Thermal soaring is an unique challenge of your piloting skills. The challenge of flying using only the unseen forces of nature; navigating the wind, finding and using rising air currents to stay airborne. This challenge, combined with the peace and quiet of gliding, makes thermal soaring one of the most fascinating and enjoyable forms of flying. Thermals are currents of rising air generated as the Sun unevenly heats the Earth's surface. They form over ground features which heat up faster than their surroundings, such as car parks and buildings. The hot surface areas heat the air above them. The heated air mass then rises, often to heights of several thousand feet. Find out more about thermals in our guide to Thermal Soaring.

Model sailplanes designed for thermal soaring can be launched by several methods. The most common is bungee launching, which literally catapults the model up to an altitude of 500 feet, enough for four or five minutes of flying in still air. But if the model gains height by circling in a thermal, the flight time is limited only by the transmitter batteries - about two hours! Soaring birds like eagles and hawks often help model glider pilots find the elusive rising air (often called lift) they need to stay airborne. They will even fly right alongside model sailplanes. Sharing a thermal with an eagle is an amazing experience you'll never forget.

Finding and staying in a thermal, gaining height as it drifts downwind, before racing upwind to catch the next thermal is a challenging skill that is great fun to learn. CEFA members have been chasing thermals for years, and despite more than a few stiff necks from staring skywards, we still think that thermal soaring is the most rewarding of all forms of flying!

Types of Thermal Sailplanes

Sport Gliders
A sport glider is just about the easiest way to learn to fly. A typical model has a wingspan of 2 to 2.5 metres, and two or three channels of control (rudder, elevator and optional spoilers). Most kits are simple "built-up" balsa kits, but many are also offered as Almost Ready to Fly kits. Sport gliders fly slowly and have "self-righting" characteristics, ideal for inexperienced pilots, and most are suitable for both thermal and slope soaring. To find out more about sport gliders, click here!
Scale Sailplanes
Scale gliders are an exciting next step after you've built and mastered an aileron glider. Modern sailplanes are sleek, efficient and beautiful, and there are many pre-fabricated kits around that will give an easy introduction to scale soaring. Or if you enjoy building, try a vintage glider with "built-up" balsa and plywood wings and fuselages covered in fabric. To find out more about scale sailplanes, click here!
Hand Launch Gliders
Hand launch gliders (HLGs) are small sport gliders designed to be launched by hand. HLGs use micro-sized radio equipment to keep the weight down. A typical HLG weighs about 10 ounces (80 grams) or less, and has a wingspan of around 60 inches (1.5 metres). Because of their size and weight, HLGs are able to successfully work even the smallest thermals close to the ground.

How are thermal gliders launched?

There are many ways to launch model sailplanes. A catapult-like device called a bungee is recommended for most kits up to 2.5 metre wingspan. The next step up is a winch, which is suitable for competition thermal gliders of up to four metres wingspan. For bigger and heavier models, such as large scale gliders, aerotowing (towing the model aloft behind a towplane) is used. More information on launching methods is provided in the section on each type of model.

How much does it cost?
If you choose to buy a two channel radio and hand-tow your glider aloft like a kite, you could get started for under $A300! Even if you plan ahead and buy radio equipment with the capability to fly advanced "open class" gliders later on and a good quality bungee, you'll be able to get into the air for around $A600! There's no doubt about it, radio-controlled gliding is one of the best value hobbies around!

Introduction | Electric Flight | Thermal Soaring | Slope Soaring Thermal Soaring: Introduction | Soaring Basics | Sport Gliders | Scale Sailplanes