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LAST UPDATE: March 21, 2001

The Soaring Society of Boulder (SSB) operates just down wind of the Colorado Rockies. This lucky situation makes Boulder Colorado one of the top three wave sites in the nation. The local fall, winter and spring wave soaring opportunities are nothing short of phenomenal. In 2000 the SSB sponsored a four month event to provide training in the art and science of wave flying while contributing to the scientific understanding of Boulder's mountain wave phenomenon. The Soaring Society of Boulder Mountain Wave Project resulted in increased knowledge of the local wave phenomena and how to safely pursue high altitude flight using wave lift. This web page is your guide to understanding and flying the mountain wave in Boulder. 

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Step 1 - Get a third class medical 
Step 2 - Sign up with the FAA
Step 3 - Attend the High Altitude Chamber Day

 If your interested in chamber training you will need to contact the FAA. The contact at the FAA is Mr. Roger Storey, 405.954.6209 or email to roger_storey@mmacmail.jccbi.gov. 

High Altitude Chamber Training is done at Peterson Air Force Base. This training is the very same training the Air Force gives its personnel and is absolutely first rate. Training is an all day event covering flight physiology with an emphasis on high altitude hypoxia. This training is highly recommended, in fact a chamber ride is required by SSB guidelines for flight above 18,000 feet.

The following information is required from each person wanting training:

1. Pilot certificate # or social security #
2. Last name
3. First name
4. Middle initial
5. Date of birth
6. Mailing address
7. Daytime phone #
8. Date of FAA medical
9. The class of the medical the day it was issued

Although you can sign up for a chamber ride before receiving a third class medical you will ultimately need a third class medical before the Air Force will allow you to experience the chamber. Third class medicals are performed by Medical Doctors who are designated FAA Medical Examiners. As many doctors are designated examiners check with your personal physician. Click here to find a Medical Examiner in your area. The ME gives you a simple physical and you walk out with your third class medical in hand. The cost is around $75 and you will need to send your name and medical number into the FAA before showing up at the chamber. 

After you sign up you will receive a letter from the FAA containing a confirmation of scheduling, directions to the class, and an authorization form containing a waiver statement.  One page with the text "Application and Agreement for Physiological Training" and "Consent for Release of Application Data and Assumption of Risk" must be completed, signed by the applicant and returned to the FAA with a check for $35.00. 

Participants need to be at Peterson AFB (Colorado Springs) at 7:00am with the program starting at 7:30 am. The SSB will be car pooling down to Peterson and it should be both an educational and fun filled day! Be sure to have proof of auto insurance (if driving), drivers license and your paperwork including your medical certificate on your person. 

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To read all about these flights click on the pilots name. These wave stories are instructive and entertaining.

There are also several "how-to"  articles written by fellow SSB members. These articles provide a wealth of local wave information. See these articles here.   

Flying Wave for the Altitude Diamond - Mark Terry
Some Thoughts About Getting Your Diamond - Colin Barry
Wave Window Tips - Vic Haynes
The 2000K Wave Flight Pt 1 - Dr. Joachim Kuettner
The 2000K Wave Flight Pt 2 - Dr. Joachim Kuettner

The local wave window allows pilots to go above the Class A airspace when conditions make this possible. The window must be activated and closed with Denver Air Traffic Control to be used. See the Wave Window Binder in the SSB flight shack for how to use the wave window. See the wave window map here...  If you use a Palm or Pocket Nav and a GPS follow this link to the Arapaho Peak Soaring Area Special Use Airspace file. NOTE this file is now part of the larger Denver SUA file which includes DIA Class B. 

History of the Arapaho Peak Wave Window coming soon! 

A former SSB member, Robert Anderson, has donated an EW barograph to the SSB. We have had it upgraded, so that, in addition to being an easy to use 40,000 foot barograph, it can also be used in conjunction with many Garmin GPS units as an approved flight data recorder for badge and record flights. It is much easier to use than the old photographic technique. More on SSB Barographs  

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Wave flying is somewhat specialized and as such there are a number of SSB required checkouts before you are eligible to fly to high altitudes in the wave. These are written checkouts with corresponding forms in the SSB flight shack. 

Wave Related SSB Checkouts
SSB Doc. 1515 Wave Checkout
SSB Doc. 1520 West Wind Checkout
SSB Doc. 1530 Oxygen Checkout

SSB Binder 200 - Wave Window Binder

Flight Above 18,000 Feet     
High Altitude Chamber Training 

A must read for local wave pilots before venturing forth are several "how-to"  articles written by fellow SSB members. These articles provide a wealth of local wave information. See these articles here. 

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Soaring Society of Boulder's Mountain Wave Photo Contest. The winners are? Wolf Herold and Karl Hanzel for their excellent photos of wave and wave flying. 

Photos taken by SSB members and friends featuring wave clouds and wave phenomenon. 

	Flat Irons - Photo by Mike Exner / Colin Barry
Boulder - Photo by Mike Exner / Colin Barry	Boulder - Photo by Mike Exner / Colin Barry
The Big Divide - Photo by Vic Haynes	Longs Peak - Photo by Vic Haynes
Blanik Boulder - Colin Barry

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Links to other wave related sites on the net...

http://www.mountain-wave-project.de/
The mountain wave project that resulted in a world record flight - Submitted by Wolf Herold. 

http://www.etl.noaa.gov/review/as/ralph/i.html
Breaking Mountain Wave Research - Excellent with lots of visuals

http://members.aol.com/soarca/wave.htm
Interesting wave related site from California City

http://www.glideomarama.com/SoaringS/goGO.html
See how the Kiwi do the Mountain Wave

http://planetscapes.com/solar/cap/mars/wavecld.htm
Wave cloud photos - on Mars!

http://www.dg-flugzeugbau.de/sauerstoff-e.html
The Correct Use of Oxygen - Excellent information on the practical reality of oxygen use. Submitted by Colin Barry

http://www.c-f-c.com/supportdocs/abo1.htm
Super knowledgeable article on oxygen use - Submitted by Colin Barry

http://www.aviationweather.com/BanAV008.html
Very interesting wave forecasting tool - Submitted by Vic Haynes

http://uap-www.nrl.navy.mil/dynamics/html/mwfmusa.html
What does the US Navy know about lee waves? Plenty! Here is an excellent site for wave forecasting. Submitted by Dave Mencin  

http://www.cami.jccbi.gov/AAM-400A/400altitude.html  
Are you Bent? Nitrogen bubbles can bubble out of your blood because of decreased atmospheric pressure when you take a high-altitude flight. Read all about it. Submitted by Mark Terry

http://www.tip.net.au/~gdare/cgc/surfer.htm
Wave flying advice  - Submitted by Karin Ismail

http://www.nwinternet.com/~blanikam/css/wave.htm 
The Awesome Mt. Rainier Wave - Submitted by Karin Ismail

http://www.pentode.demon.co.uk/gliding/gliding.htm
Could be a good wave site form the UK - Not Checked as the server was down. - Submitted by Karin Ismail

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