A flight simulator for gliders/ sailplanes.
An incredible bit of very inexpensive, but very popular software that has gradually been improved over the past twenty years. It allows us to fly the glider model of our choice, nearly anywhere in the world. As you can see, you may also fly along with your buddies. The weather (lift) is set by you, for your flights. You will need a computer with graphics capability.
Fly as if you are in the cockpit of the glider, with your hands on the controls. 
I snapped this screen shot while heading east over I-80 Vacaville, CA. You can see the Vaca Junior High track at 1 o’clock and Senior High further to the east. Factory stores five miles straight ahead, with Nut Tree Airport to north side of I-80.
It becomes more of an immerse experience while wearing Visual Reality headset, looking around at the surrounding, rather than changing your viewpoint with computer keys.
I’ve created a few pages that may help you to get started (see sub-menus such as these below Condor at the top of this page).
All of these page are dedicated to the three or four pilots at Williams (WSC) that have shown some interest in using Condor…. namely Tom J, Thomas, Phil and of course, our instructor Pablo. There are many other local pilots, but many are mostly racing and are well beyond this intro phase.
Don’t hesitate to text or email me if you believe I can be of any help in getting you started on Condor. I enjoy it, but it is challenging at first, but then it eventually becomes routine.
Flying Condor on your computer is much easier than spending many many hours doing these things for a single flight:
- monitoring the wx for days ahead of the day to fly
- getting your gear together and applying sun screen
- checking the weather and notams
- driving to the glider port and
- putting the ship together
- planning lunch and getting hydrated
- applying more sunscreen
- getting a tow
- spending hours in the air – getting hot and cold, eating and farting, breathing oxygen, etc..
- then – assuming you land back home
- planning a safe final glide
- downloading you flight file from your glider
- clean, de-rig and put the ship back in the box,
- etc.
- Paying the bill for the days glider rental and tow (possibly equivalent to buying most all of the equipment needed to buy and fly Condor for a year or two.
Yes, I mention sunscreen more than once because there are harmful effects from too much sunshine.
End