Dear Santa,
This is a group letter from the Wednesday Wavers.
We think we have been good this year. We especially didn't schedule a flying day today in the spirit of Christmas familial harmony. This was particularly galling when our weather guru, Andy, posted a satellite picture showing that it was waving over Brentor at 1040 this morning. Oh, to be there.
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| EUMETSAT image at 1040. The heart at the centre of the picture is Brentor. |
I was in Tavistock collecting the turkey and ham from Howell's the butchers and indulging in a little bit of Christmas shopping. Well, there's no point in starting too early, is there? Although a clear blue sky, there was some low cloud, indicating the presence of rotor. Occasionally it could be felt outside the pannier market. From Plymouth, there were reports of a huge wave system overhead.
Although our hearts were in the sky today, we decided to leave it exclusively to you, Santa. The Dartmoor Wave Box will be clear for your passage this evening.
Our thoughts turn to what presents you might bring the Wavers. New gliders, new instruments, or new trailers (Ed?) perhaps. Maybe you came early for some of us with canopy flashers to fit? You definitely came early for Viktor, perhaps it's a Ukrainian tradition, with his K-6CR, G-DDKG.
However, the best festive present would be the gift of lift, especially to understand how you can make such rapid cross-country progress. If the wave persists, it should provide good conditions for you this evening. The Wavers have had lots of theory lectures this year and our fair share of mountain lee wave, which leads us to imagine how you might make progress in wave. You probably already know this Santa but just for fun, and for training purposes, we asked Mr. Google for an AI overview:
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- Natural Lift: Glider pilots routinely use the powerful, smooth, rising air on the upwind side of the wave crests to gain significant altitude and cover long distances. Santa's team could ride these upward currents, potentially saving reindeer energy or "magic dust".
- High Altitudes: The right conditions allow these waves to propagate vertically into the stratosphere, an unpowered glider once reached over 50,000 feet using this lift. This would place the sleigh well above most commercial air traffic and weather.
- Speed Boost: The flow of air in these waves involves significant changes in wind speed, and Santa could use these fast-moving currents as a natural tailwind to enhance his supersonic journey.
- Severe Turbulence: The "rotor" area, which forms below the main wave crests, is a zone of violent, rotating air that can cause an aircraft to lose control or even break apart.
- Powerful Downdrafts: Sinking air within the wave pattern can exceed an aircraft's ability to climb, forcing it dangerously low or preventing it from clearing terrain.
- Icing: If moisture is present, severe icing can occur within the associated lenticular (lens-shaped) or roll clouds.
- Quantum Anti-Gravity Technology: This system likely provides sustained lift and allows the sleigh to maintain a stable altitude regardless of the powerful vertical air currents.
- Aerodynamic Magic: The "aerodynamic magic" and a potentially a "time shield" mentioned by experts would counteract turbulence and sonic booms, ensuring a smooth and silent ride.
- Advanced AI Navigation: The sleigh's navigation system would help Santa map out the most efficient path, likely threading the needle between turbulent rotors and using the smooth, lifting wave crests.
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The Wednesday Wavers hope that this helps. Have a good flight. Make sure you adhere to the mnemonic IM SAFE, and please don't forget your pre-circuit checks, we don't want to have to disturb the British Gliding Association over their Christmas break with an incident report.
So Santa, that concludes our letter and news from the Wednesday Wavers. I'll get back to dressing my Christmas tree in the front room while the rest of the family is busy in the kitchen. All that remains is for us to wish our readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Gavin Short
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