30 tips for successful cross-country flying
#26: Find and use the best lines
Within the NOVA Pilots Team there are a few pilots who have a very special gift: people like Berni Pessl, Hans Tockner or Ferdi Vogel almost always find the best line to reach the highest possible point after a valley crossing. If you ask them how they do it, you get the predictable answers:
They pay attention to the clouds, where a little lift might be found to minimise the sink and they choose their lines so that the valley or prevailing wind will have least negative impact. The catch is that in principle, all other pilots do the same. Maybe it‘s just a feeling – but more probably training yourself to become more aware.