Well, since everyone else is putting in their 2 cents worth on this subject, here is mine based on 64 years of experience. (bird watcher, jet pilot, sailplane pilot, model pilot and general BS'er extraordinaire) First and foremost, birds that I have watched (and I've really studied them in several areas of this globe) show NO preference for the direction in which they circle in a thermal. This applies to birds from the Condor to the Falcon. Given, California birds MIGHT be different. :-) As Ben said, thermals other than the cyclonic type, do no rotate. I think some may be confusing total air mass movement with thermal rotation. BTW, you might want to check Ben's credentials; he knows of what he speaks! Now back to your favorite downwind turn and Skeeter program. Gary Retterbush Eisenschmitt, Germany http://www.retterbush.de http://gary.retterbush.bei.t-online.de RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
