SAFA Skysailor Magazine

10 SKY SAILOR June-July-August | WINTER 2026 The transition from terrestrial to aerial is the most profound shift a human being can experience. The ‘scary thing’ vanishes, replaced by a crystalline clarity. The roar of the wind in your ears settles into a melodic hum. You are no longer falling, you are being held aloft. Once clear of the ‘house thermal’ near launch, the real work begins. To a PG2 pilot, the sky is not empty space; it is a hidden complex, moving landscape of mountains and valleys made of air. The sun heats the sides of Mt Elliot, which in turn heats the air directly above it. These bubbles of warmth break away and rise through the cooler atmosphere. To stay aloft, these new fledglings must find these invisible columns and circle within them. When a novice PG2 hits a thermal, the sensation is electric. The harness tugs at one side, signalling that the wing has found something. Tentatively at first, the pilot banks the glider, spiralling upward in a circle. It is a moment of pure, unadulter- ated elation. The pilots are using nothing Finding Heaven above Mt Elliot