Circling direction

Having tried CU for the first time, a couple of days ago, looking at some of my flights that I have downloaded from the club a/c I notice that I spend upwards of 80% of the time circling to the left.

So I went out on Saturday determined to try to find out why and to be honest I can't tell you why - except that it feels right and I'd say that I have better control, giving lower flying speeds and I am less like to zoom up and down in the turn and loose the core.

Anybody got any bright ideas ?

Circling to left. You must fly with right hand on stick.

I am not familiar with your practices in the UK, but...in America, I presume that the most likely direction for low time pilots is the Right. I say, 'presume', because I haven't taken a poll. The other presumtion is the reason. I presume that the reason is that when we release from the tow plane, the custom is for the tow plane to dive to the left and the glider climbs to the right. Since the general practice is to release in lift, the first climb is going to be to the right.

I made the presumptions for Low-time pilots. As a pilot gains experience, the turn is based on trying to sense which direction the thermal is likely to be.

Marty Pautz

Correct ... and see the reply to Marty

was written:

Possible - the UK practice is glider left climb, tow plane right dive ... having said that most of my flying (until recently) I mostly flew from winch launches so there is not often an immediate turn in there - especially as our circuit directions vary depending on launch r/way and direction

I guess 50hrs P1 is low although it is possible that I approach likely thermal with a left turn in to it in mind (on the days where I have sussed where these might be)

Similarly, I learned on aero tow in the UK and convention is to turn left off of tow. Handedness certainly has something to do with it. Which leg forward do you prefer on a skateboard, surfboard, or snowboard?

Cockpit comfort may also make one direction more comfortable.

A few gliders have rudders are hinge mounted on the side and it makes a noticeable difference when thermaling left or right.

Mostly it comes down to practice. If you practice thermaling to the right, you'll get more comfortable with it and do it more often when it's appropriate.

Frank Whiteley Colorado

english it was written:

I've flown a K8 (once) like this recently. The airbreak lever sticks out so much that I could hardly bend my left leg to do a right turn comfortably ... fortunately it was a LH circuit day

Thanks for the advice, must go an practice when the weather and work let up

Cheers

In Texas most dust devils circulate clockwise. A left turn would be up wind and thus you would turn a smaller circle?

Bill Snead

Not all power pilots fly with the left hand. It depends on the airplane. There are a good number of aircraft in current use out there with 'control sticks' rather than a control wheel ranging from Piper J3's to AT6's and a lot in between that require flying right handed. I have a fair amount time using both types of controls in powered aircraft and I still find it a bit more comfortable circling to the left in a glider. I fly at a sailport with a right and left hand pattern depending on the wind. So why do some of us prefer right and some left turns. WHY? It's a good question. Does anyone have a good answer??? Personal quirk only or is there a more technical reason???

There may be some psychology to it. We in America drive from the left seat. We turn left in cars: Indy, Nascar, etc. We are a left turning civilization. Maybe if we learned to fly before we learned to drive-and wouldn't that have been great.

funny... your the first to mention that...

I've flown clockwise with the wind.. and counter against it.. I prefer to fly into the rotating wind of the thermal... really hate it when a horizontal gust in the rotation passes you and takes all elevator control away.. or reduces the lift at slow thermal airspeed cause the wind in the rotating thermal is moving from trailing edge of wing to leading edge..

yes.. we do have very strong tornado type thermals out here in the west.. ever watch a dust devil.. or in the midwest.. ever watch a thermal pick up straw from a mown hayfield?? there is rotation in that thermal..

I'd rather flying into the rotation than with it.

TZ