Customer Reviews

Cross-Country Soaring (Streckensegelflug), 7th Edition

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is the standard work on the subject. It covers the topic from top to bottom in great detail. The author explains his subject both in simple, practical terms (for example - a quick and easy way to decrease the lag time of a variometer is to stuff a few copper wool scrubbing pads into the capacity bottle to diminish the effects of temperature change), and also a generous discussion of theoretical and mathematical information including equations to solve many common tactical and strategic questions (for example - a sailplane polar can be expressed fairly accurately, for use in calculations, by the quadratic equation). This is not an introductory work - it presupposes some knowledge of soaring, however, anyone interested in the topic will be able to understand a lot of it. Just remember that Reichmann was a world champion soaring pilot with a Ph.D., having written his thesis on this same subject.

THE standard read for the intermediate soaring pilot. In Europe, this book is considered the best if you want to understand the techniques of cross-country soaring flight. You'll refer back to this book again and again. Not for the novice unless he is well versed in the on-board instruments of sailplanes, but it can give the flavor of the work involved during a cross-country run.

Helmut Reichman, God rest his soul, wrote one of the most detailed and comprehensive books on cross-country soaring. This book should be mandatory reading for any person considering becoming a pilot, no matter what the level. Never mind that it lacks current data on final glide computers. Just look when it was first published, back in BC. (Before computers)! Besides any half baked nitwit can interpolate and extrapolate the data to an electric box! Don't forget that these boys flew without all that fancy gadgetry and relied on little more than ingenuity and the occasional prayer wheel. Anybody who challeges Helmuts position better have flown several thousand kilometer flights before they dare mumble their insipid inaccurate opinions. The attention to detail in Helmuts book is beyond reproach. I will never sell my copy, not for any price. Get them while you can and learn many of the ancient secrets of soaring flight. There are more unmentioned and not yet divulged secrets, however those are for me to know and for you to find out!
life member of Soaring
Diamond badge pilot
with numerous National records
Glider and power flight instructor

My dad gave me this book when I first became interested in cross country soaring as a student pilot. This book provides the reader with a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of cross country soaring, including in-flight strategy and decision making, weather analysis, sailplane performance calculations, basic flying skills, etc. This is a technical manual on soaring, but it should be read in a serious manner by every soaring pilot. I review it annually every spring, just before the best part of the cross country soaring season begins.

As a student of soaring (motorglider for now), I find the book incredibly rich in accurate, detailed, and immediately useful information. Spend an hour with the book and you'll immediately want to go try out what you've learned ! The book has both technique and theory, beautifully arranged, and is a phenomenal resource for student or master. My instructor urged me (and my 16-year old son, who is also a motorglider student)to get the book and read it. It is obvious why: the book reads like you're sitting at the feet of the world's premier soaring pilot who loves to teach and loves those who want to learn. His passion for the sport comes through as does his Ph.D. expertise and his decades of championship soaring. My son's opinion of the book is quite the same as mine.

If you fly or want to fly a glider, you have to own this book.

Of course I rate this book "10", not "1".... Finger error... Sorry!!

Helmut Reichmann's book is still by far the best book on the subject of cross country soaring. It has helped me - and a lot of other glider pilots - a great lot. It may be a little outdated on the subject of electronic final glide computers and the like, but by far the rest of it is still indispensible - and fun! - reading. Helmut died a few years ago in a soaring accident.