Thermal Task Setting

This page is based on the task setting tutorials prepared by Liz Sparrow and Mark Davenport for the Apprentice Tasksetters for WWGC 2022, which is being held at Husbands Bosworth.

The files are zipped up as they are rather large.

Overview of Task Setting

As always, the slides for the initial presentation are not as instructive as listening to it was. However the task setting 'method' comes down to:

1. Decide how fast one will fly, given the weather, glider and past performance;
2. Look at the weather:
   1. When will be be soarable enough to fly XC?
   2. What height will cloudbase be through the day?
   3. Will it turn blue?
   4. Wind strength at flying levels?
   5. How easy to climb?
   6. How long will soaring last?
   7. Best area?
   8. Any other weather than might significantly change the day?
3. From the two items above, work out how far one can fly. If, for example, it works out at 320km, setting a 300kmm task gives a little wriggle room;
4. Airspace Constraints:
   1. Sources of information - NOTAMs etc.
   2. Airspace to avoid (vertically & laterally)
   3. Advisory Airspace avoidance
   4. Tactical considerations
5. Other points to consider:
   1. Remember that up & down-wind legs fly better than cross wind legs;
   2. Geology can have a bearing. Around Moreton-in-Marsh thermals won't work as well as Stow-on-the-Wold. The Cotswolds, Downs, Chilterns & Lincolnshire & Yorkshire Wolds are all free-draining, so they dry quickly and warm faster than low flat ground that holds water. Warmth = thermals. :)
   3. As well as the bedrock, the Cotswold Edge and similar ridges can generate hill lift;
   4. Towns, car parks, warehouses & so on are good thermal generators;
   5. We are advised to avoid VRPs;
6. Plan a task:
   1. Decide where the task should be set
   2. Decide type of task (number of TPs)
   3. Establish the Permanant and Temporary Airspace that will impact on the task
   4. Establish likely start & finish times
   5. Estimate likely achievable speed
   6. Decide shape & distance
   7. Consider implications of a better or especially worse weather than forecast

First Example

My solution