The Thermal Podcast

Mar 09 2025 60 ep. 52 mins 208
The Thermal Podcast artwork

The Thermal is a monthly podcast devoted to the sport of gliding. You’ll hear about the latest cutting-edge sailplanes and technology. We’ll also be talking about gliding safety, instructing, gliding history, cool pilot interviews, towing, winching and a whole lot more. New podcasts will be released the 1st Saturday of every month.

  Leisure  Technology
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The Thermal - Episode #59

Mar 09 2025 51 mins  
In this Episode of The Thermal, long time gliding blogger Ritz de Luij has put away her keyboard . Ritz talks to us about her love of gliding, her passion for the sport and the triumphs and tragedies she experienced along the way. And we go to Australia and speak to an octogenarian glider pilot with over 6000 hours who just keeps on flying. That’s all on Episode #59 of The Therm

The Thermal - Episode #58

Jan 10 2025 78 mins  
In this Episode of The Thermal, an epic Christmas Day flight that covered most of the eastern Adriatic and 4 countries with a blistering average speed of 160 kmph and a distance of some 1100 kms. And hitting it hard with a 50 year old glider. Who says you need the latest hot ship to have fantastic gliding adventures. We talk to a pilot who’s checking all the boxes. We also he

The Thermal - Episode #57

Dec 11 2024 38 mins  
On Episode #57 of The Thermal, going the distance in an Archaeopteryx. What’s that you ask? Well, it’s a low performance hybrid glider that an intrepid Australian glider pilot just flew for over 600 kilometers. And wave flying in the Canadian Rockies. We learn why the Cowley Wave Camp is the go to event for Canadian glider pilots looking for their Diamond Heights. That’s

The Thermal - Episode #56

Oct 29 2024 51 mins  
In this Episode of The Thermal, a feature interview with Patrick McLaughlin – the man behind the Mountain High Oxygen system. He has won the 2024 OSTIV award for his contribution to gliding safety. And combining passions. We talk to Tobias Barth about his new book called Framing the Sky and how he combines his love of gliding and photography. That’s all on Episode #56 of The Th

The Thermal - Episode #55

Oct 01 2024 36 mins  
In Episode #55 of The Thermal, Dutch racing pilot Jeroen Verkuijl on flying at the World Gliding Championships in Uvalde, Texas. And he tells us about the special day team Orange finished 1st in all three classes. And a solution to the ever-increasing cost and number of flights for students to solo. We speak to an OSTIV award winner about what the Toronto Metropolitan University�

The Thermal - Episode #54

Sep 13 2024 59 mins  
In this Episode of The Thermal, we’re devoting a full show to the story of WW2 British combat Glider Pilot Frank Hughes and his role in Operation Market Garden…also known as the Battle of Arnhem. It’s a remarkable tale of a young man who flew a fully loaded HORSA combat glider into a war zone and survived the ensuing battle.

The Thermal - Episode #53

Sep 01 2024 62 mins  
In Episode #53 of The Thermal, gliding superstar Sebastian Kawa on his incredible expedition to Pakistan and flying around k2. This adventure wasn’t for the faint of heart. Overcoming adversity both in the air and on the ground was a constant battle. That’s on Episode #53 of The Thermal.

The Thermal - Episode #52

Aug 25 2024 25 mins  
On Episode #52 of The Thermal, a feature interview with Clemens Ceipek about his soaring adventures and goal setting over the State of Colorado. He also gives us an update on the threat of closure to Boulder Airport.

The Thermal - Episode #51

Jul 10 2024 52 mins  
On this Episode of The Thermal…pushing the boundaries of gliding exploration. We hear from Gliding legend Sebastian Kawa who is in Pakistan and will soon be flying over the infamous K2… if everything goes to plan. And gliding from Europe to Morocco to explore the flying conditions over the Sahara. We hear from the lead pilot on what is was like to thermal with sand. That�

The Thermal - Episode #50

Jun 16 2024 58 mins  
In this Episode of The Thermal, we speak with American glider pilot Bill Hill who has written a fabulous auto-biography, where he talks about everything from airline flying, catching big wave in Argentina and working as an Air Traffic Controller. But first we start with a Dutch gliding safari…where a group of students and instructors had some serious fun. That’s all on Ep