Any idea where the thermal updrafts appear in the game? Of course, there are the slope updrafts but they are not thermals per se. I’m looking for those circular columns of hot air. You can see them in the glider tutorials but I can’t get them in normal game, even when setting the air temperature to the max.
In-flight open the weather dialog. On the bottom right there is a slider to turn the visualization of thermals on / off.
Add clouds to your weather. Thermals are normally below Cumulus clouds. Actually the thermal is the reason for the cloud forming in the first place. But you have to think about it backward. Also, look at places where there are surfaces where the sun can heat up the ground. The warm ground is in contact with the air, heats it up and then it starts to rise. In the tutorial under training, you will notice the strong thermal was over a dry lake.
Also set your time of day when the sun is heating up the ground.
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I tried it as well. Had to use a bit of trial and error.
Apparently the thermal system needs more work. But at least playing with the cloud settings gave some thermals.
There was a twitch live video yesterday I think where they discussed gliding. I still have to watch it. Maybe they discussed thermals. Will see.
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I found that these settings worked well. I was able to glide from cumulus to cumulus. Temperature set to 80°F.
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Thanks for sharing. Will give it a try.
You may want to try this excellent free addon with specific clouds presets for gliders that just have been added to the last version: Floyds Epic Clouds » Microsoft Flight Simulator
i got that absolutely no thermals visible, very disappointed
In the Sim Soaring Club on Discord there is a wealth of knowledge on the Sim’s version of weather. The short answer though, is you need some wind and cumulus clouds and the thermals will be on the upwind side of the clouds. Also the default glider varios are broken. Trying to thermal in them is hopeless. Any of the freeware gliders are much better.