SURVEY BLTOP-COMMENTS
General comment: BLtop is expected to be most useful
in regions of complex topography, expecially with small scale features not
resolved by the model - for flat-land conditions (for which Hcrit is expected to be
the predictor of choice. Unfortunately it
is often not known whether the reporter was evaluating flight with complex topo or not.
As with all BLIPMAP predictors, relative predictions
are expected to be more accurate than absolute predictions.
3 =========== ---------- *AT* Chicago GLider, IL
500 foot increments are useful where we fly -- seldom above
5000'; often xc at 3000' or less AGL
4 =========== Tim Traynor *AT* Deer Park, WA
Seems to frequently underestimate the tops by up to
2000' or so in NE Washington
15 =========== ---------- *AT* Ojai, CA
We find this to be almost dead on.
24 =========== Jonathan Gere *AT* Fairfield, PA
Clouds in the way too often
32 =========== ---------- *AT* Menomonie, WI
Often an underestimate
39 =========== Tom Saunders *AT* Blairstown, NJ 1N7
Within reason.
45 =========== Chris Ruf *AT* LaGrange, GA and Benton/Chattanooga, TN
My understanding is that this is how high the
convection goes, but a sailplane usually cannot climb to the top [ti -3
concept] so i think this misleads many pilots that do not keep this in
mind. this is why i am sure to also look at the Hcrit.=20
53 =========== Terence Honikman *AT* Santa Barbara, CA
My second screen
57 =========== ---------- *AT* Sterling, MA
Again, the predictions seemed to fairly consistently undercall
the hight.
59 =========== Frank Peel *AT* Fremont, CA
Most of my flying is over raised terrain which skews
the usefulness of this parameter. It is a good indicator of the day's
overall potential.
62 =========== Matt Gillis *AT* Hollister, CA; Truckee, CA
This, along with "HCRIT", is one of the most useful
parameters of the BLIPMAPS. It has also been proven to be very
accurate.
71 =========== ---------- *AT* Manquin Flight Park, Manquin, VA
IIRC, BLIPMAP displays this field with a 1Kft contour interval. The estimated
height of TI equals 0 from the Eta and AVN are almost always within the BLIPMAP
forecast interval. This is one of eight graphics I routinely use.
73 =========== ---------- *AT* Bermuda High Soaring School, Lnacaster, SC
Often too conservative
74 =========== ---------- *AT* Warner Springs, CA
look here first
91 =========== Chuck Stoltz *AT* Gregory, MI (69G)
We're flatlanders; not much variation in BL top in our soaring area
108 =========== ---------- *AT* LaGrange, GA
very accurate
114 =========== Ramy Yanetz *AT* Hollister, CA
Very accurate
117 =========== ---------- *AT* Caddo Mills, TX
Very useful during winter months when deep unstable layer is required for any useful soaring.
129 =========== Hartley Falbaum *AT* Monroe, GA (D73)
Tends to underestimate in our area
134 =========== Tim Hanke *AT* Saratoga Springs, NY (Adirondack Soaring)
Acurate 50% of the time.
135 =========== Harry Fox *AT* Hollister, CA ; Truckee, NV
The most usefull parameter, since I usually fly over mountain ranges.
143 =========== Doug Gray *AT* Truckee, Hollister, CA and Air Sailing, NV
There can be large differences between Reno soaring forecast an BLIPMAPs.
153 =========== ---------- *AT* KLGU in UT
We have mountains and valley. The mesh size and Blipmaps don't handle this very well.
161 =========== Dale Kramer *AT* Harris Hill, NY
I have found that this number generally relates to the top of my working height band for the day.
164 =========== ---------- *AT* MEV Minden, NV
"
167 =========== Walter Rogers *AT* California City, CA
Well understood and useful.