Anyone have 'Secrets of Thermal Soaring' DVD?

[Jeff_edge540]

If you have purchased this DVD, what do you think about it? Is it worth the $25 price tag?

If you are done with your copy - wanna pass it along to me? I would greatly appreciate it.

[John Walter]

It is worth every cent. I have a dozen of the RCA videos and wouldn't sell any of them, they are that good.

[KickAce]

Yes, worth every penny...!! :D

The only thing that I thought was lacking, was when he was filming out in the field demonstrating the technique of thermal soaring that you really couldn't see (or make out) the rising of the plane inside of a thermal...

So, I had exported one of my SkyTraceGPS flights of a thermal that I had flown and used the SeeYou software to generate a 3D flight simulation and describe under the video the flight starting from the launch on the high-start to seeing the first hint of a thermal, and describe the flight all the way up to the highest altitude attained during that flight... You can check out the video here:
Looking for LIFT - Thermal Soaring (http://www.rcuvideos.com/video/Looking-for-LIFT-Thermal-Soar/theater#theater_title)
Now, mind you that the SeeYou software is designed for full-sized sailplanes, just understand that the sailplane in the video is a representation of a 16-meter plane and NOT a two-meter that was used for that flight, so when watching the video, the circles are NOT as tight as it looks... The circles in reality were ten to 25 foot in diameter... Also, if you seach the video section for "Thermal" several other videos from the SeeYou software of some other flights that you can watch, those other ones were done at 10-times normal speed and one of them was a flight that had multiple thermals...

But the DVD is priceless otherwise… Self-taught and didn’t catch a thermal when I started soaring (at least that I knew of) until I bought and then watched the video… Well, the next day, now that I knew what to look for and sense what the sailplane is doing while flying through that river of air, had caught my first thermal ever… Alone and scared :censored: less, I had at least a 20-minute flight having caught that thermal only 100’ off the ground and too scared to spec it out is why I bailed out of the thermal… So, if you are looking to get into thermal soaring the DVD really is priceless…!!! I hope that the video that I created also helps in understanding the basics of a thermal flight in giving you a visual that you can watch, see and understand what it is like to catch a thermal… :)

[Kenny Sharp]

If you have purchased this DVD, what do you think about it? Is it worth the $25 price tag?

If you are done with your copy - wanna pass it along to me? I would greatly appreciate it.

Paul Natons' stuff is excellent. It is worth the cost of the DVD.....hands down.

The "Secrets of Thermal Soaring" is aptly named.....and for 25 bucks?...I think it's a good deal.

[Jurgen]

If you have purchased this DVD, what do you think about it? Is it worth the $25 price tag?

If you are done with your copy - wanna pass it along to me? I would greatly appreciate it.This DVD is more about understanding your ambient, and is good in that. The practise of flying is probably more comprehensive documented in Master Class, which I ordered recently and waiting for.
Cheers, Jurgen.

[Lance Prior]

I have Soaring Master Class 1 and I have to say I think it is Paul’s best instructional video yet, I highly recommend it.

[Andy W]

Another "absolutely" vote.. :)
..a

[dbarker]

All of Paul's instructional videos are worth every penny and I think I have all of them. I also strongly suggest you purchase it to support Paul so that he will continue to produce good product.

don

[ACooper]

I have 4 of Pauls' video's including this one. I wouldnt sell any of them because you watch them over and over and learn something new each time or they stay on the shelf until you need a reference and you watch it again. I thought the Secrets of Thermal Soaring DVD was better the 2nd time I watched it.

Anyone out there considering a high performance moldie and have never built one, I can't recommend Pauls' F3 building clinic any higher. It's a fanatstic resource. It lets you know what you are in for. Also the flip side is finding out you'll be in over your head and then it's time to call Dave at RC Builds! :D

[aeajr]

This video is the single most important information resource a new thermal pilot can watch on a screen. It is fantastic.

[Jeff_edge540]

Thanks for all the recommendations. I just finished the purchase :)

[Paul Naton]

Thanks guys for the kind remarks. I will keep maken the DVDs if you buy em.

I wish these DVDs were around when I was starting out, would saved myself years of learning grief.

This next year will bring you guys many more cool subjects and soaring super stars.

Thanks again for the years of support.

Paul Naton
www.radiocarbonart.com

[Andy W]

Keep it up, Paul. Great stuff!
..a

[hbielich]

Paul - got a couple more of your videos on my Christmas wish list to add to my collection! Somehow I know that Santa will come through on that one...
Note:
When I had rotator cuff surgery a couple of years ago I watched the videos till my wife almost went crazy. But my shoulder is fine now thanks to RCA! (Wife still with me too.)

[soholingo]

Since this a a Thank you Paul thread, add me to the list.

Just got F3 building clinic, and he answers a LOT of questions on how to do items that you don't think about but are glad you finally know the answer too. Just watching the care he takes when building is worth it (ie taping off areas that might get scuffed). I just got 3 dvds at a great price, finished F3 last night will view HP thermal soaring tonight...

j

[Jurgen]

I was not home when postman came with 3 RCA DVD's, now I have to wait another 2 or 3 hours to get them from the postoffice myself, this is unbecomingly torment! :(
J.

[Bob Cook]

I have many of them. They are worth thier weight in gold. I can't begin to list all the things I have learned from them. Thanks to Paul.

Bob in Seattle