I came to MSFS a year ago after 47 years of gliding due to ill health with the hope of being able to recreate my favourite soaring flights from yesteryear. However, I was very disappointed to find out that the thermal implementation is very poor with no strong central core and sink around the sides as in real life, so cross-country soaring flights can be frustrating, and ridge soaring is a better bet.
It maybe that Asobo would be better off introducing a gliding expansion to MSFS 2024 so that they can turn off the weather system and implement a simpler soaring atmosphere to free up CPU power. A simplified version of the Regional Atmospheric Soaring prediction maps created by Dr John Glendening and available through rasp.stratus.org.uk could then use the freed up CPU power to create thermals based on a variety of preset weather maps. RASP has been used throughout the world for many years by gliding clubs to predict soaring weather, so we know that it works.
I look forward to reliving memorable soaring flights with great scenery in 2024 like the one below sometime in the future. Fortunately, the altercation with a Cape Vulture was a very near miss and I enjoyed sharing many thermals with Vultures, Eagles and Buzzards over the years.
