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Glider Pilot's Favorite Clouds

One of the many visual treats I enjoyed as I drove over Beartooth Pass were several lenticular clouds like this one floating over Little Bear Lake. Fascinating clouds. Another benefit of seeking high country.

 

"Pilots of powered aircraft tend to avoid flying near lenticular clouds because of the turbulence they cause. However glider pilots actively seek them out. The precise location of the rising air mass is fairly easy to predict from the orientation of the clouds. "Wave lift" of this kind is often very smooth and strong, and enables gliders to soar to remarkable altitudes and to great distances. As of 2016 the gliding world records for both distance (over 3,000 km; 1,864 mi) and absolute altitude (15,460 m; 50,721 ft) were set using such lift from these unique clouds."

wikipedia

 

Have a wonderful Sunday and week ahead!

 

 

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Uploaded on January 12, 2020
Taken on September 14, 2019