...written by Bernhard Eckey, AS-Representative in Australia
Most books on gliding are specifically tailored to either beginners or competition pilots but gliding enthusiasts trying to make the transition from solo pilot to a competent cross-country pilot are often searching in vain for suitable literature. But thanks to Bernard Eckey they can now stop looking. Only two years after his first edition the second edition of his bestseller "Advanced Soaring Made Easy" is now available.
Bernard is highly qualified to give advice on all aspects of our sport. He is a German trained glider pilot and a long time resident of South Australia where he is Head Coach. With almost 3500 hours of safe gliding experience to his credit (including multiple 1000 km flights and one 1116 km FAI triangle) he is more than qualified to explain the entire theory behind advanced cross country soaring.
It is no surprise that the first edition of his book "Advanced Soaring Made Easy", sold out very quickly. But rather than just reprinting it and resting on his laurels Bernard has now released the second edition. It contains almost twice the number of pages and is printed in full colour. To say that it is a big improvement would be an understatement. It is essentially a new book with lots of 'bells-and-whistles'. It bridges the gap between the first solo flight and competitive cross-country flying and even prepares the aspiring pilot for the psychological hurdles of the sport. Many of the subjects covered are anything but common knowledge.
Furthermore, Bernard has taken his reader's requests and comments on board and has added large sections to every chapter. He has also improved upon the book's layout and increased the photo to text ratio. Some photos can only be described as spectacular - even the spoiled subscriber of gliding calendars will look at them in astonishment
Bernard is known as a communicator as well as a great pilot but above all, he is able to make even complex subjects appear simple. By including examples and anecdotes from his own outstanding gliding career he gives answers to many, if not most questions that glider pilots ask - from early solo pilot through to competition pilots and record hunters. It is also a very helpful reference for gliding instructors and coaches. Two multiple World Champions such as Ingo Renner and Michael Sommer have written a foreword and are obviously also right behind this new work.
Advanced Soaring Made Easy is broken into twelve bite-size digestible chapters. The graphs, drawings and pictures assist greatly and make the read so much more pleasurable. Chapters include local soaring, gliding and weather, flight preparation, extended local soaring, advanced cross country flying, winning the mental game, flying competitively, a technical chapter, outlandings, safety (lookout, etiquette etc), ridge lift and slope soaring and , of course, wave soaring. All chapters contain relevant drawings graphs, tables and the amazing photos aid the description of the subject matter. Almost every page contains information on how to transform new knowledge into practical benefits. Readers will instantly see that specific and systematic training paves the way for even more fun and enjoyment in gliding.
Eckey has included in this edition both Northern and Southern Hemisphere material so pilots can be assured that their flying zone is covered. Readers are also helped by the use of icons. They alert to a new topic or new section of text that may be of particular importance, applicable to a particular part of the world and/or essential to a pilot's technical knowledge.
When I started my own gliding journey, I saved up my meagre pennies and lashed out on Reichmann. Now I can admit that I never really understood his mathematical 'stuff'… Then latter came father and son Brigliadori's book (2005). Eckey, on the other hand, has produced a high quality book, that covers all these topics and more, and has somehow managed to price it so that it is even accessible to junior pilots. Other aviators, such as hang glider or para glider pilots, will also find it of immense value and the same applies to power pilots.
If you are looking for reasons to own a book on gliding, the attractive price, the photos and 'niceness' are all huge reasons why you cannot look past the second edition of "Advanced Soaring Made Easy". I suspect that this edition will sell as quickly out as the first one and will be the sort of book that will only be lent out to the most trusted of colleagues - if at all. My Reichmann never was allowed out of the house as it was deemed way, way too valuable and probably a tad mythical. Eckey has managed to break that taboo and now I have a book that I might even buy two of and keep one in pristine condition - just for me and my personal perusal, and the other for the unwashed…
I have relegated my Reichmann to the bottom of the reading pile… Eckey's 2nd edition is now my 'top of the pops' and will probably remain there - especially Chapter 12…
The only criticism of Eckey is that he hasn't given me tonight's winning Lottery numbers - which I'll need to buy myself a hot ship to go and practice, practice, and practice some more - my new found and sometimes refreshed knowledge.
Fly high, fly long, fly fast and fly safely
Rick Agnew
(Australian speed, distance and height record holder)
Among others available under...
www.schleicher-shop.de (only Germany and EU)
or under...
eckey@internode.on.net
Hardcover, size 200 x 270 mm, 336 pages, 130 graphs and drawings, 160 Photos
ISBN 978-0-9807349-0-4
price EUR 39,90 (7% German tax included)