Soaring in thermals often involves multiple gliders (a "gaggle") sharing a single thermal. As such, rules and "thermalling etiquette" have been established to minimize conflicts and potential collisions. **Remember: SAFETY, NOT EFFICIENCY, IS MOST IMPORTANT!** [<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dRFuWRpBa84?si=gVhDGP4oB4Py_Sna" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>] ## Rules ### Everyone circles in the same direction - the first glider in the thermal establishes the direction of turn - any glider that joins the thermal must circle in the established direction ### Even spacing between gliders at similar altitudes - 2 gliders should circle opposite to one another - 3 gliders should form a triangle, 4 a square, and so on... - use extreme caution when circling with more than 3 gliders, as the [[Glider Visual Scanning and Collision Avoidance#Blind Spots]], especially the rear blind spot, are likely to be occupied by another glider ### Do not fly directly above or below another glider - most gliders have [[Glider Visual Scanning and Collision Avoidance#Blind Spots]] directly below the cockpit; high-wing designs will also have a blind spot above and to the side of the cockpit ### Do not turn inside another glider - turning inside ("showing your belly") another glider involves both aircraft in each other's [[Glider Visual Scanning and Collision Avoidance#Blind Spots]] ### Do not establish a thermal near an existing thermal - attempting to use a new thermal in close proximity to an established thermal involves converging traffic from both circles ### If an unsafe condition exists - LEAVE - this includes: too many gliders have joined, you have lost sight of a nearby glider, someone else is flying unsafely, etc - LOOK and exit the thermal in the safest way possible ## Techniques ### Entry - join at thermalling speed; do NOT abruptly pull up to decelerate! - aim wide of the thermal, maneuvering in to join when the proper spacing exists ![[GFH entering thermal.png]] ### Maintaining spacing - gliders with different performance may be sharing the same thermal - maintain proper spacing by varying airspeed and [[Radius of Turn]]; slower gliders will fly a tighter circle, faster gliders will fly a wider circle - rear visibility is most restricted; the glider behind another glider should make corrections to maintain proper spacing ## Additional Resources [<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3tjb-BP-uwM?si=lZ70X01la7vfEjcf" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>]