 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…
- 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 Aust…
- 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…
- 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.…
- 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 rema…
- 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,…